DISCLAIMER:I do not own "Hawaii Five-0" or any of it's characters. I also do not own nor did I write the lyrics from the song used in this chapter, Katy Perry's "Part of Me".

AUTHOR'S NOTE: HI! So...here is Chapter 14! YAY! Chapter 15 is pretty much completed as well, so I'll be posting it either tonight or in the morning. The more reviews I get on this one, the sooner I'll post Ch.15, which is a good one because Steve and Maddie talk.

As always, thoughts are in italics. In this chapter...I put the words in bold that Maddie sings. I thought about writing my own lyrics for her to sing, which I will do at times. But other times I'll use songs that are already out there. So, just use your imagination. In this chapter Maddie's singing a couple lines from Katy Perry's "Part of Me". So just imagine it's a song she's writing...that it isn't Katy Perry's. Okay? haha. I wanted you guys to be able to hear a melody to the songs. If I wrote the lyrics myself and you wouldn't hear that. However, there will be times I'll write the songs for her. Just not this time! If what I just explained is confusing, message me!

Anyway, I hope you like the chapter! Things will start moving quicker from here on out.

Don't forget to REVIEW!

Thanks!

xo

Laura

CHAPTER 14

Chin and Malia had heard Steve bolt down the stairs and slam the front door. "What do you think happened?" she asked him.

"Maddie's hiding something from him and it's getting to him. That and they're head over heels for one another and can't just admit it because they're too scared," Chin answered.

"I'm going to go check on her," she told him.

"Good idea. Danny and I will find Steve in the morning. He needs time to cool off right now."

With that she got out of bed and headed to her friends room.

Peaking her head in the door Malia saw Maddie sitting on the floor next to the window. "You saw him leave I take it?" She nodded trying to wipe her tears away. "You've had a shitty night…" Malia walked over and sat next to her on the floor.

"Yeah," Maddie said. A sob escaped and Malia reached over and held her friend.

"You realized you're in love with him didn't you? Don't worry, doctor-patient confidentiality," she smiled.

"Yeah…" Maddie's sobbing increased.

"Here let's watch a funny movie or something. I'll stay with you," Malia stood, reaching for her friend's hand.

"Chin?"

"He's a big boy," Malia laughed. Finally Maddie took the extended hand and Malia pulled her to her feet.

"You guys will figure it out…" she assured.

"No we won't," Maddie told her as she climbed in her bed.

"What makes you say that?" Malia asked stopping to hear the answer.

Just thinking about it made her feel like the walls were closing in on her. Maddie's breathing became labored and the sobs wracked her body as she looked Malia in the eye. "Because we can't. It can't happen for us."

Something is not right. What is that supposed to mean? Malia thought. She watched as her friend became hysterical. I imagine it was this train of thought that made her panic before. Reaching in her bag she filled another syringe with Valium, but only a quarter dose. "I want to get you to calm down. I don't want it reaching the level it did earlier. It's so hard on your body especially when you're exhausted." Maddie nodded and Malia injected the medication in her IV. Once finished she climbed in the other side of the bed. "A mini sleepover!" she said causing Maddie to chuckle.

"Thanks Malia…" Maddie told her friend.

"No problem!" she patted Maddie's shoulder in comfort. Turning to the TV, "So, what are we going to watch?" Surfing the channels, she saw there were 'Three's Company" reruns on TV Land. "How about 'Three's Company'?"

Maddie nodded, her eyes feeling heavy. Woah, that is some powerful stuff she gave me. I feel heavy. Like heavy jello, she thought feeling the effects of the medication. Unable to get comfortable Maddie rose from bed, grabbed her IV bag, and stumbled to the duffel Steve had left behind in his haste. She dug around inside until she found a shirt he'd worn. She buried her face in it breathing in his scent as she stumbled back to bed. Standing next to the bed she slipped the other shirt off and pulled this one over her head. Once she was comfortable in bed Malia chuckled. Before she could say anything Maddie said, "Don't even… let it go." Malia did as her friend asked knowing it'd been a rough 36 hours.

With Steve's scent surrounding her, Maddie was asleep in minutes thanks to the help of the medication Malia had given her. Malia waited 15 minutes before turning off the TV and heading back to her room, figuring she'd stay asleep the rest of the night.

