It took almost thirty minutes to make it up the stairs.
Steve stopped them a couple of steps from the top, "Okay Matthew, you're doing great. Let's give your eyes a minute to adjust to the light. How do you feel?"

"Pretty ggood…."
"I'll have you off your feet in just a few minutes"
As they stood, Steve's mind drifted. How was he ever going to explain this to the Governor? He had to get off this junk and no one could know…..no one but Matt could EVER know about this. If he told Danny it would be over. Danny would never intentionally do anything to hurt him or endanger his career, but he knew the Jersey detective all too well. Danny would have him in a hospital and then in re-hab before he could even argue the point with him. Danno…..his dearest friend. His only concern would be to get him help, but there was much more to consider here. He figured he would tell Denning he needed a couple of weeks off and then he would go to the shed and kick this fucking habit on his own and nobody would be the wiser. There was no other way around this...He and his Dad had found a rickety old shed near a creek where they spent a lot of time fishing. They had taken shelter in there during a couple of rainstorms and although it was old and dirty, it had a couple of wooden bed frames that they had thrown their sleeping bags onto. It also had a wood burning stove so he would be able to stay warm. He knew the withdrawl symptoms he was facing and this place was very secluded and would be perfect.

His thoughts were interrupted as Matt asked, "Hey Steve….can you hear mmee? You aalright?"
"Yeah buddy, you ready?"
"Uh huh, let's go"
Once above ground the men inched slowly towards their spot of cover directly across from the tents. Matt's groans grew and his body was shaking in pain as Steve eased him onto the ground. His back was up against a large tree with the trunk giving him cover from any potential return gunfire. Steve wet a cloth and dabbed at Matt's sweat drenched brow. Feeling his forehead it was obvious to the SEAL that infection was setting in and he was feverish.

"Hang on for me partner, I'll be right back" Carrying an AK47 at his side Steve rushed over to the tents and grabbed a sleeping bag, blanket and pillow. Once back at Matt's side he helped him take a small drink of water and then he laid him onto the sleeping bag. He gently placed his head on the fluffy pillow and then after briefly checking the wound he tucked the blanket tightly around the injured man. "There you go, you try to rest while I take care of business okay?"
"Uhh huh.…'m ggood"
"I know you are buddy. You're doing great" After squeezing Matt's hand he turned his attention to the guns and as he knelt on the ground he noticed how shaky he was.

Holding his hands out in front of him he struggled to control the shaking. Running a hand across his beaten and bruised face he mumbled softly to himself as he watched Matt, "Get it together Steve…..you gotta get him out of here. Hang on Jack…you hang on. I'm going to get you out of here kid…..I promise"

The hallucinations had started and in the SEAL's drug hazed mind he did not see Matt Williams, he saw young Jack Lynch injured and they were alone in the South African jungle. Jack was injured and he had to get him help. He wiped the sweat from his forehead... shit he was hot. He moved quickly and loaded all the weapons. Once done he downed a bottle of water and then he moved a few feet away and urinated. He knelt down at Matt's side and noticed his fever was rising. He squeezed the injured man's shoulder and spoke to him softly, "Hang on for me Jack, the guys will be here soon to help us"

He then moved back to the weapons and waited, ready to attack…

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Danny's mind was racing as he drove towards the Governor's office. Pulling into the parking lot he turned to the men tailing him and in typical smart-ass William's fashion he waved to them before turning and entering the building.

Governor Denning's secretary looked up as Danny neared her desk. She motioned with her arm towards the waiting room, "Please have a seat Mr. Williams, the Governor will be with you shortly"
Without slowing Danny added, "No Carmen…..he'll see me now"
She called out to him as she moved from behind her desk to follow him, "MR. WILLIAM'S STOP! HE'S ON A CONFERENCE CALL!"

Danny did not pause or knock as he simply barged into Denning's office.
Sam Denning stood from behind his desk, speaking calmly "Senator, I apologize Sir but I'm going to need to call you back…..Yes Sir, thank you"

As he hung up the phone Carmen was apologizing, "Governor, I'm so sorry….."
"Carmen, it's fine. Please don't let us be interrupted"
Blushing, she nodded and stated "Yes Sir" as she turned and left the office.
As the door shut Danny wasted no time, "I want to know everything, NO MORE FUCKING GAMES! I want all the info you have on the crash and I'm leaving today to bring Steve home…"

The Governor interrupted him, "Danny….stop. I need you to listen to me"
Danny's arms flailed and he was beet red as his rant continued, "Why are you having us followed?"
"Sit down Danny"
"I'm NOT going to sit down and I'm NOT going to calm down!"
"Fine, fine….JUST LISTEN!...Steve is alive, or at least he was when I saw him last"
Danny's head was spinning and he felt light-headed. He grabbed the nearby chair and eased himself into it. His voice was shaking as he asked, "When was that?"

