Take Two: Epilogue

A/n: As you can probably tell, I've been meaning to post these updates for a while. Here's the epilogue. Please let me know what you thought of the story! I have so appreciated all of the kind reviews.

I have been thinking of writing a sequel (in a further attempt to fix season six). If this is something you would be interested in reading, please let me know!

Two weeks later. Sunday evening. Danny was hosting a BBQ at his place. ESPN was on the television. The whole team was over. Lou brought his wife and kids. Grace and Charlie were over. Steve's sister, Mary, who was in town, was over with Joanie as well. Danny's small place couldn't really accommodate everyone, but everyone was enjoying themselves. Kono was fresh off a visit with Adam, and was over the moon.

Abby was better as well. She still was cautious about driving, so Chin happily took her Danny's place. The two were sitting on the couch with Kono, drinking beer and listening to Samantha and Grace explain one of their harrowing adventures. Lou and his son watched the game, transfixed. Renee helped herself to another beer before joining her husband and son.

Mary sat at the kitchen table, beer in hand. "So, tell me what happened after the explosion, again?" she asked the men across from her. Steve, holding Joanie, and Danny, holding Charlie, glanced at each other.

"The police let Eric go, on account of service to 5-0, and because Ricardo woke up." Steve said, taking some chips from the bowl in front of them and eating.

"That's the way you spun it." Mary retorted.

"That's the way I spun it." Steve chewed his chips victoriously.

"Ricardo admitted to everything." Danny jumped in.

"So this was all a ploy just to get back at Danny?" Mary asked. "Seems so elaborate."

"Yeah, well, that was the point." Steve shrugged. Joanie reached for her mother, and Steve handed his niece to his sister.

"And the flashdrive and files, those were returned?"

"Ah, no, those were destroyed in the explosion. Turns out Ricardo had those on his person when he came to kill me. Not so smart, this guy." Danny explained.

"No, not at all." Mary laughed. "Is he in prison?"

"Ah, he will be." Danny said. "Thank God."

"And now, Danny's making it up to all of us by hosting this lovely party." Steve said cheekily.

"I'm hoping they'll have enough beer that they'll forget the whole thing."

"What I want to know is how bad your office is." Mary said, dipping some chips in salsa with her free hand.

"It's not so bad." Danny shrugged.

"No. He used a small, homemade bomb. It was meant to disorient, not destroy. But don't worry, Danny's fixing that, too."

"Oh, I am?" Danny laughed. "This I did not know."

"Yes you are." Steve said. "Commander's orders."

Abby walked into the kitchen, searching for another beer. She caught Danny's eye and smiled at him before opening the refrigerator. Danny handed Charlie off to Steve before heading after Abby.

"Hi." He said to her, holding the refrigerator door open for her.

"Great party, Danny."

"Oh, it's nothing." Danny shrugged. "Listen, I never got a chance to thank you. I was told you saved my life."

"Oh." Abby stood up. "I wouldn't put it that way."

"I would." Danny said. "Thank you."

"Of course." Abby nodded. "I'm sorry this man was after you in the first place."

"Well, it's over now, huh?" Danny said. "Your head better?"

"Yes, thank you. How are your ribs?"

"Fine." Danny lied. "Getting better."

"And your neck. It's looking much…well," Abby didn't know if she should mention that or not. The bruising was still there. She realized Danny was probably lying about his ribs as well. He had walked very slowly over to her. "I'm glad you're better."

"Enjoy the party." Danny said. "You deserve it."

The doorbell rang. Danny went to answer it. Eric was at the door, smiling cheekily.

"Uncle D!"

"Eric, you don't have to wait for me to let you in. You live here."

"Yeah, but look who I found on my way in!" Eric stepped back, revealing Rachel. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm just here to give you this." She handed Danny two small bottles. Charlie's medicine. "I forgot to give them to you before."

"Ah, yes. These are important." Danny said.

"That's what I said." Eric nodded knowingly. Danny and Rachel looked at Eric until he got the message. Eric grinned at Rachel, then pulled his uncle in to a hug. He gave Danny a loud kiss on the cheek.

"What a time to be alive, huh?"

"All right, get in there, would ya?" Danny said, pushing Eric into his home. He could hear Eric greeting everyone loudly. The kids greeted him back with the same volume, even Charlie, who was used to his silly cousin by now.

"I'm glad to see you're better, Danny." Rachel said. "You seem happy."

"Yeah." Danny said. "I, uh, I guess I finally feel like I can put everything with the cartel behind me."

"I'm so glad."

"Listen, Rach, why don't you come in?" Danny said after a moment's hesitation. "I'm sure the kids would like to see you."

Rachel was shaking her head. "No, no, I don't think so. I'm supposed to…I have something to do tonight."

"Okay, that's a lie, but if you really don't want to come, just say so."

"I'm not sure it would be a good idea, is all."

"Renee needs some company, huh? Mary always talks about wanting to meet you."

Rachel smiled slightly. "You're not letting this go, are you?"

"Not a chance. I'm tired of, you know, I'm tired of being so angry."

"You're supposed to be angry, Daniel. What I did was terrible."

Danny looked away. "Rach, you would have done it again if you could."

Rachel nodded. "Yes."

"This case only proved what you thought."

"Yes."

"So, while I'm still furious about missing so much time with my son, I can concede you were…right. You were right, huh? Maybe that makes me angry, but I can see why you did it. Steve can too. If you can get past his thick skull, I don't know. Maybe something really was wrong. I don't know. This is a roundabout way for me to ask you in to my house. So come in, huh? Just for a bit. I don't have any tea, but I do have beer."

"I bet you do have tea." Rachel countered with a smirk.

"Would you come in?" Danny was smiling, too.

"All right." Rachel said. "For a little."

"For a little." Danny repeated in her British accent. "Get the hell in here, would ya?"

"I'm going." Rachel said, and she entered Danny's home. Danny closed the door after her, and watched as Charlie, in his partner's arms, called out gleefully to his mother, while Steve's eyebrows raised. Grace poked her head into the kitchen and said hello to her mother. She also glanced at her father, her eyebrows just as raised. Grace and Steve were giving him the same exact look. Danny shook his head at them with a grin. He shrugged. He watched Mary hug Rachel before glancing once more at Steve, and at the people around him. Maybe Danny would always prefer the East Coast, but he could never swap the family he had made here in Hawaii. His family would do anything for him, and he would do anything for them. That was the meaning of ohana, after all.