Sorry it took so long…. Here's another chapter!
Chapter 4
"Okay," Steve said has he turned to his team following the briefing meeting, "Mick and the boys are taking the first watch so we can get some rest. We take the General and his family in to hand them over to testify in the morning. So, everyone grab a place to crash," he finished, looking at each of his team members, his gaze lingering ever so slightly on Kono. He thought he noticed something off about Kono. He'd have to check with Chin about that, he thought to himself as the group broke up.
Kono headed off to one of the bedrooms located on the first floor, Chin and Danny each chose from the remaining rooms as Steve took the room toward the front of the house.
Kono tossed and turned, unable to keep the events out of her thoughts. Finally, she got up and headed toward the kitchen to grab a drink. As she quietly headed up the hallway so as not to disturb anyone, she passed the room Steve was in and noticed the room was empty, the bed undisturbed. Just as she passed his room, they ran into each other as he was coming around the corner from the bathroom, where he'd just tried to clean up as much as he could without getting his stitches wet. He flinched when she instinctively put her arms out to prevent crashing into him and struck his fresh stitches. He was shirtless and she saw the stitches and various older scars about his torso, wondering what the story was behind those scars.
"Whoa, sorry about that," Steve whispered, smiling. "You okay?" he asked as she stood awkwardly in the hallway. They were whispering to keep from disturbing the others.
"Yeah, sorry. Did I rip your stitches?" she asked reaching up to check to make sure his arm wasn't bleeding again.
He looked down at his arm as he felt her soft touch. "Nah, its all good," he said, somehow enjoying her touch.
She jolted herself back to the moment and pulled her hand back. "I was just heading to get a drink. Can't seem to wind down I guess," she told him as she started to pass him. He followed her out toward the kitchen.
"I was meaning to ask you if you were okay," he asked innocently and looked up to notice the irritated look on her face. "What?" he asked, not knowing what he'd done wrong trying to hide the grin that wanted to come across his face at her angry face.
"Nothing," she said irritably and turned to the cabinet to get a glass and then to the refrigerator. She stood with the door open, not even seeing the choices as she slowly simmered.
"Ummm…, yeah. Doesn't sound like nothing," he stated, moving toward her.
She felt him behind her, and then he reached past her to grab a juice out of the refrigerator. She felt his breath on the side of her neck as he leaned in and his arm brushed her shoulder as he brought the bottle of juice back out of the refrigerator.
She turned around and was a little startled to see that he was still right behind her, looking right at her, waiting for her to answer him.
"Kono," he said softly. "It was a pretty big deal tonight. I'm sorry that you were put in that position. I should've known that something was off with Nick - - it just took me totally by surprise. I let my guard down," he said, sadly, still not understanding how he could have missed the change in his friend.
"You didn't let your guard down, you're not still in Afghanistan. You shouldn't need to keep your guard up." she told him, taking a step away and sitting at the kitchen table. "And, you didn't 'put me in that position.' I put me in that position. Its my job and I love it," she said passionately. "Everyone needs to start treating my like a cop. That's what I am. I'm not a kid," she said.
He innocently reached across the table and put his hand over hers. "No, you're definitely not a kid and I know you're a cop - - a good cop, Kono." Neither said a word. After a moment, he pulled his hand back reluctantly.
Kono looked at him, and standing up, said finally, "You should get some rest."
He watched her walk back toward the bedroom she was using. He took his juice and walked toward the window to take a look around outside, a little afraid of what he thought he was feeling.
TBC…..