Twelve days of Christmas Hawaii Five-0 Style

 

On the First Day of Christmas,
a present appeared for Dan -
a gold, Five0 police shield
by

AS


e


The engine of his car was off, but the key was still in the ignition and he couldn't seem to pry his fingers off the steering wheel. The morning sun was brilliant and the air already warm. Briefly he
wondered if it wasn't too late to change his mind. 'No,' he sternly lectured himself. 'This is what you wanted. Why you worked so hard at the academy and didn't complain about any crappy assignments as a rookie. This is why you've ignored the surfing competitions. Now get out of the car and go upstairs. It's not like it'll be that different from HPD.'

Silent pep talk delivered - it managed to bolster the young man's courage enough to where he was able to exit the vehicle and move up the concrete stairs. Magnificent wooden doors made him pause but he managed to open one and enter the historic building before stopping again at a majestic, Koa wood staircase.

'Oh man!' The thought flitted through his brain as a small sigh unknowingly escaped. Sure he'd been in this building before. Had even jogged up the stairs many a time. It was just that this morning it all felt different. Exhaling deeply, he reached up a hand and slowly climbed the stairs. No hurrying today. He wanted this implanted on his memory.

Reaching the top, he walked over to the closed door with the lettering on the window. Again he'd been in there before but this time was different. His fingers closed around the cold knob and
turned; his body weight opening the door. Suddenly unsure he stood for a moment in the doorway.

"Who? Oh, good - you're early."

Training enabled him to remain still but his eyes darted to the area where the voice came from. The tall, dark-haired man that stood there was familiar in many ways but at the moment his mind was a blank. He probably could not have told anyone his own name much less anyone else's.

"Come on in to my office so we can get this stuff done before the rest of the staff gets here."

Without answering, the young man followed the dark blue suit. Again he was familiar with both the set-up of the outer office as well as the inner one, but it all felt like a dream to him.

"First things first. THIS is yours."

He looked down at the extended arm and it took a second before his fingers reached out and grabbed a hold of the small, black bi-fold case. His blue eyes looked up into eyes that mirrored his own in color but always seemed a bit cooler. There was a barely perceptible nod of the head and then he was the only one holding the billfold. He fingered it open and a ray of sunlight caught the gleaming gold and bounced around the office. The printing on the ID card next to
the shield caught his attention until the voice penetrated his thoughts.

"That's yours and I have your weapon as well. The office just outside my door is yours, too. Welcome to Five-0, Office Williams."


 

On the second day of Christmas
the setting sun did see
Two Five0 detectives speeding down the road

 

 

 

e

 

 

Danny Williams looked up from the pile of paperwork on his desk, surprised at the lack of noise in the outer office. Rising from his chair, he headed out of his cubicle towards the secretary's desk when he suddenly heard a loud bang - wood slamming against wood - coming from the inner office. He glanced at the Koa wood door, both impressive and forbidding in nature and because of the room's occupant before continuing over to May. Having worked for the boss for several years, May had become virtually oblivious to the various noises that occasionally erupted from the inner sanctum - as some called it.

 

"He's a little on edge suddenly, May."

 

"Been that way since he returned from his lunch meeting, Danny."

 

May jumped suddenly as the outer office door swung forcefully open but was relieved to see that the figure in the doorway was just Kono returning from an errand to HPD.

 

"Who did he have lunch with? Attila the Hun?"

 

The secretary could barely hide a small smile. "Not exactly. His meeting was in Walter Stuart's office."

 

"Auwe!" Kono muttered in sympathy. The Attorney General's reputation throughout the various levels of law enforcement was not exactly one that warmed most cops' hearts. McGarrett had previously gotten along rather well with the man. In fact it was their earlier familiarity that had contributed to the initially chilly reception Steve had received from the upper echelon of HPD when he had first taken over the reins of Five0.

 

Danny nodded but chose not to comment. His own various struggles with the state's highest lawyer were well known throughout the office. Wanting to change the subject, he glanced down at his watch and was amazed to see how late it was. Now the initial silence in the outer office made sense. The support staff had left for the evening nearly an hour prior. He gazed quizzically at the secretary.

 

"What are you still doing here, May? Shouldn't you be out and about on the town, moving on to the fancy and exciting nightlife?" He couldn't help waggling his eyebrows at the woman.

 

Shaking her head at the younger man, May tried and failed to prevent the pink tinge of a blush from coloring her cheeks. "Danny Williams, you are just too much!"

 

"Seriously, May, shouldn't you have left over an hour ago with the rest of them. Usually it's just the four of us that burn the midnight oil." Kono commented.

 

The dark-haired woman didn't reply but instead picked up a thick folder that had been sitting on her desk. "I've been waiting - hoping he'd calm down a bit. Need to get his signature on all of these so they can go out in the mail tomorrow. Thinking we still have a while to wait."

 

Danny turned around, eyeing his own cluttered desk. Then his eyes moved up to the window in his office, only partly seeing the slowly setting sun reflecting through the glass. There really wasn't a decision to make. He turned back around and neatly snatched the folder from the startled woman's hand.

 

"Get out of here, May. I'll take care of these for you."

 

"But, Danny..."

 

"No buts. I didn't have any plans tonight anyway so one of us might as well be out there enjoying the fancy nightlife."

 

May shook her head over the audacious thought of her being involved in the Island's nightlife but gathered her purse anyway. "Mahalo and good night, Danny."

 

After the secretary had left, the second-in-command turned his attention to the other two detectives in the room. Chin had come out of his own office but had remained by the door, listening to the discussion. Danny quietly but firmly suggested that the other two leave for the evening and that he would stay to wrap up whatever needed to be done. Chin departed quickly and Williams figured that, with his many children, the Oriental detective probably had a dance lesson or ball game that he was supposed to be at. Kono glanced at him questioningly but once he realized that Danny wasn't going to back down, he too left rapidly, muttering something about a luau on one of the smaller beaches. As the door closed behind the large Hawaiian, Danny looked down at the folder in his hand. Then he turned and headed for the closed door, turning the knob and pushing it quietly open before stepping inside.

 

Moving over to the large desk that dominated the room, Williams laid the folder in an obvious spot. Glancing up and out of the open doors, he allowed the barest hint of a smile cross his face as he felt the gentle trades sweep through the space. He couldn't see the older detective but had no doubt that McGarrett was still out there, pacing back and forth in that determined, pounding pace that was his usual gait. The evening was promising to be a typical, near-perfect Island one - one that neither of the detectives got a chance to fully enjoy often enough. Sighing, he looked back down at the many files and papers that cluttered the desk before him and reminded him of the mess that filled his own office. He really needed to get back to work. But yet...

 

Another breeze drifted through the door and made the decision for him. He quickly leaned over and closed the file at the center of the desk before beginning to pile the papers and other folders, careful to keep May's correspondence file in a separate place. Working far in to the night, as was the habit, would do neither of them any good this particular day. He'd already made sure that Kono and Chin got some well-deserved down time, now he had to do the same for himself and his boss.

 

"What do you think you're doing?"

 

The sharp-toned voice startled him since he hadn't heard the man enter the room. Deliberately he kept his tone light.

 

"Hhhmmm, thought that was obvious, Steve. Deductive reasoning tells me that making a desk neater is a sure sign of leaving the office for the day."

 

"Danno, it's no where near quitting time yet."

 

Biting back the too obvious retort, Williams struggled for a moment with what to say. Both men, the whole unit, were stressed from the recent caseload. Highly observant, the lead detective also tended to habits of obsession that did not serve him well when he needed to relax and recharge his spirit. However getting the man to do so was almost as difficult as some of their investigations at times. Danny searched for the right way to phrase what he knew needed to be said without sounding condescending.

 

“Steve, just this once, trust me on this.” His eyes briefly met those of the older cop but then Williams looked away to concentrate on his task. McGarrett remained silent.

 

Soon the task was completed, the lanai doors closed for the night and the two men were out of the office and moving down the large, Koa wood staircase. Danny waved goodbye to the security guard as he passed, smirking as the man looked incredulously at the wall clock behind him. The two men moved quickly down the outer concrete steps and Dan steered the other towards his vehicle, thankful that he’d chosen to drive it instead of the company car that morning. He unlocked the door and slid behind the steering wheel, reaching over to unlock the other door as well as he put the key in the ignition and started the engine in one fluid motion. Immediately he began unlocking the latches and completing the process that would lower the top on the vehicle. The process was finished when Steve finally opened the other door and lowered himself into the passenger seat.

