Hou Ho'omaka 'ana/New Beginnings
By: MacKenzie Creations
and
Disclaimers: Hawaii Five-0 does not belong to me. I'm not sure who they belong to, but they don't belong to me. I'm doing this for fun and to get the characters to stop talking to me. I will put them back when I'm done. Maybe a little worse for ware, but they will not be complaining. ;-)
Beta: Thank you to Ircam for the beta. I have changed up some things, so you might want to read this. Any mistakes that are here are mine. Icram, if you see something that I need to change or something, let me know, I'll do my best to get to it in a hurry. Thanks, girl, for your encouragement!
Timeline: This story starts less than 24 hours after the end of the Season 1 finale. I wanted to have this story finished before I posted any of it but, I had to take a break and I haven't gotten through with Chapter 3 yet. However, tonight is the season premier of Season 2 so I thought I would just go ahead and post the first chapter. From what I have seen of the promos, my story goes in an entirely different direction. But hey that's ok.
Summary: The U.S. Navy helps Steve out of a tough and sticky situation.
Relationships: Steve/Catherine; Danny/Rachel; Kono/OC (maybe); Chin/OC (maybe); Jenna/OC (maybe); Mary/OC (most probably but Mary/OC won't be a big part of the story).
Important Note: LCDR is Lieutenant Commander and LT is Lieutenant. I used the abbreviations when used as a title preceding a name only. I spelled it out all other times. If this is not correct Military format, please forgive my ignorance and let me know so that I won't do it in the future. If I use any other abrevations for the Navy titles/rank I will let you know what they are. However, if I use Navy slang, I may or may not explain that in a note. I might explain it in the text of the story. (I.e. have another character ask about it and someonelse explain it.) If I can't work it into the text, I will do a note with a translation either before or after the chapter.
Author's Notes: Feel free to skip these notes and just read the fic, these notes just explain a few things. Just a little bit about your author here. When I write, I research what I write. However, for plot purposes, sometimes we author's have to take liberties and create an alternate universe to our own where certain things that wouldn't take place in the real world do happen in our fiction. I know that, for me personally, when I know the author has done research and knows the truth, but the things that are not "right" are done for plot purposes, then I can enjoy the story without getting hung up on those things that are not "right". Please forgive me on these things and enter into a world of pure fiction with me.
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Chapter 1: The Midnight Hour
Steve was waiting in the interrogation room. Chin came into the room and cut off the video, and removed the tape recorder from the table. He nodded to Steve to show him that he acknowledged his presence and in a very low voice said, "I'll be on the other side of the window."
Steve just kept his face blank. He wasn't sure what Chin was up to, but the fact that he was disabling the HPD from recording his interrogation puzzled him. He watched as his friend walked out of the room. The next person who stepped into the room was the last person he expected to see. Steve immediately stood at attention and saluted as best as he could with his cuffed hands.
"At ease, sailor," the visitor said and saluted back. "Please, sit," he instructed when Steve stood at ease. As Steve sat down, the visitor saw that Steve had a question that he wanted to ask, but wouldn't ask until he was given permission. "Lieutenant Commander, you have a very serious charge against you." The visitor leaned in and whispered, "I know the answer, but I have to ask, I have to have it on official record," he paused and leaned back and in a normal voice asked, "Did you kill Laura Hills?"
"No, Sir." Am I being court-martialed for this? Of course I am. Killing the governor is treason.
"Did you kill the Governor?"
"No, Sir."
"If you did, I know that you would have a good reason." The visitor saw the disappointment in the prisoner's eyes. Saw his jaw strain like he wanted to say something, but he was willing himself not to say another word. "What was the reason, LCDR McGarrett?"
"I did not kill Laura Hills, the governor's personal assistant, nor did I kill the Governor." Steve answered as calmly as he could. He tried to keep all of his emotions out of his answer, but some of his frustration of not being believed by his superior came out in his voice. Come on, Admiral, you know me, I wouldn't do that. Why are trying to trip me up?
The visitor nodded.
"We have the evidence we need and it's being delivered to the Chief right now. Just so that you know, the only people on the other side of that window are my staff and your Five-0 team." Before the admiral could say more, there was a knock on the door. "Enter," the admiral called out.
The young officer saluted the senior officer and said, "The evidence has been delivered and the charges are being dropped now, Admiral, sir."
