Chapter 28

Friday dawned clear and beautiful. Surfboards were piled onto the top of a mini-van borrowed for the trip. Johnny happily slipped into the front seat and buckled up. Lizzy took up residence in the back with Mike and Beth. Becky was relegated to the far back seat with a cooler full of food.

Gage noted the frown on Williams' face as he buckled up and turned on the engine.

"What gives?" he asked. Instead of a reply the disgruntled man pointed to a bright yellow convertible. HIS bright yellow convertible. Behind that wheel was one Steve McGarrett. Next to him was a happily smiling Kono.

"He's out already?" Johnny asked doubtfully.

"Yeah," mourned Danny. "Doc said he had to take it easy. Steve figured sitting in a lounge on the beach should be easy enough"

"We-ell, I suppose so," the dark-haired paramedic said.

"And since you're going to be there, Doc sent along a few things to monitor his vitals," he glumly added. Johnny thought a long moment.

"Hey! How did he find out you were going to the beach?" he asked.

"Your friend, Brackett," Danny responded. "Guess he was talkin' about how the 5-0 detectives have worse schedules than him and the fire department and it just came out."

"Ai yah, I'm sorry!" Gage looked thoroughly contrite. "Are you gonna be able to surf?"

"Yups," Danny pulled the car out onto the street and drove towards the highway. "It was a little tense, Steve really doesn't like me surfing at all and North Shore has quite the reputation."

"You explained that the surf is down right now?" he pursued.

"Yeah, and Kono supported me," Williams glanced into the rear view mirror and grimaced at the yellow car. "So the boss decided they should take the morning off and watch us. Seems that there's a rumor going 'round about some maikai surfers are gonna show up today." He glanced sideways at the paramedic.

"Maybe they heard Lizzy was going out today," Johnny said totally missing the point.

Danny didn't have the heart to tell him Lizzy wasn't even mentioned. Johnny Gage was the maikai surfer buzzing on the coconut wireless.

The ride around the island was peaceful. Traffic wasn't too heavy and the views were spectacular. Danny actually felt himself relax and discuss some moves they could try to do in concert, sharing waves. They discussed the mechanics of some of the tricks they'd learned. He even stopped grimacing when he'd check the rear view mirror and catch sight of a grumpy McGarrett.

It was just after 8 am when they pulled off the road into a parking area. There seemed to be quite a few cars, a little more than normal for the time and season, but Danny found a good spot that allowed the yellow Mustang to pull in along side.

"Hey, Kono!" Johnny hopped out of the van and exchanged a shaka, slide and bump. "What's up?"

"Just hangin' loose!" the affable man smiled.

"Sorry you won't be joining us," the paramedic said as he helped the recovering man out of the mustang.

"No big, bro," he grinned. "I brought the good camera and plenty of film. Gonna shoot you and Danny for my collection!" Johnny grinned bashfully. He didn't like being the center of attention.

"Aurite," he said playfully. "Let's get you settled first!" The paramedic offered a hand to the huge police officer and helped him out of the car.

Steve was wrestling a lounge out of the trunk of the mustang, growling the entire time. Danny elected to grab towels and the bag Bergman had packed, trotting immediately after Kono and Johnny.

Soon the boards, towels and accoutrements were heaped around a grinning Kono. He lapped up the attention like a thirsty tourist on Waikiki Beach. Johnny catered to him, taking blood pressure, respiration and pulse, recording the information in the small spiral book that was tucked in with the gear.

"Well, Kono, I think you're gonna make it," Gage gave his trademark lopsided grin. "You just sit here and keep hydrated. I'll go down and make sure those waves behave!"

"You got it, bro!" the big man returned the grin. McGarrett settled himself gingerly in a chair next to him. He was NOT happy with his 2IC! Sure, those waves weren't that big, but he didn't want Danny to get complacent and try the bigger waves later. One bad wipeout had instilled enough fear in his heart, a fear that could be eradicated if the younger man would just stop participating in the dangerous sport!

Johnny, Lizzy, Danny and Mike were soon out on the water lined up for their turns on the waves. There were a dozen or so riders out waiting on a good break.

The first couple rides were tame, just feeling out the surf. Kono viewed their moves through the lens, taking a few pictures. Steve was on alert, checking out the surroundings, scanning for problems.

