She woke to the sound of a steady beep. When she opened her eyes, all she saw was white. White walls, white bed, white monitors. She blinked a few times to clear her eyes and noticed someone lying on the left side of the bed. A mess of dark hair was all she saw but knew exactly who it was. A nurse then entered, interrupting her thoughts.
"You're awake. Welcome back." She whispered. "I was just coming to get your vitals."
"How long have I been out?" Angel asked as she wrapped a blood pressure cuff around her arm.
"Eighteen hours." The nurse confirmed. Her name tag read Betty.
"Has he been here the whole time?"
"Hasn't left your side since you were brought into ICU. You are a very lucky young lady. You have quite the man on your hands here. He's told me lots of wonderful things about you." She told her with a wink. "Everything looks good. I'll let your doctor know you're awake." With a pat on her hand, she smiled and left. Angel looked back to the man asleep on the edge of her bed. A smile worked its way across her features as she lifted her hand to play with his hair. He grunted and slowly lifted his head off the bed. Her hand slid down his forehead and stopped to rest on his cheek. She watched as he blinked a few times then wiped the small drool line off his chin.
"Angel!" He said and leaned toward her. She lifted her arms and gratefully accepted a hug from him. He planted kisses across her face and she giggled when the stubble on his chin and cheeks tickled her. "I'm so glad your ok!"
"Me too." She replied and smiled at her man. "The nurse said you've been here all night. You really never left?"
"Only to use the bathroom but even then it was just a few feet away." Before she could reply, Betty the nurse, and a doctor came into the room.
"Welcome back! Lets check you out!" The doctor exclaimed. Steve stood from his chair and stood at the end of her bed. He watched as they lifted her gown and examined the wound. The doctor nodded in approval and proceeded to check everything else on her to make sure she was ok. "Everything looks great! How much pain are you in now?"
"Not a whole lot but it does hurt. When can I go home?" Everyone in the room laughed, except Angel. She was serious.
"Not for a couple of days. We need to make sure you are a-ok before we send you out those doors." The doctor told her and shook Steve's hand before walking out. Steve walked back to the edge of her bed and watched as Betty removed the old bandages.
"I will be right back with fresh bandages alright." She gave the couple a smile before leaving herself. Steve wasted no time and leaning down to capture her lips with his own. They shared a moment of passion before breaking apart and touching heads together. There was a moment of silence before they heard a grumbling noise.
"Hungry?" Steve chuckled.
"Starving!" She answered with a giggle.
Betty returned a moment later, with company.
"Oh my baby is ok!" Angels mother exclaimed happily. She ran to her daughters side and hugged her the best she could.
"Hi momma. Daddy." She said with a smile. "Hey Betty can I eat anything?"
"Of course. Nothing too heavy but yes you are free to eat." She replied while fixing her dressings.
"I can run and get you something if you want." Steve offered. She smiled and nodded.
"That would be awesome!"
"I'll be right back then."
Thirty minutes later, he was showered, dressed, and walking back through the hospital carrying a bag of food. He was greeted with a large smile from the young woman who he was beginning to deeply care about.
"Rainbows! My favorite!"
"I figured you would enjoy this the most."
They ate and laughed and she slightly teared up when the laughter hurt her wound. The next night, after Angel demanded Steve go to the office to do some work, he returned with news and food.
"Luke is with his aunt in Waikiki and will stay with her for good. Since Keleka went to jail and his mom shot you, she was the closest relative."
"What about his moms boyfriend? What did we find out about him?" Angel asked as she took a drink of the vanilla shake Steve bought her.
"We got a warrant and raided his house. Found guns, drugs, and found out he had connections to a prostitution ring. They are also looking all of the cases he worked to check if anyone was wrongfully charged. So he's in prison. Lukas mom will be as well for child abuse, neglect, and taking part in the prostitution."
"I'm just glad we could help Luka, No child deserves to go through that."
"You really are an angel you know that." Steve told her with a smile. She blushed and looked away quickly. When she looked back at him she was surprised to have his lips quickly meet hers.
Four days later, she was cleared to go home.
"You have to take it easy. We don't want to see you in here again until those stitches have to come out, understand?" The doctor ordered as she signed the release forms. Angel nodded and gave the doctor a sweet smile before she bid goodbye and made the happy walk out of the hospital. Steve carried a bag of her belongings and held her hand as they walked. She couldn't help but smile when the sun touched her skin and she let out a loud sigh of happiness.
"I have never been so happy to be outside before." She told Steve happily.
The days slowly passed and before they knew it Christmas was upon them. Angel was moving around very well for someone who had been shot a week ago. Though her mother tried to keep her in bed, Angel was up and helping with dinner. Steve had already come by with Mary, Danny and Grace, and was sitting in the living room watching football with her father.
"So Angel, I have a question." Her mother asked while she cut an onion. Angel nodded and slowly bent to put a pan in the oven.
"Whats that?" She replied and took a quick drink of water when she turned back to the counter.
"How long have you and Steve been seeing each other?" Angel spit a little of the water out and nearly choked on the rest.
"What?" She asked her mother dumbfounded. Her mother, Becky, gave her a knowing look before smiling at her middle daughter. "Laura! Did you sell me out?"
"No! I swear I didn't tell her!" Her sister argued. Their mother laughed at the two of them.
"Oh sweetheart its alright. When I went to see you the other morning in the hospital, he was lying in bed with you. You looked very happy together. Not to mention how much time you have been spending with him. It didn't take much for me to figure out."
"Is daddy mad?" Angel asked quietly.
"Please. That man is as blind as a bat. I doubt he even knows anything." Her mother confirmed with a wave of her hand. Angel proceeded to tell her mother about her relationship with Steve. All she received was smiles and well wishes. She heard a phone ring in the other room and her heart stopped for a moment.
"McGarrett…Yes sir…I'm on my way."
Angel frowned when he came into the kitchen. He gave her a small smile and she sighed.
"I have to leave. But only for a little bit."
"No. Where are you going?" Her mother asked.
"I just have to take care of something real quick. I'll be back don't worry." He answered and opened his arms to Angel. She stepped forward and gave him a hug before he pulled away and left. Angel waited as patiently as she could. But she couldn't help being anxious. She should have went with him. He could have used her help. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. She rushed out of the kitchen to see Steve standing in the doorway with a large smile on his face.
"Alright. I have a special Christmas surprise for all of you. Since Angel brought Mary to see me for my gift this year, I felt it was only right if I return the favor. You all have been very generous and welcoming to both Mary and I so I have a gift for you." He said and moved to the side. Angels parents stood from the couch and waited to see what or who would come through the door. Laura let out a small scream and their mother sobbed when the person stepped through.
After ten months, dressed head to toe in camo, stood Angels older brother.