Keep Believing...
A/N: Hey fellow readers! I am back with a brand new story and characters, well except for Steve McGarrett of course. Once again before we get started I just want to point out I do not own anything from the show except for my own characters that I made up. If I ever use lines/scenes from the show, which I probably will to make the story a bit more related to the actual show, they strictly belong to the show! I hope I don't disappoint and well you know the drill, read on...
"All the hard times are heavy, you're still breathing but baby when you're walking in this world alone, just remember that we never get it right all the time even when we're fully grown..."- Kaci Brown
Honolulu, Hawaii
Steve had been back in Hawaii for two months now after his father had been murdered by Victor Hesse. The governor of Hawaii had given him a task force with full immunity to find the man who had murdered his father and to keep criminals like Victor off her island. He loved the people he worked with who had easily become like a family to him. The only person missing right now to complete his family was his five-year old daughter Rosie, who was living in California with her mother, Jade.
Steve and Jade, Rosie's mother, had met nine years ago while he was stationed in Coronado. She'd been twenty-one and he had been twenty-six. When they'd first met they would just hang out whenever Steve was around town and after a year of calling and writing to each other Steve had developed feelings for Jade. He fell in love with her free-spirited self and the way she just enjoyed life. He knew behind that 'I don't are about a thing' façade there was a sweet and genuine girl who he worked hard to bring out. They dated for a little over three years and eventually moved in together a year after they began dating. Steve loved Jade with all his heart, probably the only woman he'd ever truly loved, but her constant jealousy over his friendship with Catherine eventually tore them apart. As much as he tried to reassure her that she was the only one for him, the arguments and fights eventually got worse until she kicked him out of their home in San Diego, California three months after Rosie was born. He'd tried on various occasions to make things right with her not only because he loved her but most importantly for their daughter. She refused, saying that unless he cut all ties with Catherine, they would never have a future together. Steve couldn't cut his ties with Catherine because they worked together and Jade knew how much his career meant to him so she was the one that ended up walking away from what they had because she didn't want him to give up his career. The only thing she never did was keep him away from his daughter. Even though he hadn't been around much during the last few years of Rosie's life, Jade kept him updated by sending him pictures or videos. Now that he would be living in Hawaii, he wished he could have Rosie there with him but that was impossible because Jade had her job in California. Jade was a fifth grade teacher at one of the most prestigious schools in San Diego and he knew how much she loved her job.
Steve was sitting in his office when Danny came in without knocking first. "Ever heard about knocking on a door before coming in Danny?"
Danny rolled his eyes and went back to knock on the door. "Happy?" he asked sarcastically.
"Very," Steve replied with equal sarcasm. "What can I do for you Danny?"
"Nothing, just wanted to see what you're doing. You seemed a little zoned out there," Danny asked in curiosity as to what could have his partner and friend zoning out.
"I was just thinking," Steve said in a noncommittal way with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You were thinking?" Danny asked pursing his lips and crossing his arms as he took a seat across from Steve waiting for him to elaborate.
"Yes Danny. You know that thing people do with their heads," Steve said pointing to his own head in case Danny didn't know what he meant.
Danny rolled his eyes. "Funny. Now what were you thinking about? "
"That is none of your business," Steve said in a gentle but firm tone. "Don't you have some paperwork to do?"
"I'm done. So you're not going to tell me?" Danny asked. "You get to probe into my life but I can't into yours?"
"It's private, Danny," Steve said running a hand through his hair.
"My life is private too yet you still manage to find out," Danny countered back.
"That's because you decide to share," Steve shot back.
"I decide to share? Are you kidding me right now?" Danny said as he stood up and got ready for one of his famous rants to which Steve just rolled his eyes.
Before Danny could continue Kono poked her head in. "Sorry to interrupt but we just got a case."
Steve nodded and they all made their way to the crime scene.
