Okay, there will be at least one more chapter and maybe an epilogue before this story is over. Thank you all for sticking with it, especially those who reviewed. You guys are the best.

Chapter Twenty-Six "I Believe"

"I believe. What if I believe you now? Would it ever change this heart? Forgive me. Believe me. Please come back to life."~Flyleaf

Steve hardly recognized himself in the mirror. He was back in his own house, clean and dry, wearing his own clothes, but the man who stared back at him was not the one who had run into this house on a hot August day.

Steve knew coming back would be hard. He didn't expect to feel this way, though.

It probably didn't help that he was thin and pale and looked several years older than he had when he left. The outside was a reflection of the inside. He felt old. He felt worn out.

Steve knew things couldn't keep going like this. He couldn't live knowing he and his family were in constant danger. That wasn't living.

There was still so much to do, so he put off those thoughts for a while. He was happy to be going to see Grace. It wasn't something he thought about much, but his immediate family were not the only ones affected by his disappearance.

So, he left the house and called Kono from the road.

"I'm going to be a little while longer," he said.

"Anything wrong?" Kono asked.

"No, Danny and I are going over to talk to Rachel and Grace."

"Oh... That's good."

"So, I need you to hold down the fort a little longer."

"No worries there, Boss. Your girls are safe with me."

Steve smiled and he wasn't sure if it were the thought of being called "boss" again, or the phrase, "your girls." He was pretty happy about both.

It didn't take long to get to Rachel and Stan's mansion. Danny's car was in the driveway, so he sat and waited to be called in.

H-5-O

Danny wasn't sure how this would go. He knew he should tell Rachel first. She might be able to help him with Grace.

"Is something wrong?" Rachel asked when she had invited Danny inside.

"No." Danny shook his head. "No, actually things are good. Uh, where do I begin?"

"McKenzie?"

"Yes. We found her. She's doing fine. Had her baby last night."

"Why didn't you call?"

"It was like three in the morning."

"That explains why you look like you haven't slept."

"Yeah, there's something else."

"What's that?"

"It's... Steve."

Rachel looked confused. "What about him?"

"He's alive."

Rachel's hand went to her mouth. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. He faked his death to keep his family safe from Hesse and Wo Fat. But he's fine. This is a really long story..."

"That you don't want to tell me right now. I know. I'm sure you want to inform Grace. And then I think a visit to the hospital is in order."

"Okay. Steve's outside. I knew Grace would want to see him, so I'll go tell her. You want to let him in?"

"All right. Go ahead."

Danny went upstairs and Rachel headed outside. Grace was in her room doing homework. Danny rapped his knuckles on the door even though it was open.

Grace turned her head and pulled out her headphones. "Danno!" she said, grinning and running over to give him a hug.

"Hey," he replied, returning the hug. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it? Is it my birthday present?"

"Grace, your birthday is in November."

Grace seemed to be thinking for a second. "Did you find Aunt Kenzie?"

Danny grinned. "Yes, we did and she had her baby."

"And she's okay? What's the baby's name?"

"Yes she's okay. The baby's name is Lucy. But there's something else I need to tell you."

"Do I get to go see them?"

"Yes. Soon. Gracie, do you remember Uncle Steve?"

Grace nodded vigorously. "I miss him."

"Yeah. Me too. Listen, Uncle Steve isn't dead."

"What? How?"

"He only pretended to be so the bad guys wouldn't hurt his family."

"But... but everyone was so sad."

"I know. Look, he's here to see you if you want to."

"He is? Where?"

Danny smiled. "Come on, Monkey."

H-5-O

Steve wasn't sure what was going on when he saw Rachel walking toward his truck. He assumed it was his cue. Walking up the driveway, he couldn't read Rachel's expression. So, he was surprised when she hugged him.

"I'm so glad you're all right," she said. Then she looked him in the eye. "And congratulations."

Steve smiled. "Thank you," he said.

"Come on, then. Grace will want to see you."

They went into the house and soon heard little footsteps hurrying down the stairs. Steve looked up to see the little girl rushing toward him. For a split second, he didn't see Grace. He saw the little black haired girl from his dreams.

Grace jumped into Steve's arms and he didn't care about the sharp pain in his shoulder. He was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that this little girl loved him in spite of how much he had hurt her.

"I missed you so much, Uncle Steve," Grace said.

"I missed you too, Gracie," Steve said.

"Can I go see Aunt Kenzie and Lucy?"

"Sure you can. Whenever you want. I'm going back there now."

