Author note:
Hello, everyone. English is not my first language, so be easy on me. Please review if you have time, all feedback are appreciated.
Have a nice day.
Steve pulled in front of HPD office. He clicked off the engine and closed his eyes for a second and wondered what he was doing in front of HPD office on a Saturday morning. Lately, weekends don't seem to thrill him. He always like being alone but sometimes, silences are a little too much to take in.
Moments later, he stepped out of his truck. Inhaling the fresh air, Steve stretched himself. It looked like a beautiful day and he hoped it would stay that way.
Steve walked into the office to hear a child crying. He frowned before he walked over to Duke. "Is it a child crying?"
Duke nodded. "It's girl, she's only three and half years old. She's has been brought in here midnight in protective custody."
"Protective custody?" Steve asked, surprised.
Duke sighed. "Yes. Poor girl, she lost all her family members last night."
"What happened?"
"Well, I don't know the full details yet but it looks like a home invasion murder. Our team is still investigating the case."
"How about child protective service? Wouldn't she be more comfortable with them?" Steve asked. Something about her cries was upsetting him.
"Yes, we have notified them. They will be here in a couple of hours. Our officers brought her in, we agreed this would be the safe place for her now, considering she is the only survivor and possibly the only witness."
"How long she has been crying?"
"For some time now." Duke sighed again. "She has lost her whole family, I'm not sure if she even understands that." Duke gestured his eyes to one of the meeting rooms.
"Oh, man…" Steve shook her head as he looked towards the room. "Mind if I go in?"
"Of course not. It would be great if you could make her stop crying. I'm going to head out, help the team working on her case."
In any other day, Steve would have been the first one to jump in and help with the case, but it felt different today, he wanted to be with her.
"I can't promise that but I will see what I can do," Steve said and made his way to the room. He walked in and could see a female officer squatting down, looking under the table in the corner.
"Officer?" Steve called softly.
"Commander." She quickly stood up.
"Relax. I just come in to see if I can help. What's her name?"
"Harper. She has been hiding under the table for some time now, I can't get her out."
"Can you get a glass of hot chocolate milk? I will keep an eye on her."
"Of course." The female officer replied uncertainly.
Once she has stepped out, Steve went over to table and sat down on the floor. He could see a small figure wrapped in blanket in the corner of his eyes.
He didn't want to scare her but he wanted to do something …something that will probably stop her from crying. He could imagine himself in her place, years ago when his father told him that his mother won't be coming home anymore. At least, he was a teenager, he still had his father and sister around, someone he could find comfort with at that moment but this girl, she seemed to be in worse situation than him. That was what made him determined to help her in any way he possibly could.
But Steve couldn't think of a way, calming kids down was always Danny's job.
Where is Danny when you need him? Steve thought to himself.
Thinking about Danny, a thought popped out. Steve took out his phone and opened his gallery. He scrolled down and found the video of Charlie and Grace playing in his backyard near the beach which he has recorded a few week back.
He clicked play. Harper stopped crying when Grace and Charlie's voice fell over the room. Steve could hear the sounds of sniffs a few times. Steve lowered himself down and lied on his stomach. He turned the screen so that she could see. He turned to her as well but he couldn't see her clearly. She was covering herself with the blanket.
"Hi, Harper," Steve called softly, temporarily paused the video. "My name is Steve. You are safe here, no one is going hurt you." He guaranteed her.
"That's Grace and Charlie in the video. You want to come out and see the video with me?"
The sight of her face took Steve's breath away when she pulled her face out from the blanket. Her tiny face looked bruised and she was clearly scared.
"Hey, it's okay, sweetheart. You are safe here." Steve spoke softly again. "I won't hurt you. I promise you. I even asked for a chocolate milkshake and I don't think I can finish them all myself, so you want to help me out?"
Harper's gaze never left Steve. After some time, her fearful gaze turned softer and Steve considered it a victory.
"Come on." Steve extended his hand as again he spoke in a softer voice.
Slowly, she began to crawl out. Steve pulled him up and sat on the floor again. Harper looked around and found herself to be alone with Steve.
Steve didn't want to touch her, he was worried if he would scare her. "Harper." He called softly. She turned to him.
"I want you to know that I'm with the police. I keep people safe and you're safe here, okay?"
The girl didn't speak but she nodded.
Just when Steve thought he has the situation under control, the female officer walked back in with a glass of hot chocolate milk in her hand. The girl jumped at the sudden sound of the door being opened.
Yikes. Steve groaned inwardly. Bad timing.
To Steve's surprise, the little girl jumped on his lap, wrapped her small frame around him and held on with all her strength as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"It's okay," Steve assured her as he gently rubbed her back. "She got our chocolate milk."
-H50-H50-H50-
Hours later, Duke stepped back into the office. They have got good leads on the case and the team was on their way to catch the perpetrator responsible for Harper's parents' murders. Duke raised his eyebrows in surprise. The office was quiet now. He wondered what happened with Harper.
