Chapter 7- ending with a bang or maybe a whimper

The tension in the air was heavy as Steve ordered the evacuation of the Ilikai as a precaution. He knew that hotels were always prepared for all types of emergencies. But the unforeseen could also quickly arise, like the inability to find all of the patrons in time.

Steve didn't want there to be any casualties and was hoping they could find Robert Clarke and his associate quickly.

But that hope was quickly dispelled when Steve realized there were potentially many places to hide.

The hotel rooms on the top floor would all have to be searched. But Steve did not want to provoke a potential hostage situation by forcing Clarke to take rash action. So he had Marty dress as a hotel employee and knock politely on each door .

He left Kono and Chin searching all cupboards and storage areas on the top floor while he took Danny up onto the roof.

Danny followed Mc Garrett closely his gun drawn and his eyes alert for the signs of movement.

But there seemed to be an almost eerie quietness on the roof. It was like the weather just before a storm, still and calm. "If he's up here then I'm going to make sure he can't get down", Steve told Danny.

"Maybe getting away is not his plan", Danny remarked. This comment caused Mc Garrett to turn and study him intently. Danny flushed and tensed under the scrutiny; he almost apologized for giving his opinion but decided against it. "I umm studied psychology for awhile", he clarified nervously," Clarke struck me as a man determined to go through with his plans, at any cost". After a few seconds of silent staring Steve admitted, "you could be right and that makes Clarke all the more dangerous". Danny visibly relaxed.

Seeing the reaction Steve turned to him seriously, "regardless of what you have heard about me detective Williams I do not eat detectives who offer me an opinion". Danny saw sincerity in the blue eyes and nodded slowly.

Turning back toward the roof Steve caught a slight movement out the corner of his eye. He quickly ran in that direction not even bothering to turn to see if Danny was following, somehow he knew the detective would not be too far behind.

His rapid running was soon brought to a halt by a large piece of jutting out roof. Steve tentatively looked around the roof edging. He was sure that the movement he glimpsed was Clarke quickly ducking behind the jutting roof.

"I think he's behind there somewhere", Steve told Danny. "Perhaps there is another way up to the roof". Steve looked around the roof edging again and was shocked to see another pair of eyes looking into his for a fraction of a second before disappearing.

"Well, well Mc Garret"t, came a yell, "I don't know how you managed to get away but perhaps your luck has run out", the voice of Robert Clarke taunted.

"It's your luck that has run out Clarke, you are surrounded by police officers and there is no way off the roof". Come out quietly ", Steve yelled back.

"No way Mc Garrett, I have wired explosives to the fire escape door behind me. Any efforts to break in will result in a mighty big boom. As for the other bomb I have the detonator on me and if I so much as see or hear another person I'll use it to activate an instant explosion."

"You'll die as well", Steve pointed out calmly trying to keep his anger in check.

"I guess that is the price I'll pay for international coverage for my cause", Clarke growled out. "The destruction of the Ilikai will be big news and there's nothing you can do to stop that".

Steve felt anger rise again, "alright what are your demands', he asked.

The laughter he got in response chilled him to the bone. "No demands Mc Garrett. I chose this place well, the roof coverage will protect me from an aerial assault and there is no other way on or off this roof."

"I suggest you concentrate on getting as many people as you can out of here because I'm going to activate this detonator shortly."

Part of Steve was thankful Mitch had lied when he'd said the bomb was already activated but the other part of Steve felt helpless as he realized this guy could not be talked down, he fully intended to die and to take out half of the Ilikai with him. It wouldn't matter if any one died or not the destruction of one of Hawaii's top hotels would sound loudly all over the world.

"There's got to be another way to get this guy", Steve snarled. Danny looked over the roof initially thinking that Robert Clarke had indeed chosen his position well.

He studied the roof again carefully this time with eyes that were trained as a marksman.

"There is a chance", he found himself saying. Steve's head whipped around staring at Danny.

Look there, a small gap", Danny remarked," put a marksman in that hotel room there and he might be able to take the guy out before he could use the detonator". Danny pointed out a hotel room that was almost in a direct line to where Clarke hid. "Then you'd only have the explosives on the door to deal with," Danny concluded as he turned to regard Steve seriously.