 

As soon as the door was closed, Dan moved the transmission into gear, backed out of his parking stall and headed towards the driveway. Merging seamlessly into traffic, Danny drove silently for several minutes before turning the car onto the Pali. As the wheels sped along the pavement, Dan found himself relaxing further into the seat, his tense muscles easing slightly. He glanced over at his boss. McGarrett still looked uptight but not as ready to explode as he had at the Palace.

Steve looked around at the view from the passenger seat. The sun was low on the horizon, twilight upon them. The air crisp and fresh, it seemed to soothe his soul like pacing on the lanai had been unable to do. He knew that the tension had also eased in Danny as well, had felt it as tangibly as the wind that blew around him. He wouldn’t admit out loud that his second-in-command was right in virtually forcing him out of the office the way he had done. Doing so would be completely out of character for him. But maybe Danno had something with the sports car as his mobile relaxation device.

 

Danny glanced at his passenger. Steve was definitely relaxing more as they drove. “Works every time, Steve. Works every time.” He mumbled softly.

 

McGarrett started when he heard the comment. He hadn’t thought that he’d said anything out loud but then again the younger man could read him better than anyone else. He turned his head, allowing a small smile to form.

 

“Mahalo, Danno.”

 

 

On the Third Day of Christmas
light from the moon did reveal
Three exhausted & stressed out men



e

He pulled the LTD into the driveway but did not bother to get out and open the garage door, opting instead to simply leave the car parked outside. It was rather pointless anyway - he'd be leaving again early in the morning. Parking the car in the garage would mean he'd make unnecessary noise too early in the morning. He really did not want to risk waking his kids at that hour. Turning off the motor, Chin contemplated getting out of the car but instead sighed deeply.
He had spent most of the day on the street trying to convince his snitches to talk or in the office, strategizing. Once the normal workday would have been considered complete, they had continued. The tenacity of his boss often spearheaded the unit's unusual work hours. The man simply did not know when to quit for the day. Investigations seemed to consume him and it had been obvious from the onset with the discovery of the toddler's body that this case would have him pushing them all beyond normal limits. It wasn't unexpected and not something that Chin wasn't willing to do himself. He was as dedicated as anyone to finding the truth and getting justice served.


It was just sometimes he needed a dose of reality, of normalcy to reassure himself of the reasons he did what he did. He could see no lights shining from any of the windows in his house. As late as it was, he had expected the children to all be in bed and asleep but he had hoped...

Just then the light that illuminated his front stairs and doorway clicked on. Chin stared at it for several seconds, understanding the silent message. Finally he opened the door and stepped out of the car. By the time he'd climbed the stairs, the wooden door was open and a shorter, dark-haired woman stood just inside. He stopped at the top step and she silently moved back, giving him room to enter. He stepped inside the foyer and closed the door, securing the locks.

"It is late tonight, Chin Ho. Come have a cup of tea with me?"

Without waiting for an answer, she busied herself with a kettle that seemed to already contain steaming water. Soon there were two saucers with small cups of tea resting on them. Chin had removed his shoes and jacket, leaving the shoes near the door and carrying the jacket into the living room, placing it haphazardly on a chair before walking towards the dining room. His sock covered foot stepped on something thick and plastic and, bending down, he realized that it was a small doll's shoe. Holding the toy in the palm of his hand, the rotund detective stood nearly sphinx-like, his lower lip quivering.

Wet eyes looked up and met their mate's. She moved across the room quickly, coming to stand in front of him, watching the losing battle to control his emotions. She didn't speak but instead opened her arms, drawing him to her in a timeless gesture of comfort.

"Mai, he was practically still a baby. Just a baby." The battle was lost and tears ran down his cheeks.


***


The dark parking garage was illuminated with only faint light from the yellow light bulbs that were sporadically placed about when the large man levered himself out of the vehicle. His gait was slower than normal as he made his way to the stairs, preferring to climb the several flights up to his apartment door. Letting himself in to the small apartment, Kono moved immediately into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and staring inside it for several seconds before finally
turning to pull a glass from the cabinet and filling it with cold water from the sink. He reached over and grabbed a nearby bottle of aspirin, quickly shaking two into his hand and swallowing them with all of the water in the glass. Maybe now the burgeoning headache that he'd lived with for most of the day would finally ease. Who was he kidding? The pain in his head wouldn't leave until they managed to crack the case they were currently working on. Until the slime that had hurt the little boy so horribly was locked up, never to see the light of day again.

He wandered over to the sliding door that led to a small deck, opening it before stepping out. Far down on the beach, the remnants of a bonfire, both the conversation and the smell of the smoke
wafted up to him. Young people laughing together, enjoying each other and having a good time. When had he started to feel quite so old? Turning around, he walked back into his home. Anyone who didn't truly know him, who only believed what they saw on the surface, would not have expected him to be as upset as he'd been for most of the day. Kono knew of his reputation - at times even actively perpetuated it. But he also wondered what certain friends would say if they knew how wrong they were about him. Outward appearances would label him as the somewhat simpleminded detective kept around as the muscleman, brought out whenever brute strength or
intimidation was necessary. The truth, which was that he was really almost completely opposite that, would shock some. But it was a truth that he kept carefully hidden from most, preferring instead to hold on to the image. Restlessly he picked up the phone and even began to dial a number before the chime of a wall clock caught his attention. He winced at the time and reluctantly hung up the handset, replacing the phone on his end table. It was far too late to call her. At her age, she really did need to rest more no matter what she wanted everyone to believe. He wouldn't wake her tonight but instead find another way to exorcise his demons.

Aimlessly he moved around the room, eyeing various artifacts that had a historical value to his family. The pictures and statues told as many stories of his family's history as did his elders. His family's history had been both checkered and blessed by the gods. It was a history that he had grown determined to honor - no matter the cost. He ambled over to a closet and reached in, pulling out a black case and carrying it over to the sofa. Sitting down, he took a moment to
undo his tie and the top buttons of his shirt before reaching over to open the case and draw out the guitar. This was his secret alone - no one at the office knew about it nor would they. It was his relaxation. He strummed it quietly in the dark, letting the chords wash over him like a waterfall soothing the tattered edges of soul.



***


For once he was glad that he generally changed clothes at the station house. He was also glad that he had long ago made it a practice to drive his own vehicle to work thereby needing to drive it home and leave the cruiser in the parking lot. Occasionally he silently berated himself for the changing of clothes. Whenever it was necessary for him to spend the entire day at the Palace with Five0, it necessitated a separate trip inside the Department and down to the locker area to change, wasting minutes that could have been spent getting home sooner. But there was something about taking off the uniform and putting on his own clothing. Like he was taking off a
role and again becoming the real person that he was.

The drive home he hardly ever had mixed feelings about. Early on, he'd come to treasure that time, no matter what the traffic was like. Being in his car, being off-duty with no access to a
police radio. Frequently he used the drive to work the problems of the day through, trying his best to not bring the job home with him like so many cops did. Then there were the others, like McGarrett, who not only took the job home but - worse - they didn't know when to let it go enough to actually go home. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that someone, probably Danny, would find McGarrett asleep on his couch in the morning. Assuming, of course, that Danny himself had actually gone home. Kono or Chin might actually find themselves waking both of the men in the morning.

He turned down his street and then pushed in the dial on his headlights as he turned into his drive, steering the vehicle into the carport simply by rote memory. He didn't dawdle inside the car once the engine was off. Getting out, he hurried into the small house and deposited his keys on a nearby table. The house was dark and silent - almost too much so - but it didn't unnerve him. Smoothly moving through ordinary actions, he took care of the things that he normally
did before turning in for the night. Heading down the hallway and into the bedroom, he managed to get ready for bed with needing a light. Granted he'd left his clothes in a small near the bed but
he'd deal with them in the morning.

