I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: I know there is some concern about Ponch retiring; but he must because it's right for him at this time in his little "OC" life. He is far from gone though; so no fear there!

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Chapter 18

Ponch never made it to the supermarket. Without thought and on automatic pilot, he wound up in the parking lot of TAMC and was soon walking down familiar halls to his darkened office. No one stopped or questioned him on the way. He didn't know how or when he found himself sitting behind his desk with the lights still turned off and his private space only brightened by the sun coming through the partially opened blinds. By then he had totally forgotten the errands which Ellen had sent him on and he completely lost track of time. He wasn't sure if he was even thinking or merely listening to the intimately familiar hospital sounds and relishing the medicinal smells that were intertwined with his very being.

"I didn't know you were here." Calmly, he looked up from where he'd been staring at his blotter and absently trying to balance a pencil on end of its eraser.

"It's Saturday, Mary-Pat. Why are you here?" His administrator of the last twelve years was quite happy to see him, but as always, far from demonstrative. Mary-Pat was exactly the type of person suited to work with his acerbic personality for she could be as abrasive as himself. The two were never at odds though as like fostered like at least in their situation.

"Case work. We're a bit short-staffed." She cocked her head coyly at him to imply that it was entirely his fault. "Why are you here?"

"Hmm. I didn't quite plan to be here and I don't doubt that I may be breaking the law yet again by trespassing." Ponch admitted with a short laugh. Peppered hair tightly arranged in an old fashioned bun on top of her head, Mary-Pat pruned her lips which made her look even more matriarchal. In fact, she looked much like Mrs. Hannigan from the classic musical 'Annie' which even Ponch had once brazenly pointed out to her in private. Instead of being angry, Mary-Pat had laughed because Mary-Pat couldn't refute the similarity to the sometimes sour character.

"What do you do next?" Mary-Pat asked, ever so blunt. One hand waved in a wide circle in front of her as if conjuring up a potion of sorts. Her gold bracelets tinkled and chimed as the circle kept moving round and round.

"With this probationary work? Will you be able to at least do something where you can make a difference?" The tone of her voice held a rude displeased quality and Ponch almost interrupted her because what the judge had decided wasn't going to be a poor penance. She was also furious about TAMC's suspension where he was not the least bit offended. Then, Mary-Pat didn't trust what the courts might have decided and it was obvious she was leery of what they would foist upon her now ex-boss.

"It's not bad, M." In fact, he was looking forward to the experiences where he would be fully using his talents. "I'll be at the Veteran's Hospital twice a week and twice a week at the Medical Mission Free Clinic. I can even pick a rotation and hours of my choice as long as they meet the monthly requirements."

He didn't need to say anything about the shady environment where the free clinic was located as Mary-Pat's face hardened a bit more. She clearly felt he was much better than stuck working at a small, free clinic that would undoubtedly suffer from lack of funds and proper medical supplies. Then again, that was the point of his community service and Ponch was quite pleased. Based on the rough sound emanating deep from her throat, Mary-Pat remained disgusted.

As if to make his point sink home, Ponch leaned forward and smiled. "M, it really is going to be a good thing."

She didn't reply as she tucked her arms firmly in front of her chest. Her glasses which had been tipped on the bridge of her nose, slid down and toppled down only saved by their faux pearl-pebbled necklace chain. She studied him long and hard before digging her perfectly manicured finger nails into her blouse.

"Now what?" Ponch sighed tolerantly as he absorbed her discerning, piercing gaze.

"Should I get you a box." Statement not question was offered like a cutting sword and Ponch's hand quieted on the desk. He thought he would feel sad by the realization of what he would do next. He even thought that Mary-Pat's challenging statement should actually anger him. Instead, he found himself smiling and feeling a true sense of righteousness with the world .. his world.

Ellen. His only concern would be his wife and her reaction to his official retirement without a proper discussion. Not waiting for a verbal reply from him, Mary-Pat offered her own style of grim smile. "I'll get you one; maybe two and help, Doctor."

Oddly after so many years, it didn't take the two of them very long to neatly organize his belongings. "Believe it or not, I will miss you." Mary-Pat admitted after carrying the second box out to his car.

