DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Hawaii Five-0" or any of it's characters!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know you guys want to see more Steve and the cast. You will, I PROMISE! I'm just trying to set up the story. Anyway, keep reading and I promise you won't be disappointed!

As I mentioned before, thoughts are in italics.

Please be sure to read and review! I update faster if I know what people are thinking. Whether it's good or bad, REVIEW!

Thanks,

Laura

Michael Jackson's "Bad" filled the room causing Maddie to freeze. It was Steve. She knew that without even looking. It was his ringtone. They loved that song when it came out. They used to rock out to it late at night on the beach. Her heart began to pound as she reached for her phone. Picking it up she stared at the smiling photo of him on the screen. She had taken it the last time she'd seen him. Two years before. There was a black tie event in his honor for his win of the Navy Cross and he'd asked her to be his date (as friends of course). Seeing as it was such a big deal and she hadn't seen him in a while she rearranged her schedule, much to the dismay of her manager and label, and met him there. She was dressed in a red strapless vintage Chanel gown. The skirt a bit poofy. It was gorgeous. Something she had been saving for a very special occasion and she couldn't think of something more special than this night with Steve. He had been speechless when he saw her and she of him. He stood there in his dress whites, big smile on his face. They had the best time that night. They'd left the party a bit early and found themselves at the beach. He chased her with the intent of picking her up and throwing her into the water, just like he used to do when they were younger. They laughed and eventually collapsed on the sand out of breath. Noticing her shiver slightly, Steve pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. They sat like that for hours staring at the stars and talking. The two best friends played their childhood game of who could identify more constellations than the other. What made it fun was that at some point they would just start making them up sending them into hysterics. Sure, it was childish, but then again they'd made it up when they were 8. Apparently Steve was out of constellations and said, "A man sitting on a toilet." What was so funny was she saw the same thing. As the two laughed she snapped a picture of them on her phone. It was that photo that came up every time he called or texted her.

So here she sat, phone in hand staring at the photo from that night. Maddie wanted more than anything to answer the phone. The internal battle raging within her was literally driving her nuts. She found herself distracted all the time because she couldn't stop thinking and worrying about him. Maddie missed him a lot! More than she thought humanly possible. Just as she was going to lose the battle and pick up the phone, it stopped ringing. Phew! Close call! Come on Maddie! Be strong! Don't give in!

The new voicemail message popped up on her screen. She wasn't sure she was going to listen to it. I love his messages. I've saved every single one he's left me. But it makes it that much harder once I've heard it. Deciding she couldn't handle hearing the message before her show she tucked her phone away in her purse. Maddie couldn't risk anymore distraction. She'd had enough on her mind the last 4 months.

She sat there in her dressing room staring off into space. Although she was surrounded by so many people at every moment, she felt so alone. Especially lately. Maddie felt her secrets were going to suffocate her. She felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was pulled out of her head by a nearby phone ringing. Maddie looked over to see the head of her security, Pete, reaching for his cell. She knew who it was. It was Steve. He was getting worried. Steve and Pete had been part of the same Navy Seal team. Pete chose not to re-enlist around the time Maddie had a breakdown in her security team. Always overprotective of her, Steve had freaked out worrying about her safety. He'd contacted Pete and hired him as the head of her security. Between the two of them, they filled the rest of the seven members of her team with their buddies. People Steve could trust. The other eight had been hired three months ago at her request.

Pete glanced at his caller ID. Immediately seeing Steve's name, he looked up at Maddie to see her staring at him. She knew who it was. Pete quickly answered and excused himself from the room, leaving another bodyguard, Mo, in charge. Maddie sat there for what felt like and hour waiting for Pete to return. Finally he appeared and immediately started clearing people from her dressing room.

When the last person had left, Maddie turned to him, "Why'd you do that? Everything okay?"

"Of course! I just…It's been a long couple days. I know you haven't been sleeping well, I thought you could try and get some rest before the show tonight."

Smiling she replied, "You worry too much! I'm fine!"

"Come on Maddie. Are you forgetting about that little incident that happened this morning? You almost passed out on me. You're exhausted. You know, you don't have to pretend to be invincible around me. You trust me with your life, but not with what's bothering you. That makes no sense! Wanna talk about it?"

He looked so concerned. Genuinely concerned. I wonder if he told Steve what happened this morning. Maddie started panicking a bit. Steve couldn't find out. He just couldn't. "I'm fine Petey! I promise! I was just hungry!" She turned towards the mirror, playing with her hair. "Did you say anything to Steve about".

"The near fainting?" Pete interrupted. "No, I didn't. I should've! But…" Pete wanted to tell her what was going on with Steve, but he'd promised his "brother" that he wouldn't.

Maddie picked up on his hesitation. What's going on? Is Steve okay? "What? Is everything alright with Steve? He hasn't been shot has he?"

"You could find out for yourself, ya know? If you'd call him back."

