Kono looked into the room and felt her heart aching for the woman seated in the chair by the window. Sandra McMillan looked like she was a lost child, her face pale with the evidence of tears streaks adding to the sorrow and pain she felt. The woman turned to look at her when she entered and Kono smiled at her as she spoke.
"Mrs. McMillan, my name is Kono Kalakaua," Kono said and showed the woman her badge, relieved that Chin had left to go back HQ while she spoke with the victim.
"I already gave my statement," the woman said.
"I know, but that's not why I'm here. I know you don't want to see your husband..."
"I don't want him to see me like this. I'm not going to make him stay with me now," Sandra told her.
Kono moved closer to the woman and waited for her to look into her eyes before speaking. "He loves you for who you are."
"No, he loves who I was, but I'll never be that woman again."
"Yes, you will as long as you don't let what they did to you change who you are in your heart. You have a man who loves you..."
"Don't you think I know that? I just don't want to let anyone touch me like that any more. I can't do it...no matter how much I love him."
"What if he's willing to wait until you're ready?"
"What if I'm never ready?" Sandra said and held her arms tight against her body as she trembled with a mixture of pain and sorrow. God, help her, she loved her husband, but how could she face him after everything that happened? How could he ever love her when other men had taken what should have been theirs alone.
"That's something the two of you need to talk about. Don't turn your back on him, not when you need him and he needs you," Kono tried.
"I...I don't know if I can...I...Kevin deserves better. He deserves a woman who..."
"Who loves him and is strong enough to fight to keep that love."
"I don't know if I'm that strong."
"Sometimes we don't know our own strength until we're forced to lean on those who care about us."
"Is he...is he here?" Sandra asked softly and saw a change come over the woman standing in front of her. "Where is he?"
"He's in a room down the hall."
"Why? What happened to him?"
"He was found not long after you disappeared and was hurt quite bad, but he's getting better. He asked us not to call his family until he knew how you were doing, but he needs to see you, Sandra."
"I don't..."
"You need him...you need to let him help you," Kono told her. "Just let him help and maybe you'll both be able to understand that you did nothing wrong."
"I let them take me. I let them do that to me!"
"No, you didn't. The blood tests showed the presence of several drugs including Rohypnol. You were raped and that's not your fault. You couldn't stop what they did to you, but you can stop them from winning," Kono told her.
"What about...what if I can't beat them?"
"Your husband thinks you can and I do too as long as you let him help you. Cry on his shoulder and let him cry on yours. Let him love you because he wants to and let him help you get your life back," Kono advised and saw a glimmer of hope in the woman's eyes. She knew it was far from over, but if she could just get Sandra to go to Kevin then maybe they really could reclaim the love they shared.
"I don't know if I'm ready..."
"Sandra, please..."
"Kevin," the woman said and looked past Kono at the man who stood in the door.
"Don't shut me out, Sandra, please don't do that to me...to us," Kevin McMillan looked as if he might crumble as he looked at his wife with a mixture of love and fear.
"Oh, Kevin, I don't...I want to believe in us, but after everything that's happened I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to...to run away as fast as you could."
"That's not going to happen. I love you too much for that," Kevin said and moved toward her as Kono moved out of the way.
"I love you too..."
"Then let that be our strength, Honey, please, don't shut me out," the injured man said and reached for his wife. "I want to take care of you."
"I want that too, but..."
"Sh, no buts, let's just take it one day at a time. I'll be here if you want to scream or cry or throw a tantrum or throw something at me! I promised to love and care for you for the rest of our lives and I plan on doing just that."
"I want that too," Sandra repeated and reached for her husband.
Kono knew the couple had a long way to go, but this was a start and if Kevin's family was anything like him then they had a good chance of making it. They would need to talk to a psychiatrist to help deal with what happened, but for now they could hold each other and draw comfort in the touch. Kono left the couple alone, stopped at the nurse's desk and told the woman there that Kevin McMillan was with his wife if they were looking for him. She left the hospital, feeling a little better that at least one of the women had the support of a man who loved her unconditionally.
5050505050
David O'Brien stared out at the empty parking lot as the rain beat against the window with a steady rhythm that set his nerves on edge. Two days had passed since the fiasco at the house and still there was a steady stream of newscasts that talked about him being one of the most wanted men in the state. All because he'd trusted a man whose life he'd saved on more than one occasion.