San Diego, California
Jade Michaels was glad the school year was finally over. She loved her job and she loved her students but sometimes a person needed some time off from everything, that's why she'd decided not to sign up to teach summer school this year. The other reason, and the most important one, was her five-year old daughter. Her daughter, Rosie, really needed her but what Jade thought she needed the most was her father who she had not seen in almost a year now. The only reason Rosie still remembered Steve was because she, Jade, always talked to her about him, showed her pictures and videos he had made for her. The last time Jade had talked to Steve was when he called to tell her about his father's murder, two months ago. Jade had offered to take Rosie to him but he'd refused saying that she still had school to finish and that he would keep her updated but she still hadn't heard from him again. Jade finished packing her last box, since teachers had to pack their personal belongings at the end of each school year, and turned to her daughter.
"Rosie, sweetheart, are you ready to go?" Jade asked her five-year old who was sitting in one of the empty desks coloring. That was one of the things Jade loved about this school, having her daughter with her. The preschool class got out an hour before the rest of the students and her teacher would drop Rosie off in Jade's classroom after all the preschoolers had been dismissed. Rosie would then sit in the back of the classroom and entertain herself by either coloring or taking a nap on the reading couch she had for her students.
"Yes mommy," Rosie's angelic voice answered her as she put away her colors in her backpack. "Can we see daddy now, please?"
"I'm sorry honey, I told you we still had some things to do here before that could happen," Jade said with regret seeing her daughter sad and missing her father.
"But I really want to see him now, you promised," Rosie whined with a pout as she crossed her arms reminding Jade of Steve. Rosie had light brown curly hair, which she'd inherited from Steve. Her blue eyes came from both Steve and Jade since they both had them, although, Jade's eyes were a brighter shade of blue.
"That's enough Rosie. We will finish what we have to do first and then we'll go see him," Jade said sternly but in a gentle way so a five-year old could understand.
Rosie sighed as she went and grabbed her mother's hand so they could go home. Jade knew how difficult it was for Rosie to understand their situation. The majority of her friends had both their parents living together and Rosie had asked Jade on various occasions why her daddy didn't live with them. Jade had tried her best in explaining how her daddy had a job that required him to constantly be traveling but she also told her that in order for her daddy and mommy to be friends and have a peaceful and healthy relationship he had to live somewhere else. Rosie didn't really understand but she wouldn't ask after receiving the same response over and over. What Jade didn't want to tell Rosie was that she had kicked Steve out of their home three months after she was born.
Five years ago…
Jade had been waiting for Steve for over three hours now and she still hadn't heard back from him. He had told her he would be home three hours ago in time for their dinner they had planned. Steve had promised Jade he would take her out for dinner, the first time they would be able to go out after their daughter had been born three months ago but there was still no sign of Steve and he wasn't returning her calls or messages. Jade was about to call Steve one more time, not because she still wanted to go out to their dinner but because she was beginning to worry and she had already sent their baby sitter home an hour ago, when she heard noise coming from the entrance. Jade walked towards the door and saw Steve coming in.
"Are you okay? I was really worried, you weren't returning any of my calls or messages," a very worried Jade asked as she threw her arms around Steve.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to get worried but something came up and I didn't have time to call you that's why I came straight home after I finished," he soothed her as he held her in his arms.
Pulling away and wiping the few tears she'd let escape, Jade asked Steve, "What came up that you couldn't even call or send a message that you weren't going to make it?"
Steve hesitated knowing Jade wasn't going to like what he was going to say. Truth was, Catherine had needed his help on a personal family issue that had come up at the last minute and he was the only one there to help her.
"What's going on?" she asked softly as she wrapped her hands around his waist and searched his face. "Babe, talk to me."
Steve sighed as he ran a free hand over his face and looking over her head he said in a quiet voice, "Catherine had a family emergency and she needed my help so I went with her to see what I could help with."
Jade thought she'd heard wrong but when she studied Steve's face and noticed how he wasn't looking at her she knew she'd heard right. Steve had been with Catherine this whole time and that was no excuse for him not to have contacted her. She backed away from Steve and let out a small laugh as she shook her head.
"Catherine, right, and obviously whatever emergency she had she had to come to you," Jade asked in a bitter tone.
"There was no one else Jade. Please understand, I was the first person she saw and I noticed something was wrong so I asked and I offered to take-"
"What was the emergency?" Jade asked interrupting Steve as she stood there with her arms crossed waiting for his answer.
"Her sister was in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Fortunately she's stable now in case you wanted to know."
