My Name is Gladiator
By: Dean's Leather Jacket
Chapter Eleven: Still a Sore Subject
Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-0… if I did… I wouldn't be sitting, bored, in my Forensics class right now.
A/N: So… heehee… I'm still here! I swear! Finally graduated (yeah, the disclaimer is kinda out dated), and am unemployed. It's not a great feeling, but I'm working on it. SO WHAT ABOUT THAT FINALE? Crazy shit, huh?
Pen had never slept so fantastically in her entire life.
She woke up that beautiful, sun shiny Sunday, feeling pretty damn good. The only reason she woke up at all was Steve nibbling at her neck. Pen squirmed and his nibbling became playful and then it turned ticklish. She laughed and tried to get out of his grasp but he kept her in place with his beautiful, muscular body, and tortured her some more.
"Stop! Stop it!" She gasped out; laughing so hard she couldn't breath.
Steve chuckled against her throat and quit his ministrations. The torture subsiding for now.
Pen rolled around and glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was almost ten o'clock!
"Holy shit! I've got to get back and take care of my cousin. I'm being an awful hostess!"
Pen reached into Steve's bedside table and pulled out her phone to send a text to her cousin, but Emily had already sent one out at 8:13 that morning.
Gurrlll, you take all the time you need honey. Ramses and I are going for a run, and we'll be hanging out. Seriously. Take. Your. Time.
"I'm sure Em wouldn't mind if you stayed just a little bit longer…" Steve said, his voice still a little husky from sleep, and husky from something else… He then started nipping on her bare shoulder this time.
Pen smiled, set her phone down on the table, and turned around.
Steve's hair was mused and he was delightfully naked. Completely naked. And entirely eatable.
But her cousin! Her cousin was here on vacation and Pen was being totally rude!
But… then again… there was Steve, looking like he was, in the morning light coming in through the window… and he was leaving Wednesday. For fuck's sake, WEDNESDAY! For an indeterminate amount of time!
Pen now understood how military girlfriends and wives the world over felt. Their significant others had to leave at the drop of a hat; and it almost felt like you didn't have enough time to blink before they had to leave you. But Pen knew he wasn't leaving her. He was going to SEAL exercises, and then he was going to come back to her. Maybe this was a test of their bond (although said bond was certainly strong now)?
Oh damn, she was probably the bitchiest cousin, but Em could totally wait a little longer…
"So…" Pen finally spoke, running her fingertips up and down his tattooed bicep. "… I guess we only have limited time together before you leave…"
Steve grinned, taking this as a cue that she wasn't going back to Em just yet, and rolled over on top of her. He tickled her sides and she giggled hysterically, trying to squirm away from his actions; only being silenced by his needy kisses.
Thank God for keeping an extra change of clothes over at Steve's house. It would have been a little bit more embarrassing for Pen to show up back at her apartment in the dress she had been wearing last night (which made it safely on a hanger into Steve's closet for now).
Ramses came running up when she and Steve came into her apartment, but the pup totally bypassed her and went for Steve. Typical. Pen rolled her eyes and went looking for her cousin. Emily was in the kitchen, brewing up a pot of coffee.
"Hey cuz," Pen greeted her. "Sorry I didn't get here sooner."
Emily turned around, took one look at Pen, and shot her a knowing smile.
"Oh please," Em scoffed. "You didn't even have to show up at all."
Pen blushed and went over to pour herself a cup of the steaming liquid.
"You look good," Emily commented.
"What?" Pen asked, somewhat confused.
"You're glowing. The corners of your mouth keep turning up like you can't help but smile…"
Great! Now Pen was unknowingly broadcasting to the world what happened the night before… and this morning, and up against the bathroom sink, and in the shower…
"You go girl," Em said, dropping the subject after that.
"Morning Em," Steve greeted, coming in to the kitchen with Ramses trotting not far behind.
"Steven," Emily greeted. "Coffee?"
"No, thank you, I'm going to go… leave you two to catch up, bond, whatever it is you do. I'm going to go into work for a little while."
