Steve parked behind the ambulance and with Eric at his side they followed closely as Brock and Danny were wheeled into the hospital.
As the bright overhead lights of the hospital hit his eyes Danny cried out, "STEVE, STEVE"
The orderlies stopped as Steve raced forward calling, "HOLD UP GUYS!"
Danny was pushing himself up on the gurney and Steve was at his side in seconds. He placed his hands onto Danny's shoulders saying, "Hey buddy, I'm right here...lay back and relax"
His head was heavily bandaged and soaked with blood...damn, head wounds sure do bleed!
Steve smiled reassuringly as he pushed him gently back down, "Relax Danno. Let these guys take care of you now"
His breathing was rapid as he said frantically, "We have to find these kids Steve"
"We will Danny, I promise you we will. You have to calm down though...please"
"Okay...okay" Steve stayed at his partners side as Danny closed his eyes and repeated, "Okay, I'm okay"
After several minutes his breathing eased and Steve said softly, "I'll see you in a little bit partner"
"Yeah...'k"
Steve watched on as the orderlies stepped forward and wheeled Danny through the swinging doors and into the emergency room.
Steve then entered a nearby bathroom to wash up while Eric made his way to the ER waiting room.
About twenty minutes later Chin and Kono arrived to find Steve and Eric discussing Brock, trying to figure out where he could have taken the kids.
Chin tossed Steve a clean shirt and asked, "How are they?"
"Danny lost a lot of blood. They're cauterizing and stitching the wound right now and he should be okay. We don't know about Brock yet. They took him into surgery a few minutes ago"
Kono asked, "Did he talk at all?"
Steve shook his head "No he never regained consciousness. Eric, these are the other members of my task force Kono Kalakaua and Chin Ho Kelly"
Shaking hands the four sat down and Steve began, "We're trying to think of where Brock could be hiding the kids. His parents own property up the coast and there are several vacant buildings and sheds in the area"
Kono stated, "But Boss would he have had time to get there and back?"
Steve shook his head, "No I don't think so but I had Duke dispatch two units up there to search, just in case"
Chin asked, "Have you talked to his parents yet?"
"They're on the way here from Kauai. Jenny and her family are on their way here now"
As they chatted, Eric told them how Brock was actually quite a loner, "He's pretty shy and he doesn't have a lot of friends. His family was the center of his existence…shit, I just can't believe he's done this"
Steve talked to him soothingly, "But he did Eric, and we need you to stay focused and think…..where could he have hidden them?"
Their attention turned as Danny entered the room arguing with a Doctor who was right on his heels.
"DOC STOP, I'M FINE! LET IT GO WILL YOU"
Steve stood and moved to his partner, grabbing his forearm "What's going on Danny?"
Closing his eyes the Jersey detective spoke, his face and jaw tense, "Steven, will you talk some sense into this man for me? Please"
Glancing at the Doctor and then back at Danny he said, "Somehow partner I have a feeling it's you who needs the sense talked into him"
Chin grinned and muttered under his breath, "Oh brother, here we go"
Danny looked at his partner, "What does that mean Steve?"
Steve turned to the Doctor and asked, "Hello Doc, is my partner here misbehaving?"
Danny was clearly irritated as he replied, "This isn't funny Steven, do you think this is funny?"
"Hey buddy relax. Of course this isn't funny but I need to hear what the Doctor has to say"
"No, I think you need to listen to ME, and I'm telling you I'm fine and we've got work to do"
Chin stepped forward and stated, "Danny, relax brah"
As Danny closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh Steve asked, "So Doc, how's he doing?"
"The bullet grazed and chipped his skull and the force of the blow did cause a concussion. I needed to cauterize several blood vessels and he needed forty four stitches internally and externally. With the seriousness of this wound combined with the large amount of blood he lost he should be in bed right now. He needs to be monitored"
"Danny..."