Steve carefully thought over Danny's suggestion. "Right I guess I'll radio for HPD to send a marksman. ", he decided after evaluating that the plan was sound. He looked down at the mass of flashing lights below. "Getting him here in time might be a problem." Steve was beginning to feel a sense of fate descend. Mc Garrett unable to save Ilikai, he could envisage the headline in his head.

Danny watched Mc Garretts face seeing a look of hopelessness that made him feel afraid. He took a deep breath turned and remarked, "I can do it".

Steve turned and stared, "did you just say something rather incredible again", he remarked slowly.

Danny nodded, "yeah I'm trained as a marksman". Steve looked Danny over carefully from head to toe, "you are going to have to go for a kill shot", he stated softly. He had seen a vulnerability in Danny's eyes that made him state this harsh reality to the young detective. They couldn't afford to miss Robert Clarke.

Danny froze for an instance; he carried a gun but had only ever fired back in self defense. For a chilling second Danny found himself wondering if he could actually do what Mc Garrett asked.

Steve saw Danny's face change, he reached out and softly patted Danny's shoulder, "it is not an easy thing to do but you will save a lot of lives". To his great surprise his hand stopped on Danny shoulder, "I have faith that you can do it", Steve stated.

Danny stared into the blue eyes and suddenly all his doubts faded away. "All right, have HPD get the rifle from the back of the patrol car", he told Steve.

Steve used his walkie talkie to radio that information.

"Mc Garrett, I guess you are planning to die with the rest", Robert Clarke taunted.

Danny mouthed 'stall him' to Steve as he ran back toward the door.

Steve took a breath, it was up to him to give Danny enough time to get into place and take the shot.

"So Clarke how come Charlie is not up there with you", Steve asked hoping to get the man to engage in conversation.

"oh he's out there somewhere Mc Garrett and I'm not about to give his location up.", Clarke replied.

"Why not, I'm going to get blown up along with you", Steve pointed out.

A chuckle sounded, "you know Mc Garrett in other circumstances I could almost like you", Clarke sounded calm and amused.

This demeanor brought no comfort to Steve, this was a man that was calmly ready to die. Hurry Danny he thought.

Danny was extremely thankful that certain HPD patrol cars carried rifles as the weapon was calmly handed to him.

He shouldered the weapon getting the feel of its weight as he moved to the window of the top floor room. He could look out and see the place Clarke was hiding but the man was hunched down at the back. "Draw him out", Danny whispered into his walkie talkie".

"Don't you have someone who cares about you", Mc Garrett threw out toward Clarke as he heard Danny's whisper.

"Old trick Mc Garrett can't you think up a better one", came the reply.

Okay distraction won't work so how about anger. "You know I didn't think you were a coward Clarke", Steve remarked making his voice sound dismissive .

"What", Clarke asked as he moved his finger slightly away from the detonator. "Well that's the coward's way out just barricading yourself up there. I thought you were a man who might like the satisfaction of personally beating me", Steve taunted.

Clarke stood taller his body tense, "why you jumped up smug bastard", he moved forward and tensed his fists ready for a fight.

Danny saw him move into sight and his finger tensed on the trigger, he was about to kill someone, his finger wavered on the trigger.

Clarke stopped still as though a thought occurred to him, "wait a minute Mc Garrett you're stalling", he began to move, bang a shot sounded and Robert Clarke fell like a rag doll to the ground with a bullet hole through his head.

Danny hardly remembered walking out of the room. But somehow he found himself back on the roof being congratulated by Steve Mc Garrett. "You got him, clean shot, he didn't have time to activate the detonator. We have a team climbing the roof now and approaching the bomb", Steve pointed over to where a team of padded men where working.

Danny watched as one turned and gave thumbs up sign. "Looks like everything is safe", Steve remarked as he regarded the rather pale Danny Williams.

"You had no choice", he said softly. "I know" ,Danny replied equally as softly. But it didn't help the hole in his heart, somewhere Robert Clark might have a family that would mourn his death and ask about why it was necessary to shoot him.

Steve found himself walking with his arm about Danny Williams shoulder, almost like a protective stance. He took Danny back down to his car keeping the reporters away with a glare.

Danny half concentrated on the journey back to 5-0. He knew what he'd done was necessary to save lives but it still hurt. He was rather surprised at how supportive Mc Garrett had been, he half expected a ,"oh grow up Williams you're a cop and killing people is just part of the job". But maybe Mc Garrett wasn't the 'feeling less robot' that some of HPD made him out to be.

