Chapter 8

Monday morning 0630 GYT

The purple horizon soon gave way to variegated strips of pink and orange as the sun began its ascent above the tree line.

Steve had finally gotten Ali to eat something other than raisins and crackers and was feeling somewhat better about his parenting duties. After eating, she had taken his hand and pointed toward the woods, tugging him to go with her. She didn't need to ask twice. Their communication skills were growing by leaps and bounds.

Upon their return, Grayson was waiting for them, putting on his backpack. "Vega and I can scout upstream for a better place to cross," he said.

McGarrett nodded and sat down on a log. "Good. If you find something, we'll come to you. Keep us posted."

Ali sat next to Steve, playing with Flopsy on the log. He watched as Buck and Jackson removed Boomer's bandages, checking and cleaning the wound in his side.

"How's he doing, men?"

"Still some fever," Jackson replied, "but the wound itself looks better after we packed it and started antibiotics. Still need to get the bullet out."

"And the leg?" Steve asked. "We're going to have to cross that river. Will that be a problem?"

"Ya know," Boomer drawled. "I'm sitting right here. One, I'm not deaf, two, I think I can answer for myself; and three, I do feel better, thank you for asking. The leg is sore, but OK and I can cross the river under my own steam. Any more questions?"

"Yeah, where'd you get such a winning personality?" Steve shot back.

"I'm SEAL, born and bred. That's not something a pansy who lives on the beach with palm trees swaying in his yard would know anything about. Hey guys, Doggie even has a 'girl' working on his team."

"You know, Boomer, I've seen 'that girl' as you call her take out men bigger than you. In fact, first time I met her she decked a guy for stealing her wave. But any time you feel the need to test her, just let me know and I'll take any and all bets. She'll whip your sorry a…butt and wipe the floor with it."

"Do you promise? 'Cause I'd love to meet her again."

"You don't know what you're messing with, Boomer. I'll promise you that much. Now, mind if I get back to my assessment?"

Boomer made a 'carry on' hand gesture, which wasn't the gesture Steve knew the SEAL was thinking, but he nodded in reply, turning toward the other injured SEAL. "Buck, can I ask how you're doing without getting my head bit off?"

Buck grinned, putting away the medical supplies. "I'm good. Still have a headache and occasional dizziness, but the puking has pretty much gone away. I can hold my own if we need to fight."

"Good to know," McGarrett replied, glancing down when Ali jumped. She stuck her finger in her mouth and sucked.

"What's wrong, Kiddo?"

She stuck out her lower lip and showed him her finger.

"You've got a splinter from playing on the log," he told her. "Bet that hurts, doesn't it?"

She nodded, her brown eyes wide and watery, but she refused to cry again.

"You're being very brave," Steve told her. "Let me show you a magic trick, OK?" She watched him unzip his backpack and remove a small tube from a pocket on the side.

"Watch this." He squirted a dab of glue on her finger and blew it until it dried. "Now," Steve said, "do you see it?"

She nodded and he peeled the glue off, the splinter coming with it. "Look! No more splinter. And it didn't even hurt, did it?"

She grinned, shaking her head side to side.

"But I bet we need a Band Aid, don't we? Hey, guys, got any Band Aid's in there?"

Jackson pulled one from his pack and handed it over for Steve to administer.

Once the finger was wrapped, she held it up in front of Steve's face.

"Yeah, I see it. Is it all better now?"

She shook her head and held it two inches from his face, a glare in her eyes.

"What?"

"McGarrett, even I know what that means," Buck laughed.

"OK, I give. What?"

"You're supposed to kiss it and make it better."

"Oh. OH!" He looked back down at Ali. "You want a kiss?"

The finger remained in position and she nodded emphatically.

"Well, why didn't you say so," he told her with a grin, leaning forward to kiss the bandaged finger. "Now. Is that better?"

