Chapter 4

Hey guys , so here's another one. I hope you like and review. Oh, by the way, thanks for the reviews. Always.

Now lets see if the great mystery lies behind this curtain.

...

I can't hear love cause we're at war
And revenge is so loud and the drums are so proud
But oh, I'm in a cage and I hear mercy say "I'm here now"
And it's the only way out
I can't hear love cause we're at war
But revenge is so loud and the drums are so proud
But I'm still in a cage and I hear mercy say now
It's the only way out-

...

The whole day went on without them talking. Thank God there had been no case but the whole atmosphere in the office was so tense no one failed to notice it.

"Trouble in paradise?' Lou asked as he sensed the tense atmosphere

"It wouldn't be the first time." Chin acknowledged but dismissed it as their usual quibble. They would be back to normal in no time. As usual.

It wasn't until the next day and they had caught a case that everyone became a little worried. Steve and Danny could argue at the drop of a hat but it didn't take them time to make up. One minute they would be arguing and the next they would be laughing. Their arguments were hardly a thing of concern but this time it felt different.

"Guys, we've got a case lets go." Steve said as he walked out of his office. He seemed have to been barricading himself in his office since yesterday. Danny too.

"Chin, you're riding with me." Steve said, not stopping to see any reaction. Because there was a reaction of course. It wasn't unheard of for Steve of ride with any one of them when Danny was not around, but this was a little off. They were partners. What the hell happened that they wouldn't want to ride with each other? They were best friends. Chin froze for a minute and looked at Danny; he could not help but notice the devastated look on his face. He followed Steve to his Silverado, again another anomaly. Steve loved driving Danny's Camaro. If all was well, this would not be happening. Chin silently got into the car and decided to not poke the bear by putting his nose where it didn't belong. If Steve wanted to tell him he will. He started talking about the case and Steve just provided monosyllables absent minded.

What the hell was happening?

...

Kono looked askance at Danny as he drove them to the crime scene. He was concentrating too much on the road and was silent for most of the way. Which was way out of place. And silent? He kept sighing though, albeit absent minded. Kono had of course noticed what had just happened at the office. She was still trying to come to terms with it and not put too much weight into it.

"You ok brah?' Kono asked.

"Huh?' Danny said with a start, a lot like he was just realizing that Kono was with him in the car. "What?"

"I mean, you seem a little destructed, I had to call your name like three times just now."

"Sorry, I am just...I am ok thanks Kono."

"That's a lie if I ever heard one."

"You wouldn't be the first person to call me a liar these days." Danny said with another sigh.

"What's going on with you and Steve brah?"

Danny laughed his humourless giggle, "Trust me you do not want to talk about the elephant in the car right now. Just...trust me." They had already pulled out at the scene and with that Danny got out of the car. They walked together to the scene, Danny keeping his distance from Steve deliberately. It was some sort of cold war and Kono wondered how long this one was going to last. It felt weird. It had never been like this before with Steve and Danny.

They worked their crime scene perfectly, Danny hardly saying a word when Steve was around. They just avoided looking at each other but the work was done. And done well since it seemed it was all they were focusing on.

This dragged on for days and Kono had to bring it up to the rest of the team. Their leaders were miserable and they had to do something. Something huge was clearly going on.

The other time Steve had told Chin to ride with him again and this time Chin had to ask. "Um... you're not riding with your partner brah?" He asked a little hesitant because Steve seemed to be in a mood.

"I only ride with people I can trust." This time he said it looking at Danny pointedly then walked out. Danny remained quiet but he was clearly hurt by that dig. He of course refused to talk about it to Kono or anyone. Saying that it wasn't his place to say. Just something personal going on with Steve.

"Guys we need to do something." Kono urged the others. They were leaning on the computer table looking into Steve's office who seemed busy with some paperwork and then they looked into Danny's office who seemed to be pretending to be busy too.

