Author's Note

This is a crossover fic between Hawaii Five-O and JE. I did not tag Hawaii Five-O FF in here, as the appearance of Steve and the others is minimal.

This Story has been sitting in my to-finish list since May 2015. While I have been trying to go back and add things, it never really took off.

Then I watched Hawaii Five-O the other day (season 7, episode 4). It gave me an Idea how to finish this story. Most of what is written in here is my own work, however the idea to some scenes on Hawaii in this story I have to credited to the writers of H5O.

Hope you will enjoy this!

Steph's POV

"Are you ok?" My husband questions with concern and takes my hand into his.

"Yeah I am" I reply and continue to look out the window as we drive through Trenton. Four months away from this place and it seems like nothing has changed. Every house still seems to have an immaculate front lawn and the local hot spots such as Pinos and the Clip and Curl are still there too.

"Welcome Home Steph" Danny says from the back seat. Steve wouldn't let him drive and said that letting me sit in the back seat would be rude, so Danny would have to go into the back.

The bickering only stopped when we past the 'Welcome to Trenton' sign.

Ranger's POV

Just before I get up to leave my office, I take one last look at the picture on my desk. It's been four months, since Steph went radio silent. After the two months mark, I started looking for her, but was only stonewalled. Tank and I even went to check her Self Storage Unit, only to find that she cleared everything out.

A couple of days after she left I heard through the Burg Grapevine, that Steph left for an extended Holiday, but no one knew where she went, only that she calls her family once a week.

I tried getting the number she calls from, but her signal was bouncing off from multiple countries and even Hector couldn't track her down.

"Hey Cuz, wanna join us at Pino's?" Lester calls across the 5th floor.

I simply nod and lock up my office. Very much to the surprise of my employees, I have been going out to Pinos with them a couple of times a month since Steph left. Tank, who seems to try to double as my shrink lately, has pointed out that the time I spent with them, I usually spent with Steph and that apparently I feel lonely since she left.

Unfortunately, he is my best friend and the only who can talk to me that way, otherwise I would have decked him. I don't feel lonely. I prefer the solitary life, or so I keep telling him and everybody else who is asking.

Truth is, I do miss her and my life has just reverted back to what it was before I met Steph all those years ago.

When we get to Pinos, Hal, Hector, Vince, Zip and Tank are already there, sitting at our usual table. Just when I am about to sit in my designated regular spot, I hear her laugh. For a moment I think I am hallucinating, but then I hear it again and I instantly scan the Restaurant for her.

My Babe is sitting on the other side of the Room, her back towards us, with a couple of men I don't know and her family. I feel like I have been stabbed in the stomach, but manage to pull my blank face on. "I be right back" I mutter and walk over to their table. Why would she come back and not tell me?

When I get closer, Steph rubs her neck with her hand and turns around to scan the room. She obviously still feels when I am around. Her eyes widen when she spots me and her face turns as white as a sheet of paper.

"Ranger" Steph breathes, just when I am a couple of meters away. She looks good in her halter less red, flowery dress, which really emphasises her breasts and I have a hard time meeting her eyes.

"Babe" I say and look past her toward her family and the two men. One of them has his blonde, longish hair combed back and is wearing a white shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The other guy has black hair and he is wearing his blue dress shirt open with a white t-shirt beneath it and the sleeves also rolled up. "When did you get back?"

"They got here yesterday. Uncle Steve is sooo cool" Angie answers, before Steph gets the chance to.

I checked Steph's background and the background of her family before I met Steph all those years ago and there definitely was no Uncle Steve. So instead of voicing the question, I simply raise an eyebrow, knowing that she will understand me, without me having to prompt her. But once again, before Steph gets a chance to speak up, Lester comes running across the restaurant.

"Beautiful" He shouts with a big smile, picks her up and twirls her around. "So glad you are back. The boys are no fun to prank without you."

"I bet they aren't" My Babe replies and laughs.

"Stephanie...manners" Her mother chides, as if she is 5 years old and nods her head towards the two men.

"Sorry...of course" she laughs nervously and turns around to introduce us. "Steve, Danny these are Ricardo Manoso and Lester Santos." She says and then points at the other two "Danny Williams and Steve McGarrett, my husband."

For a moment I think that this is some kind of joke of hers or that my hearing is failing me, but judging by my cousins open mouth I heard correctly. Babe is married?

"Husband?" Les questions and both of our eyes land on the diamond engagement ring and the simple golden wedding band, which grace her ring finger.