O'Brien had picked up several disposable phones and called his client in hopes of making the man understand why he wouldn't be getting his delivery. The problem was Ichiro Dazai was that he didn't believe in failure or second chances. By now Dazai had probably put a sizable bounty on his head and some hitman would be just itching to take him out.
Danny Williams had cost him more than just the money, he'd cost him his life if Dazai had his way. David knew he could disappear anytime he wanted to, but right now the only thing on his mind was Danny Williams. One way or another they would meet again and when that happened one of them would die, and David didn't plan on living a short life.
David reached for the bottle of cold beer and took a long drink before slamming it down on the table. How the hell had things come to this? Where had things gone wrong for him? Was it that first bribe he'd taken shortly out of the academy, or did that simply show him how easy it could be to make money while doing a job he enjoyed. The problem he had now was that he was like the bastards he'd arrested and put behind bars. If that happened he'd be dead within a few days because the prisoners hated cops almost as much as they hated child molesters.
O'Brien knew he had to do something fast, but he didn't know who he could trust. There were two men he could call, but he didn't trust either one of them. Higgins and Sheffield were dirty, not quite his kind of dirty, but a little shove in the right direction and they would be. He needed something to make Danny come to him and he knew just what or who that something would be...Grace Williams.
Danny loved his daughter more than anything else in the world and he'd do everything in his power to keep her safe. He'd proven that time and again, and had even given up his job in Newark to follow her mother to Hawaii. If Higgins and Sheffield were as dirty as they seemed then he could use them to get to the child and have them bring her to him. He'd make sure she didn't see his face or hear his voice because there was no way he would hurt a child, unless there was no choice. Once he had Grace Williams he could clean up the mess before leaving the country.
Higgins and Sheffield could take the fall for everything if he had his way. He could have Williams bring McGarrett to him and then make his old friend kill the head of Five-O before falling on his own sword. Then he could leave the child where she would be found and make sure there was plenty of incriminating evidence against the IA agents.
Danny Williams had once been his best friend, but there was no way in hell the sonofabitch would quit going after him once this was over. It would be a cold day in hell before Danny quit looking for him. No, the man had to die and with him the bastard who'd helped ruin the plans he had. Come morning he would start putting things in motion, but for now he'd sit here and drink the warm beer.
5050505050
Steve stared at the sliver of sunlight peeking through the curtains and thought about the man in the next bed. He trusted Danny Williams and wouldn't want anyone else watching his back in a jam, but did Danny feel the same way? Why did it bother him so much that Williams would give him hell for going a little off center when he needed information and yet it was okay when David O'Brien had done just that during an interrogation.
Sleep had been hard for him, but not just because the nurse had come in several times to check on them. Danny had slept through Paulina's ministrations, but he'd been awake and aware of her presence. She seemed nice enough, but something about her didn't seem right, but he put it down to the drugs, fatigue and fever. They'd told him he wasn't to eat or drink anything because of some test he was having done in the morning, but he couldn't remember what the test was for. He heard someone enter the room and turned his head toward the door.
"Good morning, Commander, I'm here for some of that precious blood of yours," the lab tech told him and took three vials from the cart.
Steve hit the button to raise the head of his bed, wincing when the slight movement pulled on the wound. Wilson had ordered a drainage tube inserted to help keep it clear of infection, but so far he was still running a fever. The lab tech quickly did her job and placed a bandage over the small puncture before moving to the man in the second bed. A small smile formed when Danny grumbled something to the extent that vampires were not supposed to come out during daylight hours.
"Good morning, Detective, Commander. My name is Marilyn and I'll be one of the nurses taking care of you today. I'm going to get some towels and face clothes and a basin of water for each of you and see about changing the sheets and blankets," the middle aged woman told them as she looked from one man to the other. "I'll be back with your meds, Commander, and Dr. Wilson ordered a couple of tests for you this morning so breakfast will have to wait until they're completed."
"Okay," McGarrett said and heard her leave.
"You all right, Steve?" Williams asked.
"Not really, but you probably feel the same way," McGarrett told him.
"Guess neither one of us is going to win any beauty contests," Williams observed. "Did you get any sleep?"
"Not really," McGarrett answered honestly.
"Side hurting?"
