Title: i'd like to know if you'd be open to starting over from scratch (i'd like to know if you'd be open to giving me a second chance)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Thanks again to those who are commenting, I love hearing from you. Hope everyone has a wonderful start to their week!


She's settled in front of the TV with Ramen noodles and a Gilmore Girls marathon when her phone rings. She sees Steve's name and debates whether to answer because she only just got home and the last thing she wants is to run around the island again and solve another murder. But her conscience kicks in, and even if she was a little late, she answers the second time he calls.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Kono. Where are you?"

"Home." After you finally let us leave an hour ago, she mentally adds. Sometimes Steve gets so focused on solving a case that he forgets the sun's gone down until Danny reminds him.

"Why didn't you pick up the first time?" he questions.

"Uh... I was in the shower," she lies, hoping to hide the fact that she's a mean and horrible person who wants to enjoy her bowl of noodles and old school TV rather than work for truth and justice on a Wednesday night.

There's a heavy silence over the line and Kono realizes she basically gave Steve the visual of her in the shower. Oh god. Awkward. (Right?)

"So, I take it you don't believe in the principle of Navy showers, huh?" His voice comes out low and seductive as it purrs against her ear.

And the night's first point for flirting goes to him. Game on.

She swallows audibly, and forces herself to keep the image of showers or naked, slippery bodies or water or rain or Brita filters or anything that involves H20 out of her head. Easier said than done.

"What do you need?" she asks quickly. She'd have a snappy comeback but she just got home, okay? And she was just getting into the episode so it's the TV that's made her brain a little slow in reaction time. They say it stunts your growth.

There's a knock on the door and she mutters "one second," then finds Steve on her doorstep, phone to his ear, looking her up and down.

"Hey." He greets her with an easy smile and a sultry gaze.

"Um... Hi," she responds, a little confused. She ends the call and tosses her phone on the couch since it's useless now that he's in her living room, sitting on her couch. "What are you doing here? Please don't tell me we have another case."

He shakes his head. "Thought you were in the shower," he says with a slightly dirty look that leaves her speechless and scrambling for thoughts.

(Another flirting point for him. Damn his bedroom eyes.)

"Nope." She slides into her spot next to him as she turns off the television, aware of the way their arms brush, the way he gazes at her toned legs as she folds them under herself, the way his eyes trace the curve of her collarbone. "What do you want?"

"What are you eating?" He looks at her soggy noodles.

"Dinner."

"Ramen?"

She shrugs. "It's about all I can cook. And it's cheap."

"What are you, twenty, and broke?" he asks in amusement of her eating habits.

"Well, someone did tell me I look good for my age." She beams at him, waggling her eyebrows playfully and reminding him of the compliment she'd tricked out of him from the day of the luau.

Steve rolls his eyes but keeps smiling. (Point for her. See, it helps when the TV is off.) "Come on. You need a real dinner."

"No, it's fine. I'm good," she assures him.

"Fine, I'll say the magic words." She waits as he pauses for dramatic effect then declares, "It's on me."

Kono grins. He's finally catching on. "Okay." She grabs her bowl and puts it in the fridge, then returns to the couch to reach behind him for her phone. "This is like all the times when Chin rescues me from eating TV dinners by myself."

"You think of me the same way you think of Chin?" His voice is low in her ear and she startles as she realizes she's basically draped over his side to reach for her phone.

"What? Ew. No, no. No." She finds herself repeating for emphasis, not even aware she's doing it.

(Point for him. It's not fair he gets more flirting points with that smile. It's not playing fair.)

She looks up at him, his face so close that she can see the blue of his eyes and she catches hints of teal and aquamarine mixed in. Of course his eyes would hold the colors of the ocean. Of course. It's only fitting. He's a Navy boy and she's Water Woman and they live on this beautiful island and it makes perfect sense that his eyes hold the hue of the place she feels most at home.

"Just checking," he says, his breath fanning over her cheeks. She watches his lips twitch as he gives her a wink, like he knows what she's waiting for but he's not going to give in, not yet.

(Five points to him. Seven, nine, twenty-three, sixty-seven, ninety-four. He's leading for sure and they haven't even made it to dinner yet. Damn, he's good.)

His eyes dart to her lips, then back to her eyes, and she sees his playfulness turn into something more potent, something like lust or hunger, but before she can think of something clever to say, before she can move in, he's out of his seat and making his way to the door.

"Ready?" he asks, twirling his keys casually as if he wasn't just invading her personal space to the point where she's sure he could look deep into her pores.

