Chapter 12

Here's the next. For whatever reason, this story has proven difficult to write but your comments have helped immensely in maintaining momentum - no matter how feeble at the moment. Please know your encouragement has kept this going when I felt like it would be best to write an apology and chuck the thing.

Mistakes are those of Imaginary Beta. She's also having a hard time with this so she gets to keep her chocolate rations this week to keep up her strength.

Note: There are references to things that happened in previous Cujo stories but it's not necessary to read them first.

Disclaimer: If I made money from this, I could afford to run the air-conditioner all day. At least the heat is keeping ninja cats off the keyboard but for some unexplainable reason they like to glue their fur to sweaty skin. Cats, meh.

*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0* Hawaii 5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*

Rapacious Rabbits

"Sorry Phil. Gotta take this. Keep on with the briefing." he said as he glanced at the I.D. display on his cell and waved apologetically to the gathering of cops before stepping out into the hallway.

Brotman almost rolled his eyes but nodded and went back to addressing fellow detectives and those in uniform gathered in the conference room. After all, there wasn't that much info to impart. Mickey had just told them of the increased surveillance of all coffee shops especially the ones located near bookstores for some reason they've yet to figure out but it seemed to make Five-0 happy.

"Mickey sweetie, have you heard anything new about the murders?"

Kilkenny almost groaned as he heard her voice. It was a tossup of emotions right now. He wanted to be back in her bed but he wasn't thrilled that she should be calling him at this moment.

"Kiki", hissed the HPD detective, "You know you're not supposed to call me during working hours. I'm in the middle of a meeting."

"Mickey sweetie, I'm sorry but I heard a rumor about increased patrols of some of the shops. Why only some of them?"

"Where did you hear that from?" asked Kilkenny, surprised the news had traveled so quickly.

"You know I have my sources." he heard her honeyed reply.

"Well, as long as your other sources aren't sharing your bed." he said, only half-jokingly.

"You know you're the only one." she purred

"Yeah, and I believe in the Easter Bunny too."

"Mickey, don't be a jerk, just answer the question." she said, voice not quite so fond this time. "I know you want me. Our little arrangement can always be changed you know."

"You really are a bitch aren't you?" he said not without humor. Her feistiness was such a turn-on.

"Yeah, but right now, I'm your bitch."

Sighing because he couldn't deny his need, he told her what he knew.

...

This wasn't his ideal target but it was the one he and Kiki had agreed on.

From the sidewalk he peered through the large window in the storefront shop. The technician was in the process of taking the metal cover off of a computer. It appeared to be held on by several screws and the bearded kid looked frustrated with it.

He really didn't want to do this reconnaissance in daylight. It was much easier to be identified and captured in the light. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and went into the shop. Almost immediately, he recognized the security cameras were going to be easy to get at and disable. He just had to wait for the right time to make his move.

….

David Wilson Matsui, the tall handsome governor's aide smiled to himself as he thought about his upcoming firearms lesson. Sure, he admired Five-0's commander in the most basic of ways: the muscles, the long eyelashes, the blinding smile, etc. but he also admired the man for his reputation as a tough, smart, pretty much fearless, cop.

He was also very much aware that besides being undeniably hot, the guy is undeniably straight. It would be futile to harbor any hope of something more than firearms training. Sighing in resignation, he took the sleek gun from its case and double checking to make sure there was no round in the chamber, sighted down the barrel. It was certainly a nice gun; at the very least it was an expensive one. He wouldn't even have bought it if he was at all confident in the substitute for Rick the Governor's regular bodyguard.

The new guy, Jake, seemed to be more of a cowboy than anything else no matter how highly recommended he came. The fact the guy actually wore cowboy boots and a gigantic silver belt buckle with his suit didn't make him any more likely to change his opinion anytime in the near future.

He'd make sure to pay attention to any wisdom McGarrett would care to impart. He took his duties as the governor's aide seriously and genuinely liked the stern but fair man. Though it wasn't really part of the job description, he felt no hesitance in doing his best to keep his boss safe from harm.

Anyway, as far as McGarrett goes, he knew he'd be learning from the best . . . and the scenery is certainly a nice bonus.

….

"Kono? Have you seen my comb? I know I left it here but I haven't seen it in at least a couple days. Can't find it anywhere."

"Cuz, it's only a plastic comb. It costs what? Fifty cents?" answered Kono from the doorway to her cousin's office.

"Yeah, but you know how when you find something that's perfect, you don't want to lose it?"

"Okay cuz, you're scaring me now. If you're going to be as OCD as the boss, I'm going back to Honolulu P.D."

