Kono: Warrior Princess

Chapter One: Warrior Princess

zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me…they do not belong to me…they do not belong to me…they do not belong to me…

Author Notes: Hey, long time no write. Sorry guys. Well, I mean other than a short Christmas Fic. Life just catches up to you and your muse goes into hibernation and well…anyway, I'm back and I'm excited that a few stories are rolling around in my head again and that I have time to devote to them, so here goes…I used to watch Xena: Warrior Princess when I was younger and well, Kono is in my estimation that modern day version of her as Steve is my modern day Hercules. Anyway, just enjoy I hope.

Steve stares in horror and in fascination as he runs along the roof looking down through the glass skylight windows to the scene below.

No less than five guys surround Kono and she has only a knife for protection. It's the knife he gave her for Christmas. He had no idea she'd get to use it so soon.

He has to get to her. Danny and Chin are still ten minutes away and he's her only back up.

Two of the guys rush her. She high kicks the first one in the chin and the guy's head snaps back. From the bone shattering sound, she broke his jaw. He collapses to the ground in agony. The second guy gets the knife to the gut and then just as Steve gets close enough to do anything about helping her, the other three are on her.

Two of them grab her arms and the third guy, the big one; he must be at least 6'4" brings a right cross to her face snapping her head to the side.

Steve shoots the glass out and yells.

"Five-0. Step away from the officer."

The guy responds by bringing his left hand back across her other cheek and once again her face flies to the other side, only this time blood sprays from a cut his ring opens on her temple.

Steve fires again as he climbs in the opening he made and starts to descend. Kono still has some fight in her and pulls free from one guy as she kicks the big guy in the stomach. He steps free just far enough for Steve to take him out. He then shoots the other two guys as he watches Kono collapse on the floor holding her head.

Steve leaps from beam to beam until he can find a place to jump down and rush to her side.

"Kono…"

She looks up at him with a lopsided smile and tries to sweep her hair out of the blood running down her face, as he handcuffs the men not unconscious.

"Took you long enough…"

Steve chuckles, drops to the ground beside her and then rips his t-shirt off and presses it to her wound.

"I think that is quite enough excitement for you for one day Xena."

"What did you call me?"

"You know, Xena: Warrior Princess."

Kono gives him a quizzical look.

"You never watched much television as a child did you?"

Kono's voice started to fade.

"Too busy…surfing."

"Stay with me Sweetheart. Kono?"

He felt her body go limp and he cradled her in his lap as she passed out. For once his seemingly indestructible team member was proving she was not a god and would need medical attention and fast. He used his radio.

"Officer down. I repeat. Officer down. I need a bus."

He gave the coordinates and then looked down at her limp form, holding her more closely to him as if his closeness alone would provide her with what she needed. He was feeling so guilty. They should never have split up and his ego had sent him rushing up the fire escape. A bad feeling had come over him as soon as he reached the roof and saw that it was empty.

He just never worried about Kono. Hell, he hardly ever thought about Kono going into a dangerous situation. She was always okay, dammit. She always handled herself no matter what. It was like she was Xena for crying out loud.

She mumbled something softly and he wondered if she was calling out for Adam. Last he knew they were still dating. Lucky guy. Kono was an amazing woman and any guy would be lucky to have her care about them.

He'd wondered on more than one occasion what it would be like to be with her. Truth be told…he thought about it a lot. Ever since Catherine shipped back out and they finally broke up for real, his mind had been on one beautiful, skilled island girl…or should he say woman. She was all woman and then some. She whimpered again and he leaned down to hear what she was saying.

"Mmm. Steve…"

I'm right here Kono. I've got you. You're going to be okay, Honey."

She was in and out of consciousness as he lifted her gently in his arms and carried her to the opening in the warehouse. He could finally hear the sirens getting closer and then Danny's car flew into the parking lot kicking up dust as it came to rest beside them.

Both men were out of the car in an instant.

"She okay?"

