One for Sorrow

Pairing: McRoll

Spoilers for season 10 - Episode 7

Chapter - 31

Heading back up to the five-o offices, everyone had scattered to do their own things. Danny was back in his office with Charlie finishing off his lunch, Quinn and Tani were out getting a new lead on their current case, Junior had an urgent phone call from his mother, Adam had to go see Duke about a case down at HPD and Lou was visiting Eric in the crime lab to check on some evidence they were testing.

"It's interesting to see the office when it's just as quiet as when it's bustling and busy with everyone here isn't it sweetheart", Mary could sense the very slight disappointment Joan had that everyone had rushed off before they could say goodbye or tell them the good news about how they were moving back to the Island, her hand on Mary's shoulder and her daughter nodded, "I guess it is".

After giving Joan and Mary a tour of his office and some photos that she could take back to L.A and show her friends, he asked Mary and Catherine if he could have a moment with his niece. He sat her up on his desk and sat down on his chair, "You okay munchkin?", his hands were on the desk either side of her as she kicked her feet a bit, looking down. "I bet you feel a bit sad that everyone left without saying goodbye aren't you?"

Shrugging her shoulders, she looked close to tears but trying her hardest to stay strong in front of her Uncle. It wasn't just about her family leaving without saying goodbye. She understood that sometimes they got a call saying they were needed urgently and couldn't take the time to say goodbyes, but with her Grandma dying, and leaving her without saying goodbye, it just overwhelmed her. She took a breath and it all came rushing out, "It's not fair Uncle Steve".

Looking into her eyes, he moved his chair closer to the desk and wiped away her tears, and moved her hair from her face, "What's not fair Joanie?", he was confused, though at the same time, he did wonder if it this was more than just everyone leaving the office without saying goodbye to her. "I didn't get to see Grandma again.. She was going to come visit on my birthday and take me somewhere fun for the day, just me and her, grandma, granddaughter day she called it". Joanie sniffled, and more tears fell from her eyes. "I never got to say goodbye".

With that she burst into tears, nearly launching herself into her Uncle's arms when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, "I know Joanie, it's not fair at all sweetheart. I know you loved your grandma and I know she loved you very much too". It was hard for Steve to see his niece upset like this and over something that was real and painful as well, not some trivial little thing.

His own eyes misted over and when he felt her little arms cling around his neck, he held onto her a little tighter. He was in his own little world with Joan that he didn't realise that Mary and Catherine and now even Danny were watching through the glass panelling of the windows. His heart broke for Joan for not being able to really know her grandmother and his heart broke for himself. He didn't have any living parents now and that was a lot to deal with, even for a grown man.

Despite his differences with her, she was a wonderful mother when he and Mary were growing up, before she took off on them. He did have a lot of childhood memories that he could cherish and still look upon with fondness and he wanted Joan to have been able to know that Doris McGarrett, the one that spent time with her grandchild and did fun things with her.

Bringing her chin up to look into his eyes, he continued, "This is what the funeral is for though, so we can all say goodbye to her and give her a proper send off, and then we will have her buried with Grandpa where they can be together again, and grandma can catch grandpa up on everything and let him know about his beautiful and sweet granddaughter named Joanie whom was named after her grandfather".

That seemed to bring her back to life a little. She smiled sadly and nodded, Steve not letting go of her reached over with one hand to get the Kleenex to wipe her nose and eyes, sniffling a little she whispered softly, "yeah, and I think that your grandfather will love you so much sweetheart, just as much as Mommy loves you, and I love you and everyone else loves you". She hugged him again and kissed his cheek, "Can we go see great grandpa Steve". Steve was surprised at that request. He knew she knew about his and Mary's grandfather but it just proved again and again how amazing this little girl was.

"How about one day next week, we'll go visit him, I am sure he will love hearing from his great granddaughter". Just as they hugged once more, Mary opened the door to Steves office and smiled softly, having seen but not heard, "Everything okay in here pumpkin?" She turned to face her mother and smiled, Steve giving a thumbs up to his sister, "Everything is fine isn't it Joan". Though he said that, his look did say that he would go into more detail later when Joan wasn't around. Joan nodded and smiled as she got down from her Uncle's lap and began to walk towards her mother, "All good Mommy, Uncle Steve said he'd take me to visit great grandpa Steve next week".

She smiled as she took her daughter's hand and nodded her thanks to Steve for knowing exactly how to talk to his niece and for putting that smile back on her face. "Awesome, I like that idea baby girl.. Hey I was thinking, Uncle Danny has to stay at work for a little while longer and I think Charlie is getting bored.. How bout we invite him to come with us to get some shaved ice and then maybe head to the park for a little while and then we can drop him at home later on". She smiled and ran out of the room to go ask Charlie and Uncle Danny if he could come with them for some shaved ice.

"I know you will explain all of that later, but thank you big brother… Seeing you like that with Joanie, I know you will make an amazing father one day". He nodded back and smiled, Catherine coming in through the open door that Mary held open still, "Thanks little Sis, you already make an amazing mother.. you have come a long way and I'm proud of you". He got up and walked over to the door and hugged his sister, Catherine having already sat down at one of the chairs opposite his side of the desk, and she thanked her lucky stars that things seemed to be working out for them so far this time, there truly was no other place that Catherine wanted to be.

Author Notes

I really hope you guys enjoy these next two chapters, Chapter 31 one is a bit angsty and sad. I wasn't intending to go this way when I began writing it, but I hope you guys enjoy it. It shows the grieving process even though they are all moving forward slowly one day at a time. These two chapters came along really quickly. When I start to write, it all just flows and that's in part thanks to you all for giving me support by way of reviews or even just follows and favourites and knowing or at least hoping you are all still reading. Thanks to all my followers and supporters for appreciating my work. It means so much. I'll be updating Right here waiting either most likely over the weekend at some point.

SteveMcGarrettLover

I am really happy you liked how I had Catherine and Charlie interact. I want her to just be family again, no awkwardness or anything and I think she has always been good with kids as well. She was really good with Grace when she was younger as well. Awesome, I am glad you love Abby, I really adored her right from the moment we first saw her and even learning why she was really there, I still loved her because you could sense she was uncomfortable with it. I'd even maybe like to bring back Lori at some point, maybe.. that's just a maybe right now.. but who knows. I don't like where they are going with Adam's storyline, and he has been loyal to Steve and five-o ever since he saved Kono's life that time. He is a good man and I hope he does right by his Ohana.