Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii 5-0. However I wish I did, so that has to count for something, right?
Thank you all who have reviewed. For those who review anonymously, I am sorry that I cannot respond to your reviews personally. This is ending in the next chapter, thank you for reading. I have to work Monday so this is being posted earlier than usual.
Chapter 7
Steve's truck slammed to a halt at the curb in front of Kono's house. He sat there for a moment, observing the small home and wondering just how he was going to handle this mess. Danny and Chin had parked a couple of blocks away and were undoubtedly making their way closer to keep eyes on the situation. HPD also had two cars nearby, waiting for word to move in if needed. Knowing that Veronica would check for an earpiece, Steve decided not to even try to bring a communication device with him.
He gripped the steering wheel tightly in frustration, feeling out of his element when dealing with an unstable woman. Kono was depending on him to get her safely out of this mess and he knew he couldn't make a wrong move. Veronica had created a fantasy in her head that they were a couple and he would have to play on that if he was to subdue her without anyone getting hurt. Leaving the truck, he made it halfway to the house when the door opened cautiously. Veronica stood there with a gun leveled at him.
"Steven, please leave your gun outside," she instructed.
"Are you threatened by me Ronni?" he asked quietly as his hand crept to his weapon.
She frowned at him and he held his arms out to his side, showing that they were empty.
"No, but a girl can't be too careful. Until I'm sure you aren't lying to me I would prefer to be the only one armed," Veronica said cautiously. "I'm not convinced you aren't involved with Ms Kalakaua so for the time being I will call the shots. Please leave your gun outside."
"All right," Steve agreed and carefully removed his gun from his holster and placed it in the grass at his feet. Straightening back up, he smiled at Veronica tensely. "Ronni, please let's just sit down and talk. This is a big misunderstanding."
"You are right, we do need to talk," she agreed. "My trust in you has been shaken and it may take more than words to repair it."
Steve nodded and took a moment to organize his thoughts. An op had gone wrong and her partner killed, he was willing to bet her partner had also been her lover even though that would have been frowned upon by the Agency. Somehow Veronica had blocked that pain out and retreated to the night five years ago when the rescue had been more successful. She was not ready to deal with the present pain and had chosen to think that Steve was the answer to all her troubles.
"How was I supposed to know how you felt about me Ronni….I haven't heard from you in five years?" he said as he slowly closed the space between them. "You are not an easy woman to locate and I had to return to my unit."
Veronica's eyes lit up at his words.
"You tried to find me?" she asked.
Steve nodded, not liking the lies he had to admit to. Appeasing her was making him very uncomfortable but to free Kono, he would play along. The hunger that was burning in her eyes made him wary of pushing her over the edge.
"I couldn't contact you during your deployment. You didn't tell me you left the service," she said, completely forgetting that she previously admitted knowing about his assignment to the Governor's task force.
"Ronni, let's go inside and talk," Steve suggested. "We don't want a nosey neighbor calling HPD, do we?"
"You're right," she agreed as her gaze swept over the surrounding houses. "Come in." She stepped back from the entrance and motioned him inside. As he entered the house, she moved back, away from his reach and never lowering her weapon. "Close the door Steven."
Steve followed her orders and then focused on Kono who was sitting in the middle of the room facing away from the door. She was looking over her shoulder and he could see the relief on her face as he entered the house. He nodded to her and she smiled slightly before breaking eye contact.
"Ronni, let's sit down and straighten things out," he said as Langston hovered out of reach, looking anxious.
"Do what you came here to do first Steve. If you really want me to believe you then sever your relationship with this one," Veronica said pointing to Kono.
Steve moved around the chair to face Kono. His eyes begged for her to understand and play along.
"Kono, Veronica has made me understand that it isn't a good thing to keep you on at 5-0. I'm afraid I'll have to have you transferred back HPD," Steve said reluctantly.
"But we aren't involved that way," Kono said, knowing that Veronica would expect her to protest this move. Any quiet acceptance would make the woman suspicious.
"It's for the best Kono," Steve said, keeping a careful watch on Veronica. Relief flowed through him to know that Kono was aware of how this needed to be played out. So far Veronica seemed to accept his playacting.
"If you insist Boss," Kono said reluctantly. She also kept a watchful eye on the woman from the corner of her eye.
"Okay, that's settled," Steve nodded. "Ronni, let's go now. I can send someone to free Kono later. Let's go to my place." He wanted to get her out of this house and somewhere that he could deal with her and no one would get hurt.
"I don't think so Steve. We haven't settled all our issues yet. Kono doesn't mind if we talk here," Veronica said sharply.
"What other issues?" Steve asked in frustration, worried there was something more he wasn't prepared for. He clenched his fists tightly together and had to will himself to reopen them slowly. A glance at Kono made him notice that she was mouthing the word…."Catherine".
