One for Sorrow
Pairing: McRoll
Spoilers for season 10 - Episode 7
Chapter - 34
Driving into a parking spot at Side Street, she stopped the car, and pulled the keys out but allowed Steve to still get the door for her even though she was in the drivers seat. Holding her hand out, she smiled as he helped her out of the car and then closed it behind her, and she locked it, putting her keys into her handbag. "And they say chivalry is dead", her words were soft and playful, feeling his hand on the small of her back as he guided her. "I was raised a gentleman I'll have you know".
His own words were just as playful and he smirked, looking over at her. Steve felt like the luckiest man in the world to have Catherine in his life, ever since he met her, he knew it was her, she would always be the great love of his life. Still looking at her like she was the only woman in the world, he didn't even hear at first a woman calling his name from the opposite direction.
Catherine caught the woman's eyes and smiled softly, tapping Steve on the arm, "Look who it is", the woman moved closer to them with a couple of other women. Steve turned to look in the direction Catherine was looking and it was none other than Lynn, his ex and Ellie and another woman he hadn't met before. He gripped Catherine's hip a tiny bit tighter and smiled softly as the women approached them. "Lynn, Ellie, It's been a while, It's nice to see you both".
Lynn had really begun to fall in love with Steve, ever since she saw Catherine's car in the garage and the ring, she always had a feeling she wasn't going to live up to her. She hadn't fully meant to blurt out the proposal but another part of her had to see her reaction. Once Steve left to go on some secret mission with her, she knew then and there that Steve would never love her or look at her the way he did Catherine. After he came back, it didn't feel the same and they scaled down their dating and it became more causal till it just ended.
Deep down, as hard as he tried and as much as he did enjoy the time he spent with Lynn, he never loved her the way she deserved and the way she needed him too. He might have told Catherine that he wasn't going to wait for her anymore but at
Seeing them together did unsettle her a touch, she was jealous of Catherine and for good reason.. "It's good to see you too Steve, and wow, Catherine I didn't know you were back in town.. Are you just here for another case?" The tension was evident and Catherine could sense the jealously dripping from this woman. "It's nice to see you Lynn, and actually, I'm back for good.. I resigned from the CIA and Steve has given me the opportunity to work for five-o again".
It seemed neither woman had kept up to date of his activities as neither seemed to be aware his mother had been killed, wanting to protect her, he pulled her closer, and Ellie tried to lighten up the conversation, "How is your family doing Steve?", She knew his mother was in the CIA and knew that Mary and Joanie lived in L.A as Steve mentioned them to her from time to time. "Mary and Joanie are doing well, they are here right now, they are actually looking at moving here permanently as well.. As for my mother, well.. that is why they are here and one of the reasons why Cath is here.. My mother was killed last week".
Lynn's hands went up to her mouth in shock and Ellie looked in shock as well, Lynn instantly moved her hand to touch Steve's arm and looked up at him, "I am so sorry to hear that Steve, my condolences to you and your family". Ellie nodded her head, she knew the feeling all too well and both his mother and father had been killed by someone, "I'm here if you need me for anything Steve", added Ellie softly. The other woman that was with them had dropped back, she knew this was Lynn's ex and didn't feel entirely comfortable with how Lynn started to touch him when he mentioned his mother.
"Thank you both, it means a lot to me" He gently moved out of Lynn's reach, Catherine looked at her watch and made the perfect excuse for them to keep leave, "We should head in Sailor, we don't want to miss our reservations". Steve nodded, turning his gaze back to Catherine, "You're right, we should head in, I'm sorry Lynn, Ellie, we should get going, it was nice to see you both, maybe we can catch up another time". They said their goodbyes to the women and then continued on, hand in hand, "You okay Sailor?", Catherine had to ask once they got out of earshot of the women. He smiled softly and nodded his head. "I'm good Cath… I just hope that wasn't uncomfortable for you".
Walking into the bar, Catherine rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, "I'm fine Steve.. I could sense the jealousness coming from Lynn but you know that you being with her never bothered me, just like you being with Greer never bothered me either.. I trust you and you trust me, that is all either of us needs". She had liked Lynn when she had met her, and so she didn't hate her now or even dislike her… She was just a woman from Steve's past to her, even if it was in between when she and Steve had been together.
"That's all I need to hear Cath", he smiled and leaned in to kiss her before they went to stand at the front where they greeted you and took you to your table. Their relationship and even their friendship was a special one, one that not many people could say had. They had a few hiccups here and there and ups and downs like all people did, but all they wanted to see was the other's happiness and it meant the world to Steve that he was the one making Catherine happy.
Meanwhile, out on the streets, Lynn was pouting, "I can't believe it, She is flaky and has bailed on him so many times before, why is he believing her now". Ellie, whom had set the two up when it seemed Catherine wasn't coming back sighed softly, "He obviously loves her Lynn and it's his choice if he wants to give her another chance". The other woman whom had known Catherine by reputation as she had also been in the Navy spoke up, "I've only ever heard good things about Lieutenant Rollins and from the look on her face this evening, she looked serious when she said she was staying and taking a job back at five-o.. Now let's let this go and enjoy the rest of our night". Begrudgingly, she let them tug her away from the pub that Steve and Catherine had walked into, though not without a second glance back towards to where she last saw them.
Author's Notes
I have had so much inspiration today that I managed to turn two chapters into three. I also was able to use an idea I had a while back as well. I want to make this a romance but I also want to pay respect to the fact it does still need to be somber at moments because of his mother's death, so I am happy that the last chapter was really well received. Three chapters also allow me to get back on an even number of chapters. I have an aversion with odd numbers for some reason so when I am doing two chapters, I'd rather the second chapter I write ends on an even number. We are also getting a little closer to a chapter where Catherine and Steve can have grown up alone time as well.
I also hope you like the fact I brought Lynn and Ellie in to the mix a little. I don't know if I will use Lynn again or not but I felt it needed to be put in there. A lot of the time, the writers add these characters like Lynn, Ellie and even Melissa/Amber and all of a sudden they are dropped with no real reason why. I understand the actor/actress might not be available but they should at least broach it in the story as to why these characters are no longer seen from or heard from again so I wanted to add in that Lynn and Ellie still lived on the island and there could be reason for them to bump into each other. I hope I portrayed her okay as well, I did think she was a bit jealous when it came to Catherine and the whole scene where she threw her shoe was it or something at Steve in the valentines episode was cringe worthy to be honest and I think Catherine handled herself well in Lynn's presence in the show and when she was talking to Steve about it later on, then with her not being jealous over Greer, I sense that Catherine just doesn't get jealous because she knows what She and Steve have is special.