Here's the next chapter. Thank you again for reading. And mahalo nui loa to Irene Claire! I'd love to hear what you think.
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Several hours after going to bed, a loud crash woke Steve out of a deep sleep.
As some of the dogs in the neighborhood started barking, he quickly got out of bed and picked up his gun. Quietly moving into the hallway, he started towards the steps leading downstairs when he heard a noise coming from the extra bedroom. "Danny" he breathed remembering that his friend was down the hall. Hurrying back into his room he sat the gun down carefully before moving towards the bedroom. Pushing open the door as he flipped on the light, he could hear Danny talking softly, but didn't see him in the room.
"Danny, where are you?" Steve asked as he surveyed the room. Spotting a small lamp and picture frame that were now laying on the floor, he noticed the normally closed closet door was now slightly ajar. Knowing what he'd find, he opened the door to discovered Danny sitting on the floor backed against the wall. Crouching down he said quietly, "Hey Danno, come on out. It's just another bad dream. Here, let me help you out of here."
Steve was not expecting to hear Danny threaten him. "You get away from me. Leave me alone or else..." Danny said in a low warning growl.
"Huh...wha...?" Surprised, he touched Danny's shoulder and received a clumsy blow to the jaw. "Owww! Hey wake up!" he said realizing that Danny was still fully dreaming.
Suddenly Danny's voice changed to one of fear. "Stop...Billy... no, no I don't want to come with you. NOOO Billy, go away." he yelled. "Air...Can't breath, too deep...need to...Faces...there are no faces..." Danny said starting to hyperventilate. Showing signs of an oncoming panic attack he lunged out of the closet shoving Steve aside. Tripping after a few feet he landed flat on the carpet.
Steve quickly moved to his side and held Danny's shoulders down. "Danny...dammit...quit struggling. Calm down...ouch! Come on, wake up. Slow down your breathing. There...there that's it. Everything's okay, you're safe. You're not in the ocean."
As Steve talked he could feel the panic finally leaving Danny. When he was finally still, Steve could tell that he was awake and once again aware of his surroundings.
"Danno, you with me now?" Steve said removing his hands from Danny's shoulders. "Man, I'm sorry about holding you down, but I was afraid you might have tried to go through the glass." He said nodding at the bedroom windows while helping Danny sit up."
"Oh no," Danny groaned. "Not again...'m good. It's okay now. I'm sorry Steve. I'm really sorry about that. I...I think I'll just drive to a beach somewhere so everyone can get some sleep. I didn't mean to wake the entire neighborhood." Danny said gesturing towards the windows and the still barking dogs. He looked exhausted but picked up his keys and wallet off the nightstand.
"Don't be insane. Put those down, you're not going anywhere. We're going to work this thing out. Besides you look dead on your feet and you wouldn't want to risk wrecking the Camaro." Steve sat down on the end of the bed. "Come on Danny, you need to tell someone what these nightmares are about. You can't keep doing this. What's going to happen if Grace is over and you have one? You'll scare her to death."
Danny looked away. "Already did. Twice. She was so upset that it took several hours to get her to go back to sleep. She apparently didn't say anything to Rachel, or I would have heard about it by now."
"You didn't, umm, accidentally hit her, or anything did you?" Steve asked, his hand absently moving to rub his jaw.
"What? You think I would hit…oh no. I didn't. God, I did." Danny said looking distressed. "You know I didn't mean that, right? Man, now I really feel terrible."
Steve looked at Danny with sympathy. "I know you didn't. And I understand about bad dreams. I remember once after a mission, can't tell you where cause it's classified," he said noticing Danny's eye roll, "waking up in a medical clinic screaming. Scared the guy next to me so bad his heart monitor went off."
"You're right." Danny said sadly. "I can't keep doing this. I feel like I haven't slept in months." Danny scrubbed his hands down his face. "I keep waking up the neighbors and I really don't want Grace to stay over knowing I'll probably have another one and scare her."