"I'm glad her sister is doing well, but that's no excuse for me not to hear from you for three hours! Three hours Steve! I was worrying myself sick thinking the worse when you wouldn't answer your damn phone and I find out all my worrying was for nothing when you were with your friend Catherine. Tell me, what could you possibly do in that situation? There's nothing you could've done to help her sister. Don't you see it Steve? She's using whatever situation she can use as an excuse to be close to you."
"Jade, please, you have to understand, she was in no condition to drive her self to the hospital. I would have done the same thing for any one else in the same situation. Don't read too much into this. I was helping out a friend, that's all it was. Yeah maybe I should have called but it just escaped my mind, I'm sorry," Steve said as he tried to make her understand.
"It just escaped your mind?!" she demanded incredulous. "How could the fact that you have a girlfriend and a daughter waiting for you at home, escape your mind?"
Jade turned her back to Steve and began walking up the stairs with Steve hot on her heels talking to her.
"I'm sorry okay, it won't happen again. I can't imagine what you could have possibly been going through thinking something terrible happened to me but please don't make this any more than it is," Steve said to Jade's back following her into their bedroom.
Jade stopped in the middle of their room and turned to face him. "You're right, it won't happen again," she said furious at Steve and turned once more to walk into their walk in closet. Then she came back out with a handful of Steve's clothes.
"What are you doing?" Steve asked as he saw her walk by with a handful of his clothes and following her towards the hall.
Jade threw the handful of clothing in her arms over the banister and turned to Steve who was standing behind her with an incredulous face. "What am I doing? This is what I'm doing Steve, I'm getting rid of all your stuff. I want you to get all your belongings and leave. I don't want you another minute in this house," she calmly told him as she made her way back into her room.
"Jade," he called after her. "Jade you can't be serious!" he said astounded at her reaction. He knew she was overreacting and what he'd done didn't call for her to kick him out. "You're overreacting. You can't kick me out over this."
Jade turned to face Steve with tears falling from her eyes, her arms crossed, and told him in a defeated and broken tone, "I'm just tired of all this Steve. I'm tired of the constant fighting and I can't do it anymore. I love you so much but this," she said motioning to them with one hand, "can't go on like this. She won Steve. This is exactly what she wanted and she finally got it."
"What are you talking about? I don't understand what you're saying. Who won?"
"Catherine! Catherine won Steve!" she yelled in frustration throwing her hands in the air and then running them through her hair. "She wants you and this is what she wanted all along, for us to fight and end our relationship."
"That's not true and you know it Jade. Catherine means nothing to me. She's just a friend, that's all. Please don't do this, I love you and you and Rosie are all I want," he said his tone breaking at the end but he didn't let the tears that had gathered in his eyes fall.
"Please Steve, just get your things and leave," she said as she leaned against the wall next to the closet's door.
Steve walked to Jade and placed her head in between his hands as he whispered against her lips, "Please, Jade don't do this. Don't ask me to leave. I love you and I know you love me too. I can see it in your eyes."
Steve kissed Jade like there was no tomorrow afraid that if he let go of her she would vanish. He felt Jade respond to his kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he could also feel the tears falling from her eyes. He couldn't lose her. He loved her so much to let her go but her insecurities were getting the best of her and he felt helpless not knowing how to make her see that she and Rosie were the only ones for him.
Jade knew she had to do this. She couldn't let Steve lure her back into what they had so she was the first to break the kiss and whispered to him, "I love you so much Steve but sometimes love isn't enough when there is no more trust and that's the problem." Looking into his eyes she said, "I don't trust you anymore."
Steve suddenly let her go as she said that she didn't trust him anymore and that hurt. It hurt so much that he couldn't believe she'd actually said that. "I can't believe you just said that. I've never given you any reason not to trust me Jade and you know it. You're just blinded by your insecurities and you're letting them cloud your judgment."
"They're not insecurities Steve. I'm just stating what I've seen. You're friendship with Catherine is obviously more important to you and I'm not going to ask you to end it anymore because I know you two work together. I would never ask you to give up your job because I know how much it means to you. I can't and I won't. You are welcome to come see Rosie whenever you want but I don't want you in this house anymore. So please pack your things and leave." And with that Jade walked out of the room leaving a hurt and confused Steve behind.
