True Love Chapter 1, a hawaii five-0 fanfic

Hello.

This is my third attempt at writing a McRoll fiction. I've kept it in my computer for so long and I never have the courage to post it until now.

Just wanna shout out a special THANK YOU to all of my favorite McRollers. I appreciate the friendships I've striken up with all of you :)

And another THANK YOU goes to the my big sister - Paula. Thank you for helping me out by being my beloved beta reader. I will never dare to post it without your help.

Sorry for rambling!

Thanks for reading and hope you will enjoy the story! I'd really appreciate if you guys could take time leaving a comment.

True love

Chapter 1:

Hawaii..

It had been around a week since the last time Catherine called. When she ended the last call, Steve expected to hear from her again two days later. But it had been seven days. The last thing he received from her was a message saying "I love you".

Simple as that.

That was truly the longest week Steve's ever experienced in his life. He couldn't help thinking about every potential possibility. The fact that his mind was full of Catherine didn't do him any good. Quite the contrary, it made him suffer two shotgun wounds within a week, one in his arm and the other in his stomach. Luckily they were not really serious. Even the very calm-in-every-situation Chin scold him off for being careless at work.

For the first time in his career, he just couldn't focus. Physically, he was in Hawaii but his heart was someplace else. It flew to another part of the world.

A place very far away from Hawaii.

Steve ignored all the rants and raves from Danny, he just didn't want to listen to anymore of his bullshit. He just wanted to be home. Waiting for her calls. He even refused to stay at the hospital after he was shot. After all, Catherine was all alone out there. She had to take care of herself. That thought hurt him more than any shotgun wound. He tried several calls during the last three days, but all he heard at the other end of the line was cold static. Every night he woke up from a nightmare that he could never accept: Catherine is not coming back.

Another day went by.

Another week went by.

He couldn't wait any longer.

Steve started trying to get a hold of Joe White, so that he could go to Afghanistan under the radar without getting any trouble. The fact was that he would do anything to bring Catherine back, even if the consequence could be him ending up in jail for the rest of his life. It didn't matter, and truthfully, he didn't give a damn.

He just wanted her to be alive.

Whenever he's injured, he didn't want Catherine to be around, because he couldn't stand the pain in her eyes. But this time, he wanted her company, wanted her to sit right here, next to him, changing his bandage for him. Here he was, struggling to change a new bandage himself. It was something very familiar, he has done this for hundreds of times, no, thousands of times. But today everything suddenly seemed so difficult. It took him a little longer than normal to finish that task.

It's raining outside. Steve was sitting under his lanai and kept thinking about the legendary story about the rain he told Catherine last time. "The tears of separated and reunited couple". He wished Catherine could be here, and they could enjoy each other's company and share this view. As he sat down, he could hear the sound of the droplets of the rain splattering against the window. His thoughts wandered back to Afghanistan and wondered to himself what Catherine was doing right now, how her mission was going.

He missed her. There wasn't a single moment where he didn't miss her, but he missed her the most at night.

He felt lonely... and vulnerable.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Unlike the other two previous times, Steve picked up his cell phone almost immediately.

"Steve."

"Thank God, Catherine. How are you?", Catherine could easily pick up the relief coming from Steve's voice. She couldn't help herself from cracking a soft laugh.

"Yeah it's me. Sorry for not calling any sooner."

"You called back. That's good. That's good. That's all that matters. When will you come back to Hawaii? I'll pick you up."

"Steve. Listen to me. I can't come back now... Because I..."

The realization of what she was saying hit him hard. His heart was shattered into a million pieces within seconds. The immense relief suddenly turned into a huge disappointment. It was like him falling from heaven to earth. "Cath, what are you talking about?", his voice started cracking: "What do you mean you can't come back?", he was totally frozen. He couldn't concentrate, he couldn't even breathe. The imagine of his recent terrifying nightmare turned his mind blank. He totally lost his control, he couldn't listen to what she was going to say. Everything was just a blur.

"..."

"Steve, are you listening? Steve? Steve? I know it's kind of embarrassing, but I have no other choice."

"Catherine", Steve's voice calling her name was the most devastating sound she has ever heard over the years. She immediately realized what she's just done to him. She regretted her choice of words and secretly cursed herself for being so stupid.

"Do you hear what I've just said?"

"Catherine, why...?" His voice was full of raw pain and it was killing her. "Are you hurt? How's your mission? Is Najib alive?"

She elaborated quickly: "It just... I don't have enough cash to buy tickets to come back. I spent a small fortune over last year and I didn't bring that much cash. Things are a little rough lately, but everything's fine, Steve. Najib is safe, mission is completed. I just don't have any money left. That was what I was trying to say earlier, but you already seem to lose your focus. Can you...?". It was a bit awkward to ask Steve to send her money, but Catherine didn't have any other choice.

"Rollins, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry, Steve. Coming home is all I can think about and I admit I didn't think clearly... That shouldn't be the first thing I told you. I didn't mean to tease you or freak you out. I would never do that to you. That would be such a cruel joke. Though I'm sincerely sorry."