"Come on, Danno. Please tell me about it. You know I want to help if I can." Steve said hoping this time Danny would explain what the terrifying dreams were.
"I suppose I owe it to you after waking you up, not to mention the jaw." Danny replied.
Hesitating a moment he began, "I'm in the water and it's really deep. I see Billy and he's yelling, but I can't understand anything he's saying. It's getting dark, but I'm still searching for him. Suddenly he, or something, grabs my arm and pulls me under."
Pausing for a second, he continued. "It's really cold and I can't breathe. I finally manage to get away and swim back to the surface, but...but then he's there in front of me, but it's not him, at least not how he looked. And then there are more of them all reaching for me, trying to drag me under." Danny continued, his words coming a little faster. "They don't have entire faces. The eyes are gone, and I can see bones. Pieces of flesh have been eaten away by fish..." Danny shuddered.
Steve put his hand on Danny's shoulder. "God, no wonder you're having nightmares. Danny, Billy's drowning wasn't your fault. It was just an accident. It might help if you talked to a professional..."
"No! I'm not going to a shrink. Rachel find out about that and I will lose Grace. I feel better just telling you about it. That day we were in the dingy, well, I'm sorry for complaining the way I did. Steve, I know nothing that happened was your fault. I can swim and all, but since Billy water makes me nervous. Leave it to me to live on an island surrounded by the stuff."
Danny sighed. "Well, I guess I'll try to go back to sleep for a few hours. Tell you what, I'll buy the pancakes for putting up with me." He said attempting a more lighthearted tone.
"Okay, buddy, you're on. Hmmm, I think I'll have to swim just a bit longer than I normally do though so I'll be extra hungry, since you're buying. Try to get some sleep and hey Danno, sweet dreams." Steve said flashing him a grin.
Danny just shook his head as Steve left for his room. Although Danny desperately wanted to go back to sleep, he couldn't get the images out of his mind and ended up staring at the ceiling for the rest of the night.
The sun hadn't been up long when Steve entered the water for his morning swim. Although he was quiet, Danny, already awake and dressed, had heard him going out the back door.
Going downstairs and to the kitchen, Danny started a pot of coffee while he waited for Steve to complete his morning ritual.
"Who else but Steve gets up at the crack of dawn to swim around this pineapple invested hell hole?" he said muttered fondly.
When the coffee was ready, he poured a cup and took it with him as he wandered outside. Slipping off his shoes, he walked barefoot to the deck chairs and sat down to watch the new day begin while waiting for his partner. Observing Steve still swimming in the distance, he shuddered while wondering what types of hungry creatures were also in the water looking for their breakfast.
Suddenly, he spotted a small hot pink and white colored motor boat which was heading towards Steve. Instantly alert, Danny stood up and shouted a warning but Steve was too far out. As he watched with dread, the boat closed the distance to his vulnerable partner. Danny saw Steve stop and turn, but by then boat was upon him.
The slight swells muffled the noise of the motor as it approached Steve. Nearing the end of his swim and slightly out of breath, he heard a rumbling sound and looked up. Not seeing anything ahead, he stopped and treading water looked around to find the noise. Turning he spotted a boat hurtling towards him, the rider wearing a black ski mask to hide his face. Steve knew diving might be the only thing that could save him but before he could, the man aboard turned the wheel sharply while throwing a small object. Quickly the boat veered away and roared off, the man at the wheel glancing back once.
Danny watched alarmed when he saw the man throw something before the boat sped away. Hitting the clear blue water, it exploded with a loud bang. Water surged high into the air, cascading down moments later. Frantically he searched the area where Steve had been.
Quickly yanking out his phone he hit the speed dial. "Chin!" he said in a panicked voice. "Steve's house. He was swimming and a guy on a small pink motor boat just threw a bomb at him. It exploded! I don't see Steve anymore. Hurry!"
Chin was half asleep when he picked up the phone to hear Danny's voice filled with fear. "Danny, what happened? Where's Steve?"
And just before the call disconnected, he heard Danny pleading "Chin, please hurry!"