"Thank you, Commander Finn."
Steve was surprised at this information. "Sir?"
The Admiral smiled and said, "I told you I knew the answers already, I just needed to hear it from you."
Steve nodded.
"It will be a few minutes before he can be released, Admiral. The lieutenant will let you know when he can leave."
"Thank you, Commander. You may leave. In fact, I would like everyone on the other side of that window to leave the room. I would like to talk with Commander McGarrett in private."
"Yes, sir," Commander Finn said as he left the room.
The admiral waited until Commander Finn came back into the room and said, "It's all clear," and then stepped out of the room closing the door behind him.
"You're back on active duty effective immediately and we have a mission for you."
"Aye, Aye."
"One more thing."
"Sir?"
"Steve, when are you going to ask her?"
Steve didn't need to ask what he meant. He knew exactly what the admiral meant. "I asked her two days after I asked you for permission. But she told me to ask again in a year. She said she wasn't ready. I had planned to ask her again the next time I saw her. But now, with everything that's happened, I think I had better wait until this mission is over. Wo Fat won't stop trying to frame me and he has no qualms about going after everyone around me. I don't want her involved."
"Son, you can't let Wo Fat interfere like that," the admiral shook his head in the negative, but didn't say anymore, knowing that Steve had made up his mind and wouldn't change it.
A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door, "Enter," the admiral called out.
"Sir, the lieutenant says that they need Steve to sign some forms and then he can go."
"Thank you, Commander Finn," the admiral said as he and Steve got up and left the room.
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Danny, Chin, Jenna, and Kono were waiting right outside the door when Steve stepped out of the interrogation room.
"Kono, how?"
"Someone posted bail."
"Oh."
"Commander."
Steve, looked up at the familiar voice, surprised, "Lieutenant." He greeted just as formally as he had been addressed.
"Right this way."
"Oh for Pete's Sake! Forget the uniforms for just a moment will ya!" the admiral said exasperated. When everyone looked at him in confusion, he looked at Steve and the lieutenant and said, "That's an order!"
A smile appeared on both of their faces, and the lieutenant was soon in Steve's arms, "I missed you, Steve."
"I missed you, too, Cat," he said and gave a chaste kiss on her cheek.
As the embrace ended, an IA officer came up to the group and said, "Officer Kalakaua, the charges against you have been dropped. Seems as though the witness who came forward has dementia and isn't reliable. Sorry for any incontinence."
"Not a problem. You were just doing your job."
"Thank you, LT Rollins for the information you provided to us on this case."
Catherine looked at the IA officer and then turned her attention to the admiral, "I think we better get to briefing, sir."
"Of course, Lieutenant."
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The admiral offered every one a ride in his limo to Steve's house. Once they got there, the admiral's staff checked the whole house for bugs. They informed the admiral that they found none. The admiral then asked for everyone's attention.
"Commander, I told you that you were back on active duty and that I had a mission for you."
"Yes, sir."
"I know that is unorthodox for the Navy, but you will be working with civilians on this one. However, I need you to pick two SEALs to add to your team."
"Aye, Aye."
The admiral looked at Catherine and then continued, "Lieutenant Commander, Admiral Brooks authorized your involvement with Governor Jameson's Task Force with an ulterior motive. He knew that if you worked closely with the governor, then you would uncover any corruption within the office. Even if you weren't looking for it. It was safer for you and your team if you didn't know about the suspected corruption.
"The Navy has been tracking Wo Fat for the past few years. We suspected that the governor was working for him, but we had no proof. That is until you confronted her.
"Since we suspected that she was working for Wo Fat, we have been keeping an eye on her. We couldn't do surveillance on her 24/7, so it was just a hit and miss. LT Rollins was ordered, by me, to look in on the governor at the time you were confronting her. She recorded everything and called me immediately.
"We didn't want to use the video that we recorded because it shows you holding a gun on the governor and a case could be made of intent to kill."
When the admiral paused, Steve asked, "Permission to speak freely, sir."
"Permission granted."
"Did you know about the connection between Wo Fat, the governor, and my parents' murders, sir?"
"What? No, I promise you, Steve, if I had known that there was a possible connection to Wo Fat and your parents' murders, I would have told you. I thought that your mother's murder was unrelated to your father's murder and his murder had to do with your mission," the admiral was genuinely confused.