The second he was in his car Steve knew he'd made a mistake. He knew that he should go back to her, pull her to him, and apologize. But his pride was getting in the way. He didn't know why it'd hurt so much when she'd pushed him away as they made out, but it did. He wasn't just hurt by that. It was the fact she wouldn't tell him what was going on. Why doesn't she trust me anymore? He thought as he drove towards his house. I don't get it. I know she doesn't like to tell me when something bad happens or when something's wrong, but she told me the last time she had a stalker. Thank God she did because it was someone on her security team. That's why I brought Pete in, that's why we filled it with guys we knew and trusted. I don't understand what's going on with her.

Steve pulled up to his house and as he exited his car he realized he was barefoot. "Smooth, Steve. Leave your shoes behind." He suddenly remembered his bag was still in Maddie's room. "And your bag!" He shook his head and entered his house, heading right upstairs to bed. He climbed right in, but as he tossed and turned he couldn't get Maddie's face out of his mind. What if she's hysterical again? Freaking out? he wondered. Knowing he wouldn't sleep until he knew she was okay, he reached for his phone he'd just set on his nightstand. After a few rings Chin's voice came on the line, "You're an ass, did you know that?"

Malia turned to her boyfriend when she realized whom he was talking about. "Tell him to come back," she whispered.

Steve sighed. "Yeah, I know. I messed up."

"And not the first time today. Just come back," Chin replied.

"I'm already home in bed. I just couldn't go to sleep until I knew she was okay. Is she okay?"

"What do you think?" Chin angrily said. "McGarrett, swallow your pride and just come back."

"Just tell me! Is she okay?" Steve growled, irritated that he knew Chin was right.

"I don't know. Malia went in there after you left. Was in there awhile and now she's back." Chin hit the speakerphone button on his iPhone.

"Can you ask her?"

"Ask me what?" Malia asked coldly.

Shocked at her tone, Steve paused before continuing. "Hey Malia….How's Maddie? She okay?"

"No. I had to give her more Valium. I left her asleep, but I don't know how long she'll stay that way."

"More?" he asked, concern in his voice. "But if she's asleep that's okay. That's actually good," Steve said.

"Yeah, for now," she replied, attitude very apparent. Malia reached over and hit the speakerphone button as she looked at Chin shaking her head.

"Thanks Malia," Steve said.

"Yeah, she took you off speakerphone. Anyway, you've gotta get it together. She's already a mess. Don't be there for her one second and gone the next. Either be there for her completely or not at all. Good night McGarrett." Chin didn't even wait for a response, he just hung up.

"Yeah, good night," Steve whispered to dead air as he chucked his phone onto his nightstand. Lying on his back he placed both hands on his head in exasperation. "Chin's right. I gotta get it together. What is going on with me? Why am I so out of sorts? It's not helping Maddie," he berated himself.

Deciding that tomorrow would be different, he closed his eyes, hoping to get a good night's rest because he definitely was in need of one.

Nearly 2 hours after Malia had gone back to her room, Maddie jolted awake, sweat covering her body. She'd had another nightmare. She laid on her back hands on her face as she took deep breaths hoping her heart would stop pounding and her breathing would normalize. "Pull yourself together Maddie…things are getting out of control. And everyone starts arriving tonight and in the morning. Rehearsals start tomorrow. Steve's upset. He'll be even more so when he finds out what you had to agree to with the label. So pull yourself together. And if you can't figure out a way to do that, then pretend you're fine. That everything's okay," she told herself. Feeling a bit more confident like she had a bit more control over her life Maddie rose from bed. "There's no way you're going to be able to sleep, so get ready and go work. Do something. You always work well when you're upset." Standing up she walked to the bathroom and undressed, pausing to smell Steve's shirt one more time. Her eyes closed as she inhaled his scent, her heart aching as a sadness washed over her. Clad only in her underwear she set the shirt down and sat on the stone stair surrounding her huge bathtub. As she began unwrapping her hand and foot she thought about Steve. It's not that I didn't want to continue with what we were doing….because God I did! It's just…I don't want anything to happen to him. I'm sure we are safe here, I mean, how can he see inside my house. But then again, when this creeper first appeared in my life and gave me that phone he knew I was about to call Steve. And I was on my bus. Unless it was a coincidence. I don't know, but why take a chance? I just…if anything happened to him I don't know what I'd do. I can't live without him. But I'm going to have to figure out a way to. But at least if I know he's alive and well, it will be easier. Her injuries now unwrapped Maddie glanced down at her IV. Malia had put a special seal on it and said she could shower with it. "She obviously didn't want me pulling it out again," she smiled. She unhooked the now half bag of fluid from the IV, leaving it on her bathroom counter to reattach when she was finished. Maddie climbed in the warm shower immediately hissing at the stinging she felt all over her body. Her head was still throbbing and she hoped that maybe the warm water pouring over her would decrease the pain. In fact, she hoped that would also be the case for her aching body. If not, she was just going to have to suck it up.

