It Belongs in a Museum

By: Dean's Leather Jacket

Chapter Eleven: Ice Queen and Stone Cold Steve McGarrett

Disclaimer: Hawaii Five-0. Me no own it. If I did, the entire cast of LOST would make cameos in the show… at least one in every episode. And I would have Jin and Sun reunited… wait… crap, never mind. This isn't LOST. LOST is gone, it's done. *Tears*

Pen slept like shit that night. The phone conversation kept replaying itself in her mind like a broken record. Pen knew Steve was a bit… ok… a lot unorthodox in his methods of apprehending the bad guy, but never once in Danny's accounts or the time she had spent with him did he seem controlling. What was it about Eric Peterson that made him act how he did? Was he jealous?

She woke up in a foul mood. So foul, that she did something that she hardly ever did: straightened her hair. Pen couldn't really explain why she felt the need to do it, but she did. Having curly hair, although nice, could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

For the rest of the day, she stayed in her foul mood. When she walked onto the floor where her office was, she kept her head down and tried not to make eye contact with anyone that she could have met on the way to her door.

A poor freshman from her Tuesday/Thursday class came in to talk to her about the two-page essay she had assigned. Pen was distant and didn't speak more than twenty words to the poor kid. He left even more confused about his assignment. Pen instantly felt guilty and called him back in to answer his question properly. Once he left for the second time, the foul mood fell into place again.

She really tried to perk up for her classes. She really did. But it wasn't working. Pen went through the motions, but her heart wasn't there. Mindlessly clicking the mouse to advance the slides, talking in monotone, not being enthusiastic about the material.

"And, in October of A.D. 54, the Emperor Claudius was most likely poisoned by his wife, Agrippina, the mother of Nero, who would become the next emperor of Rome." She recited to her Roman Empire class, her favorite class. Pen vaguely took note that all of her students looked like they were about to fall asleep. She didn't really care. Claudius was one of her favorite emperors to lecture about, and she just didn't care.

At lunchtime, she shut herself in her office and ate her ham and cheese sandwich in complete silence. There was no music playing, no trickling of that mini Zen fountain that you can get at the cash register in a Barnes and Noble; only the sounds of the traffic on the busy street below her. Her cell phone buzzed a few times with text messages, but Pen didn't really feel like looking to see whom they were from; let alone answering them.

She didn't understand men. Especially when they go all caveman-like on you. She was just doing a favor for Eric. It wasn't like she was going to sleep with him or anything. Pen couldn't really bring herself to like him like that. Not after spending time with Steve, talking with Steve, kissing Steve. Stupid Steve.


Steve did not really sleep at all after he had been hung up on. His words kept replaying in his head like one of those cheesy dream sequences from some television sitcom. Why in the Hell had he practically freaked out on her like that? It was very uncharacteristic of him. Seriously, this Eric Peterson guy's only crime is that he's an idiot. A huge, honking idiot. All she was going to do was be a consultant for something Peterson had bought. She'd be in and out in under an hour no doubt. So why in the fuck did that unsettle him so much?

He too woke up in a foul mood (after the hour or so of sleep he was able to catch). Uncharacteristically of him (again), he stayed in the shower for about thirty minutes, just standing under the scalding hot spray. Letting the water cascade over his head and back. After, Steve dressed in his usual attire: a white undershirt, a dark blue over shirt, dark blue cargo pants, and his desert combat boots.

Danny immediately knew something wasn't right with his partner as soon as Steve walked into Five-0 headquarters. Steve didn't acknowledge anyone as he marched to his office. Judging by the look on the lieutenant commander's face, he didn't want to be disturbed anytime soon. Danny had never seen Steve act like this. He glanced over into Chin's office at the man, who looked back at him and shrugged. Kono had the same confused look they all did. As if reading each other's minds, they collectively decided to just leave the boss man alone for now, and wait for him to approach them.