They arrived back at 5-0 headquarters with Danny following Mc Garrett automatically. A warm coffee in his hands made him feel somewhat better and he finally began to relax again as he realized the drama was finally over. He'd go back to HPD and the others would all ask what it'd been like to work with the mighty Steve Mc Garrett.

"Steve don't forget about the interviews", May reminded as she slipped her boss his coffee.

Steve sighed rather loudly starling Danny and snapping him back to reality. "Well sir thanks for the coffee, I guess I should be reporting back to HPD", Danny stated rising from the leather chair and walking toward the door.

"A bomb disposal expert, part psychologist and a marksman, is that why you applied for a job here at 5-0" ,Steve's question interrupted Danny as he placed one hand on the door.

"I didn't apply ", Danny confessed. "What, but I have your application", a shocked Steve remarked as he looked over at the 'no' pile.

"The Lieutenant sent it in, I umm well I figured I'd be regarded as too young", Danny confessed still facing the door and now turning the handle.

Steve eyebrows were both arching, "you don't think you are worthy of a job in 5-0", he asked.

Danny felt himself flush, "I guess I still have a lot to learn sir", he stated.

Steve smiled broadly. One thing Danny didn't possess was a big ego. If he had then Steve would not be saying his next sentence. "Yes you probably do detective Williams, and I'd be honoured to be the one to teach you", Steve remarked.

Danny had turned the door knob before it registered that he'd thought he'd heard something rather incredible. He stopped and turned to face Mc Garrett, "sir", he queried.

"It's Steve ,Danny", Mc Garrett told him with a smile. Danny gaped, "are you offering me a job, sir um Steve", he asked incredulously . "Yes", Steve replied simply. "But don't I need to come for an interview and don't you need to interview other people", Danny rambled. "Well your interview was something rather extraordinary and conducted in the field. You showed loyalty, determination and courage. You have what I need for my team detective Williams and I don't want to interview any one else."

Danny realized he was still staring, he flushed again at Mc Garretts praise.

"Some of what they say about me is probably true, you might want to bear that in mind", Steve stated as he waited rather anxiously to hear what Danny Williams would say.

He wondered at the fact that it would bother him if Williams said no.

Danny was still stunned, it had never really occurred to him that he would be offered a job with 5-0. Even after all he'd done today he figured he'd still be seen as too young. But Mc Garrett obviously was going to overlook the age. Perhaps though he should tell Mc Garrett something before this went any further.

"I umm should tell you that I hesitated", Danny admitted. I had Clarke in my sights and I couldn't squeeze the trigger", Danny looked into Mc Garrett's eyes and waited for him to take back his offer.

Steve though smiled gently, "if it was easy for you to be a killer then I wouldn't want you", he stated firmly. "You had doubts but you still carried out your mission", Steve held out his hand, "Welcome to 5-0", he said hopefully.

Danny looked at the hand then stepped forward and took it into his own. "Thank you, sir umm Steve", Danny stated.

"Good", Steve smiled, "I'll let HPD know your transferring to us. I'll mentor you to Marty until he leaves". Now go write your report".

Danny smiled, "yes sir", he acknowledged. Steve looked at him seriously until Danny amended the address to "Steve".

Danny went back out into the main room and began to write. He was still doing that when the others returned and disappeared into Steve's office.

They came out about ten minutes later and gathered around the desk. "Welcome to the team", Chin, Kono and Marty greeted. "You'll be pleased to know we got Charlie", Chin told him with a friendly smile,"he was trying to get away with those being evacuated".

Danny acknowledged Chin's words then shook each hand warmly still feeling rather a sense of disbelief.

He then went back to writing his report.

Marty went into his own office and looked out discretely studying this new team member. It had stunned him to see Steve take quickly to Danny Williams. But when he thought more about it Marty realized how like him Williams really was. Leaning back in his chair Marty smiled, he could now leave 5-0 with a clear and happy mind. Steve had found a team member that would serve him as loyally as he had. Marty wondered if Steve would even shorten his name or think of some nickname like he had with him. He wrinkled his forehead as he tried to think up a shortened form of Danny.

Having no success at a possible nickname Marty began his own report; time would tell what Steve Mc Garrett would call this young exuberant little puppy.

THE END