Thank you for taking the time to leave reviews, so glad you're enjoying the story.

Well thanks to Lilo and Stitch, I got to have some quality me time (my time to write) while my little boy sat in front of the tele and watched a DVD from start to finish. (Very big achievement for him as he doesn't usually have the patience to watch films) I can only assume it was because the story was one he could relate to.

Catherine shares a few things with Steve in this chapter, he'll be hurt and angry when he finds out the truth behind the abduction. They also get to have another talk about their future.

Hope you enjoy the update,

Wendy x

Catherine couldn't make out the muffled voices or words around her, but she felt the soothing touch on her arm. Concentrating on the sensation, she was able to recognise the calloused touch of her boyfriend as he gently stroked at the skin of her arm while he gently held her hand in a lose grip. Feeling his reassuring touch, she closed her mind and drifted back off to sleep.

She slowly came awake, blinking the fogginess from her brain as she took in her surroundings and her injuries. Focusing on her feet, she wiggled her toes and moved her ankles. Feeling an odd sense of discomfort and wondering why she was wearing a pair of socks. Next, she tried her knees and legs, everything feeling fine as she felt the movement. She wiggled her fingers and immediately wished she hadn't when the movement caused severe pain to shoot down from her wrists.

"Catherine, try not to move to much." Steve told her with a worried voice as he held her arms to stop her movements. "You're in the hospital, you're safe." He reassured her.

Catherine's eyes shot open to look on his. He smiled down at her, lowering his head so he could brush a kiss across her forehead. The stubble on his jaw telling her he'd spent the night beside her. She closed her eyes as she tried to remember what had happened; she remembered kissing Steve as he'd gone off to work, before snuggling up to his pillow to sleep. Her eyes shot open as it all came back to her. "Lynn." She croaked out.

"It's okay, we got her. She won't hurt you anymore." He promised as he gently brushed her hair back from her face before reaching over to grab the cup that had been placed on the nightstand.

"No, Steve, you don't understand." Catherine managed to get out.

He guided the straw to her lips so she could take a few sips of the tepid liquid. "She's at the Palace with her two accomplices." Steve assured her as he placed the cup back on the night stand.

"Lynn's a Russian agent." Catherine got out, watching the shock appear on Steve's face at the news.

"What?" He asked in shock.

"She's an agent." She said softly. "You were an assignment for her."

"You knew?" He asked as he suddenly stood up and began pacing the room.

"No." She was quick to deny. "How could you even think that?" She asked as the tears spilled from her eyes.

"What the hell did she want from me?" He said in frustration as he stalked to the end of her bed and gripped the bed rail tightly. He was beyond angry at the situation.

"Your mother." Catherine told him simply. "They wanted Doris."

Steve gasped at her words, his eyes locking with hers. "My mother!" He exclaimed in surprise.

"They kept asking me where Jane Smith was, that's the name she uses with the Agency." Catherine explained.

"You were hurt because of my mother." He suddenly stated as he sat down in the chair beside the bed. "You were hurt because of me."

"Steve, no." Catherine denied as she reached her hand out to touch him. "I was hurt because they believed I knew where Doris was. I promise you, I don't know." She added when she saw him look up at her.

He nodded his head acknowledging her words. He felt sick to his stomach with the knowledge that Lynn had only been using him to get to his mother. He was angry with himself that he had been so trusting and not seen past her lies. He was even more upset that Catherine had been hurt because of his damned Mother.

"I'm so sorry, Steve." She apologised, knowing the hurt he was feeling right now. "She must have realised when I came back to get you, you didn't know where Doris was."

"And when I came back without the two of you, they found a way to get you home by going after your dad." Steve realised as he began piecing things together and realising that Patrick's assault was the result of Lynn wanting to know his mother's whereabouts.

"I really am sorry, Steve. I honestly thought she seemed nice." Catherine told him with a small smile.

"Yeah?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow at her words.

"Okay, maybe I did want to scratch her eyes out and smack the bitch in her face. But, that was only because she was with the man I loved." Catherine admitted with a grin.

Steve smiled at her words, getting to his feet as he leaned across her gently to brush a kiss across her lips. Pulling away from her, he sat his hip on the edge of the bed as he placed his hand on her hip. He shifted his gaze to watch as he caressed her hip and her stomach with his hand. "When the Doctor was treating you, he asked if you could be pregnant. I mean I know it's not something we discussed, and that you're not, but…" He broke off to take a breath only for Catherine to carry on with his train of thoughts.

"I always imagined any baby I had would have your nose and your smile." Catherine admitted as she placed her hand over his on her stomach.

"You want kids?" He asked hopefully.

"Only if their yours." She told him softly with a smile filled with love.

