In all honesty, I teared up a little writing this chapter and the previous one. I truly love these characters and I hope you all do too. Thanks for the notes and encouragement. Things will get better for the siblings, but it might be a while. ~Avy73
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As the truck maneuvered through the dark streets, the siblings were quiet. Each of them were battling their own feelings of fear and sadness. Azucena was the first to speak up, "I can't call Mary and tell her goodbye, can I?"
"No, the less people that know when you left, the better." Steve sighed, feeling like the worst big brother in the world, "But I'll let her know everything when she gets back."
"Tell her I love her and thanks for everything."
"I'll make sure to tell her." Steve said, nodding in his sister's direction.
"Danny and Gracie, will you tell them the same thing for me? And tell Gracie she's going to be an amazing ballerina. I'm so proud of her."
"'Cena, I'm going to find him and I'm going to get you home as quickly as possible." He reassured her but understood her need to have her messages relayed.
"I know, but just in case I don't get to come home as quickly as we all hope."
Steve just nodded and continued driving, he didn't want to imagine his sister gone, let alone for months, or even years.
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Steve stopped the truck at the security gate and pulled out his Five-0 badge. The guard told him to head to hanger seven and waived him through. The siblings piled out of the truck and Azucena pulled her backpack on from the backseat while Steve pulled her suitcase from the bed of the truck.
As they walked towards the hanger, Azucena reached out and grasped Steve's hand. She wasn't sure if she did it for comfort or to help pull her towards the jets standing outside the hangar. She definitely didn't want to be here or board one of those jets, but she knew that's what the future held for her. The feeling the in pit of her stomach grew stronger as a man in a suit approached them.
"Azucena Santiago, Commander McGarrett, I'm Marshall Stone. Sorry for the early morning chaos but thought it best to get you moving before WoFat has enough time to locate you." Stated Marshall Stone, as he shook each sibling's hands.
Steve spoke up, "We understand and appreciate everything the Marshall's office is doing to keep our family safe."
Azucena couldn't bring herself to speak, it was all becoming incredibly real and she knew if she spoke, the tears would start back up. Marshall Stone turned and they walked towards the jets, "We are just waiting for Doris to arrive and then we will get everyone on the appropriate planes and off to their new lives."
Azucena's stomach lurched at that statement and Steve could feel her hand tremble. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance and smiled to her. "It's going to be okay."
She just nodded, not trusting herself to say anything. The tears were burning behind her eyes, but she fought to keep them from spilling out. It was taking all the energy she could muster. Her attention was quickly pulled to the sound of heels clicking through the hanger, and then the sound of their mother's voice, "Steven, Azucena, they said you would be here."
She quickly approached them and wrapped her arms around Steve, embracing him in a hug. When she released him, she reached to do the same to Azucena, but quickly retracted her arms. Ever since her return to Hawaii, she hadn't been able to touch her youngest, and from the look on Azucena's face, it wasn't going to change today. She took in the appearance of her children and she could see how difficult the middle of the night phone call had been to each of the siblings. Azucena's face was red and puffy, whereas Steve's was drawn and haggard. They both had experienced a wide range of emotions and were physically and emotionally exhausted.
"They say you aren't coming into the Program?" Doris questioned Steve.
"No, I'm going after WoFat. Hopefully, you both can come home sooner with my help."
"I don't like the idea of you going up against him Steven." She admonished.
"I don't like the idea of him roaming free and not being able to see my family." Steve replied, keeping the fight out of his voice.
"Fair point." She responded, "Please be safe and keep an eye on Mary. She's going to need you. Also, will you give your sister this note for me? It explains everything and how I don't want to leave, but it's safer for everyone if I do leave."
Steve nodded, took the envelop, and stuck it in his pocket. He watched as his mother turned on his youngest sister, "Well, it looks like you will finally have to grow up and take care of yourself. No more big brother to take care of you."
Azucena was too exhausted to argue with Claudia and knew it wouldn't do any good. It would only feed Claudia's ego and further stress Steve. She kept her response to Claudia simple, "I'll manage."
Steve was preparing to interject that she was fully functioning adult and they watched out for each other, but his sister had responded before he could figure out what to say. Doris frustrated him. He was preparing to say goodbye to two family members and his mother couldn't keep a civil tongue. It pissed him off, but he was proud of his sister. She kept her cool, even in this painful situation.
Marshal Stone approached them, "Mrs. McGarrett, we are ready for you."
Doris looked to Steve, "I love you Steven. Be safe, take care of Mary, and know how much I loved you and your sister."
Steve let himself be the little boy who lost his parents, and fully embraced his mother. Tears welled in his eyes, and he struggled to keep his voice from breaking, "Love you too Mom. Be safe."
They held the embrace a little longer, and Doris pulled away first. She looked to her youngest and opened her arms for a hug. She expected her youngest to finally cave and embrace her, but was surprised when Azucena merely offered, "Be safe Claudia."
Doris was stung by the rejection, and quickly turned on her heel and headed for the jet. The siblings both watched their mother climb the stairs, duck her head, and disappear into the tiny jet. Neither said anything, as the engines roared to life and the jet slowly drove towards the tarmac. They both watched, as the jet screamed down the runway and took flight.
They were pulled away from their thoughts, at the voice of Marshall Stone, "Miss Santiago, it's your turn."
Azucena nodded at the man and turned to Steve, she had kept the tears back as long as she could, but now they flowed freely down her cheeks. She looked her brother in the eye, "I don't have enough words to thank you for the past year and a half. I'm so blessed to have had such a wonderful big brother like you. Be safe, keep Mary safe, and I love you."
