This is the final chapter. Next time I'll stick to one-shot stories instead of multiple chapters. I found myself staring at a blank page more than once and that heat wave wasn't helping my inspiration.

I appreciate your sticking with me to the end!

Minutes later Doctor Anderson wheeled Steve out through the emergency entrance to an awaiting taxi and assisted him in the back seat. "Now remember what I said: get plenty of rest and if there's any question or problem, reach me on my cell phone."

Steve mechanically turned to Anderson and nodded. Anderson warily eyeballed the area one last time as the taxi drove away and then returned inside.

Jerry was parked across the parking lot. He picked up his cell. "He's on his way. Heading west on Punchbowl. I'll follow him."

"Jerry, don't get too close. We'll be right behind you. Call us when he gets to his destination." Chin replied. He ended the call and turned to Danny in the passenger seat. "This is it!"

"I'll notify Duke."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~H50~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve remained stoic during the drive to a mansion in a posh neighborhood of Honolulu. He got out of the car, paid the fare and waited for the taxi to drive away before pulling the gun out of his waistband. He surveyed the area before proceeding out back as Anderson instructed. Minutes later, Jerry pulled up a few feet from the mansion and reported to Danny and Chin, who in turned informed the cavalry.

Steve headed toward the pool, stopped, scoured the surroundings, after which he continued on to the back door. He took out a magnetic key, swiped it in the card reader by the door and punched in a code. The door clicked open and he slipped in.

He then headed to a basement door. Again, he swiped the card in the reader, entered a code and pushed the door open. Once inside he proceeded circumspectly down the stairs and followed the light at the end of a long corridor.

Outside, unmarked police cars converged to the scene, parking a few feet away from the area. Danny and Chin were first to arrive.

"Damn him! He went in by himself," Danny cursed. "Why can't this Neanderthal animal learn the meaning of back-up?"

"Steve knows what he's doing," Chin appeased. "Beside we have his back." He turned to Duke he saw hurrying toward him. "He's in there. We've got to stay out of sight just in case Anderson might be watching."

"Anderson's back at the hospital; least that's where he was when I left," Jerry said.

"One of his moles might be watching."

"Even if he reports us to him, Anderson's trapped," Danny said. "We have the tape to prove he's the guy who set Steve out to kill Gabriel. And we know Gabriel's in there. He's in our noose as well." Danny pulled out his gun and checked the magazine for bullets.

"What are you doing?" Chin asked, curious.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Danny replied sarcastically as he poised himself ready to raid the mansion.

"Let us handle it, Danny."

"No way! I'm going with you," Danny insisted.

"You're not strong eno…"

"The hell I'm not!" Danny snapped. "Come on now, what are we waiting for?"

Inside the mansion, Steve neared his goal. He peeked inside the room where he saw Gabriel and two bulky bodyguards counting the bags of fine white powder. Oh how he craved to leap in and take them all down but he needed to hold back his eagerness. He looked down at the small weapon in his hand; the odds were against him.

Closing his eyes, he conceded that he needed back-up for this raid for it to be successful. He retraced his steps, careful not to make any noise and headed back up to the main floor. He signaled Danny he saw approaching the back door. He opened it.

"What took you so long?" he ribbed.

"Did you take him out?"

"No, he's not alone. He's got two thugs with him. I couldn't risk it without backup."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Danny asked in surprise.

"Yeah, why?"

"You actually waited for back-up," Danny ribbed, getting Chin to chuckle and Steve to glare at him.

"Will you shut up and get ready?" Steve mocked back.

"Love ya all the same, you jackass!"

"Right back at ya, knucklehead."

Danny secured his gun and stuffed it in his belt. He adjusted his jacket over it to cover it from view. He and Steve glanced at each other and nodded before proceeding to the basement door.

When they reached the room in question, they walked in casually. "Malia told us to meet you here," Danny said robotically.

The two thugs swirled around and thrust their guns at the two partners. Gabriel quickly beckoned them to lower their weapons. "Easy fellows; they're friends of ours. But just in case, go check outside."

