Chapter Two: Ok, That's a Good Reason
Note: rewrote chapter one and hopefully have dealt with my ooc issues. Didn't name the new governor...
There were several news vans already there with a couple more just starting to set up. The police had them roped off to the side and the
5-0 team simply walked by without comment. A hospital spokesperson was surrounded by microphones telling them it was too early to discuss injuries.
It seemed that they were expected, an orderly motioned to them and brought them to a private lounge. Kamekona was seated, Mama carefully tucked under his arm while a police officer squatted down in front of her talking softly. When they walked in Mama looked tearily up and reached for the older detective.
"Chin! Oh Chin! He was so brave," her face crumpled as she fell into his arms. Kelly gathered her close and let her take comfort. He made soothing noises and rode out the storm. After a few long moments a nurse appeared with some medication.
"Ms. Iatora? Mama?" she asked as she gently touched her back. "I have something to help you calm down, ok?" After some cajoling on Chin's part she accepted the small tablet and glass of water. She returned to sitting, but pulled the detective with her.
"I am sorry, to be so weak," she said with downcast eyes.
"Mama! You are not weak! Whatever happened must have been terrible," he quickly responded. She dabbed at her tears and nodded.
"It was," she said. Now Kamekona sat beside her providing a solid wall of comfort. Kono, Steve and the HPD officer, Nephi Pelona, formed a loose, non-threatening half circle around them.
"Can you tell us what happened, Mama?" Chin asked gently. She shuddered then nodded.
"I, I had just finished making a new pot of coffee," she said, "when these three nerjis kids come in the shop. I ask them what they wanted and they come behind the counter and grabbed me. Danny walk in then, sees the kids and starts talking, trying to get them to let me go."
"What happened next?" Chin pressed gently.
"They, one had a knife and said he'd cut me," she swallowed. "Danny said they could take anything they wanted, that they could take him if they'd just let me go. He gave them his handcuffs and they snapped them on him right away and took us into the back room."
"After a minute, they taped me to my office chair. Danny complained a lot so they made sure there were napkins wrapped around my arms before they put on the tape... so... it... wouldn't hurt me," here she burst into tears again. It was several long minutes and several sips of water before she was able to continue.
"Two of the kids, they were sweating so much, and cursing out Danny for coming in da shop. He told them to get what they wanted and clear out. Then, then the one guy, he seemed to be the leader, he just smiled and laughed. It was not a nice laugh. He shoved Danny and the other two shoved at him and then they started to hit him over and over." She burrowed back into Chin's arms.
"He, he was so brave! He, he just took hit after hit and tried to get them to leave. Then, when he fell they started kicking and and one found the bat I have. The kid wanted to see if he could break his arm and he tried so hard to get away but they held him down and they laughed about a pig pinata." Now Kono joined her in crying softly. "They slammed his head against the floor and then they found his wallet and gun and badge. They took the money and then checked out the gun then... then the leader shot him in the leg, just to see what it looked like."
Steve had to sit down, right in the middle of the lounge. Kono followed and leaned against him. Danny, their Danny, had been beaten and shot and they couldn't do anything about it. Steve felt doubly guilty having doubted him. Danny never would not show up to work without a very good reason.
Getting beaten to a pulp while protecting a little old lady was one.
"When they finished they toss his gun on the ground and went to the front of the shop and opened the register. I could hear them throwing things around. They made a horrible mess. They yelled 'have a nice day' and then they slammed the door. Danny, he was so hurt, so much pain. All he'd say was he was sorry, that I should not have had to watch that. Then he managed to get out his phone and he called for help. He apologized to me and explained you were too busy to come but then he called Kamekona. After that he just lie on the floor, and there was blood and he had trouble breathing but he kept telling me it was all right, that I'd be fine. He was hurting so bad and all he cared about was that I was ok." She dried her eyes as she leaned against Kamekona, completely spent.
"Ma'am?" Pelona looked quietly at her," can you describe the three men that did this?" She nodded and proceeded to tell the young officer what each man looked like. No one noted Kamekona, how his eyes hardened. They barely noticed when he asked about tattoos. Then he slid out and moved across the room making a phone call.
Meanwhile Steve and Kono managed to pick themselves up and slump down on chairs both in shock. They sat there a while only coming back to focus when hot coffee was put into their hands. Looking up they were greeted by the concerned eyes of the new Governor.
"I figured if I came here I'd get both reports," he said as he sat down across from them. Chin Ho came over; several friends of Mama were there (thanks to Kamekona) and he wanted to be with his team. He nodded at the Governor, accepted coffee, and waited to participate in the discussion.
First McGarrett described the Bautista drug raid. They'd captured the leaders of the group as well as many of the associates. HPD back up was perfect; they'd easily subdued and processed all the criminals. Given it was a joint effort, the police were basking in the glow of good press coverage.
Then on to Mama and Danny. Chin took the lead and relayed what Ms. Iatora had reported. The Governor shook his head in disbelief.
"How long has he been in there?" he asked, nodding towards the surgery. Steve checked his watch.
"Nearly three hours," he said dully.
"I'm standing down 5-0 for now," the man decided. "We'll let HPD handle the Bautistas and the robbery. I'll have updates on both sent to you."
"Thank you, sir," McGarrett shook the Governor's hand. The team tracked his movement as he left the lounge with his personal security detail.
The next second the door burst open and Grace ran in pulling her mother behind her.
"Where's Danno?" she yelled, tears streaming down her face. "Where's my Danno!"
"Grace, hush!" Rachel tried but the girl threw herself at Steve and wrapped her arms tight around him.
"It's gonna be ok, Gracie," Steve tried shushing her. She clung like a burr and wet tears fell. Chin put a comforting hand on her back.
"They're fixing him up right now," he said aloud for both women's benefit. "He's going to be fine."
"Unfortunately we saw the news," Rachel sat down carefully next to McGarrett. "The reporter was full of speculation and very little fact."
"He's hurt, but nothing that can't heal," Kono said quietly.
"And Mama?" Grace's head popped up. "Mama gives me cookies."
The little old lady had gotten up and was standing there waiting patiently.
"I am fine, keiki," she said gently. The girl surged up then carefully hugged the older woman. Then Steve moved and let them sit together.
Lapsing into silence, consumed by their own thoughts, time chose to continue onwards. Kamekona disappeared completely.