A/N: Again, I do not own Hawaii Five-0. CBS and all of them do. I just like to play house with the characters...I know that undercover couple stories are done to death in both tv and fanfic...but I really can't help doing this one...it's a little on the sad side. And if you haven't noticed...I love using titles for stories and chapters from songs...This one was inspired by Katy Perry's The One that Got Away. This chapter really did not come easy for me, my apologies if it just doesn't flow

Rated: T for now, may change it later if things begin to spice up...which I doubt. But..read anyway *smile*

In Another Life.

Paradise. Paradise is supposed to be perfect, right? That would be too easy. Instead there's not a part of the world where bad men don't live and don't try to wreck havoc on those that try to do right. With elections a year away, campaigns were already gearing up, and tensions mounting with those who did not appreciate the viewpoints of whoever was running.

"I hate politics." Kono growled, leaning back in her chair, a murderous look crossing her face.

Danny raised an eyebrow as he sat across from her, awaiting the rundown on the latest case that Steve had called them in for, strange he wasn't already here biting the bit to get started, "I don't think anyone really enjoys it...except the ones that are in it. You do vote right?"

Kono gave him a look, not bothering to answer that question.

"Are you in a bad mood today, cousin?" CHin asked, with slight concern, watching her. That was a downside of having a woman on the team...women were moody and no he was not being sexist..it was the truth.

"No." She said softly, "I'm fine." She smiled reassuringly, well hopefully. It wasn't professional to bring personal life to work and she was trying very hard not to. Any further questioning was stopped when their boss walked in, nodding once. Everyone sat a little straighter, it was unconcious and hard not to do. He didn't apologize for being later then he said he would be, his demeanor was a little...sandpapery.

"Represenitive hopeful Jack Daniels." Steve put the picture up on the screen and gave Danny a look as he snickered, "I'm serious, that's his name."

"That's just..that's funny." He smiled, then cleared his throat at the level glare. "Sorry."

Steve turned back to the screen, sighing. "Is currently living in Keolu Hills, recently there have been vague threats to his life...increasing in regularity and intensity. It seems to be coming from this group of people." Another picture swung up on the screen, "An radical activist group for small government and little to no control." The group listened quietly, wondering where exactly they came in. "Our plan is to infiltrate the group and seperate the ones that are making the death threats and acutally planning on doing something. We'll pose as a married couple, live in the general area of the group's headquarters and go from there."
"Who's we?" Danny asked.

"Jack's an old friend of mine." Steve said, his glance making no room for questions or quips about mixing personal life with business. "So me, and Kono." He glanced at her.

She looked a little surprised, 'Won't this take away from other cases?" Was the first thing that came to mind.

"This is our case." Steve crossed his arms, "From the Governor's mouth." He watched her. "You have a problem with it?"

Chin raised his eyebrows. Something was up with both of them for sure. "I think it's just because you don't seem the undercover type, Steve, that's all." He said gently.

Steve shrugged, "Like I said, Jack's an old friend."

"Am I missing something here...because..there's a lot of tension in this room." Danny waved his hand, "It's just a case, but both of you have been like little porcupines since we came in."

"Nothing's wrong with me." Steve said. Lied.

Kono shrugged, stretching her back and trying to get over the mood she was in, "it's fine, I'm sorry I snapped at you Danny. And, Steve, I'm fine with it, I don't have a problem, I just..like Chin said...you're not the undercover type." She smiled, trying to soothe the situation.

Steve returned the smile slightly, "I'm just full of surprises." He sighed, "Anyway," He continued, by way of an almost apology, "We'll move tomorrow, so Danno, Chin, you'll be on surveilence, it'll be easier for us to send the wires back to you..especially if we're being watched." He filled them in on the rest of the details and they departed to prepare for the next day and the weeks following.

She needed stability. Really...stability in the Navy. Steve snorted, organizing his things. He knew he'd been a bear to his team, and he was sorry, but Catherine doing a complete 180 on him and dumping him for the reason of stability stung. She needed more then a booty call. His nostrils flared as he zipped a bag, booty call. Really. He'd tried, tried to make their dates nice and actually get to dinner, more times then not it was *her* that had ended up being the one that wanted the sex. He *liked* her dammit. It wasn't easy having a significant other in either of their jobs. It had *worked*. He sighed. After the phone call from her had come the Governor's..and the case. It wasn't easy for some reason to switch off the shock and hurt and back into work mode, but he had to. He supposed he could have picked someone from HPD to be his partner, but Kono had been the first one to come to mind. She'd done so well undercover her very first day, she'd be perfect. And they worked well together, in sync. Besides, maybe if he could play house it might ease the pain a little. He doubted it. He hadn't realized how much Catherine had meant. He shook his head, time to forget about her, there was a job to do.

Really. He picked *her*? It shouldn't have had the effect that it had on her, really. He'd asked her to be undercover before..of course never with *him* and definately not in the situation. Today honestly she didn't know why she'd acted like a petulant child, but she did know recently that she was highly uncomfortable about the way she reacted..rather..her body reacted around him. The little inward quiver and throb, she felt 16 and she *hated* it. SHe didn't *want* to be attracted to him, and she hid it well. Who *wouldn't* be attracted to him? Kono shook her head, packing up her things. There was a job to do. And she would do it, no matter what.