"Congratulations" I manage to get out, before shaking their hands, placing a kiss on Steph's cheek and leaving Pino's. Somewhere far, far away someone calls my name, but I ignore them and keep going.

I can't breathe, my heart has nearly stopped beating and I feel sick in my stomach. 4 Months I have waited for her to get home, hoping that someday would finally happen for us, and now she is married. I am such an Idiot! Once I am out of sight, I lean against the wall, bent over and take a deep breath.

"Ranger...are you ok?" Steph questions when she carefully steps closer, as if she is approaching a wild animal. "Ranger...are you ok?" she repeats when I don't answer and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"No" I reply harshly and pull away. It is not like me to acknowledge any kind of feelings and Steph seems to be taken aback by my admission.

"It's not what you think" Babe says and steps closer to me again.

"Really? You are going with that line? I am pretty sure it is exactly what I think. You are married to someone else!" I nearly shout and turn away from her. "And then I have to find out at Pinos, with your family there. On top of that...you have been in town for a whole day and didn't bother telling me?"

"Ranger, I want to explain...I really do. But I can't do it here." She says in a lowered voice and adds pleadingly "Can I come by Rangemen later or tomorrow morning? Please...it really isn't what it seems!"

Something in her tone makes me nod. "Okay. Tomorrow morning." I tell her and without adding another word, I leave.

Flashback

"I am sorry...But I can't tell you" Steph says and looks everywhere, but me.

"Babe, what have you gotten yourself into?" I probe, because I am worried about her. Babe has been not only out of town a lot, but has also been evading me. The other night, Tank and I followed her to Princeton, where we saw her go into a Self Storage Yard. She spend an hour there, before driving to Woodbridge Township.

Flashback within a Flashback

"Who is that?" Tank questions, as we see Steph greet a guy in the restaurant we followed her to.

"No Clue" For once, I do not know what is going on in her life and it bothers me a lot.

"You should ask her" My best friend points out.

"Yeah right...as if that would go down so well" I remark. My Babe only spends ten minutes with the guy, before giving him a hug, handing him a bag and leaving the restaurant again.

End of Flashback within a flashback

But against my better judgement, I did call her out on it. I went to her apartment at 5 am this morning and sat in 'my' chair in the corner of her room, watched her sleep until she woke. A fat load of good it did me, because it seemed like she was not happy to see me.

I even tried moving into her personal space, since that always gets her talking, but this time it did not work. She only stepped away from me, got dressed, grabbed her bag and left her flat without uttering another word. And this how we ended up in her parking lot arguing.

"It's classified..." Babe hisses, sliding her blank face in place. That is something else she learned somewhere in the last few months. And it bothers me a lot that I am unable to read her.

"Classified?" I question and snort, which is a big mistake.

"Do you think you can be the only person on the planet, who can use that sentence or is involved in something Classified?" Steph snarls and shakes her head. "God you are such an ass…"

"I am sorry Babe, I shouldn't have said that. Of course I don't think that. But keep in mind that the only person who has a higher Security Clearance than me, is the General of the Army. So I can find out pretty quickly what is going on" I tell her, getting pissed off. "You better tell me, before I find out anyways."

"Do what you have to, but I can't tell you anything" She retorts and gets into her car. Just before she pulls out of her parking lot, she rolls down the window and says "And stop following me Ranger!"

Babe is aware that we followed her? Hell must have frozen over!

I take out my phone and press speed dial number two. "Work your contacts in all agencies and find out what classified stuff Steph is involved in!" I order and hang up on Tank without another word. I need to know what is going on! I need to know that this is safe and that she is protected.

Later that night

When I hear my front door open and close, I grab my glock from the nightstand drawer and sit up in bed against the headboard. If this is Santos trying to get one up on me again, I will not hesitate before pulling the trigger. My cousin should know, that I am not above putting a hole into an intruder's head.

Tia Ella wouldn't be impressed, since blood is really hard to clean out of a carpet and Tia Rosa will mourn her son, but she will come to terms with it eventually. And since she knows how stupid her son can be, she won't hold it against me for long.

I train my glock at my closed bedroom door and wait. I can hear the intruder coming closer and seconds later the door swings open..

"HOLY SHIT" clearly my Babe didn't expect me to be awake.

"Babe...what were you thinking? I could have shot you!" I question and leap out of bed.

"...you scared the shit out of me!" Steph bends over, puts her hand onto her knees and takes a deep breath.

"Right back at you" I retort flatly and pull some shorts on.

