Steve had to drive fairly slowly as the makeshift road was extremely uneven and rough. Matt remained unconscious but several times he moaned loudly as his body was jarred about. They got to the clearing of the forest about forty minutes later and Steve parked the jeep. Looking back and seeing Matt was still out he exited the jeep and moved to the area where he had left his bag before being taken into the woods. Grabbing the bag he sat on a fallen log and pulled out his cellphone. Seeing he had a message he put the phone to his ear and listened to his partner's plea…hearing the sense of distraught in Danny's voice tore into his heart. His voice cracked with emotion as he talked softly, trying to convince himself "Okay...he knows...I did the right thing. I did what I had to do. He'll forgive me…" He sat quietly for several moments deep in thought before deciding what he had to do.

Moving back to the jeep he checked on Matt and then after giving himself another hit of meth he began driving south, unsure how far he was from the nearest hospital.

He had been driving about twenty minutes when he began seeing road signs of towns up ahead. He pulled into a small roadside gas station and approached a young attendant who was checking the oil on another car.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the nearest hospital is?"
The young man turned and was shocked at the sight of the beaten man standing before him, "Christ buddy…are you okay?"
"Yeah, 'm fine. Please, how far?"
"About twenty miles straight south. You'll start seeing signs in a few minutes. Do you want me to call for help brother?"
"I'm good. Thank You" The young man watched Steve as he moved back to the jeep and sped away.

A short time later Steve pulled in front of the emergency room entrance at St. Luke's Hospital in Everett. As he opened the back door to access Matt, two paramedics came towards him. "Sir, do you need help?"
Steve looked to them as he responded, "Yes, please. We need a stretcher" As the men disappeared back into the hospital Steve moved quickly grabbing Matt's wallet putting it into his pocket.

"Sssteve?"
"Yeah buddy, we're at the hospital. You're going to be fine now…I promise"
"You tttoo….."
"Of course. I'll be fine. You don't worry about me. When you wake up Danny will be here okay"
"Dannnyy…...I mmiss hhim"
"He misses you too kid"
"Steve...thannk yyou"
"No problem buddy. You just do what the Doctorstell you now okay"
"Uuhh huhh"
The paramedics returned and the three men worked as gently as possible transferring Matt onto the gurney. Steve followed the men a few steps and once assured that their full attention was on Matt he slipped back and moving quickly to the jeep he drove away.

505050505050505050505050

He drove a few miles from the hospital before pulling into a grocery store parking lot. He pulled Jason Korry's business card from his bag and dialed the pilot's number.
"Jason, this is Steve McGarrett"
"McGarrett! Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm good. Where are you?"
"In my motel room"
"Where's that?"
"King's Motel, room 18. It's about five minutes west of the airstrip"
"Great. Can you be ready to fly out of here in about an hour?"
"I need to talk to the Governor first and clear things"
"I already spoke with him before calling you. He was heading into a meeting and won't be available for a couple of hours. He gave the okay to fly out"
Korry responded, "Yes Sir. Do you need me to pick you up somewhere?"
"No Jason, I have a vehicle. How are you getting around?"
"I'll call a cab"
"Don't bother. I can pick you up. I'll be there in about forty five minutes. Room 18 you said?"
"Yes. That would be great. I'll be ready sir"

Steve hung up the phone and again he listened to the voice mail from Danny. He heard the pain in his friend's voice and tossing the phone onto the seat next to him he slammed his hands against the steering wheel screaming out in anger and frustration. With tears sliding down his cheeks he cursed himself for his weakness as he again injected more meth into his bruised forearm. Minutes later he was again high and not feeling any physical pain as he drove towards the King's Motel.

Half an hour later he sat in the jeep staring at the door to room 18. He didn't want to hurt Jason but he had no choice. He could think of no other way to do this. It had started to rain and this was going to help him….Taking his pistol and handcuffs from his bag he removed the bullets from the chamber and then stuffing the empty gun and the cuffs into his back pocket he walked across the parking lot.

Jason opened the door and as he turned from Steve to walk back into the room, Steve struck him in the head with the butt of the gun knocking him to the ground unconscious. Closing the door to the room and pulling the drapes closed the SEAL struggled with his broken ribs as he pulled Jason up onto the bed. After taking a few moments to catch his breath he handcuffed the pilot's hands above his head to the bed. He then went to the bathroom and grabbed two washcloths wetting one of them and then sitting on the edge of the bed he held it to the injured man's head pulling him back to consciousness.

"McGarrett…..what in the hell are you doing?"
"I'm sorry Jason. I need to take your plane and the Governor can't know about it. I'll send someone to get you in the morning, I just need time to get away"
"Get away? From who? What's going on….you look like hell? Where's Williams?"
"I can't tell you everything. Matt was shot. I left him at the hospital. Now where are the keys to the plane?"

Their conversation stopped as Jason's cell phone rang. Steve moved to the dresser grabbing the phone, "It's Denning" He let the call go to voicemail and turned back to Jason. "I need you to call him back. We're going to have the call on speakerphone and Jason listen to me….if you say ANYTHING you shouldn't, I WILL kill you and I don't want to do that do you hear me?"

"Yeah….I hear you"
Sitting on the edge of the bed he dialed the Governor, "Governor, it's Jason. I'm sorry I missed your call Sir"
"Thank's for calling back. Have you heard anything from McGarrett yet?"
"No Sir, not a word"
"Remember as soon as you do, I need you to contact me. Things have changed a bit. Two of Steve's 5-0 team and several HPD Officers are on their way to Washington now to search for him...it's been too long"
"Okay Sir. When can I expect them?"

"They should arrive in about three hours. CIA Agents are going to meet them at the airfield and take them to a hotel for the night. I gave Danny Williams your phone number and the info on where you're staying. His plans are to call you first thing in the morning and they will pick you up so you can take them to the location where you left Steve"

Steve motioned to Jason to wrap up the call, "That's good Governor. I'll await his call"
"Thank you Jason. Good Night"
"Good Night Sir" Steve hung up the phone and moving from the bed he placed the phone back on the dresser and then taking a pad of paper and a pen he moved to the nearby table.

"You did great Jason. That call changes things a bit….." Sitting at the table he wrote a letter to his partner. When done he grabbed a bottle of water from the small refrigerator and went back to the bedside. He lifted Jason's head and gave him the water.
"Drink up. How's your head feel?"

"I'm fine"
Steve then took hold of the room phone that was on the bed stand and he pulled the chord from the wall. "Now we know Danny will find you in the morning so you'll be fine. Make sure he sees the letter on the table. Now, where are the keys?"

"In my jacket pocket"
Steve took the keys from the pocket and then asked, "Do you need any more water?"
"No"
Steve added, "Any preference on a TV channel"
"Yeah, sports….ESPN I guess"
Steve turned on the television and then he placed a couple of pillows under Jason's head so he could see better.

"Do you want a blanket?"
"Yes please"
Steve pulled the comforter off the second bed and covered Jason with it. He then took the dry washcloth and folded it tightly.
Jason looked at him puzzled, "What's that for?"
Steve moved closer and placed the cloth into Jason's mouth. "Sorry, but I can't have you calling out. You'll be fine Jason…..I'm sorry"

Steve then shut off the light and locking the door behind him he was soon driving through a now heavy rainstorm towards the airstrip.

******** MORE TO FOLLOW **********