The Beginning

By

Landon Richardson

Official Disclaimer

The characters of Lieutenant Commander Steven 'Steve' McGarrett, Former Detective John 'Johnny / Jack' McGarrett, Detective Meka Hanamoa, Amy Hanamoa and Billy Hanamoa do not belong to me in any shape or form. I am merely using them for my own entertainment purposes.

The character of Detective Sergeant Danielle 'Danni' Williams probably can be considered to be mine by now. Although she was originally based on male Danny, she soon evolved becoming her own person. She has her own background, her own family, her own history and her own distinct personality. This isn't to say that the Danny Williams we all know and love is completely gone, he still emerges through her at times. I like to think of female Danni as what Danny could have been if everything in his life had gone his way. As in full custody of Grace and a decent relationship with his ex.

The character of Grace has also changed slightly due to the change in Danni. Her surname is Taylor as this is her father's surname and was Danni's married name (Danni reverted back to her maiden name when she was divorced). Her parents also are amicable which has also impacted Grace but never fear, she's still the sweetheart we know and love, if anything she's more a sweetheart now.

The character of Duncan Taylor, Detective Rory Clements, Special Agent Alexis Moss, Jeanette McGarrett, William 'Will' McGarrett, Noah Landon, Anna Lawrence nee Landon, Theresa 'Tessa' O'Donnell nee Landon, Deborah 'Debs' Landon and Michael Landon also belongs to me as does any other character who you do not recognise from the show. Please do not use them, or my version of Danni and Grace without first asking for my permission to do so.

Thank you.

Author Note

Here's the next chapter for you all.

Please enjoy

Official Summary

When Danni Williams moves to Hawaii, all she wants to do is keep her head down and survive the time she had to stay there. The last thing she expected was to meet Steve McGarrett, a man who seems more intent on getting her blown up and finding out everything about her life than he is about following proper procedure. Danni has a job to do though and one way or another she is going to do it.

Chapter Summary

Danni stared silently at the closing door, her mouth hanging partly open as she tried to wrap her head around the bombshell that McGarrett had just dropped on her

Overall Romances

Hints of Steve McGarrett / Danni Williams (McDanni)

Hints of Steve McGarrett / Catherine Rollins (McRollins)

Mentions of past Duncan Taylor / Danni Williams (Dunni)

Hints of Ryan Moore / Danni Williams (Rynni)

Meka Hanamoa / Amy Hanamoa (Mekmy)

Mentions of past John McGarrett / Doris McGarrett (Joris)

Michael Landon / Karen Landon (Micren)

Chapter Romances

Mentions of past Duncan Taylor / Danni Williams (Dunni)

Meka Hanamoa / Amy Hanamoa (Mekmy)

Warning

This story features a female Danni Williams in place of a male Danny Williams. Although in some stories I write, Danny does exist, he does not exist in this one.

If this is not your cup of tea then please hit the back button.

Another note

I do not have a Beta so please forgive any mistakes which may creep in, I always do my best to edit the story and check it but sometimes mistakes do creep in.

The places I've mentioned in Hawaii are ones which come from google, including the addresses. I've never been to Hawaii myself in person so I apologise for any mistakes which I may make, these are not intentional.

Chapter Five

A String of Conversations

Thursday 23rd September 2010

Danni Williams and Grace Taylor's home

500 Hakaka Place

Honolulu

Hawaii 96816

Danni stared silently at the closing door, her mouth hanging partly open as she tried to wrap her head around the bombshell that McGarrett had just dropped on her. It seemed to be her new thing of the day so far, struck dumb with shock while staring at doors which Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett had just strolled casually out of after making some sort of declaration which managed to rock her carefully planned life to its core. Declarations like telling her that she had been transferred out of her job with HPD and into another one without even seeing a contract or being asked if it was what she wanted.

She swallowed reaching up and pinching the bridge of her nose. She wasn't sure how she felt, emotions crashing together creating a confusing mass which she was trying to decipher. One minute she was angry, the next that was being drowned out by sheer disbelief with an undercurrent of hope beneath it all which she was trying to ignored. The feeling of disbelief was one which she was beginning to realise would probably become a common one for her to experience if she really was McGarrett's new partner in his taskforce.

Not only had McGarrett swept in and taken his father's case from her and Meka without any warning but now he had taken her from her job at HPD and from her partner and decided without knowing anything about her, that she was the one person on the island and in his life, who was best suited to be his partner and on his taskforce. She knew the feeling of hope she was experience was at the thought of being away from HPD, that would be a godsend for her but she also knew that she would missed Meka.

The two of them had been happy with each other, they understood how the other worked and had finally after six months found a way to merge their two different styles of working together to become an effective team who could face just about anything.

She knew nothing about McGarrett's working methods or how he viewed things. It could be a disaster that wouldn't work and then she would be sent back to HPD with her tail between her legs to a working environment which would double in hostility towards her.

Danni slowly lowered her hand, shaking her head in disbelief as she looked around the hallway as though the painted wall surrounding her would be able to provide her with some sort of answer to her multitude of questions. The first thing which she needed to do first was to see whether what McGarrett had told her was legit. She had the feeling that McGarrett wasn't a liar but at the same time she couldn't just do this on his say so. For all she knew this could just be a ploy, what she needed to do was hear it with her own ear that she was now on his taskforce and his partner and there was only one person who could do that.

She turned, heading back down the hallway and into the living room, her gaze focusing on her bag which was still where she had dropped it on the sofa. Unzipping it, Danni glanced inside, moving things around until she found her cell phone. She pulled it out, casually swiping her thumb over the screen before selection her contacts and scrolling through it for a second before stopping on the one she wanted. For a moment she stared at it, finger hovering over the connect button before she breathed out, set her shoulders and hit the button, bringing the handset to her ear and waiting for an answer.

The phone rang exactly three time before it was picked up, a familiar voice barking two word at her.

