The Chase

Chapter 2

I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I love to hear from my readers.

Pairs looked down at the badge in her hand and shrugged. She clipped it onto her jeans then looked back at Steve. "So what now?"

"You need to go see personal and get your ID made, then I'll give you the tour." Steve smiled at her and Paris really wanted to frown but didn't.

An hour later she had a new badge and a new ID. Steve was now giving her the tour. By the time they were done Steve offered to take her to lunch.

"I know the best coffee shop on the island."

"Steve you do realize I was born on this island and grew up here too."

Paris looked at Steve and for the first time smiled at him. He had this confused look on his face that was totally adorable. "I thought you read my file?"

"I did." Steve knew he'd been caught. "At least what wasn't blacked out."

"I would have thought Hetty would have sent you the complete one."

"You know she sent it?"

"Of course. Don't you know that Hetty is the master of the universe?"

"I'll take your word for it."

Steve drove to the coffee shop slowly. For some reason he didn't want the ride to end. Paris sat there pointing out things she remembered from growing up in Pearl City.

"That smoke shop used to be a shoe store. Mom used to drag me there twice a year for shoes. Always had to get the hard white leather ones. And god forbid I scuffed them, got hell from Dad if I did."

"Dad was a hard ass huh?"

"You have no idea. Career Navy. He'll die on a ship if he can."

"Does he know you're on the island?"

"I'm sure mom has called him by now."

"You don't sound so happy?"

"Dad wanted a son, all he got was me. When I joined the Navy he was thrilled. When I left to join NCIS he felt that it was a step back for me."

"From what I've read you've had one hell of a career as a Navy Cop, your dad should be proud."

"You have to realize that the things I've done in the past ten years is need to know." Paris looked over at Steve. "When you work for OSP you live as someone else. No one can know who you really are, what you really do for a living. Other than those you work with and some higher ups in the Navy no one will ever know what I did to keep this country safe."

Steve know that she was an undercover agent but he never realized how much she had to give up to do the job.

"My mom is CIA, she left us when I was in high school, we thought she was dead."

"She did it to keep you safe."

"I know that now."

"It's not an easy life. I didn't choose it, in a way I didn't have any choice in the matter."

"Well looks like you have a second chance now. See what it's like to live a real life."

"Any idea how I'm supposed to do that?"

"One day at a time."

Steve led the way into the café and headed to his favorite booth.

"Commander your usual?" asked the waitress.

"Yeah make it a double."

The older woman smiled and left to put in the order.

"Danny was right you are a control freak."

Steve looked at her for a moment then realized she was smirking at him.

"They have the best pancakes on the island."

"I know that. I used to eat here all the time."

"Sorry I keep forgetting you're a local."

"I'll let it go this time."

Steve was glad that the waitress brought them coffee so he had something to do other than stare at Paris. She was the complete opposite of Katherine. Blond and blue eyes, a few inches taller, and not that he was really looking but a larger bust. She looked like a California girl thru and thru. She had an attitude that both annoyed and turned him on.

The next thing he knew their food came and Steve dug in. He must have moaned out loud at the wonderful food because Paris was laughing at him.

"You really like your pancakes Commander."

"Yep."

Paris shook her head and went back to eating her food.

Neither said anything while they ate. A few times Steve looked up and met Paris's eyes. She smiled at him each time but never spoke. By now Katherine would have been taking his ear off. Paris seemed happy to just enjoy the meal.

They were just finishing when Steve's phone rang. "Danny." Said Steve. "Hey Danno what's up?"

"Oh just wondering where you were?"

"Having lunch with Paris."

"Oh lunch with Paris huh."

Steve could hear the 'I told you so in Danny's voice.

"Did you need something Danno?"

"No just checking up on my partner." Danny chuckled. "Oh and the Governor is looking for you."

"You could have led with that."

Steve hung up and finished his coffee.

"We pull a case?"

"No the Governor wants to meet you."

"Ok."

"Not nervous are you?"

"No big deal. He probably got a call from Hetty."

