Chapter 31 "Helicopter Chase"
A/N: (6 December 2016) Thank you thank you thank you thank you! OMGosh, you liked Steve's Plan! I'm sooo glad, because one never knows! Your reviews are soooo deeply appreciated, I love them, and I love you! I rushed this chapter, not much because it wanted out so bad, like a really quick birth. I've been tweaking, but here it is! I wrote half of it with eyes fully dilated since I had an eye exam yesterday. I felt like an owl, writing while the page kindof glowed fluffily.
A number of reviews commented on surprise that Stan could fly choppers. I didn't emphasize this in previous chapters, but it was mentioned several times, so I'm not surprised I stealthed it in too much. I wanted it to be a big surprise that Stan was the big baddie, and blew that on one line early in the story when he reacted to Steve with surprise, and there went my big surprise :-D It's all good!
I didn't know Steve was going to pick on Stan's toe until he did it. Writers really are holders of the pen, or fingers that type sometimes. The story is in charge. It's kindof fun to be surprised too.
I thought this chapter would go a little differently than it did, but then it said zig, so the writer has to go along. Not that often do writers actually have to squash something the story wants to do, but now and then we do actually get to call the shots.
This is my gift to everyone who enjoyed the previous chapter! I hope you enjoy this one as much! The story isn't over yet!
CBS owns Hawaii Five-0!
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Chapter 31 "Helicopter Chase"
(24 December 2016, Saturday, 9 a.m.)
Danny awakened, and knew by the extremity of the weakness he felt, the illness and infection that now had him in a vice-like grip, that he was not going to survive much longer. A sadness assailed him, deeper than any pain he had ever experienced, and even Angel's sweet, loving exertions to lift his spirits … failed. He apologized to Angel, who mewed piteously in distress and turned up her purr to maximum volume possible for such a small kitten, but Danny could only pet her, his sight blurred by gathering tears. Then he exerted himself to reach the notebook and pencil. He felt more tears on his face, which Angel kept licking away, as he wrote, the letters wobbly:
My beloved children, family, ohana, I'm sorry I didn't make it out. I tried so hard to get back to you. Please adopt Angel, my baby kitten. I love you all so much. Danny
That was all he could manage before he clutched the notebook, and Angel to him with what little strength he could muster, and his head rested on the blanket. His breathing was rapid and shallow, and he began to pray. Sleep came again, and he did not expect to wake up.
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H50 H50 H50
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Steve was up and on his feet as soon as Stan left the room, helping Kono to her feet even as Chin had literally rolled over to Abby and was helping her up as he gained his feet at the same time. Steve's eyes were on each member of his team. "Everyone okay?" They were splattered with blood, which was from the adapted paintball 'bullets' that had been in the gun Chin had carried in his holster. They had all carried these realistic-looking guns when they went in to question Stan.
"Yes." "Yeah." "Uh huh."
"Okay, good." Steve sighed with relief, and then grabbed his radio as soon as it came to life. "All safe, is Stan out the door?"
"Hallway is clear, target is in the chopper," said the guard through the radio, so Kono ran back to the observation room, grabbed her computer, and rejoined the others. She opened it up and brought it to life. "Signal is coming through strong and clear. Stan disabled the GPS, so those redundant trackers you put on the chopper were a great idea, Boss."
They were all shucking off their spattered jackets, showing close-fitting tactical vests instead of the heavy ones they usually wore. Abby was watching the screen of Kono's computer. She gave the word when Stan was out of range of their own chopper, now coming in for a landing in the parking lot. "He's definitely bee-lining, so I'm guessing he's heading straight for Danny."
"That was the hope of my plan," said Steve, feeling tense and relieved, but knowing they had a way to go before they would be fully able to relax. They had to get to Danny before Stan could hurt him. "Chin, make sure the other chopper pilots respect Stan's radar. He must not know we have four birds up to follow him."
"Will do," replied Chin, and began talking on his own radio. "Technically three, but we'll be airborne in a minute." They were all on the move, out in the parking lot, watching their helicopter set down just long enough for them to all climb aboard, including the pilot "killed" by Stan. He sat co-pilot in this chopper. He was looking annoyed by the gory mess of fake blood on the back of his head.
They barely had their headsets on and belts fastened before they were just skimming over the razor wire of Halawa Correctional Facility, in hot pursuit of Stan. "He's on a straight line," confirmed the pilot, listening to the private channel on which the 4 pilots were speaking to one another. "Hang on, hitting the jets." His right hand had a firm grip on the cyclic stick and his left set the rotors for speed, then worked the throttle. Rain lashed the helicopter, inhibiting visibility, so he kept his eyes on his instruments. The flight was smooth; Captain Martin Grubowski had 39 years' experience in birds; there wasn't anything about them that he didn't know.
"Use the towels provided to clean up; don't mess up my bird," Grubowski added. Everyone wiped up whatever stains they could, while still focusing on their pursuit of Stan.
"Signal is still strong." Kono's voice was clipped. "And he's in a real hurry. Boss, you really scared the **** out of him."
Steve looked grim. "That was the plan. He could have told us Danny was on X mountain or Y canyon or Z building, but that would have cost us time, to figure out just exactly where. He wasn't going to make it easy. The only way to get him to lead us willingly to Danny was to humiliate, scare and enrage him, all at once, so he'd be too flustered to really think about what he was doing as opposed to what he thought he was doing: killing us and escaping. And we had to provide him with the means. Good thing he's been a chopper pilot for 8 years."
"He shot me in the head!" complained Abby. "Glad it wasn't for real."
"He kill-shot us all," growled Chin. "And poisoned Steve to death. How are you feeling, Boss?"