Around ten in the morning, a call came in for a bank robbery in progress; Five-0 was needed as back up. They all suited up in their bulletproof vests and hauled ass to the First Hawaiian Bank. Steve was at the wheel of the Camaro as always, and he was maneuvering the streets like a mad man. Danny felt like he was going to die at a couple of different points, but he knew better than to make comments as he normally would. The look was still on Steve's face. It was something akin to aneurysm face, except more intense. Danny couldn't fuck with that.

One of the bank robbers decided to run. Steve rejoiced in this fact. He felt like he needed a good chase and an even better take down to brighten his day. He tackled the perp into a wall, wrenched the dude's hands behind his back, and cuffed him. Only, it didn't really brighten his day. Not at all.

For lunch, he ate by himself in his office. Too keep his mind occupied, he began listing off the names of all the countries in Southeast Asia and surrounding environs. They had, for a time, been his area of operations while in the SEALs, and it had been important for he and his team to know everything they needed to know about the countries. Once he had finished that, he went on to recite them again, only this time listing their capitals as well.

God, what was it about this woman that had him acting all crazy?

Damn, there went his tactic of diverting his thoughts to something else.

He shouldn't have handled the situation like he had. He realized this. Steve knew better than to try and control a modern woman, of which Pen was, most of the time. He knew better than to tell her who and who not to see or help. He had fucked up. He had let his mouth speak before his brain could intervene. The question was: how was he going to fix this?


Pen was preparing herself for her last class of the day when Kathryn came bursting through the door. She hadn't bothered to knock or anything.

"What in the hell is wrong with you today?" She practically shouted at Pen. Kathryn looked pissed.

"What?" Pen asked, totally clueless as to what Kathryn's problem was. She hadn't seen or talked to her all day. She couldn't have done anything to piss her off.

"Don't' give me that innocent business. You don't call, you don't write... or text me back." Kathryn replied.

Ah, shit. Kathryn was the one that had been texting her all day? Pen had locked her phone in her desk and refused to look at it. She could have gotten the signal for the end of the world and she wouldn't have ever known it.

"Was it important?" Pen asked, rather bitchily.

Kathryn shook her head.

"Again, I ask, what in the hell is wrong with you today? You're like… Ice Queen or something."

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong, I'm fine." Pen replied, stuffing what she needed for class in her messenger bag.

"Bullshit."

Pen jerked her head up in shock. She hadn't ever heard Kathryn sound so harsh.

"Seriously, I'm fine, Kathryn."

"Uh huh. Why did one of my freshmen tell me in class today that Dr. Harrison was acting like someone had run over her puppy?"

"I don't have a puppy." Pen pointed out. Kathryn rolled her eyes.

"Just… tell me what's wrong, please? I was trying to text you about having lunch with me. And I was trying to text you about tonight, but I never got any response."

"I just… had a bad night last night." Pen replied.

"Ok… and why was it bad?"

"I had a bad dream, that's all."

"Again, I call your bullshit." Kathryn said, making herself comfortable in one of Pen's chairs. Pen sighed. She wasn't going to be allowed to leave until Kathryn heard the truth. She plopped back down into her desk chair; she was going to be there for a bit.

"The last time I saw someone act like this…" Spoke Kathryn again. "… it was over a guy. Do you have a guy you're not telling me about?"

"No." Pen answered defensively.

"You're hurting my feelings with your lying Pen. Seriously."

Pen sighed again.

"There is a guy!" Kathryn exclaimed, sitting up in her chair, excitedly. "You little sneaky 'ho!"

Pen felt the blood drain from her face. Great. That's all she needed was for Danny's latest squeeze to find out about her and Steve.

"Is it the guy we're going to see tonight?" Kathryn asked.

Pen could only shake her head.

"Who is it then? Come on! Spill!"

Pen had the distinct feeling she was back in high school again with the way Kathryn was acting.

"You have to promise me something." Pen said.

"Anything." Kathryn replied, leaning forward in her chair a little more, like she was just about to discover who really killed JFK.

