I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: This would have been up last night if not for a server failure on the FF site. I lost some text and then got tired of waiting to re-massage it all! But here we go.

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Chapter 15

FBI Agent Marcus was astonishingly correct - the game would go on as planned. Frank Curtis had no idea how well the FBI knew him. He had no idea how well they were preparing to take him down later that night, along with his very special clients. Had he known though, he still may not have canceled his plans because he was simply that brazen.

Over-confident to a severe fault, Frank had adapted as anticipated after losing his chance at kidnapping Kasey Pearce. He drew the line at attempting again at Tripler Army Medical Center. So he adapted with an amazing alacrity and was ready to continue with his special event. With the airport now open, he had arranged for a few more of his most trusted employees to assist in the latest venture. Just a few, not too many as to draw more attention.

Though he had adapted well, his humor was foul because he still didn't appreciate being thwarted by lazy Hawaiian cops he had evidently misjudged. Frank glared almost angrily at the pretty teenager who sat stupidly across from him in the hotel penthouse suite. Before she could sense his frustration, he had turned back to the windows overlooking the distant ocean. She had been easily duped into following him up to his room from the local coffee shop. Without Kasey Pearce, she would have to do and he'd sent one of his men down to the lavish hotel store to find more suitable attire for the fifteen year old.

Schooling his features, Frank turned to face her with what seemed to be a genuine, fatherly smile. "I'd like to take you to a very special party tonight."

He snorted to himself as an ignorant smile lit up her pretty features. She was already on the streets, but not street-smart even though she was hanging with unsavory characters. She had surprisingly propositioned him at a most opportune moment when he desperately needed an option. Even though Frank could almost smell the drugs on her, their meeting was his divine providence. She would clean up nicely and be a suitable substitution to fit into his plan with a startling ease. It wasn't what he had originally wanted nor intended, and he was offended by having lost his opportunity to put an end to Joanna Pearce and her brat legacy. However he needed to move on in order to focus on the quality of the event for his clients. This new teenager at least provided the impetus for his new focus and with much less fuss.

It was still early in the day but he was hungry himself as he handed the girl the hotel room service menu. "Pick out whatever you'd like to have. Anything at all. My treat, dear."

He watched as she crossed her legs almost seductively and grinned to show cute dimples; maybe she would be a better pick after all. Frank smiled at her again as he sat down across from her in one of the large suite's comfortable side chairs. He judged her profile and long legs that promised to be shapely one day. Moving to her hair, he wondered if she knew how to wear the long black curls in a more stylish manner to show off what would one day be a lovely neckline.

"Incredible." Frank whispered to himself before he smiled warmly at her which prompted another free show of her deep dimples and happily naïve blue eyes. He entirely approved and she blushed sweetly as he almost rudely held her gaze.

"Did you want to do anything now, Frank?" His sharply barked laugh at her hesitant, flirty attempt intimidated her and she immediately lost her smile. Holding his hand up as if to apologize, Frank shook his head and tried not appear as if he were making fun of her.

"No. Not yet. There will be plenty of time for that later." His mellow answer only slightly made her feel better and he could sense her growing embarrassment about being rejected. Leaning back casually in the chair, Frank tented his fingers and offered her another soothing smile.

"Go ahead, you must be hungry. Pick out something to eat." She frowned briefly before returning to the menu. Watching her closely, Frank rested his chin on this folded hands before asking her another important question. He snapped his fingers to call her attention back to his face.

"By the way, honey, what was your name again?"

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It was just after dawn by the time Doctor Ramirez lessened the level of sedation running into Danny's system. An hour after that, he began to show signs of waking by the uncomfortable scrunching of his brow and restless hand movements. When his left hand suddenly seemed strong enough to blindly try and remove the cumbersome mask, Steve intercepted him easily enough. The tubing was larger than a regular oxygen mask and that alone was almost daunting, as were the annoying straps that ran across Danny's face to keep it securely in place.

