Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-O or anything you recognize from it.

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand. — Emily Kimbrough

Hey everyone! Just a comment about the case file Danny had, if you don't remember Charles Picot, please go back to Refuge and read the chapters where Melissa explains her past to Danny. Please enjoy and Please Review!

Chapter Twelve

The Grinning Bastard Cheshire Cat

Three days later, Steve walked into Five-O quarters, a light bounce in his step. He was feeling great, and wanted to share the good mood with everyone. But he didn't want to tell them that Melissa would be joining Five-O as a FBI attaché in three months. He had somehow convinced the governor to give her some time off before she jumped in with them; plus, he knew it would take a while for the paperwork to be finished.

He nodded to everyone and shared a look with Danny, "What's up?" His partner asked, meeting him by the coffee machine. Steve glanced around them, making sure Kono and Chin was riveted by the case they were working on.

"How would you feel about having a FBI attaché?" He asked Danny quietly.

Danny cursed a blue streak at the thought of working alongside an arrogant bastard that would probably try to tell them all what to do, "Seriously? They're sending us a hotshot?" He shook his head angrily, "Just tell them we have Melissa."

Steve stared at Danny and waited, "I can't believe I let you on this team." He muttered, finally seeing comprehension in the other man's eyes an embarrassingly long while later.

He shared a grin with Danny, "That's the best news I've heard today! Get to work with my Jonesy." Danny commented, clasping his hands together.

Steve grimaced, "I don't think a federal agent is going to want to be called Jonesy."

"Agent Jonesy?" Danny offered, laughing when Steve cursed at him.

"Let's go for lunch later." Steve ordered.

Danny glanced at his partner, seeing something lurking in his eyes, "Just you and I? What's wrong?" He asked noticing there was a slight stillness to Steve.

Steve shook his head, not wanting to alarm his friend and partner, "Just want to bounce an idea off of you."

Danny nodded, trying not to feel too worried, "Whatever you say, Steve."

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"So…what did you want to talk about?" Danny asked digging into his salad.

Steve made a disapproving sound, "Ugh, don't say that…and why did you have to order a salad?" He asked, staring at the offending plate of greens opposite him.

Danny frowned, "Seriously, you want to do this here? I ordered a salad because I'm watching what I eat! You on the other hand, if you keep eating like that, you're going to be dead in a few years." He retorted.

Steve held up a pacifying hand, noticing a few patrons of the patio restaurant were shooting them questioning looks, "Okay, okay. I don't want to get into this with you."

"Damn right." Danny smirked. Danny: 1, Steve: 0. He waited quietly, seeing the turmoil his friend was in but rather than help the guy out, he watched the other man work it out in his head.

"I'm thinking about…" Steve gulped and waited; Danny moved closer, "marriage."

Danny dropped his fork and started coughing, "What? Want to repeat that?" He reached over and took a large gulp of his water, had he just heard right?

Steve rolled his eyes, "What the hell is wrong with you man?"

"You want to marry my Jonesy?" Danny asked.

"For the last time, she's my Jonesy." He cursed realizing he said the dreaded nickname.

The two discussed Steve's future plans and though Danny's marriage had fallen apart, he knew without a doubt that Steve and Melissa's marriage would last. His marriage fell apart because his wife didn't understand the demands of his career but Melissa? Not only did she understand, she was also a part of it as well.

"When are you going to get the ring?" Danny asked. He was happy for them but cursed when he realized he had to keep another secret away from Kono. First Picot and now this…ugh, when Kono found out, he probably would be sleeping on the couch for the next for years.

"How about now?" Steve quipped.

Danny rolled his eyes; there was the infamous patience of a McGarrett, "Of course. Can I finish my lunch first?"

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"I don't know if I can wait two months for the damned ring." Steve muttered to himself as they both left the jewellers, a large scowl marring his face.

Danny rolled his eyes, "then you should have got one that was already on display."

Steve shuddered at the idea of the impersonality of it all; the rings on display could never surmise what he felt for Melissa. His only option was to choose a band, design, and special order it himself. "It seems I can't even have a damn conversation with you without having you attack me." He glared down at his friend, "This is no longer a safe place."

Danny scoffed, "What are you talking about?"

Steve shrugged, "We used to be able to share our feelings and thoughts without being shot down…" Steve smirked to himself when Danny began cursing. Steve: 1, Danny: 0

They ignored each other as they walked back into headquarters, "When are you going to mention our new attaché?"

"Might as well be now." Steve muttered, telling everyone he had some news for them.

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Two months later…

"I'm sure its nothing, Mel." Kono commented, reaching around her friend to grab the jalapenos and began slicing them.

Melissa shrugged, trying to grate the cheese but both of them kept stealing the fresh shreds of cheese and snacking on them, "It probably is nothing, but…he's been acting weird since I came back. Do you think he's ready for all this?" She asked.

Kono glanced questioningly at her friend, "For what?" She glanced around Steve and Melissa's kitchen, "For new appliances?" She asked.

Melissa laughed and rolled her eyes, "Me moving in." She shrugged and reached over to snag a baking sheet, "I moved in, didn't really ask him and now in a month and a half, I'll be working alongside him." She commented, layering the chips, cheese and jalapenos before bending down and setting it into the hot oven.

Kono stared at her friend, "He got you a new, shiny desk. I'd say he's more excited than you are." She didn't bother saying that everyday Steve would walk by and stare longingly at the damn desk or that he would constantly dust the area clean. At first it was amusing but now Kono was starting to get a little worried about her boss. He acted like a lovesick crazy man and Danny thought it was hilarious.

Melissa laughed; she didn't want to tell her friend that she wasn't really hungry but her friend insisted on a girls' night in and how could she refuse the idea of relaxing and hanging out with Kono at Steve's and her place whilst he was out with Danny? "I know but he's gotten quiet."

She rubbed her stomach absently, worrying if the food would stay in her stomach this time. A smart thing to do was send Kono home, take medicine and call it a night. She'd been feeling off for a few weeks now but she wasn't worried. Changing environments, the stress that came with it, all of it was wreaking havoc on her immune system. She'd felt off like this before; the proverbial calm before the storm, the feeling of wrongness before her body succumbed to a viral infection.

"What do you mean by quiet?" Kono asked, unbeknownst to her of her friend's pending illness.

She shrugged, "I don't know. He's still Steve…just a little more sullen."

Kono began laughing, "How is it possible that Steve can become more sullen?" They shared a look laughingly and waited for the food to be ready.