This is the final chapter. Thank you all so much for sticking with this story. The sequel will be coming along probably sometime next week. In the meantime, I will be working on a few other stories that desperately need updating. So, stay tuned!
Epilogue:Tomorrow Will Be Better
"Tomorrow will be better; I'm betting on the sun... flying away is problematic...You search the world for consistency... See your home isn't subject to sacrifice and family shouldn't be split twice... while you still have a while, please come home."~A Rotterdam November
Steve tried not to fidget, but the more he tried not to the more he did. It wasn't even that he was particularly nervous. It was something else.
He looked to his right where his wife was sitting with an amused smirk.
"What?" he asked.
"Do you just not like airplanes?" she asked.
"Airplanes are fine," he replied.
"Really?" McKenzie didn't sound as if she believed him.
"Really," Steve replied, looking forward.
"Hey." McKenzie took his hand and pulled his eyes back to hers. "We're doing the right thing." She nodded. "We are."
Steve looked down at the sleeping baby in her lap. He knew she was right. That didn't mean he was going to sit still. His shoulder still ached a little and he didn't want to fall asleep. Something about the thought of sitting for twelve hours made him feel tired.
And then there was the anticipation of the cold weather that would inevitably greet them when they landed. A week wasn't quite long enough to come up with enough warm clothes and they were difficult to find in Hawaii anyway. Of course, they would adjust. McKenzie had lived in Oregon for most of her life and Steve had been in all sorts of adverse conditions. That really wasn't a problem; it was just one more thing.
They were halfway to the west coast when Steve noticed a piece of notebook paper sticking out of on of their bags. McKenzie was staring out the window so she didn't notice him pull it out and begin to read. It was in Danny's handwriting, but it looked like he had help.
Dear Steve, McKenzie, and Lucy,
We, as your family/ohana (they made me write that) want to leave you with some last words of advice. First, be nice to the Illinoisans. We know they're probably not as cool as us Hawaiians (or Jerseyans), but then, who is?
Second, don't give Beckett too much trouble. He's been so nice after all.
Third, do not try to put pineapple on your pizza. This is Chicago. (Steve, I'm talking to you.)
I'm sure we've said so much already, but it seems like we hardly had any time with you three. So, don't worry; we'll make sure you can come home as soon as possible. In the meantime, we'll look after your house. Chin and I are already planning an addition to the garage. (You need it!)
We're sure you'll be home before you know it, but until then, remember that we all love you and will be waiting when you get back.
Aloha,
Chin, Mary, Kamekona, Rachel, Danny, Kono, Grace... and Karl
"He even used the semi-colon correctly," McKenzie said.
Steve turned, surprised to see she had been reading along with him. "I wouldn't know," he said.
"I can see we have our work cut out for us."
"One thing at a time. First I'll learn to be a cop, then the finer points of American English punctuation."
"Fair enough."
Steve turned the paper over to see more writing.
Steve,
I probably never told you what a great partner you were. I know we had our differences, but at the end of the day, there's no one I'd rather watch my back. I'll miss you while you're gone, but I'm going to make sure that's not very long. So, don't worry; I've got it all under control. Take care of those girls. I did my best and now it's your turn.
Love, Danno
P.S. I'm actually going to miss hearing you say "book 'em, Danno." It must be the sun frying my brain or something...
Steve smiled to himself and put the paper in his pocket. He wasn't happy about what he had to do, but he knew he could trust his team, trust Danny, to get the job done. It had been a long time since Steve had really trusted someone else to do something he felt responsibility for. But it felt good in an odd way. Good to know he wasn't alone.
Steve leaned back in his seat and thought that maybe he would sleep after all. He had about ten more hours before he had to worry about tomorrow. And then, he was that much closer to going home.
