Danny Williams woke to the sound of loud knocking on his door and glanced at the clock on the bedside table. He cursed when he noted the early hour and slid his legs over the edge of the bed. He grabbed his robe and pulled it on. "This better be life or death!"

"Well, good morning, Fish bait! It's good to see things haven't changed...still need your coffee before you're even partially human!"

"Damn it, David, why is it you're always so fresh!"

"I'm just a jovial person at heart, Danny," O'Brien said and stepped inside. "So, coffee and a cream cheese bagel still your choice of breakfast."

"As long as there's no pineapple on it," Williams said.

"You know what they say, Danny...when in Rome..."

"Good thing we're not in Rome," Williams said. "Look, I need a shower..."

"No shit," O'Brien teased. "Make sure you take a rake to that hair when you're done."

Danny didn't bother to look at the man as he showed him his middle finger before disappearing into the washroom.

The smile on O'Brien's face disappeared once Williams was out of the room and he heard the sound of the shower. He moved to the bedroom and quickly rummaged through the drawers, but didn't find anything there. He knew Williams would never keep anything in plain sight, especially when it came to his job. He moved to the living room and checked the end tables, but again wasn't all that surprised when he came up empty. He heard the water shut off and silently cursed before moving into the kitchen area and sitting at the table. By the time Danny returned with pair of shorts and drying his hair with a towel, O'Brien was seated at the table eating his bagel and pretending to read the newspaper.

"Coffee's going to be cold," he said when Williams reached for the bagel.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Williams said with a grin. "Remember that time we were on stakeout and it was so cold the coffee froze between the shop and the car?"

"Hell, yes," O'Brien said. "Remember the idiot using the alley for a urinal?"

"You scared the crap out of him in more ways than one," Williams offered.

"Guy deserved it...there was a bathroom right there."

"Did you look in there? I would have done the same thing that guy did...the place should have been condemned."

"It was...a week after you left," O'Brien said.

"So that society didn't get it declared a historical site?"

"More like an eye sore, but they tried right up until someone torched it."

"Or a natural gas explosion," Williams said with a soft chuckle. "That guy could have caused it on his own."

"For sure...could have taken care of the lower east side if he'd just eaten a few more beans," O'Brien offered and watched his ex-partner closely. "Those were good time, Danny."

"Yes, they were and now we're in Hawaii and our boss is a bad-ass super SEAL who could probably take down the criminal element on his own if he put his mind to it."

"You sound like you admire him?"

"I don't think admire is the right word, but even though he's over the edge there's no one else I'd trust..."

"Not even me?"

"You're an enigma, David...I've trusted you to watch my back before and now that you're part of Five-O I'm pretty sure it'll happen again."

"You think your teammates will accept me as one of you?"

"They will, but..."

"What?"

"Why did Governor Jameson pick you? Oh, don't get me wrong, David, I know you're damn good at the job, but it just seemed to come out of left field."

"Still using the baseball analogies. Glad to see some things never change," David said with a hint of a smile. "I'm not sure why the governor chose me, but I'm glad she did. It gives me a chance to work with you again. What about you, Danny? How did a straight edged cop like you get saddled with someone like McGarrett?"

"I wouldn't call it saddled, but it was kind of an accident," Williams explained. "I was working a case and it happened to involve Steve's father's murder. We sort of butted heads over who had jurisdiction until Steve called the governor who called my boss and we ended up working it together."

"Did you find out who killed him?"

"Not yet, but it looks like a man named Wo Fat is involved?"

"Wo Fat...whoa, Danny, he's one miserable scumbag. I heard stories about him and The Yakuza."

"No kidding," Williams said and glanced at the clock. "Damn, thanks for the coffee and bagel, David, but I need to get to the hospital and see if Steve's going to be discharged."

"You need a ride?"

"No, thanks, I'll see you at the office in a couple of hours," Williams answered and walked his friend to the door. He knew O'Brien would have to prove to the others that he knew his job, but David had proved his worth time and again on the streets of Newark.

5050505050

Keanna Wahine opened the door slowly, but wasn't all that surprised to fine McGarrett sitting in a chair by the window. He hadn't heard her arrival and she took the time to study his face. He looked pale, except for the bruise that had formed and spread out beneath the bandage that covered the wound.

"Good morning," McGarrett aid with a smile. He'd heard the door open and knew who was there without having to look.

"You're supposed to be resting," Wahine told him as she made her way into the room.

"I never rest in here, Keanna."

"Has Dr. Hong been in to see you?"

"He just left," McGarrett told her.

"What did he have to say?"

"He signed the discharge papers, but he won't let me go back to work for at least a week," McGarrett answered despondently.

"Good..."

"Not you too. Look, Keanna, I know my limits and I know when I need to stand down. There's nothing wrong with me going into the office..."

"Steve, a lot of people don't realize just how dangerous a head injury can be."

"I know, Keanna, believe me I've had plenty of people tell me how dangerous it is, but I feel fine and I have a job to do and I can't do that if people keep trying to tell me what I can and can't do!"

"That's not what we're doing, Steve."

"Isn't it?"

"Tell me something...if I was walking past a store and noticed it was being robbed what would you expect me to do?"

"Call the police," McGarrett answered.