Steve figured she was probably right.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So should we start taking bets?" asked Chin.

"On what?" said Kono.

"On how long it takes for Steve to fall for Paris?"

"I doubt it will take that long." Said Danny. "Now the real question is how long will it take him to do something about it."

This made everyone laugh.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Governor this is Special Agent Paris Riker."

"Nice to meet you sir."

"Hetty said she sent us her best agent, I hope she isn't wrong."

"I'll do my best sir."

"I know your father he'll be thrilled to know your home."

"We'll see."

They left and headed down to the five-0 office.

"So how did it go?" asked Danny.

"Fine." Answered Paris.

"Good because we got a case." Added Chin as he joined them. "Body on Sand Island." Chin started for the door. "Guy had a crate of military grade explosives with him."

"Who kills a guy and leaves the explosives?" asked Lou as they followed Chin out the door.

When they got to the cars Paris looked at them. "Ok who do I ride with?"

Everyone said Steve at the same time.

Paris looked at Steve and noticed he was refusing to look at her. As she climbed into the cab of his truck Paris decided to just keep her mouth shut. Something was going on and she was not going to screw things up on her first day by saying something.

"I usually work with Danny."

"Ok."

"We don't really have set partners. A lot of the time everyone is on their own at some point in a case."

"Ok just let me know what you expect of me till I get into the swing of things here."

Paris glanced over at Steve. He was holding the steering wheel so tightly his fingers were turning white. She had a good idea that the Commander really didn't want to be riding with her today. Hopefully she could grab a ride back with someone else.

Steve was going to kill Danny. He had a job to do today and that didn't involve thinking about the woman sitting next to him. If Danny had just kept his mouth shut he wouldn't be sitting here now thinking about Paris and wondering if she'd go out to dinner with him.

They pulled up just before Danny and Chin. Steve jumped out of the truck and headed over to where the Kono and Abby were standing talking to Lou.

"Ok what do we got?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

By the end of the day Steve was at the end of his rope. Danny had kept giving Steve looks and then smirking at him. He also saw two uniformed officers handing Chin money. Great his friends had a betting pool going on him. He did not need this stress.

On the brighter side Paris was one hell of a cop. She picked up on things he wouldn't have until much later. She was on the ball and brought a new energy to the team. Everyone liked her, especially Jerry and Paris didn't mind listing to his crazy ideas.

They were calling it a day as they had no new leads and it was almost nine. Until something broke they had no where else to go with this case.

"I just got a message from OPS. Eric is running our dead guy to see if there are any leads on the mainland." Said Paris as she walked to her car. Steve nodded at her.

"I'll let you know if I hear anything."

"Ok see you tomorrow."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Paris woke up early the next morning and headed out to take a swim. She was staying with her aunt who had a nice house right on the water. She swam for half an hour then started back to the house. One thing she didn't expect was to walk right into Steve McGarrett.

"Paris what are you doing here?"

Steve was standing there with a look of utter shock on his face and was only wearing swimming trunks.

"I was taking a swim."

"In my back yard?"

Paris had to hold back a laugh. Steve looked like he was about to pass out and his voice had gone high.

"No in mine."

Steve ran a hand thru his hair and looked at her for a long moment.

"My aunt lives here. I'm staying with her till I can find a place." Paris pointed to the house right next door to Steve.

"Your Kays niece?" Steve said his eyes getting wider. "She said her niece was moving in with her from the mainland."

"She knows we're working together."

"Great someone else is in on this too."

Steve looked like he could hurt someone.

"In on what?"

Steve looked at her again. Paris was standing there in a very little bathing suit that was not leaving much to the imagination. Steve looked her up and down for a moment then locked eyes with her.

"Danny thinks I need to move on."

Paris looked at him like he was crazy. "Ok."

"Look I don't really want to talk about it."

"Fine by me." Paris said and walked away leaving Steve to get a good look at the tattoos on her back.

"That woman is going to be the death of me."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Paris was walking into the Palace when she ran into Kono.

"Morning." Said Kono.

