Magnum worked at building a fire. He wanted something to keep Rick - and he and TC - warm if the storm got really bad. They were sheltered from vertically falling rain, at least, under a roof that didn't look as if it'd be too leaky. Aside from being filthy, however, one of the small windows was broken. 'Probably from the last storm that went through,' Magnum thought.

TC glared out the shattered window, then moved to the larger one in the front of the house.

"Hey, TM, c'mere," He said softly, as if this were some revered place. Magnum had just succeeded in getting a little spark and a fire going.

He blew on the tiny embers, watching them consume some of the partially rotted wood, and turned to TC. "Yeah, what's up?"

TC frowned. "Look at this, man. Those're major storm clouds, and they're heading out way."

"Well..." Thomas said, as he looked around the cabin, then glanced at Rick, "Let's just pray it turns away from us."

"Uh-huh. And what if it doesn't?" TC asked. He eyed the roof and then the broken window across the room.

Magnum fed the fire some more dried wood, avoiding the question. He knew full well that the chances of the storm suddenly changing course was slim, but that was just one of the many unpleasant things on his mind. He and TC had to figure out how to get off the island, or find food for however long they would be there. Rick groaned as he shifted on the floor, ending in a little gasp. Not to mention staying by his friend's side in the event that he... died. Magnum wasn't ready to consider that possibility yet.

TC curled up on the windowsill, knees almost up to his chest, watching the storm approach. He listened to Magnum move around behind him, and heard him whispering to Rick, and found his mind wandering to his kids, and - from more recent history - his chopper. After daybreak he would be able see exactly how bad the damage was, but with the storm blowing in God only knew what might happen to what was left of the helicopter.

He heard more shifting and movement over by the fire and turned to see Magnum sitting cross-legged -like some loyal sentinel - next to Rick.

"Hey, Rick, we're in quite a jam here, and all you're doing is laying there."

Rick's eyes fluttered open momentarily, and he saw that TC had found his way over to his left side, and that Magnum was leaning over him from the right. He felt Magnum's hand brush his own, and he took it.

He sighed, then said, "We've been through worse. At least nobody's shooting at us." He smirked. "Don't worry guys, it'll be fine."

Magnum gave Rick's good hand a squeeze. "Yeah, buddy, it will."

TC nodded and looked at Magnum, doubts now partially reassured by their friend's words.
As if to contradict that positive moment, lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a huge crash of thunder shook the small cabin.

TC got to his feet and hurried to the window. His mouth opened slightly at the awesome sight of broiling clouds closing across the greyish sky. "Uh oh. Thomas, man, it's coming."
Magnum's look was decidedly unhappy. "How long do you think we have?"

"Um, fifteen minutes, tops."

And after that, it could be hours until the storm blew over.

Magnum looked at the screen door and broken window and felt his stomach churn. It never got particularly cold in Hawaii, but chilly enough to cause discomfort.

"Okay. Here, help me with this..." Magnum said, moving towards the large table.
TC pried himself away from the window and joined Magnum, and together they shoved and dragged the large table to the door.

Rick, laying on the floor by the fire, winced at the scraping sound of the table legs dragging across the floorboards. "What are you guys doing?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrow. He pushed himself up on his right elbow.

"We're blocking the doorway, in case there's a lot of blowing rain. Will you just lay back down and relax?"

"I'm not helpless. I'm fine, it's just an arm. Can I do anything?"

Magnum couldn't help but bark a laugh as he helped TC flip the table over on its side. He tried to soften his voice. "Look, I know it hurts, because I can see it on your face, and I know that it's still bleeding because I can see it on the T-shirt. Take it easy and let me and TC try to get this place ready for the storm."
"Thomas, I -"

"There's nothing you can do, we just gotta sit here and wait it out." Magnum's voice was sharp, more so than he had intended. At first, Rick didn't seem to have heard, and then he turned away, stretching out on the floor again.

Magnum and TC finished with the table just as the wind outside picked up dramatically, sending rain pounding against the newly barricaded door and walls of the old cabin. TC shivered at the sound of pounding rain and howling wind, while Magnum thanked his lucky stars that the broken window was on the partially sheltered side of the small room. There was another streak of lightning, which flashed across Rick's face as he lay next to the fire, mixing weirdly with the flickering red glow cast by the flames. Magnum couldn't help but notice how the strange fusing of light sources highlighted the blood that slickened the side of his friend's head.

