THROWING DARTS

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

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CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

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BITTERROOT VALLEY, MONTANA - JULY 5, 2020 - 1300 HOURS

Catherine stared at the page of the book that was in front of her. She had been re-reading the same line over and over for a half an hour.

"They didn't agree on much. In fact, they didn't agree on anything. They fought all the time and challenged each other every day. But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common. They were crazy about each other."

Her eyes wandered back to the view of the bay window from which she was perched. She was drawn to the bearded man standing twenty few yards away. Steve had the workshop door open and was busy building a bookshelf. She watched as he wiped the sweat off of his face with the hem of his shirt, revealing the glistening abs underneath. Catherine shifted in her seat. Steve turned away from her and began sanding the shelves. She watched as his muscular arms moved back and forth along the planks of wood. He bent down and grabbed the hammer beside him and tapped against the shelf to make sure it was sturdy. "Lord have mercy." She mumbled in a pleased manner as she chewed on her fingertip. Catherine shook her head and tried to refocus her mind on the book she had been trying to read for three days. She could've easily finished it in one afternoon, but that was before Steve had started building that damn bookshelf. Her eyes found him again and watched as he placed a level on each of the shelves. He made marks on each shelf before tucking the pencil back behind his ear. Catherine felt heat rising from her core. She took one last look at the book and tossed it aside. "Noah and Allie need to get their shit together on their own damn time." She muttered as she hopped down from the window seat and ran her fingers through her hair before walking out of the farmhouse.

Steve turned his head and looked over his shoulder when he heard footsteps approaching. "Hey." He grinned as he held a nail in between his teeth.

"Hi." Catherine smiled, leaning across the table that was covered with power tools.

"Your bookshelf is almost done." He smiled. "I've just gotta sand it and then I'll stain it and let it sit for a day or two before I, uh, bring it in the house."

A sad but mischievous look crossed her face, "That's a shame." Steve gave her a confused looked. She arched her back as she pushed off of the table and walked around to stand beside him. "I like the view from my window." She smirked.

"Oh yeah?" He grinned as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the bookshelf. "I can, uh, I can always build another one." A devilish look flickered across his face as he flexed his biceps.

Catherine smiled and leaned towards him, "The, uh, the 'rugged mountain man carpenter' look is pretty hot."

Steve chuckled as he stepped forward from the bookshelf and gently pushed her back against the work table, "In that case, we're gonna have a whole house full of bookshelves." His voice was low and husky and sent shivers down her spine. His hands found the back of her thighs as he lifted her up onto the table and kissed her, threading his hands through her hair. Catherine tugged on his t-shirt and pulled him closer as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His lips crashed onto hers while their hands frantically ran over every inch of their bodies. His hand trailed up and down her thighs as she tightened her grip on him. Steve's entire body was on fire. "God, woman." He grinned. "Why'd you wait so long to come out here?" Lust clouded his eyes as his hands tore at her shirt, ripping it over her head. Catherine tangled her fingers in his hair as she deepened the kiss. He slipped his hand under her bra and traced the underside of her breast with his fingertips. Catherine tossed her head back as heat pooled in her stomach. Steve took the invitation and trailed soft bites down the side of her neck. Somehow, Catherine's shorts ended up on the floor as he grabbed her ass and lifted her off the table. Her back slammed against the opposite wall of the barn. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tightened her legs around him as he quickly unzipped his jeans. She felt the rough skin of his fingertips trace the edge of her panties before he pushed the fabric aside.

"Mmmm." Catherine shuddered as his calloused hands brushed against her core. "Commander…" She moaned.

Steve shifted his grip on her ass as he brought their bodies together right there against the wall. "Say it again." He growled.

Catherine's breath caught in her throat.

"Say it." His voice was gravelly and seductive as his breath wrapped around her neck.

"Commander." She moaned.

Their rhythmic movements were silent as the ecstasy continued to build in between them. "Cath..." He groaned as his arms began to tremble. She couldn't hold off any longer either and let her forehead rest on his shoulder as their bodies shuddered in euphoria against each other. Steve slumped against the wall, cradling her in his arms. "Shit." He laughed.

Catherine giggled as she relaxed in his arms. "I should've gotten my butt out here way earlier."

Steve reached over and grabbed her shorts, tossing them to her. "You better get your butt out so I can finish your bookshelf." He pecked her lips. "You're quite the distraction, Mrs. McGarrett."

