What We Bury

By: Ridley C. James

Beta: Tidia

A/N: Thanks so much to those who alerted and reviewed. Even the smallest comment is fuel to a writer sometimes and I don't think readers realize how much impact they can have. I have not had the chance to answer all of them, but I hope this extra long chapter will suffice as my sincere appreciation for your comments. For those concerned, I write neither prominent character death stories nor mary sue stories, and would most definitely had warned ahead of time if I had broken one of my cardinal rules. And for those worried Danny wouldn't be around but in a diminished capacity, this one is for you all.

RCJ

"To spare oneself from grief at all cost can be achieved only at the price of total detachment, which excludes the ability to ever experience happiness."

-Erich Fromm

Three weeks earlier…

Danny watched his partner enter through the main door of their offices. Steve didn't glance his way but Danny made a huge effort to act busy, pretending he had not been staring at the clock for the last hour. The detective forced himself to give the other man time to settle at his desk where Steve made quick work of the tie he'd borrowed from Danny, stripping it off and tossing it over his computer. The suit jacket went next. Danny's impatience and worry won out when Steve dumped the file he'd carried in with him into the trash can before kicking said trash can across the room to slam into the farthest glass wall with a clatter.

"That's my cue, Big Guy." Danny grabbed the plain paper bag from his desk and maintained a controlled swagger to Steve's door. He considered knocking, but figured it would be awkward and obvious to do something he had never bothered with before. Still, he hesitated once in the doorway, suddenly unsure how to play the situation. It only took his best friend glancing up, the flash of raw emotion roiling in his dark eyes for Danny to realize he was being an idiot.

"I'm glad to see my favorite tie made it through the hearing in one piece." Danny crossed the room, ignoring a neatly stacked pile of papers on the edge of the desk where he took a seat on the corner facing his partner. It annoyed Steve's sense of order when Danny forewent chairs to perch on the furniture instead. Danny hoped to elicit an exasperated sigh or an eye roll, but got neither. "Did its magical properties hold true for you or did the McGarrett dark cloud of trouble prove too strong?"

"Keanu was exonerated of any wrongdoing." Steve leaned back in his chair, his knee bumping Danny's as he slumped against the soft leather. Danny could see the wear of exhaustion on his features, the shadows beneath his eyes told of the sleepless nights and too many ridiculously early morning swims to clear the SEAL's head. "The department was found not at fault. The operation was justified. Five-0 and HPD are in the clear."

"That's what we wanted, right? Governor Denning should be happy. What's with the 'I just missed the winning shot in the last three seconds of overtime in the state championship game' look? And why were you beating up on your poor defenseless trash receptacle?" Danny had never doubted the verdict, but had sweated out the week long hearing with the rest of his team. It was especially hard on Steve, who as officer in charge had shouldered more than his fair share of the heat from Internal Affairs. The press hadn't made it any easier, sinking their teeth into a meaty story airing all the gory details and splashing it in the papers and across television for days. Danny, Chin and Kono had all wanted to be in the courtroom , but the attorneys and IA only wanted the officer directly related to the shooting and of course the Commander of Five-0, who had headed the case. Sometimes being a lone benevolent dictator sucked ass.

"It feels like we lost, Danno." Steve rubbed at his eyes. "Hillary's husband and father were there for the final ruling. Her dad made a huge scene, had to be escorted out."

Danny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Hillary Freeman had been in the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time. "No one knew that a tour group was in the area or that she and her husband would wander off. If Hillary hadn't stepped off the curb into the mouth of that alley we wouldn't be having this conversation. It was shitty luck and you know that. Keanu took the shot at the perp just as she moved into his line of fire. Bad thing about bullets-they don't have instant recall."

