Chapter Text
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It had started as a routine investigation—though Danny had learned there was no such thing with McGarrett. Early that morning, they’d been briefed on a string of recent disappearances—three people gone within days, all last seen down by the docks. The theory was simple: maybe they’d been pulled out to sea by someone who didn’t want them coming back. But there was no evidence yet to support it.
Then came the final call about an abandoned boat spotted drifting a few miles offshore, and Steve had jumped at the chance to investigate. He gave Danny barely enough time to grab his keys before whisking him to the marina, more determined than ever to find answers.
As they strode along the busy dock toward their boat, Danny tried to rein in his frustration.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, waving a hand for emphasis as they walked. “You think it’s a good idea to head out in the middle of the Pacific, on Halloween, to chase down some ghost boat when we have zero evidence this is anything but an accident?”
Steve gave him an easy smile. “It’s not a ghost boat, Danny. It’s our only lead.”
Danny shook his head, exasperated. “You’re telling me nobody thought to call the Coast Guard?”
Steve paused to look back at him, almost amused. “We’re the ones who take risks when there’s no one else to do it. Besides,” he added, voice dropping, “three people missing without a trace? That’s not something I’m letting go. Are you?”
There was something in Steve’s voice that Danny couldn’t shake, a quiet urgency that went beyond just another case. Reluctantly, he nodded, falling in step beside Steve as they approached the boat.
As they boarded, Danny couldn’t help but mutter, “You know, for someone who’s supposed to be smart, you’re suspiciously reckless.”
“Trust me, Danno,” Steve replied, adjusting their course and powering up the engine. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
*Then, about an hour in, the fog rolled in.*
It crept across the ocean like a blanket, swallowing the horizon until they couldn’t see more than five feet in front of them. Danny shivered, though the evening air was warm. He turned to Steve, throwing him a sidelong glance that combined skepticism with irritation.
“Let me get this straight. We’re out here, in the middle of the ocean, on Halloween night, and now we can’t see anything? This just screams bad omen,” he said, voice edged with irritation.
Steve glanced at him, one corner of his mouth tilting up in a familiar, almost smug smile. “You said you wanted to try new things.”
“Oh, right,” Danny scoffed. “I signed up for apple picking with the kids, maybe pumpkin carving—not a last-minute Halloween excursion to the Bermuda Triangle.”
“Relax,” Steve said, with that reassuring tone that was both infuriating and comforting. “We’ll be there soon. It’s just fog; no reason to freak out.”
Danny crossed his arms, casting a doubtful look around. “Steve, we’re in a boat. Boats and fog don’t mix, especially on Halloween. Ever see *The Fog*? I don’t want any undead mariners coming for us.”
Steve snorted, adjusting the controls. “Danny, if there’s anyone unlucky enough to bring bad omens, it’s you. I’ve seen you break more mirrors and walk under more ladders than anyone I know.”
Danny groaned. “Yeah, and you’re the one who drags me into life-and-death situations every day of the week. If you think I’m gonna sit here and calmly trust your ‘it’ll be fine’ speech, then you clearly don’t know me.”
Despite his usual banter, Steve softened a little, giving Danny a look that was almost fond in the dim light. But the fog grew thicker, and with it, a sense of foreboding settled between them, quiet and heavy.
Suddenly, the boat gave a hard shudder, and the engine sputtered before falling silent. Both men froze as silence enveloped them, more complete than the ocean should allow.
“You’re kidding me,” Danny whispered, voice flat. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Steve.”
Steve tried the ignition again, and then once more, but nothing responded. The boat was dead in the water, surrounded by thick fog with no land in sight. The silence felt heavy, pressing in on them like a warning.
“Perfect,” Danny muttered, gesturing at the fog with one hand. “This is exactly how I wanted to spend Halloween: stranded in the middle of nowhere with Captain Terrifying here.”
Steve ran a hand through his hair, glancing around at the nothingness. “It’s just a minor issue. We can handle it.”
“Oh, sure,” Danny said, voice rising. “Because you and I have been in *so* many horror movies, so I’m sure you’re an expert. Steve, people don’t go out in the ocean on Halloween night in thick fog with no working engine!”
“Would you relax?” Steve snapped back, though there was no real heat in it. He was already eyeing the oars, knowing they’d have to row to shore.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I must have missed the part where I got a choice in this,” Danny muttered, reluctantly grabbing one of the oars. “Why am I the one always getting dragged into your crazy ideas? I could be at home. I could be handing out candy to a bunch of kids right now. But no—no, I’m here, in a silent boat, rowing to some mysterious island.”
They rowed in near silence, broken only by Danny’s exasperated complaints between strokes, as they finally neared the shadowy outline of land. It was small, jagged with rocks along the shore, the beach darkened by overgrown trees that towered like skeletal fingers reaching toward the sky.
“Alright,” Steve murmured as they touched land. He jumped out, splashing into the shallow water, then turned, extending a hand to Danny.
Danny looked at Steve’s hand for a long moment, a rare hesitation in his eyes. But he accepted, gripping Steve’s hand as he stepped out, the two of them shoulder to shoulder as they glanced around the desolate beach.
“So, what’s the plan, Navy SEAL?” Danny asked, his voice edged with frustration but softened by underlying trust.
Steve let go of Danny’s hand, giving him one of those rare, genuine smiles. “We find some shelter, wait it out until morning, and then we head back.”
“Right. Okay, yeah, because that sounds easy,” Danny said, shoving his hands in his pockets as they made their way along the shore. “A dark island, no other people, and not a clue where we’re going. Great plan, McGarrett.”
“Danny,” Steve said gently, brushing shoulders with him as they walked. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
The words hung between them, lingering longer than either was used to. Danny looked up, worry and something unspoken in his eyes, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he sighed, falling into step beside Steve, as if that silent promise was all he needed for now.
They stumbled upon an old campsite, overgrown and scattered with remnants: a torn jacket here, a single shoe there, the remains of an old tent still half-standing, flapping in the faint breeze. Danny’s mouth pressed into a thin line as he took in the scene.
“Perfect. The one spot on the whole island that looks even creepier than the rest of it, and of course it’s where we’re staying,” he grumbled.
Steve tried to make light of it. “Hey, maybe they left us some marshmallows,” he teased, earning a snort from Danny.
“Oh, very funny. The only thing they left is the sense that they didn’t leave by choice,” Danny muttered, rubbing his arms and glancing around. “Does it feel…off to you?”
Steve shifted closer, the warmth of his body a steady presence beside Danny’s. “Yeah,” he admitted quietly. “But we’re together. I’ve got your back.”
Danny exhaled, a flicker of relief in his eyes. “You’d better.”
They managed to spark a small fire in the old pit, the flames flickering and casting an orange glow. Every now and then, Danny caught Steve glancing at him, something soft and intense in his expression.
“You okay?” Steve asked, breaking the silence.
Danny shrugged, watching the firelight dance. “If I have to be here, I guess it’s good I’m with you.”
Steve didn’t look away, didn’t deflect with a smile or a joke. He just stayed close, his presence steady in the flickering firelight.
A faint rustling sounded from the shadows beyond their camp, pulling them back to reality. Steve straightened, immediately alert, while Danny’s hand instinctively moved to his hip, even though they were unarmed.
Steve gave Danny a reassuring nod. “We’re fine. Just stay close.”
Danny rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, edging closer until their shoulders brushed as they kept their eyes trained on the darkness.
“Yeah,” Danny muttered, voice a bit shaky but full of warmth. “I’m not going anywhere.”
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