Troubled Waters III

Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii 5-0. If they are willing to sell some shares I might be interested if it isn't too expensive.

Thanks for the response, I am trying to get the muse moving but sometimes she is moody. I am hoping that posting this will get her motivated.

Chapter 3

"We're on our way. Chin and Kono are ahead of me," Danny responded. "It's nice to know you finally value the idea of backup. Just be careful and keep your head down."

"Just hurry," Steve ordered and broke the connection. He shoved the phone back in his rear pocket. "Help is on the way," he told Lou.

"Good," Grover responded as he rose to fire at the beach.

"Yea, we just need to keep these two on the beach until they get here," Steve said as he took his turn to fire. He then crouched down and dug a new clip out of his backpack. "We have to get off these rocks."

"I'm in favor of that but how do we make that happen?" Lou asked, replenishing his own weapon. "In case you haven't noticed, they have bigger guns."

"We get lucky," Steve answered as he fired again. "Let's hope they aren't carrying extra ammo. Follow me." He crouched lower and moved toward the shore, keeping the rocks between them and the shooters on the beach.

"You are just a ray of sunshine," Lou grumbled as he followed McGarrett, trying not to present an easy target. They took turns firing to keep the men engaged and not able to climb the bluff. The footing became more difficult as they neared shore. "This isn't working McGarrett, we're either going into the water or get shot. Our rock cover is shrinking in case you didn't notice," he complained.

Steve paused and looked around, considering the situation. The big man was right about the footing and thus far the perps were not running out of ammunition. It was getting more difficult to be shielded from the gunfire. This just kept getting more complicated.

The blonde man had now grabbed the two bags and headed down the beach to where the cliffs were lower while his friend kept peppering the rocks to keep them trapped. He now had both of the semi-automatic weapons.

"This pissing me off, they're going to get away," Lou growled.

"Not if I can help it," Steve muttered as he fired once more, kicking up the sand in front of the dark haired man. The guy retreated a few steps, firing wildly in Grover and McGarrett's direction.

Steve looked at the water, figuring it was now shallow enough to wade through the thigh high water towards shore trying to keep a low profile. A second splash indicated Grover was following him. Bullets pinged off the rocks, forcing the large man to be bent almost double.

"Next fishing trip I'm bringing an AK-47," Steve muttered.

"You'll be fishing alone," Lou huffed as he sloshed through the water. "I hate to say it but Danny's right."

"This is not my fault," Steve protested as he fired at the retreating man.

"I didn't say it was but you have to admit this was not a typical fishing trip. You seem to have more than your share of bad luck at sea," Grover pointed out.

"Maybe it is the company I keep," Steve growled. "We can't hope the others show up in time, they've found a way up the cliff. We have to move now."

Without waiting for a response from Lou, Steve took the lead in moving onto shore and around the rocks. The dark haired man was now hurrying after his partner who was struggling to climb the bluff with the two bags. McGarrett fired and the trailing man stopped to fire at his pursuers. Steve dove to the sand, shooting back and trying not to present an easy target.

Suddenly a shot rang out from the water and Grover fell to his knees with a grunt.

"Lou, you okay?" Steve called out in concern, getting to his knees and looking around for the other shooter. He swung back to fire three more shots at the man on the beach to keep him from firing.

"I'm fine….go on, stop those two. I'll deal with this idiot," Lou rumbled as he got to his feet. Firing at the boat as he moved to the water's edge, he could see the Hawaiian leaning out over the side of the boat. The man let out a cry as one of Grover's bullets found its mark and fell back into the boat. Grabbing his bicep, Lou let out a relieved sigh as he realized that it was only a graze and not more serious. He turned back to see if Steve was okay.

Knowing that Lou was functional, Steve had continued after the other two. The blonde was nearing the top even though he struggled under the awkward weight of the two bags on his back and the dark one had reached the foot of the bluff, attempting to get a hand hold in the rocks after discarding one of the rifles.

"Halt, 5-0," Steve shouted as he ran towards him.

His orders were met with another barrage of bullets, forcing Steve to again dive to the sand while he continued to shoot at the lower target on the cliff. Attempting to fire back at Steve, the man's aim was spraying all over above McGarrett while Steve's were dead on. With a cry the man tumbled to the beach as his partner continued to head upward.

Surging to his feet, Steve ran to the fallen man to make sure he was no longer a threat. It only took a quick look to confirm that the man was dead and Steve checked the rifle, only to discover that it had finally run out of ammo. Discarding it, McGarrett again shoved his gun in the back of his waistband and began climbing the bluff to pursue the blonde man.

"Stop, your partner's dead. Give it up," he shouted at the figure almost to the top.

Ignoring Steve's command, the man pulled himself up over the top of the bluff and vanished from Steve's sight. Increasing his efforts, Steve made faster progress up the side since he wasn't burdened with two large bags. As he reached the summit, he could see the man lugging the two bags towards the highway that was several yards away.

