"Last Second Chance"
Shakespeare's Lemonade
Rating: T
Genre: Family/Drama
Summary: Steve's younger brother moves back to Hawaii to be with a sick friend, but wants very little to do with his family. That is, until he meets his nephew and needs Steve's protection from those out to kill him. But will the brothers ever be able to repair their relationship? And Steve's got a lot more to worry about than an estranged sibling.
Pairings: Steve/Catherine, Danny/Rachel, OC/OC
A/N: The title of this story comes from a song by This Beautiful Republic. The story itself is set a couple of years after the end of season one and I would consider it fairly AU because it includes an extra sibling and a couple other things that aren't in line with the show.
I have seventeen chapters written already, so I will be updating quite regularly.
Very special thanks to my wonderful beta, sugarmuffin08 and my gamma, Riter's Fury... I highly recommend multiple readers. I think on one story I got to a delta. I can't remember.
"Go on and get up; show me what you're made of when push comes to shove. Go on and get up; here comes another round. It's all come down to your last second chance."~This Beautiful Repubilc
Prologue
1992
"Steve!" the voice of the young boy echoed through the house.
Steve McGarrett opened the door of the room he shared with his younger brother and looked out into the hallway. Said brother stood in the middle of it looking lost.
"What is it, Jackie," Steve asked, a little impatiently, but with a smirk.
"Um... What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Steve was a little surprised at the question. For one thing, he sort of thought he was grown up. But he gave it a moment's thought. "I don't know." He shrugged. "What do you want to be, Johnny? A cop, like Dad?"
Johnny shook his head. "No," he said and seemed to be thinking hard about it. "I used to."
"Yeah." Steve nodded. "Me too."
"Well, I have to write this thing for school and I don't know what to write about."
"Well... You could make something up. Pick a job that sounds fun and talk about that."
"Okay... What kind of job sounds fun to you?"
"Uh... how about a Navy SEAL?" Steve suggested.
Johnny's eyes lit up. "Yeah, that would make a great essay!"
Johnny ran back downstairs and Steve smirked again. In all honestly, he wanted to be a cop, even if his dad did tend to ignore him. Maybe he would pay more attention then.
A Navy SEAL was his second choice.
2010
The shots rang out and the younger man winced slightly. No one else would have noticed it, but Steve did. He supposed it made sense. For someone like him anyway.
Steve didn't know most of the people at the funeral, so very few of them probably knew him or the other man. An observant person might notice the similarities in their eyebrows or the shapes of their faces, but Steve didn't think anyone was paying attention.
He didn't say anything to the other man, but he waited a few minutes afterward to see if he would approach him. He didn't.
"Was that your brother?" Chin asked when they saw each other in the parking lot. "He looks a lot like you."
Steve nodded. "I know. I'm glad he was there at least."
Chin gave him an understanding look. "I hope you'll stop in now and then."
Steve shook his head. "I don't think I'll be here long... But I'll come by before I leave."
Chin nodded, accepting what he could get. "You should talk to Johnny before he goes. How long has it been?"
Steve thought for a minute. "A long time," was all he said.
Chin knew what that meant. Steve really hadn't spoken to his brother in eighteen years.
Chapter One "Home Again"
Present Day: September, 2013
Johnny slipped on his sunglasses as he left the airport. He switched off the annoying GPS in his rental car. Even after twenty years, he knew where he was going. He didn't even think of going to the house he once called home. Johnny wasn't delusional enough to think he wouldn't end up there eventually, but not now.
Instead, he drove to the other side of town to a house that had been like his own growing up, especially in the last few years. Johnny was only nine when he left, but sometimes, he felt he had been a lot older. He felt older now than his 29 years.
There were a lot of things Johnny didn't understand, but a few that he did. He did not particularly want to be here except to support his friend and he knew that would not be enough to keep him from facing the ugly past he had on this island.
Alana was waiting for him on the porch of her parents home. She didn't get up, but he hadn't expected her to. She had a blanket over he knees despite the balmy weather. She held out her hands and Johnny took them. He kissed her forehead as he crouched in front of her.
"You don't look half bad," he said with a smile.
"Neither do you," Alana retorted with a laugh.
Johnny's smile widened. "I've missed you," he said. "I wish I'd been able to come sooner."
"I understand. I'm glad you're here now."
Johnny noted the tone in her voice. He knew what she meant, but chose to ignore it. He wasn't ready to believe that yet, as much as the facts were staring him in the face. Alana seemed to be taking it all in stride. Like she was used to the idea.
"Mom and Dad want to see you," she said. "They could hardly believe it when I told them you were coming back."
"Not exactly back," Johnny said. "More like: here indefinitely."
