Take Two: Chapter Two
Michael Novak owned a small condo in the middle of the bustling city. Steve and Danny had visited the neighborhood many times over the years. The people who lived in the condos were relatively well off. Consequently, a few had been murdered for their wealth. Either that or they had gotten into trouble themselves. Steve had taken to calling it "Condo Deadly."
"That's still not funny." Danny informed him as they got out of the car.
Steve shrugged. "It's condo funny."
"I'm ignoring that."
The partners reached the door. Steve started to knock, but noticed the door was already slightly ajar. Danny took his gun out of its holster and swallowed. Steve nodded at him.
Danny went in first, moving forward. Steve was at his heels, turning left. Quietly, they checked each of the rooms. Both knew exactly which way the other would turn, and they effectively checked the house in a matter of minutes. They met once more in the living room.
"Clear." Steve said.
"Yeah, but it's been sacked." Danny responded. "If Michael wasn't kidnapped here, someone put on a hell of a show to make us think otherwise."
"Or to get rid of any evidence." Steve put on his gloves and began to search the draws of the cabinet that held up the television. Danny checked the trash cans. In one, he found a phone. It was dead. The screen was broken. Danny put this is a bag and held it up to Steve.
"This was definitely where he was taken." Steve said. He went to the kitchen and began to check the cupboards. He was searching for any sign of where Michael could be. But there was nothing. The cupboards were empty.
"Danny." Steve said. He opened the refrigerator. No food. "Does someone actually live here?"
Danny went over and joined his partner. The pantry was empty as well. Frowning, he opened the dishwasher. There were no dishes, save for a single spoon, which awaited washing. "Huh." Danny picked up the spoon. "At least they left us with a spoon, huh?"
"No, look." Steve took the spoon and turned it around. A small flash drive was taped to the back.
"Oh, smart guys." Danny raised his eyebrows. "Clever kidnappers. You know I love when they leave clues, babe."
Later in the afternoon, after Danny and Steve continued searching Michael's condo, Danny drove Steve back to headquarters. He had to pick Grace up from school. Moreover, Charlie was going to spend the weekend with his father. This was Danny's first time hosting Charlie, and he was beyond excited. And completely nervous, although he vehemently assured Steve he had everything under control as he kicked him out of his car. He was already going to be late to the school.
Steve walked back onto 5-0's floor and found Chin in his office. Chin was filling out his daily report, a habit he had kept from his years with the Honolulu Police Department. Steve knocked twice before opening the door.
"I've got the evidence in my office." Steve said.
"Really." Chin stopped typing and watched Steve take a seat in a hair opposite Chin's desk.
"Yeah, well, we need to brief Eric on proper etiquette for off-the-record cases." Steve sighed. "I'm hoping Danny will do that tonight."
"That should be interesting." Chin sounded amused, and was about to comment further when he noticed the look in Steve's eye.
"Doesn't this remind you a bit too much about everything that went down with Danny's brother? I mean, c'mon, this is almost exactly the same."
"There are similarities, yes." Chin started cautiously. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Danny doesn't need that sort of stress. Besides, we don't have indication towards cartel involvement, Steve. This could just be a…regular kidnapping. Whatever that means. In any case, a coincidence."
Steve nodded, but was unsure. "Okay, well, your opinion is as good as any."
"Well, thanks."
"Of course." Steve flashed a cheeky grin before standing. "I'm going to stop by Danny's place tonight and make sure Eric knows what's going down. I'm not sure I trust his big mouth to stay closed yet."
"I agree." Chin said. He had gone back to typing. "Abby and Lou should be back soon. I sent Kono home."
Steve nodded. "Okay. She all right?"
"Yeah, but she didn't get much sleep last night." Chin would know. He had gotten the same amount of sleep as she did. He knew she didn't want to be treated any lesser than anyone else on the team, but she was tired, Chin could tell. She didn't argue with him.
That night, much to Danny's surprise, he was joined by his ex-wife. Despite Danny's wishes, Grace had convinced her father to let Rachel stay for dinner. Both parents were nervous about Charlie, especially with Charlie staying over with Danny for the weekend. Danny had not known how nervous Rachel was until halfway through a relatively awkward dinner Rachel announced she had gone back on her original plan to have Charlie stay the weekend.
