Steve ignored the tickle as something crawl across his bare chest. Since Wo fat had left he'd tried several times to slip his hands free of the cuffs, but the harder he tried the tighter they seemed to get. His shoulders ached and his lower back throbbed as he twisted his body in an effort to get free. There was no give to the chain that held him tight to the hoop int the ground and he leaned his back against the hard surface.
McGarrett looked down at his legs and realized his fight to free himself had managed to tear the skin and blood was evident around the cuffs. There were several insects crawling across his legs and he briefly wondered if they were poisonous. Not that it mattered, because if Wo Fat had his way he was a dead man anyway.
Steve thought about what Wo Fat had disclosed. He didn't believe his father had raped anyone, but he knew when a man was away from his home, his family he could be tempted by love. If his father had an affair with Wo Fat's mother than they really could be half brothers. Why didn't Wo Fat's mother seek John McGarrett out once she found out she was pregnant? That was a question only she could answer and Steve wondered if she knew what her son was like and did she blame John McGarrett for everything that went wrong in her life.
McGarrett knew there was only one way to get the answers he wanted and that was through Wo Fat himself. That the man hated him and his father was a given, but the reasons were a little harder to figure out. The obvious was that Wo Fat blamed him for having a father who was there for him. That brought the question of how could John McGarrett have done anything to help Wo Fat if he didn't know he existed?
What about Wo Fat's mother? How did John McGarrett meet her? Were they in love or was it just the heat of the moment that brought them together? During his years with the SEALs, Steve had met several women and they'd made love in the most dangerous situations. It wasn't a matter of survival, but it had kept them both from giving up.
Steve knew Wo Fat's anger was unfounded, especially since his father had no idea he existed. If he was able to escape, would he tell Mary about Wo Fat? She had a right to know, but sometimes it was better to keep things as they were unless they were given no choice. God, there were so many questions he needed answers to, but he wouldn't get them until he escape. Renewing his efforts to work his hands free, Steve grimaced, but ignored the ache in his shoulders.
McGarrett knew if he stopped trying to escape, his mind would latch onto something he really didn't want to think about. "God Dammit!" he cursed and tried to twist his body and free his arms, but they remained locked behind his back.
Angry and frustrated, Steve leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. The images started immediately and he could hear Wo Fat's voice reading the headline. Danny Williams was dead...no, he couldn't believe that, wouldn't believe that. Papers could be faked and he wouldn't put it past Wo Fat to do just that. He needed to believe Danny was alive, yet he'd heard the gunshot and seen the sharks.
Leaves behind his ex-wife Rachel and daughter Grace...funeral arrangements...unavailable for comment...God, it all seemed so damn real.
"I'm sorry, Grace, I'll make him pay for taking Danno from you," McGarrett vowed and drifted toward sleep.
5050505050
Chin and Kono knew there was no point in arguing when Williams said he wanted to go home, but they refused to let him take a taxi. Chin dropped him off at the front entrance to his building before parking the vehicle in the parking lot.
Danny was never so glad to be home and smiled when the door opened and Akemi Himura stepped out. He found himself engulfed in her arms before she stood back and studied his face.
"You hurt?"
"I'm okay, Akemi," Williams said.
"You should not lie to old woman..."
"You're not old..."
"Sometimes it okay to lie," she said with a hint of a smile. "Go sit down and I will bring soup and biscuits."
"You don't have to do that, Akemi."
"I know I do not, but if I do not then you will waste away to nothing. Go...sit, sit. I be there in one minute," the woman said and went back into her apartment.
Danny knew there was no point in arguing as he unlocked the door and Chin exited from the stairwell. Once inside he moved to sit in his favorite chair and closed his eyes as a wave of nausea churned through his gut.
"Can I get you anything, Brah?" Chin asked worriedly.
"My laptop," Williams answered.
"You're supposed to rest."
"I will, but Akemi is bringing lunch and I figure I'd get some work done while I eat," Williams told him.
"Danny, there's nothing you can do...Kono and I are going to find Steve."
"I know, Chin, but I want to find out what I can do about Rachel and the baby," Williams said.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean..."