Folding back the covers on one side, he crawled into bed, immensely grateful to be horizontal after the long day. Yet his mind was not as satisfied as his body and it whirled on. He deserves to ride a bike. To feel the thrill of hitting his first homer. He should be able to feel stiffness of his first glove on his hand and how worn and comfortable it is after he's played several games. He should be making a kite to fly. Roughhousing with his puppy. The words rang in his brain as, unbidden, the tears flowed silently down his face. Duke felt the shift in the bedcovers next to him and then a gentle arm surrounded his waist as a warm head rested on his chest, the body
snuggling closer before stilling. His arm moved around the slender waist, grateful for the wordless support that required no acknowledgment.


 

 On the Fourth day of Christmas

Delicious smells around

From 4 stuffed take-out bags

 

 

e

 

Rolling his eyes, knowing he was also probably blushing, Danny Williams shook his head as he carried the small but stuffed box out to the LTD that was parked by the curb. He set the box carefully on the roof of the sedan before opening the passenger door. As he reached for it to place it on the seat, the delicious smells wafted towards his nose. He snuck an appreciative sniff of the contents. What they don't know, can't ever hurt 'em. He thought with a slight smirk. It wasn't as if he was not going to take the bags back to the Palace. There was far too much stuffed inside for him to even contemplate not doing so.

 

Danny virtually skip-stepped off the curb, opening the driver's door and entering the vehicle. He didn't know why he was in such a good mood but knew that it would be wasted with the long night that McGarrett undoubtedly had planned for all of them. Starting the engine, he pulled carefully away from the curb - not wanting to disturb his cargo. He rolled down the window and, in an uncharacteristic action, flicked on the car's radio, tuning it to the station that played more contemporary Island music. The warm sun beat down on the car, heating his arm through the dress shirtsleeve. Definitely more of a convertible evening. He glanced around and couldn't help but wish that he wasn't in the staid but appropriate company car.

 

He glanced at his thumbs and was startled to find them tapping the steering wheel to the beat of the song coming through the speaker. Apropos of nothing, he found a smile bursting to escape but he carefully locked it as well as the mood down and shoved them away. Later - after the case was solved - then hopefully he'd have time for some R&R and then the mood would come in handy. For now, his beach boy persona needed to stay carefully hidden behind Danny Williams, Five0 Second-in-Command.

 

He swung the larger vehicle into the Palace parking area, turning it into one of the front slots. After hours, the detectives generally didn't exercise the care with the parking that they did during the day when the tourists and buses were more likely to rumble through. Every once in a while an evening tour would gather but they never stayed long and seemed to be more concerned with the gardens surrounding the Palace than what was inside. He left the window partially down and exited the car, carefully balancing the box that he had picked up beforehand.

 

He jogged quickly up the outer stairs and entered the historic building. Instead of heading the Koa wood staircase, he turned towards the small security desk. He held the box on his arm while he dug into the closest bag, fingers grabbing a smaller bag that had been shoved inside at nearly the last minute.

"Hey Sam."

 

"Mr. Williams. See you were the lucky one stuck picking it up tonight. No delivery?"

 

"Not from this place. And it's Danny, remember? Here, catch."

 

He gently lobbed the small bag towards the man sitting at the desk and then turned towards the stairs. He smiled a little as he heard the rustle of the paper sack and the small gasp of surprise.

 

"Mahalo, Danny."

 

"Anytime, Sam."

 

***

 

Danny nudged the outer office door open with his hip but didn't say anything to the men whom he could hear talking. He knew that the smells of what he carried would announce his arrival better than words ever could. He'd almost reached Jenny's desk when Ben's voice reached him.

 

"Ahhh, smell that! Danny's back."

 

"I know that scent. It's Ono's."

 

Danny couldn't stop the grin that graced his face as he stepped inside McGarrett's private office. The reaction of the two detectives was swift and immediate - both jumping from their seats to clear the file folders away & give him room to place the box on the table. As he set it down, the young man looked up and caught sight of the indulgent smile on the boss' face.

 

"Awful lot of bags there, Danno."

 

"You know John. He likes us!"

 

"Think it's more his daughter liking you, Bruddah!"

 

The three men enjoyed the tinge of color that immediately appeared on Dan's face. Then silence reigned as the four of them dug in to the bags, various comments being heard over the paper rustle. Chin claimed the container of mahi mahi; Ben reached for a portion of the chicken katsu and both expressed some surprise over several containers of rice. Danny reached in and grabbed a container, handing it over to the boss without opening it. McGarrett raised his eyebrow but didn't offer any comment until he opened the lid and saw a large portion of Ahi and Mahi liberally seasoned with garlic laying next to a salad. He looked up at his second-in-command and offered his appreciation with a small tilt of his head. Danny didn't reply but instead reached into another bag and pulled out two containers. One he opened and nearly sighed audibly at the large combination platter that smelled delicious.

 

"Bruddah, you gonna eat all that!"

"You bet I am. Hands off, Chin!"

 

Ben reached over to take the other container from Danny and was amazed to see it nearly full with breaded shrimp. "I swear they spoil us!"

 

"John being ex-HPD doesn't hurt, you know?"

 

Gradually the comments ended as the men were engrossed in eating their meal. Even Steve moved away from the files he'd been staring at to sit nearby and just concentrate on the delicious food.

 

Eventually it was Chin who groaned and patted his already ample waistline. "Man, I couldn't eat another mouthful!"

 

"HHHmmmm...me neither."

 

"Well good - means there's more of this for me."

 

"More of what, Danny?"

 

"Don't know. But I got told to open it last." He replied as he lifted the lid on the largest container of all.

 

Gasps, groans and other appreciative noises filled the room as the four men stared at the container full of Hawaiian Haupia and Poi Mochi. Slowly they all ate small pieces of each, leaving plenty left over for later. Moving slower than they had before, Danny and Ben cleaned up the mess of containers, plastic utensils and bags, careful to save the leftover treat. Chin crossed to the outer office to brew and bring in a fresh pot of coffee. Steve turned and opened his lanai door wider, allowing the trades to sweep through the office, bringing fresh air into the room.

 

"Alright, gentlemen, let's get back to work."

 

 

On the Fifth Day of Christmas
Reflections could be seen
From Five Gold Rings


e



With his shoes off, Kono's endless pacing was soundless against the tiled floor. It didn't matter. His heart felt like it was pounding so loudly the whole island had to be able to hear it. He nearly
jumped at the quiet clearing of a throat behind him. He turned, grateful to see the older woman standing there. Had it been anyone else he would have expected to be soundly teased for being a cop who scared so easily.

"Grandma."

"Kono, it has been a while."

"I am sorry. Honolulu has kept me very busy."

"Honolulu? Or Mr. McGarrett?"

Kono didn't answer. Depending on the day, either would be correct.

"You have come for something, my grandson."

"Yes, m'am." Nervous beyond belief, the large man took a step forward before continuing.
"Grandma, I've come to ask permission to use the ring. You've met Kelai and I believe you approve of our match."

"Do you believe she's worth it?"

That question was easy for him to answer. "With all my heart."

"Very well then."

There was a brief pause and Kono couldn't help but wonder what it all meant. Even after all this time, the old lady still managed to surprise him. But this time she was going over to a table and for the first time since he arrived, the Hawaiian detective noticed the box that set on a small tray. She took the box and reached out to hand it to him.

"You will take it to Kala to size it once she says yes."

"Yes, m'am." He was amazed at the sureness in her voice and words. "As long as she says yes that is."

"There is no doubt, Kono. You and her - the gods have matched you. The two of you will follow their plan, not your own."

Kono heard the words but they didn't sink in with him. He had raised the cover and now stared down at the ring that had been in his family for generations. Heavy and ornate gold surrounded a more modern stone that the woman in front of him had placed in the ring when it was presented to her. The gleam of the ring was all natural – no fake light or sunlight added to its luster. He was awed by the presence of it and all it represented in his family. He hoped that Kelai felt the same.

"Mahalo, Grandma," he whispered.


***


It was late at night and still humid enough to feel sticky. Even though he had lain in bed for a while, he was still unable to sleep.  The events from the last several weeks had finally caught up with him. Knowing sleep was pointless, grateful that the boss had agreed to be on call for the weekend so that he could have it off, Danny got up and shuffled to the kitchen. He poured a glass of juice before moving to the living room. Opening the door to his balcony, he intended to step outside, hoping that the warm, night air would lull him to sleep. He never made it out there though as the ringing of his phone clanged in his brain. He hurried to answer it and wondered
if there was an emergency somewhere that would negate his free weekend. He hoped not.

