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

Chapter Seventeen

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The afternoon had been a universal success not only for Steve and Grace, but also for Chin who had suggested renting kayaks for a gentle tour around a few hidden coves which were protected from high surf. Each had piloted their own kayak and Grace was in her glory learning from both how to best maneuver the lightweight craft. The quiet coves and hidden tidal pools which Chin was so familiar with were also perfect for teaching Grace how to exit and gain re-entry to her kayak should she have the need. Happily excited with her successes that day, the three freshened up at Steve's and then ate out together. Now, they were all on their way back to the hospital and Grace could barely wait to tell Danno about everything they had done that day.

Glancing over as he drove, Steve had to smile at Grace's healthy glow and general excitement as her foot tapped the dash repeatedly. Every red traffic light put that same foot into a quandary as it tapped even faster in impatient anticipation. He chuffed an amused sound as Grace leaned forward eagerly when he made the final turn into the hospital's main parking lot. Behind them, the steady chugging engine of Chin's motorcycle comfortably brought up their rear. It was entirely satisfying and Steve was just beginning to feel a little sheepish over having had such a nice day; just a bit guilty for borrowing what should have been Danny's time that weekend with his daughter.

"Uncle Steve? Why is everyone outside the hospital?" Grace sat taller in the passenger seat, eyes wide as they entered the main parking lot. Her smile was now gone, replaced with an urgent worry at the strange sight. People milled about away from the main entrance on the sidewalk, remote sections of the parking lot, on grassy medians or in clusters by their cars. It was an odd assembly managed by hospital security and even one or two Honolulu Police Department officers.

"What?" Steve was busy dodging the errant driver leaving the area and then slowing to find a spot to park his big truck. Otherwise distracted and still mulling about their day, he hadn't quite noticed the crowd of people gathered nearer the building. Chin had though as Steve watched his friend veer to the far right to park his motorcycle closest to the scene.

"What happened? Is something wrong inside?" Grace asked again as she saw Chin jog over to the closest uniformed security guard before taking the man's arm to join a larger group of authorities who were obviously working busily.

"Let's find out," Steve breathed softly, parking and then taking Grace's hand with intent to join the main group of security personnel. Halfway there, he was both relieved and surprised to see Kono's head quickly weaving amongst the security team. At once seemingly to welcome her cousin, she was then off again with a dour expression. He watched as she chased down one person in particular who appeared to be in charge based upon a general air of importance and Steve realized it was the Chief of Security. Chin turned as if to follow then changed course entirely to take Steve and Grace aside before they could get closer.

"We need access," Chin quickly explained, taking Grace's hand to allow Steve the honors of the challenge. "It seems they've misplaced a patient and they need a bit of help."

Grace gasped worriedly but Chin was interrupting her with a light chuckle. "Not your father; someone else. But I think Aunt Kono and Uncle Steve need to go help. It's important, keiki, and I'd like you to stay here with me."

Cocking his head, Steve looked at Chin curiously as he handed Grace off. "Do we know this person?" Steve asked.

"Yes we do and you need to get in there. Security is giving Kono a hard time about it." Chin glanced down to Grace who was both listening and watching them like a young hawk. "To be honest, they have the situation mostly under control. But whether they want it or not, they do need more help."

"Why can't we go in then? We could all help," Grace asked, entirely confused by the mass of people forced to stand outside.

"Because it's easier for the authorities to watch the doors and to find someone with less people in the building," Steve offered the most simple of explanations. "If the patient is scared, more strangers just make it worse. Plus, with a lot of commotion, he or she might be able to sneak out without anyone seeing and the doctors don't want that to happen."

"Oh," Grace made a face, but the explanation was sensible and she had nothing more to say except to watch the goings on. Willingly she stayed with Chin as Steve looked for Kono, finally spotting her near the main entrance. She had the Chief by the arm and was adamantly arguing her case.

"I'll be back in a bit and then we'll go see Danno," he smiled reassuringly, turning to go but was stayed by a hand on his shoulder.

"Steve. One more thing." Chin grabbed him before he could get further while ensuring that Grace was momentarily out of earshot.

"I'm assuming this is Mark we're talking about? Poor kid's had it rough this week," Steve whispered, nodding in understanding at Chin's silent affirmative. "Besides the obvious, what else is wrong?"

"Danny has him in the southeast stairwell. Basement level. The mother's there, too."

"Danny?" Steve hissed his partner's name out, stunned by the revelation. Chin's earlier confusing comment about how security had things mostly under control made sense now. His sense of urgency grew as he envisioned a number of unpleasant scenarios with the brazen woman. "With Paquin? Damn it, Chin. How the hell did that happen?" Steve didn't expect an answer as he aimed for Kono; her argument regarding access to the building in full swing.