He leaned forward bracing one hand on the bed beside her as he kissed her. He grinned as he pulled away from her lips to look in to her face. "So, when we get you home?" He asked hopefully.

"I'm all yours." She promised as she gave his hand a squeeze.

He slipped his hand into the pocket of his cargo's, pulling out the small jewellery box as he sat up on the bed and gently took her left hand in his. Looking down into her face he smiled as he saw his past, his present and his future all merging into one. "There's just one thing we need to do before we start working on making our family." He told her as he paused and took a breath.

"This is something I should have done a long time ago. Catherine, I love you with every breath that I breath. You have and will always be the only one that holds my heart, I gave it to you a long time ago, and I know I lost my way for a short time. But, please believe me when I say I will never lose my way again as long as you are beside me." He opened the box and pulled the ring out as watched the tears run down cheeks.

"The day you left, I had the whole thing planned out. I was going to make reservations at your favourite sushi place, then take you out to Waimanalo to watch the sunset with you. I love you Catherine, and I can't imagine my life without you in it." He paused taking a deep breath.

"Just ask me already." She urged him with a smile.

"Catherine Rollins will you marry me?" He finally got out.

"Yes." She said simply as she held her hand out for him to slip the white gold band onto her finger.

"If you want something else, we can…" He started, only to be cut off.

"I don't want anything else. I have everything I need right here." She promised as she tugged on his arm to get him to kiss her.

"Just so you know, I don't want a long engagement." Steve insisted as he playfully bumped his nose against hers.

"I don't either." She admitted with a grin as she ordered. "Now will you just kiss your Fiancée?"

"Yes, ma'am." He agreed as he swooped down to kiss her. Lifting her from the bed, he gently took her in his arms as he kissed her.

A cough from the doorway had them drawing apart as they turned to see who the visitor was. "Good morning Lieutenant, I'm Glinda one of your nurses." The woman said as she entered the room, glaring at the Commander so he would remove himself from the bed.

"Morning." Catherine replied with a blush at having been caught.

"Commander if you'd like to step outside for a moment." She suggested.

"It's okay, I'll stay." He said as he sat down in the chair and crossed his arms as he watched the nurse bustling around the room.

"Steve, why don't you go home and get a shower and change your clothes." Catherine suggested with a smile.

"You sure?" He asked her, waiting till she nodded her head. "Okay, I've got a couple of things I need to take care of anyway. I'll be back in a couple of hours." He promised as he stood up, and ignoring the nurse kissed Catherine once more.

"I'll be here when you get back, Sailor." She reassured him as he pulled away from the kiss and headed towards the door. He stopped and turned to look at her, smiling happily as he pulled open the door and exited the room.

"I'm wondering what's putting the biggest smile on your face honey, the man or the ring?" The nurse chuckled as she began removing the dressings on her patient's wrists.

"That's easy." Catherine told her with a grin. "Both."

…..

Pulling his cell out of his pocket as he left the room, he hit speed dial and waited for his call to be answered. "Catherine's awake." Steve announced as Danny answered his phone.

"That's great news, babe. How is she?" Danny asked his partner.

"She's going to be pretty sore for a while, but otherwise she seems okay. She told me something about her kidnapping." Steve said quietly as he changed the subject from Catherine's health. "Lynn didn't hire them, she's one of them."

"What, wait, you mean?" Danny got out in surprise.

"Yeah. Let Chin know to widen his search for her, she's a Russian agent. They have been trying to locate my mother. They went after Catherine because they believed she would know where Doris was." Steve explained sadly as entered the stairwell and made his way downstairs.

"You okay?" Danny asked in concern as he realised the implications of Steve's words.

"Yeah. At least Catherine doesn't blame me for it." Steve said tiredly.

"Of course she doesn't, you idiot." Danny chastised as he mentally shook his head at his partner in frustration. "So, did you ask?" He wondered out loud.

"Yes, I did." Steve replied cryptically, smiling as he imagined Danny rolling his eyes in frustration.

"Well? What did she say?" Danny demanded.

"She said, YES." Steve answered him, grinning as his thoughts went to his Fiancée.

"Congratulations." Danny said. "I'm happy for you, babe."

"Thanks, buddy. Can you let everyone know, and ask them to meet me at Tripler in a couple of hours?" Steve asked as he began mentally working out what he needed to accomplice before he returned to the hospital.

"We'll be there." Danny assured him.

"Thanks. Can you pick me up? I need to head home so I can shower and change." Steve said as he opened the door and exited the stairwell, headed down the corridor to his first port of call.

"I'm just leaving now, I'll see you in 20 minutes." Danny promised as they said their final goodbyes before ending the call.

….