The voice on the other end of the phone surprised him. He hadn't spoken to her since the funeral even though he had intended to be a regular visitor or caller. Hearing the request, he quickly agreed and once the two of them had set a time, they ended the conversation. Danny hung up the phone now filled with trepidation over his plans for the next day. It wasn't something he was ready to handle.

The next morning came far too quickly for Danny. He'd managed to get a little sleep but still didn't feel anywhere near rested. He knew that at some point his body was simply going to crash and burn and fervently hoped that he wasn't in a position to endanger someone else when that happened. He felt marginally better after standing in the shower for several minutes but wasn't completely functional until he padded to the kitchen and started the pot of coffee to perking on the stove. It was an unusual move for him, considering that he was clad in only the wet towel he'd used to dry himself. But he'd made sure it was securely wrapped around his waist and he really needed the hot beverage. He'd dressed quickly in semi-casual clothes and then
returned to the kitchen, drinking more coffee than he usually did but barely eating anything. Soon, too soon, it was time to go. He left the apartment and went down to the parking lot, consciously choosing to take the Mustang over the company car.

He arrived at the small house fairly quickly and was surprised by the silence that surrounded it. Knocking on the door, he found himself welcomed inside but was a bit surprised when Rona told him that her son was spending the day with his grandfather. Although it really was better that way.
"Thank you, Danny. This really wasn't something I wanted to do alone." She said as she led him back to the bedrooms.

The two worked quietly for a long time.  By unspoken agreement, much of the clothing went into the boxes that were earmarked for charity.  As they moved from the clothes and shoes to other things such as pictures and papers, the work slowed down. There seemed to be a story with nearly every picture and Rona needed to tell him each and every one. She also needed to hear about the Chinough she hadn't seen – the one who wore the uniform and the one that Danny was still getting to know. The man who had convinced him that bowling was actually a fun and enjoyable way to spend time.

So they talked as they worked, often stopping to share a laugh over a memory. At times, Danny stopped, offering Rona the needed shoulder to cry on. She had gone to the bathroom to wipe her face when he reached in to the closet and pulled out a large, manilla envelope. It felt too bumpy and bulky to be an envelope of papers so at first Danny was reluctant to open it. But then, he reasoned to himself that Rona had asked him over to help her and that meant that he'd do just that - not pick and choose just a couple of things that he thought would be 'safe'. He opened the clasp on the envelope just as Rona knelt beside him.

"Oh that," she whispered.

"What is it?"

"The hospital gave it to me...after."

A dreaded feeling filled him as he thought he knew what they were about to see. But he carefully emptied the envelope's contents onto the rug. There in front of them were the things that Chinough had carried with him the afternoon he was shot. He swallowed hard but the lump didn't leave his throat. If anything it grew until it also filled his chest. He watched as a slender finger reached down and snagged a large band of gold.

"Most of this can probably be thrown away. But this - this I'm going to put on a chain to wear until, one day, I can give it to our son."  Large, luminous eyes raised to meet Dan's blue ones. They were filled to overflowing again. "Oh Danny, I miss him so much!"

"I know, Rona. I know." He whispered as he took her into his arms.


***


Duke Lukela slowly pulled the car into the Palace parking lot. The sun had gone down not long ago but he was surprised to find that his was the only familiar vehicle there. Dan and Steve had both left early – well, on time to most people but early for the two detectives. To him, it was just further proof of how affected everyone had been over the last several days. He knew he felt
immeasurably older; Danny simply looked tired all the time; Steve – he appeared to be a shell of his normal self. So much so that it was almost unnerving. But Duke knew that he didn't see things `getting back to normal' anytime soon.

Resigned to his task, he got out of the car and walked into the Palace, pausing briefly to sign in at the security desk. That was another change/complication to life that disturbed him. The knowledge that people couldn't be trusted anymore even to the point of needing to sign in and out of certain buildings. What had happened to the simple world of his youth? He and Doris had talked many a time about the changes happening on the Islands and both had feared for their children as well as any future grandchildren. The `promise of tomorrow' seemed almost like a cluster of dark storm clouds. He sighed and turned, almost trudging up the large staircase. Maybe it was time for him to consider retirement. Spend those `golden years' with Doris while they still could.

He entered Five0's outer offices, feeling more of a chill than a homecoming. He wanted nothing more than to turn around and forget he was there. But the task had to be done and putting it off even longer wasn't going to make it easier to do. He turned to the supplies area and pulled a small box out of pile. Normally used to ship items when necessary, he knew the box would be a good size for cleaning out a desk, straightening up a cluttered life. Nearly resigned to the task, he turned towards the office that shouldn't now be empty and in need of cleaning.

He worked steadily albeit slowly for a while. The easiest things to clean up had been the general office supplies. They simply went in the cabinet as community property. But as with any parent, there were the various pieces of kid memorabilia hidden in the corners of several drawers. Like all the Five0 detectives, Duke felt very much like a Dutch uncle to Chin's large brood and he had his own memories of piece of art or other memento that he touched. Those went in the box along with the personal art pieces and other things Chin had kept in his office for so many years.

Opening the last drawer, Duke made quick work of most of the items but stopped when he saw a plastic box that looked like it could hold index cards. He picked it up a bit warily. Logically he knew that the container was too small to contain anything that could injure him but logic wasn't something that came into play this week. This week was being handled purely on an emotional level. He flipped open the lid and saw a folded piece of paper. He opened it, inhaling deeply
as he read the words.

If this has been found & is being read, then something has happened to prevent my return to the office. I've had a long career and a successful life with my family. Now I join my love and will be forever happy.

Please take the envelope under this paper and make sure it gets to my children. I've kept them close to me for many years. Now both will be theirs.

Chin Ho

Duke let the paper fall to the top of the desk and it took him several minutes to reach into the box and pull out the small envelope. Slowly he shook the contents into the palm of his hand and
couldn't stop the gasp. There lay both Chin's and Mai's wedding rings.
Duke gasped and reflexively clutched his fingers into a fist, not wanting to drop the gold bands. He sat there unmoving for several minutes fighting the tears that threatened to seep from his eyes.  Yes, he would definitely make sure these precious pieces of jewelry ended up in the kids' hands. He'd make sure to give them to Suzie early tomorrow so that they had the symbols of their parents' love and devotion to comfort them during the funeral.


***


Danny sat in a chair on his balcony staring vacantly out at the sky but not seeing the gentle rain as it fell. His face was pale, nearly sallow, and there were the beginnings of dark circles underneath eyes that drooped with exhaustion. His clothes - had anyone been around to look - were the same ones he'd had on the day before. But he was the only one there. The only one on the balcony. The only one in the apartment. Felt like the only one in the city. He felt so alone
as to almost be shivering with cold.

"Is that it? Is that the whole point?" His voice started in a whisper but grew a little stronger and louder with the second question. "Is the point of all of this to make realize that I'm supposed to be alone my whole life?"

Danny's hands closed into fists and one fist pounded his thigh in anger. Stiffly he rose from the chair and took a step standing ramrod straight.

"Is that it? Is that the lesson I'm supposed to learn in all of this? Or is it just some joke on your part? Give me a taste of what it's like and then rip it out because that's not what is in the cards
for Danny Williams!"

"Danno." The voice behind him was firm and authoritative - everything he was used to hear and nothing he wanted to obey at the moment.

"What do you want? How did you even get IN here?"

A long fingered hand reached out and grasped the upper part of Dan's arm. "Come on. You need to come inside before you get all wet."

"What are you? My mother?? No, you'd have to be my father. Or maybe..."

"Stop, Danno."

He was gently pulled off the balcony and into the living room of his apartment. It barely registered with his brain that his uninvited visitor was somewhat wrinkling his nose and raising an eyebrow at the lack of cleanliness. It was extreme especially for Dan who was usually fastidously neat. But he just didn't seem to want or have the energy to straighten anything up anymore.

"What's this?"

"Huh?"

"What's in your hand, Danno?"

