A/N: Not beta-ed, any spelling/grammar mistakes are my own and I apologize. Internet has been broken thus the long spell between updates. Also strong language follows.

Chapter 3

He did not mean to do it, it was a sudden flash of anger. He had thought the worst and his fist just took on a mind of its own. The shorter detective was not one bit happy. It was meant to be a somewhat civil reunion. Stupid right? Now the two of them were sitting in a cubicle so Claire could possibly stuff the remainder of Steve's small gun-ho brain back into his skull.

"You should think before reacting." McGarett moaned.

"I. I should have- you're lucky you aren't out for the count! You'd be seeing brain matter oozing out of your unconscious body-" Danny felt like throttling him another one but thought better of it, for now.

"That makes no sense..."

"Shut up."

Danny dragged his two hands down his face.

"What?" McGarett asked sensing the rising tension and possible murderous intent.

"Nothing."

"Well it has to be something. You have that posture." Steve really thought Danny had cooled down over this situation over the weekend in Jersey.

"Pos- do me a favor Steve yeah? Just shut up. Just lie there in your self induced agony, hey, hey!" Danny shouted snapping his fingers at the nurse, "What's that? Eh? What are you giving him?"

"Um painkillers?"

"No no no! You see this man lying here is an idiot, an idiot that does not deserve painkillers."

"Danny! Give it a rest ok, I'm sorry I upset you."

Claire emerged from behind the curtain, she took the syringe off the nurse and dismissed her. She held the x-ray film to the light. She was really only doing it for the patients peace of mind, even if it was her idiot brother and his partner.

"You're lucky he hits like a girl, no fracture to your cheek bone but it will require a few stitches which means you will need the painkiller." Claire said placing the syringe on the tray and replacing the x-ray into the envelope. The two men looked at each other as she sat down on the stool and snapped on a pair of gloves.

"So are we doing this the civilized way or the neanderthal way?" Claire asked nonchalantly.

"Uh..."

"Shit Claire, the civilized way!" Danny snapped

"Fine, Steven lie back there." she replied cooly adjusting the overhead lamp to get a better view of the wound.

"So when did you two meet again?" the Jersey detective asked.

"Danny it is not whatever it was that you thought it was."

"And what would that be Steven?"

"He met me to try and apologize for the driving incident and putting me back on your radar." Claire answered as she numbed, sterilized and irrigated the wound.

"When?"

"Before you got back from Jersey." Steve answered.

"Speaking of which sister, you put mom and dad in an awkward position."

"No Daniel you did. I assume you flew off the handle when you brought up the subject and mom was left to fight everyone's corner?" she started to thread the needle, "Can you feel this?"

"No."

I didn't fly off the handle." Danny mumbled, slouching in the hard plastic chair. "But mom had a point."

"Which was?" Claire sighed finishing up.

"Communication-!"

"-Is a two way thing." Claire finished. "There your done. Keep it dry and come back in seven days to have them removed."

Pushing away she rolled back on her stool removing her gloves so both men were in her line of sight. Throwing them in the hazard bin she looked from one to the other. Danny was tensed up and Steve was sheepishly trying to blend in with the furniture. Rounding on her brother she let out an exasperated sigh. Lisa was right, he had a right to know.

"I'm not doing this here. You may be happy enough roaring at people in your place of work but I'm not. You wanna talk I'll give it a shot."

"Fine, dinner?" Danny replied gruffly.

"No, drinks."

"Not going to make it past the main course?" Danny huffed at her immediate negativity.

"Most likely and drinks will help numb whatever is in store."

"Oh for fuck sake Claire you're shutting it down already, what's the point!?"

"You said it yourself, mom. Mom is the point."

"Okay, tonight, seven?"

"Hell no, I'm six hours into a twenty-five hour shift. Saturday evening?"

"I have Grace."

"Oh."

"Yeah your niece whom you've never seen."

"Sunday so?" she asked ignoring his last dig.

"Fine, nine p.m I've to drop Grace back to her mother first."

