******* I am repeating my opening disclaimer going into this chapter ********

WARNING! The remainder of this story will include the use AND the abuse of drugs by one of our main characters, so please be forewarned and try to always remember that this is 'fiction' folks. With that said, Happy Reading !

I have very little (and thankfully no personal experience) with drug use. Please forgive any errors I make and I will attempt to be as accurate as possible in my descriptions. ********

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Steve was quiet for quite a while and Matt continued to work on loosening the ropes that bound him. He could feel blood on his wrists but thankfully they were numb and not too sore. Matt would be the first person to admit that he did not have a very high tolerance for pain. About an hour passed before he heard Steve moan softly.

"Steve…Steve….wake up man"
"Yeah Matt, I'm with ya. How long was I out?"
"About an hour I think. You okay?"
"How do I look?"
"Like hell"
Steve chuckled, "I'm fine. I think I have a concussion…..so make sure I don't sleep too much okay?"
"Okay…sure. What are we going to do Steve? How are we going to get out of here?"

"How are the hands' coming?"
"They're pretty numb, it's hard to tell"
"Keep working at it buddy, I'm going to need your help. Did you notice where they put my clothes?"
"Yeah, they're on the floor next to that table over there" Steve's eyes followed Matt's head bob to a table in the corner of the room where a small table stood. His clothes were lying in a heap on the floor. A blanket covered the table.

"Matt, listen to me. There's a bobby pin in the back pocket of my pants and we'll be able to pick these handcuffs with it"
"WE will? Maybe you SuperSeal, not me"
Steve grinned at the reference as he thought of Gracie….beautiful little Gracie who lovingly called him SuperSeal. He loved that little girl so much. Tears slipped down his bruised cheeks and he closed his eyes.

"Hey Steve, what is it?"
"He's never going to be able to forgive me Matt…I did this for him and for Gracie but he'll never be able to forgive me…."
"Steve, he loves you man. It may take him awhile…..but he loves you. And Gracie? God, that little girl idolizes you. I'm so sorry to put this all on you Steve….thank you, thank you for coming"

"Matt this isn't your fault. We all expected this someday. I need you to do me a favor though"
"Of course"
"If I don't make it out of here…."
Matt interrupted him, "Hey, Steve come on man….you're going to get us out of here, both of us"

"I'll do everything I can to make that happen, but in case I don't make it…" He paused and struggled to control the shakiness in his voice, "I told Governor Denning that sometimes you have to do what you think is right no matter what the consequences may be….and I do believe that. I just couldn't put him in this danger Matt. I never want to see him hurt, he's become so much more than my partner…he's my brother, my best friend. And Gracie…..my sweet, sweet angel. I have seen so much death and torment in my life but they have given me something so special" Matt watched this tough as nails man talk about his brother and niece and tears welled in both their eyes, "They loved me Matt…they became the family I had lost…..the family I longed for. They gave me reason to live, to enjoy life again. I truly believe that making them think I'm dead is the only way to keep Danny safe and if he can't forgive me, then that's the consequence I'll have to deal with. I know I'm rambling on….."

"Steve, I understand…..I'll make sure he knows, I promise"
No more words were spoken as Steve simply nodded to the young man and then bowing his head, his chin touching his chest, Steve closed his eyes and soon his beaten body again surrendered to unconsciousness.

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Danny and Kono stood at Chin's bedside. Kono stroked her cousin's forehead gently with her thumb talking to him soothingly, "You're going to be fine cous'. Danny's here too, we love you Chin"
Danny stood on the other side of the bed holding Chin's hand in his. He wanted to talk but he couldn't. His throat constricted as he gently placed the injured man's hand at his side and he moved to the large window overlooking the Hospital courtyard.

He folded his arms tightly around his chest as his body shook again. He was in utter disbelief that Steve was gone….Denning had to be wrong…..he just had to be. As tears dampened his cheeks he remembered back to his first meeting with Steve…..their guns drawn on each other as they stood over the Mercury Marquis in his Dad's garage. He took a bullet later that day too and he remembered cursing to himself as he drove home alone that evening convinced that this arrogant Navy Seal was the biggest asshole he had ever met, and coming from Jersey he had known many assholes!

