Title: Christmas Fireworks or 'I believe it when I read it'

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Unfortunately they are still not mine. I hope CBS and whoever owns the rights to Five-0 doesn't mind too much that I'm borrowing them for a short while.

Summary: The search for the perfect Christmas gift doesn't go as planned at all.

A/N: Cokie316's and my Christmas gift to you all. More notes at the end.


Christmas Fireworks - or - I believe it when I read it

The Friday before Christmas

Steve looked up from his task of finding the perfect Christmas gift for Catherine. He had been thinking about it for weeks now, and he came up with... just nothing. He drew a total blank thinking about what to get her. Sure he had thought about the 'normal' stuff a boyfriend gets his girlfriend, from jewelry (screaming commitment) over a romantic dinner (too cliche) to a little get-away (too obvious a play for sex).

"Damn," Steve called out in frustration and closed his laptop.

He looked over at Danny and debated to ask him for help, but then thought better of not reminding him of Gabby who was still kind of a sore spot for his friend.

Steve knew that Cath was looking forward to spending the holidays with him. In all the years they've known each other it had been very rare that they could spend any holiday together. So, this year she had told him she would like nothing more than to have a low key Christmas just with him and the rest of the family, and without any crime drama. He had been more than delighted that she felt being a part of the ohana.

Steve sighed and went out of his office to ask his friend's advice after all.

"Hey, Danny, got a minute?"

"Sure," Danny answered and winked Steve into his office. "What's up?"

Steve settled down on the couch across from Danny's desk and told him about his 'problem'. "It's our first Christmas together, and... well, I want it to be perfect."

Steve looked at Danny and wondered what had him smiling. "What?" He asked a bit irritated.

"You are a big softy," Danny said with laughter in his voice.

Steve grumbled something and stood up again. "Forget I asked," he told his partner and turned to leave.

"Hey, Steve, come on. I didn't mean it like that," Danny called after his friend. "Come back here. What's gotten into you?"

Steve sat back down and shook his head. "I don't know. I've been thinking about this holiday for weeks now. I just know something is going to happen and will ruin everything. A case, or we get blown up, or... I don't know... something."

Danny couldn't keep his laughter in any longer. "You are really nervous about this. Why, Steven? You've been living with Cath for how long now? Months. Why are you suddenly all nerves?"

Steve smiled that doopey smile he reserved for Cath and Grace, and looked at Danny.

"Oh my God, you are going to tell her you love her," Danny suddenly blurted out.

"What? No, she knows how I feel about her," Steve answered, but couldn't turn off the stupid smile.

"Yeah, but you haven't told her, have you?"

"When you say it you can't take it back," Steve reminded him of what he had told him a few months back.

"Do you love her?" Danny bluntly asked.

"Yes." To Steve's surprise that came out without any hesitation and the knowledge it was true.

"Wow. You know, that should be your present for her. I'm sure she would love that; nicely wrapped and with a bit of jewelry attached to it, of course," Danny told him with a big smile.

"You think? She never told me she loved me either," Steve admitted softly.

"Oh. So you think what if you told her and she wouldn't feel the same way?"

"Uh huh."

"I think your worries are completely unfounded, Steve," Danny assured his friend. "Catherine loves you. Every idiot can see that. I take that back... not every idiot, because you obviously can't." Danny grinned at his partner.

"Very funny, Danny."

"Yeah, I thought so."

H50 - H50 - H50

Steve thought he must be crazy having come to the mall on a Friday evening before Christmas. What the heck were all these people doing here anyway? He asked himself as yet another shopper bumped into him.

"Sorry," he heard the guy mumble and watched him hurry off. Steve instinctively checked his pocket, but his wallet was still there.

He was just questioning his sanity again when he saw the reason why he was in this war zone. Steve chuckled for a second thinking of the mall with all their colorful Christmas decorations and lights everywhere as a place he really, really didn't want to be. But seeing his honorary niece managed to lift his spirits a little bit.

"Hey, Gracie," he greeted Danny's daughter and got a hug as a greeting in return.

"Hello, Uncle Steve."

"Hello, Kalaka," Steve greeted the man he and Danny had recommended as Grace's new driver after she had been kidnapped.

"Commander, it's nice to see you again," the tall Hawaiian greeted back. "I'll leave Grace with you then? Mrs. Edwards said you would take her home later?"

"Yes, that's fine, Kalaka. Thank you." Steve shook his hand and watched him leave. He then turned to Grace, who looked a bit nervous. "So, you wanna tell me what this is all about? Why I had to meet you here?"

"Uncle Steve, thank you for agreeing to come. I... They...," Grace started to say and waved her arms around, just like Danny would.

"Of course I'd come, Grace. I'd always come for you," Steve assured her. "So, what is it that you need?"

