Broken Pieces

Chapter Four

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: Not mine. Love them anyway.

Author Notes: Kono's behavior becomes the concern of the whole team and Steve finds her in a compromising situation.

For the rest of the weekend Steve and Kono existed in their own little world. They ate, slept, cuddled and surfed for the next two days. Kono was especially intense when they were surfing and took some of the biggest waves she could find. If Steve were a nail biter, he'd only have stubs left. He held his breath each time she slid down one of the monsters on the North Shore. It was like she needed to take risks all of a sudden.

Chin and Danny checked in to see how Kono was doing. He wished the news were better. He'd noticed her eating had slowed down considerably. Kono was a one woman-eating machine and for the entire weekend she had just picked at her food. It worried Steve.

He slept with her both nights and at least once every night her nightmares revisited her. She would wake to Steve's gentle words and his tender caresses. He would wipe her tears and kiss her softly and she would drift back to sleep. Each morning she would talk about what happened in the dreams and each time, Steve told her they wouldn't last forever, but that she needed to talk to someone. She refused.

"If I can't do my job without needed a psychiatrist then I need to turn in my badge."

On Monday the long paper trail began. Every bit of evidence had to be tagged and boxed even though they weren't going to trial. Steve kept his eye out on Kono's office as she worked. He was so caught up watching her that he was totally unaware Danny was leaning against his door jam.

"So, tell me what went on over the weekend."

"What do you mean?"

"You're different. The way you're looking at her is…different.

"No I'm not."

"Steven. I have known you for two years and I know that look."

"She needed me. I was there. End of story."

"You have deep feelings for her. Admit it."

"What?"

"You are and you're worried. I can see it in your eyes."

"She's not dealing very well with this."

"What do you mean?"

"Nightmares, not eating, taking chances and it's obvious she can't concentrate. She's been on the same form for the last hour. I'm worried about her Danno. She refuses to talk to the shrink."

"You could make her. You're still her boss."

"We…uh…we kind of changed our status this weekend too."

"So, you chose now to tell her how you felt about her? Smooth Steven. Really smooth."

"I couldn't help it. You weren't there. I haven't slept with her, if that's what you're thinking. Well, technically I have slept with her. I just haven't…we haven't…"

Chin chose that moment to walk into the room.

"Haven't what? What are we talking about?"

"Apparently the big guy here is worried about Kono."

"I am too. I've been watching her the last couple of days and she isn't herself."

"Chin, she needs to get some professional help. She's still staying at my house. I think she's afraid to go home and be alone."

"I see. Do you mind having her there?"

"What? No. I care about her Chin and I want to see her back to her old self."

"I'll talk to her."

Chin walked towards Kono's office while Steve and Danny pretended to be in a conversation when in reality they were both glued to what was happening an office away.

"Hey Cuz."

Kono startled for a second and then pulled her self together and tossed Chin a soft smile.

"Hey. You surprised me."

"You're pretty jumpy these last few days. You want to talk about it?"

"What is it with you guys? I told Steve I'm fine and I am. Everybody needs to just back off and let me handle this on my own."

"Sorry, ohana doesn't do that. Steve says you're not doing so well."

Kono's glare shot across her office straight at Steve.

"Yeah? Well, Steve had no right talking about me behind my back."

Kono was up out of her seat before Chin could react. She stormed into Steve's office and started yelling.

"Just because we spent the weekend together doesn't give you the right to talk about me to the guys. How many times do I have to tell you I'm okay? Just stay the hell out of this Steve!"

Kono bolted out of the office and took off out of the building.

Danny and Steve just stared at each other in stunned silence. Kono had never acted like that in all the time they'd known her. Finally Steve got his voice back.

"Should I go after her? Should I give her some space? I'm lost on this one Danno."

Chin had made his way to them by now.

"I don't think she should be alone. I do think you should go after her Steve."

Steve bolted from the room and took the stairs two at a time trying to catch her. When he reached the outside door three floors down he hit it with his shoulder and stepped into the bright sunshine. He tried to adjust his eyes and look for her, but she was gone. How could she disappear that fast?

He hated to do this to Danny and Chin, but he left them with the paperwork and started searching for Kono. He went to his place first, but she wasn't there. He arrived at her place about thirty minutes later. Kono's neighbor said she was there for a few minutes, but had left with a bag and her surfboard a little while before Steve got there. Steve drove up and down the North Shore looking for her, but he came up empty. He checked in with the guys periodically only to find they had nothing new on her. They had tried tracking her cell phone, but it was turned off.

Steve drove back to headquarters and they brainstormed together.

Chin had a list of her friends, but was pretty sure she would not contact any of them. The four of them took turns calling them anyway. No one had seen her.

