Steve tapped his foot impatiently as he and Chin waited to be called into the governor's office. He checked his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes and tried to hide his annoyed scowl that they were already well past the appointed time. He thumbed through Duke's report again, pleased that Duke had sent an officer to meet them there to hand him two reports - one for him, and one for the Governor. Steve had skimmed through it immediately upon receiving it, and now had read it thoroughly three more times. His hopes at a successful outcome had soared as he'd read the ballistics report, crime scene findings, and most importantly, the witness reports from the pharmacist and two others who clearly saw Susan Winters point a gun at Danny without giving him time to announce himself.

"You're going to wear a hole in the governor's carpet," Chin calmly told Steve as he watched his boss pace.

Steve stopped and turned to Chin, waving the report at him, "Denning has to see that Danny needs to be cleared."

"I'm sure he will," Chin, too, thought the report was conclusive, and Danny simply had no choice and had acted well within his rights to defend himself and the other bystanders.

"He has to," Steve muttered as he resumed his pacing. It had only been a few days, but Steve really needed his partner back.

Chin was saved from replying when the governor's admin silently appeared, "Commander, Lieutenant, the governor is ready for you now. This way, please."

Steve managed to nod civilly at the admin as she ushered them into the governor's office. His manners fled as he realized the governor was not alone and why he had been kept waiting. He glared but didn't have the chance to say anything that was racing through his mind.

"Gentlemen," the governor stood and smoothly interrupted Steve before he could utter a word, smirking slightly at the tirade he was sure he would have heard from the task force leader had he let him. "I'm sure you know Sergeant Cage from Internal Affairs."

"Commander McGarrett," Cage regarded the two Five-0 men coolly, "Lieutenant Kelly."

Again, before Steve could say a word, the governor held up a hand, "Commander, give me a moment to explain before you get the wrong idea. I asked Sergeant Cage to come here and give me a rundown on his investigation into Detective Williams."

Steve opened his mouth and then slammed it shut as the governor again held up a hand and shot him a look that was getting more and more annoyed by the second.

"Sergeant Cage has given me a copy of his report which, I must say, I completely agree with. I asked him to stay so that he can explain to you his findings should you have any questions."

"Sir," Steve couldn't help himself as he brandished his own report, "with all due respect, Sergeant Cage only dealt with Detective Williams during the investigation into his former partner's death. The two did not exactly see eye to eye."

"I'm well aware of that, Commander," the governor informed him. "And Sergeant Cage has also addressed that in his report so why don't we all have a seat and go over that report as well as the one from HPD you have there."

Steve sat on the edge of his seat, refusing to get too comfortable so he could jump up and argue against Cage as needed. Chin took the seat between Steve and Cage, placing the HPD report he held on the governor's desk as he sat.

"As I was saying, gentlemen," the governor leaned back in his chair, giving the three men an almost amused look. "I have looked over Sergeant Cage's report and after speaking with him, I concur with his assessment of the recent civilian shooting involving Detective Williams."

"Sir!" Steve was desperate to plead his case before he had to hear the governor say that they were going to press charges against Danny. His stomach flipped at the idea of his friend having to stand trial over what had become a giant mess. The HPD report was so clear; he just had to get the governor to take the time to look at it before siding with I.A..

"Commander, please!" the governor's voice shook the office.

Steve, suitably chastened, clamped his mouth shut and slid back in his seat a little, "Sorry, sir."

"Since you're so impatient, Commander, I'll cut to the chase," the governor almost smiled. "Internal Affairs and I agree that Detective Williams was justified in his use of force against Ms. Winters. Furthermore, we both agree that he should be removed from paid administrative leave and return to duty as soon as possible."

Steve and Chin sat in silence for a moment as the words sank in. Chin was the first to recover and smiled when he took in Steve's open mouthed look of shock. Chin reached over and tapped Steve's arm before turning back to the governor, "Thank you, sir, that's great news."

"Yes, yes..." Steve stuttered as his brain finally caught up to what he had heard, which was opposite of what he was expecting.

"See, Commander," Cage smirked. "I.A. is here to help. We were just looking for the truth; we weren't out to get Detective Williams."

Steve snorted, "It didn't feel that way."

"I understand that you and your team aren't that fond of me after the Meka investigation, but I thought that since we had cleared that up, we would be able to work together for the benefit of all of us. Believe it or not, I admire Detective Williams' dedication to his work and to his team. It's his methods that I sometimes take issue with."

"We could say the same about you," Steve countered. "Well, the methods, anyway. I'm not sure about your dedication for ruining reputations."