"I just found out myself, sir. I went to the governor to see what she knew. I wanted to know if she gave the order, or what information she had on them."
"Now it makes since." When everyone looked at Catherine she explained, "We couldn't understand why you were accusing her of your parents' murders when she just confessed to Laura Hill's murder. We didn't know the relation. Now we do. Wo Fat is the connection. I'm sorry, Steve, if I had known, I would have told you."
"Why am I being told this now? What does this have to do with my mission?"
"I'm temporary taking over Five-0. You will report to me, not the governor. Five-0 will investigate and deal with all corruption in the Hawaiian government. Starting with the Governor's office, the HPD, and IA. Of course they will know nothing of this. They will see that Five-0 is operating as it has in the past. The two additional SEALs that I want you to recruit for this mission will be partnered up with LT Kelly and Officer Kalakaua. That way, each civilian will have a Navy partner."
"What about Agent Kaye?"
"LT Rollins will be her partner," the admiral said with a gleam in his eye.
Steve opened his mouth to say something and then shut it and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he calmly asked, "Permission to speak freely."
"Permission denied," the admiral said.
"Now on the cases that are dealing with local crime, the civilians will report to Detective Williams and he will report directly to the governor. Navy personnel will report to you, and you will report to me."
"So, LT Rollins will be under my command, sir?"
"In a matter of speaking, yes."
Steve was liking this mission less and less. "For how long?"
"Until we are certain that the Hawaiian government is no longer corrupt."
Steve nodded but didn't say anything. He couldn't even look at Catherine. He just looked at the admiral, not understanding why he was putting Catherine under his command. He knew what this would mean. He wouldn't be able to see Catherine romantically without the possibility of a court-martial.
"I trust that you can be objective about this, LCDR McGarrett."
"Aye, Aye," Steve replied. He wasn't happy about it and everyone in the room knew it.
"Good. LT Rollins still has a month at her current post, and she will help you from there as much as she can, but she won't be officially under your command until then."
Steve nodded that he understood.
"Now, to the public this will be seen as a pilot program. A joint effort between the Navy and Civilian law enforcement to share information on international criminals and terrorists. And when needed, to help fight local crime. Everyone will know that any and all of the Navy personnel has the possibility to be called away on another mission for the Navy at any time. And there will be a second team in place for that occasion. However, I will try not to call more than two of you up at the same time. I need you to choose and train the second team, Lieutenant Commander."
"Aye, Aye."
"You say that as if you already know the men you want."
"Aye."
"Who are they? I will have them called up immediately."
"LCDR Aaron Aswell will be Kono's partner and LT Paul Banks will be Chin's partner. For the second team, LCDR James Perkins will be in my position if I'm not there, LCDR Dane McGee will take LCDR Aswell's place if he's not there, and LT Adrian Spence will take LT Bank's place and LT Erica Etheridge to take LT Rollins' place."
The Admiral wrote the names down and then handed the paper to Catherine and said, "Hand this to LT Watson and have him draw up the orders and send them to Coronado immediately."
"Aye, Aye," Catherine responded and did exactly what was expected of her.
"Sir, I have a question," Danny said.
"Yes, Detective Williams what is it?"
"You said in the local criminal cases, we, civilians as you called us, were to report to the governor. What if we find out about any corruption within the governor's office, HPD, or IA? Who do we report to then?"
"Officially, you just tell the rest of the Five-0 team. Unofficially, if you want you can come straight to me. Which ever you feel most comfortable with, Detective Williams."
Danny nodded as his phone rang. He looked down and saw it was Rachel. "I'm sorry, I have to take this." He walked out of the room and answered his phone, "I'm so sorry, Rachel. I…."
"I know, Danny. Grace and I just saw the news here at LAX. What is going on?"
"The charges have been dropped. Thanks to the Navy. But, it doesn't look like I'll be able to make it to Jersey anytime soon. There is still a lot to do here to wrap this up."
"Danny, Grace, and I are coming back to you. You need to be there, we need you, and you need us. I booked us on the return flight to Hawaii and then called you."
"Rachel, I'm not sure that this is a safe place for you and Grace right now. The person that framed Steve would have no problem going after any loved ones we may have."
"Danny, that's a chance that a police officer's family takes. We're coming home to you."
