Chapter 2- sense of disbelief
The fire had been put out reveling the true state of devastation, broken glass, and wood littered the ground . A terrible smell lingered in the air not only smoke but things that were much worse.
Amidst the wreck of Steve's office sat Danny watching in numb detachment as the 5-0 offices filled with personnel. Firemen were joined by Che and doc Bergman. An ambulance officer was strapping a figure into a stretcher and Danny recognized a badly burned Jenny. "She was must have been right by the office door when the bomb went off" ,a firemen told Doc Bergman as he looked grimly down at Jenny. "I don't fancy her chances", the ambulance attendant whispered to Bergman as they took Jenny away
Bergman stepped into Steve's office grimly eyeing the three shapes covered with sheets. "None of them stood a chance", Che told Bergman his tone angry. "Whoever did this was clever, catching them all unaware like that', Che stated, "but I'm going to do my best to ensure they don't get away with it", he said the last with fierce determination .
"Whoever it was didn't quite get everyone" Bergman reminded softly, Che paled," I don't envy you with that task doc, you're going to have to tell him." "Yeah" ,Doc sighed, "he going to take it hard Che and since he's the only one left alive he's going to be the focus of some pretty intense questioning."
Docs eyes switched from Che at that moment to the serious dark suited men that milled about. These same men were approaching them now . "Gentlemen", they flashed badges. We'll be taking over this case." the agents informed. "Doctor Bergman", the one called Hyland stated seriously, "I understand detective Williams is currently under your care." "Yes that's true", Doc informed them. "He was lucky he wasn't here today", remarked the other agent. Doc immediately felt defensive. "If you're trying to make something of that", he growled," well don't bother, what happened to Danny was unforeseen by everyone and that includes Danny himself."
The agent coloured, "I wasn't accusing him", he stated firmly, "just saying he was lucky. "I doubt he'll think so, Doc replied bluntly, "to find out all of your colleagues are dead will be a huge shock." "Maybe we shouldn't tell him that until after we question him. We don't want emotions impeding our chances to begin this investigation quickly", Agent Hyland stated. Doc gave him a disgusted look "I have to admit that my emotions are also getting in the way", he said between gritted teeth,
"I've known the 5-0 team for awhile. "So I also know that if you don't tell Danny the truth straight away then he's probably not likely to want to talk to you at all.'
The two agents traded glances, "he has no choice about whether he talks to us or not. But I suppose it's best if he's cooperative", agent Hyland conceded. "We'll accompany you to the hospital so we can get the questioning under way.'
Doc glared at the agents, "do I need to remind you that it's not just common news I'll be taking detective Williams. He may very well go into shock and it may take a while before you can get much sense out of him."
Agent Hyland glared back, "need I remind you doctor that we also have a job to do, yes it's not pleasant but we need to act before the trail gets cold. Danny Williams is a detective and we expect him to act like one during the questioning".
Doc shook his head in disgust but made no further comment. "Can we go now", agent Hyland asked. Bergman nodded and followed by the two agents made his way out of the offices.
Danny followed behind them now used to being present and not being seen. He placed himself next to one of the agents in the back of Docs car.
The trip to the hospital was silent and doc seemed to be gripping his steering wheel tightly like he was holding back powerful emotions. Finally they made it to the hospital.
Doc made his way through the hospital to the wards bearing the sign "surgical units".
Making his way toward a door he demanded that the two agents waited outside. Danny followed doc inside and it was there he got yet another shock.
He saw himself lying in a bed with his eyes closed and an IV inserted into his arm.
Doc approached tentatively, "Danny", he whispered softly. Those piercing blue eyes opened slightly looking at the face above him, "Doc", came the soft whispered response. Doc Bergman ran through a brief check of his patient fully aware that his hands were shaking the entire Danny in the bed just watched him looking like he was not fully awake.
"Well you seem to be doing nicely", Doc stated, and then felt intensely stupid for making inane chatter when he had to tell Danny something grave."My throats a bit sore", Danny in the bed said softly. "That's to be expected Danny"."It was a bit of surprise having that happen", Danny remarked," I guess Steve and the team are under pressure with me gone. So tell me doc….."
