Danny bustled around the McGarrett home with an energy and competency that amused Steve.
"I had no idea, Danny, that you were a man of such talents," he said, as Danny wielded a duster. He was wearing an apron, of all things, pulled out of the back of one of Steve's kitchen drawers, and Steve was seriously contemplating sending a picture to Chin and Kono.
"Steve, you can eat off the floor of most of the rooms of your house, but these rooms . . . babe, they're a little bit depressing," Danny said, flinging open the windows. He'd already expertly stripped the beds and the washer and dryer were humming, two more loads waiting their turn.
"They were our rooms as kids, Danny," Steve said, frowning. "We left kind of abruptly, remember?"
"I do remember, and your dad didn't really touch these rooms after, which is fine, it's just . . . I think you and your sisters deserve some space to create new memories," Danny explained.
"Maybe Riley would be more comfortable in my room, until she recovers," Steve suggested.
"I'll tell you three things wrong with that idea," Danny said. "First, stairs. Second, Mary - you can hope for the best but sisters have issues, trust me on this, Steve. Third, Catherine."
"Catherine?" Steve asked, puzzled.
"Yes, the fair Catherine," Danny said, exasperated. "What, when she comes over, you're going to welcome her to your childhood bedroom, complete with the bunk beds?"
Steve grinned. "We've made bunk beds work just fine, Danny. There was this one deployment -"
"Focus, Steve," Danny said, holding up his hand. "Look at these rooms. A little sad."
Steve nodded slowly. Their childhood bedrooms, he'd noted on his visits home, didn't look so much like carefully preserved rooms awaiting their owners . . . more like carelessly abandoned spaces. It hadn't mattered, the few times he'd crashed at his father's house; he was usually between deployments and his old bunkbed was arguably more comfortable than anything he'd been sleeping on anyway.
"So, I see most of the odds and ends have been packed away and put in the closets," Danny said, "that's fine for Mary, she can decide what to do with her stuff, but we should take your boxes up to the attic or something, make more room for Riley."
"I'm thinking . . . eventually, I think Riley is going to want to live in the house Mikoto left her," Steve said.
"Yeah?" Danny asked, curious.
"It's Asian in architecture, quiet, remote . . . she seemed really happy there," Steve said.
Danny looked at him dubiously. "Well, with you, and Jerry, and Joe there," he pointed out. "Steve, it's an amazing property, but with what she's been through . . . it's going to be a while before it's good for her to be that far away from family. Now," he added, rubbing his hands together, "in the meantime, show me the way to the attic, or do you want these boxes in the garage?"
"Attic is fine," Steve said, reaching for a box.
"Are you insane?" Danny yelled. "You'll be back to pissing in a measuring cup if you don't take it easy. You're here to direct and oversee."
Steve grinned as Danny hauled several boxes up to the attic, his apron fluttering merrily as he went up and down the narrow pull-down stairs. Satisfied that he had cleared the room enough, he stood, looking at the bunk beds, hands on his hips. "I'm gonna have to call Chin," he said, " to stop by and help me separate these bunks."
"What's wrong with the bunk beds?" Steve asked, indignant. "They're very efficient. Rebecca can take the top bunk."
"Efficient - Rebecca - okay, do you not remember, when Riley had nightmares, and we had to come in here, how awkward it was not to bean your head on that top bunk?" Danny demanded, waving his hands.
"Well, for me, a bit, yes," Steve admitted, "for you . . ."
Danny flipped him off. "Rebecca is a grown up. Grownups, especially grown up women, do not climb ladders and sleep in the top bunk. There's plenty of floor space in here. I'm calling Chin." Danny walked off to check the laundry, grabbing his phone as he went. "Chin . . . I have a favor to ask of you . . ."
Steve stood in the hallway, looking at the two rooms which would soon be reclaimed by his two sisters, and a nurse he barely knew, and realized that nothing in his years at Annapolis, his BUDs training, or his years of service as a SEAL and a Naval Intelligence officer had given him an ounce of useful training for this particular situation.