"Then it's settled."

Steve followed in Danny's footsteps as he quickly exited the hospital. An awkward silence had descended between the two off them. Danny made for the drivers side, to which Steve didn't argue and tossed the keys to his partner. They pulled out heading towards work.

"Sorry about your face." Danny finally huffed.

"Sorry about your fist." Steve smirked.

"My- oh very funny Ironman. Did she accepted your apology?"

"Um no."

"Typical."

"I don't mean to pry Danny. You know my relationship with Mary is strained but man I love her regardless of all the stupid shit she has done and will do. She's my sister, my baby sister. What happened between you two?" Steve waited in silence as his partner tapped the steering wheel indecisively.

"Babe, it's been two weeks! You gotta give me something, your constipation face is becoming chronic but you're not giving anything here!"

Danny gave Steve a cold hard stare.

"I don't have constipated face...I may have a slightly annoyed face..."

Steve laughed.

"It's a long and not so complicated history despite what you may think." Danny started raising an eyebrow at his best friend.

"Firstly, yeah sorry about the face. Secondly sorry about been nearly unbearable for the past two weeks. Thirdly I have found a dive to move into and thanks in advance for helping me move some of my stuff and for the couch."

"Yeah yeah you know you're welcome." Steve groaned, "And fourthly?"

Danny parked up but made no movement to get out of the car.

"Like I said it's not complicated, just standard family drama. Claire is intelligent, her vocation is proof to that. When she was a kid she always wanted to be like dad, a cop. Our eldest sister is a lawyer, Matt well you know Wall street and all that. I became a cop which blew her idea's out of the water. She was annoyed and hurt that I was raining on her parade. Dad is very fond of her and she really wanted to make him proud but she felt I was stealing her limelight. Dad never told her but he dreaded the thoughts of her becoming a cop."

"The two of us were very close growing up and it was at that point she began to pull away. Claire decided to go for the complete other end of the spectrum and become a doctor. She started studying really hard and the parentals were concerned she wouldn't meet the grade for medicine now that she was putting all her effort in. I didn't make it easy for her, I teased her...a lot. Then at sixteen along came the boyfriend and she went off the rails a bit, which is natural. The parentals were slightly relieved. If she didn't get medicine they could blame it on the boyfriend. Anyway two years later, eighteen years old she still has the boyfriend, she gets medicine and she gets a scholarship to top it all off. Everyone is happy, myself included. She really proved us wrong." Danny smiled at the memory.

"Anyway, two days after high school graduation she's married, moved out and we are all like what the hell!? I was engaged to Rachael at this point. Her husband Casey is a year older than her, an accountant and ten years later they are still married, no kids."

"Whoa that's...a drastic change of events. Did anyone know they were engaged or even planning getting married? Is Casey here in Hawaii too?"

"Nobody knew. That's what hurt me so much. I thought she was trying to get one up on me. I mean she wanted to be a cop but I unintentionally bet her to it. I was engaged to be married, Mom and Dad were making a big deal out of it giving I was the first to do it and she stole my thunder essentially. It was the talk of the family for months. Even Rachael was furious and she was no bridezilla. As with Casey been here, that I do not know, when I done a background check he didn't show up, says he is still in Jersey."

"Trouble in paradise?"

"That's exactly what I said and hope to find out this weekend. I hope not, they're a perfect match, not that I ever said it. I mean eighteen and married Casey and Claire went off to college, communication and visits were sparse at best. They came my wedding and then saw them again when Grace was born but other than that very little contact. Mom and dad were terrible upset by her sudden ex-communication. I was too given we were so close. I was convinced Casey was controlling her so I decided to approach her about it. Thing is, we're very similar. It turned into one screaming row after another. Hurtful things were said on both sides and the last thing she said to me was never to grace her doorstep again because as far as she was concerned I was dead to her after I accused Casey of controlling her."

"When was that? She wasn't serious was she!?"

"Four years ago, before Rachael and I separated. And yeah she was she had me arrested for verbal assault."