Rachel just didn't want Charlie exposed to a new environment yet. All Charlie had known for the past few months had been her home and the hospital. She was afraid he might become sick, and she wouldn't be there with him.
Danny was silent. He didn't want to yell at her in front of Charlie, not like he used to in front of Grace. But he was upset. He had been preparing for this night for weeks. He could feel Grace's eyes on him. She was waiting for him to stick up for himself. Slowly, he cleared his throat and set down his fork.
"Rachel, can we speak in the kitchen, please?"
They didn't get the chance, for at that moment Eric burst through the door. Danny was infinitely relieved. Eric, who had been living with Danny since his move to Hawaii, often arrived home at odd hours. This was the closest to dinner he had ever come home.
Eric was still wearing his lab coat. In fact, Danny had only not seen Eric in his lab coat a few times. He wore it around the house nearly all hours. Eric's employment status was the source of all of his happiness.
"Family!" He said enthusiastically, staring in surprise at the tense table of four. There was one empty, next to Rachel. Supposedly, it was for him. Eric wouldn't know. He hadn't been home for dinner before. "Wow! There you all are. This is so good. Hi, Aunt Rach! Long time no see. Wow. You all look great. Let me take a picture, huh? C'mon, Uncle D. For grandma."
"Eric, I feel like I lose a year of my life every time you take a picture. Sit down, would ya?" Danny said, flustered. Eric took a picture anyway before sitting down at the table. He kissed Rachel on the cheek and hi-fived Rachel and Charlie. "You make this, Uncle D?" Eric gestured towards the pasta. "Of course you did. Such a chef. Such a chef." He served himself some food and began to eat manically.
Grace and Charlie giggled. Rachel sent Danny a sympathetic glance. Danny looked away quickly.
"Eric, where were you today? Huh? Not in the lab?"
"Uh-huh." Eric shook his head between bites of food. "I was with Dr. Bergman and Fong. Occasionally they like to give me lessons and such. Fong likes to know I'm not royally messing up his old job, you know."
"Well, when you're available, we'd like to ask you for a favor." Danny rolled his eyes.
"Okay. Shoot." Eric encouraged.
Danny cleared his throat. "A work favor."
"Ohh." Eric nodded knowingly. "My bad, Uncle D. I understand. An after dinner discussion."
"Right." Danny smiled forcefully. He then turned his fake smile to Rachel Edwards. "Rachel," he said. "Please rethink your decision."
"Daniel, I've made my decision." Rachel responded. "I'm sorry."
"Mom, that's not fair. You said you would let Charlie stay." Grace protested.
"Charlie can't stay?" Eric asked. "Oh, c'mon, Auntie Rach, Uncle D and I cleaned up the whole place yesterday in preparation! We could have had dinner off of the floor, I'm telling ya. Auntie Rach, c'mon."
"Like I said, I'm not comfortable with Charlie being in a new environment."
"New environment?" Eric scoffed. "Auntie Rach…I mean, are you serious? This didn't have to be a new environment."
"Okay," Danny laughed nervously. "You done with dinner, kids? Grace, why don't you turn on the game, huh? Take your brother with you."
"Sorry, too much?" Eric asked as Grace took Charlie, and they left the table.
"Yeah, bud. Too much." Danny said.
"All right. I concede. My bad. But really, if you're so worried about Charlie, why don't you just stay over? Easy fix, am I right?"
"Oh, I don't think so-"
"Are you kidding?" Danny and Rachel protested at the same time. They both looked away from each other.
"Ooookay." Eric held up his hands in surrender. "All I'm saying is that, if it's about the environment, he's here already. It won't hurt for him to stay one night. Just one night."
"I'll think about it." Rachel said finally. "I will."
"That's all I ask." Danny said sincerely. He stood up and began to clear the dishes. Eric winked at him. He was clearly proud of himself. Eric could hear him complimenting the food again as Danny brought the empty dishes to the kitchen.
"Let me help you, Danny." Rachel said, standing up as well. Danny wished she wouldn't, but didn't have the guts to say no. He needed her to let Charlie stay the night. She brought some dishes to the kitchen as Eric joined his cousins in the living room.