"Captain Hookano"

"Hello Captain, it's-"

"Williams! It's about damn time that you got around to calling me. I've been sitting here on my ass waiting for it" He stated, his tone sounding pissed as though whatever was going on was her fault. She brought her cell away from her ear for a few moments, glaring at it before gingerly bringing it near the vicinity of her ear again. The Captain wasn't exactly known for his telephone manner, something which was backed up by the fact that she could still hear every word clearly as though she was standing right next to him. "I'm guessing since you're finally getting around to calling me that Commander McGarrett has hunted you down and told you his news" He demanded.

"The Commander has found me" She confirmed, her eyes narrowing as she continued. "He was actually standing outside my front door which is interesting because I would like to know how he managed to get my address in the first place. He told me that-"

"That he had made you his partner on his brand-new spanking taskforce and that you were no longer a Detective with HPD" Hookano finished for her, cutting across her again before she could finish her sentence. Danni bit the inside of her lip, closing her eyes and forcing herself to focus on Hookano's words which were still flowing out of his mouth. "Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you Williams but everything the man told you is true. After you left the pen McGarrett started questioning me about you. He wanted to know what you were like as a Detective and how you worked. He wanted to know if what Hanamoa had said about you breaking the case and finding the leads in it was true or not? I gave him his answers and when I had finished he informed me that you were to be transferred away from HPD to his taskforce because you were going to be his partner."

For a moment Danni remained silent before she spoke quietly.

"And so that is it then?" She queried, her hand tightening on the handset. "The Commander decided that he wanted me on his taskforce as his partner and so now I'm his partner, no questions asked? No offence to the way things are run Captain but surely I should have had a say in this or at least signed a new contract? I am the one who is directly affected by it."

"The truth of the matter is that you don't get a say in it Williams, no one at HPD does" Hookano corrected her. Danni could almost visualise in her mind the way the tall, imposing man would be pacing in the confined space of his office, his free hand no doubt flexing in and out of a fist. "It might shock you to learn but I actually refused his demand and told him no. I'll be the first to admit that you and I might not see things eye to eye on occasions and I'm well aware of how you're treated in the bulpen by the other Detective in the unit and maybe as Captain I should have done something about it but that is in the past now. I don't need to see eye to eye with you to know that you are a damn fine Detective. The rate of closure for the department has risen since you joined the team and yours and Hanamoa arrest rate is streaks beyond your nearest competitor. Stats don't lie and I don't particularly want to lose a Detective who has proven time and time again that they are good at their job. I especially don't want to lose that Detective to a Navy SEAL who has somehow gotten it into his head that he is a force to be reckoned with" He told her bluntly, the words of praise clearly costing him.

"What exactly did the Governor say to you about this taskforce she has set up Sir" Danni questioned after a brief pause. The Captain's compliments blindsiding her for a moment, she had always known that she was good at her job but to hear the man who had for all intents and purposes acted as though she was a mere Rookie was a surprise to her system, making her grasp onto what she needed, which at that moment in time was clear, concise facts so she knew exactly what she was now dealing with.

She heard the Captain breathe out loudly and assumed for a moment that he would ignore her query but instead he answered her, frustration lacing his voice,

"Not as much as I would have liked her to Williams. McGarrett is in charge and he had jurisdiction over any decision that he may choose to make such as what cases he wants to work on and who he has on his team. The Governor is his trump card and the man has no hesitation in using it if it gets him what he wants. In this scenario you as his partner was what he wanted." Hookano stated, the comment causing Danni's hand to tighten on her cell phone though she remained quiet, waiting for him to continue. "When I refused his request to transfer you to him and told him that nothing would change my mind, he rang the Governor directly, putting her on loud speaker so I could hear her and told her that he wanted you as his partner and that he wouldn't accept anyone else in the role. If you weren't transferred over then the deal was off and he would return to the Navy. I know you said you barely spoke to him at the McGarrett's house but whatever you did say clearly made a lasting impression on him."

"The Commander said that?" Danni asked, unable to keep her disbelief in check as she glanced over her shoulder towards the empty doorway in surprise. Somehow, she couldn't picture McGarrett making that threat towards the Governor but clearly, he had.

"He was adamant about it" Hookano stated with a snort. "The Governor agreed to his condition of you as his partner instantly. She had that Assistant that is always around her produce the correct paperwork to get you transferred over from HPD to the new taskforce and faxed it over to me while McGarrett was still in the room. He stood over me, watching me sign the paperwork and fax it back to the Governor. He waited only long enough for her to say it had been received before he left with the files you had given him, telling me that he or someone else would come back later to pack your things up. Then he made a call and left without another word to me though I did see him stop and talk to Hanamoa for a moment about something."

Danni breathed out, reaching up with her hand and gripping the back of her neck, pressing down on the muscle, trying to ease the tension away.

"So, I guess if everything has been signed and approved then there's nothing more to say. That's it." She stated, thankful when her voice came out calm and steady, showing none of the rolling emotions happening beneath the surface.

"You're damn right that is it Williams" Hookano snapped back. "There's nothing which I can do when the Governor steps in and makes a demand of me. McGarrett demanded you and Governor Jameson made sure that it happened; that's the end of the story Williams. It's the way things work out here in Hawaii so I would suggest you get used to it, especially now that you're partnered to the Governor's apparent golden boy."

"What about Meka? What will you do with him? He needs a partner, has anyone even told him what has happened and that we're no longer partners or even working in the same department?" She asked.

"I'll be the one to tell him about what has happened here, I don't want you ringing him up and telling him, his mind needs to be focused on his task at hand. What happens here in regards to HPD Detectives is no longer any of your concern and it hasn't been for an hour now. Hanamoa is a competent Detective who can easily go it alone for a while until the new hiring process is over and done with. You should focus more on your job and how you'll keep your Commander on the straight and narrow. It's not something I envy that's for sure." He told her, sounding almost pitying for a moment before there was a click followed by the dial tone in her ear telling her that Hookano had terminated the call his end.

Danni slowly lowered her phone from her ear and ended the call on her end.

