Chapter 6 - Never a Break
[send email feedback to Lady Oscar about this story]
While Governor Jameson and the various agency representatives discussed the proposed press release regarding the handling of the hijacking, Five-O’s head and second-in-command waited in the Governor’s outer office, Danny seated in one of the blue-upholstered chairs, Steve standing by the window.
“How long can they argue in there?” Danny asked, idly picking up the newspaper McGarrett had bought that morning. “You certainly called it about the picture of us on the airplane stairs making the front page.” He abruptly sat up. “Oh, no, they interviewed Mrs. Miller!”
“What’s wrong with that?” McGarrett asked, coming over to read over Danny’s shoulder. “Hmm, she thinks you were a hero and that the note you wrote ‘your girlfriend’ was an extremely romantic gesture. I have to agree with her on both counts. They even got your good side on that picture from the press conference,” he pointed out.
“Steve, it’s embarrassing!” Danny protested. “I don’t need the entire island reading about my....”
He was interrupted by the ringing of the receptionist’s phone. “Mr. McGarrett,” she called, “It’s Jenny at Five-O. She’s transferring a call for you here.”
“Thanks, love,” McGarrett said, reaching across the desk to take the receiver.
“Steve, Chin Ho here,” came the detective’s familiar voice.
“Chin—has something come up?”
“Two things, Steve. First, LAPD came back with IDs on our four hijackers from the photos and fingerprints we sent over.”
“Good, good. Who are they?” McGarrett asked.
“Three of them are citizens of Curaguay who were in California on student visas. The fourth guy, the one going by ‘Juan’—he’s an American. They say the four of them were friends at the University.” He gave McGarrett the names.
“Great,” Steve said. “Can you find out for me if Oliver Grant of Military Intelligence has interviewed our prisoners?”
“I can tell you that right now. He talked to the one who isn’t in the hospital, the American. And, Steve, I asked because of what you said this morning...Grant demanded to talk to the man alone, and the officers guarding him didn’t see any harm in it.”
“Thanks, Chin,” McGarrett said. “What was the other thing you wanted to tell me?”
“It’s good news! The pilot Carlton regained consciousness. I sent Kono over to interview him.”
“Good, good. Call me if anything interesting turns up,” McGarrett said, hanging up the phone. Turning to his partner he said, “That’s one thing, anyway. Carlton’s awake.”
“That’s great!” Danny exclaimed. “I’d like to go visit him when we’re done here, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, Danno. If I’m tied up here I’ll have someone drive you,” Steve said. He returned to pacing. “We’re missing just one more piece of the puzzle—what’s Grant’s connection to the hijackers’ plan?”
“Hopefully your friend in Washington will come through,” Danny said, picking up the newspaper again.
Twenty minutes later, the phone rang again. “Mr. McGarrett, it’s for you,” the receptionist said.
“McGarrett,” the head of Five-O snapped into the receiver.
“Steve, I have something for you,” said the familiar voice. “It’s not quite what you were looking for, but I think you’ll like it.”
“Give it to me,” McGarrett said.
“Grant doesn’t have any Communist ties I can find, but I assume you’re working on the hijacking? He has a connection to the hijackers’ country.”
“What’s the connection?” Steve asked, exchanging a hopeful look with Danny, who had come to stand by the desk.
“His wife was from Curaguay. She died five years ago, but they had a son together. Apparently the relationship was rocky. He and the wife were separated, but he took the son in after she died.”
“That’s very interesting,” Steve said. “What was the wife’s name?”
“Mercedes Lopez y Cruz. The son apparently refused to take his father’s name, so he’s Gary Lopez.”
McGarrett snapped his fingers. “Thanks, that’s exactly what I needed.”
“Glad to be of service. We still owe you,” said the voice.
McGarrett knocked briefly on the Governor’s door before entering, Danny in his wake.
“Steve, I’m sorry, we haven’t come to a solution yet.” The Governor looked harassed.
“I think I can help with that,” McGarrett said.
“I’ll try anything at this point,” Jameson declared.
The head of Five-O perched on the edge of the Governor’s desk and addressed Grant. “Colonel Grant, I would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Ask me questions?” the Colonel demanded indignantly.
“Really, McGarrett, this is going too far,” Simons protested.
Steve continued, “You don’t have to answer, of course, but you might prefer me to a general court martial.”
“A court martial! What is this nonsense?” Grant spluttered. “If you think you can throw up a smokescreen to distract us from your own misconduct, it won’t work.”
“My own misconduct.” Steve smiled wryly. “Mr. Grant, did you conduct an interview with the hijacker who used the alias ‘Juan Volver’?”
“Yes, of course. It was my duty to investigate the situation!” the Intelligence officer declared.
McGarrett continued, “Did you ask that the HPD officers guarding the prisoner wait outside, and that no record be made of the interview?”
“I wanted to put the man at his ease. I was in no danger from him,” Grant explained.
“What was the result of your interview?” Steve asked.
“What do you mean?” Grant looked puzzled.
“Well, did he tell you anything about the hijackers’ plans?”
“No, he refused to talk.”
“He told you nothing of value?” McGarrett asked, raising his eyebrows.
“No, but you can hardly expect revolutionaries to be willing to betray their cause!” Grant said.
Steve stood and circled behind Grant’s chair. “Earlier this morning in this room you said, ‘After they picked up the troops and pilot from Wo Fat’s ship they would have left the hostages.’ On what did you base that statement?”
“My experience in dealing with this sort of situation,” Grant said, trying to turn to look over his shoulder. “What use would the passengers have been to the hijackers then? Even the pilot would have been unnecessary.”
“But if the man we have in custody didn’t tell you, how did you know they were planning to pick up troops and a pilot?” McGarrett moved to stand in front of Grant’s chair, looming over the embattled agent. “None of the witnesses reported the hijackers on the plane saying anything about it.”
“I...I didn’t know, I just...assumed that would be the case. I mean...wouldn’t that be a logical plan?” Grant protested.
“No. No, you knew. Tell me, Colonel Grant, had you ever seen the hijacker ‘Juan’ before yesterday?”
“No, of course not,” Grant said.
The Governor interrupted. “Where are you going with this, Steve?”
“I’ll get there soon,” McGarrett assured him, resuming his perch on the edge of the desk and continuing his line of questioning. “Colonel Grant, your late wife—I believe she was from Curaguay?”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything!” Grant protested.
“Her name, before she married you, was Mercedes Lopez y Cruz, wasn’t it?” Steve asked.
“Leave my wife out of this!” Grant shouted.
“Was that her name?” McGarrett asked mildly.
“Yes! That was her name!”
“Would you be surprised to learn that the hijacker ‘Juan’s’ real name was Gary Lopez, an American citizen?” the head of Five-O continued.
“What of it? Lopez is a common name!” Grant had gone pale.
“Perhaps. But according to my source, that name ‘Gary Lopez’ just happens to be the name of your son.” Steve was on his feet again, standing over Grant. “So, Colonel, how was it? Did you conspire with Wo Fat to hijack that airplane?”
“No! No, please, you have to believe me! I had no idea they were going to do anything like that!” Grant protested, panic in his voice. He looked desperately at the other men in the room, finding no help there. The Governor looked shocked, Simons deeply unhappy, and Carstairs and Harkness impassive. Danny was glaring at him.
“You knew their plan. It would be very convenient for Wo Fat to have someone on the inside,” McGarrett suggested.
“No! I have nothing to do with Wo Fat!” Grant said, looking up at McGarrett. “I knew my son had gotten involved with some revolutionaries from my wife’s country. I didn’t approve, but she had poisoned him against me and he wouldn’t listen. When I heard the news of the hijacking I recognized the sketch of the lead hijacker as one of my son’s friends, who he’d brought home over Christmas last year. I couldn’t reach my son, and I was terrified that he had done something terrible. I...I guess I was right.” He looked down at his clasped hands. “When I saw his picture in the paper I knew I had to do something to help him. If he’d grown up with a father, in a proper home...anyway, when the report came in that Santiago wanted the hijackers cast as tragic victims, I knew I had my chance. I convinced Simons, Carstairs, and Harkness to talk to their agencies and recommend that as the party line.” He gave a short laugh. “I have to say, it wasn’t hard. You didn’t exactly make any friends there.”
“So you decided to sacrifice me, Williams, Five-O, and justice for your son?” McGarrett demanded angrily.
“It would all have worked, if it weren’t for you!” Grant exclaimed. “I would have done my best to see that you didn’t suffer any permanent harm!”
“And what about justice?” McGarrett snapped.
“Mr. McGarrett, do you have any children?” Grant asked.
“No,” Steve said flatly.
