Steve opened his eyes and knew he wasn't alone. He also knew his visitor wasn't Catherine or Mary, yet there was no sense of danger. He looked at the man standing near the window and wondered why he felt like Joe White was holding a lot back. That the man had secrets was a given, but lately he also felt like White had a hidden agenda, one Steve wasn't sure he wanted to know.
John McGarrett had trusted White, but he'd also told Steve to trust his instincts and right now he was torn because he couldn't quite accept what his former commander had to say. He needed to know more about Shelburne, because right now he didn't think he had the whole story. Oh, he no longer doubted that Wo Fat was his half brother, but there was more to it than just a village in Korea.
"You're wrong you know."
"About what?" McGarrett asked.
"Whatever you think of Shelburne it starts and ends with Wo Fat. He can try to lay the blame at your feet, but there was nothing you could have done. Your father didn't even know about Wo Fat."
"Did you, Joe?"
"Did I what? Know about Wo Fat?" White answered his own question before continuing. "If I'd known I would have gone to John, but I didn't, Son. I hope you know me better than that. I wouldn't have left a child to live on the streets."
"I'm glad to hear it. So what are you doing about Wo Fat?"
"He's in jail," White answered.
"That's not what I meant. I want to know what you're planning to do. I've seen you...I know you have contacts I can't even begin to imagine and I don't see you letting Wo Fat sit in some jail cell with his meals handed to him on a silver platter..."
"You make it sound like he's in a fancy hotel," White observed.
"Isn't that exactly what it is...he's in a private cell with access to showers and anything else he wants. I'm betting he's even allowed to contact whoever he wants to...whenever he wants to. He just doesn't have to go through channels like most prisoners," McGarrett spat.
"You shouldn't be worrying about Wo Fat, Son..."
"Oh, really? He's already threatened to kill me and who knows what he's got planned for Mary. I won't let him hurt her, Joe."
"Neither will I...you've got my word on that," White vowed.
"Then tell me what you've got planned," McGarrett ordered.
"Some things are better left alone, Steve. Let's just say I've put some things in motion and Wo Fat won't be a problem much longer."
"I've heard that before, Joe, what makes this any different?"
"I've called in a favor...one that assures me we won't have to worry about him much longer. I told him I wanted proof."
"Proof of what?" McGarrett asked softly.
"That he's been taken care of," White answered. "I can't say anything more than that...just take my word for it."
"I don't know if I can, Joe," the SEAL said of the trust he once had in this man. Things had changed between them, and he just didn't have that same trust he once had. The fact that he was able to admit this to the man told him there was still some trust between them, but they would have to rebuild their relationship.
"I understand, Son, but believe me when I tell you I won't let Wo Fat hurt my family," White told him as McGarrett's nurse came into the room.
"I'm sorry...am I interrupting something," Carrie O'Brien asked.
"No, I was just leaving," White told her. "Steve, take it easy and I'll let you know how things go before I leave."
"You're leaving?" McGarrett asked.
"As soon as I get confirmation...it could be a few days, but in case I don't get to see you before then...take care and do what the doctors and nurses tell you," White said, nodding to the pretty dark haired woman before leaving.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," Carrie said as she adjusted the flow of his IV line.
"You didn't," McGarrett assured her and shifted on the bed. He gazed out the window and wondered just how long Lewis planned to keep him pinned down. Realistically, Steve knew he had a long road ahead of him, but he'd never been one to admit when he was hurting and he wasn't about to start now. The sooner he got back on his feet, the sooner he could make sure Wo Fat wasn't a threat to the people he cared about.
"Commander, I'm going on break in ten minutes. Is there anything you need before I go?" Carrie asked.
"Is Dr. Lewis around?"
"No, I'm afraid he's gone for the day. He'll be around tomorrow morning at six," she answered.
"Tell him I'd like to speak with him," McGarrett told her.
