Thanks for the reviews and so on. You'll all probably hate me for what's about to happen, but that's how the story goes. More on that later.

Chapter One "Her Father's Song"

"I saw the sky go black today; I felt your tears and ached your pain"~FM Static

"Kids are afraid of me," Steve said.

McKenzie looked over at him from her place on the couch in his office. She'd had a half day at school and was hanging out at the 5-0 HQ for the afternoon. She looked a bit odd, lounging in a pencil skirt and heels. Steve thought she looked odd dressed that way, no matter what her position, and she would agree, but fancy private schools required their employees to dress "professionally."

"Is that your answer?" she asked in reference to Steve's previous statement.

He looked up from his paperwork. "I don't know; I haven't thought about it."

"Ever?"

"Not really."

McKenzie shrugged. "I'm not saying you have to answer. I was just curious."

Steve rubbed his chin and fiddled with his pen. "McKenzie, you work with kids all day and you're good at it. The only kid I know is Grace and she tolerates me. I guess I just don't think I could do it."

"Steve, the only thing I know about your parents is how great you think they were. But all those things you admire about them, I see in you... I think you would make a great father."

Steve angled his head as if conceding half the point. "That's not all." He got up from his desk and paced to the window.

McKenzie sat up. "What?" There was no answer. "Steve?"

He exhaled loudly and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's just I lost both of my parents... I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else."

McKenzie didn't say anything for a moment. "So, you really don't want to have kids?"

He looked down at her, realizing he may have said too much. "I can't answer that yet," he finally said.

McKenzie got up and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It's okay," she said. "I'm glad you're taking seriously. I mean, you haven't even asked me to marry you."

Steve smiled and ran his hand through her hair. "Yet," he said.

"I want it on the record that you said that."

"Which record?"

"The one in that crazy memory of yours."

"Right."

McKenzie pulled away and looked Steve over. As if satisfied that he was safe to be left alone, she picked up her bag from the floor and took a step in the direction of the door.

"I'm gonna go change," she said." Then I have to return Mom's sewing machine."

"Remind me why you borrowed it?" Steve said.

McKenzie tilted her head. "Because my apartment needed curtains, and I couldn't figure out how to use your mom's old one."

"What, because it's not digitized?"

"No. It's just different, and I'm not particularly good at using one anyway."

"I could show you."

"Well, you need new curtains too."

"You don't like the ones with bullet holes?"

"I'm not going to comment. Anyway, I'll see you later."

"Yeah. Tell you're mom I'll take you two snorkeling next week."

"Does 5-0 get spring break?"

"There are lulls."

"Okay. Call me when you get off."

"Yep. I love you."

"Love you too."

McKenzie always kept a pair of jeans and Chucks in her school bag so she could change after work if she didn't go straight home. She often spent her afternoons in Steve's office, even if he wasn't there, which was usually. She would grade papers and prepare lessons and when Steve was there, he got to hear all the funny stories about the kids.

When it came to Grace Williams, parent/teacher conferences were a breeze. It helped that Grace was smart and worked hard, but in the rare event that she got a bad grade, McKenzie could talk to Danny about it and they could figure out why.

Because of the half day, Grace was at the 5-0 HQ as well, so when McKenzie was ready to leave, she asked if Grace wanted to come with her.

"I'm sure Danno has lots of paperwork to do," she said with a smirk.

Danny tired to glare at her, but found it impossible. "You are the worst," he said. "You're exactly like Steve only cute. It's like trying to be mad at a puppy."

"I know," McKenzie replied, grinning. "So, Grace, you want to come?"

"Sure," Grace said. "Your mom makes good cookies."

"Yeah, she does." McKenzie took Grace by the hand. "See you later Danno."

"Bye Danno!"

Danny shook his head as the two of them left. He never liked Steve calling him that, but he couldn't seem to find the same thing irritating in McKenzie. He had considered brainwashing as a possibility.

A short time later, Danny entered Steve's office.

"I just got an email from high priest Herman," he said.

"Burton?" Steve asked.

"Yeah. Said he's coming here to see if he can help us find Hadley's cohort."

Steve tapped his pen on the desk. "This could be really good or really bad."

"That's what I thought. It'll give us a chance to question him in person, though."

"True." Steve leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head."

"Is something wrong?" Danny asked, taking a seat across from Steve.

Steve shook his head. "Not about this."

"What about then?"

"It's not important."

"You know, you gotta stop internalizing everything."

"It's just something I have to think about. Nothing you need to know."

"What? I'm hurt." Danny placed a hand over his chest. "Besides, I'm a detective; I already know."

"What? No you don't."

"Well, I know it has something to do with your lovely, yet evil girlfriend."

"Evil?"

"Yes. She manages to call me 'Danno' without making me want to strangle her. It's very irritating."

"That's good to know."