“If you did, you’d understand. I’d have done anything for my son, anything. He was such a sweet little boy....” Grant buried his face in his hands, sobbing.
“Mr. Grant, if you cooperate fully and the facts we can ascertain corroborate your story, I think it’s possible, only possible, mind you, that in the interests of secrecy your bosses will give you a quiet discharge instead of a court martial,” McGarrett said.
“And what about my son? He didn’t kill anyone. He didn’t even have a gun!” Grant looked earnestly at McGarrett.
“He hijacked an airplane. There’s no getting around that. I recommend that you get him a good lawyer,” Steve advised.
“This is all very....” the Governor said, still looking stunned. “What about the press release?”
“Let me draft something,” said McGarrett with a smile. “I’ll have it to you in an hour.”
“Wait!” Simons protested. “Just because we were taken in by this...this man, doesn’t mean that our goal with respect to Santiago isn’t perfectly valid.”
“It’s over,” Harkness said bluntly. “We can’t risk having it come out that an Intelligence agent was compromised this way.”
“But still....” Simons protested.
“Enough,” the Governor said firmly. “Steve, write your press release. Gentlemen, you can all look it over before we send it out.”
As McGarrett and Williams returned to Iolani Palace, Danny said, “I’d like to go visit Captain Carlton before the press conference. And get my hair cut.”
“Good idea, Danno,” Steve said. “See if you can hunt down Mrs. Miller at the hospital. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the support we can get....”
At Queen’s Hospital, Danny had no difficulty finding Lauren Miller, as he ran into her in the elevator on his way to intensive care.
“Hi, Danny!” Lauren exclaimed, giving him a hug. “You look so much better.”
“It’s nice to see you again under happier circumstances,” he said, smiling. “You’re not working today?”
“I don’t start until next week,” she told him. “I just dropped by to see how Captain Carlton was doing.”
The charge nurse in intensive care, recognizing Lauren and Danny, told them, “Normally we only allow one visitor at a time, but I suppose you four have some catching up to do. Just five minutes, though.”
“Us four?” Danny asked, puzzled.
His question was answered when they opened the door of Carlton’s room to find Gracie, the tall, blonde flight attendant the hijackers had held at gunpoint, sitting close beside the bed in which the pilot lay looking pale, his head swathed in white bandages.
She jumped to her feet, blushing. “I...I just stopped by to read to John...I...I mean, Captain Carlton, for a bit,” she said, holding up a battered copy of Seven Days in May as evidence.
“I sure appreciate it.” Carlton smiled at her, making her blush again.
“I’m so glad to see you awake,” Lauren said earnestly, automatically straightening his blanket.
“I understand I have you to thank for me staying alive long enough to get off that plane,” the pilot told her. “And I’m very glad to see the two of you made it out in one piece. Well, mostly in one piece,” he added, surveying Danny’s bandages.
“Nothing serious,” Williams claimed.
“I heard from your detective that Five-O got everyone off the plane and took care of the hijackers, nice and neat,” Carlton said approvingly.
“That reminds me....” Danny began. He gave his companions a quick rundown of the morning’s revelations. “Steve wanted me to ask you to come to the press conference,” he said to Mrs. Miller.
“Of course!” she said. “The nerve of them, trying to blame you for what happened!”
“I’m coming, too,” Gracie declared.
“Give ’em hell,” Carlton said. “I wish I could be there myself....”
“You just concentrate on getting better,” Lauren told him firmly.
And so, once again Danny stood beside Steve on the steps of the Iolani Palace. This time he was surrounded not only by Chin and Kono, but also by Mrs. Miller, her husband Bob, and Gracie. On Steve’s other side stood the Governor, Simons, looking sullen, and Carstairs, looking pleasantly guileless as always.
The Governor was reading the statement McGarrett had crafted, which had been accepted after only a token protest from Simons. “...tragic when young men become involved in this sort of crime...lives cut short...use of deadly force is always regrettable...necessary when innocent lives are at stake...our condolences to Generalissimo Santiago and his family....”
Only half listening, Danny’s mind wandered to enjoying how the curl of Steve’s bangs fell over his forehead. As though feeling his gaze, his partner glanced over at him and smiled.
When the Governor finished speaking, the reporters begin their cacophony of questions.
“Governor! What about allegations that Five-O acted recklessly in using force?” one shouted.
“I’m not sure to what allegations you are referring,” the Governor answered. “Five-O acted in the only way possible to protect innocent lives.”
I wonder if Simons has been busy calling the press off the record, Danny thought.
“Mr. McGarrett! Since the only person left on the plane when you went in was Dan Williams of Five-O, don’t you think your actions in storming the plane could be misconstrued as personal?”
Yep, that sounds like Simons, all right, Danny decided.
“I’m sure you’re not implying that Mr. Williams’ life is worth less than that of a hijacker because he’s a member of Five-O?” McGarrett asked, raising his eyebrows. “There were two reasons we had to go onto that plane. First, they were demanding a pilot, and we were not going to send another hostage in. Second, every time someone hijacks a plane and gets what they want, it sends a message that terrorist tactics work, and I was not about to let that message be sent here!” he said emphatically.
Another reporter shouted, “Detective Williams! Are you showing off those bandages to remind people you’re a hero?”
My turn, huh? Five-O’s second-in-command thought. That was even more personal than I expected.
“I’m no hero. All I did was get hijacked and beaten up,” Danny said with a rueful smile. “The real heroes are people like Mrs. Miller here, and Captain Carlton, civilians who risked their lives for others, and of course Steve McGarrett, who came onto that plane unarmed to bring the hijackers to justice. I’m sorry about the shirtsleeves, but my wrists are still sore, and I couldn’t face buttoning my cuffs over them. As I said, I’m no hero,” he added, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
Mrs. Miller leaned across him and said indignantly into the microphone, “That’s not true! He did his best for us with no concern for his own safety. It’s easy for people who weren’t there to stand back and make nasty remarks, but it isn’t fair!”
“I agree with Mrs. Miller,” said Gracie, leaning in. “When that hijacker was holding a gun to my head, I was so terrified, I was sure I was going to die! But Mr. Williams talked him into letting me go. That makes him a hero in my book!”
“Well, Williams, I see you won’t lack for dates after this, anyway,” said the reporter to general laughter, as Danny looked embarrassed.
Back up in the Five-O offices, the detectives, the Millers, and the Governor reconvened around a platter of sandwiches ordered by Jenny.
McGarrett gave his partner a pat on the shoulder, saying, “Danno, you were perfect. And you, too, Mrs. Miller.”
“I can’t believe the reporters would say such things. What got into them?” she asked.
“Simons?” Danny speculated, taking a sandwich.
“Yeah,” said McGarrett drily. “I think he’s been busy on the telephone.”
“Well, Steve, I think that went as well as we could have hoped,” the Governor said.
“I appreciate your support, Governor,” Steve said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“I didn’t like seeing our State Police criticized by Washington any more than you did,” Jameson observed.
Danny turned to the Millers. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said to Bob, a youngish man with blue eyes and wavy brown hair who looked like more of an outdoorsman than a professor. “Mrs. Miller told me you’re at the University?”
“Yes, I’m a professor in the geology department. I specialize in volcanology, so Hawaii is the perfect place for me. I’m just lucky that moving here didn’t cost me my wife,” he said, giving her a fond look.
“Danny—can we talk somewhere private for a minute? I want to ask you something,” Lauren said.
Danny raised his eyebrows. “Sure, fine by me.”
“Go ahead, I know you can’t leave well enough alone when you’re curious about something,” Bob told her with a smile.
They crossed the office to the relative isolation of Danny’s cubicle.
“So, what do you want to know?” he asked.
Mrs. Miller looked uncertain. “It’s really none of my business....”
“After what we went through together, I think you’re entitled to ask me anything,” Danny said.
“Well...I was wondering...about that note you had me write on the plane,” she began.
“I saw you told the newspaper about that,” Danny said ruefully, leaning on the edge of his desk.
“I’m sorry, Danny—I just thought it was so romantic!”
“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “But what did you want to ask?”
“Well...um....” She paused, then looked Danny in the eye. “Was the note for Steve McGarrett?”
“Yes, you gave it to him,” Danny put on a puzzled expression. She can’t possibly know can she? he wondered, feeling a sudden stab of alarm.
“No, I mean...when you said he’d know who it was for, was it because it was for him? Is he the one you love?” she asked. “You don’t have to tell me....”
Danny took a deep breath. “Yes, he is,” he said, looking down. “How...how did you guess?”
