Author's Note: Thank you, katbybee, for beta reading and giving me ideas! If you're wondering why Steve has a prosthetic leg, read my story Lost and Alone.
TW: Child abuse
Micah Fisher
April 29, 2023
Steve had just returned to the house after his morning swim. He heard his business line ringing. He answered. "S & D, Private Eyes. What can we do for you?"
"Hello?" A trembling voice came across the line. "My name is Sabrina Fisher. I really need your help. I'm not sure I can afford you, though."
"Let's worry about that later." He didn't mind working a case pro-bono when necessary. It sounded like the young woman was really frightened. "Can you talk with me about it on the phone?"
"No. Can we meet somewhere private?"
"Sure." Steve gave her his address. "Come over as soon as you can."
"I'll be there in half an hour."
It was a Saturday, so he called Vonnie Noshimuri. "Hi, Vonnie. Can you watch Sammy today? I've got a client coming in half an hour."
"Sure, Uncle Steve. Mom and I can come pick him up." It was great seeing Vonnie so happy. She loved living in Hawaii. She was caught up in school and was excelling.
Sammy was almost two now. He was walking and talking. He was the light of his father's life. The other light of his life was Olina, the younger sister of Danny's wife Alani. He reached into his pocket to feel for the ring box. He was planning to propose to her on a picnic dinner at one of the prettiest places on the island.
"Thanks, Vonnie. I'll see you soon."
Next he called Danny. "We've got a client. Can you come over?"
"Sure," Danny said. "I'll be there in about twenty minutes."
Quinn brought Vonnie by about fifteen minutes later. Sammy was happy to see his favorite babysitter. He toddled towards her and threw his arms around her legs. "Nonnie!"
Steve chuckled. Sammy often replaced initial sounds with Ns: Nanno, Nonnie, even Noons instead of Joons. Vonnie picked him up and twirled him around. "Hi, Sammy!" She kissed him on the forehead. "Auntie Quinn is waiting outside."
"Thanks for doing this, Vonnie. I appreciate it." Steve unlocked his truck. "You can get his seat out of my truck." He walked over and kissed Sammy. "I love you, Buddy."
"'Ove 'ou, Dada!"
Vonnie carried him outside.
Steve went upstairs and changed into regular clothes. He would have to get his shower later. He started to don his prosthetic leg, but decided to go with his crutch instead. There were days when he didn't feel like going through the trouble of dealing with the prosthesis.
Danny's voice called out from the kitchen. "Hello!"
"Hey, Nanno. I'm in the living room."
Danny stepped into the room rolling his eyes. "Don't call me that! Only Sammy gets to call me that." He had gone without his prosthetic, too. The last time Steve had seen him wear it was at his wedding. He'd gotten a socket that fit properly, but he seemed more comfortable without it these days. Steve understood.
Danny sat on the sofa. "So, what's the story?"
Steve shrugged. "Don't know yet. Our client is Sabrina Fisher. She wouldn't talk with me about the job on the is watching Sammy. Ms. Fisher sounded really scared when I talked with her. Her voice was trembling. I gave her this address and she's going to come here."
He got up and walked into the kitchen. There was a platter of cookies from Hannah Michaels. He would have those out for their client. He also called Eddie inside. While he waited for the dog, the doorbell rang.
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Danny opened the door. "Hello."
"Are you S or D?" the young woman asked.
"I'm D. Danny Williams. You can call me Danny." He gestured for her to come in. "Have a seat. Steve will be right out."
Steve came in just then with a platter of cookies. Eddie was walking alongside him. "Are you OK with dogs, Ms. Fisher?"
"Call me Sabrina. And yes, I love dogs."
Steve gestured toward the sofa. "Have a seat." Then he knelt down and whispered to Eddie. "Sofa, buddy."
Eddie trotted over and jumped up next to Sabrina. He was a big help with nervous clients. He laid his chin in her lap and she started petting him. Gradually, she seemed to relax.
She looked from Danny to Steve. "You're not what I expected."
Steve responded politely. Danny could see in his eyes that he was angry. "You mean because he's missing a hand and I'm missing a leg?"
She nodded.
