Disclaimer: Hawaii Five-0 and its characters belong to CBS. I just enjoy putting my own twist to this universe.

A/N: I've had some interesting reactions to this story. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, even if you didn't like it. You were polite about it. We will have to agree to disagree on this story. This story is OOC for Steve, but it's the way I chose to write it. Five-0 is Steve's team/family and he will always try and protect them along with the people of Hawaii. Even if it means quitting Five-0 and finding another path for the four of them. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

A/N: Made a minor revision to last paragraph. No need to reread entire chapter if you don't want to. 1/10/12

Left Out

It had been a long day. Five-0 had saved Lt. Jacks the team leader of SEAL Team 9 and took down the assassin who killed the other two SEALs. Danny joined a quiet Steve out on the Lanai who was watching Grace as she built a sand fort. It figured that Steve would have some influence on Grace and the sand buildings she made. Any other day and Danny would have ranted at Steve and his "terrible" influence on his sweet little Grace. However, Danny knew that Steve had been bothered by Danny finding the classified file on Strawberry Fields. He handed Steve a beer.

"Thanks." Steve said quietly. "Grace is getting very good at building with sand."

"Of course she is, my daughter is very talented though I wonder who gave her the idea to build a fort." Okay so he would give Steve a little shit. Steve just smirked, but it lacked its usual smugness. Hey, I wanted to let you know that I didn't see much of that file on Strawberry Fields. Even if I had, I would never tell anybody what I saw."

Steve smiled slightly at Danny. "I know that Danny. I snatched the file 'cause I was shocked. Joe will be looking into where the assassin was able to get that file and all of the other information he did on SEAL Team 9. Strawberry Fields is highly classified."

Danny stared at Steve. "So, someone with high clearance sold the file?"

Steve scowled. "It's the only way the assassin could have obtained it. I would appreciate it if you never mention the file again Danny."

Danny raised his right hand. "I promise Steve. As far as I'm concerned, Strawberry Fields is part of a Beatles song."

Steve snorted before changing the subject. He trusted Danny to keep his word. "So what happened at the airport. I didn't get a chance to read the report yet."

So Danny launched into the takedown at the airport. He then got Steve to tell him about the rescue of his fellow SEAL. Danny shook his head at his crazy partner, sky diving out of a helicopter and catching a man mid-air. He was always amazed at the skills his partner had, though he would never tell him that, well almost never.

Steve received a call one week after the SEAL Team 9 case from Joe White. "McGarrett."

"Steve it's Joe. We have an invite to the SEAL command center at Pearl Harbor tomorrow at 0600. CO Gutches would like to thank Five-0 for saving Jacks and finding who was behind the assassin."

Steve sat up straighter. "We'd be honored Joe."

"I don't have to tell you that what you and your team are going to see is classified. Only bring those you trust with you."

"I understand Joe. Thanks for calling me. I'll let the governor know that we will be unavailable for the morning. We'll see you then."

"See you then son."

Steve hung up looking at his phone thoughtfully. He hadn't realized that Joe had caught onto his distrust of Lori. He shook his head; he really shouldn't be surprised, Joe had known him for a long time. Steve decided to catch the others individually to tell them about the invite. Even though he wasn't sure how he felt about Lori, he would not put her on the spot if he could help it. He called her into his office.

"Please shut the door Lori and have a seat."

Lori shut the door and sat in front of Steve's desk. "Is there something wrong?"

Steve had debated how to approach the subject and decided being straight forward was the best option. "Danny, Chin, Kono and I will be going to Pearl's SEAL Training and Command Center. They wish to thank Five-0 for saving Lt. Jacks and discovering the assassin before he could kill more SEALs."

Lori interrupted. "What time are we supposed to be there?" She was sure that she had misunderstood Steve when he didn't include her.

Steve sighed. "I've been asked to bring only those that I trust since whatever we're doing is classified. I'm afraid that you will not be coming Lori. You have not been with this team long enough for me to trust you as I do the others."

Lori stared at Steve. She didn't understand, she had very high clearance rating from Homeland Security. "I don't understand. I have a very high security clearance, higher than the other three on the team. Why am I being left out?"

Steve took a deep breath; this was not going to be pleasant. "This has nothing to do with security clearance. If it did, I'd be the only one allowed to go, because even your security clearance isn't high enough to see inside the command center, never mind what Gutches has planned for us. This is an issue of trust and I do not trust you. I have never given my trust easily. It's gonna be even harder after the events of the last year. You are a very capable officer, and have some impressive qualifications but that does not automatically create trust. I'm sorry Lori but you will not be joining us tomorrow."

Lori stared at Steve becoming angry and leaving his office without a word. She had never had difficulties fitting into a team. She thought it would be easy after the way McGarrett had checked her out in Denning's office. She had a call to make. Lori just didn't understand that trust had to be earned.

Danny had been watching Steve and Lori while trying to work on the paperwork from their last case. Steve did not look happy and when Lori left she looked royally pissed. Danny decided it would be a good idea to find out what was wrong if he could.

Danny headed to the break room to get coffee for Steve and himself. He walked into Steve's office placing a cup in front of a somber Steve.

"Thanks." Steve said quietly.

Danny sat in his favorite chair facing Steve. "What's up? Lori looked mad enough to spit nails."