“Well...the way you looked when you talked about him, it was just the same as when you talked about your ‘someone special.’ And there was the way Mr. McGarrett looked when I gave him the note...he tried to hide his feelings, but I could see how much you mean to him,” she said. “And you didn’t put even a first name on the note. Also, you were careful about your pronouns, but just before I left the plane when I said I was sure you’d be together again soon you said ‘I know I’ll see him once more, anyway,’ and it was obvious who you meant....”
Danny turned away from her reached the window in two steps, looking out without seeing, his back to the room. “Well, now you know, so you can stop talking me up to the press,” he said harshly.
“What do you mean?” she demanded.
“You must be disgusted,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have asked you if I felt that way,” she said firmly, coming to stand behind him. “I suppose I might have, once, but my older brother...is...is also in love with a man. It was difficult to get used to at first, but some of us in the family have come to accept him for who he is.”
Danny turned to look at her in surprise. “I...well, I think you’re an amazing woman, Mrs. Miller,” he said.
“‘Lauren,’ please,” she protested.
“Thank you for giving Steve the note,” he said. “You were right, I might have chickened out otherwise.”
“It...went well, then?” she asked.
“Yes, very well,” Danny said with an unconscious smile as he remembered. Of course, Steve and I have hardly had time to even talk since then. I’m looking forward to tonight....
“Oh, Danny, I’m so glad,” Lauren was saying. “I hope you and Mr. McGarrett will join me and Bob for dinner sometime soon.”
“You really are remarkable. Bob is a very lucky man,” Danny told her.
“So is Mr. McGarrett,” she said.
“ ‘So is Mr. McGarrett’ what?” Steve asked, appearing in the cubicle doorway.
“A lucky man,” she said. “I’m afraid I’ve been snooping in your and Danny’s business.”
“She knows, Steve,” Danny told his partner. “I guess I messed up talking on the plane.”
“Please don’t blame Danny,” Lauren said earnestly to McGarrett. “He hadn’t eaten in three days, he was in terrible pain, and he was worried about you. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. My brother is also...a homosexual. I know how isolating it is for him, always having to pretend. I was just telling Danny, I hope the two of you will join Bob and me for dinner sometime soon.”
“Danny’s right. You are remarkable,” Steve said. “We’d love to have dinner, in the event we ever have time to eat.” He turned to his partner. “Danno, Harkness’s boss arrives in an hour, and I want to make sure we’re ready for him.”
“Lauren, I’d better get back to work,” Danny said. “Thank you, for everything.”
“We look forward to meeting you and Bob again soon,” McGarrett told her.
The meeting in the Governor’s office between the Deputy Director, Harkness, Simons, the Governor, McGarrett, and Williams was lengthy and, when it came to the content of Steve’s press release, somewhat acrimonious, but in the end Wo Fat’s involvement had been sufficiently dissected and there was grudging agreement that Five-O had acted properly.
As Danny and Steve once again climbed the steps of Iolani Palace from the Governor’s office, Steve looked at his watch. “How about we pick up some steaks on the way home, and I’ll grill them on the lanai?”
“Sounds great,” Danny said. “I need to stop by my place for more clean clothes first, though.”
“It’s a deal,” his partner said, smiling, as they mounted the koa staircase. “I want to check in with Chin and Kono, then we can go home.”
As the two detectives entered the outer Five-O office, Chin Ho hurried out of his cubicle.
“How’s it going with the NTSB?” McGarrett asked.
“Fine, Steve,” Kelly assured him. “I think they have everything they need from us. I was just getting ready to go home, but there are a couple of men from the Navy waiting to talk to you about Grant.”
McGarrett looked at his watch in frustration. “Chin, could you do me a favor and give Danny a ride to my place?”
“Sure thing, Steve,” Chin assured him.
“Steve....” Danny protested.
“There’s no point in both of us being stuck here,” Steve said. “If I’m not home in an hour, have dinner delivered.”
“But....” his partner began, but McGarrett was already striding towards his office door.
McGarrett drained the last of his second cup of coffee, covertly glancing at his watch. Nine o’clock already...so much for dinner, he thought, saying aloud, “Gentlemen, we appear to be at an impasse. I suggest we delay any decision about Grant’s prosecution until someone from Military Intelligence can get here from Washington.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said the senior JAG officer, stretching, and the two men took their leave.
Steve arrived home to find his partner asleep on the sofa, a book fallen to the floor beside his hand.
As Steve tried to divest himself of gun and keys as quietly as possible, Danny sat up, blinking.
“Steve!” he said, smiling as he crossed the room to welcome his partner with a kiss. “I suppose you haven’t had dinner?”
“No,” McGarrett said, his arms around the younger man. “I hope you ate something, though.”
“I ordered Chinese. Yours is in the refrigerator,” Danny told him.
Steve reheated the fried rice in a pan, then the two men sat at the kitchen table, sharing warm rice and cold noodles.
“Sorry, Steve, this was meant to be your share,” Danny said, taking another bite.
“There’s plenty.” The food may not be what I’d planned, but the company is all I could ask for, Steve thought, smiling across at his partner.
After they ate, Steve did the few dishes, while Danny watched him, leaning on a corner of the refrigerator. The heat wave had broken, and a gentle rain fell outside, a pleasant breeze wafting through the open kitchen window.
“I can’t believe it was only a week ago that I left for Chicago,” Danny said, as Steve dried his hands on a dishtowel.
“Danno....” McGarrett turned to his partner, pulling him close. “Let’s hope neither of us ever has to go through a week like this again.”
“Well, now that it’s over, I think we should celebrate,” Danny said, smiling up at Steve.
“How are you feeling?” McGarrett asked, surveying the fading bruises on his partner’s face.
“Well enough for anything you have in mind,” Danny replied with a smile. “Maybe we could have another try at...what we did before.”
Steve swallowed hard. “Danny....” he said in a low voice, and moved to kiss his partner, pulling him close. At first their kiss was gentle, caressing, but soon the pent-up longing and anxiety of the past few days hit, and they were passionately embracing, Danny’s arms around Steve’s neck, Steve’s hands moving down Danny’s back to curve around his buttocks as he pulled their bodies together.
Feeling Danny’s fingers fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, Steve stilled the younger man’s hands against his chest. “Let me take care of everything,” he said into his partner’s ear, brushing his lips lightly against the sensitive curves. He unbuttoned his own shirt, then went to work on Danny’s, sliding his hands underneath to smooth them over bare tanned skin, mottled with healing bruises. “Stop me if I do anything that hurts you,” he said.
“Steve...maybe we should go to the bedroom,” Danny suggested, his voice uneven. They moved in that direction, still touching, kissing, unwilling to break apart. When they got inside, Steve took off his monogrammed cufflinks, setting them carefully on the dresser, dropped his shirt, then started towards the floor lamp in the corner.
Danny stopped him. “Do you mind if we keep the lights off? I know I look pretty awful still.”
“You look beautiful to me—alive, and in one piece,” Steve said, sliding Danny’s shirt off and tossing it aside. Being able to touch him like this...something I took too much for granted, he thought, leaning down to kiss along one muscular shoulder.
“I’m afraid they had to make my hair pretty short to hide the missing bit,” Danny said, running a hand over his close-cropped sandy curls.
“It looks great, Danno. Very regulation,” Steve assured him somewhat indistinctly, his mouth against Danny’s neck. He steered his partner over to the edge of the bed, unfastening Danny’s suit pants on the way, capturing the younger man’s mouth in a fierce kiss as he pulled down pants and briefs.
“Steve, you’re still wearing too much clothing,” Danny said breathlessly as his partner seated him on the edge of the bed.
“I can do something about that,” McGarrett answered, hastily stripping off his pants before kneeling in front of his partner, trailing kisses down his flat stomach, then taking him into his mouth.
Danny groaned as Steve began to move up and down the younger man’s erect shaft, his hand and tongue working together. “Steve....” he gasped, sliding his fingers into his partner’s dark hair, all pain forgotten.
When Steve could feel Danny moving towards his climax he stood, gently leaning his partner back onto the bed and then joining him, their bodies illuminated only by the city lights shining faintly through the sheer curtains of the lanai.
McGarrett lay half on top of his partner, sliding their stiff cocks against each other with one hand as he devoured Danny’s mouth. Danno, I promise I’ll make it good for you this time, he thought. Make up for all the missed chances....
Steve licked one finger and circled Danny’s nipple, causing his partner to dig his fingers into Steve’s shoulders, arching his back.
I’ve got to take it slow, not hurt him, McGarrett thought desperately. But, god, I need to be inside him, now.... He moved so that he lay behind Danny, reaching around to stroke his partner’s cock, teasing Danny’s earlobe with his tongue and teeth.
“Steve, please....” Danny begged, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Now....”