Kono's left on the couch wondering if it's him or a SEAL thing to move at super speed because he was right next to her one second and now he's across the room. Maybe his natural instincts were more finely tuned through SEAL training and seminars. Do they hold seminars? Did he have to take notes on how to cut his navigation time in half? Oh gosh, she's spending too much time with Danny.

"Ready?" Steve repeats at her silence.

"Um, sure." She grabs her purse and phone, visible now that he's moved, and follows him to the car. She's feeling a little flushed and a whole lot of confused and she wonders what that was about. She felt the sparks, it was like her skin was on fire, and she could have sworn he was going to swoop in and kiss her. She was so sure of it. But nothing. Not a damn thing.

That's okay. Maybe next time.

Kono has such a great time at dinner that she forgets to keep track of her mental flirting tally. She probably would have lost count anyway. He wins eight out of ten times they hang out and she usually gives up halfway through.

It's one game she doesn't mind losing.


They're going over some case files on a Thursday afternoon when the ringing begins. Everyone checks their cell phones then exchange glances in confusion when none of them answer. The ringing stops, then begins again.

"I think it's your office phone, Steve," Lori informs him as they turn to listen to the sound coming from the direction of Steve's office. There are landlines hooked up in all the offices but it's rare they get incoming calls on them since they use cell phones when working on a case.

"Weird," Steve comments as he gets up to answer it.

"It's probably his life insurance policy guy calling," Danny says to the group and Steve flips him off as he passes.

"Or his arms dealer," Kono throws in, playing along.

Chin smiles. "Nah, it's definitely a lawyer. He's getting sued."

Everyone laughs at that one.

Steve returns looking unusually somber.

"So how much did your policy get jacked up after the car chase last week?" Danny asks.

Steve ignores him and turns to Kono. "Kono, that was Fryer. He wants to see you down at HPD."

There's a moment of eerie silence in the room at the mention of the IA Captain's name and they all stop laughing.

"Um..." Kono begins, the nerves churning already. She can't help it. Fryer brings back unwanted memories of being involved in drug deals with slimy ex-cops and being cuffed and thrown into interrogation. Times she'd rather forget. "Okay. About what?"

"Undercover stuff," Steve says, his arms crossed across his chest as he stares at her. Does he think she knows what this is about? She's as surprised by the call as he is. She hasn't talked to Fryer since after the bank shootout when she went to HPD to fill out the last of the paperwork and transfer back to 5-0.

"Okay," she repeats and returns her focus to the files in front of her, wishing the others would start talking again instead of watching her as if she's going to start screaming and throwing chairs across the room. No mental breakdown for her, thank you very much. She already passed her psych eval.

"Now," Steve informs her.

"Wait, what?" She looks back at him. "Right now?"

"Yeah. That's what he said."

Kono contains her annoyance at being disturbed on a perfectly good afternoon and rises from her chair, ignoring the way they're all looking at her from around the table. She catches Danny and Lori's curious stares, and Chin's face is anxious as he frowns at the news of the phone call.

"You want me to come with you, Kono?" he calls after her as she heads to her office to get her bag and keys, all traces of earlier laughter gone from his voice.

"I'll be fine, cuz." She hands him her stack of files and they exchange silent smiles. She sends up a blessing of thanks that she has this wonderful and loyal man in her life who kept a hold on her even when she was struggling to let go. But for seeing Fryer again, she's a big girl, she can handle this like she's handled everything else thrown her way. She can't have someone holding her hand every time she runs into the guy.

Her teammates keep their eyes locked on her as she makes her way to the door. If they're waiting for some sort of explanation, she doesn't have one to give them. Great. This is not awkward at all.

"Well, you kids get back to work now," Kono says, trying to lighten the mood as she tosses them a smile. "You're on the clock." Steve's staring at her somberly, his eyes intense as if trying to read her mind, and Chin looks worried. Danny at least catches on to her lame attempt.

"Be sure to punch that guy in the face from me," he says with a grin. The comment successfully breaks the tension in the room and they all laugh. You can always count on Danny.

"From me too," Chin adds over the laughter. "It was not fair that Steve got to be the only one."

Kono turns to look at Steve who's standing next to her at the doorway, staring at her thoughtfully. He shrugs his shoulders in pretend innocence at the mention of the punch he'd thrown outside the bank.

"Yeah, I mean..." she begins, "I know it was wrong and all, and you need help, Boss, but that was pretty awesome." Steve grins proudly at her praise, his dimples showing.