"In fact, I will miss you very much so you had best visit quite often." Ponch was surprised to see true emotion in her eyes before he too was clearing his throat against a tightness and awkwardly patting her hand between his two.

"It's been a long time, M." She grinned at her nickname which completely altered her Mrs. Hannigan demeanor and he tweaked her nose. "Do that more often, Hannigan, it suits you."

"You are an old, cocky fool." Mary-Pat retorted as he slid behind the wheel of his large SUV.

"Yes we are, aren't we?" He teased her back slyly, and her smile grew to agree. She frowned quizzically when he made the opposite turn out of the large TAMC parking lot. He evidently had elsewhere to go instead of going home. She watched for a long time as he drove away before heaving a huge sigh and returning to her own office. No one would hear the rumor nor truth of it from her, but it would be interesting to see the the fall-out from this spectacular event in the life of Doctor Alfonse Ramirez.

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After putting Becca to bed for a nap, Ellen found Danny staring blindly out the sliders in the direction of the rabbit hutch. Two things had happened in the last few minutes, both of which unsettled him greatly. One, was obviously his realization that Rebecca was indeed harboring some very real fears completely unrelated to caring for her rabbit. The second had to do with a text message he'd just received from Steve.

"Call me. Marcus has the key."

As brief as it was, the information from the FBI about Frank Curtis's elusive key put Danny instantly on edge. Which wasn't saying much after his short stumble, nor what he just had witnessed with Rebecca. His flashback near the rabbit hutch though was compounded by the receipt of six simple texted words; and he was truly a bundle of raw nerves by the time he sensed Ellen behind him.

"..the fate of these precious children is quite suspect." Danny felt sick to his own stomach at the dire promise which attested to Curtis's terrible penchant for child trafficking and his emotions began to churn inside him even though the children were safe. The man was dead. Doctor Ramirez had seen to that. But Danny suddenly had an overpowering urge to leave since Steve was telling him the FBI had found the key. He needed to know more for his own sanity, yet he had to speak to Ellen first.

"I think she's sleeping already." Ellen whispered softly as she put tea on for the two of them. Though unsettled by these other major distractions, he had been deciding on what to say to Ellen during the time she'd been in the bedroom.

"Ellen, how long has Becca refused to take care of Finster?" Danny turned from the window with a very pensive look on his face. He already knew the answer. It would date back to whenever Becca first came home with her aunt. It would have worsened gradually day by day without anyone particularly noticing, especially with both her father and uncle facing their own challenges which the only other capable adult had tried to balance.

At first wanting to ask gently and possibly coax her into the concept, Danny couldn't help himself from elaborating and getting to his point more quickly. Before Ellen could adequately respond, Danny found himself spewing everything he had vowed not to just moments earlier.

"She's afraid you know. Not of the house or the rabbit really. More of the place and what happened out there." He knew that Becca was seeing a therapist but that was all Danny was aware. Nothing else was of his right to know and he would never interfere. In fact, what he had said that very moment could be misconstrued as meddling and he stayed somewhat cautious of Ellen's reaction.

"Becca was taken by the hutch and Mike .. well, he was shot right there." Danny's voice faded for a moment and he blinked hard to dispel his own memories. He envisioned Grace hiding at first in the bathroom and then his eyes fell to the cabinets in the kitchen. Steve had told him about the lower cabinets and he still couldn't believe Grace had managed to wedge herself into such a tiny space. With a knife.

Danny had to pause to swipe an imaginary itch away from his temple. He lost his train of thought suddenly because he had spoken to Grace and she seemed fine but now … now, he had his own growing list of doubts. Fighting to get back on topic, Danny finally managed to voice his original conclusion. "So, what I'm trying to say is that Becca is scared."

Ellen hadn't seen the immediate aftermath of the scene. HPD and the CSU had processed it completely while she had remained at the hospital for hours. It had been almost two full days and possibly longer before she returned home. And by then, that same rain storm had washed away any residual gore or evidence. Ellen knew but in reality, she simply didn't know.

