CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
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 29, 2011
(The look on Danny's face is totally priceless! In a matter of seconds, all the color drains from Danny's face, he has a look of sheer terror in his eyes, he unconsciously grabs his chest as if his heart is about to explode, and he actually gasps a couple of times as if he can't catch his breath. If it weren't for the very serious expression on Grace's little face, Caroline would burst out laughing at Danny's reaction. You would think Grace had just told him she wanted to talk to him about moving to Mars instead of boys! Grace, her little face screwed up in a frown that is eerily similar to one of her father's, crosses her little arms in front of her, again, just like her father, and her frown turns into a glare. Caroline, her face red from containing her laughter, doesn't say a word as Danny sucks in a deep breath and grabs the counter for support. He sends a pleading look toward his wife, but she just walks back over to the stove to stir something. Finally, realizing that help isn't coming from any quarter, Danny forces a pained smile onto his face and looks down at his daughter's sweet face.)
"All right, Grace, let's go sit outside and we'll talk."
"Okay, Danno, but I want to have a serious talk, okay?"
(And, hand in hand, Grace and Danny head out to the back deck while Caroline grabs her cellular phone, hits the speed dial for Rachel, and manages to relate Danny's reaction to the other woman between spontaneous bursts of laughter. Promising that she will let Rachel know how things go, Caroline ends the call and sneaks over to the door to the deck so she can eavesdrop on Grace's and Danny's conversation; not caring one bit if she should or not. After his initial shock, Danny has recovered somewhat and appears outwardly calm, but, inside, he's shaking like a leaf.)
"Okay, Monkey, what do you want to know?"
"Why is it okay for grown ups to hold hands and cuddle and kiss, but you get all mad if I want to talk it?"
"I don't get all mad, Grace; I'm just . . . Concerned. You still a little girl, Sweetheart, and you're way too young to be worried about boys and holding hands and cuddling and kissing."
"I know that, Danno, but why can't we talk about it. I am going to be old enough to do all those things one day."
(And Danny, feeling moisture gathering in his eyes for the second time that day, kneels down in front of his daughter and takes both her little hands in his as he looks into his daughter's trusting eyes and prays for the right words.)
"Grace, I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything, baby; anything at all at any time. Please, please don't ever be afraid to come to me at any time about anything. Danno will always be here for you. . . Holding hands and cuddling and even kissing are all things people do when they care about each other; when they love each other. Kind of like when you hug your friend Sarah goodbye after you guys have had a spend the night party, but you don't hug all your friends goodbye, do you?"
"No."
"So, why do you hug Sarah?"
"Because she's my best friend. We talk and hang out together all the time and we have a good time."
"Okay. The same thing's true when two people love each other. They talk and hang out together, they like a lot of the same things, and they're best friends."
"So, holding hands and cuddling and kissing are things you should only do with people you really love a lot?"
"Exactly. Sweetheart, in far fewer years than I would like, you're going to have boys asking you out on dates; that's how people get to know one another, and some of these boys are going to want to hold your hand or cuddle and even kiss you. The thing I want you to remember, Grace, is that you don't have to do any of those things if you don't want to, and I also want you to remember that all those things are just for very special, very important people. If a boy doesn't want to take the time to really get to know you, it all he wants is to hold your hand or cuddle or . . Kiss you, he doesn't really care about who you are or what you think or how you feel."
"Mommy says that boys who do that don't really want to treat me like a lady and that I should always remember that I'm a lady."
"And your Mommy's absolute right, Grace. Always remember that you're a lady, always act like a lady, and you'll always be treated like a lady. And if some boy tries to treat you otherwise, he's going to have to answer to me and Uncle Steve, and Uncle Chin, and Tony, and Grandpa."
(And then Grace looks into her father's eyes for a moment with a very serious expression on her face as if weighing his words before throwing her little arms around her father's neck and giving him a kiss on the cheek and a great big hug; a big, beautiful smile on her sweet face.)
"I love you, Danno! And you don't have to worry. . . Boys are gross!"
(And Danny Williams hugs his little girl tightly before a sudden and extreme weakness takes over his body and he's shaking like a leaf.)