"I know you didn't and it's okay. I need to do this, but I want to be kept in the loop when it comes to finding Steve too."
"We won't keep you out of it, Danny, but..."
"Ah, you are not alone," Akemi said upon entering the apartment to find Williams speaking with another man. "I know you.. You were here with that handsome one who looked like he ate a can of worms."
Danny and Chin couldn't stop themselves from laughing at the woman's description of their missing friend.
"What is funny?"
"You've given Steve a new name," Chin said.
"Worm face," Williams said. "Remind me to tell Steve that when we find him."
"I will," Chin said and retrieved the laptop from the desk in the corner. He placed it on the table beside the chair and smiled as Akemi fussed over the injured man. "Danny, call me if you need anything."
"I will, Chin, and do the same if you find Wo Fat..."
"Wo Fat...bad man," Akemi said, fear in her eyes as she glanced from one man to the other.
"Akemi, do you know Wo Fat?" Williams asked.
"I know he bad man. I know he sell people bad things. I not like him," she answered.
"Have you seen him? Do you know where he is?" Williams asked and held her hands when she tried to pull away.
"I know...I listen...hear things not supposed to. He come to Hawaii soon," Akemi said.
"How do you know this?" Chin asked softly.
"I old woman...listen when others close ears and mind. No one see cleaning woman...no one care if she hears them. They think I deaf," the woman answered. "Not always that way...time long ago when I was pretty and they wanted me, but now...too many wrinkles...need iron."
"You are still pretty, Akemi," Williams said when he heard the note of sadness in her voice.
"You good liar, Danny," Akemi said.
"Akemi, when did you hear that Wo Fat was coming back?" Chin asked.
"I work with daughter. She clean in building with lawyers. I work hard...not notice me there. Man pay good so daughter say we no tell what we see...what we hear," Akemi answered.
"Would you tell me where she works, Akemi?" Danny asked.
"She get in trouble...he kill her if he find out I tell you," the woman answered. "I sorry, Danny, I not tell...not be...betray daughter. She good to me."
"It's all right, Akemi, we understand. Would you do me one favor?" Williams asked.
"I try."
"If you hear any more about Wo Fat please tell me."
"I will try, but I will not hurt daughter."
"That's all I ask," Williams said.
"I will be back for dishes later. You eat and I fix you something sweet for dessert," the woman said and left the apartment.
"Do you think she will tell you if she hears anything?"
"I don't know, Chin, she was afraid to even talk about him," Williams answered. "Maybe her daughter..."
"Do you know her?"
"No, I've never seen her at Akemi's, but I haven't been here that long," Williams said.
"Well, if she gives you anything give me a call," Chin said.
"I will...thanks, Chin," the Jersey native said and watched his friend leave. He was surprised at how hungry he was and finished what Akemi had brought before placing the tray on the table. He winced as he reached for the laptop and lifted it onto his lap. He knew what needed to be done and forced himself to concentrate in spite of his worry for Steve McGarrett.
"If he's mine, Rachel, I won't let you keep him out of my life," Williams whispered and began searching for anything that would help him with a possible lawsuit for paternity.
5050505050
Rachel held the baby boy in her arms as Grace and one of her classmates played on the swing set. He looked so much like his sister and she could no longer deny how his eyes were exactly like his father. How could she have fooled herself into hoping the baby belonged to Stan? Why couldn't she have found the strength to admit that she had left Danny, not because she loved Stan, but because she truly feared the life Danny had chosen.
The baby moved, his head of light brown hair tickling against the skin of her arm as she looked at him. His eyes opened and a hungry cry escaped even as tears slipped from her eyes.
"Oh, Danny, how do I make this right?" she whispered and prepared to breastfeed the infant. She knew she'd been wrong, not just with Grace, but with the baby. How could she keep him from being a part of their lives? She bit her bottom lip and looked up at the sky as a flock of birds flew by and a soft breeze tickled the hair on her neck.
"Mommy, can we go see Danno today?"
"I don't know, Grace," Rachel answered and fought to keep her emotions in check.
"We could bring him some shave ice," Grace offered as her friend joined them.
"I'll check and see if he's up to visitors, Grace, but you know he needs to rest."