"I know all about civilian casualty." Steve gave Danny a fierce glare. They had gone rounds about this last night. "But like you're always telling me, Hawaii isn't exactly the streets of Afghanistan or Bagdad. It just seems so much more wrong here and I was in charge. Maybe if I …"

"Don't go there, Steven." Danny raised a hand in the air to cut off the gut-wrenching self flagellation. Steve might have been heading the offensive, but he wasn't even in the vicinity when the gunplay in question went down. They were on the opposite end of the alley, pinned downed by two of the goons they were chasing. "Shooting an innocent bystander is one of a cop's worst nightmares, but the only ones to blame are the slimy drug dealers responsible for the exchange taking place at the port. They're the real criminals here. They're the ones who took that man's wife, stole a father's daughter. Not Officer Keanu and most definitely not you."

Steve's mouth twitched. "You've been perfecting that speech all morning?"

"Are you kidding, I've had more important things to do than think about you, like all that paper work my partner has let slide while he's been in bureaucratic mode all week." If Steve had listened to his voice mail on the way to court he would have known Danny had perfected said speech during his morning shower and was merely paraphrasing the message he'd left Steve earlier.

"Hey, it's not easy being the face man for Five-O, Danno."

"Sorry, great leader, as one of your lowly patriots I've got little sympathy for your there." It wasn't true. Danny took each hit aimed at Steve in the media as a personal assault, especially when the ratings-hungry ass hats seemed to take perverse pleasure in bringing up ancient history, like Governor Jameson's death. Steve's unfortunate mug shot made the rounds and Danny had spent an inordinate amount of energy hiding newspapers and keeping all televisions in the house tuned to ESPN. In the car, satellite radio was his friend. "But my very sweet daughter is another story."

"Gracie's worried about me?" Steve frowned. "I was hoping Rachel would shield her from the worst of this shit."

"She did, but you know Tommy Talks-A-Lot at school…"

Steve growled. "I really think you should let me pay a visit to Tommy's dad."

"And have another media scandal on our hands? I don't think so, Babe."

"So tell me, what did the ever enlightening Tommy Talks-Too Fucking Much have to say this time?" Steve folded his arms over his chest and Danny was glad to see an appearance of 'pissed off and protective face' instead of the kicked puppy look from only moments before.

Danny waved his free hand in the air. "The usual hype, but you know my baby girl- she came straight to her Danno for the facts."

Steve propped an elbow on his desk, letting his chin rest in his hand as he stared up at Danny. "And what exactly did our Danno tell her?"

"That her beloved Uncle Steve was assuredly an idiot and most definitely a magnet for trouble, but that he was in no way a mercenary planted here by the CIA to take out unsuspecting tourists and island officials." Just like with the Jameson fiasco, Danny had little trouble convincing his daughter of her favorite uncle's innocence.

Steve snorted. "Thanks for clearing that up, partner."

"You know I have your back, and so does Grace." Danny held up the brown paper bag in front of Steve, giving it a little shake. "She sent you a special present to make you feel better today."

Steve reached for it, but Danny was quicker, holding it out of his partner's reach. It earned him the exasperated sigh and annoyed eye roll he was trying for earlier. "Give it."

"Steven, should I be concerned that my daughter is sending you packages of which I have express orders not to 'peek' at under any circumstances?"

"Must you know every detail of my life, Daniel?"

"When it comes to my daughter, yes."

Steve snatched the bag, nearly sending Danny off the desk in their adolescent-like skirmish. He made a show of turning his chair so to take a private look inside. Danny feigned great exasperation but estimated the rare smile that spread across Steve's face was almost worth the small aggravation of doing the pinky-swear and special cross your heart hope to die act with Grace before she would actually turn over the bag. "Let me guess, it's some gross seaweed salad with pineapple garnish."

"Close." Steve pulled out a stack of DVD's, turning them so Danny could see the cover. "There is a pineapple and sea life."

"Sponge Bob?" Danny shook his head, recalling the last weekend he and Grace had hung out at Steve's. His daughter had taken over the television, her and Steve staking out the living room while Danny had been tricked into manning the kitchen to cook dinner. "Seriously? Now I completely understand why Grace obviously thought you'd be mortified if I knew what she sent you."