The voice had grown softer, almost gentle. The tone sounded strange coming from someone he wasn't used to hearing it from. It confused him and made him unable to answer quickly.

"Um..."

Fingers pried his own loose and took the small, black box from his hand. He watched, almost disembodied, as the cover was lifted off and the same fingers gently touched the shimmering object in side.

"Danno." This time the voice was nearly a compassionate whisper.

"I was....going to surprise her...trying to wait for that perfect moment, you know?" Tears finally spilled over the eyelids and down the face. He tried to turn, not wanting to let the other man see him fall apart. Instead he found himself awkwardly pulled into an embrace. It felt odd, having sympathy come from his boss. But that had been mostly what Steve had offered to Dan over the past week and he felt too powerless to do anything but accept what was offered.

"Oh God, Steve, why? Why did he have to kill Jane?"


On the Sixth Day of Christmas

A gleam could still be seen

Off the 6 bullets McGarrett would never forget

 

 

 

e

 

 

It seemed truly morbid if not downright odd. That thought had crossed Steve’s brain more than once over the years whenever he cleaned out his desk and had come upon the small remnants. Each time he briefly considered disposing of them but had never been able to do so. Every once in a while their number would grow and their hold on his heart would tighten infinitesimally. Now, as he cleaned out his desk for the final time, he came upon them again, nestled in their small box. He lowered himself heavily into his office chair, a finger lightly touching the cold steel as he eyed the tarnished gleam. Remnants were all that had ever remained but still they were remnants that had, in some way, changed his life each time.

 

His finger isolated the most tarnished ones. The three bullets that had been pumped into him on the beach that morning so long ago when he’d been jogging. He’d thought for sure that he would have died that day but his stubbornness wouldn’t let that happen. He’d fought, survived and recovered. Not without scars – both physical and otherwise. The physical ones he’d pushed out of his mind like he always did. The other ones had been harder to beat – especially the first time he’d returned to that strip of beach. He shuddered, not really wanting to dwell on that particular memory.

 

His mind leaped ahead as he fingered the shell pieces. Unbidden, he thought about the fragments he didn’t have. He’d tried to get them but Doc Bergman had never understood his peculiar need and insisted that the bullet had little impact on McGarrett directly. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Steve had known from the onset of hearing the verbal report over the radio that without the presence of Officer Olena and his sniper rifle that McGarrett’s own life would have inexorably altered that day if the young Hawaiian had not succeeded in killing the man that his second-in-command had been fighting with. To have lost Danno then…

 

McGarrett shook his head, physically trying to rid himself of the mental picture he conjured up whenever he thought of that afternoon. The image faded but was replaced with a different one – a verbal memory this time as he stared down at the box’s contents. ‘Steve…. I missed.’ The words had been so simple yet the impact they’d had on McGarrett that afternoon as he’d stared up the hillside had been the same as if all of Diamond Head had come crashing down on him. He shook his head even more firmly.

 

“No more,” he muttered as slammed the box down on top of his desk. Determined to finish his task with no more horrific trips down memory lane, he reached down and opened another desk drawer but his eyes were yet again drawn to the box. The last shell – the one that ultimately changed his life in so many ways. The memory of rushing out to his lanai that morning was as fresh now as it had been then. The sight of the body of his detective tossed much like a rag doll onto the pavement had been burned into his memory in a way that never allowed him to forget. Ultimately they’d exacted payment for the murder of Chin Ho but the cost of that day had proven too much.

 

He’d changed after losing the Oriental detective, changed in ways that both he and others had issues dealing with. His relationship with both Duke and Danny had been irrevocably altered then. He never knew for sure but had always believed that Chin’s loss had been the catalyst that eventually led to Dan’s departure. He knew it had ultimately hastened Duke’s retirement – that and a need to spend more time with his wife. Ultimately McGarrett had shouldered on alone with a new team until now. Now he would join Duke in the land of relaxation – if, of course he ever finished this task.

 

He eyed the box yet again. In a gesture of definitely putting the past behind him, he knew he needed to get rid of them this time. But yet again, it was something he just could not do. Without stopping to think, he hurriedly put the cover back on the small box and almost savagely threw it into the larger box he had wanted to take with him when he finally left the Palace. Later…he’d consider it later.

 

 

On the Seventh Day of Christmas

Frustration grew abound

All because of 7 dead-ends....

 

 

e

 

 

He ran as fast and as hard as he could, turning corners, trying to move unexpectedly. But he was getting into an area of Honolulu that he wasn’t familiar with and why did he have to pick what had to be the hottest day of the year to do this? Sweat dripped down his hairline. The back of his shirt was soaked. Yet still he ran. His hope was to reach an area where he could meld into the tourists and others who were on the street. He knew he didn’t dare turn around since it would cost him precious seconds and steps. But in his mind he could hear the footsteps of the one who chased him and those steps thundered ever closer. He turned a tight corner at a nearby building, nearly tripping over a pile of boxes that lay haphazardly near a dumpster. Not looking ahead, he concentrated only on his own steps and breathing. He was going to make it; he was going to get away. He could no longer hear the footsteps chasing him. He looked up finally to decide on his next turn and stared, mortified at the high fence in front of him. He slowed quickly, coming to a near-frantic stop. Looked to his left and saw only a building with no visible door that he could slip in to. To his right was dumpster that was filled to rim and radiated a stench that made him want to shrivel up. Looking up he thought for a brief moment that he was safe, that he could simply climb the fence. Suddenly he heard cold click behind him of a gun being cocked.

 

“Freeze, Keona! You can’t go anywhere and you know it!”

 

Five0’s newest detective, Ben Kokua, had been the one to give chase and was first to corner the young man. Keona Kilua was wanted for questioning on several minor charges – the kinds of crimes, unfortunately, that most young men who had too much time, too little money and too little education behind them were beginning to commit. Keona was the newest one to graduate to the proverbial big leagues and was now headed towards spending many years as a guest of the state of Hawaii.

 

“Hands on the fence and spread ‘em. You’ve reached your own dead end here.”

 

Ben stepped up and clicked the handcuffs in place on the young wrists.

 

 

***

 

 

Tempted to simply vent his frustration by breaking the door down, McGarrett managed to calm himself enough to use his key and open the door to his second- in-command’s home. He stepped inside the room that he’d spent as many hours in as he did at the office or in his home. Eyes that were nearly black in fury and worry focused on the surroundings in front of him and dismay overwhelmed him. Art that had once decorated the walls was flung everywhere; furniture was turned over and ripped apart or broken in pieces. Drawers were opened and spilled out. The normally tidy dwelling had been torn apart by someone who had obviously been looking for something.

 

He was jostled from behind as the lab technicians and other officers pushed by him in an effort to get inside the room and begin the investigation. McGarrett watched them swarm to the disarray much like flies at a garbage dump. He shook his head, knowing that for all the obvious evidence no significant clues would be found. Much like finding the Mustang’s fiery shell over the cliff, the destruction of Danny Williams’ home would end up being nothing more than another dead end in McGarrett’s desperate and fruitless search to find his second-in-command and friend. It was as if a large, black hole had simply swallowed him, leaving no trail in its wake.

 

 

***

 

The large, dark colored Mercury screeched to halt, tires squealing on the asphalt. The shocks on the vehicle were still bouncing as the doors opened and four dark suited men poured out, each straightening and immediately focusing their gazes on the beach in front of them.

 

“Let’s see what we’ve got, gentlemen.”

 

Almost in military precision, the four moved down to the sand area stopping where the crowd of bystanders and policemen surrounded the reason for the commotion. The murmurs grew to an audible level as the local beach crowd wondered at the presence of the State Police Unit.

 

“All right, folks. You need to disperse now. Come on, let us through. Gotta be something you should all be doing now.”

 

Gradually the crowd parted and then slowly backed off at the urging of the shorter, curly-haired man. As three of them surrounded the covered lump speaking quietly to the uniformed officers, the taller of the men knelt down and reached for a flap.

 

“Doc, know anything?”

 

“Not yet, Steve.”

 

He paused, obviously waiting for the detective to do his visual inspection. The cover was partially drawn back to reveal their victim. Pale face indicating that she was definitely a haole, the new arrival winced at the evident bruises and sallow complexion.

