Steve walked in to HQ to find Joe White waiting for him unexpectedly. Curiosity took the better of him as he walked into the office to see what was going on. After they had exchanged greetings, Steve learned to his dismay that this was not a social call.
A member of Steve's former SEAL team had been found dead. Suicide, they said. Giovanni "Gio" Manetti was on Steve's SEAL team. The two had been like brothers during their years in the naval academy, SEAL training, and then serving together with a SEAL team. Over the years, Steve had grown close to the Manetti family. Gio's mother, Rosalina, was the stereotypical Italian mother and had taken Steve under her wing like he was one of her chicks. After finding out that Steve's mother had died and he hadn't lived with his father for years, she had basically "adopted" him as one of her own. Anytime Gio received a care package from his mom, Steve got one too. Whenever she was worried about Gio, she was worried about Steve too. He just became part of the family.
Everyone who knew Rosalina called her "Momma Rosa", and Steve had been no exception. In fact, he remembered with amusement one incident the first time Gio had taken him home to meet the family. After Steve repeatedly called her "Mrs. Manetti" one too many times, she had smacked his hand, "How many times do I tell you, it's Momma Rosa!" Gio had laughed out loud at the expression on Steve's face at getting scolded by his little Italian mother, but to his credit, Steve had never called her Mrs. Manetti again.
Upon leaving the Navy, Gio had been one of the ones who could not assimilate back into civilian life. He suffered from PTSD, and although Steve, Joe, and several other had tried to help him over the past few years, they couldn't lift him out of the dark hole that eventually consumed him. He had given up…..and taken his own life.
"I'm sorry, son." Joe began, "I know you two were close. I told them we would notify the family, if you're up for it. I don't think they should find out from someone who didn't really know Gio."
Steve agreed even though it hurt like hell to imagine what he was going to have to do to inform Gio's mom and sister that Gio was gone. Sometimes life sucked. No other way to put it.
"If it's okay with you, I was thinking that I could tell his parents and you could tell his sister. Are you up for that?"
Honestly? No….He wasn't up for it. But he knew it had to be done. And Joe was right. Hearing the news from someone who loved Gio was a hell of a lot easier than hearing it from someone who didn't even know who he was.
*****************h50****************h50***************h50
Steve sat outside of Sophia's apartment for several minutes before he could make himself get out of the truck. Eventually, he made his way upstairs to knock tentatively at her door. He hadn't seen Sophia in years, so he was taken by surprise when the Italian beauty opened the door and smiled at him. She certainly wasn't the lanky, skinny, girl he remembered. In her place was a gorgeous woman with long black hair, olive toned skin, brown eyes, long legs, and curves that would make any man weep for joy. He had to swallow uncomfortably as he looked at her bright smile knowing that he was about to shatter the very world she lived in.
"Steve! What a nice surprise! What brings you here?" She looked outside the door expecting to see her brother there too. "Where's Gio?"
Seeing the serious look on his face, she was alarmed. She hated to ask, but she had to know. "Steve? What's wrong?"
Steve's face remained stoic. "Can I come in?" he asked her softly.
Sophia moved aside so Steve could come inside her apartment. Once inside, he turned to her. "Why don't you have a seat," he said as he pointed towards her couch.
She wouldn't hear of it. This had to be bad, she thought to herself with dread. "No. I don't want to sit down. Tell me what's wrong. Is it Momma? Is it Gio? What's going ON?!"
Steve moved to put his hands on either side of her arms. He looked as if he was about to cry which scared the hell out of her. Sophia had never seen her brother or Steve to the point that they would cry. They were Navy SEAL's, for God's sake…..It didn't get any tougher than that!
"Sophie, I'm so sorry…but I have to tell you that Gio was found unresponsive this morning."
The breath went out of her lungs and the world stood still for a moment. Sophia felt as if everything was spinning and she couldn't hear anything. What did it mean that he was unresponsive?
She swallowed hard before looking up at Steve. "What do you mean by unresponsive?" she demanded.
"He's gone, Soph. He killed himself."
