Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii 5-0. I own nothing but I do love this show so very much that I can't stay away.

Hello there. My muse has been a very naughty girl lately. She dangled an idea in front of me and then went AWOL once I began to put pen to paper. With Season 3 getting closer, she popped in to tease me and I think we are getting somewhere now.

This is what I have going so far so please enjoy. I beg you to remember that I have never been to Hawaii and any descriptions of areas are only in my imagination and I am no expert in weapons or police procedure. Thank you.

Ka Hahai,'imi [The Hunt]

Chapter 1

It was mid afternoon that Steve McGarrett guided a helicopter towards a designated clearing southwest of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. He and Danny Williams were going undercover to meet a group of weapons dealers who were supplying weapons they had stolen from the military to anyone with money. 5-0 had established a back story for Steve and Danny that identified them as members of a paramilitary isolationist group in need of additional weapons. The meeting today was intended to let Steve and Danny examine the merchandise and set a price on the purchase. A delivery date would then be agreed on while Kono, Chin and a contingent of State Police monitored the deal via a satellite link that had been tied in to the helicopter's radio.

As the helicopter hovered over the clearing, the two partners could see three trucks parked at the edge of the clearing partially hidden by the surrounding tree cover. A rough road ran along the east border of the open space and Steve eased the copter closer to the ground, as far from the trucks as possible. The machine settled to the grassy area smoothly with its nose pointed at an angle towards the waiting men, Steve's side closer to their target than Danny's. McGarrett looked over at Danny as he unbuckled his safety belts, removed his headset and adjusted the ear bud in his ear.

"Ready Danny?"

"I'd feel more ready if I had body armor on," Danny groused as he released his own restraints. He tugged at his shirt, adjusting it over the smaller Kevlar vest he was wearing. "I'm not sure this thing can stop anything larger than BBs from some popgun." He looked at the armed men waiting by the trucks. "I would say they're armed with something more powerful than that."

"Danny, we're undercover, we can't go in there with body armor, they'll be suspicious," Steve said patiently. "This is a simple business negotiation, don't act like a cop and they won't shoot."

"Simple business negotiation my ass," Danny grumbled as he picked up his assault rifle from beside him. "If I die, I'm coming back to haunt you."

"I'll just put a pineapple in every room and that will repel your spirit," Steve smirked. "Relax Danno, it will be fine." Steve picked up his own weapon and slipped the strap over his shoulder. "Chin, Kono, we're going in," he radioed to his backup who were a couple of miles down the road.

"You are not funny McGarrett. I so hate going undercover," Danny snapped as he exited the copter.

They crossed the space between their bird and the weapons dealers with Danny slightly behind Steve, creating the image of a good lieutenant watching his boss' back. McGarrett did a quick assessment of the setup, halting a few feet from the two men standing just behind four stacked crates with US Military markings. There were two other armed men a couple of feet behind the two and three more back by the vehicles. McGarrett knew it was possible there were more men in the trucks but wasn't sure.

"I see you had no trouble finding us Mr. Smith," the large black man who Steve had learned was Lamar Hawkins, greeted them. "I prefer to know the real names of the people I do business with. Smith and Jones are rather clichéd, aren't they?"

"It's better for all of us if we don't get too cozy," Steve said gruffly. "I don't need the FBI to get wind of my shopping habits. We'll be paying cash if I like what you are offering so names aren't important."

"As you wish," the heavily muscled Hawkins agreed. He nodded to his partner Ben Manunui as 5-0 had established and the man reached down to open one of the crates. "These should satisfy the needs you stated in your message. Are you preparing for a major offensive Mr. Smith?"

"They are strictly for defensive purposes Mr. Hawkins," Steve responded curtly. "My compound may come under attack if the feds follow their usual routine. We have a constitutional right to defend ourselves. No suits in Washington will dictate how we live our lives."

"I totally agree with you on that," Hawkins nodded. He didn't doubt the ex-military bearing in the man before him. Smith looked like he was more than capable of handling the weapon he held and the shorter Mr. Jones also looked ready to take action. Both men sported a few days growth of beard and Jones had a camouflage baseball cap pulled low on his forehead. "I'm sure we can reach an equitable agreement," he added.

"Mr. Jones will inspect the merchandise," Steve informed them and when Hawkins nodded, Danny shifted his gun to his shoulder and went to the crate. He crouched next to it and removed one weapon from the box, looking it over carefully. Danny had studied the inventory lists of all the stolen weaponry and he confirmed this was on the list. Pushing the bill of his cap back from his face, he looked at Steve and nodded.