Steve leaned back in his chair. "Five-0 has been invited to Pearl Harbor's SEAL Training and Command Center. Commander Gutches would like to thank us for saving Jacks and taking down the assassin."

Danny stared at Steve. He may rag on Steve and his military mentality but understood immediately that this was an honor. "Wow. That's quite an honor. What's Lori's problem."

Steve rubbed a hand over his face. "I was told to only bring those that I trust."

"Ah. Got it. Lori isn't invited and she's pissed."

Steve sighed. "That about sums it up. She pointed out that she has a higher security clearance than you, Chin or Kono."

Danny shook his head. One of the best ways to get on Steve's bad side was to criticize his friends. Danny began to wonder about Lori's skill as a profiler if she hadn't picked up on that yet. "What did you say?"

"I told her that the issue was not security clearance but trust. If it was a matter of security clearance, I would be the only one allowed to go. I really don't think she liked my answer. She's probably calling the governor to complain that I'm excluding her in tomorrow's event unfairly."

Danny snorted. No doubt in his mind that if Lori does that, she will not last much longer on the team. "Well, you know that you have my full support, and I'm sure that Chin and Kono will stand behind you too."

Steve smiled. "I appreciate that more than I can say. It will help me deal with the meeting I'm sure to have with Denning today." Steve's phone rang. He checked the caller ID. "I guess my meeting will be sooner rather than later." He picked up his phone. "McGarrett…Yes sir...I'll be there in ten minutes governor."

"That was quick. Do you want me to let Chin and Kono know about the invite for tomorrow?"

Steve nodded. "Would you? We will have to be there at 0600."

Danny groaned. "Don't you Army types do anything at a normal time?"

"Navy Danny. It's the Navy and we do things the right way." Steve responded as he rose from his desk.

Danny stood with him hands moving to make his point. "The right way? No, no, no. You do things the uncivilized way. The Army has scrambled your brains if you think 6 AM is normal."

Steve chuckled. "You're just not a morning person Danny. I'll make sure to have coffee and breakfast ready for you tomorrow morning."

"Don't think that will make things any better my friend." Steve and Danny reached the doors leading out of the office. "Good luck Steve. Remember, I'm behind you and I bet Gutches is too."

Steve clapped Danny on the shoulder and checked his watch. "Mahalo. I'll pick up Grace today. She can spend some time with us, and then she can stay at Lani's tonight. Otherwise she'll have to get up much too early for a school day."

"Good idea. Thanks." Steve smiled as he left.

Danny had to add one more thing. "Good luck oh fearless leader." Steve gave Danny the one fingered salute as he left causing Danny to chuckle.

Steve stood outside Denning's office feeling a weird sense of déjà view. He remembered standing in this spot after the false Tsunami warning. Denning's assistant interrupted these thoughts. He was led into Denning's office. He stopped in front of Denning's desk at parade rest.

Denning finished signing the paper in front of him before looking up. "Thank you for coming so promptly Commander. I would like to discuss the problem you seem to have with having Officer Weston on your team." Steve didn't respond continuing to look over Denning's shoulder. Denning sighed; McGarrett was going to be difficult. "I understand that your team has been invited to the SEAL Training and Command Center at Pearl, but you are planning to exclude Officer Weston. You will take her with you; she helped you to solve the case after all."

"No sir, she's not invited."

Denning leaned back in his chair. "I thought I made myself clear Commander. Officer Weston is part of your team and she will be included."

Steve shifted so he stood at attention. "Officer Weston is not part of my team. She occupies one of our offices, but thinks she works directly for you, not me. Commander White was very specific when he spoke to me. The invitation was not given lightly since we will be viewing classified information. Therefore I am only allowed to bring those I trust. I trust Danny, Chin and Kono. Trust is something that is earned, not automatically given."

"Commander McGarrett, Officer Weston is a highly trained and talented profiler. She brings something to the team that you don't have."

Steve's face went blank which would have sent anyone who knew him into hiding. "Believe what you like Governor but as far as my team and I am concerned Weston is your spy. We didn't need someone with profiling skills, Detective Williams is a natural in that area. Creating a team or task force requires more than a skill set, it requires compatibility and trust. Due to how Weston was forced on us, she will never be trusted by anyone on my team. She doesn't trust us either. She lacks respect for me as the leader of Five-0. I guarantee this will cause problems down the line. She didn't respect my position about tomorrow so she called you. This is something minor, what will happen when we encounter something dangerous? I would rather not find out. My preference is for you to remove her from the team before someone gets hurt."

Denning shook his head. "I disagree Commander. Officer Weston is aware that you are head of Five-0. She stays and will be joining you."

"Understood sir. Accept she won't be joining us tomorrow. You can call Commander White or SEAL Team 9's CO Gutches and you will get the same answer." Finished Steve executed a perfect military turn and left Denning's office.

Denning stared at the space previously occupied by McGarrett speechless. He had never even considered that Weston would not respect McGarrett just because he asked her to report any infractions of procedure. So far there hadn't been anything of note that he could find in her reports to date, though they were not encouraging. Denning sat back in his chair wondering if he should have believed McGarrett when he promised to toe the line. Maybe if he found someone else and explained that McGarrett was the leader of Five-0, things would work out better. Denning was still afraid that he would have to clean up after McGarrett. He had worked with people he didn't like, or trust in the past, so didn't understand McGarrett's problem. He just didn't understand that the lack of mutual trust in law enforcement could be deadly.

TBC