"What do you supposed happened to start a cold war like that with these too. They are never like this." Lou said

"I know and I think it's serious. And if we don't do something one of them is gonna quit. Soon." Chin said

Kono gasped but she had kind of suspected the same thing. The way Danny was constantly in a contemplative mood. No one knew what he was thinking. What the hell could break such a bond as theirs?

"I think maybe Steve thinks Danny did something to breach his trust since we all heard that trust dig directed at Danny earlier." Chin said

"And Danny keeping quiet means he feels guilty." Kono said

"Yeah and Mcgarrett is pissed. Oh how do we fix this? " Lou said

"I have an idea. Let's organize a get together at your house Lou. Neutral ground. We invite them separately because they are likely to decline if they know the other is going to be there. Get them together on neutral ground so they can talk." She said

"Great idea. So how do we do that?"Chin asked. "They are both likely to catch on to what we are planning."

"We get creative brah. We get creative." Lou said, looking concerned at the two separate offices, Steve's and Danny's.

...

Danny could not take it anymore. He had to try. Steve was giving him the cold shoulder and according to him, with good reason. He felt so guilty for not telling Steve what he'd seen but at the same time didn't know how he could have told him. He didn't want to be the one to hurt him like that but it turned out he had hurt him anyway. He had hurt him more because Steve felt betrayed, by him. Steve was more angry with him than with the real people responsible. And Danny knew why. He was an ideal punching bag. Because he cared and Steve knew that. God only knows he had made Steve his own emotional punching bag more times that he could count. If that's what he needed he would be that for him now. If that's what he needed. If he would punch him and give him a beating Danny would take it without batting an eye, if that's what he needed. He would be whatever he needed right now. Anything to help him. If he could be in his place he would. Steve had been through so much and this was just a low blow. People had no right to play with someone's heart like that. This was just too much. And Danny had to help somehow. But how could he help if he was being relegated to the cold room. Steve didn't want to see him. He plain out looked straight through him. And that hurt. So he had to confront him. Once and for all.

He walked out of his office and made his way straight to Steve's. The guy was sitting in his chair staring out the window, albeit not seeing anything. Lost in his thoughts.

He knocked to get his attention. Steve turned from the window startled and seeing Danny standing there his face changed. It became cold. Unreadable. Danny could take his aneurysm face; he could even stomach Steve angry. Hell, he was ready to take a beating from the guy if that would help. Because at least Steve's anger would indicate his emotion. Something. But not this. No this cold indifferent exterior as if he was a stranger. Looking though him as if he couldn't see him. Shutting him out. He couldn't take that.

Danny cleared his throat, "Hey." He said hesitantly. Steve remained quiet, just staring at him.

"I need to talk to you." he said and Steve indicated a chair for him to sit. He didn't say anything. Just stared at him as if he was a stranger. One of his visitors he didn't know. Giving an attentive ear. Polite as ever. And it was all so coldly controlled. Danny wished he could look at him as if he were an enemy. At least that would indicate that he had a little of his emotion. Hate. It's an emotion after all. It's something.

Danny sat in the chair and waited, studying his mood. Not knowing where to start now.

"What can I help you with?" Steve said, coldly

Danny was thrown by his tone. They had come this far then. It had been days now without them talking and Danny had thought that by now he would have mellowed some. No luck. He was even worse now. Drawing further and further into himself he was not sure if he was going to be able to reach him now. He shouldn't have waited him out. He should have confronted him and let this out in the open. That's what he would normally do. But he'd been scared. This was too big. Too real.

"Steve we need to talk. I am sorry..."

"Excuse me but if this is not work related I am sorry but I can't help you." Steve said in that professional voice he usually allocates to perps and clients. It grind on him in the worst way.

"Steve..."

"Detective Williams!" Steve said in a low cold dangerous tone, standing from his chair to bang a first on his table for impact. He stood there hunched over. Leaning on his fists on the table. His eyes shot daggers into Danny's. Hard cold eyes. "If this is not work related please leave my office." He said in a tone that breached no argument.