Although the cuts on her body continued to sting Maddie took her time in the shower. In fact she was in there for 45 minutes. By the time she had finished up, brushed her teeth, put a bit of makeup on (nothing crazy just a bit of foundation, natural eye shadow, mascara, and blush), and dressed herself it was almost 4:30am. Just as she was going to head downstairs she realized she needed to reattach the IV bag. She would have re wrapped her foot and hand, but she wanted to give them a bit of air. Maddie hoped Malia would help her with them in the morning before she went off to work at the hospital.

Because of discomfort she was walking slow and a bit oddly, but she knew she'd figure out a way to walk where it didn't look like she was in so much pain. Like she had decided, if she couldn't be okay, she'd pretend to. Grabbing one of her favorite sweaters, a large baggy grey cable knit boyfriend sweater by Vince, she slipped it on and headed out the sliding glass door off the living room and kitchen. As she exited the door she turned right, passing the pool and outside seating and lounge area. Walking along a stone path she approached what looked to be a large house, completely separate from her main house. She unlocked the thick glass door with the set of keys she'd pulled from a drawer in the kitchen and entered. Stopping just inside the door she closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of her little slice of heaven. Walking down the hall lined with her album plaques Maddie eventually turned left into a spacious room. In the middle stood one of her custom Steinway grand pianos. This particular one was six feet long and made of dark east Indian rosewood. As she entered the room she pulled her shoes off leaving them at the door. She loved squishing her toes in the plush white carpet, not to mention her shoe was killing the cut on her foot. As she sauntered around the beautiful piano, Maddie lightly dragged her fingers along it, eventually ending up on the pristine keys. Pulling out the seriously comfortable and padded matching bench she plopped down and began to play.

She sat there for hours playing and scribbling on a pad of lined music paper, a digital recorder next to her recording everything she was doing so she could go back and listen to it.

Stretching, Pete yawned, his eyes glancing to the right at his alarm clock. 7am, he thought. He was an easy riser. It never took him long to get out of bed. Hopping up he trudged into the bathroom and hopped in the shower. Fifteen minutes later he was dressed and ready to start his day, groaning at a day that what would most likely have some hard moments, Pete quickly made his bed. Once a Navy man, always a Navy man.

Before heading downstairs to make a quick bite, he tiptoed down the hall to check on Maddie and Steve. I really hope they aren't naked or something like that, he joked. As he neared the master bedroom he noticed the door was open. "Hmmm." Peering in he saw the bed was made and no one was anywhere in site. "That's weird…I'm sure Steve would have tried to keep her asleep as long as possible. Plus, Maddie's never up before me…unless she never goes to bed."

"Please tell me she slept last night," Pete whispered to himself as he took the stairs to the kitchen. He wandered the bottom floor looking for her. I'll check the studio, he decided as he walked out the door off the kitchen and living room. Staring at the studio building he squinted trying to see if there were any lights on inside, but now that it was day he couldn't tell. Walking to the studio he hoped that if she was in there she hadn't been there all night, but only for a short time. "Yep, she's here," Pete mumbled noticing the door was unlocked. He walked down the hall following the music. Stopping in the doorway he saw her busy working on a song, lost in her own world. He didn't want to scare her so toeing his shoes off at the door he walked across the plush, squishy carpet to her.

Although Maddie saw him out of the corner of her eye she said nothing, wanting to finish her train of thought. He'd been working with her long enough to know that he should let her finish her thought before interrupting her. He listened as she sang and played.

"Throw your sticks and stones

Throw your bombs and your blows,"

Maddie stopped and resang and played the same line again, emphasizing the words differently.

"Throw your sticks and stones

Throw your bombs and your blows,"

She sighed, annoyed, and sang it once more. Again, a bit differently than before.

