Fic: Brotherhood Part 1 of 2 (Danny, Steve, PG13, Angst, pre/slash)
Title - Brotherhood
Characters: Steve McGarrett, Danny Williams (Chin, Max, Kamekona)
Rating: PG13
Summary - Danny begins the legal fight to keep Grace in Hawaii. Steve has to deal with the fact his mother has been alive for the last seventeen years of his life. Chin deals with a wife in ICU. Max is released from hospital and finds himself taken under the wing of Kamekona. And on top of it all, these men have to deal with the death of someone they love.
Warnings: Character death, Alt Ending/beginning S2/3, Bromance, implied pre/slash.
The sweetest support is found in the most intimate friendship.
~
Danny had dropped Grace home to a frosty reception. Rachel had barely spoken a word, civil enough in front of their daughter, but she wasn't happy. Danny had shrugged, struggling to understand why she thought he'd just let this slide. That he'd back off and let her leave Hawaii, following them like a lost puppy. How many times did Rachel expect him to have to give everything up? He was allowed to have a life as well as devote himself to Grace. He'd left Jersey, his family, his friends, everything, to come to Hawaii. He just wasn't prepared to give it all up and start again in Vegas.
He didn't see why he should have too.
He gave Grace a kiss and hug, told her he'd see her soon, bid Rachel a swift goodbye and pulled away before he could get into a battle of words. Things were going to get ugly over the next few months and he didn't want to make things any worse. He had no idea how he was going to fight for custody, but he knew by the end if it, he'd be able to at least say he'd tried everything within his power, win or lose.
He pulled up to a spot by Kamekona's shrimp truck, it was evening and everything was shut down. He checked his phone for a message from Steve, glancing out of his window and upwards like he'd be able to see the plane coming in, even though it would be hours yet before Steve got home.
There was no message but his phone shrilled and Chin's I.D came up on the screen.
"Hey Chin," Danny said lightly upon answering.
Chin was more than panicked, sounding scared, desperate and Danny gripped the wheel, unused to hearing the man so upset. A feeling developed in his stomach, instinctively knowing something was desperately wrong. It took a few minutes to understand what he was saying.
"Okay, okay," Danny said shakily. "Which hospital are you at?"
He nodded along as Chin told him, revving up the car before stopping short again. It was like time held still for a long drawn out moment as Chin explained himself further.
"Where Chin, you need to tell me exactly where?"
As Chin explained Danny got the car going, pulling away, phone cradled between his shoulder and cheek as he reversed quickly. He spun the car around and put his foot down, not even answering Chin before he hung up and re-dialled for HPD, barking out orders for search parties and the coast guard as he quickly explained to Duke what was going on. He wanted to throw up, not letting his thoughts cloud up with what ifs as he made his way along the coastline to where Chin had told him to go.
He parked the car violently, jumping out and sprinted down the dock. He came to a pause, seeing a small boat just off the pier and without thought climbed into it, unhooking the rope. Before he started it up be got out his phone, trying Steve but it beeped into 'no signal'. Frustratedly he sent a hurried text.
~
Steve sat back in the plane, closing his eyes, letting the droning of the engines wash over him, as if the sound could wash away his erratic thoughts. He pulled in deep slow breaths, tried not to think too much, fingers clenched on the arm rest of his seat. Three rows behind Joe sat, with her. Steve didn't move a muscle, neck tight, forcing himself not to turn around merely to convince himself she wasn't an apparition.
He opened his eyes, looked out of the window, clouds blocked the view, stretching out for miles, like white, comforting mountains he'd gladly exit the plane to walk over. Anything to get out of the tin can that held too much of his past within it's walls. So many questions to be asked, so many answers to be sought, yet the only word in his mind he could direct to those two people behind him was why?
He got out his phone and glanced at it, the 'new message' icon appearing on the screen. He didn't need to go into his messages to know it was a text fom Danny and the thought of Danny waiting for him back home gave him some small comfort. He flicked his thumb over the buttons to read the text.
'You need to come home. Now.'
Danny didn't know who Steve was bringing home with him. Steve hadn't been able to tell him over the phone. He'd said it was because it was an open, unsecure line, but the truth was Steve couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. He needed to tell Danny face to face. The word 'mom' still felt foreign on his tongue after all the years of it not being in his vocabulary. He'd managed to keep his voice stable enough to avoid Danny rising into a panic or accusing him of holding out on him again. Steve knew Danny was going through his own shit, but he really wished he'd taken him to Japan this time with him.
