Danny relished the silence and solitude the shower offered him as he took his time under the hot stream. Water pressure was something too many people took for granted, he thought, as he let the jetting spray of water massage his back and neck. His string of mangy living arrangements had left little to be desired, and the simple things like shower heads that actually sprayed instead of dripped water were luxuries to Danny now. He had initially fought the idea of stepping away from the case to give himself some alone time, but those thoughts immediately flew out of his head the moment he stepped into the hotel room's oversized bathroom and saw the size of the shower.

He supposed a little time to clear his head wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Though he hadn't had much company while in the custody of HPD, he was always being watched and monitored and occasionally questioned. So the simple pleasure of having a few, uninterrupted minutes that he could call his own was something else he dared to never take for granted again.

He was happy, as much as this situation allowed him to be, of course. He was still coming off his high of having Grace leap into his arms when he surprised her after she got out of school earlier that day. He did his best to brush away her fears surrounding Stan's disappearance, but his little girl was smart. She did her best to put on a brave face, but Danny could see the worry in her eyes.

An hour after saying goodbye, Steve had all but insisted that Danny take some time to compose himself and get ready for the evening's affair. Affair, he snorted, before rolling his eyes at his own lame attempt at a joke.

It felt like days since Steve had arrived in holding to get Danny out, when in reality it had been nearly ten hours. While Danny's day had been spent catching himself up on the case, the rest of the team had been hard at work. Surveillance was set up in and around the Hawaii Conservation Conference, specifically around Robert Sundt. Though the convention center and management surrounding the event had been less than helpful, all it took was a threat of being charged with accessory to kidnapping to get them to loosen their restrictions.

Kono and Chin had been able to tail Sundt for most of the day, reporting in occasionally that though he seemed a bit nervous, there was nothing in his behavior that indicated he was hiding anything, let alone a body. While they rummaged through his hotel room suite, HPD officers investigated his home. Nothing incriminating turned up, but the team wasn't going to give up on their most promising suspect that easily.

Frustrations began to mount, however, and it wasn't long before it was suggested that they bring Sundt in for questioning. Danny smiled to himself when he remembered that it was Steve, of all people, who remained calm and kept the stress levels down to a minimum. They all wanted to find Stan and bring him home to Rachel, but dragging Sundt out from the conference was a very bold, and very public, move to make. Stan's disappearance had already made the news, and reporters were eager to bite at any sign that the case was breaking open. If Sundt was their guy, then they didn't want him spooked. A motive still needed to be determined, and until then, they had little hope in getting him to reveal where Stanley was.

Finally switching off the water, Danny dried quickly and, wrapping a towel around his waist, stepped out of the bathroom to find a garment bag draped carefully over a chair. Unzipping it, he found a crisp, black tuxedo inside.

"Fabulous," he mumbled.

"What?" a female voice called to him, and he whirled around to face her, his hand instinctively grabbing for the towel at his waist. "I have it on good authority that you look good in a tux."

"Gabby." His voice cracked a little at the sight of her. He'd thought of her often over these past few days, but had taken the coward's way out and avoided calling her. Their relationship was still so new, and though Danny was certain that they had something special together, he didn't want to burden her with this.

"Hi," she smiled.

"Hi."

They stood in an odd silence for a moment before Gabby stepped forward, picking up the garment bag as she did. "Commander McGarrett called," she explained as she removed the tuxedo from the bag and spread it out on the table next to the chair. "I was worried about you," she continued, avoiding his eyes. "You hadn't called in a while, and then when the news mentioned the kidnapping, I knew you'd be busy."

"Gabby," he started softly, but she continued.

"I picked up the phone a few times to call you, but then got cold feet and hung up. I didn't know what to say to you, really... And finally when I did get the guts to call, the commander told me that you'd been taken by the police, and…"

"Gabby."

Danny reached out and took her fidgeting hands into hers, and only then did she look into his eyes. He could see the anxiety, worry and uncertainly in her eyes and without thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and they held on to each other for a few moments before she pulled away, slightly embarrassed.

"I was worried about you," she admitted sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I know we haven't been dating for long, but when you didn't call, I just-"

"You don't need to apologize," Danny interrupted. "I'm sorry for worrying you. This case… it's… well, it's a hard one. And it's one I need to focus on right now. I should have called you sooner."

She shook her head. "I don't know everything that's going on, but Commander McGarrett mentioned that you are going undercover tonight to try to find Mr. Edwards." Danny nodded, still keeping her close to him. "Is it dangerous?"

Danny shook his head as he studied Gabby's face. Her look of concern was hard to ignore, as it was a look he was all too familiar with. It was the look that Rachel gave him each time he was headed out on patrol in New Jersey early in their marriage. But it wasn't long before Rachel's look had morphed into something else.

Bitterness.