"You have to promise me you won't tell Danny anything until we decide to tell him."

"Cross my heart." Kathryn said, doing the correct motion over her chest.

"It's Steve." Pen blurted out, like it was paining her to say it.

"Steve?" Kathryn asked, confused, like she wasn't expecting that response. "Danny's partner Steve. Steve the crazy Navy SEAL Steve?"

"Yes." Pen breathed out.

"Oh my God, Pen."

Pen remained silent for the next minute or so while this information sunk in. It kind of felt liberating… someone actually knew.

"How long has this been going on?" Kathryn asked.

"Well… I met him last Friday, he took me to Pearl Harbor on Saturday, and he kissed me on Sunday." Pen replied, somewhat sheepishly.

"Pen!" Kathryn was shocked. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

"Had what in me?" Pen asked, the defensiveness back again.

"You seem like such a practical, logical, down-to-earth person. I didn't think you were capable of a whirlwind romance. How is he in the sack?"

Pen was taken aback, and slightly offended.

"We haven't slept together, thank you very much. And I'm hurt that you think I'm that… that…"

"Whoops, sorry." Kathryn replied, wincing.

There was a minute of awkward silence before Kathryn continued.

"What happened last night that's got you in this mood?"

Pen recounted the phone conversation of the previous night. She knew it by heart now, because of that whole broken record bit and not being able to get much sleep because of it.

"He met the guy once and he thinks he knows him?" Kathryn asked.

"Pretty much. I just don't understand him. It's not like we've cemented our… relationship… whatever it is, as anything. For all I know, he could be seeing some other girl." The very thought made Pen's insides twist and pull. For his sake, there better not be anyone else.

"Well… don't write anything off just yet. See if he calls you again, if you ever check your damn phone. Maybe he'll give you a real explanation for his freak out. In the mean time, we go to this Eric guy's place, take a look at his statue, and see how that goes."

Pen nodded. Kathryn was right. At the moment, Pen really couldn't do anything. She didn't do anything wrong. She's doing a favor for a friend, and that is it. Reaching into her drawer, she pulled out her phone. She had four text messages from Kathryn and one from Danny about the time for brunch on Saturday. Nothing from Steve.


For, what must have been the tenth time in the past hour, Steve deleted a draft of a text message. It was meant to be an apology to Pen, but whatever he typed, he felt didn't do it justice. After the eleventh attempt a few minutes later, he came to the conclusion that he had to do this in person. He owed her that since the whole problem occurred over the phone.

"OK!" Danny yelled out as he barged into Steve's office. "Enough's enough! Why have you been hiding in your office the whole day?"

"I haven't been hiding." Steve replied. Ok, maybe he sort of had. The only time he had come out of his office that day was for the bank robbery. The rest of the time he had either been doing paper work, or brooding.

"You have, and I want to know why my partner is not on his game. If you're not on your game, there is an even higher chance of you getting me killed." Danny ranted, lots of hand gestures and arm waving.

"I am completely on my game." Steve replied.

"Ok, if you were, Stone Cold Steve McGarrett, why did you almost walk into the Women's restroom a few minutes ago?"

"You saw that?"

Danny had to admit, Embarrassed Steve was hilarious. He knew he shouldn't be relishing this, but he couldn't help it. Steve was never not on his game. He was witnessing a whole new side to his partner. A surprisingly human side.

"So, you wanna tell old Danno what's going on?" The ex-Jersey cop asked as he sat in one of the armchairs in front of Steve's desk. He almost felt compelled to take out his notepad and take notes like a shrink, but decided against it because he wanted to keep his limbs intact.

"Nothing is wrong." Steve said.

"You have 'lie face' on right now." Danny pointed out.

"Why are you still here?"

"Hey now, hey now. There's no reason for hostility. Like I said, I just need to know what is bothering my partner, that way we can find a solution, so if we get called out to a 'shots fired' call I know that you have my back… all of it."