"This looks exactly like what we need sir," he announced. "I would say this entire lot is just what we're looking for. It's perfect."

When he spoke, an older man who had been leaning against the front bumper of one of the trucks straightened up and started towards them. He stared at Danny, squinting as he tried to get a better look at the detective. Steve noticed the interest the newcomer was taking in his partner and stiffened, gripping his weapon tighter.

Danny looked up and his eyes widened as he recognized the man as a gun shop owner that he and Meka had busted three months after he had joined the HPD. Quickly he pulled the brim of his cap back down and got to his feet. He took a tight hold of his assault rifle.

Steve shot Danny a concerned look and then stared at Hawkins waiting to see how this interruption would play out. Danny backed up a few steps so he stood next to Steve.

"Hawkins, these guys are cops, don't trust them," Keao Pahia announced as he came to a stop next to Lamar.

"What makes you think that?" Hawkins asked, annoyed at the interruption. Pahia was a recent addition to his group having gotten early release from Halawa thanks to a very good lawyer.

"That guy, the shorter one, he got me busted for violating the waiting period law on gun sales. Can you imaging, they said I was selling to felons too?" Keao said with a harsh laugh.

"You sure about that?" Hawkins asked sharply.

"He's out of his freakin' mind," Steve snorted, going for the bluff. "No way we're cops."

"I recognize the guy's voice. That Jersey accent is a dead give away," Pahia argued. "Believe me man."

The two men behind Hawkins and Manunui brought their guns up to cover Steve and Danny. The two 5-0 members responded in kind as they backed up a few steps.

"Your man is wrong and I'm not dealing with someone who doubts me," Steve declared as he and Danny continued their slow and careful retreat. "I'll find my guns someplace else."

"I am not wrong, I swear it," Pahia stated heatedly. "I don't forget the men who put me out of business."

"Danny…..run," Steve ordered sharply when he saw the change in Lamar's eyes. Before the arms dealer could signal his men to shoot, McGarrett fired on the two men as they made a move to shoot them. Another burst of fire had Hawkins, Manunui and Pahia diving for cover behind the crates. Steve took off after Danny, his long strides putting distance between him and danger. Twisting to look back, Steve fired off several more rounds as did Danny in response to the gunfire from the two weapons dealers. Keao had crawled back to the relative safety of the trucks as the remaining gang members pounded past him to support their boss.

Steve's longer legs helped him reach the helicopter first and he vaulted into the seat and started flipping switches to bring the copter to life. Another burst of gunfire made Steve look up from the controls to see Danny rounding the front of the helicopter. He saw Danny falter slightly and then the man was climbing into the seat next to him.

"You okay? Steve demanded over the roar of the copter blades.

"Get this thing in the air," Danny yelled back. "We'll discuss "okay" later."

Nodding, Steve pulled on the controls and guided the helicopter into the air. Danny continued to return fire down at the men that were gathering below them and shooting up at them. He emptied his clip and then pulled back inside as bullets continued to ping off of the metal and glass of the machine. The big bird shuddered several times before reaching a safe height and the hail of bullets stopped.

"Chin, Kono, just how much of that did you get?" Steve asked in an attempt to contact the rest of the team. "Our cover was blown, we've taken fire."

He heard nothing but static in reply. He flipped several switches and spun the dial trying to improve reception but nothing helped.

"We've lost the radio," he told Danny. "I don't know how much they heard before we were cut off." He glanced at his partner who didn't answer him immediately.

The sight of his friend brought a rush of concern to the Commander as he saw Danny hunched over, his left hand pressed to his side. His forehead was damp with sweat and he looked pale. Red stain was seeping from between his fingers.

"You've been hit," Steve shouted.

"Brilliant observation," Danny gasped. "It's just a scratch. Just get us somewhere safe. Preferably where there's a hospital."

The words were barely out of his mouth when the helicopter lurched and Danny's eyes widened in alarm. He could see McGarrett fighting the controls, a grim look on his face.

"What's happening?"

"We're losing fuel," Steve answered. His arms ached from the effort to fight the stiffening controls. "They hit the fuel tank. There is no way we'll make it to Hilo."

"No, no, no….we can't crash out here in the middle of nowhere," Danny groaned.

"I'll get us down safely. Get your safety belt strapped on and brace yourself," Steve ordered.

End chapter.

Well that is what my muse has given me. What do you think? Anyone interested in reading more? Thanks for your attention.