"Sometimes, but mostly thinking," the head of Five-O answered.
"Not a good thing to do in here," Williams said and sat up. "Anything I can help with?"
"Not really...just something I have to work out for myself," McGarrett told him.
"Are you sure? I'm a good listener..."
"Commander, they just called up for you so just relax and I'll bring in a gurney," the nurse said and left the two men alone.
"What are they putting you through now?" Williams asked.
"No idea, but I'm sure they'll tell me," McGarrett answered tiredly and closed his eyes as he waited for the woman to return.
5050505050
Rachel knew she had hurt Danny when she'd gone to see him, but she didn't regret telling him she couldn't do this any more. She love him, God there was no way around that, but love couldn't keep her warm at night when every time the phone rang or someone knocked at the door her heart would stop beating. It had happened too many times when they lived in Newark, and now it was happening all over again.
When Kono called her to tell her Danny had been shot she'd assumed the worst, but could not bring herself to go to the hospital until she knew he was going to be okay. She could not live with the thought that she could lose him at any time. She could not live her life that way, and yet, she could not deny Danny the right to see his daughter. Grace was the reason he did what he did. He wanted to keep the world safe for her and that was something she could not fault him for.
"Mommy, do you think Danno and Uncle Steve will like these?" Grace asked and Rachel quickly wiped the evidence of tears from her eyes before she turned to look at her.
"Oh, Grace, they'll love them," Rachel answered of the paintings her daughter had done in school.
"Miss Lohani said they needed to dry, but they feel dry now," Grace said.
"They're fine, Honey. Now why don't you put on that pretty yellow dress your daddy likes so much," Rachel suggested.
"Can we stop and get some Malasadas for them?"
"Not today, Grace, the doctors don't want them having anything like that until they're feeling better."
"Is daddy going to stay with us so we can be his nurses?"
"No, Grace, daddy will be going to his home."
"Why?" the little girl asked. "Don't you love each other any more?"
"Yes, Grace, yes, we do, but sometimes love is not enough. Someday, when your older you'll understand."
"Does he still...does he still love me?"
"Oh, yes, Grace, he still loves you and he wants to spend time with you. I want that too, Honey, because Danny...your Danno is the best father a girl can have," Rachel explained and hugged her daughter. "Now why don't you go change and we'll go see them?"
"Okay," Grace said and hurried to her room.
Rachel let the tears fall, yet she knew they were her own doing. Reaching for the box of tissues she allowed herself some time to grieve for what she was giving up.
5050505050
Chin and Kono knew they needed to fill out the reports and file them away, but the case was still wide open and would remain that way until they caught David O'Brien. They also needed to figure out what Higgins and Sheffield were up to. The IA agents seemed to have given up on McGarrett, but they both knew the men would not give up that easy.
"What about looking into their past?" Kono asked.
"We've done that and aside from a couple of small things there's nothing to prove they had anything to do with O'Brien," Chin answered and brought up the files they had so far. "It takes a hard cop to take on a job of investigating another cop."
"They're not all bad," Kono suggested.
"No, they're not, but they're usually cold. At least in my experience they are."
"Yes, but just because they're cold doesn't mean they're bad," Kono told him.
"I know, but it makes them all look bad when agents like Sheffield and Higgins go after someone we know isn't dirty," Chin offered.
"What if we're wrong about them and they're simply doing their job?"
"Even if they are they're going at it the wrong way," Chin told her and added a picture of O'Brien to the overhead view. "We need to find out if Higgins and Sheffield are working with O'Brien."
"Do you really doubt they are?"
"No, but we need proof," Chin told her.
"Kamekona might be able to help with that," Kono observed. "He's got a friend who would keep tabs on Higgins and Sheffield's phones and whereabouts for the right price."
"That's the problem, Kono, sometimes the right price is too high even if the outcome is what we need it to be," Chin told her.
"I'm not afraid to lie down with dogs, Cuz."
"It's not the dogs I'm afraid of, but I hate fleas," Chin said.
"So, do I talk to Kamekona?"
"I don't think we have much choice. We need to finish this before Steve and Danny get out of the hospital," Chin told her and began going through the information they already had as Kono called their cousin.
5050505050
Danny rubbed his injured shoulder and looked at what was left of his breakfast disinterestedly. He glanced at the clock over the door and then at the empty bed next to the window. They had taken Steve for several tests nearly two hours ago and the longer he was gone, the more time Danny had to think and that was not a good thing in here.
