The shot spurred Chin into action and all thoughts of Steve McGarrett left him as he sped the raft toward the dark shape bobbing up and down in the water. He thought he heard McGarrett cry out, but concentrated on reaching Williams as the sea spray struck his face and the wind picked up around him. He stood in the raft, unsteadily rocking back and for as he tried to kept his eyes trained on the man and ignored the thought of sharks.
Chin could hear the sound of the boat's engines kicking in and the unmistakable noise of the anchor being raised, but there was no way he could help Steve until Danny was safely out of the water. As he crested a wave, he spotted Williams around twenty feet from him and kept his eyes on the prize. He reached Williams in less than a minute and slowed the engine enough so that he did not miss the injured man.
"Danny, hold on!" Chin shouted and reached for the man as a wave tried to pull him from his grip. He could see blood and knew it wouldn't be long before any sharks in the vicinity picked up on the scent.
Danny heard the words, but could not make sense of them as he tried to breathe around a mouthful of water. He coughed and expelled whatever as in his lungs as chin tried to get him into the raft. With his arms and legs tied, there was nothing he could do to help his friend and cursed Wo Fat for putting them all in this position.
"I got you, Danny!" Chin said and struggled to pull Williams into the raft. The sound of the boat's engines kicking in reached his ears, but he could do nothing except concentrate on the job at hand. Using all his strength and the motion of the waves against the raft, Chin finally managed to pull the other man to safety and turned his attention to the boat, but it was nothing but a blip racing away from them and he sat down dejectedly before turning his attention to Williams.
"Chin...Steve...tell me...tell me he didn't..."
"I wish I could, Danny, but he really didn't have a choice. He did what you or I or Kono would have done if the roles were reversed," Chin observed.
"Wo Fat will kill him," Williams said and watched helplessly as the boat sped away from them.
"Danny, I need to take a look at your side before we head back," Chin said.
"No...we need to got after that boat."
"We'd never catch them, but we have an ace in the hole," Chin vowed and removed the life jacket, revealing the wound on Williams right side. The bullet had gone through, tearing flesh and muscle, but hopefully it didn't hit ay bones or vital organs in it journey.
"Ace...hole..."
"Good thing I know you're injured or I'd take offence at being called an asshole," Chin teased and used tape from the first aid kit to secure a bandage to the wound/ Next he cut through the ropes binding Danny's arm and feet.
"Chin!"
"He has a tracker embedded under his skin. If Wo Fat doesn't find it we might be able to track him."
"That's a mighty big if," Williams observed.
"Yes, it is, but at least we've got something," Chin said. "I'm going to head back and get you to the hospital."
"We need..."
"To get you checked out, Danny, don't let Steve's sacrifice be for nothing," Chin said and sped toward the island.
5050505050
Kono breathed a sigh of relief at the news that Danny had been found, but it was short-lived when chin told her Steve had traded himself for Williams' release. It didn't surprise her in the least and she glanced out the window to see Rachel feeding the baby while Grace swam in the pool.
Danny would be transferred to Queens as soon as they had him stabilized, but that could be several hours from now. Danny's injuries, although not life threatening, were serious and Chin wanted her to tell Rachel what they knew so far. She placed her cell phone into her pocket and pushed the door open.
"Have they found Danny?" Rachel asked and covered her breast once the baby had released her.
"He's on his way to Molokai General Hospital. Chin's with him, Rachel," Kono answered.
"Is he...is he hurt?" Rachel asked with tears in her eyes.
"Chin said he was beaten and shot, but he's awake and asked about you, Grace and the baby," Kono answered.
"I should be there for him."
"He'll be moved to Queens as soon as they've treated him at Molokai," Kono told her. "Chin will stay with him, Rachel, you need to be here for Grace and the baby."
"I know, but I can't help thinking about Danny."
"Tell me, Rachel do you still love him?"
"I..."
"No, don't answer that out loud, at least not until you've thought it through," Kono told her. Somehow she knew deep down that Rachel still harbored feeling for her ex-husband whether she admitted it to herself or not.
5050505050
Chin kept glancing at the clock as he waited for word on Danny Williams. He'd called Danielle, and she'd explained that the tracking device was still working, although the signal was faint. He had a general direction, but she couldn't pinpoint his exact location. They'd need a hell of a lot of luck if they were going to find Steve before Wo Fat sequestered him away in some out of the way hole. Luck and help from a certain woman who had the right equipment to track him. Danielle was good, but Chin had called Catherine and asked her if she could get a read on the device Danielle had placed in Steve's arm. He'd put her in touch with Danielle and hoped they had all the bases covered.
"Is there someone here for Danny Williams."
"Here...how is he, Doc?"
