The Long Road T Rated Version

by DivaLola

Steve thought his life was crazy before. Now that his childhood best friend Maddie is back in his life, will all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place? Will he finally find the answers he's been searching for? And who will he choose to be with?

37. Chapter 36, Part 2

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Hawaii Five-0" or any of its characters. I do own Maddie, Pete, Tina, Ryan, Henry, Mo, Adam, Doc, etc.

---

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

- Hi guys! Sorry it took me a week to post this update. I posted the last update, Ch.36 Part 1, while I was home in Northern CA visiting my mom. It was crazy because the next day caught on fire. My mom's house, the house I grew up in, is at the base of . I was really worried we were going to have to evacuate. My dad passed away when I was 15 and we were super close. I was a complete "Daddy's Little Girl". Anyway, all my memories of my dad are in that house along with thousands of pictures, none of which are on any kind of computer or hard drive because none of the pictures were taken on digital cameras. We didn't have them back then. I'm HUGE into pictures. I'm an avid scrapbooker and really big on memories and preserving both the pictures AND the stories. So, I was completely crazy worried that we were going to have to evacuate and I would lose the photos if the fire hit the house. So, I spent my nights packing the photos, as well as other things. Because the firefighters were having such a difficult time containing the fire, a special fire team that's only called in on really bad fires, was sent for. They arrived late the 2nd day of the fire and took command. They called for help throughout California. There were 700 firefighters fighting the fire when the special team got there and they increased it to 1,400 firefighters! Isn't that INSANE! They also increased the amount of helicopters from 4 to 11 and the helicopters that dump the fire retardent from 2 to 4. It was scary because we started to be able to see the flames from our house. Thankfully this team was called in because they were able to box it in and keep it from spreading, so my mom's house is safe! YAY! Anyway, that is why I didn't post this update the following day. I hope you all forgive me!

- I am posting the next 51 pages of Chapter 36. Originally this update was the next 33 pages and I was going to leave you with an awesome cliffhanger! BUT because it took me a little over a week to post Part 2, I added 18 more pages and didn't stop at the cliffhanger. I was going to end it where Steve realizes what Maddie is taking him to do in the main room, but where the reader doesn't realize it yet. However, you'll find out now and won't have to wait until the next update. Sorry, that's confusing, but you'll see what I'm talking about once you read this update.

- Okay, I just wanted to thank all the reviews I got. You guys rock! I don't know how to explain how much the reviews mean to the writers. They pump us up and make us want to do nothing but update. NO JOKE! So, seriously, the more I get, the faster I post. For example, there was a reviewer this time around that was logged in as "Guest", but they left me a review EVERY DAY asking me and begging me for the next part. They are a big reason why I stayed up all night to post this now that I'm back home in LA. Seriously! So THANK THEM!

The more reviews I get, seriously, the faster I'll update.

- Again, I want to make something clear. Yes, this story has 36 chapters so far, but 6 days have gone by! I know it seems like it's been forever that Maddie and Steve haven't been in an awkward place. That Maddie assumes the worst whenever he says or does something because she's so hurt, but it's only been a few days since he said the stupid thing. AND they've only seen one another for A COUPLE HOURS since that time. Please keep that in mind! I'm sorry, but I absolutely HATE when I'm reading a story and I get really into it and Steve meets a woman and the next day they are in love and the week after that they are having a baby. SUPER UNREALISTIC and it takes away the angst the reader feels when reading it. For me, it ruins the fic for me. But that's me. Everyone is different.

I know I go into A LOT of detail and write each chapter practically minute by minute. But that's my style of writing. I am super detail oriented. It's who I am. If you don't like it, don't read it. However, do know that once the show is over and they get back to the house, I will write it with gaps. It won't be so minute to minute. That is A PROMISE! In fact, once it's just Steve with Maddie, there will be times I'll skip ahead days in the fic and even weeks. I'm just building this elaborate back story, because technically, this story will probably be a Mini Series of 3. Anyway, it's not for sure, but it's what I'm thinking right now.

- Well enough chatting on my part...I'll let you get to it. Here are some things to keep in mind!

- Like always, thoughts are in italics. And in this update, words replaying in anyone's head are in bold.

- A little tidbit to keep in mind. You might already know this, but just in case... A squid is someone who is in the Navy and a Jarhead is someone in the Marines.

- The next Part IS done. HOWEVER, I want to read through it and edit it before I post, so it'll probably be a day or 2 before I post it. But, it is done, just needs to be edited. I'll do it as fast as I can!

- IMPORTANT: Okay, in this update, Chapter 36 Part 2, a couple things from past chapters are referenced. Because these chapters were quite a few back, I'm going to tell you which chapter it was in and copy and paste the excerpt from that chapter. However, if you still can't remember after reading it, I would go back to that chapter and refresh your memory.

The first one that gets mentioned is the image that flashed through Steve's mind of holding a pregnant Maddie carrying his child. It happens a few times in the Barbeque chapters and gets mentioned again in this chapter. Because it's from numerous chapters, I am not posting the excerpts. But I'm posting them for the next ones.

The second one that gets mentioned is from Chapter 16 when Maddie is going through her laundry from being on tour for months. Steve goes looking for her and ends up helping her. Joking around, she throws a pile of clothes at him and some stick to him. Here is the excerpt from that part...

... START OF EXCERPT...

Maddie grinned at him, her dimples showing. Uh, I love those dimples! This is the first time I'm seeing them in 2 years. I didn't realize how much I missed them, Steve thought as he stared at her still laughing. "Doing laundry silly!" she giggled rolling her eyes at him.

She's in a cute mood, he thought. "I gotta tell you Mads, I've never seen laundry done this way."

"That's because you're no fun. You're too serious!" She reached up and took his hand. "Come help!" She pulled him down in the pile, laughing hysterically.

Now closer to her he could see that she still looked tired, but she was having so much fun he didn't have the heart to ruin it and insist she get some rest. "Mads, what are all these clothes from?"

She rolled her eyes. "These are from the last 4 months. Been on tour a while. Technically for 6 months, but I was in Los Angeles and did some laundry then. This doesn't include my stage clothes."

"My God! Do you really need all these? I mean clothing store's don't even have this much!"

"Hey! You're so used to having one small duffel bag and packing light from the Navy that you forget how things really are! Plus, I'm a girl!" Maddie responded throwing some clothes at him.

"I resent that!" Steve laughed as the clothes she threw hit him. Most of the garments fell right off him, but something stuck to his shoulder. Reaching up he grabbed the offending object and held it up. His face immediately turned bright red causing Maddie to laugh hysterically. "Uh….here you go…I think…yeah…" he stumbled as he held the black lacey object out to her. She didn't take it at first because she was enjoying watching him squirm. "Just…here…" Steve shook his hand, the clothing swinging when he did so. Finally Maddie gave him a break and grabbed it.

"Steve…it's just a bra," she smiled at how embarrassed he was. In fact, she actually thought it was pretty cute. She knew he wasn't a prude or anything, but sometimes he did get uncomfortable talking about certain things. Not all the time though. However, this was one of those times. "I imagine…actually I hope, you've seen one before!"

Steve glared at her, shaking his head. "Of course I have…"

His face was still bright red. Maddie was enjoying this too much to let him off the hook quite yet. "In fact, I hope this wasn't your first time holding a bra Steven."

"Maddie…" Steve sighed. It wasn't that he was conservative or anything it was that this was her bra. And for some reason, the second he saw it he pictured it on her. Thank God I'm sitting in this absurd amount of clothes because she can't see what thinking about her like that just did to me. I feel like a damn teenager going through puberty! I shouldn't get a boner just at the thought of her like that. Not at this age! What the hell is going on? he wondered, a bit panicked.

"Steve?...Steve?" Maddie called trying to get his attention. It's like he suddenly checked out completely, something she'd never seen him really do. Wanting to bring him back to earth and tease him some more, she threw the bra at him and yelled, "STEVEN!" Steve came to just as the bra landed on his head. He pretended to be mad, but couldn't hide his smile or the fact that his face became redder, something she didn't think was even possible.

"Maddie, knock it off! Would you stop doing that?" Steve said, throwing the bra back at her as if he was grossed out.

Maddie's chest tightened. The thought of me like that is that disgusting to him? she wondered. Taking the bra and dropping it into the lingerie pile she'd started, she said, "It's just a bra, Steve…"

He could tell something had changed a little bit in her, but he wasn't sure why. He tried to catch her eye, but she refused as she sorted some clothes around her. "Yeah, but it's your bra Maddie."

She felt as if someone had just punched her square in the stomach. Wow, she thought. I knew Pete was wrong…but man was he WRONG! Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. Little did Maddie know, Steve didn't mean it the way she took it. "Yes, Steve, well I do have boobs, so, yes…I have bras…..Anyway, I got a lot of laundry to do. I'm sure there's something else you'd rather be doing right now."

...END OF EXCERPT...

---

IMPORTANT: The next moment that will be mentioned in this update is from Chapter 31 where Steve tells everyone the tradition his father started with Maddie. The one where he would give her a blue, glittery rose before every show. Here is the excerpt for that part of the chapter.

... START OF EXCERPT...

Chin's face grew serious as he met his boss' eyes. "She was with your mom and dad, Steve."

Steve's stomach sunk. He was silent as his eyes fluttered closed. Once open, he shook his head slightly and licked his bottom lip. "Of course." He paused. "Damn it." He sighed.

"What is it Steve?" Lori asked rubbing his shoulder once again. However this time instead of just letting it happen he subtly moved away from it, a nice way of shaking off. A lump formed in her throat at his behavior.

The team all knew what he was cursing about, well except Lori apparently. They knew he felt even worse for hurting her when she obviously was grieving. He'd been so consumed with worry over her that he hadn't thought about how she'd just found out about his dad, who was like a father to her. He knew she had to be feeling really alone to do what she did. To take off without security to go see his dad when someone was after her. And he knew it was his fault she was feeling so alone. "Damn it," Steve repeated.

"McGarrett," Chin began. "She'll be okay. She's just sad. I mean, you know that whenever she played here in Hawaii, he'd take the day off and spend it with her."

Steve smiled thinking about how close Maddie and his dad had been. "Yeah, and he'd always bring her a blue rose for good luck."

"A blue rose?" Kono asked, confused. "Why blue?"

"It goes back to when we were little." Steve smiled reminiscing. "It was her first little recital since her mom had passed the year before. Her dad was…well… not there." It was obvious that just the mere mention of her father sparked rage in Steve. "Anyway, she was having a hard time. In fact she said she didn't want to perform anymore, but after much convincing my mom finally got her to agree to at least do this last recital. Maddie was really upset right before she went on and I remember my dad kneeling in front of her and giving her a dyed blue rose with sparkles all over it. It seemed to do the trick and he gave her one at every performance he attended since then."

"Why not a red rose?" Kono questioned.

Steve smiled and shrugged. "I don't know, but there's a reason. I asked my dad every time he gave her one and he'd just smile this…" Steve paused, trying to figure out how to describe it. "…this…knowing smile. Like he had a really juicy secret or something. Anyway, he'd say, 'All in good time. You'll find out when it's time."

"You never found out?" Danny asked.

Steve shook his head. "No, never did. She knows though."

"There's no doubt in my mind that you'll get it out of her one day," Kono smiled. "And when you do…I wanna know." Steve laughed at this girly side of his team's rookie. A side they rarely ever saw.

...END OF EXCERPT...

---

OKAY, so THERE YOU GO! Those are good refreshers for this next section of Chapter 36.

That's all, so without further ado, here is Chapter 36, Part 2.

I really really hope you enjoy!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave a review or feel free to send me a private message! I will answer!

xo

Laura

---

CHAPTER 36

Part 2

"So you found nothing?" Steve asked, his voice slightly raised as his mind began running a million miles an hour while he tried to think of another idea.

"Not in the last four months. Just like Pete mentioned Saturday, a lot of the threats were legit and the rest were harmless," Joe told him. He had been dreading giving Steve the bad news: that he hadn't found a lead for him to go on.

Steve sighed audibly. He was getting frustrated, and that was putting it mildly. He and his team continued to hit wall after wall of dead ends in Maddie's case. Of all the cases, he thought. It had to be this one. It had to be Maddie's where we can't find anything to go on. However, he wasn't going to give up. There was no way.

Desperate for some sort of lead, no matter how small, he said, "Let's go back further. Try the last year. See if there's anyone who repeatedly made threats, even if there was no way they could've gotten to her." He paused, squeezing his eyes shut as his left hand rubbed at his forehead just above his brows. "I need something. I need to find this guy and get him out of her life. And fast."

Joe could hear the frustration in Steve's voice. But that's not what surprised him. It was the desperation he heard that caught him off guard, as it was such a foreign emotion to hear out of him.

"Okay, I'll go back farther," Joe agreed, although he knew the search would turn up nothing but another dead end. Something he was fairly certain Steve knew as well, but he was desperate and grabbing at straws and even if it proved to be a waste of time, Joe would do it. Just like he'd do the next thing Steve asked. He'd keep helping and doing whatever he could until they found the S.O.B. stalking his "niece".

"Thank you." The muscles in Steve's face contracted as he clenched his jaw.

"How's she holding up?" Joe asked, changing the subject slightly.

Steve sighed again, his eyes looked up towards the ceiling as he shook his head. "Not good."

"Yeah?" That was not what Joe was hoping to hear, but at the same time, he couldn't say he was surprised. He had met Steve for lunch the day before (Tuesday) and the second he saw him he knew something had happened. It took Joe using his commanding officer voice, yelling, and finally ordering Steve to tell him what happened for him to fill him in. They'd talked it through, of course that was after he'd gotten upset with him for letting his fear of change take over yet again, and given him advice on how he recommended he should handle it.

He knew Maddie, and after he found out what Steve had said to Carl, he knew she'd throw herself into rehearsing. It was how she was and always had been. When she was upset, she would dive head first into something, utilizing it as a distraction. Of course, he had hoped he'd be wrong in this case.

"Yeah. She's…" Steve took a second. Just thinking about how rundown and sick Maddie was upset him. He took a deep breath trying to assuage his guilt. "Well, for one thing she's exhausted. Pete said she's gotten maybe six hours of sleep since I saw her Sunday. Total! Her knee's definitely worse. The lacerations on the bottom of her foot are incredibly infected." He chuckled, rolling his eyes as he ran his tongue along the edge of his teeth. "Oh, and she's really sick."

"Sick?" Joe asked, concerned. "What do you mean?"

Steve shook his head. He still couldn't believe she'd gotten so sick right before the show. He couldn't believe the bad timing. "Incredibly high fever. I mean, we're talking higher than 104. She's got a terrible sore throat. Can barely swallow spit let alone food." He groaned. "Getting lunch into her was a battle. Even the warm soup was painful for her." He paused, thinking through her symptoms. "And she's got a cough so bad that she needs an inhaler. Oh and the headache. She's still got a bad headache." He sighed. "So, yeah. She's really sick."