Alana smirked. "Same difference, brah," she said. "Anyway, they're inside."
Johnny stood up to his full height, now towering over Alana. "Guess I'll be back," he said, brushing her hand as he moved toward the front door.
Inside, the house hadn't changed much. It was just as Johnny remembered it when he was a kid. His brother used to drop him off after school and pick him up after dinner. Then Steve would listen to all Johnny had to say about his day. Steve never said a word. Johnny sort of understood why.
"Johnny McGarrett, is that you?" came the voice of Alana's father, Kekoa.
Johnny smiled. "Yes, sir," he said.
Kekoa came into the front room and shook his head. "Never could knock that out of you," he said. "Your parents taught you too well."
"Or something," Johnny said, shaking Kekoa's hand firmly.
"In any case, I think you're old enough to call me 'Kekoa'."
"I'll... try."
"How have you been for the last few years? It's been too long."
"I've been well," Johnny said. "Not a lot to report. The band never went anywhere and I'm on my own again."
Kekoa nodded. "People take solo artists more seriously anyway."
Johnny tilted his head. "Hmm. Well, I hope so. And how have you been?"
"As well as can be expected. We know every day is special. And we're very glad you're here. Alana always missed you."
Johnny nodded. "I missed her. All of you."
"And your family?"
"Well, I haven't had much contact with them in the last few years."
"Why not? I would think that... Well, it's not my place. I'm sure your brother would like to see you. He's been by a few times since he came back."
"He has?" Johnny didn't hide his surprise.
Kekoa nodded. "Since he found out about Alana, he's made a point of stopping in when he can. I know he's very busy, but he seems a little lost after what happened two years ago."
"What happened?"
"You don't know?"
"I haven't spoken to my brother since Dad's funeral."
"Oh." Kekoa seemed to gain some insight from that. "He was framed for killing the governor. I think he should probably tell you the rest."
Johnny shook his head. "I can't believe it. The guy never tells me anything."
"Do you ever tell him anything?"
Johnny shrugged. "I guess not."
"So, it looks like you both have your work cut out for you."
"I don't know. Sometimes I think it's been too long. That we're better off as we are."
Kekoa shook his head with a grave look. "Never think that," he said. "Never give up on the people you love."
H-5-O
Steve was finally home after a long few days. There was a message on his phone that had been there since yesterday, but he hadn't had time to check it. At this point, he wanted to ignore it and go to sleep, but then he saw who it was from and decided he should listen to it.
"Hey, Steve, it's Lani," came the voice. "I was wondering if you could stop by tomorrow. I understand if you're busy, but let me know. Bye."
Steve looked at his watch. It was only six, so Alana would still be up. And if she needed to see him, he could spare an hour or so before going to sleep. He took Danny's car without thinking. He would fill it up in the morning anyway. During the drive out to the Iona's house, Steve wondered about Lani's call. She usually didn't ask him to come visit her daughter because he came regularly anyway, but he thought maybe Alana was getting worse. He hoped not, but if she was, he should see her.
Steve did it more for Johnny than even he would admit. Alana had been his little brother's best friend years ago and for some reason, Steve didn't want to let that die. He'd lost touch with all of his old friends, but not Alana for some reason. Maybe because he wished he'd had someone like her all those years ago.
As a sailor, Steve understood the importance of a safe haven and Alana had been that for Johnny when everything was going wrong in the McGarrett family. Steve wished he'd had an excuse to stay at the Iona's after school every day with his brother. They probably would have been happy to have him.
When Steve pulled up to their driveway, he saw an unfamiliar car. As he got closer, he could see it was a rental. He wondered why Lani would ask him to come over when they had company.
But as Steve walked up toward the house, he understood why. On the porch, Alana sat in her Adirondack chair and at her feet was none other than John Sidney McGarrett.
They both looked up as Steve approached, eliminating any chance of escape. Steve hated himself for thinking that way, but he really didn't want to deal with his brother at that moment. Their last conversation hadn't gone so well.
September 20, 2010
"I'm glad you made it," Steve said.
"Like I would miss this?" Johnny sounded more than offended.
"That's not what I meant... Mary's not here."
"I'm not Mary."
"Not what I meant either."
"Well, I would be surprised you're here, but seeing as how..." Johnny shrugged as he trailed off.
"I wouldn't have missed it," Steve said.
"Guess I'll believe it when I see it."
Steve shook his head. This was pointless. "I don't know why I try," he said.
"This is you trying?" Johnny said, a little too loudly. "Wow, I'm so not impressed."
"Are you here long?" Steve changed the subject.
"No," Johnny said. "I fly home tonight."
Steve nodded. "Well, have a nice trip," he said.