Po'ipu A Different Take 3 of 4
Disclaimer: Hawaii 5-0 and characters belong to CBS, otherwise I would be a lot richer and might live in Hawaii.
The Trap
Steve and Danny made it to the decoy safe house just as it was starting to get dark. They parked the car in the garage so that no one would see it. Steve looked at Danny at they got out and gathered their vests and additional weapons. “Are you ready for this partner?”
Casting a glance across at his partner that Steve could easily read that Danny was questioning his sanity, Danny groused. “Am I ready to face a bunch of armed assailants, who are probably very well trained? Not to mention your old SEAL buddy; who you personally trained. Just the two of us against an unknown number of enemies with no back-up as usual.” He threw his free hand in the air, sarcasm on full blast. “Why wouldn’t I be ready?” He started walking towards the door leading into the house. “This is just another day in this pineapple infested hell-hole with my psycho partner.”
Steve smiled, shaking his head at Danny’s antics, as he followed him into the house. He believed that they were as ready as they could be. Earlier that day, Danny and himself set up various traps around the house; which should eliminate a number of the assailants. The traps will be even better hidden in the dark, even if Nick and his men have night vision goggles.
Once inside, Steve placed his hand on Danny’s shoulder to get his attention. Danny looked at him, “Thanks for sticking with me on this. I know you would prefer to have HPD as back up, but you know that I’m concerned about Nick having a contact there. Or he will have a way to tap into their system and find out where we and the Paks are hiding.”
Danny sighed, “I know Steve, and though I shouldn’t tell you this seeing as your ego doesn’t need a boost, I agree with you. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He straightened up as he gave a small dismissive wave of his hand as he added, “Now where else would I be but backing up your crazy ass.”
Steve laughed. “Alright, let’s get into position and wait for our company to arrive.”
“Company? You make it sound like Taylor and his merry band of assassins are coming for tea.” Grumbled Danny as he led Steve upstairs. Steve snorted as he followed Danny. Before they split at the top of the stairs, Danny stopped and turned to Steve holding out his right hand. “Good luck and please be careful.”
Steve shook the offered hand. “You too Danno. Gracie would kill me if something happened to her Danno.”
Danny smirked. “She just might. She wouldn’t be too happy if something happened to her ‘Uncle Steve’ either. So don’t go all Super Seal and get yourself hurt. You still have to take her surfing.”
Steve smiled, thinking about Danny’s daughter, as he nodded. “How about the next weekend you have her, we’ll go to the beach and I’ll teach her to surf while you watch from the safety of the beach.”
Danny responded, “Sounds like a plan.” The two bumped fists as they separated to go to the rooms they had chosen earlier that day. As Danny walked away he added, “At least it’s better than tennis lessons.”
Steve snickered as he walked away remembering Danny’s rant about Step-Stan insisting that Grace take tennis lessons and Danny’s opinion of how tennis was not a real sport.
The two men set up their equipment and settled in to wait. They didn’t have to wait long. Several cars were coming towards the house. Steve pressed his communication ear piece, “I see four cars coming up the front. Any action from the beach yet?”
“Yeah, I see a mid-size boat headed towards the beach. I think there are four men, maybe six on the boat, it’s too far away to tell for sure yet.”
“I’ve seen a dozen men exit the cars and spread out.” Steve relayed to Danny. “I think the traps will be busy tonight.”
“Good. Fewer men to shoot at us.” Just as Danny finished speaking, the first trap was tripped. There was swoosh and Steve could see three bodies sailing through the air using night vision goggles.
“Three down.” Steve paused listening. “Make that four.” As he heard another trap go into action. Steve was looking for Nick, but he knew it would be difficult to pick the man out in the dark, even with the goggles. The assailants were all dressed in black.
There was a minor explosion before Danny spoke. “The beach trap caught three men.” At that point, both men could see the remaining men carefully making their way towards the house. Danny was glad that Steve had the night vision goggles, made this a little easier.
“I’m going to trip the big trap as agreed on earlier. Have your targets picked out.” Steve ordered.
“Ready.” Danny responded.
“5-0.” Steve closed his eyes, covered his ears and triggered several flash bang grenades planted throughout the front and back yards. This would temporarily blind anyone wearing night vision goggles and make their ears ring. Both men opened their eyes after three seconds and started shooting.
