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.

Whoever the hell decided to name the middle of Baghdad the "Green Zone" was obviously color blind, Steve thought as he hopped off the Humvee and stomped across the base. He had been called out of his sniper's nest to report back to the HQ Briefing Room - well, more like a tent, but that's just a matter of taste. Whatever this was about - it had better be good.

He sauntered in and glanced around at the screens set up in the tent. Somehow they managed to have lightning fast internet, but still no air conditioning. September in the Middle East had him sweating in places he didn't know was possible. Triple digits when you're in four layers of uniforms and kevlar is less than optimum. Steve set his helmet on the desk and peeled off his sunglasses. The layer of dust and sand that had cemented to his face made him look like an inside out raccoon. "Sir?"

Joe White turned around and took a sip of coffee. Only Joe would find drinking hot coffee in the middle of a 115 degree day reasonable. "Commander. Good. Come on in."

Steve walked over and joined Joe at Admiral Janderson's desk. "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Recognize them, Commander?" Joe spun the laptop around to show him a grainy, black and white photo.

"Yes, Sir." He nodded. "The Hesse brothers. Victor and Anton. International arms dealers - we've been tracking them for some time, Sir, but they're, uh, they're always one step ahead."

"That's because they're being given sanctuary by some world-class scum." The fourth man in the room finally spoke up. Judging from his button up shirt, dress pants, and lack of rank or insignia of any kind, Steve guessed he was CIA. High up too, if he was being read in on this particular briefing. The man took another drag from his cigarette. "Chechnyan rebels, Somali warlords, even hostile governments."

Steve glanced between the CIA spook and his two superiors. "And now we've got a fix on their location." He guessed. "That's why I'm here."

"Dark Sun." Joe cut in. "Ever hear of it?"

He thought for a moment. It sounded vaguely familiar. Steve and his team had spent a lot of time in Asia and the Middle East over the years. "Yes, Sir. Far east terror organization run by a fanatic named Han Ji-woon."

Joe nodded. "The relationship between Dark Sun and the Hesse brothers is still unstable. However, we picked up chatter that indicates Victor is sending his brother Anton to finalize a major arms deal with Dark Sun."

"Commander, we have a window of opportunity to roll this guy up." The spook stated, "The first confirmed face-to-face in years and the intel is good, so we need to act now."

"Excellent." Steve agreed.

Joe held up his hand, "Not so fast. There's a discrepancy. This deal is going down at a Dark Sun training camp in North Korea."

Fuck, Steve thought. "Okay. Aside from the HVT do we have updated source intel on how many hostiles inside the camp? What weapons they're using? Whether they're using roving patrols?"

"That's where I come in." The spook stated as he sipped his whiskey. Of course. The fucking CIA. These damn off-the-books ops with The Company were getting on Steve's last nerve. "My people will get you whatever you need."

Admiral Janderson finally added his two cents, "'Stealth' will be the operative word here, Commander."

"You want me to insert, snatch up Anton Hesse, exfil the area without getting compromised, Sir."

"Exactly." The Admiral agreed. "But bear this in mind. This mission does not exist. If you're killed or captured, you're on your own."

Steve nodded without hesitation, "Yes, Sir."

This time the warning came from the CIA agent, "That means no rescue attempts. No negotiations. Not even an acknowledgement of your service."

"I understand."

Joe crossed his arms, "Steve, we're not gonna send you downrange all by your lonesome. Pick a team member to go with you. Someone with extensive operational background."

Steve nodded and smirked, "I know just the man, Sir."

"Who you got in mind?"

"Commander Hart, Sir. He's coming back from his forty-eight today. We can be out as soon as we can pack op gear."

Joe nodded. "Good choice. I'll make the necessary arrangements. Go make your calls and report back here."

Steve nodded and dipped through the opening in the tent. He hated when Joe told him to go make his calls. That was his subtle way of saying 'You might not come back from this one'. Thankfully, his bunk was empty so at least he'd have a little privacy as he said what could be his last goodbyes, of course, without actually telling anyone what he was about to do.