There was no way around it as far as she could tell. She really was Steve McGarrett's partner and a fully-fledged member of his task force which meant as well that McGarrett was now her boss as well. She didn't understand why he had insisted on her as his partner to the point that he had gone to the Governor directly and apparently threatened to withdraw his acceptance of her offer unless she gave him Danni. It wasn't as though the pair of them knew each other and Danni highly doubted that she had made a good impression back at his house or at the police station and yet here they were.

Partners.

Did he see something in her or was it as simple as he had seen her official record and decided that she was good enough at what she did to satisfy him and the needs he had for a partner. Perhaps it was as simple as he didn't see the point in wasting his time trying to find someone else when he had already met someone suitable. She knew about military men and had experienced her fair share of them and she knew well enough that McGarrett was on the hunt, nothing else mattered to him right now other than his quarry.

Danni glanced at the picture which McGarrett had taken down from her mantel piece earlier, her eyes scanning her daughter's face and allowing the sight of that large smile to calm her and allow her to think about her new situation for a moment. There was nothing which she could do about the situation she was in now, all she could do was focus on the job at hand and help McGarrett to bring his father's killer to justice. Everything else which was going on could wait until that goal had been accomplished.

Her mind made up, she moved and picked her bag up from the sofa going through a mental check list in her mind to make sure that she had everything which she needed from the room before she left and quickly headed to the small room nearest the front door where she and Grace tended to keep the shoes which they wore the most. Danni leaned down and picked up a pair of nude ballet pumps. As much as she tried to avoid wearing flat shoes while at work due to her lack of height, she had the feeling already that working with McGarrett was going to be anything but smooth and peaceful. It was probably going to end up involving a lot of action and action in her experience often included running which meant that Danni would have to keep a pair of shoes handy which she could sprint in if push came to shove.

Leaving the room, Danni came to a stop by the front door and took a moment to put her heels back in and set the alarm again before she pulled the front door open and stepped outside, closing the door behind her and quickly locking it before she turned back round. The rain had eased off leaving a bright blue sky in its place, it if wasn't for the wet grass then Danni would have sworn that she had imagined the whole storm in the first place. She glanced down at her watch, frowning when she saw that it was already past one and moved down the path, stopping for a moment when she saw McGarrett. He was leaning against the driver side of her car, his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes scanned the surrounding area, scoping out everything as though he was expecting them to be attacked at any moment.

She shook her head, feeling a tinge of pity for him before she resumed heading towards him.

"You know that you're going to have to move out of the way if you want us to head out" She called out to him when she was closer to him, attracting his attention to her. She watched as he lazily stood up straight, his eyes moving around them one last time before they focused on her and remained there.

"Oh?" He replied. "And how exactly do you make that out exactly?" He asked her, squinting at her in the bright sunlight.

"Well it's a fairly simple comment with a fairly simple answer" she told him, her mouth quirking up into a slight smile. "I like to think that I'm a fairly good driver Commander but I'm not that good a driver that I've managed to learn how to drive without actually being behind the wheel of the car and to be behind the wheel of the car means that I have to be in the driver's seat, the same one which you are currently blocking." She stated, coming to a stop in front of him, tilting her head back so she could see his face, something made difficult by their height difference. "I'm sure that in the Navy they teach you to do it and everything but it's not a skill which everyday citizens or Detectives need to master which means that I need you to move Commander." She remarked, raising an eyebrow when McGarrett remained silent, holding his hand out towards her with his palm facing upwards towards the sky. She glanced down at it before looking back towards his face. "What is it?" She queried. "Are you asking me to hi five you or something because if that's the case then you should know that I only give hi fives out when they are deserved or when it's the end of the case and the perp is where he or she belongs" She commented lightly.

There was no mistaking the sudden gleam of amusement which came to his blue eyes though she noticed that his featured remain blank of any emotions.

"You're amusing" He remarked dryly, his hand curling into a fist as he dropped it. "What I want Williams is the keys" He demanded, a sight frown furrowing his brow when she snorted at his comment.

"The keys to what exactly Commander?" She countered thoughtfully. "To this car? To my house or do you mean the keys to the state of Hawaii itself? Because if it's the first two options then the answer is no because I'm not exactly in the habit of giving out the keys to a borrowed car or my own house keys to someone who I have only known about an hour or so and if you want the keys to Hawaii then I suggest you get back on your cell and place a call through to the Governor and see if she can hook you up with one. I'm assuming that if you have that key then you get a never-ending supply of shaved ice and pineapples. Considering how she seems to be bending backwards for you, you may get lucky and be able to get it." She remarked, tilting her head to the side.

Steve remained silent, his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at her, his gaze intent as though he was trying to see under her defences to what lay beneath in her core. She forced herself to stare back, keeping her own face fixed in a thoughtful look.

"What I want Williams in the key to this car so that we can get on with the case and get over to Doran's house. I'm the better driver out of the two of us and can get us there quicker." He clarified. Danni blinked, staring at him for a moment before a disbelieving laugh escaped her mouth.

"You want the keys to my car based on the fact that you are the better driver out of the pair of us?" She repeated with a shake of her head. "You know I would be delighted to know how you came up with that conclusion that you are in fact a better driver then me considering the fact that you've never seen me behind the wheel or even been in a car with me before."

"It's a SEAL thing Williams" McGarrett answered her with a shrug. "We're taught to look at a person and be able to size up their strengths and weakness in a moment. You have a young daughter so it's ingrained in you to drive carefully. You probably keep to the speed limit at all time and you won't take risks even when they may be necessary. In fairness to you though you're probably not quite as careful when she's not in the car with you but there is still going to be that voice in the back of your head which is warning you to slow down and be careful so that you don't leave her motherless. As a SEAL I don't have that voice in my head" He stated.

Danni stared at him, feeling her cheeks flush in annoyance before she spoke, keeping her voice calm and measured. It would do her no good to show at this stage how peeved she was by McGarrett's assessment on her, an assessment which was probably truer than she felt comfortable admitting.

