Merry Christmas! Happy New Years!

Chapter 29

By lunch Steve had relaxed enough he decided to remain a few more hours with Kono. He watched his 2IC grinning as he came out of the surf with the rest of his friends. Mike's wife, Beth, had the coolers open and was getting lunch set up.

There seemed to be more people than just Danny's friends coming around. A couple of women came to help Beth and some of the larger men easily carrying picnic tables near by.

"Hey, Johnny!" a huge, grinning Samoan waved at the rail-thin paramedic.

"Manny! What brings you here?" Gage looked in disbelief at the fireman and some of his crew mates. Capt. Hoku grabbed his board with a matching grin.

"Heard there was a surfing party going down," the older man said. "And me and Manny can't miss that!" He sidled closer to Gage and whispered, "Introduce Lizzy to him before he busts a gut." With a genuine smile he pulled his sister to his side and went over to introduce her to the now bashful engineer.

It was something like a reception line at first, everyone wanted to meet Lizzy and many wanted to meet Johnny as well. McGarrett was used to the public wanting to meet him, used to the awe his position brought. Before he could get up Kono put a hand on his shoulder.

"Boss, they're here for da surfers," he chided. A hint of a flush filtered across the older man's face as he watched his 2IC swept up into the greetings. He finally had to laugh at his own hubris.

"You'd think I had an over-inflated ego!" he growled at Kono who had joined him in the laugh.

"Eh, you jus' haven't been around this bunch," the affable man smiled. "Surfers have their own culture. They're sorta like our rock stars or football heros." They heard laughter from the small crowd and turned to see the paramedic holding a little boy. Something had been said and the child was giggling happily.

"Ok, when you put it that way I can understand," Steve allowed. "You know I've been against Danno surfing since day one. It just seems so dangerous!"

"Well, if you're surfing during the heavy swells, it certainly can be," a new voice popped in and Capt. Hoku joined the two men, sitting on the sand with a can of soda.

"And there are certain beaches where you have to know the currents," he added. "But any surfer worth his salt knows the beaches backward and forward. Your Danny has surfed all his life. He knows the spots to avoid and which seasons are best. It was a shame when he fell out of the amateur competitions. The bruddah can ride."

Steve looked at the man sitting casually before him. He considered his words.

"Some of those competitions are in the heavy swells," he pointed out. "Danny dislocated a shoulder out there!" Hoku shrugged.

"I seem to recollect that it wasn't entirely his fault," the captain commented. "I also seem to recollect him being shot several times, in various car crashes and beaten through no fault of his own. Sorry, bruddah, but bad stuff can happen anywhere. Just doesn't seem right to keep someone from something he loves." That certainly gave McGarrett something to think on!

"Hey, Kono!" Danny called over. "Want something to pound? Got some ono poke!"

"You bet, bruddah! Pile it on!" he waved happily over at his friend.

"Come on, Mr. McGarrett, you'll have to get your own plate," Hoku stood up and offered his hand. "It's worth it, some good kau kau der!" Together the two made their way over to the impromptu food line that had formed. The fire captain was right! Steve was impressed by the spread available.

As he filled his plate he glanced over at his second as he bumped fists with another man and accepted a scoop of macaroni salad for Kono. A second plate was similarly treated as he moved down the table. He noted how at ease the younger man was, relaxed and totally in his element. He was always wound a little tighter at work and he couldn't recall many times he'd been so relaxed hanging with Steve.

Was it fair to deny surfing to his friend? Hoku had a point, his job was dangerous. He looked over at the paramedic and the firemen who were lounging and eating. These men also had dangerous jobs. How many were hurt each year? And yet they were out there on a piece of wood hurled by the waves.

Personally Steve preferred running and sailing. He thought about his small boat and the feeling of peace he felt out on the water. But even that sport wasn't without its dangers. He always checked the weather reports before he went out. If it looked too rough he stayed at the dock.

Could Danny make those decisions, too? Decide which beaches to surf at and when to surf? The younger man had told him he'd only broken one arm in all his surfing career. Maybe he was being a little too harsh banning his 2IC from surfing competitions.

"Better watch out, Steve," Gage commented as he moved up closer and reached out to push his hair. "The wind is mussing with your style."

"How many times have you been hurt surfing?" Steve suddenly asked, the intensity catching Johnny off-guard.