"Uh oh, don't tell me you're already thinking of going AWOL on us?"
"No," the head of Five-O said with a sheepish grin. "I just want to find out how long he plans on keeping me here."
"Surely you realize you need help?"
"I know, but sometimes too much help makes a man forget how hard it is to come back," McGarrett said and smiled when he saw Danny, Abby, and Grace in the doorway.
"Can we come in?" Grace asked and skipped toward McGarrett's bed when the nurse excused herself. "Hi, Uncle Steve, when are you coming home?"
"Hi Grace, I'm going to ask Dr. Lewis tomorrow. Is Danno being a good patient?" Steve asked.
"Gabby and I are making sure he rests," Grace said as her father sat in the chair by the window.
"Just you wait until you're out of here...Grace has been shopping and she wants to practice her bandaging skills. Since you've got a lot more cuts she's going to have a lot more to do," Williams said with a grin.
"I've been practicing with my dolls, Uncle Steve, and Gabby says I'm a natural," Grace said and turned on the TV.
Steve smiled at the child and watched as she put on the headphones and began flicking through the channels. He wanted to ask Danny if there was anything new where the baby was concerned, but he didn't want to say anything in front of the child. It didn't surprise him that Williams seemed to know what he was thinking.
"The DNA samples are done...it'll be a couple of weeks before we know," Williams said softly and smiled at Gabby. She'd been with him when the arrangements were made and told him if he needed anything she was just a phone call away. "We saw Joe leave...is everything okay between you?"
"I don't know, Danny. We talked, but he's still holding back. He knows more than he lets on and I just can't trust him where Shelburne is concerned," McGarrett told him.
"Maybe it's best if you don't know."
"Would you think like that if it was your family?"
"No, I'd want to know," Williams answered honestly and could see his admission was what McGarrett wanted to hear. They were more alike than either of them care to admit, but the one thing they never lied about was family and what it meant to them.
"Looks like this party needs some cheering up."
"Kamekona!" Grace said and jumped down from the bed. She hurried over and gave the newcomer a hug.
"Hi, Gracie, is the hug for me or for what I have in this bag?" the big man asked with a grin.
"It's for...for both," Grace answered honestly as Kono and Chin came into the room.
"Tell me Beulah isn't your nurse," Williams said.
"She's not...why?"
"I think we're a little over the limit when it comes to visitors," the Jersey native told him.
"I won't tell if you don't," Gabby said as Kamekona placed a bag on the table in front of McGarrett.
"What's in the bag?" McGarrett asked.
Kamekona leaned in close and whispered softly. "I thought you could use some real food..not the stuff they give you in here. It's shrimp and rice and vegetables, but I went easy on the spices."
"Thanks, Brah," McGarrett said and opened the bag, surprised to find his stomach rumbled appreciatively. He took out the plastic container and took off the lid before reaching for the fork.
"Where's mine?" Williams asked, eyebrow rising as he looked at Kamekona.
"At the truck on the beach," the big man answered with a cheeky grin. "I'm sure Miss Gabby would enjoy a candlelight dinner near that ocean."
"I'm sure she would, but it won't be at your meals on wheels," the Jersey native said.
"Not even if I thrown in a new T-Shirt?"
"The one that only comes in Kamekona size?" Williams asked.
"Danny, you and I could..." Gabby stopped as she realized Grace was watching her. "You know...it would be cozy to share."
"Deal," Williams said and turned to the bog Hawaiian. "I'll take the T-shirt."
"Done," Kamekona said. "What type of shrimp would you like."
"None...just the shirt."
"No shrimp...no T-Shirt. A man's got to take care of business."
"I'll make you a deal...I'll order shrimp as long as the T-shirt doesn't have your face on it," Williams said.
"But that's how I get known. You wear the T-Shirt and people won't mistake me..."
"Believe me, Cuz, people don't mistake you for anyone..."
'
"Or anything," Kono finished for Chin and the group laughed at the look on the big man's face.