'There is no 'on my own' in partnership' Danny had griped at him in the car only days before.
He was so right. And right now, Steve needed that partnership, that friendship that he had with the man to steer him through the next few months.
~
Danny turned on the full beam light at the end of the boat, angrily turned on the engine and headed out onto the water. His heart beat hard in his chest and he sat down, biting his lower lip and forcing himself not to think of the worst. He couldn't deal with this, not alone, not like this. He needed Steve, needed the stability his partner gave him in scenarios like this. The hand on his shoulder silently assuring him things were going to be okay.
As he drove the water got choppy and in the distance he could see shapes of boats on the water, search beams already spreading out over the blackness. As he drew near a voice boomed out at him telling him to slow the boat down and I.D himself. Danny felt like time was slowing down, like it seemed an age as he explained who he was and why he was there. Eventually the coast guard pulled a boat up by him and let him climb aboard.
There was little that could be done in the pitch black but Danny sat by the search light, scanning every inch of water, desperate to find some sign of life. Time ticked by too quickly, each second adding to his anxiety. He heard the crackling of the radio, the hushed voices of the men huddled on the deck as they communicated to each other.
One glanced his way before hurriedly looking away, more words exchanged, more wary eyes settling on him. Danny put his hand on his pocket, the heavy presence of his phone pressing against his leg. Fuck why wasn't Steve there? Chin? He needed his team. He couldn't deal with this alone. No fucking way could he handle being the one dealing with this first. For a moment he hated them all for leaving him to fly solo on this. Gripping the phone like it was his only connection to Steve he jumped to his feet.
"What? What is it?" Danny yelled, drawing closer to the men who stopped talking suddenly and turned to him, eyes telling him all he needed to know. This wasn't happening, it was all some bad dream, a culmination of events that had been spinning out of control. It was just stress, a nervous breakdown, him losing it. He'd rather be losing his mind than this all be real.
"We've found her," someone told him.
Danny blinked and looked at the man who'd spoken. The captain, an older man, silver hair peeking out under his cap. He had kind eyes, wrinkled and creased at the side, a craggy mouth, cheeks slightly sunken. Broad shoulders, toned arms, an old tat peeking out under the short sleeve of his t-shirt. Danny instinctively knew he was ex Navy, he had the air of military life about him, reminding him of Joe. The man drew nearer to him, eyes soft and sympathetic, lying a hand on his arm as if to give comfort.
"I'm sorry son."
~
Steve stretched, heading out of the plane without a backward glance. Behind him he could hear the hushed voices of Joe and her but he couldn't stomach waiting for them to catch up. Instead he hurried along, out into the open air, taking in a deep breath and scanning the scene of the runway for Danny.
Setting eyes on the man Steve felt a wave of relief thrum through him, taking the steps of the plane as quickly as he could and almost sprinting over the tarmac. But as he drew near he instantly knew something was wrong, Danny looked at him with dog tired eyes, red and bloodshot. What the fuck had happened?
"Danny?" Steve asked warily as he drew near.
Danny stood straighter, trying to give him a weak smile as a welcome home. But his arms were folded like he was hugging himself and he couldn't hold Steve's gaze.
"What's wrong? Is it Grace?" Steve asked quickly.
Danny shook his head and swallowed down, Steve could see he was fighting back tears. Steve reached out to him and put his hands on his shoulders, focusing on him, knowing it was something serious but at a loss as to what it could be.
"Danno?" he said quietly.
"Kono's dead," Danny said quickly, the words coming out on a choked whisper.
Steve stared at him, unfocused, unable to process the words. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, fingers gripping into Danny's shoulders.
"What? What?" Steve muttered, head shaking again. "What are you talking about? Kono - what - Danny-?"
"It was Delano, he got to Chin, took Malia and Kono," Danny explained, tripping over his words as he looked at him, tears blurring his vision. "Chin's at the hospital. They shot Malia, they don't know if she'll pull through. Delano dumped Kono in the water, coast guard found her a couple of hours ago."
Steve shook his head again, like if he shook himself hard enough he'd wake up from the nightmare.