"Busy day?" Rachel tried to start a conversation. Danny wasn't in the mood. He shrugged noncommittally and took a plate from her hand, washing the extra food off before putting it in his dishwasher.
"Daniel." Rachel started again. She put a hand on his forearm. "Please. I can tell something isn't right. Something more than just Charlie."
She was right, of course. Danny closed his eyes briefly, leaning against the counter. He tried to shrug, but realized Rachel would be persistent.
"It's just a case. I can't discuss it, but I…I don't know. There are a lot of similarities with Mattie. How he died."
"I'm sorry. That's tough."
Danny scoffed. Yes, it was tough. It was "tough" that his brother was dead, and that it was all his fault.
"Danny, have your sisters forgiven you, or-?"
Much to Danny's relief, this question was cut off by two successive knocks on the door. Danny knew immediately it was Steve. He put the dish in his hand in the dishwasher and walked briskly past Rachel to his door.
Indeed, Steve stood outside. He smiled at Danny. "Hey, man."
"Hey yourself." Danny could not express how happy he was to get out of Rachel's interrogation. He would have been happy to see any number of wanted criminals at the door. He opened the door to let Steve in.
Steve noticed Rachel first as he did his precursory sweep around the house from where he stood. Grace, Eric, and Charlie were watching a basketball game. Well, Eric was Grace on texting. Charlie was playing with a Barbie and a Batman action figure. Grace waved at him. Eric gave a cheeky salute.
"I can do that, Rach." Danny was saying to Rachel, as she continued to wash the dishes. "Don't worry about it."
Rachel caught Steve's eye. "Hello, Steve." She said.
"Rachel. You here to drop off the kiddos?" Steve said. Danny glanced at Rachel, hopeful.
"Um, yes." Rachel eventually said. "Daniel was kind enough to invite me to dinner. I was…I was on my way out, as it were. I'll just go fetch Charlie's things from the car." Rachel nodded to herself and walked past the men and out the door.
"I could kiss you, babe." Danny instantly wheeled to face his partner. "You just saved my ass."
"Yeah? Wouldn't be the first time." Steve grinned.
"Rachel was about to take Charlie with her. Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Steve waved Danny's words aside. "Just know that you owe me." His smile faded briefly as he looked at a framed picture of Danny with his siblings on the wall. "How are you, man?"
Danny saw where Steve was looking. "I'm fine. Really," he continued when Steve didn't seem to believe him. "I'm fine. Are there similarities? Yes. Does that mean this case has anything to do with Mattie? No."
"Okay, if you're good I'm good." Steve shrugged. "Have you had a chance to talk to Eric?"
"Not yet. Fong and Max had him tied up most of the afternoon. He's probably still processing most of the ten-letter words that were said to him."
Steve laughed as he went into the living room. He kissed Grace on the top of the head and shook little Charlie's hand. "E," he said, then, glancing at Danny's nephew. "Come with us."
Eric jumped to his feet.
Danny opened the door as Rachel returned from the car. She handed Danny a small bag with a change of clothes and toiletries Charlie would need, as well as his medicine. "Now," she started, "he takes the small blue pill right before bed, but he takes this one an hour before he sleeps. I would go ahead and give that to him as soon as you can, all right? And then, if he-"
"I've got it, Rach. Really." Danny reassured his ex-wife. He took the bag from her hand. He knew his son's medicinal regiment by heart. He had listened just as intently as Rachel when the nurses and doctor explained the regiment. He took mental notes, and was ready to test his knowledge. "We'll be fine."
"I know." Rachel admitted. "I know. I just…"
"You sure you don't want to stay?"
Rachel was surprised. Danny was surprised he had said it, too. "It's not ideal, I know, but-"
"No." Rachel said quickly. "No, I wouldn't want to intrude. I'll just wish the children goodnight and be on my way." She smiled at her ex-husband and went into the living room. Danny watched Grace half-heartedly hug her mother (she was still on her Danno's side, though it all). Charlie, however, ran to his mother. She scooped him up in her arms and kissed him. When she set him down, she smiled once more at Steve and Eric. Eric, as always, threw an arm around her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Easy, E." Steve rolled his eyes. Rachel pulled away from her former nephew and returned to the doorway.
