"Trouble In Paradise. Again."
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Title: "Trouble In Paradise. Again."
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult language and situations
Summary: Even paradise has its ups and downs. The Hawaii Five-0 family is about to discover more of each.
Date Written: February 22, 2011
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately!
(Steve and Kono turn the corner of the hallway at the base hospital just in time to see Sam and Tony, clad in sweat pants and sleeveless tees, running, if you can call it that, towards their rooms throwing good-natured insults at one another along the way. Kono can't help herself and snorts out loud which causes Steve to throw her an unbelieving glance before bursting out laughing; although he isn't sure if he's laughing at Sam's and Tony's pitiful attempts to outrun each other or Kono's rather unladylike snorting. Either way, he realizes that the laughter feels very good after the sadness of the past several days. Sam cuts in front of Tony, taking advantage of the fact that there's a linen cart parked on the other side of the hallway and manages to reach the door to her room first. Steve is already standing there, and Sam laughingly slips her arms around his waist and grins up at him while Tony limps over to Kono and throws an arm around her shoulders.)
"No fair, Commander, you cheated!"
"I did not cheat, Lieutenant! My superior reflexes and visual acuity are what enabled me to beat you!"
"SEALs are never beaten, Ma'am, I allowed you to win."
"No, no Lieutenant, I beat you fair and square!"
"Is there a Pediatric unit in this hospital, Steve, 'cause I think that's where these two should be moved."
"Don't know, Kono, but I'm betting neither one of them will feel like doing that again after the adrenaline wears off."
"Hey, we've been doing this all day, Sailor."
"Yeah, Boss, I've been chasing your wife to P.T. and she's been chasing me back. I think it's going to be a while before either one of us can run the O course, though."
"Speak for yourself, Lieutenant, I plan to pass my flight physical ASAP. I'll be back in the air before you rejoin your team."
"I don't think so, Commander."
"Oh, really? How much would you like to bet me?"
"Hold up, you two, we need your help."
"Yeah, Sailor? With what?"
"Finding Dimitri Kasavich's 'missing man'."
(This statement immediately causes both Sam and Tony to put their playfulness aside and they exchange a look before returning their attention to Steve and Kono.)
"What can we do?"
"Let's go in Sam's room and we'll explain. Oh, and Sam, Caroline and Danny are bringing Gracie out here a little later to see you and Tony. She's really pissed with him because he didn't tell her about any of you getting hurt so they're going to go see Chin and then come here. She doesn't know."
(There is no need for Steve to explain what it is Grace doesn't know and Sam nods imperceptibly and then gives him a small smile meant to offer comfort. The four move into Sam's room and Steve explains what's going on with the case while he and Kono boot up the laptops.)
"You know Kasavich's operation better than any of us, Sam, so we need you to take a look at what we've got and see if you recognize anyone from the surveillance photos."
"I'll be glad to look, Steve, but I didn't know everyone in his operation. Kasavich thought he'd be better protected if he was the only one who knew every person involved."
"Anything you can give us will help, Sam. We've reached a dead-end with what we've got now."
"Okay, but when Caroline and Danny get here with Grace, laptops are shutdown and we don't discuss any of this."
"Agreed. Okay, let's get to work."
(An hour later, Sam is frustrated as she cannot identify anyone in any of the photos and Tony is having no better luck looking through the data regarding communications between Kasavich and his associates in the six months prior to his arrest. Steve receives a text message from Danny telling him they're on their way up, and the laptops are shut down and put away. By the time Grace Williams comes bounding to Sam's room with Caroline and Danny right behind her, the four other adults are in the middle of a conversation about how pathetic Sam and Tony looked coming down the hallway. Tired of being in bed for days on end, both Sam and Tony are sitting on the fold-out soft in the room and Grace immediately claims the place between them after giving both of them hugs and kisses. Tony completely surprises and delights his wife with his easy manner with Grace, and Kono starts thinking that a four or five bedroom house might not be such a bad thing after all.)
"Thank you, Grace, I know I'll get better that much sooner now that you're here."
"'Course you will, Silly, Sam, too. Everybody knows that hugs and kisses are the best thing for you when you're sick."
"And yours, Miss Williams, are the best of the best."
"Hey, Gracie, don't give your Dad to much of a hard time about not telling you we were hurt right away. He was worried about all of us, especially Caroline, okay?"
'I know, Sam. I was really mad at him until he told me how he almost messed up with Caroline, and then I had to forgive him 'cause she did. I'm really glad you're okay, though."
(Everyone immediately looks at Danny as they are surprised he told Grace at least part of what happened between him and Caroline, but he just shrugs and they let it go.)
"I'm going to have to hang out at home for a little while after I get out of here, Gracie, and I've been thinking that maybe you could come over and hang out with me. Think your Mom would be okay with that?"
"Sure she would, Sam. My Mom thinks you're really cool."
"Okay, then. I'll call her in the next couple of days and work it out. Have to warn you, though, we will not be doing any surfing until I'm all well."
"That's okay. Maybe you can explain some more to me about ground school."
"Sounds like a plan, nugget."
"What? You don't want to learn more about SEALs?"
"Well, yeah, that'd be cool, too, Tony."
"Uh, hold on here, guys, she's only nine."
"Exactly, Danno, way too young for either option right now."
"Really, Sam, still with the 'Danno' thing?"
"Forever more, . . Danno."
"Oh, God."
