Not What it Seems Chapter 17, a hawaii five-0 fanfic

Want to thank everyone for all the reviews, alerts and favorites...i know i need to make time to respond but RL has gotten so in the way

Danny, Chin and Kono headed into the bunker, Captain O'Riley sent extra men with them and the rest headed along the outside perimeter of the base. It would take time reaching the cliffs from the outside, as there was a considerable amount of over growth. The fastest route was through the bunkers.

The team cautiously and quietly swept through the bunker.

Kono stopped "Danny…Chin over here"

"What is it?" Danny said as he swept his gun then lowered it to see what Kono was referring to.

"There's blood here" as Kono pointed to the bed "and on the floor"

Chin walked up holding the IV bag, "looks like he didn't need this anymore"

Danny looked along the floor and followed the splatter of blood that seemed to continue down the corridor to the next bunker "Let's move" as Danny turned picking up the pace.

They quickly moved down the hall, stopping occasionally to listen. It was eerily quiet except for the soft hum of running fans.

Half way down the corridor Danny found the ladder leading to the hatch above. Chin climbed up it but found it was still tightly padlocked from the inside. They then quickened their pace, they needed to get to the last bunker before it was too late.

The whole team was unsure of Wo Fats intentions, he had purposely kept Steve alive….was it to subject him to some unknown fate? or just to use him to gain his freedom if he got caught. Either way Danny was on a clear mission, Chin and Kono picking up the strong vibes that rolled off of him, completely in synch with him as they moved together like a well-oiled machine. Each of them knowing exactly what the other was thinking as they quickly made their way into the last bunker.

Steve stood on shaky legs, his eyes scanning his surroundings. Wo Fat came up behind him, gun still cocked.

"I figured you could enjoy your last sunset" Wo Fat goaded.

Steve turned just enough to catch his gaze.

"It's the least I can do for my" Wo Fat hesitated then smiled "nephew"

Steve looked across the horizon, the tension building as images flashed through his mind, his mother, his father…then the people he failed Chin, Kono…..he swallowed looking down at the ground then…Danny. He squeezed his eyes shut as the image of his sister and then Grace, he looked up, eyes open and focussed…who would protect them if he was gone. He looked back to Wo Fat, the man stood there with a smug look on his face, then he spoke….

"As an honourable man… I will try and do more for my niece too, it's the least I can do"

That was the breaking point, Steve's blood boiled and without as much as a hint of warning, he exploded. Completely taking Wo Fat by surprise as Steve caught him with a round house kick sending the gun in his hand sliding across the grass. Feet and fist were flying as Steve ran on pure adrenaline as he fought like he never had before. One final kick sent Wo Fat tumbling across the grass towards the cliff. As he gathered himself to gain his footing his hand found his lost gun, he picked it up pointing it at McGarrett, stopping him dead in his tracks.

Blood streaked his face as he smiled at McGarrett "I clearly underestimated you, I should have known better, a lesser man would have died the first time….the games over for you now" as he raised the gun.

Steve was on his knees, breathless, trying to suck in air as quickly as his abused body would allow. Blood soaked most of his bandages while some dripped onto the ground. His body was tense ready to spring. A slight noise from his right almost drew his attention, but instead it caught Wo Fat's and it was all Steve needed.

He pushed upward at the same time that he lunged forward, catching Wo Fats arm lifting it as the gun went off. Steve's momentum sent them both hurtling towards the cliff as Steve leaned in close whispering

"You lose"

Wo Fat wind milled his arms as he flew backwards over the cliffs edge, a look of pure shock plastered on his face. Steve twisted sideways trying to slow himself down as he too went over the edge, his hands grasping desperately to stop his plunge. The sound of someone yelling reached his ears, as he slid coming to an abrupt body jolting stop.

Danny , Chin and kono had just cleared the opening of the bunker. They had all heard the noises coming from just ahead and had quietly moved in that direction. When they reached the clearing they saw McGarrett on his knees. Danny clicked the safety off his gun as he stepped forward to get a clear shot, his foot coming down on a small branch. The sound caught Wo Fats attention and then Steve made his move. Danny watched in horror as a shot rang out and both Wo Fat and Steve tumbled off the cliff.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" as Danny ran to the cliffs edge. "No no no no" as he dropped to his knees and looked down.

