Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-0 it is without prejudice property of CBS, K/O Paper Products, CBS Productions (season 1–2), CBS Television Studios (season 3–), 101st Street Television, Peter M. Lenkov, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci. I own only my own creations. No infringement of copy write is intended and will be removed if contacted.
A/N:
Summary: When a pounding awakened Steve McGarrett on his front door in the middle of the night. He never in his wildest dreams thought the President of the United States and SECNAV would be standing on his doorstep. Or that they would be looking for his mother.
Codename Gemini:
Prologue:
Shelburne
When Steve McGarrett had finally fallen into bed, after an exhausting case that had sent him trekking through Kauaʻi's Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, he hadn't expected to be awoken only an hour later to a loud banging on his front door. With as surprised grunt he sprung from the bed. Landing crouched on the floor beside his nightstand, the heavy reassuring weight of a SIG-Sauer in hand.
In his experience, those who knocked on the door…even at two-thirty in the morning…were not out to do any harm. People who planned to commit murder very rarely had the courtesy to knock on the front door. Regardless he held tight to the grip and padded quickly from his room. The drumming on his front door continued.
"I'm coming." He grunted, bare feet slapped loudly against the bare wooden stairs. "Hang on."
The person on his stoop either didn't hear him or didn't give a damn; because a heavy fist pounded loudly against the door so hard, it rattled the door. With an irritated curse, he chose to disregard the last four steps and simply vaulted over the banister. Landing easily on the balls of his feet, he covered the remaining five feet at a jog, pausing only for a moment to disarm the alarm. The deactivation setting had barely let a quite beep, when he flipped the deadbolt and yanked it open.
Steve had no idea who to expect on the other side, but it certainly wasn't the two men tramping on his mother's begonias. If Danny or Chin could have seen him at that moment, he would have never heard the end of it. Jaw gapping open, eyes bulging, dressed only in a pair of old cotton pajama bottoms. Standing before him were two men he had never once expected to meet. His gun dropped numbly from his fingers, smacking off the side of his bare foot before skidding over the threshold and coming to a halt at the feet of Thomas G. C. Samuels in full military dress, and standing next to him in a crumpled suit was Matthew Norris. The throbbing in his foot shocked him from his stupor. Protocol bred into him since boot camp had his spine straightening and his right hand raised in salute.
With twinkle of amusement glimmering in his eyes, Samuels crouched down, grabbing the firearm from where it rested on the welcome mat. "At ease Commander."
McGarrett let his hand drop slowly to his side.
"Sir…I don't…"
With a stiff nod Samuels arm out stretched offering him the SIG by the barrel. Dazedly Steve clasped the grip of the gun, and tucking it into the waistband of his pants.
"I believe we should hold this conversation inside, Commander." Matthew Norris spoke finally, in a strained voice.
Feeling like a complete moron, he jerked out of the doorway quickly, clumsily backing into the door and nearly upending the umbrella stand. "Apologies Sir, please come in."
Luckily, tonight Steve hadn't bothered with anything in the house, except tossing his keys on the end table and climbing up the stairs in search of his beckoning bed. So at least the living room was presentable, free of empty beer bottles it wasn't much but it was something. The bad thing, there was not a spare shirt for him to throw on. Embarrassed he scratched at the back of his neck as the two men crossed the threshold.
"Right please come in, Sirs." He gestured toward the pristine sofa. Peeping out the door before slowly closing it, he was surprised to find the men were without a herd of men in black suits and earwigs. He was at a loss at what to do. What did someone do when the President of the United States of America and the Secretary of the Navy paid a late night visit in the middle of the night? He doubted anyone would know what to do.
Fortunately, he wasn't forced to fidget uncomfortably for long. It seemed President Norris wasn't any more comfortable himself; he opened his mouth to speak when SECNAV held up a silencing hand. Before stepping forward, gravely.
"Commander McGarrett, let us skip the formalities shall we? Your address was transmitted to us by an asset," The Secretary of the Navy paused to scowl at the President, when the younger man growled threateningly under his breath. Brows hiked, Steve gazed back confused but held his tongue.
"As I was saying your address was transmitted by an asset," this time the President remained silent. "Before she was abducted by armed insurgents. Tell me Commander McGarrett whom or what is Shelburne?"
Steve's stomach lurched his jaw working silently as he searched for an answer. What would the Secretary of the Navy and the President want or even know about Doris? From the little he knew about his mother's fake demise very few people knew she was still among the living let alone back on the island.
Clearing his throat roughly, he rubbed at his forehead in vexation. "Shelburne? Sir, with all due respect, how does the SECNAV even know about Shelburne?"
