Chapter 3

"Hey, how about that," Danny said as Steve and Alex left.

"How about what?" Chin asked looking up from his work.

"Alex Reilly. Steve didn't seem to want to talk about her. I mean, have you ever seen him respond that way to anyone? There is definitely something between those two."

Kono smiled; glad to see that she wasn't the only one that had that thought.

"See, Cuz, even Danny noticed."

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Danny said.

"I just meant that I wasn't the only one that noticed."

"Good, otherwise I was going to have to remind you, that I am in fact a detective and a pretty good one at that."

"So what is your opinion?" Kono asked eyes wide waiting for Danny to say something profound.

"My opinion," Danny said looking at Chin who shot him a warning look. "Is that…we all go out for pizza."

"What?" Kono said disappointed. "I thought you were going to say something good. Has he ever mentioned her to you at all?"

"You act like Steve tells me all his deep dark secrets. No, he never mentioned her."

"Do you think that they were you know…going together?"

"Going together…did you just say that?"

"I think we should all drop the subject and finish up for tonight," Chin said. "Then Danny can buy us dinner."

"Wait, why do I have to buy dinner?"

"It was your idea."

"No, it was my opinion and that was not really what I was going to say anyway."

"What were you going to say?" Kono asked eagerly.

"Nothing…I think Chin is right, we should leave it alone."

"Oh come on, you guys are no fun."

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

Alex had always thought silence was a good thing, but this was crazy. Steve had not said one word to her since they had left 5-0 Headquarters. Finally, she could endure it no longer.

"I heard about your dad," she said. "I'm sorry."

Alex saw Steve take a deep breath and then exhale. She knew that it was still a painful subject for him. When he didn't answer she continued.

"I know I only met him once, but I really liked him. And he would be really proud of what you are doing now."

Alex realized how ridiculous that sounded, but she had nothing else to say.

Steve kept his gaze straight ahead concentrating on the road. He couldn't have this conversation now, especially with Alex, but he knew that he had to at least acknowledge her words.

"Thanks," he managed to say.

They fell into an uncomfortable silence once again and Alex tried to content herself by looking out her window until they arrived at Steve's house.

"Wow, nice car," Alex said as they pulled into the driveway.

"It's not mine," Steve said for the second time that day. "It's Nate's."

"Your brother, he's here?"

"Yeah."

"That's nice."

"Nice for whom?" he said and Alex shot him a quizzical look.

Steve jumped out of his truck and slammed the door heading for the house. He obviously wasn't very concerned about Alex's safety since he didn't wait for her. She decided to follow him even though he hadn't invited her.

Entering the house, memories of her visit here six years ago came flooding back. Alex recalled the night she had met Steve's father, Jack. The delicious meal he had prepared, the funny stories he had told about Steve and his kind words as they said goodbye. Hardly anything had changed here in the years since and yet everything had changed.

Tears stung the back of her eyes. She couldn't cry here, so she forced herself to concentrate on something else. She noticed a layer of dust on the side table.

"I guess the maid didn't come today," she called to Steve.

"Funny," Steve yelled from upstairs, he didn't sound amused.

Alex heard the back door open and close.

"Steve, is that you?" a man's voice called.

A young man just under six feet and bearing a striking resemblance to Steve came into the living room.

"Oh, hello," he said.

"Hi, I'm Alex Reilly," she replied.

"Steve use to talk about you. I'm Nate."

So this is him, she thought. It only took me eight years to finally meet him.

There was a loud thud from upstairs and they could both hear Steve yell something that Alex did not approve.

"Nate! What did you do?" Steve hollered.

"I didn't do anything," Nate called back walking over to the stairs.

"Then how come I walk into your room and I end up on my face! You're not seven anymore! Trip wires are not allowed in this house! I think Dad told you that more times than I can count," Steve said, walking down the stairs holding a nearly invisible wire.

"Sorry. Habit."

"Yeah, well it better die fast."

"Where are you going?" Nate asked looking at the bag in Steve's other hand.

"To make sure no one tries to shoot at Alex again."

"So you won't be here for a while?"

"Exactly."

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

"Hey, I said no pineapple," Danny said almost whining as the waitress set the pizza on the table.

"Don't mind him, he's a grouch," Kono said to the waitress as she grabbed a slice of pizza. "You can pick it off, Danny."

