Breaking Point – Part 1

Steve could see the flashing lights ahead of him as he sped down the street on his way to Danny's house. His heart was pounding and he gripped the steering wheel tighter as he imagine what he would find when he got there. It had been a short fifteen minutes since he received the call in the middle of the night from dispatch. A neighbor had called the police. Gunshots had been reported from Danny's residence and they needed Steve there ASAP. It was 11:00PM and the normally quiet street was lit up by numerous patrol cars parked outside Danny's house and in his driveway. Steve swerved quickly around one of the cars and then jumped the curb before managing to stop his truck on Danny's front lawn. There was an ambulance there as well. He had only just noticed it in his rearview mirror. It was parked across the street and two paramedics stood outside it talking to an officer and one of Danny's neighbors.

What are they standing around for? Steve wondered. What the hell is going on?

Not waiting any longer to find out, Steve jumped from his truck and started running toward the front door. He was halfway across the yard when he was met by an officer.

"Commander McGarrett. Thanks for getting here so fast."

"Where is he?" Steve asked, slowing to a walk to allow the officer time to brief him on the situation. "Is he hurt?"

"He's inside- back bedroom." The officer informed him as they approached the front door. "He appears alright physically, but he fired on us."

"He shot at you?" Steve asked incredulously, stopping on the front step. "Was there anyone else in the house when you arrived?"

"No sir. The door was secured from the inside when we arrived. We made entry and canvassed the rest of the house before finding Detective Williams in the bedroom. There was no sign of anyone else."

"And he shot at you?

"Yes sir."

"Did you announce yourself?"

"Of course. But don't think…" He paused trying to think of the right words. Unable to, he simply stated, "I don't think he heard us. "

Steve nodded. He understood what the officer was implying

"Yeah Ok. Is he in there by himself now?"

The officer shook his head.

"Pua Kai is with him. But we had to pull everyone else out. He still has the gun and he's not responding to anyone."

"OK. Keep everyone out until I give you the word."

"Will do. And be careful Commander." The officer warned as Steve opened the screen door to head inside. "He's really jumpy."

Steve nodded once more before heading inside. Once inside, Steve was shocked by the state of Danny's living room. It was a mess. Despite the condition of his own home after Danny would house sit, Danny kept his own house impeccable tidy. He really was sort of a neat freak. But you wouldn't know it by the state of things now. There were empty beer cans, trash and laundry strewn about the living room. Just another alarming sign that Danny was not himself.

Making his way slowly toward Danny's bedroom, Steve could hear Pua talking to his partner.

"Pua? Danny? It's Steve." He announced himself before reaching the open bedroom door. The last thing he wanted to do was startle them.

"Here!" Pua replied.

Steve entered the room, which was dimly lit by a single lamp from the nightstand next to the bed. Danny was in the corner, sitting on the floor with his knees pulled up to his chest, his arms and head resting on his knees. In his hand, he held his gun. He didn't look up when Steve entered and was quietly mumbling something that Steve couldn't make out from across the room.

Pua, who had been kneeling on the floor in front of Danny, got up and crossed to meet Steve.

"Thank God you're here." Pua whispered. Steve could tell by his tone and demeanor that he was clearly shaken.

"Has he said anything?" Steve asked, glancing over at Danny who had yet to look up and realize Steve was there.

"No nothing. I mean…nothing that makes any sense. He just keeps repeating some baseball lineup."

"The eighty six Mets line up." Steve replied.

"How did you know that?" Pua asked.

Steve sighed.

"Because I know Danny. Thanks for staying with him." Steve said patting Pua on the arm has he passed him on his to get to Danny.

Steve approached his partner slowly and knelt down in front of him. Danny still had his head down and was quietly repeating the Mets line up over and over. Something Steve knew Danny only did when he was extremely stressed and needed to calm himself.

"Danno?" Steve said, placing his hand on Danny's arm.

Danny's head quickly shot up and he immediately raised his gun! Steve reacted quickly leaning away from the barrel of the gun while grabbing Danny's wrist and forcing the gun toward the wall.

"Whoa! Whoa! Easy partner!"

"Steve?"

"Yeah, buddy it's me. Just take it easy."

Danny looked at Steve's hand that was still grasping his wrist and then looked back up at his Partner. His eyes were wide and his breath was coming in quick gasps.

"I'm…I'm sorry." He stammered.

"It's OK?" Steve replied calmly. "Why don't you let me have this?" He said reaching to take the gun from Danny's trembling hand. Once he did so, he held the gun behind his back and Pua quickly moved forward to take it. Danny's brow furrowed with a look of confusion. It was as though he was just now realizing that Pua was also there.

But that's not possible. Steve thought. He heard Pua talking to Danny when he entered the room.

"Is he gone?" Danny asked, his eyes darting around the room frantically? "Did you get him?"

"Get who Danny? There is no one in the house. OK?"

"There was. He was here!" Danny insisted.

"Danno, HPD is here. OK? They said the door was locked and they swept the house. There was no forced entry. You're here alone Buddy. There's no one here."

"He was here! I swear he was here! He was taunting me! He was…he said I'm a murderer."

"Danny…"

"I'm a murderer." Danny hung his head and began to sob.

"No! Danny look at me." Steve put his hand under Danny's chin, forcing him to raise his head. "Who are you talking about? Who said that?"

"Reyes!" Danny replied. "Marco Reyes."

Steve's heart sank and he felt like he had been punched in the gut. This wasn't happening. How did Danny get this far gone? He should have insisted Danny stay with him the last time he saw him. He never should have left him alone.

"Buddy no." Steve's voice was now trembling as he fought to control his own tears. "Marco Reyes is not here."

"He was. He was right there." Danny insisted pointing a shaking finger in the spot where Pua now stood.

"Danno listen to me." Steve raised his voice. "Marco Reyes couldn't have been here. OK? He couldn't have been here because you shot him. Please tell me you remember? Reyes is dead buddy! He's dead!"

Danny looked from Steve to Pua and back again to Steve. His eyes filled with tears.

"But…I…" Danny stammered again before dropping his head and reaching out grab Steve's arms. "Oh my God!"

"It's OK Danno."

"Oh God help me." He cried, tightening his grip on Steve's arms. "Please help me."

Steve pulled Danny into his chest and wrapped his arms around his frail and trembling partner.

"It's OK buddy. I got you."

"Help me Steve. Please help me."

"I'm gonna help you Danno. I promise."

Still holding his sobbing partner, Steve turner his head to address Pua.

"Get those medics in here now!"

Pua wiped his tear stained face with the sleeve of his shirt before nodding and hurrying from the room.

"It's OK" Steve repeated to Danny as he rested his chin on the top of Danny's head and tightened his grip on his trembling body. "I'm going to take care of you Danno. Everything is going to be fine."

To be continued…