"Mom couldn't come with me, Charles is sick. And I don't want her to know anyway," Grace elaborated.

"You don't want her to know what?" Steve was now curious.

They were going up the escalator and Steve wondered if Grace even had a plan where to go.

"My gift for Danno. I've been here before, but they didn't want to sell it to me," Grace explained.

"When were you here?" Steve wondered.

"Last week with the class, shopping for toys to give to the hospital."

Steve had heard that Grace's school organized a toy give-away for the nearby Children's Hospital. Most of the parents at Grace's school were rather loaded, so they were encouraged to step in and donate in the name of the kids and school.

"And then you tried to buy something, but couldn't?"

"Uh huh," Grace looked down to the floor and didn't explain further.

"Grace? What were you trying to buy for Danno?"

"A book... sort of."

"Sort of? And they didn't want to sell it to you? Why the heck not?" Steve found that rather odd.

"Uncle Steve... it's... in... the... adult section," Grace whispered.

"What?" Steve blurted out shocked. "The adult... Grace? What kind of book is it?" Steve looked around and wondered if the people were already staring at them or not. He looked down at Grace and could see that she was a nice shade of red. "Gracie, what book did you want to buy for your dad?"

"It's not really a book, it has lots of pictures of motorbikes in it. Old bikes," Grace explained.

"Danno likes old motorbikes?" Steve had never heard Danny talk about that. Danny's opinion of classic cars and bikes was that they were old metal.

"Danno always had a calendar with the bikes on the wall in his office back in Jersey, and he kept the old ones in his closet," Gracie told Steve what she remembered. "But when we moved they got lost. He told me when I asked him why he didn't have one when we moved here. And two weeks ago I saw a book on the internet; they called it the 'compilation edition 1959 to 2010'. I thought that would be so cool, he could get all his old calendars back in one book."

"Uh huh. So there is a book with old calendars in it?"

"Uhm, the pictures didn't really have any calendars on it in the book. But the women in the swim suits were still in it. If they took them out you would be able to see the bikes much better," Gracie told Steve very seriously.

Steve had to keep the chuckle in. It was now pretty clear what Danny found interesting about those old bikes. And it was clear why that book was in the adult section. Steve looked at Grace and wondered if she really still was as innocent as she appeared to be. He hoped for Danno's sanity that she would stay this way just a little bit longer.

"Ah, Grace, I'm not sure that is a book you should give your dad as a gift," Steve tried to explain to her.

"Why not? Don't you think he would like it?"

"Uh... ehm... I'm sure he would like it... it's just," Steve stammered and wondered how to explain that it was probably not a book appropriate for her age.

"Uncle Steve, can you at least take a look at it?" Gracie pleaded.

"Yeah, okay, I can do that." What harm would be in taking a look at it for her? "Where is that bookstore?"

"Right here," Grace said and indeed they stood right in front of one of the mall's bookstores.

"Oh, okay."

Five minutes later, Steve was skimming through the book Grace told him about. And he had to admit the pictures had style and were quite artful, not at all what he had expected. He wondered why that book was labeled as adult literature. Oh. Steve's thoughts were interrupted by the later pages, which were not so artful, but rather explicit.

Danny would kill him if he helped his daughter buy him that book. But Gracie would be really disappointed if she couldn't give it to her dad. Great, disappoint Grace, or get killed by my partner. Great choices. Steve shook his head and went back to Grace who was waiting in the sea life department.

He found her studying a book about whales.

"Hey," Steve gently touched her shoulder to get her attention. "Find anything you like?"

"Yeah, look, this is really great. It has great pictures, but lots of text too. And a DVD to watch," Grace told him excited.

Sometimes it can be really easy to find the right presents, Steve smiled to himself. "Looks great."

"Yeah," she said and put the book back onto the shelf. "So, have you looked at it?"

"Uh huh. Well, it's a great book-"

"But you're not gonna buy it for me, right?"

"Grace-"

"No, Uncle Steve. I don't want to look at the book. I just want Danno to have it," Grace explained. "I don't care what's in it. I won't look at it. But I know that Danno would love it. Please, Uncle Steve," Gracie again pleaded.

Well, that did make sense, kind of, Steve thought. He looked at Gracie and made his decision. "We will gift-wrap it right here in the store..." Steve caved in and grinned at the excitement on Gracie's face at the news. "And... I will keep it until Christmas."

"YES. Thank you, Uncle Steve. I knew you would help me," Grace called out and rewarded her uncle with another hug.

"Yeah, and signed myself over to the firing squad," Steve mumbled under his breath.

H50 - H50 - H50

After spending three hours in consumer's hell, as Steve had named the mall, he had delivered Grace back to her mother and was now on his way to his own home. Of course still without any present for his girlfriend, perfect or otherwise. Despite the help Grace had offered to look for the perfect gift. But he had ventured back to the bookstore and bought the book Grace had been so excited about. It was now in his shopping bag wrapped in kid's Christmas paper.