"Coming back for dinner?" Pen asked him. Man, she really didn't want him to go… she'd much rather pull him by his SEAL Team Six t-shirt, into her bedroom… but then that'd be awkward with Emily around.
"If you guys want me at dinner…" He grinned.
"Of course!" Em exclaimed.
He bid his good byes, to Emily and to Pen, whom he kissed on the cheek, so innocently yet with so much meaning and promise behind it. And then he was gone.
Emily waited a few minutes, just in case Steve happened to come back, and before she could even get the words out to ask all the details about what had happened last night, a knock came at the door.
Pen went to answer it, and came back with Kathryn, Danny's girlfriend, whom Emily really took a liking too after their outing yesterday morning/afternoon.
"Hey!" They both greeted at the same time.
"Please, oh please spill what happened after you left," Kathryn begged, having poured a cup of coffee for herself and taking a seat at Pen's small kitchen table.
"I don't think I have to tell you," Pen replied, blushing. Shit, Em really wanted to know too!
"Oh my God!" Kathryn exclaimed. "Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Her friend urged.
"What's there to tell?" Pen shrugged, trying to play it all off like it was no big deal. She took her mug and sat in one of the other unoccupied chairs, Emily did the same thing. Ramses, clearly seeing that he was out numbered by women, went back into the living room.
"Um… there's a lot you can tell us," Kathryn replied, looking at Emily for confirmation. Pen's cousin nodded emphatically.
"Loads!"
"It was… good," Pen answered, hoping it would satisfy her nosy friend and cousin.
"Just 'good'?" Emily asked.
Pen rolled her eyes. She should have known they wouldn't stop and leave it alone.
"Ok… it was absolutely amazing. Satisfied?"
"Oh, I know you are. I can tell by how you're practically glowing," Kathryn replied cheekily. Pen glanced at Emily, who only shot her an "I-told-you-so" look.
Although, with that comment, the grin returned to Pen's face. She couldn't help it.
"You gonna give us more details?"
Pen shot her a look.
"Fair enough, I suppose. I know you wouldn't want to know about Danny…"
Pen and Emily groaned at the thought.
"At least throw me a little something," Kathryn begged.
"What do you want me to tell you?" Pen asked, a little frustrated. "He is absolutely amazing, ok?"
Kathryn grinned.
"I knew it. A man like that can't be anything less than 'amazing.'"
Pen sighed, and then shared with her friend and cousin, Steve's news. Both of their faces fell.
"Oh my God. That sucks! But he'll be back… he's not going into any fighting or anything." Emily tried to console.
"I know," Pen sighed. "It just… it's going to be a looong couple of weeks. I've been with him for three months; he hasn't left me alone for more than a day! Even then we talked over the phone… it's going to be like he didn't even come into my life."
"Well… tell him you'll move into his house and watch it while he's gone. You practically live there anyway. That way you're surrounded by Steve. It'll almost be like he's there."
"He actually told me he wanted me too move into his house. Says he feels better leaving me in his house outside of the city rather than be in my apartment in the city. He thinks it's safer," Pen said, recalling the conversation they had had earlier when they were showering… together. Heehee. "When I told him he was being ridiculous, he told me it would be more beneficial to Ramses having a yard and all. I couldn't say no to that. And he said to bring Em along."
"And did he say whether this arrangement would remain permanent after he gets back?" Kathryn asked slyly.
"Um… no," Pen replied.
Dear God. Actually moving in with Steve? The thought frightened her. Maybe even more than their lovemaking. She had been living on her own for so long; she had rather been enjoying her independence. In their conversation, Steve hadn't said anything about making it permanent, and Pen was kind of glad it hadn't come up.
"I don't see why you couldn't…" Kathryn said, like sharing a roof with someone was no big deal at all.
"Right. And you and Danny are moving in together when…?"
Kathryn's eyes grew wide.
"We're different."
"Uh huh," Pen said, but Pen knew they really were different. They had to factor in Grace.
"SO!" Emily said, trying to steer the subject elsewhere. "What are we going to do today?"