"Hurt? You mean bruises and scrapes or the really bad stuff?" he countered.

"Bad stuff," Steve said tersely as they moved towards an empty table.

"I broke a couple fingers back when I started out," he said. "Took a wave wrong and hit the board. One concussion over here on the island when another surfer cut me off and his board hit me in the head. Other than that, some scrapes, none required stitches. Assorted bruises."

"You get hurt on the job?" Steve pursued.

"Uh, yeah," Gage nodded. "Got hit by a car after a call. Broke my leg and torqued my back. Been caught in several collapsed buildings with an assortment of concussions and broken limbs. Squad's been hit and that caused several cuts and contusions and, surprise surprise, concussions. Been shot, twice; kidnapped and left to die in a basement. Nose broken by an irate father. I really don't like thinkin on it." His face had darkened and turned gloomy.

"Why surf? It's dangerous!" Steve countered.

"My way of thinkin two broken fingers and a concussion in 15 years compared to all that stuff on the job in 8 years? Surfing is very relaxing. It's like a running high when you get into the groove. Your body just melds into the wave and you're flying. One of the best feelings in the world," Gage concluded. He pushed food around his plate.

"Damn it!" McGarrett said. "I've done it again! I keep going at you like you're some criminal! I'm sorry. I just want to understand Danny better and he tends to clam up when I talk with him about surfing."

"Your his boss and his closest friend," Gage pointed out. "He doesn't want to disappoint you. I see the trust in his eyes. He'll follow you through hell." Steve squirmed.

"I just don't want him to get hurt," he admitted. "At least on the job I feel like I can protect him. Out there," he gestured at the surf, "I can't."

"You have the illusion of protecting him," Johnny pointed out. "Given my own track record I'm much safer on the waves than in the squad. I'm betting the same goes for Danny."

"Yeah, I see that now," McGarrett agreed. "And I'm really sorry I'm being such a pain. This is your day off!"

"No big," Johnny shrugged and took a bite of saimen noodles. As he munched the small boy he'd held earlier was by him smiling shyly. Gage swallowed before turning a bright grin at the toddler.

"Hey, nohea keiki!" he said.

"Mama said yes," he grinned.

"She did? Well maybe Steve will watch my plate," he said as he picked up the child. A woman hurried up to them.

"Awue!" she blurted out. "Kimo! Let Johnny eat!" Danny came up carrying a loaded plate.

"Hey, bruddah, what gives?" he asked.

"I promised Kimo here a ride on my board," Johnny said. "Mind watching my plate with Steve?"

"No problem!" Danny agreed. The mother fussed a little but after a charming smile from the paramedic they headed off down to the water.

Steve watched with interest. How could the man balance with a squirming three year old? He noted the cameras coming out as the 'minor legend' picked up his board while he held the child in the other.

"It's not really dangerous, Steve," Danny observed as he settled on the bench. "He won't go out far. Plus Kimo knows how to swim. Did you see a couple other guys went out with them? They'll keep close watch. Kid's gonna fly."

McGarrett watched as Johnny moved out until the water was just to his chest. Kimo was put on the board and the paramedic lie on his stomach paddling them out a little further. It was apparent that he was coaching the boy on what to do.

Then a wave broke and came rushing in. At just the right moment Gage was up on his feet balancing the board as the little boy squealed in excitement, his arms extended. He really looked as if he could sail off into the air.

Johnny brought the boy out a half dozen times. Each time he easily rode the board back in with the child safely in front of him. On the last ride in Gage gently tipped the board so they both fell into the water.

He could see the man catching the boy easily and throwing him up into the air as his board floated ahead to the sand and waiting parents. It seemed Johnny's stomach must be growling because Kimo leaned over to pat his friends tummy. Another toss into the air and then the boy was given to a very appreciative mom.

Once more his board was handled by one of the firemen and a towel was offered. A ready grin and thank you and soon Gage was reunited with his food.

"Aurite, bro!" Danny bumped fists. "Kid's gonna remember that for ever!"

"His dad's taken him out before," he shrugged as if it were no big deal.

"He has," one of the firemen, Kurt, came up. "But not like that! We just thought you were gonna hold him."

"Eh, he's light enough to balance," Gage said as he took another bite of fruit.