"Moring." Paris said stopping. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"So apparently I'm living next door to Steve. He kinda freaked out this morning when he found out and said something about my aunt being in on it and Danny thinking he needs to move on."

"And you want to know who he needs to move from?"

"Yeah."

Kono looked at Paris. "I shouldn't say anything." She looked around for sign of any of the others. "Ok I'll tell you some of it." Kono led the way over to a bench. "Steve was involved with a woman named Katherine on and off for years. She had a bad habit of leaving and then months later showing up and picking up right where they left off."

"How long has she been gone this time?"

"Six months. Only difference is this time she told him to move on. She's not coming back."

"And Danny thinks he should move on with me?" Paris said.

"Yes."

"Ok that explains a lot."

"You're not mad?"

"No." Paris sighed. "Although Danny could have picked someone better."

"What do you mean?" Kono said. "From what I've seen you two could be a pretty good match."

Paris laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"I've spent the last decade undercover. The only guys I've dated were criminals. Hell I don't know what real date is even like."

Kono didn't know what to say to this.

"Pathetic I know."

"I wouldn't say that. Look Steve isn't like most guys anyways."

Paris rolled her eyes at Kono.

"Give it time. It will probably take Steve months to get up the nerve to ask you out anyways."

They stood up and started walking into the building. "Just one thing." Kono put her hand on Paris's arm. "If you do get involved with Steve make sure it's what you want. I don't think he could take loosing another woman he loves."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm telling you Danny she was wearing the smallest bathing suit I've ever seen."

"And for where we live that is saying something." Joked Danny.

"Not funny."

"So did you like what you saw?" Danny was now laughing openly.

"Yes."

"Good now do something about it."

"I don't know if that's a good idea Danny."

"Look take her out to dinner. Make it a get to know you kind of thing. He'll I'll come too, we can make it a team night."

"You're not going to let this go are you?"

"No I am not." Danny said smirking at Steve from the passenger seat of his car.

Steve had his jaw set tight and was gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Steve she isn't coming back." Said Danny quietly.

"I know that."

"You got to get out there and at least try."

"And what if she isn't interested?"

"You will not know till you try."

Steve didn't respond so Danny let it drop.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That Friday Danny arranged for everyone to meet for dinner. The entire group was in on the set up except Paris who had no clue. Chin said she was going to kill Danny if she found out. Paris arrived before Steve and sat down next to Kono. They talked for a while before Danny and Steve showed up. Danny quickly took the single seat making sure that Steve was right next to Paris on the couch.

"Ok let's get this party started." Said Jerry.

Chin flagged their server and they ordered more drinks and several plates of appetizers to split. They talked about every day stuff, like Lou complaining about his kids which made Danny complain that Grace was becoming a moody teenager. Kono filled them in on Adam and how he was doing and Jerry told them his latest theory about aliens.

Steve and Paris sat there not saying very much. For the entire week Steve had been distant towards her so Paris had no idea where she stood. She had decided to wear a flowy tank and jeans. Paris had also braided her hair down her back. When she leaned forward to fill her plate with food Steve looked over at the tattoo on her right shoulder.

"Nice tat." Said Steve quietly right into her ear.

Paris nearly choked on what she was eating. Everyone noticed but didn't say anything. Chin wondered what Steve had said to her.

"Thanks." Muttered Paris.

"So I have a question for you Paris." Said Chin.

"Ok."

"Why did your parents name you Paris?"

"Let me guess you were born in Paris?" asked Jerry.

"Nope I was conceived there."

"Must have been a hell of a trip to France." Joked Danny.

"Yeah wrong Paris."

Everyone looked at her.

"It was Paris Texas."

That made everyone laugh.

"My mom's college roommate married a rancher. Mom was maid of honor. Nine months later I came along."

"Good thing the wedding wasn't in Wako." Joked Jerry.

Paris finally relaxed. She liked everyone and they treated her like family.

"So how's things back in LA, they missing you yet?" asked Danny.

"I doubt it. I'm sure Callen was glad to finally get rid of me."

