Chin had stopped the motorcycle just outside the city and waited until Kono checked with HQ to make sure they were headed in the right direction. He knew there were several places O'Brien could be holed up, but he wanted to make sure they were closing in on McGarrett's cell location.
"Duke says we're about thirty miles south of the signal," Kono told him and put her helmet back on. "He's sending back up, but they know to wait for our signal."
"Good," Chin said and pulled the bike out onto the road. He knew of an old motel around thirty miles north and hoped they made it before anything happened to their friends.
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Danny reacted on instincts and prayed Steve was not as out of it as he seemed. He grabbed the gun and at the same time stumbled into O'Brien, striking the man's arm and knocking it away from his daughter. He heard the man curse, but cried out as his one time friend struck his wounded arm.
"I'll kill her, Danny!"
Williams covered his daughter's body with his own as O'Brien struck him in the lower back with the butt of the gun he still held.
McGarrett clambered to his feet and launched himself at O'Brien just as he cocked the pistol. Steve heard the distinct sound of a gunshot, but could not afford the time it would take to look at his friend. He'd seen Danny cover Grace with his own body and silently prayed the bullet hadn't hit either of them as he collided with O'Brien and drove them both into the dresser.
O'Brien knew he'd made a mistake the instant Williams struck out at him. As he brought his weapon up, his second mistake was obvious as McGarrett proved once again that he placed other people's lives ahead of his own. There was no chance for him to react as the man struck him full force and his lower back connected with the edge of the dresser. He lost his grip on the gun, and knew there was no point in trying to find it as McGarrett struck him with a fist that snapped his head back.
Steve knew if he let up, O'Brien would take advantage and he'd lose before he'd even started. As soon as he hit the man, he drove a fist into his face and another into his gut.
O'Brien grunted, but refused to go down as he brought his right hand up and struck Steve's wounded side. He heard the sharp intake of breath and struck again, smiling when he saw the pain etched on his opponent's face. He drew back his arm, and realized his mistake too late as McGarrett blocked the blow and struck him in the gut with enough force to drive the air from his lungs. David knew he had to act quickly or he'd lose to the injured man and that was something he couldn't allow. He ducked as McGarrett aimed a fist toward his head and drove his own fist into the man's gut, yet the SEAL never wavered in his attack.
Danny knew Grace was safe, but he couldn't leave her until he was sure O'Brien could not harm her. He heard the two men fighting and turned just as O'Brien drove his fist into McGarrett's right side. The blood was the first thing he saw and he knew he had to do something or Steve would go down hard. He glanced down at Grace, relieved to see she seemed to be sleeping, and spotted the gun on the floor near Sheffield's body. Ignoring the fighting pair, Danny stood up and crossed the short distance, grabbing the weapon and turning back to the scene behind him. The two men were on the floor now, each one intent on being the victor and unaware of his movements.
Steve felt himself weakening, but fought to stay conscious as O'Brien wrapped his fingers around his throat. He managed to turn them, but his nemesis brought his knee up into his groin and tightened his fingers around his neck. McGarrett fought to breathe through the constriction around his neck, but darkness seemed to be reaching for him.
"Let him go!" Williams ordered.
"Fuck you!" O'Brien spat, intent on choking the life from the SEAL.
Danny cocked the weapon, but didn't fire as O'Brien maneuvered his body so that McGarrett wound up in the way. He moved to the opposite side and fired the gun, watching as O'Brien's body jerked when the bullet entered his lower back. Danny wasn't stupid and kept the gun trained on his old 'friend' even as the David's fingers released their hold and he slumped to the floor.
Steve drew in the first real breath of air, and at the same time his mind registered the pain emanating from his side as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. He closed his eyes and tried to regain control of his breathing and shoved O'Brien away as someone helped him to his feet.
"Sit down, Steve," Williams ordered, fighting to stay on his feet as the adrenalin rush ended and his legs felt like rubber. He sat next to his partner and reached over to touch his fingers against his daughter's cheek.
"She...she okay?" McGarrett managed through tightly clenched teeth.
"Think so...you?"
"I'm good," McGarrett answered.
"Stay put. I need to make sure he's not going to surprise us," Williams said and gingerly moved to check on O'Brien. He touched his fingertips against the man's neck.
