Snowed In
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: They have been together in my head since the first episode, but sadly they are not mine in reality.
Author Notes: Hey Peeps! It has been three months since I wrote a story for these two and it's killing me, so I thought I would take this morning since I am off for the holidays and write a Christmas fic. I plan to write more in the New Year, but I have been working on a television series idea and plan to submit it to an agent in the spring. Happy Holidays! Oh by the way, pretend the Christmas episode didn't happen.
Danny stood with his arms folded and watched as Steve and Kono unloaded their packs and gun cases from the car.
"This is stupid. You know that, right? What if you have weather issues and the airport closes down. You'll never make it back for Christmas."
Steve rested his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Relax Danno. We'll fly there, drive in the first day and set up house, spend the next two days shooting, stay at the cabin and be back at the airport with a day to spare. You'll hardly know we're gone."
"Seriously? It's the holidays and I'm alone. Didn't it occur to you I would notice you were gone?"
Kono sighed.
"We'll be back by Christmas Eve, Danny. Think of it like an early Christmas gift to both of us. What better fun can we have than to trek through theSmoky Mountains taking potshots at targets?"
Steve joined in.
"Look, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and Kono's never seen snow. Don't ruin it for her Pal. We will snowshoe out if we have to and you will be picking us up on Christmas Eve."
"Uh, huh."
Steve and Kono exchanged a look. Steve grinned.
"Kono, somebody needs a hug."
"I think you're right Steve."
The two of them grabbed Danny in between them and squeezed.
"Hey, hey, what are we five? Let me go."
"You know you can always come with us."
"Oh yeah. That sounds great. Stomping through the snow, freezing my ass off while you two snipers take out some stupid targets on a hiking trail that is bound to be ridiculously dangerous and then spending two nights in a cabin heated only by a fireplace? No thanks."
"Okay then, we will see you in a few days."
"If something happens I am so going to say I told you so. And if I have to spend Christmas alone, you will never hear the last of it."
The two grabbed their gear and headed towards the terminal.
"Hey Danno? I think the nice airport police would like you to move your car."
Danny looked up into the angry gaze of a guy over six feet tall.
"Sir, this is an unloading zone only."
Steve and Kono laughed as they strode side by side into the terminal.
"He is too easy."
"Chin promised to take him out while we're gone for beers and to let him moan about us leaving him alone."
"Your cousin is a saint. You know that, right?"
Kono's dimpled smile was his answer.
"Yep."
Getting checked in didn't take as long as Steve thought it would with it being holiday travel time along with the fact that they were checking in two high-powered rifles. Before they knew it they found themselves sitting at the gate.
Steve watched as the young woman sitting across from him looked down at an incoming text and frowned. He watched as she typed back furiously and then shut her phone off completely.
"Adam?"
"Yeah. He just won't let me go. I told him I'm done. He finally showed his true colors when his brother came home and I was stupid to believe he could change."
"No, you just always want to see the best in everyone. It's a remarkable trait, Kono."
Steve sighed as he gazed back at her. He had been so scared for her the last couple of months. Adam's brother had framed her for murder by using her service revolver and it was only when she had been arrested that Adam would finally entertain the idea that his brother was involved. Steve had posted bail and then he and Kono were able to track down an eyewitness to the murder. The whole experience had brought the two of them closer together, especially since Catherine had headed back out to sea and they had officially broken up this time.
Kono pulled her legs up under her and rested her chin on her knee as she gazed out at the arriving planes. He hated that sad look she now wore. He was determined to make her smile a lot over the next five days. This trip was all about cheering her up.
They were lucky enough to get in a two-seat row and settled down to catch a nap. The time difference was four hours and they wanted to get rid of the jet lag if possible before they arrived. With their late arrival it would take the rest of the day to drive the SUV up to the cabin high in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Steve smiled over at Kono who was leaning her head against the side of the plane. He reached for her and pulled her over to him as her eyes popped open in surprise.
"Steve, what are you…?"
"My shoulder makes a much better pillow, I promise you."
"Are you sure?"
"Get over here, you."
Steve smiled as he settled down to sleep. The wonderful smell of vanilla and coconut that wafted off her soft newly shampooed hair made him feel content for the first time in a long time. He wanted to forget everything for the next few days…his mother, Wo Fat, the past, the danger Kono had been in and just enjoy time with this woman who could hold her own with him in any situation.