"I'm Dr. Adamson and I'm taking care of Detective Williams. Are you family?"
"Not really," Chin said and showed the man his identification. "I brought him in."
"Well, I need next of kin to sign the paperwork..."
"I can sign whatever you need, Doc," Chin told him, glad Steve had insisted that they each hold a medical power of attorney for each other because in their line of work it would be needed more often then not. "How is he?"
"He should be all right, but he's going to be sore for awhile. He' got bruises on his lower back in the kidney area so we'll be watching that closely. The bullet tore a hole through his side and the nurse is cleaning it up now. It'll probably take several stitches and he'll need IV antibiotics to ward off an infection. He's also covered in insect bites and running a fever, but the main worry right now is the head injury. He appears to have been struck a couple of times and is showing signs of a concussion. I'll be admitting him for observation."
"How soon can he be transferred to Queen?" Chin asked.
"A couple of hours," Adamson said.
"Can I see him?"
"Just for a few minutes. I've given him morphine to help with the pain so he may be a little out of it," the man said and motioned for Chin to follow him.
5050505050
Danny kept his eyes closed as the nurse cleaned the wound to his side and tried to think clearly but between the headache and heavy drugs they'd given him it was hard to focus on anything. Right now, that might not be such a bad idea as the woman continued to do her job. He heard the door open, followed by whispered voices, but he recognized one and needed some answers. "Chin, why...why did Steve hand himself over?"
"Danny, Wo Fat..."
"Wants him dead, Chin, and you know why?"
"Shelburne?"
"Th...that's part of it, but Wo Fat...he told me Steve is his half brother," Williams snarled between tightly clenched teeth, and tried to get away from the nurse's ministrations.
"What?" Chin snapped, eyes wide with surprise at the other man's bombshell.
"He told me...told me Steve..."
"Detective, you need to be still until I finish this," the nurse scolded.
"I need to get out of here!" Williams said.
"Danny, there's nothing you can do right now!"
"Yes, there is! Dammit, Chin, I won't let him sacrifice himself for me!"
"He's not sacrificing himself. Right now we're tracking him and once he reaches Wo Fat we'll be able to go after him."
"That could be too late!"
"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to leave," the nurse told Chin.
"No, look, Chin, Wo Fat hates Steve."
"I know, Danny, but right now there's nothing we can do. I've called Catherine and she's tracking Steve as well," Chin explained and placed his hand on Williams' shoulder. "You need to stay put and let them do their jobs."
"Chin, you don't understand! Wo Fat will kill him!"
"No, he won't, Danny, at least not right away. Steve's not that easy to kill. Is there anything you can tell me about where you were being held?"
"Not really...they kept me in a cell most of the time. There were a couple of small buildings and a main house."
"What about the terrain? Was there anything that stuck out about it?"
"No, it was kind of like Hawaii," Williams said and sighed tiredly, rubbing at his temples when he felt the headache returning.
"I should let you rest," Chin observed as the doctor came back into the room.
"You'll have to wait outside," Adamson said.
"I'll be right outside, Danny."
"Did you call Kono and Rachel?"
"I did," Chin said and left the room before Williams could ask anything else.
5050505050
McGarrett recognized the swaying motion for what it was, the rocking of a boat as it cut through the waves at high speed. He twisted his body around, and straightened his legs, but found there wasn't much room as he tried to sit up, but his head struck something solid and he lay back. His arms were bound behind his back, while his ankles were chained to something he couldn't see.
Steve had no idea how long he'd been out, but it was long enough for him to have stiffened up and he he tried to stretch the kinks from his back and arms. Muffled sounds reached his ears, but he couldn't make out what was being said until the door opened and light streamed into his cell. He blinked several times until his eyes adjusted and he could see the man standing in the doorway, if you could call it a doorway.
McGarrett could see the cell he was in was nothing but a small storage space that left him little room to move. He didn't say anything as his captor reached down and removed the chain that locked his feet to a bar at the end of the crawlspace.
"Now, Commander, I want you to listen carefully because there are some rules here. Wo Fat wants you alive, but, in my book there are several degrees to being alive. That being said you should know there are two men here who have a distinct disliking to cops and anyone who's served in the American military. They would not think twice about putting a bullet in you...not to kill you, but they could cripple you. Now, you need to get out here or do I have my men drag you out?" Kyle McClellan warned and moved back as the prisoner began to inch his body out of the cell.
Steve gritted his teeth against the blinding sunlight and was soon standing on the deck of the boat. He could see land in the distance and wondered how long he'd been out and whether this was their destination. If so, was Wo Fat on the island and was Chin's friend able to track him.
"How's the headache, Commander? It won't last long as is an unfortunate aftereffect of the drug we gave you. It should wear off in a couple of hours," McClellan observed.