"Good, since I got a shot of saline-diluted vitamin B." He smiled grimly. "But he sure drove that needle in hard."
"Caught up and matching speed," informed Grubowski. "He's got only 53 seconds on us. We are 3 seconds from being on his radar."
"That's cutting it acceptably close," Steve commented. On the radar, they could see the Search and Rescue chopper paralleling them 500 feet to their left.
Steve was watching the instruments as best he could, seated behind the co-pilot, while at the same time switching out his paint ball pistol for his usual handgun. Abby was handing each team member their real gun. "This is nowhere near where Mo was found. He was careful enough not to drop him where Danny was. We're heading 180 from where Mo was found."
Now Chin was talking to police and search and rescue. They knew they would need equipment to get into the shipping container, and to cut through the chain on Danny's ankle once they got inside the container. "Duke and units are converging on the direction Stan is flying. We will have men on the ground around wherever he lands as soon as possible. Speed limits are being broken, sirens and lights are probably making a lot of people on the ground wonder what the hell is going on."
"Let Tripler know to prep their medevac. Make sure Dr. Cornett is on board," Steve instructed.
"Copy that." Chin switched channels and spoke briefly, and held up his thumb. "They want to know if they should lift off."
"Yes," said Steve. "Give him our coords and direction, set an intercept course. Keep them updated."
"Copy." He listened, and began calculating vectors and time in his head. "This will put them about 4 minutes behind us."
"Abby, calculate ahead and see what's out this way."
"Already on that. Not much but small areas of interest to tourists, and some small towns. There are only a few roads out this way, inland, so most of the tourists get here by chopper or by boat."
Roughly a half hour later, Kono suddenly barked, "Stan is slowing sharply, he's angling in a sharp circle … hovering – I think he's landing!"
"Everyone, converge!" ordered Steve via Chin.
Abby was checking the map. "Small business park nearby, empty land where Stan is. Wait! Update! Satellite photo shows an abandoned, partially built apartment complex, intel says it was stopped five years ago due to numerous code violations, including disregarding sanctity of sacred lands. There are abandoned buildings! We should have visual in seconds!"
"I see the chopper –and Stan! He's working on the door of the second container," called Steve, adrenaline coursing through his veins, as it was through everyone's. "Swat with Search and Rescue, take out Stan! No kill shots unless you have no choice! Do not let him reach Danny! He's down there, I can feel it. We've reached him! God, let it be in time," he whispered, as if praying. "How far out is the Tripler Medevac?"
"Three minutes and closing."
"Omigod, he didn't reach Danny," breathed Kono, thankfully, as they watched a sniper down Stan with non-lethal shots to his right leg and left arm. Stan tried to crawl back toward the chopper, but two of the Swat officers were already rappelling down, from their hovering chopper, and as soon as their feet were secure on the rooftop, they had Stan captured and in cuffs. Other men rappelled down with gear and went to work with blow torches on the door side of the shipping container Stan had been working on before he was taken out. It was very clear he was still alive, and spitting mad.
One of the men climbed into the chopper, and it lifted off and landed on the ground far enough from the building to allow for police units and aid units to park and do their work. Steve's chopper landed next, and Five-0 clambered out. Steve ran to the container. He used his left hand to bang on the door. "Danny? Danny?"
"I don't hear anything," whispered Kono.
One of the rescue men was hoisted onto the roof of the container, where he removed the air pipe and sent down a camera and light. "I see him! I see him! He's not moving!"
"Oh God," Steve breathed. "Can you get me up there and drop a mic into that opening? I need to see him, talk to him."
"DANNY YOU BASTARD!" yelled Stan, at the top of his lungs. Steve turned on him and punched him in the mouth.
"Get him off this roof. Get him back to Halawa ASAP."
Stan glared balefully, hate almost making his eyes spark. "I killed you. You tricked me. What was in that gun, that syringe?"
"Paint ball bullets filled with blood, and diluted vitamin B," Steve answered. "Thanks for leading us to Danny. I don't have time for you now. But I will later. Get him off this roof," he ordered.
Swat buckled a handcuffed Stan into a sling and it wasn't even a minute later that he was in the back of a cruiser with an escort, both just arrived on scene, and began his overland journey back to Halawa's infirmary.
"Commander," one of the Rescue team called down. "We can pull you up in this harness. Camera and mic are ready."
As Steve was being pulled up onto the roof of the container, their helicopter was taking off again, to land on the clear area not far from the one Stan had used. Tripler's Medevac was coming in for its landing.
Steve waved Dr. Cornett, first one out of that chopper, to follow him up. "He's here!"
Steve crouched down to look at the video screen, and saw his partner, lying in a blanket-wrapped ball, a glowing white light stick near him, a notebook in one slack hand, and a very active white kitten with pale markings frantically trying to wake Danny up.
Steve picked up the mic. He had a lump of fear in his throat. They couldn't be too late! But there was no denying that his best friend and partner looked sick and unconscious. He was breathing very shallowly. "Danny! Danny, we're all here. We're all here to get you out. Kono, Abby, Chin, they're all here! Danny? Wake up, Babe! Please wake up," he pleaded as Dr. Cornett joined him by the small screen.
Finally, Danny stirred and awakened. He looked toward the door of the box, and when he saw the camera and mic, he blinked and stared, then rubbed his eyes, confusion and surprise turning visibly into relief and joy. He clutched the kitten to himself and smiled weakly, and whispered raspily, "Steve?" while tears began to stream down his face. The kitten's purring was loud enough that the mic picked it up and when Danny spoke Steve's name on top of the purrs, the rescuers en masse erupted in shouts of jubilation and relief.