Thank you to the writers, developers, and actors of the Hawaii Five-0 television drama for creating this world in which we, the fans, can get lost in adventure. This story is simply my imagination, taking the characters places the show hasn't yet taken them, while we all wait impatiently for the next beloved episode/season to air.
Readers, Enjoy! And thanks in advance for your support, comments, and professional critique! A story is only as good as it's audience, and so I'm beyond grateful for the time you've taken to read mine :)
*** H5O Chapter 1 ***
Steve McGarrett sucked in a deep breath as he closed his laptop lid and sat back. In the silence of the empty office, he let the air out slowly, lulled by a faint whoosh that sounded much louder in his solitude then it would have if anyone had been present to hear. He pressed the heels of his hands against closed eye lids and leaned forward, elbows planted on the desk's smooth surface. A headache certainly wasn't anything new to the Navy SEAL Commander, but familiarity didn't have to mean tolerance.
Only three o'clock in the afternoon, and already he considered calling the day. Unusual, for him. Steve was typically one to prefer constant motion; a go-go-go from sunup to sundown. He lived for action, was powered by thrill. But today? Today, all he really wanted to do was sleep.
The glass door of his office made a quiet hinged sound, but he didn't look up. Probably, it was Chin, his fellow Task Force member, with an update on their latest case. Given that this case was the cause for his current headache and general lack of rest, the Commander wasn't particularly eager to hear what Chin would have to say about it.
Only, it wasn't his Lieutenant's voice that carried across the office space. "Back in Time-Out again, Uncle Steve?" The tone was cautious—gentle, as if speaking to a child.
If he'd been feeling any better, he might have laughed. The speaker, herself, was the child, not him. He drew another deep breath and lowered his hands, eyes blinking in the beam of light that pierced through his open window. "Gracie, hey. I thought you were with your mom this weekend. What're ya doing here?"
"Oh, I was. I am. It's just—" Grace paused, regarding the Commander with a calculating look. "Are you alright, Uncle Steve?"
"Alright? Yeah, Grace, I'm fine." She looked doubtful. "I'm good. Really." He rolled his shoulders once and widened the grin that was stitched to his tired face, hoping it would help to rest his case.
She shrugged. "Okay. Well, is my dad here? I wanna show him something."
"Your dad? No, he's not. He's not here right now. He thought you'd be with your mom, so he made other plans. Is she here with you?"
"No, she dropped me off. She's taking Charlie to swim lessons." Grace sounded distracted, though. "He's not here, then?" Her eyes cast around anyway, as if searching would reveal her father hidden among the bookshelves.
"Sorry, honey. But, hey. What did you want to show him? You can show me, ya know."
Grace offered half a smile, closing the distance between them and coming to stop beside his chair. "Check it out, Uncle Steve. Look what I just got." She laid a small rectangular sheet of paper on the desk beside his laptop, it's greenish-gray watermark a cozy contrast to the deep red of the cherry wood.
Grace's black and white smile stared up at him from the top half of the little page, and Steve beamed. "Your driver's permit? Gracie, that's—that's incredible. Congratulations! I'm so proud of you. C'mere!" He stretched out a hand and pulled her into his side, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed his cheek.
"Thanks, Uncle Steve. Test was pretty easy, though. I passed, no sweat."
"I wasn't worried, kiddo."
"Mom dropped me off to show Danno. He said, when I got it, he'd take me for my first drive." Her face fell, though, as she realized that promise wasn't likely to happen today.
"Ah. I see." Steve looked sideways at her. "Your dad's taken you driving lots of times. Why's this one so important?"
"I know he has. But this time, when I drive, I'll be legal."
Steve could only laugh at that. She had a point, he supposed. His partner had done an excellent job preparing his daughter for this next major milestone in her life. Steve was sorry that Danny was going to miss the final payoff. "Tell ya what, Kiddo. Your dad's teaching a strategy surveillance course to some junior detectives in the forest north of the Kawainui Marsh. It's about half an hour's drive from here. What'd'ya say we head out that way, you can drive me, and we'll surprise good 'ol Danno with your news. How's that sound?"
Grace looked hesitant. "I dunno. Danno always says I'm not supposed to take driving tips from you."
The Commander feigned offense.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Steve. I didn't make the rule!"
But Steve was laughing as he stood up from his chair and grabbed his truck keys. He pounded his finger against the driver's permit that still held it's place of honor on his desk. "D'you know what that right there says to me? That there says that you are now a qualified driver, Miss Grace. That means you don't gotta take driving tips from anyone. You got it?" He winked, pressing the keys into her hand. "Let's go!"