"Can I ride with you?"

"You have to ask your mom and dad."

Grace looked at Rachel with big eyes. Rachel smiled.

"Of course you can," she said. "I'm planning on going over too, so I can bring her home afterward."

"Are you going back to the office, Danno?" Steve asked.

"Yes, unfortunately, some of us still have to work," Danny replied.

"Well, seeing as how I'm officially your boss again, I could give you the day off."

"Actually, you're still legally dead, so I'm the boss and I'm not that nice."

"Now I know why everyone's so happy to see me."

Danny was about to reply when he noticed that Grace was getting anxious and Rachel actually looked a little impatient as well. "Get out of here," he said. "And don't you dare come back to work until I say you can."

Steve grinned. "Yes, Boss."

H-5-O

McKenzie was fairly content. She was a little irritated that she couldn't feed her own baby, but there was some mention of how she had almost no body fat. So she was satisfied with being able to sit up and hold her for as long as she wanted.

Kono watched over McKenzie to the point of hovering. Of course, they both knew how dangerous it still was. McKenzie was actually sort of nervous with Steve out of her sight.

But that didn't last long. Soon he returned holding Grace by the hand and followed by Rachel. McKenzie smiled at them.

"Am I that popular?" she asked. "Or are you just here to see the baby?"

"Both," Rachel said. "I'm so glad you're all right."

Grace hurried over to the side of the bed and stood on her toes.

"Come on up," McKenzie said. "You want to hold her?"

Grace's eyes widened as she climbed up on the bed. "Can I?"

"Sure, just hold out your arms."

Steve smiled watching them. It almost seemed as if nothing had ever been wrong.

Rachel took over Kono's seat and the former came over to where Steve was standing in the door.

"I'm going to get over to HQ and see what I can do," she said. "We have security all over this floor, but if you need one of us..."

"We'll be fine for now," Steve said. "I just want there to be one of us here at all times."

Kono nodded. "It's great to have you back," she said, but her voice betrayed the fear that he might not be back for long.

Steve ignored it. He couldn't deal with that idea right now. "It's good to be back," he said.

H-5-O

Later that day after Rachel and Grace had gone home, Steve finally got to hold his daughter again. McKenzie had yet to see them together and she liked the view. She watched him pace back and forth, whispering so low she couldn't hear him.

"Steve," she said.

He looked up at her, as if he were surprised to find that he wasn't alone. "Yeah?" he said.

"There's so much to talk about."

He came over to the chair beside her bed and sat down. "I know," he said. "I don't know where to start."

"Well, you don't have to tell me how stupid I was. I already know. And I'm sorry, really."

Steve nodded. "I think I have much more to answer for."

"I know why you did it. I understand."

"Still... how do we go on from here?" Steve twisted the corner of Lucy's blanket between his fingers. "I've been gone so long and now we're a whole family."

"We'll... take it one day at a time. We've survived this long."

Steve met McKenzie's eyes. "I need you to forgive me," he said.

"Steve, I don't need—"

"Please."

She nodded. "Okay. I forgive you."

Steve felt a little better. Only a little. "There's something I have to tell you and I don't think you'll understand, but I can't keep it from you. I let Victor Hesse go."

McKenzie's eyes widened. "Why would you do that?"

"Because if I arrested him, he'd be as good as dead. He saved my life and yours. He never intended to kill me. He knew all along that I was alive."

"Does... does the team know?"

Steve shook his head. "Not yet. We haven't had a chance to talk about everything."

"So what are you going to do now?"

Steve sighed. "I'll meet with Hesse, find out what he knows. After that... I think we need to be prepared for the possibility that Hawaii isn't safe for us anymore."

"You mean... we'd move?"

"Yes. I don't know yet, but it might be the only choice."

McKenzie nodded and took a deep breath. "We'll do what we have to. To survive."

"We always have."

McKenzie smirked. "Seems like ever since I met you, it's been one long fight for survival."

Steve shook his head. "I warned you."

"I know. I knew then what I was getting myself into... sort of. I guess I didn't really expect all this, but I see that it's part of the territory. Though... I can't deny I do wish for a little peace."

Steve reached over and brushed some hair from her face. "I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen," he said.

McKenzie caught his hand. "I'm just happy you're here," she said.

Steve smiled softly and leaned closer. He kissed her gently and laid Lucy across her lap. "Move over," he said.

After so many months apart, just being close together seemed like an immense occurrence. Steve and McKenzie weren't taking any of this time together for granted. They never knew when it might all be gone.