Steve pulled his kid sister into his arms; her words of gratitude and love made the pain of her leaving multiply. He hugged her fiercely and tried to find the right words to tell her she would be okay. Eventually, he could feel her pull back from the hug and he wasn't surprised, he knew she would end contact first because she had to be in control. As she pulled back, he grabbed her shoulders and maintained eye contact with her, "I'm coming for you. I don't know if it will be three days, three weeks, or three months, but I'm coming to bring you home. In the meantime, know how incredible you are. You are strong and fierce. Don't ever doubt yourself or your gut. Listen to your gut. I love you, kiddo."
He pulled her back into a hug and kissed her on top of her head, and he could hear a muffled, "I love you too Steve."
He squeezed her one last time, and saw her tear streaked face as she turned and walked with Marshal Stone towards the jet. She climbed the stairs, turned back and waved at him, and then disappeared inside the jet. He let himself feel the pain in the pit of his stomach, the pain he had pushed down all morning. The pain intensified when he saw his sister peer out the window of the jet and wave to him, as it taxied down the runway. He waved back, hoping to instill love and confidence in his wave, but he could feel the tears stain his cheeks.
He watched as the plane took off and disappeared into the dark sky. He prayed they captured WoFat quickly. He worried about his sister and her adjusting to life on her own. He worried if she would eat appropriately, if she would run herself ragged, or if she would manage to keep an even keel. He knew it was going to be hell for him. He was going back to solo morning runs and having to cook for himself. Well, Catherine was a wonderful cook, but his sister was an amazing cook. He found her laugh infectious and he enjoyed the times she thought she was home alone, and he found her sing along to the radio. He had grown accustom to having her in his life and he enjoyed it. He was going to miss her more than he wanted to admit.
When he couldn't see the lights on the plane anymore, he walked back to his truck to maneuver through the dark streets back home.
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Azucena had never been on a private jet before and as much as she would have loved to experience a private jet, this was not how she wanted it to happen. She climbed the stairs to the jet, if felt like her feet were made of lead. She didn't want to do this, and every part of her body wanted to stay put, but she put one foot in front of the other and climbed to the top of the stairs. Once she reached the top, she made it a point to turn and wave goodbye to Steve. Taking one last look at the man who had helped her through all the horror and terror of WoFat and Woods. The man who introduced her to island life and treated her like kid sister he had known all his life. She was gutted to be leaving him and everyone in their lives behind.
She ducked her head and entered the jet. It was incredibly lavish, and slightly overwhelming. A tall man in a suit greeted her, "Miss Santiago, I'm Marshall MacNamera."
Through her teary eyes, she responded, "Nice to meet you Marshall MacNamera. Sorry for the difficulty getting ahold of me earlier."
"I completely understand." The Marshall responded, "Please find a seat and make yourself comfortable."
Azucena found a window seat on the side of the hangar and looked out at her brother in the hangar. He had spotted her and was waving to her and she could see this was as hard on him as it was on her. She kept waving until they had taxied out of sight. As they rushed down the runway, she kept her eyes on Steve until he was merely a black dot in the distance and eventually, she could no longer see him.
She tried to keep the tears from falling, but there wasn't a chance that would happen. She was leaving everything she knew, all her people, her friends, her home, and starting over. It seemed to be a theme in her life, she started over after Claudia died, she started over after she lost Jack, and now she was starting over again. She should be a pro at this, but honestly, she felt lost, alone, and scared.
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Catherine let herself into the dark and quiet house. She knew Steve was home, because the truck was parked in the driveway, but there was no sign of him on the main floor of the house. She assumed he was getting ready for work, and when she climbed the stairs to their bedroom, she saw him standing in the doorway of his sister's room looking lost.
"Hey sailor." She said softly, as she approached him and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"Hey." He answered back, his voice a raspy whisper. She could hear the hurt and pain in it and she knew this was difficult for him. She could also see the remnants of tears from earlier. She didn't say anything more, she merely held him and let him process his pain. She was surprised when he spoke up, "A year and a half ago, this was a guest room. I was a man of routine. I worked out, I went to work, and this house was so quiet. I merely inhabited this house.
"Then she came in, a gentle whirlwind of energy. She gave this house a life it hadn't had since Mary and I were kids living here. She filled it with amazing smells of food, laughter, and energy. I didn't realize how much of an impact she's had on my life until I almost lost her to WoFat in Kansas. And now she's gone. I don't know when she's coming back, and I miss her already."
"We are going to get her back." Catherine confirmed, trying her best to comfort Steve. "Between our contacts in Naval Intel and the military community, we will find WoFat and get her back. At least in this instance, we know she's safe and he has no idea where to find her."
"Thank you." He responded, wrapping his arms around her in the doorway to his sister's room. "Thank you for everything this morning. I wouldn't have thought about the shirts and cologne."
"She's a strong kid and she will be just fine. We are all going to get through this and be stronger for it in the end."
"Yes, yes we are." Steve agreed. He took one last look at his sister's room. It was a whirlwind from the morning's activities. The bed was unmade and there were various personal articles strung across the dresser. He walked across the room to the dresser and picked up the picture of him, Mary, and Azucena.
It was the picture she had tried to pack earlier in the morning. It had been taken on Christmas Eve, by Deb. They were in their dress clothes, waiting for everyone to show up for their first Christmas Eve dinner as a family. Their smiles were wide and genuine. He took it and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. Then he turned the light off in the room and closed the door. He couldn't continue to look at her remaining belongings without feeling like he was going to get sick.
"I'm gonna go into the office. Start digging into WoFat's contacts."
"Good plan," Catherine responded, "I'll see what I can find when I get into the office this morning. I'll let you know of anything I find."
"Thank you." He leaned down and kissed the petite brunette.