Then as he stood at his desk the next night after they had taken down Hess, Steve had come into his office and handed him a peace offering. At least that's what Steve thought it was, but to Danny it was so much more. Steve had purchased a three night stay at the Hilton for him and Gracie for that upcoming weekend. That gesture of kindness had meant the world to him. Not many people 'got' Danny. He tended to rub people the wrong way…but not McGarrett. Danny had punched him in the jaw, and made him endure numerous rants those first two days and yet McGarrett saw right through his bravado instantly. He saw what was important to Danny, and that was his daughter…..she was his everything. They had an amazing time at the Hilton as Steve had purchased them a suite complete with a hot tub IN the room, which did wonders on easing the arm pain from the bullet wound. Thinking back on it now and knowing Steve as well as he did…..the SEAL probably planned it all! It had worked…..nothing had been said about that shooting again for a long, long time. He and Gracie swam with the dolphins, spent time in the pool…and yes, even spent some time in the Ocean. It had been a beautiful getaway but even more than that, it had showed Danny a side to Steve that he now realized the man didn't show to very many people. Steve McGarrett had CHOSEN him. He had allowed HIM into a small and elite inner circle of friends and confidants and Danny was so honored.

There were not many men like Steven John McGarrett, hell he would only compare his Father and maybe his old Police Chief from Jersey to the SEAL. And as the years had passed, that admiration had only deepened. And now…..now in an instant he was gone. He hadn't even had a chance to tell him how he felt, although he was pretty certain Steve knew. He clasped his hands behind his head and leaned forward with his elbows up against the window. He couldn't remember EVER hurting this bad. His mind drifted to eighteen months ago and to his baby brother Matt. When he had to leave to go into witness protection it had broken his heart. He had stood in Steve's yard watching Matty walk towards the van with the WitSec agents knowing he would never see him again. He had felt a pain so incredibly intense that he thought nothing could ever hurt worse….until now. Matty was alive, Steve was gone….

Moments later he felt Kono hand gently touch his lower back. He turned to her and they fell into an embrace both again sobbing into each other's shoulders. "Oh God Kono…..oh God….this hurts"
She couldn't speak, the words catching in her throat, "I…I kknoww….."
Danny added softly, "We never got to say goodbye"
They comforted each other as they looked out over the beautiful Island paradise of Oahu, both wondering how they could ever get along without Steve.

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Steve's eyes bolted open as the door to the basement opened and the cartel members came noisily down the stairs.

Cordoba stood a few inches from the SEAL bringing his gun up, and running it across Steve's bruised flesh, "Does it hurt much?"
Steve responded with a big grin, "Not at all"
Cordoba laughed sadistically and then he motioned to Pedro Ocinco, "Go ahead Pedro, get ready"

Matt and Steve listened to Cordoba but their eyes followed Ocinco as he moved to the small, covered table.
"You see McGarrett, you are going to die in this room but it will not be brought on by beating"
Matt responded first as Ocinco removed the blanket from the table, "Oh God, no Cordoba…..come on man please don't"

"You stole from us Matthew and I thought it would be a very good lesson for you to see what our business is all about and more importantly that you see what happens to people who turn on us. McGarrett here….he's responsible for Felipe being in prison and for killing Freddy. And since he's choosing to keep your brother out of this, he's taking responsibility for David's death as well" He turned and glared at Steve adding, "Let's see how tough you really are Mr. Navy SEAL"

A smile creased Steve's lips and he responded with no emotions whatsoever, "Fuck you Cordoba. I'm going to kill you…..I promise you that"

Cordoba stepped aside as Ocinco moved to McGarrett and plunged the needle into his forearm. It took only minutes before Steve began to feel the effects as the crystal meth entered his bloodstream.

******** Please let me know what you think. Reviews are always appreciated and as always, Thanks for reading *********