"It's the complete first and second seasons." Steve placed the series on his desk, no inkling of embarrassment, which should have been no surpise seeing as Danny had long since discovered his partner's ego allowed for no such thing as self consciousness or shame. In fact, he was practically giddy. "Gracie said I needed to catch up on some of the classic moments. You up for a marathon session on the big screen during lunch? We could get Kono to bring take-out. Chin would probably be game. You know how he likes to wax poetic about the corruptive forces of media on today's youth."

"You want me to watch Sponge Bob with you?" Danny made a show of looking mortified at the prospect, knowing good and well he would relish the opportunity to do something as inane as watching a cartoon while inhaling his favorite Thai dish after the emotional roller coaster week they had all had. It was also extremely hard to keep the goofy grin off his face as he realized his partner was actually seeking out comfort instead of retreating into his equivalent of the emotional Bat cave he'd been holed up in since Hillary Freeman's death, but Danny had his curmudgeon reputation to uphold. He brought his hands together, pressing them against his lips in mock consternation. "Steven, it's a program about a poorly dressed sponge that lives in a pineapple and who has a starfish for a best friend. What are you five?"

"He wears a dress shirt and tie to the beach, something you should easily relate to," Steve quirked a brow. "Your apartment makes his pineapple look like a plush pad, and your best friend's a SEAL. You're really not in a position to judge, man."

"Funny." Danny folded his arms over his chest. "Did Grace help you come up with those hilarious comparisons or did you think it up all on your own? And what deranged person told you I was your best friend?"

"Come on, Danno. You'd rather be slopping down noodles over a pile of my late paperwork?"

Danny smirked. "You may be a goof, but you raise a valid point about the paperwork, not my shared wardrobe tastes with a sponge."

"I have the occasional good idea." Steve grinned at him. "Like last week when I…"

"Don't get cocky. Bragging doesn't become you, Steven." Danny stood, effectively cutting off his partner. He made his way around the desk. "You're still the guy who thought driving onto a ship was a brilliant plan."

"Two years ago," Steve sighed. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

Danny propped his hands on his hips. "Are you ever going to stop giving me a hard time about my ties?"

Steve shrugged. "Probably not."

"Then at least we always know where we stand with each other. That's the most important thing in a partnership." Danny glanced at his watch, surprised the morning had almost slipped away. "Look, I've got to run, but I suppose for you I could squeeze a lunch date into my busy schedule at around 12:30, but you'll have to pick it up because Kono and Chin are on the other side of the island following up on the Gorman case. I want my usual and I trust you have your wallet on you."

"I have my wallet, Danny." Steve frowned, sitting up straighter in his chair. "Where are you going?"

"Must you know every detail of my life, Steven?"

"Benevolent dictatorship, remember?"

Danny sighed. "In all the excitement of this past week, I'm not surprised you've forgotten my very important presentation which I took measures to clear with my over-controlling boss weeks ago."

"Gracie's class." Steve ran his hands through his hair. "Shit. The whole bring your ohana to school day."

"I'd ask you to come with as planned, but considering Tommy's little spiel on your recent press coverage, I think it might cause permanent scarring to some of the more squeamish kids in Grace's class if her Uncle Steve showed."

"Go." Steve waved him off. "You should have already been there an hour ago."

"I'm sure Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Step-Stan is all too willing to cover for me. Besides, Grace knew why I was going to be late." Danny pointed to the movies. "Hence her gift."

"Tell her I said thank you." Steve met his gaze. "That goes double for her Danno."

"You can express your gratitude to both of us this afternoon by treating us to dinner at The Hilton. It's my weekend and some surf and turf and hula should be just what the doctor ordered." Danny pointed to the trash can in the corner and the scattered file. "That is if you finish your very important paper work in time to come out and play with us."

Steve groaned. "Thanks for the reminder."

"Hey, what are partners for." Danny didn't give Steve time to answer, ignoring the gesture of body language he was sure the other man let fly once his back was turned. He had cleared the entrance and stairs, was almost to the sidewalk when he heard Steve call his name.

Danny stopped and turned around, already reaching into his back pocket. "I knew you didn't have your wallet."

Steve jogged to close the gap between them. "I have my damn wallet, wise ass."

