Danny dialed Chin, "Hey Danny, your appointment go okay?"
"Chin, listen brother. Steve's been hurt"
"What do you mean? Isn't he with Grace?"
"Yeah. She's not hurt, she's with Duke. I'll be there in a few minutes. He was hit by a car. I don't have a lot of time right now. Chin, can you call Kono"
"Yes, do you want us at the scene or the hospital?"
"Jesus Chin, uuuum the scene. Let's all start there. Kailani Creamery"
"Okay brother, we'll be there soon. Hang in there"
Danny pulled up to the scene parking behind Steve's truck, instantly spotting the deathly still form of his partner fifty feet away. He raced to Steve's side and upon seeing the condition of his bloodied partner he had to fight off a wave of nausea and dizziness. A friend of his from the HPD grabbed his arm steadying him. "Danny, you okay?"
Michael and Natalie were off to the side and they glanced at the detective upon hearing his name.
Danny turned to the HPD Officer, his voice shaking with emotion, "Yeah John…how is he?"
"It doesn't look good buddy. He's busted up pretty bad"
"But he was conscious?"
"Not since we arrived. He spoke to one of the witnesses over there, the young lady"
"Yeah…Duke told me" Danny knelt down next to Steve's head addressing the EMT's, "I'm his partner, how is he?"
"What's your name?"
"Danny, Danny Williams. This is my partner Steve McGarrett. He's the head of the Governor's 5-0 Task Force…now how is he?"
"Danny, we're trying to stabilize him before transporting him. He has a serious head injury and numerous broken bones including a compound fracture of the clavicle. We're concerned about internal bleeding. I need you to step back so we can keep working on him okay?"
Danny reached down and running a hand through Steve's blood-soaked hair he spoke softly into his ear, "I'm here Steve….you hang on buddy, I'm here"
Natalie watched on as Danny spoke to Steve and then backed away unsteadily, the man clearly shocked at the sight of his battered partner. The young lady was deeply touched and she turned to her boyfriend burying her face into his chest, sobbing softly.
Danny stood motionless for a couple of minutes, his eyes not leaving his prone partner. The EMT's had inserted an IV into his right forearm sending fluids into his body. One of the men was gently wrapping Steve's head. The injuries to his face included a large raw and bloody patch on his cheek, down across his jaw. Danny could see pieces of tar and pebbles imbedded in his flesh. A large blood-soaked bandage covered his right eye and Danny was truly afraid to ask what the extent of that damage was. They had torn Steve's shirt off and cut down the right side of his cargo pants. From the road rash that covered the entire right side of his body it was obvious that he had slid several feet after hitting the ground. He saw the left arm and shoulder which the EMT's had strapped tightly to his body. Another blood-soaked bandage covered the broken and exposed clavicle.
Keeping his eyes trained on his fallen partner Danny moved over to John's side as he was talking to Michael and Natalie. He introduced himself and shook their hands, "Thank you both for taking care of Steve until help arrived. Did he say anything else other than it wasn't an accident and to watch Gracie?"
Natalie answered, "No Danny…he was in a great deal of pain. It was hard for him to talk"
The lump in the detectives throat was so large he couldn't talk right away. After taking a couple of deep breaths he thanked them again and turned to John, "I need to get to Gracie. Chin and Kono should be here any moment. Will you stay with him until they get here?"
"Of course, go"
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After one final glance down at his partner, Danny raced into the Ice Cream Parlor.
He was calling her name as he entered, "GRACIE! GRACIE!"
She looked up, and at the sight of her Daddy she began sobbing hysterically, "DDADDY…..DDAADDY"
The woman seated on the isle slipped from the booth and Danny reached past her to grab his baby girl and pull her into his arms.
"I've got you Gracie…ssshhhhhhhhh…Danno's here"
"Daddy…..Unncle SSteve…..a…..a….car hhit him"
Her face was buried into his shoulder and he stroked her hair. "I know baby. The ambulance is here and they're taking good care of him now"
"Is hhe ookay?"
"He's hurt bad baby, but they're taking care of him. Did you get hurt?"
"Nnnoo…Uncle Stteve pushed mme out of the wway….hhe ppushhed mme sso hard"
"He pushed you hard because he had to and I'm so glad he did Monkey. He kept you safe. I need to call your Mommy so she can come and get you. I need you to stay right here with these nice ladies alright?"
"Daaddy don't go…..ppplease"
He kissed her, "You'll be able to see me, I'll be right at the counter over there"
She nodded in agreement and Danny set her back onto the bench. He asked the lady, "Ma'am thank you for all you've done. Can you please stay with her for just a bit longer?"
"Of course I can"
Danny motioned to Duke and the two men moved to the counter a few feet from the child.
"Duke, what happened?"
"From what I've been told, witnesses saw Steve look to his left before he stepped out onto the road. Then as he turned back towards Gracie a Dodge Caravan pulled from the curb and sped towards him. They all stated it took only seconds for the car to hit him and they figure it was traveling at least forty miles an hour. Danny, from what I'm being told, I don't think Gracie saw much, if anything. The ladies told me her face was down at the moment of impact. They say she turned to look back but he had been thrown in the air. The ladies grabbed Gracie and kept her from looking. They ran in here immediately. Danny…he definitely saved Gracie's life, he pushed he forward just before he was hit. He was thrown about fifty feet and then they say he slid on his side a good fifteen feet. What are the paramedics saying?"
"They're still trying to stabilize him before moving him…Duke, he said it wasn't an accident?"
"From what the witnesses tell me Danny, I agree. They all say that the car pulled from the curb and accelerated, moving directly towards them. Three people say that they saw the car arrive right after Steve did"
"So he was being followed?"
"That's what it sounds like. How do you want to do this Danny?"
"I'm not going to take a chance….his instincts are hardly ever wrong. Either myself or one of my team will stay at Rachel's but I'd like HPD back-up at the house and at the hospital. Steve's got a lot of enemies…there's a chance he could have been the target as well"
"I agree, no problem…..I will get the back-up units set up"
"Thank you Duke"
As the Detective moved a few feet away to make his calls, Danny dialed Rachel.
"Hello Daniel"
"Hi Rach, how did it go?"
"I'm not pregnant"
"I'm sorry"
"Oh don't be…..it's alright"
"Really? While we can discuss the mystery behind that response another time….."
"What's wrong Danny?"
Danny explained what had happened and that Steve thought Gracie may be in danger. He let her know that she was shook up and worried about Steve but she was physically unharmed. "I haven't asked her any questions yet because she's upset, but I don't think she saw much" He let her know that he would be home with her shortly and that until they knew more he would be staying, and they would have HPD protection around the house.
He was just finishing up when Duke poked his head through the door, "Danny…he's asking for you"
"Rachel I have to go, Steve needs me. We'll be there soon"
"Danny…."
"RACH, I have to go…..please, I'll see you soon"
"Yes, yes…go"
He hung up the phone and moved quickly to the table, "Gracie, I need to go help Uncle Steve baby okay?"
She nodded, saying softly "Okay"
Danny turned and raced from the Ice Cream Parlor following Duke.
******* MUCH MORE TO FOLLOW – HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING ! ********