Note: Thanks for all the reviews, sorry I haven't had time to reply individually to them. Thought you might like the next instalment before I head to work.
Chapter Eight
The team arrived at the airport and quickly exited Kono's car. Steve grabbed one of Kono's back up guns from the lock box in the trunk, seeing as he didn't have his own, and they made their way to meet Duke.
"Where is he, Duke?" Steve asked as he stormed through the airport.
"He's in the departure lounge. I have plain clothed officers on him." Duke explained and started leading the way to Roberts.
Chin grabbed hold of Steve's arm, and quietly said, "Remember what you promised Grace, Steve. She needs you more than ever now, let's do this quick and clean."
Steve just nodded. His focus was purely on taking down the man that hurt his friend.
As they entered the lounge they saw Roberts sat at the far end. He looked nervous, bouncing his knee repeatedly, and fiddling with his boarding pass. His eyes were flitting around the lounge, and as the team drew nearer, his eyes locked with Steve's. There was an instant look of recognition and he sprang to his feet and started to run, Steve hot on his heels.
Roberts was desperate to make his bid for freedom, seeing the security checkpoint ahead of him he made a running leap and cleared the stall, pushing both security guards to the floor, causing one of them to hit his head as he went down, knocking him out cold. Kono ran to the guard's side, yelling to Chin, "go after Steve, make sure he doesn't kill him." Chin nodded and continued to sprint after Steve who had now managed to close the gap between himself and Roberts.
Roberts made it to the runway, Steve was only about twenty feet behind, and Chin pushed himself harder to catch up to them. There was a chain link fence on the far side of the runway, and this was obviously Roberts intended destination. He sped up as he sensed Steve hot on his trail. Roberts jumped and grabbed hold of the fence, attempting to haul himself over, but he had underestimated how close Steve now was, and was pulled back down to the ground with a thud, the air being forced out of his lungs. Steve was on him in a second, attempting to secure his arms, but Roberts managed to kick out, catching Steve in the groin. That gave him a second to stumble to his feet again in an attempt to get away, but Steve had had enough of this cat and mouse game now. He grabbed hold of Roberts arm causing him to spin around. A solid punch followed through to connect squarely with Danny's attacker's jaw, a bone cracking crunch echoing across the airfield. Roberts was sent sprawling to the ground, and this time, Steve grabbed hold of his wrist and wrenched his other arm behind his back. He zip tied Roberts arms behind him, ignoring the scream of pain as the man's shoulder popped out of the socket.
By the time Chin had caught up with the pair, Roberts was groaning in pain, his jaw obviously shattered, and Steve was shaking his hand, his knuckles already bruising. Chin dragged Roberts to his feet and started reading him his rights as several HPD officers joined them.
"You ok Steve?" Chin asked handing Roberts off to one of the uniformed officers.
"Yeah, I am now we have the bastard. Get him out of my sight." Steve ordered while cradling his hand to his chest.
Duke arrived at the scene, "don't worry Steve, we will take care of this scum. You get back to Danny, and by the looks of things, get your hand checked out." He said pointing out the bruised, swollen hand.
"Thanks Duke." Chin said leading Steve back towards the airport.
"No problem, by the looks of things he isn't going to be up to interrogation for a while. Looks like you broke his jaw." Duke replied, a smug smile gracing his lips.
"Yeah, his jaw, my hand. Shit, how do I explain this to Grace?" Steve sighed.
"The guy is alive. A broken jaw and dislocated shoulder is pretty tame really. Come on, the sooner we get you checked out the sooner we can get back to Danny." Chin said steering Steve over to Kono who was now waiting by the airport door, relieved to see Roberts in custody.
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"Well I've got your X-rays back, Steve." Dr. Pearce said entering the exam room, where Steve, Chin, and Kono waited, all eager to get back to Danny.
"So what's the verdict, doc?" Steve smiled.