"Which part?" Chin muttered under his breath as he watched Steve leave, mindful that Grace was virtually in his back pocket as interest made her follow.

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From where he sat on the floor Danny watched the woman, quietly snorting in disgust when she reached one hand as if seeking out her son. Instead of allowing her to move forward though, he shook his head to deny the attempt and her hand dropped to her side as if stung. Her eyes blazed indignantly but Mark had just quieted and was beginning to tense once more as he sensed her presence.

"Get help. Don't just stand there," Danny's voice was low with an angry undertone as Beth uselessly stared at them. Her face was distraught but her eyes vacillated between that emotion and a real personal fear. Danny narrowed his own eyes as he measured the tears which were already drying on her cheeks. She was clearly upset but now he was almost nervously unsure as to why.

"It's okay," Danny murmured as he felt the twelve-year old shift uneasily in his arms. His next order to Beth continued in a mere whisper to ease that growing alarm. Her son was afraid, exhausted and ill, the very last thing he needed was raised voices and to feel aggression growing around him again. "Go and get help. Move."

There was scarcely a nod and then she was gone, fleeing up to the first floor where Danny could hear her shouting for help. But then, too many footsteps echoing on the stairs above had Mark whimpering into Danny's chest no matter what he tried to do. Without recourse, he gently cupped his hand over Mark's ear to pull him closer to his body as the boy's fingers convulsed to wad the sleeve of his hospital robe.

"What's wrong with all of you?" He warned them, glaring at the first face he saw coming around the corner. Mark was nested firmly into him now and Danny was vainly holding him closely as the trembling increased in correspondence to the activity level. "Keep it down. You all sound like a damned assault team!"

The first earnest face was that of Doctor Webber and he reared back in surprise, turning instantly to disappear to head off the four people in his wake, with Beth Paquin descending last. She was annoyed and pushing past though as the medical staff rocked to a halt. "Slow it down! Quiet!" Webber was duly upset by their error, realizing that the loud echo was deafening. "Stop ... take it slower. Now."

Behind the staircase, Mark moaned at having been found. He was frightened and tired, and the prospect of a reality where he had to cope with more doctors and nurses was far from where he wanted to be. But Grace's father was holding him closely and murmuring promises that nothing would happen.

"It's okay. It's only Doctor Webber and he didn't mean to be so loud." Danny ran his fingers over Mark's forehead to card them through damp, sweaty hair. The twelve-year old was now attached to him like a second skin and clearly wishing to be invisible. There was a sniffle though and the weakest of nods causing Danny to smile in response.

"Too many. Back off," Danny whispered as he looked up and five people arrived to swarm their small hiding place. Each was trying to be quiet but the volume was overwhelming as their bodies hid whatever scarce light was available. With one hand, he waved them back, silently asking that they all provide more reasonable space as Mark sank deeper down.

Pushing through, Beth Paquin ignored him with every intention of reaching her son first, but Doctor Webber physically interceded to hunker down as a solid protective wall. Forced to yield, Beth found herself standing just behind his broad shoulders and still unable to physically touch her child.

"Hiya, Mark." Daring to carefully rub Mark's arm, the doctor assessed the pale complexion and clammy skin while Danny began introducing the tenuous transition.

"See? It's alright." Resorting to softly rubbing the boy's small shoulders, Danny whispered calmly while beginning to ease some of the weight from his chest. But the angle was poor and he winced again, enough for Webber to place a restraining hand now on Danny's arm.

"Danny, go slow," the doctor softly advised, now taking stock of his second patient. "This stairwell was checked off as being searched; nicely done finding our boy, here. But how are you feeling?"

"Got lucky, I guess. But I'm fine, Doc," Danny's smile from over the top of Mark's head was completely unconvincing. The position on the cold hard floor was more than uncomfortable. The simple design of the white hospital gown and robe offered little protection as his bare legs braced against the floor to support the boy in his lap. He was cold and uncomfortable. Sitting straight up against the equally hard concrete wall was creating a fiery burn in his lower back, aggravating the strain which he'd felt during his descent down the staircase. All of these things Doctor Webber easily guessed and he heaved a careful sigh with an understanding hand to Danny's shoulder. The growing issue was Mark's dead weight and stray movements which were pressing on tender healing areas, constricting his older patient's breathing to even more shallow inhales.

"We need to move you both. Now," Webber noted quietly. "Mark, how about you come over to me and I take you back upstairs? Then the nurses here can help Detective Williams."

There was a minor movement and then a negative shake of Mark's head as he digested and then instantly rejected the idea. But Danny had expected the refusal and he only chuffed a faintly amused sound.

"We can't stay here and I don't know about you, but my butt hurts, buddy," Danny smiled when Mark relaxed and opened his eyes briefly. There was a glimmer of comprehension and Danny leaned slightly sideways to catch the boy's frightened, uncertain expression. "Seriously, it does. Plus, Doctor Webber is only worried about you, Mark."