"Is he..."
"Bastard's alive," Danny said and cursed when O'Brien's hand shot out and grabbed for the gun. Instincts kicked in and he fired again, this time the bullet entered O'Brien's upper chest and there was no mistaking the death rattle as the air moved through damaged lungs. He sat back on the floor, relief and sorrow mixing before he turned back to the bed and found McGarrett watching him closely.
"You okay?" McGarrett asked as the sound of a motorcycle reached their ears.
"I am now...bastard won't hurt anyone else," Williams said and stood on shaky legs. He wanted to go to his daughter, but he needed to see if help had finally arrived. He opened the door and came face to face with the other members of Five-O.
"Danny, are you all right...we heard shots," Chin asked and looked into the room.
"We're good..."
"Grace?" Kono asked as Williams stumbled toward the bed.
"He gave her something to make her sleep. Can you call an ambulance?" Williams asked, not liking how pale McGarrett looked. He reached for Grace and tried to pull her into his arms, relieved when Kono lifted her so that she rested against him.
"Ambulance is on the way. A couple of squad cars are already here," Chin assured them.
"I need to get her out of here," Williams told him.
"Let me carry her," Chin said as a soft moan escaped the child's lips, but she didn't come fully awake. He lifted from the bed and waited for Danny to follow him out of the room.
"Boss, let me help," Kono said. She'd seen the blood on his side and gone into the washroom, returning with clean towels.
"Is Grace all right, Kono?" McGarrett managed.
"She'll be fine, you both will and Danny too, but I need to get the bleeding stopped. Can you lie back for me," Kono ordered softly.
"I...Danny shot him...didn't have a choice...self defence...make sure...make sure they know."
"Look at me, Boss, what's going on with you?" Kono asked worried about the way he was talking and hoping there was nothing else going on as she heard the sound of sirens.
"Nothing...just tired, Kono," McGarrett answered and closed his eyes as angry voices sounded outside the room. He tried to sit up, but she pressed him back down and held the towel in place.
"Chin's got it, Boss," Kono said.
"Someone's going to have to pay for those towels...who's going to clean up that mess? Are they dead?"
"It's okay, Marie, just stay back and let the police handle it," a man ordered.
"Kono, make sure Danny and Grace get to the hospital...bastard's hit him."
"He's not the only one they hit. Looks like you're going to have a nice shiner tomorrow," Kono observed as a paramedic came into the room.
"Hey, Kono, the man said and placed the kit on the floor beside the bed before turning his attention to McGarrett. "Well, it looks like we're going to add another trip to the hospital, Commander. If this keeps up I'm going to be closer to winning than I thought possible."
"Winning?" Kono asked.
"Well, we've got a little tally going with Danny and Steve on who's going to make the most trips. I'm ahead by two," Paul Gilmore answered and eased the towel from the wound. "Commander, I'm going to have Kono keep pressure on this while I start an IV..."
"I don't need..."
"Yes, you do," Gilmore interrupted. "Look, at the very least you'll need stitches put back in this and probably x-rays if the bruising I'm seeing is any indication."
"Danny..."
"Danny and Grace are on the way to Queens," Chin offered from the open doorway where several officers were checking the area.
"They okay?" McGarrett asked as the paramedic started the IV.
"Grace's vital signs are good and Danny needs his shoulder checked out. It looks like you took the brunt on this one...at least physically," Chin answered.
"Danny did what he had to do to protect Grace," McGarrett said.
"Commander, I'm going to give you something for pain and then we're going to get you out of here," Gilmore told him as his partner came into the room with the gurney.
Chin and Kono moved out of the way as the two men finished working on the injured man and readied him for transport.
"Did anyone call Rachel?" Kono asked.
"Danny was making the call when they got him and Grace into the ambulance," Chin answered and hurried after the gurney carrying their boss as an officer took control of the crime scene.
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Danny knew there was no point in putting off the call any longer. Deep down he understood why Rachel was angry, but it didn't make it any easier to deal with. Chin had given him his cell phone and he hit the numbers while listening to the beeping of the monitor. The paramedic had started an IV in Grace's arm, and explained the reasons for it, but Danny just knew his daughter was going to be fine.