"You're making me pay for pizza and then you go and destroy it with evil pineapple. This would never happen in Jersey."

"If I was there it would."

Chin laughed at his two friends.

"You think this is funny, Chin?" Danny asked, pulling a piece of pineapple off his pizza and throwing it at him.

"Hey, I didn't hear anyone yell food fight," Chin said flicking the pineapple off his shirt.

"I'm sorry, do you want me too?"

"No, that's alright."

"I'm actually feeling a little guilty sitting here doing nothing," Kono confessed. "The Boss is expecting us to find this shooter."

"We have to eat don't we?" Danny said picking off the last piece of pineapple from his slice of pizza. "Besides, he is going to be living the easy life at a luxurious hotel, while we work our butts off."

"Still, I feel badly."

"Fine, if it makes you feel better we can work while we eat pineapple infested pizza."

"You know what they say, Danny, 'when in Rome do as the Romans do,' so eat the pineapple," Chin teased.

Danny made a face at him and declared dramatically, "Never! And I am not a grouch."

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

The drive to Alex's hotel began in silence once again. She looked over at Steve and noticed he was gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were white. The look on his face was intense and she could see the muscles in his jaw and neck flexing.

"You should probably practice smiling, because you are going to be attacked by an ecstatic eight year old very soon," she said.

Steve only sighed in reply.

"I'm going to have her stay with my parents until this whole thing is cleared up," Alex continued.

"Why?"

"To keep her safe and I don't want her to think…" She let the sentence hang unfinished.

"Think what?" Steve questioned, pulling into the hotel parking lot.

"Think that we are...you know…"

"Dating again?" Steve asked and Alex nodded. "I think she will understand if you explain to her what is happening. From what I remember she's a pretty bright kid."

When they entered the lobby they found Alex's father looking at an aquarium containing brightly colored fish.

"Hi, Dad," Alex greeted him.

Continuing to observe the fish, Henri Reilly commented, "They look so carefree and content don't they."

The remark wasn't lost on Steve. He knew Henri well enough to know that he did not make idle comments.

"Where's Natty?" Alex asked ignoring her father's remark.

"Your mother took her to use the bathroom."

"Mom's here?"

"Yes, she wants to make sure you are still alright."

"You know I am."

"Well, I knew you would be," he said turning to Steve. "It's Lieutenant Commander now, correct?"

Henri Reilly was a retired Rear Admiral in the Navy and he had followed Steve's career, even after Steve and Alex had stopped dating.

"Yes, sir," Steve said as they shook hands.

"I heard about your new job running the governor's task force. She speaks very highly of you," Henri said.

At that moment there was a shriek of delight and Steve felt two little arms wrap around his waist.

"Daddy!" Natalie squealed.

Alex bit her lip and looked away.

"I knew we would see you, I knew it, I knew it," she said excitedly.

Steve stood there awkwardly for a moment looking down into Natalie's beaming face. He remembered the first time she had called him that. She had only been a little over a year old when she had looked at him and said 'Daddy'. It had been strange to say the least, but to Natalie, Steve had been the only one in her life that could have possibly been Daddy.

"Don't you remember me?" she asked her light blue eyes sparkling up at him. "I remember you, but Auntie said you wouldn't remember me."

Natalie had only been four when he had last seen her. She had grown; a lot.

"Of course I remember you," Steve said picking her up.

"Told you, Auntie," Natalie said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I just didn't want you to be disappointed," Alex said.

"How come you have that big gun?" Natalie asked pointing to the weapon strapped at Steve's side.

"So I can keep Auntie safe," Steve said tugging her light brown pony tail.

"Is she in trouble?" Natalie asked, her eyes suddenly wide with concern.

"Not while I'm here."

"So you are going to keep her safe."

"Very safe."

"That is very sweet of you. Isn't that very sweet of him, Auntie?"

"Very," Alex said not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice.

"Ooh," Natalie said to Steve. "You still have that drawing on your skin."

Natalie had pushed up the sleeve of Steve's shirt so she could see the whole tattoo on his right arm.

"Can I have one too?"

"No, Natalie," Alex said.

"But Daddy has one. I want one too, so I can be just like him."