"No, no," he said darkly, fingers tight on Danny's shoulders like it were the only thing holding him up. "No, Delano's in prison. How could he - ? No Danny, no."
Danny let out a choked sound and grabbed him, pulling him into him, arms wrapped solidly around him, face buried into his shoulder. Steve held him tight, staring out into the distance, the bright lights of the airport terminal dazzling his sight as they held each other.
This wasn't happening.
~
Danny sat in the car and watched Steve exchange a few words with Joe. He watched Joe nod grimly, not really focusing on the man, just Steve, who tense, on edge. Danny glanced at the person standing beside them, he hadn't noticed them before. Who was it? Shelburne? Another piece of the puzzle that had been bothering Steve for months now. Steve finished talking and turned back to the car, sliding into the drivers seat.
He pulled on his belt, turned on the engine and turned to look at Danny, reaching out a hand and squeezing his shoulder for moral support.
"Let's go to the hospital," Steve said gruffly, putting both hands on the wheel now and pulling away from the airport. "Does Chin know?"
"Yeah," Danny said in a small voice. "This is all so fucked up Steve."
"I know," Steve agreed, eyes on the road, desperately trying to hold back tears and anger. All his feelings, emotions were tumbling out of control inside him and he wasn't sure how he was going to get through the next few hours.
"Who was that?" Danny asked after some minutes of silence, both of them lost in thought. "With Joe at the airport? Is she part of this Shelburne business?"
"She is Shelburne," Steve said through gritted teeth. He couldn't bring himself to tell Danny it was also his mother. Not yet, maybe under different circumstances he could have. But they were dealing with enough shit and he didn't have any answers to give Danny on how it was possible. He didn't understand himself. He glanced at Danny was was processing this revelation himself and gave a small shake of his head. "I'll explain it all later. Right now, lets just focus on Chin, Kono and where the fuck Delano is now."
"Duke's keeping me updated," Danny told him. "Got some of the best detectives and officers working on finding him. The Island's all but locked down, but he had a good head start Steve. What if he's off the Island already?"
"Took me years to track down the Hesse brothers, Wo Fat," Steve growled as they pulled up to the hospital. He pulled violently into a space and shut off the engine, looking at Danny closely. "I don't care how long it takes, we'll find him."
~
Chin sat in an empty room, a sole light switched on the corner, keeping the room dim and muted. Outside nurses and doctors roamed the halls, but inside the room everything was still and silent save for his nervous breaths. He sat in a dark corner, hunched over, head in his hands. Malia was in surgery and the doctors couldn't give him any news other than they were doing the best they could. She'd lost a lot of blood from the gunshot wound, despite his efforts to tame the flow.
Her blood still stained his fingernails although he'd quickly washed down in the hospital bathrooms. He sunk down lower into his seat, feeling his phone vibrate against his thigh in his pocket. He couldn't bring himself to talk to anyone. He'd yet to call Malia's brother to tell him what had happened, couldn't contemplate explaining to her parents about the situation.
Nothing could compel him to call his own family. How did he even beging to explain what he'd done? This was beyond forgiveness, no matter that the family bond. It was still fragile from the years of hiding the truth about himself, his uncle and the money. He'd made a choice and because of it Kono had died. Malia's blood stained his fingernails, but Kono's blood soaked his skin and seeped right into him, he'd never wash himself clean of her death.
He gasped out a sob and struggled to hold himself together. There was a tap on the door and he shot upright, about to snap out an angry dismissal for being disturbed unless it was the doc. Instead he gripped at the armrests of his seat as first Danny, then Steve walked in the room, Steve closing the door firmly behind him.
The air fizzed with unspoken accusation, questions, excuses, pity and sympathy. Chin pushed up onto his feet, receiving a sympathetic look from Danny as he edged around the room.
"Hey," Danny said quietly.
"Hi," Chin replied. It seemed like a strange thing to say under the circumstances, welcoming each other when there was so much death and grief in the air.
He looked at Steve, who looked so tightly wound he'd snap or explode into a million peices. Steve drew away from the door, around the small coffee table situated on the floor. His boots squeaked against the waxed flooring as he made a slow approach. Chin winced at the expression on his face, eyes boring into him, asking a thousand questions, none of them Chin could answer.
"Steve," he began with a shrug of his shoulders, lifting his hands defensively.