"I could be his nurse like when he was sick with the cold. I took good care of him and he said I could always be his nurse."
"I know he did, but wait until later and I'll give him a call. If he's up to visitors I'll bring you over there," Rachel said. "Now why don't you and Jenny go inside and get some ice cream."
"Okay, do you want some?"
"No, thank you," Rachel said and watched the girls go into the house. She lifted the blanket and looked at the child nursing at her breast and hoped she could make things right with Danny and Stan. They deserved the truth, even if it meant she had to grovel and apologize for what she'd done.
5050505050
Wo Fat kept his anger in check as he made his way toward the room where he kept Steve McGarrett. He knew the man well enough to know he should not be taken for granted. He spent the last three hours watching him struggle to free himself and reluctantly admired the man's perseverance. He reached for the handle and pulled the deadbolt across before pushing the door open.
Wo Fat knew McGarrett was seated across from the door and for the last half hour he'd appeared to be sleeping. He wondered what the man dreamed about. Did he believe Danny Williams was dead? Was he thinking about his father...their father? How would John McGarrett react if he knew he had another son? One born of a violent act rather than the love shared by a man and woman. It didn't matter, the bastard was dead, but his son was not...ate least not yet.
Wo Fat sensed that McGarrett had been awake from the moment he'd opened the door. There were times since he'd found out who his father was when he wanted to meet him, but that had changed when he saw pictures of this man in uniform standing beside John McGarrett. It was obvious the older man was proud of the younger one. That picture had been the catalyst and sent him on a path of vengeance. The chance meeting with his half-brother at the golf course had set things in motion.
"I know you're awake, Brother," Wo Fat said, distaste evident in his voice as he moved further into the room. "I wanted to update you on the funeral arrangement for Danny Williams. It seems his body will be taken back to Newark...I didn't even know he was from there, but it doesn't really matter since you won't be alive much longer either."
Steve chose to ignore the man's comments and kept his eyes closed. He used a technique he'd learned on the teams to keep his breathing at an even pace as Wo Fat walked around the room. He could feel the man watching him, and knew there was no love lost between them The hatred was mutual and Steve knew he would have to keep his wits about him if he was going to make him pay for Danny's death.
"You really are no fun anymore, Brother. Perhaps if I released you and brought Mary here..."
"Touch her and I will kill you," McGarrett said without opening his eyes.
"How could you accomplish that if you are already dead?"
"I guess I'll just have to make sure you're in hell before me," the captive answered simply.
"I believe you are beginning to dislike me..."
"Dislike is a word I use for foods I don't like...you're nothing but the stuff I scrub off the bottom of my shoes," McGarrett told him and bit his bottom lip when Wo Fat kicked him in the right side.
"I promise you this, Brother," Wo Fat said and gripped Steve's chin. "When the time is right I will give you the opportunity to make good on your threat and when I kill you I will bury you in the stuff you scrub off your shoes."
Steve felt the man's fingers tighten on his chin and tried to pull free, but Wo Fat held fast and stared into his eyes. The man's breath smelled of curry and wine, a combination that threatened to make him sick.
"At that time, Brother, I will find our sister and tell him how easily you were defeated," Wo Fat spat and left the room. There would come a time when he would kill this man, but he would do it with his bare hands and watch as the light of life left his eyes. Then, perhaps, he would make good on his threat to find Mary McGarrett.
5050505050
Rachel drove toward her ex-husband's apartment building with a mixture of trepidation and hope. There last meetin had been hard on both of them, more so for Danny than her. The pain she'd caused him was real and no apology in the world would be able to get him to forgive her. Could she forgive herself for taking the love he offered and throwing it away like yesterday's garbage?
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying, Grace. I just have something in my eyes," Rachel answered when they stopped at a red light.
"But you look sad. Did I do something to make you sad?" Grace asked.
Rachel knew her daughter was smart and had always been able to see through her attempts to ease her mind. That she had seen her tears was nothing new, but that she understood what they meant tore at her heart. "I am sad, Grace, but it has nothing to do with you. Sometimes after a woman has a baby she is sad, but it doesn't last very long. I promise Mommy will be fine in a day or two."