"Throw your sticks and stones

Throw your bombs and your blows,"

Pete could tell she was happy with the outcome as she smiled and immediately grabbed her pencil and began writing the notes on the staff. Stopping she double-checked the melody by hitting the individual notes on the piano. Once Maddie was sure it was properly written down she hit pause on the recorder and looked at her friend and head of security. "Morning," she smiled at Pete.

"How long ya been in here?" he asked, praying the answer wasn't all night.

"A little bit," she exaggerated.

"Hm…let's rephrase. How much sleep did you get?" Pete looked at her, his brown eyes boring into her, his bushy eyebrows raised.

Maddie had decided to not hide so much from Pete. That maybe that would help all the worrying over her. It was starting to bug her and it was making it difficult to keep Steve safe because he didn't want her out of his sight. Except last night, she thought. So she was honest with him. "2 hours. I came down here around 4:30."

He sighed. "Maddie, you're burnt out. You've got a full day of press and a show on Wednesday. And to boot the set list for Wednesday isn't all the same. You've been required to change it up. Add in at least 4 new songs. That's 4 completely new choreographed and staged numbers that have to be learned by Wednesday. Not just learned, but they have to be second nature. And from what I understand changes are being made to some of the old choreography and staging for some of the other songs? And the show has to be amazing. If not…who knows what that new asshole head of the label will do. He made it very clear. He was going to give you 2 months off if you did this. You need those 2 months. But I have to be honest…I don't know how you're going to pull this off. And let's throw into the mix the fact you have a serious concussion and your foot and hand are cut up. I mean how are you supposed to dance on that foot? I think the only way you stand a chance of pulling this off and not hurting yourself is if you rest all day and all night. And even then…"

Maddie knew he was right, but his lecture annoyed her. She could do this. She had to do this. "I couldn't sleep P! I'm sorry that I couldn't, but I thought I'd make use of that time and get started on writing a new song. I have most of the others done. I'll use some of the ones I've written in the last few weeks. It will be fine! I promise! There's no need to worry! My headache is so much better today. It's almost gone. And I don't feel like I was hit by a truck anymore. I promise. I'll be good. The show will be good. And I'll get my 2 months of uninterrupted, completely work-free vacation time," she told him. However, she was lying about her head being better and about not feeling like she'd been hit by a truck. She was still very uncomfortable. But if she told him the truth it would lead to nothing good.

"Alright." He paused awkwardly, unsure of how to broach the next subject. "By the way…where is Steve?" Pete asked hoping things were good between them.

"Who knows?" Maddie answered looking down at her fingers playing with the piano keys. She was obviously upset and angry, but attempting to hide it. She was trying to act indifferent, like she didn't care, but Pete knew the truth.

Sighing Pete shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Okay…what happened?"

"I don't know. He got upset and left last night," she replied not wanting to go into specifics.

Damn it Steve! This is YOUR fault she got NO rest! he thought. He could kick his friend's ass right now. Sensing that she wasn't wanting to talk about it Pete rubbed her upper back in a supportive way as he said, "Well…you know if you want to talk about it I'm here."

"Nothing to talk about, but thanks P!" No longer staring at her hands on the piano she looked over to him smiling. "You're the best, ya know that? What would I do without you?"

He chuckled, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "Who knows Shorty? Who knows?" Standing up he said, "How about we get ourselves some breakfast? You hungry?"

No, she thought. The mere idea of food made her want to gag. However she knew if she didn't eat something they'd just worry about her, so she said, "Umm….yeah. How about an hour? I'm on a roll here and not quite ready to take a break. Don't want to ruin my flow."

Pete would have preferred getting food into her right then, but he was happy that she had at least agreed to eat. So, he took the win. "Yeah, sure! I'll leave you to it. Holler if you need me. I'll flip the system on."

"Okay, but put me on mute in the house," Maddie told him. "I'm not ready for them to be heard."

"Sure thing, Shorty!" he agreed, slipping his shoes back on before walking out.

Now alone, Maddie's back and shoulders slumped forward as her head dropped in her hands. "What am I going to do? How am I going to do this? I feel horrible…" she whispered unaware that Pete was watching from the door. He had left and then tiptoed back to look in on her, see what she did. His gut told him she'd been lying to him. His heart broke for her as he stared at her looking so broken and defeated. As if she was being crushed by the weight of the world.