Steve didn't acknowledge the man's words, but he kept his eyes open and ignored the throbbing headache as he searched the deck of the boat for anything he could use to his advantage. His captors were smart and left his hands tied behind his back as the leader pushed him toward a small table. He was forced to sit on one of the chairs while the man who seemed to be in charge sat across from him.
"We should arrive at our destination in a little over and hour, Commander, and I thought I'd show you that there are no hard feelings...you and Williams were simply a job for us," McClellan observed. "I am sorry about your friend, but I can assure you he was dead before the sharks got to him."
"You bastard!" McGarrett swore and dove for his captor, but his shoulders were gripped and he was forced to sit on the chair.
"I didn't know you and Williams were that close. It's really hard to believe that a true Hawaiian like yourself would give a damn about a Haole like him. I've heard tell he was quite abrasive and thought pineapple on pizza was unheard of. How uncouth does that make him?"
Steve refused to show this man just how much his words affected him. Was Danny really dead? Had his own sacrifice been for nothing? No, now way in hell would he believe that. The truth was, he needed to know what he'd done meant something, and it wouldn't if he truly believed Williams was dead.
"Well, Commander, I know you must be hungry and I doubt very much Wo Fat will be concerned about your health, so I offer you the chance of a final meal and perhaps a drink would even be welcomed," McClellan offered and poured two glasses of red wine as another man brought two plates to the table, setting one in front of him, the other in front of McGarrett. He nodded to the man behind the captive and motioned to the two guards standing nearby. "Now, Commander, I'm going to have Caleb removed the ropes from your wrists and use the cuffs to lock you to the hook set in the deck. Please don't try anything stupid because, as I said, my men won't hesitate to put a bullet in your leg and perhaps cripple you for life...however short that may be."
"Not hungry," McGarrett told him once his wrist was locked in place and the other man told him to enjoy what could be his last meal.
"Your loss, Commander. As I said who knows when you'll be offered another meal," McClellan said and watched the other man's face. Steve McGarrett was not a stupid man and there was no doubt in his mind that the SEAL had a plan. They always did.
Steve knew the other man was right and reluctantly reached for the spoon provided. The plate held a thick savory stew and he tentatively took the first taste, surprised at how his stomach rumbled until he reached for the warm rolls in the center of the table. The man seated across from him seemed to be smiling as he sipped from the glass of wine.
"You know, Commander, Wo Fat seems to have a dislike for you that runs deep. What did you do to earn his wrath?"
Steve didn't bother answering, but continued to eat the food off his plate. Whoever this man was, he certainly was talkative, and maybe, if he remained silent he would reveal more about himself, their destination, and Wo Fat.
"I've seen what happens to people who cross paths with The Yakuza, but Wo Fat...well let's just say that's one mean sonofabitch with ice water running through his veins. I've never me a cooler bastard," McClellan observe and folded his fingers like a temple in front of his face. "Until now. You're friend is dead and you sit here eating like you don't give a damn..."
Steve swallowed convulsively, ignoring the man's voice until he mentioned Danny's death. God, help him, but one way or the other McClellan would pay for killing him. He choked down the food, ignoring what was being said and fighting to keep his anger in check. It would do him no good to get shot now, he'd need to wait until the odds were better, or there was no choice in the matter.
"Well, since you're done eating and you're not much of a conversationalist I might as well put you back in your hole until we reach our destination. Since Wo fat doesn't want you to know how much time has elapsed since I picked you up I'm afraid it's time you took another long nap," McClellan said and smiled as the man behind McGarrett shoved a needle into his thigh.
"Sonofabitch!" Steve cursed and came off the chair, but stumbled as the short chain snagged his wrist and held him away from his attacker. He could feel the drug racing through his body and swallowed several times in an effort to clear his head, but the darkness invaded his senses and he dropped to his knees before hitting the deck hard.
"Put him back in his hole and make sure he's secured," McClellan ordered and reached for his cell phone. He hit speed dial and sat back as the two men dragged McGarrett back to the crawlspace and stuffed him inside.
"How long before your arrival?"
"A couple of hours," McClellan answered.
"You are giving him the drug as prescribed?"
"He just had his second dose. He didn't seem too upset by Williams' death."
"Don't let him fool you. Steve McGarrett traded himself for Detective Williams and now he thinks he is dead. Keep it that way."
"I will."
"Make sure you do. I want him to feel the guilt of losing his best friend and leaving the child without her father. Be sure you come to me directly and that no one sees you or you will find yourself in a smaller hole than Steve McGarrett."
"Miserable sonofabitch," McClellan spat when the line went dead. He reached for the bottle of wine and poured himself another glass of the smooth liquor.
TBC!