CHAPTER 33

Thursday morning, McGarrett residence:

She sat in front of her captives, sipping lukewarm coffee from one of the mugs she had pilfered from the kitchen. Looking around, she took in the dated decor and twisted her lips at her lover's clear lack of fashion sense. That would be one of the first things she'd change once she had him under her control.

She knew Steve would be walking through the door at any moment. Her instructions had been clear and she knew he would follow them exactly. He wouldn't risk his family.

Rebecca would never understand why Steve cared about these people. Why couldn't he see that they just held him back? Lieutenant Catherine Rollins and Detective Danny Williams were significant threats to his happiness. She would see to it that he understood how dangerous they were, even if she had to eliminate them from his life forever to ensure he got the message.

She looked out the window to the calm ocean and admired the view. She could just imagine waking up with in her lover's arms, smelling the salty air as the sun rose above them.

Soon, she would have everything she'd ever wanted. Nothing would stand in her way, not when she was so close. Failure was not an option.

She glanced at her watch and smiled. Soon.

Thursday morning, HPD Precinct:

Kono drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as she waited impatiently for her boss to come back out. She knew this was a bad idea. Letting her barely-recovered boss interrogate the suspect involved in his kidnapping would surely have dire consequences.

For once, however, Kono understood what was going on inside Steve's head because the same thoughts were circling in her own. After seeing the photo of Catherine and Danny tied to chairs and the message Marsden had left for Steve with her own eyes, she'd wanted to scream. Instead, she'd reigned it in and acted professionally as she followed her boss' demands.

If it were any other situation, Kono would have forced McGarrett to stay put or go back to the hospital where he clearly belonged.

But this wasn't any other situation.

Two people he cared about were in danger. There was no way she could stop him even if she tried. Steve McGarrett played the part of the no nonsense leader very well, yet Kono knew it wasn't acting. SEAL training aside, McGarrett was not someone that would accept failure. In her opinion, that made him someone to be feared, not admired.

She sat up straighter when she saw Steve walking out of the precinct. Despite the pale colour of his skin and the worn out expression, he appeared taller…leaner. Ready for action.

He climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door gently.

"Did you get the information you needed?" she asked.

Steve turned to look at her; his eyes devoid of all emotion. "Not exactly." The short response wasn't a surprise.

"So what now?" Kono had been hoping that Ortiz would know where Marsden was holding Danny and Catherine.

Steve sighed and rubbed his good hand over his face. "Now, we wait for Chin to tell us if my hunch is correct."

Kono nearly shot out of her seat as hope flared inside her. "And your hunch is what, exactly?"

"That she'd go somewhere familiar and close by." Steve's phone vibrated and he opened the message and smiled. "And I was right."

"You know where they are?" Kono asked, barely willing to believe it.

"Affirmative. Let's go get our people."

There was a look on Steve's face, one she hadn't seen since their first few weeks working together after he returned to the islands and he was still in 'military mode' as Danny called it. His eyes were sharp, focused. There was a sense of chaotic energy thrumming just under the surface. The kind of energy she tended to associate with him when he was about to charge in to a potentially dangerous situation.

SuperSEAL was back. And she was glad to see him.

Marsden didn't stand a chance.

Thursday afternoon, McGarrett residence:

Danny Williams was growing more annoyed by the minute. Marsden and her goon were just sitting there, drinking coffee. What he wouldn't do for a cup of that caffeinated beverage right now…

Shaking himself from that thought, he glanced over at Catherine who had grown very quiet over the last hour. She was listing to the side, her eyes closed. Danny was growing more concerned by her altered conscious state and knew he needed to do something to get her out of there as soon as possible.

Head injuries were unpredictable. He had no idea how many times she'd been hit but he knew from experience how bad some concussions could get, especially if left untreated.

He glanced over at the two hostage takers and felt slightly out of his element. As a police officer, he'd been trained to negotiate in situations like this. However, he highly doubted that negotiation would work with a psychotically unstable woman and her protégée.

His thoughts turned to Steve and he knew the man would be working to find a way to get them both out, even if it meant trading himself for them. Something Danny would never allow to happen. Yet, he couldn't help wishing for one of Steve's insane, albeit usually effective plans to get them out of this mess. Not that he'd ever admit to his partner that he actually approved of some of his tactics, but right now, Danny would gladly accept grenades if it meant liberation.

