**** To ALL who read, Thank You – to ALL who read and take the time to review, Thank You, Thank You! Reviews are great encouragement to any writer, whether they are good, constructive (or both!) This story keeps going and going in my head so I hope you'll continue to let me know what you think ! ****

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Danny was obviously in shock and was simply going through the motions. The others all hugged him and offered their condolences and then Chin and Kono left to go pack their bags. Steve sat with Danny out on the deck as he placed the very difficult calls to his parents and sisters, Tracey, Melissa and Sarah.

As he hung up the final time, his hands were shaking. Steve asked, "Would you like a beer?"
Danny chuckled, "It's not even noon Steven?"
"Is that a law I didn't know about? No drinking allowed before noon?"
"I sure in the hell hope not, or I broke that law hundreds of times during my college days. Yeah, sure…..I'd like one"
Steve went inside and returned handing him an opened beer.
Danny nodded, "Thanks babe. God that was hard"
"I wish I could help partner"
"You are helping Steve…..you're here"
"We're all here for you Danny"
"I need to call Rachel"
"I'll be in house, come on in when you're done"
"Yeah…..thanks"
As Steve entered the house, Danny set his beer onto the table and dialed Rachel.

"Danny, good morning!"
"Good morning Rach"
"Gracie wanted me to check with you to find out when she can visit again. Is Steve doing any better?"
"He's had some depression, but he's hanging in there. Rachel…I just got some bad news"
"Danny, what is it?"
"It's Matty. Rachel…..he's dead…..he was killed in Washington this morning"
"Oh no….oh God Danny, no"
Danny explained everything he knew and that the 5-0 team would be leaving for Washington in a few hours.
"I don't have all the details yet, but I'll be taking Matt back home"
"The kids and I will meet you in New Jersey"
"You don't have to do that honey"
"Of course we do Daniel. Gracie and I love Matthew…..he's our family. Of course we'll be there"
"Thank you….." Danny's voice shook with emotion as he continued, "I'll let Dad know you're all coming. Give him a call when you have your flight arrangements so they can pick you up"

"I will. Will you have time to see us before your flight leaves?"
"We can stop on our way to the airport, but we'll have just a few minutes. We'll be there about three-thirty"
"Danny, I'll run up to the school now and pull Gracie out for the day. I'll tell her everything"
"Rachel wait, she's been through too much lately. We need to tell her together. I'll go get my bags packed now and I can be at your place within the hour. I can stay with you and have Steve pick me up on the way to the airport"

"I love you and I'm so sorry baby""
"I love you too Rachel. See you soon, bye"
Danny hung up the phone and moving to the edge of the deck, he placed his elbows on the railing and leaning forward he buried his face into his hands and sobbed.

Behind him, Steve stood at the patio window watching his friend. Catherine entered the room and moving behind him, she slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, "Are you okay Steve?"
"He's been my rock through this Cath…now it's my turn to be there for him"

"And you will be, you always are. I'm coming with you honey, to Washington, to New Jersey…..wherever you're going. I'm coming along, I have a week left on my leave"
He responded, "Thank you" as he continued to look out at Danny, wishing he could take his friends' pain away but knowing he couldn't. He'd been there before and he knew that all he could do for Danny, was to be there….to support him and love him. And he would do that.

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Danny cried for his brother. His mind took him back to the care-free days of their childhood. He remembered their games of Cowboys and Indians, and cops and robbers. He chuckled as he could see Matty so clearly in his mind complaining about always having to be the Indian and the robber. It was the same argument every time, 'Why can't I be the good guy D'?'
He would always answer the same way, 'You're lucky I'm playing with you at all squirt! You're the robber or nothing' and with that, the little boy would play his role to perfection. He remembered the many times he rescued little Matty, pulling him from the clutches of their three sisters who had forced him into a game of dress-up or Doctor. He remembered the summer that he and Tracey had taught Matt and Sarah how to swim on their family vacation to the shore. He had taught Matty to throw a baseball and how to hit his 'fastball' and some of his favorite memories were of Dad taking the two boys to Yankee Stadium every year.

