I am a big McRoll fan, so I have been unsettled with how they handled the whole storyline with Catherine. Steve and Cath had reached a level in their relationship that makes it hard for me to believe that she would just leave Steve and never come back. "In the real world', I just don't think it would have happened that way. (Seriously, who could leave Super Seal and NOT come back? Lol) In order to resolve things on my own, I've come up with what I think would've happened if Catherine found out about Steve's last battle with Wo Fat.
I do not own Hawaii Five 0 or any of the characters. This is a work of fiction….and how I would've wanted things to play out. It won't be a long story: Maybe 2-3 chapters. Let me know what you think. I love to read reviews!
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Catherine looked up to see a someone walking up to her dressed in army fatigues. She couldn't stop the sinking feeling in her chest. She excused herself from the women in the village she had been helping to approach him.
"Lieutenant Rollins?"
"Sir?"
"You need to come with me, ma'am. It's about Commander McGarrett."
Catherine felt her heart squeeze in her chest and a lump formed in her throat. "Is he okay?" she managed to whisper out.
"Please come with me, ma'am. Detective Williams can fill you in. I will take you back to base for the call."
Catherine quickly gathered the few necessities she had as she prayed Steve was okay. God, please let him be okay, she prayed. Upon reaching the base, Catherine found her way to the command center where she could make a call to Danny. Danny answered on the second ring.
"Danny Williams."
"Danny, it's Catherine. Is Steve okay?" she asked breathlessly.
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening and served to bring Catherine's worst fears to the surface. Tears sprang to her eyes and she gripped the phone tighter. "Danny?" she pleaded.
She heard a sniff on the other end as if Danny was trying to keep his own emotions under control. "It's bad, Cath. It's bad."
"Wh-what happened?" she asked even though she was afraid to know the answer.
"Wo Fat got him. He kidnapped him and had him for 2 days before we found him. We managed to get him in time, but he's messed up." Oh God, no. Catherine knew it must have been a death match if Steve and Wo Fat had come face to face again. "He would probably kill me if he knew I called you, but you need to be here. He needs you. He keeps asking about his dad."
Catherine's heart broke. Poor Steve. He had suffered so much already. Lesser men would have crumbled, given up, or been killed by now but not Steve. Steve was strong. Probably the strongest man she had ever known. It is easy to assume a man like that was unbreakable. Or at least that's what they all wanted to believe because the alternative was too frightening. And now they were living it: Steve was broken and needed her. She didn't need to think about what to do. There was only one choice. She had to get to him.
"I'll be there as soon as I can!" And with that, she began the process of getting home to Steve.
It was no easy task getting a flight home from Afghanistan on a moments notice. Fortunately, Catherine had connections and she used them to her favor. It still took her two days…..two of the longest days of her life….but she finally arrived at the Honolulu International Airport to find Danny waiting for her.
Catherine saw the fatigue in Danny's eyes as she approached him and tried to smile. He offered her a weak smile back and grabbed her into a hug. After a few seconds, he released her and they headed to the hospital. Catherine was almost afraid to know, but she had to ask, "How is he doing?"
Danny looked at her briefly before turning back to the road, "Wo Fat messed him up, Cath. He was tortured."
Catherine's eyes closed as if willing herself not to see the pictures springing to her mind.
"This was worse that Korea, though. He was drugged with a hallucinogen at levels that should have killed him but he managed to survive. He was shocked. He was beaten…." Danny stopped to take a breath and get his emotions back in control. Catherine noticed him gripping the steering wheel she was surprised it didn't shatter in his hands. Reaching a hand out, she touched his arm. Danny glanced over at her and saw the tears in her eyes.
"It'll be okay now though. You are here." he offered her a weak smile and she squeezed his arm.
They reached the hospital and Danny quickly escorted Catherine to the Intensive Care Unit where Steve was being treated. Chin, Kono, and Lou were all there as well and they quickly exchanged greetings. It didn't escape Catherine's notice that all of them looked weary and tired. They also looked afraid. This must be bad.
After getting an update on Steve's condition, Danny took her hand to lead her to Steve's room. Steve had extensive burns on his body from the electric shocks. He had broken ribs, a broken wrist, multiple cuts which had required stitches, and deep bruising all over his body. Hearing the list of injuries was almost too much for her to take. Danny stopped her just before they entered Steve's room. "Are you ready, hon?"
She honestly didn't know. She had seen Steve hurt before, but this sounded worse than anything he had experienced in the past. Was she ready? No, she wasn't ready….but she had to see him. She shook her head slowly.
"They are still trying to get the drugs out of his system, so he has been in and out of consciousness since we brought him in. Don't be surprised if he asks about his dad. He's been asking about his dad a lot. And you….He's been asking for you."
Danny led Catherine into the room where Steve lay asleep on the bed. Catherine wasn't prepared for what she saw. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears filled her eyes and began falling down her cheeks. Her poor, sweet Steve. He was sleeping as she rushed to his side so she could reach out to touch his bruised and battered face. She caressed his cheek and leaned down to kiss him softly where her hand had just been. He started to stir and she frantically began wiping the tears away.
"Steve?" she asked hopefully. "Steve, it's Catherine."
Steve didn't open his eyes. Just began to toss his head from side to side as if trying to get away from a bad dream. "Catherine. Cath…. No….no…NO!" He screamed in anguish before opening his eyes and focusing on the one at his bedside.
Steve couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was she really here? Was his sweet Cath really here? He was afraid to speak. Afraid that speaking might make her go away as it had in his nightmares. He swallowed, paused for just a second, and whispered, "Catherine? Baby, is that you? Please tell me I'm not dreaming." Hearing the endearment shook Catherine to her core. Steve never called her by anything other than her name unless they were alone together. He looked like a frightened little boy as he reached out to take her hand.
Catherine smiled at him and tried to hold back the tears that were insisting to be released. She wanted to be strong for him, but she was so damned happy to have him alive that she could have jumped for joy. "It's me, Steve. I'm here."
And then he cried. Literally cried with relief that his Catherine was there by his side. Seeing Steve cry tore away at what little resolve she had left. This man had been her rock more times than she could count. He had been her rock. Her protector. Her warrior. Her man. And now he was crying with relief at seeing her by his side.
Catherine crawled up into the bed with Steve to hold him close. Hospital policies be damned, she was not going to leave his side until he was strong again.