Danny looked at him and saw...; well it wasn't his friend he saw. He was too far gone. He stood up and left the room. Mission impossible. Steve was lost to him. He didn't know how he managed to carry himself to his office. He was seeing double with despair. He was lost to him. Another brother lost to him. And it was his fault again. This time it was his own doing.

...

Steve pulled up at Grover's house where the team was having a get together of some sort. He had declined coming, not really feeling in the mood for a party. And also not ready to see Danny again after having to look at him all day at work when he couldn't avoid him. But Lou had asked him to give him a ride home since his wife was the one who had dropped him off at his house to invite him to the party. Since Steve had refused he still had to give Lou a ride back. Well he could do at least that. The party was due to start in a while anyway and he could maybe make his way back before anyone was even there. Anyone meaning Danny. He was never that punctual for parties anyway unless he was the one hosting them or Steve.

He didn't stop to let that fact get to him. He brushed it off as abruptly as it had cropped up into his mind.

He pulled up at Lou's house and Lou's wife was already out on the front porch waving to them with a smile. Hey boys, come on in. The party is about to start" She said, inviting them in with a smile."No Renee, thank but I am not coming in today. Got things to do. But have a fun day."

"Oh come on Steve, I made one of my famous cakes, family secret recipe. Come on in and at least have a taste before you go, huh?" She invited.

She was pretty convincing Steve had to be polite and stay. At least just for a little while.

Lou smiled triumphantly. Mission accomplished. He had made eyes with Chin who raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment of the fact.

Kono was still out, trying to work her own magic on Danny. They kept their fingers crossed that she would succeed.

Steve found himself staying a little longer than planed and Lou's wife had suddenly remembered a bridge class she was supposed to go to. Leaving only the Ohana alone. Will was conveniently out at a friend's house for the night. He relaxed as they made their way to the lanai for braii. Lou complete with an apron now, being the braii master that he claimed to be. Steve actually started to feel little lighter.

Kono and Danny eventually joined them at the back. A lot of 'hey guys' thrown at random and in no particular direction. The atmosphere had become awkward to say the least.

Steve tried, he really tried but every time he looked at Danny he wanted to punch something. Or someone. Or him. He brought it all back. Even if he had managed to put it all at the back of his mind seeing Danny made it all come back with a vengeance. And he did not want to show emotions. He did not show how hurt he was. And the only way to avoid a blow out was to leave. So he did. At least tried to. But Danny followed him into the house.

"You know what Steve you can be angry all you want..."

He turned and snorted, "You don't know what I want Danny."

"Look, you have a right to be pissed..."

"You think?'

"I know you've been dealt a blow, and you can be pissed all you want but quit being a bitch!" Danny said in an angry tone now.

"Oh, yeah? News flash mister, you don't tell me what to do."

"Look Steve, you're angry. I get it..."

"Angry? Angry would require care Danny. Angry would require that I care. I am certainly not angry with you." Steve said, taking deliberate steps towards Danny

It was now turning into a full blown fight and the others were now getting uncomfortable listening from outside. But they stayed out, knowing that the two friends needed to do this in order to get past whatever this was.

"Right, keep telling yourself that. But you're taking your anger unnecessarily on me..."

Steve snorted, "Unnecessary. Ha! Of course. Anyways like I said, I don't care Danny." Steve said looking straight at Danny.

That hurt but Danny went on, wanting to get through to him. It was proving to be difficult, and very very futile.

"Look, I wanted to tell you but it wasn't my place Steve."

"It wasn't your place? Ha! All of a sudden it wasn't your place when you make every aspect of my life your business now it was not your place?"

"What the hell did you want me to say?"

"How about, Oh hey Steve can you pass me that cup of coffee? Oh and by the way Joe White is actually your biological father?!" Steve thundered. It hurt. Saying it like that hurt so much he saw red. He wanted to hurt...something, someone. He wanted to cause as much pain as he was feeling. "No instead you looked at me every day at work and laughed with me while keeping something like that from me."

