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

Notes: this went WAY astray - I promise only a couple of chapters left. Though the scent of a sequel is in the air!

Steve's Vietnamese pork sandwich recipe. *4 boneless broiled pork chops, *Mayo to taste, *1 ounce chili sauce with garlic, *1/4 fresh lime juice, *1 small red onion cut into rings, *1 sliced cucumber, *1 finely shredded carrot, *2TBS chopped cilantro, *salt/pepper to taste.

1. Marinade shredded carrot, sliced cucumber and onion rings in rice vinegar plus 1 tsp of sugar. (marinade as the chops are browning)

2. Brown chops; slice thinly.

3. Spread chili sauce directly on the meat. Sprinkle with a little lime juice and top with slices of onion, cucumber, cilantro, salt and pepper. Finish with another quick drizzle of lime juice. Eat on bread of choice! (usually a crusty bread; but Hawaiian Sweet Bread I hear is excellent too. Recipe is good with grilled chicken)

* H50 * H50 * H50 * H50 * H50 *

Chapter 19

Steve had hold of both of Danny's shoulders as soon as he saw the look on his face. At first worried about the beads of sweat and pallor, the stricken and haunted eyes which caused him to fly into action. "What happened? What's wrong?"

"I'm fine. I just had a bit of a moment and it caught me off guard." Danny laughed, or at least he tried to around a roughness in his throat. "I'm sure you've had them too. But maybe it's something they teach you in SEAL-school to ignore by using that steely Navy SEAL death glare of yours."

"Funny, Danno." Worried and confused by the odd references, Steve's concern grew as Danny stumbled over the doorstep when he allowed himself to be much too easily guided towards the sofa. He left him there then, sitting on the edge of the middle cushion with his head bowed almost between his knees. The ache from his healing rib and stitches prevented a more beneficial angle, though this was already working well enough to help him combat the dizziness and nausea.

"Did you eat today?" His weakened posture was telling and even though Steve knew he'd been at the Ramirez home, he wanted to be certain as Danny yanked his medication from a pocket and then grimaced when the answer was strangely no. Ponch had been sent out for the food-stuffs and Danny hadn't even realized that the big doctor hadn't quite returned before he left. Before he and Becca had similar episodes and long before Mike had even come home.

"No, we sort of .. forgot .. I guess." The excuse was weak at best and very muffled as Danny virtually spoke into the floor.

"Well, why not! How could you all forget?" Snatching the pill bottle away, Steve stormed into his own kitchen only to return with a glass of water but no medication.

"Seriously. I haven't had this happen since I was rookie." Idly tossing his car keys to the coffee table, Danny complained into the water glass as his splinted left hand lay across his lap. As he spoke he stared at the splint until it wavered and then blended into a white and metal haze. He zoned out until he had Steve virtually in his face and shoving a hastily made sandwich under his nose.

"What are you talking about? What hasn't happened?" Confused, Steve stood over him with his hands on hips.

"What is this?" Danny was leery as he eyed the sprouted wheat bread with bits of greenery sticking out the sides. "Cucumber? Why is the bread alive?"

"Beggars can't be choosers and obviously you need your meds. Eat it." Steve demanded as he sat next to him on the sofa. "What the hell happened and how did you manage to drive like this?"

"You have a steely death glare." Danny dutifully took a bite, chewed and swallowed followed by a strange and approving glance once towards Steve. "Me? I have Jersey fortitude."

The too bland description and yet not enough information only made things worse as Steve angrily watched Danny use his left forearm to rid his face of sweat. Both of his hands were still trembling and he was only now regaining more normal color. "This is not funny. You could easily have a relapse."

"You just negated yourself, partner. Is it funny or not?" Unappreciative of the bad joke, Steve's ire rose and he had to bite his tongue. Anger turned to disgust though, and then a calm as Steve watched Danny demolish half the sandwich and then scoop up the remainder. He was using the splinted index finger of his injured hand to keep it from opening up and spilling its tasty contents to the plate. All conversation had completely stalled as Danny focused on the food.