"You've just killed me, Rollins. Of course I will send you money. Do you want me to fly over there to pick you up?", his voice returned to its teasing tone and his whole facial expressions loosened, as well.

"Very funny. I'm a big girl and I don't need to be picked up. Yet I would appreciate if you could be there when I land in Hawaii."

"Of course. There's no way I won't be there. I'm transferring money to your account as we speak."

"It's officially over, right?"

"It is"

"Still, be careful, Cath! Coming home is a long journey."

"I will."

"It seems that my "Good luck!" wish works, doesn't it?" Even though they would be together very soon, Steve didn't want to end this phone call so soon.

Thinking back about her mission, which Catherine didn't want to tell Steve over the phone, she smiled softly: "Yes, yes it works. Thank you, Steve, again!"

"I don't accept just words. You need to prove your point by actions, you know?", Steve's voice was so much happier and relaxing after hearing her soft laugh.

The fact that Catherine could visualize clearly his goofy face lightened up her own face.

"I will."

"And Cath... it's raining again tonight. I don't want to believe much in those legendary stories, but... you know... "The tears of separated and reunited couple". Such a coincidence!"

"Yeah it is. I can't wait to come back!"

Honolulu International Airport

Steve was waiting impatiently at the airport. Even before her call, Steve went to the airport every day, although he already put an alert on her, so the airport will let him know when Catherine lands. He kept telling himself that's a part of his job: criminals showed up in the airport, trying to escape from the island in almost every case. But deep down inside, Steve knew it's just an excuse. He wanted to be at the airport to make sure he would be there for Cath if she arrived. Any time.

This time, he purchased the ticket for her from Afghanistan to Hawaii himself - the fastest flight he could arrange. He knew exactly the time and date. And right now, here he was - right here in the middle of the airport.

Finally.

Catherine was coming home today.

To be honest, he was new to this experience. He rarely was the one who waited at the airport. It was always the other way around, especially when it comes to him and Catherine. He only picked Mary up from Honolulu International Airport twice before, and neither of those occasions brought him this much nervousness and happiness. Steve felt like his whole life was nearly reborn. From this moment on, he won't have to deal with lonely nights or face scary nightmare demons. More importantly, he won't feel that helpless from hearing her exhausted voice through the damn phone line, which always made him want to choke.

He nervously walked back and forth in front of the gate he knew she would show up. He couldn't sit still, he had to pace restlessly up and down, he needed to do something to clear his mind from the beautiful scenarios he's building inside his head.

Among the crowd, Steve froze at the sight before his eyes. The most beautiful sight he has ever seen over the past year. The most beautiful, attractive, sexiest woman he has ever seen in his life. She looked incredibly amazing, even with several fading bruises on her face. The dark circles under her eyes betrayed her sleeplessness, but it didn't make her less beautiful than he remembered.

She still looked tired though. After all, that was a really long fight.

Steve could hear his heartbeat thumping so loud, so eagerly and happily. That special feeling when she was around has never changed. Not only his mind, his heart reacted, so did his body. She was standing there, smiling at him with the most gorgeous and sparkling smile ever. Seeing her... even in a distance... made him forget how to move, how to breathe properly.

They stared at each other for several minutes, like they totally forgot how to function. Finally, Steve was the one who reacted first, because it seemed that Catherine was too weak to move. Not physically, but emotionally. The only thing she could do was smile at him. He run through the chaotic crowded people in the airport and made his way to the woman he loved more than anything. Yes, he has always loved her, and he wasn't afraid to say it out loud anymore. She was opening her arms widely, waiting for him with tears already secretly making their way over her face.

He hugged her, desperately leaning into her as if he would never let her go. Danny told him Catherine was the best thing ever happened to him, and it was true. He didn't dare to loosen the hug. Because in his dreams, whenever he pulled back and was about to kiss her, Catherine vanished into thin air, or someone shoot her from behind. He couldn't let that happen in real life. Steve automatically swayed and changed their positions. It was an awkward move, but he just wanted to make sure no one could harm her from behind. His left hand went to the back of her head, pulling her even closer, almost crushing her, but he needed it. His right hand caressed her trembling back. This felt real, like the day he found her in the jungle. He came so close to lose her, twice. But now... she's back. He buried his face into her hair, her neck, trying so hard to control his emotional state, trying to convince himself this wasn't a dream. Tears were already in his eyes when he realized she was reacting and caressing his stiff back.

Her familiar scent penetrated him. The realization hit him.

She is real.

For the next several long minutes, neither of them moved. They continued to hug and simply enjoyed each other's presence. There wasn't any space between them, not even a millimeter. Catherine felt like she lost the ability to talk. Finally, Steve leaned back, quietly wiping the tears from his eyes. He then smiled at her and wiped her tears that she didn't even realize she had.

"Is it real, Catherine?", Steve murmured into her ears. This scenario has happened tons of times in his best dreams, but they just made him miss her even more when he woke up. Now, feeling the shaky warm body in his arms, for the first time in a very long time, Steve could tell it wasn't a dream. He kissed Catherine's hair and wasn't willing to let her go.

