A/N: Thank you, everyone, for reviewing and alerting. I'm so happy that you like this story as much as you do. I hope you like what is coming. While out at camp this story took a turn that I wasn't expecting, but you'll have to wait for the surprises and the whump for the next few chapters. I wasn't going to have a lot of it, and then one Character decided to show his face and I just have to get the whump in there now, but you'll have to wait for that.
For now, he's Danny's mom showing us just how much Daniel is like her and how deep their connection is. Hope you like it.
As always, I own nothing.
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Mother Knows Best
As the night wore on, Steve came back to the dining room and the group. He found them all in joyful conversation, just had he had left them, but he also found that they had ordered more drinks and the dinner patrons had changed over to the night crowd, as the band in the corner of the large room began to set up.
"What's going on?" Steve asked Danny as he sat down again.
"Mom and dad want to dance," Danny explained. "I chose this restaurant because I knew they had live Jazz every night after 9pm and an open floor." He added as his mother leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"So thoughtful," Veronica stated, "you can dance, can't you Steven?" she asked.
"Yes, I can, they teach you in the navy," Steve grinned.
"Sorry, Patrick, I'm going to have to dance with Steven first." Veronica stated excitedly.
"Alright, I'll dance with Jenna," Patrick smiled.
"Oh sir, I don't dance," Jenna said nervously.
"I'll teach you, you'll be fine," Patrick said in a matter of fact tone.
"You're not getting out of it now," Danny laughed. "Gracie, you gonna dance with your Danno?" he asked.
"Nope, Uncle Chin," Grace smiled.
Laughter erupted from the gathering at Danny's dejection.
"I'll dance with you Daniel," Rachel smiled, "we've always done rather well on the dance floor together."
"I miss it," Danny smiled lovingly.
"Then it is settled," She smiled and blushed.
"Then who is going to dance with Auntie Kono?" Grace asked as she looked around the table and did the simple math for herself.
"I'm going to take some pictures to remember tonight," Kono smiled. "I'm sure I'll get my turn," she added.
"Will you hold the second dance for me?" Patrick asked in his calm gentlemanly way.
"Of course I will," Kono smiled and Grace was cured of her worry.
5-0
The band struck up full of rich deep brass and a soulful singer with a voice that could rival Ella in tone and range, as Steve led Mrs. Williams out onto the dance floor.
"You are quite good at this Steven," Veronica praised.
"It's odd doing this in a civilian setting," Steve admitted, "I'm so used to dancing for naval functions but I don't think I've ever just danced for fun before."
"That is a shame," Veronica sighed, "we're dancers in the Williams clan. Bet you didn't know that about Daniel."
"No I did not," Steve smiled as he caught a glimpse of Danny dancing with Rachel and he too was doing rather well.
"My boys all learned very young, although they complained a great deal about dancing with their sisters, they enjoyed socializing with other young women at the weekly dances we would attend together." Veronica explained.
"Stop telling embarrassing stories about me Ma!" Danny stated as he nudged his mother.
"I would have complained about dancing with my little sister too, although I think I'd like it now." Steve said after Danny had moved away again.
"Tell me about her," Veronica smiled.
"I don't know much about her, really," Steve admitted sadly.
"What do you mean? She's your sister!" Veronica gasped.
"When we were young we got along, but I mean when we were really young and we built sand castles on the beach or colours picture. As we grew up we were the quintessential siblings I suppose. She was very girly as I remember her, and I was very much into cars and trains and boy things. As we grew up we moved apart. She was into art, music, parties with her girl friends. I was on the football team and I was contemplating scholarships and playing pro ball after high school, so it took up a lot of my time and Mary boycotted the whole jock and cheerleader clique. We clashed over it pretty harshly sometimes. And fought all the time over the stupidest little things, it used to drive my Father crazy." Steve explained. "When my mom was killed everything changed though, and I saw a softer side of my sister."
"You said your mother was killed in a car accident." Veronica sighed, "I'm very sorry Steven."
"Yes it was a car accident, or we believed that until recently. It wasn't until about a year ago that Mary and I bonded again over the accident. We both believed it was just an accident for the longest time, but out father was messed up by the events, so much so, that he split us up. I was sent to the naval academy because my father had contacts and my athleticism made me a great candidate. I had no choice, I had to go. Mary was shipped off toLos Angelesbecause she wanted to get into acting and modeling and my father had relatives there. So we were sent off to separate corners of the mainland. My dad would visit from time to time, but we'd never come back to Hawaii to see him and I think, in the nineteen years that I was away from Hawaii, I saw my sister five times. The last time I saw her was just before I was deployed. She surprised me, but I didn't even recognize her when she showed up. She scolded me for my choice to go over seas to fight, but she told me she would write to me because she was worried and because she knew I didn't have anyone else. I learned a lot about her in those letters and I really came to respect her, but I just never got to see her." Steve explained. "Then, this year, she came back toHawaiifor the first time, just after I had found out what had really happened to our parents. Mary showed her true colours and really proved to me that she is a McGarrett down to her core. She was brilliant, but she was taken because of the case and as an attempt to throw me off it, and I did exactly what my dad did and sent her back to the mainland to be safe."
The song stopped and Veronica looked at Steve in shock. Danny had seen and heard some of the exchanged and came to his mother's side before leading her and Steve off the floor. They ducked out of the restaurant and Steve watched as Danny forced his mother to sit down in one of the plush sofas of the hotels nearly deserted lounge.