"You want another?" Amazed by the disappearing act, Steve didn't wait for a reply as he made two more sandwiches to join Danny in the impromptu lunch.

"What is this?" Danny mumbled as he started on his seconds with gusto.

"Leftover Vietnamese pork on sprouted wheat." He laughed as Danny's eyes bugged out and he swallowed hard, but now possibly in awe of Steve's cooking talent.

"You made this?" Danny opened the top half of the sandwich and poked through the cucumber to pull out a finely sliced piece of roasted pork that had bits of greenery and an enticing spicy dressing. Without a second thought, he popped it into his mouth happily. "It's delicious."

"Trust me, it's also very easy." Steve replied, though he was quite pleased with the compliments.

"It doesn't look or taste easy. Ergo, it is not easy." Danny insisted as he pushed the bread back together and finished every crumb from his plate. "I resent this particular secret, Steven. Though I can see how it might seriously threaten national security."

The grin continued and Steve was impressed when Danny decided he didn't need the medication. Feeling tired but undeniably better than when he had first arrived, Danny pushed the pill bottle away when Steve handed it to him. "Now. Tell me about the key."

"Uh, no. Absolutely not." Aiming the glare directly at Danny for trying to so blithely change the subject, Steve shook his head while piling the finished lunch plates on top of each other and leaving them balanced in the middle of the coffee table.

"You first, pal. What happened to you? What got you so messed up?"

"The morning hasn't been the greatest." The aggrieved sigh was on the heels of Danny flopping backwards into the couch. "I had a tiny issue at the house. Just a bad moment when I saw Mike just when he got shot .. just laying there .. but then Becca had one, too."

Taking his time, Danny described the last few hours in minute detail to Steve. He told him everything about himself, Rebecca becoming physically ill, and then his startled reaction to Mike arriving home.

"Ellen's blaming herself about Becca, but Mike will set her straight. I'm at least sure of that." But then and because of all those things combined, Danny tapped Steve's knee worriedly.

"I need to see Grace. Today. I need to make sure she's okay."

"Alright, Danny. That makes perfect sense and you should." Steve muttered softly. "I agree with you and can come along if you want ... even if I just drive you over to Rachel's because actually, I'm taking your keys as of now."

Swiping the keys from the coffee table, Steve finalized the decision on the fly as he neatly pocketed the set before Danny could react. Though he looked better than when he had first arrived, he was still emotionally exhausted which had done an excellent job of also sabotaging his physical energy. Steve meant it as he prepared to dig in hard since he fully expected Danny to argue.

"You're right." Steve was pleasantly surprised when Danny suddenly agreed and his next words were laced with his thanks. "She called you, Steve. Grace called you and you took care of her first. You were there when neither her mother nor I could be .. so yes, you should be included in this. We both need you .. it would help us both ... if you could be there."

Almost rendered speechless, Steve had to force his mouth to work. "Okay, sure. I'd be happy to, Danno."

Slumping back more into the sofa, Danny flung his arm over his eyes. Frank Curtis had done a number on him this time and the mobster had truly come too close to winning. "He was a sick, sick man. So sick and he would have really sold that little girl as if she were absolutely nothing. Mike would never have seen her again."

He barely heard the next mumbled words, but Steve himself easily recalled Danny's first desperate questions about Grace's true whereabouts. "He told me that he had her there and I believed him. He swore that he did and that I'd never see her or Becca ever again. I totally believed him, Steve."

Steve remained quiet as Danny closed his eyes and continued to talk while sharing his real and more helpless fears. "How many has he already done this to? How many are out there and lost to their families? What if no one is looking for them? What if no one cares?"

Brooding, Steve painfully ground his jaw as his gaze dropped to study his hands. He had the answer because Jim Marcus had the key and they'd found the safe deposit box after searching six different banks in Las Vegas. The FBI had reviewed the three recorded DVD's in living color and had counted fourteen children. Fourteen little girls actually and work was in progress to put names to the frightened faces.

He didn't want to tell Danny. He wasn't sure if he should before his friend had arrived and now, Danny's tenuous emotional condition made it all the worse. But he owed him the answer and in reality, Steve would never withhold the findings. He certainly wanted to, but he couldn't.