Steve leaned across to open the drawer of the nightstand.
As though triggered by his action, the telephone beside the bed rang.
The two men froze in place for a second. Then, as the phone rang again, Steve rolled onto his back in frustration, gasping. He sat up and reached for the receiver.
“McGarrett,” he managed.
“Steve? You sound out of breath,” the governor said.
“What can I do for you, Governor?” Steve asked in a determinedly even voice, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on the phone receiver.
“The Senator has just returned from Washington, and he wants a briefing on the hijacking,” the Governor replied.
“I’ll be in your office first thing tomorrow morning,” McGarrett promised as Danny moved to sit behind him, wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist.
“I’m afraid he really wants to meet now. Apparently he feels it’s urgent that he be informed,” Jameson said.
“Governor, it’s....” McGarrett tilted the clock towards himself. “After eleven. It’ll be at least 11:30 before I could get to your office. Surely the Senator doesn’t want to meet that late,” he desperately suggested. He was finding Danny’s head resting against his shoulder somewhat distracting to his thought processes.
“I’m afraid he does. He’s on his way here already. What’s the problem, Steve? Don’t tell me you have a date,” the Governor said, laughing.
I will reach through this telephone and strangle you, McGarrett thought.
“Oh....” the Governor said, having put two and two together.
“It’s one thing to get called out on a case,” McGarrett snapped belatedly. “It’s another to lose sleep because a politician has decided he’s too important to just read the report.”
“I’m sorry, Steve,” Jameson said. I know it’s been a rough week for you, and I know it’s rare for you to take any time for a personal life. But the Senator helped with my re-election campaign, and I can’t say ‘no’ to him. Please, as a personal favor, come give him a brief report.”
“If you ask that way, I can’t say ‘no’ to you, either,” McGarrett said in resignation.
“Oh, and bring Williams with you. The Senator wants to see him, too,” the Governor added.
“After all he’s been through, you want me to drag him out of his bed at this hour of the night?” Steve protested. Or out of my bed, anyway....
“I’m afraid so. And I don’t want to keep the Senator waiting any longer than necessary....”
McGarrett sighed. “We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“I am sorry, Steve. Maybe she’ll wait for you,” the Governor said, the sound of a smile lurking in his voice.
“Aloha,” McGarrett said through clenched teeth, carefully replacing the receiver.
“Steve,” Danny protested. “Twenty minutes? We’ll have to leave right now!”
“I’m sorry, Danno,” Steve said, turning to his partner, still sitting on the bed behind him. “I tried to get you off the hook, at least, but no dice.”
“If you have to go, no point in me staying here,” said Danny, climbing off the bed. “We never seem to get a break, do we? I wish we could go away somewhere with no phones, no cases, no politicians...just for a little while.”
After a quick wash up they re-dressed and drove through the deserted streets to the State Capitol. McGarrett felt the weariness that had miraculously receded when he was in bed with his partner descending on him again.
They entered the Governor’s office to see the man himself behind his desk and the Senator in one of the chairs in front of it.
“Senator, this is Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams. Steve, Danny, help yourself to coffee,” Jameson said, waving at the carafe and stack of cups on one corner of the desk.
“Ah, the heroes of the hour,” the Senator observed.
“Senator,” the head of Five-O said briefly, pouring coffee for himself and his partner. Taking a seat, he continued, “Have you read my report? No reason to waste time going over things you already know....”
“I had an aide skim it for me, but maybe you could summarize the main points,” the Senator said cheerfully.
An hour later, the Governor declared, “Well, gentlemen, I think that covers things. It’s time we should be getting to our beds.”
Just going to bed with Danny next to me sounds like paradise right now, Steve thought tiredly, as the Senator took his leave.
The telephone on the desk rang.
“Hm, I think the HPD switchboard are the only people who know anyone’s here. I thought they might need to reach Steve,” the Governor said, picking up the receiver and telling it, “Jameson here.”
There was a pause as the Governor listened, then he wordlessly passed the receiver to Steve.
“McGarrett,” the head of Five-O snapped into the phone.
“Mr....Mr. McGarrett,” said the voice on the phone. “I’m at the scene of an automobile accident. On Pacific Heights Road. The car went over the edge of a cliff.”
“Why is that a Five-O matter?” McGarrett demanded.
“It’s a hit and run accident. And we’ve identified the victims in the car as Tony Medici and two of his associates,” the voice said excitedly.
“I’m on my way,” Steve said, standing and leaning across the desk to replace the receiver. Why did that officer sound familiar? he thought in passing.
“A case?” Jameson asked.
“Tony Medici was killed in an apparent hit and run accident,” McGarrett announced.
Danny gave a whistle. “An accident, huh? I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“You’ll get your chance,” Steve told him. “Let’s go.”
“I’m sorry, Steve,” the Governor said, walking out with them. “Do you want to borrow the phone before you go?”
“No, thank you,” Steve said between his teeth.
“What was that about?” Danny asked, as they hurried out to McGarrett’s car.
“The Governor concluded earlier that he interrupted a date,” Steve said.
“Well, he was right about that, in a way,” Danny said, laughing.
“Mm, yes,” his partner agreed. “I guess he thought she might be waiting up for me.”
“I’d tell her she was wasting her time,” Danny said with a rueful smile as he climbed into the passenger seat of the car.
“Danno....” Steve said, pulling the big car into the street. “I’m sorry we haven’t had more time together recently.”
“It’s not your fault Steve,” his partner assured him. “Blame the criminals of the world beating a path to our door.”
Danny may not blame me, but I need to do something about it. How long has it been since we had an uninterrupted day off, a month? McGarrett thought in frustration.
When the Five-O detectives arrived at the accident scene, they found a lab crew going over the roadway, supervised by a familiar face.
“Danny!” exclaimed Gerald Claybairn, dropping his notebook, then, as he attempted to retrieve it, his pencil.
“It’s good to see you again,” Danny said, picking up the pencil and handing it to the HPD detective. “How are things working out with your new partner?”
“He just transferred in from the mainland, so he’s still being nice to me,” Claybairn said. “He’s over there now watching them try to pull the car up.” He gestured towards a team involved with lengths of chain and a truck with a large winch.
“At least I take it you’ve managed not to shoot him so far,” McGarrett said drily. “Now, how about a rundown?”
“Of...of course, Mr. McGarrett,” Claybairn said. “So far the lab tells me that it looks like the car was speeding when it was sideswiped by another vehicle, lost control, and went off the road. All three passengers were killed.”
“Was the collision intentional?” McGarrett snapped.
“We c...can’t say,” the HPD detective said anxiously. “The lab team say they need to examine the car further and go over the road in the daytime.”
“Can you tell us anything about the other car, the one that hit them?” Danny asked.
“It was dark green, and should have damage to the left side. That’s it so far,” Claybairn said.
After speaking to the lab technicians, McGarrett rejoined his partner where Williams and Claybairn stood looking down at the activity around the crumpled vehicle lying at the bottom of the hill illuminated by portable floodlights.
“Take over here,” Steve ordered the HPD detective. “I want your report on my desk by ten tomorrow morning, but call me right away if you find anything significant. I’ll be at the office. Danno, you’re with me.”
In the car, Danny asked, “What next, Steve?”
“I want to talk to the coroner, then go over the files we have on Medici,” McGarrett answered. “But first, I’m dropping you by your place so you can get some rest.”
“I don’t need rest any more than you do,” Danny protested.
“You’re still recovering from the hijacking,” his partner said gently. “I want you to take tomorrow morning off and catch up on your sleep.”
They pulled up in front of the building. “Come up for a minute?” Danny asked.
“I’d better not,” said Steve. “Good night, Danno.” Two days since he got off that plane, and I’ve had him sleeping on his office floor and working a case after midnight. I can’t be selfish just because I want to have him with me.... he thought.
“Good night, Steve,” the younger man said resignedly, closing the car door behind him.
McGarrett watched Danny walk towards the door of his building. When he reached it, he turned back and gave a little wave, then went inside.
On the fourth floor, Danny opened the door to his apartment. It was decorated in warm browns, but tonight it felt cold and empty. He dropped wearily onto the couch, loosening his tie.
The doorbell rang. He stood, walked over and opened the door, too tired to give any thought as to why someone would be visiting at this hour.
“Steve?” Danny said in surprise.
McGarrett stepped inside, closed the door behind him, took his partner into his arms and kissed him thoroughly. Reluctantly letting go, he asked with a smile, “Is that the minute you had in mind?”
Danny, looking slightly dazed, managed, “Yes, something like that.”
“Good night, Danno. Get some rest,” Steve instructed.
