Pressure Makes Diamonds
Chapter 7
Danny had expected to be in the hospital. That had been part of the plan. Get Steve out of prison and protect him. Simple, easy, right? He should've known better that nothing is ever simple when it came to Steve McGarrett. All he had asked Max Bergman to do was to give Steve something that would convince the prison infirmary that Steve needed to be sent to a hospital for further tests. What happened instead? Max had given him something all right. He gave him BOTULISM! One of the more deadly toxins on the planet!
Flashback
"What did you give him?" Danny asked, frustration and anxiety rising in his voice as he talked with Max over the phone.
"I gave him C. botulinum," Max said matter of factly.
"Translation, please, for those of us without a medical degree," Danny said.
"Botulism."
"You gave him WHAT?" Danny asked, his anger rising.
"Botulism. There's no need for concern. I gave Detective Kelly the antidote. Once administered, Commander McGarrett will fully recover and be unharmed."
"Unharmed? He was in excruciating pain!"
"Well, you said it needed to be convincing. Perhaps you should have been clearer on the criterion of how convincing you wanted it to be. I thought it quite convincing."
Danny then hung up, exasperated.
Fortunately, when they had wheeled Steve into the hospital, Max had already given Chin the "antidote" for the particular strain that he had given Steve and he was recovering, in the meantime, though, both Steve and Danny were wondering if he was going to escape prison in a body bag.
Danny walked over to Steve's room and was dismayed to see him shackled to the bed with two guards outside his door. The guards were good to have around, but Danny hated that they were really there to keep Steve from escaping rather to protect him from someone who might kill him, but he'd take whatever he could get. He flashed his ID and confirmed with the guards that he was one of the few allowed to see Steve from a very short list.
"Hey," Danny said. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got injected with botulism," Steve teased.
"Yeh, well, guess I'll have to be more specific with Max."
"I always figured you were planning on payback for getting you shot," Steve joked.
"Very funny," Danny smiled.
"So, catch me up."
"Got your phone and gave it to Jenna. Turns out your plan worked –"
"Imagine that," Steve interjected smugly.
"Can I talk, please?"
"By all means," Steve said, enjoying the banter. He had missed it with all of the chaos that had happened.
"Thank you. So not only did the voicemail record the Governor's confession that she killed Laura, but it also caught what sounds like you getting tased and Wo Fat's voice telling her that he had everything under control just before two gunshots which we assume is him killing her. Jenna did a voice analysis and it is a match to Wo Fat. It's not hard evidence, but it's something."
Steve took in a deep breath. He wasn't in the clear, but somehow just knowing that there was something concrete to prove that he was being set up made him relax for the first time since everything went sour for him. Also, knowing that Chin and Danny were working together to get him cleared was reassuring. He felt terrible about Kono. None of what was happening to her was her fault, like everyone else on the team she had helped him and by doing so, had placed herself and her career in jeopardy. He had to hope that he'd be able to help her somehow once he was out.
"Hesse is dead. Likely someone working for Wo Fat got to him so we've gotta find a way to keep you out of prison."
"I can't say I'm not glad that Hesse is dead, but I can't avoid going back for long."
"Well, turns out Max did find taser burns on your neck so I'm going to have Chin argue protective custody. I know it's a long shot, but between that and the recording, we've got to give it a shot. Bottom line here, we have to get to Wo Fat, draw him out."
"And how are we going to do that?"
"Jenna's got a copy of the recording so I'm going to bring the phone to the DA's office, play up the recording and other evidence we have. If he's not in Wo Fat's pocket, I'll argue protective custody. If he is, he'll get word to Wo Fat that there's evidence that could tie him to the Governor's death."
Steve realized what Danny was planning to do and his reaction was complete rejection.
"No, Danny, that would put you right in Wo Fat's line of fire. I can't let you –"
"You're in no position right now to tell me to do anything, Steven."
"Danny, I mean it, we'll find another way besides, there's no guarantee that Wo Fat will come after you himself. He'll probably just send someone else like he did Hesse."
"Oh, I think he'll take a personal interest. The claymore used in Laura's death, his signature and he pulled the trigger on the Governor. I think he's just arrogant enough to do the dirty work himself. Look, there is no other way and you know it. Long as Wo Fat is out there, he'll be this threat and let me remind you, it's not just about you. Sang Min so much as confirmed to me that we're all in Wo Fat's sights and he's not going to stop until we're all dead. He doesn't leave witnesses behind remember? I can take care of myself."
"Danny -"
"End of discussion. Decision's been made."
Danny started walking out of the room, Steve struggling against his restraints, his concern and frustration elevating with every step Danny took, but no matter how many times he called out to him, Danny wouldn't turn back.
Danny's expression was calm and definitive. He wasn't being suicidal, he had Grace to think about, and he knew that she, along with Rachel and their unborn child, wouldn't be safe no matter where they went as long as Wo Fat was alive and that he couldn't live with it. He needed to give his family a life of safety. That's what fathers are supposed to do, that's what cops are supposed to do. Steve may take on the blame because he thinks he brought Wo Fat into their world, but Danny knew that a cop's life was always full of risks and sometimes it meant going against being by the book to bring down someone like Wo Fat. Maybe he had been around Steve too long.
Steve laid back on his bed, hating that he was helpless, hating that he had put everyone in danger. Danny was right, but the idea that he would go it alone against Wo Fat without any back up frustrated him most of all.
"Damn it, Danny."
TBC