"Danny?" he called anxiously, and headed off in search of his best friend.
#*#*#*#*#
Steve was waiting at Hickam Air Force Base when the plane from Barstow landed. Mary looked impossibly tiny coming off the plane, surrounded by military personnel, but predictably, she was at ease, chatting and laughing. She spotted Steve and waved, bouncing on the balls of her feet and heading in his direction.
"Mare," he said, suddenly overcome with emotion as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, her feet dangling inches off the ground. He cradled her head easily in the palm of his hand for a moment before he placed her carefully back on the ground.
"Commander, I have a bag for your sister if you'll give us just a moment to get it sorted," a young soldier said.
"No problem," Steve said, shaking his hand. "Thank you for seeing to it that she arrived here safely."
Steve held Mary by the shoulders and looked her over. She grinned and stood at mock attention.
"You look great, Mary," he said, smiling down at her. And she did - healthy, fit, and dressed much more conservatively than he was used to. "This a new look?" he teased, gesturing at the fashionably comfortable jeans, t-shirt, and converse sneakers she was sporting.
"Danny and Catherine said that you'd been injured, and that there were several other team members injured, and that I should be prepared to help out," Mary explained. "So, I brought stuff, look -" she gestured to a large tote bag that she had carried off the plane. "I have magazines, and chapstick, and fuzzy socks, and hard candy. All of the things Aunt Deb says are important for people who are in the hospital or recovering."
Steve was handed another bag, which he presumed contained Mary's clothes, and they started walking toward his truck.
"I'm impressed, Mary," he said. "That was thoughtful."
She ducked her head self-consciously. "Yeah, well, I know I'm usually a bit of a spazz and you're always having to bail me out of trouble. Danny's never called me when you've been hurt and . . . well, I wanted you to be able to depend on me for a change."
He hugged her to himself and kissed the top of her head before opening the door to his truck and helping her into the passenger seat. "That's good, Mare." He slipped into the driver's seat and steered the truck toward home.
"What?" Mary said, looking at him suspiciously. "Oh my gosh, Steve, did you lose someone? What's wrong? Is Chin okay?" she demanded.
"Chin is fine," Steve assured her. "There's . . . Mary, there's a lot I need to tell you. Let's grab sandwiches and head home, and then I'll explain, okay?"
#*#*#*#*#*#
They were sitting in the chairs by the beach.
"Steve, I'm really freaked out," Mary said quietly. "I haven't seen this look on your face since the day mom died. I still think it was pretty awful of dad to make you be the one to tell me. You shouldn't have had to do that. And now you have the same look on your face, like you're about to say something that's going to change everything about life as I know it, and it's freaking me out."
"I don't know where to start," Steve admitted. "None of what I have to say is easy to tell you. I just want you to know that I'm here for you; the whole team is here to support us through this."
Mary squared her shoulders. "Just tell me. Quick, like ripping off a bandaid."
"We have a sister," Steve said.
Mary gaped at him, speechless
"And our mom is still alive; or, well, she was, and . . . well, I'm not exactly sure at the moment. But as of a couple days ago, she was still alive," Steve said.
"Is there anything else?" Mary asked faintly.
"No, that's it," Steve said, grabbing her hands. "You okay?"
"Am I - no, no I am not okay, Steve, this is insane," Mary said, sounding a bit hysterical. "Mom is alive?"
"I don't know, Mary," Steve said, shaking his head. "There was an accident, an explosion, and she may have been caught in it, or she may have managed to get clear. We don't know yet. But she may be alive."
"And we have a sister?" Mary asked, incredulous. "Older or younger?"
"Younger," Steve said. "Her name is Riley. Mom raised her in Tokyo until she was about sixteen. She's about twenty now."
"She's younger than me," Mary repeated. "I have a younger sister. Named Riley."
Steve nodded, giving Mary time to absorb the shocking news.
