"FOREVER AND ALWAYS"

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Title: "Forever and Always"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult situations and language

Summary: Story #5 in the Salvation Series. Sam/Steve, Caroline/Danny, Kono/Tony, Chin/Lana and the rest of the gang!

Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the sole property of the author!

Date Written: May 22, 2011

"Okay, Monkey, what's on your mind?"

"What's wrong with Grandma, Daddy?"

(Danny blows out a heavy sigh and pulls his daughter onto his lap while trying to think of the best way to approach this conversation.)

"What did Grandma tell you?"

"She said she has to go to the hospital Monday and have some tests done and that she'll be there for a few days. That the doctor just wants to make sure she's okay."

"And that's all true, Grace. Promise."

"You'd tell me if she was really sick wouldn't you, Danno?"

"Of course, I would, Monkey. Come here. Grandma really is going to have some tests done. I promise you that I or Grandma will tell you what the test results are as soon as we can. Okay?"

"Okay. Is Grandma really going to teach you how to scuba dive?"

"She is."

"Cool! Of course, you know the very first thing you have to do is go to 'above ground school' and learn all the rules and there are a lot of rules, Daddy."

"Really? 'Above ground school'?"

"Well, yeah. The first thing you have to do when you learn to fly is go to Ground School, so I've decided the first thing you have to do when you learn to dive is . . ."

" Go to 'above ground school', got it. So, do you think you could maybe help me out here, Grace? I mean, I know Uncle Steve has been teaching you these 'rules' for a while now, so . . "

"How did you know Uncle Steve was teaching me about diving?"

"Trust me, Monkey, if it involves you, Danno knows about it; especially if your Uncle Steve has anything to do with it."

(The five people who are diving are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Caroline and Steve have just started to explore a reef when Sam swims over to them, smiles behind her mask, and points about fifteen feet to their left. Glancing over, they watch as Libby and Mike, thinking they've concealed themselves behind an outcropping of rocks, have momentarily removed their regulators and are sharing a kiss. Putting their regulators back in their mouths, they swim, hand-in-hand, around the rocks and disappear from view. Steve indicates that he's surfacing, and Sam and Caroline are right behind him. They are all three smiling as they toss their fins up to the deck and climb on board.)

"Hey, what's so funny?"

"Nothing, Romeo. There are just a lot of beautiful things to be found in the ocean."

"Where are Grandma and Grandpa?"

"They're still exploring. They'll be up in a little while."

"I've been teaching Danno the rules, Uncle Steve."

"Have you now?"

"I have. He's like me, though. He doesn't like all the math, either."

"Now, why doesn't that surprise me?"

(Sam and Caroline, and even Grace, laugh at Steve's comment while Danny just scowls. By the time Libby and Mike join them on the boat, things are pretty much back to normal. Steve and Danny are grumbling back and forth with one another, and the three ladies are sitting back and enjoying the show. Libby sits with down with both Grace and Danny to conduct 'above ground school' while Sam, Steve, Caroline, and Mike make another dive. When they climb back onto the deck, Danny is telling some outrageous story and gesticulating wildly, and Libby and Grace are both laughing so hard they're almost rolling on the deck. As Sam, Steve, and Caroline are stowing the diving equipment, Mike pulls Danny aside.)

"Well, Son, it looks like you've accomplished another miracle. Libby hasn't laughed like that since this whole nightmare started. How'd you manage it?"

"Grace. She's responsible."

"She's an awesome little girl, Danny, but then, she's got a pretty amazing father, too."

"Thanks, Mike, really. That means a lot."

(The remainder of the late afternoon is spent preparing and eating dinner, and, by the time they get back to the marina, Grace is fast asleep in Mike's lap. The younger two couples quickly get the boat docked and secured and Steve tells his in-laws that they'll also make sure the tanks are refilled. Effortlessly picking Grace's sleeping form up and cradling her against his chest, Mike heads up to their car with Libby right behind him carrying their things and Grace's weekend bag. While Sam and Steve refill the scuba tanks, Caroline and Danny finish securing the boat. When they're finished, Caroline grabs her husband and gives him a sweet, lingering kiss.)

"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"

"For making my mother laugh today, and for making the rest of us realize that we can't let this thing bring us down. I love you, you totally wonderful man; forever and always."

(Steve notices that Sam is sending sweet smiles in his direction every chance she gets on the way home and it makes his heart do funny, little flip-flops. The last couple of days have been rough on her and he's glad to finally see her in a more positive and upbeat mood. Although he returns her smiles, he's still very worried about what Monday morning will bring. Once they've gotten home and put away their diving gear, he grabs a bottle of wine, a couple of glasses and a blanket, and they go down to the beach behind their house to just kick back and enjoy the rest of the beautiful night.

For a while, they just sit in companionable silence drinking their wine and watching the waves break on the sand. Their relationship is such that they don't need words between them to communicate; just being with one another is enough.)