He remembered how he had caught twelve year old Matty spying on him as he was behind the garage making out with his girlfriend Tessa Horne. He had to bribe the youngster to secrecy because Danny was certain if his Mother ever found out she would ban him from seeing Tessa, and at fifteen, Danny was CERTAIN that he was going to marry that girl. He had written Matthew's book reports for the rest of the school year to keep him quiet. As mad as Danny was at the time though, that had led to the event that truly bonded the brothers forever. Two years later, as fate would have it, the roles were reversed. Coming home late from a party one night Danny walked in on fourteen year old Matt cuddled up under blankets on the couch in the basement with his girl, Wendy…..and they weren't paying much attention to the movie they were supposed to be watching. Danny had told Matt to walk Wendy home and to come right back, which he did. Danny was sitting on the couch waiting for him when he returned and the young boy was terrified.
'Danny, please don't tell Mom and Dad…..I'm sorry man'
'Matty I'm not going to tell Mom and Dad, but you're going to listen to me'
Danny then gave the boy a lecture on respecting young ladies and also on protecting himself from the consequences of sexual promiscuity. Matty had rolled his eyes at his big brother's 'words of wisdom' but he had taken his last words to heart, 'Matthew David Williams if I ever catch you disrespecting a young lady like that again, not only will I tell Mom and Dad but it will be after I beat the living crap out of you, do you hear me?' Years later Matty would tell him that he hadn't even kissed another girl until he was seventeen! But the fact that Danny hadn't squealed on him had changed their relationship forever. Matty knew that Danny had his back, and always would.

Or had he known that? Danny thought he did, but he sure hadn't trusted him when he got in trouble three years ago. If Matty had listened to him then and gone back to Jersey instead of boarding that plane he would have been in jail, but his sentence might have been half over by now….and he would still be alive. Why hadn't he stopped him? If he had stopped him and not let him get on that plane, Matty would still be alive. God, this was his fault…Matty was dead because of him. His tears continued to fall and he didn't notice that Steve had come outside and was standing next to him.

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Steve placed a hand on Danny's shoulder, "Hey, how are you doing?"
"I can't believe it Steve…it seems unreal"
"Yeah it does. So you talked to Rachel?"
"Shit, I've been here daydreaming and I've lost track of time. I've got to get moving"
Steve grabbed his arm as he pushed past him. "Danny whoa, slow down…"
"Sorry, Rachel's picking up Gracie from school and I told her I'd meet them at the house. I have to get to my place and get my bags packed first. Hey, will you pick me up on the way to the airport?"

Steve put both hands on Danny's forearms, "Danny, Danny calm down. You can go straight to Rachel's. I've got plenty of time to go pack your bags" Steve felt Danny's body shake in his grasp, "Relax partner, I can't let you leave until you calm down"

"Steve…..oh God why?"
Steve pulled him into an embrace, saying quietly "I don't know why Danno…..I don't know why" Steve held him tightly, "It'll be okay buddy…..let it all out….it'll be okay"

For several minutes Danny cried. "Oh God…..why? Not Matty….not my Matty" Eventually Danny pulled away and wiping the tears from his eyes he said softly, "I'm sorry Steve. I've gotta get a grip on myself…..I need to tell Gracie"

"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No….no, I've got to do this. I'm alright…..really. Steve, what about you? Are you okay?"
"Me? I'm good. You got me through the worst of it partner. I'm good now. I don't want you to worry about me, not for minute okay?"
"You're sure? You don't need to go back there. I can handle this"
"You're not going through this alone buddy. I'm with you every step of the way"
"Thanks Superman"

The two men walked into the house and were greeted by Catherine who moved in to embrace Danny. He whispered into her ear, "Take care of him Cath"
She kissed his cheek and responded quietly, "I will"
Steve grabbed Danny's car keys from the counter and handing them to him, the three all walked out to the car.
As he sat behind the wheel he asked Steve, "You sure you got time babe?"
"Yes Danny, I'll get your things and we'll pick you up about three thirty. You drive careful"
"I will…thank you"

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