"Damn," Joe muttered. This was not good news. No wonder Steve sounded more stressed than the day before. He waited to see if Steve would mention how Maddie was handling things with him. When he didn't, he decided to simply ask. He wasn't a beat around the bush kind of guy. "And how are things between you two?"

Steve sighed loudly, almost as if he was trying to exhale every ounce of frustration, worry, and concern he was experiencing. "Weird. Things are weird."

"How so?" Joe casually asked.

"Well, it looks like she is going to pretend it never happened." He shook his head at the memory of her playing dumb when he'd tried to bring it up. "It came up in a sort of vague way and she told me she had no idea what I was talking about. I didn't push the matter because, like we talked about, it's not something that should happen until after the show. She's too stressed and has too much on her plate. I'm just trying to get her through the rest of the day. Then I'll force the topic."

"It's a good call, son," Joe told him, glad he was following the advice he'd given at lunch. "Besides that, how has she been?"

"She's not only pretending it didn't happen, but she's pretending that everything is fine and normal, but," Steve paused, unconsciously licking his bottom lip as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Let's just say, I can tell it's an act."

"She's in protection mode," Joe stated, more to himself than to Steve.

"Yeah….I just never thought she'd try and protect herself from me," Steve said, his voice eerily quiet. Although he was trying to hide it, Joe could hear the sadness in it.

"You guys will figure it out. I know you will," Joe encouraged. He wasn't just trying to raise Steve's spirits; he truly believed they'd figure it out.

"I hope so." Steve was quiet as he thought about the state of his relationship with Maddie. He wanted to figure things out with her, but did that mean if they did then they'd be together? As in dating? As much as he liked the idea, it also terrified him. A lot. However, he knew he couldn't focus on that fear since that was how he'd ended up in this mess of a situation to begin with. For that reason, he forced himself to abandon what could only be a destructive train of thought.

"Of course-" Steve puffed out a bit of air in a sort of chuckle before continuing. "She took off twice over the last four days. I don't know how she gets away from her security, Joe. There's sixteen of them and they're all either Navy Seals or military." Although he was exasperated and frustrated, he couldn't keep the smirk off his face.

Hearing this caused Joe to laugh out loud. "Does it really surprise you, Steve? I mean, you know her. She's a spitfire! She might not be acting completely like herself right now, but she's still Maddie. The same one you grew up with." The two men laughed.

Steve grinned, thinking about her. "Yeah, I know." He paused, his smile falling from his face. "I just wish she wouldn't pull that stuff right now. Whoever's after her…it's bad, Joe. This guy's good. He's not your normal run-of-the-mill stalker. And to be honest, whatever she knows about it, whatever she won't tell me…I think if I knew I'd discover he's even scarier and more dangerous than we realize. Maybe that's one of the reasons why she won't tell me? I don't know. I do know part of what's going on has something to do with me. That much is clear by her behavior and little things she's said. How much of it? Again, I don't know….I just wish she'd stop pretending like this isn't a big deal. What if she takes off and he gets to her?"

Joe could hear the fear and panic in his voice at the thought of the psycho getting his hands on Maddie. "Well, the items you asked me to have made for her will be done soon. Probably Thursday or Friday…I think you'll feel a little better once you give them to her."

"Yeah…I just hope she actually will keep them on her at all times."

Just then Danny exited the dressing room. He sent Steve a questioning look, wondering whom he was talking to.

"So, just go back further. Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll find something," Steve said, although his voice didn't sound hopeful.

"Sure thing, son," Joe responded. Steve's change of subject told him he was done opening up about Maddie, at least for the time being. "I'll see you in a few hours. Until then I'll start looking into it."

"Thanks, Joe," Steve responded, meeting his partner's eyes.

Danny nodded. Knowing his partner, he probably had Joe looking into something hoping to find a lead on Maddie's stalker.

"Take good care of her," Joe ordered.

Pete walked out of the dressing room and saw the partners about ten feet from the door where Mo was standing guard. Steve was on the phone while Danny was leaning against the wall, eavesdropping. He walked the few feet to them.

"I will," Steve smiled. He liked that Joe cared for her like a daughter or niece. She needed all the "family" she could get since she really didn't have any blood relatives of her own, or at least any that she was close to. Her family had fallen apart once her mother had lost her battle with cancer.

Pete met Danny's eyes, sending him a questioning look as he quickly glanced at Steve and then back.

"Joe," Danny whispered, understanding what he was silently questioning. Maddie's head of security nodded.

"Tell her I'm excited for the show and will see her soon," Joe added.

Steve's smile grew. "I'll definitely tell her. She'll be happy to know you're coming…Thanks Joe. See you later."

"Bye son." With that the two men hung up.

As Steve slid his phone in his pocket, Danny asked, "What was that about? Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Steve nodded, sighing slightly. "I had him looking into some of the threats that had been made against Maddie over the last four months, hoping it would lead to something. That whoever's stalking her also tried to threaten her. I don't know…" He paused, shrugged his shoulders. "At this point, I'm grasping at straws."

"Did he find anything?" Pete asked, trying to squash the feeling of guilt in the pit of his stomach. He hated the fact Maddie had asked him to keep the incidents a secret, especially when Steve could really use the leads. Just a few more hours, he reminded himself.

"No. Unfortunately not." Steve shook his head, disappointed. He was at his wits end. Nothing was panning out and he wasn't really sure what he could do without any leads. He felt like he was letting Maddie down. "I told him to go back further. Even if someone repeatedly made threats, whether they really were legit or not, you never know. Maybe it'll help."

"Can't hurt. Especially when we have nothing else to go on," Danny said, throwing a quick glimpse in Pete's direction. However, he knew that wasn't really the truth. There was other evidence that would hopefully lead to her stalker, or at least get them a step closer to finding him. The only problem was, Steve had no idea any evidence existed. Knowing he was going to completely lose it when he found out about the incidents and, to make it worse, that he and Chin knew about them, he hoped the fact that now they'd have more to work with would help soften the blow. Let's hope, Danny thought. Better yet, let's pray. And Danny was not the praying type. However, he made an exception in this case.

Pete used his training and kept his growing guilt from slipping through his tough façade at Danny's comment. He hated keeping the incidents from Steve, especially because it pertained to Maddie and her safety, but she'd asked him to keep it a secret for the time being. And as upset as he knew Steve was going to get, he understood why she'd decided not to tell him right away. In the end, it was for the better. Because he kept his promise and didn't say anything, Maddie had begun opening up to him about certain things, mainly her emotions. She'd been so withdrawn and secretive with him for the last four months, that he felt this was a step in the right direction. However, it didn't make him feel any less guilty for keeping Steve out of the loop. I can't wait for this show to be over and get it all out in the open, he thought.

"So what are you guys doing out here?" Steve asked, changing the subject.

"I gotta go pick up Rachel and take her to a Dr.'s appointment since her car is in the shop. Then we'll get Gracie and head over."

"Where's Step Stan?" Steve asked. He hadn't really spoken to Danny about how he was coping with Rachel and Stan's new baby. The baby he originally thought was his.

"Step Stan," Danny spat, his ex-wife's husband's name tasting bitter in his mouth, like poison. "Is out of town. Big surprise."

"I'm sorry Danny." Steve shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know how you can do what you're doing. I wouldn't be able to if I was in your shoes. You're a bigger man than me, Daniel."

"You mean if Maddie, the love of your life, got pregnant by another man, you wouldn't be there for her?"

"Danno," Steve warned. He didn't want to go there. Not just her being pregnant by someone else, which caused an insane amount of anger and jealousy to surge at the mere thought, but also his partner's comment about her being the love of his life. He didn't want to think about it. Any of it.

"You gonna tell us you're just friends?" Danny asked, a smirk present on his face. Maddie's right. It can be a lot of fun messing with Steve and flustering him, Danny thought as he watched his partner fight to keep his emotions and feelings in check and appear unfazed.

At Steve's silence, although he was glaring, Pete added, a grin on his face. "Finally he's wised up!"

"It's a miracle!" Danny shouted exaggeratedly. "What did it take? Possibly losing her for good?"

Danny and Pete started chuckling.

"No, but really. Maddie is not going to get pregnant from another man because you're going to stop being an idiot and stop hurting that awesome woman in there," Danny said, pointing to the dressing room door. "You're going to beg and plead and be-" He paused, trying to find the right words as his hands circled the air in front of him. "Well, not your usual self, and get her to realize you didn't mean what you said. That in fact you think the complete opposite. Then you're going to marry her and do everything in your power to make her happy because she is your soul mate Steven. When she's around you're actually a human being, something I never thought was possible." He paused again, a smirk slowly growing on his face. "And don't worry, if you do all this, you'll be the one that gets her pregnant."

At the mention of Maddie pregnant, the image of him holding Maddie while carrying his child, his hand on her rounding belly, popped into Steve's head. The same image he'd seen several times the day of the barbeque. The image caused a warm feeling in his belly, but also scared the crap out of him.

Steve stared at his partner and best friend with arched eyebrows and slightly wide eyes. He really didn't know what to say.

"I know…'Shut up, Danno'," Danny said, beating Steve to the punch and impersonating him.

Ignoring him, although he couldn't keep the small smirk completely from his face, Steve turned to Pete. Before he could ask him what he was up to, Pete said, "I'm gonna make a round, make sure everything's alright. Can't be too careful right now."

"That's for sure," Steve mumbled, more to himself than Pete.

His comment caused Pete more guilt because he didn't know how the stalker had already gotten through security numerous times. Danny too felt awful, knowing that Steve should be made aware of what had been going on.

"Well, I'm gonna head back in there," Steve said, taking a few steps towards the door. "I'm hoping I can convince her to get some more sleep before it starts getting crazy and hectic."

"Yeah, that's a good call," Pete agreed. "I'll be back in a little bit."

"Yeah, me too," Danny added.

"Sounds good!"

With that, the three men went off in different directions. Pete walked down the hall toward the stage, Danny headed in the opposite direction to his car parked outside the outer door of the main room, while Steve passed Mo standing guard at the door and returned to Maddie's dressing room.

---

As Steve walked in to her dressing room his eyes immediately went to Maddie. Without realizing he was even doing it, he looked her over from head to toe making sure she was okay. Once he was satisfied that she was no worse for wear than she'd been when he'd left the room, his eyes drifted to Ryan sitting to her left. Ryan was in his seat. Steve's eyes flitted to Maddie's other side, only to see Tina, who appeared to be asleep, her head thrown back against the couch.

Steve looked to the chair Pete had been sitting in only to find Kono had moved to it and was now talking animatedly with Ryan. The two laughed at whatever she was saying. Chin was exactly where he'd been, in the other large armchair. His only option was to sit next to Lori on the other couch. He glanced again at Ryan and seriously debated asking him to move, but knew it wouldn't go over well. Not that Ryan would care, but Maddie would. She'd tell him he was being ridiculous and he could stare at her and worry just the same sitting on the other couch than if he was next to her. Reluctantly, although he didn't let it show, he took a seat on the couch next to Lori, consciously leaving a great deal of space between them, something Lori was not happy about.

As soon as Steve walked through the door, Maddie watched him out of the corner of her eye. She had thought that he might not like that Ryan was sitting in his spot, but it didn't look like he cared. He probably wants to sit with Lori anyway, she thought, trying to keep from looking disappointed or upset when he sat down on the other couch next to his female co-worker, the woman he was seeing. It's better this way anyway, she told herself. It just hurt too much to have him so close to her. When he touched her, even when his leg simply brushed up against hers, it was painful. Each touch, each worried look broke her heart a little more.

Maddie continued to watch Steve, noticing how much more tense and rigid he seemed since returning to the room. Even the muscles in his face were more defined thanks to the way he was clenching his jaw. I wonder where he went, she mused, assuming his uptight demeanor was related to his brief absence.

Once Steve sat down he looked across the coffee table to see Maddie staring at him. He immediately noticed the sadness in her eyes, however the second she realized he was staring back, the emotion was gone, replaced by nothing. He swallowed hard, trying to swallow the guilt that had crept up knowing he was to blame. I'm such an ass, he thought, hating how much he'd hurt his best friend.

As their eyes met, Steve flashed her a small sweet, but also sexy smile. One that caused a light blush to creep up her pale face. His smile grew in return.

Still convinced he thought her feelings for him were a laughing matter, she assumed he found it funny and pathetic that a mere smile from him would cause her to blush. She immediately grew uncomfortable, pulling the blanket on her lap higher to cover her upper body as she averted her eyes. She cleared her throat, almost as if trying to clear the incredible self-consciousness she was feeling.

Steve was confused. What just happened? he wondered, analyzing her weird behavior. There were so many times lately, this being one of them, that he wished he could be inside her head. Know what she was thinking. If only I knew what goes on in her head when she withdraws and pulls away like that, then I could make sure whatever causes it doesn't happen. I could fix it. Wanting to get her to look at him again he said, "Hey Mads?"

Although she didn't want to, she glanced up, meeting his eyes. However, she reminded herself she wanted him believing everything was fine, with them and in general, so she did her best to hide her real emotions.

"How ya feelin'? Any better?" he asked, his eyes showing her a teeny fraction of the concern he was feeling.

"Yeah, I'm good," she replied, giving him a smile. However, he could tell it was forced.

"I'm glad," Steve said, grinning at her.

Now that Steve was sitting next to her, Lori felt it was a great opportunity to pull his focus from Maddie. She had also noticed the change in his demeanor and decided to use that as her opening. She scooted towards him, placing her right hand on his upper back. "Everything okay? You seem really tense," she asked, pressing her fingers in a light squeezing manner against the tight muscles in his upper back.

Steve tensed more at her movements. "Yeah." He straightened and moved his back slightly away from her, hoping she'd get the message that he didn't want to be touched. His eyes quickly flew to Maddie, but thankfully she wasn't looking at him. She was listening to something Chin was quietly exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful she hadn't witnessed Lori's flirting. However, little did he know the second she saw Lori make contact with him she looked away, unable to watch. Although her heart was aching, she put on a believable and unfazed front, keeping her emotions hidden.

"Are you sure?" Lori asked, not letting the subject go. "The call you took, was it bad news?" Although she had a motive, to gain Steve's attention, she was genuinely interested and concerned. She knew he was stressed and frustrated with the lack of progress on Maddie's case and wanted to help how she could.

Although chatting with Chin, Maddie was also eavesdropping on Steve and Lori's conversation. She just couldn't help herself. Hearing what Lori had just said, Maddie immediately glanced to Steve, her brow furrowed in concern, something he noticed. Worried, she nibbled the inside of her bottom lip, hoping he'd answer Lori's question so she would know what was going on.

Steve met Maddie's concerned crystal blue eyes. He smiled at her, hoping to reassure her that everything was okay. "It was just Joe," he answered Lori. However, it was obvious he was really talking to Maddie by the way he was looking directly at her as he spoke. "He wanted me to tell you that he's excited to see the show tonight."

A huge dimply smile broke out on Maddie's face. "He's coming?" He could hear the genuine excitement and happiness in her voice reminding him of how she used to be. How she really was. If he was being honest with himself, he had taken it for granted, never even really noticing it. But now that it was such a rare sound, he reveled in it.