"I thought Charles made you happy?"
"He does, Honey, you both do," Rachel said as the light changed and she drove through the intersection. "I'm just being silly."
"Like when you and Danno used to watch those old movies?"
"Yes, like the old movies," Rachel said and pulled into the driveway leading to her ex-husband's apartment building.
5050505050
Williams stood by the window watching the cars pull into the parking lot of his building and spotted Rachel's vehicle when she pulled into an empty spot. He smiled when Grace got out of the back and stood looking around. God, he loved her so much and didn't know what he would do if something happened to her. He'd spent hours going over precedents in an effort to find out what he could do to get a paternity test, but he wasn't a lawyer and didn't understand much of what he read.
Danny placed his hand on the window as Rachel reached into the back of the car and took the baby out. God, help him, but he wanted Charles to be his and not Stan's. Was it wishful thinking? Did he want Rachel back? The answer to the first question was probably yes, but for the second one it was a definite no. He still loved her, but he didn't like her...and that was the difference. The love was something that could tear him apart, but you had to like someone in order to spend the rest of your life with them.
Williams watched as Grace skipped ahead of her mother and brother and turned away from the window when they disappeared from view. The buzzer sounded less than a minute later and he moved to press the button and allow them entry to the building. Danny winced as he made his way to the door and held his arm tight against his side when he opened it. He fought to keep from showing how much pain he was in, both physically and mentally as he heard the elevator doors open and Grace stepped out.
"Danno!" Grace called and ran toward him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and missed the grimace that formed when her small body connected with his injured side.
"Grace, be careful. Danny's hurt," Rachel lightly scolded.
"Did I hurt you?" Grace asked and looked into her father's eyes.
"No, Monkey, you didn't hurt me," Williams lied and kissed the top of her head before looking at his ex-wife. "Thank you for bringing them."
"You're welcome," Rachel said and entered the apartment ahead of Danny and Grace. She walked into the living room and placed the infant carrier on the floor where Charles continued to sleep.
"How is he?" Williams asked.
"He's doing well. The doctor is happy with his weight," Rachel answered.
"Danno, I brought you some treats from Kamekona's friend," Grace said of the woman who ran a small bakery not far from Kamekona's shrimp truck.
"You did? Well let's see what we have here," Williams said and took the bag into the kitchen. He glanced at Rachel and could tell she'd been crying. Even when they were married he'd been able to tell when she was trying to hide the tears she'd shed because of him. He took out one of the sweet confections and handed it to his daughter.
"Grace, be careful. They are messy," Rachel advised.
"I will, Mommy," Grace said and placed it on a plate before walking to the dining room table so that she could see the television.
"Rachel..."
"Danny, we need to talk," Rachel said before he could finish what he was going to say.
"Yes, we do," Williams said, relieved that Grace seemed engrossed in her snack and the Disney princess cartoons on the television. "Is he mine, Rachel?"
"Honestly, Danny, I'm not sure," Rachel said with tears in her eyes as she stood before him.
"I need to know...if he's mine I want to be part of his life."
"I'm sorry, Danny, I don't know for sure, but...but he looks so much like you and Grace when she was a baby," Rachel answered.
"Does Stan suspect?"
"I think he does, but we haven't really talked about it," Rachel answered.
"We need a paternity test," Williams told her.
"I know and I won't fight you on this. I was going to, Danny, but when I look at him I see you and nothing of Stan. I've hurt you both and sorry just doesn't cut it, but there's nothing I can do to change the past," Rachel explained.
"I want it done ASAP," the Jersey native said and saw the slight nod of her head.
"I'll arrange for it, Danny, but not until you're up to it," Rachel told him.
"I'm good, just call when you've made the appointment," Danny said.
"I will," Rachel told him and looked from her daughter to her sleeping son. "Is there anything new about Steve?"
"No, there's nothing," Williams said and could see the sorrow in her eyes. He knew she cared about what happened to McGarrett and hoped they'd have good news soon, but so far there'd been nothing from Chin, Kono, or Catherine. That meant Steve was at the mercy of a madman who could very well be his half brother.
TBC!