"It doesn't affect our ability to do the job," Steve said. "Why don't you tell us what the problem is?"
"My little boy. He was kidnapped. I have sole custody. I think my ex-husband took him."
"Why didn't you contact the police?" Danny asked.
"Because of this." She pulled out her phone and set it on the table. She pulled up a text and showed it to them.
Vicky, I have Manny. If you call the cops I'll kill him. If you ever want to see him again, meet me at the Lulumahu Falls trailhead on Saturday at six in the evening.
"He's a terrible man, abusive," Sabrina said. "I moved here from Texas four years ago and changed our names to get away from him. I don't know how he found me."
"Tell us your ex-husband's name," Steve said. "And we need the number that message on your phone came from."
"Also," Danny said, "how old is your son?"
She blinked back tears. "He's six. I went to pick him up at the bus stop yesterday afternoon, and he didn't get off the bus. The driver said he never saw him. I was about to call the police, but then I got that text message."
"What is your ex-husband's name?" Steve repeated. "What makes you suspect him?"
"His name is Manuel Ruiz. I suspect him because he used my old name and my son's old name."
"Do you have a photo of him?" Steve asked.
She shook her head. "No. But I can tell you where he was born and where he lived in Texas."
Steve nodded. "That's good information."
"He was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and moved to Marfa, Texas. I can't imagine he would ever move away. He loves it there."
Danny looked at Steve. "I think we need to bring 5-0 in on this one."
Sabrina looked worried. "No, you can't! He'll kill my baby!"
Steve put a hand on her back. "He'll never know they're police," he said. "Until the moment they arrest him."
Eddie licked Sabrina's hand. She bent over him, crying. "I just want my baby back safely."
"That's what we're here for," Danny said. "We'll do everything we can to help you." He looked over her shabby clothes and skinny frame. "I think we can do this one pro bono, don't you Steve?" Danny knew it was a big ask. Steve didn't like it when people doubted their abilities because of their disabilities. Still, it didn't look like she could afford them, and a little boy's life was on the line.
Steve sighed. "Yeah, we can."
Her eyes lightened just a little. "Oh, thank you so much! I was trying to figure out how to pay your fee."
Steve narrowed his eyes. He was still angry. "We don't want you to have any additional worries. Can I look at your phone?"
She handed the phone to him after unlocking it. Steve pulled up the text. He showed it to Danny. "Figure out the phone number it came from and ping the phone."
They were supposed to be equal partners in this business, but Steve was too used to being the boss. Danny took the phone and went into their office. He didn't want Sabrina to see how he pinged the number. He sat down in his armchair, checked the phone for the number the text came from, and connected his brain to the internet.
He closed his eyes to block out distractions and pinged the number. It was a burner phone. It was on right now, and located a little south of Pu'ulanipo. In fact, it looked like it was in the very spot where Danny had been thrown in a well some years ago. Damn. I really don't want to go back there. Well, there wasn't much choice. Manuel Ruiz could be holding a little boy there.
When he went back to the living room, Sabrina had left. Danny sat down across from Steve. "You're not going to believe where that burner pinged. I don't even know how he has a signal there. Must be a sat phone."
"Well, where was it?"
"Just south of Pu'ulanipo. Right where I got thrown in the well."
"Damn," Steve frowned.
"While you were in the office, Sabrina described to me what her son was wearing. His name now is Micah Fisher. It's the only name he knows, so he'll be confused at being called Manny. He's wearing a green Minecraft t-shirt, blue shorts, and he never goes anywhere without his green ball cap. It has a picture of a tractor on it." He pulled up his phone and showed Danny a picture of the little boy. "She sent me this a few minutes ago."
"He's a cute kid." Danny had a soft spot for kids, and it made him really angry when anyone mistreated them. "We've gotta find him."
Steve sighed. "I guess I need to cancel my plans for the afternoon."
"Oh no," Danny said. "You have to go on that date. You told me what you've got planned and I don't want you to delay that. Alani's off today and ready to babysit Sammy."
Steve shook his head. "But that cabin — I don't want you going up there on your own. Lots of bad memories there."