"Chin, please tell me..."
"Rachel, it's Danny..."
"Oh, thank God, where's Grace, Danny? Is she all right?"
"She's okay, Rachel."
"Where are you? I'll come get her!"
"We're on our way to Queens..."
"Queens...hospital! You said she was okay, Danny! What's wrong? Don't you lie to me, Danny!"
"I won't, Rachel. Look,, David gave her something to make her sleep. She's showing signs of waking up, but I want them to check her out and make sure the bastard didn't hurt her."
"Danny, how could you let him take Grace?"
"I didn't, Rachel..."
"He was your friend! You should have known he'd come after Grace! I can't do this any more, Danny!"
"Rachel..."
"I'll see you at Queens!"
Danny knew there was no point in saying anything else as the line went dead and he closed his eyes as the headache he'd held at bay came back with a vengeance. He leaned forward and rubbed at his injured shoulder as he watched Grace''s face. He heard a soft sigh and placed his hand on her cheek as he spoke. "It's okay, Monkey, Danno's here and you're safe."
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Keanna Wahine looked up from the chart she'd been updating and shook her head when she recognized the man walking beside the stretcher. She hurried over and smiled when the little girl opened her eyes and looked at her. "Hello, Grace."
"Hi, Keanna," the child said and held her father's hand while they moved the gurney into a curtained off area.
"Danny, what happened?" the doctor asked as she watched the man's face closely. She wondered ow much of the pain she was seeing was physical as he took her aside and explained what happened to his daughter. "We'll run some test to make sure she's all right, Danny."
"Thanks, Keanna," Williams said and heard his ex-wife speaking with the nurse at the desk. "Rachel."
"Danny, where is she?"
"Hi, Mommy," Grace said when she spotted her mother.
"Thank God," Rachel said and hugged her daughter as a nurse entered the area.
"Rachel, we need to take some blood," Keanna said.
"I don't like needles," Grace said and defiantly folded her arms across her chest.
"I know you don't, Monkey," Danny said and looked into his daughter's eyes. "Just this once for me...okay?"
"Okay," Grace agreed.
"I'm going to use a small needle, Grace," the nurse said and cleaned an area at the child's elbow.
Danny took a deep breath and stood away from the bed as Rachel glared at him. He knew they were going to get into it about this, but right now he didn't have the energy to deal with his ex-wife's anger. "Keanna, Steve's on his way in...he was roughed up."
"I thought you two were supposed to be resting at home," Wahine said and finished taking the child's vitals, relieved that everything seemed fine. "Rachel, I'll let you know what the blood tests show."
"Thank you, Keanna, can I take her home?"
"If everything is normal then she can go home," Wahine told her. "It shouldn't take long."
"Detective, I'm pretty sure I signed your discharge papers yesterday," Akoni Wilson said upon spotting Williams exiting the examination room.
"I'm not here because of me," Williams said, but looked toward the door as it opened and McGarrett was pushed in on a gurney, chin and Kono behind him.
"I see your partner can't say the same thing," Wilson said and hurried after the gurney, Keanna Wahine right beside him.
"Danny, how's Grace?" Kono asked.
"She's awake...Rachel's in there with her. Keanna ordered some blood tests, but if they're okay Grace can go home," Williams answered.
"That's great...did you let them check you over?" Chin asked.
"No, I'm good."
"Have you looked in a mirror lately?" Chin asked. "Come on...we might as well...whoa, Danny...I need some help here."
Kono and Chin supported Williams until a nurse rushed toward them with a wheelchair. They lowered him onto it and refused to let him stand when he tried to tell them he was okay. He gave up trying as the nurse ordered Chin to take him into the empty examination room next to Grace's and get him on the bed while she told Dr. Wahine there was another 'stubborn' patient waiting for her attention.
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Keanna moved to check McGarrett's vitals and smiled when he opened his eyes and looked at her. She winced sympathetically when Wilson flashed a light in his eyes and checked his pupil's reactions.
"Well, Commander, I know I told you and Detective Williams to go home and rest...this is clearly not resting," Wilson said and listened to the patient's lungs.
