CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Our Love, Our Legacy"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult situations and language

Summary: Story #8 in the Salvation series. The Five-0 family face challenges that make them all re-evaluate their lives.

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

Date Written: September 24, 2011

(Sam is in the large conference room waiting patiently for the satellite link to lock and Steve to appear. She is very grateful for the chance to speak with her husband privately; especially in light of the information revealed when she and Danny questioned Adm. Harte. Whether it's pregnancy hormones, missing Steve, anxiety about the op or a combination of all three, Sam is starting to feel a little "weepy" and she is taking some slow, deep breaths in an effort to get her emotions under control. The last thing she wants right now is to start crying in front of Steve. Seconds later, she has succeeded in getting a grip as Steve's handsome, totally "gone native" face appears on the screen. The first thing he does is shoot her one of his sexy, little grins she loves so much and she knows that he is the only person in the communications tent just as she is the only person in the conference room. His opening words confirm her thought.)

"Hey, Beautiful."

"Hey, Sailor. Gotta tell you, Steve, that 'lost my razor' thing you've got going on is making me all hot and bothered."

"Is it now?"

"Absolutely. In fact, I may just throw your razor away when I get home."

"Well, damn, Sam, if I'd known my growing a beard would do the trick, I'd have done it years ago. 'Course, I'm not sure the Governor's going to be really thrilled."

"Yeah, and I don't want you scratching the baby, either, so maybe I won't throw away your razor."

"Probably a good idea, but, you know, I don't have to use it the minute I get home."

"I love it when you talk dirty."

(And then Sam gets serious and tells Steve everything she and Danny discovered when they questioned Adm. Harte. Steve takes a moment think over what Sam said and wipes a hand over his face.)

"We've been watching the lab pretty much since we've been here and I'm almost positive the six tangos we talked about earlier are the only ones there, but it surely would be nice if you guys could find and question Sims before we hit that lab."

"We're working on that right now, and you can bet your six we'll be in touch if we get anything. Steve, I . . Damn."

(And Steve instantly knows that Sam is very, very close to crying because he knows his wife better than he knows himself. He also realizes that crying is the very last thing she wants to do at the moment, so he gives her a little help.)

"Meant to ask you, what took you so long to get in on this op, Commander? I'd have thought you would have told Mike, very sweetly, of course, that you were going to be calling the shots on that end."

"Yeah, like I've got a death wish. You forgot I've got six ladies looking to me for some comfort and support, didn't you, Sailor?"

"Not for a second, and I'm sure you're doing an awesome job. Your idea to have all the wives there for the earlier teleconference was amazing, Sweetheart; my guys really appreciated being able to see and talk to their ladies even if it was for just a couple of minutes and the whole world was listening."

"How'd you know it was my idea?"

"You're kidding me, right? What'd you do, Sam, tell Mike you wouldn't talk to me if the other wives couldn't talk to their husbands?"

"Yeah."

" . . . Wow. . I'm proud of you, Sam, and I love you with all my heart."

"I love you, too, Steve, and I want you home. ASAP!"

(But before Steve or Sam can say another word, Danny bursts into the conference room looking like he's just won the lottery.)

"We found Ted Sims, and you won't believe where he is!"

"Well, where is he Danny?"

"In a Hummer with about a gazillion SPs on his way here. He was staying at some sleazebag motel on the other side of the island. Chin put out a BOLO on him and an H.P.D. officer responding to a disturbance call at the motel happened to see him going to the ice machine. He's changed his hair color and shaved off his moustache, but it's him."

"Okay, then, let me know if you get anything out of him that might be helpful. Now, go away; I want to talk some trash with my wife."

"Go away? That's the thanks I get?"

"Thank you. Now, GO. AWAY!"

"Fine! Just remember who's pulling your ass out of the fire, here, Pineapple Boy!"

(And Danny is out the door before Steve can reply. Sam is giggling at the fact that, even though Steve and Danny are over seventy-five hundred miles apart, they are still arguing like cats and dogs. Steve has a mock frown on his face until Danny disappears from view.)

"I'm so gonna kill him when I get home!"

"No you're not. You're going to eat a huge steak and baked potato with all the trimmings, and then you're going to take me to bed and we're going to stay there for at least twenty-four hours."

"A nice, rare steak would be really good right. . . Whoa, forget the steak, Sam; let's just go straight to the two of us staying in bed for twenty-four hours."

"Thought you'd like that idea. Would you like for me to tell you what I plan to do to you once I get you in bed?"

"Not when anyone could come walking into this tent at any second. Besides, I've got a great imagination."

"Yes you do. . Have I ever told you how very much I enjoy it when you. ."

"Sam!"

"Okay, Sailor, I can take a hint. . . How much longer before you hit the lab?"

"Fifty-six minutes."

" 'Kay. We'll be back in touch before you execute. One way or the other, Ted Sims is going to tell me everything damned thing he knows about Alexei's plans. He may be scared of Dad and Adm. Henderson and how much time he's going to spend in prison for what he's done, but he's going to be absolutely petrified by the time I'm through with him!"

"That's my girl. . . Listen, Sam, we aren't going to be able to have a private conversation when you guys get back with me. I love you, Baby, more than anyone or anything else in the world, and I'm going to come home to you just as soon as I can."

"I know you are, Steve. Just swear to me you'll be careful, McBaby and I need you. I love you so much."

"Is McBaby behaving?"

"Like an angel. You know, Steve, we really need to get serious about names. I know we have another four months or so, but . ."

"Yeah, Beautiful, I know. How about we talk about it right after we finally drag our sixes out of bed?"

"Drag is right, Sailor, 'cause you aren't going to be able to walk when I get through with you."