"Oh yeah," Steve replied, unable to keep the large grin from his face as he stared at her cute dimples. God I want to kiss her, he thought as he fought the urge to stand, walk towards her, and meld their mouths together. An urge so strong that he knew if they were alone, he'd be acting on it. "He'll be here a little later."

She nodded. He noticed there was no trace of the concern and worry that had been in her eyes or on her face a minute before. Well, at least I was able to do something right, he thought, happy that he'd been able to reassure her.

While the two friends smiled and stared at one another, unable to look away, Ryan's phone beeped, signaling he'd received a new text message. Although Ryan was pretty sure he knew who it was, he glanced at his phone anyway. Seeing that it was indeed the text he'd been expecting, he gently touched Maddie's left arm to get her attention before he leaned in and began whispering to her.

As she listened to Ryan, her eyes dropped from Steve's to the coffee table in front of her. Steve watched as the gorgeous, dimpled smile slowly slipped from her face and he immediately found he missed it. However, he noted she didn't appear sad or upset, she just wasn't smiling.

He watched closely as Ryan pulled his head away from Maddie. She looked at him, meeting his eyes. She nodded quickly before glancing around the room. It appeared she was looking for something. Not seeing the item in front of her, she began to twist around to look behind her, however the movement caused a sudden sharp pain to shoot from her injured tailbone down into her legs. Not expecting it, she cried out.

Steve was standing faster than he thought possible the second the sound was out of her mouth. "What's wrong?" he asked, fighting to keep the worry from his voice.

She turned back and faced him, her eyes wide with surprise. She wasn't expecting to see him standing. Although he was trying to keep his feelings from showing, she could see the concern slightly peaking through in his eyes. "I'm okay," she whispered, slightly wincing as she rubbed her lower back, the area she'd felt the sudden pain while Ryan rubbed her upper back comfortingly.

Steve continued to look at her. It was obvious he didn't believe her. He lightly licked his bottom lip as he watched her closely, waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he asked, "What happened?"

Maddie pulled her hand away and placed it in her lap. "I must've twisted just right…and…" She paused as she made a face, obviously still feeling pain.

"And what, Mads?" Steve asked, worried about her.

"Just my tailbone. A pain shot through it." As she met his eyes again she could clearly see the significant amount of concern in them. Not wanting him to worry about her, she smiled at him. "I'm okay Stevie," purposely using the nickname she'd often called him since they were four. "It surprised me more than anything. Really, I'm alright."

He studied her, wanting to be sure she was telling the truth. Satisfied that she was indeed okay, he slowly sat back down. However, he never once took his eyes off her.

"Maddie," Ryan quietly said, reminding her of the conversation they'd had before the distraction.

Maddie looked at him and suddenly remembered what she'd been looking for. She slowly slid forward, preparing to stand.

"What do you need Mads?" Kono asked, realizing that there must be something she wanted. She'd obviously been searching the room for something when she'd aggravated the injury to her tailbone.

"My purse," she whispered, a sheepish look on her face as she slightly sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, biting it.

From his spot across the coffee table from her, Steve couldn't help but focus on her mouth. The way she was nibbling her lip was turning him on, making him wish he was the one sucking on it. Get yourself together, he told himself. He couldn't believe his hormones lately. It was as if he was going through puberty all over again. It was really starting to piss him off.

"It's in the other room. Next to your overnight bag," Tina suddenly spoke up, surprising everyone. They'd all assumed she was asleep by the way her head was leaned back and her eyes were closed. That and the fact she had said nothing since first sitting down. She lifted her head as she prepared to stand and get her friend and boss' purse.

"It's cool, I got it," Chin declared, standing.

"You sure?" Tina asked, squinting her eyes at him. For some reason the room suddenly seemed much brighter than it had. It was hurting her eyes a bit.

"Yeah," he replied. "I'm already up and I'm closer." He opened the door and walked into the adjoining room. He was only out of sight five seconds before reappearing with Maddie's black Balenciaga bag. He closed the door behind him and walked back to his chair. Before sitting down he leaned over and handed her her purse.

"Thank you so much, Chin!" Maddie exclaimed, flashing her pearly whites.

"No problem," Chin replied, as he sank back down in the armchair.

Steve watched as Maddie immediately began digging around in her purse. Finally her movements stopped and she pulled out what appeared to be a set of car keys and handed them to Ryan. With the keys in hand, he stood. "Thanks for doing this Ry," she told him.

Suddenly Steve noticed they were both trying to keep from smiling. He wouldn't have thought much of it if they had just smiled, but he thought it was odd they were trying to hold them back. He could see the muscles around their mouths twitching as they fought to keep from grinning at one another. God, I hope they aren't up to no good. That she doesn't have something planned for tonight, he prayed, remembering Ryan and her band hassling her at the barbeque about pulling pranks during the show, claiming it was tradition.

"Of course," Ryan replied. He desperately needed to look away. They'd been able to keep their plans hush-hush over the last few days and he didn't want to blow it now. He knew he had to be careful, well they both did, now that Steve was there watching every move Maddie made. He headed to the door, but before exiting stopped and turned back to Maddie. "I have my phone. I'll be back in a little bit." As he turned around to leave, he came face to face with Pete, who was eyeing him suspiciously. "Pete," Ryan greeted, doing his best to appear innocent and guilt-free as he walked around him and headed down the hall towards the main room.

Pete walked in, the door shutting behind him. "Where's Ryan going?"

"I need something from the store," Maddie answered, leaning forward slowly and carefully, as not to aggravate her tailbone, so she could set her purse on the coffee table. Before she got all the way forward, Kono reached out and grabbed the object, placing it on the table for her. "Thanks Kono."

Kono nodded, smiling at her friend.

"I would've gone for you," Pete assured.

Usually that was Tina's job, but Pete assumed she was asleep by the way her head was leaned against the back of the couch, her eyes closed. However, she wasn't. The only reason she didn't speak up and say anything was because she knew where Ryan was really going, and it wasn't to the store. She kept her eyes closed, knowing if Pete knew she was awake he would start to put the pieces together.

"Nah. It's okay, Ryan's got it covered," Maddie replied, leaning back against the couch. She was tired. Plus, she still felt awful. She definitely felt a lot better once the Advil and Vicodin had kicked in, but she still didn't feel great.

After all the whispering he'd witnessed between Maddie and Ryan over the last several days, Pete had to be sure they weren't up to something, so he continued his questioning. "Well, what do you need? Maybe they have it here at the arena. I could go ask someone. One of the arena/artist liasons."

"I doubt it," she answered, bringing the blanket up to her neck so she could snuggle into the soft material. She knew Pete was just suspicious and that was the reason for all the questions. However, she'd been prepared for them, so she was able to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary. As if she hadn't been plotting with Ryan for days.

"What do you need?" Pete asked again.

Luckily, Maddie was quick when it came to coming up with a lie. At least situations like this, where it was about small trivial things. Her childhood, along with having a Navy Seal as a best friend, helped hone her skills.

She sighed loudly, rolling her eyes as she turned to look at Pete. "Tampons," she answered bluntly, a dead-panned, serious look on her face. "Lots and lots of tampons. Like a couple boxes," she said slowly for effect. She made a face. A sort of "yikes" face. She knew talking about this kind of stuff made most guys uncomfortable, especially Pete, and she knew he'd drop the subject and stop his line of questioning.

Although he tried his best to hide it, Pete suddenly grew uncomfortable. He wasn't sure what to say to that, so he just stared at her.

Maddie stole a quick look at Steve, curious as to what his reaction was. She fought to keep from smiling as she noticed him fidgeting around on the couch, his face pinking just the teeniest bit. Guys, she thought, amused.

Enjoying making Pete squirm, Maddie couldn't help but take it one step further. "What can I say? It's one of those days." She moved her head from side to side as she shrugged her shoulders. "You know, now that I'm thinking about it, maybe I should talk to Doc. I hope something's not wrong with me." She wasn't sure how she was able to keep a straight face as she lied to him, she was just glad she was. However, she knew better than to look at Kono.

She figured since Kono knew her so well she'd realize she was not only lying, but why she was lying. She also knew Kono was probably having a difficult time not laughing herself and knew they'd both lose it if their eyes met.

Tina was so thankful no one was paying attention to her since they thought she was asleep. She was also grateful that her head was thrown back the way it was so no one noticed the small smirk on her face as Maddie messed with Pete. Although she could imagine the look on his face, she was disappointed she was missing it.

"Um, well…do you want me…" Pete began, stumbling through his words as his face turned an even brighter shade of red, if that was even possible. He furrowed his brow in confusion and frustration, not to mention embarrassment. "I uh could…"

Getting the gist of what he was trying to say, Maddie finally took pity on him and put him out of his misery. Not really for him, but more for herself. She knew she was about to start hysterically laughing and she couldn't do it with him there. "It's okay. I'll tell Doc when he comes in to check on me the next time," she told him seriously. Although she kept a smile from her face, she wasn't able to keep it out of her eyes. But luckily, Pete was too flustered to notice.

"Um, okay," Pete responded as he began to back up towards the door. "I gotta go check on…uh, the gate." He turned and hustled out of the dressing room without saying another word. The second the door closed Maddie, Kono, and Tina burst out laughing, unable to keep it in anymore.

Seeing the girls laugh, Lori joined in, not wanting to be left out. She was trying to bond with them. And not just to keep her enemies close, but also because she needed friends. Everybody needs friends.

"That was amazing, sistah," Kono managed to get out in between laughs.

"I wish I could've seen his face," Tina giggled, rolling her eyes.

Feeling Steve's eyes on her, Maddie looked across the coffee table and met them. He couldn't help but grin widely seeing the sparkle in her gorgeous blue eyes. A sparkle that used to always be there, but had been missing for months. It's good to see her a little more like herself, Steve thought. Even for just a moment.

"That was mean, Maddie," Chin said, although he too couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head in amusement.

"Was any of that true?" Lori asked, still laughing lightly.

Knowing she couldn't admit that it had all been a lie because Steve, and she imagined Chin as well, would start questioning where Ryan had really gone and why she had had to lie about it to Pete. With everything going on she knew she had to keep their plans a secret.

"Yeah," Maddie lied, still laughing although it was dying down. She coughed a couple times, sniffling when she was done. "But I definitely exaggerated." A dimpled smile broke out on her face as she started cracking up again. The mere image of Pete's poor face was enough to send her into hysterics. "He probably thinks I'm hemorrhaging…" Guys can be so clueless sometimes, Maddie mused.

Her statement caused the other three women to break out into a fit of giggles again. In fact tears began running down Kono, Tina, and Maddie's faces they were laughing so hard. Lori was laughing, but it was more just her trying to fit in.

"Gross, Mads," Steve said, a look of disgust on his face.

She wasn't sure why, but his statement and the look on his face upset her. Reminding her of how he'd played her. Her chest ached at the memory. The memory of everything he'd said and done that hurt her since she'd arrived in Hawaii.

Steve watched the sparkle in her eye immediately disappear as her laughter rapidly dwindled until it was no more. What just happened? he wondered.

Maddie was hurt. So hurt that she didn't realize what she'd said until it was too late. "Especially cause it's me, right? Just like my bra." She recalled the morning of the barbeque when she'd been sorting through her laundry when Steve walked in. Joking around, she threw some clothes on him, one of which was one of her lacy bras. It stuck to him and he'd gotten weird, disgusted by her bra because it was hers. At least that's what she thought. That's what she'd assumed, but wasn't really the case.

Steve's eyes widened as surprise and confusion appeared on his face. He'd kept his mouth shut so many other times either because he was waiting to talk to her at home or because they weren't alone, but what her comment insinuated, what he was worried she was thinking, he felt it shouldn't be ignored. "Wait, what?" he asked her. Tina and Kono immediately quieted as the air in the room thickened. Everyone, except Lori of course, wondered if they should excuse themselves to give the two privacy to talk.

You're so stupid! Maddie cursed herself, beyond embarrassed by what she'd just said. There you go letting your emotions get the best of you! Now what are you going to do? Now it's super awkward! Plus, it was gross what you said! Why the hell did his comment bother you so much?

Knowing her friend needed help, Tina started laughing again and asked, "What did his face look like? I'm bummed I missed it! Wish we could've gotten the whole thing on video! Priceless!"

Maddie buried the hurt and embarrassment she was feeling and tried to act normal, focusing on Tina's question. "He blushed."

"And as she went further into it, it turned beet red," Kono added, also coming to her rescue.

Of course. Women. They stick together, Steve mused. He sighed, really needed to talk to her, to clear the air. The end of the day couldn't come fast enough for him.

As Tina slowly stopped laughing, mainly because it was making her headache worse, she glanced at her watch. She sighed. "As much fun as I'm having, I gotta head out and take care of some things. Will you be okay for maybe," Tina paused, trying to estimate how long she'd be gone. "Forty minutes or so? An hour tops."

"Yeah, definitely," Maddie said. "Thanks for running the errands."

"No problem," Tina answered as she slowly stood, hoping the slower she moved the more chance she wasn't dizzy once she was on her feet. However, her plan didn't work. She was definitely dizzy. Dizzier than she'd been earlier. However, it still wasn't enough that she felt she was going to pass out or anything. Thankful she was able to hide it, she walked to the kitchen as she waited for it to pass and grabbed her purse. As she rummaged around in it at the table looking for the SUV car keys she'd placed in it earlier, Steve stood and walked into the kitchen. He stopped next to her and bowed his head. "While you're out, would you mind doing me a favor?" he whispered.

Tina glanced at him, surprised by his request. "Sure, what is it?"

"I was gonna try and sneak away and do it myself, but…"He paused, turning his head to the left as he glanced at the back of Maddie's head as she sat on the couch.

"You don't want to leave her," Tina whispered, finishing the sentence he wouldn't.

Steve nodded, somewhat bashfully.

"I get it. What's the favor, Steve?" she asked again, trying to hide the big smile that wanted to emerge. She thought it was sweet he didn't want to leave her.

"I uh,….I special ordered the… blue glittery roses for Maddie," he shyly admitted. It was obvious he was a bit nervous about telling her by the way he paused throughout the admission.

Tina couldn't help it. A huge smile broke out on her face as she looked at him. "You did?" she asked. She had to restrain herself from saying "awwwww". She could already tell her reaction had embarrassed him a bit, and she didn't want to make it worse, but at the same time she was so happy and she wanted to be sure he knew. "Steve, that's so sweet!" she whispered. "She's going to absolutely love them."

"You think?" Steve asked, uncertainty in his voice and on his face, something that shocked Tina. He'd never let her see his more vulnerable, unsure side before. The only one who'd seen it was Maddie, at least she assumed, so it warmed her heart, making her realize he must really trust her if he was letting her see this hidden side of himself.

"Are you kidding me?" Tina asked, her eyes growing wide at his question. "Steve, it's gonna mean a lot to her. Seriously."

He smiled slightly at her words.