That reminded him of the gash on his own forehead, and he reached up to feel the scrap of clothing he had pressed to the wound earlier. It had dried in place, the make-shift bandage was cemented with dried blood. He winced and left the bandage alone.

He was just about to feed the fire with more wood when, from behind, there was a smash and the window behind TC exploded inward. Shattered glass sprayed across the room, showering the wooden floor. Magnum leapt up as a figure, quick as a cat, scrambled into the window and stood with a pistol on TC.

"Nobody move," The man ordered, as a second person struggled into the room over the windowsill behind him.

Magnum was speechless for a few seconds, then gave a confused, "Hi, guys..."

"Hands on your heads," barked the man with the gun. He shoved TC over towards Magnum, who put his hands behind his head.

The second man finally had his own gun out, and waved it at Rick on the floor. "Get him up."

Magnum moved to block his friend from the gunmen. "Leave him alone. He's hurt."

Neither man showed any indication that they particularly cared. "Tell him to stand up with his hands on his head, NOW, or you get a slug in the gut," The first man growled, cocking the hammer on his revolver.

Magnum stared into the man's eyes, which burned with unprovoked hate. He heard Rick shift on the floor and groan.

While his accomplice held his weapon on TC, keeping him immobile, the first man shouldered Magnum out of the way and stood over Rick, keeping the barrel of the gun aimed carefully at Magnum's chest. He nudged Rick with his foot, first in the shoulder, then harder, right in the ribs. Magnum's hands dropped and he moved in on the guy, wanting to rip him limb from limb, but stopped when he saw the gun steady in the man's hand and the index finger tighten on the trigger.

"On your feet," The man shouted, grabbing Magnum's shirt and jabbing the gun into the side of his neck. "Or your friend gets it."

Rick looked confused, as if he were far away, or thought this was some kind of dream. His side was burning, and the blood still in his eyes gave everything a reddish hue.

Magnum sucked in his breath sharply, feeling the anger boiling up inside of him. He wanted to lean down and help Rick up, but it was impossible and extremely unwise to try anything with this psychopathic gunman standing right next to him, grinding the barrel of a pistol into his neck. He watched in agonized silence as Rick stumbled to his feet, wincing and gasping at the harsh pain the movement caused his fractured arm.

Rick was half kneeling when the gun-toting guy lost his patience and grabbed his arm, dragging him roughly to his feet. Rick was breathing hard even from the limited exertion, and looked near ready to pass out.

"Everybody against the wall!" was the next order, and soon TC and Magnum were standing against the peeling wallpaper with Rick between them. Rick was leaning on Magnum's shoulder slightly, and much more heavily on the wall, barely able to stand.

The two men went into a huddle on the other side of the room, but both kept their weapons in aggressive poses, deterring any thoughts of an escape attempt.

Rick's mind was fuzzy with pain and loss of blood, but even through his blurred senses he identified one of the gunmen. "What's Leon Alkia doing here?" Rick whispered through clenched teeth. Alkia had been busted on a drug charge, and went down hard on three counts of murder. He was serving three consecutive life sentences - or rather, he was supposed to be.

Magnum turned his head, slightly, to Rick in surprise. "You know that guy?"

"Used to work for IcePick," Rick muttered quietly. "Drug charges, multiple murders."

"Who's the other one?" TC asked, equally quiet.

"Shut up!" Leon snapped at them, as he and his partner in crime dropped their conversation. Alkia approached Rick and ran his eyes over him, scrutinizing him, sizing him up. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Rick didn't reply, but the look in Alkia's eyes confirmed it. "Hey, I remember you - you're one of IcePick's boys, aren't ya?" He was right up in Rick's face now, and Rick could smell his sweat, his breath, and almost feel the hostile vibes the man was giving off.
Magnum watched the confrontation with a tight expression. He was quite prepared to take this Leon guy down if he got rough with Rick again, even if it meant catching a bullet.

-------

"You really think they're there?" Tanaka asked, twirling his Tigers cap on a finger. Higgins was still pouring over his maps, while Tanaka did his part by listening to the continuous weather report on the radio.

