A/N: Again not beta-ed, any spelling/grammar errors are mine and I apologize.
Chapter II
McGarett groaned in pain, his face was throbbing.
"Lay still princess." Danny echoed deadpanned squeezing the ice pack to make it cold before attempting to press it against Steve's face. The taller man glared at him slapping away his hand and taking control of the offending item.
"So can I please call a plumber now? I mean I would like to have a shower, preferably a hot shower sometime in this decade."
"I can fix it Danny, if you would just back off and let me do it." Steve snapped edging to the edge of the couch.
Danny sighed heavily running his fingers through his hair before flopping into the arm chair. It was Thursday, four days since the incident of Monday morning. Danny's volatile mood had rubbed off on Steve.
"So have you thought anymore about what I said to you the other day?" Danny inquired.
"I don't think it's such a good idea, if something goes down I can call you." Steve replied discarding the ice pack on the coffee table and picking up his beer instead.
"It's Thanksgiving dinner Steve, two days away from here, it would do you the world of good."
"There is nothing wrong with me Danny!" came the reply as he put down the beer with a touch more force than necessary.
"I never said there was. I am saying that a change of scenery might refresh you from this pineapple infested hellhole."
"Jersey, with Grace, your parents and you?"
"Yes and lots of great food, amber liquid minus pineapple and coconut. No sun, no sea, no sand!"
"Sound depressing."
"You're depressing, it sounds delightful and I don't care what you say. All I ask is that you call a goddamn plumber and spend two days of the holidays away from here then you have the next five days of pure uninterrupted feeling sorry for yourself. IN which you will NOT call me with work related stuff. Nadda."
"You want a week off work!?"
"Na-ah! You're not doing this to me. I know you have a memory of an naval elephant. I told you months ago Rachael and Stan were going on holidays for Thanksgiving and that I had Grace all to myself for a whole week for the first time since the divorce and unless hell froze over I was having this week off."
Steve scoffed to himself and grabbed the wrench from the floor as he rose from the couch. Danny shouted after him as he re-entered the bathroom for round two of McGarett verses the shower;
"I'll take your primitive form of communication as a yes and book the flights and yes you are welcome!"
McGarett shifted uncomfortably.
"No cargo pants, check or desert boots, check and a shirt, Steven I am impressed." Danny grinned.
"Yeah well, I never knew Jersey had such a strict dress code. I see the tie has resurfaced." Steve grumbled.
"Grace's finest, monkey doesn't uncle Steve look well in suit trousers and a shirt?"
"Yes you do uncle Steve."
"Thanks Grace but maybe we should pull out the snow jackets and boots?" Steve sniped at Danny.
Danny just smiled and threw the last bag into the trunk of the car.
Steve groaned inwardly as they exited the airport at Newark. New York was grey, overcast, damp and cold! He closed his coat more tightly against himself as he took Grace's bag from Danny as he wrapped his beloved daughter up against the cold. They made their way to the train station to cross to New Jersey. Danny grinned happily at Steve as he pointed out the famous buildings from the concrete skyline as the scenery flew by. It was like a role reversal for the two men. Danny had transformed into a different man as he chatted animately with the taxi driver and pointing out things of interest to Grace and himself as they reached his childhood neighborhood. They pulled up to an old suburban home of substantial size.
"Home?" Steve inquired.
"Home." Danny smiled
They were greeted by Danny's parents, Dan Snr and Katy both of whom made a big fuss over Grace and a more subdued but no less warm or welcoming to both men. The house was warm and filled with delicious smells of home cooking. Steve could not ignore the small but painful twist in his gut as Katy gave him the grand tour of the house which started and ended in the kitchen. As Dan snr handed him a brandy and Margret a mince pie he could not help but wish it was his mother and father filling his hands so. It was a thought that hadn't surfaced in his mind in the longest time and unsettled him slightly. He already regretted agreeing to come, he could be in the office tracking Wo Fat and Shelbourne, been productive. He was glad Danny was too pre-occupied stuffing his face to notice but quickly buried it as Katy laid a soft hand on his upper arm,
"Are you ok son?"
"Oh yes Mrs. Williams, thank you."
"Boy would you leave that alone! You're setting a bad example and your mother has been slaving over that stove not so you could dump your head in it!" Dan snr shouted.
"Imf not sepping a bad-!"
"Daniel please don't talk with your mouth full." his mother sighed handing Grace a soft drink and shooing the dog away from Steve.
"If you don't mind I'm just going to wash up?" Steve addressed the lively kitchen.