"Don't," Steve growled out, low, through gritted teeth. He moved suddenly, hands twisting into Chin's shirt, dragging him to one side and pushing him forcefully up against the wall. "What the fuck Chin?"
"I'm sorry," Chin gasped out, useless, fruitless words but it was all he had left to say. He sagged under the other mans hold, unresistant. "I don't, I couldn't-."
"Sorry doesn't bring her back you son of a bitch," Steve said quietly, sounding sad and helpess, face close, eyes glistening with tears. "Sorry doesn't make it right."
"Steve," Danny's voice cut between them. Hands wrapped around his arms gently. "Steve that's enough. It isn't his fault. Delano did this, not Chin. Come on babe. Come on, let him go."
"I'm sorry," Chin muttered again, over and over, like a litany, leaning against the wall, his own hands gripping at Steve's shoulders for support.
Steve's hands didn't let go of his shirt, not until Steve had pulled him violently forward into him, muttering apologies of his own into his neck. Chin took comfort in the moment, letting himself be held as Steve hugged him tightly. He understood Steve's anger and frustration, didn't blame him for blaming him. But he also knew Steve and Danny would both be there to see him through this.
~
Danny made the calls to Malia's family. They'd decided between them all that until things settled, they'd not go into detail of what exactly had happened. For now they'd tell Malia's family that she'd been shot after an attack that had occurred at the house and get them over to the hospital.
"They're on the way," Danny told Chin as he finished the call.
Steve moved away from the window and sat down by him, an arm around his shoulders.
"Want me to go see Kono's family?" Steve asked Danny quietly.
Danny sat up and looked at him closely, a weak smile on his lips at the offer. "It's going to be difficult, for either one of us."
"It should be me," Chin said meekly from opposite them.
"You're dealing with enough as it is," Steve told him. "I'll go."
"I'll come with you," Danny said at that.
"Chin needs someone to stay here with him," Steve pointed out.
"It's okay," Chin replied. "Going to be a few hours yet before the Doc's can tell me anything. Malia's family will be here soon. You two go, then go home and get some rest. I'll call you if there's anything to report."
"Chin," Danny began.
"Seriously brah," Chin said, looking him in the eye. "I'd feel better knowing neither of you were flying solo when you break the news to them. Please, if you're going to do it, then go together."
Read Part Two
Characters: Steve McGarrett, Danny Williams (Chin, Max, Kamekona)
Rating: PG13
Summary - Danny begins the legal fight to keep Grace in Hawaii. Steve has to deal with the fact his mother has been alive for the last seventeen years of his life. Chin deals with a wife in ICU. Max is released from hospital and finds himself taken under the wing of Kamekona. And on top of it all, these men have to deal with the death of someone they love.
Warnings: Character death, Alt Ending/beginning S2/3, Bromance, implied pre/slash.
The sweetest support is found in the most intimate friendship.
~
Danny had dropped Grace home to a frosty reception. Rachel had barely spoken a word, civil enough in front of their daughter, but she wasn't happy. Danny had shrugged, struggling to understand why she thought he'd just let this slide. That he'd back off and let her leave Hawaii, following them like a lost puppy. How many times did Rachel expect him to have to give everything up? He was allowed to have a life as well as devote himself to Grace. He'd left Jersey, his family, his friends, everything, to come to Hawaii. He just wasn't prepared to give it all up and start again in Vegas.
He didn't see why he should have too.
He gave Grace a kiss and hug, told her he'd see her soon, bid Rachel a swift goodbye and pulled away before he could get into a battle of words. Things were going to get ugly over the next few months and he didn't want to make things any worse. He had no idea how he was going to fight for custody, but he knew by the end if it, he'd be able to at least say he'd tried everything within his power, win or lose.
He pulled up to a spot by Kamekona's shrimp truck, it was evening and everything was shut down. He checked his phone for a message from Steve, glancing out of his window and upwards like he'd be able to see the plane coming in, even though it would be hours yet before Steve got home.
There was no message but his phone shrilled and Chin's I.D came up on the screen.
"Hey Chin," Danny said lightly upon answering.
Chin was more than panicked, sounding scared, desperate and Danny gripped the wheel, unused to hearing the man so upset. A feeling developed in his stomach, instinctively knowing something was desperately wrong. It took a few minutes to understand what he was saying.
"Okay, okay," Danny said shakily. "Which hospital are you at?"
