Growing up McGarrett

He's Alive. I'm Dead!

Danny and the officer are shaking hands. I open my mouth to say something to him but just about manage "Uncle Danny...I..."
Danny gives me the angriest look I've ever seen from him.
Danny - "Remaining silent would be a very good option for you right now!"
Officer nodding his head in my direction - "So you know Benjamin Button here, Detective?"
Danny gives him a confused look.
Officer - "She tried to tell me her and her friend here are 18, they just look young for their age." He laughs at his own joke.
Danny is staring at me, I don't meet his gaze but I can feel it.
Danny through gritted teeth - "She's 12!"
Officer - "So she yours?"
Danny - "No I've been looking after her while her dad, my partner, Steve McGarrett was away."
Officer looking at me, eyes wide - "As in Commander Steve McGarrett?! Pheeeewww you are in big trouble kid!" He turns to Danny. "Well rather you than me telling The Commander about this! You can take her."
Danny sighing - "Yeah, I don't relish the idea of telling him either."
My anger bubbles up, why does he keep pretending that Dad is alive, I'm so sick of the lies.
I push myself up on my very wobbly legs and shout at him - "STOP FUCKING LYING I KNOW HE'S DEAD!" Much to my dismay I realise I'm still slurring my words. Way to go Sam!
Both of them look at me shocked at my sudden outburst. In fact everyone is looking at me. My adrenaline evaporates and I slump back down on the couch.
Danny looks at me with complete confusion - "Samantha, your father is a bit banged up but he is very much alive. That's why I came looking for you. Now get your stuff and let's go."
What? He's alive? My head is reeling again trying to make sense of it all. But I knew he was dead, I was sure of it. Would my head just stop fucking spinning for a minute so I could make something make sense. Danny's angry voice cut through my thoughts.
Danny - "NOW SAMANTHA!"
I try to stand but my legs are jelly sticks and I fall back onto the couch. I look helplessly at Danny. He bends to grab my arms and growls - "How much did you drink?"
Me protesting weakly - "I didn't, I..." He cuts across me again in a low growl - "Save it!"
Something in me makes me comply. I get to my feet with his help and he starts moving me towards the door. After I stumble a couple of times he realises it is a futile exercise and grabs me up into his arms, carrying me out the door and to his car. He puts me in the passenger seat and buckles me in.
Me - "I'm really sorry Danno."
He gives me a withering look - "I thought I told you to save it!" and he slams the door closed.
Kimmy comes running out of the house and gives him my bag. He says something to her and she hangs her head. Then she looks at me and I smile weakly, she doesn't smile back, but turns and goes back into the house. Great she's mad at me too, oh well join the loooong line Kimmy!
Danny gets in the car and takes off like a bat out of hell. I've never seen him this angry. Guilt washes over me and with it comes the nausea again.
Me - "Danny I think I'm gonna puke."
Danny- "Don't you dare throw up in this car!" He pulls the car over, jumping out with it barely stopped and wrenches my door open. Just in time as I again turn my stomach inside out! I didn't get any in the car thankfully but then I realise I did get it all over Danny's legs and shoes. I look up at him sheepishly and he's standing, arms wide incredulously taking in what just happened. He shakes his head.
Danny - "Any more?"
Me - "I don't think so, I'm sorry."
He gives me a cold look and shuts the door. I can hear him ranting to himself as he walks around the car. I pick up something about Dad owing him so much for this. Dad! I'd forgotten, he said Dad is alive. But how? Where? I put my head in my hands trying to stop the spinning. Danny gets back in but doesn't start up the car. I lift my head to look at him. His face has softened a bit, less anger and some concern.
Danny - "What on earth were you thinking Sam?"
Me - "I thought he was dead." My voice was flat, quiet, unemotional. "I thought he had left me and got himself killed. I was angry, at him, at you, and at myself. All these feelings and thoughts were there, all the time. I just wanted them to stop." I had heard before that events, or a need to, can make you sober up suddenly. Maybe that had happened here because I was making sense and not slurring my words as much. The speed of the head spinning had slowed significantly and my head wasn't so hard to hold up anymore.
Danny- "Why didn't you come to me? Tell me your worries?"
Me - "You were obviously hiding something from me. The last couple of days in the Palace you were all busy on a case that you took great pains to not let me know about. I knew it was to do with my dad especially when Joe turned up. Dad had gone to Japan after Joe so if Joe didn't know where he was something bad was happening. You were all much too invested in me thinking everything was great. I knew from all of it he had died somewhere overseas and you lot were planning a mission to get his body. Then you would tell me."
Danny - "And because of this conclusion you had come to you decided to sneak out and write yourself off. How did that work out for you?." He's looking at me with his arms crossed across his broad chest.
Me, putting my head back in my hands. - "Not so well I guess."
Danny starting back up the car - "Well can you guess how your dad is going to react to this?!"
My head shoots up, whipping around to look at Danny with shock and fear.
Me - "You, YOU CAN'T TELL HIM!"
Danny, anger returning - "First of all lower your voice and second if you think I'm keeping this from your dad, you must have killed a hell of a lot of brain cells tonight!"
Me pleading - "Danny you can't, please, please you can't!"
Danny - "You're right, I can't. You need to tell him."
Me - "No fucking way!"
This earns me a stinging slap to my bare thigh.
Danny - "Watch your language!"
Tears well up in my eyes and my voice is a quivering whisper when it comes out - "Please Uncle Danny, I'm begging you! Please don't make me tell him!"
Danny looks at me sternly, my tears not even making a crack in the armour.
Danny - "Samantha, you were just caught at a huge party of minors, where drink & drugs were being used and the HPD was involved. In what world, what universe do you think your father is not going to find out about this?! Even if I wanted to, and I don't, I couldn't keep it from him. And believe me it will be better for you if you are up front and honest about it."

I slump back into my seat. Of course he's right. There is no way I can keep this from my dad.