Danny squeezed Steve's shoulder. He had to convince him. Olina had already told her sister she thought he was going to propose. She was really excited. "I'll get Junior and Lou to go with me. There's no need for you to change your plans. I mean, this is big, Steve!"
"You're sure?" Steve didn't sound certain.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'll be OK, Steve."
Steve threw up his hands in surrender. "All right, then. Hey, did I show you the ring?" He reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring box. "Take a look at that." He opened the box and handed it to Danny.
Danny smiled. It was a simple gold ring with five small diamonds. "That's really pretty. She'll love it." Olina wasn't big on jewelry and would prefer something simple.
"Alani helped me pick it out, and helped me get the right size." Steve took the ring box back and slid it into his pocket. Then he pulled out the wedding ring he'd been carrying ever since Catherine was killed. "I guess it's time for me to put this in Catherine's jewelry box." He kissed the ring and held it close to his heart for a moment, then walked upstairs. When he came back, he wasn't wearing his wedding ring, either. Danny saw that he looked relaxed and happy.
"Steve, this is a good move." Danny pulled his brother (and soon to be brother-in-law) into a hug. "I'm glad you're doing this."
"I just hope she says yes." Steve sounded a little nervous.
Danny knew she was going to say yes, but he didn't want Steve to know that she suspected a proposal was in the works, so he didn't say anything about it.
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Steve called Junior. "Hey, Danny and I are on a case, and we need 5-0's help."
"Sure. What can we do for you, Boss?" Junior still called him either that or Commander. Steve had struggled with it for a time, but now he appreciated it.
"I need you to get information on Manuel Ruiz. He was born in Tijuana, Mexico and then moved to Marfa, Texas. He had a wife named Vicky and a son named Manuel. The boy is six now and goes by Micah." Steve hoped Junior would find something. Marfa was a small town. How many men named Manuel Ruiz could live there?
"OK, Boss. I'll look it up for you."
"His ex-wife came to us today," Steve said. "She suspects that he kidnapped the boy yesterday. She has sole custody. He sent her a text saying that if she involved the police, he would kill the boy. We want 5-0 involved, but you'll have to be undercover. Danny pinged his burner phone and it was up at the location where he was thrown in the well." Steve glanced at Danny, who was talking on his phone, and he lowered his voice. "I don't want him going up there alone."
"Got it, Commander. Lou, Cole, and I can go with him."
"Great. Text that information to me when you get it. We appreciate your help!"
About ten minutes later, Steve's phone buzzed. He looked at it and there was a text from Junior. It included a photo of Manuel Ruiz. He had been released from jail early because of overcrowding. He'd been sentenced to ten years in prison for beating his wife and infant son, but he was out four years later, and somehow he had found out where his wife came to hide from him.
Steve forwarded the information to Danny. We have to catch this guy, he wrote. Lock him up and throw away the key. Junior and Lou will go up to the cabin with you. You should leave soon.
It was almost noon when Cole, Lou, and Junior came by to get Danny. They were dressed as tourists. Lou was wearing a bright red aloha shirt; Cole had a green aloha shirt, and Junior wore swim trunks and a tank top. Danny looked out of place in his button down shirt and long khaki pants. At least he wasn't wearing a tie.
Steve shook his head. "Danny, you have to change. You can't go hiking like that. Not in this heat. Besides, you want the guy to think you're a bunch of tourists. If he sees you like that, his first thought will be that you're a cop." He wasn't a cop anymore, but he preferred to dress professionally.
Danny sighed. "Fine. I'll change. Do you have an aloha shirt I could borrow? I don't have one."
"Check my closet upstairs. You need some shorts, too. I doubt I have any that would fit you."
Danny rolled his eyes. "Maybe you could take me to my house and I'll change there."
"Sure," Lou said. "Let's make it quick. We'll take a helo up to the meadow and we'll hike from there."
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Micah had been locked in the dark room ever since yesterday. The man who took him kept calling him Manny. He didn't recognize that name, but the man said that he was Micah's daddy and that he was going to take his family back to Texas.