"Geez Danny!"

"Well I had her arrested for drink driving so she was only trying to get me back."

"What were you last words to her?" Steve asked carefully.

"I wouldn't ever cross her door again and she would never see Grace again."

"That's harsh man for the two of you I mean. So why she move to Hawaii. Did she know you were here?"

"She started making more contact with mom and dad after that. Mom and dad made the effort to get to know Casey and they have put my fears to rest. Claire is most definitely in control of herself and her career. Dad pointed it out, when Claire sets her mind to something she makes it happen. Mom would have told her I was here and about Stepstan, Rachael and Grace. That poor woman has been trying to rebuild the bridges between us. So not the perfect ideal family you saw over Thanksgiving eh?" Danny finished scrubbing his face with his hands. " A brother on the run from the feds, a sister who has de-zoned me, and ex-wife trying to take my child away and a dog who keeps trying to make a break for it."

Steve stared straight ahead as they sat in silence for a few moments. He was nervous about asking his next question,

"Do you think you two will ever recover from this?"

"We need too. I need to. I have lost too much in my life, I have made so many sacrifices. I just can't..." Danny trailed off.

"Knowing you brah, you'll make it work because you have set your mind to it. I'll see you inside." Steve finished resting his hand on Danny's upper arm for a moment before exiting the car for the office, leaving Danny with his somber thoughts.

"Danny I swear this has to stop!" Kono complained, completely exasperated as she watched her cousin and Steve fall through the door lumbering Danny's mattress. "You're in the double digits, why can't you just settle on a place?"

"Kono my dear when I find a place acceptable in this sand box I will be the first to ket you know!"

"Brah your standards are mainland standards you gotta lower them." Chin gruffed, wiping sweat off his brow, "And why can't you lift your own mattress for a change?"

"Trust me I have seen beautiful and I mean beautiful houses here but none within my price range. Chin I do not possess the upper arm prowess of you and Steve and it's all about efficiency. I know you all hate moving so I'm making it as painless as possible by effectively organizing our team strengths."

"More like dictating." Kono pointed out.

"Now now Kono less of the moaning, you may not be the rookie anymore but that doesn't get you out of the foot work, there are five more boxes."

"Boss why don't you just rent out your couch to him and put us all out of our misery!"

"Kono why don't you just rent him out your spare bedroom?" Steve counter argued as they grabbed the boxes.

"Hey guys lets go already I have to collect Grace, chop chop!" Danny shouted from his condo.

The three looked at each other,

"Nope couldn't live with him!" was said in unison.

Claire glared at the door as she took another sip of red wine, her foot tapping in annoyance. The knocking was incessant. Slamming down the glass spilling some of its contents she crossed the extremely short distance and pulled the door open. Steve stood there mid knock.

"Oh! So you are actually home." he retorted.

"What are you doing here?"

"It's after eight." Steve pointed out tapping on his watch for added emphasis.

"Congratulations you can read time, I'm sure your parents must be real proud."

"I am your taxi." Steve ignored her scanning the apartment behind her. "You going to invite me in?"

Claire stood still still blocking his entrance contemplating her next move.

"Whatever." She sighed allowing him in making a bee-line for her wine.

"Seven months and you're still living out of boxes...must be in the family." Steve commented.

"You wish. Thanks to Daniel...oh and you, thank you by the way, loosing my license meant I had to move to a place closer to work and public transport. I literally moved in two days ago. More importantly, how did you know I lived here?"

"Danny um checked with the um..." Steve waved his hands around, "So you ready?"

Claire stood there with one hand on her hip, eyebrow raised studying Steve for a moment before downing her wine in one gulp. There was no getting out of it now.

"Give me ten minutes."

Steve scanned the small space after Claire disappeared into the bedroom. Nothing was out of boxes so it was sparsely decorated. He took a seat on the couch, he lifted up the bottle of wine and only a quarter remained. He frowned putting it back down and leafing through the books on the coffee table they were all medical journals and textbooks. Finding nothing of interested he resigned to waiting in boredom.