He nodded along as Chin told him, revving up the car before stopping short again. It was like time held still for a long drawn out moment as Chin explained himself further.
"Where Chin, you need to tell me exactly where?"
As Chin explained Danny got the car going, pulling away, phone cradled between his shoulder and cheek as he reversed quickly. He spun the car around and put his foot down, not even answering Chin before he hung up and re-dialled for HPD, barking out orders for search parties and the coast guard as he quickly explained to Duke what was going on. He wanted to throw up, not letting his thoughts cloud up with what ifs as he made his way along the coastline to where Chin had told him to go.
He parked the car violently, jumping out and sprinted down the dock. He came to a pause, seeing a small boat just off the pier and without thought climbed into it, unhooking the rope. Before he started it up be got out his phone, trying Steve but it beeped into 'no signal'. Frustratedly he sent a hurried text.
~
Steve sat back in the plane, closing his eyes, letting the droning of the engines wash over him, as if the sound could wash away his erratic thoughts. He pulled in deep slow breaths, tried not to think too much, fingers clenched on the arm rest of his seat. Three rows behind Joe sat, with her. Steve didn't move a muscle, neck tight, forcing himself not to turn around merely to convince himself she wasn't an apparition.
He opened his eyes, looked out of the window, clouds blocked the view, stretching out for miles, like white, comforting mountains he'd gladly exit the plane to walk over. Anything to get out of the tin can that held too much of his past within it's walls. So many questions to be asked, so many answers to be sought, yet the only word in his mind he could direct to those two people behind him was why?
He got out his phone and glanced at it, the 'new message' icon appearing on the screen. He didn't need to go into his messages to know it was a text fom Danny and the thought of Danny waiting for him back home gave him some small comfort. He flicked his thumb over the buttons to read the text.
'You need to come home. Now.'
Danny didn't know who Steve was bringing home with him. Steve hadn't been able to tell him over the phone. He'd said it was because it was an open, unsecure line, but the truth was Steve couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. He needed to tell Danny face to face. The word 'mom' still felt foreign on his tongue after all the years of it not being in his vocabulary. He'd managed to keep his voice stable enough to avoid Danny rising into a panic or accusing him of holding out on him again. Steve knew Danny was going through his own shit, but he really wished he'd taken him to Japan this time with him.
'There is no 'on my own' in partnership' Danny had griped at him in the car only days before.
He was so right. And right now, Steve needed that partnership, that friendship that he had with the man to steer him through the next few months.
~
Danny turned on the full beam light at the end of the boat, angrily turned on the engine and headed out onto the water. His heart beat hard in his chest and he sat down, biting his lower lip and forcing himself not to think of the worst. He couldn't deal with this, not alone, not like this. He needed Steve, needed the stability his partner gave him in scenarios like this. The hand on his shoulder silently assuring him things were going to be okay.
As he drove the water got choppy and in the distance he could see shapes of boats on the water, search beams already spreading out over the blackness. As he drew near a voice boomed out at him telling him to slow the boat down and I.D himself. Danny felt like time was slowing down, like it seemed an age as he explained who he was and why he was there. Eventually the coast guard pulled a boat up by him and let him climb aboard.
There was little that could be done in the pitch black but Danny sat by the search light, scanning every inch of water, desperate to find some sign of life. Time ticked by too quickly, each second adding to his anxiety. He heard the crackling of the radio, the hushed voices of the men huddled on the deck as they communicated to each other.
One glanced his way before hurriedly looking away, more words exchanged, more wary eyes settling on him. Danny put his hand on his pocket, the heavy presence of his phone pressing against his leg. Fuck why wasn't Steve there? Chin? He needed his team. He couldn't deal with this alone. No fucking way could he handle being the one dealing with this first. For a moment he hated them all for leaving him to fly solo on this. Gripping the phone like it was his only connection to Steve he jumped to his feet.
"What? What is it?" Danny yelled, drawing closer to the men who stopped talking suddenly and turned to him, eyes telling him all he needed to know. This wasn't happening, it was all some bad dream, a culmination of events that had been spinning out of control. It was just stress, a nervous breakdown, him losing it. He'd rather be losing his mind than this all be real.
"We've found her," someone told him.