Steve grumbled. He didn't need this crap from Danny right now. He wasn't in the mood. Well… he was never in the mood for Danny's crap.

"You going to tell me who it is that's got your night vision goggles in a twist?"

Steve blanched. Why did Danny always seem to hit things on the head? Oh right, detective. It came with the job description. Steve found it unnerving that he seemed to pinpoint a "who" rather than a "what," that is bothering him.

"You got a girl I don't know about?" Danny asked. There he went again with knowing exactly what it is that's going on.

Yeah, your best friend and the godmother to your daughter. She's like no one I've ever met before and I can't stop thinking about her. I really stuck my foot in my mouth last night when I basically ordered her to not do something. Now, I'm afraid she'll never talk to me again.

Right, like that would go over well.

"Your silence is establishing that, yes, it is indeed about a girl."

Steve shot Danny a withering look.

"That just confirmed it. What did she do to you? What did you do to her?"

Steve was getting really tired of the third degree. Guess he was used to giving it and not receiving it.

"Come on, Stephen." Oh boy, Danny had pulled out the "Stephen." "If you aren't going to spill to your partner, who are you going to spill too?"

He had a point. Sure he was a macho Navy SEAL, but even he recognized it wasn't good to hold things in.

"I said the wrong thing to her." No reason to specify who "her" was.

"And what did you say?"

"I told her to stay away from someone. She didn't like that very much."

"Yeah, I wonder why. For someone who's planned probably hundreds of covert missions and top-secret stuff, you certainly don't know how to speak to a woman. You don't just… order her, around. She's not one of your guys on your SEAL team. You don't act like a Neanderthal. Although it's cute sometimes, women don't appreciate it all the time."

"I know, I know." Steve said, in that way that made him sound like a child being scolded.

"You know, I had this girlfriend in high school once." Danny began. "She was a real catch. Straight A student, beautiful, star softball pitcher, destined to go to Harvard or Yale or something like that. Well, her best friend happened to be a guy. She didn't like it when I got all 'No, you can't see him, you have to hang out with me.' A couple months later she dumped me for him."

"So, you're saying, don't keep her away from her male friends because then she'll leave you for them?" Steve asked.

"Basically. Don't you ever watch chick flicks?" Danny knew that was the wrong question to ask the second the last word was out of his mouth. Steve just shot him a look.

Steve vaguely wondered how different this conversation would be going if Danny knew it was Pen they were talking about. And Steve also wondered how Danny would react to the knowledge that Pen was going to be with Mr. Harvard that night. He had a hunch that Danny would be gathering the SWAT team at that moment and arming himself to the teeth. Oh, if only Danny knew the whole truth. Steve smiled to himself at the thought.

"What are you going to do to apologize?" Danny asked, breaking Steve out of his thoughts. Steve really was thanking his lucky stars, though, that his partner wasn't trying to pry and ask who the girl in question was. Even though it would be more entertaining, Pen would kill him… even more than she wanted to right now.

"I haven't… haven't really… thought of anything yet."

Danny shook his head and sighed.

"It's a good thing Danno is here now."

Steve wasn't so sure about that.


Pen and Kathryn decided on a quick bite to eat before making their way out of the city and to Eric Peterson's place. Luckily, whilst driving in Kathryn's Honda Civic, the two women spotted a Wendy's and immediately decided to pull in. Who said you couldn't have fast food once in awhile?

Once the two women were done eating, they hopped back into the car, and drove out to Eric Peterson's estate. Estate was the only way Pen could describe it. Kathryn was gawping like a fish the whole time they drove up his driveway. He wasn't outside of the city too far, which helped with his morning commute into work. But he was just far enough outside of the city where it was rural, and had a great view of the ocean.

They were buzzed in at the gate, and the wrought iron bars slide open smoothly. The blue Honda came to a halt in the circular driveway, which housed a black Cadillac Escalade and a cherry red Porsche.