 

“Awfully young.”

 

“Yeah, my guess is this wasn’t an accident but I’ll know more later.”

“I want the full report as soon as you can, Doc.” There was a hard edge to the voice that didn’t surprise the other man. It was obvious that both were affected by the discovery. The end of the road had come far too soon for the body in front of them.

 

 

***

 

Ben groaned, frustrated with himself and the situation. Pressing the brake pedal with more ease than he felt inside, he allowed the LTD to roll to a stop. He couldn’t understand where he’d gone wrong. Temper getting the better of him, he balled up the paper that had been in his hand the entire time he was drive and flung it down onto the seat next to him. Then he opened the car door and got it, venting his emotion by slamming the door closed with all of his strength. He heard the lock click into place loudly but even that offered him no satisfaction.

 

He paced around the car, frustrated with himself beyond measure. He’d followed the directions to the letter yet still. Looking up in abject annoyance, Ben glared a few feet ahead of him at the dead end in the road.

 

 

***

 

 

Steve sat at his desk, pouring over the files of information he’d compiled. He’d been much like a caged tiger for the last several days. To such a point where now even Danno was avoiding being in the same room with him. He knew that he was walking a dangerously line this time – just steps away from crossing the line of dedicated law enforcement professional to obsessed. He couldn’t help or stop it. He knew, KNEW that somewhere in these papers was the proof he needed to finally nail his nemesis. His detectives, his friend might not believe him at the moment but he’d prove it to them. He would and then they would all see what he had known all along. Rubbing at his tired eyes, he turned his attention back to the file, intently studying the information.

 

He was still reading by the light of just his desk lamp when the door to his office suddenly opened. He jerked his head up, eyes trying to focus on the darkly shadowed figure that entered. The figure was almost at the edge of his desk when he finally recognized his second-in-command – a man he thought had left the office hours ago with the others.

 

“What’s going on, Danno?”

 

“I’ve been rechecking all of the reports and information we have on that drug ring. Went out and talked to some of my guys on the street.”

 

McGarrett could stop himself from being touched at the revelation. Danno hadn’t deserted him after all! Although from the somber expression in the younger man’s eyes, Steve knew that he was not going to like what he’d come to say.

“I’m sorry, Steve. I can’t manufacture a connection no matter how hard I try. We’ve reached a dead end here. There’s just no link between those drug pushers at the school and the Chicken.”

 

***

 

Steve stood in the back of the courtroom. He listened to the testimony, even provided his own. Had seen the looks and tears of the innocent, the duped. He’d heard the ‘expert’ accounts given by those whose judgment he severely questioned. His job was done in this case. Now all that remained was for him to relax as the judge read the verdict and, hopefully, imposed a sentence on the accused. He’d done the best he could with what he’d been given, worked hard as always – committed to the final goal. Strange how it was all out of his control now.

 

The judge entered the room and the defendant was requested to rise. Distinctly, solemnly the charges were read and the verdict delivered. There was a low hum of a buzz around the room before the audience was gaveled to silence and threatened with eviction. Just as seriously, the man in the black robe stared at the defendant and then passed sentence. Sheriff’s deputies stood on either side of the table to take her into custody and beginning the procession that would make her a guest of the State of California. The crowd began to exit the room, most ignoring him. Save for one, whose eyes fixated on his, conveying emotion and a message that he understood but did not want to accept.

 

Even though he could leave, Steve remained standing in the back of the courtroom. This position was as familiar to him as sitting in an office was to so many. He needed to leave, to drive to the airport and return home to his Islands. But he couldn’t move. The expression on his sister’s face as she’d left the courtroom would remain with him, undoubtedly haunt him for a long time. He’d done his duty and seen that justice was delivered, but the price was high this time. For this time, the cost had been his relationship with his only living, immediate family member. He knew from the look on her face that the brother-sister relationship the two had experienced for decades was now at a dead end.

 

***

 

There was a knock on his closed office door. Steve heard it but didn’t want to acknowledge it. The knock, to him, had an ominous sound, a foreboding that he would have rather avoided instead of face. He ended up not needing to say a word. The door opened a minute later and the white-haired man entered the room, carrying with him two mugs of coffee.

 

“Good morning, Steve.”

 

For a few seconds McGarrett was catapulted back in time to when neither of them were as old as they were now. To when the man before him still proudly wore the HPD uniform. To when it wasn’t just the two of them with an office-full of strangers, kids really. When letting go of what was now a legacy wasn’t as important as locking up the bad guys.

 

“Duke.”

Steve reached for the mug that the detective handed him before rising and heading out of the open door onto the lanai. Duke followed him out, sipping at his coffee.

 

“Looks like another one of those quintessentially perfect Hawaiian mornings.”

 

“Yeah, all peaceful and quiet. Too bad it never stays that way.”

 

Steve glanced towards the other man. He abhorred waiting especially when waiting for something that would so significantly change his life. “Well?”

 

“I’ve made my decision, Steve. Doris and I talked and…well…I’m retiring from Five0 at the end of the year.”

 

McGarrett nodded his head. He couldn’t say he hadn’t expected the decision but expecting it and liking or even easily accepting it were very different things. He didn’t say anything in reply to the news. Really, he had no idea what to say and he’d never been one to offer empty platitudes. Why start now?

 

Duke knew him well enough to know that the boss would need some space so he quietly left the lanai and returned to his own office. There was a lot he wanted to get completed before the end of the month. He didn’t want to leave anything unfinished.

 

McGarrett remained on the lanai for a long time, letting the mug of coffee go cold in his fingers. His thoughts were occupied with this final departure – the end of the road for his original vision for Five0. A road that would dead end for himself shortly after it did for Duke.

 

On the Eighth day of Christmas

More memories could be made

Thanks to 8 pints of blood

 

e

 

 

Steve paced the hallway. He knew what he’d been told – more than once. But it just wasn’t something he could do at the moment. Too much was hanging in the balance; waiting for news from the operating room. Nervous energy flowed through him. If anyone looked closely enough, the air probably crackled with electricity. Intermittently he glanced up in the direction of the closed doors. He wanted to revert to his norm – to burst in and demand answers, obtaining the guarantee he desperately needed to hear.

 

Logically he knew that it was bad this time. He’d heard an undercurrent of apprehension in Doc’s voice that he hadn’t remembered hearing before. But then he hadn’t really needed medical personnel to confirm what his heart already knew. Someone who lost as much blood as Danno had before they’d been able to get to him…

 

NO! He couldn’t and wouldn’t think about the possibilities. There wasn’t a realm of a chance that he was going to have to live through such a loss. Not today. Not for a long time. His pacing slowed and then stopped. Gradually he let himself lean against the wall, fixing a pointed stare on the doors through which the news would come.

 

 

***

 

The doors opened, admitting a very tired looking Dr. Bergman into the hall. He moved slowly, like someone who desperately wanted to avoid something as he reached up to removed the green cap from his head. He walked over to stand in front of McGarrett.

 

“Well Doc?” His voice croaked, surprising both men.

 

“Why don’t we go sit down, Steve?” the doctor suggested, too gently for the cop’s liking.

 

“Just tell me already!”

 

Bergman fingered the cap he still held, a little too uneasy for McGarrett. “It was touch and go for a while. For too long actually. Thought we were going to lose him in there. Nearly did. But Danny’s a fighter, Steve and he pulled through this one too.”

 

Bergman paused to allow the words to sink in to the Irish cop’s brain. He wanted the news delivered and understood before the warning. He saw the man sigh in obvious relief.

“Now, Steve, that doesn’t mean that Danny isn’t going to need some down time for this. He needs quiet and the chance to rest and recover.”

 

“He’ll get it! I guarantee it, Doc! Now I want to see him.”

 

The quick change in the man’s demeanor didn’t surprise the doctor. He would have been more shocked to not see it. He smiled just a bit. McGarrett hadn’t asked for specifics but that was not unusual. He’d heard the news and now would not be satisfied until he set eyes on his second-in-command. The cost this time had almost been too high of a price. Later Bergman would need to give McGarrett the details and reveal how they had needed eight pints of blood to save the life of the young detective.