Mary could wait. She'd be last on the list. Frankly, Steve didn't know why he bothered to call her at all. It's not like she was ever sober enough to talk anyways. Regardless, he'd at least leave a voicemail to wish his sister the best.

Sending a text to Catherine was his first priority. Her short stint at the Naval Base in San Diego had ended and her new orders had her back aboard the Enterprise. Steve's deployment was rounding nineteen months and somehow Catherine had been through two sets of orders since he had shipped out. He quickly typed out the words, "You free to talk in 20?" Hopefully wherever she was in the world, the time difference would allow for at least a quick hello.

His father was next. They chatted for a few minutes before his dad was dispatched to an emergency. Steve sat on his cot and pulled the polaroid from his pocket. The dust that covered literally everything in Iraq had left a layer of grime over the film. Regardless, Catherine's coy smile still brought him joy. He flipped it over and traced his finger over the ink that declared her promise to have his six.

"McGarrett." He stated when he saw the screen on his phone flash with a call and picked it up so fast that he forgot to see who it was.

"Hey, Sailor." Catherine yawned. "Sorry it took me a minute. Had to get dressed and get to the fantail. My new bunkmate is a little less easy-going about middle of the night calls than Amy was."

"What time is it there?"

"0400."

Steve cringed, "Sorry to wake you."

"I take it you're being reassigned on an op and I'm on your call list?" She guessed.

He chuckled and laid back on his cot. "Classified."

Catherine rolled her eyes, "You know I can just pull your assignments, right?"

"Not this one." He mumbled.

Her eyebrows raised, "Seriously?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "You, uh, you got any leave time coming up?"

"I'm due for a week off when we dock next. What about you?"

Steve smiled, "I'll be done with this deployment after this op, so I was thinking maybe we meet halfway? Europe maybe? I've, uh, I've had it with the sand and the dust for now." He chuckled.

Catherine smiled, "Ever been to Prague?"

"Nah, but, uh, if that's halfway for you then I'm down." He glanced at his watch and remembered that Freddie would be back from his forty-eight hour leave soon. "Cath, I gotta go. But, uh, remember that conversation we had in Coronado before I shipped out? You know, about me changing things?"

She bit her lip and smiled, "Yeah?"

"I think we should revisit that conversation when we're in, uh, when we're in Prague." He grinned.

Catherine's eyes crinkled at the corners as she tried to subdue the silly love-sick grin on her face, "I'd like that. I'll make the arrangements."

"Copy that." He gripped her dog tag in his hand. "Miss you."

"Miss you too." She crossed her arms over her body as a gust of sea air caused her to shiver.

"I got your six, Lieutenant."

Catherine closed her eyes, "Stay safe, Commander. I'll see you soon."

Steve shoved his phone back in his bag and ducked out of his bunk.

"McGarrett!"

Steve's head snapped to the left. "'Bout time you showed up!" He grinned, "We got work to do!"

Freddie Hart smacked Steve on the arm as they made their way through the base, "Yeah, I heard you volunteered me for some off-the-books action." He shot Steve a dirty look.

"Hey, you love this stuff. Don't give me that shit." Steve chuckled.

"Look who it is!" Another voice called out over the base. "Yo! Hart. McGarrett."

Steve stopped and turned, "Harrington?"

Billy jogged over and flipped his sunglasses onto his head, "Didn't think I was gonna run into you boys here. Wasn't your team supposed to be out last month?"

Freddie nodded. "Extended tour and now this jackass has me running another classified op before we get to be stateside again." He elbowed McGarrett in the side.

Billy chuckled, "Sounds about right. You guys stay safe out there, 'aight?"

Freddie nodded. "Thanks, brother." He turned and walked into the briefing room.

"Hey, McGarrett-"

Steve stopped in his tracks and turned.

"We cool?"

Steve chuckled and extended his hand, "Yeah, man. We're cool. Thanks for having my back out there."

Billy shook his hand and grinned. "Likewise. See ya 'round man. Good luck."