"I thought you said that Hawaii was Stan's home, not yours."
Rachel smiled and looked at Grace and repeated what Grace had told her just a few minutes ago, "I was wrong. Home is wherever you are, Danny."
Danny smiled, "I'll pick you up at the airport, and if I can't be there, I will have someone there."
"Ok. Hang on, Grace wants to say something."
"Danno! Is Uncle Steve all right? I saw him go to jail on the TV."
"Uncle Steve is just fine, Monkey. He's out of jail now."
"I want to talk to him."
"Ok hold on." Danny walked in the room where Steve and the others were, "Steve, Gracie wants to talk to you."
"Excuse me." Steve said, and took the phone from his partner. "Grace."
"Uncle Steve! Is it really you? Danno said that you were out of jail. How did you get out? I know you didn't do it! You would never kill anybody. You protect people like Danno does."
Steve smiled at the innocence of an eight year old. "I got out jail because the evidence proved that I didn't do it. I was only there for a few hours, Grace."
"I can't wait to see you. I love you, Uncle Steve."
Steve was stunned. Grace had never said anything like that before and he didn't know what the right thing to say was. He knew that no one else in the room heard anything that Grace said, but he also knew that he loved the little girl like he would he would love any child that his sister would have. "I love you, too, Grace." He quickly handed the phone back to Danny. As Danny left the room to say good bye to his daughter he turned around to see the Admiral's face in shock.
"Who's Grace and how do you know that you can trust her?"
"Grace is Danny's eight year old daughter and we don't tell her anything other than we're policemen."
"Ok. Good. Keep it that way. It's best."
"What does his wife know?"
"Ex-wife."
"Well not so ex now, but all she knows is that we're policemen. She knows that I can't talk about my cases."
"May I ask a question, sir?"
"What is it Lieutenant Commander?"
"How did you get the evidence that I didn't kill the governor if you didn't use the video?"
"Lieutenant, you want to answer that question?"
"The ballistic reports. When I called the admiral, he had the ballistic reports done quickly and then the taser marks on your neck proved that there was third person in the room. Especially, when they didn't find a taser in the room. The ballistic report came back saying that there wasn't enough gun powder residue on the gloves for you to have pulled the trigger. The small amount that was on the gloves came from the gun being placed in your hand after it was fired. HPD had no choice but to drop the charges against you for the murder of the governor.
"On the flight here, I was able to get into the HPD mainframe and I found the prints that they said were yours. While it was very close to the ones found in the Navy Records, you could tell they had been digitally altered. When I showed the chief, he had no choice but to drop those charges as well, since that was their sole reason for arresting you in that case."
"Thank you, for helping me."
Catherine smiled, "Not a problem, sailor."
Steve smiled at her. He wondered how he was going to work so closely with her and yet not be able to hold her anymore. He might as well be back in jail on two murder charges and treason!
The admiral looked at the two of them with a wistful face. He saw the love between the two. And he understood why the Lieutenant Commander was upset at having the Lieutenant under his command. He didn't have all the facts. Right now all he knew was that if he was involved romantically with a subordinate, it was a cause for court-martial. But the admiral hoped that everything would work out between them. The admiral also knew that Steve was upset with Catherine being placed in the sights of Wo Fat. But he hoped that keeping her aboard the Enterprise would minimize that threat. Wait a minute, there was thought.
"Lieutenant Commander, I just thought of something. What if for the next month you worked off of the Enterprise to catch Wo Fat?"
"Sir?"
"Well, the safest place would probably be aboard the Enterprise. Wo Fat couldn't touch you there. But what about Danny, Chin, Kono, and Jenna? They would still be in danger." The admiral thought about it for a minute. "They would go undercover. Only those in this room would know that they weren't Navy officers. I would have them aboard the Enterprise as well. Agent Kaye already has the security clearance to be in Navy Intelligence. And I've checked out your other team members and authorized their security clearance to work on this mission. Their clearance isn't as high as yours or Lieutenant Rollins' but it's high enough to do anything aboard the Enterprise."
"What about Rachel and Grace? Rachel's pregnant and Grace is just eight. I couldn't leave them."
"They can stay with me. My home is right off base. Wo Fat won't be able to get to them."
"But I won't be able to see them, will I?"
"Not if you're undercover as a sailor."