“Good night, Steve,” Danny said. “See you tomorrow.” Well, I’ll see him at work, anyway...better than nothing, I suppose, he thought as he closed the door behind his lover.
“How long can they argue in there?” Danny asked, idly picking up the newspaper McGarrett had bought that morning. “You certainly called it about the picture of us on the airplane stairs making the front page.” He abruptly sat up. “Oh, no, they interviewed Mrs. Miller!”
“What’s wrong with that?” McGarrett asked, coming over to read over Danny’s shoulder. “Hmm, she thinks you were a hero and that the note you wrote ‘your girlfriend’ was an extremely romantic gesture. I have to agree with her on both counts. They even got your good side on that picture from the press conference,” he pointed out.
“Steve, it’s embarrassing!” Danny protested. “I don’t need the entire island reading about my....”
He was interrupted by the ringing of the receptionist’s phone. “Mr. McGarrett,” she called, “It’s Jenny at Five-O. She’s transferring a call for you here.”
“Thanks, love,” McGarrett said, reaching across the desk to take the receiver.
“Steve, Chin Ho here,” came the detective’s familiar voice.
“Chin—has something come up?”
“Two things, Steve. First, LAPD came back with IDs on our four hijackers from the photos and fingerprints we sent over.”
“Good, good. Who are they?” McGarrett asked.
“Three of them are citizens of Curaguay who were in California on student visas. The fourth guy, the one going by ‘Juan’—he’s an American. They say the four of them were friends at the University.” He gave McGarrett the names.
“Great,” Steve said. “Can you find out for me if Oliver Grant of Military Intelligence has interviewed our prisoners?”
“I can tell you that right now. He talked to the one who isn’t in the hospital, the American. And, Steve, I asked because of what you said this morning...Grant demanded to talk to the man alone, and the officers guarding him didn’t see any harm in it.”
“Thanks, Chin,” McGarrett said. “What was the other thing you wanted to tell me?”
“It’s good news! The pilot Carlton regained consciousness. I sent Kono over to interview him.”
“Good, good. Call me if anything interesting turns up,” McGarrett said, hanging up the phone. Turning to his partner he said, “That’s one thing, anyway. Carlton’s awake.”
“That’s great!” Danny exclaimed. “I’d like to go visit him when we’re done here, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, Danno. If I’m tied up here I’ll have someone drive you,” Steve said. He returned to pacing. “We’re missing just one more piece of the puzzle—what’s Grant’s connection to the hijackers’ plan?”
“Hopefully your friend in Washington will come through,” Danny said, picking up the newspaper again.
Twenty minutes later, the phone rang again. “Mr. McGarrett, it’s for you,” the receptionist said.
“McGarrett,” the head of Five-O snapped into the receiver.
“Steve, I have something for you,” said the familiar voice. “It’s not quite what you were looking for, but I think you’ll like it.”
“Give it to me,” McGarrett said.
“Grant doesn’t have any Communist ties I can find, but I assume you’re working on the hijacking? He has a connection to the hijackers’ country.”
“What’s the connection?” Steve asked, exchanging a hopeful look with Danny, who had come to stand by the desk.
“His wife was from Curaguay. She died five years ago, but they had a son together. Apparently the relationship was rocky. He and the wife were separated, but he took the son in after she died.”
“That’s very interesting,” Steve said. “What was the wife’s name?”
“Mercedes Lopez y Cruz. The son apparently refused to take his father’s name, so he’s Gary Lopez.”
McGarrett snapped his fingers. “Thanks, that’s exactly what I needed.”
“Glad to be of service. We still owe you,” said the voice.
McGarrett knocked briefly on the Governor’s door before entering, Danny in his wake.
“Steve, I’m sorry, we haven’t come to a solution yet.” The Governor looked harassed.
“I think I can help with that,” McGarrett said.
“I’ll try anything at this point,” Jameson declared.
The head of Five-O perched on the edge of the Governor’s desk and addressed Grant. “Colonel Grant, I would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Ask me questions?” the Colonel demanded indignantly.
“Really, McGarrett, this is going too far,” Simons protested.
Steve continued, “You don’t have to answer, of course, but you might prefer me to a general court martial.”
“A court martial! What is this nonsense?” Grant spluttered. “If you think you can throw up a smokescreen to distract us from your own misconduct, it won’t work.”
“My own misconduct.” Steve smiled wryly. “Mr. Grant, did you conduct an interview with the hijacker who used the alias ‘Juan Volver’?”
“Yes, of course. It was my duty to investigate the situation!” the Intelligence officer declared.
McGarrett continued, “Did you ask that the HPD officers guarding the prisoner wait outside, and that no record be made of the interview?”
“I wanted to put the man at his ease. I was in no danger from him,” Grant explained.
“What was the result of your interview?” Steve asked.
“What do you mean?” Grant looked puzzled.
“Well, did he tell you anything about the hijackers’ plans?”
“No, he refused to talk.”
“He told you nothing of value?” McGarrett asked, raising his eyebrows.
“No, but you can hardly expect revolutionaries to be willing to betray their cause!” Grant said.
Steve stood and circled behind Grant’s chair. “Earlier this morning in this room you said, ‘After they picked up the troops and pilot from Wo Fat’s ship they would have left the hostages.’ On what did you base that statement?”
“My experience in dealing with this sort of situation,” Grant said, trying to turn to look over his shoulder. “What use would the passengers have been to the hijackers then? Even the pilot would have been unnecessary.”
“But if the man we have in custody didn’t tell you, how did you know they were planning to pick up troops and a pilot?” McGarrett moved to stand in front of Grant’s chair, looming over the embattled agent. “None of the witnesses reported the hijackers on the plane saying anything about it.”
“I...I didn’t know, I just...assumed that would be the case. I mean...wouldn’t that be a logical plan?” Grant protested.
“No. No, you knew. Tell me, Colonel Grant, had you ever seen the hijacker ‘Juan’ before yesterday?”
“No, of course not,” Grant said.
The Governor interrupted. “Where are you going with this, Steve?”
“I’ll get there soon,” McGarrett assured him, resuming his perch on the edge of the desk and continuing his line of questioning. “Colonel Grant, your late wife—I believe she was from Curaguay?”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything!” Grant protested.
“Her name, before she married you, was Mercedes Lopez y Cruz, wasn’t it?” Steve asked.
“Leave my wife out of this!” Grant shouted.
“Was that her name?” McGarrett asked mildly.
“Yes! That was her name!”
“Would you be surprised to learn that the hijacker ‘Juan’s’ real name was Gary Lopez, an American citizen?” the head of Five-O continued.
“What of it? Lopez is a common name!” Grant had gone pale.
“Perhaps. But according to my source, that name ‘Gary Lopez’ just happens to be the name of your son.” Steve was on his feet again, standing over Grant. “So, Colonel, how was it? Did you conspire with Wo Fat to hijack that airplane?”
“No! No, please, you have to believe me! I had no idea they were going to do anything like that!” Grant protested, panic in his voice. He looked desperately at the other men in the room, finding no help there. The Governor looked shocked, Simons deeply unhappy, and Carstairs and Harkness impassive. Danny was glaring at him.
“You knew their plan. It would be very convenient for Wo Fat to have someone on the inside,” McGarrett suggested.
“No! I have nothing to do with Wo Fat!” Grant said, looking up at McGarrett. “I knew my son had gotten involved with some revolutionaries from my wife’s country. I didn’t approve, but she had poisoned him against me and he wouldn’t listen. When I heard the news of the hijacking I recognized the sketch of the lead hijacker as one of my son’s friends, who he’d brought home over Christmas last year. I couldn’t reach my son, and I was terrified that he had done something terrible. I...I guess I was right.” He looked down at his clasped hands. “When I saw his picture in the paper I knew I had to do something to help him. If he’d grown up with a father, in a proper home...anyway, when the report came in that Santiago wanted the hijackers cast as tragic victims, I knew I had my chance. I convinced Simons, Carstairs, and Harkness to talk to their agencies and recommend that as the party line.” He gave a short laugh. “I have to say, it wasn’t hard. You didn’t exactly make any friends there.”
“So you decided to sacrifice me, Williams, Five-O, and justice for your son?” McGarrett demanded angrily.
“It would all have worked, if it weren’t for you!” Grant exclaimed. “I would have done my best to see that you didn’t suffer any permanent harm!”
“And what about justice?” McGarrett snapped.
“Mr. McGarrett, do you have any children?” Grant asked.
“No,” Steve said flatly.
“If you did, you’d understand. I’d have done anything for my son, anything. He was such a sweet little boy....” Grant buried his face in his hands, sobbing.
