Chapter 7

Sunday evening, 2230 GYT

The guard had changed. This time, Jackson and Buck were on lookout; Jackson keeping watch over Buck as much as he was watching the terrain. But Buck had insisted that he share some of the burden and he was raring to prove to the team that he was capable of handling himself.

McGarrett was itching to be out there himself, but Ali was asleep, her head on his leg. He was afraid she would wake up if he scooted out from under her and he didn't want her to wake and find him not there at all. So, he relied on his team to do the bulk of the work; something that was difficult for him to do.

The guards signaled they were coming into camp and quietly returned. "Got company," Jackson reported. "Three to four clicks back but they are headed this direction. Not too quietly, I might add."

"Count?"

Buck replied, "I would say twelve to fifteen. No more – do you agree?" he looked at Jackson for confirmation.

Jackson nodded. "Twelve would be my guess, too. Should we engage, Sir?"

Each team member turned to Steve for his decision. He glanced at Boomer who gave him a thumbs-up. This was McGarrett's mission, but it was wise to know that everyone was on the same page. He then looked down at Ali, still asleep, and made his decision.

"We engage. Let's stay together and hit 'em fast and hard. Grayson, you're point. Let's meet them on their way. Gear up."

Steve slid his leg out from beneath Ali and picked her up. He stood and carried the sleeping girl to Boomer.

"I know this isn't exactly what you signed on for, but think you two will be all right?" he asked the wounded man.

"Hell, yeah."

"Watch your language."

"She's asleep, Doggie. I've got this covered. You get out of here."

McGarrett made sure Flopsy was in Ali's hand and then covered her up with the blanket, tucking the ends around her.

"What a worry wart," Boomer complained. "Now, git."

"Tell her I'll be back, OK?"

"Do you wanna write her a letter? Get out of here," Boomer ordered him with a jerk of his head. "Go."

Steve checked the knife in its sheath on his back, pulled extra rounds of ammunition and placed them in his pockets, felt the SIG in its holster and reached for the carbine; all movements performed on auto pilot. Old habits do die hard.