"You wouldn't want me to go in there and try to stop them?"

"Hell, no, leave that to the police."

"Why?"

"Because we know what we're doing. We're trained to...that's not fair, Keanna."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Steve."

"Yes, you do and that's different."

"Is it really? Just look at it from my point of view. If you came across a victim who needed surgery what would you do?"

"Call an ambulance."

"My point exactly. You know your job, Steve, and I know mine. Dr. Hong wouldn't tell you to take the time off if he didn't think it was necessary." Keanna said and smiled at the man seated by the window.

"I hate it when you're right."

"I know, but I love that you're wiling to admit it. Now, I do believe I owe you dinner and since tonight is the start of my three day off period I could..."

"Yes," McGarrett said with mischievous grin as he pulled her close and kissed her.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes, Danny, you are," McGarrett said.

"Well, I thought you could use a ride home, but if you'd rather stay here..."

"Depends on whether Keanna agrees to be my..."

"I wish I could, but I'm afraid I'm due in the ER in 15 minutes," Wahine said. "I'll see you tonight."

"Sounds good...and thanks," McGarrett said and watched her leave before turning to his partner. "Can you get the nurse to come take this thing out?"

"She said to tell you she'd be right in," Williams said. "How do you feel?"

"Tired...headache, but it's not as bad as it was last night," the head of Five-O answered as the day nurse came into the room. He waited patiently for her to remove the IV and smiled appreciatively at her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Commander. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, I think that's it," McGarrett answered.

"I'll have your paperwork and script ready at the desk," the woman said and smiled at the man before leaving the room.

"I just don't get it," Williams said.

"What?"

"What is it with you and that smile?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Danny."

"You just flash that smile and they just swoon..."

"Swoon?"

"Yes, swoon...it's a wonder they don't offer to help you dress," Williams said and handed McGarrett his overnight bag.

"Who says they didn't?" McGarrett asked and closed the curtain.

"Give me a break," the Jersey native snapped. "So, what did the doctor have to say?"

"I'm out for a week," McGarrett answered.

"Out? What do you mean out?"

"I mean off duty...sick leave," the head of Five-O told him.

"For getting beat up?"

"Danny, I didn't get beat up..."

"Oh, really? Let me see if I got the story right. You went one on one with Jacobs and the hospital staff is saddled with you for a night...where's Jacobs?"

"Hopefully he's home nursing his wounds like a dog. He had brass knuckles, Danny..."

"So I heard...also heard that he blind-sided you. The bastard shouldn't be a cop, Steve."

"I agree, but it's not up to us. Doc banned him from the gym."

"Good, are you going to report him?"

"For what...it was mutual combat," McGarrett said and drew back the curtain.

"But he used a weapon."

"I know, but if I report him it'll just make me look like a sore loser"

"So you admit you lost?" Williams said.

"You know what I mean, Danny."

"Yes, I do. Come on, I'll drive you home. Do you have food at your place or do we need to stop on the way?"

"I have food, but I want to stop by HQ..."

"Not a chance."

"Danny..."

"No, Steve, and I mean it. If the doc doesn't want you working then I'm not taking you to HQ. End of story so save the forlorn look for the nurses because it's not going to work on me."

"I just want to..."

"Make sure we're doing our jobs. Don't worry about it. Kono and Chin are checking with the hotel employees. David and I are going to work on the guests."

"I can help out."

"Yes, you can," Williams said and saw a hint of hope in his partner's eyes. "By going home and getting the rest you need."

"I just..."

"You don't like being kept out of the loop. None of us do, Steve, but right now you're on meds that will probably make you loopy so take them and get the rest you need. We've got the cases covered and with David taking your place we're at full strength," Williams said and didn't miss the hint of anger that crossed McGarrett's face.

"There's a surprise," McGarrett groused.

"What the hell does that mean?" Williams snapped.

"Look, Danny, I know he's your friend, but there's something wrong..."

"He's a good cop, Steve. We worked together a lot of years and I trust him with my life."

"I know, but it just seemed like the governor overlooked the officers on..."

"Isn't that what you did when you had me transferred to Five-O?"

"That's different..."

"How so? You didn't ask me if I wanted to transfer."

"You were already an officer with HPD and it just felt right," McGarrett told him.

"So if I hadn't been you would have argued this point with the governor?"

"Maybe...I don't know, Danny, but this just doesn't feel right."

"Do you trust me, Steve?"

"Of course I do."

"Then trust me when i tell you David is a good cop and he'll fit right in," Williams said and reached for the overnight bag.

'Fit right in as your new partner,' McGarrett thought, but didn't say anything as the orderly came in pushing a wheelchair.

"Commander, I hear you're ready to get out of here," the man said and waited for the injured man to sit down.

Steve didn't say anything as they made their way out of the hospital and Williams brought his car around. He climbed into the passenger seat, but didn't say anything as he closed his eyes and thought about the conversation he had with Williams. He knew how it sounded, but his instincts had kicked in from the moment he'd walked into the governor's office. There was something about David O'Brien that didn't sit right, bunt there was nothing he could do until he found out more about Danny's partner.

Author's Note—-Well, we got the painting done and now it's a matter of putting everything back in place. I figured I'd upload this part so I hope you enjoy...Winnie