But his tiny victory was dashed by a disgusted sound and an aggressive shuffling as Beth Paquin folded her arms, her voice reaching them in a loud hush. Her attempt at whispering failed completely as the concrete hollow echoed it back hauntingly.

"This is ridiculous," Beth harshly whispered from above their heads. "He's a little boy and we're not here to chat. Just pick him up … get him out of this filthy stairwell."

"Not helping," Danny breathed cautiously, wincing in pain as Mark moaned in reaction and reactively burrowed deeper still. Fingers clutched his robe spasmodically almost welding into skin forcing Danny to close his eyes as the boy's stray movement painfully rattled his chest. "Doc," under his breath and nearly mouthing the words, he was surprised by the fury on Webber's face which only he could see. "Can you get her out of here? She's not what he needs right now."

The defiant answer was silent as Webber got to his feet using his size to back the woman up towards the landing. "Listen to me, Mrs. Paquin. I have two patients who need me. Both of whom are ill and in pain. And both need to get out of this filthy stairwell as you so aptly put it."

"I can help her out," a deeper voice intoned from the flight above and Danny smirked to himself. The tone was laced with sarcasm and held an ominous threat of valid warning. Eyes closed and relaxing where he sat, Danny could envision his partner on the landing above likely with his arms folded and in full battle mode. He couldn't help the smirk that spread across his face as he continued to passively rub Mark's back in soothing circles.

"I'm staying with my son," Beth Paquin insisted, but her fight was lost before another of her strident demands could be voiced. There was a shuffling and more footsteps coming down from the higher floor as Steve, Kono and two hospital security guards eased past the medical staff to the main basement level.

"You'll allow him to be helped by the proper medical staff," Steve declared in kind. "In order to do that, you'll leave with these gentlemen and wait with your husband upstairs."

"Leave? I will do no such thing," Beth spat out. "My son needs me. I need to be here for him."

"Oh. Oh, I see," Kono drawled, her ire worn on her sleeve like a badge. She had spent hours investigating Beth Paquin and while not all of the woman's sins would carry legal ramifications, they were certainly unethical. Kono simply couldn't help herself by that point as she once more faced off with Mark's mother to shield not only Danny, but now a little boy. The one immoral selection that she chose to share was a sneered remark which was met with a satisfying amount of abject horror.

"Like you were there for him ... and for Allen ... you remember, don't you? That day when you left your eight-year old twins home alone while you spent the afternoon enjoying someone else's company? You remember that day? Don't you?" Kono's voice was clear but exceedingly soft so that only a few of the closest ears might hear her words.

Beth Paquin stared at the Asian officer as if the world had been turned on its axis. A hand strayed weakly to her throat and she reversed direction, nearly losing her balance as she tripped over her feet until her back hit the wall. "It ... I ... it wasn't like that," She whispered in denial.

"I found the 911 call buried in reams of red tape. Buried by your lover," teeth clenched in anger, Kono selected her words very carefully. "Mark was petrified that day. Didn't you care?" Her voice was low and filled with a dangerous promise that the truth would be heard. Kono was mindful though of Mark and she additionally heard the softly murmured plea from Doctor Webber to exercise due caution. Her nod was nearly imperceptible as she considered her options.

During an afternoon tryst, the then-District Representative Sloan had manipulated and used connections to hide Mark's lone call to 911. A call which rightfully should have been questioned. He had used his significant authority to bury the truth behind his illicit affair and in doing so, had made it look as if Beth Paquin had been home that terrible day. He had hidden evidence, paid people off and used whatever means possible to protect his political career and likely even his own marriage. And despite being torn and feeling guilty about her serious parental failings, Beth's own lies had been just as evil because she had accepted his monetary bribes to aid in keeping those secrets. The affair had even continued after Allen's death.

The accident had been covered up because the now duly elected State Senator Sloan had been in the midst of pre-election campaigning and could ill-afford a scandal. His affair had been with the wife of his financial campaign manager whom he'd sent on a business trip to remove him from the equation. Kono glared at the woman, overwhelmed by the emotional tenor of her findings; stunned by the woman's ability to so coldly move on.

Because then, it was all entirely worse than even all of this. Kono's final quiet remarks were as damning as she hoped when Beth Paquin's complexion turned an ashen gray to match the dull concrete wall which now held her up. Standing next to Kono, Steve shifted uncomfortably as he absorbed the truth behind her findings.

"I have it all," Kono promised in a muted voice, yet her disdain grew with each perfectly enunciated syllable. "I know about the affair and the money; and I know that you forced Mark to lie for you, too. You made him tell his father that you were home that day. I hope it was all worth it."

~ to be continued ~