Chin tried to remember her hangouts when she was surfing full time. He remembered a couple of clubs she used to frequent. Since it was getting dark, Danny and Chin headed for one club and Steve headed for the other one.

The one Steve arrived at was packed out with college kids and beach bums. The music was so loud he thought his ears were going to start bleeding. The dance floor was so crowded you couldn't move. He went to the bar and flashed Kono's picture to the bartender.

"She in trouble?"

"You could say that. Hawaii Five-0."

Steve flashed his badge and the bartender took the picture and then looked around the room.

"Yeah, she's been here awhile. Drinks like a sailor. Some guys were hitting on her earlier. She decked one of them. Fiesty little thing."

He continued to search the crowd and then he grinned and pointed. Steve's eyes followed his finger and there she was. She was dancing…correct that…rubbing up against some blonde haired muscle guy. Steve did not like the way the guy's hands were roaming her body. He was pretty sure she was drunk. He'd never seen Kono drunk before. The woman could hold her liquor for the most part, but tonight she had tied one on. He had to get her out of there. He walked straight to where they were dancing, grabbed her by the bicep and pried the guy off of her.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

"Steve?"

Kono's eyes got impossibly big. Steve's face did not look happy.

The guy with Kono stepped up into Steve's face.

"Hey! We were dancing here, so just keep on moving. I saw her first. I'm the one taking her home with me if you know what I mean. Not you!"

Steve took one look at the guy.

"Really?"

The guy tried to intimidate Steve by bumping chests with him.

"Yes, really. I'm going to get me some and no last minute play on your part is going to stop me."

Steve sighed and took the guy out with one punch straight to the face. The guy dropped like a rock and Steve pulled Kono through the crowd.

People were laughing and clapping as they gathered around their fallen friend, but Steve just headed straight to the door. That is until Kono started fighting him.

"I don't wanna go. Lemme go Steve. You have no right to do this. You're …barrassing me."

Even drunk she was putting up a pretty good fight and Steve finally swung her up in his arms kicking and screaming and marched towards his car ignoring the blows she was attempting to land on him anywhere she could. He tossed her in the front seat, buckled her in and ran to the other side as she tried to unbuckle the belt and exit the car. Steve hit the automatic locks and she couldn't manage to fumble with them manually in her drunken state. She took one swing at him, which he dodged and then fell back against the seat.

He peeled out of the parking lot and hit the highway. After letting the guys know she was okay he stared straight ahead and drove like a bat out of hell to his place.

Kono was calling him every name in the book and kept demanding he take her home. Steve just ignored her until he parked his truck in front of his house. She was out of the car almost as fast as he was and as he approached her she came out swinging. He ducked her first punch and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. Once in the house he carried her upstairs into his bathroom and turned the shower on cold. He dumped her under it and held her in place while she shrieked in pain from the icy water and called him every name in the book.

"Watch your language young lady or soap in the mouth is next."

He knew if she were sober he would never be able to do any of this with her. The woman was strong and he had wrestled with her before and lost.

Eventually she stopped trying to hit him and she slumped down in the tub in a heap. Her shoulders began to heave and she wept.

Steve dropped down on the floor next to the tub and turned off the water.

"It's okay Honey. I'm here. Kono…"

"I hate you sometimes."

"Yeah, I hate me too. I just want to help you Kono. I care about you a lot."

"I know…"

Her sobs were starting to turn into hiccups and she was trying to get her breath back. Steve reached over the side and lifted her up and out of the tub into his lap. She leaned into him and he reached up above them to grab a towel off the towel bar and wrap it around her.

Kono relaxed against him and he cuddled her closer, resting his chin on her head and pulling the towel tightly around her. He wrapped her in his arms trying to give her his warm. They sat like that for a long time until he was pretty sure she had fallen asleep.

He juggled her in his arms and lifted her up as he rose from the floor and headed into his bedroom. She sighed into his chest and he reluctantly placed her on the bed to strip her wet clothes off and pull one of his t-shirts over her head. He averted his eyes out of respect to her, but it took all he could to wait. When he saw her naked for the first time, he wanted it to be in a totally different situation.

Right now he was just thankful she hadn't done something stupid under the influence. She was not one to lose control and he decided that when she was sober he was going to give her an ultimatum.

He stripped down and changed into some dry boxers before he climbed in next to her and pulled her into his arms.

She mumbled something totally incoherent into his neck and he smiled as he smoothed her wet hair down. She was going to be a mess in the morning. He kissed her temple and stroked his hands down her arm as she cuddled closer to him in her sleep.

"Mmm…Steve…"

Now that he heard and it sent a shiver down his body. This woman was going to be the death of him.

"Night Sweetheart."

He added one more thing since it was obvious she was sound asleep.

"Love you…"