“Mr. Grant, if you cooperate fully and the facts we can ascertain corroborate your story, I think it’s possible, only possible, mind you, that in the interests of secrecy your bosses will give you a quiet discharge instead of a court martial,” McGarrett said.
“And what about my son? He didn’t kill anyone. He didn’t even have a gun!” Grant looked earnestly at McGarrett.
“He hijacked an airplane. There’s no getting around that. I recommend that you get him a good lawyer,” Steve advised.
“This is all very....” the Governor said, still looking stunned. “What about the press release?”
“Let me draft something,” said McGarrett with a smile. “I’ll have it to you in an hour.”
“Wait!” Simons protested. “Just because we were taken in by this...this man, doesn’t mean that our goal with respect to Santiago isn’t perfectly valid.”
“It’s over,” Harkness said bluntly. “We can’t risk having it come out that an Intelligence agent was compromised this way.”
“But still....” Simons protested.
“Enough,” the Governor said firmly. “Steve, write your press release. Gentlemen, you can all look it over before we send it out.”
As McGarrett and Williams returned to Iolani Palace, Danny said, “I’d like to go visit Captain Carlton before the press conference. And get my hair cut.”
“Good idea, Danno,” Steve said. “See if you can hunt down Mrs. Miller at the hospital. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the support we can get....”
At Queen’s Hospital, Danny had no difficulty finding Lauren Miller, as he ran into her in the elevator on his way to intensive care.
“Hi, Danny!” Lauren exclaimed, giving him a hug. “You look so much better.”
“It’s nice to see you again under happier circumstances,” he said, smiling. “You’re not working today?”
“I don’t start until next week,” she told him. “I just dropped by to see how Captain Carlton was doing.”
The charge nurse in intensive care, recognizing Lauren and Danny, told them, “Normally we only allow one visitor at a time, but I suppose you four have some catching up to do. Just five minutes, though.”
“Us four?” Danny asked, puzzled.
His question was answered when they opened the door of Carlton’s room to find Gracie, the tall, blonde flight attendant the hijackers had held at gunpoint, sitting close beside the bed in which the pilot lay looking pale, his head swathed in white bandages.
She jumped to her feet, blushing. “I...I just stopped by to read to John...I...I mean, Captain Carlton, for a bit,” she said, holding up a battered copy of Seven Days in May as evidence.
“I sure appreciate it.” Carlton smiled at her, making her blush again.
“I’m so glad to see you awake,” Lauren said earnestly, automatically straightening his blanket.
“I understand I have you to thank for me staying alive long enough to get off that plane,” the pilot told her. “And I’m very glad to see the two of you made it out in one piece. Well, mostly in one piece,” he added, surveying Danny’s bandages.
“Nothing serious,” Williams claimed.
“I heard from your detective that Five-O got everyone off the plane and took care of the hijackers, nice and neat,” Carlton said approvingly.
“That reminds me....” Danny began. He gave his companions a quick rundown of the morning’s revelations. “Steve wanted me to ask you to come to the press conference,” he said to Mrs. Miller.
“Of course!” she said. “The nerve of them, trying to blame you for what happened!”
“I’m coming, too,” Gracie declared.
“Give ’em hell,” Carlton said. “I wish I could be there myself....”
“You just concentrate on getting better,” Lauren told him firmly.
And so, once again Danny stood beside Steve on the steps of the Iolani Palace. This time he was surrounded not only by Chin and Kono, but also by Mrs. Miller, her husband Bob, and Gracie. On Steve’s other side stood the Governor, Simons, looking sullen, and Carstairs, looking pleasantly guileless as always.
The Governor was reading the statement McGarrett had crafted, which had been accepted after only a token protest from Simons. “...tragic when young men become involved in this sort of crime...lives cut short...use of deadly force is always regrettable...necessary when innocent lives are at stake...our condolences to Generalissimo Santiago and his family....”
Only half listening, Danny’s mind wandered to enjoying how the curl of Steve’s bangs fell over his forehead. As though feeling his gaze, his partner glanced over at him and smiled.
When the Governor finished speaking, the reporters begin their cacophony of questions.
“Governor! What about allegations that Five-O acted recklessly in using force?” one shouted.
“I’m not sure to what allegations you are referring,” the Governor answered. “Five-O acted in the only way possible to protect innocent lives.”
I wonder if Simons has been busy calling the press off the record, Danny thought.
“Mr. McGarrett! Since the only person left on the plane when you went in was Dan Williams of Five-O, don’t you think your actions in storming the plane could be misconstrued as personal?”
Yep, that sounds like Simons, all right, Danny decided.
“I’m sure you’re not implying that Mr. Williams’ life is worth less than that of a hijacker because he’s a member of Five-O?” McGarrett asked, raising his eyebrows. “There were two reasons we had to go onto that plane. First, they were demanding a pilot, and we were not going to send another hostage in. Second, every time someone hijacks a plane and gets what they want, it sends a message that terrorist tactics work, and I was not about to let that message be sent here!” he said emphatically.
Another reporter shouted, “Detective Williams! Are you showing off those bandages to remind people you’re a hero?”
My turn, huh? Five-O’s second-in-command thought. That was even more personal than I expected.
“I’m no hero. All I did was get hijacked and beaten up,” Danny said with a rueful smile. “The real heroes are people like Mrs. Miller here, and Captain Carlton, civilians who risked their lives for others, and of course Steve McGarrett, who came onto that plane unarmed to bring the hijackers to justice. I’m sorry about the shirtsleeves, but my wrists are still sore, and I couldn’t face buttoning my cuffs over them. As I said, I’m no hero,” he added, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
Mrs. Miller leaned across him and said indignantly into the microphone, “That’s not true! He did his best for us with no concern for his own safety. It’s easy for people who weren’t there to stand back and make nasty remarks, but it isn’t fair!”
“I agree with Mrs. Miller,” said Gracie, leaning in. “When that hijacker was holding a gun to my head, I was so terrified, I was sure I was going to die! But Mr. Williams talked him into letting me go. That makes him a hero in my book!”
“Well, Williams, I see you won’t lack for dates after this, anyway,” said the reporter to general laughter, as Danny looked embarrassed.
Back up in the Five-O offices, the detectives, the Millers, and the Governor reconvened around a platter of sandwiches ordered by Jenny.
McGarrett gave his partner a pat on the shoulder, saying, “Danno, you were perfect. And you, too, Mrs. Miller.”
“I can’t believe the reporters would say such things. What got into them?” she asked.
“Simons?” Danny speculated, taking a sandwich.
“Yeah,” said McGarrett drily. “I think he’s been busy on the telephone.”
“Well, Steve, I think that went as well as we could have hoped,” the Governor said.
“I appreciate your support, Governor,” Steve said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“I didn’t like seeing our State Police criticized by Washington any more than you did,” Jameson observed.
Danny turned to the Millers. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said to Bob, a youngish man with blue eyes and wavy brown hair who looked like more of an outdoorsman than a professor. “Mrs. Miller told me you’re at the University?”
“Yes, I’m a professor in the geology department. I specialize in volcanology, so Hawaii is the perfect place for me. I’m just lucky that moving here didn’t cost me my wife,” he said, giving her a fond look.
“Danny—can we talk somewhere private for a minute? I want to ask you something,” Lauren said.
Danny raised his eyebrows. “Sure, fine by me.”
“Go ahead, I know you can’t leave well enough alone when you’re curious about something,” Bob told her with a smile.
They crossed the office to the relative isolation of Danny’s cubicle.
“So, what do you want to know?” he asked.
Mrs. Miller looked uncertain. “It’s really none of my business....”
“After what we went through together, I think you’re entitled to ask me anything,” Danny said.
“Well...I was wondering...about that note you had me write on the plane,” she began.
“I saw you told the newspaper about that,” Danny said ruefully, leaning on the edge of his desk.
“I’m sorry, Danny—I just thought it was so romantic!”
“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “But what did you want to ask?”
“Well...um....” She paused, then looked Danny in the eye. “Was the note for Steve McGarrett?”
“Yes, you gave it to him,” Danny put on a puzzled expression. She can’t possibly know can she? he wondered, feeling a sudden stab of alarm.
“No, I mean...when you said he’d know who it was for, was it because it was for him? Is he the one you love?” she asked. “You don’t have to tell me....”
Danny took a deep breath. “Yes, he is,” he said, looking down. “How...how did you guess?”
“Well...the way you looked when you talked about him, it was just the same as when you talked about your ‘someone special.’ And there was the way Mr. McGarrett looked when I gave him the note...he tried to hide his feelings, but I could see how much you mean to him,” she said. “And you didn’t put even a first name on the note. Also, you were careful about your pronouns, but just before I left the plane when I said I was sure you’d be together again soon you said ‘I know I’ll see him once more, anyway,’ and it was obvious who you meant....”