"Sorry, Doc, O'Brien had other ideas," McGarrett told him. "Keanna...Grace...is she..."
"She's awake and Rachel is with her," Wahine told him.
"Keanna, we're going to nee to suture the wound, but I also want x-rays to make sure there are no surprises," Wilson said.
"I'll put in a call now," Wahine told him.
"Dr. Wilson, Detective Williams just collapsed and I put him in treatment room two," Patty Collins said from the doorway.
"Is he..."
"Lie still, Commander," Wilson ordered when his patient tried to sit up.
"I'll check on Danny, Steve. You just let Dr. Wilson look after you," Wahine said and left the room. She moved to the next room and opened the curtain to find Danny stubbornly sitting on the edge of the bed. "You know I'm beginning to think Steve isn't the only one who believes he's indestructible."
"How is he?" Williams asked.
"Beat up, but you know Steve, Danny...first thing he asked about was you," Wahine said and waited for the nurse to finish checking his vitals. "Now, why don't we talk about you. How's the arm feeling?"
"It's throbbing right now," Williams answered honestly.
"Okay, I'll have Donna give a shot for pain and then we'll get a couple of pictures to make sure nothing else is happening," Wahine said.
"Keanna, I want to be with Grace," Williams told her.
"I understand, Danny, but you just collapsed and I want to make sure that doesn't happen while you're with her. Just give me a little time and then we'll see about putting you in a wheelchair and you can visit with her. Deal?"
"I guess," Williams said and lay back on the bed. He knew Rachel was with grace and with O'Brien dead there was no reason for him to worry, yet something told him Rachel's anger had yet to reach the boiling point. How could he convince her that he had no idea David was capable of the things he'd done. He could blame it on being injured and under the influence of pain medication, but the truth was he'd really underestimated David. If he'd listened to Steve when this had all started, he might have avoided all of this, but at the time he'd thought McGarrett was jealous of their friendship. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
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Rachel looked at her daughter, drinking in the sight of her as she fought to control her emotions. After the nurse had finished taking blood, Grace had fallen asleep leaning against her and Rachel refused to release her hold on the child. She heard Keanna talking to her ex-husband and felt her heart aching that he was hurting. She wanted to go to him, God, help her, but she still loved him no matter how hard it was to face the decisions he'd made regarding his career. She couldn't even fault him for that decision, because Danny Williams was meant to be a cop.
Rachel ran her fingers through Grace's hair and touched her hand against her cheek. There was nothing to tell her Grace had even been in danger, yet she knew she was. Why couldn't Danny see the danger his job placed his family in? Why couldn't he be more like Stan?
With that thought came a reality she didn't want to face. Stan had put them both in danger and if not for Danny they could have been killed. How could she be so angry at Danny and yet with Stan she'd simply forgiven him. God, help her, but she needed to face the reality that sometimes life was not as cut and dry as she wanted it to be. Grace loved her father and if she tried to separate them, then she'd be the loser.
Rachel eased Grace down on the bed and drew back the curtains to find Danny lying on his back with his eyes closed. "Danny, can we talk?"
Williams turned toward her and sat up as Keanna left them alone. "How is Grace?"
"She's sleeping, but I think she's going to be fine," Rachel answered.
"Rachel, I'm sorry...I should have known David would go after Grace."
"Really, are you a mind reader?" Rachel asked, with no hint of sarcasm as tears glistened in her eyes. "I know I said some things, Danny, but I was wrong."
"Really?" Williams asked hopefully.
"Really. I know you do what you do to keep Grace safe and sometimes I wish you'd chosen another way, but Stan's job should have been safe. It wasn't...he put Grace in danger for all the wrong reasons. If I can forgive him then I'd be a hypocrite to keep you away from our daughter."
"Thanks, Rachel," Williams managed around the lump in his throat.
"Get some rest, Danny, if they release you tonight you can stay with us. Grace would love to be your nurse," Rachel told him.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure...baby steps, Danny, that's what we're going for her and maybe someday if you're still available I'll be able to handle the consequences of your job. If not...my loss," Rachel said and hugged him before moving back to her daughter's bed.
Author'sNote—- Just one more chapter to go. Thanks again for the wonderful reviews. You guys are awesome...Winnie