Several men went down. Steve noticed one assailant continue towards the house. He saw light colored hair when he removed his goggles. Nick must not have been wearing goggles. Steve called softly as he made his way downstairs. “Taylor is the last one in the front. He's headed for the house and I can’t get a clear shot. I am going to meet him face to face. Keep an eye out for any stragglers.”
“I hit all of my targets. Be careful McGarrett. Remember Gracie needs her surf lessons.” Danny did not like Steve facing his old friend but knew there would be no talking Steve out of it. He only reminded Steve about Grace to keep him focused. Well, he hoped it would keep him focused.
“Roger that.” Steve’s answered; before he hid carefully in the doorway of an adjacent room to the living room, to wait for Nick. This hallway would allow him to be ready whether Nick came in the back or the front. He heard another shot fired from upstairs. He knew he could count on Danny. The door opened slowly. Steve shook his head, he had taught Nick better than that but he waited anyway, just in case it was a trick.
Turned out his caution was warranted when he saw a small object lobbed into the room. He covered his ears as he ducked behind the wall he had been using for cover just before the flash-bang grenade went off. He noticed that he could see a reflection of the room behind him in a window. He watched as Nick crept carefully into the room waiting with bated breath until Nick turned before he raised his gun and fired. Nick went down. Steve knew that he was alive; he could see the vest that Nick wore. He rushed up to his old friend and kicked the gun out of reach but before he could do more, Nick kicked his legs out from under him knocking him off his feet. Steve quickly recovered and leaped to his feet. Nick was not far behind.
Nick spoke, “I see that you didn't trust me at all. Did your detective friend convince you that I was untrustworthy? Is Pak even here?”
“Danny has good instincts and I have worked with him long enough to trust his judgment. You’re right, Pak isn't here.” Steve growled, ducking beneath the punch that Nick swung as they began the fight.
They traded a few blows before knives came into play. They warily circled each other before attempting to take a slice of their opponent. Steve gasped in pain as Nick’s knife sliced his arm, but before Nick could swing his knife back, Steve kicked him hard and knocked him back a few steps. This was just enough room for Steve to throw his knife at Nick, embedding it in the juncture between Nick’s neck and his sternum. Nick staggered back further before going down, blood spurting between his fingers with each beat of his heart.
Danny had moved to the top of the stairs after accounting for the one straggler and witnessed the entire fight. He had seen Steve fight before, but this had been different. Nick had been an old friend and a Navy SEAL. He held his breath as he watched McGarrett hold his own, despite the knife wound, releasing it in a loud swoosh of relief when Nick went down and did not come back up.
Running down the stairs, Steve looked up as he reached him. “HPD is on the way.” He said softly as the sound of approaching sirens filled the room. “I think the Calvary has arrived, just in the nick of time.” Both men laughed. “I’m going to meet HPD and get them started on clean up, as well as warn them about the remaining traps, would not want to catch one of our own in them.” Steve nodded in agreement with that sentiment. Danny continued, “When I return, I’m going to get the first aid kit for your arm.” He handed Steve a clean cloth and pointed to the sofa. “Why don’t you wait there for me and see if you can stem the flow of blood while you wait.” Steve did as Danny suggested, without a word. Danny wasn’t surprised. This must have been hard for his partner. He couldn’t even imagine what Steve was feeling.
Danny returned shortly with the kit and joined Steve on the sofa. Danny took out what he needed to clean and bandage Steve’s arm. As he worked he spoke to Steve. “Thanks for what you said to Taylor about trusting me.”
Steve shrugged with one shoulder. “It was the truth.” He looked at Danny. “The only reason we're still alive and the Paks are safe is because you saw Nick for what he had become, not what he once was.”
Danny looked up at Steve as he responded. “Maybe, but you believed me and I appreciate that.” Danny smirked. “Looks like you have started picking better friends.”
Steve’s face softened a little. “Maybe I have. I picked you though, so I’m not sure yet.”
Danny chuffed a quiet laugh before continuing. “Now let’s make sure to get this mess cleaned up and go get the Paks and finish our job. I would really like to get some sleep sometime tonight.”
Steve nodded tiredly, “Me too, brah, me too.” The two men got up and left the house so that they could finish with Taylor’s men and rejoin Chin and Kono.
A/N: The scene as the Paks prepare to leave on the jet will remain mostly the same. Mrs. Pak does not have a sling, since she was not injured in my story. Steve invites Danny out for steak and beers. He even remembered his wallet.
Now all that is left is the epilogue.