Catherine smiled as she slid her shorts on and stood up. "Trail ride before dinner?

He nodded and kissed her again. "I'll be done in an hour or two."

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BITTERROOT VALLEY, MONTANA - JULY 5, 2020 - 1600 HOURS

"What's the matter, girl?" Catherine asked softly as she saddled up her chestnut brown thoroughbred. "You seem a little jumpy today."

Steve's footsteps echoed through the barn before he entered the stall. "You ready, Rollins?"

"Ready!" She smiled as she led the horse out into the pasture. Steve helped her up onto the stirrups before mounting his own horse. "Where to today?"

Steve pulled up beside her and pointed to a mountain to the left. "That way. We can follow the trail that goes along the base of the mountain."

They took off, galloping through the pasture. Catherine shifted in the saddle. Something was off. Steve glanced over at her, but quickly shrugged it off. A few minutes later he tugged back on the reins and slowed to a canter. Catherine pulled up beside him and slowed her horse to match his pace.

Catherine motioned towards the trail. "I don't know if we should go very far. She's awfully jumpy today. I don't know what's wro-" Before she could finish her sentence, the horse whinnied and reared up into the air, bucking, and throwing Catherine to the ground before taking off into a gallop.

"CATHERINE!" Steve screamed as he yanked back on the reins and jumped off of the back of his horse, running to her side. "Don't move!" He shouted.

Catherine groaned in pain as she pursed her lips and swallowed slowly. Her eyes darted to the side as she watched a snake slither right in front of their path. "Snake." She mumbled. "Spooked her."

"Don't move, just don't move…" He knelt beside her and scanned her body.

"Steve, I'm fine…" She groaned.

He frowned, "You just got bucked from a horse. You know that two-thirds of the injuries associated with that are concussions, spinal injuries, and broken bones, right?"

She rolled her eyes, "Does anyone know that besides you?"

He slid his hand into hers, "Can you squeeze my fingers?" He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt her hand grip his. He moved to her other hand and repeated the process. "Again." He nodded in satisfaction when she did. "Can you bend your arms at your elbows?" Catherine pursed her lips and did as she was told.

"You know, you're a little overbearing whenever I get a minor injury." She muttered.

His eyes cut at her. "I'm sorry, I'd rather make sure you weren't paralyzed." His voice dripped with hints of sarcasm. He was, in fact, not sorry. "Wiggle your feet." He commanded. "Bend your knees… slowly." Catherine resigned from arguing any further and did what he had asked of her. Steve sighed as his tone softened "How's your head feel?"

"Hurts." She admitted before closing her eyes.

"Hey…" His demeanor was kind again, "Look at me." He hovered over her head and forced a small smile when her eyes flickered open, "Follow my finger with your eyes." He watched as Catherine's eyes went from left to right, following his finger without delay. "What's your name?"

"Catherine Ann McGarrett." She smiled.

Steve smiled and leaned over, pecking her lips. "You think you can sit up?" She nodded slowly and began to lean forward while Steve supported her back as she sat up.

Catherine sucked in a sharp breath as his hand met her shoulder. "Hurts." She choked out. "That hurts."

Steve frowned and gently pushed back the sleeve of her shirt. "You dislocated your shoulder." He groaned and exhaled slowly, "I'm gonna reset it, but I'm not gotta lie to you- it's gonna hurt like hell."

Catherine nodded and closed her eyes, balling up a fistful of his shirt in her hand for support.

"You ready?" He grimaced as she nodded. With one swift shove, he reset her shoulder.

Catherine cried out as she felt tears pricking at the back of her eyelids. She let out a shaky breath and swallowed the pain.

Steve cradled the back of her head in his hands, "You okay?" He asked as his eyes searched her face.

Catherine gingerly nodded, "Yeah." She choked out before taking a few deep breaths to slow the pulse of adrenaline she had felt.

He glanced over and saw the horses grazing in the pasture. "Sit here for a sec. Okay?" Catherine nodded and he took off, jogging through the field to corral the horses. A minute later, he led them back to her. She watched as he looped the reins of her horse through the saddle of his. "C'mon. We'll take it slow back to the house." He gently helped her up and lifted her onto his horse. He threw his leg over the saddle behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Slow, okay?" He smiled. Catherine nodded and headed back to the house.