"But it's the safest place for them?"
"Safest place on the islands," the admiral promised.
"I have to talk with Rachel about it first."
"I understand. Does anyone else have to talk to a loved one?"
They all shook their heads no.
"I'm in," Kono said.
"I'm in," Chin agreed.
"I'm in," Jenna smiled.
"Great. If Danny can't go undercover with you all, then he and his family can live with me until we get Wo Fat."
Steve and Catherine looked at him, and he smiled, "The house is quiet with Sid at school. It'll be good to have a little child running around again."
Catherine grinned, "I never understood why you live in that big house."
The smile disappeared from the admiral's face, "It was your mother's dream house if we ever got stationed at Perl, Katie. When I got transferred here, I had to build it. "
"But, Daddy, she died 14 years before you ever got stationed here."
"I did it in memory of her, Katie."
Catherine nodded her head finally understanding.
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Danny and the Admiral arrived at the airport to pick up Rachel and Grace just a few minutes before the plane touched down. When Rachel and Grace saw Danny, Grace ran to him, "Danno!"
"Did you have fun on your plane ride?"
Grace gave her father a look that told him that he was stupid for asking her that question.
Rachel wasn't far behind Grace and gave Danny a hug. "Danny."
"Oh Rach, I'm glad you're here. I'm worried for your safety, but I'm glad that you're here. There are a few things that I need to talk to you about, though."
When the embrace ended, Danny, introduced his family to the Admiral, "This is Vice Admiral Rollins. He will be giving us a ride. Admiral, this is Rachel and my daughter Grace."
Once they were in the limo with the privacy window up, the admiral started to explain, "Detective Williams is worried about your safety. I have offered to let you stay with me, until other arrangements can be made. However, he wanted to discuss it with you first. I have also offered Detective Williams an undercover mission, however, you will not be able to go with him. Instead if you so choose, you will be living with me for your protection."
"Danny, does this have something to do with Steve's arrest?"
"I cannot confirm nor deny that, Rachel," Danny said.
Rachel nodded her head. "What do you think is best for Grace?"
"What I think is best for Grace is not what I want. What I want is to be with you both. But what is best for Grace is that I do this mission and for both of you to stay with the Admiral until it's safe." He looked into Rachel's eyes and saw the unasked question, "Steve trusts him, Rachel. But, if you don't want to me to this, then we can go back to Jersey right now and never come back."
"But if we do that, you will be looking over your shoulder all the time and you will feel guilty for deserting your partner when he needs you the most." Rachel looked down and back up at Danny before she said, "We will do what is best for Grace." And our baby. "If that means being away from you for a while, then Grace and I can be strong, can't we, baby?"
Grace smiled up at her mother and nodded.
"I have to be honest with you, it might be all summer. This mission might not be just a few days," the admiral said.
"Is this what it's like being in the military?"
"Yes."
Rachel nodded, "I can do it. I can do anything for the safety of my family."
"Danny? Are you going?"
Danny's eyes never left Rachel's as he said, "I'm going."
"I'll have the transport pick you up at my place in the morning."
They rode in silence the rest of the way from the airport to the admiral's home.
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"It's not decorated much, but it's home," the admiral said as he showed his guests in.
"This room is the guest room, Rachel you can take it. Grace, this room over here, right across from your mommy's is my daughter's room. I think you might like it."
"What's your daughter's name?" Grace asked.
"Well I have two daughters. This is Catherine's room. The room next to it, is Angel's room and the room down the hall by my room is Sidney's room, my son."
"Won't Catherine be mad that I'm in her room?"
The admiral smiled, "No, she won't be mad. My children are all grown up and I doubt that Catherine will be visiting while you're here."
"I won't get to meet her?" Grace asked disappointed.
"Well, you might meet her in the morning. She's in the Navy and she's staying with a friend of hers tonight. She has to go back to her ship in the morning and will be here to pick up your daddy."
Grace smiled, "Good."
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Steve and Catherine were woken up by someone coming in the front door. They both grabbed their side arms and walked cautiously down the stairs. As the intruder disabled the alarm system, they stood ready to defend themselves. When the intruder turned the light on and turned around, she was met with two people aiming pistols at her. She froze wide eyed.
"Mary?" Cat asked.
"Catherine? What? Steve? What? How? I thought you were in jail."