"You wound me..."
"We could hardly miss," Williams teased and knew Kamekona would give as good as he got.
"Just for that I'm going to charge you taxes on the shirt and I'll make sure my face is on both sides."
"You could save yourself a few bucks and do a profile...no, wait, that would take twice as much ink," Danny observed.
"Play nice, Danno," McGarrett said.
"I am playing nice..."
"No, you're not, Danno," Grace said with a frown. "Remember what Thumper's mother said in Bambi?"
"I don't seem to remember exactly what..."
"If you can't say something nice don't say nothing at all," came from everyone including Kamekona and the group laughed at the look on Danny's face.
"Oh, sure, gang up on the injured..."
"Give it up, Danny, you were not playing nice," Gabby told him.
Steve relaxed, enjoying the company they provided and closed his eyes. He knew he hadn't done Kamekona's gift justice, but right now he wasn't hungry, and felt sleep calling to him. He heard some of them leaving, but couldn't seem to find the energy to speak to them, yet he knew they would understand.
5050505050
Wo Fat looked at his visitor, a hint of a smile on his face as he listened to the woman who gave birth to him. He had no idea why he'd sent for her, but she was here now and he knew he should thank her for coming. She spoke English, but not very well and he knew they could talk openly here because he 'owned' the guard who'd set this up.
"Why do you dishonor me like this?" Min Hoi said, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at her son.
"I did not dishonor you, Mother, you dishonored yourself when you allowed him to touch you. No man would want you after you gave yourself so willingly," Wo Fat raged.
"What John and I had was more than most people share in a lifetime. I am sorry you did not know your father..."
"Never call him that," Wo Fat ground out as he stared at the woman whose eyes were filled with tears. "John McGarrett was simply a sperm donor..."
"No, John McGarrett was a man and I loved him for the gift he gave me. My only regret is that you have never listened to what I had to say about him. I wish...I wish you were more like..."
"Like what, mother? Like my 'brother'?" Wo Fat snapped. "I will never be like Steve McGarrett and I will never allow you to compare us again. Go home..."
"Please, My Son, don't continue with this vendetta. It is wrong to keep hating and will turn you into a monster. I never meant for you to be like this. I tried to teach you about your father, but you were always so angry..."
"You have no idea what anger means, Mother. Go home and when I am free I will come to you."
"I did not think you would be freed. That is why I came to see you," Min said softly.
"You must know I am not a man who takes being incarcerated very well. I will be free and when I am..."
"Please, stay away from your brother..."
"What of my sister? Should I stay away from her as well?"
"They have never done anything to hurt you...why do you insist on hurting them?"
"They took what should have been mine. Our father...my father should have been there for me. He should have been proud of who I am and what I accomplished without his help."
"He would not be proud of who you are. He would be saddened...as am I," Min told him.
"You should have thought of that before you slept with him," Wo Fat said and stood up. "I will speak no more of this, Mother...go home and do not speak of this with anyone. You would not like me as an enemy."
"I do not like you now," Min whispered as the guard entered the room and escorted her out.
Wo Fat watched her leave and waited for his guard to return him to his cell. The man had been a mean SOB until Wo Fat had shown him just what he could do even locked in a cell. He would stay alive as long as he was useful, but when the time came, David Barkley would be dead by unknown assailants.
"All right, Wo Fat, let's go!" Barkley ordered and tapped his stick against the door frame. He licked his lips at the thought of the money this man would give him and knew he could probably hold out for more. Maybe he could even retire after this was over.
Wo Fat stood up and walked ahead of the man. They made their way to his cell block and he nodded to several inmates who would take care of Barkley when the time was right. They reached his cell and he waited for the door to open before stepping inside and placing his cuffed hands through the bars so the guard could remove them. He lay back and placed his hands beneath his head as he thought about his 'brother' and how good it would feel to have his blood running through his fingers.
TBC!