CHAPTER TWELVE
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: July 10, 2012
(Sam and Caroline, along with the rest of their squadron, are scheduled to fly a simulated "dogfight" at 1300 hours, and, after their early morning conversation, they don't see one another again until they meet on the flight line. As soon as she sets foot on the tarmac and takes one look at her plane Captain, Senior Chief Evans, Sam knows something's wrong. The big bear of a man is usually quite cheerful but today he has a sour expression on his face and appears to be quite grim. Giving him a warm smile, Sam heads straight to her plane and meets him at the bottom of the ladder.)
"Good afternoon, Senior."
"Commander."
"Something wrong?"
"Um, no, Ma'am."
"You really going to lie to me, Senior?"
" . . . No, Ma'am. . Can I ask you a question, Commander McGarrett?"
"Of course, you can. What's up?"
"Are you and your sis. . Lt. Williams on the 'outs' with one another?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because the Lieutenant got here about five minutes ago and she. . Well, Ma'am, let's just say that I'm sure I've seen her in worse moods, but I'm having a hard time remembering when."
"What exactly did Lt. Williams say or do that's set your teeth on edge, Senior Chief?"
"It's not so much that she said or did anything in particular, Ma'am, it's just her attitude. She seems to be a little pissed off."
"Where is Lt. Williams right now?"
"I believe she went into the hangar to use the head."
"Thank you, Senior Chief. We'll be ready to take off in ten."
(Sam heads into the hangar to find Caroline and her anger mounts with every step she takes. Yes, she and Caroline are not exactly on the best of terms right now, but they have an exercise to fly and nothing can interfere with the performance of their duty. Entering the ladies' room and verifying that Caroline is the only other person there, Sam takes a deep breath and counts to ten in an effort to get her anger under control.)
"Is there a problem, Lieutenant?"
"You know damned well there's a problem, Sam! You and Danny have humiliated me by talking to Mom and Dad about the fact that I'm upset over not being able to have a baby, and God only knows how many other people you've discussed this with!"
"This is neither the time nor the place for this conversation, Lt. Williams. We are both on duty and are scheduled to be 'wheels up' in less than ten minutes. Pull your head out of your six and leave your personal issues in this head, and that is an order!"
"Well, the real Samantha McGarrett shows her face! I should have known better than to expect my sister to understand how I feel!"
"Your sister is, at this particular moment, your commanding Officer, Lieutenant. I shouldn't have to remind you of your duty."
"Why not? You seem to take a great deal of pleasure in reminding me of everything else."
"One. More. Word, Lieutenant! Just one more and I will be forced to write you up for insubordination. Now, either get it together or consider yourself on report and relieved of duty until further notice."
(Without another word, Sam turns on her heel and walks out of the head leaving Caroline visibly fuming. What Caroline doesn't realize is that Sam is not only furious, but hurt, as well, and is seconds away from an emotional meltdown herself. There have been a few, very rare occasions when Sam has been forced to pull rank and employ a forceful approach with her sister and each time it's happened it's cut Sam to the core. This time no exception and Sam is struggling mightily to contain her emotions. . .
Senior Chief Evans sighs heavily when he sees his C.O. striding angrily toward her aircraft. Cmdr. McGarrett and Lt. Williams are usually the best flight crew on the base because they know one another so well and work together flawlessly. Lately, however, Lt. Williams has been pushing the envelope, and Cmdr. McGarrett has been forced into the awkward position of exercising her authority as her sister's C.O. Deciding that enough is enough, Evans makes a decision and prays that what he's about to do doesn't get him into hot water with the boss. As soon as the flight takes off en route to a carrier out in the Pacific, Evans pulls his cellular phone from his pocket and makes a phone call. . .
Communications between Sam and Caroline during the exercise is limited to only that which is necessary for both of them to do their jobs and even then they are both extremely terse with one another. The other pilots and RIOs, as well as the Officers and crew in the CIC aboard the carrier, have no trouble whatsoever figuring out that Sam and Caroline are at odds with one another. If Caroline is aware of this fact, it doesn't seem to matter to her at all. Sam, however, is painfully aware of the situation, especially when they grab some coffee in the Officers' Ward room on the carrier while their plane is refueled and she sees the looks sent her way by other pilots. Sam has no choice. She cannot allow personal issues to interfere with her duty, and she most especially cannot show any favoritism toward Caroline or allow her get away with insubordination just because she happens to be Sam's sister. By the time they get back to Pearl, Sam is beyond furious with Caroline and doesn't even bother to look Caroline's way once they are on the ground. Quickly finishing her post-exercise paperwork, Sam clears her desk and leaves for the day driving straight to her parents' house.)
