"TAKE MY BREATH AWAY"
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Title: "Take My Breath Away"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Continuation of the "Salvation" series by popular demand
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: April 20, 2011
(Bright and early the next morning, Sam and Steve head to the marina to meet Mike, Libby, and Grace at the boat. They had hoped to get there first and have the boat ready, or nearly ready, to go by the time the others got there, but Sam's parents and Grace are already there. In fact, Grace is turning out to be quite the little sailor and Mike is patiently teaching her how rig the sails and run all the engine checks before heading out to open sea. Steve jumps right in and also starts working with Grace and, in no time at all, they are heading out of the marina. Steve is at the wheel with Grace standing on a small step-stool right in front of him and he is showing her how to guide the boat through the narrow channel. Sitting in the lounge area toward the bow with her mother, Sam watches Steve interact with Grace and is suddenly hit with a strong longing to see him with their children. Libby watches Sam as she watches Steve and her heart catches because she knows exactly what's going through Sam's mind. Reaching over to squeeze Sam's hand, Libby sends her daughter a comforting smile.)
"Steve will make a wonderful father one day, Sam, and you, Sweetheart, will be an amazing mother."
"I know, Mom."
"Sam, are you all right?"
"I have dreams sometimes, Mom, about. . About the baby I lost. . . I'm walking in a dark fog and I can hear a baby crying but I can't find it. It's the same dream I had in the hospital in Germany."
"Honey, how often have you been having these dreams?"
"Not often; but when I do have them, they're so. . Real."
"It's a natural part of the grieving process, dear. The dreams will fade in time; especially with Steve there for you."
"Steve doesn't know."
"He doesn't know? . . Sam, are you telling me that you haven't told Steve about these dreams you're having?"
"I can't, Mom. Steve's in the middle of this case and he keeps hitting dead-ends, and he doesn't need me adding to his stress level because of a dream."
"Nor does he need his stress level increased because you were hurting and didn't tell him."
"I can handle it, Mom. "
"I'm sure you can, Sam, but this isn't just about you. Steve lost a child, too. Don't you think he still feels the loss of that child as much as you do? Don't you dare run away from him again!"
"I'm not running from Steve!"
'Yes, Samantha, you are if you don't let him in. If you don't share your grief with him, if you don't let him be there for you, you're as good as running away from him. Anne and Jonathan didn't raise you to run away from adversity and neither did Mike and I. Talk to your husband!"
(And having said her piece, Libby gets up and heads down into the galley leaving Sam sitting in stunned silence. Steve has seen Libby stride angrily across the deck and head down into the galley, and the expression on Sam's face speaks volumes. Asking Mike to take his place at the wheel, Steve makes his way forward until he drops down next to Sam on the cushioned deck bench and slides an arm around her shoulders.)
"Looked like your Mom wasn't too happy when she headed down to the galley. What'd you do to piss her off?"
"It's not what I did, it's what I haven't done."
"Yeah? What?"
(Sam takes a deep breath and looks off toward the ocean for a few moments before turning back to face Steve.)
"I've been having dreams, Steve; the same dream I had in the hospital in Germany, about the baby I heard but couldn't find."
(Instantly, Steve pulls Sam closer and his eyes soften.)
"Sweetheart, why haven't you told me?"
"Because you have this case and I didn't want to upset you over something I'm perfectly capable of handling on my own."
"Sam, I love you more than anything or anyone else in the world; when you're hurting I hurt. Baby, don't ever keep something like this from me because you don't want to upset me. I want to be here for you, Sam, I need to be here for you."
"'Kay, just remember, I need to be here for you, too."
"I know. So, how long have you been having these dreams?"
"Since Germany, but I don't have them every night. Actually, I've only had a few, but I had one last night and Mom picked up on it. She got mad at me because I hadn't told you."
"I know. I love her, too. She said the dreams were a natural part of the grieving process and that they would eventually fade in time, but . . . "
"Sam, Sweetheart, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I will always be here for you. 'Kay?"
'Okay, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the dreams. I just didn't want to add another problem on top of the ones you already have with this case."
"You could never be a problem to me, Sam. Ever."
(Grace has decided that Sam and Steve have been serious long enough and she carefully makes her way to where they are sitting and stands in front of them with her hands on her hips. Both Sam and Steve are struck by how much her expression looks just like one of her father's.)
"Are you two going to sit up here all by yourselves all day? I mean, it's not like you don't live together or anything. Aren't you sick of each other by now?"
"I'm sorry, Gracie, we've been ignoring you, haven't we?"
"Yes, you have, Uncle Steve, and you promised me you were going to explain scuba diving to me, in great detail."
"Yeah, Sailor, you did tell her that. In fact, you told her you were going to teach her how to prep tanks for a dive."
"And Grandpa says we're going to be dropping anchor in about twenty minutes and that you should 'move your sixes.'"
"Yes, Ma'am. Tell the Admiral we'll be right there."
"That's 'Aye, aye, Ma'am' to you, Commander."
(And Grace quickly rejoins her Grandpa while her Aunt Sam bursts into unrestrained laughter at the expression on her Uncle Steve's face. . . .
Lana, her body draped across Chin's can't remember when she's ever felt so content. If it were not for the specter of Jake Anderson hanging over her head, she would say her life had never been more perfect. She's in love with a fabulous man who loves her unconditionally in return, and she has a career and volunteer opportunities which allow her to help others the way she's always wanted. After leaving Kono's and Tony's the night before, Lana and Chin went straight to her apartment so she could throw some things in an overnight bag and then went straight to Chin's. They've been there ever since, and she's feeling more relaxed and peaceful than she has in days; in spite of the fact that Anderson is still out there somewhere and still a threat to her. . . .
After celebrating their first night in their first house properly, Kono and Tony slept in and decide to go out for brunch. Kono is just coming out of the bedroom when she sees Tony standing in the great room looking out into the back yard with a strange expression on his face. It immediately hits her that his expression is one she would expect from him in full SEAL mode than a man looking over his own backyard. Sliding her arms around his waist, she peers out into their backyard, but doesn't see anything out of place.)
"Something wrong?"
"No, I just . . . No. Let's go eat."
(But there's something nagging at Tony that he can't quite shake.)
