I'll apologize ahead of time if this next part is too conversational. I just figured it would be easier to relay the story of what was happening as the conversation unfolds between Steve and Carly. Hope it's not too much. As always, I appreciate feedback!
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Steve opened the door and motioned for Carly to go inside. He followed her in and walked to the kitchen.

"Want something to drink?" Steve offered. "Looks like I've got beer and iced tea."

"A beer would be great." Carly answered. Steve grabbed two out of the refrigerator, screwed the caps off, and handed one to her. Taking a sip, Carly looked around the familiar house and noticed not much had changed in the last 10 years. Many of the same family photos were still around and she noticed herself in a couple of the pictures with MaryAnn. The only difference was that there was a more distinctive "masculine touch" to the house now that Steve lived there alone. He had a bicycle and some surfboards along the wall that led to the back patio and some of the furniture had been changed to reflect a style that was more to his liking.

Steve walked through the office to the French doors leading out to the patio and motioned for Carly to follow him outside. They both sat down in the comfortable patio chairs and looked out at the ocean for a few moments just enjoying the warm breeze and the sound of the waves rolling into shore.

Hoping to break the ice, Steve asked, "So what have you been up to since high school?"

Carly turned to look at him and Steve was struck by how pretty her hazel eyes were. A guy could get lost in those eyes, he thought to himself. "Don't know if you remember this or not, but my parents were divorcing during our senior year." Carly answered.

"I think I remember Mary Ann saying something about that." Steve replied.

"Well, things got pretty ugly with them so Mom & I moved to North Carolina to be closer to her family right after graduation. I got my bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina. Then, I was offered a job in Atlanta counseling children and teenagers, so I relocated there and eventually got my Master's degree. I've been in Atlanta ever since. Not as exciting as being a Navy SEAL, I know….but I guess I've done okay." She smiled.

Steve returned her smile and said, "Working with troubled kids, huh? That suits you."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know. You just always seemed like a good listener and you had a lot of empathy for people. You'd be perfect working with kids in one way or another."

She smiled at him again. "Thanks, Steve. I really do enjoy my work. I've always wanted to make a difference and I feel like I do that now."

"So what brings you back to Hawaii?" Steve asked.

Carly sighed and was quiet for a couple of minutes before she spoke. "I don't suppose you'd believe I came in a week or so early for our 10th high school reunion?"

"I guess it's somewhat believable since Mary is coming back into town for it too. It would be more believable if you didn't have a bruised face, though." He said gently.

Steve could tell she was trying to figure out how much to say, so he waited. Carly took a deep breath and looked out at the ocean again. When she spoke again, her voice came out in barely a whisper.

"I just had to leave Atlanta for awhile." was all she said.

"You had to leave? Why?" He pressed further.

Figuring he wasn't going to give up until he had the whole story, she took a deep breath and said "I've been dating a guy…..Brad…..for almost 2 years now. Things were really good with him for awhile, but they've started to change in the last 6 months or so."

"How have they changed?" he asked.

"He started getting abusive." She said quietly. She saw Steve tense but he kept quiet as he waited for her to continue. "At first, it was mostly verbal….but eventually he started getting more physical and it's just spiraled out of control, I guess. It's over now, though. After what happened the other night, I told him it was over and got out of town for awhile."

Steve could feel his blood starting to boil as he tried to keep his temper in check. "So you stayed with him even though things were getting worse? Why?"

Carly turned to him with a look of regret and torment in her eyes, "A couple of reasons, I guess. Part of it was denial. I was embarrassed because I am a professional family therapist and I'd found myself in the same kind of relationship that I'm trying to help some of my kids get through. I never really wanted to admit….or believe….that things were getting out of control with Brad." She paused for a moment before continuing, "I know the statistics of battered women's syndrome, Steve. I mean, realistically I know things don't get any better and they only escalate. It's just been hard for me to admit the reality of it, I guess."

"Have you gone to the police about it or filed any charges against him?"

Carly let out a sarcastic laugh and shook her head, "He is 'the police'."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he's on the Atlanta police force. He's a homicide investigator and is very well respected in the community…so no, I haven't gone to the police. He made it pretty clear to me that no one would believe me anyway."