"Then what's with the hot pursuit, Ponch? I thought we agreed on no long goodbye kisses at the office."

Steve stopped in front of him, his face flushed by the mad dash from his office. He grinned. "You forgot this."

Danny looked at the blue and green striped tie Steve was dangling in front of him like a prize trophy. "This return couldn't have waited until I got back? I do know where you live, you know. I have easy access to you color-coded closet."

"It's your lucky tie. The one Grace got you for Father's Day." Steve grabbed his wrist and placed the tie in his hand. "You should wear it for her today."

Danny felt a rush of affection which he hoped like hell didn't show on his face. Steve surprised him sometimes, and not all those surprises were of the nature that had him praying for both their survival. "Two good ideas in one day, Steven? What will you think of next?"

Steve's grin widened. "Nothing as tame as a Sponge Bob marathon, I can guarantee you that, Danno."

"Don't do that. Don't ruin this moment for me with the annoying nickname and one of your lascivious looks."

"Lascivious?" Steve's eyebrows arched dramatically.

"Yes. Lascivious. It means lewd, lecherous. Try putting down Guns & Ammo and picking up a book sometime." Danny removed his current tie, stuffing it in his pocket. He wrapped the other around his neck, letting it hang loose until he could use his car mirror to fix it. "I'm trying to bask in your atypical behavior as a civilized thoughtful human being for a change."

"Just don't get too used to it." Steve reached up and tugged at one end of the dangling tie. "I'm sure I'll revert back to my true salacious nature soon enough."

"No doubt," Danny batted his hand away. "Lucky for you the masachist in me happens to actually like that guy."

"Like? I know you love me, Danno and I know I'm your best friend." Steve folded his arms over his chest, his 'I just scored the winning touch down with five seconds to go' look making an appearance. "Someday you'll bring yourself to say it out loud."

"That will happen on the same day I profess my undying adoration for all things Hawaiian-including pineapple on my pizza, sand in my shorts, 90 degree weather at Christmas and coconuts."

Steve laughed. "Stranger things have happened, Brah."

"Don't hold your breath, Super SEAL-trust me when I say 87 seconds won't cut it."

"But I can go for 123 seconds."

"Which is about how much time I have to get to Grace's school." Danny would have loved to stay and continue the typical banter, which had been painfully missing from their relationship over the last week, but if he hoped to salvage any part of the morning with Grace he had to go. He and Steve would have time to catch up on their quota of verbal sparring when he made it back. He pointed at Steve. "Don't forget my extra noodles and silverware. Not all of us are freakishly adept with chop sticks."

"Yes, dear." Steve smirked, turning to head back to the Palace.

Danny patted his pockets, feeling for his keys. When he pulled them out, his discarded tie came with them. If Danny hadn't dropped it, if he hadn't stopped to pick it up, the first bullet would have hit him dead center in the forehead. As it was, the slug shattered one of the first floor windows in the justice building instead of Danny's skull, lodging in sheet rock, not gray matter, where HPD's forensics would dig it out hours later.

The sound of breaking glass, not the whiz of a bullet overhead had Danny standing, hand resting on his weapon as he turned to seek out Steve and locate whatever trouble his partner had managed to find in the middle of the day on a busy sidewalk in front of the Palace of all places. The unexpected punch in his back, the subsequent thrust in his chest that stole his breath and dropped him to his knees was the first inclination that he was the one in trouble, the one in the line of fire.

Tie and keys fell to the ground, gun momentarily forgotten as he brought both hands to the quickly growing swash of red across the front of his shirt. It was true what they said about time standing still when the unthinkable happened, because Danny felt everything around him slow to a crawl. Screams and shouts were distorted, dragging like when he and Matty would play their father's old Jazz albums on the wrong speed. He waited for the inevitable moment when his life would start to roll before his eyes like an old movie reel, but only one image floated through his mind.

"Grace," he managed his daughter's name, the taste of bitter copper tainting the sweet syllable on his tongue.

"Danny!"