"Hey, boss! You gonna go pupule!" he chastised. "Jus' buckaloose!" Steve glared at his detective but refrained from commenting. Kono was recuperating! He opted to settle back in his chair and assume a more defensive position.

"Just seems that there are a lot of cameras out here today," he growled softly.

"'course there are!" his companion chuckled. "Johnny Gage is riding the waves again. He's a minor legend!" Steve just rolled his eyes. Finally he turned his attention to the waves and the surfers.

Danny had just caught the front side and was working back and forth. He played a bit, running up to the lip and back down before pulling out. Lizzy dropped in on the next wave, cutting harshly sending spray. Steve started to relax as it was quite apparent the waves weren't too large and the surfers were competent.

He and Kono were enjoying watching Gage snap up a wave and begin a serious dance when another surfer suddenly caught the same curl and spiked Johnny's board causing him to fall off.

"What the heck was that all about?" Steve asked. He might not know a lot about surfing, but he did know about pushing people out of the sand box!

"That lolo is the same guy who hassled Danny at some of the surfing contests before he gave it up," Kono replied. "Dirk. Real tantaran! He likes to muscle people out of the way." Hearing some grumbles, both 5-0 men realized that the crowd around them had grown a bit and they were not happy with the moves the pushy surfer had used.

"Hey, looks like Williams' is gonna take care of the idiot," a woman with a long lens camera said near them.

In fact, Danny was now engaged in an agitated discussion with Dirk. It was very clear to everyone that the big, hulking kamaaina wasn't impressed as he flipped his finger towards the group of surfers.

It was tense. Each surfer took a turn as the waves presented but as soon as Johnny was up Dirk once more grabbed the same wave and began dogging him. More nimble, the paramedic surfed around the man and was soon behind him.

This pissed Dirk off even more. Again he cut sharply and tried to dislodge Johnny and once more the agile surfer danced out of the way. Steve did NOT like watching the game of chicken being played out before him.

Neither did the majority of the crowd watching. As the wave played out both surfers were in the shallows. McGarrett was about to go have words with the renegade surfer but was stopped by an equally angry group of seven men who had waded into the water and surrounded him. Johnny was surprised.

"Hey, Kurt? Jeff? Capt. Kaiwi?" the sumo-duo from 32-B and their captain had blocked off Dirk.

"Hey, bro!" Kaiwi answered. "You go on back and ride. We'll take it from here." With a shrug the paramedic elected to leave the jerk to the crew.

"What you're beef?" Dirk blustered, not really liking the odds of seven to one.

"No make! You're givin' the ohana a bad rap!" Jeff ground out. "Ain't your kuleana to take over the waves from a bro!"

"That piece of crap surfer?" Dirk responded hotly. "Tinks he's so maikai! I'm mo' bettah than that haole! He got no right surfin' with Lizzy!"

"I think you've surfed enough for the day, Dirk," Capt. Kaiwi said, slowly and forcefully. When the surfer started to argue the loose circle of men tightened around him. That was all it took for the brazen man to back down, sufficiently cowed.

"I tink you'd like to sit this set out, bruddah," another equally large man said. "You can meet my lady." Whether Dirk wanted to or not was no longer the question. His board was taken from him and a burst of applause broke out as he was led, shame-faced, back to the sand and the spectators.

McGarrett was duly impressed and said as much to Kono.

"The bruddahs won't put up with that pilikia," the dectective started. "I mean they won't put up with that stuff." Steve figured it meant a little more than "stuff" and grinned.

The beach spectators settled down and enjoyed the surfing 'exhibition' that was being played out in front of them. If Gage thought it strange that so many people were out on a Friday, with cameras to boot! He didn't comment on it, mentally chalking it up to Lizzy's presence.

Notes: So, some people asked for translations! Here ya go, bro!

aurite - ok

beef - problem (what's yo' beef?)

Jus' buckaloose! - relax! calm down!

kamaaina - Hawaii native

kuleana - one's right to do something

lolo - idiot, jerk

maika - fine, excellent

no make – stop it!

pilikia - trouble

pupule - crazy

spike - to ram or hit another board/surfer

tantaran - show-off