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

Notes: wheeeeee! SO truly thrilled you all like this story!

Chapter Three

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*

Sweat beaded across his brow for an entirely new reason as Danny eyed the weapon in Mark's small hands. For the briefest of moments he turned his sights to Sammi who was not only closer, but wobbling unsteadily on his sneakered feet before making a decision. He would start there and remove at least one boy from the equation.

"I found it first." Sammi blurted defensively. Both boys were essentially good kids, if not a bit of trouble and hyperactive. Reading the boy's mannerisms, Danny slightly relaxed because Sammi already recognized that his time with the exciting 9MM was up. Rubbing at his bloody knee, it was obvious that he'd had enough even though his whine was petulant. Without being asked, he was clambering down to Danny as soon as the older man's hand beckoned to him.

"I did. I found it first, Mr. Williams." He made a penitent face and paled as he was easily swung to the sand, readying himself for the extreme scolding. Sammi was surprised though when the tongue lashing never came. In fact, Grace's father didn't yell at all. He merely pushed him towards where the crowd had gathered by the parking lot.

"Okay, Sammi. Go up there, have someone look at your knee, and wait for us. Everything's fine."

Squaring his shoulders, Sammi pursed his lips firmly together since he had Danny's attention. "I did find it first. No matter what Mark says."

"He's lying!" Behind them though and still up high on the rocks, Mark hissed at his friend's claim. Without looking, Danny knew the second youngster was going to be the much bigger challenge. Instead of feeling a bit contrite, he was dealing with anger. Worse, instead of wanting to help to do the right thing, he was dealing with a over-riding obstinate selfishness. In short, Mark was going to buck the figure of authority. "No way! I found it and I'm getting the credit!"

"I am not lying!" Sammi shouted back. Ready to fight again, Danny had to grab Sammi by the arm to forestall him from going in the wrong direction. Newly upset by Mark's bragging, Sammi looked almost tearful as he pleaded his case with Danny who had crouched down to give him a little shake as a warning to calm down. "But I'm not! I don't lie... not ever."

"Nuh -uh, we're done with the fighting! It doesn't really matter who found it first because HPD will need both of you to help." Purposefully, Danny kept his voice low and calm. Inside he was tightly strung as his itchy fingers held Sammi's skinny wrist. One boy was closer to safety at least and Danny tried to keep the mood light with a friendly hand on the wind-tousled sun-bleached head. "Go find your mom, Sammi, and then you can tell HPD all about it."

"So we aren't in trouble?" Turning back once to completely exasperate Danny, Sammi insisted upon asking about his biggest worry. "You don't think we're going to jail?"

Genuinely upset, he practically bounced on his toes while simultaneously glaring at Mark who still had yet to budge from his perch.

"What?" Maybe too dramatically, Danny forced his hands to plaster to his hips before he snorted in mock disbelief. "Trouble? No way! You two might even wind up being heroes… we need to get it bagged and taken to forensics to see if we can find out where it came from."

"Cool," Sammi murmured, with an impressed glance up his friend. "Forensics… that's the science stuff, right? Like on TV?"

"Yup. Go to your mother for now though and get a bandage for your knee," Danny pushed urgently with his focus now entirely back towards Mark. Based on the boy's posture and defiant expression, his biggest problem was both afraid, defensive and not entirely trusting of his words.

"So. You're Mark, right?" With Sammi dutifully trotting off, Danny boldly walked forward to crest the first of the volcanic rocks. "How the hell did you get out there?" he muttered under his breath while trying to pick his way carefully up the jagged face. When he found a relatively stable place to stand, Danny couldn't help wondering how the boy had managed to so adroitly traverse the distance. The width between beach and where he now loitered high on the rocks was impressive for the uneven surface and deep water-filled crevasses. Up on the highest point, Mark's back was to the ocean as a shallow spray of foam flew up just behind him. Then, as if to prove Danny's unspoken thoughts, Mark teetered in place as he clutched the gun possessively to his chest despite its sandy filth.