"I know it," Higgins said, his tone one of absolute certainty.

Tanaka didn't see any point in asking just how Higgins knew this, but - he had to admit - it was a safe bet that he was right. If he had been a believer in such things, he'd have sworn that these guys shared a kind of psychic connection.

"As soon as the storm is over, we'll move in and get Magnum and the guys, and our fugitives."
Higgins had begun to pace, taking a few steps to the bookshelves, then back to the table, back and forth, listening to the recent reports on the storm's path.

"Someone may have been injured in the crash. The radio is undoubtedly damaged, and that island is uninhabited, Lieutenant. They don't have any shelter. They're right in the storm's way, and that islet is going to be exposed to all of the weather's fury. It's no more than ten or twenty feet above sea level at high tide." Higgins pivoted suddenly to stare at Tanaka. "We should take action now, and mount a rescue attempt. After the storm clears... it may be too late."

"I'll give a call to the boys in the Coast Guard," Tanaka offered, "But they're unwilling to risk any of their men on what might amount to nothing. If they don't agree to help us out..." Tanaka gave a small grin. "We're sunk. Pardon the pun."

Higgins waited anxiously while Tanaka put in another call to the Coast Guard, and - when they refused to help - the HPD, to try to requisite one of their police boats.

As Tanaka got off the phone, he sighed deeply, looking at Higgins. "Nobody's willing to help until this blows over. You could say that we're on our own."

Higgins had a thought. "The Club had a yacht at the disposal of it's members, but it seems it fell upon misfortune with Rick and Magnum earlier. Now, the coast guard, on the other hand..."

"No way, man. It's INSANE to go out on the water on a night like this," Tanaka exclaimed. He could see that the little man was thinking up something big.

"I'd be willing to try my hand at piloting a vessel," Higgins said. "I'd need someone aboard who could assist me with navigation. And someone with a badge, with authority, who could use his influence to get me the keys to one of the Coast Guard's craft..."

Tanaka shifted uneasily under Higgins' intense eyes. "I can't let you do it."

"Zeus, Apollo -" Higgins began. The dogs, who had been chomping away at their dinner, scurried over at the sound of Higgins voice and stood at attention, waiting for further orders.

"Higgins...!"

"Watch him, Lads," Higgins ordered, and headed for the door of the study.
Tanaka glanced at the on-guard, growling dogs, then at Higgins in the doorway.

Higgins looked back at him, as if to say, 'Last chance.'

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Tanaka gave in. The dogs growled louder at Tanaka's outburst, but Higgins quieted them.

"Zeus, Apollo - patrol," He commanded, half-grinning at Tanaka.
An unhappy Tanaka followed Higgins to the front door and out to the pickup, which was the only vehicle remotely suited to that kind of weather. Higgins put the petal to the metal, splashing up mud and rainwater as they turned out of the main gate toward the coast guard station.

-------

"What do you want?" Magnum asked, fury making his voice tight.

"For you to shut up!" Leon was fingering the trigger of his revolver, rubbing the small piece of metal, thinking hard. Magnum wished that the man would hold the gun someplace else; towards the floor, or ceiling. It was uncomfortable having a distracted fugitive with their finger on the trigger pointing the barrel right at your midsection.

"Look, man, we'll do whatever you want - just don't do anything drastic," TC exclaimed, eyeing the enraged Magnum.

"Nobody asked you, boy," Leon spat, glaring darkly at TC. He looked towards the windows as a sudden howl of wind made the old wallpanels shiver and groan.

He nervously licked his upper lip and flicked the gun at Magnum, TC, and Rick. He hated small rooms, hated being enclosed, and hated when things didn't go to plan. Prison had been hell enough; he hadn't been in control there. At least now, on this godforsaken island, he was in charge.

The shrieking wind and driving rain was driving him mad. This was no place for someone like him. He'd get out of Hawaii, get out of the US, and go someplace warm and exotic... maybe Morocco.

Leon began to pace, noticing his partner, Bri, doing the same. The traded looks. Leon saw the obvious agitation in Bri's eyes. So far, the two of them had been acting on instinct - but now it was time to come up with a plan.

On that note, Leon made further threats of the consequences of Magnum or TC trying anything funny and went into another think session with Bri, both of them sitting in front of the fireplace, enjoying the minimal comfort provided by the small fire.

