Pehea wau i ʻike ai i kou makuahine

Based on the characters and stories of Hawaii Five-0.

Hawaii Five-0 is owned by CBS and their respective creators.

Catherine's cell phone bill was extraordinarily high in the months following her and Steve's vacation. She had upgraded her plan to allow herself to make calls with her cell phone from the middle of the ocean. As promised, Steve called her as much as he could. Sometimes they would talk about their days, sometimes they would swap stories or confide in each other in absolute secrecy. Other times, he would call just to say goodnight and fall asleep with her on the line.

She didn't mind, though. The Enterprise was docking at Pearl Harbor soon and Steve was flying in to see her. The pictures they had taken while snorkeling and scuba diving and relaxing in the Maldives hung in her bunk and kept her spirits high. His break down the first night, every night following she would do her best to stay awake so that Steve could sleep. Slowly, he seemed to get back to his usual self. Upon arriving back to the Enterprise, Catherine was more exhausted from her vacation than the months of endless work prior. She was happy, though, and knowing she would see him again soon made her even happier.

Catherine's head snapped up as she heard a wolf whistle from across the base. "Lookin' good, Rollins!" Steve grinned as he walked towards her.

"Steve, we're on base! In uniform!" She whispered as she patted her cheeks, trying her best to make the deep shade of red dissipate.

He chuckled, "Hi."

"Hey yourself, Sailor." She giggled as she glanced around, "You, uh, you wanna get outta here or are you here for work?" She pointed to his uniform. "You were in civvies last time."

Steve nodded his head towards the exit, "Nah, I'm off duty. I just hitched a ride on a transport. Didn't wanna fly commercial."

Catherine looked over at him as they walked out to the black Marquis, "I'm glad you did. It's been a while since I've seen you in uniform." She smirked as her eyes wandered down, "The thigh strap is a nice touch." She mumbled as she bit down on her lip.

"Hey, hey - eyes up here, Rollins." He grinned as he opened the passenger door for her, "Am I just a piece of meat to you?" He stole a quick kiss and hopped in the driver's seat.

She glanced over at him as they cruised down the H-1. "You seem relaxed."

Steve stretched his arm across the back of the seat. "Must be the islands." He smiled as he pulled off onto a service road, "Or the company."

Catherine looked around, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to your dad's house."

"You're right." He grinned as he pulled off onto the shoulder and threw the car into park. "It's not." He leaned over and pulled her into a kiss. Catherine didn't waste any time scrambling over the center console and straddling his hips. "Watch the firepower, Lieutenant." He chuckled as he pulled his gun out of the holster and stowed it safely in the glove compartment.

Catherine made quick work of the buttons on his fatigues, "Not the firepower I'm interested in right now."

Steve's hands grabbed on to the waist of her camouflage pants and yanked them down. "Someone's in a hurry."

"That must make two of us then." Suddenly, Catherine shrieked in surprise as he dropped the back of the driver's seat all the way down. "Good thinking, Commander." She whispered as he settled her hips around his. "I… missed… this..." She choked out.

It didn't take long for their quickie in the car to come to a satisfying end. As Catherine did her best to smooth out her mussed bun, Steve adjusted his fatigues so that there would be little evidence of their dalliance. "So, uh, what's been going on with you?" He asked as he pulled his service weapon back out of the glove compartment and secured it in his thigh holster.

Catherine shrugged, "Same ol', same ol'."

Steve rolled his eyes, "You've barely told me anything about what you're working on or what's been happening on the E this week."

"There really hasn't been anything exciting…"

"Bullshit. You're lying."

Catherine rolled her eyes, "Am not."

Steve reached over and rested his hand on her thigh, "Cath. Your poker tells haven't changed since the day I met you." Catherine sighed and reached in her pocket. She handed him a folded piece of paper and his heart sunk. He knew exactly what that paper said without even reading it. "You're getting called up for another tour?"

"Orders came in yesterday. Thirteen months in Kabul." She sighed. "Home sweet home."

"Shit." He groaned. "When do you ship out?"

She stared out the window as they pulled down a familiar street, "Not for a couple months… but we probably won't be able to meet up in between now and then."

Steve nodded. "You know, I'm in the neighborhood over there a lot… Maybe we'll cross paths."

Catherine tilted her head over towards him. "Thanks for trying to make me feel better about it." She mumbled.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead as he threw the car into park. "Anytime." He glanced over at the beach house and raised his eyebrows, "Ready to go in?" Steve grabbed their bags out of the car and walked up to the front door. He felt around the top of the door frame until he found a spare key and let himself inside.

"I thought you said we were visiting your dad." Catherine asked as she walked inside.

Steve chuckled, "We are. He's still on duty. He'll be at HPD until later tonight." He turned and slid his hands on her hips. "Figured, I'd uh, I'd give us some alone time." Steve lingered just a breath away from her lips. The tiniest of smiles flickered at the corner of his mouth, "Round two?"

Catherine leaned into him and held onto his lapels. "Making up for lost time?"

He reached down and grabbed her ass, lifting her up and pressing her against the wall. "Somethin' like that." He murmured as his mouth latched onto hers.