Danno had told him that Grace wanted a new bike, but that it was a bit expensive and that he had already bought the roller blades for her, so they had all chipped in and bought it together. Even Max and Kamekona had contributed. Steve knew that everyone had also bought a small gift to give beside the bike.

The clerk had smirked at him when he had paid for Danny's book, now also nicely wrapped. Steve was now all set for Christmas, except for his present for Catherine. That was still something he needed to think about some more. And time was running out quickly.

Steve was about ten minutes out from home when it happened. He saw the back lights of the car in front of him suddenly swerve and disappear from view. He came to a stop where the car had disappeared and jumped out of the truck, getting soaked in seconds by the downpour that had started a few minutes ago. Pulling out his phone and calling 911, he made his way to the guardrail.

Right in front of him was a gap in it, caused by the car that had smashed through it. Steve shone the flashlight he brought down the steep slope. About 50 feet from his location lay the car on its roof. The lights were still on, but he couldn't see anyone getting out of the overturned car.

After giving the location of the accident to the 911 operator he put his phone back in his pocket and advised another driver who had stopped to secure the scene of the accident. It wouldn't help anyone if more cars were to crash. Besides it was always a good idea to have a person on the scene when emergency services arrived.

Steve again shone his flashlight down the slope and slowly made his way down to the car. But he was not even three feet down the wet and already soaked grassy incline when he lost his balance, crashed onto his back and tumbled down the rest of the way. Just before he reached the car he landed face down in a deep muddy puddle.

He cursed under his breath when he scrambled back to his feet. Then he heard it over the still pouring rain. Crying. The loud crying of a baby. He now hurried and shone the light into the car that looked intact except resting on its roof.

And there it was, a little baby secured in its car seat in the back. The little boy, at least Steve thought it was a boy, hang head-over in his seat and was screaming as loud as he could. Steve shone his light to the front and saw a man lying unconscious underneath the front seat. He obviously hadn't been wearing a seat belt.

Steve's first priority was to check if he was breathing and then take the little boy out of his miserable position. It only took a moment to make sure the man had free airways and seemed to be breathing okay. Steve then crawled into the back of the medium sized car and got the baby out. And to his astonishment he stopped crying as soon as Steve held him against his chest.

The crouched position in the cramped space was rather uncomfortable, but he didn't want to get out into the rain with the small boy in his arms. So he sat down and waited for help. Not much more he could do anyway; it would be too dangerous to climb back up the hill.

What felt like an eternity, but was only ten minutes later, the first firefighters were on the scene and helped Steve out of the car. He was then provided with a safety harness and he and the baby were pulled up the slope.

Paramedics were waiting for them and he handed the now sleeping baby over. He had been worried that the boy had been injured, but he had simply fallen asleep in Steve's arms. Steve watched the EMTs check him out and secure him for his transport to the hospital.

It didn't take much longer for the man to be brought up. He had regained consciousness and was talking to the EMTs. It seemed that it had been their lucky day.

"Commander, here, take the blanket, you're shivering," one of the EMTs said and handed Steve the mentioned blanket.

Steve just now realized that he was soaked to the bone. He looked down at his clothes and had to laugh at how he looked. There was not a spot on him that was not covered in muddy water. "Thank you," he said to the EMT and put the blanket around his shoulders. It had stopped raining a few minutes ago, but the air had cooled down from the rain, and Steve was actually shivering from the cold.

A hot shower would be really great right about now, he thought as he went to the HPD officers.

"Hey guys," he greeted one of the officers he had met before. "Do you need me to make a statement?"

"No, Commander, that can wait until morning. You should get out of those wet clothes," Officer Kale told him.

"Okay, thanks, I'll stop by the precinct tomorrow," Steve promised and made his way over to his truck.

After arranging the blanket on the seat he climbed in and was on his way to finally get home.

H50 - H50 - H50

Despite the cold from the still wet clothes he felt rather warm, which might be mainly contributed to his thoughts about sharing a hot shower with his girlfriend. Cath was probably already worried about him; he had told her after Grace's call that he would be home in under two hours. That deadline had long expired. He had sent her a text that it would be a little longer, but now he was really stretching it.

Steve wiggled in his seat to get more comfortable; thinking of Catherine didn't improve the uncomfortable situation with the wet clothes clinging to him.

A minute later he turned into his driveway and got out of the vehicle, grabbing the blanket but leaving the bag with the book in the truck for now. He didn't want them to get spoiled by his still dripping wet clothes. Now out in the open he started to shiver again and hurried to get inside.

Steve opened the door and found Cath sitting on the couch with her cell phone in hand. The same second he heard his own phone ringing.

