I don't know why lately I've been having trouble sleeping and maybe that's why I've managed to write so much in so short periods of time. That's exactly what's happening right now as its past midnight and I posting a new chapter.

This chapter brings it down a notch on the angst department in order to give the story a respite and time to build up the plot of catching the man who assaulted Annabeth. We're soon gonna be seeing our characters at work and doing everything they can to catch him.

Don't worry, what I have in store for you later will totally blow your minds off… enjoy this chapter for now!

Steve glanced at his watch and knew Chin and Kono must have already arrived and, sure enough, their respective vehicles were parked in their usual spots. He had been meaning to ask Annabeth if she wanted Chin and Kono to be part of the investigation or if she rather not tell them, but found himself out of time by the moment they all stepped through the door. Chin, who was currently getting out of Kono's office, was the first one to grit them.

- Good morning! I must say I'm curious as to why we arrived earlier than you guys – he said with humor in his eyes.

- Yeah boss, you're usually the first one to arrive always – added Kono walking to the smart table where they had all gathered. Instantly, the cousins could see that humor wasn't exactly in the air when for a few seconds they received no reply. Danny looked at Steve and Steve looked at Annabeth trying to determine what to do. And Annabeth, seeing that no one was offering an answer, decided to speak first. She knew that if they were investigating this case formally, then there was no chance of keeping it hidden from the rest of the team.

- We have a case – she started, leaving all thoughts of shame aside in order to do the task at hand – a raping last night in Waimanola – instantly the cousins demeanor changed understanding the gravity of the case.

- All right, do we have any evidence? Witnesses? Who was the victim? – there it was again, that word.

- Me – she answered and not even a needle falling to the floor would have been heard in the silence that followed.

- What? – Kono asked, looking at the other three members of the team who had just walked through the door and realizing the seriousness and the worry in their eyes.

- I'm sorry that you have to find out like this but now there's no time to waste – she proceeded. Somehow, everyone else in the room had momentarily lost the ability to talk. She turned to Danny – Steve mentioned you were gonna go through some security footage from around the palace? – he cleared his throat when he realized he needed to actually start talking now.

- Yeah. I was thinking maybe this wasn't random and that you could have been targeted so I decided to go through the footage from the surrounding areas of the palace, starting from yesterday and going back for at least three days, focusing on the times you arrived or left work, but I didn't find anything suspicious.

- All right then, we should go the bar and see if they, or any other store near, have security cameras that could have caught anything on video. Charlie already has the evidence and hopefully after he's done processing it we'll be able to get a match on any of the databases – continued Annabeth, talking as if this was any other normal case. They were all stunned to see her act so normal, if not a little bit bossy (which was completely unlike her), but they also knew she didn't like to be pitied. Not that they were; they were just concerned. And since she was making the effort to detach herself from the case per se, the rest of them wouldn't do anything less. So Chin switched his focus back on and chimed in.

- What about MO? We could try and match it with any other cases here in Hawaii or maybe even in the mainland. Maybe we'll get lucky and be able to identify the perp through that.

- That's a good idea, but we're gonna need a statement to compare – intervened Kono.

- Then we better get to it – said Annabeth before going quiet for a minute as if remembering that she was the one who had to give the statement and deciding that she really didn't want to. She knew it was necessary, it was procedure, but it also meant that the rest of them would not only know what had happened, but how it had happened, and she didn't feel comfortable talking to any of them about it. But bringing an HPD officer to do it was out of the question, she didn't want her case to leave Five-0. So she turned to the safest option – will you take my statement? – she asked.

- Yes, of course – Kono answered. Then everyone else turned to Steve, who had yet to utter a single word, looking for orders as to how to proceed from now. Annabeth may have started the whole investigation process but he was the leader after all, and ultimately it was his call to assign everyone their respective tasks.

- Right. So, Kono will take the statement while Chin heads down to the lab to see if Charlie's already done or if he needs any help at all. Danny and I will head to the bar – he finished.

Everyone nodded and set to work.

Before they separated though, Annabeth turned to Steve when a sudden rush of fear came forward at the thought of being apart. He had become the pillar that assured her that, while present, he wouldn't let anything happen to her; but she also knew she didn't want him around when she gave her statement and she was thankful that he was giving her the space to do so.

- Thank you – she said softly and he came closer to wrap his arm around her and place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

- We'll catch him. I promise.

And after that, Danny, Steve and Chin left to do their respective works while Kono guided Annabeth to her office to begin taking her statement.

There you have it! And towards the end: just a little bit of comfort between siblings! I hope you liked this chapter and as always I look forward to reading your thoughts about it!

Until next time!