BITTERROOT VALLEY, MONTANA - JULY 5, 2020 - 2000 HOURS

"Hey." Steve's low voice drifted into the bedroom as he pushed the door open.

"Hi." Catherine smiled softly as she looked up from her book. She closed it and set it aside before re-adjusting the makeshift sling he had fashioned for her.

Steve awkwardly pointed to the mug in his hand, "I, uh, I thought you might like some tea…. It's, um, chamomile... with a little honey… you know, like you used to drink."

A graceful smile played across her lips as she nodded, "Thanks."

Steve carefully handed her the hot mug and sat on the edge of the bed beside her. "Look, I, uh...I'm sorry, Catherine…"

Catherine shook her head as she took a sip, "I shouldn't have said what I said…. About you being overbearing…"

"Cath, I know you're a badass." He chuckled. "You don't have to prove that to me, just…. Just let me take care of you."

A faint blush colored her cheeks, "Old habits die hard."

Steve smiled, "I know." He brushed a strand of hair off of her shoulder and placed a gentle kiss on the exposed skin. "I promise to back off a little bit on my, uh, 'over-protective tendencies' if you promise to let me hover sometimes."

"Deal." She smiled.

Steve leaned over and kissed her forehead gently. Not even a second later she shoved against him, pushing him out of her way with her good arm and bolted out of the bed, ran across the hall to the bathroom, and slammed the door shut. Steve heard the faint sounds of vomiting followed by the flush of the toilet and the sink running as Catherine brushed her teeth. A few minutes later she emerged from the bathroom and crawled back in bed. Steve gave her a compassionate smile and handed her the mug of tea. "Probably just some nausea from the fall." He playfully tapped her forehead with his finger. "I wouldn't be surprised if you had a mild concussion."

"Probably." She mumbled in agreement as she sipped the tea. Steve pulled back the covers and slid in beside her, wrapping his arm around her. Catherine rested her head on his chest and relaxed at the sound of the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Steve heard his phone buzz on the bedside table and glanced over at it. His face drained of the color when he read the caller ID. He reached over and picked it up, holding it out for her to see. "It's Harry Langford."

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Happy Saturday, lovely readers! I can't wait to see your feedback on this chapter, so please review! Reading your thoughts gives me a better idea of where I should take the story! Just a heads up, there will most likely not be a chapter posted tomorrow. I have a crazy work load and most likely won't have enough time to write a chapter. SO, I'll see you lovely folks on Monday!

I love you all!

XO,

-Mags-

Reader Review Shoutouts:

Marmunoz: I definitely agree that there's a lot of untold story with Catherine's leaving from season 6. I felt pretty happy with what I wrote for Morocco, but I'll definitely look into how I can work that into some more conversations with this piece. I think that even though they're married now and have reconciled, that hurt and betrayal doesn't just disappear. It's a really interesting dynamic to bring into a marriage relationship.

SteveMcGarrettLover: Ah, my favorite reader. (Sorry to everyone else out there, I love you all too!) I absolutely love writing the gritty parts of their relationship. I love a good fluffy fic as much as the next gal, but I think when you strip it down to the raw moments of two people who love each other working through hurt, conflict, and discomfort, you really get to see characters grow and fall into a deeper love in a much more genuine way. Picking a favorite episode is like having to pick a favorite child! I will never not be wowed by the pilot. There's something so thrilling about it, but I also LOVE 10x7. I cry every single time I watch it, and the fact that AOL wrote, directed, and starred in it is mindblowing because it's such a masterpiece!

Simbagirl: I think Catherine and Danny's relationship really changed when he confronted her in 6x03. When Catherine came back for the Morocco episode and Kaho'olawe episode, we never saw him confront her. In 9x11 when Danny shows up at the ranch it's obvious that he disapproves of her, but I really wish we had gotten to see them really have a confrontation and clear the air. (Hence why I wrote it!) I think Danny is Steve's voice of reason. We see a few times in rendition and in 9x11 that he's willing to throw the rule book out the window when it comes to protecting the ones he loves. I think sometimes Danny gets caught up in the red-tape of being a trained cop and can't see it from Steve's perspective. (Even though Steve is clearly overstepping his bounds when he does what he does.) Catherine, on the other hand, understands Steve's past and his military training and is less judgmental when he does what he feels needs to be done.

Thanks for your questions and comments! Feel free to leave more in the reviews and I'll try to respond to them more regularly! XO, Mags

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