N/A:Sorry really sorry people!I've republished chapter 1 by mistake ( I was trying to post chapter 4). Well, finally chapter 4 is on line, hope everybody enjoy!
Thanks to everyone who sent me reviews. I am very happy to know that so many people are enjoying this story. Please continue writing, suggestions and opinions are always welcome.

Disclaimer: Hawaii five-o and every characters of the show don't belong to me. Izzie Kawena is an original character created by me.

CHAPTER 4

Steve drank his green tea, waiting for Kono to bring Izzie's meal to go.

Danny gave Chin a ride to the hospital so he could see his wife; she was on a 24 hour shift and they hadn't seen each other since breakfast at 6 am that morning.

Steve's mind was far from the Szechuan Restaurant; specifically, he was thinking about a young former LA CSI. The girl had guts, he had to admit; hadn't demonstrated fear even when he'd pointed his gun straight at her face, and as far as he could see, she was really good at her job. Her actions were responsible for the biggest clues in this case up till now.

But what bothered him wasn't the fact that despite Denning having sent her she was good at her job; what bothered him was the fact that he knew exactly how she dressed, knew she wasn't skinny like his other female co-workers, knew she was curvy and her chest took up all the space of her blue-buttoned shirt, she had small feet and hands, and long silky black hair…

He shook his head, trying to not think of her that way. He'd been alone since Valentine's. He'd taken that training mission on the USS Enterprise just to stay with Cath, however, the time together just served to make them both understand it was better they went back to being just friends again. He'd decided to stay in the islands, "settle down", maybe marry and have kids, and Cath just couldn't see a future away from the sea and the kind of adventure the Navy could bring her. Yeah…He'd been alone for far too long…

Anyway, he couldn't have that kind of relationship with a co-worker. Besides, a little voice in his head kept reminding him how badly things ended whenever he let someone new enter his life. He couldn't afford to put his loved ones in danger again because of his bad judgment.

By this time Kono had arrived back at the table with a paper bag in her hands.

- Let's go, boss?

- Okay – answered Steve, already standing up from his chair.


Izzie was finishing cleaning the fingerprint dust from Steve's desk. It was as clear as water that he didn't like any kind of mess in his things.

She sat at Steve's chair to ensure she hadn't forgotten to clean any spots off the table, and her eyes went to a photo frame on his desk. It showed Steve, Danny and a kid, probably Danny's daughter she thought, at the beach. All three looked happy and relaxed.

Steve was all wet, the water highlighting his strong body and the tattoo-covered arms. She really should forget such details of her boss… But God! Even a blind woman or man could see how perfectly built the man was.

The comments about Danny using Steve's kitchen and bathroom popped into her head just as she looked the picture again. She almost fell from the chair. Of course! They were partners!

She remembered the first meeting she'd had with the governor; he referred to Danny as Steve's partner, and she thought it was only as in cop partners, but now she could see they were together, and even shared a house from what she'd heard. Great! She had gone all day thinking about a man who was already in a relationship, and with another man!

She still was kicking herself mentally about the attraction she'd felt for Steve when the team arrived back.


Izzie had already finished her meal and the team meeting was starting.

- I think everybody knows the fingerprints from the journal were a dead end; only Eleanor and Joann left fingerprints on it. But the journal has given me some interesting information.

- In fact, Eleanor was investigating someone who was blackmailing the senator. About a year ago, Eleanor and Joann were with a charity of an non-governmental association who is fighting to end the modern slavery of prostitution rings and coyotes who use illegal people as cheap man-power, etcetera, when she recognized a girl from a missing persons' poster.

- Sophia Kovalenko. – said Steve.

- Yep! She'd seen her at an event the senator organized to raise funds for his campaign. She tried to find the girl, asking the senator's assistant, but she told Eleanor the girl was from the catering company. Eleanor knew many different people from when she worked in the fashion industry with Joann, and had really good investigative skills, I have to say. Turns out she discovered the catering company was a disguise for an operation of human trafficking.

- Why she didn't go to the authorities? – Danny asked, exasperated.

