Chpt 3: Sparkin'
He did call her, the next day. He was knee deep in a murder / jewelry heist and couldn't make any definate plans, but he wanted to see her. She was grateful for the stay, not certain she was equipped for round two with Steve McGarrett quite yet. She too had responsibilities at work and told him so, buying herself a few more days. Less than a week later, however, they met for a morning run, lunch and an ice cream. Lori found herself standing at her front door watching Steve fiddle with her temperamental lock. It clicked and Steve stepped into her apartment to examine the dead bolt. "I think it might just be the key. Did you replace the locks when you moved in?"
"No."
Steve looked at her incredulously, shocked that she would take her own personal security for granted. "Anybody could have a key to this apartment."
She shrugged, having no real answer for him.
"I'll be back tomorrow with a new lock."
"You don't have to do that. I can get the super to change it on Monday."
He shook his head, ending the discussion. "I got it."
He followed her into the apartment. "You have plans tonight?"
"I have a date with three large piles of laundry."
"Want some company? The Warriors play at 6:00 on channel 8."
She reappeared from the kitchen with two bottles of water. "Notre Dame plays at 4," she said handing him a drink.
"So I'll be back at 4. We can order pizza."
Steve did indeed return at 4 to watch the games. Lori was careful to stay at her end of the couch. She loved football, loved to watch it, loved to play it, but she also knew how carried away she could get. Steve enjoyed watching her watch the football games. The usually stoic Lori was fully animated when there was a game on. He remembered how one time she had gotten so excited when the Steelers scored a last minute touchdown for the win that she had grabbed Max, who just happened to be standing near her at the time, and planted a big sloppy kiss square on his lips. He wasn't sure Max would ever recover. He was sure, however, that he didn't like her lips on another man. At the end of the UH game, Steve looked Lori's way and caught her watching him this time. Her cheeks flushed and he grinned shamelessly. Caught red handed, all she could do was roll her eyes. She stood and stretched. Steve did the same. "Thanks for the pizza," she said shyly.
"You're welcome. I enjoyed it... ". He checked his watch. "Its late. I better go."
At the front door Steve paused and turned around to face Lori. She stiffened, eyes wide and took a step back thwarting Steve's goodbye plan. "I'll uh... I'll see you tomorrow with that lock."
She nodded. "Goodnight."
On Sunday, Steve didn't stay long after installing the new lock. He had to meet Danny and Grace at the beach. They were both still learning to surf and Grace always felt safer with Steve in the water near by. But before he left, he and Lori made plans to go to the Warriors game the following Saturday. He told her he would call her soon and headed out. By Thursday, with no word from Steve, Lori found herself checking her phone for missed calls and wondering why she hadn't heard from him. She chastised herself for acting like a love sick teenager. Late that night, her phone rang waking her from a pleasant sleep. "Hello?" she said, eyes still closed.
"You were sleeping."
She peeked at her clock. "It's 2:30. You okay?"
"Just got back," he said. He sounded exhausted.
Lori sat up in bed. "Where've you been?"
"Chasing a suspect through Hakalau National Forest with Chin."
"Did you get him?" she asked cautiously.
"Yeah... We got him," he said flatly. "It took three days, but we got him."
Suspecting there was more he wasn't saying, Lori questioned him further.
"What happened," she asked softly.
"He took his girlfriend and her daughter with him... She's twelve. We found the girlfriend the first day. He shot her, point blank, in the back of the skull..."
"Where's the girl?"
"She's at the hospital."
"Is... she gonna' be okay?"
"He beat her, but she's alive. She'll recover... physically anyway."
"Is that all he did?," she asked warily, not certain she wanted to know the answer.
"No sign of sexual assault."
"Thank God."
They sat in silence for a moment. "Steve, you did your job. You brought that little girl home. That's what matters."
"I know," he said, sadly. "I'm sorry I woke you, I just..."
"I'm glad you called..."