"Fourteen." Without looking up, he simply said the count and waited for Danny to mentally catch up. "Fourteen that the FBI is now aware of. Fourteen that may have a chance of at least being found." Steve winced because being 'found' only started the true battle; being 'found' didn't solve anything. Not really. But it would be a beginning.

Danny had his arm rocked over his face as he lay sprawled against the back of the sofa. That same am fell limply to his side as he stared in askance and utter disbelief. Drained of energy once more, his voice was barely audible. "That's impossible."

But Steve was shaking his head because obviously it wasn't as it had already occurred. "Not all the videos are date or time-stamped, so the FBI doesn't know really how old some of them are. But Marcus is the best, and he vows to find each and every one of these kids."

* H50 * H50 * H50 * H50 * H50 *

It was out of the question to wander discreetly into the clinic. Doctor Ramirez was simply too large to wander and hardly ever discreet; he was also very intrigued by the prospect as he absorbed the people and environment.

The clinic had once been a large house and it was more remote than he had been made aware of, too. Besides himself, his large SUV stood out like a sore thumb amongst shabby houses, pot-holed dirt roads and .. loose chickens. The jungle was close and he was nowhere near even the sounds of the ocean by the time he parked and stood staring at the clinic's wide white steps, partially enclosed verandah, and screened front door.

Why he thought that he might succeed in trying to take a quick peek inside the long one-story building, was a complete mystery as a small Asian woman instantly latched onto his arm.

"You are doctor?" She demanded to know in broken English. A small child hung onto her pretty floral dress and the woman was most obviously quite pregnant.

"Uh, yes. Has someone helped you yet?" Although covering it well, she was obviously distressed as sweat dotted her forehead making her hair stick to her pinked cheeks.

But he knew the answer as he took note of the sheer volume of people milling about the waiting room. Room would be a kind word, for it was hardly more than a large open space with limited seating and a glass-fronted reception area which attempted to barricade whomever was on the other side from the common masses. The entire front half of the old house had been gutted to make the room which was now covered in broken, yellowed tile.

No one was helping anyone based on his first assessment.

"You help now?" She gestured to herself and almost horrified, he saw that her water had already broken, though she was hardly concerned. "My second." She smiled happily while trying to show off her first born.

"This is Malaya." The five year old shyly smiled to show off the center gap caused by two missing top teeth, before sticking her thumb back in her mouth. Unperturbed about anything going on around her, Malaya doggedly hung onto her mother's dress hem.

"I am Li. Please help? I can not find Doctor Jassz." A ripple of pain crossed Li's face and Ponch's mouth dropped open as she nearly fell to her knees. He steadied her as she determinedly held her stomach and trusted that he at least, might do something.

"Please help. Yes? Now?"

"Yes!" With a barely silenced oath, Ponch simply picked the petite woman up in his arms before a strong contraction sent her totally to her knees. Embarrassed, she gasped and then clung to his neck Then he glanced down surprised to find Malaya simply tagging along without question.

"Excuse me." Ponch's first shout through to the reception desk barely caused a response. The two nurses or aides or assistants never looked up to his loud voice and he stood there stunned for a moment. "This woman needs help …Hey!"

He waited a split second before deciding that he sounded ridiculous as Li cringed painfully in his arms. "Well, Li, let's go right in shall we?"

The Asian woman smiled bravely and nodded as he began walking. Guessing on the right direction, he ducked around people and then through what appeared to be the main door towards the hallway of mis-matched examination rooms. Another sea of people greeted him on the other side of the swinging doors and it was only slightly more organized than the chaos in the waiting room. With Li in his arms and Malaya following, he was instantly stopped by a young harried doctor.

"Who are you? You're not allowed back here." His name tag said Parker and Ramirez immediately bristled since the man was obviously both rude and quite blind to his now whimpering burden. "Get out. Now. You'll have to wait until called."