Chin Ho Kelly snorted in dismissal of the empty threat and continued searching through the waste basket; thinking perhaps it had fallen off his desk and into the small plastic trash receptacle that sat next to it. The comb was only the latest of things to go missing from the office. He'd hate to think that someone on the cleaning crew would take something that didn't belong to them but he couldn't come up with anyone else who'd have access. Besides, almost none of the stuff had any value.

"That's like the tenth thing that's gone missing in the last couple of weeks. Nothing important but it's certainly puzzling." he said as he scowled at the banana peel he ran across. He never put stuff like that in his own trash basket.

"I know. I'm still missing my favorite pen and a couple of other things." replied Kono

"You mean that sparkly pink pen Gracie gave you for your birthday? I don't think any one of us guys would even think of walking off with it and Lori's still away at that profiler's conference in D.C. Besides, isn't she's a little too uptight to carry around a Hello Kitty glitter pen?"

Kono raised her eyebrows at the observation but cracked a smile. Lori could be a little tight-assed at times but she liked her anyway. Who wouldn't like a woman who could fire an RPG yet scream like a girl when she saw a mouse?

Unable to shed any light for Chin, she resumed her progress toward her own office. She had to find that thumb drive. It was worrying her now. What if one of the guys saw what was on it, she'd never live it down.

….

Steve hunted around and under the bed for his watch. He'd been so out of it with the headache, exhaustion and the meds last night he wasn't a hundred-percent sure he'd put it on the nightstand as he usually did. After sleeping soundly for nearly eight uninterrupted hours his headache was gone but he moved about gingerly so as not to provoke a relapse of the pain.

Cujo watched his human crawl around on the floor. Maybe he wanted to play with the toys he'd left there?

Finding only a bottle cap, a pen top and a chewed up shoelace but no watch, Steve gave up the search and went back to the bathroom to shower and shave. The cat that had been practically glued to him since he'd awakened trotted along right behind him.

Pulling supplies from the medicine cabinet, the face that looked back at him in the mirror looked slightly better than it had. He knew he was still on the pale side. The bruising had finally settled on a dark mottled bluish purple but any swelling was gone now.

Cujo jumped onto the sink counter to stare as he peeled off the loose bandage, (the one Danny had called a maxi-pad), to fling it accurately into the waste basket in the corner.

Hunting instinct kicking-in, the cat looked about to leap after the flying thing but stayed where he was only staring intently at the wastebasket for a bit before chirping then going back to staring at his human.

Steve laughed at the serious evaluation he seemed to be getting from the animal that sat on the sink counter. Curious about everything, there wasn't a closet, drawer or cupboard in the house or at the office the little animal hadn't explored. One time, he'd almost been locked in the gun safe. If he hadn't seen the tip of the wolverine's tail just as he was about to push the door shut, there would have been one very sorry little cat.

Leaning more closely toward the mirror, the tall man inspected the stitches. They were still a little gruesome looking so he'd have to put another bandage on the healing cut; just one that wasn't so fucking huge.

The stitches could come out perhaps tomorrow. He'd pull them out himself; there was no need to go back to the doctor to have it done. Not in the least happy about having to be nearly scalped to get the laceration taken care of he looked sideways at the cat who was still intently observing his actions.

"Stop staring at me cat. You're the one responsible for this weird-assed haircut. You know that don't you?"

The animal only looked back at him with an innocent expression and without comment.

"Someday that streak of curiosity is going to get you into big trouble. Remember what happened when you stowed away in Lori's big duffle and wound up at the Governor's Ball? You probably even thought it was fun until you went for that swim in the harbor huh?"

Cujo now had an expression as though he was trying to figure out what the words meant but he still didn't reply.

"You've gotta get that under control before you get into serious trouble. Trust me buddy."

Steve went about the rest of his routine while directing further remarks to his one-cat-audience; not in the least uncomfortable with talking to a 'fence rabbit' as Danny had taken to calling the little animal. At least the cat didn't criticize or rant about anything . . . and he didn't require a daily malasada fix or fight over who gets to drive the Camaro.

Cujo squawked in annoyance as he was gently tossed back into the bedroom and the door was closed behind him. Another second later and he could hear the hiss of the water that he knew came out of the wall in the tiny room with the almost see-through door. He still didn't understand why his human didn't want to share the falling water with him. There was lots of it.

…

It was almost lunchtime and his stomach growled loudly. As soon as Matt gets back he's gonna go get one of those new burgers he'd seen on TV. If only it could be fed to him by that incredibly hot chick in that commercial. She was scarfing one down as she sat on the beach while wearing the tiniest bikini ever. Now that he thought of it, screw the food. Just bring him the chick.

His fantasy was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Crap.

The little guy in front of the counter was staring at him expectantly. Clearing his thoughts of bacon cheeseburgers and buxom females, Carl quickly went to see what he wanted.