"Up the stairs, second door on the left is your room and bathroom is at the end of the hall, I left towels on your bed."
"Thanks Mrs. Williams."
"Katy, please." The woman smiled, Danny had her eyes but the build of his father.
"Won't be long."
After his quick navy shower Steve sat on his bed and rang his sister. He listened to the dial tone half wishing she would pick up and half wishing she wouldn't. It rang out to her voicemail.
"Hi Mary, ah just ringing to wish you a happy thanksgiving. I'm uh, well I'm in Jersey with Danny so yeah...I'll give you a buzz later...'kay?...Bye."
He leaned over and turned the bedside lamp off but remained sitting on the bed. His door was slightly ajar allowing the light from the hallway to flood into the dark room. The delicious smells of turkey and baking wafted up the stairs as he listened to the banter of downstairs. His jaw tightened. He didn't know what was wrong with him. It wasn't like him to feel sorry for himself but every waking moment was drawn to Wo Fat and Shelbourne and what he had robbed him of. Every sleeping moment was what Wo Fat done to him in Korea and since then. How could he been so foolish to walk so blindly into the traps the man kept setting. He always seemed to be one foot ahead of him. Maybe Danny was right, maybe the change of scenery would do him the world of good.
"Daddy says uncle Steve is like a pacman in cargo pants!" Grace giggled as the conversation had quietly turned to Danny's partner in his absence.
"Yes he is, he is like a super SEAL."
"How long is he in the service?" Danny's father asked.
"Too long if you ask me. He was in Naval intelligence before transferring to HPD."
"Seems like a fall from grace."
"No, I told you before he took the gig to solve who was responsible for his father's death, I just think lately it's playing on his mind."
"Does he not have other family?" his mother asked.
"Just a younger sister, his mother was killed when he was sixteen."
"Oh the poor boy, he does seem very distracted."
"Tch! There is no off switch with him mom, he is twenty-four hours a day super solider."
"He'll burn out you know."
"Married to his job like you huh?"
"Dad, we have a pair of ears here." Danny bit back smoothing out Grace's ponytail.
"Yeah well." his father grumbled.
"Grace honey will you go up and ask Steven is he ready for dinner?" sensing the rising tension.
"Yup Grandma."
He heard the light footfalls ascending the stairs and adjusted his shirt before meeting Grace at the bedroom door.
"Dinner is ready!"
"Excellent, who is that behind you?"
"This is Bobo, Grandma's and Grandad's doggie. He's a border collie."
"He's very fond of you."
"I love dogs but Stan doesn't and with the new baby... Danno said he might get one, if he's allowed."
Steve felt those big brown eyes on him. He was surprised Danny hadn't told her about the brown furball that had taken a liking to his bed much to his dismay.
"And I'm sure he will when he finds a place to live."
Steve was surprised with himself. He throughly enjoyed dinner as Katy practically shoveled the last piece of cake into his mouth. He wouldn't need to eat for a week after the feast she had served up. It was a terrible thought that past through his mind as he opened the button of his trousers that this is how Kamakono must feel on a daily basis. The brandy was sure helping to relax him but wasn't fond of been aware of his heart thumping rapidly away in his chest.
"Where are you living these days? You were saying to your mother on the phone the other week that you were between abode's? Hope it is nice and suitable for the two of you?" his father asked fondly rubbing his granddaughters shoulder.
"Ah yes yes it is, we uh found a place by the beach. Um yeah waves crashing and everything, nice two bed house."
Steve literally gagged on his cake on hearing this, as Katy patted his back.
"Now dear I have plenty more so don't be rushing, Daniel I told you people pick up your bad habits."
"Did you settle on a new car or are you still driving the Prius? It's just not very...well you know."
"Well with Grace safety is...and financially uh still have the Prius, yup dad." Danny sheepishly replied downing his brandy in one. Steve however was not so lucky and started choking again on his amber liquid this time.
"Prius!?" He wheezed wiping his mouth and apologizing.
"Yep Danno's silver car is a Prius." Grace said smiling straight at him.
"Riiight, right, yes." Steve agreed slowly accepting the water she was handing him.
"What is he paying for your silence?" he whispered in her ear as the conversation had move on.
She leaned into him as whispered back;
"Surfing lessons with Kono."
"Ah, smart girl."
"I know." Grace replied patting the dogs head, please as punch.
"Have you heard from your brother?" his mother inquired.
"Oh you know Matt living the high life flying here, there and everywhere, who knows where he is. I wouldn't worry about him mom, I'm sure he is fine." Danny waved his mother off the subject.