"Hey, take it easy! It's slippery! You need to come down and give me the gun so HPD can check it out." The boy's head rudely jerked to decline his request, making Danny wince as his hand instantly went out, fearful Mark would fall backwards into the water. In fact, he was terrified that the weapon could truly discharge despite its weather-worn and battered dingy metal. With the agility of youth though, Mark bore his sneakers into the uneven surface as he mentally waffled against the adult's demands.

"It does matter who found it first. It's mine and I found it between the rocks." Pointing somewhere off to Danny's right side, Mark was even more adamant now that Sammi was no longer in earshot.

"That's fair, Mark. Okay." The single-minded competitive persistence was already exhausting and Danny inhaled sharply before giving a tight appreciative nod. "Okay, I understand that it's important to you. But do me a favor and just put the gun down on that nice flat rock to your left. I want you to come to me and show me exactly where you found it."

Though no one might see it, Danny was impatient as he waited for Mark to make his decision. Tense and muscles ready to react at a moment's notice, but to do what Danny had no clue being so far away. Instead, he fought to keep his fists from visibly clenching when the boy didn't move. "Mark? Put it down first and get off the rocks. I don't want you to fall."

"I'm not going to fall." Contrary by nature and defensive by habit, Mark chuffed in a glorified feeling of bravado. But he reeled dangerously again despite the defensive retort. Catching himself smartly, he straightened his knees to show off his skills and smiled bravely. "See?"

"Yeah, okay. Good job… now put the gun down and come closer so you can take my hand. I'm going to have to help you get down." Standing sideways to better anchor himself, Danny extended his right hand as he tried to smile. But he failed as the boy mockingly bounced in jest to show off. Annoyed, Danny growled under his breath as he examined what he could see of the water-logged weapon wishing he could see if it held a slug or was damaged beyond repair. The gun was likely destroyed by water and the elements, but he didn't want to take any chances. He swallowed a worried grimace as the metal was clutched spasmodically and without care to the boy's t-shirt.

"Mark, put it down carefully and then take my hand. HPD is almost here." Making a beckoning signal as the sound of sirens approached from the main road, Danny climbed more closely to find purchase on a fairly decent portion of rock. Still though, he was positioned below the boy and the two were separated by a larger water-filled crevasse. While it seemed as if he was nearer, he was still greatly inhibited. Continuing to fail at finding better options without Mark being willing to compromise, he scowled unhappily. If Mark didn't make an effort to meet him halfway, there wasn't even an opportunity for the boy to willingly hand him the gun.

"I'd like you to just put it down on that rock. Then, I need you to show me exactly where you found it because that part is very important. If you fall showing off, you aren't going to be able to show me or HPD anything." Putting a small ounce of severity into his tone, Danny watched the small smile flee Mark's face but their discussion was taking much too long. Danny's new concern of having more officers arrive might then provide the wrong import which would only make matters worse.

Mark's excitement was part of the winning mix as the piercing sound of sirens continually reached them on the breeze. He looked out across the beach where the rest of his schoolmates were gathered in groups. His own mother had her hand over her mouth as she stared in his direction. Everyone was watching them, his mother was frightened for him and for that, he didn't know why and it made him mad.

"How do I know you aren't going to get me in trouble?" His tone was different from Sammi's; more wary and far less trusting. Mark had to know for certain because he knew his mother down to the twitch of her pinky finger. Based on what he was reading of her posture, she was not happy with him at all and he was already in trouble for taking a few dollars from her wallet without permission. She would tell his father about this too and he couldn't imagine how he'd be punished this time. Grounded for a month already by both his parents, they were only allowing him to participate in the school's beach cleanup event as part of his punishment. "My mom looks pretty mad to me."

"Other than for being out here on the rocks, I don't see why she'd be mad at you. I'll set things straight with her if you're worried. Seriously, if the gun was used in a crime, you're only going to be helping the police find the suspect." Narrowing his eyes quizzically at the changeable tone, Danny cocked his head subtly. Mark was definitely worried about his parents. Filing that away for later use, Danny forced a grin entirely for the young boy's benefit while trying to reach out again with his right hand, but things changed in a heart beat.