"Leave it alone, Danny." Steve was in a good mood and his tone held that note of happiness as Danny began to stir. During the almost fifteen hour block of time, Steve barely remembered moving to the cot. He had woken only a short time ago as Ponch came in to alter Danny's medication and then examine his own bandaged arm for any signs of heat. The doctor was efficient as always but distracted and constantly checking his watch. Steve smiled to himself; Mike Ramirez was due to arrive that morning.

Kamekona had also come through. He had called Chin with the proposed location of Frank Curtis's high-stakes game. It was a solid lead from a reliable source for a docked unused freighter and Agent Marcus was organizing that very moment to ruin Curtis's mere existence. While Steve was annoyed that he couldn't participate, Chin and Kono were on the secondary team to provide backup to the primary FBI agents. It was early in the morning and they had the luxury of hours to prepare since the game was scheduled to begin eight o'clock that evening. They would wait even longer after that to provide Curtis and his clients with a false sense of security and to ensure that all key players had arrived. The game could then go on for hours or even days depending upon the skills of those involved and the money - or merchandise - that would exchange hands.

Danny felt his hand purposefully halted from its upward motion and he weakly let it drop back down before trying to open his eyes. He felt sluggish and heavy as he only half-heartedly tried to wake more fully. Whatever was fastened firmly to his face was equally uncomfortable and he felt oddly trapped.

"You with me yet, pal?" He heard Steve that time and winced against the bright light in the room before committing himself to blinking fiercely to clear his vision. Steve hadn't released his hand yet because he kept unconsciously attempting to reach up to his face in order to push back the contraption and its restricting straps.

"It's got to stay on." Steve was smiling happily but there was a warning and a strong sense of authority about his demeanor. "How do you feel?"

Danny considered the question as he allowed his eyes to lazily roam the hospital room. He rolled his tongue around it and closed his eyes briefly to think a bit more on the answer but then couldn't actually come up with one. He was warm, mostly comfortable and propped neatly on his side. Content to take short breaths of the warmed air circulating around his face, Danny figured that overall, he was quite fine. He could have guessed that he'd be at TAMC with Ponch involved in any way, shape or form and he was proud when he recognized certain features in the room. It was a good question, and his body was providing the perfect answer. Danny forced his eyes to look at Steve's face and then completely failed at being able to focus on the pale, dark-haired blur.

"What?" The word was more of a questioning sound. The residual drugs in his system were strong and his brain was achingly slow to react which made his mouth even more reluctant to work and it immediately made the welcoming smile on Steve's face flicker and then fade.

"Danno? You okay? Do you know where you are?" His hazy expression and feeble attempt at a nod weren't enough for Steve who worriedly paged the nurse's station.

Danny frowned when Steve gave him a little shake as his eyes slid shut tiredly. He was comfortable in his lethargy and completely at ease as he resisted a minor urge to think about what had happened to put him in a hospital bed in the first place. Under the mask, he took a slightly deeper breath to whisper his plain one-worded question.

"What?"

"I asked you if you were alright. Do you know where you are and what happened?" Bleary eyes tried to inform Steve that he was not only talking too much, but also much too fast. So instead of attempting to answer him, Danny studiously worked on simply staying awake.

Steve was worried and exasperated which was evident when the nurse finally came into the room to check on them. After a few minutes of measuring readings, validating charts and ensuring her patient's comfort level, she grinned and then shrugged nonchalantly.

"He's fine, sir. Doctor Ramirez wants him to be comfortable and I daresay .. he is." The goofy half smile on Danny's face lifted his eyes reassuringly as Steve once again intercepted the errant hand that tried to pull the mask from his face. The nurse's pleasant nature calmed Steve as Danny's unfocused eyes blinked tiredly again.

"Leave. It. Alone." Steve firmly tapped the back of Danny's hand as tried to tug on the straps to the mask. "Don't touch! Or, I will cuff you to the bed rail."

The amused lilt to Danny's lips deepened at the idea which seemed utterly ridiculous as his eyes dropped to study the actual rail. He took more than a minute to find Steve's face again before he repeated the only thing he seemed recently capable of asking.

"What?" This time the response inspired Steve's grin to return as he mockingly rolled his eyes at his happily drugged out friend. Danny's face was pinched in concentration and he was squinting blearily against eyes that refused to remain open for more than a few seconds at a time.