"I was cleared of the charges. What are you doing back here?"
"Like I said, I thought you were in jail. I came to see if there was anything I could do to help."
"I was framed, Mary. You need to go back. It's not safe for you here. They tried to get you once. They'll do it again. It's the same people, Mary. Please for my peace of mind, go back to the mainland!" Steve urged.
"We'll talk about it in the morning, Steve. I had a long flight and I'm tired."
"I'm being shipped out in the morning."
Mary looked at her older brother with disappointment. "Oh. I thought you couldn't leave town."
"All charges are dropped. They know I was being set up and they're looking for the people who set me up. I'm not a suspect and I can leave town any time I want to. But this isn't a want to thing. I have orders."
"Ok."
"Listen, Mary, if you want to stay, fine, just not here. It's not safe for you to be here. And keep it low key. If they know that you're Steve's sister, they will try to get to you again," Catherine suggested.
"Stay the night, it's too late to go somewhere else. Hell, it's almost time for us to get ready to go."
"Catherine's going with you?"
"I've got get back to the Big E."
"Oh."
"I'll call you when I can to let you know I'm alright," Steve said.
"And since you won't be here, and this is my house too, you can't tell me that I can't stay here."
"No, I can't. But I can tell you …"
"It's not safe," they both said together.
"Just be careful."
"Always am."
Catherine smiled at the brother and sister as they stared down each other. "Come on, Steve, we need to get ready, the transport will be here soon."
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Steve and Catherine came back downstairs fully dressed in uniform and with their bags in one hand. They set their bags down by the front door and Steve went to help Mary settle in. He knew that she would not be leaving anytime soon. "If you're going to stay here, at least let me call Alex and have him come stay with you."
Mary raised her eyebrow, "I don't need a babysitter."
"Alex isn't a babysitter. He's a SEAL."
"Oh."
"I know you can take care of yourself, but I would feel better knowing that there was someone else here that could help you out if you get in a tight spot. I know that he will keep you safe, Mary, and that's the most important thing right now."
"Fine. Call Alex and ask him if he could come stay while you're out playing with the Navy."
"Thank you."
"Why do I get the feeling that I may not see you again, Steve?"
"There's always that chance when I go on a mission, Mary. You know that."
"But this time it seems real."
"I'm going to do my best to come home, Mary."
Mary nodded when they heard a helicopter outside. Steve gave his sister a hug and started to leave. There was knock on the door and a Lieutenant Commander informed Steve, "We have orders, Commander."
Steve, nodded, "Let's go, Aswell. The Lieutenant will be hitching a ride with us."
LCDR Aswell nodded as Catherine saluted him and he saluted back.
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When the transport got to the Admiral's house, Steve and Catherine got out and went inside. "Daddy," Catherine called out.
"In here, Katie," the admiral called out from his office. "Here is the documentation that the Civilian Five-0 team members need. I couldn't get what I needed to send them under cover, so I'm putting them on the Enterprise under the 'Distinguished Visitor Program'. However, while they are onboard they will be training with their partners."
"Are you going to come aboard with us?"
"No, not this time, Katie. I may come see you in a few days or so, but right now, I'm hosting Rachel and Grace." He didn't want to say that he was trying to get passes for Rachel and Grace to see Danny every once and a while since they won't be undercover. He didn't want to get everyone's hopes up in case he failed.
Just then, Steve walked in carrying Grace, "Cat, I have someone here that I want you to meet. This is Grace, Danny's daughter."
"Hello, Grace. I'm Catherine."
"Hi," Grace said. "The admiral said I could stay in your room. I hope you're not mad."
Catherine smiled, "I'm glad that you're staying in my room. Come on, I need to show you something."
Steve put Grace down and the two girls went upstairs. After they were out of hearing range, the admiral said, "Ask again and soon."
Steve nodded then smiled, "Is that an order?"
The admiral smiled back and said, "Yes."
They both laughed knowing that this was something that couldn't be ordered. Steve had already planned on doing what the admiral "ordered" this weekend.