"Are you insane? This woman is literally about to have a child! Is there a Doctor Jazz or Jazsh around here? If not, I need a room and supplies." Ponch growled as he brushed past the younger man. There was no way he would trust the incompetent fool that seemed to be masquerading as a physician. A strong tug on his arm pulled him roughly around and Ponch almost lost Li, who squeaked in alarm. The same fingers were surprisingly strong as they dug deeply into his bicep to bring him almost off-balance.

"I told you that you can't be back here." Behind him, Ramirez felt at least three others close in around them. "Put her down and leave before you invite even more trouble on yourself!"

"You know what? I suggest you back off and do it now." Ramirez promised in a low, threatening voice.

"Uh, Alan." Another young voice perhaps slightly more reasonable sounded and Parker's hand dropped from Ramirez's elbow. There was a bit of awe and respect in the tone as he offered Doctor Parker a few simple words of advice.

"This is him and you're making a big mistake right now." Agreeing with Doctor Ramirez, the newcomer rounded on Parker angrily. "A huge mistake. So yeah .. back off."

"Really?" Parker's cold eyes narrowed as he measured the big man towering so formidably over his own lanky frame. "You're Ramirez? Our very own resident jailbird?"

"Excuse me?' Petite Li hunkered down to Ponch's chest almost in fear as her stalwart rescuer seemed to grow in size and an obvious anger. Next to him, Malaya even felt the change and she pulled her thumb from her mouth to now hang onto Doctor Ramirez's pants leg. Large innocent eyes stared up at him in wonder as she considered bursting into tears.

"Alan! What's wrong with you!" The man who had spoken just moments before hissed in shock as he rounded on his peer. He had a hand instantly on Parker's chest to forcibly back the man up into the corridor's dirty wall. Turning to Ponch, he was clearly embarrassed as he faced the angry ex-TAMC surgeon who still held Li and whose contractions were increasing in frequency. It was also obvious to Ponch that these two men had their own issues based on the overtly antagonistic behavior.

"First, let's take care of this young woman. Room four is open." Nodding towards it and swooping Malaya into his arms, the doctor rudely pushed Parker one more time into the wall for good measure. The ill-mannered doctor grimaced as the back of his head physically connected with the plaster.

"Li has been here since learning she was pregnant. I know her and this little lady very well." Forcing his anger down, Ponch relaxed as his newfound supporter defused the volatile situation. With a look that warned Parker of trouble yet to come, the unnamed doctor soothed Malaya with a lolly-pop while ushering Ramirez forward.

"Then we can start over while you explain why you are here so early .. we expected to welcome you this coming Monday."

Grunting his thanks and moving quickly towards the room indicated, Ramirez cradled Li as she stiffened in pain and gripped his arm. As soon as the door closed to the examination room, he gently placed Li on the table and began his search for medical supplies. He was quickly learning not to be surprised that Examination Room Four had once been the home's spare guestroom. Though aged, at least it had been outfitted somewhat properly with plumbing, counters and sinks. However, he was clueless about where to locate what he wanted and needed to care for the young woman.

"Gloves? Sheets, towels? Epidural? Where are your intravenous fluids?" Ramirez was forced to wait as the man he was now with looked at him with some amusement. He had put Malaya on a plastic chair in the corner after magically presenting her with yet another lolly-pop to keep her entertained. She smiled her charming toothless grin as she patted her pocket to save it for later.

"We operate using a frugal business model." Ensuring Li was as comfortable as she was going to get, he stuck his hand out for a formal introduction.

"Doctor Jasper Mitchell, orthopedics. Call me Jazz; even the patients do. But I'm sure you know we all pitch in and do whatever is needed. Unless of course, you're Doctor Alan Parker."

"Obviously, you know who I am." Ramirez drawled sarcastically as he warily eyed the bare basics of implements that Jasper had assembled on a raised tray. Only his friends called him Ponch and he certainly was put off enough to not invite such familiarity by his first experiences at the overwhelmed and poorly managed free clinic. His early opinion had only worsened since walking through the front door. At that moment, only Doctor Jasper Mitchell was keeping his mood in check.

