A/N: Please note, this story includes subject matters that may not be to everyone's liking. Later chapters include incest and necrophilia.

A special thank you to Phoebe for editing this and making some awesome suggestions.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any of the characters.

Tick Tock...

Chapter One

The first thing Rose noticed was the nauseating pain thrumming through her skull. She tried to lift her head, but it felt like a lead weight, and the room spun when she opened her eyes. She squeezed them shut and gulped back a sob as her memory started to return. It had been her day to do the early shift at the bar, so she'd finished work at eight. Her last recollection was of stepping out of the side entrance and walking toward the busy street. Someone grabbed her from behind, a strong hand covering her mouth, and then a sharp scratch to her neck had followed before the darkness had engulfed her.

Rose wanted to look around, but was fearful of what she might find. She lay on her side, arms bound tightly behind her. She shifted her position on the uncomfortable mattress. The movement causing her to inadvertently push her face into the filth covered bedding, the smell of feces and urine making her gag. Something hard and heavy entwined her ankle, a jingle of metal could be heard every time she moved it. It was only then that she heard the tick tock. When she concentrated she could hear them, more than one. Several clocks ticking. The only other noise her own rapid frightened breaths.

Heart pounding hard and fast, Rose eventually summoned up the courage to take a peek at her surroundings. The room was cold and sparse. She blinked several times adjusting her eyes to the semi-darkness. From what she could make out, there were only two light sources. A lamp on the side table next to her and another on an antique-looking dresser. Tears began to fall in earnest when she recognized the array of medical instruments spread across the top of it. She pulled at her bindings, the thick heavy link chain tethering her leg to the foot of the bed, making any attempt to escape futile. Her wrists ached, and on top of that, the relentless tick tock was beginning to drill a hole into her brain. She could see them now on every wall. All different shapes and sizes. Rose stared at one in particular, a cuckoo clock. Decorated with flowers and birds. Suddenly mesmerized, she watched it, noting that it was nearly midnight, almost time for the tiny bird to show itself. But without warning, the door to the room swung open, and her stomach clenched as a lone figure stepped through it.

H50 H50 H50 H50 H50

He watched Max Bergman intently. The medical examiner worked studiously on the female corpse laid out on the ground between them. Max was knelt by her side while he crouched opposite, observing his superior as he cataloged the long list of injuries sustained by the victim.

They were a fair distance down an alleyway, commercial premises skirting either side. Garbage dumpsters spewed their contents, and a foul, pungent odor of rotting leftovers, excrement, death, and decay hung in the air. The end of the long passage was blocked off by an eight foot high chain link fence. The other side was pretty much a mirror image. The steel structure more than likely had been erected to stop the alley from being used as a shortcut by motorists.

He surreptitiously glanced at his watch, and out onto the main road. A small group of onlookers had gathered, yellow tape holding them back, along with a number of HPD officers.

"Joseph...Mr Foster." Max had to raise his voice to get his attention.

Joseph was a little taken aback. He'd never heard his boss shout before. "Sorry, you were saying?"

"If you are to continue to work under my expert tutelage. You really do need to pay better attention."

Max's voice faded out as Joseph's concentration waned once again. He wasn't sure if he could contain his excitement when he heard the sound of vehicles arriving, followed by car doors slamming. Schooling his features, he kept his professional facade firmly in place as he waited for their imminent arrival, giddy with anticipation.

The Five-0 Task Force appeared at the entrance to the alleyway. His heart pounded so hard in his chest Joseph was sure Max could hear it. They were all there, but that wasn't important, as long as he was there - that was his only concern. A hot flush moved up his body, making him momentarily light-headed, and he couldn't make eye contact with any of them. He stood and stepped to the side, hoping desperately for the man to stand next to him. His guts clenched with disappointment when Captain Grover took up that position instead.

"What have we got Max?" Steve was straight to the business at hand, foregoing any pleasantries.

"Good morning, gentleman. Officer Kalakaua, always a pleasure." Max smiled sweetly at her.

"Good morning, Max. Ignore the boss he's just grumpy because he didn't have time for his morning swim." Kono looked down, she immediately brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

The body they all now surrounded had been badly mutilated. The torso looked grotesque and the face a blooded mess.

"Maybe you should have warned us Max." Steve cleared his throat. "But point taken. Sorry. Good morning, now what have we got?"

"Where was I? Oh yes, as I was about to say to Joseph." Max held his hand up to indicate the young intern who stood at Lou's side. "The cause of death matches that of our victim from a few weeks ago. Susan Moore."

"Joseph, good to see you're still with us." Steve acknowledged the trainee standing opposite.

"Working with Max hasn't put you off? He hasn't driven you nuts with his winning personality?" Danny couldn't help but notice the trainee's face flush at the comment. Or was it something else?

"No doubt, no more than working with you would, Detective Williams." Max's expression remained serious.

"Ignore those two, Joseph. Carry on Max." Chin gestured to the body. Clearly wanting to speed things up.

