Thanks for all the notes, I know some people didn't like where the last chapter ended. Elle – I absolutely loved your note, and you're going to get even madder with this chapter. I'm sorry, but Azucena's going to be on her own for a little while. I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story, and I'm trying hard to stay on top of this. Thanks for your patience. ~Avy73
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Steve let his kid sister fall apart in his arms for a few minutes. What was being asked of Azucena was more difficult than he could imagine. Her life hadn't been normal or easy by any means. Now he was asking her to give up the life she had made for herself, move to another place, take on a new identity, and pretend all her nightmares and fears never existed. Leave behind any sense of family or social connection and live an insignificant life, so no one suspects she is being hunted down by an international psychopath.
If he could trade places with her, he would in an instant. However, he knew his purpose was the find the sick bastard and finish him once and for all. In the meantime, Doris and Azucena would be safely tucked away under an assumed name and in an unknown city. This truly was the safest option.
Steve's thoughts were interrupted by Azucena's soft voice. She was still clinging to his chest, but had calmed herself down enough to begin making serious observations, "What about Mary? She isn't safe either."
Steve knew Mary was safe from WoFat. There was something about how Azucena had gone up against WoFat twice and bested him that drove his desire to kill her. Mary wasn't even on WoFat's radar. Steve thought it would be best to approach it from a more subtle angle, "The Marshall's don't believe Mary is in danger and I'm inclined to agree with them."
Azucena pulled back from Steve's chest and looked up at her brother, "Why?"
He offered her his observations, "Doris is still assumed dead. They don't want WoFat to figure out she's alive, so they have to pull her into the Program. You have survived two attacks from him and in the first attack, you gave as good as you got. You are a challenge to him, and he isn't going to leave any loose ends this time. Mary survived, but she never interacted with him. The Noshimuri's were the ones that ordered Mary's kidnapping and WoFat knows about her, but she's not the leverage he wants. You are his primary target."
"What about you?" she quizzed, softly.
"You're his way to torture me. Both times, his goal was to torture me through hurting you."
"I'm one of your Achille's heels."
"Yeah, the one he has been focused on since the beginning." Steve paused, and loosened his grip on Azucena, "But to make sure Mary stays safe, I'm going to have her move back into the house."
Azucena nodded in understanding. She hated what was being asked of her, but she knew it was the right decision, "Can Tommy come into the Program with me?"
"Unfortunately, he can't. You guys aren't married and it's too big of a risk." Steve patiently explained. He wasn't a Marshall, but he knew some of the rules, through various classified operations.
"So, what do we do?" Azucena questioned, finally giving into the new reality that was unfolding before her eyes.
"Pack a bag. I have to call Marshall Stone and determine the plan forward." Steve said, as his sister slowly stood to her full height. She held out a hand and helped her brother off his knees. He looked to Catherine, "Would you help?"
"Of course." She nodded, and looked to Azucena, "Where's your suitcase?"
"Downstairs in the closet of the laundry room. I can get it." Azucena answered.
"No, I'll get the suitcase. Give you a few moments with Tommy to collect yourself." Catherine explained, knowing she should be rushing the young woman to pack a bag. However, if she were going to have to leave Steve for an unknown amount of time, she would want a few minutes alone to say her goodbyes. Catherine turned out of the room and down the hall.
Steve looked to Azucena, debating whether to ask the question. He knew their mother could be absolutely awful to Azucena, but she was their mother and the young woman wasn't going to have anyone in her new life. "They are putting Doris in the Program as well. If they allow it, would you like to be in the same city as her?"
"No, thank you." Azucena didn't even hesitate, and Steve wasn't surprised. She knew what was healthy for her, and Doris was not.
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Steve followed Catherine down the hall and padded down the stairs into the kitchen. As he turned on the coffeemaker, he dialed Marshall Stone's number. It wasn't two rings before the line was picked up, "Stone."
"Marshall Stone, it's Steve McGarrett."
"Yes Commander, have you reached a decision?" The man was all business. Asking people to uproot their lives was an incredibly complicated decision and this man acted like the grocer was asking if he wanted paper or plastic bags.
"I will not be joining the Program, but my sister will."
"Are you sure Commander? This is a one-time opportunity."
Steve was irritated with this man, "I will be hunting down the man that has caused so much terror in my family's life. So, to repeat my point Marshall Stone, I will not be joining the Program."
"Very well, you sister needs to pack a bag. No pictures, no electronics, nothing traceable to any city she has visited or lived in. Do you understand?"
Steve watched as Catherine wheeled the large suitcase out of the laundry room. "Understand."