Danny blinked and looked at the man who'd spoken. The captain, an older man, silver hair peeking out under his cap. He had kind eyes, wrinkled and creased at the side, a craggy mouth, cheeks slightly sunken. Broad shoulders, toned arms, an old tat peeking out under the short sleeve of his t-shirt. Danny instinctively knew he was ex Navy, he had the air of military life about him, reminding him of Joe. The man drew nearer to him, eyes soft and sympathetic, lying a hand on his arm as if to give comfort.
"I'm sorry son."
~
Steve stretched, heading out of the plane without a backward glance. Behind him he could hear the hushed voices of Joe and her but he couldn't stomach waiting for them to catch up. Instead he hurried along, out into the open air, taking in a deep breath and scanning the scene of the runway for Danny.
Setting eyes on the man Steve felt a wave of relief thrum through him, taking the steps of the plane as quickly as he could and almost sprinting over the tarmac. But as he drew near he instantly knew something was wrong, Danny looked at him with dog tired eyes, red and bloodshot. What the fuck had happened?
"Danny?" Steve asked warily as he drew near.
Danny stood straighter, trying to give him a weak smile as a welcome home. But his arms were folded like he was hugging himself and he couldn't hold Steve's gaze.
"What's wrong? Is it Grace?" Steve asked quickly.
Danny shook his head and swallowed down, Steve could see he was fighting back tears. Steve reached out to him and put his hands on his shoulders, focusing on him, knowing it was something serious but at a loss as to what it could be.
"Danno?" he said quietly.
"Kono's dead," Danny said quickly, the words coming out on a choked whisper.
Steve stared at him, unfocused, unable to process the words. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, fingers gripping into Danny's shoulders.
"What? What?" Steve muttered, head shaking again. "What are you talking about? Kono - what - Danny-?"
"It was Delano, he got to Chin, took Malia and Kono," Danny explained, tripping over his words as he looked at him, tears blurring his vision. "Chin's at the hospital. They shot Malia, they don't know if she'll pull through. Delano dumped Kono in the water, coast guard found her a couple of hours ago."
Steve shook his head again, like if he shook himself hard enough he'd wake up from the nightmare.
"No, no," he said darkly, fingers tight on Danny's shoulders like it were the only thing holding him up. "No, Delano's in prison. How could he - ? No Danny, no."
Danny let out a choked sound and grabbed him, pulling him into him, arms wrapped solidly around him, face buried into his shoulder. Steve held him tight, staring out into the distance, the bright lights of the airport terminal dazzling his sight as they held each other.
This wasn't happening.
~
Danny sat in the car and watched Steve exchange a few words with Joe. He watched Joe nod grimly, not really focusing on the man, just Steve, who tense, on edge. Danny glanced at the person standing beside them, he hadn't noticed them before. Who was it? Shelburne? Another piece of the puzzle that had been bothering Steve for months now. Steve finished talking and turned back to the car, sliding into the drivers seat.
He pulled on his belt, turned on the engine and turned to look at Danny, reaching out a hand and squeezing his shoulder for moral support.
"Let's go to the hospital," Steve said gruffly, putting both hands on the wheel now and pulling away from the airport. "Does Chin know?"
"Yeah," Danny said in a small voice. "This is all so fucked up Steve."
"I know," Steve agreed, eyes on the road, desperately trying to hold back tears and anger. All his feelings, emotions were tumbling out of control inside him and he wasn't sure how he was going to get through the next few hours.
"Who was that?" Danny asked after some minutes of silence, both of them lost in thought. "With Joe at the airport? Is she part of this Shelburne business?"
"She is Shelburne," Steve said through gritted teeth. He couldn't bring himself to tell Danny it was also his mother. Not yet, maybe under different circumstances he could have. But they were dealing with enough shit and he didn't have any answers to give Danny on how it was possible. He didn't understand himself. He glanced at Danny was was processing this revelation himself and gave a small shake of his head. "I'll explain it all later. Right now, lets just focus on Chin, Kono and where the fuck Delano is now."
"Duke's keeping me updated," Danny told him. "Got some of the best detectives and officers working on finding him. The Island's all but locked down, but he had a good head start Steve. What if he's off the Island already?"
"Took me years to track down the Hesse brothers, Wo Fat," Steve growled as they pulled up to the hospital. He pulled violently into a space and shut off the engine, looking at Danny closely. "I don't care how long it takes, we'll find him."