The team congregated at the edge of their camp, before quietly blending as one into the jungle foliage, leaving Boomer and a still-sleeping Aliyana alone under the bright moon.

~~~H50~~~

They watched as the enemy troops approached, hoping to keep the element of surprise. But good soldiers know when they are being watched, and this group was no exception. They grew quiet about a click away, tightening their ranks as they continued closer.

Even though the moon was a help, allowing the SEALs to see the terrain and the enemy coming, it was also a hindrance, allowing the other side to pick up their movement in the trees as well.

McGarrett took a hefty rock and threw it to his left, hitting a tree. A volley of shots were fired toward the tree, giving them better locations of the men. The firefight ensued, rapid shots fired from both sides. Steve remained closest to their camp as the others advanced, in case someone decided to break away from the other side and run in Boomer and Ali's direction.

Vega and Grayson went wide and came up on the enemy from the side, reducing the enemy troops by two with quick bursts of well-placed shots.

McGarrett saw movement heading his direction and he moved quietly to intercept the man while slowly removing the knife from its place on his back. It was a dance, and he matched the other man move for move, coming closer with each step.

The gunfire was lessening and he listened, only one weapon returning fire toward his men. Whether they had been eliminated or had retreated, they would know later. McGarrett continued to watch the movements of his aggressor, waiting for the man to reach his position.

The soldier reached the small clearing and turned in Steve's direction, searching the trees for a sign that he had been made. McGarrett stepped out, his SIG leveled on the man. He switched on the laser, the light shining in the man's eyes.

"Looking for me?"

The man's weapon swung in his direction. Steve quickly killed the light and dove sideways, firing his SIG as the man also fired. He went down, as McGarrett rolled and came back to his feet.

Immediately after, he heard another shot, coming straight from the camp. He ran through the brush, the hand holding the knife, hacking the vines in front of him. He reached the clearing at the same time Buck and Jackson entered from the other side.

Boomer had pushed himself up, leaning against the log; one hand still holding the weapon, his other placed protectively on Ali's back. A soldier lay dead, not more than ten feet from where they sat.

Steve crossed over to Boomer's other side and slid to the ground, reaching for the blanket. Ali held on tightly to the blanket, clutching it in her fists, making it hard for Steve to pull it away. "Ali, it's OK, Baby. Told you I'd come back. Everything is all right."

Hearing his voice, she jumped up from Boomer's side and wrapped both arms around Steve's neck, squeezing tightly as he stood up with her, patting her back. "It's OK, I promise. It's over. No one will hurt you."

He looked down at Boomer, nodding his thanks to the other man.

Boomer waved the gun. "Any time. She was great, by the way. Did exactly what you said, hunkered down and didn't move."

"Good girl!" He continued to hold her and turned toward his team. Grayson and Buck had pulled the soldier's body out of sight into the jungle and made a swift check of their immediate area before returning.

"Are Vega and Jackson still out in the field?"

"Affirmative," Grayson replied. "We think we had some runners."

"We'll get them," he assured the SEAL as the last two team members returned to camp.

"We counted ten out there," Grayson reported.

"Boomer got one," McGarrett pointed in the direction of the body, "and I got one on his way here. Twelve total."

"I'm guessing there are at least two more out there," Vega reported. "Maybe three."

McGarrett glanced at the position of the moon, shining brightly and nearly overhead. "OK, we move out. Let's put some distance between us while we can."

They quickly broke camp, removing all evidence that they had ever been there.

Sunday evening, 2130 hours (HST); early Monday, 0330 hours (GYT)

"Something's wrong," Danny announced, running his hands through his already-mussed hair.

"You don't know that," Chin replied. "He said he would call if he could."

"Yes, but that was, what? Six p.m. - over three hours ago. And he didn't call. I'm going to call him."

"Are you sure about that, Brah?" Kono asked. "I mean, what if he can't talk. It isn't like he's got voice mail."

"Besides," Chin added. "It's the middle of the night where McGarrett is. Maybe he'll call when it is morning there."

"I'd feel better knowing—"

The phone that was bouncing with each shake of his leg, rang.

A deceptively calm and collected Danny answered the phone while he grinned at Chin and Kono.

"Williams."

"Hey."

"What's wrong? You sound out of breath."

"Who said anything's wrong? We're on the move is all."

"At three-honkin'-thirty-in-the-morning? "

"We…had visitors."

"Is that why you're whispering?"

"No, that's because I've got… never mind, that's a—"

"—long story, I'm sure," Danny finished for him.

"Any luck with transport?" Steve asked.

"As a matter of fact, your friend Dave is one very resourceful guy. All you need to do is call when you are ready, and he'll make sure you have transport. All he needs are the coordinates of where to pick you up."

"Well, we are working on that. We're close to the river separating the two countries. We won't cross until after daybreak, which is in a couple of hours. After we cross over into Suriname we can find a place for a chopper to land. I can call and relay the coordinates at that time."

"Dave said to tell you his man could reach you in an hour and a half, two hours tops, depending how far inland you are."

"Sounds good," McGarrett replied. "Hey, what's that noise?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. I'm outside – a plane just went over."

"OK, thanks man. I owe you one."

"One? Steven, all I can say is that the Long Boards are on you when you return, so keep that elusive credit card handy."

"You got it. See you when I get back. And thank Dave for me."

"Behave yourself!"

Monday morning, 0500 hours (GYT)

"Are you sure this is the same puny, little river we crossed yesterday morning?" Boomer asked, standing on the tall bank, his arm around Jackson's shoulder.

"Affirmative," McGarrett replied, watching the rushing water.

"Well, looks like we're gonna get wet."

"Looks like," Jackson agreed.

"We'll rest here," Steve told them, setting his carbine on the ground and dropping down beside it. The girl in his arms was still asleep, having dropped off immediately after they began their hike. "Sunrise is a little over half hour away. We can look for a better crossing once the sun's up."

Thankfully they had heard no signs of being pursued during the night so they decided to rest and eat breakfast. Steve leaned against a tree and closed his eyes. He thought since Aliyana was still asleep, he would try for a few minutes as well.

Three minutes later, he was interrupted by the vibrations of the telephone in his pocket. And only one person had his number…

Steve sighed and raised up, reaching for the phone. As he did, Ali's head also lifted from his shoulder and she blinked in the early morning light.

"McGarrett."

Danny's voice was on the other end. "You know it's me and you answer your phone with, 'McGarrett'? What's up with that?"

"Sorry I'm not quite as chipper as you," Steve replied. "It's been a busy night."

"I'm just checking in…you know, for Dave. Whenever you're ready for pick up, he'll have a chopper there. The pilot is on standby. "

"Standby is good. Thanks. And, Danny…"

"Yeah?"

"You'll be the first call I make. Now go to bed and quit worrying."

"Right. OK, later."

"Yeah, later," Steve sighed and pressed the 'end' button.

"Trouble in paradise?" Boomer asked him.

"No, he's just antsy."

"Yeah, we saw that up close and personal," Buck told him. "On the boat after we brought you in that night, your team was pretty nervous. After we got you in the chopper, I thought Danny was going to come out of his skin."

"Of course, it didn't help that you looked like death…before the warming over part," Boomer added. "Danny was pretty freaked… especially when you coded. Twice."

"Yeah, trust me, he told me. Numerous times." Steve remembered the 'discussion' which prompted Danny to hang a stupid bell on the door of his office. A bell that for some unknown reason, he just hadn't taken the time to remove. Steve looked at Boomer. "But he never mentioned that I coded."

Buck crossed the clearing to sit next to him. "I have to say, that is one rescue that came right down to the wire. You had already stopped breathing when we got to you. But we still couldn't get you out without blasting the rock."

"And then, it was Boomer and his amazing stash of C4 to the rescue!" the SEAL reminded him.

McGarrett shook his head. "Probably glad I don't remember being blown up," he admitted, looking over at Buck. "But if I neglected to say 'thank you', then thank you."

"You did, and any time," Buck replied. "And I think this just about calls us even."

"Who's counting?" Steve grinned at his friend and reached down and tugged on a pig tail. "Good morning, pretty lady," he said, smiling at Ali, who was leaning back against his chest, watching everyone.

"Bet that line's been used in the past," Boomer muttered.

Steve glanced at him and rolled his eyes, not considering the comment worthy of a rebuttal. He was concerned with the little girl. "Hey, you doing OK?" he asked, putting a finger beneath her chin and turning her face to look at him. He saw the tears in her eyes just as the first one spilled over on her cheek.

"Hey, hey, it's OK," Steve assured her. "It's gonna be all right. You want to go home, don't you?"

She turned around and buried her face in his shirt, her arms wrapped around him, one hand still holding on to Flopsy's ear. He both heard and felt her sobs.

He was once again out of his element, but he did what felt natural. He stood and pulled her up so that her head was on his shoulder. Rubbing her back, he walked away from the others, talking quietly, not even registering his words. Before long, the sobs stopped and she quieted, and then hiccupped.

"Flopsy, did you hear that? Did you hiccup?"

She did it again, and held up the rabbit in his face.

"That was you, wasn't it, you silly rabbit? Maybe a drink of water will help." He looked at Ali and asked, "Should we go get him some water?" Using his thumb, he wiped the tears from her face.

She nodded yes and wrapped her arms around his neck, Flopsy and all.

~~~H50~~~