- She discovered the senator was involved and she didn't want to ruin Joann's life. She talked with Senator Morrison and demanded he stopped the operation immediately or she'd turn him in to the authorities, but he said he had been blackmailed and if he betrayed the people behind the operation, his career would be destroyed.

- Did she mention if she knew what the mobsters were using to blackmail the senator with? – Chin asked.

- No. She just mentioned it involved Joann and Jeff Jr's lives too. In the last few pages she wrote that she was trying to find proof about the human trafficking ring to give to the authorities, and to make an agreement with the feds: they could have the info about the mobsters if they forgot the senator's name was involved. She thought someone was tailing her, so she decided to put the journal in the safe box in case something happened. The letter informing Joann about the safe was delivered by her lawyer.

- Well we know Joann found the journal in the safe. But what's the connection to the islands? – Kono asked – How did she end up in that motel room?

- How she ended up in that motel room, I don't know. But I guess Joann was trying to finish Eleanor's work. The last lead Eleanor had, from what I read in the journal, was that the mobsters were using an import and export company from Oahu - Senator Morrison is one of the owners - to bring girls illegally to the USA. She didn't have many names of the criminals, but she wrote that the leader was called Black Widow. I took the liberty of calling an old friend to try obtaining some info about the woman, but I haven't had an answer yet. Interpol has a file about her, but they know almost nothing; they even don't know her real name or nationality. I've already sent copies to your tablets, but it's pretty useless.

- Now we have something to start the investigation… - started Steve - Well the main thing now is to talk with Senator Morrison and try to get some answers. Did you schedule the video conference, Kono? – asked Steve.

- Yes. It's scheduled at 8 am tomorrow morning DC time, 2 am island time… Or two hours from now. Sorry boss for the bad time choice, but it was the only time I could manage with the senator's assistant, and the time zone difference between Hawaii and DC didn't help either. – answered Kono.

- It's okay, Kono – said Steve – I'll stay at HQ to do the video conference, and you guys go home and get some sleep. We'll meet here at 8 am to restart the work.

- Hey super-SEAL, with all the paperwork from the last case, you've barely slept three hours since yesterday. You can't drive home like that. – said Danny, sounding worried.

- I'll sleep on the couch until the video conference – said Steve.

- In case you forgot, I'm seven inches shorter than you and still barely fit on that damned couch! – yelled Danny.

- I swear to you, I've slept less and in worse places, Danno. – answered Steve.

-You're not a freaking super-hero! You need to rest and you can't drive home in your state! – yelled Danny again.

- Oh, and what do you suggest? You haven't slept any more than me and… - Steve began.

- I'll stay with him! – The words came out before Izzie could stop herself. – I've rested more than you guys in the last few days, so I can drive Steve home after the video conference. Besides, I passed the info I got from the journal to all of you, but the details I've read about could maybe help in the interview with the senator.

- You're sure? – said Danno – I can stay…

- As Steve said, you're tired too, so go get some rest. I promise I'll bring him home safe. I just need the address.

- The place is in Aina Haina. – Danny wrote the address down – Here. Do you have GPS in that antique you call a car?

- My tablet has, Danny. And don't make fun of my car, okay! – said Izzie, suddenly sounding like a teenager – And I know the place; in fact, it's near mine.

- Okay, then. Leave the truck in front of the building and I'll give you a ride tomorrow morning, okay Steve? – said Danny.

- And I have a choice? – answered Steve.

- No – answered Danno, Kono and Chin together.

- Okay. Okay… Good night. Now, all of you, out! – said Steve.

- Good night, boss – said Kono as they left.

- Until 8 am, then – Chin said before putting on his helmet.

- Call me if you need me, and don't turn off the TV when you arrive. I WILL use the earphones, I swear. – said Danny, getting the Camaro keys

Everybody had gone and finally the Palace was quiet.

- I hate to say it, but Danno is right about that couch; but I'll try to get some rest, anyway. You can use Danno's office couch if you like. – said Steve, starting to walk into his office.

- Thanks, but I'll start the paperwork from the crime scene. – answered Izzie.

- Okay. – Steve answered from inside the office. He put his head out of the door frame and said – By the way, good job today, Kawena.

- Thanks Steve. – Izzie answered, half inside Danny's office.