Disclaimer: Hawaii Five-0 and its characters do not belong to me.

...

They kept telling him that he had been lucky. Extremely lucky. Yet he couldn't see how he had been lucky. What exactly was so lucky about being kidnapped, beaten to a pulp and shot in his chest? What exactly was so lucky about surviving all that just to have the person he trusted the most leave him stranded all on his own? What exactly was so lucky about almost dying yet again… and finding out his best friend couldn't care less about it? What exactly was he so lucky about?

"You could have died." He had heard those words too many times. And he wondered, for the umpteenth time, why he wasn't just put out of his misery. His mind endlessly toyed with the question. Was there really something he still needed to do? He had no idea.

The waves crashed endlessly against the shore, bringing a strange sense of calm in his chest. The cool ocean breeze blew gently and the sky was clear, lit up with almost too many stars. Just like that night 10 years ago. That first night that he had spent there on Steve's lanai. He leaned bonelessly on the Adirondack chair that had born witness to the start of his friendship with Steve 10 years ago. And unfortunately, its end too.

He breathed, the realization that had come way too belatedly stung deep in his soul. As much as he did not want to believe it, that must have been the end. Their final goodbye…

I miss you. I always will… But I guess this is it.

He closed his eyes, allowing the gentle waves to lull him into a daze. His mind was made. There was nothing left here for him.

"Hey!"

Lou settled next to him. He couldn't help but wish it was Steve.

"Hey." He mouthed.

"You're bent on trying to kill me, aren't you?" Lou huffed, his face tight.

"What's wrong? Everything okay?" He asked, straightening up.

"Everything okay?" Lou repeated, exasperated. "I've been trying to reach you for the past 2 hours."

"Wh.. that's not possible.." He reached into his pocket. "My phone…"

"It's here," Lou handed him his mobile phone. "You left it at home."

"Ah.." He breathed. "Sorry."

"You just got out of the hospital, what are you doing here." Lou asked.

He pursed his lips. If he was really honest, he had a small, little, irrational hope in his chest that he would find his partner here. Steve would be hanging out on the chairs, waiting for him. He knew it had been a dream, seeing Steve in the hospital. But he hoped more than anything that it had been real. That Steve was home… For him…

"I just…needed to clear my head a little." He lied.

Lou sighed deeply. "You okay? Anything you want to talk about?"

He shook his head. His decision was made. Just like that night ten years ago when he had made the decision to stay on the team, his decision to leave was just as clear. "I'm okay.. I think I'm okay now." He said.

…

He held the envelope in his hands, flipping it endlessly as he fidgeted anxiously. He never saw this day coming if he were honest. But then again, there were many things he hadn't seen coming. Right on top of the list was Steve leaving Five-0 and even Hawaii.

He had certainly never thought that he would see the day he would tender his own resignation. He never thought that he would ever leave the force. If anything, he thought he would die in the line of duty, which wasn't that difficult to do when his partner was a certain insane Steve McGarrett.

But here he was, holding his resignation letter in hand. He had contemplated it for a while. Ever since Steve left, really. It just didn't feel the same any longer. He joined the team because of Steve, it seemed natural that he would leave because of Steve too. Yet, he hadn't had the heart to do it. This was the last thing he had that still linked him to Steve. It was the only thing he had left…

But now… now he didn't have much of a choice left. Doctor Lea had made it clear that going back to active duty was akin to signing off on his own suicide note. His heart had gone through a major assault and if he were to go through any further trauma or injuries, there was a very high chance that his heart would fail and he won't make it back. Which to be honest, wasn't that terrible of an idea. He didn't have much left to live for. But he had promised Grace. He had promised her he would take good care of himself. He couldn't do that to her. And if there was just one thing left for him to do, it was to one day walk her down the aisle. So he couldn't do that to his daughter. Even if this was a difficult decision to make, he had to do it.

He inhaled slowly, his hand hovering over his chest where the scars were concealed underneath his shirt. This was it, he told himself. It had seemed like just yesterday that he stepped onto this foreign land. Ten years… how he lasted ten years here was anyone's guess really. But now… Now it was time to close that chapter permanently. All that was left to do was to hand in his resignation, pack his bags and off to New Jersey he was.

"Detective Williams?"

He looked up, a crippling anxiety in his chest.

"The governor is ready for you."

He nodded tensely and stood up, clutching the envelope tightly in his frigid hands. Swallowing drily, he forced a small smile on his face and followed the secretary into the governor's office.