Saturday
The look in his eye as he stepped toward her put her senses on high alert. He slid his hand around her waist and gently pulled her toward him. Mesmerized by the swirling greens and blues storming in his eyes, she almost let him get too close. As he leaned in, intent upon kissing her goodnight, Lori's hands shot to his chest holding him back. "Not yet," she whispered. Steve's eyes narrowed. He couldn't figure her out. Tonight had been great. They had met some of Steve's navy buddies at Aloha Stadium for the University of Hawaii football game. Steve told her that every year he renewed the season tickets she had given him the night she left Five-0, but that was as far as that discussion had gone. She had really seemed to enjoy herself, laughing and talking with his friends and their significant others. She had gripped his arm tight enough that it hurt when the Warriors' quarter back threw a long pass deep into the end zone for their first touchdown of the night, launching herself into his embrace when the receiver made the catch. He would have kissed her then were it not for the onslaught of high fives from nearby fans. She had even allowed him to hold her hand on the way back to the truck after the game. The way she smiled at him had led him to believe that she was starting to care for him, the same way he already cared for her. But standing here now, he wasn't sure. Recovering quickly he again placed a quick kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you soon." He waited until he heard the deadbolt click before backing away from her door and heading back downstairs. Never had he worked so hard only to make so little progress with a woman. There was something he was missing. She was holding back, keeping something from him. He knew she still had feelings for him. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her touch, but each time she took a few steps toward him, something pulled her that many steps back and more.
Steve was nothing if not persistent, and she agreed to another quick lunch on Tuesday. She had to cut things short for a meeting at work, but promised to see him again soon. She met him at Kamekona's truck down at the beach that following Thursday for shrimp and pineapple tacos. Lori was skeptical at first, but Steve promised her they were delicious. Always up for a new culinary experience, she closed her eyes and scrunched her nose before diving in. Steve was right, they were phenomenal. "Its all in the sauce," Kamekona winked. Right on cue, said sauce rolled down Lori's chin. Steve watched her flirt with the big guy enjoying the way she laughed when her guard was completely down. Kamekona stood to leave and pointed to Lori. "I like this one. She's a good eater... funny too... easy on the eyes," he said as he backed away. Lori's cheeks flushed at the compliments.
"He's right, you know," Steve said in a husky voice that drew her eyes to him. He leaned toward her, eyes smoldering. "You are a good eater."
Lori launched a left over piece of taco at him, pelting him square in that sexy little dimple on his chin. Steve took her hand and led her up the hill to the boardwalk. "Did you drive or walk," he asked as they strolled together down the sidewalk.
"I walked."
"I figured. You want a lift back?"
"No, thank you. I'm good. I like to walk."
"Right," he whispered.
"You busy Saturday?"
"I am, actually," she said, surprising him.
He stopped, shocked, waiting for an explanation.
When none came, his face tensed. "You don't have a date, do you?," he asked half joking, half concerned.
"What?" she asked.
He looked at her as if he had just gotten the joke. "That's it, isn't it? Are you... Are you seeing someone else," he asked calmly.
"What?" she asked again, genuinely confused.
"Is that why you keep pushing me away? 'Cause I got the distinct impression that something was happening here."
Lori crossed her arms over her chest defensively. He saw the fire ignite behind her eyes. "I'm working, you idiot... undercover... and just because I didn't melt when you tried to kiss me and... and fall helplessly into bed with you again, it doesn't mean I'm seeing someone else. You and I have a history, one that begs me to be cautious. If you remember, Commander, I wasn't the one keeping my old stand by on speed dial."
She was right and he knew it. Lori shook her head and spun on her heels, not wanting to give any more away than she already had. Stunned, Steve had to trot to catch up with her.
"Lori, listen... Please" he said, lightly gripping her shoulders and bending low to catch her eyes. "You're right... You're absolutely right. I'm sorry... I'm sorry for a lot of things. After we... After we were together, I handled things badly, really badly. I didn't know what to do with you... what to do with what I was feeling, so I pushed you away... I'd been so careful, for months, to keep things strictly business between us. It was exhausting. After you left, I realized... I screwed up... I should have never let you leave."
Lori swiped at one traitorous tear before it rolled down her cheek. She cleared her throat and stiffened her spine. "That girl that gave into you four years ago? She doesn't exist anymore. A lot has happened since then... Things you couldn't even guess at..."
"Is that why you won't let me get close?" His words were gentle, but desperate.
Lori opened her mouth to speak, but no words would form. A sadness washed over her face and she closed her eyes. Steve gently stroked her hair. "I'm sorry that I hurt you. I learned my lesson, Lori. When you left... I don't want to feel like that again."
Lori drew in a deep breath letting his words sink in. He kissed her on her forehead quickly realizing that was becoming their thing and gently scrubbed her arms.
"I better get back," she whispered.
Against his better judgement, he let her walk away. She replayed the last few weeks in her head and thought about the things he had said. She half hoped he would call and half hoped he would see what an absolute wreck she was and think better of it.
She had to admit that she was relieved when he called her later that night. "I just wanted to say goodnight."
Lori smiled in spite of herself. "I'm glad you called."
"Yeah?" he asked, sounding genuinely pleased.
"Yeah..."
"Be careful Saturday..."
"I will."
"Can I call you Sunday?"
"Sure."
"Sunday then... Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
