So sorry for the delay. I have a bad habit of second guessing and nit-picking what I'm writing, and I let that negatively influence me sometimes. I usually then have to kick myself in the butt to get past the self-imposed writer's block. Hope this is worth the wait.

Vanessa

McGarrett couldn't help it, he snickered at Danny's comment, earning him a scowl from his shorter, but equally as fierce, partner.

"Yeah, good idea, Steven, go ahead and laugh at the person who's got your dinner in his hands. It might just end up on the floor." Danny dropped the pizzas on the coffee table in front of the couch. "Chin and Kono should be here soon."

The older Winchester sniffed the redolent air appreciatively as he sank down on the sofa. "Man, that pizza smells awesome. I feel like I could eat a whole one by myself."

Sam dropped down next to him, nudging him a little with his knee. "Let's not and say you did in case the trip here catches up with you again later."

Dean scowled and rolled his eyes. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, I've heard that before—remember Scotland?"

Dean paled slightly and frowned. "Oh…uh…yeah. Yeah, I remember."

"Good."

"One sausage and mushroom, one as close to Jersey-style as I can get in this paradisiacal—," Danny paused and looked at Steve, waggling an eyebrow, "how's that for a word?—hellhole, and one," Danny paused again to grimace and roll his eyes, "one vegetarian with pineapple for the crazy-headed health ninja here."

Dean's hand stopped in mid-air and he recoiled, aghast. "Ugh. Pineapple on pizza. That's…that's just nasty. Gimme meat and cheese. M' girly brother'll like it though."

The blond detective eyed Dean as he dropped into a chair next to the couch, with a calculating, if not more appreciative, look in his eyes. "Ahhh, will you look at that a man after my own heart. You know, I think you might not be such a bad guy after all."

Danny pushed the top box toward Steve. "I keep telling and telling this freakish former SEAL that fruit on a classic food like pizza is like…you know…completely sacrilegious or something. It's like a crime against humanity." Danny tapped Dean's knee with the back of his hand then pointed at Steve. "Look! You see that? Huh? That's what I call his aneurysm face!"

Dean looked over and grinned. "Aneurysm face? I like that. I might have to use it for Sam. I usually just call it his bitchface." Dean's gaze slid over to his younger sibling, and sure enough, Sam's face bore an intense glower, amazingly similar to the one gracing McGarrett's face. Dean looked at Danny. "See what I mean?"

"Yeah, I see. You know, Steve has another one I call 'constipation face'. That might work too."

The duo both started to laugh, enjoying their mutual irksomeness, much to the disgust of both Steve and Sam.

Their merriment was interrupted with the arrival of Chin and Kono bearing beer and soda. Introductions were quickly made and the group settled in to eat.

As the pizza, beer, and soda disappeared, talk gradually turned to the business at hand.

Steve took a pull on his second Longboard. "So do you guys have any idea what this is? You think it's a ghost?"

Dean dropped the last bit of crust into the now-empty pizza box and shook his head. He wiped at his mouth with his crumpled napkin. "We won't know until we do a little reconnaissance."

"And a lot of research," interjected Sam.

"So, if not a ghost, what?"

Sam shrugged. "Ghost, poltergeist, daeva…"

"Shapeshifter, witch, warlock, ghoul…" added Dean, " Hell, at this point it could be just about anything."

Danny couldn't hold back any longer. His hands chopped at the air in front of him. "Whoa, whoa—so you seriously believe in all this stuff?"

"Not just believe in it," answered Dean, "Hunt it. And kill it when we can."

The detective stared at him for a few seconds before turning his attention to Chin Ho and Kono. "You guys believe this stuff?"

Kono nodded. "I haven't given it much thought before, but I think it's possible. Hawaiian folklore is full of legends about things like this. I grew up hearing a lot of stories. Maybe they're not just legends."

Chin agreed, continuing, "Here in Hawaii, it's a common belief that the uhane, or human soul, leaves the body at night and wanders around in search of knowledge, experience, or adventure, returning only when you wake up. When a person dies, the uhane travels to the leina, sites believed to be portals to the Other World. Sometimes, the uhane gets lost on the way and remains as a wandering spirit on earth. I don't know exactly what I believe but I'm open-minded."

Danny shook his head and turned his attention back to the brothers. "So you're telling me ghosts actually exist?"

"Yes." The Winchesters answered simultaneously.

"And witches? Seriously?"

Dean grimaced and ghosted a hand over his chest. "Unfortunately, yes."

"Vampires?"

"Yes."

"Werewolves."

"Yes."

Danny huffed. "Okay, here's one for you—the Jersey Devil? That has to be a figment of people's imagination."

"It exists," supplied Sam, "though we haven't hunted it."

Danny studied the Winchesters closely, noting their deadly serious expressions. After several seconds of quiet, he swallowed hard. "So this isn't all a scam? You're telling me all these things actually exist?"

"Those and other things even more deadly," Dean replied solemnly. "And we've got the scars to prove it."

The detective ran a hand over his face and through his hair, messing up the blond strands. "Holy shit. I need another beer."

Sam waited until after Danny finished snapping the cap off another Longboard before jumping back into the conversation. "My brother and I have been doing this for a long time. You don't have to believe us, Detective Williams…"

"Danny…"

"…Danny then…you really don't have to believe us. We just ask that you stay out of our way and let us do what we need to do."

The detective looked around the room, taking in his partner, his fellow task force members, and the two strangers next to him. "You know, I wanna say you're all nuts. That you're all stark raving mad. But for some reason…for some reason, I just can't."

TBC…