She couldn't hold it in anymore. She shrugged her shoulders and held them there as her smile grew wider. "You like her…" she whispered giddily. She couldn't help it; she had to tease him just a little bit. She was just so happy.

Steve pursed his lips, obviously uncomfortable. "Tina…" he mumbled. He had hoped she wasn't going to make a big deal out of this, but at the same time he wasn't surprised by her girly excitement.

"Oh come on! I've been waiting, we've all been waiting," she corrected, "years for you guys to figure out you cared for each other as more than friends. It's exciting!" she gushed quietly.

"Don't get too excited," Steve warned, feeling that ball of fear in the pit of his stomach at the mention of he and Maddie in a more-than-friends way. However, with the fear came a happiness and excitement at the idea. Seeing Tina's irritated expression to his comment, he immediately added, wanting to clarify, "Well, that is, if I didn't screw things up with her for good."

Tina sighed, worried by his flip-flopping and contradicting statements. I'd hoped the last four days would have given him time to figure out his feelings, she thought. I really hope he's done with the back and forth with her. It hurts her too much. I don't know how much more she can take. "I'll be straight with you Steve. She's really hurt. You have no idea what's going on in her head and what she's thinking…"

The muscles in his face tightened as he tried to keep his emotions in check. "I think I have an idea after her comment a minute ago. Is that what you wouldn't tell me the other day?" he asked, referring to the conversation they'd had in his office when she'd picked up Grace.

She gave him a sad, sympathetic smile. "It's just one of the many things going on in her head right now…but Steve?"

He looked at her, his eyebrows raised.

"This is a good first step. This is gonna help."

"You think?" Steve asked, exhaling a nervous breath.

Again, Tina found herself surprised at this unsure and vulnerable side of him. "I do. It's gonna mean a lot to her that you even remembered," she smiled at him. She couldn't have been happier that Steve was making the effort with Maddie, but she was still nervous and worried. She really hoped he was going to do his best to reach her and make her realize how he truly felt. "Anyway, where do I go to pick them up?"

"Oh, um…that specialty florist by the store close to Maddie's. You know which one I'm talking about?" Steve asked. "It's on the opposite side of the little shopping…area," he said, not knowing what to call it.

She smiled at his instructions, or lack thereof. He's such a guy.

"It's next to the Chinese restaurant," he added. He probably could have done a better job with the directions, but Maddie was pulling his focus a bit. He could hear her coughing every now and then.

Tina stared at him. His directions were not very good. There were no street names and he hadn't given her the name of the florist.

It was as if he could read her mind. "I know, I'm sorry," he murmured, a sheepish, apologetic look on his face.

She chuckled. "It's okay. By some miracle, I know exactly where you're talking about."

He smiled, relief appearing on his face. "Okay, good." He was just about to say something else when his attention was completely pulled. His eyes darted to the back of Maddie's head. She couldn't stop coughing. Before it was spread out. A cough here, a cough there. Now it was a full on attack.

Hearing Maddie, Tina immediately pulled out the inhaler from her bag and handed it to him. "Thanks," he mumbled before quickly pulling his wallet from his back pocket and taking out a credit card. He handed it to Tina. "Thanks, T." He quickly kissed her on the side of the head before taking large, slightly hurried strides to the couch. He sat down in the spot Ryan had vacated ten minutes before and positioned himself so he was facing Maddie. "You're okay," Steve softly told her as he shook her inhaler.

Unable to get a breath of air, Maddie was beginning to panic, which only made her coughing worsen. She moved her body so she was facing Steve. She looked at him, meeting his eyes as he shook her inhaler. He could see that not being able to get any air was scaring her. The fear was easy to spot in her eyes, which were watering from all the coughing. Using her left hand she took a hold of his right forearm while her right hand grabbed onto the middle of his right thigh. "I'm right here," he murmured, giving her a sweet smile. "You're fine. Just take a slow deep breath."

She tried her best to take his advice, but she couldn't. The coughing only worsened. She squeezed his arm and thigh as her panicking intensified.

Knowing that the more she got worked up the worse it would make it, he scooted towards her hoping to provide more comfort and reassurance. That it would calm her. And, if he was being honest, any excuse to get closer to her was fine with him.

Satisfied her inhaler was mixed enough, Steve pulled the top off and placed it against her lips all while she still held onto him. Once she had the mouthpiece in her mouth, he squeezed the top of the device and a puff of the medication flew into her mouth. He set the inhaler on his lap to free his left hand. "You're okay," he murmured as he placed his hand on her left thigh and soothingly began rubbing it.

Maddie did her best to hold her breath and keep from coughing out the medication. Thankfully having Steve close to her and comforting her was helping her to relax. Although she continued to cough, it was definitely lessening. She was able to get a bit of air in, although it wasn't much.

Without thinking, she let go of his forearm and thigh and fell against his chest. Steve couldn't have been happier as she leaned into him. That she was instigating contact. Instead of over thinking things, he immediately moved them so he could easily fit his arm around her shoulders and hold her lightly against him. (He didn't want to hold her too tightly in case it aggravated her breathing.) Once they were comfortable, he kissed the top of her head.

Seeing that all was okay, Tina headed to the door. She wanted to get out of there and get back before she felt any worse. She was so sleepy and her head was throbbing. It was significantly worse than it had been when Doc had looked her over. And now light seemed to be slightly bothering her eyes. I guess I hit it a lot harder than originally thought, she mused. Plus, she just didn't feel right. Her stomach felt a bit funny. Not like she had a stomachache or was nauseated. It just felt off.

Seeing as how she'd been feeling worse and worse over the last hour or so, she just wanted to get the errands done and over with. "I'm gonna head out. If you think of anything else, just call," she said to Maddie, who nodded against Steve's chest while coughing.

Maddie continued to calm as she sagged against Steve's chest and coughed, although it was definitely better. She was happy Tina was gone especially because Steve and Chin hadn't had a chance to question what exactly her errands were. She couldn't have them discovering her plans.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she further relaxed into the man she loved, her best friend. She rested her hand near her head on his chest. The way his right hand was gently rubbing up and down her back was calming her. It was just so soothing. She let herself melt into him, not thinking why she shouldn't be this close to him. That it would only cause more pain later. She only thought about how safe and calm it made her feel. His presence made her relax so much that her body began to give in to the exhaustion she was feeling. She'd only slept an hour, at most, earlier.

Steve glanced down at Maddie in his arms. As she calmed, so did the coughing. He watched as her eyes fluttered closed. She's so tired, he thought, trying to keep from smiling down at her. He loved the feel of her in his arms. He hated the circumstances, but he loved having her there. He glanced over at Chin. They'd all gotten silent as they worriedly watched Maddie struggle to breath.

He'd only heard her cough, he didn't know how it had started. If there even was a reason. Ever since giving her the cough syrup, the coughing had been significantly better. She'd only coughed here and there. He peaked at his watch, checking the time. It definitely wasn't time to give her more, although it was getting closer, so it should've still been working. "What happened?" Steve asked his co-worker.

"They started crackin' up again." Chin rolled his eyes and smirked. "I think all the laughing aggravated it."

Steve nodded. It made sense.

"It was funny," Maddie mumbled, her eyes closed as she breathed Steve in. Just thinking about it made her start to laugh a little, which immediately made her cough.

"Mads," Steve said, his tone slightly warning.

"What?" she asked, her eyes opening slightly as she tilted her up to look at him. Feeling her move he looked down and met her eyes.

He smiled at her. "Laughing makes you cough."

"You're no fun, you know that Commander?" she said to him, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

He smirked down on her as he debated whether to say what he wanted. He usually didn't talk like this in front of his team, but he felt if he was going to get Maddie to believe him he was going to have to take some chances. Even if they made him a bit uncomfortable. "Actually," he began, his voice low, only audible to her and suddenly slightly gruff, sexily so. He took a deep breath to calm his light nerves. "I can be pretty fun." He looked at her mischievously.

Although she really tried not to react, Maddie couldn't keep her eyes from widening in surprise. She understood what he was insinuating and it made her begin to blush. Suddenly the reality of the situation dawned on her. That she was in his arms. Crap, she thought. I let it happen again.

The second Steve felt her tense, he tightened his hold on her, worried she was going to pull away. However, it didn't help. She pulled away anyway.

Carefully she extricated herself from him and sat up. She did her best to act normal and not uncomfortable and self-conscious like she was feeling. Especially since she could feel everyone's eyes on her. She leaned back into the couch, pulling the blanket up and snuggling into it. He had noticed that whenever she seemed to get uncomfortable she would do that. Almost as if hiding and covering herself with the blanket made her feel safe and less exposed.

Maddie glanced at him, meeting his eyes, although he could see the little bit of uncertainty and embarrassment in them. "Thanks for helping me," she murmured, giving him a small, but genuine smile.

"You don't have to thank me," he replied. "And, anytime, Mads. You know that."

---

As Tina entered the main room, she rubbed at the back of her head. She winced at the pain that shot out of the spot that had hit the coffee table. She imagined that since she slightly hit the rounded edge of the table that that's why it was so painful. It had sort of jabbed into the back of her head. And Maddie smacked her head on a marble floor, she thought. I don't know how she was able to function so soon. I wonder if her head is still killing her and she's just playing it off.

As she made her way to the outer door of the main room, the one that led to the outside, to the area they'd been all parking in, she smiled, thinking how strong Maddie really was. There was a reason Steve was so concerned about her. He knew for her to act so completely unlike herself, that whatever was going on was really bad. She was the strongest person she knew. She could handle anything with grace and poise, so when she started acting so different it was definitely a shock. A worrisome one.

As Tina continued to think about her long time friend, she noticed a member of Maddie's security team speaking with a man. She wasn't close enough to be able to tell what exactly was going on, but it appeared that whoever the man was, the security member didn't want him to come in.

She furrowed her brow as she got closer. "Oh crap," she muttered, close enough to recognize the visitor. She slowed her pace, debating what she should do.

Knowing Maddie so well, she knew that she'd agree to see the man so she approached the security member, Adam.

Adam was a new member, one of the eight that Maddie had hired four months earlier. He wasn't a Navy Seal, but he was an ex-Marine. He had been out of the military for two years and had been so grateful when he'd been offered the job. He'd been having a difficult time since he'd left the military, but once he started working for her things began to look up for him. He was an incredibly hard worker and took his job incredibly seriously. In other words, he was someone that Pete could count on. He followed orders "to a T", showing that he'd been an asset to the military. The original eight men that Steve and Pete had vetted and hired were very fond of him, even though he wasn't a squid, but a jarhead.

"Hey," Tina greeted as she came up behind them.

"Hey T," Adam replied.

Since Adam was newer, he didn't know who the man was. This was the first time he was working for Maddie when she was in Hawaii. The original eight security personnel all knew who this man was, but none were around. They were all at their designated posts.

"What's going on?" she asked, although she already knew.

"He says he wants to see Maddie, that he knows her, but he doesn't have credentials," Adam replied. "I told him I can't let him in without them."

"Maddie knows him," Tina assured him. She glanced at the man and flashed him a tight, polite smile. "Keep him here. I'll go talk to her. I'll let you know whether she'll agree to see him."

"Okay," Adam replied, nodding. As Tina turned and headed back in the direction she'd come, he looked at the man. "While you wait, feel free to take a seat at that table. He pointed to a picnic style table right near them.

"Thank you," the man responded, smiling gratefully at Adam.

Although he remained at his post just inside the main room door leading outside, Adam kept a watchful eye on the man at the table. Whether Tina knew this man or not, he didn't and he refused to take any chances with Maddie's safety. At the moment, they couldn't afford to be lax with security. Not with what was going on. He didn't want anything happening to Maddie; they'd become good friends. Plus, he didn't want to let Pete down. He had come to respect and admire the Navy Seal, who was a few years older. He'd learned a lot from him, as well as the rest of the team.

---

Lori hadn't moved from her spot on the other couch as she'd watched Steve with Maddie. It had killed her seeing how gentle he was with her. It was a side of him she'd never seen, although she always knew it was there. It made her ache as she longed for that same affection from him. All in good time, she thought. I just need to get him away from her.

Just as she was about to open her mouth, hoping to say something that would pull his attention from Maddie, Tina walked back in the dressing room. She stopped a few feet inside the door and met Maddie's eyes.

Silence took over as the members of Five-0 stopped their individual conversations and watched the two women wordlessly communicate with only their eyes.

After thirty straight seconds of the two staring at one another, Maddie grabbed Steve's left hand and pulled it to her, glancing at his watch. Of course, she thought seeing that it was 2:30pm. It's the right time of day. She couldn't believe she'd forgotten. She had been so busy rehearsing over the last few days that she hadn't worried about it at all. She hadn't even thought about it. That's a first, she contemplated, thinking how it had never even crossed her mind. However, now that he was there, her stomach instantly knotted thanks to nerves.

She released Steve's arm and he brought it back to his body. "Everything okay?" he asked, noticing not only the look between Maddie and Tina, but also the way Maddie had begun to tense.

She turned to look at him doing her best to relax. "Of course!" she lied, and quite well, but he saw something flicker in her eyes, even though she was smiling. He couldn't quite place it as she was doing an excellent job of hiding her true emotions.

Her gaze returned to Tina, who raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner at her boss and friend. Maddie stared at her for a few seconds, trying to make up her mind. Finally she gave her a quick nod and Tina immediately began walking further into the room. As she walked behind the couch and into the adjoining room, she pulled her phone from her pocket and quickly sent Adam a text letting her know that Maddie had agreed to see the man and that she'd be there in a few minutes. She slipped the phone back into her pocket before leaning over and picking the pair of black Converse Chuck Taylor's up from the floor near Maddie's Louis Vuitton duffel bag.

As she quickly rose, she was hit with an intense dizzy feeling. In fact, it was so strong that she began to lose her balance as the whole room suddenly looked like she was staring into a crazy Funhouse mirror. She reached out, hoping to grab onto something she could use to steady herself, but with everything moving she couldn't tell exactly where the items were. Before she knew it she was falling.

"Damn," Tina mumbled as she fell into a small table that was near Maddie's bag. Her butt made contact with the floor first and although she tried to keep it from happening, her head smacked the edge of the small table. Tina squinted her eyes in pain. Of course I had to hit the same part of my head, she thought, her hand immediately going to the painful, sensitive spot at the back of her head. She hoped by rubbing it, it would help dull the pain, but she was wrong. It did nothing. As she felt the warm, sticky substance in her hair, she realized she must've broken open the small wound from her earlier fall. Tina pulled her hand away, bringing it back in front of her and glanced at it. Sure enough there was blood on her fingers. Not a lot, but more than when she'd hit it earlier. "Crap!"

Chin and Kono were talking, telling a funny story from their childhood when they all heard a crash coming from the other room. Steve straightened, concern apparent in his handsome features. "Tina?" he called out. No response. He glanced at Maddie. They shared a concerned look, her earlier fall immediately popping into their minds.