A smile spread across Duke's face when he saw Harper sitting on Steve's lap and he had his arms protectively around her. Her tiny hands were holding a sandwich. She took a bite before she took the bread to Steve's mouth. When Steve has taken a small bite, she lowered the bread down to herself. Harper took another bite as she watched the video Steve was showing her.
Duke shook his head as he smiled. Steve never failed to amaze him.
-H50-H50-H50-
"I'm not sure if it's possible." Adele, the CPS staff said.
"What are you planning to do with her then?" Steve asked. "You just said you cannot trace back to any of her relatives."
"She will be placed in the system, probably she will be looked after in an orphanage before we find her a suitable foster home."
"An orphanage?" Steve snorted. "She has been through a major trauma, placing her in an orphanage will not be a good idea. She needs someone she trusts, someone who can support her more than just an orphanage and I am more than willing to be the person."
"Commander, you have just spent few hours with her. Taking care of a child a big responsibility. Moreover, you need to pass background checks, psychological test before we grant you Harper's temporary custody."
Duke literally rolled his eyes. "He's the head of Governor's Five 0 Task Force. You still want to run background check on him?"
"Look," Steve stepped in. "Can you at least try? We all want what's best for her, right? And if you are on the same page with me, you know I can give her a comfortable place to stay then an orphanage can give."
Adele sighed, deep down she agreed with Steve. She pulled out her phone. "I will see what I can do but I still someone to vouch for you. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Of course." Steve smiled. "How about Governor of Hawaii?"
-H50-H50-H50-
"It's good you have the Governor on speed dial, Commander," Adele spoke as she walked in. "You got her temporary custody."
"Thank you so much. I really appreciate it." Steve replied as he took the papers from Adele.
"Commander, can I ask you something if you don't mind?"
"Of course."
"What made you decide to take care of her?"
Steve shrugged as he watched Harper sleeping peacefully on the couch. "I can't really explain it, but it just felt right. It just clicked between us, you know. I felt so calm with her, just like she felt with me."
Adele smiled. "Every night, I went back home hoping I have made the right choice for the kids and today I think I will sleep peacefully, thanks to you Commander."
"How long do I get her temporary custody?"
"For one week now, hopefully, we can find her her relatives, or a foster home or anyone willing to adopt her by then."
Steve nodded slowly as he thought. "Do you think…?"
"Wait," Adele held up her hand. "Don't tell me."
"Well, if you guys can't really find any relatives to take care of her, you might just let me adopt her."
"That is another long process, Commander."
Steve shrugged again. "I know a couple of people that can pull a few strings for me."
"Like Governor of Hawaii?" Adele smirked.
"Maybe." Steve smiled.
"You are a good man, Commander." Adele shook Steve's hand. "I will keep in touch with you."
-H50-H50-H50-
Steve sat on the couch in the meeting room and waited patiently for Harper to wake up. He kept glancing at the temporary custody papers in his hand. Officially, he has the temporary custody of a three year and half years old girl. Suddenly, fear began to build up. What if he messed up? He has never taken care of kid before in his life, moreover, she was a girl who had lost her entire family. What would he do?
But then, his fear melted down when he looked at her face. He couldn't really put in words, but something about her felt right. They meant to be together. If it meant so right, he should be able to do.
-H50-H50-H50-
Two hours later, Steve stepped into his house carrying the wide awake girl in his arms. She looked around in amazement.
"What do you think? You like the house?" Steve asked.
Harper looked around before she looked back at Steve. She nodded.
"I got a surprise for you," Steve smiled before he carried her and stepped outside through his lanai door.
The little girl opened her mouth in wonderment when she saw the beach. Steve squatted down and placed her down.
She took two steps to the front but then stepped back to Steve and gripped his shirt.
"It's okay, you're safe here. Come, I will walk with you." Steve stood up and extended his hand.
Harper gripped his fingers and together they walked nearer to the water. Once they reached, Steve squat down again. Standing beside Steve, gripping a handful of his shirt, Harper looked away to the waves.
After a little while, she turned to Steve. "Where's mommy…daddy?"
Steve swallowed. "Harper, you know something happened last night, right?" Steve said softly.
Tears welled up in her eyes. "Mommy hurt, Daddy too."
Steve nodded. God, he hoped he could ease her pain but then he knew it would take some time. "Harper, something happened to mommy and daddy, they wouldn't be able to come now. They are in here." Steve touched her heart.
She began to cry.
Steve sat down and pulled her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. "I'm sorry, Harper. One day you will understand this better, until then, I will never leave your side. I promise you."
I thought I will just write a one-shot, but then by the time I finish this, I'm not really sure. What do you guys think? Should I continue or leave it this way? Hit me with a review, let me know what you guys think. All feedbacks are appreciated.
Sincere apologies for the mistakes if there are any. Thank you for your time. Have a nice day.