Sophia felt as if the very floor she was standing on had been pulled out from under her. She'd heard about people collapsing at the news of such terrible grief but had never experienced it until now. Her legs gave way as she screamed in grief. Her fists reached out to punch and hit at Steve's chest as she screamed, but he quickly pulled her to him and held her close.
It was one of the worst moments of his life, no doubt. He had been devastated at losing his mother…then his father…..but now to lose his "brother in arms", he didn't know how to get through this.
"I'm so sorry, Sophie." He said as he held her close and let her cry.
***********h50************H50****************H50
5:00 a.m.
Steve awoke to the sound of his phone ringing on the bedside table. He was momentarily tempted to ignore it since his body craved sleep. The alarm was set for 6:30 and he desperately wanted that extra ninety minutes. Knowing that wasn't an option, he reluctantly picked up the phone using his standard greeting.
"McGarrett."
"Steve?" The woman's voice was vaguely familiar, but considering his mind was still foggy from sleep, he couldn't place it at the moment.
"Yes, this is Steve McGarrett. Who is this?"
"Steve, it's Giovanni's momma. Rosalina."
It had been four weeks since Joe White showed up unexpectedly in Steve's office to inform him that Gio was dead. It had been difficult for Steve to process how the man who had always been so full of life and love could purposefully end his life, but PTSD wasn't something that was easy to overcome. As SEAL's reserved for the most complicated and dangerous missions, they had seen some of the worst that mankind had to offer during their years in service. Gio was one of those who had never been able to assimilate to "civilian life" after getting out of the Navy. Steve and others had tried to get help Gio to no avail and he had eventually succumbed to the nightmares that plagued him by taking his own life. Everyone had been devastated.
Hearing Rosalina on the other line, Steve was suddenly alert as he sat up in bed to answer her. "Momma Rosa, what's wrong?"
"It's Sophia. You know how much she loved her big brother, and I'm afraid she isn't handling things very well now that he is gone." Her voice cracked as she continued. "She's not answering her cell phone and I'm very worried about her. I called into her work and they said she called in sick two days ago and hasn't been back since."
Sophia had been understandably devastated at losing her brother. Steve was devastated too, but he had also felt guilty for not being able to take his eyes off of her the whole time. He couldn't deny that he was mesmerized by the woman she'd grown into. Before leaving, they had exchanged phone numbers and promised to keep in touch.
Steve called her a few times over the last weeks to check on her, and although she told him she was "fine", he knew it wasn't the case. There was a hollowness and emptiness in her voice that wasn't hard to pick up on. Unfortunately, work had kept him very busy and he hadn't been able to follow up with her like he wanted. Hearing that she wasn't going to work and wasn't keeping in touch with her mother either gave him a sinking feeling.
"When was the last time you talked to her?" Steve asked with concern growing in his voice as well.
"Three days ago. Please, can you help find her? I am out of my mind with worry."
"I'll do what I can. I'll call you soon, okay?"
"Molte grazie, Steve! I won't be able to live with myself if something happens to my Sophie."
I'll find her, Momma Rosa. Don't worry." Steve promised.
He was already getting out of bed when he hung up the phone. He quickly sent a text message to Sophia praying that she would reply.
"Sophie…We need to talk. Call me."
Then he took a quick shower so he could start his day with the first order of business being to find Sophia Manetti. A few minutes later, Steve heard the indicator on his phone that he had a text message and picked it up quickly to check.
"I'm fine. Don't worry. Will call you soon. Love, S."
Steve knew better. She wasn't "fine" and hadn't been "fine" since losing Gio. Steve had let her get away with that line for the last month, but he decided not to let her off the hook this time. If she was distancing herself from everyone, including her mother, there was a problem.
"Not buying it. You need to call me. Otherwise, I'll just have to find you." he replied.
To Steve's frustration, he didn't get an answer before he went into HQ an hour later. On his way into the office, he'd called Chin to see if he would come in early. He hated to call in favors, but this one was important. He briefed Chin on what was going on and asked if he could trace Sophia's cell phone while he called some of the places he knew she frequented to see if anyone knew where she was. He also did a search of credit card transactions to see if she'd left town.