"Thank you." Danny was grateful. He pulled Rachel into a hug. He kissed her on the cheek quickly.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning, then. Not too late? Is your work schedule the same?"
Danny assured Rachel he would drop off Charlie the next morning. He opened the door for her and watched her get into her car and drive away. He didn't notice Steve, Grace, Eric, and Charlie staring at him.
"They sure are friendly." Grace muttered under her brother.
Steve stared at Grace, surprised. "Okay, you're rubbing off on her." He shot Eric a look before taking him by the arm and leading him into the kitchen.
"Am not." Eric protested. "Hey, Uncle D, you need any help?" Eric asked Danny, who had gone back to the dishes.
"You really want to help?" Danny asked.
"Well, no, but we've got company, so I figured I should ask. You know, be polite."
"Would you just talk to him, please?" Danny asked Steve exasperatedly. "I've got a lot to do tonight."
"Yeah, of course." Steve noticed little Charlie's bag. He was sure there were various pills inside. He felt so bad for Danny, Rachel, and Charlie. He couldn't imagine what they were going through.
"Listen, Eric. Last night we received a distress call."
"Translation: someone asked for help." Danny rolled his eyes.
"Okay, and?" Eric was confused.
"We're in the process of an off-the-books investigation. You understand what that means, right?" Steve continued.
"Yeah, of course. More fun."
Danny muttered something under his breath. Steve rubbed his temple.
"Totally kidding, guys." Eric said quickly. "C'mon. I get it. Don't tell anyone. Be quiet about it. Off the books. You need something looked at?"
"Come to headquarters tomorrow, all right?" Steve said. "We've got everything in Chin's office."
"Yeah, no problem. I love seeing where Uncle D works." Eric nodded eagerly. He glanced at the two men for a moment before speaking again. "So, I mean, can I ask?"
"What?" Steve and Danny asked at the same time.
"What's the case about?" Eric looked between Steve and Danny, who still had his back to the two. "Murder? Robbery? Assault?"
"There was a kidnapping." Steve admitted, hoping Eric would shut up.
"Ohhhh yeah." Eric nodded eagerly. "Awesome. Life in danger. Let me guess: ransom? We have to act now? Wicked. I can go right now. You want me to go right now?"
"What, to HQ?" Steve was surprised.
"Yeah, why not? Uncle D doesn't talk to me much past seven p.m., anyway."
"That's not true-" Danny turned around. "Sometimes I ask you to stop whatever it is you're doing at the moment."
"That's not talking, Uncle D. That's just telling."
"Okay." Steve interjected. "E, if you want to head down there now, that would be a huge help to us."
"Okay, but get some sleep, huh?" Danny had finished with the dishes. He put the leftover food in the refrigerator.
"There're those words of encouragement I like so much." Eric grinned at his uncle.
"Yeah, all right." Danny rolled his eyes. Eric laughed and stood. He was still wearing his lab coat, and went to grab his keys.
"You going back with him?" Danny asked as Steve went to stand next to Danny.
"I hadn't planned on it." Steve sighed. "Originally, I planned on watching the game with you and kids."
"Ah, checking on me during my first night with Charlie, huh?" Danny read between the lines.
"You know he takes the small blue pill right before bed, but the-"
"Yes, thank you, Rachel. I know what medicine my son needs." Danny joked. Steve sensed a bit of annoyance.
"Yeah, no, of course you do." Steve cleared his throat. "Listen, if you want me to go back and babysit Eric, I'd be happy to keep him on a short leash."
"Well, one of us has got to be there." Danny said. "I don't want him in HQ without a member of 5-0."
"Agreed." Steve nodded. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms across his chest. Eric had returned to the living room and was making small talk with Charlie, who giggled. Danny and Steve watched the interaction.
"Hey, listen, man, I'm happy for you." Steve said. "You know, that Charlie's here for the night."
"It was supposed to be for the weekend." Danny leaned against the counter, too.
"Yeah, well one night is better than nothing. Besides, he's going to miss Rachel in about-"
"-twenty minutes." Danny finished. Steve scoffed. Danny was probably right.
"All right, am I driving or you?" Eric returned to the kitchen.
"I am." Steve paused. "That shouldn't be a question." Eric took the hint.