Disclaimer: I am not associated with Hawaii 5-O or CBS in anyway. The characters and the likes are not owned by me, but by CBS and the writers.
Author Notes: Hello. This is my very first story outside of my comfort zone. I recently just watched season one and two of Hawaii 5-O and I am anxiously waiting for season three. Just love it! This idea came to me listening to Keith Urban's song, "For You". When I hear that song I think of Steve McGarrett and think it fits perfectly into his character. So putting fingers to keys, this is what I came up with. I believe there are slight spoilers for a couple episodes, so slight most probably wouldn't even realize it. I hope I have came close to nailing the characters and I really hope they aren't too OOC. Any mistakes are my own. Thank you for reading and as always, leave some lovin'.
PART I
Steve McGarrett stared at the plane in front of him on the airstrip at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base. He was dressed in his green cammies, cover and his usual combat boots. He had his sidearm strapped to his right thigh within easy reach of his firing arm. At his feet lay his pack; stocked full of everything he'd need and more.
He had done this before, packed up and moved out. But never since he took the job as being the leader of the Governor sanctioned Special Task Force – affectionately called Five-O. Since he transferred out of active duty status and into the reserves some five years ago, he had given up ever again feeling the energy, the anticipation of shoving off to the unknown. To help right a wrong.
But this time, this time was different. He glanced down at his left hand. There was a light strip of skin circling his ring finger where a ring had sat comfortably for the past three years. He felt naked almost. It was a foreign feeling, reaching out with his thumb encountering flesh instead of the cool metal. Even as he thought about it, his thumb moved to rub the skin where his ring, up until that morning, had rested.
Fingers entwined with his, stopping the movement. And he was glad. He didn't like that emptiness. He stared at the fingers tightly gripping his; their complexion contrasting against his. His eyes followed the toned arm until they rested on the chocolate colored gaze, glossy with tears, of his wife.
Kono.
God he loved her. He shifted so he was standing in front of her. With his free hand, he cupped the side of her face and watched as her eyes slid close at his touch. He saw a tear escape and he brushed it away with a soft caress of his thumb.
"Kono," he whispered, feeling a tremor course through his body. His heart seized as a lump rose in his throat, constricting his airway. He breathed through his nose, hoping the feeling would pass. But he knew, he knew he would carry the feeling with him until he stepped foot back on the island; until he was back home with his family – his 'ohana.
His hand slid from his wife's cheek to tangle in her soft tresses. Cupping the back of her head, he only had to apply slight pressure before she was against his body; her head pressed against his neck. Her breath came is short gasps as she tried to hold her cries at bay. It tickled across his skin, damp from her tears. He dropped her hand, only to wrap his around her waist, securing her against him. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.
He blocked out the whomp-whomp of the Marine Corps helicopters going about their daily practice flights. He blocked out the HMMWV driving toward a helicopter resting on the flight line. He blocked out the voices and laughter carried from a group of Marines gathered outside a hanger. He blocked out the crash of the waves in the distance. Nothing existed around him but the feel and touch of the woman in his arms.
He breathed deeply, taking in her scent. It was unique to her alone, a rich combination of her shampoo and body wash and her. There was nothing else like it. It remained in their bathroom after she showered. It attached itself to their bed linens, cocooning him at night when he held her in his arms. And if he was lucky, it would seep into the fatigues on his back and linger. So while he was away, the uninhabited scent would catch his breath and comfort him; remind him he wasn't alone anymore. She was waiting.
There was no call or command. There was no ringing bell or alarm. But he felt that shot of adrenaline course through his body. And by the stiffening of Kono's body, she knew it was time. And it still never ceased to amaze him that even though he had not said a word or moved a muscle in the slightest she could read him. That she automatically knew; they were that connected.
She tightened her grip on him and she breathed deep as if trying to capture what he had unabashedly did so earlier. Her hands fisted in the green fatigues. And she suddenly wished she could slide her hand beneath the blouse, pull the olive green undershirt from his trousers and touch skin. Touch the heated skin one more time.
She released a quivering breath as she raised her head, staring into the depths of her husband's slate blue orbs. The words needn't be spoken, she heard them loud and clear. Just as she knew, he heard the words she didn't say. She felt a tremor and clenched her jaw against the onset, but her bottom lip trembled. She dropped her gaze to his chest and she ran her hands over it, making a show of straightening the uniform he took so much pride in.
He reached out and lifted her chin with a finger, his eyes locking to hers immediately. He then clasped both her hands with each of his. His thumb rubbed over the rings, nestled on her fingers. He waivered slightly and he again stared at his naked digit.
She removed a hand from his grasp, bringing it to her own chest where she pulled a chain from her blouse. Glittering brightly off the sun's rays was the wedding band that as recently as that morning, graced his finger. He clasped his hand around hers and the necklace and squeezed gently.
"I love you Kono," he said softly and lowered his lips to hers. He tasted the saltiness from her tears as they rolled uncontrolled down her cheeks, mixing with their kiss.
"Steve," Kono's voice waivered. She palmed his cheeks with both her hands, her thumbs running over his lips. "I love you." She kissed him with trembling lips before pressing her forehead to his. "Come back to me. To us." She amended.
"I promise." His voice never faltered as he vowed. He kissed her one last time before stepping back acknowledging the two men standing to the side. He rustled up a smile, the stoic mask not yet in place. Emotions danced across his face that at any other time would have been veiled. But he had learned, on his many trips like this before, that this was not the place hide what he was feeling. The unknowns were aplenty.
"Steve," Chin grasped his brother's hand in a firm hold before pulling him into a hug. "Don't you dare hurt her."
"Look after her," Steve said in a lowered voice, his arm still around his teammate's, his friend's, his brother's back. "And…"
Chin nodded as he released Steve from their hug. "You just take care of yourself, Brah."
Steve turned toward Danny, his partner, his best friend. He had to smile as his partner stood on the flight line wearing slacks and a button up shirt. The tie had been forgotten years ago, but no matter how much teasing he took, he never strayed from the casual-professional look. It was a miracle they had been able to get him wearing flip flops. He was a work in progress.
"You can't tell us anything?" Danny asked as he stood in front of his best friend with his hands shoved in his pockets.
"Danny, you know I can't. It's…"
"Classified," Danny nodded. "I know." He sighed and shook his head. "I'd feel a helluva lot better if I was there… to have your back."
"Danny, I have a bunch of Navy SEALs to watch my back."
"Yeah, not the same. It's not me and based off the last member of your team I had the pleasure of meeting, I'm not too trusting of their abilities."
"That won't happen," Steve assured him, pushing aside the memory of a once close brother from his long ago SEAL team that had betrayed him. "Tell Gracie I love her."
"She's already writing a letter to send to you," Danny withdrew his hands from his pockets as he was engulfed in a crushing hug. "You make me break the news to her that her Uncle Steve isn't coming back because he went in guns ablaze without thinking, Steven, I'll bring you back to life and kill you myself."
"I'm sure I'll hear your voice in my head warning me before I do anything stupid." Steve hugged him tight. "Watch out for Kono and…"
"Don't worry. We'll take care of her. I'll drive ridiculously fast and out of control and I'll be sure to drop at least one suspect in the shark tank just for you."
Steve grinned. "Now that'd be great."
Steve stepped back from his team. The people that had become his family after he was so sure there was no one left in the world for him. He leaned down and picked up his pack before he met each set of eyes in front of him. With a last look, he shouldered his pack and walked away from his family; a lone tear rolling down his cheek.