Chapter 20
Danny found Gage in front of the hotel, a couple females had him cornered. He could see the way the women fawned around him and the smile that must have melted any reserve they'd have. He touched his horn and waved. Gage made his goodbyes and hopped into the convertible.
"This is one maikai ride!" he said as he looked over the bright yellow Mustang. "I guess Hawaiian cops get better transportation allowances than their Los Angelenos counterparts!"
"This is my car, not the department's," Danny grinned. "The PD tends to big black sedans. Not my style!" He turned down the highway and headed for the restaurant. They easily slipped into a conversation about surfing.
x x x x x x x x x
"Uhm, I hate to sound worried," Kenta began as he finished putting dried dishes away, "but what do you think will happen with Dr. Hu?" Roy gave his disarming smile.
"It could play out a couple ways," he said. "But I think it'll just be pushed under the rug. There's no wrong-doing on our part but I don't see Hu ever apologizing either."
"I just want some closure," Pete muttered as he poured out a glass of iced tea.
"Yups," agreed Kenta. "It feels like I'm waitin' for the other shoe to drop."
"Don't be surprised if nothing comes of it," Roy said holding out a glass to get some tea. Before they could sit down the tones went off.
"Station 14, structure fire, 6238 Kinau Street. 62-38 Kinau. Cross street, Piikoi. Time out, 13:50," dispatch relayed.
"Station 14, 10-4," Lopez answered. Soon they were on the road making cars skitter off to the right. The smoke hung thick in the air over the strip mall. The engine slowed by a hydrant, Koga, a linesman, jumped out and latched onto a hose, quickly getting it hooked up to the water supply.
When the squad drew up by the fire They saw a man waving to them. A second man was on the ground looking over several prone bodies.
"Hey, guys!" a curly-haired business man called. "We did a sweep. No one else in the building according to the supervisor."
"We got a couple injuries," the second man called without looking up.
"Johnny?" Roy grabbed the drug box and oxygen. "You're suppose to be resting!"
"Sorry," he said without remorse. Soon he was relaying vitals to the 14s paramedics.
"Castle ER, this is squad 14," Kenta called in.
"Squad 14, this is Castle," Dr. Hu answered promptly. "Go ahead."
"We have three victims of a structure fire," he proceeded and detailed each victim carefully, answering clarifying questions. He did not suggest treatment although he did say that they had started oxygen and were treating burns with normal saline and sterile sheeting.
Hu was quick to order IVs as well as morphine for pain. Though still somewhat terse, it was a far cry from the rudeness of earlier that day. Soon two ambulances arrived and the victims packed up to go.
"You think you could stay out of trouble the rest of the day, Junior?" Roy teased as shook Danny Williams' hand.
"ME? I don't cause the trouble!" Johnny splayed his hand over his chest in mock shock.
"You don't cause it, but you're a magnet!" Roy shot back. "Hey, watch him for me, Detective!"
"I'll do that," Dan promised. This was about the time Hank Stanley noted his junior paramedic was over at the triage area.
"GAGE! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" the captain's voice carried over the noise of the fire and water.
"Oh, sh..t" Johnny ducked quickly. "Boss!" Stanley walked over to his paramedic team.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Uh, I was going to lunch with Detective Williams," he said.
"You were suppose to be resting back at the hotel!" Hank said. "Emily was going to watch you!"
"She did! She stocked my fridge and everything!" Johnny protested. "Danny called and offered me lunch. I couldn't turn down lunch!" Hank held Johnny's stare for a long moment. Then he finally gave a small smile.
"Lunch, for you, would be good," he finally relented. "Might be a bit pricey for Detective Williams. But you'd better be all rested for Saturday's gathering!"
"Yes sir!" Johnny actually saluted as he moved closer to the detective. Hank simply reached over and gave Gage a quick half-hug and patted him on the shoulder.
"Be careful, John," he said as he turned back towards the fire.
"So, where is this restaurant?" Gage asked as he turned towards his new friend. Jerking his head towards the opposite side of the street they left the scene. There were enough fire fighters and police to keep it safe.
Danno thought about the gruff concern he just witnessed. Their relationships were more like Kono and his. The big Hawaiian was never concerned about masculinity issues, hugging and touching his friends. He decided that as dangerous as the firefighter's work was certain liberties could be taken.
Mings was a small restaurant nestled in between a shoe store and a dry cleaners. The small woman who greeted Danny by name had her greying hair neatly tucked up with chopsticks to anchor it. She wore a brocaded dark silk kimono.
"Ah, Mrs. Shen," Danny bowed to her. "Beautiful as always." Her smile dimpled her cheeks as she nearly giggled.
