Danny sat in Governor Denning's waiting room, anxiously tapping his fingers while he pretended to read a magazine that had been out of issue the last time he was here. He was angry, confused, and slightly bitter, but a deep sense of nervousness overpowered his other emotions.
How the governor even knew his phone number was a mystery to him, for it had changed since he left Hawaii. Danny wasn't naïve enough to assume the governor didn't know he was on the island, but the fact that Denning himself had called him to the statehouse meant he knew his phone number…and wanted something badly.
He already knew what he would say if asked to help out on a case. If—and only if—Denning wanted him to investigate the claims that Wo Fat was back on the island or help Chin and Kono investigate Sang Min, he would help out part time. Otherwise, he was flatly refusing. After all, he was supposed to be on vacation, and his emotionally distraught daughter could only stay with Catherine for so long at a time.
Nodding to reaffirm his decisions, he turned the page in the old magazine. Instead of the next page of an article on some had-been starlet's antics, he was met with an advertisement for Silverados. The full-page ad featured a fisherman with short, dark hair, and his face was so out of focus that it seemed to Danny he was looking at a picture of Steve again. He threw down the magazine and wiped away his sudden tears as a young woman walked towards him.
"The governor will see you now, Detective." She smiled at him and led the way to Denning's office, pushing open one large door and gesturing him in.
Denning's office had hardly changed over the years. Every piece of furniture was in the same place, every painting was in the same place, even the cup of pens on his desk seemed to be in the exact place. Denning himself was standing in much the same position that Danny had last seen him in: back straight, shoulders tensed, hands folded behind his back, body facing the largest window. All of the sameness increased the nervousness bubbling in Danny's stomach tenfold.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Detective Williams," Denning responded. "I'm glad you came."
"It sounded urgent, sir," Danny said. "Care to explain what was so important that you took me from my daughter who, if you don't know, was-"
"Involved in a hostage situation yesterday," the governor interrupted. He turned, and Danny was alarmed to see that his eyes were every bit as serious as when he had heard about North Korea. "I'm very much aware of the circumstances, and I hope she's recovering adequately. After seeing the twelve o'clock news, I've asked the local stations to back off from the story. I can't imagine you and Grace enjoyed being hounded at every turn."
"Not exactly. Thank you."
Denning sighed. "I called you here to ask a favor. We need help."
"Who does?"
"The state of Hawaii and the Honolulu Police Department." He gestured to one of the plush chairs in front of his desk. "Have a seat."
Danny sat carefully, trying to avoid further irritating his stomach. "I don't know why you think I can be of help. I'm just a New Jersey cop on vacation."
"No, you're also Five-0. I'd like to reinstate you to the team."
Of everything he had expected to hear, this was not on the list. "Sorry?"
"I've already cleared it with your chief. Until we get this case solved, you're staying."
"That's if I accept your job offer. Did you forget the part where my daughter is recovering from being nearly kidnapped by Sang Min? And the part where you disbanded Five-0 after McGarrett disappeared?" Danny chuckled sardonically. "If you think I'm just going to skip merrily back to the office and start up the old computers, you've got another thing coming."
"Detective, I can tell that my actions two years ago have embittered you to the idea of-"
"Understatement of the year, Governor. You forced us apart, threatened to arrest us if we told anyone the truth of McGarrett's disappearance, any of the truth! And don't feed me that bull about you not really stopping us, because someone gave the order for us not to be allowed to contact our friends in the Navy and we all know it's you! And now you're threatening to chuck Captain Kelly and Detective Kalakaua in prison if they investigate claims that an international arms dealer who Five-0 investigated for nearly a year is back on the island, and you expect us all to be okay with that?! Because we're not!"
Governor Denning looked at Danny for a few moments after his rant, his eyes unreadable. Danny's stomach churned even harder, and he just knew that he was going to throw up if Denning didn't tell him why he was really here and dispel his nerves. "I admit that I have made mistakes, but there is much you do not understand about the situation. Furthermore," he said loudly as Danny started to retort, "you and your former teammates are not the only ones being gagged on the disappearance of Lieutenant Commander McGarrett. Did it ever occur to you that I may have gotten orders, too? And that as much as I wanted to let all of you investigate, to do so would be suicidal for all of our careers and possibly our lives?
