Steve leaned over trying to get a better look at the floor. "Cell phone?"
"Yea cell phone. Under there." Danny gestured under the couch. "Not mine."
He closed his eyes, holding his wounded hand, flexing the swollen fingers hoping to relieve some of the pressure. The jolt from hitting the floor did more than aggravate his pain, it reignited it. Thoughts of actually taking some pain meds entered his mind for the first time. It was getting more difficult to control his breathing.
Steve wasn't oblivious to his partner's change in demeanor. But he shoved the worry away and knelt down to retrieve the phone. Pushing some buttons, he searched for clues that might lead them to the owner.
"How did HPD miss that?" Danny tried to distract himself by focusing on the facts.
"Most of the techs got pulled outta here once we found you." Steve continued to examine the phone. "I guess they missed it. Wouldn't be hard. When was the last time you swept under there?"
"Shut it." That was all Danny could think to say. Steve ignored him.
"Looks like it belongs to your nephew by the pictures on it." Steve paused and grinned. "Whoa, Danny, this kid gets around."
"I don't want to hear about it unless it pertains to the case." He shook his head.
"Oh yea." Steve continued to tease. "I see he has the Williams charm."
Danny started singing loudly.
Steve's face clouded over and Danny stopped.
"Looks like he started to type you a message."
"So he was here."
"I told you CSU found his prints, Danny."
"I didn't want to believe it." Danny rubbed his eyes. "Message. What does it say?"
Steve crouched beside his friend and held the phone where he could see the screen.
u got what u deserved u lied uncle danny
"Sorry man." Steve felt like he'd been punched in the gut. Imagining what his partner would think made his own chest tighten more.
Danny immediately choked up and pushed the phone and Steve away from him. "No, no I don't believe it. Anyone could have left that text. Anyone."
He scooted backwards until he collided with an end table and almost knocked a lamp over. All the while muttering to himself. Steve grabbed the light to keep it from hitting Danny.
"Whoa Danno. Calm down."
"What so you can just swoop in and save me? Make me look like a fool?"
Steve backed off flinching at Danny's latest mood swing. This time, it stung a little.
"Hey okay, so next time I won't be there. Next time I'll let the lamp clunk you on that thick head of yours." He threw his hands up and left the room without saying anything else.
"So what, you got nothing else to say?" As the words faded in head, Danny knew he was an idiot. He pushed up, a little unsteady, but determined. His hand hurt, his head pounded. He was falling apart. He had to shake it off.
"Steve – hey, where'd ya go? I'm sorry, babe."
Steve was outside but he could hear Danny. He ignored his friend, concentrating on the sound of the neighborhood. Trees rustling, cars on the street. A dog barking. Someone laughing. Funny, he didn't feel like laughing. He felt like punching something. This little dance was driving him crazy.
Pushing the anger and frustration away, Steve took a few deep breaths. They were both beyond tired. The heightened tension was to be expected. But this bickering and arguing had gotten out of hand. He felt like he might lose it in front of his partner, say things he'd surely regret. He couldn't go back in there until he was sure he could keep from telling Danny what an ass he was being. He had to give him a pass today of all days.
"Steve – " The voice was Danny's but it sounded odd. Weak. Unsure. All the bravado drained away.
Steve raced into the house to find Danny standing in the middle of the kitchen, trembling. Holding himself up with a chair.
"Danno?"
Steve leapt forward to catch his friend.
/././
"I got the biggest headache that just won't quit." Danny mumbled after Steve settled him into a chair with a glass of water. He pushed it away.
Steve pushed the water back towards his stubborn partner. "When was the last time you ate something?"
"Can't remember. Popcorn last night maybe?" Danny rested his head on the cool table.
"You've been through a lot, man. I don't know how you're on your feet."
Danny raised his head just a little to look up at his best friend, winced and put it back down. "I can take the physical stuff. Pain. Exhaustion. I can push that away. What I can't take is knowing I have to call my sister and explain to her why her son is on this god forsaken rock."
"Danny you don't know –"
"I know he was here with a bunch of thugs who beat the shit out of me, buried me in a box and left me to die. And he left me that message." Danny pointed at the phone now lying on the table. "What the hell am I going to tell her?"
"I don't know. Maybe wait til we know for sure? You'll figure something out. You always do. You're good at this stuff."
"What? Lying? I'm good at lying to my relatives?"
"Lying?" Steve shook his head and rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"You know. Making things up. Fabrication. Because the truth will kill her. And I'm not gonna be able to explain why I killed my sister. My mother will never forgive me."
"Danny, we don't even know why Eric is here. You said it yourself. Someone else could have typed that message."
"Yea I did." Danny pushed up seeming to regain some composure. Like he hadn't truly even entertained the idea of innocence. "I did say that."
"But you don't believe it."
"I don't know what to believe now. I just hope the kid's alright." Danny sipped the water. "Because when I find him. Well, I just may want the honor of killing him all for myself."
Steve had to bite his lip to keep from laughing or even hazarding a smile. "So what you're saying is you want me to help you find your nephew so you can kill him."
"If it comes to that, yes."
"You want me to aid and abet in a capital crime?" Steve's attempt at looking serious couldn't hold water. His face cracked into a smile. "You have a deal as long as you do something for me."
"What?" Danny was in no mood for humor, especially the Steven kind.
"Eat something – and take a shower, brah. You stink."
"Ha – I stink? I was locked in a box and buried underground. As you well know since you are the one who dug me out." A tiny little crease of a smile gave itself away all across his face. "So, what's your excuse, buddy?"
/././
Steve left Danny to gather his things. He was convinced he could get his partner to shower and sleep once they got over to his house. Chin and Kono were working the case. He trusted them, knew their instincts were top notch. His job was protecting his partner. Something he'd failed to do by letting him go home alone when he'd known he was having a tough time with their previous case. He should have been there. Yet, he knew guilt was good for no one. It clouded your mind, kept you from seeing what mattered. Danny was alive. They'd saved him. Now they had to figure out what the hell led to this mess.
He scanned the kitchen. Danny had disturbed the scene only slightly when he'd sat at the table. The chair he'd been taped to was still on its side. The echo of a nightmare.
They needed to stay under the radar as much as possible. If the masked men thought Danny was still buried in that box, it might buy them some time. Time they needed for rest and regrouping.
His mind drifted to Danny's nephew, Eric. He smiled at the memory of the kid's last visit and then shook his head. How did Eric get mixed up in this mess? How did he even end up on the island?
"Hurry up, Danny. Let's go." He called down the hall.
His phone rang as an answer.
"McGarrett." He paused with a nod. "Chin. What have you got for me?"
Danny appeared in the hall. "Chin? Any news?"
Steve didn't meet Danny's eyes for a few seconds. When he did look up, his expression was wiped clean of emotion. He ended his conversation with Chin. "Thanks, I'll let him know, Chin. Tell HPD we're on our way."
"HPD?" Danny dropped his duffel bag.
"They found Eric." Steve closed the distance between them. "Looks like someone beat him up."
Danny touched his face and closed his eyes. The ache in his jaw made itself known for the first time in a while and his shirt suddenly felt too tight on his sore ribs. A flash of memory and adrenaline stopped him for a moment as a barrage of phantom punches nearly took his breath away. He stumbled a little, using the wall to hold himself up.
"Dead?"
"Sheesh, Danny. Why would you automatically go there?"
"Because it's what I do. My mind went there Steve. And the look on your face doesn't help."
"My look? Don't even start with that. We need to get over to HPD to get your nephew released. They aren't letting him go anywhere until they see you. Okay? We've got this, Danny. I promise."