She grinned and nodded, reaching down for Flopsy once again.

~~~H50~~~

Vega came back into camp, cutting away some of the green foliage as he did so. "Problem, Sir," he reported, stopping in front of McGarrett, catching his breath before continuing.

Steve quickly stood. "Report."

"Good news, we found a place to cross the river. We set a line in place to aid in crossing. Grayson is still there, on the Suriname side."

McGarrett nodded. "And the bad news?"

"We heard a chopper come in from the south. It didn't come into our view, so I don't think we were made. It landed; not sure how close to the location, but we need to move or the spot to cross the river may be cut off."

"Affirmative," Steve agreed. "Men, let's move out." McGarrett watched as his men grabbed their gear, quickly clearing the site. He reached for his backpack and threw it on before picking up the sling he used to carry the girl. "Come on, Ali. Hop up here. We're moving again."

They heard the first shots before they reached the crossover on the river and knew Grayson was under fire. "Let's move," McGarrett ordered. "Jackson, take point. Vega, you're with Jackson. Buck, can you and Boomer manage on your own?"

"Absolutely," Buck replied, a firm grasp on Boomer's arm that he had around his neck. He carried a MK23 handgun in the other hand. Boomer held Steve's extra MK23 in his free hand, ready for action, if and when he needed to fight.

Steve stopped for a moment and pulled out the SAT phone. Before calling, he spoke to Ali, placing his hand on her head. "Listen to me. This is important." She looked up to him and he continued. "We're going to have to run, so I want you to tuck your head in my chest and hold on tight. I've got you and I won't let go, but I want you to hang on. Just don't be scared, OK? It's going to be fine."

Fearful, brown eyes met his and she nodded before curling inward and digging her fingers into his shirt.

"Good girl." Blind trust. Steve wasn't sure anyone had ever trusted him as much as she did and he was awed by it. And petrified.

He secured the carbine on his right shoulder and began jogging, pressing the #1 key on the phone at the same time. The phone was answered before a half-ring.

"Yeah, Steve?"

"Change of plans, Danny. We're under fire. Use the phone coordinates, but the chopper needs to touch down on the east side of the river. I repeat, east. And tell the pilot to get here as quickly as he can. If possible, he can come inland following the Courantyne River and then find a landing spot in Suriname. We've got a line set up to cross the river but we're going to have to deal with some company first."

"Got it. Chopper will be there soon."

McGarrett placed the phone in his pocket and removed the carbine from his shoulder and slid into cover next to Vega positioning himself and Ali behind the largest tree he could see. "Any idea what we're looking at?"

"None. They've got fire power, though."

"So do we," Steve assured him. "My backpack. Grenades are in the bottom zipper. Let's shake 'em up a bit."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Ali, girl, cover your ears," Steve told her. "It's going to get louder." He curled around her as best he could to help shield her from the noise, but felt her jump at the explosion.

One grenade later, and the playing field sounded a bit more even although the return fire was still coming. With the team's cover fire, Grayson was able to cross the water to rejoin his unit.

McGarrett glanced at him and saw blood on his uniform. "Grayson, where were you hit?" he asked, firing his weapon at the same time.

"I'm fine. Bullet just grazed my shoulder. Who was hiding the grenades?"

Vega reached into McGarrett's backpack once again. "The boss has got an entire arsenal in here. Ready for another one, Sir?"

"Toss it, Vega," he replied, firing once again before setting down his weapon. He curled his body around Ali once again. "It's all right, you're doing great," he told her above the noise. "It will be over soon."

Another blast and they heard a couple cries of pain, and then silence for a few moments before the enemy fire picked up with greater force.

"OK, so they didn't like that one," Vega remarked.

"Listen!" Jackson said. "Another chopper's coming in."

"Crap." McGarrett replied, knowing it had to be reinforcements for the other side since their own chopper wouldn't arrive for at least an hour, maybe two.

"That one's a Blackhawk," Grayson commented. "Too bad it ain't ours."

The chopper flew down the river, the wind from the rotors causing them to duck. Upon its approach, the weapons on board began spitting… toward the enemy. McGarrett looked up and saw the very welcome U.S.A. insignia on the belly of the Blackhawk.

"How the hell…?" Steve was confused as how the pilot managed to get here as quickly as he did, but didn't have time to ask questions. The chopper made a turn and sprayed bullets once again although the enemy either scattered or were incapacitated, because there was no return fire. Then it kept to the river, making its way north before banking to the Suriname side of the water.

"Everyone report."

He received five affirmatives that everyone was all right and then reached down to check Aliyana. "How about you, Kiddo, are you OK?" She still had his shirt in her fists, her hair damp from sweat and trails of tears on her face. "It's gonna be all right. It's almost over. I promise."

The SAT phone rang and he reached into his pocket.