"I think I like you this way, Danno." Steve laughed softly. "Ponch really gave you the good stuff this time. Go back to sleep. We'll catch up later."

There was a briefly disgusted mumble and a half-hearted, blithe wave of his hand that once again strayed too far upwards. This time Steve didn't have to halt its progress as Danny fell asleep mid-complaint.

* H50 * H50 * H50 * H50 * H50 *

Becca woke a few times during the night but each time she was cuddled soothingly up against her Aunt in the hospital bed. Ellen had literally gotten in the bed to pull her niece tight during a terrifying nightmare and then simply stayed. Both were sleeping when Ponch checked on them one more time before leaving to pick up his brother from the airport. For the sake of continued security and because she had plenty of time, Kono insisted on escorting him personally.

"How is she?" Kono crept quietly up behind the doctor in the doorway. Ellen was sleeping on her left side facing them with her arm draped securely over Becca's body. The little girl was pressed up against her chest and she had her own fingers hanging loosely around her Aunt's hand. She looked even younger than her ten years with a face now flushed from a deep sleep.

"Better. Much better." Ponch had his hands sunk deeply into his coat pockets as he measured the sleeping pair. "Her fever has even dropped a few degrees. I understand that you've found this man responsible for Amy's death ... and for ... other things." The doctor was whispering. The tone completely changed though when he thought of Frank Curtis and the bit of information shared with him by Steve.

Kono uttered a soft sound of agreement. "The FBI will have him in hand tonight. Chin and I are going to be involved. He'll be going away for a long time, Doc."

Ponch nodded without answering. He was still trying to figure out how to tell his brother what had happened to Amy. And then, Rebecca was an entirely different story. He felt that deep down the child actually knew because she hadn't asked for her mother in quite some time. Her deeply rooted fear supported his theory and he would recommend that they avoid the subject for as long as possible. He stood there for a long time merely watching them sleep. He and Ellen hadn't had children together. It was one of those things that simply wasn't meant to be; but Rebecca's presence was wholly natural and achingly needed in their lives. Along with his half-brother, she filled a hole that he didn't realize existed and now Ponch sighed in an oddly confused sense of happiness not only for himself, but for Ellen. He was afraid to admit that he was now almost jealous of his brother. Kindly, Kono put her hand on his arm and gave a small tug since he seemed loathe to leave the peaceful room.

"Let's go get your brother. Mike's plane lands within the hour." The doctor bobbled awkwardly on his feet for a moment as a genuine smile lit his features. Moving quickly, Kono was surprised how quiet the big man could be as he easily snuck to the bed to tweak a blanket and drop gentle kisses on each forehead. His whisper was soft and only meant for Rebecca's ears, he grinned fondly at her when her lips twitched into a reactive smile at the sound of his voice.

"Be back soon, sprite."

After that, Kono herself had to almost jog to keep up with the excited man. At the airport, it was easy to spot Mike Ramirez even though he was much more harried, worn and too thin version of his older brother. Kono liked him on sight as she watched the reunion. The two men were nearly the same intimidating height, shared the same coloring and identically broad shoulders. Mike's eyes were dark and full of emotion as Ponch threw his arms around him in a welcoming hug that nearly lifted him off his feet. Kono grinned happily as Mike returned the embrace more as a life-line and then sagged in his brother's grip. Three years worth of agonized searching had finally come to an end and Mike Ramirez was barely able to stand on his own. Kono was surprised when he pulled her into a hug too and then pleaded with both of them immediately for more information about his daughter.

"How far away is the hospital? Is she alright, Ponchie? Does she want to see me?" His luggage was substantial for which he apologized profusely but he'd bought new clothes and toys for Rebecca with absolutely no ability to edit his purchases.

Ponch laughed warmly as he clapped his hand to Mike's trembling shoulders. "We have stores here too, you know. But Becca will love it all, Mikey. She's not expecting anything except to see you. I left her sleeping with Ellen and she's fine. We're only picking them up now from the hospital and then we're going home."

