There aren't words to show my gratitude toward you all. So, I'll just say: Thanks for reviewing, alerting, and for any and all support you put forth toward this story. It's much appreciated.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, I own nothing, I hope to hear from you all again, and I'll catch you in chapter fifteen
Bye...
5-0 5-0 5-0
Danny…
2006…
Matty picked me up from the hospital the day I was released. Physically I was going to be fine, but the doctors couldn't fix emotional wounds. And Rachel leaving me, the day I woke up from a bullet wound, left some festering wounds.
"Maybe she just needs some time to cool off," Matty said as he maneuvered his car around a truck. "I mean, she left that one time, a couple months before Grace was born. Remember? And you were convinced she wasn't coming back…"
"Can we not talk about it," I said quietly glaring out the window. "Just take me home so I can get my stuff."
"Is she going to be there?"
"I don't know," I replied not having heard from her since she left my room in tears.
"Mom's mad at her," Matty stated conversationally.
"She shouldn't be."
"Delia offered to let you stay with her. And Mom says your room is free."
"There's a motel a few blocks from the house. I'm staying there." Matty nodded, but didn't say anything.
We lapsed into a lengthy silence, Matty breaking it after he passed a slow moving Dodge. "You'll be okay, right?" Honestly, I didn't have an answer, so I just made a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat, and continued to glare out my window…
5-0 5-0 5-0
2007…
Gracie was sitting at my table, coloring in her book. I had been watching her for a while, debating whether or not to ask her. A part of me didn't want to know, but another part needed to (for some strange reason). So, I took a breath and crossed the room, sitting down next to her.
"Hey, Monkey," I said quietly.
"Hi, Danno," she greeted me putting her yellow crayon down and picking up a blue one.
"So, uh, Gracie, who was that man…?"
"What man, Daddy?" she questioned her hand hovering over the page, her eyebrows furrowed.
"The one at the house." I had seen him sitting on the couch, patiently waiting for me to take Grace: Brunette, tall, definitely worth more than I'll ever be, and probably worked behind a desk, at a safe job. Everything Rachel's mother wanted in her daughter's husband.
"You mean Stan?" Gracie questioned putting her blue crayon down and grabbing a gray one.
"Stan?" Stan. Stan? I hated the name Stan.
"Yeah, he's Mommy new friend. Auntie Lauren works for him." her hand moved quickly across the page, keeping the color inside the lines. "He's nice."
"How long…" I cleared my throat, a little voice telling me to 'stop asking about him'. "How long has she been seeing him?"
"Seeing?" I forgot, she was five, 'seeing' meant something different to her than it did to me.
"How long has she known him?" I corrected myself.
"A couple weeks," Gracie replied putting her crayon down. She ripped the page out of her book and said, "Can I hang this on the fridge?"
"Yeah, go ahead," I responded watching her slid from her chair and take the page to my fridge.
A part of me wasn't that surprised that Rachel had a new 'friend'. I mean, I knew she had been dating on and off since we split. But another part, probably that small part that hoped maybe we'd get back together, wasn't taking the news well. I just had to remind that part that Rachel was the one who left, Rachel was the one who wanted the divorce, and Rachel wasn't coming back. Easier said than done…
5-0 5-0 5-0
Steve…
Present Day…
A hand brushed my arm and I jerked awake, "Danny?" I looked around, hopefully, but he was still unconscious. I glanced over and spotted Kono crouched down next to me.
"You looked uncomfortable," she said quietly pushing herself up.
"It's a hospital chair. I am uncomfortable," I grumbled rolling my neck. I stood up, stretching my arms over my head. "What time is it?"
"A quarter to nine," Kono said slowly. I noticed a bag in her hand, resting against her legs. She followed my gaze and handed the bag to me. "Grace insisted I bring you some things. Just in case you wanted to change."
"Thank you," I muttered taking the bag. I ran a hand down my face with my free hand and asked, "Where is Grace?"
"She's outside with Chin." I nodded, glancing down at Danny with some uncertainty. "She wants to see him, Steve. You can't protect her from this." I nodded again, meeting her dark eyes.
"Bring her in. I'm gonna go change." I headed outside the room, Kono on my heels, and stopped when Grace called my name.
"How's Danno?" she asked when I crouched down to her height.
"He's the same," I said slowly. "But I'm sure he'll enjoy a visit from you." She gave me a weak smile and followed Kono into the room.
I straightened up, meeting Chin's eye. "Kamekona headed home to shower," he said slowly. I nodded noticing the dark circles under his eyes.
"Maybe you should head home, too," I suggested.
"I will when you do," he replied simply.
"Seriously, Chin. You look like crap…"
"Thanks for the compliment," he said sarcastically. I gave him a small smile. "Besides, you don't look any better." I grunted in agreement then headed toward the bathroom down the hall.
After I was changed, I made my way back to the waiting room. Chin was sprawled across the crouch, eyes closed, breathing deeply. I crept past him, intending to sit down, but froze when I spotted a nurse scurrying toward me.
