THROWING DARTS

Based on the Hawaii Five-0 Series Finale | Season 10 Episode 22: Aloha

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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

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MCGARRETT HOUSE - JUNE 13, 2020 - 1900 HOURS

"Excuse me. Excuse me, everyone." Lou Grover's voice boomed across Steve and Catherine's backyard as he tapped his fork against his glass. "When Danny was going around, askin' everybody if they wanted to give a toast, I knew I wanted to say a few words, but didn't really know where to start." He chuckled. "So I figured I should start at the beginning with my first day on the job as SWAT captain."

A few sheepish grins were exchanged among the attending members of law enforcement as they recalled what had happened that fateful day. "Now, if you weren't on duty that day, you probably heard about it on the news or read it in the papers, but what you didn't hear about was the fact that the moment - the moment, that McGarrett got the call that Catherine would be killed if the NLM didn't get their people back, he did what any reasonable, level-headed, love-sick Navy SEAL would do…" Grover paused for dramatic effect, earning a few laughs from the crowd, "That man ran my SWAT van off the road, stuck a gun in my face, and let a merry band of terrorists loose just hoping that a terrorist would be true to his word and not hurt her. But that wasn't all. He didn't even stop to apologize!" Lou grinned. "The moment he got Catherine's location, he was gone. For years, this man denied that Catherine was his girlfriend." He shook his head, "I never understood that. I mean, what kind of man risks his job, his life, and the safety of the whole island for some girl he's not even steady with." A grin spread across his face, "Over the years McGarrett and I patched up our rocky start and I got to know the both of them. I've had the honor of serving alongside both him and Catherine, and let me tell you: watching them work together explains it all. One day it dawned on me just why Steve always denied that Catherine was his girlfriend - because it wasn't enough. It never encompassed all that they were to each other."

Catherine wiped a tear from her eye as she smiled at Steve. McGarrett gave Grover a nod of appreciation.

"Steve, Catherine." Grover looked across the yard to them as he raised his glass of champagne. "Hell, I don't even know if 'husband and wife' are good enough words to describe the lengths that you two fight to the death for each other, but I'm damn glad that you two finally did it. Cheers."

As their guests all toasted in their honor, Steve took a sip of his champagne and glanced down at his new bride, "Toasting with water? Didn't Kamekona bring you a glass?"

Catherine shrugged with a smile, "He offered, but I'm just gonna stick with water for now."

Before Steve could question her further on her odd choice of beverage, after all, Catherine had never been one to turn down a drink, Catherine's former bunkmate, Amy, stood up and cleared her throat.

"Hi, everyone!" She smiled nervously, "I'm Lieutenant Amy Hawkins. And I hate public speaking, so I'll try to keep this brief!" She giggled.

"Catherine and I first met on board the USS Enterprise, where we were bunkmates for the better part of seven years. For three of those years, I had the honor of serving with Catherine in Naval Intelligence under the command of the one and only, Steve McGarrett." She smiled as she motioned to the happy couple.

"For the longest time, Catherine and Steve were just two sailors who worked together. And then Steve started joining our poker games." Amy grinned wildly, "And let me tell you, Steve is damn good at poker! But he never let Catherine win - any time Catherine won the round, she beat him fair and square. That's just the way he was. Steve wasn't looking for someone to swoon and fall at his feet, he was looking for a partner: an equal." Amy took a deep breath as she calmed her nerves, "Cath, you're gonna kill me." She laughed, "After a year or so of Steve being our C.O., Catherine came back to our bunk one night and told me she had a secret." Amy glanced over to see Catherine blushing, and shaking her head, "Catherine said that she thought she was in love with Lieutenant McGarrett, our commanding officer, and the hardest thing about it was that there was nothing either of them could do about it. So she and Steve did the only thing that they could do. They waited. For years they waited. For a really long time, that's all they could do - wait for each other and grasp at stolen moments of togetherness. In the three years that Catherine and I served under Steve, I can't tell you how many great guys asked her out. And she turned down every single one with the same answer: that she was just waiting a little while."

"So." Amy finished as she raised her glass, "To my favorite C.O. and my best friend. I think it was worth it. Here's to waiting for the right one… and no more sneaking around in broom closets in the mess hall." She grinned.

"That was you?!" Catherine laughed, realizing the footsteps she and Steve had hidden from in the closet on board the Enterprise had been her roommate's.

Steve practically spit out his sip of champagne at Amy's confession and laughed. "I can't believe you!" He chuckled as Amy jogged over and hugged them both.