~
Chin sat in an empty room, a sole light switched on the corner, keeping the room dim and muted. Outside nurses and doctors roamed the halls, but inside the room everything was still and silent save for his nervous breaths. He sat in a dark corner, hunched over, head in his hands. Malia was in surgery and the doctors couldn't give him any news other than they were doing the best they could. She'd lost a lot of blood from the gunshot wound, despite his efforts to tame the flow.
Her blood still stained his fingernails although he'd quickly washed down in the hospital bathrooms. He sunk down lower into his seat, feeling his phone vibrate against his thigh in his pocket. He couldn't bring himself to talk to anyone. He'd yet to call Malia's brother to tell him what had happened, couldn't contemplate explaining to her parents about the situation.
Nothing could compel him to call his own family. How did he even beging to explain what he'd done? This was beyond forgiveness, no matter that the family bond. It was still fragile from the years of hiding the truth about himself, his uncle and the money. He'd made a choice and because of it Kono had died. Malia's blood stained his fingernails, but Kono's blood soaked his skin and seeped right into him, he'd never wash himself clean of her death.
He gasped out a sob and struggled to hold himself together. There was a tap on the door and he shot upright, about to snap out an angry dismissal for being disturbed unless it was the doc. Instead he gripped at the armrests of his seat as first Danny, then Steve walked in the room, Steve closing the door firmly behind him.
The air fizzed with unspoken accusation, questions, excuses, pity and sympathy. Chin pushed up onto his feet, receiving a sympathetic look from Danny as he edged around the room.
"Hey," Danny said quietly.
"Hi," Chin replied. It seemed like a strange thing to say under the circumstances, welcoming each other when there was so much death and grief in the air.
He looked at Steve, who looked so tightly wound he'd snap or explode into a million peices. Steve drew away from the door, around the small coffee table situated on the floor. His boots squeaked against the waxed flooring as he made a slow approach. Chin winced at the expression on his face, eyes boring into him, asking a thousand questions, none of them Chin could answer.
"Steve," he began with a shrug of his shoulders, lifting his hands defensively.
"Don't," Steve growled out, low, through gritted teeth. He moved suddenly, hands twisting into Chin's shirt, dragging him to one side and pushing him forcefully up against the wall. "What the fuck Chin?"
"I'm sorry," Chin gasped out, useless, fruitless words but it was all he had left to say. He sagged under the other mans hold, unresistant. "I don't, I couldn't-."
"Sorry doesn't bring her back you son of a bitch," Steve said quietly, sounding sad and helpess, face close, eyes glistening with tears. "Sorry doesn't make it right."
"Steve," Danny's voice cut between them. Hands wrapped around his arms gently. "Steve that's enough. It isn't his fault. Delano did this, not Chin. Come on babe. Come on, let him go."
"I'm sorry," Chin muttered again, over and over, like a litany, leaning against the wall, his own hands gripping at Steve's shoulders for support.
Steve's hands didn't let go of his shirt, not until Steve had pulled him violently forward into him, muttering apologies of his own into his neck. Chin took comfort in the moment, letting himself be held as Steve hugged him tightly. He understood Steve's anger and frustration, didn't blame him for blaming him. But he also knew Steve and Danny would both be there to see him through this.
~
Danny made the calls to Malia's family. They'd decided between them all that until things settled, they'd not go into detail of what exactly had happened. For now they'd tell Malia's family that she'd been shot after an attack that had occurred at the house and get them over to the hospital.
"They're on the way," Danny told Chin as he finished the call.
Steve moved away from the window and sat down by him, an arm around his shoulders.
"Want me to go see Kono's family?" Steve asked Danny quietly.
Danny sat up and looked at him closely, a weak smile on his lips at the offer. "It's going to be difficult, for either one of us."
"It should be me," Chin said meekly from opposite them.
"You're dealing with enough as it is," Steve told him. "I'll go."
"I'll come with you," Danny said at that.
"Chin needs someone to stay here with him," Steve pointed out.
"It's okay," Chin replied. "Going to be a few hours yet before the Doc's can tell me anything. Malia's family will be here soon. You two go, then go home and get some rest. I'll call you if there's anything to report."
"Chin," Danny began.
"Seriously brah," Chin said, looking him in the eye. "I'd feel better knowing neither of you were flying solo when you break the news to them. Please, if you're going to do it, then go together."
Read Part Two