Claire walked into the living area. She was dressed in a royal blue fitted dress with red heels. Her light brown hair was curled and loose softening her facial feature. Her makeup was minimal but she looked vastly different than she did in her work clothes.

"Did he send you?" She asked putting her phone, wallet and lipstick into a small red handbag.

"No, I offered."

"You afraid I would bail on him?"

"He's at the bar already."

"Hmm...right lets go."

"You look good." Steve added as she locked the front door.

"Shut up, you're not getting out of the dog house that easily." Claire snapped back scanning the street and climbing into Steve's truck.

She had to admit if Steve hadn't shown up she would have bailed and given that he was watching her enter the establishment she couldn't help scowl at him, she was loosing her nerve. Taking a few deep breathes she moved on she looked around and spotted Danny out in the open area in the corner, thankfully on his own. She couldn't deal with anymore of his entourage tonight. As she drew closer she was comforted and hurt that he looked equally anxious.

From the corner of his eye he could see someone approaching. Looking up he was relieved to see it was Claire. The butterflies in his stomach kicked up a gear but he tried to ignore them as he rose from the table holding out his arm to greet his baby sister.

"You look stunning Claire."

"Thanks, you look quite smart yourself Daniel." she commented, noting his freshly ironed shirt and clean shaven face.

"Any trouble finding the place?"

"No your personal assistant made sure I got here in a timely fashion. However you should train him in door knocking etiquette."

"At least he knocked. Um what are you having to drink?"

"Red wine. How is Grace? The new apartment?"

Danny hesitated and was about to say something when the barman came to take his order. His silent staring was unnerving her.

"The new apartment is good. Steve and the others helped me move. Grace is great, like always."

"Oh good." Claire frowned as to why he wasn't elaborating.

"How is work?"

"Good, tough but good...I moved into a new place too. But you know that already."

"Yeah well if I had a contact number I would have got it in a civilized manner. How's Casey?" Danny passed off her dig.

"He's good, working hard."

The drinks arrived and Claire grabbed hers taking a large sip as Danny got the round. Silence had descended between the two siblings. Claire was feeling lightheaded, this was one too many wines. She could feel a lump growing in her throat as her eyes misted up.

"This was a mistake." She whispered beginning the rise.

Danny's hand snapped out grabbing her arm with more force than necessary. Her eyes widened in shock as she met his gaze.

"Claire sit down. Talk to me." He meant business.

"Stop running away."

Claire scoffed opening her handbag and pulling out a pack of cigarette's. Waving to the barman she summoned him over,

"A double scotch and whatever he's having."

"A beer thanks."

She ignored his stare as she lit up and took a long drag fiddling with the packet and lighter. Danny's hand covered hers forcing her to meet his ice blue eyes.

"I'm not lecturing or telling you what to do but you think you should ease up on the hard stuff?"

"Duly noted. You want to say your piece about me smoking while you're at it?"

"You're a doctor, I'm sure you're well informed."

"Gee thanks." the tension was getting to an unbearable level.

Danny sat back in his chair. He was extremely upset but was trying his best to keep everything in control. He swallowed the lump in his throat, he did not know this woman who sat before him and he feared really neither did his parents. He would have loved a scotch but he didn't trust himself.

"Why?" Danny started, "Why did you think that I wouldn't want to know you were here? Claire are things that bad between us that you felt like you had to hide from me for all this time?"

"You think that me moving here with the sunshine and the sand would make me forget all those things that you said to me and done were suddenly null and void?"

"It's not that-"

"Then what the fuck is it!?" Claire hissed leaning across the table. "What the fuck do you want from me?"

"I want you to fucking grow up and own up to your mistakes! You have fucking swanned around for the past ten years playing the victim. Playing me against mom and dad. Playing me against Matt and against Casey and I am fucking tired and sick of it!" Danny ushered through gritted teeth, "You need to grow up and take responsibility."