A smiling flight attendant leaned down.
"Sir can I get you or your uh…wife anything?"
The woman was obviously checking his single status.
Kono giggled and looked up at the woman without batting an eye.
"No. We just want to sleep. The honeymoon really took it out of us…all that love making day and night and night and day. Glad we are heading home so we can get some rest, you know?"
Steve's eyebrows went up into his hairline and he almost burst out laughing as the attendant's face morphed into an ugly fake smile.
"Well, then, I'll leave you to it."
"That was just mean Officer Kalakaua."
"Yeah, but she deserved it. What if we were together? Women like that make me sick."
Once again she closed her eyes and snuggled down against him.
"Just so you know…if we ever were together no one would have to ask if I was single. It would be more than obvious I wasn't."
He heard Kono's breath catch, but she didn't look up again and he slipped his arm around her to snuggle her against him. Did she just shiver? He wondered if he was having the same affect on her that she was having on him.
He tried to push those thoughts to the back of his mind and go to sleep, but it was hard. She felt so good in his arms and he was starting to care about her in a way he hadn't before. The protective brother in him was quickly becoming something more. He was starting to realize that he had feelings for her, but didn't think she would ever feel the same.
Kono finally relaxed and slipped her arm across his stomach. She tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach, but couldn't help the way she felt. She had always had a crush on Steve, but thought he saw her as his little sister. If he only knew how she really felt he would be shocked. Her relationship with Adam had been real and intense, but the way she felt about Steve was different. He meant so much more because of all they had been through together. Closing her eyes she started to slip into a dream state.
Steve relished the feeling of Kono's arm slipping across him. He smiled as he took another deep breath of her shampoo and drifted off as well.
Nine hours later they woke up to the Captain alerting them that the plane was landing at McGhee Tyson airport in Knoxville. They left at 6:00 that morning, but now with the nine hours and the time zones it was already 7:00 in the evening and they had a two-hour drive ahead of them to reach the cabin. They grabbed their stuff and headed to pick up their rental and get on the road.
Coming out of the airport they put on the parkas they had dragged on the plane with them. They were definitely going to need them. They were still an hour and fifteen minutes from the mountain, but it was already unbelievably cold. Kono shivered as she zipped hers up.
"No sign of snow yet, but once we start climbing into the mountains we should see some."
"I hope I can sleep tonight. I can't believe we slept the whole flight."
"We've been really busy with cases and just needed the down time. Kono I hope you let yourself enjoy this time away. You deserve it."
"Thanks Steve. I'm really excited about seeing snow in person. I've only seen it in movies and television."
"You've traveled all over the world surfing and you've never seen snow?"
They pulled out into traffic and started towards the mountains.
"Surfing is sort of a warm weather sport you know."
"Yeah. I know. I just am sort of excited to watch you have this experience."
They rode along in companionable silence until they got part way into the mountains and its started snowing lightly. Steve watched Kono's face light up.
"It's beautiful isn't it?"
"The trees are so beautiful covered in snow. I never knew it would look this…amazing."
An hour further on and they turned off on the path to the cabin. It was slippery going as they went deeper into the snow. After climbing slowly for about half an hour they pulled up in front of the most amazing cabin Kono had ever seen.
"Oh Steve, it's so…"
"Rustic? The whole experience is just…"
"Let's get inside and get a fire going, shall we?"
Kono opened her door and stepped into the snow. She had only taken a few steps when she felt something strike her in the arm and a grinning Steve proceeded to form another snowball.
"Hey. That's not fair."
Before Steve could answer she hurled one back at him and it was on. They pelted each other for a while and then charged up the steps to the cabin. Once inside, Steve quickly lit the fire in the fireplace and they set about foraging for food.
Two cups of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich later they sat back on the sofa and enjoyed the fire.
"This is great. This is so not Hawaii. It's just what I needed. Thanks Steve."
"You're welcome. And just remember tomorrow is shooting and hiking and more shooting."
"I can't wait."
They sat together until almost midnight talking about everything imaginable and then after brushing their teeth, Kono climbed into the queen-sized bed and Steve climbed into the twin.
"Night Kono."
"Night Steve."
They both stared into the fire as they drifted off, each thinking about the other.
Little did they know what the forecast had in store for them.