Danny closed his eyes as he tried to shake that particular image from his mind. He and Gabby had already had thoughtful discussions on what it meant to be with a cop… especially a cop who was on the Governor's special task force. She admitted her own feelings of unease surrounding Danny's safety, but she promised that she'd never resent him for it. That was one promise that Danny knew he couldn't hold her to, as hard as he wanted to, but he held on to it, for what it was worth.

"No, it isn't dangerous." He opened his eyes to see her staring back at him, and he pulled her close again. "After this is over, let me take you out to dinner. And then afterwards, maybe I can apologize for not calling you earlier."

His comment had its desired effect as she pulled away smiling. "Sounds like a deal."

"Good," he smiled back before there was a knock on the door and Steve walked in carrying a black duffel bag.

"Oh, sorry," he said as he froze in the doorway. "Am I interrupting?"

"Yes," Danny blurted out the same time Gabby said, "Of course not."

Steve smiled and came in, closing the door behind him. "Time to get ready to go, Danno."

"Right," Danny acknowledged him, but made no move to let go of Gabby. "Remember what I said about dinner," he reminded her quietly.

"I will," she responded softly before leaning in for a kiss. She quickly slipped out of the hotel room, leaving Danny alone with a smirking Steve.

"Shut up," Danny said at his partner before grabbing the tuxedo and slipping back into the bathroom to change.

"In position."

"Ready in the back, boss."

"Danny, you ready to go?"

"Just waiting for my date."

Danny stood at the entrance to the convention center, waiting for Rachel to arrive. The plan was a simple one, and Rachel's part in it was minimal, at best. Although she seemed up to the challenge of attending the party, Danny was uneasy about the prospect of her confronting the man who could be responsible for her husband's disappearance.

Seeing Gabby earlier had put Danny at ease, and he promised himself to buy Steve a round of beers when this was all over. Seeing her had been a surprise, but a welcome one, as his own stubbornness had prevented him from contacting her when this whole ordeal began. He should have known better, though, than to keep things from her. He had learned early on that Gabby was understanding about his role as a father and ex-husband, and she had done nothing but stick by his side during his own emotional fallout from Grace's kidnapping.

"Remember, Danny," Steve's voice came through clearly in Danny's earpiece. "After you find Sundt, you can't just interrogate him in the middle of the ballroom. Get him someplace quiet and try to get him to open up to you."

"This ain't my first rodeo, Smooth Dog."

Any retort Steve made was ignored by Danny when Rachel stepped out of a cab. Her hair was slicked back and pulled loosely into a ponytail; her dark curls cascading down her left shoulder. She wore a floor-length maroon dress and flat-heeled shoes. She smiled nervously as she approached Danny.

"Daniel."

"Rachel," Danny took her arm and looped it into his. "You look great."

"Thank you."

After reaching the entrance, Rachel handed over their invitations, and together she and Danny joined the throng of people entering the gala event. After a small hallway, a lobby opened up into an even larger conference area that had been converted into a ballroom. Round tables surrounded a dance floor full of couples swaying blissfully to the music. A band was perched on an elevated platform at the far end of the floor. Long banquet tables lined the other side of the room, filled with a large assortment of Hawaiian foods and drinks.

Danny tapped his earpiece once to test the connection. "We're in."

"Hear you loud and clear," Steve responded. "Check in when you find Sundt."

Rachel and Danny wasted little time in scouting the room. They sipped champagne. They made small talk. They even shared a dance in a unique attempt at surveying the gala's events. And after an hour, Robert Sundt finally made his appearance and Danny made contact, although not quite in the controlled way he had hoped.

"Mrs. Edwards?"

Danny and Rachel spun around, and after a moment of stunned silence, Rachel managed to compose herself.

"Robbie, how good to see you," she said as she plastered the best smile she could muster on her face. "Where's Veronica?"

"Home sick, I'm afraid," he responded with a sad smile of his own. "I'm sorry to hear about Stanley. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Danny could see Rachel losing her resolve quickly, and he took control of the situation.

"Hi, I'm Danny Williams." Danny thrust out his hand and Robbie tentatively shook it, Danny noting the change in his demeanor immediately. "How do you know the Edwards family?"

"I, uh, work with Stanley."

"Oh yeah? You guys friends, then?"

"Danny," came Steve's warning in Danny's ear. "Don't push it."

But Danny had simply had enough. Each moment that passed by with Stanley still missing was another moment that the chances of finding him alive went down. If this bozo had anything to do with Stan's disappearance, then he had to get it out of him.

Now.

"Excuse me, Mr. Sundt?" A tall man approached the trio and placed a hand on Sundt's shoulder, and Danny smiled when shorter man jumped at the touch. That sealed the deal for him. Sundt definitely had something to hide. "There is a phone call for you. Can you come with me, please?"

