CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

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

(Sam and Tony have also been busy with at the base concentrating primarily on identifying the strengths and weaknesses in base security since they're expecting so many VIPs for the celebration. They have taken over the conference room at Flight Ops and have maps and schematics for security systems spread out on the conference room table, and Sam, because of her baby bump, is having a little bit of a hard time leaning over to look more closely at some things. Finally, the fourth time she has this problem, she plops down in a chair and frowns in frustration.)

"This is utterly ridiculous. Don't we have these things on CD-ROMs?"

"We do."

"You know what? We need a Command Center, Lieutenant, and since Adm. Henderson put me in charge of this op, I'm declaring the large conference room in the SEALs' building as our Command Center/CIC. Load everything onto the secure computers over there and clear me some desk space in your office, Lieutenant. I'm going to call Steve and see about getting them networked."

"Aye, aye, Commander."

(And Tony smiles as he watches Sam walk out the door and back toward her office. He has no doubt that in fifteen minutes or less, he'll be getting a call from his cousin-in-law about setting up a secure connection between their computers and Five-0's. When Cmdr. McGarrett sets her mind to something, she gets it done; no whining, pouting, or excuses allowed. . .

Sam calls Steve's cellular phone but it goes to voicemail so she hits the speed dial for Danny.)

"Yo, Sis, what's up?"

" 'Yo, Sis'?"

"Sorry. I assume you're calling about the thing at the Arizona next month?"

"You assumed correctly. Where's Steve?"

"On the phone with the Secret Service and he has the aneurysm face."

"That would be because the Secret Service is most likely telling him that neither H.P.D. nor Five-0 will be needed on this op except to run license plates in the parking lot at Turtle Bay Resort."

"That's on the other side of the island from the Arizona Memorial, Sam."

"Exactly."

"You've worked with the Secret Service before."

"Oh, yeah, and they definitely do not like local LEOs even if they do happen to work exclusively for the Governor."

"Guess they're going to have to make an exception this time."

"If they're smart they will, but this Mark Andrews doesn't appear to be too smart."

"And you know that how?"

"Because he left a message for me with Adm. Henderson's secretary informing me he would be in touch later in the week to explain the way base security would be handled."

"So glad I'm not Mark Andrews; so, so glad."

"Ask Steve to call me when he gets through stroking out, please, and may I talk with Chin?"

"I will and yes, you may. Hang on."

"Hey, Sam."

"Chin, how hard would it be to network your computers with ours?"

"Shouldn't be a problem."

"Okay. Call Tony when you're ready to do it; he should be ready on this end."

"No problem."

"Thanks, Chin."

(Sam has just reached her office when her cellular phone rings and it's Steve's name and number that pop up.)

"Hey, Sailor."

"Have you talked with this guy?"

"Who? Andrews?"

"Yeah."

"Nope. He left a message saying he'd get with me later in the week. Guess I'm not as important as you are."

"He didn't call me, Sam; I called him. Which is a good thing because, if I'd waited for him to call me, I'd be in line behind you! He actually told me we didn't need to worry about a thing; said his people, none of whom are in Hawaii, have ever lived in Hawaii, probably never been to Hawaii, had everything under control and he'd call us back if he needed our input!"

"Hello? Not the enemy, here."

"Sorry."

"Wow, this Andrews must be something if he got to you."

"He's something, all right. He's a pompous, arrogant, full of himself know it all who thinks he's going to come in here and call all the shots."

"C'mon, Steve, tell me what you really think."

"Are you listening to me, Sam? This guy basically told me that not only were we not needed, but we weren't wanted."

"I get that, Steve, but I can't believe you're getting all bent out of shape over this. This is your island and my base, and don't think for one second I'm going to allow a Secret Service agent who doesn't know the first thing about international terrorism to come in here and take over. I'll kick his six all the way back to Washington if he tries to screw with me!"

"That's my girl . . . Wait, you're base, Sam? What happened to Adm. Henderson?"

"He put me in charge of this op, Steve, so yeah, you're damned straight it's my base! Listen, I've got Tony in on this, too, and we're setting up a Command Center/CIC in the large conference room in the SEALs' building for this op. I've talked to Chin and he said it shouldn't be a problem to network our computers with yours so I was thinking we could use that set-up from now up until just before the celebration ceremony. At that point, we move you guys out here with us until all the VIPs are wheels up. Logistically, it makes sense because we'll all be geographically closer to the actual sight of the ceremony as well as the airfield where the VIPs will be landing and taking off, so we decrease their exposure and increase our visibility, plus the base itself is more secure than the Palace. Anything you want to add?"

"Aye, aye, Ma'am?"

"Stop being a smart-ass, Steve, I'm asking if this op plan meets with your approval so far!"

"Aye, aye, Ma'am."

"It's going to be a long month."