"Steve! Where have you... oh my God, what happened to you?" Cath asked and practically jumped off the couch.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Steve assured her before she could worry even more.

"What happened?" She asked as she greeted him with a kiss, but kept her distance to not get soaked herself. "You're shivering." Cath observed.

"There was an accident... not with me," Steve quickly assured her. "I got soaked when I helped."

"Are you okay? This is not from rain," Cath said and motioned to Steve from head to toe.

"There might have been some mud involved," Steve told her with a grin. "I need a shower, but other than that I'm perfectly fine. Wanna join me?" Steve asked and hoped she would accompany him. That would surely help with the state his lower half was still in.

"Maybe when all this mud is washed off," Cath said with a laugh and let her gaze linger on various parts of Steve's body. The wet clothes didn't hide anything really.

"Like what you see?" Steve grinned at her.

"Well, the shivering disrupts the picture a little, but, yeah, I really like what I see." To underline her point she stepped closer, not caring that she now was also getting wet and muddy.

She pressed her warm body against Steve's cold wet one, and he felt another shiver run over him. But that one had nothing to do with the cold that was still invading his body. He eagerly responded to her kiss and pulled her even closer. Pressing his growing arousal into her belly. He growled low in his throat when she pulled back.

"Shower... now," Cath commanded and took his hand, pulling him up the stairs.

Steve followed her willingly and still grinning from ear to ear. Seemed that he would get his wish. They left a trail of clothes left and right in their bathroom and had gotten rid of all attire when they reached the shower stall.

Steve stepped in first without losing contact with Catherine as she followed him. Steve closed the glass door and turned on the water. He laughed when Cath yelped and jumped back as cold water cascaded over them. But a few seconds later the water was of a nice temperature and Steve pulled her back towards him.

"You're not afraid of a little cold water, Lieutenant, are you?" Steve teased her.

"Not at all, Commander," Cath answered and pushed his body against the still cold tiles.

"Ugh," Steve mumbled when the soap dish pressed into his back. He wiggled a little to the left and let Cath press him even more against the wall.

Steve let the water ran over them and enjoyed the warmth that spread over his body not only from the hot water, but more so from what Cath was just doing to him. His breath hitched when she squeezed a little too enthusiastically at a sensitive spot, but didn't stop his descent of kisses down her neck. "This will be over really soon if you keep doing that," Steve panted into her ear.

"Is that so?" Cath asked laughing, but occupied her hands otherwise for a moment.

Steve felt her hands roaming all over his body and answered her kisses down his chest with another growling sound he knew she loved hearing. He was suddenly again pushed against the wall with Cath's hand on his midbelly and he realized that Cath kneeled in front of him, but after that all thoughts left him.

He hit the back of his head against the tiles when his senses where suddenly in overdrive from the overwhelming sensation of Cath's mouth doing wonderful things to him. That bump will surely leave a sore spot, Steve mused. But well worth it. Steve grinned and closed his eyes in total bliss.

He was close when Cath suddenly pulled back, leaving him in total, almost painful, frustration. "Cath," he whined, but couldn't say more when her mouth was kissing the stuffing out of him. "Ugh," was all he managed.

"Not yet," Cath whispered in his ear when she came up for a breath. Steve felt her hand close around his throbbing erection and squeezing it not too gentle. He hissed in pain and pleasure. Suddenly their places were reversed and Cath was pushed against the wall, after Steve figured out what she wanted him to do.

He gently pushed into her, and smiled when he heard her pleasurable moan. That alone was worth the moment of frustration from earlier. Steve set a soft rhythm but knew he couldn't hold back much longer.

"Cath," he again panted into her ear.

He felt her pulling his head down and heard her mumbled 'let go' and exploding in a cascade of light and stars all at once. Steve felt her tremble and knew she had had just the same amazing experience.

They were both completely out of breath and stood under the spray, neither willing to move. "That was..." Steve whispered.

He loved hearing her giggle. After making love was the only time he ever heard her making that sound. It was a huge turn on, and he was sure if it hadn't been such a long day, he would be willing and able to go for round two. But that was not gonna happen right now. But there were still many hours between now and the morning.

H50 - H50 - H50


A/N: Last Thursday I had a fun conversation with my friend Cokie when I told her 'one day I will write a one-shot where nothing happens and Steve will have a good time and not get hurt'.

I could hear her laughter right across the Atlantic. Totally hurt my feelings. :-)

Of course that was a challenge I couldn't let go unanswered. I think that made her laugh even more. Darn it.

But I showed her. I wrote my one-shot-non-whump-Steve-story. Unfortunately, Cokie was not happy with me, and thought this should be a two-chapter-story.

I'm telling you, she is never satisfied. Sigh.

But for the record, I did win my challenge. What will happen in chapter two, well, that is totally up to her.

The second and last chapter, courtesy of Cokie316, will be posted sometime next week.