"Regardless of whatever abilities you may or may not have picked up during your years as a SEAL I am still going to be the one driving today" She informed him with a nod. "This is the car I am currently using and therefore we follow my rules about it. It's just the way it is Commander" She moved towards him, stopping beside him and twisted round, placing her hand against his chest and pushed. He remained still for a moment before the tension eased out of his body allowing her to push him back away from the door. She took her hand back and quickly opened the door, planning on getting in when he suddenly reached out, his hand easily wrapping round her forearm stopping her, the grip firm but surprisingly gentle as though he was aware of his strength and was trying not to hurt her in any fashion.

"I'm a very good and competent driver Williams" He informed her causing her to nod at him.

"I have no doubt that you are but that doesn't change my decision" She responded. "I'm well aware that giving everything you know that you are probably more than capable of taking this car apart and rebuilding it within hours because that's what the Navy has probably taught you at Annapolis but the fact is that you are not active in the Navy anymore, from what I overheard you say, you're a reservist now. On top of that this isn't actually my car, I'm borrowing it from someone I know while my own car is in the shop being repaired which means that I will be the only one driving because I cannot afford to return this car with even a slight dent in it. Now you're more than welcome to sit up front with me in the passenger seat or in the back seat or even in the trunk if that what you prefer but those are your only options so now that we've settled that issues we should head off." She commented, flashing him a quick smile before she climbed into the car and closed the door behind her.

She breathed out, rolling her shoulders back, trying to ease the tension which had reappeared from earlier. Giving it up as a lost cause she turned the key in the ignition and smiled at the healthy sound which the car made as a result. She had to hand it to her ex-husband, he was certainly good at picking cars.

Danni tapped her fingertips against the steering wheel, watching from the corner of her eye as the passenger seat finally opened and McGarrett climbed in. She waited until the door was closed and he had finished adjusting the seat and pulled his seatbelt on before she spoke again.

"Where are we heading to? Doran's place?" She queried, glancing towards him with a questioning look.

"Yeah, I read your file earlier and you said that Doran lived near Laie so it should take us just over an hour or so, perhaps a hour and a quarter with you behind the wheel" He stated, his mouth curving up into a half smile softening his words. Danni rolled her eyes at the comment remaining silent as she took her cell out of her bag and produced her hands-free kit and set it up quickly, looking towards her new partner again when he spoke, an expressionless look to his face. "Did you call your former Captain when you were inside to confirm what I had already told you?" He asked her.

Danni nodded slowly, her eyes dropping to his hand which was resting on his thigh, noting the way his fingers were gripping the material of his cargo pants tightly. Ignoring it she secured her own seatbelt before speaking.

"I did call him and he confirmed what you said, that I was no longer a member of HPD and instead was now a member of the Governor's new taskforce and your partner on top of that. He also said that you had said something about someone going back to the precinct to pick up my belongings later on?" She commented quietly.

"That is what I said though at this moment I'm not exactly when that will be, the case comes first" He commented, his voice making it clear that it wasn't so much a comment as an order.

"It always does unless Grace is involved" She answered him simply. He remained quiet for a moment before he turned and looked at her with a curious look as she started the engine and reversed out of the drive. "Can you close the gate" She asked him, expecting him to complain instead of quickly exiting the car and jogging back to the gate and closing them. The minute he was back in the car, Danni set off aware of the long journey ahead of them.

"Is there anything you need to tell me or request from me in regards to work?" He asked her once his seatbelt was secured again.

"I have to leave work around two thirty every day bar Wednesdays to pick up my daughter from her school. Her father has her on that day and every other Friday but other than that she will be with me." Danni commented as she joined the steady flow of traffic heading in the direction they wanted. "If that changes at all then I'll let you know as far in advance as I can but it's something which is non-negotiable until she is a great deal older."

"How old is she exactly?" Steve asked her, shifting slightly in his chair. Danni glanced towards him briefly, searching his eyes before she glanced back towards the road and answered.

"She would tell you that she's nearly seven and a half if you asked her. She'll turn eight at the end of March" She said softly.

"You'd be available to work from home after you've picked her up from school I assume?" He asked her. Danni considered his question before nodding.

"That tends to be what I do at the moment, I have a laptop which I'm guessing I can still keep even if I'm not officially part of HPD anymore. I'm normally available until five thirty give or take on an evening when I have Grace with me, after that time though I need to focus on my daughter, getting her fed and completing other mother related tasks of which there are surprisingly many." She remarked.

McGarrett nodded at her comment before he fell silent, turning his attention to the passenger window and watching the passing scenery instead.

Danni watched him from the corner of her eye for a moment as she drove, her attention switching from him to the passing signs to make sure that she was heading the correct way. Whatever McGarrett was thinking it was clearly concerning him if the frown she could see in his reflection was any indication to go by.

She assumed given everything which had happened to him that it was his father who was plaguing his mind. A situation like the one he was in wouldn't have been easy on anyone, even someone who seemed as in control and focused as he appeared to be. He would have to examine every aspect of his father's life, looking for another motive which didn't include him. He would see every picture that CSU had taken and read every line of the medical examiner report which detailed every inch of the torture which Victor Hesse had placed John McGarrett through. It would be hell on him regardless of his training and would probably do nothing to ease any guilt he may have been feeling in regards to his father's death.

Danni bit down lightly on her lower lip, questions whirling through her mind at a speed which made them impossible to ignore.

Was there a part of McGarrett which held himself responsible for what had happened?

Did he think that if he had done another job or had been allocated another terrorist to track other than the Hesse brothers that his father would still be alive and well, just going through his usual every day routine which he had probably followed for years?

A burden like that would crush anyone.

It was bad enough that he had heard what had happened over the phone and had known as he listened that there was nothing which he could do or say which would have changed what happened. Having one his team mates call HPD and praying that they would mobilise themselves and get there in time had been the act of a desperate man.

Danni startled when her cell phone suddenly went off, distracting her from her own bleak thoughts. She reached down and hit the connect button without bothering to look at the caller ID, everyone in her life had their own individual ring tones.