"Ah, Detective! Come in, come in. How are you doing?"

"Good afternoon, sir." He said a little too stiffly. "I'm good."

"Good, good.. Take a seat. Can I get you tea or coffee?"

"No, I'm good, thank you." He started.

"Alana, can you get Detective Williams here a cup of coffee please." The governor said to his secretary before turning back to him. "It's good to see that you're doing much better, Detective. After everything that has happened. You're recovering well now? I heard from Captain Grover that you had another surgery recently."

He breathed. "Yeah, I..uh.. I'm doing much better now."

"That's a relief. Good to hear that you're getting better." The governor said. "So what brings you here today, Detective? Are you ready to get back to work?"

"Umm I.. There is something I need..." He paused as the secretary entered the room. She placed two cups of coffee on the table and excused herself.

"Yes, Detective, you were saying?" The governor asked, taking a sip from his cup.

"Actually, Governor, the reason I'm here is…" He inhaled slowly. "There's no easy way to do this." He said, placing the envelope on the table. The cursive lettering on the envelope caught the governor's eyes. "I am here to tender my resignation."

The governor leaned on his chair, shock on his face. "Resignation…"

"I apologize, Governor, if my decision came as a shock."

"I..It sure does." The governor said. "First, McGarrett and now.. .you… May I know what brought this on?"

"With all due respect, sir… I think it's time I took a step back. Age is catching up on me and… I'd like to take this time to return to Jersey. Be with my family again."

The governor looked contemplatively at the letter on his desk. "I'm sorry to ask but.. is there a problem with your health, Detective?"

He breathed, "I'm okay, it's just.. maybe it's time to let the younger ones take the reins."

"Is this your final decision, Detective?"

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry but I have made up my mind." There is nothing left here for me. This place that I once hated so much but had somehow become home for me. It no longer is home. It's once again foreign now.

"I respect your decision. Thank you for your service for the past ten years, Detective. Your leadership alongside Commander McGarrett's, have been crucial in keeping this island safe."

"Just doing my job, sir."

"I'm pretty sure it's more than that. You and the team have gone above and beyond more times than I can remember. Thank you.'

"Thank you, sir. I'm sure the team will continue to do their best to keep this island safe."

"Well.. it pains me to have to make this decision.. But at the moment, I don't see the future of Five-0 without you or Commander McGarrett on the ground."

"I don't understand.. what are you.. what do you mean?"

"I'll have to disband the task force."

"Wh..I.. sir, you can't.." He blurted out.

"I'm sorry?" The governor asked.

"With all due respect, sir. The team is made up of very capable people. They may be young but they're good. Really good." He said desperately. "You can't disband the team.. They need..they need this."

"Detective Williams, I understand that they're good. I don't doubt that." The governor said. "But I'm sorry.. none of them are ready to lead the team. Not as far as I can tell."

"But sir.."

"Detective, I understand where your concern is and trust me, this is not something I am happy to do either." The governor said. "To be very honest, I have had the intention to disband the task force after Commander McGarrett's departure from the team. But it was on his guarantee that you can run this team as well if not better than him that I withheld my decision. Besides, I've personally seen you head the team in McGarrett's anbsence and I know you are capable of it." The governor sighed. "But I'm sorry.. right now, I don't see any other option."

"I.." He breathed, trying to find the words. He couldn't let down his whole team. They had all found their Ohana here. Could he really leave them stranded just like that. He, of all people, knew what it felt like to be left behind. Could he really do this to the people who have treated him like family? "Governor… sir.. I.."

"Would you like some time to rethink over your decision, Detective?" The governor asked, pushing the letter back towards him.

He shook his head. "No."

"I see.. then it's.."

"I take back my resignation. I'll stay." He said.

"Are you sure, Detective?" The governor asked. "You don't have to make a decision right now."

"I'm sure. Once I'm cleared for duty, I'm coming back."

"And your family?"

"These people here.. they are my family too. I can't leave."

The governor smiled. "Alright then.. I'll take it this never happened."

"Can I ask for a favour, sir?" He asked. "This meeting.. can we keep it between us?"

…

A/N: Just a short little chapter. I know you guys must be missing Steve just as much as Danny, but hang in there just a little bit more okay.. Thanks for still reading this story. I hope to reach my climax soon… My ideas are all there but sometimes the words just don't flow. I hope you guys havent given up on this yet, I will finish it. So see you in the next chapter!