 

 

On the Ninth day of Christmas

The phone call finally came

After 9 way too long months

 

e

 

 

The moon was shining brightly, nearly like a street lamp, when Steve finally pulled the large Mercury into its parking spot and turned off the motor. Some days were just too long and made him question why he even did what he did for a living. It wasn’t like he had to work for day-to-day survival. He’d been in the military long enough and had bounced from place to place enough that living frugally was second nature. He had also been careful with his pay from his very first job onward. Money had been scarce growing up in New York. So much so that Steve had vowed at an early age to never be in that situation again. Since it had just been him alone for most of his life he’d carefully invested as much of his salary as was feasibly possible. Now he’d reached the point where continued frugal living would have enabled him to quit and just enjoy the pleasures of his adopted island home. But that would also have been against his very nature. He needed to be busy and involved in something important. So he’d agreed to head the elite state police unit and had driven himself as hard as he ever had before. Still continued to push himself and also the men under him. But they obtained results – and they locked up the scum that threatened his islands.

 

Getting out of the car he made his way up the stairs and to his apartment door. Letting himself in, he went about his traditional nightly routine despite the fact that it was after eleven. Only after he’d opened the lanai door to let a breeze in, ate a small snack and got everything that he could ready for the next day could he head into his bedroom and prepare for sleep. He always had been a creature of habit and was definitely too set in his ways to change now.

 

 

***

 

A distant ringing penetrated his consciousness, only succeeding in slightly rousing him. Blinking an eye, he barely noticed that it was still dark around him. Definitely not time to get up yet. The irritant noise stopped and he was able to slide back into sleep.

 

The ringing was back. This time it wouldn’t stop. McGarrett managed to get an eye open – still dark out. Who in the world…whoever it was would soon know that he was not very happy. He reached out and snagged the receiver, raising it to the side of his face. It was not even four in the morning. Surely nothing could have happened that necessitated disturbing him.

 

“McGarrett.” His tone conveyed only a fraction of the annoyance he felt.

 

“Steve, finally. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to reach you.”

 

The voice was familiar but not something he was able to instantly place.

 

“It’s time, Steve. We’re here…or rather, we’ve been here for a couple of hours now. I’m not sure what’s happening because they aren’t telling me much but I know that it’s time.”

 

Finally recognition clicked and a name was attached to the voice.

 

“Tom??”

 

As if his query wasn’t even heard, the voice on the phone babbled on. “Today, Steve, sometime today our baby will be here and you’ll be an uncle.”

 

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

The walls were closing in cuz of

10 feet that felt more like inches

 

 

e

 

 

October 1968

 

The noise that came when metal connected to metal and the lock slammed into place had been more than a little disconcerting.  It had taken all of his will power and self-control to remain with his back turned and not jump in fear when he heard it.  Now, several hours later, he still felt the same.  Could barely look up and see the view through the steel bars.  He was still dressed in the pants and shirt he’d worn to work this morning.  If he had known what the attorney general had planned.  No, that wouldn’t have changed any of his decisions and he didn’t think that he’d want to know.  It was just – well, he’d never been locked up before.

 

Ok, wrong terminology.  Technically he wasn’t ‘in jail’; he was just in the lockup at HPD.  But that – he knew most of these guys so this was bad enough in its own way.  Of course he’d be safer here.  Logically he knew that.  He hadn’t put any of these guys away so none of them had a grudge against him.  Well, as far as he knew, they didn’t. 

 

He got up and walked the small space between wall and bars.  He’d been in little areas before.  So why in the world was he as jumpy as he was?  In truth, he knew he’d been like this since Kono left.  Kono had arrived bearing food – take-out.  And the officers on duty had looked the other way and not said a word.  Kono had stayed and talked while Dan had virtually wolfed down the container’s contents.  After some initial reluctance, he realized how hungry he really was.  Kono had talked of the investigation – going over details with him for what must have been the millionth time.  At this point, he didn’t know what they were looking for or what angle they were looking at.  He had come so close to ranting and raving, much like a lunatic.  But had managed to hold his tongue.  Right before he left, Kono had stared silently at him.  It had felt as if his Hawaiian friend was seeing through to his very soul. 

 

“Relax, Danno.  The boss be actin’ like a rabid an’ caged animal over this.  He gunna solve this in no time and you be outta here.”

 

“That so?”

 

“You?  Questioning McGarrett?”  The Hawaiian detective’s eyes had narrowed as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  “Not like you, Bruddah.”

 

“I’m not questioning him, Kono!  It’s just…” Danny exhaled loudly.  He really did have faith that he’d be proven innocent in this so what was his problem?  “It’s not like I’ve been on the team as long as you or Chin!”

 

“Dat doesn’t matter with da boss and you know that!”  Kono glanced down the hall and noticed that the officers were getting antsy about how long he’d been in there.  He knew they were breaking the rules by letting him in anyway and he really didn’t want to get them, or either Danny or himself, in trouble.  “Listen, I gotta go, man.  But you think about what you know before you let dat imagination of yours run away like it is, ok?”

 

The large Hawaiian detective was gone before Danny could reply but his words had stayed with the younger man.  He’d wanted to pace.  The repetitive movement helped him to think clearly.  He gasped quietly as the realization hit him.  He’d never been a ‘pacer’ until he started working for Five0.  He bet that if he sat down to think about it there were a lot of newer habits that he’d picked up during the hours he spent with McGarrett.

 

He sat there on the cot silently, letting his head fall back against the wall.  The ultimate question in the mess still pounded in his brain.  He trusted McGarrett – didn’t he?  Danny was still as he pondered the thought.  What he’d told Kono was true – he really hadn’t been in Five0 that long in comparison to the rest of them.  But Steve certainly had seemed to take him under his wing.  Except of course for the scene at the rooming house.  When everyone realized that the kid had been shot. 

 

‘But I wouldn’t have expected him to act anyway else.  To do so would have meant that he wasn’t being Steve.’

 

Danny gave a small nod of his head.  He’d known the answer all along but, as usual, had needed to think it through on his own to confirm the reasoning.  He trusted McGarrett; had trusted the man from the first time he’d met him.  Just because Steve had been cross with him at the scenes wasn’t reason enough to doubt the man now.  Danny knew that being locked up was only temporary. Steve was out there undoubtedly working like a bulldog to secure his release.  Danny just had to sit tight and wait.  It would only be a matter of time.

 

 

 

January 1977

 

 

He was a man of volcanic emotions – had been for all of his adult life.  But from early on he’d learned the value of hiding them beneath the surface.  Burying them so deep that few believed he even possessed any at times.  A select few understood and knew how to read him well.  He wasn’t quite sure if it had been a blessing or a curse that the one who was closest was standing next to him as the handcuffs were placed around his wrists and clicked shut.  He knew that Danno had seen the tight fist he’d made.  There wasn’t any way he could have not seen it. 

 

He’d been both relieved and apprehensive when the LTD had screeched into the driveway.  Considering it was Williams’ day off, Steve had been surprised that he wasn’t driving the Mustang.  Of course if he had been then he would never have known about the police report – until after.  McGarrett had no doubt that Williams had checked in with some of his sources at HPD while on his way over to the beach house.  The way Danny talked – it was almost as if he’d already been briefed on the inner workings of the investigation.  Chick had included Danny in on some parts of the search for evidence.  But Steve had gotten the uncomfortable feeling that he was doing it more to solidify his case rather than sharing actual information. 

 

Antsy as ever, McGarrett was now in a holding cell at HPD.  He knew they had quite a lot of evidence against him.  Even if most of it seemed highly circumstantial he had a feeling that a grand jury would easily indict when presented with it.  He knew he’d been framed.  Felt it in his bones.  Yet he could do nothing about it.  At least not until a judge decided on a bail amount and then he’d try to get the money together.  He hadn’t made his phone call yet.  Having saved it for once he knew.  He’d have to call his sister – get her to organize the funds he needed on her end. 