"Always the tease," she patted him on the arm. "You bring me another big eater?"
"Yes, in fact, I have," Williams said. "This is my friend, Johnny Gage. He's a paramedic/fire fighter out of Los Angeles."
Yet another smile lit up the woman's face. "Ah, I have read much about paramedics! All over the newspapers," she wagged her finger at him. "You have caused much upset in Honolulu!" She waved them towards a table near the kitchen.
"Those lolo kamaaina!" she giggled through her pigeon. "I see paramedics in San Francisco. I was visiting my sister. Her husband, he collapse and the paramedics came and took care of him. More people need to know how good program is!"
"I totally agree!" Danny patted her shoulder as he slid into his chair. Johnny gave her his best crooked grin.
"Oh, this one much better looking," she gave Danny a sly look. "May have to adopt. Need good-looking boy!"
"Mrs. Shen!" Williams pretended to be horrified. "I am your good-looking boy!" She pretended to consider the two of them.
"Maybe I need two," she teased.
"That's fine by me," Johnny finally got a word in. "I can always use another bruddah!" With a smile Mrs. Shen excused herself.
"So, do we order? Or is it cook's choice?" Gage asked noting the lack of menus.
"Mr. Shen enjoys being creative," Danny shrugged. "Never had anything bad here. And it's all cooked!" This caused the paramedic to chuckle. They settled back and talked about various beaches they'd surfed at.
"You know, we may be able to sneak around to the North Shore and catch a couple curls before the competitors get over there," Danny suggested. "What are your days off next week?"
Johnny pulled out his wallet and found the schedule. "Hmmm, next week, Monday, Thursday and Friday. Guys want to go to Pearl Harbor, probably Thursday."
"I have Friday scheduled off," Danny said. "We could leave really early... oh damn! My boss!" Johnny looked up and saw a dark haired man in a business suit come to the door and look inside.
"We can't talk about surfing around him!" Did Williams look a little concerned?
"O - K," Johnny said. "But I expect an explanation later."
"Mahalo!" he turned to face the door, tooling a bright smile on his face. "Hey Steve, what's up?"
"Danno," Steve smiled, his eyes looking over the young man seated across from his second.
"Steve, this is John Gage," Danny said, "Johnny, Steve McGarrett." He left off all titles to try to keep the conversation light.
"Ah, yes, John Gage," the older man accepted a hand shake before he sat down. "You were at Punnies last night."
"Yups," Gage replied. "Definitely not my type of bar. I was very glad to see the calvary come through the door."
"Saw the initial reports," he turned over his tea cup and nudged the pot. "Pretty good with a pool cue."
"Never could shoot," Gage admitted with a self-effacing grin. "But swinging a bat..." he saluted with his own cup before he took a sip.
"Ah, Mr. McGarrett! Mr. Williams not say you were coming," Mrs. Shen returned with a steaming plate of various appetizers.
"Mr. Williams did not know I was coming," he smiled politely. Looking at the table she noted her 'adopted boy's' body language was slightly defensive. It seemed that the boss was not welcome but Danny would never say anything. She further noted that her soon to be adopted son was still relaxed but had scooted his chair a little closer to Williams, a protective move if she ever saw one.
"Mr. Shen happy to cook for you," she said with a bow.
"Saw the fire across the street," Steve didn't miss a beat. "Surprised you aren't over there helping.
"We started there," Johnny said. "Pulled out a couple victims. Dan controlled the crowd until the PD showed up. The 14s paramedics took over treatment so we left."
"I figured it was covered," Danny shrugged. "Certainly didn't need 5-0 taking over the investigation."
"You got that right!" Steve smiled, more friendly now. He turned back towards Johnny. Dan stiffened as the smile turned predatory.
"Surprised to see you out and about after last night," he said. "Been my experience that victims of a hate crime usually stick close to home." Gage matched his smile with a sardonic one of his own.
"I have lived through a lifetime of hate, Mr. McGarrett," he said smoothly. "And, if you haven't noticed, I am lunching with the number two cop in the Islands." The voice was soft, assured and the brown eyes bore into Steve's.
This was not a 'normal' crime victim. The gaze that pierced him held no animosity, just calm with an undertone of deep sadness. Those eyes, he'd seen those eyes before. Unbidden, the memory of his grandfather surfaced. Old eyes full of the memories of the potato famine, the trans-atlantic trip and the horrid conditions he'd lived in as an immigrant. Eyes that had seen great oppression.
Steve pulled himself up and shook himself slightly. Why was he being so rude to this man? Just because he didn't like the new program the state legislature had created didn't mean he should take it out on Gage.