Magnum was convinced that there was no justice in the world. They were up against a cold wall, and Rick was shivering. It wasn't the first time their luck had proven noticeably worse than most. When Magnum had quit the Navy, and had joined Rick and TC in Hawaii, he had envisioned a sort of "happily ever after", the most beautiful spot on earth, decent, flexible job, surrounded by friends... but lately, all the native beauty and carefree aspects of existence seemed to have gotten lost in the background.

He was trying to come up with a plan, but their options were in short supply. Even if they could all get out of the shack unscathed - not a likely event, considering the two guns they were facing - where would they go? Rick wasn't in any shape to go anywhere, the island was deserted, and one of the worst storms of the decade was pounding the shack with everything it had. 'Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.'
Without warning, Rick's knees gave out. TC and Magnum tried to grab him, keep him from falling, but Magnum ended up on the floor next to Rick.

"Rick?" Magnum gasped, leaning over him.

"What the hell is going on over there?" Alkia yelled irritably, pushing himself to his feet and stalking over. Bri gave them a disinterested glance, but Alkia kept coming, moving in on the two men on the floor. TC protectively stepped into Alkia's path.

"He can't stand anymore, just let him rest for awhile," TC said, looking Alkia straight in the eye with nothing but hate and concern.

"Get over here, Bri," Alkia ordered. Bri got up and approached totally cowed by Alkia.
Magnum propped Rick up a little as he began to cough, looking up at TC and Alkia. If he could knock Alkia out, and then take care of the other one, they'd have a chance.

Alkia, still toe-to-toe with TC, twirled his revolver on his finger and make a sharp jabbing gesture with the muzzle. "Pull him up, NOW."

TC almost shook with rage. "He's not doing any harm whether he's standing or on the ground. Let him be."

"Damnit, get him up or else!"

"No!" Magnum retorted, steeling himself for an onslaught of Alkia's temper.

"Fine, then I'll do it. Watch them, Bri," Leon said to the slender man at his elbow. Bri gave

Magnum a helpless look as Alkia grabbed Rick roughly by the front of the shirt and yanked him to his feet, shoving him back against the wall. "C'mon, little guy," Alkia taunted, as Rick's head limply rested on his chest. Magnum made as if to get up, but Bri raised his revolver and shrugged as if to say, 'Your funeral.'
Alkia touched the muzzle of his gun to his chin, Rick's shirt still bunched in his fist. "You know, now that I think about it, I liked it better with you on the floor."

Magnum and TC knew what was about to happen, but were powerless to stop it, and could only watch as Alkia nailed Rick in the head with the butt of his revolver, causing a new gash to erupt on his forehead. Rick's body crumpled to the ground, almost on top of Magnum, who did his best to catch Rick and cushion his fall. Magnum cradled Rick's head in his hands, checking the new injury, hands shaking in fury. He laid his head gently on the floorboards and sprung to his feet, making a grab at Alkia.

Alkia, who was relatively small and fast, ducked out of the way and fired a shot past Magnum's head. Magnum, who was no fool, was halted in his tracks, and stood breathing hard. TC glared first at Alkia, then at Magnum, trying to tell him to get a grip. He knew how angry Magnum was; he felt the same way, but they couldn't do anything as long as Leon and Bri were armed. There was no point in getting killed. If they could just hold out till the storm was through...

"What do you want to do, Leon?" Bri asked suddenly. It was the first time Magnum had heard Bri say more than two words. He was surprised by how intelligent the voice sounded -smooth, with a slight, almost British accent, unlike Leon's, which was rough and that of a man with a limited vocabulary.

"I dunno, Bri, but I do know that we are not gonna need one gimp and two big, strong guys coming with us."

"What do you want to do? Kill them?" Bri was looking down at Rick's pitiful form on the floor, but Magnum didn't see any hint of malice - he looked almost sorry, compassionate.

"Not all three. That one-" He prodded Rick again with his shoe, and shrugged coldly. "Doesn't look like we'll be needing to help the process along any, he's as good as gone anyway. We can just leave him here. And one of these guys'll guarantee our safety." He grinned at Magnum and TC, whose backs were pressed to the wall, hands up at shoulder height in non-aggressive positions.