"Is she the one that's hurt?" Mary asked.
Steve nodded again. "Yes, Riley is injured; and another friend of the team's, named Jerry. And Joe White."
"Uncle Joe?" Mary questioned. "Dad's friend?"
"Yeah," Steve said. "Turns out it's a little more complicated than that, but yeah."
Mary was silent for a time, looking out at the water and running her fingers through the sand. She finally looked back up at Steve. "Our parents lied to us about a lot of stuff, then."
"They did," Steve confirmed. No sense denying it.
"Does Riley know about me?" Mary asked next.
"She does. She's looking forward to meeting you."
Mary took a deep breath. "Okay. I think you better tell me the whole story from the beginning."
"Alright, Mary," Steve said, smiling fondly at her and squeezing her hand. He was so proud of her.
"Just one thing, though," she added.
"What's that, sis?"
"I know it's still morning, but I need a drink."
#*#*#*#*#
It was almost an hour later when Mary contemplated Steve solemnly, trying to process everything he'd told her.
"It sounds like a science fiction movie. A bad one," she said. "And I feel like there are still things you're not telling me."
"Mary, I don't . . . I'm trying to leave you room to give our parents the benefit of the doubt, here. And also, some of the details are going to be deemed classified. Can you just trust me, that I told you what I could, and that what I couldn't was for your own protection?
She looked at him dubiously. "Because that's worked out so well for our family so far."
He grinned. "Touche."
They heard the gentle purr of Danny's Camaro pull into the driveway, and headed to the front door.
"Danny!" Mary exclaimed, padding out onto the front porch to greet him.
"Hey, Squirt!" Danny said, coming up the steps and wrapping her in a big hug. He tousled her hair gently. "You okay? With all of this?"
She shrugged. "I mean, it's crazy, but . . . I guess I'd rather have more family than less, so . . ."
"I'm glad to see you, Danny, but . . . what are you doing here? You should have just taken the day, partner," Steve said.
"Well, if it's not an intrusion, I thought that I would wait here with Mary while you go pick up Riley and Rebecca. Rebecca is probably arriving here with just the scrubs from Tripler, since her previous accommodations went boom; figured you'd have your hands full with Riley and Mary, so I thought I would offer to take Rebecca out to pick up some essentials to tide her over until she gets settled."
Steve rubbed a hand over his face. "I hadn't even thought of that, Danny . . . thank you."
"Don't thank me too fast, I'm counting on Five-O expensing some clothing and personal items for her," Danny warned.
Mary narrowed her eyes at Danny. "I would have been happy to take her," she said, "or Kono. I'm sure Kono would have been happy to help." She smacked Steve in the chest.
"Ow, what the hell, Mare?"
"You didn't tell me Danny was hot for the nurse," she said, winking at Danny.
"I'm not - Mary McGarrett, that is just - Steve would you explain?" Danny protested.
"Gee, Danny, I'd love to but I have to go pick up Riley, bye," Steve said. He grabbed his keys and abandoned Danny to a smirking Mary.
#*#*#*#*#
"I'm sorry you can't leave yet," Riley said, handing Jerry a cup of water.
"I'll be fine," he assured her. "We can Skype, if Steve says it's okay. And I'll be out in about a week, they said." He glanced around the room. "I'll be glad. Not that I'm not grateful, but it's a little boring in here."
Riley glanced around the room, too.
"Sorry. I bet it's way better than where . . . well, than where you were right before here," Jerry said apologetically.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean it feels like home for you, Jerry," she said. "I'm sorry you got hurt."
"Just think, though, if I had broken my hands," Jerry said earnestly. "It could have been so much worse. Imagine. Not being able to type for . . . weeks."
They both shuddered.
"There you are," Rebecca said, poking her head in the door, Steve on her heels. They both looked mildly worried. "You said you'd be right back."
"Sorry," Riley said. "I wanted to say goodbye to Jerry."