Steve was precariously sprawled about ten feet down on a small outcrop, beyond that was a straight drop right into the surf. He was moving sluggishly trying to push himself up.

"Steve!...don't move!" Danny yelled "Chin …kono he's here"

The bank sloped down to the outcrop, it was steep, but easy enough for Danny to make it. He slid slowly, landing on the ledge, he cautiously reached out catching Steve and pulling him towards him, away from the edge.

"Easy easy I got you"

Steve tried to push away, not knowing who had him and obviously still in fight mode.

"Steven!" Danny wrapped his arms around him, trying desperately not to hurt him while trying to stop his movements and keep him away from the edge "It's me….it's Danny" he leaned closer then, right by his ear "It's Danno I got you….it's ok lay still"

"Dan…..Danno?" he panted out trying to suck in enough air to speak, the look on his face testament to what he went through "Wo Fat …he….he said" his choked voice came out as he grabbed for Danny's arm.

"He's gone" Danny whispered as he tightened his hold knowing instantly what Steve was referring too "We're fine "

Steve looked up catching Danny's gaze as he shivered, he searched Danny's face for the truth in the words he spoke "Fine?" he puffed out.

"Yeah" Danny smiled "all of us"

"Wo Fat?" Steve mumbled again trying to scan his surroundings still unsure if they were safe.

"Gone" Danny said simply, pulling Steve's back towards him catching his gaze.

Steve latched onto Danny's vest then, squeezing his eyes shut with a strangled groan, as he pulled himself into him shivering hard.

"Chin?" Danny yelled.

"They're coming Danny…hold tight brah"

"Get me a blanket or something…he's cold"

Danny worked his way out of his vest pulling Steve into him more as he tucked the vest under his exposed back. Steve was shivering and painfully trying to suck in air like a fish out of water. He only had on hospital scrub pants, his chest and stomach still had the bandages intact but they hung loosely and were covered in blood and grime. Two of his wounds were seeping blood, the stitches pulled. His hand that had the IV attached had already long stopped bleeding. Blood oozed down the side of his face from a cut on his brow. Danny ran his hand carefully over his healing ribs making sure he hadn't reinjured them, Steve flinched and tried to pull away.

"Easy" as Danny kept his hand splayed, calmly touching "Just breath nice and easy partner…it's ok…we got you "Danny kept up a litany of words quietly soothing him into relaxing until he could feel the steady in and out of uninterrupted breath….satisfied Danny continued on with his poking and prodding, checking new and old injuries.

Steve tiredly blinked his eyes open when Danny started checking the gash above his eye "Hey" he quietly said "how you doing?"

"Cold…..tired" Steve slurred as his eyes started to close.

"Hey stay awake" as Danny lightly tapped his cheek. A noise from above made Danny turn, the movement causing Steve to flinch again "It's ok relax…it's Chin"

"Danny?" Chin shouted "here" as he tossed the blanket "How is he?"

Danny looked back at Steve, his eyes had started to dip again "He's a mess"

"They'll be here soon brah"

Danny carefully tucked the blanket around Steve settling him higher on his shoulder, gradually the shivers turned into light tremors as Steve slowly warmed up and his body relaxed more into Danny's hold.

"Hey" Danny jostled him lightly.

Steve grunted but kept his eyes closed.

"You can rest but no falling asleep McGarrett, we don't know if you have a head injury" as Danny casually touched checking his pulse.

Steve nodded weakly against his shoulder, the sound of Danny's voice soothingly vibrating beneath him, as he tucked in closer seeking the warmth of his very much alive partner.

Danny had gone with Steve while Chin and Kono had remained at the cliffs. A helicopter had shown up just prior to sunset, it turned out he was only a local hired to pick up a customer. He had been paid in cash and the destination would have been revealed to him once he had his passenger.