The pain hit the second Steve reached him, hands grabbing Danny's arms. A fiery sensation that felt like a hot poker had been rammed between his shoulder blades consumed him as he registered the fact Steve had pulled him to his feet, was dragging him along at a brutal jog. Agony plowed past his body's first defense of shock and adrenaline eliciting a strangled cry that Danny had no power to stifle as they finally came to a jarring rest beside the shelter of the Camaro.

"Oh God, Danny. You're hit."

"No shit…" Danny managed.

Steve's hands were heavy like anchors as they lowered him to the pavement, propping him against the driver's door. His partner's fingers wrapped in Danny's shirt, keeping him from tipping over and grounded from the beckoning call of unconsciousness. "Hang on, man. Just stay with me."

"Steve…" Danny blinked, trying to grasp what exactly had happened, where the threat had come from and if said threat still existed. He fumbled for the gun at his side, his instinct to protect himself and more importantly his partner momentarily overriding the pain. Danny's fingers refused to cooperate, his body unwilling to listen to his mental commands as neurons and synapses fired elsewhere reacting to the unexpected trauma. There was an ominous ringing in his ears, but Danny caught bits and pieces of Steve yelling into his cell phone.

"Shots fired…Officer down…Hurry, damn it."

"Steve?" Danny squinted, sweat stinging his eyes as he tried to get a good look at his partner who had dropped his phone in lieu of his gun and had raised just enough to see over the roof of the Camaro.

"Easy, partner." Steve's one handed grip on his shirt tightened, holding him up, but also keeping him from moving to assist. "I'm here. Just take it easy."

"I'm shot…who the hell shot me?" It was a long list of prospects considering their stellar arrest record of prominent lowlife. Danny expected to be taken out in the line of duty someday, especially since partnering with Steve, just not in this way, not on a beautiful sunny morning in front of his office while simply walking to his car. He thought of Hillary Freeman lying bloodied and broken on the dock, like a little girl's discarded ragdoll. Even in death, surprise had registered on her slack features-her red mouth forming an O as if to say 'this was so not what I was planning on today'.

"Danno. Don't talk…just take it easy." Steve was right in front of him now, his face as grim as Danny had seen it. "Jesus. You're a mess."

Through the black dots dancing before him, Danny blearily watched Steve strip out of his shirt. He would have laughed, made some kind of joke about McGarrett's obscene propensity to be bare chested in public at least once a week and not wanting said image to be his last if another wave of pain hadn't threatened to knock him out.

"Fuck! That hurts." Danny groaned as Steve pressed the shirt hard against the hole in his chest.

"I know. I'm sorry," Steve rested his forehead against Danny's, his voice lowering. "Just keep breathing, partner. Stay with me."

Danny squeezed his eyes shut, trying to do what Steve asked. "What the hell…happened?"

"Sniper fire…from across the street. Assault rifle- someone who knows what their doing." Steve raised his head, searching the streets around them. "Back up and ambulance is on the way."

Danny snorted. "So much for Hawaii not being the streets of Afghanistan. With you around it's lucky I didn't step on a freaking landmine or get hit by a tank."

"Stop talking," Steve ordered. "For once, just please stop talking."

Danny licked his lips, tasting more copper and realizing he was in trouble. This was not a shoulder shot. He was not wearing his vest. Talking wouldn't be a problem for much longer, but there were things he needed to say-had to say now, just in case.

Breathing was getting harder to do. Suffocating was an experience Danny had definitely not wanted to repeat after the whole Sarin episode last year. It was too much like drowning; the prospect scared him more than the pain currently rippling across his nerves like an aftershock of an earthquake. He latched onto Steve.

"Listen." Danny forced a painful inhale, hating that he couldn't control the tremble that shook his frame. His voice faultered. "You have to promise me…take care of Grace. Tell her Danno loves her-tell her all the time."

"Shut up, Danny." Steve's command didn't have its usual heat and his attempt at Big Bad Scary SEAL face failed miserably. "You're going to be fine. You're going to make it. You hear me!"

