Falling
Chapter Three
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. It's true.
Author Notes: The premiere is tonight. Hooray! I want to post this before it starts so I am going to wrap this story up. It's time for some truth telling on both sides. Fluffy cometh.
Steve paced across the ER waiting room for the twelfth time in less than ten minutes. When he came back they told him he would have to wait there as they were taking Kono to x-ray and performing a physical exam. When that was done he would be allowed to go back and be with her. He scrubbed his hand over his face and looked up as the outside doors opened and Danny and Chin rushed in. Chin spotted Steve first.
"How is she?"
"They are still x-raying her and examining her, but she definitely has a broken arm and a cut on her head, possibly a concussion."
"What happened?"
"It was my fault."
"What?"
"We stayed too long up there and when we started back down the storm was coming on. I realized we would end up caught in it. She was ahead of me on the trail and I yelled at her to stop, so we could find some shelter. She turned and looked at me but kept going and tripped on a vine. She fell at least 25 feet. I was able to get down to her and stabilize the arm. We spent the night in a cave up where we had been."
"Steve, it sounds like an accident. Don't go blaming yourself, okay? The important thing is she's okay."
Danny clapped him on the back and pushed him towards a chair. The pacing was driving him crazy.
"She's tough you know? She was in a lot of pain, but she never complained."
"That's Kono. When we were kids she would get hurt all the time trying to keep up with her brothers. She would only cry if she were really hurt. They gave her a hard time so she learned to suck it up."
Chin shared some other stories of Kono as a child. Danny was grateful. It kept Steve's mind off what was going on down the hall. Something was up with the big guy. He seemed a little lost. Steve McGarrett never looked lost. He had a feeling it had something to do with a very cute rookie. Danny knew it was only a matter of time. He could see them getting closer every day. They were like the perfect couple. They had tons in common, but also balanced each other in how they were different as well. When Steve was too serious, Kono would lighten the moment. When Kono took too many risks, Steve reeled her in. Yep, they were like kismet, fate had her hand all over these too. Now if only they weren't too stubborn to realize it.
"Family of Kono Kalakaua?"
All three men jumped up at once.
"Yes?"
The nurse looked skeptically at Steve and Danny.
"You're all family?"
"Yes ma'am. Well, actually we're all on the same law enforcement team. She's like family."
"Okay then. Right this way gentlemen."
The nurse smirked as she led them back down the hallway to the young woman's bed. She was a lucky girl to have three men so devoted to her. If her radar wasn't mistaken, the tall one had it bad for her. The other two looked like brother material. She pushed the curtain back from around Kono's bed and the young woman greeted her favorite men with a huge dimply smile. The drugs were working great.
"Hey guys. Looks like it's party time."
Chin went to hug her.
"You just can not stay out of trouble can you?"
"Hey!"
Danny was next with teasing.
"So who were you falling for there Kono?"
Steve sidled up to the bed and wrapped her in a big hug. He didn't say anything, just held her a little bit too long until the doctor cleared his throat and Danny chuckled.
"Well Miss Kalakaua."
"It's Officer Kalakaua."
"Oh, I didn't know. Well, Officer, you definitely have a broken arm, but you knew that. Are you the one that immobilized it and had her elevate it?"
Steve nodded.
"SEAL training."
He sized the big man up.
"Ah, right, of course you were. Good job. Well we will be able to set it today since the swelling already had time to go down. You also have a mild concussion. The cut is not going to need stitches.
"Can I go home?"
"Sorry, we need to keep an eye on you for another 24 hours just to be sure there are no further complications from the fall or the concussion. I'll get you set up in a room as soon as we set the arm and cast it. I hate to tell you gentlemen, but only one of you gets to stay. This is an ER and it's a bit crowded."
Steve spoke up first.
"I'll stay. After all, I'm the one who got you into this mess in the first place."
Kono smiled and ducked her head.
"Okay."
Danny folded his arms across his chest and bounced on the balls of his feet. He was grinning from ear to ear. That sly dog had finally realized he loved her. He could not wait to get him alone. Oh was this rich. He caught Steve and Chin glaring at him.