"Please run this I.V. and tell me why you are here .. so early?" Mitchell requested as he located the required items in an obscure cabinet. Astonished at the lack of a nurse, let alone an obstetrician, Ramirez hid his growing concern as he quite competently did as asked.

"I thought I'd swing by.. introduce myself." Ramirez admitted wryly while watching Jasper expertly evaluate Li and her baby regardless of having limited supplies.

"It's fine. Though you would have saved yourself the pleasure of Parker at least for another day or two." Barely listening, Jazz was focused on Li who was firmly gripping his hand but he was well aware of the big doctor's harsh judgment of both staff and dismal state of the clinic, of which he didn't blame or begrudge him. Parker was a problem for all of them and one that the clinic didn't need, but they had no way of getting rid of the obnoxious, lazy and sub-par doctor. It was too much to explain and frankly, he didn't have to because Ramirez would learn about it all soon enough.

"Doctor Jassz." Li panted worriedly through a strong contraction. "Is now early?" But he was smiling to both Li and Ramirez with confidence as he readied for the birth of Li's second child.

"No, Li. The baby is fine and so are you." Ramirez was thrilled to get to work helping Jazz deliver the child. Even more happy when the healthy baby boy was placed safely on his excited mother's chest and Malaya giggled at being able to see her brother squall and squeak with his bright-red newborn face. With the state of the clinic and lack of suitable supplies, Ramirez was relieved beyond words for Li to have such a text-book birth.

There were no nurses though and he was stunned to be managing the entire event from start to finish nearly companionably with Jasper Mitchell. "Ortho?" Ramirez muttered to Jasper's amused shrug and apparent nonchalance about having delivered the healthy baby boy.

"I've lost count." Jasper smiled as he further explained some of the comings and goings at the clinic. "We have an O.B. that comes in once or twice a month. She's great but as a volunteer, she can do only so much for us around her regular practice. So, by design those of us working here full-time, have to do it all - whatever that might be."

Settling mother and child in a small recovery area which Ponch was thoroughly amused to identify as an old walk-in pantry, Li was already making moves to depart and Jazz was having difficulty having her understand that he wanted her to rest at least two extra hours while nursing.

"Husband happy. Nice boy." Li whispered excitedly. "Thank you for Adan. Doctor Jassz. Doctor .. who?" She questioned Ponch and he introduced himself awkwardly as Ramirez to Li's beaming thankful smile.

"Keep him." She advised Mitchell very seriously as she put his hand on top of Ramirez's much larger one. "Good doctor. Good man, like you. Get rid of other one. Lazy .. no care."

And there it was. Jasper didn't have to say anything since one of his sweet patient's had no issue voicing her own opinion. "Thank you, Li." He said loudly and with an unhidden level of exasperation at her bluntness.

Completely embarrassed and snatching his hand away, Jasper sighed dramatically while Li almost too smartly looked from Ramirez back to him. Ramirez had to chuckle at the astute woman's sparkling eyes. She was peacefully nursing Adan and Malaya was now contentedly coloring in a large blank notebook on the edge of the small bed. Jasper knew that Li in particular did not like Parker; not many of the regulars did. However, Li was most vocal about not trusting the unfriendly doctor. It was a compliment that she whole-heartedly approved of their newest staff addition regardless of how he had gotten there and if he was permanent, temporary or merely volunteering like the dull Alan Parker.

"Wait one moment." Ramirez caught on quickly that Li would leave as soon as she was done with the first nursing of her newborn. "That's it? She's just going to leave? How did she get here?"

"She most likely walked since her husband works on a coffee plantation." Jazz lay his hand on the doctor's arm and shook his head because this was it; this was what they were all about unless the patient were in dire need. Li herself expected to leave as quickly as her son had arrived. If he got her to stay one hour, he considered himself lucky.

"We call an ambulance like Joe Public if we need transport for critical care." Ramirez rocked on his toes in shock at that startling bit of information. Then nearly gawked as Jazz continued explaining their very public, very poor demographic.