They didn't end up doing much for the rest of the day. Just walking around the city a bit, showing Emily some of the major sites of Honolulu, and even taking a stroll over to the campus.
In the evening, the whole Five-0 team met up with them at La Cantina, and Emily was introduced to Chin.
"I still can't believe you're here!" Danny exclaimed to Emily as the hostess sat them at a large, circular table towards the back. "And that nobody was going to tell me about it."
"We know how much you hate surprises," Pen grinned at him cheekily, as she situated herself in her chair next to Steve. The man in question sat really close to her, even closer than the previous evening at the ball if that was even possible. He even acted like it was no big deal, and Pen in turn tried to act like his closeness had no effect on her. Psh, she was lying to herself. The man made her whole body heat up like he was the damn sun.
A round of margaritas were ordered, and everyone started munching on the chips and salsa the waitress had plopped down.
"Danny and I were thinking…" Steve began.
"Never a good thing," Chin pointed out, which brought a bought of laughter.
"Anyway…" Steve started again, shooting a mock-scathing look at Chin. "Danny and I were thinking that we needed to celebrate your arrival properly, Em."
Emily almost looked frightened, like she wasn't sure what that entailed. Pen didn't even know what that entailed.
"A good old fashion barbeque," Danny put in, to try and ease the worried look off Emily's face. She visibly relaxed, and smiled.
"We have a barbeque for everything," Kono whispered to Emily, almost conspiratorially.
"Yeah, we even have barbeques when people get stabbed," Pen joked.
A shadow passed in front of Steve's face, and he tensed. Danny had much the same reaction. Kono and Chin's faces fell. Emily felt awkward. She remembered that phone call from Pen.
Oh, by the way, totally got stabbed a couple weeks ago.
That had not been the most pleasant phone call the cousins had ever shared.
"Oh come on, guys. It's a joke! No big deal," Pen said, trying to break the somber mood that had instantly come over the table. Steve remained silent, and Pen gently placed a comforting hand on his knee, under the table. She was silently trying to reassure him, remind him that she was still alive… still here, with him.
"Criminy, guys. Buck up, please! That was three months ago. I'm still alive, obviously. Unless I'm a ghost and don't know it."
Kono shot her a strained smile, to try and tell Pen that she begrudgingly got the joke. Chin shot her a similar look. Danny and Steve still didn't look thrilled. Thankfully, the waitress came with their food, and the dark cloud over their table lightened slightly.
"So… barbeque, huh? Is this going to be like a luau or something?" Emily asked, trying to get everyone's mind off the uncomfortable subject.
"Kinda," Steve said to her, and that's when Pen noticed that Steve had moved away from her slightly. Damn, you can't even joke about injuries anymore. But the truth was, through Pen's false bravado, the thought that she had been stabbed still terrified her, and still plagued her nightmares. Christ, despite appearances, she really wasn't the most well adjusted person on the planet.
"We thought we'd have it tomorrow, after everyone gets off work," Danny interjected. "Just some burgers and steaks and whatnot. Nothing huge, I promise. I know you don't like huge."
Emily chuckled.
"Aw… thanks you guys. I appreciate it."
Later that night, Pen walked Steve out to his truck (after having promised Emily that she would actually stay with her tonight). He had found a spot a little further down the street from her apartment, very near to a streetlight.
"Would you please lighten up?" Pen ribbed at him. He had been very quiet and subdued the rest of dinner and later when they had all gone back to Pen's apartment to talk for a while.
He turned and had a very sour expression on his face.
"You being stabbed is not something I find funny."
Pen sighed.
"Why can't I joke about it? It's in the past. I'm alive. It's… a coping mechanism for me."
"Yeah, well, it's not for me, ok? I've been trying to put that far from the front of my mind, and it was working."
"Ste—"
"No," he interrupted. "Don't try and pass it off like it was no big deal. You were stabbed Pen. Stabbed! It's not something to be taken lightly."
"This is the dumbest thing to be arguing about," Pen sighed. She turned and started walking away, but Steve grabbed her elbow and twirled her around and into his arms.
"You're right. I just… I guess I still think about… it… from time to time. What I could have done to stop—"
Pen interrupted him with a silencing kiss.