"What? Can I help it if I'm happy she's okay?"
Chin pushed Danny towards the waiting room.
"We'll check on you tomorrow Cuz. Mahalo, Steve, for taking care of her so well."
Steve watched them go and then turned back to Kono. The doctor had left to go and get the supplies for the cast. He crossed back to the bed and reached down for her free hand. He took it in both of his and looked into her eyes. Kono's heart skipped a beat. She was sure of it.
"I am so glad to see those beautiful brown eyes open and those dimples back in place. Did they give you good drugs?"
"The best. I'm a little loopy right now, so if I don't make sense or say something stupid just chalk it up to the drugs okay?"
"I don't know. Blackmailing you for saying something dumb sounds like way too much fun for me to pass on."
Kono scooted over and patted the side of the gurney.
"Come here."
Steve sat down and Kono immediately leaned up and laid her head on his chest. He dropped her hands and wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed your warmth."
"Me too."
"Steve what are we doing here?"
"I'm not sure. I just know that I want to be with you all the time. I miss you when we leave work and I think about you on the weekends and it isn't in any way work related."
Steve could feel Kono's heart speed up and then the doctor came back in the room to set her arm. He was forced to stand up and move into the chair next to the bed. While they set her arm he held her good hand and never let his gaze waver from hers. They were having an entire conversation without words. As the doctor pulled the bones back in place Kono squeezed his hand tighter than she had been. That was the only way to tell it had hurt. He followed along behind the bed as they pushed her to her room and got her settled. The nurse kept watching the two of them and realized there was something significant transpiring between these two. She hurried to finish.
"Alright I'm going to give you kids some alone time now. I'll get you some lunch in a few minutes."
She winked at both of them.
"Good because this one promised me breakfast after the hospital. He tricked me and now I'm stuck here."
The nurse smiled.
"Yeah those protective ones are keepers. It's those quiet smoldering looks that give them away."
Kono laughed as the older nurse bounced out of the room.
"She's got your number."
"I do not smolder."
"Yeah you do. That's why I fell for you."
"What?"
"You heard me. Now get over here while I can still blame the drugs."
Steve was across the room and sitting on her bed instantly. Kono reached for him and pulled him into a soft kiss. His eyes went wide and then he responded back eagerly. They kissed until she was breathless and dizzy.
"Steve."
He buried his face in her neck and stroked her hair.
"What happened yesterday made me realize something. In our line of work…heck in life in general you never know when someone you care about can be taken from you."
Steve pulled back and looked into her eyes framing her face with his hands. What was she saying?
"I fell yesterday and I could have been killed. Tomorrow you could get shot or I could. We just never know. One thing I do know for sure…"
"I've fallen in love with you Steve and I don't want to waste another minute playing games or pretending I don't feel something deep for you. For the last 20 hours I've been terrified to tell you, but I'm more terrified of losing you and never having told you, so if you don't feel the same it's okay. I just had to get it out."
Steve looked at her and then he leaned in and kissed her on each cheek before melding their mouths together again. When he finally pulled back, her eyes were shimmering with tears.
"I love you too Kono. I fell for you the day I met you on the beach and it just gets worse with time."
"So, falling isn't always a bad thing."
Steve groaned.
"You did not just say that."
Kono scooted over in the bed and pulled him down with her.
"I'm cold. I need your warmth."
"I smell."
Kono giggled.
"It's okay. I work out with you remember? You've smelled much worse."
"Oh, just wait until you recover. You are so going to get it."
"I can't wait."
Kono smiled up at him as his lips descended to capture hers once again. When they broke for air she giggled again."
"Now what?"
"I think I really like tropical storms."
Now Steve laughed and added his own.
"Caves. I really like caves."
"Oh, and ledges."
"And ancient rock drawings."
"And you."
"And you too."
A/N: I know, too cheesy. Sorry, I was trying to hurry it so I could post before the finale on the West Coast. So if you think the end is dumb, feel free to create your own in your mind. See you in new stories inspired by what looks to be a great new season.