"You...scared….riiiigggght!" She snorts and looks at me. After a couple more deep breaths, she finally comes to stand upright and only then I notice that she is dressed in black cargo pants and a black shirt.

"Are you just coming from a stakeout?" I find myself asking.

"No" She simply answers and walks over to my bed to sit down.

"Are you here to finally tell me what is going on with you?" I probe on. I tried calling everybody I know, called in a lot of favours, yet neither I nor my men can figure out what she is involved in and it is driving me nuts.

"You do realize that you live in a highly secured building, right? No one is ever going to get past the first floor. So there is no reason for you to point a gun at that door" She points out, avoiding my question altogether. She makes me smile, even though I want to stay mad at her.

"Babe" I give my standard reply and she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah...yeah. You can never be too sure, if someone is out to get you. Or shall I say: even the best defence has its holes?" Steph asks and looks at me with her bright blue eyes.

"No one would ever get past the first floor, dead or alive, but Lester can and will" I explain.

"Gotchya" Babe nods and lets herself fall back onto the bed.

"So are you here to tell me what is going on with you?" I repeat my question from earlier and sit next to her.

"Actually, I am here to tell you that I will be gone for a while" Babe informs me and adds "Probably 2 months... maybe even longer..."

"Where are you going?" I automatically ask, but already know that she won't give me an answer.

"Ranger…" She sighs and turns onto her side to look at me. "Promise you won't hold this against me? When I get back, I will tell you as much as I can."

"That would mean it is not classified, babe, which means you can tell me now" I point out, but she immediately shakes her head.

"If I tell you, you would be calling in favours to come with me and I cannot have that." Babe has me with that one. I would immediately move heaven and hell to join her. "Can I just sleep here till I have to go?"

"Sure" I nod and grab my Rangemen shirt from the chair on the other side of the room. I know how much she likes wearing them and especially when I have already worn them. By now she must have stolen a dozen of my shirts.

Without another word she strips down and pulls the shirt over her head, before slipping between the sheets. I pull her into my side and seconds later I hear her breaths even out and she is fast asleep.

When I wake unusually late the next morning, I find my Babe gone. Her side is cold, with only the shirt she slept in left behind, which means Steph left some time ago. I jump out of bed and dial the desk. "What time did she leave?"

"0400, Sir" Hal replies. "Left her car and Rex. Black SUV with Government number plates picked her up." He adds, as he knows I would ask for it. "Want me to track it?"

"I know you already have, so why don't you tell me where that SUV took her?" I reply harshly and quickly grab my pants.

"Newark Airport, Sir. No manifesto for the plane." Hal informs me, before I hang up.

I grab a new shirt out of my closet, pull it over my head on my way to the front door. Something catches my eye and I turn to see what is sitting on the kitchen counter. A black box with a red bow is sitting next to a sleek black envelope, which has 'Ranger' in silver ink written on it.

I first open the envelope, to find a letter and a plane ticket to Miami.

'Dear Ranger,

I am sorry I had to leave in such a rush and that I kept all of this a secret from you. Believe me I am dying to tell you what is going on, but I can't. I don't want to put you or anyone else in danger. So please, I beg you, do not look for me! Don't try to track the car that has picked me up either, you will not have much luck.

I hope Rex can bunk on the 5th floor until I get back, if not my nieces would probably be happy to take him.

The plane ticket is for you to go and see Julie perform for the first time. You are probably wondering right now, why she didn't tell you.'

Damn right I do! Why would my own daughter not tell me that she will be performing with her band?

'She is nervous and she doesn't want to disappoint you. So in case that this gig will be the worst one ever, Julie's words, she doesn't want you there. But I couldn't help but meddle'

Of course she couldn't. My Babe knows, that I wouldn't want to miss this for the world.

'I also spoke to Tank and he will give you some time off. Apparently you are entitled to some holiday, which you apparently haven't taken in a long time ;). But do me a favour, sit in the last row at the concert or Julie is going to be even more nervous.

Ranger, I can't ask you to wait for me, after all I have strung you along long enough. But I want you to know that I love you and have for a long time.

I will call you when I get back to town.

Love

Steph

p.s: It is a rock concert, which means ripped jeans and a rocky shirt, and NO CARGO PANTS!

P.p.s: Take a picture for me :)'

The last sentence has me laughing hard and I place the letter down to open the box. Inside is a Batman/ Wonder Woman Picture frame with a picture of Steph and me in it. It was taken last year at Rangemen's first Summer Party at Point Pleasant.

