CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Title: "Forever and Always"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult situations and language

Summary: Story #5 in the Salvation Series. Sam/Steve, Caroline/Danny, Kono/Tony, Chin/Lana and the rest of the gang!

Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the sole property of the author!

Date Written: May 25, 2011

(Steve and Mike "magically" disappear from Libby's room shortly after Caroline and Danny leave, and Sam knows that her parents had apparently arranged for this to happen long before they ever reached the hospital. When it's just her and her mother, Libby takes one of Sam's hands in hers and looks lovingly at her daughter while brushing a golden blonde lock of hair out of her face.)

"I asked your father to drag Steve down to the cafeteria for coffee because I wanted to talk to you, Sam. First of all, Sweetheart, you do know the reason Caroline started picking on you as soon as you came through the door is because you are positively glowing. I don't need to know any details but am I correct in assuming that my son-in-law is responsible?"

"You are."

"Steve's a good man, Sam, and he obviously adores you. I'm so glad you have one another. It's important for me to know that you and Caroline will be taken care of after your father and I are gone."

"Whoa, Mom, I though you said you were going to be fine. I mean, you're not going to . . ."

"No! God, no, Sweetheart. I am fine. . One day, Sam, when you have your own children, you'll understand. It's important for parents to know that their children will be all right no matter what. I plan to live for a very long time, but this scare has made me realize how important it is to keep an eye on things. I've already had this talk with Caroline and now it's time to have it with you."

"Mom, if you're going to tell me I need to do regular self exams, don't worry. I always do, and I have a yearly pelvic and PAP smear."

"Good. Since you're not my biological daughter you're not as likely to get breast cancer, but Caroline's odds just shot up. I want you to do something for me, Sam. I want you to dig into your family history, your mom's and your dad's and I want you to see if there's any history of cancer, or any other catastrophic disease, to be found."

"This has really shaken you, hasn't it?"

"Of course, it has, dear, and I don't want anything to sneak up on either of you two girls."

"That's not the only reason you wanted to talk to me, Mom."

"No, Sam, it's not. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know how hard it was for you yesterday. I know how hard it is for you every time you walk through the door of any hospital."

"It's fine, Mom. I'm fine, really."

"You're sure? No nightmares last night?"

(Sam actually blushes as she remembers exactly what happened last night.)

"No, Ma'am, no nightmares."

"I don't even want to know. Okay, then, you know that I'm here if you want or need to talk."

"I know that, Mom, but I'm good. And if I do have any nightmares, well ."

"I know. Steve will take care of you"

(Sam and her mother talk for a while longer and Steve and Mike find them giggling like teenagers when they get back to Libby's room. They discuss the remodeling Sam and Steve want to do at their house for a few minutes, but Sam's cellular phone rings during the conversation and she frowns when she looks at the caller I.D.)

"Cmdr. McGarrett . . . . Yes, Sir. . . I'm at the base hospital now, Admiral, I can be there in five. . . . Aye, aye, Sir."

"That Adm. Henderson?"

"Yeah, Sailor. I have to run over to Flight Ops for a little while; I need to take care of a little problem. Shouldn't take too long."

"Let me guess. Thorne."

"I should be gone, I don't know, an hour at the most."

"Okay, Beautiful, I'll just stay here and visit with your folks. Maybe
Mike and I can come up with a game plan to remodel our bathroom."

(Sam kisses her mother on the cheek and hugs her father and Steve. Neither Libby nor Mike miss the sweet look Steve gives Sam when he kisses her goodbye, nor does Steve miss the concerned look on Mike's face when Sam walks out the door.)

"I certainly hope Lt. Cmdr. Thorne hasn't done something that's going to cause Sam problems."

"Thorne's an ass. He's not too happy that Sam got the promotion and CAG's position, Mike. He's been telling anyone who'll listen that the only reason she got it and he didn't is because you're her father."

"The reason Sam got the promotion and CAG's position is because she's a damned fine officer and has worked extremely hard. Adm. Henderson recommended her, and the SecNav personally made the selection."

(The stunned look on Steve's face indicates that Mike just told him something he didn't already know.)

"You didn't know."

"No, Mike, I didn't. Does Sam know?"

"No. She was deliberately not told because the SecNav usually doesn't have anything to do with promotions and didn't want anyone to think he was showing favoritism, but, because of her outstanding job performance and assistance with those arms dealers a while back, he took a personal interest in Sam. No one's actually listening to Thorne are they, Steve?"

"Of course not, but it bothers Sam just the same."

"As long as Sam continues to do her job as well as she's been doing it, she has nothing to worry about. Now, as to remodeling your bathroom, . . ."

(Sam is pissed. She's supposed to be on Emergency Leave and Joel Thorne has managed to do something to piss off Adm. Henderson and now Sam has to go straighten it out. All Adm. Henderson told her on the phone was that there was a situation with Lt. Cmdr. Thorne that he needed her assistance with, but Sam is sure that it's more than just something routine. By the time she walks into the Flight Operations building, her anger is on a very short leash. Knocking on the door frame of Adm. Henderson's office, Sam notes the irritated expression on his face as he looks at something on his desk. When he looks up and sees her, however, he smiles and stands up to direct her to one of the chairs in front of his desk.)

"Good morning, Commander. How's your mother this morning? I stopped in to see her yesterday afternoon and she looked well. Told me the good news."

"She's fine, Sir, and thank you for asking. The doctor says she should recover completely."

"Good. I'm sorry to have to call you in when you're on leave, but I need your help."

"Of course, Admiral. What do you need me to do?"