Steve was caught between being furious with the man who'd done this to her and wanting to pull her into his arms and let her know it was going to be okay. He knew Carly was a strong woman; Even though she'd been quiet and somewhat shy when they were younger, she'd also had a strength and confidence about her that showed a maturity beyond her age even back then. Steve rarely let his "softer side" show and prided himself on always being in control; How many times had Danny complained about him having 'control issues'. However, the vulnerability she was showing right now was calling his protective instincts to the surface in a way he hadn't felt for a long time. He wanted to make things better for her and insure that no one would ever hurt her again.

"So what happened this time?" he pressed.

"Brad knew I'd been planning to come to this reunion. He was going to come with me, but recently got caught up in a big case, so he can't leave town right now. He told me to cancel the trip since he couldn't come along, but I told him I was coming anyway. We had a huge fight about it that ended with me telling him we were finished. I wasn't going to deal with his jealousy or control of me any longer. Then, things got heated and ended with him knocking me to the ground and storming out of my apartment. As soon as he left, I packed my bags as quickly as I could and got out of town last night."

"Where are you staying?" Steve asked.

"We have reservations at a hotel in town but we weren't supposed to be here until next Thursday. I came straight here from the airport to see Mary Ann so I haven't been to the hotel to see if they have something available earlier. I'd forgotten she was in California now."

"Forget it. You can stay here with me." Steve said matter-of-factly.

"No, Steve. I couldn't do that. Really…I'll be fine. I just need some time to re-group and I'll be okay."

"No. You'll stay here and re-group here." He insisted. The tone of his voice said he was leaving no room for argument. "Look, as soon as Brad figures out you've left town, he could be on his way here. You need to be some where safe where he can't find you. Besides, I'm sure Mary Ann will want you to stay here when she gets into town anyway."

Sensing her hesitancy, he offered her his biggest smile and said, "I promise I won't bite. And you'll be safe here."

She knew he was right. If everything she remembered about him and everything Mary Ann had told her since high school were still true, there was nowhere else she'd be safer than with Steve McGarrett. Even in high school he'd been the "macho" guys-guy who was a lethal combination of confidence, athleticism, and good looks that had nearly every girl swooning over him. However, he seemed almost oblivious to the effect he had on the opposite sex back then. And it wasn't just his good looks that made him magnetic: As the school's quarterback and captain of the football team, he was a natural leader. Carly wasn't the least bit surprised at the path life had taken him down after graduation.

After joining the Navy, Carly heard later that he had eventually become a Navy SEAL but had returned home after their father had been murdered last year. Mary Ann would sometimes complain about Steve being overprotective, over bearing, and stubborn, but Carly could tell she really loved and admired her big brother. As an adult, he had the reputation of being a serious, no-nonsense, bad ass kind of guy who was fiercely protective of those he cared about. For this reason, she had no doubt he would take care of her if Brad did show up in Hawaii. That was never a concern….but "safety" was relative. While he may protect her from any more confrontations with Brad in the near future, he couldn't protect her from the feelings that seemed to be stirring under the surface again. This wasn't the same as the high school crush she'd had years earlier. Carly had been around long enough to know there was a definite chemistry brewing between them that hadn't existed 10 years ago. She had felt it as soon as she heard his voice behind her and turned to look at him from the front steps of the house. She also knew that Steve was feeling it too. Every time their eyes had met over the last hour, it was like a bolt of electricity had shot between them. Yes, things could inevitably get tricky if she was staying under the same roof with him for several days.

Meeting his eyes once again, she smiled and said, "Okay. If you insist….I will stay. But only if you promise it wont' be an inconvenience. I mean, I don't want to impose or anything."

" I'd enjoy the company. Besides, Mary Ann would never let me hear the end of it if she found out you were staying at a hotel after all of this….and I'll feel better if you are here where I know you'll be safe."

With that settled, they decided it was time for dinner. Carly wanted to freshen up after having such a long flight, so Steve brought her bags into the house and started steaks on the grill while she ran upstairs to take a shower.