AN: Thanks to all my readers for reading, reviewing, PM-ing, and for being patient! Special thanks to my beta.
Chapter 20
General Hospital, Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, 1972
If there was any place that the young Inspector did not want to be in right at that moment, it was standing in Dr Moore's office facing Hawaii's top cop, McGarrett. The explosion that threatened to tear down the hospital walls combined with the young man's guilt was almost too much for Keller to take. Yet he stood his ground and took the pounding that rendered him speechless.
"How could you let him slip out of here? I trusted you, Keller! I trusted you to keep him safe and what did you do? You lost him! He's out there somewhere, with a serious head injury and the man who attempted to end his life is out on the streets, ready to try again!" McGarrett's temper has reached its crescendo as he verbally slammed into the Inspector. "Which way did he leave the hospital?"
"Look I'm really sorry I didn't-"
"I asked you a question!" McGarrett boomed, his steel blue eyes blazing with fury.
"He went into the elevator. By the time I got down to the lobby and hospital security blocked off all the exits, he was already gone. I didn't see which way he went, McGarrett. I'm sorry."
Before another round erupted from the detective, the door opened revealing an irate Dr Moore.
"Gentlemen, need I remind you that this is a hospital not a stadium? I can hear you all the way down the hall, Mr McGarrett! Kindly keep your voices down or I shall ask you to leave the building. I don't care how many badges you show me, I won't have you waking my patients and distressing them any further with your relentless hollering. Is that clear?" Dr Moore did not yell but his tone of voice made it profoundly clear he meant every word.
McGarrett took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself, then cleared his throat and said, "We're just about done, here. What was he wearing, Keller?"
"He was still in his hospital gown but I saw him carrying a bundle in his arms. When I checked his closet I saw his belongings were gone." Keller answered.
"Send out an APB. No. On second thoughts, I'll send it out myself!" McGarrett snapped then turned toward Dr Moore, "May I use your phone, Doctor?"
"Sure." Dr Moore answered crisply.
"Is there anything I can do?" Keller asked dejectedly.
"I think you've done enough, Inspector. Now, if you'll excuse me," McGarrett did not meet Keller's eyes as he picked up the receiver and dialled for the operator.
Taking the hint loud and clear that he was dismissed, Keller trudged out of the doctor's office with his head hung low. Dr Moore followed a moment later, seeing that the cacophony had ended.
…
Folsom Street, San Francisco, 1972
After changing into his casual clothes in an alleyway, Dan Williams found an old cap next to a dumpster and picked it up. He carefully placed it on his head in the hopes of hiding the bandage that circled his forehead. He walked at a steady pace down the street, keeping his head lowered to avoid unwanted attention. He wanted to walk faster but every now and then he was forced to stop and casually lean against the wall until the world stopped spinning. He figured it wasn't long until the effects of the pain killers wore off. A bus rolled to a stop at the curb and he realized he was standing next to a bus stop. Just before the bus pulled away again, Dan caught a glimpse of the destination sign at the front of it which read Chinatown. Something about Chinatown sounded familiar. As the pull grew stronger to, an idea formed in his mind. He checked his pockets for loose change and remembered his clothes had been laundered and he had no money on him. Great. He had thought about waiting for the next bus to take him to Chinatown but he needed money to pay for his fare. Sighing, he continued on his way.
Walking down an unfamiliar street in a strange city with no recollection of his identity, Dan felt so lost and alone. He shivered as a new sensation crept into his system, and it made him feel even more vulnerable. Fear.
…..
General Hospital, Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, 1972
The guilt ridden Inspector climbed into the passenger side of the tan sedan without making any eye contact with its driver.
"What's the matter, buddy boy? Did you decide you couldn't survive the afternoon without those seeds of yours?" Mike's chuckle ceased abruptly when he felt the vibes his partner was giving off. Something was very wrong. He had just returned to his office after grabbing a coffee when Inspector Tanner told him Keller had phoned in and requested that Stone pick him up. According to Tanner, the young Inspector sounded fine though he never mentioned his reasons for the shortened stay at the hospital. The Lieutenant thought it was odd but figured perhaps McGarrett had decided to camp out at General's cafeteria and didn't need the Inspector to stay.
"What's the matter, buddy boy?" Stone took on a more serious tone as he eyed his partner who looked rattled about something.
"I screwed up big time, Mike." Steve finally looked up into his mentor's eyes.
"What happened?" Stone cut the motor so they could talk.
"McGarrett trusted me. He placed Dan Williams' life in my care." Keller took a deep breath and let it out again.
"Steve, tell me what happened?" By now Stone's concern deepened. He'd never seen his partner this way before. He was shook up and the guilt in his eyes was all too obvious.
Keller relayed the events that took place at the hospital. When he was finished, Stone shook his head.
"Okay, first of all, I don't want you beating yourself up like this. Secondly, the way I see it is you got conned by Williams. I'm betting on him having already planned on running off before you were assigned to watch over him." Stone declared then paused to allow his words to sink in to his partner's guilt ridden mind. "Why didn't you call me?"
"Mike, it was bad enough I had to make the call to McGarrett!" Keller retorted sharply before lowering his voice, "I guess I just didn't think I could face you too." He turned away from his partner. What Keller really wanted to say was that he didn't think he could bear to look into his eyes. It was one thing to see the look of frustration and resentment in McGarrett's eyes but another thing to look into his partner's and see the disappointment and anger in them for his carelessness.
"You thought I was going chew you up and spit you back out now, didn't you?" Stone pressed.
"I screwed up." Keller mumbled, his eyes staring at the dash.
"Now you listen me!" Stone's commanding voice made Keller turn to face him once more. "We all make mistakes. That's what makes us human. McGarrett is just like the rest of us. He makes mistakes too. I'm not going to sit here wasting both our time reminding you of your mistake. Someone's done a good job of that already. Now, we have a detective to find. He's alone, confused and hurt. He's out there on the streets and it's our responsibility to find him." The Lieutenant gave his dejected partner an encouraging smile. "Am I getting through to you, buddy boy?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Not good enough! We're not moving until you look me in the eye and tell me I'm getting through to you."
"Yeah, Mike, I hear you! Now can we just go? We got a detective to find. He's alone, confused and hurt, remember?" A hint of a smile appeared on Keller's face.
"Don't you get cocky with me, buddy boy!" Stone mocked, relieved that he had his partner back on track. He started the ignition and pulled off the curb. The Lieutenant decided not to tell the young Inspector that he would have blown his top if it were Williams who had lost him. Keller was the closest thing he had to a son and he knew it himself that if anything happened to him, he would lose his cool. He'd been observing McGarrett's reactions toward Williams and he wasn't blind to the detective's protectiveness over his protégé. While he was not happy to hear about McGarrett's overzealous reaction when he berated his partner, he also understood the deeper reasons behind it. It was not just a matter of Keller's underestimating the wounded detective's intentions, it was McGarrett's personal feelings towards Williams. These were feelings that Stone could relate to when it came to his young partner who sat beside him.