Note: As always thanks to wenwalke for the speedy beta. I hope you're all following her latest story poachers. If not check it out.
Disclaimer: I do not own H50.
Chapter One.
Steve watched Danny through the glass of his office. He was pacing around, while running his hand through his hair, talking on the phone. They had been having a quiet day at the office and were sat around the smart table taking a break from the monotonous paperwork, when Danny's phone had started to ring.
Danny had simply informed him that it was Rachel and moved to his office to take the call. It was obvious that something was wrong the second Danny hit the office. His posture suddenly turned tense and the pacing began. Steve hoped that Rachel wasn't about to change her plans as Danny was due to have Grace for the next week, while Rachel visited Stan in Vegas with Charlie. Danny had planned a nice trip, to a small cove Steve had recommended, with the whole team. Even Max, Charlie, Kamekona, and Flippa were going to be there. He knew his friend would be really disappointed to have to cancel the whole thing.
Danny hung up the phone and exited his office, returning to his seat next to Steve. He sat down heavily, picked up his coffee, then pulled a face upon realising it was now cold.
"Everything ok?" Steve asked concerned.
"Grace has broken her arm. She was on the top of the cheerleading tower when it collapsed and she fell awkwardly and broke it."
"Ouch, that sucks." Steve commiserated. Having broken limbs before, Steve was well aware how painful that could be and how annoying the casts could get.
"Can you believe Rachel didn't even see fit to call me straight away? She waited 'til they got home. She knows I would have been at the hospital in seconds, if I'd have known."
"She probably didn't want to worry you, I guess." Steve replied.
"That's what she said." Danny muttered still obviously annoyed at not being able to physically comfort his daughter.
"I'm sorry man, but Grace didn't need you there to know how much you love her. She knows by every little thing you do. You're a great father, Danno, and Grace knows that. Does that mean our weekend plans need changing?" Steve asked.
"Thanks." Danny smiled. "We're still on for the weekend. Grace was adamant that we all still go. She is under the impression that Uncle Steve will know just how to wrap her cast so it doesn't get wet"
Steve gave a little laugh. "Sure, I can do that. You know what? Let's call it a day here. Fancy a beer?"
"Absolutely. My nerves are shot now. When Rachel said Grace had fallen from the tower I think my heart actually stopped." Danny exaggerated.
"Come on then." Steve said rising from his chair. "Hey! Guys, beers at my house?" Steve called to Chin and Kono who were still in their offices.
"That's the best idea you've had all week boss." Kono joked as she shut down her computer.
"I'll second that." Chin said emerging from his office, keys to his bike already in hand.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
The team had a relaxing evening. Steve had fired up the grill and thrown on some fish that he and Chin had caught that morning spear fishing before work. They had then watched a football game. Danny had appeared distracted. His mind obviously on Grace, so Steve suggested he called her to see how she was doing. After speaking to Grace, Danny seemed to relax a bit, reassured that his little girl was ok.
As the evening wore on Chin and Kono made their excuses and left, and Danny stood to follow them.
"You're welcome to stay longer if you want, Danny."
"Thanks, but I want to call at the store by my house. Grace said her arm was hurting a fair bit, so I want to make sure I have enough paediatric Tylenol in so I don't have to bring it from Rachel's."
"See, I told you!"
Danny looked confused.
"You're a great father. Always thinking about Grace's needs," Steve explained.
Danny smiled, patted Steve on the back then left. Reaching the Camaro he slipped into the driver's seat and cursed Steve as he had to move the seat forward. Thinking it would be nice if he didn't have to do this for just one day.
He pulled away from Steve's, admiring the sound of the powerful engine as he went, and headed towards the store near his house. Glancing at the dash he noticed that he was cutting it close to the stores closing time. Pulling into the small parking lot at the front of the store he noted it was almost empty. He quickly got out of the car and headed towards the store as the owner came out and started to pull down the security grills that protected the stores windows.
"Cutting it fine." The elderly man smiled.
"Just need a few things, won't be long." Danny informed him as he entered the store.