"Yeah, you just tell yourself dat, malihini!" Kurt smirked. "Here, da wife sent this over for you. Her own creation, pork and pineapple. Think it's pretty ono."

"Thanks, bro!" Gage grinned. "I can eat!" He happily applied himself to his food. Danny went back to snag some more; Steve joined him.

"This is pretty impressive," Steve commented as he determined which foods to sample next.

"Yeah, I love spontaneous potlucks," Williams grinned. "Used to do this a lot back in the day. Everyone just puts everything together."

"I feel like I've missed a whole part of island life I never knew existed," McGarrett added.

"Well, maybe," the younger man shrugged. "I guess it's a surfer thing over here. Sometimes they're planned out, other times not." He reached over for a handful of chips. Then a new soda from a cooler. They returned to their table; Mike and Beth had joined Johnny with their daughter.

"Hey, John," Steve started, "do you have these type of gatherings over on the mainland?"

"Uh, yeah, I remember back when I was on the surfing scene we'd potluck," he answered.

"We do a lot of potlucks with the station, too," Mike added. "The wives are great!"

"We have a potluck a couple times a month," Beth said. "Roy, Johnny's partner, has a big back yard. So does Capt. Stanley. And one of the doctors at Rampart, Joe Early, opens his house and yard for gatherings."

"It's pretty laid back, with all the kids together to play and all our friends to talk with," Mike continued. "Of course, in our own yards we have slightly more adult beverages." There was a smirk and snicker from Beth and Gage.

"Hmm, sounds like Danno and I on the boat on occasion," Steve mused.

"Yeah, but we cheat and bring take-out," Williams smiled. "Most of the time we don't get away from the dock!"

Lizzy chose this moment to come up to the table and bump her brother over. She set down her plate and drink then scootched in.

"Hey sis! Like the kau kau?" Gage asked.

"It's maikai!" she responded. "I forgot just how much fun you and your brothers bring together."

"Firefighters do everything better!" he teased her.

"You got that right, bruddah!" Danny piped up. "This is a fine day!"

"I heard there's a competition coming up," Steve innocently asked.

"Eh, not a big one," Lizzy shrugged. "More like a warm-up for the season. It's been pretty flat over in the southland and the waves have been decent on the islands. My sponsors decided to have us come over here. They're also hosting an amateur competition."

"Really?" Steve looked over at his 2IC, who was busily looking anywhere else but at his friend. "Is it too late to enter?"

"Naw, signups go til next Wednesday," she said. "Amateurs go Thursday and Friday, pros on Saturday and Sunday. Johnny's working so he can't come."

"So 'kay," Gage said. "I'm fine with that."

"You have a couple days coming, Danno," Steve suddenly said. "Maybe you should sign up for the amateurs. We've pretty much cleaned up the office and we're looking at cold cases next week." At the sound of his name the younger man looked up. The shock on his face caused Steve to quirk his eyebrow.

"What?" the older man said. "You enjoy surfing. I don't know much about it, but you seem to be holding your own out there."

"Yeah, Danny, you really carve a wave!" Lizzy said with a bright smile. "Come on, I'll cheer for you!" The warmth in the pretty brunette's voice caused the man to blush. Johnny gently elbowed him.

"Hey, with Lizzy cheering you'll do well!" he added.

"I, uh, you said," Danny stumbled over his words. His friend leaned over the table and patted his hand.

"I have had time to think over the restrictions I placed on you, Danno," he admitted. "I still don't want you to go out on those monster waves, but this is safer than most days at the office. Sign up for it! Kono would love to come and cheer for you, too!"

The smile that flooded the younger man's face nearly overwhelmed Steve.

"Aurite!" Danno nearly crowed. The table chuckled at his unbridled happiness.

"Better make the second day rounds, bro," Johnny said as he started loading his fork once more. "I have Friday off and I expect to be able to cheer for you, too!"

Danny just smiled more and met Steve's eyes.

"Thanks, kaikua'ana!" he said softly.

tranlations:

pound - eat, especially eat a lot of food!

ono - very tasty, delicious

poke - raw fish mixed with veggies and seasonings; think cerviche

kau-kau - food

nohea keiki - sweet little child

malihini - stranger, visitor

aurite - woo hoo! yippie!

maikai - fine, great

kaikua'ana - big brother