"So, what were the number two cop and the top paramedic of Los Angeles talking about before the lolo boss walked in to intimidate them?" Steve said by way of an apology. He was rewarded by a lop-sided smile and a mischievous twinkle.
"Just how the top cop in the Islands was able to keep his hair perfect even in a hurricane," Johnny replied. A look of horror passed over his aikane face. Steve had to laugh.
"That is a state secret!" he said with a huge grin. Danny calmed down and laughed along with the paramedic.
"Danny was just telling me some good places to visit," Gage began smoothly. "I haven't been to the islands for quite a while but I'm not too interested in the cheesy tourist spots."
"Well, I would still suggest Pearl Harbor," Steve said. "They've redone a couple exhibits." Soon the three men were discussing all that Oahu had to offer.
x x x x x x x x
Pete shifted from one foot to the other as he waited for Dr. Hu to dismiss him. She hadn't been rude, but she wasn't welcoming, either! He was very thankful when Roy stuck his head in and asked if he was available. Hu nodded and he beat a hasty retreat out the door.
If they'd been at Rampart the men would be sipping coffee at the nurses' station. As it was, Kenta was resupplying the box with the disgruntled help of the head nurse, Karina. She certainly didn't make them feel welcome!
"Squad 14, what is your status?" the ht came to life.
"Squad 14, available," Kenta answered smoothly.
"Stand by, Squad 14," the reply came.
"Guess you were right, Roy," Pete said as they turned to leave. "Swept under the carpet."
"You should see some changes, but the attitudes will still suck," he said seriously. "It takes time for acceptance."
The call sent them down to the beach to assist a 'down man' call. This time it was a possible heart attack as the portly, normally sedentary, man had gone out paddling with half a dozen other tourists on an outrigger canoe.
Once again Dr. Hu handled the biophone, curt orders for IV and meds. Same icy reception at Castle. But the patient was safe and the treatment from the paramedics definitely saved his life. It was well after five when they returned to the station.
"Man, I am hungry!" Kenta complained as he sauntered into the kitchen. He began to reach for the cupboard door, but stopped. Maybe Pete could get the cups.
Pete followed Roy into the kitchen and plopped down at the table. Cap Lopez chose this moment to come into the room.
"You bruddahs look thirsty!" he said as he crossed the kitchen and opened the cupboard door.
"TANAKA!" the yell shook the room. Easily a 4.5 on the richter scale. The engineer came in on the run, actually sliding on the linoleum as she burst through the door. The sight of the normally staid, placid captain covered in flour caused her to laugh. As the rest of the men assembled they looked from the simmering captain to the hysterical engineer, unsure of how to react.
Roy was quietly snickering as he approached the cupboard and snagged a glass. Hank settled against the door jamb waiting for the next volley. He knew what he'd do, but this wasn't his station or his men.
"Vacuum cleaner works well, Cap," he said quietly. "Brush out your hair before you wash it." He then went to the fridge and poured out a glass of juice. Lopez stood a long moment staring at his incorrigible engineer.
"Tanaka, get the vacuum," he growled. "NOW!"
"Yes, sir, captain sir!" Tanaka snapped a salute and walked out still laughing. Koga and Levine slipped out next and more laughter could be heard. Kenta looked over his captain as he reached around for two more glasses.
"You do look... funny, sir," he tried not to smile but lost out, turning away with a snicker. Lopez just stood there looking across the room at his visitor. Hank was grinning, his eyes glinting. That did it. The Hawaiian captain finally started to laugh.
"Look at it this way, Brian," Hank smirked. "Now you'll know how you'll look with grey hair."
"And Tanaka will give me every single one!" he retorted.
x x x x x x x x
Johnny waved goodbye to Danny. He carried a sack of take-away courtesy of the Shens and McGarrett's wallet. Even though the head of 5-0 admitted he didn't agree with the paramedic program, he was interesting to talk with. Fortunately Danny calmed down as the meal progressed and on the ride back sheepishly admitted his boss didn't like him surfing the big waves.
"How often do you get hurt?" Gage asked. Danny smirked.
"Only once when I was riding the waves on my day off," he admitted. "Dislocated shoulder and plenty of bruises and cuts. But I've been hurt on the job quite a few times and Steve worries.
"Hey, he's your boss and your best friend," Johnny said. "He probably wears a rut in the floor at the hospital every time you're hurt."
"You got that right!" Danny agreed. "And I do the same thing when he's hurt. Police work is a dangerous business. Of course, your line of work ain't too safe, either, bruddah!" Johnny laughed.
"Yups!" he smiled.
