Relationships Start With Dinner
Unlike Danny's assumption about relationships starting with coffee, Steve McGarrett's relationship with Catherine Rollins started with dinner. Their love affair had started when both of them were Naval Intelligence officers. Catherine had caught his eye immediately. He was struck both by her demeanor – tough and also compassionate – and her swaying beauty. The experienced Navy commander found himself flustered whenever he met those brown eyes, and he had a feeling that she had felt the same way. It had not helped at all that their missions were assigned together during Steve's time in Naval Intelligence.
The favors had started shortly after. It was actually Steve that had proposed dinner as a favor for Catherine Rollins. Both of them knew that it was a date and neither of them had minded. And as Catherine always said, they never made it to dinner. They had not made it to dinner that night either. Steve and Catherine had an unusual way to express their love – that was for sure. They both scarcely saw each other, and didn't say "I love you" at all during the years that they had been together. Steve had called Catherine miles away for a favor, and then they both attempted at having dinner.
They cared for each other. Steve McGarrett was a Navy SEAL-turned cop, and Catherine Rollins was an intelligence officer on the Enterprise. It was supposed to be as simple as that. Now as Steve watched the stars from his window, he realized how much Catherine was a part of him as a person. He had been disappointed that she had to take a rain check, not just because they missed out on dinner – he truly did miss Catherine. Perhaps calling her by her full name and not just Cat or Cath meant something more. Maybe Catherine was starting to be more than a woman that he had met on the Enterprise years ago and was attracted to her, and her to him. Catherine Rollins must have been, otherwise, why would Steve had said that they could meet halfway in Mumbai when both of them knew that they would never have the time? Steve had wanted to kiss Catherine, but was sensitive with Lori watching behind them. The hug had sufficed, he supposed.
Steve had called Catherine an old friend because that was who she was. Indeed, Steve had never been close to anyone since his father had sent him away. Until he met Catherine Rollins. He had called her after his father had been murdered, and she was the only one that got answer from Steve when he was in prison. Now Danny was close to Steve as well. He had even called Catherine Rambette. Secretly, Steve had liked that, and had told Catherine. She too had laughed. Her laugh was one of the many things that he liked about her.
Catherine was more than an old friend. Did he love her? Steve thought. Did he have deeper feelings for her, more than he let on? He wasn't certain, but only time and Indian food would tell. He hoped that he would see her again.