Catherine ripped off his uniform and trailed her fingers down his chiseled chest. "God bless the United States Navy." She smirked.

Steve grinned as he tossed her cammies across the room, "I could say the same about you." He spun and laid her down on the leather couch and straddled her waist. "Lieutenant."

"Yes… Sir." She moaned as she felt his hands slip under the waistband of her uniform pants. Catherine caught the devilish look in his eye as her words resounded in his ears.

His eyes locked on hers for a minute as memories and fantasies recalled in his memory. His hands gripped onto her hips as he bit down on her neck, "God, I can't tell you how many times I thought about fucking you when I was your C.O."

"Same." She choked out. Steve's fingers dug into her hips. She was sure there were going to be bruises in the morning and she didn't care one bit. He trailed kisses across her exposed breasts. The afternoon sun peeked through the curtains, illuminating every curve and valley of his impeccable body. "Oh, God, Steve." She barely choked out the words as her eyes fluttered closed.

"You like that?" He mumbled against her stomach as he placed soft kisses across her flat abs, then to her hips, and finally landing a soft bite to her inner thigh. Catherine gasped in pleasure.

"Please." She panted. Steve grinned a self-satisfied smirk.

Catherine reached out to touch his body, but her hand was intercepted by his iron grip. "You can look, but don't touch." He chided. Steve held her wrists together above her head as he kissed behind her ear, nipping ever so slightly. He rocked his hips against hers as another moan left her mouth. She arched her back towards him as she caught a glimpse of his eyes. They were dark and stormy. His normal playful, peaceful blue-hazel eyes were suddenly full of lust and desire.

Steve released her hands and they went straight for his uniform pants. "Not so fast." He chuckled as he pulled the nine millimeter out of his thigh strap and set it aside. "Safety first." He winked.

"That damn thigh strap is gonna be the death of me." She mumbled. Catherine's breath hitched in her throat as she felt exactly what she had been begging for.

Steve filled every inch of her. "Tell me what you want." He whispered seductively in her ear.

"You." Catherine groaned without hesitation as she gripped his strong shoulders. "It's always been you."

He grabbed onto her bun and tilted her head back. "Damn straight." He growled as he left a trail of rough kisses from her ear all the way down to her breast.

Catherine's nails dug deep into his shoulders as she shuddered against him. "Oh my God." She whispered as she threw her head back and grinned. She laughed, "Round two was definitely a good idea."

John McGarrett smiled as he watched from the lanai door as Steve sat in the sand behind Catherine and wrapped his arms around her. The two of them snuggled close as they watched the sun slowly set over the water. He had gotten home from work not too long ago, but didn't want to sully their moment. It was rare that his calloused son showed such tenderness - he didn't want to scare him off.

Steve pressed a kiss to Catherine's shoulder as the sky turned from pink to orange. "You don't have to worry, you know that right?" He murmured against her skin.

Catherine leaned her head back on his shoulder and closed her eyes, "What do you mean?"

"You got me." He closed her in his arms as she brought her knees to her chest. "I'm in your corner." Steve kissed the back of her neck, "I know you're worried about going back to The Sandbox."

Catherine melted into his embrace. "I didn't exactly handle things well the last time."

"Does anyone actually handle deployments well?" He chuckled.

She stared out at the water as the crescent of the sun dipped below the horizon and whispered, "Thirteen months is a long time."

Steve stroked her hair away from her face and tilted her chin up to meet his, "Don't worry about me." He kissed her lips. "Let me worry about you for a change."

"I always worry about you."

He pulled the polaroid out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Tag."

Catherine smiled, "I can't believe this thing is still in one piece."

Steve chuckled, "It, uh, it almost didn't make it through my last op."

"What happened?"

"I usually keep it in the outer pocket of my kevlar." He patted his chest where it usually stayed. "And for, uh, for some reason that day I had it in my pants pocket instead. I got clipped pulling our target out of a compound and the round hit the outer pocket."

Catherine covered her mouth with her hands, "You weren't gonna tell me you got SHOT?!"

He chuckled and kissed her head, "Body armor works. It never got through the vest." She swatted his chest playfully. "You stayin' here tonight?" He mumbled as he rested his chin on top of her head.

"Might be a little awkward…"

"I've stayed at your folk's place." He countered.

She leaned her head back, "Do you want me to stay?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah."

"Then I'll stay."

A nervous cough to catch their attention startled them. "Hey, kids." John chuckled as he moseyed down to the water.

Steve stood up and helped Catherine up to her feet. "Hey." He gave his father a quick hug and a handshake, "Dad, you, uh, you remember Catherine Rollins?"

"Of course!" He smiled as he gave Catherine a polite hug, "I'm glad you came back, sweetheart."

"Good to see you, sir." She nodded.

"Why don't you two come in and kick your shoes off?" John offered. "Catherine, you're more than welcome to stay here with Steve if you'd like."

"Thank you, Mr. McGarrett." She smiled.

John turned and led them back up to the house, "Please, call me John."