For anyone watching, they looked like any other young couple, the wife directing the backing up of the moving van, yelping as she accidently got in the way and lept out, yelling for the tattooed male to stop before he plowed into the garage door, "You're driving is insane!" She yelled, shaking her head. For anyone watching they looked perfectly normal, her carrying in tiny boxes, the man making a big speech about him being the man and carrying all the heavy things, she making quips about how he should just carry in the furniture by himself then. For anyone watching they would see how he pulled her close and tickled her til she shrieked in laughter after he'd come out of the house and picked her up against the truck, his long fingers skimming over her ribs, grinning as she laughed. For anyone watching they were two normal people, young and in love.

For them it was a ruse...each word they said a show, each move they made. Except for the tickling. Steve couldn't help that after the last quip Kono had thrown at him, she was taking the naggy, stressed with moving wife game, it was too cute, and almost realistically aggravating. She'd been a little on edge since they'd pulled out that morning, he was afraid of her performance being wooden and causing too much attention. So he attacked her, he liked to think it was a brotherly thing to do, but feeling her delicate ribs underneath his hands, feeling how very fragile she could be made his soul contract with the desire to protect. He couldn't help grin when she shrieked, pushing him away with giggles, her eyes shining, "Steve, stop please!" She laughed, "No more! Can't breathe!" She gasped. She grinned at him as he released her, his hands still on her hips.

"That's better." He said softly, reaching up to touch her cheek tenderly almost, "You happy is a lot prettier." His tender tone made her heart contract. It's just a show, she told herself, those hazel eyes gentle on her. "I like it when you smile." He said honestly.

Kono pushed away from the truck, "Well, then let's get everything in then, then I'll keep smiling, maybe even cook for you, you big kahuna." She said, venturing to playfully swat him, running into the house with a box.

Danny was like a brother, Chin like an older mentor/brother person, Kono was like a little sister..that's right, McGarrett. Little Sister. Don't go all butterfly over a silly job. He was telling himself. This is just a job, she's your partner, your little sister, part of your work family. "So why were you so growly yesterday?" She asked, bringing him out of his reverie as they sat a couch down,

"I wasn't growly." He frowned as she quirked a brow at him, "Okay well a little, it's fine now."

Kono shrugged, "Whatever you say, boss."
"Steve."
"Huh?"

"Don't call me boss while we're on this job...it's too dangerous."

"Got it." Her eyes sparkled, "We could you know, make it some kinky sex thing...if I accidently say it in public." Kono laughed getting the rare view of Steve being speechless, his mouth working like a fish.

"No." he finally said, shaking his head.

"Are..are you blushing?" She grinned, nibbling a finger.

"Just..just keep unpacking, will you?" he said, almost growly.

Kono giggled. This might be really fun.

After everything was put away, Steve sat at the table, spreading out his plans as Kono decided to really whip up some dinner, the kitchen smelled warm, homey and really damn good. Steve could cook, and cook damn well thank you, but there was something about someone doing it for you that made it better. "So What's the plan?" She asked.

Steve looked up, "We'll wait a couple of days, then go to their headquarters and ask around, try to get in with the group." He said, clearing a place as she sat the plates down.

"Wait? YOu?" Her eyes sparkled.
Steve gave her a look, "You know I can be a very patient man, I don't go in guns blazing every time. Besides, it would look very suspicious for someone to move into the area and then the next day get involved."
"True. I was teasing you." She said, taking a sip.

"Oh." He said./

"Don't have to be so serious all the time either." She said gently, "You're fun when you're not...I've seen it." She ducked her head, playing with her food a bit, embarresed she'd said that.

There was no answer, just a sigh.

"What's wrong?" She looked up, smiling with pride as she saw him sitting with his eyes closed, the long lashes fanning over his cheeks.

"This..is really good." He said softly. "Really good."

She sat straighter, "Good." They finished their dinner talking about their plans for infiltration and other finer points of the case.

After awhile, her eyes getting heavy Kono sighed, "I guess I'll go to bed." She stopped, thinking, "We..only unloaded one bed." She said softly.
"I can take the couch." Steve said idly, his eyes on the news.

"Well that's not fair." She said gently. His dark eyes swung to her and there was a bit of a sparkle.
"I'm a gentleman, Kono, I'll take the couch." He turned back.

"Ok...but don't complain about your back."
"I never complain." He said, "Good night." He nodded at her as she stood, watching out her out of the corner of his eye as she took the stairs to the bedroom, turning back to the television he realized he hadn't thought of Catherine all day. It was a comforting feeling.

Kono climbed into the big king sized bed alone, sighing as she snuggled into the covers, staring across the expanse and sighing. Half of her had wanted him to cave in and join her...just to fill up the space. She turned the opposite pillow longways and pulled it close to her, something to hold onto. Soon she drifted off, the low drone of the television in the back ground, comforting...not alone.