A/N: Hey everyone, sorry it has taken so long to get this update posted. I was battling a terrible cold and spent most of my time sleeping. I'm hoping to be more productive now that I'm feeling better.

That being said, this is a very Danny and Steve centered chapter – you know how much I love to write the Danny and Steve scenes!

Hope you like it!

Chapter 19: Another Unexpected Acquaintance.

Steve and Danny had followed orders, putting aside their previous argument and heading to the second, and last, location they'd been assigned too. This time they waited for the arrival of their NCIS back-up before moving on the house.

The last name on the very short list of scientists was the only female officer assigned to the project. Her name was Lieutenant Deanna O'Neil and she too specialized in physics, but more importantly applied physics and naval intelligence.

Deanna was older than Steve by several years but he'd recognized her name from his days in intelligence and because of Catherine. They'd hung out together with Deanna and her, then, boyfriend Jerim.

When he'd arrived at the first location and saw the carnage in the little house, Steve's heart sank. The last he'd heard of Deanna was that she and Jerim were expecting their first children, and upon having seen her name on the list, Steve had assumed that the woman he'd known had taken the research position for the stability of a nine to five job and the opportunity to be at home to put her babies to bed.

Steve had voiced his concern to his partner in the car as they drove through the city - this time avoiding traffic - knowing that Danny would know and understand the trepidation he was feeling. When there were children involved Danny was always on the highest of alerts.

"This could be so wrong on so many levels," Danny said as they drove.

"Worst case scenario, Danny, what is it?" Steve asked already knowing what his partner would say.

"You know what it would be. An escalation of the carnage we just saw that the house of a single man with no family to speak of, only his job and the prestige of his title to follow him into the next life. I expect if we are going to jump to conclusions - which you have - that we are bound to find the house wrecked." Danny said and though there was darkness in the humour he tried to find in the situation of Steve's jumping to the worst case scenario - there was darkness and almost a loathing in the way Danny stared out the car window at the road before them.

"Best case scenario, we arrive at the house and scare the crap out of a bunch of little kids." Steve said with a sigh.

"How many does she have?" Danny asked.

"When I knew her, she was expecting twins - so two at the least. This was several years ago now. The twins would have to be at least six or seven, and in that time I would imagine Deanna having more. She and Jerim were serious about a large family - he was from a large family back in India and she had eight brothers."

"Eight brothers?" Danny gasped.

"Yes," Steve half chucked. "Three of them are stationed in Pearl."

"Are they all in the forces?" Danny asked.

"No," Steve said with a shake of his head. "One is a catholic priest, if I remember correctly, and the oldest brother is a lawyer in Washington. But the rest are navy, and only navy, because their father was in naval intelligence. Deanna is the youngest and everyone thought she was a princess. She would go on to do something really girly, but she didn't. She got into the sciences at a really young age and then followed her father into intelligence along with her brothers."

"So she knew what she was getting into when she signed up."

"I don't think anyone expects something like this when they sign up." Steve sighed.

As they pulled up to another nice, quiet, suburban neighbourhood, Steve's voice caught in his throat.

The front door of the house swung freely on its hinges.

Danny saw the sinking in Steve's face. He'd been aware of the connection, Steve had whispered something when he'd first seen the list, but Danny had no idea how well Steve actually knew this woman that Danny was already calling a victim in his mind.

Truth be told, he was the one jumping to the worst case scenario, and Steve was slowly sinking to that conclusion as well.

They moved quickly to the door, Steve in the lead and the NCIS back-up covering them. Steve called out in his best attempt to be authoritative, before moving into the house to clear it.

"Please let there be no bodies." Steve stated loud enough that only Danny heard him as they walked into the house to see it trashed.

Children's toys were scattered everywhere - broken and smashed.

Through the house they moved, past scattered ad toppled furniture and decor. They moved in through the kitchen and on to the garage. The bedrooms were upstairs. Quickly, and as quietly as they could manage, without disturbing the crime scene, they cleared the house and one by one the rooms were deemed safe until the only place that had been left un-checked was the attic.

Danny aimed his weapon at the drop down ladder as Steve jumped and grabbed the chord that hung from the master bedroom - closet - ceiling.

"This is Commander Steve McGarrett and NCIS. If there is anyone up there you have to the count of three to surrender. If you do not come down we're coming up." Steve stated in a loud and forceful voice as the ladder hit the floor and he and Danny looked up into the darkness with their weapons raised.

"One. Two. Three." Steve counted but just as he was about to announce that they were going up, two hands appeared out of the darkness, then two feet on the edge of the opening.

"Steve. Steve is that really you? Please don't shoot." The shaky voice came from above as a tattered and frightened woman appeared.

"Deanna!" Steve gasped as he holstered his weapon and sprang forward to help the woman down. "Are you all right?" Where are the Children?"

"They are with Jerim in India. I've been up there for three days!" Deanna sobbed as her feet touched down on the solid ground of her master bedroom.

"Why? What happened?" Steve asked.

"I can't believe you're here. I can't believe it!" Deanna stated through her tears. "I knew something was wrong when the project communications went silent. Jerim took the children to India to see his parents when I got nervous. I stayed behind because of the top-secret nature of my research and then, out of nowhere, four men came here and I hid. Men I trusted came after me!" Deanna whispered - uncomfortable in the growing gathering of strangers.

Danny and Steve made eye contact and right away Danny knew what he needed to do.

"Eric, we found Lieutenant O'Neil. We're bringing her back to the boat house. Send a forensics team out to this location - it's a disaster." Danny stated as he raised a borrowed cell to his ear. "And get on your contacts in India to see if Lieutenant O'Neil's family is safe."

"We're going to help you Deanna. No one is going to hurt you now." Steve said as he tired desperately to sooth his shaken friend.

"I can't believe it's you." Deanna stated again through her tears. "Of all the people in the entire world it's you, Steve."

Steve smiled slightly. "You have to know that I'm law enforcement now." Steve said.

"The Navy SEAL - a civilian?" She asked in shock.

"Not exactly," Steve said and led his friend out to the vehicles - Danny followed silently and protectively. "I'm still a SEAL at heart."

Danny rolled his eyes, "I'm the law enforcement, ma'am, he's just moonlighting."

Deanna looked at Danny with suspicion.

"Don't worry, he's the leader of an elite task-force commissioned by the Governor of Hawaii and borrowed by NCIS for this specific case." Danny explained.

"Hawaii?" Deanna asked.

"Yes, and last I saw of your brothers, they are doing well." Steve said pleasantly and handed Deanna into the car.