"Come and sit with me Steven," Veronica said tearfully and Steve obeyed.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Williams. I shouldn't have told you that stuff about my family." Steve sighed but Veronica had reached out and taken hold of his hands. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"No, Steven, don't apologize." Veronica whispered, "You need someone to talk to. You've been robbed of your family, you have so much pain, and I can see it in your eyes. You poor thing." She said tearfully. "No mother, no father, no family to speak of, I just can't imagine what you are going through, dear."
"I've got Danny," Steve smiled half heartedly.
"You know everything?" Veronica asked looking at her son.
Danny nodded.
"Steven, I want to hear it from you, sweetheart, what happened, really; to your mother and father?" she asked.
"They were murdered because of my father's job, because of a case he was working on and getting too involved in." Steve sighed. "The car that my mother was driving had a bomb planted in it and that's what caused the car accident. My father always had his suspicions and later had the evidence to prove it and so to protect his children he sent us away. He pushed me into the navy to gain protection and strength, and he wanted Mary in the spot light so that she'd be protected too. Last year he was murdered because he got too close to solving my mother's case, and because he had found corruption in the same institution that he had pledged his service and his life too. I heard him murdered over the phone and I couldn't stop it," he said tears in his eyes, "I've made it my duty to solve what my father had gotten so close to, and because of that Mary was targeted. She was kidnapped from the house she was renting here and I only found her because of her strength and because of Danny."
Veronica had stayed stone faced throughout the tale; a look and manner Steve had seen in Danny when things were really serious. It wasn't until Steve had finished his tale and dried his eyes that Veronica's composure changed.
"Well that's just horrible," Veronica stated angrily, "what is this world coming to? Steven, you have to stop these people, you can never give up. Daniel, you have to help him, he may not be your brother, but he's as good as one." She stated.
"We're working on it Ma," Danny said calmly.
"Oh I'm just furious," Veronica hissed as she stood and began pacing.
"Ma, calm down," Danny said trying to stop his mother's erratic movements.
"I will not! Now sit down Daniel and listen," she ordered and Danny fell into the sofa next to Steve. "Now you boys listen to me and you had better listen well."
"Yes, ma'am," Danny and Steve echoed together.
"You are not to back down, that is not how you were brought up," she stated and pointed at her son, "it's going to be dangerous, it's going to be hard and you are going to feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and you'll want to give up, to run away, but you can't. Not now, not knowing what you know and seeing what you've seen. You can't let this happen to anyone else, do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am." The boys echoed again.
"Lord almighty, what is wrong with the world?" Veronica asked as she looked to the ceiling and Steve turned an amused glance at Danny. "What are people teaching their children these days? I just don't understand how these behaviors and these horrible things can be happening in this modern world. If I ever get my hands on the bad people, I'd show them a thing or two about respect. No, this is unacceptable, murder isn't right, do people not teach their children right from wrong?" she huffed as she ranted.
"Ma, calm down, not everyone is like you," Danny said.
"No, Daniel, I swear this is unacceptable," Veronica stated, "this shouldn't happen, not anymore."
"I know, Ma, but you can't change society," Danny said.
"Your friend has been robbed of a family, having been forced to live a life of danger and was forced into a career he never anticipated. Daniel, you chose to be a police officer and I am proud of you for it, but Steven wanted to play football. He wanted a different life, but he could never have that. All because his parents tried to do good, because his father made the same decision that you've made. Do you see the injustice in all of this?" she asked her tone rising with every word.
"I do Ma, I get it, really," Danny stated.
"I wouldn't change my life, now that I've lived it," Steve said trying to calm Veronica.
"It doesn't make it any more right, Steven, or fair." Veronica said.
"But Ma, it is what it is," Danny said seeing the distress in his mother.
"No buts, Daniel!" She stated.
Steve burst with laugher; having tried to hold it in as long as he could. He laughed so hard it brought tears back to his eyes and he had to gasp to catch his breath.
"Steven, what is it dear?" Veronica asked worry on her face now.
"I've heard these same reasoning's and words from Danny," Steve stated trying to control his laughter, "you remember that fight don't you?" he asked looking at Danny who had gone red in the face at the accusation, "you won't admit it, but you are your mother!"
Veronica stood before her silent son, her hands on her hips.
"Yes, it is true, I gave Steve this same lecture once before," Danny sighed and started laughing himself.
"Well at least we are all on the same page," Veronica smiled. "Everything is going to be alright, Steven," she added as she leaned over and wrapped her arms around him.
"I know, Mrs. Williams," Steve smiled at the embrace, "but thank you for the reassurance."
"Now, let's talk about the governor," Veronica stated as she squeezed in between the boys on the sofa, "what's going on with her?"
"These threats have her a little rattled, but we're working on it," Steve explained.
"No, I mean really," Veronica said. "She seems nice enough, but something's a miss. Don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't fully trust her as far as I could throw her. Now that doesn't mean you shouldn't do your job and protect her and all the innocent people of Hawaii, but she's too good for her own good, if you get what I'm saying." Veronica added and looked at her son.
Danny shot a look at Steve, who had been staring at Mrs. Williams in disbelief.
"I hate to sound clichéd, Steven, but you shouldn't trust anyone unless they earn your trust." Veronica said, "Your biggest asset is your intuition, trust that before you trust anyone."
"I will," Steve smiled.
"Alright my boys, that's enough seriousness for one night," Veronica stated as she stood, "come and dance with your mother, Daniel."
"Yes ma'am," Danny agreed and stood to join his mother.
"And Steven, please stop calling me Mrs. Williams. We are acquainted well enough now for you to call me Veronica, or even mom, but Mrs. Williams makes me feel old and like I should be your boss, and that's just not what I'm here for." She smiled.
"Alright, I'll stop," Steve smiled and followed Danny and his mother back into the dinning room.