Kokua

Disclaimer: Not mine

An: Sorry, for the lack of updates on both this story and Li'i Manu, I've decided to go back to school, and so I'm having to readjust my writing schedules to re-accommodate school. I'm shooting for at least one new chapter per month. On that note, here is the latest chapter of Kokua. Please enjoy and don't forget to review.

An2: For the purposes of this chapter, anything in italics is a flashback/memory.

Chapter 14

Catherine had woken up with a groan, from what had been one of the most delicious dreams about one Steven J. McGarrett. It had been a month since she had been shipped out of Pearl on TAD (temporary assignment duty), things had finally been back to normal between her and Steve from sleep patterns to busy schedules, often he would be tumbling into bed as she would be getting up to head to the base for work. Then his whole being framed for the governor's murder had been a nightmare, she had been on lock down at the base because heaven forbid she should have contact with a suspected murderer. Once that whole scandal had blown over, she and Steve had come to the conclusion that the whole universe was conspiring against the two of them, calls of imminent crisis amidst the throws of passion was how it could best be described. She had joked once to Steve that she should just get pregnant or the two of them should just get married and tell everyone else to just deal with it, because heaven forbid the two of them could just have a normal boring relationship. Steve had laughed and said something about investing in a mini-van or a Chevy Suburban to chauffeur their brood of mini-McGarretts to and from sports practices and ballet/gymnastics classes. The last few days she had been waking up with less and less energy than would be expected after a full night's sleep, the ship's doctor had only given her a smile and told her to increase her Vitamin C intake.

A month later, after recovering from the flu bug that was going around the ship Catherine had tried to call Steve just to hear his voice and to seek comfort in it, the flu had been particularly rough on her and had made her more sensitive to the rocking motions of the carrier. She had heard rumors that Commander Joe White had gone on a good-will rescue mission into the depths of North Korea and she had known that Steve must have been involved. After a nerve-wracking week, she had finally managed to get a hold of Steve briefly and then realized she had missed her monthly visitor, she had gone on shore and picked purchased a pregnancy test on a whim that she might be pregnant, though she was pretty sure her body chemistry was off due to the stress of worrying about Steve. He had been on her mind much more than he normally was lately.

***H50***

"I woke up in the sickbay," Catherine said, as she focused on a spot on the wall just above Lori's head, her voice soft and almost dream-like as she spoke. "I had apparently fainted during a storm, Lt. Sawyer said I had been looking green and had suggested I go and see the doctor, he found me collapsed in the hall just outside of the command room. When I came too, the doctor had drawn blood for a lab work up. The lab work up, revealed that I was pregnant and with the combination of the flu that had gone through and the I guess stress of worrying about Steve, but then again with him you always can't help but to worry…, I just, I didn't realize the signs that my body was trying to tell me…"

Once Catherine had been well enough to move around the ship without being dizzy and the worst of her nausea was under control the doctor had arranged for her and Lt. Sawyer, Lt. Barrett and Ensign Wright to go ashore where she could meet with a colleague of his for a prescription of pre-natal vitamins.

"I remember telling the doctor and my C. O., Commander Samuels, that I didn't need a team to accompany me to go ashore," Catherine said. "Commander Samuels said, either I took the team or he was flying my ass back to Pearl on the next available flight back."

"Why weren't you flown back to Pearl immediately after confirming your pregnancy?" asked Lori her lips pursed in thought. "Isn't that standard protocol?"

"We were due to ship back to Pearl within the next week, and I had managed to convince Samuels that I would be fine since we were almost done with the tour anyways," Catherine explained shooting the Admiral and apologetic look. "I realize now, that if I would have followed protocol, none of this would have happened."

"We don't know that Catherine," the Admiral said reaching over and giving her hand a comforting squeeze. "It could have happened to anyone…"

"What happened when you went ashore?" Lori asked, "Did you notice anyone following you? Anything suspicious?"

Catherine shook her head. "No nothing," she said she could feel the tears prickling up in her eyes. "We had picked of the pre-natal vitamins and Ensign Wright was trying to talk us into going to eat at one of the little restaurants nearby before returning to the ship," she laughed softly at the memory. "Ensign Wright was always hungry, did he make it alright? Are he and the rest of my team okay?"

"They're fine," Lori said, trying to keep her back on focus. "What happened next?"

***H50***

"You are always hungry Wright," Catherine had said with a laugh.

"Aww come on Rollins," Ensign Wright had said swinging an arm around her shoulders. "You should be backing me up here, you are pregnant after all, aren't you craving anything?"

"Then you should know that my unborn child's father is a health food nut…" she had said with a smirk. "So no to the food, but I could go for some fresh fruit…" She carefully removed his arm from around her shoulders. "…and that the baby's father has full means and immunity…"

That had Lieutenants Sawyer and Barrett cackling with laughter at her statement.

"So fresh fruit then heading back?" Wright had said with a pout, he was the youngest of their team both in age and in rank. Catherine rolled her eyes and looked at the other two men who had rolled their eyes as well in response and shrugged.

"As long as we make it quick," Lt. Barrett had said. They never made it to the little market by the docks, Catherine had been feeling nausea again and vomited in a nearby alleyway, and that was the last thing she clearly remembered.

***H50***

"Catherine?" someone was calling her name. "Catherine can you hear me?" someone was shaking her shoulder, "Come on Cate-girl…" the pregnant lieutenant blinked and focused bleary eyes at the concerned looking face of the admiral.

"What happened?" she asked softly, her hand gripping his wrist she was shivering and scared.

"You zoned out on us," the Admiral said looking that the girl in front of him. "Lori went to go and get the doctor. You were talking and then next moment you were glassy-eyed and your heart rate increased."

"Please don't tell Steve…" she nearly begged in a whisper was the doctor came in and shoed everyone out.

"You know I can't do that girl…" the Admiral said as he left the room.

An: :) please review!