"Steven. You want an engraved invitation? Get your butts across the river. I have it on good authority that your carriage awaits. The pilot landed maybe 500 yards from your position, straight through the jungle."

"Where the hell did the pilot start from? And how'd he get his hands on a Blackhawk?" McGarrett asked. "Because he made it here in half an hour. Never mind, I'm not complaining."

"Don't worry. He'll explain once you get there. Is everyone all right?"

"We're good. And we're ready to move. Call you later."

"You'd better."

"And Danny…thanks."

"Like I said, Partner, we've got your back."

Steve hung up and reached for the carbine once again. "OK, men, let's get across that water." They walked down the bank and saw Grayson and Vega's line secured around a rock on their side and tied off to a tree on the opposite side. The water itself was rushing over large rocks although the river itself didn't look too deep.

"The rocks seem stable to walk on," Grayson reported. "But there are a couple of drop offs. With your permission I'll go first and try to show the way."

Steve nodded. "Boomer, follow Grayson. Jackson, go with him."

"Come on, Dog, I don't need a babysitter," Boomer argued.

"Maybe not, but humor me," McGarrett retorted. "In order to pay you back for blasting me out of a cave, I need to get your sorry butt back home. Get him to the chopper, men. We'll be right behind you."

Grayson reached for Boomer's arm and motioned to Jackson. "Come on, let's get this pansy to the other side."

"Pansy! Now wait just a minute."

"Hey, that's what the Boss called you, so it must be true."

"Doggie, I'll get you for this," he warned as he was practically manhandled into the water.

Steve grinned back. "OK, Buck your turn."

"Not so fast," Buck replied. "You and Ali need to get over next. She's your top priority."

"We'll go with Vega," McGarrett argued. "Go on."

"Begging to differ with you, Sir," Vega began. "You've got the girl. I'll bring up our six by cutting the rope here and using it to pull myself over to the other side. Piece of cake."

"Steve," Buck said. "Quit arguing and get wet."

McGarrett nodded his agreement and told Ali once again to hang on. Buck reached out and took the carbine from Steve's shoulder and followed when Steve entered the water.

"You have her?"

"Yep. Ali, it's going to be cold when it hits your feet. You ready?"

She nodded and giggled when the water reached Steve's waist and her legs got wet. But he noticed she gripped his shirt more tightly as the water rose.

"Relax, you're not going to fall. Told you it was cold, didn't I?" He grinned down at her and added, "we're almost there."

They reached the other side and turned to watch Vega. The young SEAL cut the rope away from its mooring and jumped onto a large rock in the river. The current pulled him downstream, but he kept hold of the rope, working hand over hand toward their side. Once he reached the bank, Buck helped pull him out. They cut the rope from the tree and wound it up.

"Good work, men," Steve told them. "Let's go."

They turned to head into the jungle when movement upstream caused them to turn to their right. A single shot was fired and Vega cried out, his body twisting beneath him as he went down. McGarrett reached for his weapon, before realizing Buck still carried it. He hit the dirt, shielding Ali with his body while Buck swung up the carbine and fired. They heard a grunt and then a body fell into the dense foliage. They waited, hearing nothing more.

"Vega, how bad?"

"Hit in the thigh," he bit out when Buck crawled over to check him. "Help me up and I can walk."

"How far's the chopper?" Buck asked.

"About 500 yards," McGarrett replied.

"It's a through and through, which is good," the medic told them. "And didn't hit an artery. Let's get to the chopper and get the bleeding stopped. Come on, up on three."

They began their slow trek toward the chopper, but were aided by Jackson and Grayson coming back to help them along. "Come on, Gimpy," they told their fellow team member, each taking one of his arms around their necks as they walked with him.

McGarrett and Buck slowed to allow them to maneuver toward the chopper and were surprised when, once again, a shot rang out, hitting a tree and spitting wood chips in their faces. They hit the deck once again, Buck bringing the carbine up, searching for the enemy.

"How many more are there?" Steve muttered, reaching for his sidearm, warning Ali to duck down once again.

"McGarrett." The voice called from the dense foliage, the person still unseen.

"What do you want?"

"The girl. Now. My weapon is trained on her and I will take her, either dead or alive. Your choice."

"Ochoa?" Steve asked.

"You remembered me. I'm flattered."

"Oh, I wouldn't be," Steve told him, shooting and then rolling so that Ali was out of the line of fire.

Buck backed Steve up with the carbine and they also heard rapid fire coming from the chopper. Ochoa let out a cry of pain and finally there were no return volleys from his position.

"You OK?" Buck asked.

"Yeah. You? Ali, sorry about that," he told her, checking her over. "Did I hurt you?"

She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck, shaking her head. He could feel the shudders coursing through her body from fright.

"Let's get out of here," he told her. "We're going to go home."

He stood and turned toward the sound of the chopper, not believing what he saw in the Suriname jungle.

Danny was dressed in combat fatigues, boots and black tee shirt, standing with his feet apart, both hands firmly gripping the carbine pressed against his chest, a wide grin on his face.

~~~H50~~~