"Yes", Catherine nodded. Ater chocking out that only word response, she buried her head into his chess again, longing for his familiar smell - her favorite smell, then pressed it further into his neck, seeking his closeness. Suddenly Steve didn't know what else he should say at that moment, so he decided to let the silence rule the moment. He tighten his hug, which almost made Catherine suffocate, but she didn't mind, both of them just savored the moment. They both felt each other shaking desperately, and their heart were beating so loudly under the fabric of clothes.

They hung on to each other for dear life.

"If this is just a dream, please let it last for... forever...", Catherine whispered in tears, almost like talking to herself, even though she just told him it was real. Sometimes she couldn't distinguish real life from a dream, because this feeling was too good to be true.

"Catherine," his voice cracked as he whispered her name.

"Catherine", he has whispered her name for thousands of times in his life. Just pronouncing her name again and again inside his head already made everything better, like the way Chicago comforted her. And this therapy has always worked for him, effectively.

Hearing her own name from Steve's lips made Catherine feel incredibly special. That endearing sound always made Catherine's heart clench in an indescribable way. It made her feel safe and appreciated. No one has ever said her name the way Steve does. She has heard her name said by many people in her life, but only Steve could make it sound like the most soothing and touching sound ever. Every time she heard it, she believed she meant something to him, she believed he had feelings for her, even though he hadn't declared that. Her eyes become damp again. Deep down inside, somewhere in her heart, there was a special feeling that she couldn't explain and she thought she'd never feel it again.

"Steve, I've missed you so damn much. I miss you, you know..."

"I'm glad you do", he smiled, trying to let out a joke, and went back to the serious tone: "It goes both ways."

With that, he finally bent down to place a gentle kiss into her lips. The kiss tasted salty yet sweet. That was the most heart-wrenching kiss as he could remember. The feeling of Catherine kissing him and him kissing her always affected him greatly... but this time, it felt different.

It was the first kiss they shared after exchanging those three words.

It felt... official.

Like a whole new chapter of their relationship.

"Cath", he called her name, looking into her eyes, his hand slipping into her hair, "I love you."

"I love you. I've never stopped loving you, Sailor." Tears continued streaming down her beautiful face. She felt like she wasn't really like herself today because she already wasted more tears than the tears she wasted in her whole life.

Outside Honolulu Airport

After tossing her bag into his truck, Steve stopped besides his truck and pulled Catherine in for another hug. He leant into her, didn't want to let her go because it still felt overwhelming. He just had to make sure she's real.

Catherine hugged Steve with all strength left in her. Her whole body was more than exhausted. But she smiled softly when she heard a soft voice besides her ears - the familiar voice that she missed so much - the same voice that gave her courage and brave to never stop fighting in Afghanistan, especially in the toughest situations: "I'm sorry. I just need a moment."

She didn't mind. She needed that too.

"You're so thin, you know that... How long has it been since the very last time you ate a proper dinner? Come on, let's get you home. I'll wine and dine you."

"That's good to hear. Thank you, Steve. I've dreamt about sushi and your steak during my flight."

McGarrett/Rollins residence.

While watching her stuffing his homemade steak into her mouth, Steve blurted out: "You know what, I can easily accuse you of stealing."

"What?"

"You stole my shirt."

"You mean... my favorite blue shirt... Yeah... Sorry." - she didn't even try to be embarrassed. "It has always made me sleep better. Because it has your smell on it. Anyway, I bought you a new shirt before I took that shirt with me."

"But you haven't worn it yet, so... that new shirt is not my favorite shirt."

Hearing the honesty in his voice tugs at Catherine's heart-strings. She looked down at her steak, trying to keep calm and take control over her shaky hands.

"And you stole my heart."

"Wow. This accusation is sooo harsh! Could you be more corny?" Even she was using her teasing tone, his accusation actually sent a shiver down her spine. Warmth was spreading inside her body and touched her heart. Catherine couldn't hide a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Steve tried to pretend it was just a joke. But deep down inside, both of them knew it was from the bottom of his heart.

"So, how is the steak?", Despite oher smile, Steve saw a brief sign of hesitation in Catherine's eyes, so he changed the subject. Honestly, he didn't know where their relationship stood after months of separation. How he felt didn't change, but he wasn't sure about Catherine. The hesitation in her eyes was killing him. Kissing was still amazing, but her body became rigid whenever he touched her. Steve wasn't sure if Catherine realized that herself.

"It's out of this world. Thank you."

"How are you feeling?", Steve put the dishes away, moved closer to Catherine, held her tightly.

"Feeling safe... with you... It's always like that. I love you, you know...". It was not easy for her to say these three words out loud, but since that phone call, everything was much easier. Saying "I love you" now actually was like the most natural thing to do. And she really enjoyed it.

"I love you too. I'm sorry I didn't say it enough. I'm sorry I didn't... Doing it over the phone is the most stupid thing ever..."

"Trust me, it's not. At least you said it. And to be fair, I hadn't said that either."

"Yeah, fair enough."

With that, Steve led her to their bedroom.