"It's okay, Riley," Steve said. "Hey, Jerry - how are you feeling?"
"Better today," Jerry said.
Riley patted his hand awkwardly and then turned to Steve and Rebecca. "Could I see Joe before I leave?" she asked Steve.
He hesitated, and then nodded. "Just a short visit, though. Give me a minute; let me talk to him first."
Steve disappeared and Rebecca and Riley started walking, slowly, toward Joe's room.
"He's going to tell Joe what he can and can't say to me," Riley said. She grinned at Rebecca. "And then he'll probably come out here and tell me what I can and can't say to Joe."
"Sounds complicated," Rebecca commented. She studied the way Riley was limping. "I think we need to discuss crutches for you, Riley. Or a stronger brace for that knee."
Riley wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I miss whatever it was that made this stuff -" she broke off with a frustrated gesture.
The door to Joe's room opened, and Steve gestured Riley in.
"I'll go get Riley's pharmacy order and wait for you at the security desk," Rebecca offered, and Steve nodded gratefully.
"Riley," Joe said, swallowing hard. "I'm so sorry . . . for everything. We did - I did what I thought was right, at the time, but I didn't realize . . . I'm sorry."
"I have a lot of questions, Joe," Riley said softly. "When you're feeling better."
Joe nodded. "I'll do my best to answer, Riley."
"We need to go," Steve said, his hand brushing protectively over Riley's shoulder. He didn't miss the expression of sadness in Joe's face, at the reminder that Steve still felt the need to protect Riley from him. "You rest up, Joe, and they'll be kicking you out of here in no time."
"Goodbye, kiddos," Joe said. "See you soon."
Tripler didn't have that silly rule about riding to the door in a wheelchair, so Dr. Link simply walked them to the security at the double doors, where Rebecca was waiting patiently.
Riley paused before they went through. "Really, really sorry about the broken nose, Dr. Link."
"You're forgiven," he laughed. "You take care, Riley. Anything goes weird, you get your brother to bring you back and we'll zap you again, okay?"
"Okay," she said agreeably. Steve and Rebecca glanced at each other, not sure whether to be amused or alarmed at how easily Riley accepted that as an option.
They took the elevator to a gated, security monitored parking area. Rebecca was impressed with how many times Steve had to show his credentials and then wait patiently while everything was verified.
"Commander," the security guard nodded, and yet another buzzing sound and then they were in the sunlight.
Riley and Rebecca squinted and covered their eyes. It had been days - too many days - since either of them had been outside. By the time they reached the HPD issue SUV, both of them were a bit dazed.
"Where's your truck?" Riley asked, absently. Then her eyes widened and she gasped, as she remembered, in vivid detail, her front row view of the explosion that rocked the truck onto its side.
"Riley, you're okay," Steve assured her.
"I saw it happen," she said. "I saw your truck flip over, and Jerry wouldn't stop, he . . . "
"I know, and I am so proud of him," Steve said. "He did everything he could to keep you safe. He did exactly what Joe and I would have told him to do. And we're fine."
Riley raised an eyebrow at him skeptically.
"We'll be fine," Steve amended, helping Riley into the front seat. She winced as the movement aggravated her bruised hip and ribs. "And you, young lady, are going to rest up. Mary has come prepared with magazines and fuzzy socks and everything." He closed her door carefully and went around to slide into the driver's seat.
"So she's here?" Riley asked. "And she knows?"
"Yes, and yes," Steve said.
"Was she angry?" Riley whispered, while Rebecca observed the exchange with interest. She'd met Catherine, so Mary couldn't be a girlfriend . . .
"She was angry with our parents, just like I said she would be," Steve said, wrapping a comforting hand around Riley's knee. "Not with you. Sorry," he added, catching Rebecca's curious gaze in the rear view mirror, "Mary is my - our sister."