Catherine hadn't heard from Steve in a couple days. Not that that was out of the ordinary when he was on a classified operation, but it still put her a little more on edge than usual. Steve's deployment had been extended by a month, and now he was in the middle of something she didn't have the clearance to know about. Prague was on her mind. She had been dreaming of meeting Steve amongst the sea of spires and kissing him after well over a year and a half of being apart.

Steve had avoided committing to a relationship again due to his long deployment. He had told her that he didn't want to tie her down when a lot can change in two years. She didn't disagree with his train of thought. Maybe things would change between them, they thought - but they hadn't. Steve had called at every chance he had. He had been concerned and attentive to her needs and well-being even from thousands of miles away. If anything, their lack of commitment had given them something to look forward to when all was said and done.

She turned the page to her book and kept reading. "Alright, Nicholas Sparks. Entertain me." She mumbled as she focused on the next few lines of the story.

I've come to believe that in everyone's life,

there's one undeniable moment of change.

A set of circumstances that suddenly alters

everything.

Catherine's cell phone rang.

"Steve?" She answered before she even looked at the caller ID. His op should have been wrapping up and maybe, she thought, he was calling to say he was packing up and shipping out.

Silence.

Catherine frowned, "Steve, is that you?"

"No… It's um. It's Kelly." The voice on the other end whimpered. "I'm sorry to bother you, Catherine. It's just..."

Catherine's stomach dropped. "Kel, what's wrong?"

"Steve just called me." She whispered. "Freddie didn't make it. He…. he wanted to call and make the family notification himself. I just- I just had to talk to someone. Do you.. Do you know what's going on? Can you find out what happened?" She pleaded.

"Oh my God." Catherine felt like she was going to be sick. "Kelly, I'm so sorry. Oh my God." Steve had called her personally to make the notification. That meant he was okay, right? Was it selfish of her to be grateful that Steve was okay?

Kelly cried over the phone, "I remember Freddie telling me that you had helped them out on some of their assignments… I was, I was hoping you knew what happened. No one's telling me anything!"

"I - I don't know. I haven't looked into it. Steve called me before they left, but I haven't talked to him since and I don't have clearance to see the files." Catherine rambled as she pulled her uniform on as fast as she could. "Kel, I'm gonna go talk to my C.O. and see what's up." She looked down at her phone as another call came across her screen. "Do you have someone there with you?"

"Yeah, I'm, uh, I'm with Freddie's parents. My folks are on their way."

Catherine tugged her combat boots on, "I'll give you a call as soon as I know something, okay?"

"Thanks, Catherine."

She ended the call and immediately picked up the call waiting. "Rollins."

"Catherine, it's Matt. Have you heard from Steve?"

She shook her head, "No, I just…" Wait. Matt had retired. So had Amy. How had they heard about a highly classified op going sideways. "What have you heard?"

There was static on the line as Matt passed the phone to Amy, "Cath, it's Steve's dad… He was murdered. It's all over the news here on the mainland." She paused to let Catherine say something, but figured this must have been the first she was hearing of it, "Catherine?"

Catherine didn't know what to say. She just shook her head, "I gotta call Steve."

Amy sighed, "When things settle down let us know how he is. Talk to you soon."

"Bye, Ames." Catherine looked back down at her phone and quickly dialed Steve's number. A rhythmic beeping preceded the automated words she dreaded: I'm sorry. The number you have dialed has been disconnected.

Catherine stormed out of her bunk and into her C.O.'s office.

"McGarrett." Steve snapped as he answered his new phone for what felt like the hundredth time that day. The point of getting a new phone was that only a select few would have the number. How the hell had it gotten out so fast?

"You're not an easy man to track down when you don't wanna be found."

Steve felt a rush of adrenaline as he cruised down the H-1 in his dad's old Marquis. "Who the hell is this?"

"Relax, McGarrett - It's Jameson." His old C.O. chuckled.

He pressed his fist against the steering wheel and sighed, "Look, Sir, I'm a little busy at the moment."