Micah didn't like the man. He yelled a lot and he was rough. Mama was always gentle. They didn't have much, but Mama made sure Micah had plenty to eat and that he was always safe. Sometimes she didn't eat so that he could. His clothes were from the thrift store, but she kept them clean. He worked hard in school so he could grow up and take good care of her. When he got big he wanted to be a doctor.
The man hadn't given him anything to eat. When Micah said he was hungry, the man grabbed his arm and bent it the wrong way. It hurt a lot now, and his tummy was grumbly.
"Somebody will come looking for me," he said softly. He couldn't speak above a whisper because the man had promised to beat him if he did. Micah wasn't sure what 'beat' meant, but it couldn't be good. He wondered how the people looking for him would know he was here. "My hat!" he whispered. "If I leave my hat here, they'll know I was here." He took off his hat and hid it under the blanket the man had given him. Inside the band of the hate was his name, all in capital letters: MICAH FISHER.
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Steve took a Navy shower and got dressed. Then he called Siobhan. "I'll come pick up Sammy in a few minutes."
He had a meeting with his friends at the VA at two and was meeting Olina at four. He had considered making dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant, but Olina liked simple things. He was going to take her to one of his favorite spots on the island. Thankfully it was a spot where he could take his wheelchair because he didn't want to deal with the leg today. His stump was sore and he knew that wearing the prosthesis would just make it worse.
When he got to the VA, he got his wheelchair out of the back of his truck, sat down, and took off his crutch. Then he went inside. Shammy was already there. "Hey, Shammy."
"Hi, Steve."
He liked gathering with this group of men. They accepted him as one of them, even though he hadn't been hurt in combat. Magnum had once said it was just a different kind of combat. Steve guessed that made sense. Here in this group, there was no judgement. He'd seen the looks some people gave him when they realized he was missing part of his right leg. For some people, it meant he had lesser value than they did. It didn't matter that he had been through hell and recovered. It didn't matter how strong he was or that he swam five miles every morning. It didn't matter that he could probably take them in a fight, even without the leg. They saw him as 'less than.'
Steve was grateful for Olina. 'Less than' wasn't part of her vocabulary. She saw Steve. She knew the struggles he had overcome. She treated him with love and respect. He had been surprised he fell so hard for an artist. In the past, he had wanted a woman who could do the things he did. Catherine could fight and shoot. She was incredibly intelligent. Olina was smart too, but she could look into Steve's eyes and see his heart in a way Catherine never could.
The men gathered. Steve showed them the ring and told them he was about to propose to his girlfriend. They all wished him well. Tomorrow they were meeting at La Mariana with a group that built tiny homes for homeless veterans. Several of them had carpentry skills, and they wanted to help. Ralph was working for that organization and he had gotten Steve and Danny involved. It was a good way to give back.
When the meeting ended, Steve went back to his truck. He strapped on the crutch and put his wheelchair in the back. Then he got into the driver's seat. It was time to meet Olina at her shop. She was closing early today to go with him.
She was waiting outside when he got there. He gazed at her from the driver's seat. She was beautiful. But there was so much more to her than beauty. Joy flowed out of her like she was a fountain. When he got out of the truck, he wrapped her in his arms and looked into her face. He studied her dark eyes. He could see into her heart, too. She was happy, excited, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He had been going to wait until they were having their picnic, but he couldn't do it. Thankful that his crutch made it possible, he knelt on the sidewalk in front of her. People who were walking by stopped to watch. He didn't care who saw it. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring box. He held it up to her. "Olina, I love you so much. Would you make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?"
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. It almost knocked him off balance. Then she said, "Oh yes, Steve. There's nothing I want more."
The spectators cheered. Steve felt his cheeks heat up. He hadn't meant this to be a public moment. Still, he smiled. After his friends had rescued him, he never imagined that he could be this happy again. He hadn't thought he would ever feel joy again. But now joy washed through him. Olina was going to be his wife. He stood up and pulled her into an embrace. Then he lowered his lips to hers. Again, the spectators cheered. Steve chuckled. "Let's go somewhere a little more private."