"So what did she say? Or what did you say?"

"Danny, it's really nothing."

"Well, I have nothing better to do since I am so efficient at doing paperwork. Humor me."

"It's not something I have to worry about for a few years anyway."

Danny was silent for a second. "Oh."

"Oh? Oh, what?"

"Either you're commitment phobic or it has something to do with kids. Since I'm pretty sure it's not the former, I'm going with kids."

"Shut up."

"I'm right? I knew it."

"I know you understand. That's enough."

"I do? Yes, I do. I can tell you that Grace is the best thing that ever happened to me. I know, you think it's you. Sorry to bust your bubble."

"I'm crushed," Steve said in a monotone.

"I know. You deserve it. Anyway, that's a decision the two of you have to make. Sometimes though, you're surprised."

Steve gave Danny a curious look. "Wasn't Grace planned?"

"Sort of. I mean we wanted kids, but hadn't actually 'tried'. So it might be best to leave it up to someone bigger than yourself... I know that's a difficult concept for you to grasp."

Steve smirked. "Yeah... Like I said, I have a few years to think about it."

"And you'd better pray they take after her."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"The world can barely handle one Steve McGarrett."

H-5-O

Jim Carpenter's lawn was pristine and he had recently repainted the garage door. Michelle's flowerbeds had been weeded that morning.

McKenzie hefted the sewing machine out of her trunk and followed Grace up the sidewalk, talking about chocolate chip cookies all the way. In the short time they had known each other, Michelle had become a sort of grandmother to Grace, since both of hers were on the other side of the world. And it wasn't just because of the cookies.

Inside the house, the air was devoid of any smell resembling cookies. In fact there was a bitter smell, a smell McKenzie recalled too well. She unceremoniously dropped the sewing machine on the dining room table and grabbed Grace's hand. With her other hand, she reached for her .38 special. Then she crept slowly through the house. Peering into the family room, she heard a noise. Gripping Grace's hand tighter, McKenzie scanned the room. Her eyes came to rest on a pair of Columbia hiking shoes.

Forgetting everything else, McKenzie hurried to her father, the source of the noise.

"Dad!" she choked, seeing his shirt soaked with blood.

"M... acks," Jim groaned.

"What's going on?" Grace asked, coming into the room.

"Stop!" McKenzie said, holding up her hand, now covered in blood, though she didn't know how.

Grace's eyes widened and she looked like she might scream.

"Gracie," McKenzie said, softer than before. "Can you get me a towel or something?"

Grace nodded and hurried to the kitchen. McKenzie remembered to put pressure on her father's wound and pulled out her phone.

It rang twice before Steve answered.

"I thought I said I'd call you," Steve said.

McKenzie didn't reply for a second. "Steve, I need help."

"What happened?" His voice suddenly became serious.

"It's Dad. Someone shot him."

"Where?"

"In the family room."

"No, where on his body?"

"Oh, his chest."

"Did it go through?"

"I don't know. I don't think so."

"Okay. You're putting pressure on it?"

"Yes. Gracie's getting me a towel."

"Right. Danny's calling an ambulance and we're getting in the car right now."

"Okay." McKenzie's voice was breathy and didn't sound convinced.

"Hey," Steve said, "it's gonna be okay. Is he conscious?"

"Yeah... sort of."

"Try talking to him."

Grace came back into the room with a white dish towel folded into a square. She stopped near Jim's head and held it out.

"Here," she said. "Uncle Jim are you okay?"

Jim made some unintelligible noises.

"What was it you always told me about mumbling?" McKenzie asked.

"Don't..." Jim gasped.

"That's right... Just stay with me, okay, Dad."
"Mmh."

It seemed like only a few seconds before Steve and Danny arrived. It very well may have been, considering Steve's driving. In the distance, McKenzie could hear sirens. Steve knelt on the floor across from her and placed his hand over hers. With his other hand, he felt Jim's pulse.

"Jim?" he said. "Hey, can you hear me? Blink once... okay. Where's Michelle?"

McKenzie mentally slapped herself for not thinking to ask.

"They..." Jim started, "took her."

"Who?" Steve asked.

"Don't... know. A woman... two others. Wore masks."

"Okay, just hang in there. We'll find her."

McKenzie wasn't sure if Steve meant her mother or the one who did this.

"Macks," Jim gasped suddenly.

"Dad?" she replied.

"I love you."

"Daddy, I love you too." She put her free hand on the side of his face. "Don't worry. You're gonna be okay."

Jim only stared at her for a second and then looked at Steve. "I know..." His breath came shorter. "You'll take good care of her."

"Jim." Steve's voice sounded desperate and McKenzie finally knew to be afraid.

"Dad," she whispered. "Stay with me."

Jim's breathing slowed. Steve felt his pulse weaken.

"No, Jim!"

"Dad!"