Cage shrugged, seemingly unfazed by the not so thinly veiled contempt, "If an officer is clean, he has nothing to worry about. It's the dirty ones we worry about... Right, Lieutenant Kelly?"

Chin ground his jaw but refused to take Cage's bait.

"That's enough, Cage," the governor warned. "You may go. I need to speak with Commander McGarrett and Lieutenant Kelly a little longer. Thank you for your report and help in this matter."

Cage stood stiffly at the dismissal and left the governor's office without another look towards Chin or Steve.

"Now, then, gentlemen," the governor picked up the HPD report and glanced through it, nodding, while he spoke. "I apologize for the necessity of involving Internal Affairs, but with Senator Grimway's very vocal self-involvement with this matter, I thought it best that we do things properly. I see that HPD's assessment concurs with ours. That's even better; now we have two reports clearing Detective Williams. The good senator will have to back down now."

"What about the media, sir?" Steve wondered. "One of the news channels showed up on Danny's doorstep this morning. They were standing on his sidewalk watching his house when we left. If he steps out at all, they're going to be all over him."

"Hmm," the governor frowned. "That's unfortunate, and, I imagine, driving him nuts."

Steve snorted, "To say the least."

"Well," the governor glanced at his planner, "I'll do a press conference this afternoon to announce that he has been cleared and the matter is to be dropped."

"Is there any way you can squeeze that in this morning? The reporter was going to run her story at noon, and I doubt it was going to be favorable."

"Hmmm," the governor studied his planner again, mentally rearranging appointments. "Yes, I think I can squeeze it in this morning. We'll get a press release out and set that up for, say, 11:45. That will be just enough time to get it in before the noon news and if that reporter decides to still run her story, she'll look pretty foolish doing it after I've announced he's been cleared."

Steve smiled. Sometimes he really liked the way the governor thought.

"So what about the issue with Child Welfare Services and Danny getting Grace back?" Chin steered them towards the other pressing matter. "What can we do about that?"

"Yes," the governor frowned. "I had the director send me a copy of Ms. Wentwood's report and supposed findings last night... interrupted his supper and made him go back to the office so I could have it last night and not wait until this morning. I don't think he was too pleased with me, but I must say that I'm not very pleased with him either."

"What did her report say?" Steve wondered, anxiety for his friend making his heart race. Now that Danny's job was secured once again, it was more important than ever to get Danny and Grace back together where they belonged.

"Her report is a bunch of drivel," the governor waved his hand. "What she supposedly has as evidence wouldn't even be considered circumstantial in court, and I am skeptical about what she has written down as facts from her interview with either Detective Williams or his daughter. She also states that the school is not cooperating."

"What?!" Steve was astounded. "I'm sure the school would be more than cooperative. Luka Hara alerted us to the situation and has been instrumental in looking out for Grace throughout. Didn't she get a statement from him?"

"No," the governor's frown deepened. "He is mentioned briefly as being present in the interview, but she states that he was uncooperative and seemed to 'side with the abusive parent despite the evidence.' I'm thinking of calling Mr. Hara myself to get his side of things."

"Yes, I think you should," Steve urged, blood boiling at Ms. Wentwood's twisting of the facts to suit her own agenda.

"I have arranged to meet with the director shortly and will be expressing my disappointment in the handling of this case. Knowing Detective Williams, I am appalled that someone could even think he's capable of abusing his daughter."

Chin and Steve nodded their agreement.

"I'm sure Ms. Wentwood would gladly point out that even people you know well are capable of being abusers, but I highly doubt that is the case in this instance. I think someone reported him after seeing and hearing all this media hype and, unfortunately for Detective Williams, Ms. Wentood, who seems to have an axe to grind against fathers, was assigned to his case and saw what she wanted to see."

"So what do I tell Danny?" Steve knew Danny's first question to him would be about Grace rather than his job.

"Tell him I will straighten this mess out, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that he has his daughter back as soon as possible." Governor Denning nodded at them and stood, "Thank you for your time this morning, gentlemen. I will call Detective Williams directly when I am done meeting with Child Welfare."

"Thank you, sir," Steve and Chin chorused.

As the door closed behind them, Steve couldn't help but still feel a little nervous concerning Danny's custody of Grace. What if the governor couldn't change the director of Child Welfare's mind and return custody to Danny?

A/N: Just two more chapters to go. Thanks for hanging in there and for all of the very kind reviews. Even though I'm not able to respond to each review, know that I read them all and appreciate everyone taking the time to leave their thoughts/comments for me.