I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: yeah, okay - so this isn't EXACTLY the last chapter. The muse had ideas about an entirely NEW setup of who was with Danny once he was cleared. First version was him and Kono with Makoa. Hmmm ... wound up not feeling quite right said the muse. So this chapter was created, revamped and it now feels much more natural. I hope you all approve!

So, maybe the next one is the last (?) and the devilish muse is considering a Devon-centric epilogue.

Frube = A surfer who does not catch a wave for the whole time they are in the water. Turtle Roll = technique for getting a longboard out though a breaking wave. (As opposed to duck diving for a shortboarder).

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*

Chapter Twenty-Five: No Kau a Kau ~ For Eternity

His first time back in the water was a long three months after the incident with Topher Reid, nearly two months after his second impromptu stay in the hospital after Devon Hayashi planted his foot into his chest, and it wasn't supposed to have been a public free-for-all.

Yet, it was. Or at least it seemed that way based upon his o'hana's happy fanfare. His desire was for a simple paddle out with Kono for a test of his new board ... the one he'd made from scratch with Makoa's guidance. The very one which Danny had assumed would either be worth nothing if he completely screwed it up, or possibly hold some nominal value as a resale out of Makoa's private shop. However, neither of those scenarios had happened.

The board had indeed come out perfectly. Better than he had thought possible. But then, the big man had generously gifted the thing to Danny for his help with Devon. And in typical fashion, Makoa Hayashi had stormed away to completely refuse any further discussion of his final decision even though more than Danny had a say in his son's fairly lenient charges. A final enforcement of a twelve-month probationary period held a number of strict rules and requirements which Devon vowed to adhere to, beginning with timely visits to his probation officer. Beyond that, he would also attend counseling for anger management and perform community service.

But of most importance, the sentencing kept him out of jail. So while there would be no overnight cure for father and son, they were at least on a better footing. Devon had expected nothing and had been given what felt like a second chance. Makoa had finally listened and had learned to be as gratified and relieved as his son ... because as Kono had dutifully seen fit to remind him, Iris would have wished the same.

Therefore, giving Danny the custom designed board seemed to be the only honorable way Makoa could express his apology, as well as his gratitude.

As the sun beat down on his shoulders, Danny ran his fingers over the flawlessly smooth surface while he straddled his board well beyond the breakers and simply bobbed in place trying to find a mental peace and assurance of his physical strength. He was in awe of having crafted his own board; at least, eighty percent of it under Makoa's fine direction. He knew every line and every single inch of its gentle curve just by touch alone. His first board, now repaired with such skill that it showed no blemish, sat on-end in the sand. However, Danny didn't want that one today. He was hungry to try out the bright white hand-crafted piece of art that he helped create.

But he'd be lying if he said that he wasn't nervous: a case of nerves was precisely why he hadn't budged an inch. Even without his enthusiastic o'hana in attendance, the new board was going to cut through the water much differently. Makoa had warned him, but the point was already compounded by real life example and his own powerful paddle out to where he say so buoyantly now. The performance ranked board was different in every way imaginable, he felt overwhelmed just sitting astride it and so, Danny was both eager and slightly paranoid about his maiden run.

"Sitting and bobbing in place just like a buoy." Danny privately cast the comparison and nearly smiled before those very same nerves crushed it. The tension inside his very being was causing a feeling of exhilaration, as well as a niggle of self-doubt at the same time. Justing sitting there, Danny knew more about surfboards than he'd even considered and that knowledge also amped up his hobby to a new level. With that knowledge came new challenges and ignorance was no longer blissful. He could barely make any further comparisons because nothing about what he sat on that morning was remotely similar to his first board, barring the basic truth that each could float.

"So, Danny?" The deep male voice off to his right could barely be heard for the screech of gulls and at first, Danny used that as an excuse since he didn't feel like acknowledging it. He knew what the pending question was and stayed momentarily mute. As the sun beat down on his back, he breathed in deeply, reveling in the heat and the way it almost burned him. He used his feet to lightly tread in place to avoid too much of the tide's pull and watched the lines setting up along the horizon. Yet, he couldn't quite yet commit to taking one into the beach. So he simply sat where he was, like a prop, not speaking a word, as wave after wave lifted and went under him to eventually crash from his left to the far right along the shoreline.

"How long are you going to sit out here?" Oddly, Danny still didn't react to the anticipated question when it finally was expressed out loud. He didn't quite know the answer himself even though there was only one way back to land. And for once, it wasn't Kono who was knee-to-knee with him. This time it was Steve, which was again admittedly different. However, because his custom board was so different, having Steve with him deciding upon just the right line-up to commit too, felt entirely fitting.

Steve grinned at Danny's profile, completely unaffected by his partner's pensive silence. The entire team was there that day. Danny, Steve and Kono had immediately taken to the water, but Chin had abstained from actually surfing. However, in the many minutes they had all been there, only Kono had aggressively shredded wave after wave and even now, was tirelessly on her way back out to rejoin them. For her, the cathartic release of being on the water was much too obvious as she threw herself wholeheartedly into every joyously flawless run.

Steve's attention flickered from Kono and then back to Danny. Content to wait for Danny's resolve to kick in, Steve was thoroughly enjoying the morning regardless of how long that decision might take. His smile broadened when Danny unconsciously ran his fingers over his new board again. The gesture had already become natural and Danny had every right to be proud in what he'd crafted without realizing that it would eventually become his. It was a beautiful piece and suited his friend perfectly.