"Are you sure you can't come home with me?" He asked, when they had pulled away. Pen smiled widely, and shoved him in the direction of his truck.
"Get out of here."
"Will you put that damn dish down," Pen hissed at Emily, who refused to except that she was the guest and therefore was not authorized to help out in clean up in any way.
"Nope," Emily replied with a little insolent smile, and picked up the drying towel to wipe down a serving plate.
"You're a pain in my ass."
"It's my goal in life," Emily replied, that smile never wavering.
The barbeque, as any Hawaiian shindig went down, had been fantastic. Danny and Chin had worked the grille like masters, and everyone had chowed down on burgers and hot dogs. Now, everyone was digesting a bit before dessert was brought out (something Pen had whipped up as soon as she had gotten home from work). Pen had immediately taken over clean up, and her annoying cousin had stepped in, unwelcome.
"Aunt Pen! Aunt Pen!" Yelled little Grace Williams as she came running into the kitchen from the backyard. "Do you think Uncle Stevie will show me how to fight?"
"Uh…" Pen was totally thrown at the question, and exchanged a glance with Emily. "Why would you want to know how to fight, hon?"
"Well… there's this boy at school that keeps teasing me… and he pulls my hair sometimes. I thought maybe Uncle Stevie could show me some moves. Like in The Pacifier where the bald guy showed the little girls how to fight those annoying boys."
Some little snot nosed, spoiled shit head was teasing her little goddaughter? Pen had half a mind to go to that school herself and have words with that kid, rather than have Steve teach Grace how to kick ass. But honestly, Pen would rather see the big, bad SEAL teach the little girl some moves.
But then again… little kids were weird… when you liked someone, you always are awful to them at first? Wasn't that how it used to work out? Maybe this kid had a crush on Grace! Well… he probably won't like her anymore…
"Well… Grace… something tells me that Uncle Steve wouldn't say no to you, if you asked him," Pen finally said.
Grace grinned widely and raced back out to where Steve was talking with Danny and Chin. Pen and Emily both glanced at each other for a heartbeat before scrambling to go outside as well. They just had to see this.
"Uncle Stevie… can I talk to you for a second?" Grace asked Steve when she had come to a stop in front of the SEAL.
"Sure Gracie, what's up?" Steve asked, kneeling to be eye level with her.
Grace glanced at her dad and Chin who were standing nearby, and then looked back at Steve.
"Alone?"
Steve smiled, stood up, and led the little girl a ways away.
"What's up?" He asked again, kneeling back down.
"I was wondering if you could…" and here she looked around to make sure no one could hear. "… teach me a couple of karate moves."
Steve laughed, but realized quickly that Grace was completely serious.
"Why?"
"There's this boy at school who's mean to me… and I want to teach him a lesson."
"And you think… beating him up will teach him a lesson?" Steve asked her.
"I think it's the only thing he'll understand," Grace replied, so sincerely.
Steve thought about this for a minute. How could he, in all good conscious, teach this little girl how to beat up some kid at school? Granted, it is what he would do in her situation, but Steve didn't think Danny would appreciate his little girl kicking the crap out of a snot nosed kid. Hell, all the more reason to do it.
"All right," Steve sighed. "But I'll only teach you a couple of things, ok?"
Grace grinned widely, and she nodded her head violently.
Steve then began instructing Grace on the finer points of throwing a good right hook, and the merits of a good swift kick to the most sensitive part of a man. Unfortunately, this plan backfired on him. A lot.
"Ok… so… now try what you learned on me," he told her. Grace's face immediately morphed to this really determined look, and she held up her little clenched fists in complete concentration. Steve squatted down and held up his hands, palms facing her to act as punching bags. She threw a couple of punches square into Steve's hand. He was impressed with the strength behind the blows, and shook out his hand to will away the sting. Grace grinned at this, and took her stance again.
Steve did tell Grace to show him ALL that he had taught her. His first big mistake. Instead of throwing a punch like he thought she was going to do, she lifted her leg and nailed him square in the 'nads. The pain was instant and excruciating, and Steve keeled over cupping his most precious appendages, in complete and total agony.