Steve tried to hide a smile, but he didn't do a very good job. Alex's mother glared at him.

"Natty, I think it's a good idea to listen to Auntie," Steve said trying to fix the situation. "She's pretty smart you know."

"Fine, but I'm going to be sad," Natalie said. "Have you seen the beach here, Daddy? It is really nice and the water is so warm and I can show you if you want."

"That would be great."

Steve noticed Alex's mother watching him closely.

"It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Reilly."

"You haven't changed much, Lieutenant," she replied curtly.

"It's Lieutenant Commander now, Hannah," Henri informed her.

"Oh, well it has been a while I guess. Alex dear, you must be tired after a long day. Are you sure you don't want to go to bed early? I was talking to your father and I think it would be better if you stayed with us."

"I'm fine, Mother. You don't have to worry about me. I will be okay here," Alex said and added reluctantly. "It's not as if I am all by myself. I have a highly trained professional protecting me."

"I know, I can see that," her mother said, not even trying to hide the disapproval in her voice.

The next three hours were all a blur to Steve as he sat and listened to Natalie chatter on about everything she had done since she had seen him last. The evening finally ended, at least for Natalie, when she fell asleep on Steve's lap. Alex's parents decided to take her home. They went to get their car while Steve, who was holding Natalie, waited out in front of the hotel with Alex.

"Not as much fun as chasing a murderous drug dealer is it?" Alex queried, looking over at Steve.

He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Is that what you think fun is for me?"

Steve looked at her. Alex just shrugged in reply.

His phone rang and he shifted Natalie in his arms so he could reach it. He looked at the screen and wanted to ignore the call, but thought it might not be a good idea.

"Catherine," he said answering tentatively. "What's up?"

Steve noticed Alex watching him out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey, is this a bad time," Catherine said picking up on the uncertainty in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm kind of tied up right now…with work. Can I catch up with you later?"

"Sure, that's fine."

"Okay, thanks," Steve said ending the call.

He waited for Alex to say something, knowing her curiosity would get the better of her.

"Was that your girlfriend?" Alex asked, sounding as if she was really disinterested.

"Kind of, I guess," he said, not really sure himself.

Their relationship had never been official; they just saw each other when they happened to be in the same place at the same time.

"It sounds like you don't know."

He was spared from having to explain when the Reillys pulled up to the curb. Steve placed Natalie in the car while Alex stowed her things in the trunk. They said their goodbyes and watched them drive away. When the car was out of sight Alex turned to enter the hotel.

"Hey, wait for me," Steve said. "I have to get my stuff out of my truck."

"I'm fine on my own."

"Alex, please don't do this to me."

"I'm not doing anything. I'm a big girl. I can make it to my room without getting myself killed."

Steve knew that determined look on her face. She wasn't going to listen.

"Fine, be careful," Steve relented. "I'll be there in a minute."

Grabbing his gear out of his dark blue truck, he hurried up to the eighth floor. He knocked on the door and after a couple of minutes Alex opened it.

Irritated, Steve said to her, "Please don't do that again. I was getting ready to kick the door in."

"I didn't hear you," Alex replied innocently.

Yeah right, Steve thought as he walked into the room.

The airy one bedroom suite had a living room, kitchen and a balcony overlooking the ocean. The living room was furnished with comfortable looking chairs and couches that were lined with brightly colored pillows that gave the room a welcoming appearance.

"I'm going to bed," Alex said walking to her bedroom. "It's been a long day."

Before he could reply she disappeared into her room and closed the door.

Soon afterward Steve found himself lying on the couch. He thought about how long this day had been and how the two people he had tried to forget had reentered his life. His thoughts settled on Alex.

She's back.

He realized deep down inside, he liked that.

* * * * * H50 * * * * * *

Nate was sitting on the beach staring up at the stars, remembering vividly how he had played here with his brother, sister and parents. This reminded him of how alone he had felt in the years since his mother's death and separation from his family. It also reminded him of how much he wanted his older brother to know why he had been in China four years ago, the night Steve had shot Keller.

Nate couldn't think about that now, he had other things to worry about. There was more to the shooting attempt on Alex Reilly than anyone realized. Everything was so complicated that Steve wouldn't be able to figure it out in time. Nate had already lost both his parents. He couldn't lose Steve next.