"Book 'em, Danno." Even with everything going on this week, I can't help the smirk as I say it. Not gonna lie, I'm happy the case ended this way so I could say that one last time. A bookend.

Danny looks up at me from his spot on the ground, one knee in our guy's back, tightening the restraints. He raises an eyebrow as he hauls the guy to his feet.

"Really? We're back to that? Figured you got tired of that one. Haven't heard it in a while."

I shrug. "Maybe I'm just feeling nostalgic."

"Nostalgic, huh?" He gives me The Look – the one he's been throwing at me all week. The one I've been avoiding. He's asked me what's going on a few times throughout the week; made sure to remind me that I told him I'd talk to him. He didn't press the issue too much though, which was good. I didn't want this hanging over our heads while we worked the case.

Yeah, I'll admit that I was very happy to get that phone call on Monday, before I could tell Danny what was going on. I've never actually had to say goodbye to anyone before; I was too angry when I was a kid to care about saying goodbye to anyone when dad shipped me off. But it's Friday now and I'm only a part of this task force for another five hours or so. I'm kinda running out of time.

"Lunch?" Chin asks as we finish handing everything over to HPD.

I shake my head and take a deep breath. "Let's head back to the Palace. I, uh, need to talk to you guys about something, but I need in my office first." The four of them share glances. Clearly, I've been the topic of side conversations over the week.

Danny drops the keys to the Camaro in my hand. "Lead the way, babe."

It's about a half hour drive, even with my driving. I try and let the purr of the engine distract me, calm me, but Danny's silence is deafening. He's just sitting there quietly, waiting for me to be ready to talk; I can feel his eyes on me. I really don't want to have to do this twice but, I really need to tell Danny before the others. If only because I know this isn't going to be pretty. I can't wait any longer and finally break down, taking my eyes off the road for a moment to look over at him. I tighten my hands on the steering wheel and finally begin to speak.

"Danny..." I actually don't even know how to say it. Rip the duct tape off or ease into it? All I know is leaving without having this conversation is not an option.

"Pull over."

"What?"

"Pull over, Steven." It's probably a good idea. Of course, most of Danny's ideas are good ideas, even if I don't tell him that.

I find a dirt track up ahead and pull down it. Danny gets out of the car. I follow, and as I do, I see Chin driving the SUV, riding with Kono and Lou. He starts to slow down, to pull in with us, but Danny waves them on and he speeds back up and disappears.

Danny comes around to my side of the car and we lean against it, standing so close, I can feel the entire length of his body against mine, like he's trying to lend me some of his fiery strength. I turn just slightly, so I can look at him properly, but don't break our contact. I watch as he clenches his jaw, like he's trying to reign himself in from the rant that's stewing within him. He'll at least wait until I've told him what I need to tell him. He's expecting something bad. Hopefully it won't take him too long to realize that this is actually a good thing.

I'm just enjoying this: right here, right now. If this could be our lives – just chilling with our ohana – without the rest of the shit show that is our lives, I'd never leave. Because in the last five years, I really have come to love this. I close my eyes to savour the moment; memorizing it; editing in a peel of Grace's laughter, that face Kono makes just before she bursts out with her own laugh, Chin's zen eyebrow raise. But this isn't our lives and I force myself to remember why I'm doing this: Danny leaving Grace behind to follow me to North Korea and Afghanistan, surrendering to the Colombians, all those times I carelessly put him in the line of fire.

When I open my eyes again, he's mirrored my stance, watching me. He raises his hand to my shoulder.

"Whatever it is, babe, we'll get through it. You know I'll do whatever I—"

Right there. That's the reason.

"I'm leaving Five-0." Duct tape ripping it is.

He blinks twice. I've actually rendered him speechless. Any other time and that would be fodder for a good week's worth of snark, maybe more. I'm guessing that of all the scenarios he'd pictured, this was not one of them. "This is my last day."

The hand leaves my shoulder. A couple more blinks. Then he steps away from me, from the car; the sudden loss of contact making me feel more alone than I ever have before.

"What?" The question seems rhetorical, so I stay quiet for the moment. "This is your Task Force. You roped us all into this insanity and now you're leaving? What are you going to do, become a full time surfer dude or something?"

"This is the Governor's Task Force, Danny, that I exploited, used, for my own personal vendetta. I'm not gonna apologize for that, but that mission is accomplished. I'm going back to the Navy, to the SEALs."

Danny's eyes narrow, his hands fly, and he paces across the dirt and the scrub. "The SE—so not only are you leaving this job, that I thought you enjoyed, you're leaving your home. You're leaving us. Is that what the last five years have been for you? Just using us for your personal revenge issues?" He won't look at me. That kinda hurts, but I understand. And it kinda makes this whole thing easier.

"Of course not, Danny."

"What the fuck happened to all that 'keeping my islands safe' bullshit? Or 'keeping Gracie's home safe'?"

"We've kept the islands relatively safe, yeah, and that's not going to change. Five-0's not going anywhere, Danny, and it will do even better with you in charge. This is going to be good. You'll see. Trust me."

"Trust you? I did trust you. I trusted you with everything – with my life, with Grace's life. But this... you're wrong. Why do you think I fought Rachel so hard to keep Grace here, hmm? I could have easily followed her to fucking Vegas, but I fought to keep the two of us here. Because of you. And now you're leaving."

"Why are you making this so hard? It's the right decision, Danny."

"Why? Why, Steven? Maybe because you're being a fucking idiot. Get in the goddamn car, McGarrett." I don't argue when he goes for the driver's seat.

We're almost at the Palace before he speaks again, his eyes never leaving the road. "Who's idea was this Navy reactivation bullshit anyway?"

I can't answer him. The words just won't come.

"That's what I thought. Were you even gonna say goodbye to Grace? Christ, how long have you even known?"

"I didn't know for sure until Monday, Danny, I promise. And I was going to tell you as soon as a I got in that day, but then we caught the case."

"Yeah, I'm sure you were real fuckin' broken up about that, too." He looks over at me now, just for a moment. "You don't even want to do this. I can see, all over your face, how much this is tearing you up. I could see that last weekend. Hell, even Grace could see it. Why are you doing this?"

I don't say anything to him. He's not wrong. But just because I've gotten comfortable, soft, doesn't mean I shouldn't make the right decision. I've spent pretty much my whole life making the hard call.

"She was so worried about you – you made my daughter cry in the fucking car on the way to Rachel's Sunday, McGarrett. That is not okay. You're one of her three favourite people in her entire world. You're one of her goddamn heroes. What am I supposed to tell her, huh?"

Neither of us say another word until we meet up with the others at the Palace.