Robert's head bobbed up and down rapidly, and he stuttered and stumbled as he was led away from Danny and Rachel. The detective let him get several paces away before following after him, Rachel close behind. Sundt left the grand room as the taller man never took his hand off of his shoulder, steering him left, and then right into a long hallway. Danny stopped short of the corner, leaning back against the wall and silently encouraged Rachel to do the same. Voices, though soft, drifted to them along the deserted corridor.

"…the hell is going on, Sundt?"

"Wh…what?"

"HPD has been at your place, man. You've been stupid. Sloppy."

"No. No! I've been careful. Really careful!"

Danny risked peeking around the corner. The tall man had Sundt cornered, and he towered over him. He was pointing vigorously at the shaking man.

"If you screwed up, Sundt, it's not the police you have to worry about. Do you understand?"

Danny quickly withdrew his head and held his breath as he heard the taller man making his way toward he and Rachel. Knowing they wouldn't have time to run back into the ballroom, and not wanting to get caught eavesdropping, he did the first thing he could think of. He grabbed Rachel, and spun her around so her back was against the wall.

He barely had time to register her shocked face before he leaned in and kissed her.

She resisted at first, but Danny felt the moment she gave in and she kissed him back. Her hands flew up and raked through his hair, getting lost in the moment. And in that moment, Danny felt something. A pang of something deep within him. Before he could define it, though, the man swept passed them. As soon as Danny was sure he was out of sight, he stepped away from Rachel. She was panting slightly, and her lipstick was askew. She looked curiously at him a moment, but Danny tore his eyes away to look back down the hall.

Sundt was still there, pacing in a small circle.

Danny took a moment to fill his partner in. "Steve, there's a man here. Tall… at least 6 foot. Dark skin. Bald head. Wearing a black suit. He just threatened Sundt."

"On it."

"Danny." Rachel's small voice called to him, and he turned to look at her again.

"Not now Rachel."

"But…"

"Later. Just, not now."

She nodded in reply and Danny cautiously made his way towards Sundt, who still hadn't strayed from his small circle in the floor.

"Mr. Sundt? Can I speak with you a moment, please?"

Robert Sundt looked up a moment, a flash of panic crossing his face, before he sprinted down the hall and through a door. Danny ran after him. Through the door, down another long hallway, and through another door. This one lead to the kitchen area, and Danny found it hard to navigate through the racks of appetizers, stainless steel sinks and employees milling about.

"Danny!" Rachel's voice shouted to him, and he turned to see her running up behind him. "There!"

She pointed and Sundt could barely be seen pushing through a group of chefs, heading toward an emergency exit.

"Steve!" Danny shouted as he grabbed Rachel's hand and they ran through the crowded kitchen. "Emergency exit. Back of the building."

"Roger that."

They were only thirty seconds behind Sundt, but when Danny and Rachel pushed through the door, they found themselves in an empty alleyway that ran along the perimeter of the conference center. Sundt was nowhere in sight.

"We lost him," Danny reported, out of breath.

"Stay there Danny. We'll converge on your location."

Danny nodded, though Steve couldn't see him, and it wasn't until a few moments passed that he realized that he was still holding Rachel's hand. He looked at her and she, too, was huffing slightly as she tried to catch her breath from the short run.

"You okay?"

She nodded curtly as she looked frantically around them. She was trembling slightly as the rush of the night's events crashed over her. She let out a small sob.

"Where is he, Daniel?"

"We'll get him. He couldn't have gotten far." He gave her hand a small squeeze before letting it go and he stepped away from her slightly to start searching for any evidence that may point to where Sundt had headed. Knowing his teammates were closing in, he tried to give her a reassuring smile. However, Rachel was no longer looking at him, but over his shoulder.

He turned just in time to see a dark mass moving rapidly toward him. Suddenly two bright beams blinded him and he could hear the car accelerate. There was no time to shout a warning, let alone move, and he braced himself for the impact he knew was coming. He felt a forceful shove from his left before the vehicle slammed into him, and the next thing he was aware of was the sense of flying… and then falling.

He didn't black out immediately upon impacting the road, but he wished he had. His entire body felt broken, and each breath brought about another wave of pain. Knowing he should be thankful that he was breathing at all didn't quell the desire for unconsciousness to pull him away from the endless anguish he was suffering.

Slowly, painfully, Danny turned his head and saw her. Rachel was on the ground. Bleeding. Unconscious. Alive? He didn't know. He opened his mouth to call to her, but no sound came out. Feebly, he reached out a hand to her, almost touching her, before a different kind of agony coursed through him when he felt himself being moved. That was what finally tipped him over the edge of awareness. As he lost consciousness, his last thoughts were of Rachel's unanswered question…

Where is he, Daniel?

At the time, Danny had answered automatically, assuming she was talking about Sundt's disappearance. But now, belatedly so, he realized that she was simply crying out for her missing husband.