MELE KALIKIMAKA

by Jackie Edwards

Dan Williams regarded the man that walked beside him in the airport terminal. Steve McGarrett, head of the special police unit, Hawaii 5-0 and Dan's closest friend, had driven his second in command to the airport the day before Christmas Eve.

Dan was going to the mainland to visit Clara Williams, his only living relative. He tried to meet her at whatever theatre his aunt and her acting company were appearing. He'd spent Christmas in Egypt, Paris and London, to name a few. However, this year she wasn't in a play and had convinced her nephew to visit her on the mainland for the holidays.

He stole a glance at Steve as they walked toward Williams' gate. There was a forced cheerfulness about him that Danno didn't believe for a minute. All afternoon the day before at work, McGarrett had closeted himself in his office, door closed, not joining in the festivities until the very end. Then he'd delivered the obligatory Christmas speech, received the gift they'd all chipped in to buy him and thanked them. He'd given them all gift certificates to one of the Island's finest restaurants and left them to continue their party. Even for McGarrett, it had been an unusually short celebration. Williams thought Steve had been genuinely touched by their gift, a guitar he'd had his eye on for months. Still, there'd been an air of melancholy about him then, as there was now.

"What are you doing for Christmas, Steve?" Dan asked as they approached the waiting area for his flight.

"Oh, Chin asked me to spend the day with his family." McGarrett glanced at his friend, smiling briefly.

"That should be nice." Dan replied, knowing McGarrett wouldn't take the older detective up on his offer.

"Yeah," Steve nodded. "Well, looks like you're boarding, Danno."

McGarrett shook hands, then pulled Williams to him in a fierce hug.

"Mele Kalikimaka, Danno," he whispered.

"Mahalo. Same to you, Steve."

McGarrett clapped him on the back and Danny started for the entry tunnel.

"Have a good time, Danno," McGarrett called. "Give my best to Aunt Clara."

"Merry Christmas, Steve." Dan waved to his friend.

McGarrett raised a hand in a cheery salute, then turned and hurried from the airport. He wasn't good at putting on a false front, especially for Danno, and he wanted to get away from his friend and back to the solace of his apartment.

Driving slowly, almost aimlessly, to his apartment building, he went inside and changed into jogging shorts and set off at a steady run down the nearest strip of beach to his building. He tried to clear his mind to let the calming influence of the waves and sea birds soothe his depression away, but finally he stopped, panting and exhausted, his spirit in no better shape than it had been when he started.

"Dammit." Steve muttered, dropping onto the warm sand. "Dammit, anyway."

*****

The next day, Christmas Eve, McGarrett spent windsurfing. It was late afternoon by the time he admitted defeat.

"Face it, McGarrett," he snarled to himself as he showered and changed into slacks and a sport shirt. "You're alone and tomorrow is Christmas." He sighed. "You're probably going to be alone for all the Christmases to come because you're too wrapped up in your work and you'd be a pain in the ass to live with." He grinned ruefully. "Merry Christmas."

Steve went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of eggnog, courtesy of Chin's wife, who'd insisted that if he couldn't come to their house for Christmas (he'd told her he had another commitment), then at least he should have the proper trimmings of the season.

He glanced at his watch -- 4:30. Feeling an almost desperate void in the pit of his stomach, McGarrett went out to the living room and flipped on the television. He ran through the available programming, finding a variety of snowmen, reindeer and jolly Santas vying for his attention. Finally, he settled on a football game, though his attention wandered until he finally drifted off to sleep.

McGarrett didn't know how long he'd slept, but the ringing of the doorbell woke him with a jolt. He looked at his watch. 5:10.

"Who the hell...?" he wondered, getting up and going to the door. He opened it and stood gaping in the doorway.

"Can I come in?" Danny grinned at him.

His arms were laden with two shopping bags filled with brightly wrapped gifts and under one arm he carried a small, plastic Christmas tree and another bag filled with decorations.

Numbly McGarrett nodded, stepping aside to allow his friend to enter.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he finally demanded.

Williams set up the tree in the corner of the apartment, then stepped back to view his handiwork.

"Not bad. I've got some decoration in there." He pointed to the shopping bags. "I would have gotten us a real tree, but it's a little late. They were pretty picked over."

McGarrett came to stand beside him, still dazed. "I thought I put you on a plane to the mainland yesterday."

Williams grinned at him. "Aunt Clara and I talked it over, and we decided that we'd spend the holidays here this year. She hasn't been here for Christmas."

"You talked what over?" Steve asked suspiciously.

Danny pulled a string of brightly colored garland out of one of the bags and handed it to his friend.

"String that around the tree," he instructed, diving into the sack again. "Top to bottom."

Doing as he was told, McGarrett queried again. "You and your aunt discussed what?"

Knowing Steve wouldn't take much more without an explanation, Danno turned to face him. "We decided that we wouldn't have much of a Christmas thinking about you here alone," he said seriously.

Steve paused in his labors to peer over his shoulder. "But I told you---"

"That you were going to Chin's." Danno waved it away with a scoff. "Right."

Sheepishly McGarrett turned back to the tree. "How's that?" he asked.

Williams surveyed the blue and silver rope. "Great." He handed the cop a box of brightly colored ornaments. "Hang these."

They worked in silence for a few minutes, then Steve spoke. "Danno, I don't understand why you'd leave your Aunt alone over Christmas to spend it with me."

"First of all, I'm not leaving Aunt Clara alone." Danny told him. "We're picking her up at the airport at 8:30 tonight." He hurried on before McGarrett could respond. "And as for why I couldn't think of you alone on Christmas, it's because I care about you, Steve. You're the best friend I've ever had and I wanted to be with you on the best day of the year. You're a loner and I understand that, but sometimes we all need companionship . . ." He smiled slightly. ". . . even you." He shrugged his shoulders. "I love you, Steve. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy myself, knowing you were here by yourself."

McGarrett's eyes began to burn and he quickly turned back to the tree.

Finally all the decorations were in place and Danny turned on the lights. Steve had to admit that it was beautiful.

Williams knelt and began to put gifts under the tree.

"I brought back the presents you sent for me and Aunt Clara." He eyed his friend suspiciously. "You haven't opened yours, have you?"

"No." Steve started for the bedroom where he'd put the stack of presents the night before. He realized with a start that he hadn't given them another thought after the office party. 'You are getting stodgy, McGarrett.' he berated himself, returning with the packages.

"Well," Williams looked at the time. "We've just about got time for an eggnog before we go to pick up Aunt Clara."

"I'll get the glasses." McGarrett started for the kitchen.

Williams trailed after him. "I hope you don't mind, Steve." he said, hesitantly. "About us barging in on you like this." He shrugged. "Somehow it just didn't seem right for you to be alone again this year."

Steve smiled across the counter at his friend, eyes misting slightly. "No, Danno, I don't mind. In fact, I'm glad you're here." He busied himself longer than necessary with the drinks, then cleared his throat. "In fact, I had come to the same conclusion myself."

"What conclusion is that, Steve?" Williams allowed himself to be led back into the other room.

"That it was time I came down off my rock and joined the human race."

"Steve--" Dan protested, but McGarrett held up his hand.

"You know what I mean, Danno." He took a sip of eggnog and grinned. "You're right, I'm a loner, but there are times when that's a very bitter pill." He smiled, suddenly very grateful that he wasn't spending this Christmas alone. "Thanks."

Danny met the blue eyes and grinned.

"Mele Kalikimaka, Steve."

McGarrett touched the side of his glass to Dan's.

"Merry Christmas, Danno."