"Commander McGarrett," she said quietly sparing Chin a single glance.
"Yeah," I said setting my dirty clothes in a chair and following her out of the waiting area.
"Detective Williams' phone has been ringing off the hook since early this morning," she said handing the phone to me.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I asked scrolling through Danny's missed calls list.
"Nurse Ratchet tried, a couple times. But either you were getting coffee, using the bathroom, or asleep."
"Thanks," I said quietly wandering back to my chair, counting the number of times Matilda and an Unknown number called. I figured the 'unknown' number had to be about the job Danny was offered. A couple numbers I recognized as local, probably building landlords getting back to Danny about one of their apartments. I had almost forgotten he had been looking for a bigger place prior to the Marla Oliver case.
I was barely in my chair when the phone rang. Margaret Hamilton in full on Wicked Witch make-up flashed back at me. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who was calling.
"Hello?" I said on the third ring.
"You aren't Daniel," Matilda said slowly, cautiously.
"Danny's not here right now," I replied.
"I have been trying to call him since I returned home early this morning…" Around the time he was in surgery. "…and he hasn't answered. I find it rather rude that he practically shouts on my answering machine then neglects to answer my calls…"
"He's been hurt, Matilda," I interrupted her tirade. She stopped, her words frozen on her lips, and then whispered, "What?"
"He's hurt, in the hospital. Right now he's unconscious and can't talk to you. I'm taking this call on his behalf."
"How hurt?" she questioned curiously, something unidentifiable underlying her tone.
"Look," I plowed on ignoring her question. "Since you've gotten his messages, you know he needs money. Now, I know you don't really like him, but it's not for him. It's for Grace. She needs this money for her school. And I'm pretty damn sure you don't want your granddaughter going to a public school. But, without your help, that's exactly where she's heading." I thought I heard Matilda say something, but I couldn't be sure. So, I continued, "I bet you Danny has never asked you for anything in the years he's known you. I know him; he's not the type to ask for help willingly. I'm sure, in that tiny, cold, black hole you call a heart you can do this one thing…"
"Alright," she said a little louder and I stopped talking.
"What?"
"I said 'alright.'" I couldn't believe I was hearing right. I mean, I didn't know Matilda well, but it was kind of hard to miss the bitter, cold bitchiness that rolled off of her when Danny was around. And I bet she just hated the fact that she was helping out her daughter's ex, even if she was only helping him to help her granddaughter. "On two conditions." I was dumped back to reality.
"What?
"I am willing to wire the money today and open Gracie's account for Daniel's use if, and only if, he uses it for her and her alone."
"No problem." Danny would never use Grace's money for anything other than Grace. She was always priority number one to him, and no amount of money was going to change that. "What's the second condition?"
"Tell me what's going on with Daniel." For a good fifteen seconds I struggled with whether or not to tell her. I mean would Danny want her to know, probably not. But she was Grace's grandmother. Of course, I hadn't exactly called Danny's mother about this either. Should I call Mrs. Williams first and tell her? Or should I call Mrs. Williams at all? She didn't know me personally, but I was pretty sure Danny mentioned me in conversations with her. And why was I even thinking about Danny's mother when I was talking to his ex-wife's mother?
Finally, I just told her exactly what Wesley told Kono, Chin, and I last night. When I finished, Matilda was quiet for a second. I was expecting her to tell me to pack Grace up; that she was coming to get her just until Danny woke up, but surprised me by asking, "How is Grace taking it?"
"As well as any eight-year-old who has lost her mother three weeks ago and now has to deal with a wounded father can be," I murmured staring at my free hand.
"I have a feeling Danny is going to be all right," Matilda said slowly. It was exactly what Grace and I believed. But it didn't matter how many people believed it if he was still unconscious. We couldn't be sure until he opened his eyes.
Matilda and I spoke a few more words then she hung up. I couldn't help ticking that off Danny's mental 'to do list.' Why I put it upon myself to take up his burdens was beyond me. Maybe I felt obligated because I still believed I had gotten him shot. Maybe it was just in my nature to help even when he probably didn't want it. Hard telling…
5-0 5-0 5-0
Kono had disappeared into the bathroom about a minute ago, leaving me in the doorway watching Grace. She was sitting next to Danny's bed, on the edge of her chair, eyes locked on her father's face. She wasn't saying anything, but I could tell she was silently begging him to wake up.
"Hey, Grace," I said quietly entering the room. I startled her, her shoulders jerking at the sound of my voice, but she gave me a very, very, very weak smile when she turned to look at me. "Have you had breakfast, yet? You want to get something to eat?"
"Kono and I stopped for waffles before we came here," she said quietly letting her brown eyes shift back to her father.
"How's about we take a walk?"
"I don't want to leave…" she started.
"Just for a few minutes. Danno'll be here when we get back." There was uncertainty in her eyes, an internal struggle inside her head debating whether or not to leave Danny, but she finally relented, slid from her chair, and followed me out of the room.