Crap, Tina thought, hearing Steve call out for her. She scurried to her feet. I must've made a noise when I fell. She didn't want them to know she'd fallen. She knew Steve would question her, wanting to know how it had happened. He'd know she was lying. First off because she wasn't a very good liar, but secondly, because he was a human lie detector. With his extensive training and time with Naval Intelligence, he could read people exceptionally well. In fact, she imagined his whole team could. That it was hard to get anything by them.

When Tina still didn't answer, Steve became worried she was unconscious and that it had something to do with hitting her head earlier. He immediately began to stand. However, Chin stopped him. "I'll check on her," he told his boss and friend. "I'm closer."

Before Steve could respond, Chin was on his feet and walking, almost jogging, ten feet to the open door. "Tina?" Chin asked as he rushed into the room. He swiftly looked around before spotting her to his right, on the other side of the room. "You okay?" he questioned as he took her in. She was standing, a pair of black low-top sneakers dangling from her delicate hands. She seems fine, he mused, although he noticed she was a bit flustered and slightly out of breath.

"Yeah," Tina smiled, her heart rapidly tapping against her ribs as if keep time to a fast tempoed song. "I just bumped into the table." She rolled her eyes at herself forcefully, trying her best to make light of the situation. "I must be hanging out with Maddie too much. Apparently, her clumsiness is contagious."

Chin watched as she used her free hand to straighten out her clothing, noticing that she continued to fidget with it long after. He eyed her suspiciously, slowly looking her over to make sure she was okay. Satisfied that all was well, as he didn't see anything wrong, he smiled at her. "Hopefully it doesn't rub off on me!" he joked, waiting for her before he left the room.

"Seriously," Tina smiled, beginning to walk towards him. Seeing this Chin turned his back on her and walked towards the door, Tina not too far behind him. Relieved his back was to her, she quickly reached out and wiped her slightly bloody fingers on the towel hanging on a hook near the door. The towel she'd used when she'd showered that morning.

As she walked through the door she shook her head, annoyed with herself that she'd forgotten to stand back up slowly. If she had just remembered she wouldn't have fallen and hit her head again. It wouldn't be bleeding and Steve and Chin wouldn't be worried. What if they say something to Pete? she fretted. She wasn't sure why she was so adamant about him not finding out she'd hit her head, but she was.

"What happened?" Steve asked the second Tina appeared, pulling her from her thoughts. "What was that crash? Are you okay?"

Tina forced a to laugh. "I'm fine, Steve. I just bumped into the table." Steve eyed her suspiciously, much like Chin had done, but far worse and much more intense. She panicked a bit; she could tell he wasn't completely buying her story. Hoping to distract him, she smiled slightly flirtingly at him. "Commander…do you have a crush on me? Is that why you're so worried?"

A smirk broke out on his face at her question. "Damn, I thought I was being subtle about it. You caught me."

Everyone in the room smiled and chuckled, even Lori. However, she wasn't smiling over what they were saying, but instead over seeing this side of Steve. This more relaxed version of himself. Relaxed enough to banter flirtatiously. It was a version similar to the one she'd had dinner with the week before. Before Maddie had come into town and halted her progress with him on a romantic front.

With her friend's black, low top Chuck Taylor converse in her hand, Tina walked to the couch and sat at the edge of the coffee table next to Maddie's elevated feet. She glanced at Steve out of the corner of her eye, curious as to whether her distraction had worked. Thank God, she thought, seeing him leaning back relaxed against the couch. However, he was still watching her, but thankfully, not in the same intense way. Untying and loosening the laces on the first sneaker, the left one, she asked, "Want just one shoe or both?"

Maddie debated the question for a second before answering. "Both." She began to lean forward to grab the shoes. "You don't need to do this. I got it, T."

"It's okay, Mads. I got it. It'll be hard for you to lean forward with your busted ass," Tina smiled. The two lightly chuckled at her description of her injured tailbone. In fact, they weren't the only ones. Whomever, wasn't laughing lightly was at least smirking. However, it must have been too soon after her coughing spasm because Maddie immediately began coughing again. Luckily, it lasted no more than five seconds, but it was enough to wear her down even more. Every cough, let alone coughing attack, took significant energy she didn't have.

Steve watched her carefully, waiting to see if she'd need another puff of the inhaler. He was relieved when the coughing died down. However, he gave her a quick look, one she understood to mean be careful with the laughing.

Tina resumed putting her friend's shoes on once it was obvious she wasn't going to have a full-blown spasm.

Maddie felt guilty. Tina putting on her shoes was not in her job description. No matter how many years she'd been in the spotlight, she had never gotten used to people doing things for her. It made her feel bad and uncomfortable.

Steve watched as Tina helped Maddie, wondering what exactly was going on and why she suddenly needed shoes. Not only that, but he wondered why Tina had come back after she left, and to put Maddie's shoes on of all things. It seemed strange. However, as hard as it was for him, he decided to wait and see what happened before asking any questions.

With her left sneaker on, Maddie set her foot on the ground.

"Mads, I don't know if I'll be able to tie this shoe with your foot wrapped so much," Tina explained, referring to her right, injured and bandaged foot being so bulky.

"Just loosen the laces more. It's okay if you leave it untied," she responded. She was planning on using her crutches. Therefore her right foot wouldn't be touching the ground, so there was no risk of her tripping on the untied laces.

Tina nodded, very gently loosening the laces and tying her sneaker so as not to cause more pain for Maddie. "There you go." Finished, she stood and hurried to the kitchen where she opened the freezer and pulled out new ice packs before turning and walking back to the couch. On her way she grabbed Maddie's other knee brace where it was leaning against the wall next to the entrance of the other room.

While she was in the kitchen, Steve's curiosity got the best of him. He wanted to know what was going on and patience wasn't something he'd mastered. "What's going on?" he asked. "Are you going somewhere?"

Maddie looked at him, meeting his gorgeous blue eyes. "I just gotta go deal with something. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Tina set the brace on the coffee table and sat on the couch before quickly going to work and sliding the new ice packs in it.

Before Steve had a chance to ask her what exactly she needed to do, he realized that Maddie would have to change into the other brace. Deciding to help, plus he wanted to be the one to get Maddie out of her current brace as he knew he could do it without hurting her, Steve scooted towards her. He went to unhook the brace from the ice machine, but quickly realized it was still unplugged from when she'd gone to the restroom earlier. He glanced at her, shooting her a reprimanding look. With her eyes wide, she gave him a cute guilty little smile as she nibbled her bottom lip. He couldn't keep the disapproving look going when she looked at him like that. It was too cute. More than anything he wanted to reach out and grab the back of her head, pull it to his face, and kiss her passionately, but he controlled himself. Just like the other times he'd had the urge. How? He had no clue.

Steve shook his head, smiling, as he gently unhooked the many brace's straps, opening them completely as opposed to simply loosening them. Once they were open, he carefully pulled the brace straight down and set it on the floor. While he did this he glanced at Maddie's face out of the corner of his eye, wanting to make sure he wasn't causing any pain.

Now that she was out of the big, ice water brace, he looked at her. He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head in a questioning manner. Maddie shook her head and smiled. "Nope, it didn't hurt."

"Good," he responded as he focused his gorgeous blue eyes to her leggings clad right knee. He didn't need to see her bare skin to know that her knee was still incredibly swollen since he could clearly see it through her leggings. "Oh Mads, that has to hurt," he said as he lightly stroked her knee in a sweet and gentle gesture. One which made her smile.

Steve looked to her, his eyebrows raised in the same questioning way as a minute before. Again, she knew what he was asking although he said nothing. Wanting to know if his touch hurt her, she continued to smile and shook her head.

She was surprised when his hand didn't stop after he rubbed back up over her knee. Instead, it continued up her thigh, stopping in the middle of it.

Maddie was surprised that it didn't make her upset or uncomfortable. Instead, she liked it. There was something so, dare she say loving, about the way his hand was almost gliding up her thigh.

He stopped as he reached the middle of it, pulled his hand away, and reached over her leg so Tina could hand him the other brace.

Maddie immediately missed the contact. In fact, it had turned her on, making her want him even more than she already did. Don't go there, she told herself. If by chance you did do something with him, a big if…he'll only take it back. Save yourself the continued heartache and don't even think about it. Needing a distraction, she focused intensely on the conversations going on around her and tried to tune Steve out.

"Thanks for doing this, Steve," Tina said. "I can do it, I just worry I'm going to bump or move her leg and cause her more pain."

"Don't worry about that, Tina," Maddie told her long time friend and assistant. Although she was trying to ignore what Steve was doing, it was impossible. Especially when he was so close to her.

"No problem, T," Steve replied as he made sure all the straps were completely open and unhooked before he held the brace under Maddie's leg. Before he had a chance to take care of it, Tina placed her hands under the large object and held it in place so he could hook the straps easier. Just like when he'd taken the other one off, he continuously glanced at Maddie's reactions, wanting to be sure he didn't cause her pain.

"There you go," he muttered. Once he gently picked up her right leg, he used his left foot to nudge the coffee table over towards Lori a few inches so he could place her foot down on the ground.

Now that Maddie was ready to go, Tina walked to the same place the other brace had been and grabbed Maddie's crutches. They'd been leaned safely against the wall, away from foot traffic so no one could trip over them.

With the crutches in hand Tina walked back to Maddie. She knew she could help her up, but with her dizzy spells she didn't want to risk possibly falling and taking Maddie down with her. "Steve? Would you mind helping her stand?" she asked him. "I can do it, but it's easier for you."

"No problem," Steve answered, immediately getting to his feet. He had been planning on helping Maddie up anyway, so he didn't think anything of Tina's request.

Still keeping in mind that she was supposed to be acting like her old self, Maddie reached her hands out, surprising him. He was shocked she'd instigated it. Shocked, but happy.

Smiling, Steve took her hands and carefully began to pull her up into a standing position. Once her butt was the littlest bit off the couch, he took both her hands in his right hand and used his left to wrap around her back to give her more assistance. He wanted her to feel as little pain as possible in her tailbone and he knew the best way to accomplish that was by doing most of the work for her.

Since being made aware of her visitor, Maddie had been debating whether or not she'd ask Steve to go with her. She went back and forth, but in the end she knew that if things hadn't been weird and awkward between them, she would've had him accompany her. So, while he helped her to her feet she said, "You can go ahead and go, T. Thanks for all the help."

Tina looked at her, confusion written all over her face. "But what about…" She stopped, glancing at Steve nervously, before she brought her gaze back to Maddie.

"There you go," Steve mumbled, more to himself than to Maddie, once she was standing. However, he didn't let go since he noticed she wasn't putting any weight on her right leg. He didn't want her falling.

Maddie said nothing, only gave him a sweet smile before looking back to Tina, who was still eyeing her, confused. "Actually I was gonna see if Steve would go with me," she said, just as he got her to her feet.

Although still confused, Tina smiled. She was happy Maddie had begun to reach out to Steve, both physically and a bit emotionally as well. However, she was worried that it wasn't genuine. That it was only Maddie following through with her promise to pretend nothing had happened between her and Steve. Pretend that she wasn't entirely and utterly heartbroken. Pretend they were simply best friends and that she wasn't completely head over heels in love with him.

Maddie glanced at Steve. He was standing only a foot in front of her, his hands on her waist steadying her until she was using her crutches. "Will you?" she asked.

Steve looked at her as if she'd suddenly grown two heads. "Of course," he answered. "Did you think I was letting you leave this room without me?" His eyebrows rose as he looked at her disbelievingly.

She simply shook her head as she rolled her eyes and smirked at him. And I think he's crazy overprotective now, she mused. When he finds out what's been going on, he's going to completely lose it. I'll be surprised if I'll be allowed to use the restroom by myself, she thought sarcastically.

"Okay, well then I'm gonna head out and take care of those errands," Tina said, handing the crutches to Maddie.

"Okay, thanks for everything, T," she replied, smiling softly.

"No worries!" Tina walked into the kitchen and grabbed her purse off the kitchen table, which was where she'd set it when she'd come back. "I'll see you guys later!" she stated, opening the door and disappearing once everyone had either waved or said goodbye.

Maddie took a deep breath and looked at Steve. Although, he was no longer holding onto her, he was still close. Just in case.

"Ready?" he asked.

She paused, her nerves quadrupling for a couple reasons. One, she was always nervous and on edge when this particular visitor stopped by. Two, she knew once Steve discovered where they were going, who they were going to see, he was going to go into overprotective mode times a thousand. His macho, alpha male, and controlling side would come out.

Maddie took a deep breath and swallowed audibly, wincing at the severe pain in her throat. "Yes," she responded, plastering a smile on her face even though, in that moment, she was anything but happy.

Steve returned the smile before taking a couple steps out of the little living room area. While his back was to her, Maddie glanced at Chin.

Unlike Steve, Chin knew exactly where they were going and he wasn't particularly happy about it. Something he made clear with the disapproving look he sent. Because he'd been to every show she'd had in Hawaii since he met John McGarrett, he knew what that look Tina had given her was all about. He knew she had a visitor and he knew exactly who it was. He was just thankful that although she was upset and hurt, she asked Steve to go with her. If she hadn't, he would've gone himself or tattled on her to Steve, spilling the beans. There was no way he would've let her go by herself or with only Tina.

Maddie flashed him a quick and reassuring smile before turning back and beginning to crutch, following her best friend. She watched Steve stop just behind the armchair Kono was sitting in as he waited for her. His left arm was poised and read to shoot out and grab her if need be. It was incredibly obvious she was still absolutely exhausted and he knew that although the medication she'd taken had taken the edge off, she still felt terrible.

Once she reached him, Steve joined her, walking next to her towards the door. As he opened it he turned to her and said, "You really should be resting, so whatever we're going to go do, we're only going to be a few minutes and then it's back here. Understand?" He gave her a strong, no bullshit look as he waited for her response. However, it took a minute because with every step she became more nervous as she thought about what she was going to say to her visitor or, better yet, what Steve was going to say or do when he discovered where they were going.

When she didn't answer, Steve's forehead wrinkled in concern. "Mads?" His voice was soft.

Hearing her name pulled her from her thoughts. She met his eyes and nodded in understanding.

"Alright. Let's go!" They exited her dressing room, passing Mo standing guard at the door.

---

Maddie and Steve were silent as they walked side by side down the hallway her dressing room was located in. Finally, he looked to his right at her. "Where are we going, anyways?"

"The main room," she answered, as she continued to look straight ahead. There was no way she was going to tell him what exactly they were going to go do before they got there. She knew exactly how he'd react if she did.

Although Maddie wasn't looking directly at him, she could see him nod. However, knowing him, he wasn't thrilled with her vague response.

Now that they were alone, Steve desperately wanted to say something. To tell her he was an ass and that he'd screwed up. That he didn't mean what he'd said on Sunday. That he was sorry. But at the same time, he wanted to make sure they had time to talk, to really hash things out. To get on the same page. And since they weren't far from the main room, there wasn't enough time.

Although he wanted to talk about it, Maddie didn't. Not only was she inwardly beginning to panic the closer they got to the main room and her visitor, but she was also anxious to get there as she refused to talk about "it" with him. She was terrified he'd bring it up. That she'd be forced to hear how he was sorry, but that he didn't think of her that way. She already knew that, so there was really no reason she needed to hear him say the actual words. It would only make her feel more embarrassed about the entire situation.