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"Your room is so pretty," Grace said. The walls had wall paper of the American Flag, the Navy Cross with different Navy ships, and the ocean. These pictures were so light that they were like a colored shadow repeated over and over all over the wall. In one corner stood an American Flag and in another stood the Navy Flag. Catherine went to her closet and took a huge stuffed blue and white dolphin off the top shelf. She then turned around and said, "Grace, this is Star. I got her when I was five years old. Star has a sister that is out in the ocean. And every time, my daddy would ship out, I would sleep with star. I would tell star everything that I wanted to tell my daddy. And somehow I just knew that Star's sister was looking out for my daddy and protecting his ship."
"Do you think that Star's sister is still alive?"
"I know that she is, because I see her from time to time," Catherine said.
"Do you think that she will look after my daddy?"
"Well why don't you ask her?"
"What's her sister's name?"
"Stella Maris and she's a very special dolphin who can change shapes when she needs to. We call her Stella for short."
Grace looked at the dolphin in her arms and then asked, "Star, will Stella look after my daddy while he's away?"
Grace looked back at Catherine and Catherine asked, "What answer immediately came to mind when you asked that question?"
"Yes."
"Then Stella will find Danny wherever he is, protect him and make sure he gets back home ok. And you can sleep with Star while you're here."
Grace's eyes got big, "Really?"
Catherine smiled and nodded her head.
Steve looked on touched by the scene that he was witnessing. He hated to break it up, but, "Cat, it's time to go."
Catherine looked to Steve and nodded.
"Catherine! Wait!" Grace almost yelled. When Catherine and Steve turned around she asked, "Does Stella have any brothers or sisters that can look after you and Uncle Steve?"
Catherine smiled and said, "Stella is a very special. She can look after all American sailors at the same time." She winked and turned around and walked ahead of Steve.
In the hallway, Steve said, "That was nice of you."
"Yeah, well Grace needs Star more than I do, and she's too big to bring with…"
She was cut off by Steve's lips on hers. The kiss was interrupted by a small gasp.
"Are you Uncle Steve's girlfriend?"
The couple laughed and Steve said, "Yes, Grace, Cat is my girlfriend."
Grace just grinned and ran off to tell her father goodbye.
*H5-0*~*H5-0*~*H5-0*~*H5-0*~*H5-0*~*H5-0*~*H5-0*
(Yet anther rather long blabbing) Author's Notes: I have taken some creative license with certain things. The Five-0 team is purely fictional and it's methods are fictional as well. In a court of law, the criminals could get off on a technicality because of the way that the members of the Five-0 team conduct themselves at times. So with this in mind, I added something else that would never be approved. I know that if the military ever tried to share the responsibility of catching domestic criminals with the police force (like I have written it in this fic), or having the military to keep surveillance on a governor, it would cause an uproar, and there is real concern for it being abused. However, I have done my research and I am doing this for plot purposes only and in my fic there will be no abuse on the side that I have added, but it will be used as an added "Check and Balance". Please know that I know that this part is pure fiction for the U.S.A. justice system.
The next chapter we will be aboard the USS Enterprise AKA the Big E. While I have done extensive research for this, there are some things I had to take creative license on for subplot purposes.
Matter of fact when I was researching the Navy is when I had to stop because it was brining up questions I don't think I'll ever have the answers to. It was just too close to the 17th anniversary of the death of my daddy (July 7) – just regrets of not asking the questions before he died. His service in the Navy ended before I was even born. (I put the date and the fact that it's been 17 years because it's not a recent thing. But I'm ready to get back to this story now. I have moved on and it's not painful anymore. Yes, I miss him. I was 21 when he died. But I'm thrilled that he got to walk me down the isle and give me away at my wedding. It's just the happy memories now, but when doing the research for this story, I came across certain things that I would love to ask my daddy that I can't ask anymore and this was what was painful. I had to take a break or I would have gone into a depression that would have been hard to come out of. I could see it happing and I have two children (ages 10 and 13) to take care of and I couldn't allow the depression to set in, so I did the only thing I knew to do – back off for a couple of months. I just know now that I can't research the Navy or my daddy's history during the month of July. Or maybe the whole summer. LOL Sorry my sob story has gotten long.
Please forgive me and enter into a world of pure fiction on these things.
I have come across some things in my research about sailors and I just had to add them in. So, there are some "fun" things that happen aboard the Enterprise that are true to form. (Chapter 3) :-)
Game: Who can tell me where the shout out(s) to Buffy the Vampire Slayer is? (I may or may not have a little game like this with every chapter.)