Commander Jameson cut him off, "I'll make it quick. We've been keeping news of your transfer to the reserves on a need to know basis, but Lieutenant Rollins just woke me up in the middle of the night and put in a request for emergency leave to O'ahu-"

"DENY IT." Steve shouted. "I don't care what lie you have to tell her, she does not leave that boat, you hear?"

"McGarrett, I can't den-"

"JAMESON. LISTEN TO ME." Steve shouted. "IT'S NOT SAFE FOR HER HERE. YOU DENY HER REQUEST. SENT HER TO NAVCENT, HELL - SEND HER TO ANTARCTICA. YOU DO NOT GRANT HER LEAVE."

Commander Jameson sighed, "I'll do my best."

"YOU DENIED MY LEAVE REQUEST?!" Catherine shouted as she paced in front of Commander Jameson's desk. "I'm due for leave anyway! Why the HELL is it being denied?!"

Commander Jameson shot her a look of warning, "Lieutenant, I'd watch your tone if I were you."

Smoke was pouring out of her ears, "He put you up to this, didn't he." She hissed. Catherine knew that Steve was tight with Commander Jameson and he wouldn't have hesitated to call in a favor.

"Lieutenant Rollins…" Jameson pursed his lips. "It's out of my hands."

Catherine rolled her eyes. "Like hell it is!" She was secretly thankful that since she had begun running their intel station, Jameson had relaxed and given her a little more freedom in their conversations. Even still, she knew she was pushing it. "What number did he call you from?"

He stared at her for a minute before pulling a scrap of paper from his desk and scribbling a phone number on it. He thought it best to give her a little something to appease her or she might just burn the ship. "I'm sorry your emergency leave has been denied." He handed her the phone number. "When we dock at Pearl in a couple days I'll see to it that you have shore time."

A mischievous smile curled up at the corner of her mouth, "We're docking at Pearl?"

"In seventy-two hours." He grinned. "I don't tell McGarrett everything. And you do a damn good job running the unit. I'd like to stay in your good graces."

Catherine smiled, "Thank you, Sir." She hurried back to her duty station and pulled out her phone to send a quick text before her shift began.

I've got your six. -C

Steve stared at the text message as he sat in the dim light of the new task force headquarters. He had seen Iolani Palace a thousand times as a kid. Hell, he had toured it as a fifth grader on a school field trip. Never in a million years did he think that he would impulsively transfer into the reserves and take a job running a major crimes unit for the governor of Hawaii. But here he was.

He nursed the mostly-empty beer bottle as he read the four words over and over again. He had been on the island for a few days and had avoided calling Catherine like the plague. Steve had just put two shots into Victor Hesse, but without a body, he didn't think it was safe to call her just yet. His father had been murdered because of an HTV extraction he had executed. His own damn father had been used as leverage because of his relation to Steve. There was no way in hell he was going to paint a target on Catherine's back. He had never been so thankful that they had been clear with each other that she was not his girlfriend. The thought that it could have been Catherine who was in the casket at the funeral made him shudder.

Steve blamed himself. Maybe that's why he had sat around the new offices at The Palace long after Chin, Kono, and Danny had left. As soon as he had crossed into South Korea, he had called Kelly Hart from his personal cell phone. Steve felt as though it was his duty to make the family notification himself. Kelly shouldn't have had to hear the news from anyone but him. It was his fault that Freddie Hart was dead. His sense of honor and duty had been his ultimate achilles heel. Steve had used his personal cell phone even though calling from a secured line was protocol, and compromised their location.

He assumed that's how Victor Hesse had gotten a lock on the position of the convoy, anyways. If an international arms dealer and terrorist had access to and could track his cell phone, he wasn't taking any chances. Not with Catherine's safety on the line. It was for her own good, he told himself, but the fact that he had been avoiding her and manipulated Jameson into denying her leave request was beginning to eat away at him. Steve knew that she was going to be furious that he had shut her out. He just prayed that at some point she'd understand that it was done out of love.