So I can't bring it up now, Steve mused. However, he was tired of the silence. It wasn't a comfortable silence, but an awkward one. A deafeningly loud silence as the things that were being left unsaid and not dealt with hung thick in the air, making them both feel slightly claustrophobic.

He had to say something. If he didn't he was going to go crazy. Plus, he could tell Maddie was feeling just as uncomfortable since her slower pace, thanks to the crutches, had quickened. He hated the fact that she was that uncomfortable with him. It had never been like this for them and he prayed to God he'd be able to fix things, so everything could go back to normal between them. Well, at least in terms of being comfortable around one another, Steve thought, ignoring the nerves and slight fear that clutched at his stomach at the idea of being more than friends with Maddie. He knew if he wanted to still be in her life that he was going to have to stop being afraid of losing her and see what was between them. Something he'd accepted and come to terms with after he'd put his foot in his mouth on Sunday. However, just because he'd come to terms with it, didn't mean he wasn't still terrified that if it didn't work out, he'd lose her. Something he refused to let happen.

"How do you feel, Mads?" he asked, needing to say something. Not only to break the silence, but also to keep his thoughts, fears, and what if's at bay.

"I'm okay," she answered, still not looking anywhere but straight ahead as they continued to move forward. She sniffled, her nose somewhat runny, but no longer feeling like there was cement in it, which had made it impossible to breath through her nose. She followed the sniffling up with a clearing of her throat. She was just so congested; it felt like her head was under water.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, studying her. Something was weird. He couldn't ignore it anymore. There was something in her voice when she'd answered him. Something that hadn't been there before. Plus, the closer they got to the main room, the tenser she seemed. The more nervous she seemed. At first, he'd chalked it up to her feeling uncomfortable now that she was alone with him, but when he heard her voice he realized that wasn't it. It was something else. Something he now recognized as fear. He'd imagined that if she'd looked at him while they walked, he would've immediately seen it in her eyes. He cursed himself for not realizing sooner.

Maddie had seemed on edge and a bit scared when she'd first arrived to the arena earlier that afternoon. He'd seen it in the way sudden movements or loud noises made her jump or wince. The way she had scanned her surroundings nervously. However, he'd noticed that as she'd sat down across from him at the picnic style table in the main room, she'd calmed over time. He had assumed that having him there made her feel safe. At least he hoped. Knowing that Maddie wasn't easily scared of things had made him realize that, just like he and his team were beginning to discover, she knew that whomever was after her was not your average stalker. He knew if he watched her behavior, that if she seemed scared or off, then there was probably a good reason for her to be.

So, seeing fear beginning to return in her, Steve straightened, immediately becoming alert as he glanced around taking in their surroundings in an even more detailed manner than he'd previously been doing. No matter whom he was with or what was going on, he always automatically scanned his surroundings, making sure everything was safe. That he knew the best options in case of a tactical situation. After years of extensive training, it was second nature to him, something he didn't even think about anymore.

Subtly, he brought his right arm closer to the side of his body to inconspicuously, without frightening Maddie, double check that he'd reattached his sidearm before leaving the dressing room. He felt the familiar bulk of metal at his hip.

Steve licked his lips as they neared the door leading into the main room. He glanced over at her, taking in her demeanor. She was tense. I wish she'd talk to me, he thought.

Reaching the door, Maddie slowed, giving him a chance to open it. As he held it open for her, he watched as she stood still for the smallest of seconds, before she took a deep breath and walked through ahead of him, something that made him nervous. When she continued to crutch forward, leaving him at the door, he began to panic. She was only a few steps ahead, but he didn't care. He wanted her directly next to him, especially when she was suddenly acting so fearful. "Maddie, wait," he instructed. She stopped, her eyes closing. She'd thought he'd figured out where they were going and she was preparing herself for his very strong opinion on the matter.

As Steve took the few hurried steps towards her, he said, "I don't want you that far from me, okay?"

Her eyes opened when she realized she'd been wrong about why he'd told her to stop. She turned her head, glanced at him, and nodded in reply.

No fight? he mused, shocked she hadn't accused him of being overprotective and paranoid. No arguing? Something's definitely off. His jaw clenched as he fought his instinct to reach for her, hoping to squash the fear she was feeling, even if it was just through a simple touch. Plus, he was debating putting a stop to whatever they were going to do and take her back to her safely guarded dressing room.

Seeing the muscles in his face tighten, Maddie forced a small smile his way before turning her head back to face straight ahead. She slowly began crutching again. Steve immediately matched her pace while getting a bit closer to her as they walked further into the main room. He scanned the large room, taking it all in in a detailed way. Immediately he'd picked out the four different ways he could get her out of the room if he had to. He also knew where they could go for cover and hide if they couldn't get out of the room. If there was shooting.

Satisfied that he had a solid plan, along with Plans B, C, and D, if need be, he focused more on where she was leading him. He'd imagined that when she told him they were going to the main room that they'd be sitting down at one of the tables. When she didn't head towards one, but instead continued to crutch further into the room, he became even more curious. "Mads, where are we-". He didn't finish. He didn't have to. He knew exactly where they were going, something she realized the second he stopped mid-sentence.

Steve glared at the man at the end of the room who, once he saw Maddie, rose from his spot at a table not too far from the outside door. Steve's right arm shot out in front of her, forcing her to stop. Of course he was careful how he did it since he didn't want to cause her to fall. "No," he said, his voice strong and authoritative. She could hear the anger he was trying to keep from exploding.

Maddie turned her entire body to look at him. "Steve…"

"No." He shook his head. She could see the muscles in his face flexing and contracting as he clenched his jaw. He was trying so hard to keep his temper in check.

She wasn't sure what to say to him, so she gave him a second, hoping that once the shock of the situation wore off, he'd calm down. However, deep down she knew it wouldn't make a difference.

As Steve faced Maddie, he glanced to his left, to the other side of the room, at the man standing next to one of Maddie's security members. One he didn't recognize, so he could only assume he was new. One of the eight she'd hired a few months earlier. However, he definitely knew the man with him. And there was absolutely no way he was letting him get anywhere near Maddie.

He looked back at Maddie and took a step towards her, his protective instincts growing. He searched her pale face, hoping to figure out why she had agreed to this to begin with. "We're going back," he finally said. "Let's go," he growled. His voice was hard, leaving no room for argument. At least that's what he hoped, that she would listen and do what he was telling her, no, ordering her, to do. That she wouldn't argue. He couldn't let her get hurt. He wouldn't let her get hurt. And he was afraid that if her visitor got anywhere near her that's exactly what would happen.

When she made no effort to leave, he placed his left hand on her right bicep and applied slight pressure, hoping it would urge her to turn around so they could go back to the safety of her dressing room. But she didn't move, she only stared at him with those brilliantly blue eyes of hers. He noted the sadness and pain he saw in them. The sadness and pain she'd effectively hid throughout the day. However, she had unknowingly let the mask she'd put on slip away, leaving the emotion in her eyes for him to see plain as day. Unfortunately, he had to fight to ignore it. At least for the time being. He'd handle and take care of it later. For now, he had to get her out of the room.

"Madeline, come on. Now," Steve ordered, his voice rising slightly in volume. However, more than anger, and there was most definitely anger, she could hear a hint of fear in his voice. Fear he was trying to hide. Other people wouldn't have even noticed, but she knew him. She knew that he was afraid, just as much as he was angry. He wasn't afraid of the man wanting to see Maddie, he was afraid that she would get hurt. That she would get hurt just like she had when she was a kid. All those years he should have been protecting her, but he hadn't because he hadn't realized there was anything to protect her from.

"I swear to God Maddie, if you don't turn around and start walking, I will throw you over my shoulder and take you back myself," he promised, his voice dangerously low as he fought like hell to keep from exploding at her. The thing was, she knew he was telling the truth.

"Steve," Maddie sighed, doing her taking a step forward and closing the distance between them. "It's different."

Without over thinking or wondering how she'd react, Steve placed his right hand on her other bicep. He held her by her upper arms as he furrowed his brow and studied her face. Without really realizing, his fingers tightened on her thin, but toned arms. He fought the urge to shake her, to get her to see reason. That she needed to turn around.

Although he was starting to hurt her, she never let it show. She understood his feelings regarding her visitor, who was standing at the opposite end of the room studying the two longtime friends, and she couldn't blame him for them.

Suddenly Steve's fingers loosened, however he didn't let go of her.

"I don't understand," he finally whispered, searching her eyes for some kind of explanation to why she was doing this. Why she was agreeing to see him. Although his voice had softened the smallest amount, his eyes and face showed his anger was still flaring and building.

She smiled sadly while trying to keep the tears pressing at the back of her eyes from falling. "Because, Steve, no matter what he did in the past…." She paused, taking a deep breath. "He's still my dad."

He scoffed sarcastically as his temper flared and his jaw clenched. Hearing her refer to the bastard standing at the other end of the room as her dad made him want to shoot someone. Preferably her father. He looked away from her briefly, his mind running a million miles an hour. He really didn't want her to go through with this, but he was getting the impression that he wasn't going to be able to stop her. That is unless he physically took her back to her dressing room, but he knew if he did that, it would only further drive the wedge between them. He was trying to fix the damage he'd caused, not make it worse.

Just as Maddie began to turn from him and continue walking towards her visitor, something dawned on him. He grabbed her arm, effectively stopping her from moving forward. She looked to him, her eyes staring at him questioningly.

"How did you know he was here?" Steve asked. "Tina didn't say a word to you."

She averted her eyes at his question. "Look at me," he barked, giving her a slight shake. However, he immediately felt bad when he saw her slightly flinch.

Take a deep breath, he ordered himself. Calm down. You're scaring her.

As she brought her eyes back to his, he squeezed her arm lightly, hoping to convey his wordless apology. He waited for her to answer his question. When she didn't, the bit of calm he'd been able to achieve flew right out the window. His eyes flashed with anger as he sent her a warning look. A look that told her he was only going to ask once more and she better answer. "How did you know?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Although her body's instinct was to shrink under his furious stare, Maddie did her best to hold her head up high and stand up straight. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for his reaction. "Because he always comes to see me when I perform in Hawaii."

That was it, his temper exploded like a live grenade when the pin gets pulled. "What?" he yelled, tightening his grip on her arm. She winced, scared and in pain. Why didn't I know this? he asked himself. How did I not know this?!

"It's always around this time. He works close by and he's able to get away from the office usually between 2 and 3pm, give or take," she mumbled, trying to explain, hoping it would help calm him. She tried to tug her arm free while unconsciously crutching a step back from him.

Noticing her begin to back away in what he assumed was fear was just what he needed to cap the lid back on his anger, getting his control back in check. The last thing he wanted was for her to be scared of him. The thought made him sick.

He released her arm and instead brought his right hand to his face. He pressed his fingertips into his eyes while his left hand settled on his hip. He took a moment, trying to calm himself and let all he'd just learned settle in.

Maddie waited for him to speak again, waited for him to do or say anything.

Finally his hand dropped from his face as he licked his bottom lip. "And you see him every time you're home?" Steve questioned, struggling to keep his anger a mere sizzle in his voice. It was still raging inside him, begging and clawing to be released, but he was doing everything he could to internalize it. Maddie said nothing, only nodded. "For how long?" he asked, his left hand still placed on his hip. If she'd been a little less on edge, a little less scared, she would have thought how sexy she'd always found this particular stance of his.

She nibbled her bottom lip as she thought back over the years. "Maybe the last five or six years." Because she was flustered, she wasn't a hundred percent sure of the exact length of time she'd been meeting up with her father before her Hawaii shows.

He was quiet, unconsciously licking his lips again as he tried to digest what she was telling him. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" He wasn't just angry. He was hurt. Although he didn't let the hurt show. Apparently her lying and keeping things a secret from me is not a recent thing like I'd thought, he mused.

Maddie sighed, giving him a sad smile. "Because Steve, you would've freaked out-"

"Hell yes I would've freaked out!" he exclaimed, his control slipping and his anger exploding as he interrupted her. Luckily, it was a leak he plugged quickly as he managed to get the top screwed back on his temper. However, he knew it was only loosely screwed on and could pop off at any time, but it was the best he could do given how angry he was. "But that's no excuse!"

The sad smile fell from her face as she shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. Irritation at his behavior finally settled in. "Steve, you were always on dangerous missions halfway around the world. I wasn't going to tell you something that was going to upset you! Something that you wouldn't be able to change! You would've worried like crazy about me, which would've distracted you." She paused, her brow furrowing as she tried to reign in her emotions. He immediately felt bad, something she could tell by the way his hand returned to her upper arm, and inconspicuously rubbed it with his fingertips. "You could've gotten yourself killed because of it." Steve went to open his mouth, to argue with her, but she stopped him with a firm shake of her head as she repositioned herself on her crutches. Her back was beginning to ache from hunching slightly forward, resting her weight on the objects. "You told me that yourself. That it's incredibly dangerous when you're distracted in the field. That it's the worst thing that you can do. Let something distract and eat at you. That it can get you killed. There was no way I was going to be the reason something happened to you." I'm still not, she added quietly in her head, thinking about the threat from her stalker: "stay away from Steve or I'll kill him".

Steve stared at her, his angry, flashing eyes narrowing somewhat as he licked his bottom lip before resting his top teeth on it, biting it slightly. He stayed like that, looking in her eyes, for what felt like minutes, but was only maybe twenty seconds, before releasing his lip. His upper teeth slowly scraped against it as he did so. Finally he spoke. "I should never have told you that."

Because she was shocked by what he said, Maddie's real emotions slipped through the walls she'd built to keep him at arms length. It was too late by the time she realized, so she went with it. She let him see how she was feeling.

She looked at him, the hurt clearly displayed on her face. "What?" she asked in disbelief, trying to discern whether she'd heard him correctly or not. She was hoping she hadn't.

This time when he squeezed her upper arm it wasn't in anger, but in comfort. "You're never going to tell me anything serious now because you'll be too afraid it'll distract me. I can't have that, Madeline." He paused. "You'll worry me a thousand times more if you try and protect me from things and keep them to yourself. Then I'll always be distracted. All the time. Always wondering if you're hiding something you shouldn't be."

Maddie stared at him. Although it stung that he made it sound like all she ever did was lie to him, which wasn't true, she knew that what he said was the truth. "Okay," she agreed after a minute of silence.

"Okay?" Steve questioned, wanting to clarify that she was saying what he thought she was saying. That she'd tell him things even if she knew they'd upset him. Well, except for whatever's going on now. Whoever's after me, she told herself.

She nodded as she sighed heavily.

"Okay," he smiled at her, happy they'd seemed to reach a small understanding about something. All she'd done lately was try to keep things from him, wanting to protect him and not just about her stalker, but so many things. Her well-being and health being a big one. He hoped that by reaching this understanding it would help him start to fix things between them. He also hoped she would be just as understanding when they spoke later that night.