Marsden's goon (Panda Eyes, Danny decided to call him) suddenly stood up and walked over to window, pulling the blinds aside to see outside. Grunting in frustration, the man moved back to his post.

"You're not going to see him," Danny commented.

Panda Eyes glared at him. "Oh yeah?" he challenged. "What makes you say that?"

Danny resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Because he's a trained Navy SEAL. He wouldn't make it that easy for you."

"That's where you are wrong, Detective Williams," Marsden said from her spot on the couch. "Any minute, he will come through that door."

"And what makes you so certain?"

Marsden stood and slowly walked over, kneeling down in front of him until their eyes were level. "I know what makes him tick. He will come through that door because I told him to."

Danny snorted. "You really have no idea who he is, do you?"

Danny knew Steve. There was no way he'd submit to her demands without some kind of assurance of their safety or a cleverly thought out plan. As much as Danny viewed Steve's actions as impulsive and reckless, he had come to realise through experience that the man was strategic. He wouldn't come through that door unless there was no other option.

A menacing smile grew on her face and Danny squirmed uncomfortably. "Oh, but I do. I know exactly who he is. Which is how I know he will be coming through that door to rescue you."

Danny had to admit that she was right. If it meant keeping them safe, Steve would do anything Rebecca asked. Even if that meant putting himself in extreme danger.

"So, we're bait?" Danny asked, even though he already knew the answer.

She shrugged. "In a sense." Her smile grew wider. "I just needed a way to regain his attention. Once he is here, I will show him I can ease the pain you people have caused him."

Danny knew exactly what she was alluding to. She was going to kill them. In front of Steve. Just to make a point. "You kill us and you lose Steve forever," Danny growled.

"Maybe. But he will be free of you. All of you!"

Danny shook his head. "I thought you didn't want to hurt him?"

"I don't. I'm going to heal him. You people have done enough."

Danny stared at her in disbelief. The woman was so disconnected from reality that she saw nothing wrong with murdering people.

"You're insane! There is no way—" His words were cut off by a sudden fist to his midsection.

He grunted and tried to suck in a few shallow breaths. 'Right, don't antagonise the unstable person,' he told himself.

"I think you've said enough," Marsden growled as she nodded at Panda Eyes behind him.

Danny craned his head in time to see the man approaching him with a roll of duct tape. He twisted his head away but his efforts were futile as a sticky strip of tape was roughly placed over his mouth. He breathed heavily through his nose as he tried to regain some semblance of control.

He'd been so focused on just breathing that he hadn't even noticed Marsden and her hench-person stop moving. He followed their lead and listened carefully.

He heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching the front door and he instantly knew that Steve had arrived. Just as Marsden had predicted. While Danny wanted nothing more than for Steve to stay away, he was thankful he was there. That thought did nothing the ease the panic rising inside him.

The panic didn't alleviate when Steve walked into the room, hands raised and no weapon in sight. Danny observed with trepidation as Steve stepped further inside and he was frisked roughly by Marsden's goon. Steve seemed unfazed by the unnecessary touching but Danny knew better.

Steve was on full alert, his eyes scanning the room, probably searching for that one anomaly that would allow them all to get out of this unscathed.

'That stubborn son of a…' he thought to himself as he tried to make eye contact with his partner and tell him to get out of there. Now.

Danny squirmed in his chair when Steve's eyes roved over both him and Catherine. His gaze hardened when he spotted Catherine, clearly injured. To anyone else, Steve would appear calm and in control. But Danny had worked long enough with Steve to know his tells and right now, Steve was barely containing his rage if the tensing of his shoulders was any indication.

Danny could almost see the wheels turning inside Steve's head as he analysed the scene. Thanks to his training, Steve could formulate an almost foolproof plan within mere seconds and Danny found himself praying intently for one of his partner's hare-brained schemes if it meant he could go home and see his daughter once this nightmare of a day was over.

His hope was dashed when Steve suddenly shot him an apologetic look, as if this was his fault and he was sorry for what was about to happen.

That's when Danny felt the cold metal of a gun pressed into the back of his neck.

20 minutes earlier:

"Are you sure about this?"

Steve grit his teeth and tried not to snap as Kono asked the same question for the third time. "Yes. I'm sure. Keep driving."