At that, Kono officially inserted herself to make one thing particularly clear. "Home, and with police protection until a certain situation is put to an end."

Mike stared at her queerly before slowly nodding. He had his own assumptions besides the bits and pieces of what he'd been told by his brother. His only urgency was getting to his daughter at that point though. The ride back to the hospital was relatively fast but Mike never stopped peppering Ponch with worried questions. In the end, the only advice that Ponch had was for his brother to go slow and to be very patient.

"She's afraid she's going to lose us all. She needs to know that we're there for her and that she's safe. I'll tell you more later .. now isn't the time, Mike. Just enjoy having her back and getting to know her all over again."

When they arrived, Ponch quickly bypassed his brother to peek into the hospital room. Ellen was reading in the side chair and she rushed to her feet to greet her brother-in-law when she saw them arrive. Becca was dozing in bed with the TV humming softly over head though she wasn't watching it at all. Lying curled up on her side, she had Lord Ted rocked under her chin as she hugged him comfortably to her chest. He gestured to Mike and then bodily pushed him into the room. Just in case Rebecca became nervous, he and Ellen stayed close by as they waited for her to notice her father. With Danny still sleeping, Kono ran to get Steve so they could watch what happened from a discreet distance in the hallway.

It took a few minutes since Mike was suddenly petrified to approach the bed. Sweat broke out on his forehead as leaden feet slowly took him closer. Uncertain, he glanced once over his shoulder and Ponch rolled his eyes dramatically as he wildly waved his brother forward. "She's fine and knows you are coming this morning. Go ahead, Mike."

Very softly, Mike sat down in the chair nearest the bed and just watched Rebecca sleep. Her eyes were closed and he marveled over her long black lashes. Her fingers were slender and one hand was completely buried in the teddy bear's fake fur. He swallowed hard as a lump clogged his throat and his eyes ghosted with tears. As if she might break, he reached out and gently stroked upwards from her small fingers, over her wrist and then up to the crook of her elbow.

"Rebecca?" He breathed her name out softly and then stroked her hand again, barely touching her as if she were precious glass that might break. "Becca." His voice was rough then as it unexpectedly cracked. He was unable to say anything else as his chin dropped to his chest and he closed his eyes.

She felt him come in the room but was still sleepy from the restless night and from not feeling all that well yet. Her Aunt had reminded her that her father would be coming that morning so she wasn't scared at all. So even though his shadow blocked the light almost the same way as Uncle Ponch, she knew it was him. Rebecca felt his light touch on her hand and how he let his fingers trail up her arm. She peeked at him from under her lashes and smiled when he said her name not once, but twice. He was scruffy from his long trip and he looked very tired - but he really had come for her. He came just like he had promised. With his eyes closed though, Rebecca hesitated before bravely reaching out and touching his hand.

Mike heaved in a shuddering breath and then his eyes shot open when small fingers wrapped around his thumb and whispered to him. "Daddy?"

She was looking at him in amazement and then over to her Aunt and Uncle as if making sure it was all real. She bit her lip worriedly and then hid her face behind her stuffed bear to peek out at him. Rebecca was nervous but also still doggedly hanging onto his hand. Mike smiled as he covered her fingers with his other hand. Softly, gently and to allow her an escape if she didn't want him to touch her but she only smiled.

"Mommy's gone." It wasn't what he expected to hear and Mike's brain went blank for a moment. What came out next was a strangled choking sound. "I know."

Her lip trembled then as her hand tightened in his and he struggled back to his feet to scoop her up as she met him half way. Ellen's sob caught in her throat as she watched the silent reunion. Ponch had his hands slammed deeply into his pockets as he bounced out of habit on the balls of his feet. Eyes shining and a smile that knew no bounds creased his face he finally turned to his wife as another sob shook her. Both happy and remarkably sad, neither knew what to say. In the hallway, Kono and Steve were experiencing the same flood of emotions.

"I know." Ponch whispered into Ellen's hair as he rocked her to his chest. The words were the same as his brother's but their meaning was entirely different. "Trust me .. I know."

~ to be continued ~