"You really are not his favorite person are you?" added Chin.

"Not in the least bit." Paris took a sip of her wine. "I liked working there but the rest of the team took Callen's lead so I was left out of a lot of things.

"Ok now that is just not right." Said Steve.

Paris shrugged. "Well there is some history that Callen can just not get past."

Steve wondered what that history was. After a while the others started to head home. Paris had kicked off her sandals and was standing on the beach looking out at the water. Steve walked over to her.

"You ok?"

"Yeah just thinking."

"About Callen?"

"We were involved a long time ago. He blamed me when a case went bad, said I was a loose cannon with a death wish. I hadn't seen him in years till Hetty had me transferred to LA. Let's just say he wasn't happy to see me."

"Do you still love him?" Steve knew what Paris had done to keep Callen safe and he just wondered.

"Part of me will always care about him but no I don't love him."

"Then why did you do all that just to keep him safe?"

"I guess I was trying to make everything up to him. Maybe make him not hate me so much."

Steve looked down at her. "I'm sorry he made your job so hard for you."

"He mostly just froze me out."

"Well that will never happen here. Five-O is family. We will go to the ends of the earth for each other."

"Yeah Kono told me some stories."

Steve heard Danny calling to him.

"What's up Danny?"

"Grace is stranded at a friends house so I need to go pick her up."

"Ok I'll grab a ride home with Paris."

"Ok see you Monday."

Steve looked at Paris. "I'm driving." Said Paris.

"Oh come on."

"Steve I just got my jeep you are not driving it. With my luck we'll end up in a car chase or get shot at."

"You've been talking to Danny too much about me."

"Not just Danny." Said Paris smiling at Steve before walking back to where she left her shoes.

Steve stood there with his hands on his hips and his mouth open.

"Are you coming or do you plan on walking home?"

Steve jogged over to her. "Exactly who have you been talking to and about what?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Paris said as she led her way thru the hotel to the parking lot. She could not believe she was flirting with Steve. She barely knew him.

"Oh I'm pretty sure I can get it out of you."

"Maybe after a bottle of tequila."

Steve stopped and looked at her. "Is that a challenge Agent Riker?"

"No more of a statement."

Steve really wasn't sure how to take his.

"Remind me to hit the store tomorrow." Muttered Steve as he climbed into the passenger seat of the white jeep.

Paris pulled out and headed for the road.

"So how many tattoos do you have?"

"Play your cards right Commander and you may find out."

Steve burst out laughing. "Well if you wear that bathing suit again I'll find out quicker."

"Who says they are all where you could see them?"

This made Steve's mind wander. It was late so there wasn't as much traffic on the roads and it took them a little over a half hour to get home.

"Do you want to come in for a drink?" asked Steve. "I don't think I have tequila but I have beer or wine."

"Can't, I plan on surfing early."

"Surfing sounds good. We can get breakfast after."

Paris parked in her driveway and looked over at him. "Fine but you're buying."

"Ok I'll be ready at seven."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Steve was outside at twenty till waiting on Paris. She sauntered out at seven on the dot. She had on a black bikini top and cut off shorts. Steve looked her up and down. Paris rolled her eyes at him and strapped her surfboard into the open back of the jeep.

"I'm ready whenever you are Steve."

"I still can't drive?"

"Nope."

"Fine, just don't tell Danny."

They surfed till close to nine when the beach started to fill up. "Ok it's getting crowded out here." Said Paris as one surfer almost knocked her off her board.

"Yeah let's head for the beach."

Steve let Paris lead the way out of the water mostly so he could watch. Danny was right he needed to make a move.

"Steve anyone home?" Paris said.

"Huh?"

"You should close your mouth you're drooling." Paris said as she pushed his jaw shut with one finger.

"Yeah well I like what I see."

Paris smiled at him then let her eyes roam over his body. "Come on I'm hungry."

"We're talking about food right?" Said Steve.

Paris laughed and grabbed her stuff. They showered off quickly then changed before stowing their boards in the jeep. Paris looked at Steve and smiled before holding out her keys.