"When I put him on my plane"
"So he did go after Wo-Fat?"
"No…..he flew to Washington State to search for your brother"
Danny was shaking as the shock of Denning's words began to sink in, "Matthew? What are you talking about?" Denning moved a few feet away and poured Danny a cup of coffee. As he handed it to him Danny added, "I have a feeling I may need something a lot stronger than this…..."

Governor Denning pulled a chair up across from the detective and he told him everything he knew. Danny remained silent, sipping the hot coffee as his stomach churned and his mind raced. He listened as Denning told him of Matt's kidnapping and that they believed that he being held by Sebastian Cordoba and five other men. He was told about the meeting with WitSec and of Cordoba's call to the FBI with his demands. Denning told him of Steve's concerns and of his insistence of handling this with no help….even from the CSI. The Governor ended by stating, "He was convinced that his best chance of rescuing Matt would be if he went in alone"

Danny was shaking his head and he struggled to stay composed, "Have you heard from him since he left?"
"No, not a word. The plan was for him to contact my pilot, Jason Korry as soon as he had Matt safe, but as of two hours ago Jason hasn't heard from him"

Danny's voice was soft and shakeng as he continued "How could you let him do this Sam? Go off alone like this, with no back-up? You know how brutal the Ocinco cartel is…..DAMN IT, what were you thinking?"

"Now Danny I want you to think about this. Cordoba would only release Matt if we gave them the money and if you and Steve delivered it"
"YES, ME AND STEVE! Why didn't you tell me? He's MY brother! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Steve didn't want you involved…"
Danny interrupted him, "HE'S MY BROTHER, not…not Steve's"
"Danny, please hear me out. He didn't go into great detail with me but he told me that you're in a custody battle and he was afraid this could harm your case…..Danny, he's trying to protect you…and your daughter"

Danny ran his hand across his face, "He'll need to answer to me for his decision but for now I've got to find them. I need to talk to Korry and how soon can a chopper be ready?"
"If you think for one minute that I'll let you take off without back-up you're crazier than McGarrett"
Danny grinned, "Yeah, well he kind of rubs off on you after a while"

Denning continnued, "I can have a chopper ready in an hour. I'll call the airfield and let Korry know to meet you in Washington. I need you to contact Sergeant Lukela and arrange a team to travel with you" Before Danny could object, he added "A back-up team is non-negotiable. If you argue with me William's you will not get on the plane, DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Danny stood and setting his coffee onto the desk he turned to the Governor, shaking his hand "Thank you Governor. I hear you and I'll see you on an hour"

Governor Denning watched the young man leave his office. He felt guilty about what he had done in keeping this from him but he certainly wasn't going to compound his mistake and let Williams search for Steve alone. Sam Denning trusted Steve McGarrett explicitly. He had seen the SEAL perform so many acts of bravery over the last three years that he would never question him…..but should he have? Knowing how much McGarrett loved his 5-0 team and how he would do anything to keep them safe he hoped and prayed that he had not sent Steve McGarrett on a mission that would prove to be his last.

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Danny sat in the parking lot for several minutes. His hands were clenched tightly on the steering wheel of his Camero, his knuckles ghostly white. He was shaking as tears slid down his cheeks. He couldn't even possibly explain the range of emotions he was feeling. 'Steve was alive …thank God, Steve was alive!' He was so grateful and so unbelievably happy for this and yet he also felt so angry and betrayed. And Matt….oh dear God... were they alive? Either one of them? He had to keep it together now and believe that they were both alive, and he had to find them. He would deal with SuperSeal's 'choices' once they were all safe and the Ocinco/Cordoba cartel were finally done away with. Wiping his eyes Danny drove towards Rachel's house.

******** HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING ! MORE SEAL ACTION IN THE NEXT CHAPTER ! ********