She straightened up, stretched briefly, then reactivated the desk display and monitors. With brief hand movements, she moved the video and pictures of Djawad onto one of the side monitors above the Admiral and a new download was displayed. Shortly afterwards satellite photos of the province of Helmand appeared with different colored markings as well as a map on which the corresponding places were marked. Steve watched Sara and the admiral check one by one, check live images, and discuss probabilities. He occasionally made comments. In the end, they settled on a settlement with a handful of houses off a small slope in the middle of nowhere.
"A team will be on its way shortly. If we're right, we should have Masterson in about an hour or two," said the admiral. "A team of our allies is checking the second location that we have narrowed down."
"I hope he can hang on until then," Sara replied quietly. "A good twenty-five hours ..."
"These guys aren't bulletproof, but they can take a beating," Steve said. "Do you let us know about further events? Please."
"You'll get a message, Steve. Thank you for your support, both of you. And I'm sorry for breaking up you evening ... "
"Admiral, that's our job. Dessert can be made up. The point is getting Masterson back to his family alive," Sara interrupted. "I agree with my husband's request. Shall we wait here?"
"This will not be necessary, we have all the information we need. It's... ", he raised his head briefly, "half past four in the morning on your island. Go home and get a rest."
"Thank You, Sir. You will soon be able to reach us on our mobile phones. You have my number, I'll text you Steves right away."
"Okay. Good night."
The monitor with the admiral's portrait went out, and after a few gestures from Sara, the other screens and the ceiling light went out, so that the room was almost dark again. Steve blinked a few times, then his eyes had adjusted to the dark. He saw Sara stretch and slowly slide off the chair. "Please, let me help you," he urged softly. She nodded, then grabbed his arm. He took her bag and the phone, then they left the room. By the time they got to the elevator, his wife was running a little more smoothly and wanted to let go of his arm. "Keep holding on tight. You're dead tired and totally cramped." Sara didn't protest, which was enough for him to answer, so he saved himself the alternative suggestion of carrying her. At the gate he wordlessly held out the key to the security guard, who also handed him the cell phone without a word. When he steered the car off the base, he and Sara turned on their phones at the same time. He saw Sara typing a message. "Your number for the admiral," she explained shortly and yawned heavily.
The streets of Honolulu were still empty, so they were home in less than half an hour. Eddie raised an eyebrow only briefly when they entered the house. Steve left the cooler bag on the coffee table. "May I carry you up please? Only for this time. I don't want you to fall on the stairs to make the day perfect."
His wife sighed. "Okay." He took her on his arms, carried her upstairs to the bedroom, and set her down on the bed.
"But I am still able to undress myself, Steve."
"Sure?" He asked impishly.
"Definitely. And I also know some things that you could still do. Put the food in the fridge, fill Eddie's bowl so that it doesn't wake us up again in an hour, your inspection tour ... "
"Okay, okay. Copy that. I'll be right back." He took off his jacket, hung it on the closet, took off his shoes and ran back down. When he had done everything and got back upstairs, Sara came out of the bathroom in one of his T-shirts. "Dessert in the fridge, bowl full, the house is safe, we can sleep well. I'm just getting rid of the suit."
"Good."
Sara was sitting on the edge of the bed when he was ready. She was holding her phone.
"Is something going on?"
"Not yet. It's been less than an hour now. I'm dead tired, everything hurts, but I don't think I can sleep. "
Steve sat next to her. "I'm probably not as good as Janice, but I can also do a little massage. That could help you and bridge the waiting time."
"Thank you."
He gently helped Sara lie on her stomach, then began to carefully massage her completely stiff back. It took a while for her to relax, but the nightly calm in the house helped both of them get a little down. At about six o'clock the telephones vibrated synchronously on both bedside tables. "Stay," Steve said quietly, stretching for his cell phone. "Masterson is alive," he read out. "Serious injuries, but good chances of survival. He will shortly be flown to Ramstein and, if stable, to Norfolk. Djawad is dead, as are several of the men, Amar is in captivity again."
"Good."
"Then sleep now." He threw the phone back on the bedside table, lay down next to Sara and pulled the bedcovers over both of them.