"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to brief you on this case before it goes cold." Danny wanted to spit more bitter words at the governor, but he managed to restrain himself after a short battle of wills. "Thank you. First of all, I am releasing you from the gag order covering Wo Fat and McGarrett's disappearance, provided you be sensible about whom you talk to."
Danny raised his eyebrows. "What? What could have possibly made you decide to put me, of all people, on this case after all this time?"
"I told you already: you're Five-0. You have the background I think is necessary to investigate the case." Denning stood once more and turned to look out his window. "An officer was shot this morning in an alley. Nearby evidence suggests that Wo Fat is at least indirectly responsible, and chances are that this is only the beginning."
His mouth filled with the taste of bile as he struggled not to throw up. He was beginning to sweat from the anxiety and stress this conversation was causing. "So you want me to track down Wo Fat and whoever else is involved in this shooting?"
"And bring them to swift justice, yes. Do you accept this case?"
"Of course." Though he had told himself earlier that he would make this decision, his gut didn't calm down in the slightest. The sudden slump in Denning's shoulders didn't help matters at all. "Does Dr. Bergman have the body? I'll start my investigation there, as soon as I pick up Chin and Kono. That is, if I'm allowed to borrow them."
Denning turned around, his expression still unreadable. "There is no body as yet. Our officer is still alive, but it's too soon to tell if he will survive his injuries. At my last update, he still wasn't stable enough to have surgery, and if they can't repair the damage..."
"I see." Danny wiped his forehead and breathed in through his nose, trying to quell the nausea that still threatened to overtake him. Something about Denning's stance and general air was increasing his nerves. "Can I recruit my own team? And can Officer Kalakaua and Captain Kelly be a part of it?"
"You'll have to ask Kalakaua. As for Kelly…he won't be joining you." Danny's breath hitched in his chest. "He's your victim."
Danny stared blankly at the governor before running to the bathroom that connected to the office, expelling the fast food Catherine had brought for lunch. He continued to retch for over a minute, even after his stomach was emptied of anything resembling contents.
Chin Ho was his victim. Chin Ho was potentially dying. Chin Ho wasn't going to be able to help him.
When he returned to the office after splashing water on his face, Denning handed him a glass of water. He drank it gratefully, but it tasted like volcanic ash on his tongue. He still felt seasick, somehow. The news was so unexpected that it hit him almost as hard as Steve's kidnapping. There was no way to prepare for that kind of news, and the governor seemed to be aware of thit.
"Kelly and Kalakaua had been assigned to work the Sang Min case, and according to HPD they were in the process of investigating a crime scene that, when described to me, reminded me of the compound you and the others told me about. I'm giving you the Sang Min case too, because I have a feeling it's going to lead you straight to Wo Fat."
"Yes, sir."
"HPD is available to assist you, as are all of your previous resources. I suggest you recruit someone to act as your partner during this time, HPD or otherwise."
Danny nodded. "I need to get to the hospital. Which hospital is he in?"
"Tripler, but you need to start this investigation first."
"My victim is there, sir," Danny said quietly. "So is his partner, who can probably shed more light on things than anyone else I know of. I have to talk to Kono."
"Very well. Your office will be reopened by the time you make it there." Denning turned around again, and Danny recognized it for the dismissal it was.
As he made his way through the cool, marbled halls of the statehouse, his stomach clenched again. How was he supposed to run Five-0 without any of his former teammates?
He didn't know, but he did know something else. He was going to find out who shot Chin. And he was going to find Wo Fat.
And he was going to pay them back in kind for everything they'd ever done to his ohana.
A/N: I do love me some vengeful Danno.
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I know this chapter is a day early (wow, did I really just post three chapters in three days?!), but I'm solidly booked tomorrow and the better part of Sunday. I didn't want to risk not getting this posted on time or even close to on time, so here it is early. Next week should bring us back to our regular schedule (hopefully).
Aloha nui loa, my friends!