It was after two in the morning when Steve pulled up to entry to the forest. It was about a mile and a half walk to the shed.
He decided that now was the best time to call Denning. As he hoped, the call rolled into the Governor's voice mail.
"Governor, this is McGarrett. First you need to know Cordoba and his men are dead….all of them, it's over. Unfortunately Matt was injured. He was shot in the abdomen. Sir, I'm back in Hawaii. I need to go off the grid for a while…..I need some time. I dropped Matt off at St Luke's Hospital in Everett. I'm certain he's safe but just in case, I took his ID with me. Also, I took your plane Sir. I need you to trust me and I'll tell you everything when I return. I tied Jason up in his room but he's not hurt. He's in room 18 at the King's Motel in Everett. I landed and parked your plane at the Makali'i Air Strip, the key is in the ignition. Sir, Makali'i will be expecting someone to pick up the plane but he knows nothing about the mission I was on or where I've gone. Again Governor, all I can tell you is please don't try to find me. Trust me and I'll be back in touch with you in two to three weeks…thank you"

He hung up the phone and ran his bandaged hands across his face and through his hair. 'God McGarrett, get your head together…think straight. If you don't keep it together you'll never be able to save Jack. Those bastards are holding him' The SEAL was now totally controlled by the meth that was poisoning his mind and body. The two worlds of Steven John McGarrett had melded together in his mind and again he injected the junk into his veins. His eyes fell on the picture and he took it from the bag staring at it. It was a picture of SEAL Team 3 taken just before they had left for this mission. He looked at the faces of his team, his family….Wes Brannon, Drew Fulton, Joel Piecher, Kurt Prosser, Chris Parks, Carlos Rivera, Jack Lynch and himself… They were all smiling, smoking cigars and holding beers. The picture was taken just a couple of months ago when they were preparing for a mission in Columbia. They had just gotten word that Prosser's wife had given birth to their first child…a beautiful little girl they named Faith Olivia. 'Faith'….Kurt had told Steve that they had named her Faith because the first time he left his wife Erin for a mission she was scared and was sobbing. He had told her that he was well trained for this and that she needed have 'faith' in him and the Team….Steve smiled at the memory as he reached into his glove box and taking out a pen and paper he began to write.

Dear Danno,
I need you to know how sorry I am for all the pain I've caused you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep Matt safe….I tried Danno, I promise you I tried. Please tell him I'm sorry. I have failed you, God I know that. Danno, I have to find Jack. I don't know where my team is. We've been separated but I know they're looking for Jack too. The kid is great at what he does, but it's his first mission. His first mission. I have to find him Danno and I can't come back until I do. I know you'll be hurt and angry that I have gone off alone again but I can't put you in this kind of danger. I'm tired Danny. I'm so tired ….please forgive me.
Steve

Folding the letter he noticed the blood that had soaked the bottom of the paper as his left hand was again bleeding. Writing Danny's name on the outside of the paper he set it up on the dashboard. He looked at the picture again before putting it back in the bag. He grabbed more gauze and unwrapping the blood-soaked bandages he threw them onto the passenger seat and then re-wrapped the hand. He moved quickly filling one of the bags with water. Then with his arms full, carrying the three duffel bags and pillow and with the sleeping bags and blankets thrown over his shoulder Steve began his trek to the shed.

5050505050505050505050

Kamekona had gone home but he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he'd had since leaving McGarrett. He sat in the dark watching an old black and white movie and sipping on beers for a couple of hours before deciding that he needed to go check on the SEAL. Arriving at McGarrett's home and finding his truck gone and the house dark Kamekona dialed Danny.

Danny woke to his cell phone ringing on the nightstand next to him. Grabbing the phone he moved out onto the room's patio not wanting to wake Duke, who he was sharing a room with.
"Kamekona? What's wrong brother?"
"Maybe nothing Jersey….."
"Nothing? So you're waking me up just to chat?"
"I'm worried about McGarrett"
"I'm worried about him too, but what do you know about what's happening?"
"Well I picked him up a couple of hours ago….."
Danny interrupted him, "Whoa big guy, hold on a minute. What are you talking about?"
"He flew in on the Governor's plane"
"Was he alone?"
"Uh huh, yep….just him and he didn't look real good either brah"
"Elaborate please….."
"It's the middle of the night and awfully dark but I could see that he took a hell of a beating"
"Do you know where he is now?"
"That's why I'm worried. I took him to his place, but he's gone now"
"Okay…..I'll take it from here, and Kamekona….thank you for being there for him"
"Of course. You'll call me right?"
"You know it buddy"

Hanging up the phone Danny was shaking with fear and anger. What had happened to Matt and where in the hell was Steve? This was going to stop. Steve's decisions to go off alone weren't just affecting him, they were affecting all of them…..including Gracie. His hand shook with anger he dialed Steve's cell phone.

Steve had walked almost a mile when his phone rang in his pocket. Not only were his hands full but he was certain he was being watched. He could feel it….he thought by killing the six members of the Ocinco/Cordoba cartel that he had ended that threat but now he wasn't too sure about that. He stopped in his tracks, pushing the bag in his right hand against his pocket muffling the ring.

With each ring Danny's anger grew and as the call rolled to voicemail he cursed, "SHIT Steven….." As he listened to Steve's voice he made the decision…..he'd had enough, "Steve I don't know what in the hell is going on in that thick head of yours but I've had enough….I can't take this anymore partner" He chuckled as he continued, "Partner…that's the problem….you don't know what that word means" His voice was rising and shaking as he added, "Well let me tell you Steven, it means friendship and love and loyalty and you're great with all those things….in your own unique way. But it also means trust, and our problem is that you just don't trust me. How dare you take off to look for Matt without me! Even so, I probably could have gotten over that. But this bullshit story about you being dead? Didn't you think or care about how all of us would feel hearing that? I can never forgive you for putting me in that position with Gracie. I never want to see that look of devastation on my baby's face again Steve. So I'll call the Governor to find out about my brother, you don't have to bother calling me back. Once this is over, we're done. I want nothing more to do with you…good bye"

Hanging up the phone Danny moved to the railing and placing his elbows on the cold steel he ran his hands through his hair cupping them behind his head. "Damn it Steve….why" Several minutes passed and once he was composed enough he dialed Governor Denning.

Sam Denning answered the phone promptly, "Williams?"
"Yes Governor. I'm sorry to wake you but have you heard from Steve?"
"I wasn't sleeping. He left me a voice mail about half an hour ago. Did he call you too?"
"No Kamekona called me…Sir, my brother…."
"He's alive Danny. He's at St Luke's in Everett. He was shot in the abdomen and Steve dropped him off at the hospital before flying back to Hawaii. I just talked to the surgeon who treated him and he's going to be fine"

Danny sighed deeply saying softly, "Thank God"
Denning then told him everything Steve had said, "Danny what's this all about? Where is he?"
"I don't know Sir. Once I make sure Matt's okay, we'll fly back. I'll find him"
"Good. Please sent Duke to the Motel so he can untie my poor pilot. McGarrett's got a lot of explaining to do"
Danny responded, "Yes he does Sir, he certainly does"

******* Much more to follow – hope you're enjoying ! ********