Lindsay spent the rest of her day in an even better mood than she started because of her encounter with Steve. Word spread quickly through the ER about her visitor and gradually all the nurses took their turn making their comments about her good mood and by the end of the day she was never happier to leave. The sun at this hour of the evening was beautiful, so she decided to take the long way home, taking time to admire the view. When she first moved back to Hawaii to work, she spent the longest time wondering why she did it to herself; why she went back to the place with so many memories, not all of them good. Looking out at the view as she drove reminded her why. The place was beautiful, anywhere you went on the island was ten times better than any other place she had ever been, so relaxing and calm. She was quickly broken out of her trance by her phone ringing in the seat beside her, grabbing the phone she looked at the caller ID before deciding whether or not to answer, when she saw the name McGARRETT. S. on her phone screen, butterflies hit her stomach. She smiled to herself and hit the call button. "You don't waste any time do you?"
"Hello to you too, Linds," he said with a chuckle.
She chuckled too, "hi."
"That's much better. And no, I don't waste any time, which is why I'm calling to find out what you're doing right now."
"Well, right now I'm driving home, just got off work."
"Have you had anything to eat yet?"
"Nope, I was going to do that when I got home."
"Come over for dinner?"
"My goodness, second time in a week you're offering to cook? This is definitely not the Steve I remember. But I'm always up for a free meal, so sure. I'm gunna stop at home first and grab a quick shower."
"Sounds good, so we'll say half an hour, give or take an hour just because of your track record?"
"Oh boy, you're a comedian too, what have I gotten myself into?"
He smirked to himself, "You just never know. See you soon."
She chuckled to herself and ended the call throwing the phone back onto the passenger seat. Looking back out the window at the scenery, she smiled to herself hoping this could be another good thing that came out of coming back to Hawaii.
Lindsay showed up at Steve's almost exactly a half an hour later after a quick shower and a change of clothes. Walking up to the house, she got the same butterflies she did when she read his name on the caller ID of her phone. Taking a deep breathe she knocked on the door. She stood there for a few seconds waiting for him to open the door and right before she knocked again, he appeared. He smiled at her and stepped back for her to come in. "You're actually on time, this is new."
She shook her head smiling and turned to him, "what's with us and not being able to say a normal hello?"
"Hello." He smiled, "you look nice."
She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and looked down at her feet, "thanks." She looked back up at him, "you're looking pretty handsome yourself."
She could tell that her face was still red, so she walked more into the house to avoid him seeing as much as possible. He followed her into the house, but not before taking note of her blushing. "So how was work?"
"It was alright, nothing too exciting came in today."
Steve crossed his arms and nodded, "nothing too exciting came in today, alright, good to know."
She sighed and chuckled turning to face him, "I didn't mean it that way. I meant patients."
"So you're admitting me coming in was a good part of your day."
She looked at him for a second before answering, "It was definitely a highlight." He smiled at her and they just stood there staring at each other before Lindsay decided it was time to change the subject. "So, when's dinner? I'm starving and whatever you're cooking smells delicious."
"It'll be ready in a few, just have to finish it off." And with that he started walking towards the kitchen.
Lindsay followed him into the kitchen, watching him manoeuvre the kitchen, then walking over and leaning against the counter beside him. He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. "Yes Doctor?"
"I was just wondering, since it wasn't specified earlier, is this considered a date?"
"That's what I was hoping."
She nodded and stepped away from the counter heading over to the table. Steve looked at her confused, but proceeded to grab plates from the cupboard and dish up the food.
Lindsay put down her fork, stuffed from the delicious meal Steve had made. "You topped yourself with that one sir. I'm going to have to make you cook for me all the time."
He smiled and leaned forward, "I could deal with that. The company's good."
She looked down at her empty plate, feeling the heat rising in her face once again. Usually she could keep her composure, but something about being around Steve made that hard.
"You blush really easy."
She chuckled, still looking down at her plate, "Usually I don't." Looking up at him she shrugged with a small smile on her face, cheeks still red.
They sat in silence, looking at each other for a minute before Steve spoke up, "You wanna go for a walk?"
"Sure."
They both got up from the table and Lindsay followed Steve to the back door of the house, Steve holding open the door for her and locking the door before leaving. Lindsay looked put at the darkened beach then up at Steve, "walk on the beach. Good call."
"I have my moments. And I didn't want to take any risks, especially since you never confirmed if this was a date or not."
"You cooked me dinner and we're walking on the beach at night. If this isn't a date, I don't know what is." She smiled, "best first date ever."
"Well if this is a first date, tell me what there is to know about Lindsay."
"hmmm… I'm a doctor?"
Steve chuckled, "thank you for that, I was kinda hoping for something I didn't know."
"I'm kinda boring, there's not much to know about me other than the fact I'm a doctor."
"Then tell me about that."
"Uhm… went to school in Texas cause I wanted to get away from Hawaii, but the way jobs worked out, I ended up back here. Not really my first choice, but it does seem to have its perks."
"You don't want to be in Hawaii?"
Lindsay stopped walking and sat down on the sand, looking up at Steve to follow suit.
"Not at first I didn't, no. Too many memories here, way too easy to remember all of them too. I couldn't even just lay on the beach at night and look at the starts-"
Steve cut Lindsay off knowing what she was going to say, "because that's what we would do when we would sneak out at night after our parents sent us to bed." He smiled remembering all those times.
"Which worked well until your dad figured it out and showed up. Thank God I was there to bail you out, I thought your dad was gunna kill you," she chuckled.
"I did too, definitely saw my life flash before my eyes. How come your parents never got you in trouble?"
Lindsay hugged her legs, resting her head on her knees, "cause they knew I was with you. They knew I was safe."
Steve looked over at Lindsay thinking how right her parents were, he would never have let anything happen to her; he'd give anything for her, and he knew that more now than he did years before. He scooted over to sit closer to her, "maybe one day you'll be happy you came back." She let go of her legs, leaning her head on Steve's shoulder. He put his arm around her shoulder and rested his head on hers, "I'm not going anywhere this time."