"Ah," Rebecca said. "No worries, Commander McGarrett, just carry on . . . I'll piece things together. And please, don't let me invade your privacy. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you and your team giving me the opportunity to gather my thoughts and decide what to do, and I meant it when I said that I was interested in helping with Riley and Jerry's recovery at home. You've been abundantly kind to me; you don't owe me explanations."
"So what you're saying is that you're not entirely sure you want to sign on for the full crazy?" Steve asked, amused.
Rebecca waved her hand dismissively. "I think it's too late to protect me from the crazy," she laughed, then glanced at Steve apologetically. "Sorry. Too soon?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Nope," Steve said, smiling back at her. "If we can't find some humor in this, we're going to be pretty miserable."
It was a pleasant drive, and while Steve kept his eyes constantly scanning for potential trouble, an uneventful one. They were soon pulling into Steve's driveway. Steve and Rebecca slid easily from the vehicle, but Riley hesitated.
"Here, honey, I'll help you out," Steve said. "Watch that knee."
Riley looked at him, her face full of uncertainty. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked.
"Riley, I know this is overwhelming, but of course it's a good idea," Steve said patiently. "Mary is your sister, just like I'm your brother."
"Yeah, but she's been your sister - your baby sister - her whole life," Riley said. "I don't want to mess that up. You can send me somewhere else, and you and Mary can go back to your lives."
Steve had to carefully control the anger that washed over him, lest Riley think it was directed toward her. "Riley McGarrett," he said firmly, "there were, unfortunately, people in your life who thought that was a good answer. I am not one of those people. You are not going to be hidden away like a skeleton in the closet. Got it?"
Riley nodded and climbed reluctantly out of the passenger seat, and limped up the sidewalk. The front door opened, and Mary bounded out, followed closely by Danny. Riley stopped, hesitating, as Mary's hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp.
"Steve, you numbskull," Mary blurted. "How did you not know the minute you saw her? Oh my God, the two of you . . . "
Steve put a gentle hand on Riley's back and nudged her forward, closing the distance between her and Mary.
"Riley," Steve said softly, "this is our sister Mary."
"Wow," Riley whispered.
"Yeah," Mary whispered back. "Holy shit."
Steve threw back his head and laughed heartily, wrapping an arm around each of them as they continued up the sidewalk.
"I, ah, thought we might slip out for a while," Danny said, stepping off the porch and approaching Rebecca. "They could probably use some space, and I suspect you could use a break. And perhaps a trip to a department store?"
Rebecca glanced down at her scrubs, and then back at Danny in relief. "Oh my, that would be . . . wow. Yeah, I had the scrubs I wore out of the compound, and these from Tripler. I'm pretty sure everything went up in flames . . . driver's license, credit cards, bank cards . . ."
Danny smiled at her. "Good thing the head of Five-O owes you a favor, then. Whatever you need to get situated until we work things out with your id and accounts, compliments of the governor of Hawaii." He flashed a government issue credit card at her.
"Wow," Rebecca said. "Looks like I chose wisely, then, getting out of the matrix."
"That you did," Danny agreed, gesturing toward the Camaro.
"This is your car?" Rebecca asked. "Well, my day is just improving by leaps and bounds."
#*#*#*#*#
"I hope you don't mind, Steve, but Danny helped me go in the attic and bring a few things down for Riley's room," Mary said, gesturing into the room set up for Riley and Rebecca. Two soft, faded quilts had replaced the utilitarian blue covers on the beds, and the dark curtains had been replaced with a pair of sheers that moved softly in the breeze from the still-open window.
"Wow," Steve said, impressed. Danny was right; it was high time for some changes, and this was a good start.
"It looks very cozy, thank you Mary," Riley said, her hand tracing over the soft quilt.
"The quilts were our grandmothers," Mary said. "I thought they were prettier than Steve's boring things. And I brought down a box of books . . . I didn't know what you liked to read, but our mom was a teacher. I thought. Anyway, Steve said you'd been hurt, and I thought maybe books . . . " she trailed off uncertainly.