"You have a hairline fracture to your knuckle. I'll strap it up, and you need to ice it. I suggest you keep it elevated for a bit to help with the swelling, but knowing you, you will refuse to use a sling."
Steve just gave a guilty smile. Dr. Pearce really did know the team too well. "Do you know if they have finished with Roberts yet? I want to speak with him. I need to know why he did what he did. Grace will want answers."
Dr. Pearce gave him a smug smile. "I'm afraid Grace will have to wait for those answers. He has just been taken to surgery to have his jaw wired shut. You did quite a number on it. He won't be talking for several weeks."
"Damn." Steve sighed. "Now we can't interrogate him."
"Don't worry boss. We have enough evidence to book him without his statement." Kono stated. "And he deserved it. He resisted arrest and assaulted a security officer. I thought you were very restrained with him."
Steve gave a sly smile, "it did feel good to punch him. The broken knuckle was well worth it."
"Well let's get that fixed, shall we." Dr. Pearce said pulling over a cart with supplies, "then I'm going home. It's been a very long day."
"We really are grateful for everything you have done, Dr. Pearce." Chin said.
"I know. Don't worry. I'll be back first thing in the morning to review Danny. He is in good hands with the ICU staff overnight."
"We know doc. I think I'm even going to take Grace home for the night. Danny wouldn't want her here all night."
"That's a good idea. I'll stay with Danny overnight." Kono said. "You should take Leilani home, Chin. She's been great with Grace today." She suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." Steve said admiring his newly splinted hand. "Now, I just have to get Grace to agree to it."
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Danny didn't look any different upon returning to his room, except maybe he had a little more colour to his completion. Grace was still by her father's side, and was now reading him a book from her phone. The remains of some sandwiches could be seen on the table behind them. Leilani was the first to see them return, and stood to greet them, "did you get him?"
"We did." Chin replied causing Leilani to smile with relief.
"I managed to get her to eat a little." She informed them.
"Uncle Steve." Grace called as she let go of her dad's hand and ran to greet the team. Did you get him? Did you find out why he hurt Danno?"
"We got him, Grace." Steve said pulling her in for a hug. "But we can't talk to him for a while."
"What have you done to your hand?" She exclaimed upon seeing the splinted fingers, and started to examine the injured limb.
"I'm fine, Grace. I just cracked my knuckle. How's your dad doing?" Steve asked not wanting Grace to focus on his injury and ask too many questions.
"He's the same. I've been reading to him. You punched Ian, didn't you?" Grace said standing back and looking Steve straight in the eye.
Steve let out a small laugh, amazed by Grace's perceptiveness. "Yes Grace, I punched him, but in my defence he was making a run for it."
"That's ok then." She said returning to Danny's side, but Steve saw a slight grin on her face.
"Grace, sweetheart, it's getting late now. I think you should come back to mine and get some sleep. Kono is going to stay the night with your dad." Steve said placing his good hand around Grace's shoulder.
"No. I want to stay with Danno." Grace whined.
"You know your dad would want you to get some rest. Listen, we will go home, get some rest, and come back first thing in the morning. Then when they wake him up we'll be here for him, and not too tired."
Grace seemed to consider it. "Auntie Kono is staying with him? He won't be alone?"
"I promise, I'll stay right here Grace." Kono reassured her pulling up a chair and taking a seat, being very careful not to knock the chest drain hanging from the bed, and taking Danny's hand in hers.
"Ok then." Grace agreed then turned back to her father. "We'll be back in the morning, Danno. I love you." She said leaning over and carefully kissing Danny on the forehead, well away from the tube that was helping her father to breath.
Soon everyone filed out of the ICU, leaving Kono behind. "Just you and me now Danny, you better behave yourself and keep getting better. We all need you off this machine and awake. You're the only one that can fill in the blanks to what happened with Roberts, and we all need some answers. Grace really needs her dad too. She is putting a brave face on, but she really needs her Danno right now." She glanced down at their two hands entwined, and smiled at the slight twitch of fingers within her own.
TBC