It didn't take long before Chin and Steve's searches both coincided. Chin tracked her phone to a local hotel which is where Steve's credit card transactions led him as well.
Steve knocked on the hotel door and didn't get an answer right away, so he tried again a little more forcefully.
"Sophie, its Steve. Open the door."
He heard her moving around inside and it wasn't long before he heard the door unlocking as she cracked it open just a bit. Steve's heart clenched in his chest at seeing her. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days and grief was still evident on her face. She also looked alarmingly thinner than the last time he'd seen her. Not waiting for her to invite him inside, he pushed open the door and walked in. He quickly scanned the room and found a disturbing amount of empty wine and liquor bottles on the counter.
"What are you doing here? How did you even find me?" Steve heard Sophia whisper behind him.
He turned to look at her. "Your mom called me this morning because she hasn't heard from you in days. She's worried about you….and frankly, so am I."
"There's no reason to worry about me, Steve. I'm fine."
Steve wasn't going to hear it. "Get your things. You're coming with me." He left no room for argument.
Sophia crossed her arms defiantly in front of her. "Who the hell do you think you are? You can't just barge in here and demand that I leave with you!"
Steve's expression remained calm. "Yes, I can." He pointed towards the empty bottles on the counter. "Obviously, you are not fine. You've stopped answering calls from your mom, you've called in sick to work, and you're hiding out in a hotel. You probably haven't eaten or slept in days and you're drinking too much. Sound about right?"
Sophia remained silent, her eyes refusing to meet his.
"You are coming with me and we're going to talk about what's going on. Let's go."
Sophia's expression grew furious. "What is it with you Navy guys ordering everyone around? I mean, you're like cavemen who think you can just walk in and take over!" Sophia was on the verge of tears even as she fought to keep them at bay.
Steve's voice softened as he moved to put his fingers under her chin, "Sophie, look at me."
She reluctantly looked up and the grief that filled her beautiful brown eyes was enough to break his heart. "I'm not leaving here without you, Soph. Now get your things together. You're coming with me." He paused for a moment before continuing in a halfway lighthearted manner…..hoping to break down her guard, "I mean…..as fun as it might be to bring out my 'inner caveman' and throw you over my shoulder to carry you out of here, I'd rather you just work with me and walk out on your own so we don't cause a scene."
The joke served it's purpose and won him a small smile from her. "Okay, fine. But I don't want to go back to my apartment…..and I don't want to go to Momma's because she will smother me. Literally. You know how she is. I can just hear her now: You need to eat, bella…You need to sleep, bella…..Tell me what's wrong, bambina." She let out a big sigh and rolled her eyes for extra emphasis, "Honestly, I can't take it right now."
Steve smiled back at her. "She's just worried about you, 'bella'," He repeated the endearment and Sophia couldn't help the way her heart did a little flip flop hearing the endearment (which meant "beautiful") on his lips.
"I just can't do it right now, Steve." Her face grew sad again. "Everything…." Her voice cracked before she composed herself again, "Everything…reminds me of him. I just can't believe he's gone."
"I know, sweetie. I know." Steve enveloped her in his arms as he kissed the top of her head, "We can go back to my place, okay? I'll just call Momma Rosa and let her know you're okay."
Sophia gave in and shook her head in surrender. Knowing how much Steve was like her brother, she knew she would never win this fight.
After Sophie got her things together and they checked out of the hotel, Steve put a call in to Rosalina.
"Sophie is with me, Rosa." He glanced towards Sophia as she heard her mother in the background.
"No, she's fine," Steve continued. "She just needs a little time to work some things out. She's going to be with me for a little while. I'll take care of everything."
Sophia heard her mother jabbering again before Steve smiled in her direction, "I promise to take good care of her ma'am. I'll bring her by to see you soon. Okay?" There was a brief pause. "Love you too, Rosa…. I'll talk to you soon."