Riley opened the lid to the box, which had been placed neatly on the dresser. Inside were an assortment of novels, some from Doris's cover as a teacher, some from Steve's early years of high school. "I love to read," Riley said, looking at Mary, her eyes shining. "Thank you."
Mary beamed as Steve squeezed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. "You did good, Mare," he whispered, and Mary realized, in that moment, that while she'd never doubted her brother's affection for her, she'd been waiting her whole life to make him proud.
Mary brushed a hand across her eyes. "Okay, I don't know about you two, but between the jet lag and this very Lifetime movie scenario we've had going on here, I feel pretty wrung out. How about we collapse on the beach?"
"You two go ahead," Steve said, "I'll be out in a bit. I need to check in with the office." He made a hasty retreat to his dad's desk, where he sat down in the familiar chair and picked up a framed picture of his dad and Mary. "You'd be so proud of Mary, dad," he whispered. His eyes fell on another picture, and he reached for his phone.
"Aunt Deb? It's Stevie . . . "
#*#*#*#*#
Danny reminded Rebecca that Steve's house was, in fact, ocean front, and the headed for a small, modest department store that Malia had recommended when Gracie needed clothes for camp. He was hazarding a guess, based on his limited time with Rebecca, but she didn't seem to be the type who would want or need expensive clothing. Also, the store had only one primary entrance, with just a fire exit at the back.
These were things Danny noticed, just as he noticed which bench outside would allow him to keep an eye on both the entrance to the store and the street that lead to the back alley for the block.
One additional stop at a drug store, and they were headed back to Steve's.
"Thank you, Danny," Rebecca said, returning the credit card to him. "That was incredibly thoughtful."
"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Danny asked, glancing skeptically at the few bags in the back seat.
"Well, my current job doesn't seem to require anything special, and I don't mind doing laundry," she said, smiling. "There is just one other thing," she added, hesitantly.
"What's that?" Danny asked, smiling at her.
"I need coffee," she said, a hint of desperation in her voice "Real coffee. Strong coffee."
Danny laughed. "I know just the place. One of the few redeeming qualities that I could find about this place in the first few months I lived here was the coffee. It is amazing."
"Was it difficult? Adjusting to Hawaii?" Rebecca asked.
"It was," Danny acknowledged. "It was, because I was so angry. My ex-wife had packed my baby girl across the world without consulting me and I was furious. So I resisted everything about coming here, and then when I got here - whooo boy. I was a haole."
"A howlie?" Rebecca asked, scrunching up her nose.
Danny noticed that it was quite cute when she did that. Adorable, was the word that came to mind. He cleared his throat and continued.
"Yeah, sorta - spelled h-a-o-l-e. Non-native. Outsider. I finally settled in with a great partner, Meka, and things got better. Then there was a case that changed everything. Steve's dad was murdered, and I was assigned the case," Danny explained.
"Wow," Rebecca said.
"Yeah. We, ah, met in his garage. With our guns pulled on each other," Danny laughed. "Here we are, coffee."
They pulled up in front of a small walk-up and Danny ordered two large coffees. Rebecca smiled as they fixed their coffees - two sugars, generous cream - exactly the same.
"So, pretty much everything around here comes with this view?" she asked, admiring the beach view from where they stood, sipping their coffees. "Oh, yes, you weren't kidding. This is really good coffee."
"Right? Yeah, there's sand and saltwater everywhere you turn. Or, you know, flesh eating jungle or god-forsaken pineapple fields. Steve can show you some amazing places if you're up for a twenty mile hike straight up the side of a mountain," Danny groused.
Rebecca studied him for a moment, taking another sip of coffee. "It's home now, isn't it?"
"Heaven help me, but yeah, it is," Danny admitted, grinning. "Five-O just sort of has that effect on people. Pulls you in and next thing you know, roots."
"So if I don't want to get attached?" Rebecca asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Then you probably shouldn't have followed Steve out of that compound," Danny said.