There was no sign of Wo Fats body, the tumble off the cliff was more than 80 feet and it appeared he had landed in the water. The treacherous rocks and under current would allow little chance of survival. Captain O'Riley would make arrangements to have a team check the water and shore line, but he himself doubted that they would be able to find a body.

It had taken close to an hour to get Steve off the cliff, the medics had to come through the bunker as it was impossible to reach the cliff any other way with medical supplies. He was barely conscious when they got him back to the medical building, the fight with Wo Fat having taken a toll on him. Danny had stayed close, staying in his line of vision whenever his eyes opened, keeping him calm as the doctors and nurses worked around him. Finally he was moved into a quiet room and allowed to sleep with Danny keeping watch.

It was three days before they would release McGarrett into Danny's care. He needed rest, lots of it, and the doctors felt he would get more by being at home. An unnatural quietness blanketed over Steve since Wo Fat had taken him. Danny had gotten some information out of him but Steve would eventually grow quiet and unresponsive. He would then deflect any conversation Danny tried to have with him by saying he was tired. He seemed to sleep lots, which Danny figured had to do with the medication he was on, regardless he was thankful, Steve needed the rest to heal.

Captain O'Riley had shown up the second day that Steve was home. It was late in the afternoon and they spent close to two hours on the lanai talking. Before the Captain left he spoke with Danny, giving him some insight into the McGarrett household prior to Steve's father's death. He assured Danny Steve would be fine, he was strong, and when he was ready he would talk.

"There is a few Navy personal that Steve's father has watching over him….I'm sure you will meet more than just me in time" as he patted Danny on the shoulder "right now…."as the Captain looked back at Steve on the lanai "this team is the best thing that has happened to him" he smiled "take care of him Detective Williams" and with that he was gone.

Danny glanced out to the lanai, the Captain was right, in time Steve would be ok and when he was ready he would talk. But right now Steve needed some normalcy, he didn't need his team treading around him lightly like he was some fragile piece of glass that might shatter. No, he needed to know they still thought of him as their leader, their friend, their ohana, that they would always have his back the same as he would always have theirs. That he was still exactly who they always thought he was and that no matter what, nothing had changed.

"Normal?" Danny laughed under his breath shaking his head "you are so far from normal McGarrett" as Danny shook two pain pills into his hand and grabbed a glass of juice and headed out to the lanai.

Steve was drifting , his head bobbed and his eyes cracked open when he heard someone beside him.

"Hey "Danny moved in front of him blocking out the sun "you need to go lay down for a while."

"I am" Steve tried for a good 'make me' face but failed miserably when he could barely keep his eyes open or hide the grimace of pain that crossed his features.

"This" as Danny pointed to the chair "is not your bed….and if you remember correctly you are only home because I agreed to babysit you…."

"babysit?" Steve managed to puff out between the start of a rant.

"Yes babysit….as in I signed the papers so your ass could get out"

"I can watch my own ass" as Steve tried to suppress a grimace of pain again.

"Ok seriously I'm not even going to touch that last sentence, you so left yourself wide open to numerous comments…you get a free pass only because you're in pain …and don't think I missed that face…twice….here take these" as Danny held out his hand with Steve's pain meds.

Steve scowled "they make me sleepy"

"Now you're whining"

"I don't whine" as Steve pouted

Danny rolled his eyes "don't make me stuff them down your throat…..cause seriously I could take you right now" as Danny raised a brow daring him and offering him the pills again.

"Fine!"

"Fine!" Danny smiled as Steve downed them both "now up you get" as Danny helped get him to his feet "you can sleep for a few hours and then Chin and Kono will be here to help with dinner… and at least I can tell them you'll be human…..you know all that bright eyed and bushy tailed stuff" as Danny waved his hands.

"What? " Steve glared at him.

"Just bed" Danny pointed "I'll be there in a few to tuck you in" and he received another glare for that.