After a few minutes Maddie straightened, un-paused the recorder on the piano and returned to the song she'd been working on. Shaking his head he walked away, his phone already in his hands calling the familiar number.

Steve was just leaving Five-0 headquarters when his phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, he prepared himself for the lecture and yelling he was about to receive. "Hello?" he answered.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I brought her back here to you so you could help me figure out what was going on, not so you could make it worse!" Pete yelled as he walked back into the house. As he waited for Steve to say something he opened a small closet door in the hall near Maddie's office. Inside was a floor to ceiling rack filled with different electronic equipment. He flipped a few switches and then closed the door and headed to the kitchen where he powered up a TV on the wall. Grabbing the remote sitting nearby he switched to a specific channel. Suddenly Maddie came on the screen. She was sitting at the piano in her studio. He immediately hit the mute button. This was how he could keep an eye on her without being in her way.

"I screwed up. I'm sorry," Steve mumbled.

"You have no idea what you've done," Pete told him as he sighed. "Where are you? Come fix this!"

What does he mean I have no idea what I've done? Is something wrong? He wondered. "I was just heading over to her. I couldn't sleep last night, so I went to headquarters. Been working on trying to get something from the text message….And what do you mean I don't have any idea what I've done? Is something wrong? She okay?" Looking at his watch, seeing it was about 8am he said, "I mean she's asleep right? She doesn't get up early on days she's not working."

Pete was avoiding telling Steve what was going on the next few days knowing that he was going to freak out. "Did you get anything from the phone? Figure out who sent the text message?"

"No. Still working on it. There wasn't much I could do with the phone itself until I felt comfortable calling in our tech. Couldn't do that in the middle of the night. Bad enough I'm calling him in on his day off. Anyway, he just got in. He pulled what he needed from the phone and then gave it back to me. I'm sure Mads wants her phone back. But I did call Los Angeles. Winston Graves is accounted for. There's no way this is him. I was kind of hoping it was. It would make things easier. I mean, Graves is still completely obsessed with Maddie, but he's still locked up. They sent me over the prison records and no one has visited him. So he didn't put any one up to it. When he stalked her 4.5 years ago, he was so in love with her that he didn't want to share her. He's too jealous. He wouldn't send someone else to watch her. I just don't think it's him, which means it's someone we don't know."

"How much longer does Graves have on his sentence?" Pete wondered, curious.

"About a year, but he's been a model prisoner. He has a parole hearing in 3 months. Looks like he'll most likely be granted early parole at that time."

"Grrrrreaatt…" Pete sighed.

"I know…" Steve mumbled hating the fact. "So what did you mean I have no idea what I've done?" he asked again walking across the Five-0 parking lot and opening his truck door.

"Maddie's awake. She needed the rest last night McG." Pete was stalling.

"Yeah, I know. Well when I talked to Chin last night she was asleep. So she got some right?" Steve hoped.

"2 hours. But…."

"What is it?" Steve was getting worried. He could tell there was something Pete was hesitant to tell him.

"Because her last couple shows weren't as great as they should have been the label wanted her to do a show here the other night."

"Yeah, I remember. Maddie talked to them and fixed it."

"Welll…it depends what your definition of 'fixed' is."

Steve closed his eyes as he sat in his truck. Crap, he thought. "What's going on?"

"She has a show Wednesday."

"Seriously?" he asked, but then he counted the days. Today's Saturday. That give her a few days. I don't want her to do a show at all, but if she has too…he thought. "But I guess she still has a few days. So she can rest up until then."

"Yeah….the new head of the label…well he insisted there be at least 4 new songs. Which means…"

"New choreography and staging," Steve interrupted. He knew what went into her tours. It was hard work. "DAMN IT!" Steve yelled.

"Yeah, and there are changes in some of the other songs."

"There's no way she can pull this off!" Steve cried.

"I know, McG! She's exhausted!"

"Where is she now?" he asked starting his car and heading in the direction of Maddie's.

"She's been in her studio for hours already."

"She needs to rest today! Not work!… I'm on my way. I'll be there in ten…" Steve told him.

"Okay. FIX THIS!" Pete emphasized.

"I know! I will!" Steve rose his voice a bit.

"See you soon." With that they both hung up.

Steve felt so guilty as he threw his phone on the passenger seat. Way to go Steve! How is she going to pull this off on no sleep? he fumed as he took his anger out on the road before him.

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xoxo