CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams – PART II"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: October 25, 2012
(Grace, her eyes moist with tears and a sad expression on her face, looks at Steve for just a moment before launching herself into his arms, putting her little arms around his neck, and indulging herself in a serious attack of tears. Steve's heart turns over and he wraps his arms around the little girl and holds her tightly while she cries out her grief.)
"Wh . . Why did the ba . . baby have to di. . . die, Uncle Steve? Why . . . Why can. . can't I see Mo . . Mom?"
"Gracie, Sweetheart, sometimes things happen that we don't always understand. Maybe God needed Gabe in Heaven. And . . your Mom's doctor thinks it would be better for her if she didn't see any children for a while. The doctor wants to give her mind the chance to come to terms with losing the baby before she sees any other children; and it's not just you, Sweetheart, it's Emily and Eric, too."
"But I know . . I co . . could make her fe. . feel better, Uncle Steve!"
"Tell you what, Gracie. . Let's try this the doctor's way for a little while and, if her way doesn't work, I'll personally take you to see your Mom. Deal?"
(Grace pulls back and searches her uncle's face intently for a moment and Steve honestly feels like the little girl can see into his mind.)
"Okay, Uncle Steve, I'll wait, but I want you to promise me that we won't wait forever."
"I promise, Gracie. I will make sure you get to see your Mom."
" 'Kay. Uncle Steve?"
"Yes, Gracie?"
"I love you."
"I love you, too, Sweetheart, and I'll always be here for you, okay?"
" 'Kay. Did you bring Emily with you or is Aunt Sam bringing her?"
"I brought her. She's in the den with Danno and Grandma and Grandpa. Wanna go see her?"
(And a small smile spreads over Grace's little face and Steve stands up, takes her tiny hand in his large one, and, together, they head into the den where they find Emily climbing all over her grandfather on the floor. As soon as the baby sees Grace, however, she starts smiling and saying, "Acie! Acie!" and runs as fast as she can on her little legs over to her cousin. Steve notices that Libby is standing in the kitchen looking out a window that overlooks the back yard with a worried expression on her face and walks over to join her. Danny is sitting on the edge of the deck with his head bowed and he looks so very lonely.)
"I'm so angry about all this! My daughter is lying in a hospital room and doesn't even know she's on the planet, my son-in-law can't even grieve properly for the son he lost because he's scared out of his mind he's going to lose his wife, Sam's worried sick about her sister but feeling guilty because her child's alive and well, you're worried about all of us, and Grace . . . Grace is upset about losing her little brother and not being able to see Caroline. I just want to hit something or someone, Steve, and I can't even do that because the spoiled, selfish man that caused all this is dead!"
(Steve slips an arm around his mother-in-law's shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze. He well understands exactly what Libby is feeling because he's experiencing some of the same feelings himself.)
"We're going to get through this, Libby; all of us. We're just going to have to take it one day at a time."
"What can I say to him, Steve? What can I do to help him?"
"Just be there for him, Libby, like you've always been there for all of us anytime we've needed you. You'd be surprised how much it means just to know you're here."
"Thank you, dear; I appreciate that, but, this time, I feel so damned helpless. I just don't know what to do!"
"Then let us be there for you. We're all family, Libby, and family sticks together; no matter what. . . Let me go out there and try to talk to Danny."
"All right, but, Steve, please don't pick a fight. That boy doesn't need that right now."
"Wasn't planning on it, Libby. I don't think I could handle one of our fights right now, either."
(Steve gives Libby a kiss on the cheek and slips out the back door to walk over and drop down on the deck to sit next to Danny. For a few minutes, the two men sit in silence; each lost in his own thoughts.)
"She's okay, Danny."
"She's not okay, Steve!"
"She will be."
"I wonder if any of us will ever be okay again. . . What if I never get her back, Steve? What if Caroline is just as lost to me forever as Gabe is? What if she never comes out of this?"
"Don't give up on her, yet, Danny. Caroline's a strong person and she's a fighter."
"See, that's just it. She isn't fighting. It's like she's . . Given up. How am I supposed to help her if she can't or won't help herself?"
(Sam, having stopped off at her and Steve's house to change out of her uniform, arrives at Caroline's and Danny's and heads straight into the den where she picks her daughter up off the floor, gives her a hug and kiss, and simply holds her for just a moment before hugging Grace and getting a hug and kiss in return. Walking into the kitchen, Emily safely in her arms, Sam follows her mother's line of sight and sees Steve and Danny sitting side by side on the deck.)
"What's going on out there, Mom?"
"I don't know, Sam, but I'm hoping something positive for a change."