Hesse had to be dead… right? Two nine millimeter rounds to the chest would put anyone down. Steve read the text message that Catherine had sent two and a half days prior again. Waiting one more day to see if Victor Hesse's body washed up on shore before calling her couldn't hurt.

The truck rumbled down the gravel driveway. An impulse buy, maybe, but the guy at the dealership gave him a great price and Marquis was in no shape to be driven on the regular. Steve figured that a big investment like a truck would give him the push to settle down and make Honolulu home again. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and shut the door behind him.

As he stepped up onto the porch he noticed that the doormat was askew and the front door was ajar. Steve silently drew his gun and eased inside. "Don't move." His voice was a sinister threat to the shadow in the corner. "Hands up. Turn around slowly."

"I know you're pissed that I got off the E, but seriously?" The shadow moved without his consent and flipped on a lightswitch. "You don't have to shoot me."

Steve dropped his arm indignantly and huffed. "What the hell are you doing here?" He shoved his gun back in his holster and moved quickly across the living room. "Catherine, you were supposed to stay on the Enterprise." He grumbled as he pulled her into his arms. "How the hell did you get in here anyways?"

Catherine wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes, "Spare key on top of the doorframe. I was worried about you. What the hell is going on?"

He didn't care to answer. Frankly, he was tired of the onslaught of changes that had happened since he had gotten off the phone with her last. Steve cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. "I missed you." He murmured on her lips.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as she surveyed the many cuts and bruises on his face, "How are you?"

"Hungry." He chuckled. Steve knew what she meant, but frankly, he just wanted to be with her. She had been his rock for so many years. Although he wanted to lock her away where no one could ever find her and keep her safe, she was what he needed most at the moment. "Tired."

Catherine smiled, "Good thing I stopped and picked up some Loco Moco on the way here."

His eyebrows shot up, "How'd you know?!"

"Remember that note you passed me during the whole Melanie Davis thingback on the Enterprise ? You said it was your favorite food."

Steve chuckled, "Cath, that was, what… ten? Ten years ago?" He kissed her forehead, "I'd ask how the hell you remembered that but honestly, I'm starved."

"Where's your head at, Sailor?" Catherine whispered as she rested in his arms. Somehow after dinner they had found themselves without clothes and in bed. Surprise, surprise. She looked up and trailed her fingertips along the stubble that had shadowed in on his jaw. "Talk to me."

Steve sighed, "You're here, so... I'm guessing you know most of it."

Catherine nodded. "Kelly called me and told me about Freddie… and then Matt and Amy called about your dad. They, um, they saw it on the news."

"I'm sorry I didn't call."

She shook her head and placed her hand on his chest, "Don't be. I get it. It's… it's a lot." She tilted her chin up and looked at his face, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to… I'll be here to talk whenever you're ready... But…"

"But?"

Catherine chewed on her lip, "I heard rumors… that you transferred to the reserves." Her voice turned to a whisper, "I know it was about time for you to re-up after your deployment, but…. are you really done? With the Navy… with the SEALs?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "I, uh, I um.. Took a job here. The uh, the governor wanted me to start a major crimes task force here…. So I said yes." He pulled the covers over her bare shoulders and pulled her closer, "I think it's for the best." He closed his eyes as she traced the outlines of his tattoos, "Besides… It, uh, it gives you somewhere to come home to… You know? The E's at Pearl all the time…" He sighed, "It's been a long couple'a days and I know you have to get back on board soon. Can we just... can we table this for now?"

Home. She liked the sound of that. "Of course." She leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Get some sleep. You look like hell."

"Steve McGarrett's phone, Catherine speaking." Catherine glanced out the lanai doors as Steve held Shelby in his arms and waded out into the ocean.

"Cath?! It's Kelly!" The cheery voice said on the other end of the line. "Oh my gosh, it's been forever! How are you? I'm so sorry I couldn't come to the wedding - things have been a little crazy over here."

Catherine smiled and sunk down into one of the patio chairs. "We're good. Steve's good. How are you and Emma?"

"We're good! I was just calling to thank Steve for Emma's birthday present. I usually have her here to thank him, but she's off at sleepaway camp this week, but I know she'll be so excited to get it when she gets back."