Danny rolled his eyes. He knew his partner believed everyone was supposed to listen to him, to heed to his every order just because he said so, but that had never worked on Danny. It sure as hell wasn't going to work now when he was more than likely bleeding out in front of the justice building. "You watch her…don't let that schmuck Stan raise my baby. You be there for her…if I can't."

"The ambulance is almost here. I can hear it." Steve pressed harder on the wound; his body moving closer to Danny's as if he could will him to stay by sheer force alone. "Chin and Kono will be here soon. You have to hold on for us. Please, just stay with me."

"Steven…"

"Damn it, Danny you know I'd do anything for Grace, for you, but I won't need to..."

"Good," Danny managed a nod, despite the added torture Steve's perseverance was causing. Grace was in good hands-the best, and hopefully he'd given Steve a new mission that would keep him from doing anything crazy or suicidal if the worst should happen. The two most important people in Danny's life were accounted for. "She'll keep you out of trouble, too."

"That's your job."

"Thanks…for the reminder." It was a job Danny hadn't wanted in the beginning, one he'd often bitched and groaned about over the years, but it was a post he hated abandoning almost as much as the one he'd leave vacant as Grace's father. Steve could step into that role to some degree in Grace's life, Chin, too, but Danny was terrified there would be no one to fill his shoes at Steve's side.

It wasn't that he thought himself unique or by any means irreplaceable, but rather Danny merely knew Steve too well. The man would never afford anyone the opportunity to get past the defenses Danny had so easily permeated, the barriers Danny had somehow managed to maneuver past to reveal the alter-ego Steven McGarrett possessed underneath his blow'em-down, shoot'em-up, rules be damned, superhero SEAL persona. Steve wouldn't take the risk again, not after this, and that tore Danny up inside more than any bullet could.

"Hey, what are partners for?" Steve's free hand curled around the back of Danny's neck, solid and warm against Danny's clammy skin. "That's your favorite line whenever you call me out on something. Right? Danny?"

Danny was finding it increasingly hard to keep his eyes open, but the alien crack of panic in Steve's voice had him fighting harder to meet and hold the other man's imploring gaze. The face staring at him so beseechingly was unfamiliar, this look was uncategorized in Danny's portfolio of McGarrett impressions. It was painful to see, but impossible to look away from, like a beautiful dead girl shot down in a dirty alley on a perfect day in paradise.

"You were right…you can stop holding your breath now, Super SEAL."

"What?" Steve lifted his head to search out the sirens Danny could now hear in the distance before looking to Danny once more. "What am I right about?"

There was a braking squeal of police cars as they surrounded the area. Back-up had finally arrived. Danny could finally stand down after this unplanned profession of undying adoration.

"About you being my best friend, you goof and about Hawaii. You were right about Hawaii." Danny coughed, feeling something give way inside him. The pain was almost gone now, fading quietly into the background like the cheer of the crowd when a hitter comes up to bat. Its absence should have brought euphoric relief, but instead left Danny feeling cold, hollow. He shivered, managing to suck in another breath.

"I'm crazy about this fucking island- the insanely hot Christmases, the freakin' sand everywhere, inappropriate use of pineapple and all. I, Daniel Williams could quite possibly be Hawaii's number one fan. I even like Spam."

Steve blinked. Danny could see the mental wheels turning, his partner's worry for him growing by leaps and bounds until he recalled their conversation from earlier, from when the most excitement they banked on was Thai take-out and a mindless hour of Sponge Bob nonsense. Steve gripped him tighter, his forehead returning to rest against Danny's. "Hawaii loves you, too, Danno."

"Good to know where we stand, partner." Danny chuckled, the effort robbing him of the last of his energy. He closed his eyes, accepting it was safe to let go now. Steve would understand that the last two years had not been a waste; that something good would live on even if he had to bury Danny. Even at the end, Danny wouldn't have changed anything, not marrying Rachel only to lose her, not having Grace, only to share her with Stan, and not chasing the ghost of one family to Hawaii, only to find another teeming with life. It had all been worth the risk. Love always was.

To be continued…