Danny was about to continue when he noticed a pale doc sinking down to sit beside him. "There's something I need to tell you Danny and it won't be easy to hear", Doc hurried on before he lost his nerve. At 825 this morning a bomb went off in Steve's office." Bergman reached forward and took Danny's hand as he went pale. .
Danny in the bed seemed to search doc's eyes and see something because he began to sob, "Please doc, he begged don't tell me they're…. ", the sobbing deepened as Doc looked down in sorrow…
The ghost like Danny stepped forward now unable to bear the pain in his own voice.
He walked right up to the other side of the bed and put one hand on the Danny in the bed. What he didn't expect was the head to turn and for that Danny to look straight at him. But maybe he was simply turning away from Doc. "Is it true", the words stumbled out of Danny's mouth. "I know it's hard to hear Danny…",Doc began.
The ghost like Danny jumped when his hand was squeezed, "is it true", the words were repeated. Ghost Danny was beginning to think that this Danny could actually see him, "I saw it happen", he stated with a voice filled with horror. " After all my hard work I was tired on the night of the 12th so went to bed early .I woke up thinking it was another day and went to work. But nobody could see me. Then after the morning briefing Steve opened his drawer and boom. Steve, Kono and Chin were all covered in flames", ghost Danny choked feeling tears well up in his eyes. The hand of the Danny in bed was gripping his own fiercely and surprisingly for the first time since he woke he could feel the pain.
"Danno, do you understand what I'm saying", Doc Bergman was leaning over the Danny in the bed and frowning at him. "Yes", the reply was soft.
"There are some agents outside who want to talk to you Danny. You know go over cases see if you have any idea who has done this", Bergman stated, still looking at Danny in compassion.
"I wish I could turn back time", Danny in the bed stated. Doc squeezed his hand harder. "We all wish that Danny, but it's impossible", Doc replied sadly.
"Can I have a few minutes alone before you send those agents in", Danny asked.
Doc looked at him searchingly then nodded. He went slowly out of the room.
"You have to stop this", the Danny in the bed sat up gingerly and spoke with passion.
"Me', ghost Danny exclaimed, "I have no idea what's even going on, how can there be two of us, everything seems like a nightmare", his words jumbled together, his voice strained and anxious.
"You know when I saw you standing there I didn't just think you were a ghost or a hallucination" , Danny in the bed said. "Somehow I knew you could help and now I'm even more certain."
"Why', ghost Danny asked. "Because it's the 15th, you said you went to bed on the 12th, well I went in to surgery on the 14th and that was yesterday", Danny in the bed told him his voice now holding a hint of hope.
"Maybe you are an opportunity a way to stop this bombing from happening.'
Ghost Danny was stunned, "but how do I get back, what do I do", he felt a sense of disbelief. Other Danny wrote something on a piece of paper, "somehow I think that there's a way for you to go back already planned, you wouldn't be here seeing this otherwise".
Ghost Danny took the paper and put it into his pocket, "I suppose if I know how to avoid whatever happened to you then I will be around to find the bomb in Steve's desk" "Good plan", Danny in the bed acknowledged, "well I was walking down…
The words seemed to get softer until ghost Danny could no longer hear them. In addition Danny in the beds form seemed to fade out. "I need to know what happened", ghost Danny yelled.
But everything faded into darkness until it was pierced by a shrill sound.
Danny Williams sat bolt upright in his bed covered with sweat and breathing hard. He looked around his bedroom slowly taking deep breaths. What an awful dream he thought. Noting the time on the clock Danny quickly got up and went to his wardrobe.
He looked in a type of disgust at the suit he'd been wearing in that dream. He remembered putting a paper from that other Danny in the pocket. To reassure himself it hadn't been real he reached into the pocket. His heart rate quickened as his hand found a piece of paper. He pulled it out and saw written in his own hand writing, "remember, stop it from happening". With a distinct chill Danny sat down on his bed.
He hurriedly turned on his radio, "good morning Hawaii, its Wednesday 13th March".
Danny turned off the radio and swallowed hard. It had been real and now he had two days to find out the answers before history repeated itself.