"Tell me why it is that you're with Steve and not this guy?" Kathryn asked as the friends took in Eric's mansion. It really was a mansion, in a Hawaiian sense of the word. It was very beach-y but also very… big.

The front door opened and Adonis walked out. Pen shut her eyes and shook her head. Nope, it was just Eric Peterson. His sandy blonde hair looked really blonde in the dying light of the setting sun. He wore casual clothes: blue jeans (that really showed off his ass—assets), a concert t-shirt (which showed off pretty impressive pectoral muscles) of some band Pen had never heard of, and deck shoes. Eric was smiling broadly. Pen heard Kathryn sigh.

"Welcome ladies. I trust that it wasn't hard to get here." He said, motioning for them to follow him into his house.

"No, not at all." Kathryn said rather dreamily. Pen, who had been walking close to her, elbowed her in the rib.

"Ow." She hissed under her breath.

"This is Dr. Kathryn Murphy." Pen started with the introductions. "Kathryn this is Eric Peterson."

"It's really nice to meet you, Dr. Murphy." Eric said, holding out his hand. Kathryn looked absolutely pleased to be shaking it.

"Please, call me Kathryn."

Pen rolled her eyes.

"As long as you call me Eric." He smiled again. Pen had never noticed the slight dimple in his left cheek. It made him even more attractive if that was possible.

"So, Eric, would you like our credentials before you trust our judgment on whatever you bought?" Pen joked as they followed him into a spacious living room.

"I don't know. Should I ask for them?" He said, going along with the gag.

"It's really up to you." She replied.

"Nah, it's ok. I trust you." He winked. That wiped the smile right off Pen's face. Oh God. He winked at her. But all she could think about is what she would feel if Steve winked at her. Because, if she was being honest, there was nothing. Nothing at all when Eric winked at her. The more charm he laid on her, the less she felt. All she could think about was that controlling jerk! Stupid Steve.

"Can I offer you ladies a drink? Water? Beer? Wine?" Eric offered, ever the gracious host.

"Maybe some water?" Kathryn asked. Pen nodded in agreement, and he disappeared and reappeared with cool bottles of water.

"Thank you." Kathryn and Pen both said at the same time.

As Pen took sips from her bottle, she scanned the room. He certainly had some impressive decorations. A coat of arms, swords, katanas, spears, rifles, whatever one could think of. And they weren't all modern weapons either.

"Uh… I have the statue set up in another room if you're ready to look at it." Eric offered.

"Lead the way." Pen gestured. He smiled at her again, and motioned for them to follow. Kathryn and Pen trailed along at a safe distance.

"Seriously, why aren't you with this guy?" Kathryn whispered to her.

"He's… he's nice, but he's just a friend." Pen replied, taking a nervous chug from her water. Kathryn shook her head.

"If I wasn't so suddenly and completely enthralled by your best friend—thanks for the introduction by the way—I would be all over that guy like white on rice. Serious hottie!"

Pen wanted to laugh, but held it in.

"All right, here we are." Eric said, having stopped in front of a closed door. If there was one thing that was nice about his house, everything was so open and tall. Nothing about it made Pen feel claustrophobic. The room that he revealed where the statue was kept furthered her opinion. It was a huge room that was basically a Zen garden… right in the middle of this guy's house. There were fountains and plants and a bench to sit on and, of course, statues.

But there was one statue that caught Pen's eye. It was absolutely beautiful. It wasn't very tall, probably only about four feet tall. It was made of smooth marble with impeccable detail of a woman, draped in cloth, hair up in a coif, an owl perched on her shoulder.

"Well…" Pen breathed, stepping closer to the statue. "Hello, Minerva."

A/N: Whew! I'm actually getting really excited about this story. I've never really done anything quite as complicated as this, and I'm really stoked to see where it's going.

Thank you to all my wonderful, wonderful reviewers! I love you all, really and truly. Your continuing support keeps me going. And, of course, an extra thank you to rice117 and Gizzi1213. I couldn't do it without you guys!