Catherine looked out at the bay where Steve was playing with Shelby. "What was that?"

"Emma's birthday present. I mean, he always signed the card from the both of you, but I know a man's handwriting when I see it." She laughed. "Oh, I'm getting another call. Tell Steve I'll have Emma call him next week, okay?"

"Okay, I will." Catherine smiled, "Take care, Kel."

"'Ay."

Catherine looked up as she put a very wiggly Shelby in her pajamas. "Hi."

Steve walked into the nursery and stood behind her at the changing table. "Need a hand?"

"I think I've got it, Commander." Catherine said as she picked up Shelby and laid her down in her crib. "But some decaf might be nice."

He chuckled and gave Shelby a goodnight kiss. "Copy that."

A few minutes later, Catherine had gotten Shelby Jo settled for the night and made her way downstairs. "So Kelly called earlier."

Steve looked up, "Yeah? How's she doing? How's Emma?" He said as he handed her a mug.

"Good. You know her - perky as always." Catherine eased in beside him and rested the coffee on her bump. "She, uh, she called to thank you for sending Emma a birthday present…" Catherine raised an eyebrow and hid her pleased smile as she sipped her coffee.

He looked as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Steve leaned against the kitchen cabinets and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I, uh, I always put your name on the card… It felt less weird that way - you know - it coming from the both of us."

Catherine reached out and squeezed his arm, "I think it's wonderful." She brushed her thumb across the streaks of gray that had appeared by his temple. "How long have you been doing that?"

"I dunno." He shrugged and looked down sheepishly, "Things got tight for Kelly when everything happened… I mean, she was already pregnant and they got married fast and didn't have time to get her on his military benefits before he died… I just… I felt responsible, you know? I, uh, I helped her out with bills and stuff until she got back on her feet and Emma got old enough to go to daycare so Kelly could go back to work… And I, uh, I made sure Emma had a good Christmas and got something on her birthday every year…"

Her eyes widened as he rambled, "So you've been taking care of them for… ten years?"

Steve ran his hand through his hair, "I'm sorry I never told you - I just… I didn't know how… and it never felt like I did enough for the two of them." He sighed, "I mean... I tried to make things better for them... or at least just suck a little less... but none of that would ever bring Freddie back. It was just - it was all I could do."

She placed her palms on his cheeks. Catherine was in absolute awe of the teddy bear of a man underneath the gruff exterior. "How did I get so damn lucky?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE

End of act two! Whoohoo!

1. LEAVE YOUR REACTIONS AND FEEDBACK IN THE REVIEWS!

2. I didn't want to focus a lot on what happened on Steve and Freddie's op in North Korea since we got a lot of that in flashbacks in S03E20 and the pilot. Rather, I wanted to focus on how those events immediately impacted their loved ones and (as we will discover in the future) their relationships with those loved ones. My goal is to not alter the events portrayed in the show, rather to fill out what we didn't get to see. I'm really strivain't to make this story fit seamlessly into the existing H50 universe.

3. This was where I was initially going to end the story. As I've been writing, however, I've felt the need to press on a little longer and fill in some of the gaping plot holes that the show left throughout the years. SO! The story will be continuing. HOWEVER, it will NOT be focusing on the episodes, the Five-0 team, or what you see on the show, rather it will fill in the gaps of their relationship (For instance: what the heck was Catherine doing when Steve was sent to prison (and escaped) in Season 2?! What was Catherine's life in the CIA like? What happened for the 30 days they were in Montana together?) There will be small mentions and interactions with other Five-0 characters when necessary, but the focus of this story is how Steve and Catherine finally came back to one another. Buckle up, ladies and gents!

4. I love you all dearly. Seriously. I started writing on FanFiction because I was crazy bored in the midst of everything being shut down due to COVID. This has been the most wonderful community to be a part of when everything feels so distant and strange. You all are wonderful, phenomenal people and I can't thank you enough for you support and encouragement! I love writing for you all every day!

XO,

-Mags-