OK, this is the finale. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, complimented, etc. this story. Your reviews really make me strive to try and be more creative. I have to say, I've been in a panic all morning long. I'm on vacation this week playing Nana and loving every minute of it. But I uploaded the last two chapters of this last week from work and when I got ready this morning to send Chapter 11 to the site, I had two chapter 10's... and NO 11. Was in a total panic, so had to dig this out of an email and sort of recreate it.

Again, thanks to sockie1000 and sym64 for being the most patient beta's out there. I can't begin to tell you how many times this has been passed back and forth. If there are mistakes, I assure you they are mine alone because these ladies went above and beyond their call of duty.

So, until next time... Mahalo!

~~~H50~~~

'E ha

Chapter 11

Danny Williams was a happy man. Well, maybe 'happy' wasn't the correct word. Happy would be living in Jersey, which would give him beautiful seasons, a winter that was so cold it sucked your breath away, and the best food imaginable, which was called his mom's home cooking. But Danny was pleased with himself. Early yesterday morning, after making sure his wayward and not-so-bright partner was in bed and fast asleep, Danny had made a couple of phone calls.

And had managed to do his good deed for the week, thank-you-very-much. If possible, he would have patted himself on the back.

Yes, he was almost gloating as he drove the Camaro filled with grocery bags down Steve's driveway. He got out and opened the back seat and removed the bags. Danny began to grumble again about his lack of trunk space as he remembered trying to fit the groceries in there. Not a chance. What did fit was Steve's huge black duffel bag filled with things he didn't want to know about.

But he decided the food was better off if it wasn't stored next to Steve's stock of grenades, C-4, rocket launchers and God knows what else, so in the back seat it went.

He grabbed several bags and walked toward the house, thinking that something looked out of place in the front yard. Walking through the house, he called up the stairs. "Yo, Steven, I'm back."

He received no reply, but remembered Steve said he was going to take a shower. Danny was amazed that in the last 48 hours, he and his stubborn partner had managed to not kill each other. Danny had been adamant that Steve rest, as per the doctor's orders. Steve, on the other hand, was determined to be up and about, sneaking out of the house at every opportunity. Several times, Danny had placed him in what he called "time out" when he caught him outside. Danny would bring Steve a bottle of water and they would sit either on the lanai or on the beach and veg out. Danny had learned that after these periods, Steve was much more relaxed and willing to "cooperate". One thing he learned early on was that Steve couldn't stand being inside four walls for any long period of time!

He set the bags on the counter and went back outside for the remainder of the bags. He waited at the car while watching as Chin and Malia parked next to him.

Chin opened his car door and waved. "Hey, Brah, where's Steve?"

"He's up—" Danny then realized why something looked out of place. It was actually that something was not in its place. The Silverado was missing. Which meant that (a) it had been stolen or (b) Steve had driven off in it.

And he doubted he would need to report the theft.

"That… imbecile!" Danny said, waving both arms in the air. "Malia, should he be driving?"

"Has he had any headaches, dizziness or blackouts since he's been home?" she asked.

"Well, no, but he hasn't been cleared by the doctors yet."

"Did he call or leave you a note?" Chin asked, grabbing a couple of bags and walking toward the house.

Danny checked his phone, then grumbled, "Didn't see a note, but I wasn't really looking."

They set down the remaining bags on the counter and glanced around the kitchen, Malia reaching for a piece of paper on the center island when she set down her dessert dish. "Here you go." She passed the note to Danny.

"Had to run an errand. Hope we have plenty of food. I invited some neighbors over. Oh… and hope you don't mind, but I'm bringing a date. S."

"He's bringing a date?" Danny yelped. "He can't bring a date."

"Why not, Danny. It's his house," Chin pointed out while unbagging the groceries.

"Because *I* already invited a date for him," Danny explained. "I called Catherine and she was able to get leave to come home for the week. In fact, she should be here any minute. He doesn't need another date. Why would he want another date? He can't have another date… or I'm toast." Danny pulled out his phone and hit speed dial for Steve, then waited patiently until his partner answered.

"McGarrett."

"Where are you, you Moron?"

"Running an errand. I left you a note."

"What part of 'rest' for 48 hours is difficult for you, Steven? You shouldn't be driving."

"I'm fine. Besides, I even read the doctor's notes and there is no mention of 'no driving'."

"That's because it is an unwritten rule," Danny yelled. "Now what's going on?"

"Nothing, Mother. I had an errand to run and I'm picking up a friend for dinner tonight. Hope you got enough food."

"What kind of friend?"

"Geez, Danno, what part of 'I left you a note' do you not understand. I'm bringing a date. You know… a girl date."

"Oh, yeah, does Catherine know about this 'girl date'? Huh?"

Steve hesitated before replying, "Catherine isn't here. And she isn't the only lady friend I have, just so you know. Besides, just for the record, Catherine doesn't need to know my dating habits when she is out of town."

"Ah! There it is. You are sneaking behind Catherine's back. Now, tell me, does this lady friend know about Catherine?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, she does, Danny. Now if we're finished playing twenty questions, I'll see you in a little while. Or do you want to gripe about something else?"

"It will wait, Steven."

"Can hardly wait," Steve muttered, hanging up the phone.

"OK, I am toast," Danny decided while Kono entered the room, carrying a huge bowl of salad.

"What's the problem, Brah?" she asked. "Where's Steve? Didn't see his truck."

"That's because he is out… picking up his date," Danny replied.

"Cool. I didn't know Catherine was in town."

"Neither does Steve," Chin replied with a grin. "He has a date with someone else."

Malia added, "And Catherine is showing up in a few minutes… compliments of Danny."

"Uh oh," Kono mumbled when they heard the front door open. She walked into the study and said, "Hey, Catherine. Come on in. Steve's not here yet…"

"Is he OK?" Catherine asked, entering the kitchen. "Didn't see the truck."

"Yeah, about that," Danny began. "He's-uh, he's…"

Chin read a text on his phone before putting it back into his pocket. "He's running an errand," Chin supplied quickly. "He should be here soon. Now, let's all pitch in and get this dinner started."

"Who else is coming?" Catherine asked.

"Max, if he decides he's speaking to Steve," Kono told her. "It seems Steve sort of tricked him into picking him up at the hospital the other night."

"He does have a way of charming people to get his way," she replied.

"Including the female doctor he hoodwinked into letting him out of the hospital," Malia added.

"Oh, why does that not surprise me?" Catherine asked with a laugh.

Chin and Danny left to start the grill, so they would be ready to put the steaks on when Steve returned. "What gives, Chin? I need to tell her Steve is bringing someone else. She's going to kill someone… hopefully not me."

"I think you should just let Steve handle it in his own way," Chin replied, ever the sensible one. "Let him talk his own way out of it."

"Well, you do have a point there…" Danny agreed. "Think we should have EMS on standby?"