She laughed and agreed. They got in his truck and he drove her to a spot where they could have a picnic dinner and look out over the ocean and the city. He pulled his wheelchair out of the back of the truck. He also grabbed the picnic basket. He sat down, removed his crutch, and reached for Olina's hand. "It's a beautiful view," he said softly. He wasn't talking about the scenery.
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The man opened the locked door. "There's a chopper flying around. Come with me now, boy."
Micah wanted to stay where he was, but he was scared that the man would hurt him again. He obeyed. He couldn't help the tears that flooded his eyes and tracked down his cheeks. The man shoved him hard, making him bump his sore arm on the wall. "Boys don't cry!" he snapped.
Mama said that wasn't true. She said it was OK if he cried when he was hurt or sad or scared. But right now, it wasn't a good idea. He rubbed his good arm over his eyes and tried to dry them. Then he swallowed a sob. His arm hurt really bad. The man snapped a leash to his belt loop. Then he leaned down and glared at Micah. "If you try to run away from me, I'll hurt your mother."
"I won't," Micah whispered. He wanted to take care of Mama. "I promise."
The man pulled him out the door and into the woods. He didn't follow a path and it was hard for Micah to walk. He had to go over roots and fallen branches and up and down little hills. That man tugged him along, never patient when he delayed. Micah was terrified. He really didn't want this man to get anywhere close to his gentle mama, so he had to obey and do what the man told him.
In the middle of the woods, they came to a campsite. Mama's boyfriend Benji was there with a couple of shovels. There was a big hole close to the tent. Micah's eyes got big and round. "I'm tellin' Mama on you!" he said.
"You ain't gonna tell her nothin'." The man pushed Micah toward the hole. There was a box inside. The man made him get in the box and lie down. He gave him a long tube and told him to breathe through it. Then he stuck the tube through a hole in the lid of the box and closed it. Micah heard shovels full of dirt being dropped on top of it. At least, he thought it was dirt. Little bits of it came through the hole that the tube went through. He'd seen snorkels at the beach. The tube was kind of like a long snorkel.
It was dark in the box and Micah was scared of the dark. At least here he could cry without anyone getting mad at him. He didn't shout or call for help because he was worried about Mama. He breathed through the tube, but it took a long time for any air to get into his lungs because the tube was long. He was really scared. "Please God," he whispered. "Send somebody to help me."
Benji and the man were talking and laughing together. Benji didn't like Micah much. Micah thought it was because he wanted Mama for himself. It sounded like Benji and the man were friends. He called the man Manny. That's what the man had called him. But that wasn't his name. He was Micah. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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The helicopter pilot let Lou, Junior, Cole, Danny, and Eddie off in the meadow. Danny was starting to feel nervous about going to the cabin. Before, he had just been thinking about rescuing Micah. Now he was having flashbacks to that awful walk up the hill.
Sometimes when he got stressed out, he started acting computer-like. He couldn't help it. His voice took on a robotic tone and he moved stiffly. Everyone at 5-0 knew about the neuroseed, and they understood.
"Are you sure we are going the right way?" he asked Junior.
Junior's hand came down on his shoulder. "Yeah, this is it, Danny. I remember walking up there."
"I will be quiet. I do not sound like a tourist." Danny hated when this happened. It made him feel less than human.
Dr. Anderson said it was because of PTSD. In one of their sessions, he had said, "I know you like to think that only the Commander has PTSD, but you have it too," the doctor said. "Stress and flashbacks cause your brain to revert to a computer-like state. That doesn't mean you are a computer or that you are less human. It's just how you respond now. And there's nothing wrong with that."
Danny had stared at him. "It's creepy. People who know about it understand, but people who don't know think it's weird."
Junior kept his hand on Danny's shoulder. "It's OK, Danny. You aren't going up there alone. Nothing bad is going to happen to you this time."
"But I am remembering. No, I am reliving that day." Danny hated these memories. He could feel the punches, the zip ties cutting into his flesh, the narrowness of the well, the darkness. He tried summoning to his memory the stars. When he pulled the bag off his head, the stars were so beautiful. But all he could think about was the pain.
They finally reached the little cabin. Eddie seemed to understand that Danny needed comfort. The dog stayed close beside him, every so often pressing his nose into Danny's hand. Dogs were a blessing. Eddie, especially, was a blessing.