"It's scary for her, Ellen. It's not Finster .. it's not laziness." Danny couldn't stop talking though Ellen's eyes were welling with tears. "It's too fresh in her mind."

"Oh." The observations clearly startled her and she vacillated between defending her niece and wondering how or why she hadn't seen the signs herself. With a thump, Ellen sat down on the closest chair and covered her mouth with one hand.

"Oh. God. Oh." The sounds were breathed out in wonder and a great deal of sadness. She sat there fairly stunned until Danny moved into her line of sight and took her other hand. "I am so stupid. Danny, what have I done?"

"She's going to be fine. Really. But it's not Finster and she's not sick; she also doesn't have a stomach ache from eating too much candy." He sniffed at her last comment and shook his head to negate it. "Becca is exceptionally independent and self-sufficient. She is very good at hiding her feelings or making up unique excuses where she may even fool herself, sometimes."

Danny frowned as he tapped the table to get Ellen's attention. "And by the way, no. No, you are not stupid."

"How can you say that?" Ellen was in tears as she thought about her severe tone and practically forcing the child to do something when she was frightened. "I was so mean to her just now, and she's scared. How could I do that to her?"

"You didn't do anything wrong." Danny squeezed her hand again to get her attention and then he raised one finger warningly in her face. "I don't know much .. but I do know some things and you do, too. You know this, Ellen, from serving in the Army and being around trauma."

"I haven't been careful enough. I should have realized it wasn't that damn rabbit. She loves Finster." Ellen was listening, but only barely after getting caught up in how she had just reprimanded her niece for a water bottle. "I am so, so stupid!"

Danny almost throttled her hand and Ellen winced as he demanded her full attention. "Do not treat her so much differently that you compound this; you have to remain as normal as possible and bend where she needs it. Caring for her bunny is normal, Ellen. It's okay!"

A sudden noise startled them both, making Danny lurch to his feet. Eyes wide and on the defensive, he went for his non-existent sidearm and came face to face with Mike whose hands were raised in mock surrender. The taller man's expression was a mix of ironic sarcasm and a deep concern for them both since his fingers were vibrating just ever so slightly before he rubbed his palms on his jeans.

"You, too?" Mike stated dryly as Danny shakily ran his one good hand over his face and through his hair, leaving it mussed and out-of-place. Then he gripped Mike's shoulder once with his right hand to apologize. In reality, it was to regain some of his own equilibrium against the soreness he had sparked in his side and to give his thudding heart time to resume its rightful place in his chest.

Frowning at the barely hidden grimace, Mike bent his head quizzically in Danny's direction. "You okay?"

"Yup. On both counts." Danny quipped back with a rueful grin and another solid pat against Mike's chest to add some value to his words. Everyone was jumpy and on edge it seemed, and Danny didn't miss the somewhat distracted look on his friend's face.

"We didn't hear you come in. We were talking about Becca .. she doesn't feel well but it's more than that." Danny explained.

"I know." Mike indicated that he already understood because he had also heard enough of their conversation. It was no stretch to know that something had happened with his daughter. "I know and I just spoke to Doctor Naihe, too. Where is she? In her room?" Wiping tears off her cheeks, Ellen nodded as Mike left them to gently pursue Doctor Naihe's instinctive suggestions.

"I should go. We can do lunch another time." Danny whispered as he retrieved his car keys and squeezed Ellen's fingers. Inside, he was anxious to be on his way. He was desperate to know about the key and Mike's arrival provided him with the ideal reason. "Let me know if I can help."

Tearfully, Ellen nodded again before getting up to give Danny a hug. "You just did and I guess Mike knows something more now, too." Ellen still couldn't help feeling that what had happened was her fault though even as Danny disputed it quietly one more time.

"I'm serious. Don't dwell because it serves no purpose and it helps no one. Plus, you can't do it all, Ellen." Danny smiled encouragingly to her as left the house. Walking quickly to his car, he was already speed-dialing Steve who he hoped was home.

Continuing to feel guilty, Ellen lingered in the doorway knowing that he was right, but also wondering where her husband had disappeared to hours now after leaving for the supermarket.

~ to be continued~