Maddie took a deep breath and turned, his hand falling from her arm as she did so. She began crutching forward, heading in the direction of her dad. Steve closed his eyes, shook his head, and took a deep breath before following her. Because of her slower pace, thanks to her crutches, it took him only a couple steps to catch up. As they neared her waiting father, he spoke up. "I'm not happy about this."

"I know," she replied.

Steve sighed loudly as they continued, making sure she knew just how much he didn't want her doing this. At least I'm with her, he thought, trying to find the bright side of the situation. In fact, she wanted me to come. He figured she wanted him to be there to make her feel safe, so that was exactly what he was going to do.

"Thank you, Adam." Maddie smiled at the member of her security team as she and Steve approached.

"No problem," he replied. "I'll be right there if you need me." He flicked his head towards his designated post ten feet away. She nodded in response, forcing a small smile even though her stomach was in knots. It always was when she saw her father.

"Madeline," her dad greeted once Adam was back at his post. He gave his daughter a smile, happy to see her.

"Hello," she replied, her voice sounding tight. Steve watched her out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that although she was doing this, she didn't seem to be too sure about it. She seemed nervous and quite anxious, although she was doing a pretty good job of hiding it. Just not from him. He also noted she didn't give her dad even a hint of a smile. Something that made Steve nearly grin, but luckily, he caught himself.

Her father looked to the tall, well-built, strong man standing next to his daughter. He hadn't seen him since he was a teenager. In fact, he wasn't able to tell who he was at first. He'd watched him talk to his daughter, and yell at her, at the other end of the room, but it wasn't until he was standing in front of him that he realized who he was. "Steven."

The yelling now makes sense, her father thought, knowing Steve wouldn't like the idea of her seeing him.

"Henry," Steve greeted, his voice cold. The anger that had begun to dissipate slightly, flared up again as he stared into the eyes of the man that had hurt Maddie way more times than he was sure he knew about. He stared at the man who used to beat the crap out of Maddie when she was a kid. It took everything he had not to reach out and use the skills he'd been taught as a Navy Seal and beat the hell out of him before snapping his neck like a twig, something that would be so easy for him to do. He wanted to make him feel the pain he'd inflicted on her. However, he knew even if he beat him nearly to death, he wouldn't feel a tenth of what she had experienced as it wasn't the physical trauma that had been the worst, it had been the emotional trauma. The devastation of it being her father that hurt her. The man she'd idolized as a young girl. The man who was supposed to keep her safe. Although Maddie had never told him any of that, he knew it was true. In fact, they'd never really talked about the fact her dad used her as his punching bag. Although they knew each other so well and had stuck by one another through thick and thin, she had never confided in him about that time with her dad. It was something she didn't like to talk about.

"You're all grown up. You're a man. A far cry from that skinny kid always hanging out with my daughter," Henry stated. He offered him a small smile, testing the waters. It wasn't well received; Steve only narrowed his eyes further, glaring at him.

At his comment, Henry noticed the way Maddie glanced at Steve out of the corner of her eyes. The way she looked at his body in an appreciative manner. Interesting, he mused.

"Yes I am," Steve replied, staring him down. Instead of his response coming out simply angry and cold, it came off as mostly threatening, which was exactly how Steve had intended it. He wanted her dad to know, and understand, that he wasn't afraid to kick the crap out of him, even kill him, if he hurt Maddie again. Not like when he was a teenager. Back then all he could do was tell his father what was going on, even though all he'd wanted to do was beat him senseless. But not now. Now, things were different.

"I heard about your father," Henry began, ignoring Steve's indirect threat, although he did pick up on it. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Let's save the pleasantries," Steve spat. "Because no, you're not." He took a breath, trying to control his anger. "Why don't you just do what you came here to do. Or say what you came here to say. You only get a couple minutes with her."

Maddie knew Steve wasn't saying that solely because he didn't want her dad near her, but because she needed to rest. And he was right. She was exhausted and felt awful, worse than she had twenty minutes earlier. And her knee and foot were throbbing, not to mention her tailbone. She'd never admit it, but she was anxious to get back to her dressing room and sit down.

Henry didn't argue or fight him. Something that surprised, more like shocked, Steve. Henry knew he was lucky Maddie would agree to see him after what he'd done. He nodded and brought his attention back to his daughter. "Madeline, what happened?" he asked, looking to her knee clad brace and crutches. Concern showed on his oval shaped face, deepening the wrinkles, especially around his light brown eyes. He didn't have a lot of wrinkles, Steve noted. In fact, he was surprised at how well he'd aged. He was still in great shape. It was obvious he was active, that he worked out. His skin was tan, but not overly so. It didn't appear leathery like a lot of older Hawaiian citizen's skin looked thanks to the countless years they'd spent in the sun without any kind of protection.

He'd always had amazing hair. It was thick and wavy and luscious chocolate brown. It looked the same; the only difference was that there were strands of silver sporadically placed. Not gray, but silver. Steve imagined when he was older and his hair went completely silver, that it would give him a distinguished air about him.

Steve took in his state of dress. As a kid and teenager, he always remembered that Henry was well dressed. The suits he wore had always looked expensive. Maybe they were designer, he didn't know. And now was no different. He was dressed in a gorgeous suit, but Steve couldn't have told anyone more about it except that it looked like it had cost a pretty penny. The same with his shoes and vibrant red tie.

Steve snorted at the concern her father expressed for her. Yeah, like you really care, he thought, bitter and annoyed.

Before answering her dad, Maddie turned to her best friend. "Steve," she began. "Can you give us a minute?" She knew he'd only continue to make comments at anything her dad said or did. It's not that she was standing up for him, she never would, but she had yet to figure out why he'd started expressing concern and visiting her. And she was definitely curious and wanted to know why.

"No," Steve answered bluntly. She cocked her head and gave him a look. "No way," he told her. "Are you crazy? Have you literally gone insane? I am not leaving you here with this asshole!" He was getting more and more upset, losing control of his temper. It was bad enough she was seeing him, but to be alone with him? Hell no! There was no way he was going to give Henry the opportunity to lay a hand on her. He'd kill him first.

Knowing she needed to do something before he lost it entirely, Maddie took a crutched step towards Steve, closing the distance between them. "Just please, give us a few minutes."

With her so close to him, Steve wanted to reach out and touch her, but he wouldn't let himself go there. He refused to focus on her close proximity or the way she was looking at him with those big, sparkling blue eyes. He couldn't. He couldn't get distracted from the situation. He shook his head at her request.

Maddie sighed. To keep from getting annoyed, she had to remind herself that he was just scared of something happening to her and him not being there to protect her. Just like when she was young. Her father was a touchy subject with Steve. He was still filled with so much guilt over not realizing sooner what had been going on for years. "Just stand over there with Adam. You haven't met him yet. Go suss him out…Make sure he's worthy." She smirked a little at her last statement, knowing he would be doing exactly that. "I'll be right here. I won't move, I promise." She paused. "Not that I could go far." She glanced down at her crutches and knee brace before bringing her eyes back to his face. She raised her eyebrows at him.

Steve couldn't help the slow smirk that fought its way onto his handsome bruised and stitched up face. "Like this morning?" he reminded her, an eyebrow cocked.

Her smirk turned into a smile, but she said nothing. She shrugged her right shoulder, quiet for a beat, but still smiling as he continued to smirk at her. Finally she broke their silence. "I promise. I won't move from this spot." With her hands wrapped around the hand grips of her crutches, she pointed down to the floor with each index finger.

Steve squinted at her while he thought it over. He glanced to where Adam stood guard. It was only about ten feet away. He could get to Maddie quickly if Henry tried anything. Reluctantly, and obviously not happy about it, something he made very clear by the look on his face alone, he nodded, sighing heavily. Even as he was doing it, he couldn't believe he was agreeing to it.

Thankful, she smiled as she tucked the tops of her crutches (the crutch pads) tightly in her armpits before letting go of the hand grips. She reached her hands towards Steve and rested them on his hard, toned chest as she leaned forward. Not only did she just want to touch him, but she was using his body to keep herself from falling as she leaned forward.

Steve's heart quickened as she leaned her face towards him. Is she going to kiss me? he wondered as he noticed the way her eyes flitted from his to his lips. God, I hope so. "Thank you," she murmured, her face a few inches from his.

Hoping to calm him down a bit before he left her to stand with Adam, she closed the distance to kiss his nose, something they both did to one another at certain moments. She would've kissed his forehead, but since she was only on one leg and barely holding onto her crutches, she wasn't able to get on her tippy toes and reach it. (He was just under a foot taller than her.) She knew if she tried she'd fall.

Just as her lips were about to make contact with his skin, he saw Henry move out of the corner of his eye. Without thinking he turned his head, wanting to be sure he wasn't making a move towards Maddie, and her lips made contact with the side of his face. The part of his face right next to his ear.

Maddie's heart sunk as she pulled her head away from his, assuming that he'd moved his head so she wouldn't kiss his nose. For a few minutes she'd forgotten how he felt about her, how he'd lead her on only to make her feel like a joke in front of their friends. However, it all came rushing back, nearly knocking the wind out of her. Your own fault for forgetting, for letting your guard down with him for a minute, she told herself.

As what he'd just done sunk in, Steve whipped his head back to face Maddie as she pulled away. Oh man, he thought. That could not have been worse timing. He tried desperately to catch her eye, but she refused. He could tell she was fighting to keep her emotions hidden, something he really didn't want her to do, especially when it came to him.

Worried she was thinking he'd done it on purpose, that he didn't want her to kiss his nose in the sweet gesture he loved, he debated what he should do. However, before he could do anything she pulled her hands from their resting place on his chest as she began to straighten, which meant leaning away from him. Maddie was only thinking she needed to quickly put distance between them while she tried to act completely normal. She wasn't thinking how she wasn't holding onto her crutches with her hands. Because she was still pulling away from him, she should've kept her hands on his chest to help keep her steady until she was standing straight up. However, she didn't and as she quickly took her hands off his chest she wavered slightly. Surprisingly, it wasn't much and she was able to grab the handles of her crutches before it got worse.

Of course, the second Steve saw her wobble he reached out for her and grabbed her waist. Before he could even process that she was fine, she turned her body to face her dad, a move that forced his hands to fall from her tiny waist. His stomach dropped. I hurt her again, he thought. DAMN IT! And we were actually having a genuine moment. For a second she was her old self again.

"I'm fine Steve," Maddie told him, turning her head to look at him, fighting and struggling to appear and act unfazed and not bothered by what had just happened. "Please give us a minute."

Steve's jaw clenched in anger at himself as he saw a glimpse of the hurt she was trying to hide. He paused before finally nodding and walking the short distance to Adam. She watched him introduce himself to the newer member of her security team before turning around and facing her and her father. She looked away, bringing her focus to her dad, before Steve could meet her eyes.

Maddie looked at her dad, waiting for him to say something. Even though she always agreed to see him, she never knew what exactly to say to him. What do you say to a man that basically checked out of your life after your mother got sick with cancer when you were six years old? What do you say to a man that beat you for years? Years. She didn't know and although she'd seen him several times over the last five years, she hadn't figured it out. However, she still saw him, but never for very long. She didn't have it in her.

Finally her dad broke the silence. "So, what happened?" Henry asked her again, gesturing to her right leg.

"Oh, I," she paused and cleared her throat at the weakness in her voice. The emotional weakness, not the fact she barely had a voice. "I tripped and aggravated an old knee injury."

"What about your foot?" he asked, noticing it was wrapped even though she had her shoe on.

"Just a cut," Maddie replied. She didn't want to give him any more details than that. She felt he didn't have the right to know. There was an awkward pause.

Since he wasn't too far away, Steve could hear what they were saying to one another. It was soft, but if he listened he could make out every word. To say he was surprised at everything Henry was saying to Maddie was an understatement. He sounded genuine, like he really wanted to know the answers. And as much as Steve hated to admit it, he sounded a bit concerned. However, it didn't change his feelings towards him. He still despised and loathed the man. Acting concerned for a minute didn't, and would never, change or fix what he had done.

"You look tired," Henry stated. He'd noticed her pallor the second she'd gotten close enough to take her in. He also noticed the dark bags under her eyes and the way her usually happy, sparkling, blue eyes, her mother's eyes, were still gorgeous, but dull and slightly bloodshot. "You okay?"

Maddie didn't realize that at her dad's question, she unconsciously glanced quickly at Steve. However, her dad noticed. He'd also picked up on the way she'd looked hurt when Steve had turned his head, causing her to kiss the side of his face.

"I'm fine," she answered. "Just been a long few days rehearsing. That's all. Nothing I'm not used to." She glanced quickly at Steve again before looking back at her father. However, this time she'd been aware she'd done it. She knew that a big part of the reason she was so tired was that she'd pushed herself over the last few days to hopefully help get her mind off her broken heart, thanks to one Steven Jonathon McGarrett.

"Madeline," Henry said, his tone taking on a more serious, almost warning, quality.

At the change in his voice, Maddie tensed. It took her back to the times he'd had a similar tone only to smack her moments later. Her grip tightened on the handles of her crutches as she tried to tell herself not to panic. That she was grown up now. That she wasn't the same helpless kid. Plus, she wasn't alone. She was thankful that she was holding something because she knew her hands would be visibly shaking if she weren't. She quickly looked towards Steve double-checking he was still there. She felt her rapid heartbeat begin to slow as she discovered he was watching intently, his arms crossed, his body tall, and his feet shoulder width apart. One of his typical stances. One that oozed not only authority, but also serious sexiness. However, she was too nervous to think of how hot and amazing he looked when he stood like that. It was the furthest thing from her mind.

Steve gave her an almost imperceptible smile and nod, silently letting her know she was safe and he was right there. She hated that after everything she was still relying on him, but she told herself that this was a special circumstance. This was her father.

Maddie looked away, not returning the smile. "Yes?" she answered, her voice unintentionally coming out timid and unsure as she fixed her eyes to a spot on the grey commercial carpet. She was annoyed and frustrated with her reaction, the sound of her voice, and the fact she couldn't look at him. However, it didn't change anything. She continued to look down.

Steve straightened as he saw the change in Maddie. He noticed the way she was holding her crutches much tighter than normal, her knuckles turning white. The way she scooted her left foot and crutches an inch backwards and leaned back slightly as if she was preparing to flee from her father. Put as much space between them as possible to give herself a head start. He figured she probably didn't even realize she had done it.

He knew something must have triggered her to feel threatened or scared, something that, although she was trying to hide it, she was feeling. He'd been paying attention and her father had only said her name, so it wasn't that. However, he knew it could've been anything. All that mattered was that she was suddenly on edge.

He brought his shoulders back causing his chest to puff out as he fought the urge to walk towards her and interrupt their conversation.

Steve was surprised when she looked over at him and their eyes immediately met. He immediately saw the uncertainty in them. Hoping to put her at ease, he nodded and smiled the littlest bit at her, wordlessly letting her know he was right there. That she was safe and would never let him hurt her. As much as he wanted to go to her, she'd asked for a few minutes alone, so even though he hated it, he would give her that. However, he only promised a few minutes and that was almost up. He glanced at his watch, keeping track of the time.