Samuels rubbed a strong hand through his salt and pepper hair, regarding him speculatively. "Before the transmission was terminated, our asset was able to send us one last missive. And that was Shelburne."
McGarrett bit back a groan, rubbing his hands over his stubbled jaw. He had known Doris was back in contact with old 'friends', before Wo Fat had forced her to go back into hiding. Steve just never expected something like this. What in hell had Doris gotten herself into now?
"Sir," he began reluctantly, squaring his shoulder arms clamped tightly to his side. "I truly wish I could help, but Shelburne is not something I can disclose."
SECNAVS eyes hardened like twin icicles, and clamped a restraining hand down on the President's shoulder. Norris gazed at him with rage defining every line of his body, and SECNAV seemed to swell in indignation. For the first time in a long time, Steve McGarrett was intimidated. Thomas Samuels was a living legend in the Navy. He was who every SEAL had hoped to emulate. With a Navy Cross, a Distinguished Service Medal, and Silver Star to his name he was a hero. Samuels had single handedly saved one of his fellow SEALs carrying his injured comrade nearly twenty miles through scorching desert to the rendezvous point. Steve doubted that since his rise through the ranks that he was accustomed to hearing the word no.
"That is not for you to decide solider. Your Commander-in-Chief requires an answer." POTUS snapped, his face flushing a dangerous shade of puce. The placid, affable man Steve had seen on the TV was gone. Now he was practically vibrating in desperation. Somehow, Steve didn't believe that this 'asset' was only that. It seemed almost personal. A normal asset, no matter how skilled or important, would not lead the Secretary of the Navy least of all POTUS to fly all the way to Hawaii. Let alone without a Secret Service detail. This was no ordinary case. This was personal to one or both of them.
"Matthew," Samuels scolded gently stepping in front of his friend. Pressing one hand onto Norris' shoulder and the other to his chest. "We agreed I would handle this. So let me handle this."
Samuels's posture relaxed slightly when Norris nodded curtly and took a few retreating steps backward, resting heavily against the back of a lounge chair. "I admire your loyalty Commander, but this is a sensitive issue of extreme importance requiring immediate action." He declared solemnly, eyes boring into him. The desperation now plain to see in his eyes. "Now please son, what or whom is Shelburne?"
Steve knew that look all too well. He had seen it in every spouse of every service member that paid the ultimate price in service to his or her country. All they wanted was a few scraps of information, to know someone else cared. It was because of that look his resolve cracked, and in a reluctant voice he said, "All I can do, Sir is refer you to the CIA. They'll be able to tell you more than I ever could."
SECNAV tensed noticeably at the mention of the intelligence unit. "Unfortunately, Commander that proves impossible. As someone compromised our assets safety. And until they can be weeded out, this must never reach their ears."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Steve silently warred with himself. The last thing he wanted to do was bring Doris into this. Hell he didn't even know where she was. As much as her fake demise had destroyed his family, he now could understand her impulses and the last thing he wanted to do was toss her into danger, especially with Wo Fat still on the loose and hunting Shelburne.
As it turned out, he didn't have too.
Behind him, the front door clicked open, and he instantly spun, around stepping in front of the two leader and grabbing the gun from his waistband and training it on the new comer.
Shadowed in the doorway was Doris McGarrett, dressed comfortably in a pair of worn jeans and a plain lightweight blue blouse, a large black duffle bag thrown carelessly over one shoulder, not looking for a moment that it was the middle of the night.
"Ah, I see I'm late to the party." Her eyes flickered to her son and down to weapon. "Really dear?" she questioned with light sarcasm. Steve groaned loudly, lowering the gun and pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. How in hell had she even known to come here?
Doris smirked slightly, a light summer breeze whistled through the open door musing her perfectly coifed hair. Really? Jesus Christ who else was going to come barging through his door tonight? The Dali Lama or even better maybe Danny strumming a ukulele? Closing the door behind her, Doris moved confidently inside.
"Mr. President," Doris nodded coolly, "I assume you're here looking for Shelburne?" she questioned blandly, dropping her bag to the floor. President Norris gazed suspiciously back.
"Guh—Mom what are you doing here?" Steve bit out, scowling darkly at his mother. What in hell was she playing at?
Doris smirked back, tucking her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "Nice to see you too, dear. But we'll catchup later, hmm. Now, I believe you're looking for me."
"Uhm, Commander who may I ask is this?" President Norris question with deep suspicion.
Steve sighed, wearily. "That Mr. President is my mother Doris McGarrett."
Doris grinned at the three uncomfortable men before her. "But you can call me, Shelburne."