****** WARNING – This chapter contains sexual content and descriptions of physical abuse ******

The meal was fantastic and after they cleaned up they made their way to the couch with glasses of wine.
"Tracy that was wonderful, thank you"
He placed his arm around her as she lay back onto his shoulder. She reached up and took hold of his hand, stroking it lovingly.
She smiled, "I'm glad you liked it. Did you save room for dessert?"
"Oh no...….I'm stuffed" He then chuckled, "What is it by the way?"
"Chocolate covered strawberries"
"God, that sounds great…..let's wait a little while though"
"So Danny, we talked our families last night. Now tell me more about your job and your team"

"My job…..I love my job. I have the most rewarding job in the world Tracy, and I get to work with people that I love like family. I was a beat cop back in Jersey and I also worked several cases with the narcotic unit. I loved my job but when Rachel moved here I had no choice but to quit and follow them. I was able to transfer to HPD so I had a job and most importantly, I was near Gracie again and I was part of her life. All I did was work, eat and sleep as I waited for my next visitation. I was just going through the motions at work….and then I met Steve. I was a broken man Tracy and then I was assigned to the case that changed my life…the murder of John McGarrett"

"McGarrett?"
"Yes…..Steve's Dad" Danny's voice softened as he continued, "Steve was a highly decorated Navy SEAL. He retired and returned to Hawaii to find his Dad's killer. The Governor of Hawaii established the 5-0 task force and hired Steve to head it up. He was given the ability to choose his team and I thank God every day that he chose me to be his partner. He then added Chin to the team. Chin had been an ex-partner of his Dad's…..in fact, John actually trained him. And Kono is Chin's cousin…"

"Really?"
"Yes. She was a week away from graduating from the police academy and the first time we met her….. well, let's just say that she made quite an impression on us" He smiled as he recanted their first meeting on the beach with the svelte but incredibly tough young woman.

Tracy grinned, "She looks so gentle"
"Looks can be deceiving my dear…..no, all kidding aside, she's as tough as any of us and she's every much our equal in the field. We're a team of four and we love and respect each other….we're family. I went from being a broken and lonely man to feeling so unbelievably loved. They love me for who I am, with all my faults….."

Tracy interrupted him, "I don't see any faults"
Danny laughed, "Like I said earlier, you've known me for two days. Trust me, I have many faults…. but thank you" He kissed her cheek and then continued, "The most important thing to me is that they don't only love me, they love Gracie as if she was their own and my little Monkey loves them. In fact, she probably loves her Uncle Steve more than anyone in this world, including me and her Mom! She calls him SuperSeal and she has a stuffed seal named Stevie that she sleeps with every night"

Tracy was smiling, "I can't wait to meet her"
"Well, as far as that goes. I probably won't introduce her to you right away. I don't want to confuse her. I haven't dated anyone since the divorce and I want to make sure of my feelings for you before I bring you into her life. I hope you understand that"

Tracy pulled away and sitting upright she squeezed his hand, "Danny I not only understand that, I respect that more than you can know. I told you last night that I grew up in a divorced home as well. Danny, I love both of my parents but I can tell you my Mom could never be alone. She was never happy without a man in her life and she didn't care what that man did to me and my sisters…"

Tears began to fall down her cheeks and Danny wiped them away, "Hey Tracy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. You don't need to tell me what happened…."

She reached up and taking his hand in hers, she kissed it "I want to tell you Danny. I want to tell you everything"
He replied softly, "Okay…..I'm listening"

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Tracy spoke softly, "My Mom married four times Danny. Her third husband physically abused me and my older sister"
"Did you tell your Mom or your Dad?"
"We did…..but she always turned it around. She always blamed us, telling us that he only hit us because we were disobeying him. We were afraid to tell Dad. He lived out of state and he saw us only a couple of times a year. Frank told us that if we ever told Dad, he would kill him…and we believed him"

Danny stroked her cheek as she continued "Mom would keep us home from school if the bruises were visible, but eventually Frank would hit us where the bruising couldn't be seen. He would hit us in the abdomen, chest and legs. I know he broke several of my ribs over the years, but I took it…"

Danny asked softly, "How many years did this go on?"
"Four…..from the age of nine until my thirteenth birthday. That's the day it ended" She took in a deep breath, "My sister Jackie was sixteen and she was spending the night with friends. Mom took me and my little sister, Heather out for pizza for my birthday. When we got home, Frank was horribly drunk and he immediately began to beat my Mom. He had never hit her before but he was so angry because Mom hadn't made him dinner before we left….and we didn't bring him any leftovers. Mom was crying and Heather was screaming. She was only six years old Danny and as he sat on top of our Mom pinning her to the ground, he turned and screamed that he was coming after Heather next….I saw his eyes Danny and I knew that he meant it. He had never touched Heather before, and I was going to make sure that he never did. Mom had dropped her car keys and I grabbed them and ran with Heather from the house. Frank was so busy hitting Mom that he didn't even notice we left. I drove to Jackie's friend's house and they called the police. My Mom was in the hospital for three weeks and Frank went to jail for assault, child abuse and endangerment. Mom's fourth husband is a great guy and he's loved us unconditionally and my Dad also moved back to Ohio. Dad always felt guilty about what happened to us, but it wasn't his fault"

He pulled her into his arms and he held her as she sobbed. He stroked her hair and spoke softly to her, "I'm so sorry Tracy"
After several seconds she pulled away from him and said, "I've only told a few people about this. I feel so comfortable talking to you"
Wiping her tears Danny whispered, "I'm glad you do"
"Danny, you're doing the right thing for your daughter. You're putting her needs first and that's how it should be. Gracie is a very lucky girl"

Danny placed his hand under her chin and lifting it, he leaned in and kissed her tenderly.
He then pulled her back to his chest and sitting back, he held her as she cried softly.