"Hmm, he just doesn't call that often anymore. Does he have a woman?" his dad piped up.
"How would I know! I hear less than you do from any of them!"
Now Daniel, communication is a two way operation. I mean you're the detective. Sure you have Claire down there with you now anyway."
Steve held his breath as a sharp silence descended upon Danny.
"What now?" Danny asked cooly.
"Claire. Your sister Claire, Daniel." his mother answered a bit annoyed.
"I blood well know who she is but what do you mean down there with me?" Danny snapped.
"There is no need to get ratty with me, Claire is working in some hospital there in Honolulu."
"Oh since when!?" he asked his voice rising.
"Oh for God's sake Daniel, for the past few months,why-"
"So you did know!?" Danny shouted angrily.
"Daniel stop shouting at your mother!" his father growled.
"Ah, do you want to bring Bobo out to do his business?" Steve inquired of Grace sensing an impending storm.
"Yeah."
The two exited quietly to the back yard and watched as the dog chased after some unseen insect aware of the rising shouting coming from inside. Grace lent closer to Steve partially for warmth, mostly for comfort.
"What are you on about she rang us and told us!" his mother snapped back.
"Mom! Dad said to me on the phone on Monday when I rang about her that you both didn't know she was in Hawaii!"
"DAN!?" his mother shouted.
"DO you not listen to what I tell you on the phone?" Danny questioned his father, "She has NEVER, not once called me."
Well I-, Dan what do you have to say?" Margret was totally stunned, addressed her husband, who just shrugged his shoulders wary of getting involved.
"Who goes around arresting there own family anyway!?" his father huffed.
"DO NOT change the subject dad! I did not arrest her! I fined her."
"Daniel she is you sister...we didn't know she was in Hawaii until she rang us during the week obviously after your little fiasco. Truth be told she's pulled away from us again-"
"Do you both not think this is fucking weird!" Danny shouted in frustration. "Where's Casey in all of this!?"
"Don't swear. It's just the way she is, we're thankful she still contacts us, you know that husband of hers never talks to us." his mother sighed tiredly. "Daniel will you speak to her when you get back? Please for me, for your father will you try and talk to her?"
"I don't see her making an effort."
"Please Daniel." his mother begged ending the conversation as Grace and Steve returned from out back with Bobo bounding in sniffing.
The second day passed regrettable as quickly as the first but the underlying tension of the Claire incident secured any wayward thoughts of extending his stay. Having left the comforts of the Williams household to the breath of fresh air of the ocean Steve was glad to be home all the same, as he eyed the plumber suspiciously. After ten minutes the plumber announced he was finished what baffled Steve for two days. He unhappily parted with his cash after testing the man's handiwork. To his dismay he found no fault. And as quickly as he was adjusting to the quietness of his own home Danny arrived back like a whirlwind of destruction.
"Where are you going in your Prius?" Steve inquired with a smirk on his face.
"Shut up you." Danny growled.
"I think I better come. I would hate for you to do something irrational." Steve said half serious.
"You coming or not?" Danny snapped.
"So if you ask for her, do you think she'll come given you took her car and license off her?" Steve inquired looking about, "And slapped her with a $5000 fine..."
Danny shot him a look, "Yeah well that's what happens Steven when you drive without tax, insurance and on an already suspended license. Page 103 of the handbook."
Steve raised a eyebrow at the last dig from his partner.
"CLAIRE WILLIAMS!" Danny roared across the waiting area.
Steve groaned with embarrassment. He should gave know an upset Danny was likely to pull a stunt like this. Thankfully a woman dressed in blue scrubs turned to face Danny. She looked different than that ill fated Monday morning in their office. Her light brown was hair tied up in a loose bun and her face like thunder and she stomped her way towards her brother. She was of slight build no taller than Danny with brown eyes. As she drew closer Steve recoiled a tad.
"Daniel you idiot, what are you doing?" she said through clenched teeth.
"Oh I dunno maybe to say hello again since you missed Thanksgiving dinner again and oh mom and dad say hello, you know the parentals who also happen to mine too? Oh yeah and they knew you were here after telling me that they didn't because you had said not to?" Danny finished his arms flailing about the place.
Claire when from glaring at her brother to glaring at Steve.
"You!?" Claire snarled at Steve.
"Ah, hi...again...again."
"Excuse me? Did I just hear you right Steven? Hi again again? Claire? Steve? Must be the heat getting to me?" The anger was rolling off Danny.
"Danny do not jump to conclusions." McGarrett begged.