"Ah, well," Rebecca shrugged, "what's done is done. Let's go check on my patient."
#*#*#*#*#
Steve met them at the front door, smiling.
"They're both asleep," he said, taking one of Rebecca's bags from Danny. He glanced back at the Camaro. "Are there more bags in the trunk?" he asked.
"Rebecca is apparently low maintenance," Danny said approvingly.
"Well, not to mess up your design plan, Danny," Steve teased, "but Mary has decided that she wants to bunk with Riley, so that means Rebecca has this room." Steve led the way to Mary's old room and deposited her bags on the bed. "It's not the Hilton, but thanks to Danny, it's clean and comfortable. Please make yourself at home."
"It's perfect," Rebecca said. "Do you think it would be okay if I slipped in and checked on Riley? And then, I have to admit, I could do with a nap myself."
"Absolutely," Steve said. "Danny and I will be around if you need anything. Thanks, Rebecca. I know this is crazy, giving up your time to come help us, but by tomorrow I absolutely have to be back in the office, and there's no way I'd be willing to leave Riley without a medical professional."
"Well, trust me when I say that there's literally no other place I'd rather be right now; and I don't just mean because I'm currently homeless and without a passport or driver's license," Rebecca replied dryly.
Danny followed Steve out to the chairs by the beach, and watched as Steve gingerly lowered himself, wincing, into the seat.
"You need a cushion or something, there, partner?" Danny asked.
Steve sighed. "I will be so glad when this heals up. It's so damn aggravating."
"Aside from that, how is everything? I mean, really; with Mary, and getting Riley back? And don't just give me 'fine'; I want to know," Danny insisted.
"Mary handled the news remarkably well, all things considered," Steve said. "I think some of that had to do with how you and Catherine approached the situation, so thanks. Apparently she got the idea that she was being called because she was needed, and I think that really made a difference to her. I think she made up her mind that she was going to rise to the challenge. She'd even called Aunt Deb and asked for advice on what to bring with her."
"Really? Man, that's great, Steve," Danny said. "I'll be honest, Catherine and I were worried that she'd be yet one more person for you to have to look after. We had a contingency plan for getting her shipped back out in a hurry if that because the case. But I'm glad to know that she's handling it well."
"And Rebecca? How's she holding up? This can't be easy for her; she came here as part of what she thought was a legitimate medical study and suddenly finds herself in the middle of a disavowed CIA operation; the whole thing literally going up in flames behind her," Steve said, shaking his head. "To think, what could have happened to her, had she not . . . shit, Danny."
"What, babe?" Danny asked, alarmed, as Steve paled.
"My mother . . . if she blew up that bunker in an effort to buy me time to get Riley away safely . . . then she likely killed innocent people in the process," Steve said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"Steven, that is not on you," Danny said earnestly. "First of all, we haven't seen any reports. We don't know that your mother caused that explosion. Secondly, even if she did - you didn't ask her to. You had no idea she was going to do that. It's not on you."
Steve nodded miserably. "I guess you're right, Danny."
"Of course I'm right," Danny said confidently, smiling at Steve. "Now, come on. Let's go figure out the new normal - if there is such a thing around here - for the guy with two sisters. Two beautiful sisters. Two beautiful single sisters. It is a difficult life, my friend, especially with both of them under your roof. Speaking of which, Mary didn't indicate how long she was staying . . . Catherine and I shoulda maybe discussed that with her . . . Steve, what's wrong? Why do you look like you're trapped behind enemy lines? Talk to me, babe . . . "
#*#*#*#*#
There will be more adventures with the newly-non-nanobyted Riley, I promise! This story is going to pause just for a few weeks in November but will return with everyone back in action and moving forward with Riley as part of Five-O, working alongside Charlie; and Rebecca deciding whether to stay in Honolulu or return to Baltimore; and Steve and Catherine . . . and of course, Joe White and the ghosts of Doris/Oliva past!