"Hey Partner, I was wondering when you would call me or rather when Hookano would have broken the news to you." She answered, removing her hand from the steering wheel and reaching up to adjust the ear piece in her ear so she could hear his side of the conversation more clearly.

"Partner did you call me? Well apparently, we are partners no more according to the good old Captain" Meka snapped at her. Danni's eyebrow rose as she registered the pissed off tone to her friend's voice. A tone which she could only remember hearing a handful of times in the six months since they had been partnered together. When Meka sounded like he did at that moment then it didn't normally end up going well for the person who had managed to piss him off him the first place.

"I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and say that Captain Hookano has decided to fill you in on the new situation?" She asked him lightly, tilting her head to the side and smirking when Meka snorted down the phone at her.

"That's one word for it, if him filling me in is dragging me away from my desk and into his office so he could rant at me for five minutes about everything which has happened and how everything is turning to shit before he finally got round to telling me that my partner of six months has been nabbed by some hotshot Navy SEAL who suddenly seems to be someone important on the island. The very same hotshot Navy SEAL who first act was to take the case we were working our ass off over the past three days and if that wasn't bad enough his second act was to take my freaking partner from me without any warning. It's safe to say that I'm not this guy's biggest fan. Solving this case was important to me and you know how much our partnership meant to me Danni."

"It meant a lot to me as well Meka you know it did, it still does. You know what you and Amy mean to me and that's not going to change just because we're no longer working the same cases or driving together" Danni told him, her voice softening as she hit the indicator and twisted the steering wheel, pulling into a quiet street. "About the case Meka, I know you knew John McGarrett personally and that you want to bring his killer in for justice but we both know that all that matters at this moment in time is bringing Hesse in. Who brings him in doesn't matter as long as it is done without any further casualties on our side" She reminded him.

Meka remained quiet for a moment as though he was running through what she had said through his head before he sighed over the line.

"I know you're right Danni and that bringing Hesse is all that matters but it doesn't mean that I have to like the fact that he's taken you away from me as a Partner. God knows what Amy will say when she finds out, you'll probably hear her reaction from wherever you are." He remarked ruefully, the comment making her laugh before he continued speaking. "The Captain has already given me a new case. Some Homicide down at Waikiki which looks like it's going be a straight forward one, I'm on my way there now."

"On your own?" Danni queried, frowning slightly when he made a sound of acknowledgement at the back of his throat.

"I'm not worried Danni, as I said it's a straight forward one, the victim was in a dispute with his brother over the business their father owned, my bet is that the brother got sick and tired of being in the dispute and decided to end it, one way or another." He commented.

"Yeah that just sound pretty open and shut but even the simplest cases can go wrong so do me a favour and make sure you call in some back up." She stated firmly.

"You mean call in you?" Meka queried, she could hear the sound of a door opening meaning that Meka was no doubt in the process of leaving the police precinct and heading towards his car to go to the crime scene.

"Yeah if need be, If I'm done with this case and you call needing backup then I'll come to you but you may also want to call some Uniforms as well, they aren't storm troopers after all, they know how to aim and hit a target" Danni said, glancing to her side when McGarrett made a sudden movement, clearly turning to look at her with an intent look on his face which told her that something which she had said had caught his attention. She shot him a questioning look before turning her eyes back to the road.

"Well it's good to know that I can still count on you. How are you finding everything? I was expecting you to hit the roof over what has happened to you today but you seem remarkably okay over it, either that or you are acting your ass off because you don't want your new partner to know what you're thinking or feeling. If you do lose it then make sure you let me know so I can send some EMT to pick up the pieces that are left of McGarrett once you subjected him to one of your Mom style lectures. He won't know what hit him."

"I doubt EMTs would be needed for that situation if it occurs" She remarked dryly, rolling her eyes when he laughed down the phone.

"If it occurs? Don't you actually mean when it occurs" He corrected, the comment causing her mouth to curl up into a smile.

"You know Meka when you want to be you can be almost funny." She told him.

"I am funny" He responded. "Has McGarrett found you yet? The Captain said that he was looking for you. I wasn't sure if he managed it considering the small fact that you never bothered to update your file with your address because you didn't want the others to find out where you lived."

"Yeah, well that didn't seem to make any difference in this case Meka" She informed him with a shake of her head as her eyes narrowed slightly. She still couldn't figure out how exactly McGarrett had managed to get her unlisted address. The only thing she could think of was that somewhere between the time he had left the station and the time he had arrived at her house, he had contacted someone who had managed to find the address for him which then raised the question on what else they had found out about her.

"Which means?" Meka prompted after a moment of silence.

"McGarrett and I are running down the Fred Doran lead to see whether it leads us somewhere or if it's a dead end." Danni stared.

"We both thought that it wasn't a dead end and I stand by it. If you need any help with the case, even if it's just you needing to soundboard off of someone who knows the way your brain works then you know where you can find me Danni, just call me or pop round tonight or tomorrow for something you eat. Amy was complaining last night that she hasn't seen Grace in a week because we had to cancel last week dinner. It would save you having to cook."

"It won't be tonight Meka, Gracie wants a girlie evening, just me and her tonight but there's a chance we may be free tomorrow but I'll check the diary when I go home" Danni responded, her eyes flickering to Steve again before she continued speaking. "Good luck with the case, if you feel like you're about to do something stupid, like not calling for backup, then just remember the lecture that I will give you and then if that's not enough to deter you then just imagine what Amy will do to you when I tell her about what you did."

"That's harsh Danni-girl. I have no desire to hear what my gorgeous wife would have to say about that"

"Then you know what to do" Danni said simply before Meka hung up the phone on her. She smiled as she hung up the phone on her end, placing the cell phone beside her.

"Isn't Hanamoa's first name Meka?" McGarrett asked from beside her, a curious look coming to his face. Danni nodded, hitting the indicator and turning left into a smaller road which would lead them to Doran's place.

"Yeah it is" Danni commented with a shrug of her shoulders.

"How long were the two of you partners for?" McGarrett probed lightly. She glanced towards him thoughtfully for a moment, tempted for a split second to tell him to mind his own business but pushed the impulse away. She had the feeling that McGarrett would be relentless over things which he wanted to know so she would have to pick her battles to fight when it came to him.