Danny turned away from her reached the window in two steps, looking out without seeing, his back to the room. “Well, now you know, so you can stop talking me up to the press,” he said harshly.
“What do you mean?” she demanded.
“You must be disgusted,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have asked you if I felt that way,” she said firmly, coming to stand behind him. “I suppose I might have, once, but my older brother...is...is also in love with a man. It was difficult to get used to at first, but some of us in the family have come to accept him for who he is.”
Danny turned to look at her in surprise. “I...well, I think you’re an amazing woman, Mrs. Miller,” he said.
“‘Lauren,’ please,” she protested.
“Thank you for giving Steve the note,” he said. “You were right, I might have chickened out otherwise.”
“It...went well, then?” she asked.
“Yes, very well,” Danny said with an unconscious smile as he remembered. Of course, Steve and I have hardly had time to even talk since then. I’m looking forward to tonight....
“Oh, Danny, I’m so glad,” Lauren was saying. “I hope you and Mr. McGarrett will join me and Bob for dinner sometime soon.”
“You really are remarkable. Bob is a very lucky man,” Danny told her.
“So is Mr. McGarrett,” she said.
“ ‘So is Mr. McGarrett’ what?” Steve asked, appearing in the cubicle doorway.
“A lucky man,” she said. “I’m afraid I’ve been snooping in your and Danny’s business.”
“She knows, Steve,” Danny told his partner. “I guess I messed up talking on the plane.”
“Please don’t blame Danny,” Lauren said earnestly to McGarrett. “He hadn’t eaten in three days, he was in terrible pain, and he was worried about you. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. My brother is also...a homosexual. I know how isolating it is for him, always having to pretend. I was just telling Danny, I hope the two of you will join Bob and me for dinner sometime soon.”
“Danny’s right. You are remarkable,” Steve said. “We’d love to have dinner, in the event we ever have time to eat.” He turned to his partner. “Danno, Harkness’s boss arrives in an hour, and I want to make sure we’re ready for him.”
“Lauren, I’d better get back to work,” Danny said. “Thank you, for everything.”
“We look forward to meeting you and Bob again soon,” McGarrett told her.
The meeting in the Governor’s office between the Deputy Director, Harkness, Simons, the Governor, McGarrett, and Williams was lengthy and, when it came to the content of Steve’s press release, somewhat acrimonious, but in the end Wo Fat’s involvement had been sufficiently dissected and there was grudging agreement that Five-O had acted properly.
As Danny and Steve once again climbed the steps of Iolani Palace from the Governor’s office, Steve looked at his watch. “How about we pick up some steaks on the way home, and I’ll grill them on the lanai?”
“Sounds great,” Danny said. “I need to stop by my place for more clean clothes first, though.”
“It’s a deal,” his partner said, smiling, as they mounted the koa staircase. “I want to check in with Chin and Kono, then we can go home.”
As the two detectives entered the outer Five-O office, Chin Ho hurried out of his cubicle.
“How’s it going with the NTSB?” McGarrett asked.
“Fine, Steve,” Kelly assured him. “I think they have everything they need from us. I was just getting ready to go home, but there are a couple of men from the Navy waiting to talk to you about Grant.”
McGarrett looked at his watch in frustration. “Chin, could you do me a favor and give Danny a ride to my place?”
“Sure thing, Steve,” Chin assured him.
“Steve....” Danny protested.
“There’s no point in both of us being stuck here,” Steve said. “If I’m not home in an hour, have dinner delivered.”
“But....” his partner began, but McGarrett was already striding towards his office door.
McGarrett drained the last of his second cup of coffee, covertly glancing at his watch. Nine o’clock already...so much for dinner, he thought, saying aloud, “Gentlemen, we appear to be at an impasse. I suggest we delay any decision about Grant’s prosecution until someone from Military Intelligence can get here from Washington.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said the senior JAG officer, stretching, and the two men took their leave.
Steve arrived home to find his partner asleep on the sofa, a book fallen to the floor beside his hand.
As Steve tried to divest himself of gun and keys as quietly as possible, Danny sat up, blinking.
“Steve!” he said, smiling as he crossed the room to welcome his partner with a kiss. “I suppose you haven’t had dinner?”
“No,” McGarrett said, his arms around the younger man. “I hope you ate something, though.”
“I ordered Chinese. Yours is in the refrigerator,” Danny told him.
Steve reheated the fried rice in a pan, then the two men sat at the kitchen table, sharing warm rice and cold noodles.
“Sorry, Steve, this was meant to be your share,” Danny said, taking another bite.
“There’s plenty.” The food may not be what I’d planned, but the company is all I could ask for, Steve thought, smiling across at his partner.
After they ate, Steve did the few dishes, while Danny watched him, leaning on a corner of the refrigerator. The heat wave had broken, and a gentle rain fell outside, a pleasant breeze wafting through the open kitchen window.
“I can’t believe it was only a week ago that I left for Chicago,” Danny said, as Steve dried his hands on a dishtowel.
“Danno....” McGarrett turned to his partner, pulling him close. “Let’s hope neither of us ever has to go through a week like this again.”
“Well, now that it’s over, I think we should celebrate,” Danny said, smiling up at Steve.
“How are you feeling?” McGarrett asked, surveying the fading bruises on his partner’s face.
“Well enough for anything you have in mind,” Danny replied with a smile. “Maybe we could have another try at...what we did before.”
Steve swallowed hard. “Danny....” he said in a low voice, and moved to kiss his partner, pulling him close. At first their kiss was gentle, caressing, but soon the pent-up longing and anxiety of the past few days hit, and they were passionately embracing, Danny’s arms around Steve’s neck, Steve’s hands moving down Danny’s back to curve around his buttocks as he pulled their bodies together.
Feeling Danny’s fingers fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, Steve stilled the younger man’s hands against his chest. “Let me take care of everything,” he said into his partner’s ear, brushing his lips lightly against the sensitive curves. He unbuttoned his own shirt, then went to work on Danny’s, sliding his hands underneath to smooth them over bare tanned skin, mottled with healing bruises. “Stop me if I do anything that hurts you,” he said.
“Steve...maybe we should go to the bedroom,” Danny suggested, his voice uneven. They moved in that direction, still touching, kissing, unwilling to break apart. When they got inside, Steve took off his monogrammed cufflinks, setting them carefully on the dresser, dropped his shirt, then started towards the floor lamp in the corner.
Danny stopped him. “Do you mind if we keep the lights off? I know I look pretty awful still.”
“You look beautiful to me—alive, and in one piece,” Steve said, sliding Danny’s shirt off and tossing it aside. Being able to touch him like this...something I took too much for granted, he thought, leaning down to kiss along one muscular shoulder.
“I’m afraid they had to make my hair pretty short to hide the missing bit,” Danny said, running a hand over his close-cropped sandy curls.
“It looks great, Danno. Very regulation,” Steve assured him somewhat indistinctly, his mouth against Danny’s neck. He steered his partner over to the edge of the bed, unfastening Danny’s suit pants on the way, capturing the younger man’s mouth in a fierce kiss as he pulled down pants and briefs.
“Steve, you’re still wearing too much clothing,” Danny said breathlessly as his partner seated him on the edge of the bed.
“I can do something about that,” McGarrett answered, hastily stripping off his pants before kneeling in front of his partner, trailing kisses down his flat stomach, then taking him into his mouth.
Danny groaned as Steve began to move up and down the younger man’s erect shaft, his hand and tongue working together. “Steve....” he gasped, sliding his fingers into his partner’s dark hair, all pain forgotten.
When Steve could feel Danny moving towards his climax he stood, gently leaning his partner back onto the bed and then joining him, their bodies illuminated only by the city lights shining faintly through the sheer curtains of the lanai.
McGarrett lay half on top of his partner, sliding their stiff cocks against each other with one hand as he devoured Danny’s mouth. Danno, I promise I’ll make it good for you this time, he thought. Make up for all the missed chances....
Steve licked one finger and circled Danny’s nipple, causing his partner to dig his fingers into Steve’s shoulders, arching his back.
I’ve got to take it slow, not hurt him, McGarrett thought desperately. But, god, I need to be inside him, now.... He moved so that he lay behind Danny, reaching around to stroke his partner’s cock, teasing Danny’s earlobe with his tongue and teeth.
“Steve, please....” Danny begged, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Now....”
Steve leaned across to open the drawer of the nightstand.
As though triggered by his action, the telephone beside the bed rang.
The two men froze in place for a second. Then, as the phone rang again, Steve rolled onto his back in frustration, gasping. He sat up and reached for the receiver.