The two hulks obeyed orders and exited the room. Gabriel waited until they were both out of earshot before exposing his plans to his two seemingly puppets. "I have a job for you two."

"We're ready," Steve replied with his best poker face.

"I have an important shipment's that due out tonight. I'm commandeering your truck, Commander. You and your buddy here will drive to the location I'll give you and transfer the goods. If you should run into a snag, you shoot on sight. No witness. Understood?"

Both Steve and Danny nodded. Gabriel stepped up to them and handed two cyanide capsules. "These are in case you fail at your task."

"We won't," Danny replied, grinning at Steve. Gabriel frowned and became slightly suspicious at the knowing look passing between the two friends. "Because we've already succeeded."

Before Gabriel could reach for his gun, Steve and Danny whip out theirs and thrust them at Gabriel. "Freeze right there, Gabriel. Danny, get his phone." While Steve kept his weapon trained on Gabriel, Danny grabbed Gabriel's burner phone; then grabbed his and dialed. "Yeah. We got him."

"We've got his goons too," Chin said as he glanced over at the two cuffed thugs being taken to the back of an unmarked police cruiser. "We're coming in."

"Alright."

As Danny hung up, he felt an arm snake around his neck. Out of the blue a third hulk rose from the shadows and held Danny in a chokehold. He grabbed his wrist and twisted it until Danny release the gun with a scream.

"You'd better drop that Commander," Gabriel sneered. "Or next time it'll be your partner's neck Angus will crack."

Steve looked at a gasping Danny holding his broken wrist to his chest while clawing at the thug's arm around his neck. Slowly he lowered his gun and placed it onto the floor.

Soon, the cavalry erupted in the room and instantly froze at the scene before them.

"I wouldn't fire if I was you," Gabriel warned composedly with a gun trained at Steve's head. One move and these two are gone."

"Gabriel, it's over," Chin said confidently.

"Not by a long shot."

"You kill them and you and your goon here are next," Chin threatened.

"I know but McGarrett and Williams will be first. Tell me, how did you manage to defuse them?"

"Steve kept repeating Malia's name over and over in his delirium. Kamekona here figured out what it meant."

"And Doctor Anderson has already be arrested as accessory," Kono informed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Steve could see Kamekona inching toward the guard holding Danny. In a lightning bolt, Kame lunged at both Danny and Angus and pinned them to the floor. Steve instantly bent down to dodge Gabriel's bullet and pounced on him, rendering him unconscious in a stranglehold.

No sooner had Gabriel crumbled to the floor unconscious than Steve dove to his knees beside Danny. "Danny…Danny you ok?" He gave his partner a quick once-over to assess injuries. When he grabbed the wrist, Danny cried out. "Sorry. I think it's just sprained."

"Yeah?" Danny hissed. "Feels a lot worse than that. Least that's not my neck."

Steve let out a nervous chuckle and assisted Danny to his feet. "You ok?"

"Yeah, yeah I am," he turned to Kamekona with an appreciative smile, "thanks to the Big Guy here."

"Glad to help, Jersey." He turned to Duke and his men. "Need some help with that?" he said referring to the thugs being hauled away.

"No thanks. We got them. You take care of Steve and Danny."

Chin and Kono both helped Danny out of the room while Kame went to Steve who firmly refused any help.

"Kamekona I'm fine!" Steve argued. Barely had the words come out of his mouth when a sudden dizzy spell sent his world spinning. Kamekona was quick to grab hold of him before he hit the floor.

"Sure you are," Kamekona replied sarcastically. "Now you either help me help you out of I throw you over my shoulder. What's it gonna be?"

The warning look in Kame's eyes was enough to make Steve comply. He nodded and leaned on his bulky friend for support.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~H50~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days later both Steve and Danny were given a clean bill of health. Danny's wrist was still impaired and he grudgingly agreed to wear the sling, even though it hampered his movements and insisted he was fine. He had temporarily moved into Steve's house so that they would both keep a watchful eye on each other and scold one if the other went out of line. Chin and Kono would often visit to ensure the two friends were following doctor's orders. Their bickering and bantering was music to their ears, a sound they feared would never be heard again.