"It's a nice board," Steve prodded gently as another near perfect set began to line up behind them. "We got another nice set coming in, too. What do you think?" His eyebrow lifted quizzically as he watched Danny measure and mentally acknowledge that same fact. Even though there was no action, there was a slight nod of approval and Steve snorted in amusement under his breath. Kono had done a phenomenal job as a coach and Danny certainly didn't lack an astute eye.

"Don't know," Danny replied softly to Steve's ongoing prompts. "In a few minutes I guess."

Steve shrugged without comment and followed Danny's gaze from the horizon, back to the breakers and then to the activity on the beach. He had no doubt that Danny would go when he was ready; certainly not before. And while there was no requirement that Steve stay tethered by his side, he had no intention of abandoning his friend in order to grab a wave, himself. Steve briefly closed his eyes, content to wait, until Danny gasped quietly.

"Are you kidding me?" Danny breathed out in disbelief as he gestured to a distant place beyond the beach itself. "He's actually here?"

Danny shielded his eyes from the bright glare of the sun with his hand as an abused blue and white pickup truck pulled into the upper parking lot. Racks installed in its bed were laden with surfboards and Danny groaned loudly as Makoa Hayashi vacated the driver's side door. While his first day out hadn't quite been a secret, Danny hadn't exactly thought the prickly-tempered man would show up that morning. But of course he would, and Danny groaned again because he certainly should have expected it.

"Now this is a real compliment, Danno. He's as excited as you should be," Steve interlaced his fingers before cupping them over his forehead for a better view. He chuckled as the elder Hayashi started unstrapping boards. From where they sat side by side in the water, they watched as Chin ran across the sand to help. "You'd better break the ice and try at least one wave, Danny. This isn't going to get any easier and you know by now how he can be." Steve meant the ability for Danny to psych himself out which would be worsened by Makoa's tendency to be sardonically caustic.

"I am excited," Danny whispered under his breath. "I just didn't think he'd really come." He knew they all wanted to support him and he certainly appreciated it. However, their presence also inflicted an undue amount of pressure to increase the nervous tension he felt all the way down to his toes. He was very excited and Steve was well aware of that, so the gentle jibe was only that. But where Steve might opt for gentle ribbing and patient prodding, Makoa would undoubtedly border on heartless.

Nonetheless, he didn't move. The truth was that Danny didn't mind having either Chin or Steve along that morning, though the two together created an audience. With Makoa now in attendance, he had a veritable entourage which made him self-conscious and upped his personal stakes for success.

"You'll be fine," Steve said confidently. "We picked a perfect day and the waves are average. The wind's off-shore and light ... the sets ... well, ..."

When Danny immediately aimed a withering look his way, Steve's voice trailed off, though his smile never left his face. In fact, Steve was fairly beaming with happiness as he held one hand up as way of apology before gesturing across the water to take in the entire white expanse of sand in the distance. It was an open invitation and Danny rolled his eyes skywards at his partner's light teasing.

"I know what the conditions are, Steven," Danny griped dramatically as Makoa strode down the beach to the water's edge. "They're near perfect."

But if Danny had been concerned about who might be watching him, all that evaporated as a respectful gathering of people literally stopped to watch Hayashi, some actually gathering around him in a half-circle of sorts. "What's this all about?" He asked Steve with a curious wave of his hand. He frowned as other surfers began to point and gesture. It was as if a silent communal message had gone out over the very ocean breeze and people were stopping in their tracks to stare in awe at the elder native. Danny chuffed a weird sound under his breath as the crowd increased in size around the old man.

"Hail to the legend," Steve smirked as he returned Makoa's welcoming shaka made with his damaged hand. It was a weird and very theatrical move meant to show off the remaining fingers, while his board shorts clearly broadcasted the ages-old, mottled sunken tissue scarring his leg.

"Wow," Steve breathed out in amusement before he burst out laughing at Danny's stunned expression. His shared wave to Makoa had turned a number of inquisitive eyes their way. "And hail to his friends, too!"

"Shit," Danny moaned as no less than ten people pointed out to where he and Steve were sitting on their boards. Tagged as the great Hayashi's friends, they were now part of a rather special inner circle.

"I'd go now, Danno," Steve suggested gleefully as Makoa waved to them again. "There's a nice easy set coming in. You don't want to be a frube."

"Right. Not a frube," Danny murmured distractedly, still stunned by what he was witnessing. By the time Makoa had one toe in the water to escape a bevy of excited children yammering for attention or to see his near finger-less hand, Danny was ready to get on the move. "Okay. I'm going."

Makoa Hayashi had an impressive long board under his arm and was submerged within seconds, popping up to disappear again like a sea otter at a startlingly rapid pace. Danny tightened his lips as he forced his gaze to measure the sets that were lining up behind him. He needed to forget about everyone who might be watching. Still, he peeked through his lashes to see that Makoa was aggressively doing a turtle-roll through the breakers despite the lack of a full hand or whole thigh muscle. He was somewhat relieved to see that Kono was on a tangent which would gradually intercept Makoa's course on her own board, buying him more time to center his thoughts properly.

"Go," Steve whispered just loud enough for Danny to glance towards him to see the encouraging message of calm reassurance bolstered by a brazen shaka just for him. With that send-off, Danny had to grin as he quickly got down to the task at hand because Steve was absolutely right about one thing: he didn't want to be sitting idle next to the great Makoa Hayashi without at least having one decent wave under his belt.

That thought provided for an interesting realization and Danny nearly stopped mid-paddle when Devon crossed his mind. As Makoa attacked the ocean, and the crowd gathered on the shore to see their legend, Danny knew what it must have been like growing up in the man's larger than life shadow.

~ to be continued ~