End of flashback…
Jade knew she had been harsh with Steve but she was very young, immature, and insecure of Steve being gone for so long especially after all the stories she would hear from other women whose partners or husbands were in the military. Then she began hearing stories about Catherine and how Steve and she would spend a lot of time together. Jade began imagining things and when she found out she was pregnant, something neither of them planned, the stories came faster and she lost it until she ended up yelling at him and throwing his things out the door. Jade had been twenty-five at the time and now that she was thirty, more grown up and mature she knew how wrong her actions had been. She'd acted like an immature spoiled brat who was always used to getting her own way after being raised in a wealthy home. She didn't know how Steve put up with her during the three years they dated but now that he wasn't there with her she regretted ever letting him go. Jade now understood what they said about not knowing what you have until it's gone. But what hurt the most was that she'd ended up pushing Steve right into the arms of Catherine.
About eight months after she had ended things with Steve, Jade heard from a friend, whom was dating one of Steve's buddies, that he and Catherine had something going on. Her friend didn't know if it was serious or not but they would spend a lot of time hanging out after training or when they were both on land. One time Steve had even taken Catherine on a double-date with his buddy and her friend. Jade was heartbroken after hearing this. She knew she'd been unreasonable with him and she should have trusted him but after what she'd heard, Jade always had the nagging doubt as to whether or not Steve and Catherine ever really had something going on besides a 'friendship' while he was still with her. Jade never asked Steve about it because she just wanted her daughter to have a healthy relationship with her father. All they ever talked about was about their daughter and anything related to her.
Jade and Rosie arrived at their home around four in the afternoon. They lived in a two story single family home in Collins Ranch Place, San Diego, California. Jade couldn't afford to live in a house as big as this one on her teaching salary, even though it was a good salary since she worked for a private school, but being an only child, her grandparents had left this house to her in their will before they passed away seven years ago. Jade's parents still lived and they had offered on various occasions to help her out financially but Jade refused. She wanted to raise her daughter with whatever she or Steve could afford to give her. Jade didn't want Rosie to grow up like she did with everything at the tip of her palm and expecting everyone to do as she wished. She wanted Rosie to appreciate everything she had even if she was attending one of the best schools in the area and living in a beautiful neighborhood. They only reason Jade had still not gotten rid of the house she lived in, which was too big for just the two of them, was for pure sentimental value because it had belonged to her grandparents. Jade was interrupted from her thoughts by Rosie asking her what they were having for dinner.
"What do you feel like eating today princess?" Jade asked her daughter as she bent down to be at her level.
"Can we order pizza mommy, please?" Rosie asked in a begging tone.
"What kind of pizza?" Jade asked.
"Ham and pineapple," Rosie said matter of fact.
There was no doubt she was Steve's daughter. "That's your daddy's favorite pizza," Jade told her daughter a smile on her face.
"That's my favorite pizza too. So can we order pizza mommy?" Rosie asked one more time.
Jade pretended to be thinking about it until she said, "Alright pizza it is then."
"Thank you mommy, I love you, you're the best!" Rosie said happy to be getting pizza as she hugged her mother tightly.
Jade laughed as she returned the hug, "I love you too sweetie, now go on upstairs and change from your school uniform and don't forget to wash your hands."
Later on when Jade and Rosie were sitting down in the dining room enjoying their ham and pineapple pizza, Rosie received some very exciting news. They were going to Hawaii to see her daddy!
"When do we leave mommy?!" asked an overexcited Rosie.
"We leave tomorrow night, that way we'll be in Hawaii around morning on Friday," Jade explained. Today it was Wednesday, so they would be leaving on Thursday night and arriving early Friday morning. "But you have to finish eating all your food and be good. We'll pack a small bag and buy anything else we might need once we're in Hawaii."
"Yeah! Thank you, thank you mommy!" Rosie said bouncing in her chair. "I'm going to see my daddy," she said as she resumed her eating.
Jade was happy for her daughter and she almost felt like crying for seeing how excited and happy Rosie was at the idea of seeing her father, whom she hadn't seen in a year. Hopefully Steve would be as equally happy as Rosie was with the surprise visit.
A/N: Don't forget to review! :)