Opening his eyes Danny said softly, "I'm fine Steve. I need to do this"
Steve inhaled deeply, "Doc if we watch him carefully will he be alright"
The Doctor shook his head, "I can't recommend this and if he chooses to leave my care, I can't make any promises. He has a serious head wound Commander"
Danny spoke before Steve could respond, "Partner, I have to do this and we're wasting time right now"
"Damn it Danny..."
"I'm fine...trust me"
Steve sighed and nodded, "Okay, okay...Doc, I'll watch him carefully...thank you"
The Doctor shook hands with the men and as he left the room Danny said, "So what have you got?"
"Not much buddy"
Chin handed him a clean shirt and Danny replied, "Thank you"
A few minutes later as Eric was telling them about the car that Brock was restoring Danny held out his hand, "Wait a minute..."
Steve asked, "What Danny?"
Looking at Eric he asked, "I didn't notice a '68 Corvette at the Davis home...or at his shop"
Eric's hand went to his mouth, "Oh my God, why didn't I think of this?"
Steve asked, "It's okay, talk to us Eric"
"A friend of ours, Mike Blaisdell is a fisherman and he recently bought some property on Hanauma Bay. There's a large storage building there were he stores his boats and he's let Brock store and work on the car there. There are several small sheds there too"
Steve said excitedly, "This is great. Eric, do you know where the property is?"
"Absolutely"
"Let's go"
Steve had Kono remain at the hospital to keep tabs on Brock and in moments the men were racing towards Hanauma Bay...and hopefully the children.
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As Steve raced through the streets following Eric's directions he glanced over at Danny.
The injured man was gently massaging the side of his head with his fingertips and his eyes were closed.
"Hey Danno, you okay?"
Keeping his eyes closed Danny replied, "Yeah, the movement's just making me a little dizzy that's all"
"Are you sure?"
Opening his eyes and turning towards his partner he said softly, "Steve I appreciate your concern, I really do. We've got a job to do and I'm fine. If I wasn't I would tell you"
"You promise"
Danny grinned, "Yes Steven….I promise"
They had been driving about twenty minutes when Steve's phone rang, "Hey Duke, I've got you on speaker"
"Steve, I'm at the hospital with Jenny and her and Brock's families. Kono tells us you have a lead?"
"We sure hope so"
After filling Duke in on their thoughts the Sergeant stated, "Jenny would like me to bring her out there"
Steve said solemnly, "I'd like you to keep her there Duke…..I don't know what we're going to find out here. We're only a few minutes out and I'll call you shortly okay?"
"Got it"
As he hung up the phone his eyes connected with Danny's and no words were needed. They both were terrified about what they might find as Brock's words occupied their minds, 'If I can't have them, nobody will'
The sun was setting over the Island as the vehicles pulled up to the property.
Eric had called Mike and he was also arriving at they drove up.
After quick introductions they all moved to the nearest shed and they began searching them one-by-one. As they approached a shed about two hundred yards from the main building that stored Mike's boats and the Corvette they heard muffled sounds. Steve held up his hand and they all moved swiftly to the door.
As they stood at the door, Steve called out "Colton? Lilly? Are you in there?"
Receiving no response he said softly, "Eric talk to them"
Eric spoke, "Hey Cole-man it's Uncle Eric are you in there partner?"
Hearing movement near the door a small voice greeted them "Uncle Eric, where's Daddy? He locked us in here"
"We'll get you out buddy. Is Lilly with you?"
A sweet little voice cried back, "Hi Uncle Eric, I wanna go home"
Hearing them both speak brought huge smiles to all of the men and Eric continued to talk to the kids as Mike tried to find a key for the lock.
Eventually he said, "These keys don't work, Brock must of changed the lock"
Steve looked at Chin, "Chin"
"Got it"
A few moments later, after cutting the lock with bolt cutters and opening the door, they were greeted by the two smiling children.
******* The kids are now safe but is Danny out of the woods yet? Prepare for upcoming whumpage! I hope you're enjoying and I'd love to hear your thoughts! ********