Steve had accepted his apology, but Danny knew there was still more they needed to clear up. God, help him, but he felt like hell and knew the drugs they were giving him were keeping him from thinking clearly. He needed to get out of here and figure out how the hell they could catch O'Brien. He pushed the table away and leaned back against the pillow with his eyes closed until he heard an excited voice in the hallway.
"Come on, Mommy, Danno's room is down this way."
"Grace, remember we use our indoor voice in here. Danny might be sleeping," Rachel lightly chastised as they reached the door to his room.
"No, he's not," Williams said and smiled when his daughter bounded into the room. "Hey, Gracie, how's my girl?"
"I'm good, Danno," the child said and frowned when she couldn't quite climb onto the bed.
"Grace, maybe you shouldn't..."
"It's okay, Rachel, help her up," Williams said and moved to the side so Grace could lay down beside him.
"Look what I made for you and Uncle Steve," Grace said as Rachel placed a cup of coffee on the table.
"Thanks, Rachel," Williams said and took the paintings from his daughter. "Wow, now these are really good, Monkey. Who's in this one?"
"That's me and you and mommy," Grace said. "The other one is Uncle Steve on a horse. You said he could ride. Do you think he'll show me how to ride a horse, Danno?"
"Maybe...we'll ask him when he's feeling better."
"Where is Uncle Steve?" Grace asked with a frown.
"The doctor wanted to run some tests this morning, but he'll be back soon. Why don't we get your mom to put these on the board so he'll see them as soon as he gets back," Williams suggested.
Rachel watched her ex-husband and daughter, glad she'd brought Grace to see him. Her heart ached, but she knew she could never deal with this on a daily basis. It hurt too much to see him lying in a hospital bed and knowing as soon as he was cleared he would be back on the streets.
"Rachel, would you do the honors?" Williams asked and held both pictures out to her. "Rachel, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Danny," the woman said and fought back the emotional turmoil as she reached for the pictures.
"Put Danno's on this side and Uncle Steve's on his," Grace ordered and turned toward the door when she heard voices outside.
"Excuse me, but could you wait outside while we get Commander McGarrett back in his bed?" the nurse asked, and smiled when Rachel stepped out of the room.
Danny kept Grace on the bed as the stretcher baring his partner was wheeled inside. Steve's face was turned slightly away from him, but there was no mistaking the pale features that spoke of just how much McGarrett had gone through. He listened as the nurse and orderly moved Steve from the gurney onto the bed, worried when McGarrett didn't make a sound.
"How is he?" Williams asked when the nurse finished taking McGarrett's vitals.
"He's doing well, Detective, but he's going to be sleeping for several hours," the nurse answered and smiled at the little girl sitting on the bed beside her patient. "Who is your pretty visitor?"
"This is my daughter Grace," Williams answered. "Grace, this is Alana."
"Hi, Grace."
"Hi, Alana, are you taking good care of daddy and Uncle Steve?"
"I think so, but if they need anything would you let me know?"
"I can do that," Grace said and heard her father chuckle softly as the nurse left and her mother returned.
"What's so funny?" Rachel asked.
"Nothing, but I think Grace found her calling," Williams said hen his daughter jumped off the bed and moved to the other one. She tucked the edge's of the blanket around the sleeping man before returning to him and repeating the procedure. "Thanks, Monkey."
"You're welcome. Do you need some water?"
"No, thanks, I'm good," Williams said.
"Grace, we need to leave so your daddy and Uncle Steve can get some sleep," Rachel said.
"But, Mom..."
"You heard your mom, Grace," Williams said and kissed his daughter's cheek.
"Can I come back when Uncle Steve is awake?"
"Of course you can," Williams told her and smiled as Rachel took her hand.
"I'll see you later, Danny," Rachel said.
"Thanks for bringing Her, Rachel," Williams said and watched the duo leave before turning his attention to his roommate. Steve seemed to be sleeping and Danny suddenly realized just how tired he was. He let his eyes drift closed, but sleep was a long time coming as he thought about his friendship with O'Brien and what it had cost him.
Author's Note—- Sorry for the delay in posting. It was Thanksgiving weekend here and didn't get much time to write...Winnie