"I said stop, drop the bags," Steve called out again, reaching for his weapon as he got to his feet.

The man paused a few feet from the highway and turned to face Steve as ordered.

"I said to drop the bags," Steve repeated, giving a small wave of his gun.

The man did as he was told, dropping the bags and reaching under his coat to draw his own weapon swiftly. The two men fired simultaneously as they both dove to the ground. Neither shot found its mark and the two men rolled to their feet to face off once more.

An approaching vehicle caused both men to change their focus of attention. The blonde man ran to the other side of the road and fired a shot that bounced off the dark green Ford Taurus' hood. The driver slammed on the brakes bringing the vehicle to a stop and blocking McGarrett's shot at the blonde man. The older man behind the wheel looked terrified as he glanced between the two armed men as his wife tried to cower down beside him.

"Get out," the blonde ordered the couple. The Hawaiian couple who appeared to be in their 50's, unbuckled their seat belts and opened the car's doors. As the woman exited the car, the gunman grabbed her roughly and pressed his weapon to her head.

"Okay, I'm making the rules now. 5-0, drop your weapon or the lady dies. You…hubby…if you want your old lady to live…go over to the cliff edge."

The driver did as he was told, looking worriedly at his wife and then pleadingly at McGarrett. Hesitating to drop his weapon, Steve could hear the sound of sirens far in the distance.

"You aren't going to get away…..that is my team and HPD coming," Steve warned.

"Just do as I say. They aren't going to get here before I shoot this woman. Drop your weapon or she stops breathing real fast," the man snapped as he pressed the weapon tighter against the frightened woman's temple.

"Okay…..okay, take it easy," Steve said as he bent to place his gun on the ground.

"Good, now go pick up those bags and put them in the backseat of the car. Hurry up," the man then ordered.

Steve did as he was told, worried that the man would panic and shoot anyway. As he did as he was told, the gunman forced the woman around the front of the car, approaching the driver's door. With the sirens getting louder, the man paused near the door while Steve deposited the bags in the backseat and then shut the door. As he did that a car from the north approached, slowing as the driver took in the scene ahead of him. McGarrett silently cursed the open driver's door that was between him and the man with the hostage.

"Back off," the blonde yelled as he glanced back at the car and waved his gun toward the car. The driver shifted into reverse and backed up quickly before spinning around and racing back north again.

Using that as a distraction, Steve rushed around the driver's door, intent on freeing the woman hostage. The gunman swung back in a hurry and fired at Steve. McGarrett was flung backwards as the bullet dug deep into his left side below the ribcage.

"Stupid idiot!" the shooter yelled at him as he shoved the woman down on the pavement. He charged over to Steve as the woman awkwardly got to her feet and ran to her husband. Looming over Steve, the man grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him upward. "You fool. Get up and in the car, we're leaving."

Clutching his side, Steve struggled to his feet and was pushed into front quarter panel of the Taurus.

"Move, around to the other side and make it quick," the man insisted as he gripped Steve's arm and directed him around the hood of the car.

McGarrett tried to grab the blonde's gun hand but was punched in his wounded side, doubling him over. With a nudge of the gun in his sore side, Steve stumbled as the man muscled him around the passenger door and into the seat. Steve barely got his feet inside before the door slammed shut and the man ran around to the driver's side. He shut the door and put the car in gear as shots rang out from the bluff edge, one striking the side view mirror. Flashing lights could now be seen coming up in highway as the blonde stomped on the accelerator. As he pulled away there were two more shots that pinged off the trunk and a third that shattered the rear window and dug into the back of Steve's seat.

Trying to pull himself up to a sitting position and grab the steering wheel, Steve was struck in the face with the gun butt, causing him to fall to the door, blood running from his nose.

"Settle down or I'll shoot you again," Terrence Whitely snarled. "You can be useful but not necessary so don't get too caught up in your own importance. You should have continued fishing and stayed out of our business."

A stabbing pain ran through Steve's body as he tried to sit more upright. He grabbed his side trying to stanch the flow of blood by wadding his shirt hem up and pressing it to his side.

"You are not getting away with this," he said through gritted teeth.

"I will. If your buddies catch up with us, you are my bargaining tool. Try to play hero again and I will shoot you," Terry growled.

Steve took a couple of deep breathes, gathering his strength. He was not going to let this guy win. He knew he had to make some effort to stop this man before he got further down the road.

Before he could react, the man struck him on the temple with the gun butt and Steve's world went black. He slumped against the door, his head resting against the window.

"You are just lucky I want you alive for the moment. Told you not to be a hero," the blonde muttered and turned his attention to the road. He pressed the accelerator further to the floor and shot up the highway, heading to his employer.

End chapter.

You knew I would get Steve in trouble, didn't you? At least the team is coming after them. Thanks for reading.