In the picture, we are standing on the beach and the person who took it must have been standing in the water. The sun is setting around us and our silhouettes are almost black.

Babe has her arms wrapped around me, with her hands tucked into my back pockets; her head is tugged under my chin and you can just make out that a smile is grazing her lips and her eyes are closed.

I too, have my arms wrapped around her, and I look, I dare to say, content.

In other words the Picture is perfect.

End of flashback

Steph's POV

The next Morning

"Are you sure?" Steve asks again and meets my eyes in the mirror.

"I owe him an explanation for this" I tell him and wiggle my ring finger where the rings have held up residence for nearly four months now.

"After how well he reacted yesterday, I am not sure, that it would be such a good idea." Steve points out.

"He is in love with you Steph. Not sure he will react kindly" Danny replies and leaves our hotel room.

"I have to try. I don't want him angry at me or resenting me for this. I need him to hear me out" I state and follow Danny.

"You are awfully quiet" Steve points out, halfway to Rangemen. "I usually can't get you to shut up." He adds. It is his attempt at cracking a joke. Danny is right he is terrible at it.

"Your jokes really haven't improved these past four months" I grin and he pokes his tongue at me. "I just don't know what to say to him…"

"Go with the truth" Steve suggests and looks at me for a moment before looking back onto the road. "I find that is always the best approach."

"I didn't intend on lying to him…" I point out and add muttering "He always knows when I am lying, so there is no point."

"Hey Hal" I greet the big guy behind the desk. "What did you do to get stuck down here?"

"Don't ask" He simply replies, which makes me curious, and walks around the counter. "It is good to see you, Bomber."

"You too" I say and mean it. I missed the guys like crazy. Hal hugs me, before letting me go and eyes Steve suspiciously.

Last night we didn't have time to talk to the rest of the Rangemen at Pinos, because my mother ushered us out of the Restaurant as soon as I came back inside. "I am sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you yesterday. My mother insisted we leave right then and there for the Pineapple Upside Down Cake at home...By the way, this is my husband Steve. Steve this is Hal."

"So you are the one she stun gunned" Steve muses and shakes the other man's hand. I told him and Danny that story and they didn't stop laughing for a long time.

"I thought Lester was joking, when he told me the news. Shame, I was always hoping the Boss and you would work it out. But congrats anyways." My friend tells me, ignoring Steve's comment, before giving me another hug. "Let me bring you to the fifth floor. The guys will be happy to see you."

As soon as we step of the elevator, everybody stops what they are doing and seconds later I am being passed around like the Holy Chalice in church.

In the middle of all of this, I see Ranger leaning against the doorframe of his office with his arms crossed over his muscular chest and his blank face in place. I swear he put on more muscles since I left.

"That is because he has been working out like crazy" Hector whispers and hugs me even tighter.

I don't know what to make of that information, so I just say "Sorry guys, but we have to go and talk to the Boss" and pull out of Hector's embrace. "I will come around afterwards, I promise."

Ranger steps into his office and sits down behind his desk without uttering a word when we get closer. Steve closes the door and I sit down in a chair in front of the Desk. I don't know where to start and after a few minutes of silence the man in black says "You asked for this meeting, so start explaining. Otherwise you can go right back out of that door. I have more important things to do today." His voice his cold, his face still blank and even his eyes are hard and unforgiving. I swallow a lump down my throat and try to ignore the burning in my heart and stomach.

"Give her a break" Steve growls and stares at Ranger. Great another Alpha male in my life, who wants to protect me.

"We are not married" I blurt out, needing him to know the truth, and Steve chuckles behind me. If he wasn't standing so far away, I would hit him. "Well we are legally but not in the mental and physical way…"

"Way to go Steph" the ass behind me says with another chuckle.

"Explain" Ranger growls. I really don't like being on the receiving end off that face. Only unruly employees or criminals get that face, never me! And it is obvious that he doesn't quite believe what I am saying. To be fair, I don't blame him. I lied to him for months before I left, but I didn't have a choice. I had to lie.

"Six months ago Danny called me. He said he needed my help. He works for the Hawaii 5-0 taskforce, so does Steve. It was only supposed to be research and following the guy, never more." I start to explain.

And before I get a chance to go on, Ranger interjects. "Who is the target?" he questions, making me wince. He won't like it.

"Jack Bowman" Steve answers for me and places the file he was carrying and which contains all the information we have accumulated, on Ranger's desk.