Working at an electronics store wasn't his ideal job, (that would be samurai warrior), but it provided him with perks like access to the latest tech and games. That made him a little happier about not be able to make his living as an ancient Japanese warrior but waiting on these geeks was the absolute worst part of his job.

"Can I help you?" he inquired as the little guy looked up at him through what seemed inch-thick eyeglasses. Doesn't he know about lasik? thought Carl.

"I was wondering . . . do you have a phone that just makes and answers calls?" came the surprisingly low-pitched and robust voice from the small man.

"Excuse me?"

"You know, one that doesn't take pictures or play games?"

"Oh . . . umm . . . maybe one of the older basic models. Let's see here." With that Carl went to get the key to open the sliding doors to the case where the phones were kept.

This latest customer is a weird little guy but there've been weirder. There was that one time a customer came in wearing a full-on astronaut outfit. It wasn't even friggin' Halloween! What was that about? Anyway, at least 'Neil Armstrong' had purchased a laptop before he left and he'd even let himself get talked into an extended warranty contract. Decent commission on that sale. Maybe he should think about setting up his own store near NASA?

Carl turned back to the counter, key in his hand but the little guy was gone. Oh well, they probably didn't have what he wanted anyway. Why would anyone want a cell that couldn't take pictures or access the net? Weird.

…

Tapping his foot impatiently as he sat listlessly eating a yogurt and trying to find something decent to watch on T.V., he sighed for the umpteenth time as he tried to somehow relax and sit still. He'd done the dishes, vacuumed, mopped the floor and mowed the lawn and it was still only ten-hundred hours. This sucked. As he clicked the remote again, the theme song for one of those stupid game shows blasted forth.

All right! I've had it with this crap! There's was no way I can stay cooped-up any longer!

Setting down the remote and the yogurt and picking up the phone, he dialed Kamekona.

Danny will just have to deal dammit.

…..

"Brah, why you want to piss off the little haole?"

Steve only looked back at the extra large shrimp truck operator and rolled his eyes, (something he could do now that it wouldn't cause a bout of vertigo), before replying, "You know Danny. Doesn't matter what I do, it's going to piss him off."

"True dat but dis time you workin' at it. Aren't you s'posed to stay home and rest?"

"I agreed to stay home until I felt better", lied Steve.

"So, I guess you okay now?"

"Yeah, don't I look better?"

"Not really brah, your face still lookin' like it met the wrong end of a bat."

"Thanks for the kind words." said Steve with an annoyed glance at the driver.

"Still better than the little haole gonna give you."

The old jeep continued to rattle toward H.Q. He'd just have to deal with Danny's ire when he got there.

…

His human had left him again. He usually took him in the big rolling box when he went to the place with the shiny ground and lots of places to nap. That's where he always went in the daytime.

Grumbling to himself, he tunneled under the carpet and made his way to his special place where he kept his things. This time, he was adding to the pile.

The metal thing he'd found next to where his human slept was easy to carry. It had a big string around it though it was kind of heavy. His human usually had it around his paw and would look at it sometimes as though it was saying something to him. He couldn't understand why. It didn't make any noise most of the time except sometimes it chirped but he had no idea why it did that. The chirps would always make his human stop what he was doing and go do something else. Hmm.

…..

Danny looked up from his desk as he spotted the tall man trying to quietly achieve the safety of his office before anyone saw him come in.

Rising from his desk as he felt his blood pressure also rising, he exited his office and strode purposefully down the hallway to his partner's office.

Steve was trying to look busy; searching through his desk drawers and plopping several folders onto the top of his desk.

Without saying anything, Danny stood leaning against the doorway, hands in pockets watching the show.

"Steven?" was the one word he uttered

"What?" responded the man bracing for what he knew was coming.

"Didn't you agree to stay home today?"

"Tried."

"Tried?"

"Tried really hard actually but by the time I realized that if I scrubbed the linoleum any harder, I'd have to buy new flooring and there is absolutely nothing on daytime T.V. worth putting a bullet into my flatscreen over, I thought it would be better to come to work. Less expensive."

"So, you're feeling better?"

"Yup."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Your phone and keys are in your upper left-hand drawer. Chin finished tracking down the owners of the defunct bookstores and the report is in your email. Have fun."

"You're not going to give me a bad time about coming in? I feel kind of cheated."

"Not gonna give you a bad time if you feel better. Just glad you're okay."

"Oh . . . alright. Thanks." replied Steve, sounding both relieved and surprised

"Bye-the-way" smiled Danny, "Dave called to confirm your date on Tuesday."

*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0* Hawaii 5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0

This chapter had to be heavily re-worked when I realized I'd seriously screwed up the timeline. It actually turned into two chapters so the next should be up soon. PLEASE review. Still an incredibly cheap date.