~~~H50~~~

Steve parked his truck near the end of the drive since the place looked like a parking lot. He walked around the cab and opened the passenger door, smiling at his 'lady' friend. He held out his hand to help her down and steadied her when she reached the ground.

She fingered the purple lei around her neck. "Thank you for the flowers," she told him. "I love them."

"You're welcome," he replied, taking her hand in his. "Looks like the gang is all here," he told her as they walked up the drive. He stopped in his tracks upon seeing Catherine's car.

"What's wrong?" she asked when she walked a couple steps and he was standing there in the drive.

"Well," he began, making a face. "That car belongs to Catherine… you know, my uh, girlfriend. I didn't know she was in town, so I invited you to join me tonight. Things might get awkward." He shrugged and grinned while they walked the rest of the way to the house where he held open the door for her.

"Thank you," she told him. He went before her toward the kitchen and found the three women setting out food along the counter and the island.

"Hi, guys," he said, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

Catherine set down the dish she was carrying and went to stand in front of him. "Hello, Commander," she smiled up at him. "Surprise."

"Surprise is right." Steve accepted her hug and gave her a quick kiss. "For both of us. Cath, I didn't know you were in town, so I invited someone else as my date tonight." He reached around behind him for Grace's hand and tugged her in front of him. "Meet my date, Grace."