"It's good to see you back here in one piece." John chuckled as he pulled a beer out of the fridge and handed it to his son. Catherine had excused herself to take a shower and John and Steve had settled down on the lanai with a couple of Longboards. "Glad you brought Catherine back here too."

Steve grinned as he took a sip, "Why do I, uh, why do I get the impression that you like her more than me?" He joked.

John laughed, "She's a hell of a lot prettier than you are."

"Cheers to that." Steve smirked as he toasted his father."

"Things still going well?"

Steve shrugged, "We, uh, we hit a rough patch not too long ago…" He sighed, "It was kind of my fault…" He mumbled, "But I think we're good now." He took a swig of his beer, "She's about to be deployed on her third tour in a couple months."

"You got her a ring yet?"

He nearly spit out his beer. "No!" He laughed.

"What! When I was your age, your mom and I were already married and you were on the way!" John exclaimed.

Steve chuckled, "Maybe we'll, uh, we'll get there someday."

John nodded, "That girl's a catch. Don't let 'er get away from ya. Don't dilly dally either. Life's awful short to waste any time." He sipped his beer, "I wish I, uh, I wish I had your mom's ring to give to you. Your mom- she always wanted to pass it on to you when you got big - you know, for the future - when you found the right one. But, uh, I think it got lost in the accident… They never found it."

"Don't worry about it. Cath and I? We're uh, we're a long ways off from that I think." Steve spun his empty beer bottle on the table. "We've both got a lot going on with work..."

John pushed himself out of his chair, "I'm turning in for the night. You and Catherine sleep well." Steve nodded and offered a faux salute. John lingered just inside the doorway, "Steve?"

"Yeah, Dad?"

"Can I be frank with you?"

Steve chuckled, "Go for it."

"Marry Catherine. I see the way you look at her and the way she looks at you. And don't wait too long either. If you don't marry her it'll be the biggest mistake of your life." John dismissed himself with a wave to Steve. "G'night, son."

"Night, Dad." He chuckled.

"Hey, Sailor." Catherine walked out onto the lanai as she combed her fingers through her damp hair.

Steve sat up and pulled out a chair, "'Ay." Catherine went to sit down in the chair but he pulled her down onto his lap instead, "That chair was for my feet. This is where I want you." He chuckled as he kicked his feet up and pulled her close.

Catherine laughed, "Best seat in the house."

Steve buried his nose in the crook of her neck, "You smell good." He murmured. "How long 'til you have to be back on board?"

"0800." She sighed as she slipped her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

He groaned and closed his eyes. "Is it bad that I'm hoping my team'll get an assignment in Kabul so I can see you?"

"Yes." She stated rather distantly. "Don't wish that on yourself." Catherine turned and ran her fingers back through his hair, "You promise you'll still call?"

"Try and stop me." He challenged with a smile. "I'll watch your six." He kissed her lips. "And your two." He kissed her shoulder. "And your four." He tickled her waist causing her to shriek and squeal.

"Steve!" She laughed as she tried to get out of his grasp. His muscular arms didn't budge as she thrashed and fought, he simply pulled her closer.

Steve cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her, "I'm gonna miss you, Cath."

Catherine rested her forehead on his, "I always miss you, Sailor."

"Come back in one piece… okay?" He pecked her lips. "No, uh, no running into buildings when missiles are inbound. Promise?"

"I promise." She yawned.

Steve hugged her and held her in his arms. At some point, he realized that Catherine had fallen asleep on his lap and nothing had ever felt so good - so right. Steve carried her into the bedroom they were sharing and laid her in bed. He crawled in beside her and pulled the covers over both of them, stealing a quick kiss on her lips. He pulled her close and drifted to sleep.

Steve held Catherine's hand as they walked down to the water's edge. He sat down into the weathered beach chair and pulled her into his lap. "Still the best seat in the house." She smiled as she felt his hand caressing her bump. Catherine groaned and shifted.

"What's the matter?"

Catherine waved her hand dismissively, "Oh nothing. My back's just been hurting."

Steve kissed her shoulder and murmured, "I'll give you a massage before we go to bed."

"Ha!" Catherine scoffed, "Pretty sure that's how we ended up with baby number two on the way."

He grinned, "I said what I said." Catherine rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the sun set. Steve's fingers listlessly trailed up and down her back. "How much longer 'til we find out if it's a boy or girl?"

Catherine pecked his lips and brushed her thumb across his brow, "Just a couple days."

"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" He asked as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because you are."

"I feel so much bigger with this one than with Shelbs." She groaned as she rested her hands on her belly.

He smirked and wrapped his arms around her, "You're perfect."

Catherine looked back out towards the water. "You feeling better about being at the V.A. and leaving Five-0?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah, uh… I didn't have a free minute all day." He chuckled.

"Boys coming in to meet with you?"

He smirked, "Most of 'em just wanted to know how the hell I managed to land a woman like you."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Just a sweet little chapter to ease the tension before we head into Catherine's third tour in Kabul. Buckle your seatbelts, ladies and gents - it's about to get wild!

Here's my shameless plea for reviews: LEAVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK!

XO,

-Mags-