"My daughter and I moved here at the end of February and I started work with HPD on the 1st March, Meka and I have been partners from that first day until today" She told him, her hands tightening on the steering wheel, an action she was could tell that he picked up on though he remained silent. The silence between them lasted for five minutes before it was broken by her cell phone going off. She glanced down at it, a frown coming to her face as she hit the connect button and spoke. "Hey Duncan, Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

"Hey Danni, I'm fine" Duncan responded quietly. "I'm sorry about calling you when you're on a job, do you have a moment for me to run something by you?" He asked her.

"I can give you a few moments but I'm on my way somewhere so once I…"

"Arrive at the scene you'll have to hang up. Yeah that's no problem. Just give me one second to find somewhere private" He stated. She waited as she listened to the sound of voices becoming quieter until they fell silent. "Sorry about that, it's a meeting that's taken a ten-minute break" He told her on a sigh.

"An all-day one?" Danni couldn't help but ask, making a sympathetic sound when he spoke.

"Of course, do they ever do any short meetings here?" He responded ruefully.

"Not that I remember" She stated before glancing towards Steve, noting the frown on his face. "What is it you need to talk to me about?" She asked.

"Do you remember me telling you a couple of weeks ago about the big fund raiser that the bank was going to throw in an attempt to woo over some new customers?" He asked her.

"Yeah, I remember, it was a black-tie event, you asked me to go with you but I couldn't because of…"

"The girlie evening which Amy had arranged" Duncan finished for her. "Yeah that's the one. The boss has just announced in the meeting that they have changed the date and that its now being done tonight, no one knew about it so as you can imagine we are frantically trying to get things done so it can be ready."

"Yeah I can imagine that feeling all too well" Danni said ruefully, comparing it briefly to her own situation before she frowned. "What does that have to do with me though or is this just a call because you needed someone to rant to, to get it out of your system because I do remember agreeing that you could call me for situations like that" She stated.

"I was hoping that maybe you and Grace would be around tonight to come with me?" Duncan asked, speaking quickly into the silence that followed. "This wouldn't be anything more than a friend helping a friend out of a bad situation. The boss here are sticklers for family men or men who are settled down and as you know I haven't exactly had the time to even date let alone actually hold down a relationship but I am…"

"A family man" Danni ended for him before she sighed, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel. She was well aware of McGarrett watching her closely though he remained silent, clearly preferring to listen and gather information on what was going on. "What time is it starting tonight exactly?" She queried.

"It starts at four and would probably go on until about seven, the firm are going to provide food for everyone to graze at." He answered, an undercurrent of hope coming to his voice.

"I can't if it's four Duncan, I'll still be at work, I'm on a case and you know I don't finish until five thirty" She stated, feeling almost regretful that she had let him down.

"I see" Duncan said on a sigh, falling quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "Could I still take Grace with me? I would pick her up from school, she has some suitable dresses at mine and I would drop her off at yours as soon as it was finished. I know it's technically not my day to have her but it would mean a lot to me Danni if you overlook that this one time?" He asked her quietly.

"What?" Danni remarked, blinking in surprise at his request.

"Could I still take Grace with me?" Duncan requested again, a calm note to his voice, the same note which she had heard time and time again during their marriage when she had caught him talking to a nervous client on the phone. He rarely used it on her but it always struck her as funny on the rare occasion that he did.

"You want to take Grace with you tonight?" She repeated, resisting the urge to reach up and pinch the bridge of her nose, wishing fervently that this conversation was taking place anywhere other than in a car with her new boss sitting beside her in close proximity, listening to every word that she and Duncan were exchanging while trying to act as though he wasn't.

"I know it goes against the rules of the seventy-two-hour notice period but you know that if I had known about the change then I would have let you know Danni. The boss gave us no warning and this is for a good cause. Gracie may even enjoy herself once she's here. I know that there will be a live band playing music and you know how much she loves listening to music." He stated.

"That may be an understatement" She replied before falling silent for a moment, running the idea through her mind. Grace would be disappointed that their girlie night was put on hold but Danni knew that Grace did enjoy spending any time she could with her father. If Danni said yes to tonight that would give her more time to work on their leads and to keep an eye on her new partner to make sure that he didn't do something which would jeopardise the case.

"Danni? Are you still there?" Duncan's voice came over the line sounding almost concerned.

"Sorry I'm still here" She stated before she continued to speak. "Although getting new clients for your bank isn't exactly high on the list of things I would consider urgent I know that it's important to you and for that reason I will let you on this one occasion have Grace for an extra day but this is a one-off Duncan. The routine we have in place is for Grace is there for a reason and it's something we both agreed was good to help settle her during this time where we literally uprooted her from everything she knew and took her to a place so completely different from New Jersey that is ridiculous."

"I understand Danni, thank you." Duncan replied sounding relieved.

"So, you'll pick you up from school, I'll drop her a text to let her know the change of plan. You said that they are providing food there, will it be food that she can eat or will you have to take her to get something to eat afterwards? We both know what her stomach is like. I don't want her waking up in the middle of the night feeling sick because of something which she's eaten."

"Neither of us want that Danni. As soon as there is a lunch break for this meeting I'll go and speak to Clive, he's the one who is organising having the food brought in, I'll check with him what the plans are for and give him a list of things that Grace can eat, if he can't bring any of it then I'll take her to dinner before bringing her back to yours. I'll try and be there by seven but if it is later then I'll call you and let you know." He promised.

"That's good to know. I've got to go now so I'll speak to you later. Have fun with Grace and if you can make sure that she is home before seven thirty then I would appreciate it." She stated before they exchanged goodbyes over the line and hung out.

Danni stared at the phone for a moment before sighing and reaching up and rubbing absently at her temple, making a mental note to take some painkillers before her slight headache bloomed into something worse. Something which she could have done without.