Danny stared at the stairs up to the porch. He didn't want to go inside. His whole body started trembling. And yet, he had to go in. A child's life was on the line. They had to find Micah.
He knelt down and stroked Eddie. "Go in with me, Eddie." Eddie walked close at his heel. Lou came up beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. Danny forced himself to climb the stairs.
When they got inside, nobody was there. But something was wrong with the cabin. It was different. Danny looked around. He measured the walls and the floor. Then he stepped over to one wall. "This wall is new. It was not here when I was last here. I think it is a hiding place."
He felt along the wall, looking for any sign of a door. The wall was expertly made. It took Danny a long time to find the door. Then he had to figure out how to open it. He finally found a latch hidden in the wall. When he was in computer mode, his observational powers increased.
Danny pulled the latch and opened the door. He shone a flashlight into the space. No one was inside, but there was a ratty old blanket. He saw that something was under the blanket. He pulled the blanket away. Then he pulled on a pair of gloves and picked up a green ball cap. He didn't want to get his scent on it. He shone the light on the cap and turned it over in his hand. Written on the band was the name Micah Fisher.
"He was here," Danny said. He stepped out of the room. "I have to get out of here." The chair he had been cuffed to was still in the room. Breathing heavily, heart pounding, he stumbled out of the cabin and down the steps to the grass. He squeezed his eyes shut.
Lou came with him. He put an arm around Danny. "Breathe," he said. "You're safe, Danny."
But in his mind, Danny was in that chair. He had a bag over his head and Frankie Jennings was punching him. He couldn't fight back. He couldn't stop the beating. He was frozen in place.
Eddie licked Danny's hand. He whined and barked and licked Danny again. His attention drew Danny out of the flashback. Danny went to his knees and wrapped his arms around the dog. "Thank you, Eddie." His voice was back to normal. He opened his eyes. "I'm sorry, Lou."
"It's OK, Danny. You don't have to apologize."
Danny was still holding the ball cap. He held it in front of Eddie's nose. "Find Micah."
Eddie sniffed the cap. Then he sniffed the ground. Soon he barked. He had found the scent and was ready to follow it. Danny followed him.
Nose to the ground, Eddie led the four men into the woods. They walked for a long time before they came to a campsite. A man was sitting at a campfire close to a tent. Eddie growled at him.
Danny trusted Eddie to be a good judge of character. He put a hand to his hip and drew his gun from its holster. The man resembled the photo that Steve had sent him of Manuel Ruiz. His hair was longer and he had a beard now, but it was definitely him. Eddie went sniffing around the campsite, then stood next to the fire and started digging.
Danny pulled out his gun and aimed it at Ruiz. Steve had helped him learn to fire as accurately left-handed as he used to right-handed. "Put out the fire."
"Why should I?" The man glared at Danny. "You ain't the boss of me."
At that moment, a gunshot rang out from inside the tent. The bullet went whizzing past Danny. If Eddie hadn't flattened himself to the ground, it would have hit him. Instead, it buried itself in a tree trunk.
Lou and Cole pulled out their guns. Junior went to the tent. He had his weapon up. "5-0! Drop your weapon and come out with your hands in the air!"
A moment later, a man came out with his hands up.
Ruiz glared at his friend. He bent down, reached under the log he'd been sitting on, and pulled out a gun. Before he could fire it, Danny shot him center mass.
"Put out the fire! I think Micah is underground." Danny said.
Lou poured water on the fire and then looked in the tent. He found two shovels there. Lou and Cole started digging. Before long, they heard a thud as the shovel hit wood.
A tube was running through a hole in the lid. Was that how Ruiz supplied air to the little boy? Danny moved closer. Lou tore the lid off the box and lifted the little boy out. He was unconscious. He didn't seem to be breathing.
Lou did CPR. Soon, the little boy shuddered and drew in a breath of air on his own.
"Thank God," Danny said. Cruelty to children made him angrier than just about anything. Junior put handcuffs on Ruiz's friend. 5-0 would question him in the rendition room. Danny was glad to leave it to them.
