CHAPTER TWELVE
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Our Love, Our Legacy"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #8 in the Salvation series. The Five-0 family face challenges that make them all re-evaluate their lives.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: September 17, 2011
(Mike, realizing that his wife and daughter are about to get very emotional and that they're not the only ones, reverts back to "Commanding Officer" mode and decides to take control of the situation before it gets totally out of hand. Reaching one hand down to help Sam up and patting Libby's arm with the other, Mike has to clear his throat before he can speak but once he does, his voice is strong and clear.)
"I realize that we're all a little . . . Dazed at the moment, but I think the best thing for us to do is carry on as we normally would. To that end, I think dinner would be the next item on our agenda right now, but I don't think anyone feels much like cooking. Why don't we all head over to that seafood restaurant you all like so much? My treat, and I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."
(And so, the five couples and little Eric Montgomery head out to the restaurant for dinner. The fifteen minute trip offers each couple the opportunity to discuss their initial reactions to Steve's news. . .
Danny glances over to the passenger's seat several times and finds Caroline staring out the window apparently lost in her own thoughts. The expression on her beautiful face is grim and Danny knows that she's truly worried.)
"This is going to be okay, Caroline. Steve knows what he's doing and he's damned good."
"Yeah, Danny, he is, but he's not Superman; he's a flesh and blood man. You know as well as I do that there's a possibility that he could be seriously wounded or even. . Killed over there, and, if that happens, it will absolutely destroy Sam. I cannot bear to see her have to go through that!"
"This is hard on both of them, Caroline. Hell, it's hard on all of us, but it is what it is and there's nothing anyone can do to change it. What we can do is stay as positive as possible and be there for Sam."
"I know that, Danny, and I will be the most upbeat person on the planet because I love my sister very much and I don't want to see her hurt, but it's not going to be easy."
"You know, K, you're going to be a tremendous help to Sam while Steve's gone. I mean, it's only been a few months since you went through this."
"If she'll let me help her. You know how Sam is; she'll put on this really brave front and keep the way she's really feeling to herself. I can't help her if she won't let me in, Tony."
"Yeah, well, Sam's never been in a situation like this before, so she might be more receptive than you think."
"Maybe. . . Tony, what if Steve can't stop this? What if they somehow get biological weapons on the island?"
"That's a possibility, K, but so is you getting shot while on duty or me being injured on an op and we live with those possibilities every, single day. We can't let fear rule our lives, Sweetheart. If we do, we won't have any lives."
"I know, but, now that we have Eric, I just. . . I take things a little more seriously than I used to, I guess."
"And that's not necessarily a bad thing. There's a difference between being cautious and being paranoid, Kono, and, sometimes, it's a very fine line."
"You're right, and I'll do my best to keep my head on straight and not panic. Besides, Steve's good; he'll stop these guys."
"I can't begin to imagine what Sam and Steve must be feeling right now. After everything they've been through, things were starting to fall into place for the two of them and now this. It's just not fair, Chin."
"Sam and Steve are both strong people, Lana, they'll get through this."
"But how will they get through it? If something happens to Steve, Sam will . . . Well, I don't even want to think what she'll do."
"Sam's got a lot of people who care about her, Lana, and we'll be right here for her. That's at least one thing Steve won't have to worry about while he's gone, and that will help Sam because she won't be quite so worried about Steve worrying about her."
"I don't usually ask this of you, Mike, but.. "
"I'm going to call Phil Taunton at the Pentagon as soon as we get home, Libby. I don't like the idea of Steve being recalled and deployed any more than you do, but, now that it's a done deal, I want more intel."
"I know Steve said the reason Adm. Harte wanted him on this was because of his familiarity with the Dimitri Kasavitch, but . . . Mike, Steve has no idea who the men on his team are going to be, and I'm concerned that his unfamiliarity with his men might, in itself, cause problems."
"Libby, SEALs can work with anybody at any time, no matter what. Doesn't matter if you've known the men on your team for years or meet them as you're getting on a C-130; you go with your training. Steve knows what he's doing; I'm not worried about that aspect of this deployment."
"Then what are you worried about?"
"Since 9/11, there's been a steady stream of threats coming from the Taliban, al Qaeda, and God only knows how many other extremist organizations against the United States and her allies. For the most part, these threats have been empty rhetoric designed to instill fear and create panic, but there have been some very credible threats that proved to be factual and were, fortunately, dealt with before the attacks could take place. I have a feeling this threat is highly credible; Bill Harte isn't the kind of man to take any threat lightly, but he also doesn't act needlessly. My greatest concern right now is that, if Steve and his team do locate the source of the threat, Kasavitch might choose to die rather than be captured. He might take our SEALs with him, or expose them to biological weapons, and that would be a horrible way to die; and if exposure doesn't kill them, then, depending on what kind of biological weapons Kasavitch has . . . Death might be the better option."
"Oh my God, Mike, I hadn't even thought of that! Whatever you do, do not mention anything about that in front of Sam!"
"Libby, our daughter is not stupid. I'd be willing to bet you that the thought's already crossed her mind, and, if it hasn't, it soon will."
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