"But even then, our typical patient might refuse to go or the hospital may decline treatment without insurance. Sometimes, the ambulance doesn't even come so one of us will drive our patient to the closest hospital."

Ramirez had to remember to slam his mouth shut. What he was being told he might expect from a third world, remote populace. Certainly not so near his own backyard and he was astonished, shocked and angry all at once. "This is ludicrous."

"Welcome aboard, Doc. This is a real, live community hospital. We see everyone from dock workers, to migrant workers and farmers, to some very needy indigents." Jazz grinned at the big man's reaction, now unable to hide his excitement at having the esteemed doctor at the clinic.

"We are far from perfect and are strapped for a multitude of proper medical supplies, but please don't judge us - the people who truly work here - entirely by Parker. He can barely dispense an aspirin properly."

Ponch went to automatically shove his hands deeply into his lab coat pockets, forgetting that he wasn't wearing his usual attire that very moment. He didn't know what this Parker's personal issue was, but he certainly didn't even care to ask. His probationary tenure was going to be an interesting challenge and he could hear Mary-Pat's shrill voice ringing loudly in his ears. He was puzzled by the odd reception and mortified by the clinic itself; he wondered if the judge had planted him now on purpose not to teach him a lesson, but to clean up the clinic's woeful existence.

"Doctor Mitchell, it's been most … interesting." Determined to establish a line and maintain his distance, Ramirez remained formal with his new co-worker as he gently tweaked Malaya's nose and she giggled again.

"Li, congratulations on the birth of this fine baby boy. Stay and rest!" He admonished to back up Doctor Mitchell's demands. Once more, the Asian woman sparkled with pride, even briefly bowing her head in thanks. With one final glance around the dismal rear examination area, Ponch firmly set his jaw against what he truly wished to say.

"Doctor Mitchell .. Jazz. I will be seeing you on Monday, bright and early."

Up to the challenge and not put off by the older man's somewhat abrasive demeanor, Jasper smiled and folded his arms as Ramirez left the property. He glowered though as Alan Parker appeared as if by design once the ex-TAMC chief surgeon had disappeared.

"Don't you have papers to shuffle?" Jasper refused to back down from Parker's attempts of intimidation. The simple truth was that Alan needed him ... badly. The clinic only kept its head above water due to Jasper's presence. Patients,, employees and volunteers only came or stayed because of him and his tough dedication. Jasper only cared about the local people who so desperately needed the clinic's services. He could care less that Parker's father had founded the community's free clinic some, twenty-five years earlier.

Alan Parker was nothing like his renowned father whose small corporation still managed and maintained it quite poorly and with little help from its unmotivated figure-head of a president. Moving away from Li after sensing her nervousness, he knew that Alan would follow in his wake ...which he did.

"He's a criminal." Parker retorted as he trailed behind his more competent peer.

Unable to stop grinning, Jasper Mitchell shrugged at Parker's continued disapproval. "And it's a crime that you dare to call yourself a physician."

Borrowing a huge dose of Li's outspoken honesty, Jazz happily sauntered away. Other than the universally disliked owner, no one objected to the fine surgeon gracing their shabby doorstep. In fact, the opinion was that their humble clinic finally had been blessed.

~ to be continued ~

Added note - I found this fascinating (but I'm weird anyway!): While both free and community clinics provide many similar services, free clinics today are defined by the US National Association of Free Clinics as "safety-net health care organizations that utilize a volunteer/staff model to provide a range of medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals. Such clinics are 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, or operate as a program component or affiliate of a 501(c)(3) organization."[2] Some free clinics rival local government health departments in size and scope of service with multi-million dollar budgets, specialized clinics and numerous locations.

Each free clinic was unique in its development and services, based on the particular needs and resources of the local community. There is a saying among free clinic organizations that, if you have been to one free clinic, you have been to all free clinics. The common denominator is that care is made possible through the service of volunteers, the donation of goods and community support. Funding is generally donated on the local level and there is little —if any— government funding. Some free clinics were established to provide medical services in the inner cities while others opened in the suburbs and many student-run free clinics have emerged that serve the under-served as well as provide a medical training site for students in the health professions.