"It's OK, Catherine, you can have him," Grace told her with a grin.

"No, he invited you, I certainly don't want to intrude," Catherine replied, giving her a hug. "But I warn you, after tonight, we'll have to fight each other for him."

"Hold that thought," Steve said, still grinning. "Where's Danny?"

"Out on the lanai. He and Chin are beginning the steaks."

He grinned at his 'girlfriends'. "Wait here."

He moved to the door opening onto the lanai and stepped out. "Danny, I think we need to talk. There's a cat fight going on in my kitchen. Do you not think I'm capable of taking care of my own social life?"

Danny whipped around from his duty at the grill. "Steve."

"Did you by any chance, contact Catherine behind my back?"

"I let Catherine know you had been injured," Danny replied. "I felt she needed to know."

"And she is here… along with my date. Can we say 'awkward'."

"Ah, yeah, about that," Danny began. "I thought you two were pretty exclusive. Sorry, I didn't know you had anyone else. Um, where is your date?"

"Oh, she's in the house 'talking' with Catherine. I have you to thank for that. But you two might as well come in and we'll get this over with."

Chin slapped Danny on the back and pushed him toward the house. "Come on, Brah. Let's watch the fireworks."

When they reached the kitchen, they found Steve with his two 'dates' on either side of him, his arms around them both, a wide grin on his face.

Danny was dumbfounded when he saw his daughter. "Gracie?"

"Hi, Danno. Mom said you would probably have a cow, but she let me go on a date with Uncle Steve."

Danny crossed his arms. "Steven. You led me to believe you had a date tonight."

"I do have a date. This is my good friend, Grace." He met Danny's eyes. "Someone who I enjoy being with. I just wanted you to know that."

Danny smiled and held out his arms toward his daughter. "Well, if she is so special, I think she needs to give me a hug." She met him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Hey, Monkey," he grinned down at her. "I love you." He looked at Steve and gave a quick nod.

Apology offered. Apology accepted.

"But…" Danny pulled away from Grace and pointed his finger in his partner's chest. "You had no business driving around town with my daughter in the car. What were you thinking…"

Steve and Grace both laughed. "What'd I tell you," Steve grinned at her. "Didn't I say he would start yelling?"

"Steven, you shouldn't be driving. And my daughter has no business being in the car with you. What was Rachel thinking?"

"OK, Grace, tell him how far I drove."

"Danno, Mommy dropped me off at the end of the street. Uncle Steve met me there. We only drove on this street."

"Ah." Danny couldn't think of anything else to say, but then caught a second wind. "But what about the errand you had to run? What was that all about?"

Steve touched the lei around Grace's neck. "I thought she needed flowers. Being it is our first date and all." He grinned down at her.

"Hey, now," Catherine chimed in. "I didn't get flowers on our first date."

"You were in uniform," Steve told her with a wicked grin, causing them both to blush. "And if I remember correctly, you didn't get dinner either."

Danny put his hands over Grace's ears. "Monkey, you don't need to hear anything else about this conversation. Why don't you go on outside."

Steve placed his arm around Catherine's waist and pulled her close to him. "Hey, Grace, Caroline is waiting for you to come get her, so if it's OK with Danno, run tell the Hus' everyone is here."

"OK, Uncle Steve. I'll go. See you, Danno."

"Hope you don't mind, but I invited the neighbors." Steve told them as they all went out onto the lanai where Chin was turning steaks.

"Steaks are just about ready," he told them. "Those two are well done, here comes the medium and I'm just putting the rare ones on right now."

"Rest of the food is ready to eat in the kitchen," Malia told them, moving to Chin's side.

"Then let's eat," Danny told them.

"In a second," Steve said, looking at each person in the group surrounding him. "Just…"

"Oh no, no, no McGarrett," Danny said. "No more speeches."

"… no speech. Just… mahalo. To everyone. Now, let's eat."

Catherine stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss. "That's what I like, a man of few words…"

"And a lot of action?" he asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

"After I get dinner. This may even be a first."

~~~H50~~~