"Good luck," Lori wishes her kindly with a wave.

"Call me later, Kalakaua," Danny tells her with a warm smile.

Kono exchanges a silent nod with Chin from across the room and bids goodbye to the others as she steps into the hallway, her thoughts clouding her mind. She's filled with dread at having to see Fryer but reminds herself that he has nothing on her anymore, that she does not work for him, she does not-

"Kono, hey, wait up!"

She's halfway down the stairs when she hears Steve calling her name. She turns and looks up as he jogs down the hall to join her on the steps.

"What's up? Did he call back?"

"What? No. I just... if you need anything, let me know." She stares at him blankly. "If there's anything I can do, I mean, with Fryer." He waves his hand at her like he's fumbling for the right words but he hopes she'll understand.

"I... Thanks, Boss. I'll call if I need anything. I'm sure it's nothing." Kono can't tell if she's reassuring him or herself. Steve only nods grimly, obviously not trusting Fryer and his methods.

"Yeah. Be careful."

"I will. Thanks." She gives him a smile as she walks out of the building, and sees him standing at the glass doors watching her drive away.

When she enters Fryer's office, she's relieved that all he wanted was for her to identify some suspects from a database of offenders and go into more detail on one of her statements.

"Any of these guys look familiar, Kono? Were any of them at the drug deal?" Fryer asks for the tenth time that hour as she flips through a binder of mugshots.

"No. None of them do."

"You sure? We really need this guy pinned to one of the deals for a stronger case." He's pacing in frustration as he turns to Kono again. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she says, not able to keep the annoyance out of her voice. It's almost seven and she wants to leave already. Her stomach is growling from hunger, and flipping through the same binder another dozen times is not going to change the faces or make new photos magically appear.

"Fine." Fryer sighs as he takes his seat. "Well, hopefully with the details you gave us on the meet at the harbor, we can add a few more offenses to the two guys we caught this week."

"That's good."

"If we book anyone else though, I'll e-mail you photos for identification. We still haven't caught anyone in connection to the coke ring on the East side and I want to focus on that region."

"Okay, that's fine."

Fryer finally seems to look up from the mountain of paperwork on his desk and take a good look at her for the first time that afternoon. "How you doin', Kono? Everything good?"

"Yes, sir."

"Done with the psych appointments?"

"Yes."

"Good, good. I know McGarrett was worried about you being out in the field so soon but seems like you bounced back fine." Kono neither confirms nor denies this. "Well, that's good. Good. I never doubted it," he brags arrogantly. "I will say though, I'm sorry for how I got you involved, but it was worth it in the end."

Kono simply nods. "What happened to Delano?" She's been curious and she can't resist asking.

Fryer seems to study her carefully before answering. "He was in the hospital for two weeks but been in holding since. You know we'll need your testimony for the trial, right?" She nods. "Yeah, I'll keep you updated."

Kono sighs. "Can I go now?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," he says, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. "You take care of yourself, Officer."

Kono's relieved to be out in the fresh air as she walks to her car. His office carries the stench of chewing tobacco and old paperwork. She's gotten used to how paper-friendly all the technology has made 5-0 headquarters. They never get buried in paperwork, thank goodness.

"Hey! Kono!"

She turns to see Charlie Fong exiting the building and approaching her with a bright smile.

"Hey, Charlie. What's up?"

"Nothing much," he answers. "Dropping by some evidence results about a car bomb that went off this morning. You here about a case?"

"I didn't hear about the car bomb yet. Was anybody hurt?" she asks quickly, making a mental note to watch the evening news tonight.

"No, thank God, but it's like the third one this month so they need to catch the idiot."

"Oh yeah, I remember hearing about those. I just had some paperwork to fill out," she answers vaguely. Thankfully, he doesn't pry. "Took forever though. I'm starving."

"You wanna grab dinner?" he suggests. She almost says yes then pauses because she doesn't want to give him the wrong impression that this is a date. He's a great guy but she doesn't feel interested that way, and last thing she wants is to lead him on or hurt him. He deserves better than that.

"I... I'm not really up for dating right now, Charlie," she begins, awkwardly playing with her keys and avoiding his gaze. "I think you're awesome but I think maybe-"

"You're not interested," Charlie finishes for her. She looks up at him, worried about what to say next or how he'll look and if she may have lost a friend, but he's smiling kindly at her. He shrugs. "Hey, it's cool. I get it, you're not feeling it. It's okay."