"Take responsibility for what Daniel? For you going around with your snide comments how I stole your thunder, how I upset you by getting married first. How I ruined Rachel's fairytale wedding. How is the bitch anyway? Oh yeah she left you!"

Danny slammed his hand down hard on the table causing Claire to jump but also drawing the attention of nearby patrons. Danny apologized and quickly rounded on his sister.

"Take that fucking back, it was completely uncalled for. You're the fucking immature child that ran off and got married without telling anyone. What do you think was going to happen? You think people, the family were going to welcome you back after such sly deceit? But no you had to do one better you dropped the bombshell and then fucked off to university, not even a hello, goodbye nothing. Mom was inconsolable, dad was raging."

"And you're the fucking golden child? You never left me alone. Threatening me, threatening Casey. You wonder why I ran when I had the chance? But no, no you had to follow me, getting all your cop buddies to hassle me."

"I done that to keep an eye on you, you ran for so long and for so hard you wouldn't turn back because your pride was too much! You only had to fucking turn around but you could never do that could you!? Mom and dad didn't even know you left New Jersey for here till Steve caught you. You had to ring them to let them know before I told them. They are so desperate to have you back that they looked over all the shit over the past ten years. You with your random phone calls to them, leading them on."

"But not you?"

"Claire I want, I need to have you back, this person you've become-"

"You don't get to get me fucking back, who do you think you are? You just can't come back into my life after walking out on it and expect everything to go back to the way it was. This isn't some fictional story Daniel, this is real fucking life. You fucked me over one too many times and I have moved on, it's time you did too so why don't you put that in your pipe and smoke your own advice. I have nothing more to say to you, I'm leaving."

Danny was reeling in anger that he let her go. He grabbed the barman and ordered and double scotch, Mondays be damned. He had gained nothing.

Steve awoke suddenly to his phone ringing. Bearily eyeing the clock it was three in the morning. Grumbling he snuggled closer to Catherine, pulling the phone from under his pillow. It was Danny and he was a drunken emotional mess. Sighing Steve rolled out of bed, threw on a t-shirt, slipping his bare feet into his trainers and rose grabbing his keys and phone. He was still half asleep and half in his pj's but he didn't care. He found Danny staggering down the street from the bar. Pulling up beside him he reached across to open the passenger door and called to him. His partner unsteadily climbed into the truck and Steve helped him with his seat belt. Danny was slurring his words so much that Steve just agreed and continued to drive to Danny's new place. He was getting choked up as he was that upset trying to explain something about Claire. Steve reassured him as best he could as he got him dressed and into bed. He left a basin and towel on the floor incase he vomited and a large glass of water and Advil on the bedside locker.

Steve was making his way back home when his phone rang again. It was some bar man describing Claire to a tee. Sighing he turned his truck and headed back into town. Steve passed his way through the rowdy crowd that the bouncers were trying to dissipate. He found Claire passed out at the bar. He acknowledged the barman and thank him for calling him. The barman returned the calling card Steve had given Claire earlier. Gathering her handbag and discarded heels from the floor he tried to wake her. Dead to the world he picked her up off the bar stool, carried her through the crowd to his truck where it became a balancing act of trying to open the door and get her in.

He gladly pulled up to her apartment and she was thankfully coming around. He opened the passenger door but before helping her out he got her keys from her bag. Half carrying her, half dragging they made it to her door. She made a gargling sound and Steve groaned. He dropped all her stuff and grabbed her hair and held her as she vomited into the bushes. The stench was vile. When she finished he unlocked the door, threw her bag and shoes over the threshold and scooped her up and carried her in. He repeated for Claire what he done for Danny. But for his own health and safety he left her dressed in her royal blue dress. Steve pulled on her front door to make sure it was locked and tiredly headed to his truck. He watched as a car pulled away from the sidewalk and a few taxis passed by.

An hour later after setting off Steve was snug beside Catherine once again.

It was the early hours of Monday morning and Steve hated Mondays. He already knew he was in for a bitch of a one.