As Amy sat back down at her seat, all eyes turned to Danny. He pulled out a few notecards from his pocket and shuffled through them before hesitating and shoving them back into his suit jacket. "Uh, ten years ago, I met this animal who got me shot the first day I worked with him." Danny grinned. "Ten years ago I had just moved here from New Jersey and couldn't think of a single good thing about this place. Little did I know, that the first case we ever worked together was actually pretty, uh… pretty tame compared to what we've done over the years." He chuckled. "A few months ago, almost ten years later, Steve and I sat down in those beach chairs and I tried to convince him that Hawaii was one of the most beautiful places on earth… that if he needed a break, to uh, to clear his head, that this was the place to do it." Danny smiled sheepishly, "Of course… he uh, he made me eat my words, because that man doesn't forget anything. Especially how I ragged on his precious island and how much I hated it the day we met… But when I asked him what he was leaving for, and he told me that he wanted peace, I just shrugged and figured he needed a break." Danny shook his head and pointed to Catherine, "When Cole spilled the beans about you and Catherine being together, it finally hit me that she was the peace you wanted. And I finally got it." He took a deep breath, "You see, over the years, getting to see you two together: you bring out the best in each other. You fight for each other… sometimes with each other…" He chuckled, "Steve, I'm glad you got your peace. I'm glad I didn't have to come looking for you. And, uh…. Take care of 'er." He smirked, "Because she's way smarter than you and has a mean right hook."

Steve jumped up from his seat as Danny finished his toast and pulled him into a massive hug. "I love you, man." He patted his back, "Thank you, man…. For everything." As Danny sat down, Steve found himself standing in the middle of the dance floor. He cleared his throat and clapped his hands together nervously, "I, uh… I just wanna thank you all for coming out today… helping us celebrate what should've happened a long time ago, but, uh, we made it… finally." He grinned. Steve shuffled between his feet as he continued, "Six years ago I came home from Afghanistan without you. And in that living room, "He pointed towards the house, "I told you that I loved you." Steve grinned and shook his head, "I cheated death that day. For a long time I'd lay awake at night and wonder why I've had so many brushes with death." He cracked a smile, "And I'm pretty sure the fact that my patient files at the hospital apparently take up an entire file cabinet is proof of that." Steve chuckled, "But I'd lay awake at night and wonder why I hadn't died yet... I've, uh. I've lost a lot of people I really cared about and I wish like hell that they were all here today.… Both my parents… Joe White. Freddie Hart. My Aunt Deb… All of them… I shoulda gone right beside them. There's no explanation as to why I'm standing here in front of you today other than an act of God."

Steve walked over to where Catherine was sitting and held her hand. "They all had something in common: on more than one occasion, each one of them told me to pull my head out of my ass and marry this woman." He smirked, "Both my mom and my dad had the privilege of meeting Catherine before they passed. My dad thought she was the sweetest thing in the world and told me to my face that she was too good for me. He wasn't wrong." Steve chuckled. "Mom loved you the way she loved Mary. You were like her daughter." He looked down and smiled as he squeezed her hand, "I wish I could have been there when you and Doris spent time together before she passed, but, as previously mentioned, I had my head in my ass."

"Language!" Danny called out as he covered Charlie's ears, earning a rumble of laughter from all their guests.

Steve rolled his eyes and laughed along before continuing, "It only took something like twenty years, but I finally decided to stop tempting the hand of God and do what I should've done a long time ago. Little did I know that you were one step ahead of me… like always." He grinned. He exhaled slowly, "I'm done tempting fate." He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "I love you, you know." He grinned. "So, thank you all for coming to celebrate with us, and, uh, let's keep this party going!"

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"Well, I'm glad to see that Hawaii's most eligible bachelor is finally off the market!" Governor Mahoe exclaimed as she approached Steve and Catherine. "I'm so happy for you, Steve, and I've heard nothing but wonderful things about your new bride!" She extended her hand to Cathrine. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Catherine."

"Likewise!" Catherine smiled as she shook the governor's hand. "Thank you so much for coming!"

As the governor excused herself and disappeared into the crowd, Catherine leaned up and whispered, "Why is the governor of Hawaii here exactly?" She laughed, "I thought it was just friends and family?"

Steve smirked, "The governor is here because she gave us a very big check as a wedding present."

"How many zeros?" Catherine's eyes narrowed.

Steve grinned, "A lot." He pecked her lips.

"Reaaaaallly." Catherine laughed, "In that case, let me go get to know her a little bit better so that in the event that I have a baby shower this year, she might just show up!"

Steve gave her an inquisitive look as his mind went back to her refusal of champagne during the toasts, "You got something to tell me, Rollins?" His eyebrow shot up.

Catherine smiled, "It's McGarrett now, thank you very much." She giggled, "And I think I'd like a dance with my husband." She said in an attempt to change the subject.

"Oh yeah?" Steve grinned as he pulled her onto the dance floor. "You, uh… you still get weak in the knees at my moves?"

Catherine grinned and kissed him, "Absolutely."

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Kono smiled as she watched Steve and Catherine sway together on the dance floor. Deja vu crept up on her as she remembered watching them dance together for hours at her wedding.

"You look like you could use a drink." Adam's voice made her jump.

Kono and Adam stood there for a moment, staring at each other. Adam finally motioned to the drink in his hand as he offered it to her.

"Thanks." Kono said tentatively.

"Crazy to think that the last wedding they danced at was ours…" Adam mumbled as he sipped from his own glass.