Danny pulled Micah into his arms. The little boy started waking up. His eyes filled with tears. "Hey, buddy," Danny said. "We're going to take you back to your mommy."
"My arm hurts!"
Danny looked at his arm. It was clearly broken. "Hey," Danny said. "Your mommy can meet us at the hospital. You'll be OK."
Micah glared at the man Junior had handcuffed. "I'm telling my Mama on you!"
"Do you know him, Micah?" Danny asked.
Micah nodded. "He's Mama's boyfriend. Benji Dawson. He never liked me."
"Hah," Benji said. "Never liked her neither. Just found her for Manny so as he could get her back."
Danny glared at the man who had tried to shoot him. He handed Micah back to Lou. He didn't have immunity and means anymore, but he was pretty sure his friends would back him up. He walked over to the guy, pulled back his left hand, and slammed his fist into the man's jaw.
Benji toppled. Then he looked up at Lou and Junior. "He — he can't do that!"
Lou shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't see anything. Did you see anything Junior? Cole?"
Junior grinned. "Not a thing."
Cole shook his head and slapped Danny on the back. "I didn't see anything either."
They tugged Dawson to his feet and marched him down to the meadow, where the chopper was waiting for them.
Danny was pretty sure he'd broken his hand punching Dawson. He would have to use his prosthetic while he healed. He didn't care. He'd hit Dawson hard enough to break his jaw. At least, he hoped he'd broken the guy's jaw.
Micah stayed in Danny's lap the whole flight to King's. He was clearly still frightened. Danny wished they could have just left Dawson cuffed to a tree or something. But they couldn't. He had to be on the chopper with them. Danny tried to hold Micah so he couldn't see Dawson.
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At King's, Cole took Dawson straight to the jail ward. A doctor there checked him over. "How did he break his jaw?" he asked Cole.
"Oh, that?" Cole shook his head. "I didn't see what happened. But let me tell you this — he helped kidnap and bury a six-year-old boy. And he almost shot Steve McGarrett's dog. What would you expect to happen?"
"Ahh," the doctor said. "I fully understand. Enough said." He prepared a syringe with medication. Then he turned and jabbed Dawson without warning.
Dawson groaned. Cole left the room.
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Danny watched as Sabrina hugged her son. She had tears in her eyes. "Benji helped the man, Mama!" the little boy said. "And the man said if I didn't do what he told me, he would hurt you. I didn't want him to do that." The doctor wanted to take the boy for an x-ray, but he just clung to his mother. Danny had explained to the doctor that Micah wasn't breathing when they found him. He would probably be kept overnight for observation.
The way the little boy cared about his mother struck Danny hard. He walked over, knelt down in front of the child, and rubbed the top of his head. "Hey, Micah. You are very brave. I'm proud of you for wanting to protect your mama like that. Now, you have to let the doctor x-ray your arm. When he's done, you'll be back with your Mama."
When Danny stood up, Sabrina hugged him. "I'm so sorry I doubted you and your partner. Thank you so much." She paused briefly. "Oh, and I'm never dating again."
Danny looked her in the eyes. "Steve and I could introduce you to some decent guys if you want. You just can't judge them if they aren't in perfect condition." Many of the men in Steve's VA group wished they could meet a woman who wouldn't discount them for their disabilities. Danny hoped maybe Sabrina had learned her lesson.
Sabrina looked down. "I don't think Steve likes me much."
Danny shrugged. "Show him a little respect, and he'll come around." He took a step back. "I need to go get my hand treated." He was going to Tripler. He wanted Dr. Kowalski to take care of him.
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Danny found Lou in his car, waiting with Eddie. "Hey, Lou. Guess it's a good thing I didn't drive today. Can you take me to Tripler? I want to see Dr. Kowalski."
"Sure thing. Junior and Cole went back to the Palace." Lou got out to open the door for Danny, then drove him to Tripler.
At the front desk, Danny asked for Dr. Kowalski. Thankfully, he was available. He sent Danny for x-rays. Once Kowalski had a chance to look at them, he came into the room where Danny was waiting. "I hope the person you punched deserved it. You have a boxer's fracture."