He continued to rummage through the glove box until he finally found what he was looking for. He wanted to remind Kono that not only had Chin already confirmed that the phone's location traced back to his house, but the photo was clearly taken in his living room. Admittedly, it had taken a little too long for him to figure out the latter part.

Regardless, there was still an element of doubt until he actually laid eyes on their missing friends. During his time in the military, he'd led and participated in several rescues of hostages. He knew the risks involved and had seen first hand the result of failure. He knew better than to underestimate the enemy. Especially one that was unpredictable.

"I don't like it," Kono muttered, keeping her eyes on the road.

If he was honest, neither did he. It wasn't like he had any other choice.

"What else am I supposed to do?" Steve finally snapped. "She insisted that I come alone and unarmed. I plan to follow her demands." He paused for a moment. "I am not explaining to Grace that I got her father killed and I am certainly not explaining to Catherine's father that his daughter died on my watch!"

Steve scrubbed at his face in frustration. He knew he shouldn't have yelled, especially when Kono gave him a concerned side eye but chose to remain silent. "Sorry Kono, I—"

"Steve. It's okay. I get it. I'm just…worried, is all. I don't want anyone to get hurt, especially you."

"I know…and thanks. I couldn't ask for better back up." Steve knew that no matter what happened, Chin and Kono would have his back.

He gripped the door handle tightly as Kono took a corner at lightning speed. The tug of the still healing wounds on his arms and chest reminded him of his limitations. The broken wrist just compounded his uselessness.

He felt panic starting the build up inside of him.

No! Not now. He couldn't afford to give in.

Danny and Catherine were depending on him.

He was out of his element. There, he admitted it. His friends were depending on him to rescue them from the deranged woman and he had no idea how he was going to do it.

He barely had time to calm himself before Kono slammed on the brakes and he felt the seatbelt dig into his wounds. He clamped his jaw shut to contain the grunt of pain as Kono glancing over at him apologetically.

He climbed stiffly out of the passenger seat and closed the door. He leaned inside the open window and Kono looked at him expectantly.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked.

For once, his mind was blank. He didn't have a plan.

Not for lack of trying. He couldn't see an option where he could guarantee Danny and Catherine's safety. He certainly wasn't going to admit that to Kono.

With a confidence he didn't feel, he shrugged. "I'm going to improvise."

He had to give Kono credit; she didn't even react. "We'll be waiting for your signal."

Steve nodded. "Thanks Kono."

He leaned back as she wound up the window and drove off. He watched the car until is disappeared down the street. He turned and started the short walk towards his house.

Emotions started flooding through him the closer he got to his home. His thoughts started spiralling as he thought about the pain and suffering his friends may have already endured while he'd been floundering around. It destroyed him inside to know that he was responsible for this.

Focus!

He had to shut it down. Nothing else mattered right now except getting Danny and Catherine out alive.

He stopped in front of his house, the place where all of this started. From the outside, the house looked just as it always did; the grass was slightly overgrown but everything else remained the same. He knew that nothing would ever be the same after this.

He knew that once he entered, he had to tread carefully. He mapped out the floor plan in his head. Thanks to the photograph, he knew exactly where Danny and Catherine would be positioned. The unknown was Marsden and her counterpart, Gaines. He had no idea if there were more people inside but he'd dealt with worse odds in more dire circumstances.

He smiled when he realised she'd made the mistake of playing this twisted game on his turf. Still, he was at a severe disadvantage. He was compromised; injured and emotionally vulnerable. But hey, surviving unconventional warfare was what he'd been trained for.

The image of Catherine and Danny being held hostage filled him with rage. It was time to finish this. He may be damaged but he was far from out of the fight. He channelled his anger, using it as fuel to guide him through whatever happened next.

He forced his legs to move and made purposeful steps towards the front porch. He was only mildly surprised when the door opened as soon as his foot hit the first step.

He spotted Gaines in the doorway and smirked at the swollen nose and two black eyes. He wondered who got the lucky hit. His money was on Catherine. He knew from experience just how devastating a punch from her could be.

He held his hands in the air to demonstrate he was unarmed. He didn't wince when the movement pulled painfully on his wounds. Instead, he kept his eyes open as he walked inside.