"No, Danny. She's not okay. She took a couple of horrific hits to the face and I'm worried about her. She keeps drifting in and out."

Steve cuddled her closer and leaned his cheek down to rest on top of her head. Chin took the t-shirt from him and kept applying pressure to the wound.

All three men sighed collectively when the ambulance pulled up. They opened the back doors and Steve stepped straight up into the vehicle. He laid Kono gently down on the gurney and slid to the side so the paramedics could look her over.

Danny and Chin stood at the back of the ambulance watching Steve hovering over her. They had never seen him in quite this state before and they were surprised at their friend's demeanor. They both knew he cared about Kono, but this was an interesting reaction to say the least. He yelled to both of them as the EMT started shutting the doors.

"Process the scene. I'm going to the hospital."

As the ambulance disappeared from the parking lot they turned to each other and stared. Danny spoke first.

"What just happened?"

"I don't know, but something tells me this is just the tip of the iceberg."

Three hours later Danny and Chin walked into Kono's room to find Steve sitting incredibly close to her bed. She was asleep and he had her hand wrapped tightly in both of his as he pressed it to his lips.

This was an interesting development indeed. Who knew his feelings ran this deep? Of course they all loved her. She was family, but Steve was not one to express emotions and it was obvious he was struggling.

Chin walked over and put his hand supportively on Steve's shoulder.

"How long has she been out?"

"About half an hour. There's no concussion. She's just tired and hurting, so they gave her a sedative. Stubborn woman wouldn't take it and I had to order her to. Her face is so swollen and bruised. The cut took four stitches…the bastard."

The two men watched as Steve reached out and ran his fingers lightly along her swollen cheek and then graze lovingly over her swollen eye, forehead and settle in her hair. He sighed and the two friends exchanged a look. This was not normal Steve behavior.

Danny cleared his throat and Steve finally looked up at both men with guilt written all over his face.

"I should have protected her, but she's always okay. You know? She always handles herself so well that I got lazy. I let her face those guys: five of them on her own. What kind of teammate does that?"

"Don't beat yourself up Steve. We all see her as indestructible."

Steve hung his head.

"When I looked down from the roof and saw them all attacking her I wanted to scream. If I could have turned into the Hulk at that moment, I would have killed them all. The ones that were left are lucky to be alive."

Kono began to stir as Steve's voice got louder and louder.

"Hey, keep it down, will you? Woman resting here."

Kono could feel a gentle hand stroking through her hair and she blinked her eyes open to find Steve looking down at her with anxious worry written all over his face.

"Boss, I'm okay, why the worried look?"

"I…"

"It's all part of the job, you know."

"I know…"

Chin crossed around the bed and leaned in for a hug.

"I'm glad to see you're okay Cousin."

Danny tickled her foot through the blanket at the end of the bed.

"Me too."

"Relax guys. There were only five of them."

The laughter that followed eased the angst that had settled over Steve and he seemed to be reassured that she was okay.

"When can I get out of here?"

"Sorry Xena, they want to keep you overnight to observe you just in case."

"Are you kidding me?"

Danny just picked up on what Steve had called Kono.

"Did you just call her Xena…as in Warrior Princess Xena?'

"Yeah."

Danny grinned and rolled back and forth up on the ball of his foot.

"Soooo, would this be a new pet name or a code word?"

"Danny, don't you have paperwork to do and suspects to interview?"

Chin pulled Danny by the arm out of the room.

"We were just heading there. What about you?"

Steve looked down at Kono and then at his teammates.

"I'm gonna stick around here for a little bit longer. I want to hear what the doctor says about her release time and any follow up things she needs to do. Our "Warrior Princess' isn't always good about following doctor's orders."

Kono rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine."

"I know."

The unspoken words flying between these two surprised both men watching them.

"Okay then. We'll stop by tonight and check on you both."

Steve had already turned back to Kono as they slipped out the door.

Kono looked at Steve's hands…one of which was holding her good hand the other was tangled in her hair.

"So, what's going on Steve?"