"Once your sister is settled, we will come back for the remainder of her things and ship them to her new location." The Marshall paused, as if talking to someone in the background. "Commander, please have your sister to Dillingham Airfield by o'three hundred. No one else can accompany the two of you. Doris MacGarrett will meet you both there. You all can say your goodbyes then."
Steve rubbed his neck in frustration and Catherine gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. He knew she was giving the young couple a few minutes alone before everything became more real than any of them wanted.
"Will do Marshall."
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Tommy took in the sight of his best friend; shock was an understatement. Her normally pale complexion was ghost white and he understood why. He gently pulled her into his arms and tried to hide the fear and sadness he was experiencing. He kissed the top of her head and tried to make things better, "Steve's an incredible Navy SEAL. He is going to find WoFat, and you are going to be back here before you know it."
Azucena couldn't bring herself to respond to Tommy's observations. She pulled him tighter to herself and breathed in his smell. The smell of prairie sunsets and fireflies. The smell of their childhood together. She knew he was being optimistic for her sake, but there were no guarantees that they would find WoFat. He was a criminal mastermind and terribly resourceful. It killed her, but she had to do it. She ended her hug and stepped back from his embrace, "You can't wait for me."
It hit Tommy like a punch in the gut. He knew what she was doing and there wasn't a chance he was going to do what was asked of him, "No Red, I'll be here when you get back. If it's three weeks, three months, or three years I'll be here. You are my best friend and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I will be waiting for your return."
"You can't do that. There are no guarantees I'll get to come home. Just be safe, know that I love you, and you have been my rock through all the seasons of my life. I don't know what I would have done without you in my world." She said, as tears spilled down her cheeks. This was killing her, and she wanted more than anything to go back in time and not answer that phone call. She wanted to go back to life before his escape. She wanted to be wrapped up in Tommy's arms, under her comforter; not breaking up with her best friend before she disappeared for God knew how long.
"I'm not accepting this." Said Tommy, trying to push down his frustration. He knew she was pushing him away so it would be easier for both of them, but it wasn't going to work. "I'm going to be here when you get back and we'll start fresh then. Until that day, I'm going to look at the stars every night and think of you. If we are old and gray, I don't care. You're my person. You're the one I choose."
He pulled her to his chest and let his own tears fall. She was his person. She was the one he confided his hopes and dreams to. She was the person he wanted to wake up to every morning and fall asleep with every night. She was his everything and he meant everything he said. It didn't matter if they were old and gray, he would wait for her because she was the only one for him.
They heard the footsteps in the hallway, and Tommy pulled back, but maintained eye contact with Azucena, "We're good?"
"Yeah." She confirmed, nodding her head and wiping away tears.
Catherine walked into the room with the suitcase followed by Steve. Four people in her room was overwhelming, but in this moment, Azucena didn't care. She loved these people and she knew that shortly; she might not see them ever again. The mere thought paralyzed her with sadness and the tears swelled again.
Steve took control of the situation but got a little choked up when he started speaking out loud. "Pack a suitcase and your backpack. Whatever we can't pack right now, they will come back for and ship to your new location."
Tommy pulled her backpack off the ground and began to empty out her textbooks and folders. Catherine opened the dresser drawers and pulled out numerous articles of clothing: sock, t-shirts, underwear, shorts, swimsuits, running clothes, and pajamas. Steve opened the closet and started grabbing dresses off hangers and shoes.
With everyone going through her various clothing locations, she began picking up her everyday necessities: deodorant, hairbrush, hair ties, specific jewelry, and of course her pictures. The picture of her and Tommy that sat on her nightstand. The picture of the siblings tucked into the corner of her mirror, but as she turned to put them on the bed, next to her suitcase, Steve stopped her. She could hear the sadness in his voice, "No pictures. If someone saw, they might tie you back to here and we can't run that risk."
Her stomach fell and she wanted nothing more than to dissolve into a puddle at the mere thought of not even being able to have a picture of her family or Tommy. She took a moment to compose herself and thought it through, it made sense. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, she placed the pictures on her dresser and went back to pulling out her important jewelry.
Catherine had witnessed this moment and her heart broke for the young woman. However, it wasn't long before she had an idea. As everyone continued to pull important items and toss them on the bed, Catherine announced, "Steve, I need you to go downstairs and get two gallon sized Ziplock bags and Tommy, I need you to take off your shirt."
Everyone looked at Catherine like she had snakes growing out of her head, but she held them to task, "Please, just do it, you'll understand in a minute."
Steve headed out the bedroom door, Catherine followed him and turned off at their room. Azucena continued to throw items of clothing in her suitcase, while Tommy removed his t-shirt. Catherine returned shortly with one of Steve's button-down shirts and a bottle of his everyday cologne. Steve wasn't too far behind her. She took one of the Ziplock bags and stuffed Steve's shirt and cologne bottle in the bag. She held out the bag for Tommy's shirt, and he stuffed it in the bag. She looked at him, "Did you bring any cologne with you?"