His wife didn't move when he got up two hours later and pulled the blanket over her. Steve let Eddie out before taking a shower and making coffee. He decided to take the dog with him so Sara could rest and wrote her a message, then thoughtfully got behind the wheel and drove to headquarters. On the way, he called her CO, who was already informed that she would not come. As he walked through the corridors of the Palace, he dialed the number of Sara's physiotherapist. The connection came about when he crossed the glass doors to his department.
"Oahu First Therapy, Aloha and Good Morning."
"Good morning, Commander McGarrett here. Janice Kalua please. "
"One moment."
"Thank you."
He listened to music that tugged at his nerves for a moment, then heard a familiar voice. "Sara?"
"No, Janice, this is Steve, good morning. I wanted to let you know that Sara is not coming to her regular appointment this morning."
"But is she okay?" Asked the therapist worried.
"Yes. We had a long night, she only got to bed two hours ago. I don't know what your schedule looks like today, but it would be great if you were on call. I did my best, but Sara was in pain when we finally got home. She can't take anything."
"Absolutely. Whenever she calls, I'm ready. If necessary, I will move one of my other patients."
"Thank you, you are a sweetheart."
"Always here for you, Commander," Janice replied cheerfully, then hung up.
"Who are you flirting with?" Came it from behind him when he had the door handle from his office in his hand.
"I'm not flirting at all, I've postponed an appointment, Danny. Good morning, by the way. "Steve turned to his partner, who was standing in the room with a coffee cup in hand. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, you were the one who just spoke of a long night. The rings under your eyes are really decorative, I hope you had fun," he teased.
"If you're listening, then at least try to get the whole thing. Valentine's Day was over right past ten."
"Aha. Did you have any trouble?"
"Danny, drink your coffee and let's talk later." Steve left the detective and went to his office. A few minutes later Danny was standing in front of him again.
"The question is still open."
"No, we didn't have trouble. Sara had a call, she had to go to the office. "
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"And what was it about? Oh wait, don't say it: It's classified," Danny teased, rolling his eyes.
"Why do you ask when you already know the answer? Anyway, we were home at half past five and Sara wasn't feeling well. That's why I didn't wake her when I left."
"And that's why you brought your furry friend with you," Danny pointed to Eddie, who was wagging his tail.
"Yes. And how was your Valentine's Day? "
"Except that I had to wait a long time for Grace? Quiet and cozy. I played cards with Charlie and he cleaned me out to the last shirt."
Steve laughed. "Like his sister. That's my boy. Nice that you had fun. None of the others have showed yet? "
"Do you see them here somewhere? But work isn't already breaking the door for us. I think with a shudder that there is still something like paperwork on my desk."
"If it makes you more comfortable, I feel the same way. But that's life."
They had neatly squatted themselves until they agreed to go to the beach to Kamekona for lunch. Meanwhile, the rest of the team had arrived and Steve had announced a 'paper warfare day'. When they were in the car at just before one, Danny mocked: "You seem to be waiting for a really important call. How many times have you checked your phone in the past hour? Every five minutes? Or just every ten?"
"Sara hasn't called yet."
"Steve, I'm absolutely fascinated how caring our SEAL-Man is lately, but have you ever thought that your wife is a grown up person? Just as food for thought ... "
Steve growled. "Danny, just stay out when it comes to things you have no idea about."
The moment the Danny took a breath to undeniably deliver another snappy comment, the phone rang. "Finally," Steve murmured, then answered the call. "Good morning, Commander," he said fondly.

"Good morning to you too. Or better 'Enjoy your meal'? That sounds like a car. Hello Danny."
"Hello Sara," replied his partner.
"Thank you for signing me out, Steve. I found your note."
"No problem. How are you?"
"Better."
"That's good. Janice is waiting for your call and she will make an appointment for you."
"Thank you. And thanks for taking Eddie with you. I can make it around the house just like that, but a longer walk wouldn't be possible," his wife admitted.
"Never mind. Junior is currently doing a lap with him."
"Are you sure he's not going to do a lap with Junior?" Laughed his wife. It was a general running gag that Eddie didn't seem to take the young ex-SEAL for full.
Steve laughed too. "Quite possible. And Sara?"
"Yes?"
"Take a taxi. Or order motor pool."
"I'm thinking about it. Say Hello to Kamekona from me. And if he ... "
"... has Haupia, I'll bring some," added Steve. His friend had put the traditional Hawaiian coconut milk dessert on his menu for some time and Sara was addicted to it.
"Thank you. Take care, boys."
"Always do, Sara", Danny promised, then Steve said goodbye to his wife with an "Aloha, Sara" and hung up.
"You're doing it again," teased his partner.
"What?" Steve asked back, stopping in the parking lot next to Kamekona's truck.
"You're staring at your cell phone with a crush. Now she called. What's wrong with you?"
Steve took the phone and got out. "Last night Sara showed me again very impressively why she has the job she's having. At the same time, I got to know a side of her that I never knew before." He felt Danny's questioning look on himself. "In the most positive meaning. I can't tell you more, but it was a really tough thing."
"You were there? I thought it was classified. "
"I brought her there and stayed there. The person in charge allowed it."
"Okay."
They ordered lunch on the truck and had three portions of Haupia packed. Shortly afterwards the boss personally served their shrimp and a bag of plastic cans. "I packed extra large pieces, Bro," explained when he held them out to Steve. "Your Sara is fully on my Haupia, I wouldn't have thought, for a Haole. Although she actually isn't one no longer."
"You saying this sounds like a real compliment, thanks, Kamekona," Steve explained. "And you're right, she loves it."
"When will she pay me a visit again? She hasn't been here in ages and ate my special garlic shrimp."
"Garlic isn't her favourite at the moment. But I'm gonna tell her she has to get the next Haupia herself."
"Okay, bro. I'll go to the grill again, it's rush hour."
When Kamekona was out of hearing range, Danny swallowed his last bit. "Oh my god, I'm so stupid. And I'm still a cop, too," he shouted, slapping his forehead. "Sara is pregnant. Right? Tons of Haupia, absolutely no garlic ... And you're even crazier than ever. Super SEAL dad! Congratulations," Danny laughed and patted Steve on the shoulder.
Steve rubbed his face. "Yes. Yeah, okay, she is pregnant. But would you please yell a little lower? We don't want to shout it from the rooftops yet."
Danny looked perplexed and a little worried when he asked a little quieter: "Why? Isn't Sara doing well? I mean, when she was at HQ just a few days ago, she looked good. Happy and healthy."
"She is fine. She has never puked a single time. She gets tired faster than before, yes. Otherwise, she has no problems that aren't already known. But she has to take medication to prevent cramps."
"Because of the accident. Her legs ... ", Danny concluded.
"Exactly. And she worked out a precise plan with Janice to stay stable and mobile. But apart from that she feels good, "said Steve. "We are making plans to enlarge the house a little. Saras library is already filling its own room, it will get a little tight in the long run. "
"If you need help, anytime. From all of us."
"Thanks, Danny."

Anybody out there? I'd love to read a review to see if you still like the story.