 

He couldn’t help but wonder what was happening at the Palace.  He had no doubt that Danny had foregone the rest of his day off to head over there but to do what – McGarrett wasn’t sure.  As his second-in-command, Williams was responsible for Five0 whenever the boss was unavailable.  They had a number of open investigations on the table as it was.  The last thing that any of his team needed was to do damage control with the vultures of Hawaiian media, but he’d be willing to bet that was what they were doing.  The television reporters would be all over this story like flies to a garbage can on a hot day.  The newspaper guys would cover it but he had a feeling they would not be as prone to sensationalizing it as their counterparts.  The print guys had known McGarrett longer and somewhat better than the TV people.  Those guys tended to stick around in their jobs longer.  He shook his head, feeling a certain amount of pity for what Williams was facing.

 

Anxiety reaching a peak, McGarrett pushed himself away from the wall he’d been leaning against to pace the small space.  He hated being at the mercy of others.  Not being in control of his own destiny.  Cathy – a woman he’d been growing to care a lot about – had been murdered because of him.  He was sure of that.  But locked in this cell he could do nothing to bring her killer to justice or vindicate himself.  He was stuck waiting for others to make their moves and then his would be a reactionary one.  Something he abhorred.  He needed to be out there doing what he knew how to do best.  Not stuck in this…this….claustrophobia reared its ugly head momentarily as he finally allowed himself to consciously think about the small size of the cell.  It only took about ten steps for him to cover the entire distance.  He hated this.  Hated leaving his future, his freedom, his life in the hands of others.  Even if one of those others was Danno.

 

 

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

The news did finally come

11 hours after the initial call

 

 

e

 

Frustrated. Tired.  Cranky. Grouchy.    All of those words easily fit the Five0 chief for most of the day.  Not that any of his detectives would ever have voiced them.  No.  They all knew better.  But that didn’t mean that they didn’t think them.  Or maybe whisper them when they managed to escape for lunch.  He was sure that the secretaries were all also cowering in fear in the outer office.  As the minutes ticked by, no one was willing to disturb him.  He wasn’t surprised.  He knew quite well that he’d been acting like a bear with a hurt paw for most of the day.  Knew why too.  But that didn’t make it easier to stop the behavior.  No – only one thing would easily stop his grouchy behavior.  All that had to happen was for the silly black phone on his desk to ring and for the voice on the other end to deliver its news.  Then he’d be perfectly happy and back to his normal, calm and pleasant self.  (oh who was HE kidding!)

 

Shoving the chair back, Steve pushed himself out of it and went to stand in the doorway leading out to the lanai.  He ran a hand through his hair and silently bemoaned his inability to concentrate.  Belatedly he realized that he wasn’t alone in the room.  He wondered when his second-in-command had entered and exactly how long he’d been talking to him.

 

“…eve…Steve…Did you hear me, Steve?”

 

“What, Danno?  No, I’m afraid not.”  Although he hated to admit it, he knew doing so was easier than trying to hold a conversation when he didn’t even know what the topic was. 

 

McGarrett hoped that Williams would just return to whatever business had brought him into his boss’ office.  He should have known better.  An inquisitive, quintessential ‘people person’ by nature, Williams was one of the few who had no trouble reading the boss.  McGarrett turned his head and wasn’t surprised to find a pair of warm, blue eyes assessing him. 

 

“What’s wrong, Steve?”

 

McGarrett automatically began to shake his head.

 

“Don’t tell me nothing.  You’ve been like a caged lion for most of the day.  While I know the cases we’ve got going are important, I don’t think any have reached the status of being able to keep you up all night.”

 

Unbidden a sarcastic retort rose to his lips, but before he could voice the words his phone buzzed, interrupting them. 

 

“Want me to get that?”

 

“I’ve got it, Danno.”

 

He stepped back to his desk and looked at the flashing light, noting that it was his private line ringing.  He reached for the handset and paused, fingers flexing momentarily.  The phone continued to buzz and finally Danny’s hand reached over, pushing McGarrett’s out of the way and picking up the handset. 

 

“Five0, Williams.”

 

He listened for several seconds.  It was easy to tell from the expressions on Dan’s face that he was having trouble either hearing or understanding the person on the other end of the phone. 

 

“Hold on please.”

 

He lowered the handset from the side of his face, firmly pressing his palm over the transmitter before looking at his boss. 

 

“A guy – wants to talk to you Steve.  But it’s staticy and hard to understand him.  Think I need to get the call traced?”

 

“No, no.  I know who it is, Danno.”  McGarrett reached for the phone and took the instrument for the younger man’s hand. 

 

“Yeah…McGarrett.”  He listened for a few seconds and then audibly exhaled.  Danny could see some of the tension leaving the muscles in the breath.  “What took so long, Tom?”

McGarrett gave a slight shake of his head.  “Yeah, I guess… So what happened?”

 

There was silence for a few moments and Danny watched nearly unbelieving as a slow but genuine smile appeared over the boss’ face.

 

“Really?  Great!  Yeah, I will, Tom.”

 

Danny watched in awe as McGarrett’s smile got even bigger.  “Great – I’ll look forward to seeing those!  Bye, Tom.”

 

Steve hung up the phone but the smile remained.  Finally Danny had to ask if everything was ok.

The boss looked up, almost as if he was surprised to find the young man still in the room with him. 

 

“Yeah.  Yeah, Danno.  Everything’s fine.  That was Tom, my sister’s husband.  I’m an uncle.”

 

 

 

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

We take time to say ‘Mahalo’

For 12 seasons of a show we love.

 

e

 

 

Twelve seasons – by any standards, that’s a long time.  In that time period, children grew to their teenage years or young adulthood, some of us got married and began families while others raised theirs.  Yet through it all, every week many were inexorably drawn to their television sets to jealously eye the beautiful native scenery and settings, to attempt to solve the mysteries with the characters and to hear the catch phrase ‘Book ‘em, Danno’.  But what made the show different from the numerous other police shows that virtually flooded the networks in the seventies?

 

Chemistry and appeal.  You can have the most talented individuals in front of and behind the cameras or the best sets or dialogue and storylines that are out of this world.  But if there isn’t some sort of chemistry between the actors and there isn’t that indefinable ‘something’ in the way they portray the characters that just grabs the audience then none of what is there will matter and the show will flop.  Five0 had it – in abundance.  (at least for eleven of the twelve seasons)

 

Steve, Danny, Chin Ho, Kono, Ben and Duke – even Jenny & Mai, the governor and the DA.  We cared about what happened to them and around them.  We watched to see how they all reacted when one of their group was hurt or in trouble and we cheered when everyone rallied around that character.

 

The show lives on today in fandom because of the fascinating stories created by Leonard Freeman and the incredible portrayals of the characters by the actors.  It probably also helps that many of the actors embraced the fans with a degree of the same affection that they received.  So mahalo to the Freemans, Lords, MacArthurs and everyone else involved in the creation of a show that not only brought them together, but brought all of us together as well.

 

***

 

Steve McGarrett looked around the office that had been his for so many years.  With all of the personal belongings packed and loaded into his car, the room seemed little more than a place of work and not the place that had become his second home.  He thought back to all of the men he had worked with throughout the years.  His team, his friends.  He’d never really told any of them how he felt.  Now they were all gone and soon he would be as well.  But first, there was one last thing he needed to do.  He walked into the outer offices, staring for a minute at the secretary’s desk –

 

To Jenny and May – for putting up with him in the early years and being friend and caregiver to both him and his team. 

 

He glanced over at the row of small offices.

 

Kono – the large Hawaiian with the even bigger heart and a homespun wisdom that had been the perfect foil for his own hard-nose logic.

 

Ben – the Samoan officer with a firecracker temper and a streak of loyalty that flared whenever someone close to him was in trouble.

 

Chin Ho – the gentle Oriental with a brood of kids who had done their parents (not to mention their dutch uncles) proud.  The Oriental’s gentle and wise counsel was something McGarrett had missed the last several years.

 

Duke – the native son; Steve had relied for so long on his precise investigative skills and concise presentation abilities. 

 

Danny – the man who had been his second-in-command for so long that Steve could never see anyone else in the role after he was no longer there.  The loss was still an open and painful wound.  Steve knew he would always miss the young man who was more of a brother and less than just another cop for a multitude of reasons.

 

Sighing, McGarrett ducked back into his own office.  New beginnings begotten from sad farewells.  He was glad he was alone for this final one.  Reaching out he found the switch on the wall and clicked it, bathing the room in darkness.

 

“Aloha,” he whispered.

 

 

Pau