"Uncle Steve!" Grace yelled, voice filled with worry. She rushed forward, feeling so very bad for doing what she had just done. She wasn't really going to kick him, but she didn't stop in time, and tears were pricking the corners of her eyes. Uncle Stevie looked in so much pain. And it was all her fault.
Meanwhile, about fifteen feet away, Danny and Chin were laughing their asses off. Only moments before, they had been speculating on why it was their hard ass Naval Commander boss was teaching Danny's little daughter some self-defense. Not that Danny was completely complaining, because he had already decided the day that Grace was born that he would teach her everything he could. The detective had been about to go over and intervene (he wasn't completely comfortable with Mr. Shark Cage teaching his daughter how to fight) when Grace had laid a good, swift kick into Steve's balls. The man went down like a lead balloon, and Danny hadn't been able to stop laughing. Neither had Chin.
Kono, standing with Emily, Kathryn and Penn, had also been watching the tough SEAL teach little Grace how to fight, was completely shocked. Sure, she had dealt some of those blows herself, but she had never seen an eight-year-old girl perform an excellent kick on a highly trained Navy SEAL. The shock quickly wore off though, and Kono started laughing uncontrollably as Steve fell to the ground and started rolling from side to side in agony.
Kathryn and Emily had much the same reaction as Kono (though neither had ever kicked a guy in the balls). Pen's mouth was hanging open in surprise. And then she started chuckling, but she tried to contain herself as she rushed over to Grace's side to assure the little girl who looked on the verge of tears.
"Are you ok?" Grace kept asking Steve over and over again, but the poor man was in so much pain that his vision was starting to blur a little.
"He'll be ok, hon," Pen tried to reassure her goddaughter without bursting out in a fit of laughter. "Just… give him a minute."
Grace backed away and wiped a few tears away. Pen placed a hand on her shoulder. Steve had stilled now, and was taking slow, deep breaths in and out. In and out.
It had been a long time since he had felt that much pain… let alone sustained such a hit. He must have scared poor Grace, but he hadn't been in the right state of mind to assure her that he wasn't going to die. Although it sure as Hell felt like he was going too. Oh fuck. Danny and Chin had probably witnessed this debacle. He was never going to hear the end of it now.
Steve rolled over to where he was on his hands and knees, and took another second to regain his composure. He had been taking and dealing hits in the ring the past week or so, but none of it had felt like that. Now… he knew what to do if he ever found himself in a sticky situation in the arena…
When there was only a lingering ache, Steve gingerly got to his feet and blinked back the tears that had formed in his eyes. Taking one more deep breath, he turned back around to Grace and tried to put on a genuine smile for her. When she saw this, she seemed to take a breath in relief.
"So… I don't think I need to teach you anything else, sweetheart," he told her. "I think you're… good to go."
Grace, the smile never leaving, stepped forward and gave him a soft hug, not wanting to hurt him any more. Steve returned it, and Grace then skipped back over to her father, who had finally composed himself.
Steve looked over at Pen. She was grinning uncontrollably.
"I'm fine, thanks," Steve said, sarcastically. Pen couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter.
"I'm sorry… but you should have seen it. It was hilarious."
"There's nothing funny about a man getting his balls kicked into his throat," Steve replied, indignantly.
"Aww… I'm sorry, babe," Pen cooed, sliding her arms around his waist. "But… it's not everyday you see a little girl kick a mighty SEAL in the jewels."
"Yeah, yeah," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her closer to plant a kiss on her head. "I'm pretty sure she came really close to unmanning me."
Pen couldn't hold it anymore; his comment sent her over the edge into a fit of laughter. Hearing her laugh made Steve smile, then chuckle, and finally laugh as well. Always an important part of being human: laughing at oneself.
A/N: So, since I am unemployed, I'm gonna try and push out some more chapters, because, let's face it, I have nothing else to do. Anyway, THANK YOU to everyone for the support! I couldn't do all of this without you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, at least, a little bit.