Kono nodded. "Yeah." She stared into the glass that he had handed to her, "How's it going… you know… being on Five-0?"

Adam shrugged, "Been a bit of a rocky year…"

"That tends to happen when you double cross the Yakuza." Kono mentioned casually before taking a long drink, "I mean, dating the daughter of an oyabun, quitting Five-0 to take the Yakuza down from the inside…." Her eyes darted over to him, "Tends to piss off a lot of people."

Adam chuckled dryly as he ran his hand through his hair, "I guess I deserved that." He shrugged. "How'd you know about all that?"

"Grover and I still talk sometimes." Kono smiled.

A chuckle escaped Adam's lips, "Shoulda known… You two were always thick as thieves."

"So how'd your girl take it when she realized you were working both sides?" Kono asked before realizing what she had said.

Adam shook his head, "She wasn't so mad about me trying to take down the Yakuza… she never liked the family business… but she hasn't exactly forgiven me for lying to her and she started seeing someone else, so I'd say…. Not well?" He laughed at the irony.

Kono downed the drink he had given her and set the glass aside. "Do you wanna dance?"

"What?" Adam blinked.

"For old time's sake." She shrugged.

Adam nodded hesitantly and smiled, placing his hand on her lower back, leading her out to the dance floor, "I'd like that."

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"Alright, cake for my two favorite people." Steve grinned as he slid two slices of wedding cake in front of Charlie and Grace Williams and sat down at their table.

Danny waved his hands and feigned hurt, "Excuse me, what about me?"

Steve smirked, "You can get your own cake."

"Miss Catherine looks so gorgeous." Grace smiled. "I can't wait to try on wedding dresses one day."

Steve grinned as Danny shook his head profusely, "Absolutely not. You've got, what, another twenty years to wait? No more of that talk from you, young lady." He scolded.

"How was your first year of college, Gracie?" Steve asked as he stole a bite of her cake.

Grace smirked mischievously, "You think I'm gonna tell you with the cop sitting here?" She laughed as she pointed at Danno.

"Wait, what? You'll tell him all about college but you won't tell your own dad? He's a cop too!" Danny argued.

Grace smiled, "But you're my dad AND a cop. He's Uncle Steve, he's way cooler."

"Well why don't you just rip my heart out and throw it in the ocean?" Danny retorted in disgust, earning a laugh from Steve.

"How about a dance, then." Steve grinned as he pulled Grace to her feet, Give Danno a break and you can tell me all about the hearts you've been breaking at U of H."

Danny rolled his eyes but chuckled at the sweet bond between Steve and Gracie. Steve's seat wasn't empty for long, though, because as soon as he and Grace hit the dance floor, Catherine slid in to sit beside Danny and Charlie. "Hey, you, uh… you need anything? You need a drink or somethin?" Danny asked.

Catherine shook her head, "Nah, I'm good. Just thought I'd take a breather while Steve and Gracie are dancing." She smiled.

"Does it, uh… does it feel real yet?" Danny asked, "You know, finally being married after all these years?"

She let out a laugh as she adjusted the bodice of her gown, "It's a little surreal…. Everything's just been so… easy… this time around, you know?"

Danny nodded, "I guess it helps that you're both finally on the same page…" He glanced over and watched Catherine's typical friendly demeanor shift under the awkwardness, "Look, Catherine, I uh… I need to apologize… for uh, for giving you that ultimatum all those years ago, you know, it wasn't my place and-"

Catherine shook her head and raised her hand, putting a stop to his apology, "You were right to do what you did, Danny. You were just looking out for Steve." She smiled sheepishly, "But it's all in the past… And I know trust doesn't come easy after what I did, but I hope you know I wouldn't have come back if I wasn't ready to be fully present in his life."

Danny nodded solemnly before a smile crept across his face and he pulled her in for a hug, "Come 'ere. I missed you, babe." He grinned.

Catherine smiled as she hugged him. "I missed you too, Danno." Her eyes wander over to see Steve walking into the house with Wade Gutches and another man that she didn't recognize. Their conversation looked serious, but just as she lost visual, Danny's voice snapped her back to reality.

"So, is there a reason you've been avoiding having a drink at your own wedding?" He asked with a grin as he offered her a glass of champagne.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

A little housekeeping:

I decided to not do a big reception chapter featuring all the cast members because:

1. It would have been a bear to write

2. It wouldn't have been that meaningful to give everyone ONE line with no depth

3. Everyone's coming back!

That's right! This is going to be a pretty long story, and I plan on using most of the characters (and a few OCs) from the show in one way or another.

ALSO, I got a DM asking me to share some fun facts about myself, so here ya go!

1. I am a professional pastry chef.

2. The first time I watched an episode of H50 was actually on a flight to Hawaii! (How ironic!)

3. I LOVE tv shows, I HATE movies!

4. I have been to six countries and counting!

I hope you all are having a wonderful week! Stay safe and healthy!

XO,

-Mags-

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