"I estimate time of death to be approximately six hours ago."

"Around midnight." Chin felt the need for an apologetic wave after interrupting the ME once again.

Max continued unfazed. "COD looks to be suffocation indicated by the swollen face and protruding tongue. The head is attached by the spinal column only. It has been partially sawed off, and some organs removed. It is my opinion that the perpetrator is most definitely an expert in the field of anatomical or pathological examinations."

"Are those her intestines, Max?" Danny looked a little queasy.

"Well done, Detective Williams. They are indeed the intestines, severed from their mesenteric attachments, carefully lifted out of the body and rested on the shoulder of our victim."

Lou viewed the surrounding area. "From the looks of the blood spatter, the attack happened here in the alleyway."

"On the contrary." Max paused dramatically, obviously excited. "I theorize this is indeed a very elaborate body dump. The blood spatter added to give said illusion. A skilled individual would take approximately an hour to inflict these injuries -"

"And someone would have seen or heard something." Steve interrupted Max.

"Yes, Commander. My thoughts exactly. Abrasions to the wrists and ankle also suggest our victim was restrained."

"Okay guys, let's head back to the palace, see if we can I.D our vic. Leave HPD and CSU to finish up here." Steve was about to head back to the car, when he noticed Danny circle the body and then walk along the pathway.

"There's something familiar about this." Danny spoke the words to no one in particular, squatting down by the fence he studied the blood covering it.

"Have you found something Detective Williams?" The close proximity of the voice startled Danny. He glanced over his shoulder to see Joseph standing behind him. He was about the same build as him, but approximately five foot ten with short mousy hair.

"Hey, Joseph." Feeling uneasy, Danny stood up fast.

"He's left handed." Joseph stepped forward closing the gap between Danny and himself.

"Is that your theory or Max's?" Danny gave the trainee a questioning look.

"Mine." Joseph blurted out, looking offended.

"Danny, you find some new evidence?" Steve walked over to join them.

"No, but I've seen this before." Danny rubbed his forehead deep in thought.

"What, an old case? When you were with HPD? Back in Jersey?" Steve fired each question in quick succession.

"Not a case. Something else." Danny looked up when he sensed two sets of eyes boring a hole in his head. "Guys, staring at me isn't helping."

Steve headed back to the car, giving his partner an impatient glance over his shoulder. "You can think about it on the way back to the office."

Danny went to follow when he noticed Joseph hadn't moved. His curious wide eyes still fixed on him, feasting on his every move. He cleared his throat nervously and found himself having to physically step around him. Danny walked away picking up the pace when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Hey Steve, wait up." He couldn't help the nervous laugh that escaped his lips. Mentally chastising himself for getting freaked out by Max's intern.

"Detective Williams." Max called out as Danny passed by him.

"What is it Max?" Danny rubbed the back of his neck, anxious to get going.

"There is no need for you to come to my office. Joseph will bring the full autopsy report to headquarters later on today. At four."

"That's great, Max." Danny gave Joseph a quick look before continuing on his way to the car.

Easing himself into the passenger seat of the Camaro, he wiped his sweaty palms on his slacks before putting on his seatbelt. He sensed he was being watched yet again.

"Are you gonna sit there and stare at me all day or get us the hell outta here?" Danny gazed out the windshield, avoiding eye contact with Steve.

"I'm not staring. I was just wondering what's got you so freaked out." Steve continued to regard his friend.

Danny turned to scold his partner, but his colleague standing by the caution tape caught his eye, making his chest tighten just a little. Joseph was engaged in conversation with an HPD officer. The eager new ME noticed the two Five-0 leaders looking in his direction, and he waved. Steve returned the gesture before driving away from the scene.

"I think you're safe Danno, he's gotta girlfriend." Steve tried, but failed to keep a straight face.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Danny waved his hands in the air.

"Joseph? He likes you." Steve was enjoying this, grinning from ear to ear.

"Ya think. And what makes you say that Steven? Could it be the way he ogles me, or the fact he has to stand mere millimeters from me."

"Well if you're gonna encourage him-"

"Encourage him. How exactly have I done that?" Danny cut in, throwing his hands up in annoyance.

Steve couldn't help but laugh at Danny's reaction. Knowing full well he was only fueling his partner's impending rant. "You engage him in small talk."

Danny glared open-mouthed at Steve. "In civilized society, it's called being friendly."

"Stop I remember this. 'Danno's civilized society' - the one that separates us from the jackals and hyenas."

"You know what? Forget it. Why I thought you would understand..." Danny looked away.

"Hey Danno I'm sorry. He's really gotten to you, hasn't he?"

"There's something off about him. He gives me the creeps." Danny answered while continuing to watch the scenery pass by as they moved through the early morning traffic.

"Will coffees and malasadas take your mind of him?" Steve reached over and tapped Danny's thigh.

Danny glanced at Steve and couldn't help smiling at the mention of his favorite food. "Music to my ears, babe."

~ to be continued ~