"Just tell me Pete! Is he alright?" Maddie snapped at him.

"Yes! He's safe!" Pete watched her close her eyes and sigh in relief. "Maddie?"

"Yes," she answered slowly opening her eyes to look at him.

"Why won't you talk to him? Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened. Everything's fine. I'm just busy," she quickly retorted.

"Come on Maddie! You can talk to me!"

After what felt like forever Maddie answered him, "I just….I realized that what I want from him he won't ever want to give me. It just hurts too much to be near him. Not that it's any of your business!" Maddie replied somewhat coldly.

"Look at me!" Pete demanded as he walked towards her.

She glared up at him as he towered over her in a caring, non-threatening, but assertive way. "You know that's bullshit! If you ever went to him asking for more he'd give it to you in a second. You know that! Don't pretend not to! So, what's the real reason Maddie?"

Pete watched her as her eyes began to fill with tears. He bent over slightly, "What is it? What has you so upset?"

She just looked away and shook her head.

"Is it why you haven't been acting like yourself the last few months? Does it all have to do with Steve? It's okay to tell me, you know."

Dammit! My body had to choose this moment to cry in front of someone? Seriously? I can't tell him! Maddie, don't spill the beans! You know what's at stake! she chastised herself. As the tears spilled down her cheeks one after another all she could do was continue to shake her head at Pete. She was falling apart in front of his eyes.

I wish Steve were here right now. He's not only the only person on the face of the earth that can get her smiling again in moments of sadness, which don't happen very often, but he could get to the bottom of things. Pete was worried about her. Maybe I should call Steve? Tell him the truth about what's been going on. Maybe he can fly out here? Get her to open up about whatever's eating away at her?

Pete knelt down, a hand placed on the couch on each side of her. "Maddie? Let's call him. You can talk it out with him. Better yet, let's have him come out. I know everything will be okay if you just talk to him. I promise!"

"NO! You don't know what you're talking about!" Maddie practically yelled at him.

"Then explain it to me! No one understands Maddie!" Pete was becoming exasperated.

"I can't! Everything's fine! I just can't talk to him! Let it go!" Maddie was now practically hyperventilating she was crying so hard.

"No, everything is not fine! Look at yourself! Why won't you talk to him?" his voice rose, not out of anger, but out of confusion. Confused why she wouldn't talk to Steve. "You don't even know why, do you? You don't have a clue! No good reason to throw your best friend in the entire world away! The guy who stood by you through everything!" Pete exclaimed, trying to bait her. He hoped she'd get mad and reveal something by accident. He'd try anything at this point.

"I do too!"

"No you don't!" They were practically yelling at one another at this point. "If you do then what is it?"

"I'm protecting him!" Pete was shocked. He was not expecting that answer. A million questions swam through his head.

"From what, Maddie? What are you proctecting him from? Do you mean emotionally?"

"No." Dammit Maddie! Look what you did! You're only making things worse for Steve, she yelled at herself.

Pete was beyond confused. "Physically? What would you need to protect him from? I don't understand Maddie." Pete calmly said.

Maddie paused. Hiccuping and sniffling from crying, she turned away and quietly said, "I'd like for you to leave now. I need to get ready for the show."

"Maddie…don't do this. Don't shut me out." Pete begged as he reached for her hand.

Pulling out of his grasp she stood and walked to the door leading to her dressing room's bathroom. "Please put me in lockdown until showtime."

"So absolutely no one in during that time? That kind of lockdown? Not even me?"

"No one." And with that she walked into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind her.

Pete walked to the closed door and laid his hand on it. "You know Maddie, I've been with Steve through some really terrible ordeals. There is nothing he can't handle. He can protect himself. You shutting him out is making him unfocused. I don't know what he needs protecting from, but he won't be able to protect himself as well if he can't focus. So, you're not really helping him. Think about it." With that, Pete turned and walked out of her dressing room, taking his place outside her door. Steve had tasked him with protecting the person most dear to him in the world and he took his job very seriously. He wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for Steve, not to mention he was fond of Maddie in a brother/sister sort of way. He would protect her physical safety no matter what, he just wished he could protect her emotionally as well.

He stood there, pondering her last statement. He couldn't explain, but he had a terrible feeling about whatever was going on. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. I've gotta get her to Hawaii as soon as possible. I have to get her to Steve. We have to figure out a way to get her to talk to him. Tell him what she's afraid of. His mind made up he yelled to a man right down the hall. "Mo! I need you to take over for a second." The tall, buff African American man began towards him, "No problem Pete!" The two switched places as Pete ran off to make some calls.

Inside her dressing room bathroom Maddie slid down the back of the door sobs wracking her body. Not thinking in her current mental state, she reached for her phone and pressed 1.

Her rational self screamed at her to hang up the phone as it rang. Before she could listen to it he picked up. "Maddie?"

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