Kono nods in relief. Okay, that was easy. See, she knows Charlie's such a great guy. Honestly, she wishes there was a spark. This is the way her life goes. Cute, smart, wonderful guy from her past who has a thing for her, is ready and available, and she don't feel a thing; super attractive Navy SEAL with control issues mixed with daddy issues, in a position of authority as her boss, suggests they maybe go out sometime and her heart rate quickens.

Yup. That explains her pattern of inappropriate taste in men.

"Plus, good thing we didn't get too hot and heavy cause once you found out how I can no longer hold my own on a surfboard, you'd dump me so fast, my head would be spinning," he teases.

"Aw, Charlie, I wouldn't do that," she assures him with a grin, feeling much better about the afternoon. "Wait. How bad are you?"

"Pretty bad." He has the decency to look ashamed as she narrows her eyes at him.

"You used to be pretty good! Nowhere near as good as me, of course," she brags and Charlie rolls his eyes in amusement, "but you were good. What happened?"

"My brother got me into windsurfing and that's all I've been doing for years now. I love it!"

"You traitor! I can't believe you." She shakes her head in disappointment. "I always knew that brother of yours was an idiot. What's he up to now?"

"Hot shot lawyer in New York." Kono whistles. "My mom didn't want him to go but he wants to be on Wall Street so she had no choice."

"That's cool."

"Well, dinner?" He reminds her. "Honestly, I was planning on meeting some people for drinks. Kelly'll be there and Noah and Abby. You know them, right? I think you and Noah were in the same year at the academy."

"Yeah, we were," she nods, feeling better about the dinner offer. After getting over the awkward but necessary conversation with Charlie, she wouldn't have minded spending time with him alone as friends but seeing some familiar faces would be nice too. "Abby was a few years ahead of us."

"We're meeting at that new restaurant in Ridgeman's Plaza. You know it?"

"Yeah, passed it a few times." With her busy schedule, she had never managed to get in.

"Cool, I'll see you in a few," Charlie replies with a friendly smile.

She follows in her own car and actually ends up having a great time at dinner. With the hours she works and always getting called in when there's a high priority case, even on the weekends, it's hard to make definitive plans. Drinking with Kelly is always amusing and Noah seems impressed by what he's heard around the station from her time spent undercover. He also makes some colorful remarks about Fryer that they all drink to. She knew she liked Noah for a reason.

The music in the restaurant and the chatter of her friends has her lulled into a light buzz; well, and she'll admit she drank too quickly on an empty stomach when the waiter was taking forever to bring out their orders. She's almost asleep with her head on Kelly's shoulder before anyone notices.

"Whoa, we've got someone tipsy here!" Abby calls from across the table.

What an eye. She'll make detective for sure.

Kono rolls her eyes. "No, I'm not. Just sleepy," she murmurs, trying to burrow further into Kelly's shoulder.

"I'd say a little of both, sweetheart." Kelly pushes her hair back from her forehead. "Long day?" Kono nods. "No wonder you're a walking zombie and sleep until like, three on your days off. You guys work way too hard over there at 5-0."

"Crime doesn't sleep, Kells," she murmurs sleepily.

"Okay, let's get her home," Abby says, standing up. Every group has that responsible mother hen who makes sure the kids gets home safe, right? "Kelly, get her keys."

"What? No, I'm fine." Kono sits up too quickly and blinks at them, trying to stifle a yawn. She fails and Kelly laughs at her. "Okay, fine, I'd love a ride."

"It's cool," Kelly assures her. "Abby picked me up so I'll take your car home. Call me when you need it tomorrow. I'm free all day so I'll be up." Kono gives her a questioning glance which she understands and explains, "I don't work Fridays anymore."

"Bitch," Kono calls her and everyone laughs. "It's Charlie's fault for inviting me and then plying me with liquor."

"Hey, I told you the food was on its way but you didn't listen!"

"I'll give you a ride," Noah offers. "It's on my way."

"Thanks, Noah." She says her goodbyes to the group, giving Charlie an extra long hug as they exchange secret smiles, glad there's no awkwardness in their easy friendship.

She nearly falls asleep again on the ride home and Noah pokes her awake when he pulls into her driveway.

"I thought you used to be able to hold your liquor, Kono," he teases as he helps her out of the car and walks her to the door.

"I can," she says defensively. Great, she has one slow week and now everyone is going to think she's a lightweight. There goes her reputation. "Next time, I'll drink you under the table, wait and see."

He laughs. "Sounds good to me."