"Yeah," Tommy answered, starting to understand what was happening. He dug through his rucksack and pulled out his bottle. He dropped it in the bag. Catherine closed it and stopped Azucena from folding clothes and packing the suitcase. Catherine started out strong, but the tears started flowing down her cheeks as she explained, "Tommy's shirt and cologne, for nights when you miss him and can't fathom being alone. Steve's shirt and cologne for days you need to remind yourself how kick ass you are."
Azucena wrapped her arms around Catherine, the two women had become incredibly close, and this only cemented how much Azucena appreciated the woman. Azucena could barely get the whisper out, "Thank you."
"Welcome." The woman replied. Azucena stuck the Ziplock bags in her backpack and zipped everything up. She wasn't about to run the risk of losing these items.
Tommy finished putting the final pieces of clothing in her suitcase and zipped it up. This was the part that none of them were ready for, goodbye.
Steve looked to Azucena, "I have to take you to a specific location. We will meet Doris there and they will fly you both out separate. However, no one else can come with us. Catherine and I will meet you downstairs. Give you a minute to get changed and say goodbye."
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Azucena changed into a pair of leggings, a lightweight, long sleeve tunic, and her boots. She always got cold on airplanes, so the long sleeve tunic made sense to her. She pulled her hair up into a haphazard bun, and found Tommy staring at her in the mirror. She was suddenly self-conscious, "What?"
"You don't recognize it, but you are absolutely gorgeous." He said, raw honesty in his voice. She blushed, which never surprised him.
"You're sweet, but I have insane bedhead and my face is puffy from crying." And then the emotion got to her, "I'm gonna miss you Tommy."
He walked to her and wrapped her in his arms, "I'm gonna miss you too, but we will get through this. I believe Steve is going to find him and you will be home before we know it."
"What if he doesn't?" she asked, barely a whisper. Afraid to think about her life without any of her family or friends.
"Don't think like that. You can't think like that. We are going to take it one day at a time and before you know it, Steve, Catherine and I are going to come for you. We will work with the Marshalls and bring you home. I don't have any doubt of that." He said, his voice full of optimism. He had to be positive and show her that they had a future together, "This is just a bump in the road. You are going to get through this. You are strong and brave. God, you are brave."
Her face was still buried in his neck, her voice a whisper, "I love you Tommy."
"I love you too Red." They held onto each other until Tommy knew they had to get a move on. Steve had been patient, but it was getting close to 2:30 and he knew she had to be somewhere soon. He pulled back, took her hand, and gently led her down the hall and downstairs.
Steve and Catherine were waiting at the bottom of the stairs, their expressions somber. Steve spoke up, "Did you pack any electronics?"
"My tablet and cell." She answered, confusion in her voice.
"I forgot to tell you, but you can't take those. It's too easy to track you with those devices." She could read his body language; this was killing him just as much as it was killing her. She slid her backpack off her should and dug out the devices. She placed them on the sidebar.
Catherine approached her with open arms, "I'm going to miss you sister, but we are going to do everything on our end to get you back as quickly as possible."
"I'll miss you too." Azucena said, as she held onto the brunette a little longer. Azucena softened her voice, "Please take care of them. They are going to need you more than you can know."
"I will, I promise." Catherine whispered back, fully intending to look after Steve, Tommy, and Mary. The two women broke apart. Tommy hugged her one last time and kissed her. "I'll see you when you get back."
"Promise?"
"Promise." He said, holding out his pinkie like they did when they were little. She hooked her pinkie around his and they both leaned in and kissed their own thumb knuckles. They exchanged knowing smiles and she turned to Steve. She couldn't linger any longer, "Let's go."
Tommy and Catherine watched the siblings walk out the door, load up into the truck, and drive down the driveway. The truck taillights were the only sign of their presence. Catherine could feel the rock sitting in the pit of her stomach. She had made it a point to ignore it ever since the phone call and the decision, but she was feeling it now more than ever. She looked over to Tommy and could read the despair on his face, "Don't worry, Steve's going to find him, and we are going to bring her home."
"I pray he does." Tommy answered, turning to look at Catherine.
"You want to go crash in her room, or I can give you a ride back to the base?" Offered Catherine.
"I can catch the bus, no need for you to go out of your way." Tommy responded, appreciating the offer of a ride.
"Please, let me drive you. I don't want to sit in this empty house." She confessed.
"Fair enough, let me go grab my bag."
"While you're up there. You might grab her night shirt and perfume. She would want you to have something to hold onto while she's gone."
"Thanks, I will."