“McGarrett,” he managed.
“Steve? You sound out of breath,” the governor said.
“What can I do for you, Governor?” Steve asked in a determinedly even voice, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on the phone receiver.
“The Senator has just returned from Washington, and he wants a briefing on the hijacking,” the Governor replied.
“I’ll be in your office first thing tomorrow morning,” McGarrett promised as Danny moved to sit behind him, wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist.
“I’m afraid he really wants to meet now. Apparently he feels it’s urgent that he be informed,” Jameson said.
“Governor, it’s....” McGarrett tilted the clock towards himself. “After eleven. It’ll be at least 11:30 before I could get to your office. Surely the Senator doesn’t want to meet that late,” he desperately suggested. He was finding Danny’s head resting against his shoulder somewhat distracting to his thought processes.
“I’m afraid he does. He’s on his way here already. What’s the problem, Steve? Don’t tell me you have a date,” the Governor said, laughing.
I will reach through this telephone and strangle you, McGarrett thought.
“Oh....” the Governor said, having put two and two together.
“It’s one thing to get called out on a case,” McGarrett snapped belatedly. “It’s another to lose sleep because a politician has decided he’s too important to just read the report.”
“I’m sorry, Steve,” Jameson said. I know it’s been a rough week for you, and I know it’s rare for you to take any time for a personal life. But the Senator helped with my re-election campaign, and I can’t say ‘no’ to him. Please, as a personal favor, come give him a brief report.”
“If you ask that way, I can’t say ‘no’ to you, either,” McGarrett said in resignation.
“Oh, and bring Williams with you. The Senator wants to see him, too,” the Governor added.
“After all he’s been through, you want me to drag him out of his bed at this hour of the night?” Steve protested. Or out of my bed, anyway....
“I’m afraid so. And I don’t want to keep the Senator waiting any longer than necessary....”
McGarrett sighed. “We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“I am sorry, Steve. Maybe she’ll wait for you,” the Governor said, the sound of a smile lurking in his voice.
“Aloha,” McGarrett said through clenched teeth, carefully replacing the receiver.
“Steve,” Danny protested. “Twenty minutes? We’ll have to leave right now!”
“I’m sorry, Danno,” Steve said, turning to his partner, still sitting on the bed behind him. “I tried to get you off the hook, at least, but no dice.”
“If you have to go, no point in me staying here,” said Danny, climbing off the bed. “We never seem to get a break, do we? I wish we could go away somewhere with no phones, no cases, no politicians...just for a little while.”
After a quick wash up they re-dressed and drove through the deserted streets to the State Capitol. McGarrett felt the weariness that had miraculously receded when he was in bed with his partner descending on him again.
They entered the Governor’s office to see the man himself behind his desk and the Senator in one of the chairs in front of it.
“Senator, this is Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams. Steve, Danny, help yourself to coffee,” Jameson said, waving at the carafe and stack of cups on one corner of the desk.
“Ah, the heroes of the hour,” the Senator observed.
“Senator,” the head of Five-O said briefly, pouring coffee for himself and his partner. Taking a seat, he continued, “Have you read my report? No reason to waste time going over things you already know....”
“I had an aide skim it for me, but maybe you could summarize the main points,” the Senator said cheerfully.
An hour later, the Governor declared, “Well, gentlemen, I think that covers things. It’s time we should be getting to our beds.”
Just going to bed with Danny next to me sounds like paradise right now, Steve thought tiredly, as the Senator took his leave.
The telephone on the desk rang.
“Hm, I think the HPD switchboard are the only people who know anyone’s here. I thought they might need to reach Steve,” the Governor said, picking up the receiver and telling it, “Jameson here.”
There was a pause as the Governor listened, then he wordlessly passed the receiver to Steve.
“McGarrett,” the head of Five-O snapped into the phone.
“Mr....Mr. McGarrett,” said the voice on the phone. “I’m at the scene of an automobile accident. On Pacific Heights Road. The car went over the edge of a cliff.”
“Why is that a Five-O matter?” McGarrett demanded.
“It’s a hit and run accident. And we’ve identified the victims in the car as Tony Medici and two of his associates,” the voice said excitedly.
“I’m on my way,” Steve said, standing and leaning across the desk to replace the receiver. Why did that officer sound familiar? he thought in passing.
“A case?” Jameson asked.
“Tony Medici was killed in an apparent hit and run accident,” McGarrett announced.
Danny gave a whistle. “An accident, huh? I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“You’ll get your chance,” Steve told him. “Let’s go.”
“I’m sorry, Steve,” the Governor said, walking out with them. “Do you want to borrow the phone before you go?”
“No, thank you,” Steve said between his teeth.
“What was that about?” Danny asked, as they hurried out to McGarrett’s car.
“The Governor concluded earlier that he interrupted a date,” Steve said.
“Well, he was right about that, in a way,” Danny said, laughing.
“Mm, yes,” his partner agreed. “I guess he thought she might be waiting up for me.”
“I’d tell her she was wasting her time,” Danny said with a rueful smile as he climbed into the passenger seat of the car.
“Danno....” Steve said, pulling the big car into the street. “I’m sorry we haven’t had more time together recently.”
“It’s not your fault Steve,” his partner assured him. “Blame the criminals of the world beating a path to our door.”
Danny may not blame me, but I need to do something about it. How long has it been since we had an uninterrupted day off, a month? McGarrett thought in frustration.
When the Five-O detectives arrived at the accident scene, they found a lab crew going over the roadway, supervised by a familiar face.
“Danny!” exclaimed Gerald Claybairn, dropping his notebook, then, as he attempted to retrieve it, his pencil.
“It’s good to see you again,” Danny said, picking up the pencil and handing it to the HPD detective. “How are things working out with your new partner?”
“He just transferred in from the mainland, so he’s still being nice to me,” Claybairn said. “He’s over there now watching them try to pull the car up.” He gestured towards a team involved with lengths of chain and a truck with a large winch.
“At least I take it you’ve managed not to shoot him so far,” McGarrett said drily. “Now, how about a rundown?”
“Of...of course, Mr. McGarrett,” Claybairn said. “So far the lab tells me that it looks like the car was speeding when it was sideswiped by another vehicle, lost control, and went off the road. All three passengers were killed.”
“Was the collision intentional?” McGarrett snapped.
“We c...can’t say,” the HPD detective said anxiously. “The lab team say they need to examine the car further and go over the road in the daytime.”
“Can you tell us anything about the other car, the one that hit them?” Danny asked.
“It was dark green, and should have damage to the left side. That’s it so far,” Claybairn said.
After speaking to the lab technicians, McGarrett rejoined his partner where Williams and Claybairn stood looking down at the activity around the crumpled vehicle lying at the bottom of the hill illuminated by portable floodlights.
“Take over here,” Steve ordered the HPD detective. “I want your report on my desk by ten tomorrow morning, but call me right away if you find anything significant. I’ll be at the office. Danno, you’re with me.”
In the car, Danny asked, “What next, Steve?”
“I want to talk to the coroner, then go over the files we have on Medici,” McGarrett answered. “But first, I’m dropping you by your place so you can get some rest.”
“I don’t need rest any more than you do,” Danny protested.
“You’re still recovering from the hijacking,” his partner said gently. “I want you to take tomorrow morning off and catch up on your sleep.”
They pulled up in front of the building. “Come up for a minute?” Danny asked.
“I’d better not,” said Steve. “Good night, Danno.” Two days since he got off that plane, and I’ve had him sleeping on his office floor and working a case after midnight. I can’t be selfish just because I want to have him with me.... he thought.
“Good night, Steve,” the younger man said resignedly, closing the car door behind him.
McGarrett watched Danny walk towards the door of his building. When he reached it, he turned back and gave a little wave, then went inside.
On the fourth floor, Danny opened the door to his apartment. It was decorated in warm browns, but tonight it felt cold and empty. He dropped wearily onto the couch, loosening his tie.
The doorbell rang. He stood, walked over and opened the door, too tired to give any thought as to why someone would be visiting at this hour.
“Steve?” Danny said in surprise.
McGarrett stepped inside, closed the door behind him, took his partner into his arms and kissed him thoroughly. Reluctantly letting go, he asked with a smile, “Is that the minute you had in mind?”
Danny, looking slightly dazed, managed, “Yes, something like that.”
“Good night, Danno. Get some rest,” Steve instructed.
“Good night, Steve,” Danny said. “See you tomorrow.” Well, I’ll see him at work, anyway...better than nothing, I suppose, he thought as he closed the door behind his lover.
Author’s Note: Gerald Claybairn is making his re-appearance from "The Second Confession," in which he was Danny's temporary partner at HPD.