It was warm, it was sunny. A light breeze was blowing from the Atlantic, but not so strong it would freeze. She had a book on her lap, but she wasn't reading, instead she watched Liam and Zoe splash around in the pool and splash each other wet. Her neighbor's son Jason had played along until a few minutes ago, but then his mother had called him to dinner. Liam would invite them to dinner that evening, Zoe had wanted pizza so she didn't have to cook. What a shame Patrick isn't here with us, she thought. Laughing, she returned the wave from her little niece, who stood on the edge of the pool and jumped into her father's arms. Suddenly someone touched her arm and she was startled.
It took a moment for Sara to get back to reality. She recognized Steve sitting next to her on the edge of the sun lounger. He held her hand and looked at her in concern.
"What...? What time is it?"
"Late afternoon. How are you?"
She shook her head. "Next question: What are you doing here?"
"I was in the office, I was with the governor. When I came back there was a surprising visitor. My mother is on the island." Steve looked at the balcony door, where a blonde woman was standing. He looked annoyed at the sight. "Mom," he growled.
Sara ignored the woman, she pulled the sheet closer around her. "Can you take me to the bedroom, please?" She asked sharply. He looked her in the eye, examined her briefly and understood. "For sure."
Her husband carefully slipped his arms under her, picked her up, and carried her and the sheets inside.
His mother stepped aside and said nothing. Eddie followed them after a moment, he had one of her canes in his mouth, which she had placed next to the bed. Steve was about to close the door when his mother held out the other cane. He took it and closed the door in her face. "I'm sorry Sara," he began when he turned to her. "I told her to wait outside, but patience was never her strength."
"Neither following orders, as far as I understand. But when I first meet my mother-in-law, I want to at least be combed and reasonably dressed. Give me five minutes."
"As long as it takes. Can you walk or should I ...? "
"I'm fine. You know how much I like to be carried around, but there was no alternative right now. I don't need to stand half-naked in front of your mother. "
He nodded. "Okay. I'll take care Eddie won't eat her, and then we'll wait for you." Steve came over to her and took her face between his hands. "I love you," he said softly, then kissed her. She returned the kiss, then waited for him to leave the room before wrapping herself out of the sheet. It was obvious that Steve was blaming his mother while she was changing, untangling her hair, and tying a braid. Eventually she felt civilized enough that she felt she could face Doris McGarrett. She left the bedroom, leaning on her canes. Steve and his mother stood between the couches arguing. Eddie ran to meet her. Sara stopped briefly to scratch his head, then sent him to his basket and walked on. "Interesting show, I have to admit. Now I know where Steve got his stubborn head. "The two broke off and looked at her. "I'm Sara." She held out her hand to Doris.
"Doris. His mother. Um, do you want ... Do you want to sit down? "
"Yes, please." Unasked, Steve grabbed her under the arms and helped her onto the sofa. Then he got a water bottle and glasses.
"Sorry for dropping in on you like this. Steve told me a few things earlier, but by no means all. I'm sorry about the baby."
"Mhm." Steve sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She leaned against him, the proximity felt just good for her. But she also had moments when she couldn't bear to be touched. He accepted what she was grateful for.
"The funeral service is next week?"
"Yes. On Saturday at church, on Sunday at the beach. We will bury him in the sea. Most of our friends paddle out with the boards, Sara is not allowed to go back into the water yet. Kawika will be rowing," Steve explained. "Everything is prepared so far."
"Until then I will continue working on my condition. I don't want to go to church in a wheelchair and that's not possible on the beach anyway."
"You..."
After a sideways glance at Steve, who briefly shook his head, she briefly reported on the accident and its consequences. "It doesn't obstruct me much in everyday life, because I've been lying down for so long now, I have to build up my muscles again. But I don't need pity and I don't want any," she added when she recognized the expression on Doris' face.
"Excuse me. When one first hears your story, it's hard not to get feelings like that." Her regret seemed genuine.
"As long as you keep them to yourself. How long will you stay on the island? And where?"
"I checked into the Holiday Inn Express when I saw the damage to the house. I don't know how long I'll stay yet. If I can help you or you need me, maybe longer."
Sara didn't know what to say right now. Steve correctly interpreted her hesitation. "Mom, the offer is nice. We are doomed to wait on all fronts right now. What I hate as you know. Sara is training, I've started working again ... "
"I understand. Sara, if that's okay with you, I'd like to get to know you better. And maybe I could tell you a few stories from his younger years that Steve hides because he is embarrassed," Steve's mother tried to loosen up the situation. She was deprived of an answer because there was a knock. Eddie jumped up and ran to the door. Her husband gave her a questioning look, she shook her head, then he went to the room door. "Who's there?"