"He'll never have feelings for you," Henry stated, his voice unexpectedly gentle.

Surprised by his statement, Maddie's head shot up and her eyes found his.

Seeing the confusion in her beautiful blue eyes, the ones that had always reminded him of her mother, her father clarified. "Steve, he'll never love you." He paused. "He knows too much of your past. He'll always see you as damaged and broken."

Rage surged through Steve's body as he heard what her dad had just said. His heart was pounding in his chest as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He clenched his jaw and his nostrils flared. Now it was literally taking everything he had, every semblance of discipline, to keep from rushing over to him, kick his ass, and then throw Maddie over his shoulder and take her back to her dressing room. He didn't need someone filling her head with nonsense, especially her dad of all people. What are you worried about? he asked himself. It's her dad. She'll never believe him. Although he was still filled with anger, Steve decided to wait and see what her response was before he intervened. That was the only reason he wasn't at her side. He was curious.

She cleared her voice, sniffling once. "I know," Maddie said to her dad, her voice sounding sad and small. "He's made that clear."

Steve's shoulders slumped as literal pain filled his chest. He suddenly found it difficult to get air into his lungs. She really thinks that? he wondered. She thinks that because of my stupid mouth the other morning? Steve's stomach churned and his eyes fluttered closed. He really debated whether he might throw up. I kissed her for God's sake. I've hinted several times today. I… However, it didn't matter, it obviously hadn't been enough to counter the stupid things he'd said and done.

Henry hated how she sounded so sad. Although they weren't close, she was still his little girl and he wanted her to be happy. "I'm not saying that you are damaged and/or broken, or that you're unlovable, because that's definitely not true," Henry immediately said, worried she'd take what he said the wrong way.

"I know, Henry," she said. "Don't worry." Feeling a slight tickle in her throat, she turned her head and coughed into her shoulder, unable to use one of her hands because they were holding her crutches.

Her dad couldn't help but flinch slightly at the way she called him by his first name. She wasn't being a smartass or facetious. She was simply using his name. She hadn't called him dad since she was fourteen and to be honest, he didn't blame her. He was surprised she hadn't stopped when she was younger than that.

"I'm not trying to hurt you by telling you this. I hope you know that Madeline," Henry said. "I'm trying to keep you from getting your heart broken."

Too late, Maddie thought. It's broken. Shattered into little pieces. However, she couldn't tell him that. They didn't have that kind of relationship. Well, they didn't have any kind of relationship. They saw one another for a few minutes every year or so, whenever she was in town. "I know." She coughed again into her shoulder. "It's fine anyway. We're just friends. Just like we've always been…since we were four. He's dating someone, anyway. And she's really great," she told her dad, hoping she sounded as confident and nonchalant as she was trying to, and wanted to. That she seemed like she could've cared less about him in that way.

What? Steve couldn't believe what Maddie was saying. He was shocked. I am not dating Lori and I told her that. He was confused. So confused. He didn't understand why she thought he and Lori were together after he specifically explained to her that they weren't. He rubbed at his head, a headache developing. I cannot wait for this show to be over, to get her home. We need to have a serious conversation about so many things, he thought.

That's it, Steve told himself, worried that Henry would say something else to cause more problems between he and Maddie. He couldn't handle hearing him tell her any more lies. Her dad's statements couldn't have been further from the truth. He didn't think of her as damaged or broken. Actually, it was quite the opposite. He thought of her as strong. In fact, she was probably the strongest person he knew. How can he tell her I'd never have feelings for her? He doesn't even know me! And he certainly doesn't know her or the two of us together! He was fuming.

Wanting to put an end to their conversation so no more damage could be done to their relationship, or friendship, whatever you wanted to call the strange place they were in, Steve began walking towards them.

Henry paused, trying to think of something else to say to her. "You're so beautiful. You know, you look just like your mother," he told her, a slow, genuine smile appearing on his face.

Maddie tensed as anger coursed through her veins. She clenched the handles of her crutches so hard her arm muscles began to quiver slightly. "Don't talk about her. You don't have the right."

"I'm sorry, Maddie," Henry immediately apologized. "You're absolutely right."

"Everything okay?" Steve asked, as he glanced between the two. He'd heard what her dad said to elicit her reaction, but he didn't want them to know. He knew she'd only get more upset and feel like she couldn't have even a short conversation without someone overhearing.

"Yes," Henry answered, staring at the boy that had grown into a man. He knew how Steve felt about him, he'd made it very clear. And, if he was being honest, he wasn't sure how he felt about him either. Especially given how his daughter seemed to be upset and hurt, something her long time friend had obviously caused. But then again, he didn't know Steve the man. He only knew Steve the kid and Steve the teenager. And he was a different man back then. An angry, terrible man, who had done unspeakable things. So anything Steve had done or said to him back then was, in his book, warranted and well earned.

Steve looked at Maddie, waiting for an answer as he took in her rigid demeanor and white hands as she squeezed the life out of her crutches.

Refusing to look anywhere but at her dad, anger and hurt in her eyes, she answered, "Yes," her anger simmering just under the surface, ready to explode.

"Okay." Steve paused, licking his bottom lip out of habit as he studied Maddie's face. Well, the side of it since she wouldn't look over at him. She was looking worse than she had when they'd left her dressing room. "Mads, let's get you back. You're looking paler. You need to get some rest."

"Honey, are you okay?" Henry asked his daughter. He'd noticed she had paled as they spoke, but he hadn't wanted to say anything to her about it in case she took offense to it. However, since Steve brought it up, he took the opportunity.

"I'm fine," Maddie mumbled, sniffling. Feeling the tickle again, but this time much worse, she tightened her upper left arm against the crutch to keep it in place while she brought her hand to her mouth as she coughed. This time it wasn't just one cough, but several. And they were deep and painful, in her throat, but in her chest, ribs, and back as well. She groaned as she continued to cough.

Steve felt against the outside of his left front pocket of his cargoes.A sense of relief washed over him as he felt that he had in fact slipped her inhaler in his pocket just in case. However, since her coughing had slowed and then stopped he didn't need to give it to her.

"Are you sick?" Henry asked her, his brows knitted firmly together in concern only a parent could understand when something was wrong with their child, no matter how old.

"Yes, very sick," Steve answered, knowing Maddie would claim she was fine.

"I'm fine," Maddie said, annoyed Steve had told her dad.

Steve rolled his eyes. "Oh, so it's completely normal to have a fever of over 104?" he sarcastically countered.

"She always did get insanely high fevers whenever she caught a bug," Henry revealed.

"I'm fine, really. He's just over reacting," Maddie told her dad. "He tends to do that." She rolled her eyes.

Steve sighed heavily, frustrated as he shook his head.

"I'm gonna have to agree with Steve on this one, Madeline. You look like you don't feel well. Plus, you look exhausted," Henry told her honestly. "Go and get some rest, please… It was really good to see you."

Maddie held her tongue, fighting the urge to tell him he had no right to tell her what to do. She was also mad he was acting so concerned after all the years he used to treat her like crap. However, Maddie knew he was trying. He'd been especially trying for the last couple years. She wasn't sure what had prompted the big change in him and to be honest, she didn't really care. She just knew it was too little, too late.

"Come on Mads," Steve said, reaching his hand and placing it on her upper back. At his touch her heart began aching, what he'd done when she went to kiss his nose and her father's words running on repeat in her head. She squared her shoulders and pushed her chest forward subtly, almost imperceptibly so, to get her back away from his hand.

Steve kept his feelings and emotions buried deep as he received her message loud and clear. She didn't want him to touch her. He casually dropped his hand from her back although his heart was pounding and aching. I fucked up again, he thought. Any little progress I might have made over the last few hours is gone. Damn, how does this keep happening? However, he knew. Maddie was obviously so hurt by what he'd said Sunday that she was reading in to every little thing he said or did, assuming the worst each time. He also knew that if she didn't have the whole stalker business, if she was herself, she wouldn't have taken everything so hard.

"Before you go," Henry said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out what appeared to be a business card. "I know I've given you one before, but I thought I'd give you another one. Just in case." He reached his hand out to her. Slowly, almost as if it would bite or burn her, she took the card from his extended hand before bringing hers back to her crutch. "You can call me any time, Madeline." He smiled. "If you want to talk or say hi, or just…whatever," he added, obviously nervous. "And any time. Seriously. Even if it's in the middle of the night. It's fine."

He'd given her his card the last few times they'd seen one another, ever since she'd noticed the big, sudden change in him, the genuine, real effort he was making. He'd always told her she could call him, even if it was just to say hi, but thankfully, he'd never pushed. He'd never asked for her number. He wanted her to want to give it to him. (However, he did have her assistant's. Tina had given it to him a few years before.) What Maddie did notice was how he told her she could call him day or night, no matter the time. That was new. He'd never said that before and she found herself wondering why now? However, if she would've asked Steve, he would've told her why. That her dad could tell something was wrong, that something wasn't right with her.

Maddie nodded at her father, not knowing what to say. She never did when he gave her his number and told her to feel free to call. She didn't want to lie and claim she would and would love to, but she also didn't want to be rude and tell him not to hold his breath. However, if she was being honest, a part of her did want to do that.

"Okay, go get some rest. I'll be watching tonight. I'm really excited!"

Maddie's eyes flew to his face. Both she and Steve looked at him, shocked by his comment. "You're coming tonight? You have a ticket?" Steve asked. Maddie was wondering the same thing, he just beat her to it.

"Yes. Well, I went to buy a ticket, but they sold out in less than five minutes." He smiled at Maddie, pride on his face, something that pissed Steve off. He felt he had no right to act like a proud father after everything he'd done. Maddie had accomplished everything in spite of him, not because of him. "However, I really wanted to see the show, so I bought a ticket from a scalper," Henry answered, leaving out the fact that he'd bought more than one. That he wasn't coming alone. He didn't want to get into it with Maddie right then. He had been planning on talking to her about it during this visit, but she'd seemed so rundown and just not herself. He might not have known her very well as an adult, but he'd still been with her until she was fourteen. He knew her better than she realized; he was still her dad after all. He could tell when something was wrong and there was definitely something wrong.

Again, Maddie wasn't sure what to say to him. Sure she'd seen him a few times over the last few years, but he'd never actually attended one of her shows, at least not to her knowledge. Feeling like she needed to say something, she said, "I hope you enjoy the show."

"I'm sure I will." Henry smiled at her. "Now, go get some rest. Okay?"

Maddie nodded slightly. "Okay, goodbye Henry."

"Goodbye Steve. Goodbye Linny Bear," her father said, using his nickname for her.

Maddie said nothing although her chest was suddenly tight from the raw emotion the nickname quickly produced. It sent her back to a happier time. One where her mom wasn't yet sick and her dad was still her dad. Her hero. It was before he'd fallen apart and let anger and grief change him.

"Bye," Steve stated, his voice cold. He watched Maddie closely, knowing the nickname would upset her. However, he couldn't see her face as she was still looking straight ahead.

As he continued to watch her, Maddie began turning around. He was able to get a quick glimpse of her face and was surprised she didn't look anymore upset or hurt. However, he knew appearances could be deceiving.

As she turned, he saw her struggle trying to hold her dad's business card and her crutch at the same time. "Here let me hold that," he offered. He reached his hand out and took the card from her. "I'll stick it in my pocket since you don't have any. That way, you don't lose it and you can crutch easier." She only nodded slightly at him as he pulled his wallet out and slid it inside before returning the leather object to his back pocket. The two started walking back to her dressing room as Henry walked to the door of the main room and out into the parking lot. Steve glanced over his shoulder just to make sure he'd actually left.

---

As they walked down the various hallways to her dressing room, Maddie said nothing. Although she wished they weren't, her father's words were running on repeat in her head. He'll never have feelings for you…. Steve, he'll never love you… He knows too much of your past. He'll always see you as damaged and broken.

Steve eyed her every few seconds. She was definitely more withdrawn than before the meet-up. I should've never let her see him, he thought, angry with himself. He wanted so badly to tell her that her dad was wrong, but he knew she'd freak out and get upset that he'd been listening to their conversation, which would only make her push him further away. He just couldn't win either way. Maybe I can mention it tonight without letting her know I heard…. Easier said than done, he thought. He knew he'd need to really think through this approach.

As they neared her dressing room, Steve couldn't take the silence anymore, plus he wanted to ask her about her talk with her dad, see how it went. Of course, he knew how it'd gone, but he wanted to hear her answer. To find out how she felt about it. He cleared his throat, preparing to ask her. "How did your talk with your dad go?"

"Fi-ne," Maddie whispered, her voice cutting out halfway thanks to the fact she'd been talking for the last few hours, making her nearly non-existent voice worse. She cleared her throat.

"Oh yeah?" He asked. "What did you guys talk about?"

Maddie clenched her jaw, her father's words growing louder in her head. Steve, he'll never love you…. He'll always see you as damaged and broken. "Nothing important," she finally answered.

He thought that response made his chest tighten, but the next thing out of her mouth nearly knocked the wind out of him. "Nothing I didn't already know and nothing that wasn't the complete truth."

God, I can't believe she really thinks that, Steve thought, trying to keep from saying anything to her about it. It wasn't the time. He knew her well enough to know that she needed some time to digest everything and to get the show behind her. If he tried to talk to her now she'd only retreat further into her shell and shutdown on him. But, he swore he'd set her straight as soon as they got back to her house. However, he did feel he had to say something; he would just have to be vague about it. "I doubt that Maddie."

Could he hear our conversation? she suddenly wondered as her heart began to pound and her hands began to sweat, making it difficult to hold onto her crutches. "Doubt what?" she quietly asked him, not letting on to how she was really feeling inside, anxious and panicked.

"That what he said was the truth."

She swallowed the emotions that wanted to escape. "No, I know for a fact that everything he said was true. Plus, it doesn't matter. We didn't talk about anything important," she lied, never looking anywhere except straight ahead as they continued to walk (crutch for her). She hadn't met his eyes once since he'd interrupted her and her father's conversation.

Nothing important? Great, Steve thought sarcastically. He wasn't able to say anything further as they arrived at her dressing room. Seeing them approaching, Mo was ready for them, holding the door open.

They entered in complete silence.

---

Thanks so so so so much for reading the next part of Chapter 36! I hope you liked it! Part 3 has a lot going on! The stalker is a busy creeper in it!

Anyway, like I said earlier, the more reviews I get, the sooner I'll post Part 3, which is done, but I'm going to read through it and edit it once before posting. But that doesn't take too long.

So, please, please, please, PLEASE leave a review, or feel free to send me a private message! I'm super anxious to know what you guys thought about the scene between Maddie and Steve when they were arguing about her father and then again when she was talking with her father! I was worried that I didn't paint a good enough picture of how both Maddie and Steve were feeling when they were arguing in the main room. When Steve was telling her she needed to go back to her dressing room, that he didn't want her near her father. How do you guys think it came across? Could you picture them? I'd really love some feedback on that!

Thanks so much for reading!
xo,

Laura