The others gasped outside as they heard it. Oh boy, so that's what this was all about. No wonder. Crap! Shit!

"Listen, I saw the document completely by accident in Joe's desk. I had no intention of knowing such a thing. I wish to God I had never seen it. If I could pluck my eyes out to unsee it I would." Danny said pleadingly.

"Oh? Why don't you do it then? In fact I would do it for you." Steve said menacingly.

The look in Steve's face was lethal; it would scare Danny if he wasn't too concerned about his friend's emotional state right now. He took a conciliatory step forward and stretched his hand out to touch Steve, "Come on Steve..."

Steve flinched away, "Don't touch me."

It was delivered in a cold voice Danny flinched too at that tone. It was like a knife going through his heart.

"Steve..." He tried again

"Let me tell you something Mr 'it didn't concern me'. Nothing about me concerns you now do you get me? You don't know me and I don't know you."

"Take a freaking punch at me if that's what would make you feel better Steve. Ok? This is not you and this is not..."

"Not what? Not us? We've never been friends Danny. We've never been bothers. You were pretending and frankly I don't care anymore." He looked him in the eyes with such cold disillusionment it tore at Danny's heart. "You hear me, I don't care. You mean nothing to me."

"Don't say that. Don't you say that! Not to me." His voice coming out raw with emotion

Steve took another step towards Danny to drive his point home. "You mean nothing to me. Nothing."

He could see the damage he was causing as he looked into Danny's eyes. Each word bringing out each own expression from his eyes but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. He was in a rage and he was lashing out. He wanted to do the utmost damage. If he had his grenades with him he would try and blow something up.

"Steve stop. Stop it." Danny pleaded. Every word from Steve was like a twist of a knife, he could not take it anymore. He couldn't breathe right. God! This wasn't happening. All because he saw a stupid piece of paper and didn't talk about it. What the hell!

"What? Stop what Daniel? What do you want? You want your liver back?"

"Steven!"

"Here, give me a knife and i will carve it out myself. That's what you want isn't it?"

"You son of a bitch!"

"Oh you would be right. You sir are so going to the head of the class. Cause that would be my mother."

"Guys guys stop. Alright? Just stop now before you say things you cannot take back." Chin had bust in from outside to stand between them. Having had enough of this.

Danny laughed mirthlessly, "Oh I'd say you're a tidbit late there Chin."

"Come on guys, you can't do this." Chin pleaded again. The others had also come in.

Steve turned to look at Chin, all his wrath in his eyes, "Chin get outa my face and let me pass. Believe me you do not want to get yourself involved in this." He said and pushed his way past Chin to walk out of the door. He got into his truck, slammed the door and drove off, tyres screeching.

The room was quiet, still. "I am so sorry Danny." Kono said sympathetically.

Danny swallowed, "Well i would have told you this wouldn't work if you'd asked me." He said in resignation.

"Chin can you please go after him? He needs someone to look out for him right now. He shouldn't be alone." Danny said in a low voice to Chin, his spirit crushed.

"Are you sure? After what just happened?" Chin asked hesitantly.

"Trust me he needs someone. Don't worry, he's well spent now. He needed an emotional punching bag and I was it. Now he needs a shoulder even if he never really gets to use it. You're it Chin. You go. Just be there. He'll talk when he's ready." Danny said

"Well you do know your boy well." Chin said

"Not anymore. I guess it's over now." He said dejectedly as he walked out and drove off in his car.

Lou looked at Kono, "You know, he needs someone too. Don't you think you should go after him?"

"No, Danny actually needs his space right now. The only person he could tolerate in his space at a time like this has gone off on the rails in the opposite direction." She said, solemnly. "I'll give him a little bit of space then i'll follow when its clear. Right now he needs to try and process this."

"Well you do know him." Lou said with a shake of his head.

...

Alright now. Do let me know. And see you in a bit.