"I take it that my assessment on your marriage is wrong" McGarrett commented quietly, breaking the silence in the car. There was an undertone to his voice which she picked up on though she couldn't quite identify what it was. Sighing, Danni glanced towards him, unsurprised to see that he was still twisted round in his seat so he could watch her.

"I think perhaps it would be a good idea to place some ground rules in place" Danni stated firmly watching as his eyes narrowed slightly at the comment though all he did was give her a nod to continue. "The main ground rule I have is the fact that there is a lot in my life which I won't discuss with you, just the same as I'm sure that there are lots of parts of your life that you won't discuss with me and I'm okay with that. One of the topics that you and I will not discuss is the end of my marriage or my marriage during any stage of it unless I choose to bring it up however unlikely that will be. There are exactly two people who know what happened and that is myself and Duncan and that is the way I want it to stay. I will say though that you were right in one of your guesses, the reason why Grace and I are here in Hawaii and not in New Jersey is because of Duncan and his job. We'll be here for the next year and a half due to it and that is all you need to know." She told him before turning her attention back to the road in front of them.

"But if you bring up the marriage then…" McGarrett prompted.

"Then there will be a reason I do most likely due to a case or something similar" She replied, biting down on her lower lip, mentally cursing her ex-husband and his bad timing when it came to making calls.

"What do you mean when you say you'll be here for the next year and a half" McGarrett questioned.

"I would have thought the remark was pretty self-explanatory" Danni remarked before softening and answering his question. "When Duncan was first brought over here it was on a two-year contract. He's technically still a part of the main bank in New York but they needed someone of his expertise down here in Hawaii to establish the branch down here. They figured that two years on this pineapple infested island would be enough and then once that two years was up they would look into the situation and see whether Duncan will remain here or whether they send him somewhere else to do the role he's doing now. Obviously if they turn around and say that he's to go elsewhere then we'll have to see what happens to Grace and me"

"You know you don't seem exactly thrilled to be living out here in Hawaii" McGarrett commented after a moment. "Most people view the islands as a paradise but you view it as a pineapple infested island. Do you have a problem with the beach or something? Is that it?" He asked.

"The beach?" Danni repeated, shooting him a quick look of disbelief before looking away again. "What exactly do Hawaii's numerous beaches have to do with this conversation? I call the place a pineapple infested island and you somehow take that to mean that I don't like the beach? The same beaches which probably have nothing to do with pineapples because that is what most people would assume. They would take what I said and take it to mean that I don't like that particular fruit."

"The fact that you're arguing over what I said tells me that you don't like the beach" He stated, clearly ignoring what she had said to him. "Who the hell doesn't like beaches especially when the beaches in question are made up of golden sand?" He questioned, briefly sounding genuinely confused by the idea that someone wouldn't.

"I feel like we're having two different conversation with each other right now." Danni said on a sigh before answering his question. "Sand is sand at the end of the day whether it's golden sand or black sand or coarse sand, it's the same and sand if you aren't careful can end up in place where it's not meant to go and where you do not want it to go."

"That only tends to happen if the towel which you bring with you isn't big enough for you to lie on" McGarrett responded, his confusion giving away to a slight smile though his eyes remained watchful. "You know I could easily lend you a large beach towel if you wanted. There is bound to be loads since my Dad…" his voice trailed off for a moment before he shrugged and looked away. "Well if you need one then the offer is there, you're so petite that the towel will swamp you" He told her, his voice turning flat at the mention of his father.

"While I appreciate your offer I'm good. The one thing you'll learn about me Commander is that I am always prepared for what may happen. We have towels of all different sizes at my home including an extra-large one which I use and which does a more than adequate job of keeping me sand free. The fact that it's purple is merely an added bonus." She remarked with a shrug of her shoulders.

"And that fact that it's a bonus that it's purple is because what? Purple is your favourite colour?" He countered, glancing towards her. She waved a hand at him as though she was brushing away his question.

"The truth is that I have nothing against the beaches here especially when I have the right towel with me. I just happen to be someone who prefers cities. I like the hustle and bustle that they have. I like being able to stroll through a park or pop into an art gallery or a museum to skip the rain. I like being able to look around me and watch the seasons change before my eyes and the leaves turn from green to red as fall hits. I like my Christmases being show filled so I can build snowmen and make snow angels with Grace and my nieces and nephews and to have a snowball fight with my siblings. In case it's slipped your notice everything which I love minus the parks are missing from this island."

"The island still has a lot to offer" McGarrett commented quietly.

"I'm sure it does, I just haven't found it yet." Danni replied before she sighed. "Plus, in the city I don't have to worry about tsunamis hitting or Grace being stung by a jelly fish while she's out in the ocean or-"

"Tell me that you at least know how to swim Williams" McGarrett interrupted her.

"Do I know how to swim?" She repeated. "Please tell me that we are having the same conversation with each other because right now it simply feels like we're not. I don't think I've mentioned swimming once throughout this conversation between the two of us but you're bringing it up as though we have been discussing it." She said, taking a deep breath as she rolled her shoulders back before answering him. "Yes, Commander McGarrett, I do in fact know how to swim, I am actually considered a very competent swimmer. I just make the conscious decision not to enter the ocean unless I have to. When it comes to the ocean I swim for survival, I don't head out there for fun." She told him, twisting her head round again so she could meet his gaze. He remained quiet for a moment, searching her eyes closely before he spoke again.

"Why do you hate pineapples?" He queried, tapping his fingertips against his thigh.

"I don't hate them" Danni answered him briefly, hitting the indicator and turning into a road to the right of them.

"If you don't hate them then why refer to this place as a pineapple infested island. Using that kind of phrasing makes it come across that you are insulting the place." He pressed.

"Look, I like pineapples okay, I always have done but Grace is allergic to them so forgive me for not being the world's biggest fan of a place where most things seems to laced with something which could harm my daughter and make her sick." She answered, glancing down at her cell phone when it went off, the ring tone bringing a warm smile to her face.

"You know perhaps while we're on a case you should keep your personal cell phone off" McGarrett commented pointedly.