Tracy felt horrible. This man was so wonderful, so sensitive and gentle, Oh God, why couldn't Danny have been an asshole? She knew she had no choice though, she couldn't turn back now. If she didn't get that 50,000. and payoff Robarge by the first of the month, he would kill her, and she did not question that at all. One night a few weeks ago, she was trolling the Internet and by chance she came across a story about her old college lover and she felt like God had answered her prayers. She found out he was living in Hawaii and was a very successful businessman. She contacted him to ask him for a loan. She explained what had happened and that she owed this drug dealer. She had cried and told him that she feared for her life.

He told her he had to think about it, which she definitely understood as this was a huge amount of money. Two days later, he showed up at her door in Pennsylvania with a proposition. He told about his family and about his 'problem'. He told her about his plan and that if she helped pull this off, not only would he pay off her 50,000. He would give her an additional 20,000. so she could move and start life fresh. She had asked him for details, wanting to know exactly what he was going to do to Danny but he wouldn't tell her. She had accepted the 'job' and now she didn't know if she could go through with it.

She said softly, "I'm so sorry Danny…"
Her heart broke as she heard him respond soothingly, "You don't have anything to be sorry about, ssshhhhhhhh"

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They sat on the couch for half an hour. No words were spoken as Danny simply held her.
As his strong arms comforted her, her mind continued to race.
She felt safe in his arms, and she felt loved.
It had been so long since a man had held her like this. Her senses were overwhelmed by his touch and his smell and she wanted to make love to him desperately, but she couldn't. How could she, knowing what she had to do to him? Oh God she hated herself….

Eventually she pulled away from him again and she placed a hand on his cheek.
"You're such a sweet man Danny…."
Danny smiled softly and took hold of her hands, "Tracy what you did when you were a child was so brave. You saved your little sister from being beaten and you probably saved your Mother's life, you know that don't you?"

"I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, but that's the one thing I am proud of"
"And you should be"
Her voice shook with emotion as she said softly "I have so many things I need to tell you….."
"In time Tracy…..whenever you're ready. What's in the past, is in the past. I want to be your future"
She was shaking as she said, "I don't deserve you"
"Tracy, we both have past's. I've known you for only two days but I feel a connection with you, a deep connection. I'm here because I want to be here. I like you very much and I want to see where this can go"

They sipped wine and talked until almost two in the morning.
Danny then said, "I should probably leave, the wine is starting to hit me"
"Well then you really shouldn't leave…...Danny, I don't want you to leave"
"I can sleep on the couch. You can ask Steve, I like couches!"
"I don't want you to leave, and I don't want you to sleep on the couch" She leaned in and kissed him passionately.
He replied, "Tracy, are you sure about this?"
"I'm very sure Danny"

He kissed her passionately and standing, they began undressing each other as they moved into the bedroom.
As they reached the bed, they were both aroused as their hands explored each other's naked bodies and they continued to kiss. Suddenly Danny stopped as Tracy began to cry.
"Tracy, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I…I can't…I can't Danny?"
He smiled warmly, "It's okay…..it's okay" He kissed her eyelids, cheeks and lips ever so gently repeating over and over, "It's okay Tracy…..it's okay"

She whispered, "Please just hold me"
She was shaking as he pulled her up against his body and brought the blankets up over them.
She sobbed softly saying, "I'm sorry Danny…..I'm so sorry"
"Ssshhhhhhhh, there's nothing to be sorry about. Just relax, it's okay….I promise you, it's okay"
Soon they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Tracy woke the next morning as Danny entered the room.
He was smiling and carrying a tray with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, coffee, orange juice and the chocolate covered strawberries.
He said softly, "Good morning"
She put her hand to her mouth, "Oh Danny, how lovely. Good morning"
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes….this is so sweet"

She again wiped tears from her eyes and he said, "Hey, no more tears honey….."
"I feel so horrible about last night"
"Tracy, I want our first time to be special. There's no rush, we both need to be ready. I feel so lucky to have met you"
She forced a smile as his words cut through her heart. 'Lucky'... he was far from lucky in meeting her.

They had a wonderful day together as Danny showed the new arrival to Hawaii the Island.
She met Kamekona as Danny took her to the beach and they shared a shrimp lunch that Danny told her couldn't hold a candle to the meal she had prepared for him last night. He also took her to see his place and to 5-0 Headquarters. And to cap the day off he took her out for dinner and then they walked barefoot on the beach as the sun set.

He needed to get a good night sleep to be prepared for his undercover role in the morning.
When they reached her apartment he walked her up to her door and kissed her.
"Danny, this has been the most amazing weekend, thank you"
"I'll call you, but it might be a couple of days. It depends on how the case goes"
"That's okay. I'll be waiting...…" She hesitated momentarily, "Danny, I love you"
He smiled and kissed her lips gently, "I love you too"

As he walked away he kept turning back and smiling at her goofily until he rounded the corner.
There was a skip to his pace and joy in his heart that he never thought he would feel again.

As Tracy entered her apartment and closed the door she fell to the floor and sobbed uncontrollably.

****** I hope you're enjoying, I'd love to hear what you think! ******