CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
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 28, 2011
A/N: Hello, everyone. Wow! I'm bowled over by all the wonderful reviews and private messages I've received for this story so far. You guys are completely awesome! I've tried to incorporate as many of your suggestions as possible into the story thus far, and I will continue to do so if you'll send them to me. This story is not over; far from it! There's more fun, drama, love, and, yes, "smooching" on the way, but I'd really like to hear from all of YOU what you'd like to see happen. I also have an idea brewing in the back of my mind for the next story and I think you'll all like it, too, but that's later on down the road. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing; I love hearing from you and I write for YOUR entertainment! Michelle
(Allen Henderson heads straight back to his office and calls Mike Thrasher.)
"Hello, Allen."
"Mike. You know, I realize that Sam McGarrett is your adopted daughter and that didn't happen until she was seventeen, but you and Libby have done a remarkable job with that young lady."
"I appreciate that, Allen, but don't forget that Jonathan and Anne Murdock raised her the first part of her life. She's definitely her father's daughter."
"I'd say she's a credit to both of her fathers; and let's not leave Libby and Anne out, either. The way Sam handled herself with the other SEALs' wives was outstanding. I'm sure you and Libby and Lt. Cmdr. McGarrett are extremely proud of her. Let me fill you in on what she asked of me not ten minutes ago and did it without batting an eyelash."
(And Adm. Henderson proceeds to recap his conversation with Sam not realizing that his comment touched Mike deeply and he's having a " Daddy moment" while he listens. When he's through singing Sam's praises, he fills Mike in on the celebration and asks Mike to assist him. Of course, Mike is only too happy to agree, and the two men are soon immersed in a discussion of the event. . .
Steve has finished filling his team in on the upcoming celebration and they start to lay out a basic plan of action on which they can build as they incorporate information from Pearl and the Secret Service. Chin, computer expert extraordinaire that he is, already has several ideas tearing through his brain and, after briefly expressing his ideas to his cousin, he and Kono get to work on developing a network outline. While they're doing that, Steve heads into his office to call the lead Secret Service agent, Mark Andrews, and Danny follows him and drops down into a chair. Steve, still a little wary of Danny after his earlier rant, eyes his brother-in-law somewhat cautiously.)
"I, um, I just wanted to say that maybe I got a little carried away earlier. I mean, I know that you and Sam and Mike and Libby wouldn't do or say anything inappropriate in front of Grace. I just. . ."
"Danny, Gracie is a beautiful, precious little girl and I know you love her very much. All of us love her very much and we'd all love nothing more than to see her live a fairytale life, but you and I both know that life just doesn't work that way. She's nine, and right now, we can all definitely protect her from all of life's big hurts and some of the little ones, but, eventually, we're going to have to let her go; you're going to have to let her go. All too soon, Grace is going to grow up and you and me and Chin and Tony and Mike are going to be glaring constantly at every boy who even looks in her direction let alone directly at her, but we can't put her in a glass cage, Danny. We can teach Grace what's right and what's wrong and try to head her in the right direction, and I personally think that she's got some really great examples to follow, but, in the end, when all is said and done; Gracie is going to have to make decisions for herself. It's her life, Danny, and, eventually, you're going to have to let her live it her way."
(Steve is not the least bit surprised to see moisture gather in Danny's eyes and realizes that Danny's earlier rant was really just his way of venting his frustration that his daughter is growing up and he's not ready for that to happen. Danny stands up, shoves his hands in his pockets, and looks down at his feet a moment before looking back up at Steve and swiping at his eyes with one hand; his expression completely sincere.)
"You're going to be a great father, Steve, and you're a good friend. . . And, . So, okay, being related to you is not the end of the world, but, if you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll have to kill you."
(And Steve just grins as Danny, his usual smart-assed attitude and swagger firmly back in place, saunters out of Steve's office. Picking up his desk phone, Steve quickly punches in the cellular number for Mark Andrews and waits for the man to pick up.