"Yep normal" as Danny smiled

Chin and Kono had shown up and everyone was busy getting food ready. Steve had joined them helping out as much as he could before he had been ushered out to the lanai to sit and rest. They all sat down and ate, the conversation moving on to the new Governor and how Five O would be reinstated as soon as Steve was back on his feet. Danny watched Steve gradually grow quiet, it didn't get by Chin or Kono either.

Danny got up, gathering some dishes he took them into the kitchen and grabbed Steve's medication and came back out onto the lanai. Steve was gone and Chin gestured towards the beach as he helped Kono finish cleaning.

Danny grabbed a beer and juice out of the cooler and headed across the sand to catch up with his wayward partner. Steve stood just out of the surf staring across the horizon.

"Hey come and sit down" as Danny moved the two chairs closer to Steve.

"I've been sitting too much "Steve mumbled.

"Yeah well technically you are supposed to be horizontal….for the next" Danny looked at his phone "24 hours according to your doctor….so sit"

Steve scowled but sat. Danny passed him the juice and he scowled again.

"Wow you need to work on those...the same face twice, it's like hitting rewind and play all at once"

Steve glared at him then.

"mmm now there's a new one" Danny smiled taking a drink and still catching the small twist upward on Steve's lips. Danny held out his hand "here"

"Danny" Steve puffed out as his head tilted back.

"It's your antibiotics you neanderthal….you think I'd give you your pain meds out here….I'm not carrying your past out ass back to the lanai…now take them".

Steve took them and stared back across the horizon. Neither spoke for some time, just listening to the sound of the ocean and the evening breeze. Then Steve spoke…..

"Wo Fat…he…." Steve tripped on the words needing to say it but having trouble getting it out.

Danny looked at him, watching him fight with his emotions, Steve never really did well with expressing himself so Danny spoke "Wo Fat said a lot of things Steven…he told you we were all dead…..and none of it was true" Danny caught Steve's gaze holding it as Steve nodded.

"They didn't find his body" Steve quietly said.

Danny reached out lightly touching "the Captain said it would be unlikely someone would have survived that fall"

Steve gazed across the ocean again still not convinced.

"Hey" Danny squeezed his arm, drawing his attention "If….and I mean IF he surfaces we'll be ready" Danny ducked his head catching Steve's direct gaze "We'll all be ready " as Danny patted his arm taking a long drink of his beer.

Steve watched him staring intently.

"What?" Danny said as he caught the look.

"Well" Steve cocked his head "think I could have a beer"

Danny sputtered on his drink, figures McGarrett would do a complete 360 on the subject at hand.

"No!" you're on meds you lunatic. Steve did his best kicked puppy and Danny scowled" I swear you've been hanging out with my daughter way to much McGarrett" as he and Steve stared off. "Ok fine….fine you win…alright" Danny waved his hand towards Steve "I will do this just for you."

Steve's face instantly changed to a-dog –getting-a-treat.

Danny got up grumbling, he grabbed Steve's empty and his own. He went back to the lanai and came back with two bottles dropping one in Steve's lap as he cracked his open taking a big swig.

Steve lifted his staring "Danny?"

"What?"

"This is …."

"Juice" Danny finished.

"Yeah I thought I was getting a beer?...you said…"

"What I said…if you were listening… is I would do this just for you"

"Yes" Steve frowned looking at the juice then back at Danny.

"So…"Danny looked at him "I'm drinking this for you" as he held up the beer "kinda like taking one for the team…you know making the ultimate sacrifice…yadda yadda yadda "Danny waved his hand looking away.

Steve huffed then….the silence was deafening.

Danny chanced a look and was met with aneurysm face, he couldn't hold it back, he laughed "now there's the Steve I know" as he swallowed down more beer.

"And love" Steve added.

"Stop it Steven…or you'll ruin it" as Danny tried to look serious again.

Steve smiled then and Danny laughed. The smile didn't quit make it to his eyes, but it was the closest Danny had seen it since the day Steve had been arrested. Yes they were getting there, as close to normal as….well…. as Steve McGarrett could ever be.

The End

I know I left it that we're not really sure if Wo Fat is dead or if he even told McGarrett the truth…just thought it could lead to a part two possible some time down the road…or maybe not.