"It's scary," she admitted quietly when we were a few doors down from Danny's room. "Seeing him like that."
"I know," I answered equally quiet. "But it'll make him better."
"I know," she responded tears pooling in her eyes. "I just wish he'd wake up."
I moved in front of her, kneeling down to her height. "Me, too Gracie." She threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tight…
5-0 5-0 5-0
Kono ended up talking Chin and I into going home that night. She volunteered to stay in our place, watch out for Danny. She promised she'd call if anything changed.
The ride home was quiet. Grace sat with her elbow propped up on the door, her head resting in her palm, watching as the scenery flew past her. I had a little too much on my mind to talk, so I didn't try to spark up a conversation.
Chief Palmer from East Orange PD had called around one that afternoon. I explained to him what was going on, told him it could be a while before Danny was ready to take a job with his department. Palmer told me he understood. And, although he said he had several others in mind for the job, he opted to hold the position until Danny was well enough to make a decision. It was obviously he wanted Danny on his team, and I had to agree that Danno would probably be a great addition. And with Mason dead now…
I could tell Gracie wasn't the sole reason he told me he was staying in Hawaii. She was a huge reason, sure, but bringing down Rachel's (and Marla Oliver's by default) killers were what had been keeping him here. And now that they were either incarcerated or dead, he had no logical reason to stick around.
And I could see why he would want to go home. I mean, the whole time I was living in Wisconsin with Uncle Marty (even in the SEALs sometimes) I missed Hawaii. I had ties to Hawaii, family, friends, roots… Danny had the same things in Jersey. Grace did too, in a way. Danny's parents, his sisters (if they still lived around Jersey), some of her old friends. But, it would ultimately come down to Danny. When he woke up. I had no say…
5-0 5-0 5-0
2000…
I had no say in what squadron I was assigned to. I really didn't care much who I worked with. Since losing Uncle Marty, I never planned to get attached to anybody. I had a job to do, I was going to do it, and go on my way after it was done. Until I met her.
She had been the last to arrive at the rendezvous point. At first I couldn't understand why we weren't doing anything, just standing in the small, dilapidated shack. My CO looked troubled, his radio in his hands, obviously wondering if he should call somebody. Until:
"Sorry I'm late," a voice said and I turned to see a brunette girl standing in the doorway, a computer bag draped across her shoulders. "I'm Catherine Rollins," she continued pushing past me to shake hands with my CO. "I'll be your guide…"
5-0 5-0 5-0
Danny…
2007…
I met Stan, officially, about a month after Grace told me about him. He had dropped her off at my apartment, Rachel having a few errands to run and asking him to.
I could tell he didn't approve of my living arrangements, it was evident all over his face, but I didn't care what he thought of me.
"I'm Stan," he had said after I let Grace walk past me into my apartment. He held out his hand, a smile on his face.
"Danny," I responded accepting his handshake. Making sure Grace was out of ear shot, I muttered, "How's it feel to be sleeping with my wife?" I was pretty sure that was the moment Stan started to be displeased with me. I could be wrong…
5-0 5-0 5-0
2008…
The invite came in the mail about three days before, what was supposed to be, our seven year anniversary: 'Stanly Edwards and Rachel Parker cordially invite you to celebrate the joining of their love.' What better way to knock the air out of my lungs; stomp on my already battered heart, then to invite me to her wedding. Rachel sure knew how to play dirty.
I threw the invitation on the counter, watching it skid across the slick top and stop just short of the sink. I would much rather avoid going to their wedding. I didn't want to see Stan becoming Gracie's step-father. He already started to change her so much. First private school, then riding lessons, violin lessons, expensive clothing. I had put my foot down when he brought up a cell phone. (Grace was six; she didn't need a cell phone, yet). I shuddered to think what he'd do when she was living under his roof.
My phone rang, I grabbed it reading Rachel's number across the screen. I didn't want to deal with her right now, but it could be Grace so I had to answer. "Hello?"
"Danno, I'm a flower girl," Grace said, talking over several voices. "I'm getting a dress and a basket and I get to pick the flowers..."
"Are you getting the dress now?" I asked trying to shove away the bitterness in my voice.
"Yeah, it's getting flitted…"
"Fitted," I supplied for her.
"Yeah, fitted," she corrected herself and I could almost see her nodding her head. "Are ya going to the wedding? Did you get the inbitation?"
"Yeah, Gracie, I got the invitation." I glared at the damn thing wishing it would catch on fire.
"So, are you gonna go?" she repeated, she was probably rocking on the balls of her feet, waiting for the lady to return and finish up with her dress.
A part of me wanted to tell her I had to work and couldn't make it while the other part just told me to suck it up and go. It was a violent battle between the two sides, and I ended up telling her I was going. I had never lied to Grace before, I wasn't about to start. I guess I had to go pick up a tux…
5-0 5-0 5-0
Can anyone tell me what type of Military branch Cat is a part of, please?
Thanks
Bye...