"Mark!" Danny flinched when Mark slipped and then bobbled in place as a larger wave loudly slapped the rocks behind him without warning. "You need to get down from there. It sounds like the tide is coming in."

Heaving in a breath to quiet himself, Danny couldn't help the exasperation which crept into his tone. He was ready for a new plan as the young boy waffled between trust and belligerence. If he could get closer with more ease, he'd be tempted to just remove the gun with one simple motion. If he could just get closer without needing to climb upwards, he could literally swing the boy into his arms. He could reach out and touch the boy's hand to enclose the small fingers safely in his own to manage the weapon.

If. If. If.

But as his own feet slipped on the rocks and he fought for purchase, Danny was essentially stranded where he currently was balanced. He was sweating profusely now as the sun beat down relentlessly on his back. Even Mark's face was becoming flushed from the heat as the black volcanic rock absorbed the sun's rays. Hardly balanced and with hands slick with sweat, he'd never be able to move fast or smoothly enough to use any one of his other mentally prepared options. In essence, he was completely stuck and he needed Mark to do the right thing on his own.

"Listen to me. No, no she's not mad…. she's going to be very proud of you once we secure the weapon and you help HPD out." Using the side of his arm, Danny swiped the sweat from his forehead, but not before glimpsing a disbelieving frown which he had no time to decipher. "It's damned hot out here too so we need to have this talk somewhere else, buddy."

"Secure it?" Mark questioned, a grin splitting his face. He didn't quite care about being too hot, though he could feel the soles of his feet baking through the stones. With a final glance to his mother, he carefully made a decision. "I'll really get to help the cops and find out if it was used in a real crime?"

"Scouts honor, buddy. Put it down though because it could be loaded. Now that HPD is here, you have to help them bag and tag it as evidence." Danny intentionally used big words and grand descriptions. "Plus, I can get you into the forensics lab to see how they check for prints and other clues."

"You're kidding? A real lab?" Mark smiled, gape-mouthed as the first of two HPD cruisers pulled into the beach's parking lot. His eyes flew from the cruisers and then settled fully back to Danny's face. He was sold now and Danny carefully inhaled a thread of air in relief because Mark finally said the words which Danny needed to desperately hear. "Okay, Mr. Williams. As long as I get to help."

"I promise that you will. I really do, Mark. Go slow now; we have all the time in the world." Danny audibly sighed in relief when the twelve-year old nodded and bent awkwardly down to place the gun on the suggested flat portion of rock. The gun was nearly there when a sneakered foot finally did give way on the slick surface. In slow motion, Mark's expression changed entirely as he windmilled frantically to keep his balance. This time, he wasn't regaining his footing no matter his natural agility and he gasped in fear.

"Mark!" "Lunging upwards with his right hand and extending his body as far as possible, Danny was at a terrible disadvantage. Too far away to snag a slender arm, touch the tips of small fingers or even make a last-minute grab for an ankle, still he tried. Dangerously slipping himself, he nearly fell as he scrambled upwards in what would be a vain attempt to prevent the inevitable.

Impulsively Mark tried to save himself, reach Danny for help, as well as rescue the treasured 9MM handgun. But in doing so, his fingers fumbled, groped and then clenched around the weapon's grip to accidentally connect with the trigger. Depressed with a sudden spastic sharpness, the unexpected report of the weapon was loud and instead of finding help, Mark found himself falling backwards.

"Help!" His frightened shout was broken in half as his back connected with a sharp slicing piece of rock. Almost upside down as he toppled helplessly through the air, Mark glimpsed Grace's father's stunned face and then the bright blueness of sky before a terrible pain crashed through his head. The crippling ache stopped his breath as the flash of foaming waters closed too quickly over his face.

Within seconds, young Mark fell bruised and bloodied into the Pacific-side of the volcanic outcropping. He tumbled directly into the deeply swirling ocean waters at their base where they rushed against the rocks, not understanding what had happened or why Grace's father had fallen in the opposite direction.

~ to be continued ~