"Maybe so but it's not going to happen, at least not while I'm a mother to a seven-year-old girl. That trumps everything else so the phone remains on I'm afraid. If it makes you feel better it's normally not this active around this time of day" She told him before hitting the connect button. "Hey monkey, I didn't expect you to call, how is school going?" She asked, her voice automatically softening as she tilted her wrist so she could see her watch. "Are you on your lunch break at the moment? There's nothing wrong is there?"

"We're just gone on it now Mamma" Grace replied happily down the line, from the background noise Danni would hazard a guess that Grace was sitting in the lunch hall. "I just wanted to ring and let you know that everyone loved Mr Hoppy Mamma, they all wanted to hold him and pet him and he was really, really good. Ms Clarke said that he was the best-behaved Rabbit she had ever seen and she must have seen loads right Mamma?" Grace told her, a proud tone to her voice which made Danni smile.

"Well I'm glad that everyone loved Mr Hoppy baby and that he's been behaving like a good Rabbit for you. You should ask Ms Clarke when you go back to your home room whether she has any carrots handy that you could give him as a reward for being so good" She suggested with a smile. "You and I will have to go out tomorrow when I pick you up from school and find a good pet store where we can get everything which we need" Danni remarked, making a mental note to look on google when she was back at the house that evening.

"What sort of things will we need Mamma for him?" Grace asked, sounding almost concerned.

"Well, he'll need a hutch and some food for him to eat for a start. We can ask someone who works there what else he would need though, they should be able to point us in the right direction." Danni replied.

"Since we got a rabbit now Mamma does that mean we can get a dog because you always said that we could get a dog" Grace questioned.

"Let's see how things work out with Mr Hoppy first before we start thinking about getting a dog" Danni replied unable to keep the smile from her face, for as long as she could remember Grace had been begging them to get a dog. "Luckily there is plenty of space for him and his hut in the back garden so he should be nice and comfortable out there."

"Why do we have to wait until tomorrow to go and get his hut and food Mamma? I don't want Mr Hoppy to have to stay in the cage that Daddy got him, it's small, I don't want him getting cold or uncomfortable in there" Grace pointed out sounding worried.

"Mr Hoppy won't be cold in Hawaii baby" Danni said with a smile as she shook her head. "But there has been a change of plans tonight which is why we can't go and get what Mr Hoppy needs. Your Daddy is going to pick you up from school and take you back to his to get ready for a party at his workplace. He wants you to go as his date. It should be a lot of fun."

"Mamma" Grace said, her voice descending into a whine which pulled at her heart. "Do I have to go tonight with Daddy, I thought we were going to watch a movie together. It will be boring at Daddy's fund raiser. I want to get everything for Mr Hoppy and eat junk food with you."

"I know Gracie, I can't think of a better way of spending an evening then spending it with you but you going tonight with your Daddy as his date would mean a lot to him and it may be more fun than you think, you can dress up for it in one of the dresses that your Daddy has for you and he did mention that there was going to be a live band there as well."

"I guess" Grace said, drawing the word out as though she wasn't fully convinced.

"If you take your cell phone with you then you can take pictures to show me."

"Can we read the next chapter of Harry Potter when I'm home?" Grace asked hopefully causing Danni's smile to widen.

"Yep Grace, as soon as you're in bed I'll read you the next chapter of Harry Potter. We can have our girlie night tomorrow just the pair of us and I'll even make the pizza that you like so much." She promised, making a mental note to go shopping after she finished work that evening to make sure that she had everything she would need to make the pizza for Grace. "And" She added to sweeten the deal. "I spoke to Auntie Amy earlier and we are definitely going around theirs to have the BBQ on Saturday so you'll be able to build the sandcastle with Uncle Meka and Billy like you wanted so there are plenty of things for us to look forward to. Tonight, will be something extra for you and your Daddy to enjoy together."

"It would be fun to go with Daddy and listen to the live band" Grace admitted. "Will you be okay though Mamma?"

"I will be fine Gracie, you don't have to worry about me" Danni assured the young girl, her heart swelling with love for her daughter.

"Okay Mamma"

"I have to go now because I'm at work, remember that it will be your Daddy who picks you up from outside the school gates tonight. Stay with the teacher until you see him and do not under any circumstances go with anyone else regardless of what they say. If I sent them or your Daddy sent them then they will remember our code word and tell you it, you remember it?" Danni stated softly.

"I remember Mamma" Grace assured her.

"Now go and enjoy the rest of your lunch with your friends, be good for Daddy tonight and I'll see you later on. I love you to the edges of the Universe and beyond monkey."

"I love you too Mamma, bye bye"

"Bye Gracie" Danni responded before she ended the call, glancing to the side to see McGarrett watching her again with that same penetrating gaze. "What?" She asked shifting on the seat.

"Nothing at all" He said, holding one hand up peacefully. "I was just thinking that Mr Hoppy is a cute name for a Rabbit, did you pick the name?" He queried. Danni frowned slightly at him, searching his face wondering whether that was what he had been thinking before pushing the thought away. Somehow, she doubted that she would ever really know what was going on in McGarrett's head.

"I didn't name him, Grace did" She told him with a shrug. "He was a gift from her father yesterday so as you can imagine she is still besotted with the small thing. He is cute, I'll give him that."

"The rabbit or her father?" McGarrett asked lightly, Danni gave him a cool stare before focusing on her driving again. "I guess that question was violating your ground rule. If it helps then I can give you the name of some good pet stores in the area which you could go to. They should still be running. The people there are good people and would give you a good deal on anything you need. Just tell them that I sent you." He stated as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"That… that would actually be helpful if you could." She admitted.

"Consider it done then, when I have a second I'll write them down for you." He promised before looking away outside the passenger window again, the same impenetrable wall which covered his features slamming down again.

She stared at the back of his head for a moment before she shook her head and looked away.

The sooner that they were at Doran's trailer, the better it would be for them both.

Author Note

Thanks for taking the time to read. An especially big thank you if you have left me a review, favourite the story or decided to follow it.

I really appreciate it