"There is a little matter of Lt. Catherine Rollins," Veronica said pointedly. Her eyes glittered dangerously.
"What about Catherine?" Steve asked. "I've been friends with Catherine for some time now. We worked together in Naval Intelligence. She is stationed halfway around the world Ronni…what has she to do with us?"
"Don't tell me you haven't been sleeping with her," Veronica snarled, waving her gun at him.
Steve exchanged helpless looks with Kono and then he began to move around the chair and headed towards Veronica. He was done playing this game and it was time the charade ended. There was no way to convince Veronica without the bitter taste of lies on his tongue and he was anxious to put an end to the game.
Veronica retreated from his advances not willing to let Steve close, she didn't realize he was moving them a safe distance from where Kono sat. Carefully he plotted where he could make a move to disarm her and make a move to overpower her. Kono craned her neck to watch them.
"Admit it, you're sleeping with her," Veronica demanded for a second time.
"What if I am Ronni? I hadn't seen you in five years. How did I know we'd be together again?" he asked in a low voice.
"You will get rid of her Steven. I'll forgive your mistakes but you have to beak all ties to her," Veronica stated firmly.
"Okay," Steve agreed as he continued to advance slowly on her. "I'll call her, tell her it's over." He held out a hand to her. "Put the gun down Ronni. Stop running away from me." He forced himself to smile at her encouragingly.
Halting in her retreat, Veronica looked at him as hope blossomed in her eyes. Her desire to believe him and be held by him was growing stronger.
"I want to believe you," she said softly as her lower lip trembled. She lowered her gun to her side.
"We can make it work Ronni…..I promise," he said gently. Steve held his breath, willing her to trust him and come closer.
Veronica did move closer, ready to step into his embrace. His outstretched hand was inviting her closer, his eyes kind.
"Tell me you love me," she urged as she reached for his hand.
As the words fell from her lips, she saw his expression shift and the truth hit her. He was lying to her. Quickly she raised the gun towards him as Steve stepped forward to take her hand.
"You are lying to me Steve," she screamed as Steve closed the distance between them and took hold of her gun hand.
In the struggle that ensued, the gun discharged and Steve grunted in pain as he felt the bullet move through his side. He kept his grip on her as he twisted her wrist and forced her to drop the gun. In a smooth move he turned her in his grasp and wrapped his left arm around her throat as she kicked out at his knees, trying to knock him off balance. Bracing himself as best he could, he tightened his grip until he felt her go limp in his arms.
At the sound of the weapon going off, both Danny and Chin charged inside, their weapons ready to take out the enemy.
"Boss, are you okay?" Kono asked straining to see what was going on.
"I'm good," Steve groaned as he lowered an unconscious Veronica to the floor. He went through her pants pockets and found the handcuff key. Looking at Chin he threw it to the man.
"You okay babe?" Danny asked as he got a good look at Steve.
"I'm fine," Steve assured him. "Chin, I will need those cuffs."
After Chin had removed the cuffs from Kono's wrists and released the zip ties from her legs he handed the cuffs to Steve. Securing Veronica's wrists together in front of her, he slowly got to his feet. Both Danny and Chin could see the spreading red stain on his shirt just above the waistband.
"Steven, you're bleeding," Danny said stating the obvious.
"It's just a scratch, a through and through," Steve said downplaying the wound. He pressed his hand to his side and looked a bit paler than he had a moment ago. "I'll be fine."
"And I am running for President," Danny muttered as he stepped forward to catch a suddenly swaying McGarrett. "Easy big guy, you seem to have no concept of what fine is. Someone call for an ambulance," he instructed as he eased Steve down in a nearby chair.
Kono grabbed her phone off the couch and placed the call as Chin radioed the HPD officers to come in and take charge of Veronica. Kono then went to fetch a towel from her kitchen while they waited for the EMTs.
"Veronica needs to see a doctor," Steve insisted through gritted teeth. "She's sick, she doesn't belong in lockup."
"Sure thing Commander," Sgt. Reed responded. He had no desire to argue with the 5-0 task force leader. "Psych ward it is."
Steve accepted the towel from Kono with a grateful smile and pressed it to his side. A low hiss of pain escaped him before he could hide it.
"Well Steven, this is another fine mess you've gotten yourself into. I told you that woman was planning to get into your life. You can't trust the CIA," Danny said bluntly as Steve sagged against the chair back.
End chapter.
Just one final chapter to wrap this story up. I couldn't resist a bit of Steve whump, although I think he took an emotional hit as well. I really can't hate Veronica too much; after all…..I'm definitely obsessed with Steve Mc Garrett as well. Thank you for reading.