"Benji Dawson helped bury a six-year old kid. Thankfully, the little guy survived. And Dawson almost shot Steve's dog when he was trying to kill me. I think he had it coming."
Dr. Kowalski nodded. "I agree. I'm glad the little boy is all right."
"He's got a broken arm. He wasn't breathing when we found him, but Lou did CPR. His arm will heal. He's happy to be back with his mother." Danny sighed. "And now I have to get home to my family. There might be a reason to celebrate tonight."
Dr. Kowalski raised his eyebrows. "Oh, what is that?"
"Steve was proposing to my wife's little sister today. I just hope he didn't chicken out." He flashed a wry grin. "Steve is just about the bravest man I know, but when it comes to romance, well —"
"He told me about Olina the last time I saw him. I think he'll follow through." Kowalski put Danny's hand in a splint. "You're going to need your prosthesis for a while. You'll wear the splint for six weeks. Then you'll need physical therapy."
"Thanks, Doc. Yeah, my prosthesis is all charged up. I don't like wearing it much. I can do everything I need to with my left hand."
One corner of Kowalski's mouth twitched upwards. "Not for the next six weeks."
Danny nodded. "See you later, Doc."
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Danny went out to meet Lou, who was waiting with Eddie. Danny's hand was wrapped up in a splint. "Can you give me a ride home?"
"Sure thing," Lou said.
When they got to Danny's house, Steve's truck was parked outside. "Want to come in and hear the good news?" Danny asked.
"Sure," Lou said. He parked the car and got out. Danny had told him all about Steve's plans. Eddie jumped down and walked alongside them.
Inside, Danny breathed in deeply and grinned. Alina was baking and it smelled delicious.
Steve came in. He was sitting in his wheelchair and Makai was on his lap. Steve was grinning from ear to ear. "She said yes!" He fist bumped Danny and Lou.
"Did you think she would say anything else?" Danny asked.
Steve reddened just a little. "Well, I hoped she wouldn't. But I didn't know for sure. And then I flubbed the proposal and asked her right there in front of her shop instead of waiting till we were on our picnic."
Olina came into the room in time to hear that. She leaned down to kiss Steve. "You didn't flub a thing. You did it just right, as far as I'm concerned." She held up her finger with the ring. "Isn't it beautiful?"
Lou hugged both Olina and Steve. "Congratulations!"
About that time, Steve noticed Danny's hand. "What happened to you?"
Danny shrugged. "A guy tried to shoot me. It would've hit Eddie if he hadn't flattened himself out. And he helped stick Micah in a box and bury him to hide him from us."
"Micah's OK, isn't he?"
"Broken arm, but happy to be back with his mom. Oh, and Manuel Ruiz is dead. He pulled out a gun and I shot him."
Lou nodded. "World's a better place without him in it."
Steve nodded. "I'm glad the little guy will be OK."
Alani came in then and noticed Danny's hand. "Oh, honey!" She kissed it. "You punched someone, didn't you?"
Danny shrugged. "He deserved it."
Lou chuckled. "I think it's time for me to go," he said.
"Wait, Lou!" Steve said. "Party at La Mariana tonight. Seven o'clock. Bring your family! Alani's baking a cake."
"We'll be there." Lou gave Eddie a pat on the head and grinned as he walked out the door.
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After a lengthy celebration at La Mariana, one that included all of his ohana (even Kamekona, who complained that they hadn't come to him for the party), Steve came home happy. He and Olina had decided not to wait a long time for their wedding. They would be married on the beach a month from now. Danny would be the best man; Alani would be the matron of honor. Makai and Charlie would share the role of ring bearer. Joanie was too old to be a flower girl, so Rick's daughter Joy would take that role.
Once he had Sammy in his crib, Steve went to his room and stood by the window, looking out over the ocean. "I'm engaged, Catherine," he said softly. "I think you would like Olina. She loves Sammy and she loves me. I hope you don't mind that she's going to adopt Sammy after we've exchanged vows. She'll be a wonderful mother to him. I never thought I could be this happy without you, but I've discovered that life is good and I'm happier than I ever imagined I could be."