"As in Guns and Gangs Unit Chief Jack Bowman?" Ranger asks and opens the file just to shut again. "ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE?" He suddenly shouts, throws the file back on his desk with force and pushes out of his chair. "Steph what were you thinking?" He adds quietly. Angry Ranger, followed by quite controlled Ranger is never good, it usually means someone is going to be injured or dead by the end of the day, or both and not necessarily in that order.

"You know him?" Steve questions surprised and I just put my head into my hands.

Everybody knows Jack Bowman around here. Once upon a time he was a bright, young cop who shot up the ranks quicker than anybody could say 'Police'. Then his Partner died about 15 years ago and he changed. Jack moved onto the Guns and Gangs Task Force in New Jersey and has been investigated by IA multiple times since joining the Unit, but nothing ever stuck.

Joe once told me, that he believes Jack made a few people disappear and advised me to stay far away from him. I only met the guy once, at the Police Ball two years ago, and already back then my spidery senses went haywire.

"Yes" Ranger simply answers. "I cannot believe you guys got her involved in this."

"I wanted to help. It's not like they forced me." I reply slightly sulking.

"You have heard the stories, Steph." Ranger retorts and pinches the bridge of his nose, before levelling me with one of his glares. "Not only from me, but also from Joe. Why would you get involved and not tell us?" Ranger questions and before I get a chance to answer, he adds "Because your damn curiosity, that's why..."

"She couldn't. Only a selected few knew about this. And Steph was the only one we could involve at this end while we were chasing up leads in Hawaii." Steve explains and finally sits down next to me.

"Joe or I could have helped! And why Hawaii?" Ranger probes and sits back down.

"Danny knows Steph, so he vouched for her. I don't know you, nor Detective Morelli, so I don't trust you" Steve retorts and crosses his arms in front of his muscular chest. Just like Ranger, Steve is Sex on legs with just as many trust issues and is as deadly with a gun as the man in black. Only that Ranger is a little hotter than Steve. What is it with me and Military men?

"A local Hawaiian cop got made for being dirty and gave a statement mentioning Bowman. The cop only knows little about Bowman's organisation and when multiple bodies washed up and Bowman once again was mentioned, we took the case from HPD." Steve explains. "This comes from the very top. The Governor of Hawaii is involved and wants to shut the Dirty Cop Syndicate down as soon as possible."

"Since Bowman came to Honolulu for an extended Holiday more bodies turned up. We think he is cleaning house, trying to makes the ties leading to him disappear." He continues. "Every CI we have and talk to ends up dead or is too scared to talk again. Bowman is smart. He must know he is being investigated. The cops that were caught have died in prison despite being in solitary."

"He knows you or at least he knows off you" Ranger looks at me and I only nod.

"True. That's where this comes in" I say and show him my ring finger. For a second his face displays pain and regret, but then he hardens his features again to an unreadable expression. "Since it is public knowledge that Joe and I broke up almost a year ago, we set up an online dating profile for me and Steve, with messages dating back over 8 months.

I told my family and friends that I am going on an extended holiday. Steve and I went for dinner and 'bumped into' Bowman and his associates. We got talking and the rest is history."

"So why are you here now?" Ranger probes.

"We didn't plan on coming to Jersey. But Bowman started asking questions on why my parents weren't at our wedding and so on. I think he was getting suspicious." I reply and take a deep breath. "So we accompanied Danny to see his family and for me to introduce Steve to mine. We explained to Bowman that we got married on impulse and didn't want anyone, at least not our families, stopping us."

"And what are you planning to do? Obviously Bowman is going to come back to Jersey soon. You have no jurisdiction here" Ranger looks at Steve.

"We are close, we just don't have the right evidence yet." Steve admits. "We made Bowman believe that Danny and I are interested in a bit of side business, due to unforeseen expenses coming up for Danny. But like Steph said, he was getting suspicious of our marriage and of Danny and me. We had to do something to counteract, so that he will let me in completely."

"Sounds like a solid plan" Ranger nods and suddenly stands.

"It is" Steve says. "We will catch him very soon."

"Well I wish you good luck" Ranger states, moves around his desk and opens the door. Just like that we are dismissed.

"Thank you" I nod disappointed and walk over to the door, with Steve following suit.

"Keep her save" is all Ranger says, before closing the door behind us.

What did you expect Steph? That he would offer to help? Yeah that is exactly what I hoped he would. But would you have let him? No absolutely nod. It is too dangerous and I don't want Ranger on Bowman's radar.

What did you think?