Just as they reach her front step, he stops walking so abruptly that she runs into him. That wakes her up. She peers over his shoulder to see Steve sitting on the steps.

"Uh, hi, Commander McGarrett," Noah stammers in surprise.

"Hi," Steve says slowly, looking like he has absolutely no idea who this guy is.

"Steve? What are you doing here?" Kono questions, squinting at him in the dark.

"Are you drunk?" He stands up to look at her more clearly.

"No!" she repeats. But he's towering over her and Noah, staring at her like she's broken curfew with her boyfriend and is sneaking back into the house at 2AM. It's barely ten! She finally rolls her eyes. "A little tipsy," she admits and hears Noah chuckle. She gives him a dirty look. "It's only cause I'm tired, jeez."

It's cold outside, the night air giving her goosebumps on her bare arms so she unlocks the door and they follow her in. She turns to both men, wondering how to get rid of them, and if there's a way she can manage to get tomorrow off so she can sleep all day like Kelly gets to.

"Okay, Noah, thanks for the ride," she says to him first.

"Sure," he nods, but glances toward Steve. "Uh, you sure you don't want me to stay?"

Kono sees Steve open his mouth and hurries to speak faster to avoid any possible confrontation. "No, no, I'm fine. I'll see you later."

"Okay. Sleep it off, Kalakaua." With one last smile for her and a respectful nod towards Steve, Noah leaves them standing awkwardly in her living room listening to the fading sound of his car driving away.

Suddenly she realizes that maybe she should have had Noah stay and gotten rid of Steve first so he wouldn't think she's sleeping with her boss. Shit. What else would he think when he sees her boss waiting at her front door outside the normal hours of the workday? The wine must have impaired her judgment more than she realized. Too late now. Noah's not a gossip, but she knows he'll be giving her curious looks the next time they run into each other, even if he's not brave enough to ask outright.

"How does he know me?" Steve wonders out loud.

"Everyone knows you," Kono snorts. "You run 5-0 and you do crazy shit every other week." Steve doesn't seem to think that explanation is good enough and waits for her next answer. "Noah works at HPD." She curls into her favorite corner of the couch and looks up at him. "What's up? Did I forget something at work?"

Steve stares at her as if she's the one who surprised him with a late night visit at his doorstep. "Fryer," he reminds her, his voice coming out with an edge to it. "What happened?"

She's wide awake at the mention of the name and recalls the events of the afternoon. "Oh, yeah. Did I not text you? I thought I wrote to Danny and Chin. But my phone died during dinner."

"No, you did not," he says tersely.

"Sorry. It was nothing. He wanted me to go over some mugshots and remind me that I'll be expected to testify at Delano's trial."

Steve nods, takes a seat on the couch. "Oh, okay. That's good."

Kono stares at his obvious relief. "Is that why you came over?" He doesn't answer. "I'm sorry. I should have called you or something."

"It's fine," he says, brushing off her apology but sure sounding like it's not fine. Or maybe it's her impaired judgment again? But he sure sounds pissed. But don't they say people have trouble figuring out tone and body language when they've been drinking? Maybe. Whatever.

"Have you been waiting long?" He shakes his head. "Sorry. I ran into Charlie and he invited me to dinner with some friends."

"That's great."

"Yeah."

"Great," he repeats.

She really does like hanging out with Steve but there's nothing she wants now but to sleep. The wine mixed with the exhaustion of this week, plus her stress of meeting with Fryer, is catching up to her and she really wants to close her eyes and fall asleep right here on the couch.

"Um... Is there anything else I can help you with, Boss?" she asks awkwardly, hoping it doesn't sound like she's actually saying Can you leave now? I'm really tired and I'm wondering why you're still here.

She's pretty sure that's what it comes out as despite her best effort (but let's be honest here, she's half inebriated and half asleep) because Steve gets up from his seat immediately, as if offended. But he's Steve. He doesn't get offended over things like that. It's all a little blurry to her right now.

"Nope. I'm good. I'll leave you to it," he says curtly as he heads for the door.

"Thanks. Can you lock up behind you, please?" she asks as she snuggles deeper into the sofa cushions.

"Sure." Steve pauses in the doorway looking like he has something more he wants to say. She looks at him through sleepy eyes, waiting for him to speak.

"Yes?" she asks curiously, trying to keep her eyes open and appear interested.

"Nothing," he finally answers. "Don't be late tomorrow."

It might be her imagination but he seems to slam the door harder than necessary on his way out.