Heading straight for the pharmaceutical section, he grabbed the paediatric Tylenol then moved to the back of the store, deciding to get Grace some of her favourite ice cream. As he retrieved the ice cream from the freezer his eye was drawn to the three youths who had just entered. One was obviously a few years older than the other two. All three wore dark jeans and jackets, with baseball caps pulled down low. His instinct immediately told him that the shit was about to hit the fan. So he reached for his gun, cursing himself when he realised he had left it in the cars lock box.
The three youths immediately split up. One of the younger ones staying at the door of the store, the other moving further in to keep an eye on the few remaining customers, while the eldest one rounded on the shops owner and his granddaughter who were both now behind the counter. Pulling out guns all three looked nervous as they demanded everyone stay were they were.
The eldest youth pointed the gun at the young woman's face and demanded she open the till. Danny advanced forward only to be greeted with a gun in his face.
"Hold it there, we don't need any heroes." The youth stated.
As the girl opened the till then stepped back to allow access, the guy at the door suddenly started to panic. "Cops!" He yelled. "Jake, the cops are here."
He had seen a squad car pull up out front and panicking, he open fired at the unsuspecting officer.
Jake, the oldest youth immediately looked pissed. "You idiot, what are you doing?" He screamed, pulling him inside and slamming closed the door. "Lock it." He demanded pointing the gun at the shop owner. He immediately obeyed. Moving around the counter, and with shaky hands, locking the door.
"Now everyone get down here. I want everyone here where I can see them. Looks like we are going to be here a while, while I figure out a plan." Jake shouted.
"I'm sorry Jake." The young boy said sheepishly.
"Shut up Jason, I'm trying to think." He yelled.
"That's everyone bro." The third guy said as he forced Danny and a young couple to sit on the floor next to the shops owner and his granddaughter, and turned to face Jake.
"Good, now go stay by the door, see what the cops doing. I don't trust your idiot friend any more, I knew we shouldn't have brought him Lee."
"Guys what exactly is the plan?" Danny asked. "Jason here just opened fired on an officer. All of HPD will now know that you are here. There's no way out of this. Why don't you put the guns down and turn yourselves in, before someone gets hurt."
"Shut up, I got hostages. They'll let us out of here." Jake snapped.
"They're not just going to let you walk out of here you idiot. You just committed armed robbery." Danny ranted. He couldn't believe his luck. He just wanted to get some medicine to help his little girl. Now he was stuck in a hostage situation with three guys who were obviously amateurs, and they were scared and nervous, which made them very dangerous.
"I said shut up." Jake screamed pointing the gun in Danny's face. "What the hell do you know?"
"Ok, sorry." Danny said his hands up in submission as he tried to calm the guy down. Unfortunately this move backfired on him as it allowed his badge that was fasten to his belt to be on full display.
"Shit Jake, he's a cop too, look." Jason said indicating Danny's badge.
"Get him up, check him for a gun." Jake commanded to Jason.
"I don't have a gun guys, I'm off duty. I just wanted to get my daughter some medicine." Danny explained as Jason dragged him up and started to pat him down.
"He's telling the truth, no gun." Jason said completing his search.
"Jake, we got more cops turning up." Lee suddenly informed them from his position by the door.
"Shit," Jake cursed.
"You had to know that would happen," Danny snarked. "Give me your weapons and we will walk out of here together. I'll make sure the judge knows you co-operated."
"I said shut up." Jake exploded, pistol whipping Danny across the head and knocking him to the ground.
Danny closed his eyes waiting for the black dots in his vision to clear. Then he looked up at Jake who was pacing back and forth.
"No way am I going to jail. Juvie was bad enough. I can't handle jail." Jake yelled pacing back and forth.
"Maybe you should have thought about that before robbing a store at gun point." Danny sarcastically remarked, putting his hand to his head and checking his hand, only to see blood as he had suspected.
Jake suddenly stopped his pacing and turned to face Danny, a manic look in his eye. "You're my ticket out of here. That's not just any cop badge, you're 5-0." Then suddenly turning to Lee he commanded, "Make sure there are no other ways in here, take her," he said indicating the granddaughter. "Think you can handle that without messing up Lee."
"Yeah, I can handle it, come on." He said indicating with his gun that the granddaughter should follow him.
TBC