As the door closed behind him, his eyes fell on Danny and Catherine. A cursory glance revealed Catherine's head injury and an angry, gagged Danny. He stood still as Gaines searched him and came up empty handed. Even if he was armed, Steve would have surrendered the minute the gun was pointed at his best friend. He glanced into Danny's eyes, hoping to convey a confidence that he certainly didn't feel.

It took everything he had to turn away from Danny and face Marsden. Just being in the same room as her caused him to break out in a cold sweat. He felt dizzy, unsteady on his feet.

He took a deep breath in through his nose and some of the uneasiness dissipated. "Okay, Rebecca. I'm here. I did what you asked. Now let them go."

Rebecca Marsden was looking at him like she'd just one the lottery. "Not until we've had a little talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," Steve growled. He was not in the mood to play her games.

"Why do you continue to deny it?"

Steve laughed; not out of amusement, but rather genuine disbelief. "Deny what, exactly?"

"The love we share. I know how scary it is to show your true feelings, especially in front of those that conspire to keep us apart. You should be grateful for what I've done for you. For us."

"Grateful?" he snarled. "What exactly should I be grateful for?

His mind fought against the memories of torture, pain and revulsion. If he was truly honest with himself, he was angry. Angry that this woman had tried to take away what he considered sacred. Angry that she had hurt him and his family. Angry that he hadn't been strong enough to stop her.

He took a step forward and smirked when Marsden took one back. "What's the matter, Rebecca? You can't be scared of me."

Her face morphed into an angry scowl. "Someday, you will realise what I've done for you Steve. Even if you can't see it right now."

"And what is it you've done for me? You tried to make me believe I was someone else. You tortured me and all for what?"

Marsden's eyes darkened dangerously. "I GAVE YOU A FUTURE!" she screamed. "I gave you a chance to leave behind all the hurt and you chose, over and over again, against it." Steve was surprised by the sudden change in her tone as she uttered her next words. "I didn't want you to have to hurt anymore."

Steve glanced over his shoulder at Danny in askance. Danny shrugged his shoulders (at least as much as he could with his hands tethered to the chair).

Steve decided to change tactics and tried to convey his plan to Danny. The answering wide-eyed expression told him Danny knew exactly what he was thinking and that he was very much against the idea. Well, so was Steve but he didn't have another option right now.

He turned back, ignoring Danny's burning stare at the back of his head. "I'm sorry, Rebecca. I guess I never really understood what you meant."

Marsden's head shot up and hope blossomed in her eyes. He wondered if this was all an act on her part or if she was genuinely moved by his words. Regardless of the reason, Steve knew he had to keep going until she trusted him enough to let him come closer.

He softened his tone. "When you told me you knew I was a troubled soul, I never thought that you knew from experience what it was like." Steve thought back to all the information his team had provided him about her and her father's death. Clearly, her father dying was a trigger and she had blocked out the pain of that loss for a long time. Until she met him. "I think I'm starting to understand that you only wanted what was best for me."

She gave him a watery smile. "I did. I really did." God, she sounded so earnest.

"But," he emphasised the word and watched her face fall. "All the pain I've ever experienced has made me the man I am today. Did you really think you could change me, stripping me of my identity and hurting the people that have shaped my life?"

Anger shone in her eyes. "All you had to do was leave them behind! You could be so happy!"

"But I AM happy," Steve argued back, raising his voice.

"THEN YOU ARE LYING TO YOURSELF!" Marsden screamed, sounded more unhinged by the minute. "THEY WILL ONLY HURT YOU MORE!"

He almost regretted pulling her along with false hope. He knew from experience her tendency to explode when things didn't go her way.

"No, they won't," he answered softly, looking back over his shoulder at Danny and sweeping a concerned glance at Catherine, worried that she still hadn't moved.

He needed to end this now.

He gave Danny an imperceptible nod of his head and hoped Danny understood the message.

She continued as though she hadn't heard him. "IF YOU REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEN I WILL JUST MAKE THE DECISION FOR YOU!"

Steve whipped his head around, a feeling in the pit of his gut telling him everything was about to go FUBAR.

Multiple things occurred at once, all blurring together into a chaotic scene that Steve used to associate with combat. Two things stood out to him in that moment; the gun that Marsden suddenly had in her hand and…a blurry black and white ball of fluff flying through the air?