"NCIS."
"Have they announced themselves?" He asked in their direction.
"No."
Steve opened and stood in the entrance area. "Can you identify yourself?" She watched the man and woman pull out their ID cards. She took a closer look, she recognized the man, she had already worked with him. "Steve, it's fine. I know them."
"For sure?"
She pushed herself up in the cushions so that she was sitting straighter. "Yes." Then she looked at Doris. "Leave me your phone number, there is a notepad. I'll call you."
Steve's mother understood the sacking. She wrote a sequence of numbers on the paper, then stood up and held out her hand. "It was nice meeting you. I would be happy if you call."
"Okay." Doris said goodbye to her son, then left the room. The two agents came closer. Steve stood next to her with his arms crossed.
"Commander, I'm Agent Long, you should know Agent Adriano," the woman introduced herself and her partner.
"I remember him. Perhaps could you sit down while you explain why you are here? That would be less exhausting for me."
The agent nodded. "For sure. Here? "She pointed to the sofa across from Sara.
"Yes." There was a beep on the balcony as the visitors sat down. Steve went outside without a word, got Sara's cell phone and came back shortly afterwards with the phone and a glass of Sara's mineral drink. Dr Takamoto had insisted on she'd keep taking it, albeit for different reasons now. "Thank you," she said softly as he handed her the glass and then sat down next to her again.
"I suppose you got the information Sara is here from Doctor Takamoto."
"That's right, Commander. He also said you should decide for yourself whether you feel able to talk to us, Commander."
Sara put the glass down and groaned. "This is ridiculous. My husband's name is Steve, my name is Sara. I can't add much useful information to your investigation, and since I know how Five-0 works, I assume that you already have several reports."
"We have," confirmed Agent Adriano. "We also want to bother you as little as possible, especially in this difficult time for you. However, it is also important not to wait forever while the memories are still fresh."
She could feel herself starting to shake, but she couldn't help it. Steve noticed it too, he put his arm around her and pulled her close.
"Do you think I could ever forget that? With every movement that I make, every look in the mirror, every look from someone who sees me ...?!" Her voice almost cracked and she hated it.
"No. Excuse me, Sara, that's not what I mean," Long tried to appease. "When you've made your statement, you can cross us off your list of open items and take care of your recovery process."
Adriano cleared his throat. "Sara, I know that it must be very difficult for someone with your analytical and memory skills to leave things behind …"
"Could you stop the talk? You both have no idea," she snapped at him. "You have no idea what it is like to live with my mind and memory. I rang the doorbell and went into the house. This woman was standing in the elevator when I got on at the first floor. She stared at me. I thought she was strange because she didn't look at my face, just my belly. But I didn't think she'd be dangerous, so I would have called Officer Reigns and ordered him upstairs to show me out. When I left the elevator was empty. When I got out and wanted to go around the corner to the front door, I was hit on the back of the head. My next memory is a dirty gray wooden wall. I got weird tasting water to drink, puked and lay half-naked in my own waste. The whole time I couldn't move and kept listening into myself to see if my baby was giving me signs of life. Or this woman patted me, probably in the hope that she would feel movement. The rest is in your reports. I can't say more about it and I won't say more about it. And now I would like you to go."
Adriano opened his mouth, but this time it was his partner who silenced him with a nudge in the ribs. She got up.
"Thank you, Sara, for your time. Get well soon. And our condolences. We'll find out on our own," Agent Long explained, nodded to them and pushed her partner to the door in front of him.
When they were alone, Steve took her in his arms and rubbed her back. She was still shaking, but she couldn't find tears. Eddie put his head on her lap.
Steve slowly ran a hand over her back. "All right, I'm here. Take a deep breath ... Very slowly," he said softly to her. Her heart beat up in her throat, but with the calm her husband exuded, Sara slowly managed to calm down. She felt completely drained. "Are you okay?" Steve asked after a while.
"I think so. You should go for a walk with Eddie. It probably won't be long before he's doing his business here. I couldn't get out with him earlier."
"Can I leave you alone?"
"Mhm." When he got up, she curled up on the sofa. He took the thin blanket that lay on the chair and spread it over her. "Take a rest. If something happens, call, your cell phone is on the table." They kissed and he gently stroked her cheek. Then he whistled for Eddie and set off.
