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.
"Cath, you, uh, you got a minute?" Steve's voice trembled as he stood outside of HPD.
Catherine trapped her phone between her ear and shoulder, and pushed away from the surface table at HQ. Stepping into Steve's office, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up almost instinctively. Her spidey senses were tingling. She knew something was wrong. "What's up?"
"Listen, I need a favor."
"Sounds about right." She smirked. Catherine tried to ease the obvious tension on his end, but the sensation of something amiss was still front and center. "Everything alright?"
Steve sighed, "No. No, it's not. My, uh, my Aunt Deb showed up this morning and, uh, she's… she's got cancer." He scrubbed his mouth with his hand, "It's bad, Catherine."
"Oh my god, Steve. I'm… I'm so sorry. Look, we can cover for you on the case if you need to-"
"I, uh, I haven't really wrapped my head around it yet, but me and Danny need to go meet with Agent Campbell." He groaned, "But look, she's at HPD right now. Long story. You think you could, um… maybe come get her? Stay with her until we wrap this thing up?"
"Of course." She grabbed her keys and jogged for the elevator. "You sure you don't need to sit this one out?"
Steve sighed, "No, I, uh, I could use the distraction right now."
"You'll let me know if you need to tap out, right?"
"Copy that."
Catherine yanked open her car door and slid in, "I got your six, Sailor."
Deb McGarrett bore an uncanny resemblance to Steve's father. They both shared the same sweet disposition and dry sense of humor. When Deb asked to be taken to the most beautiful spot on the island, Catherine knew exactly where to go. She pulled off the road to a stretch of quiet beach that was free of tourists. "Need a hand?" She asked as she jumped out of the car and jogged around to open the passenger door.
"No, I'm alright." Deb shooed her away from the door, "I got to see my niece and nephew, I got to flirt with a hunk down at the police department before Steve showed up, and uh, I got to ride in Corvette." She clapped her hands together and gave Catherine a twisted smile, "Pretty good day if you ask me." Deb looked around as she followed Catherine to a picnic table and sat on top of it. "It is beautiful."
Catherine smiled, "Mm-hmm. You know, the Navy took me all around the world, but this… This is home."
"Yeah." Deb nodded. "You know, Catherine, I got a feeling you're gonna be sticking around for a while. So, um, can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course."
"Well," Deb began, "You know Steve has that tough guy act down pat."
Catherine bit back a smile, "Mm-hmm."
"But underneath it all, he's still that vulnerable little guy who thought he lost his mom and had to grow up too soon." Deb sighed, "And Mary, well, she's the only one who really gets that about him because she lived it, too. And, um, well, once I'm gone, they're gonna need each other more than ever, even though they both won't want to admit it- stubborn kids. So… You think maybe you could see to it that they stay close?"
"I will. I promise." Catherine gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Deb forced a wry smile, "Thanks."
Catherine laughed quietly, "There's something I was hoping you could help me out with."
"What's that, sweetie?"
"Do you think you could give me a copy of your chocolate chip cookie recipe?" She asked bashfully.
Deb laughed, "Of course! Steve's told you about those, has he?"
"Actually," Catherine propped her elbows up on her knees and rested her chin in her hand, "He used to share them with me. We were uh, we were stationed on the USS Enterprise together for a while. That's where we met."
"You must be hot stuff if he willingly let someone else have one of his cookies. That boy gets pretty, uh, pretty possessive over his sweets." Deb cackled. "I'm gonna take a gander and say you're the young lady that John, uh - Steve's father, said came and visited a few times."
Catherine nodded.
"I'm glad you stuck around." Deb gave her knee a little squeeze, "I had my suspicions when I told Steve to send someone good lookin' to come pick me up from the slammer and he sent you." Catherine's cheeks turned a deep red and Deb just laughed, "You must be pretty special to him if he, uh, told you about my health condition."
"We've known each other a long time… Gotten each other through a lot." That was a loaded statement if she'd ever heard one.
With a dramatic sigh, Deb patted Catherine's knee and slid off the picnic table, "I, uh, I ought to get back to the house and talk to Mary about all this." She sighed. "That girl's gonna be crushed..."
Catherine led her back to the Corvette and opened Deb's door, "I think she'll be crushed because she hurts for you, but Mary, she's stronger than you think. She's a fighter." Catherine got behind the wheel and headed in the direction of Steve's house.
"Do you know Mary well?" Deb asked as they rumbled down the road.
"We keep in touch." Catherine shrugged, "I've been active duty for the last few years so I haven't been around a lot, but I try to see her when she's here and we'll talk on the phone sometimes."
Deb pursed her lips and pressed her fingers to her mouth, "Catherine, can I ask you a question?" When Catherine nodded, Deb continued. "You seem like a lovely woman and it's clear that Steve has let you in to his life for many years now." She pointed at Catherine's shiny, new Five-0 badge. "And you've got a steady job here."
Catherine laughed quietly, "I have a feeling I know where your line of questioning is going."
"Why aren't you two married?"
That question used to scare her, but not so much anymore. "Um…" Catherine hesitated, "Well, this is really the first time both of us have been in one place at the same time and I'm still getting used to life outside of the military."
"Still getting your feet wet?"
Catherine nodded, "Yeah. Just figuring out how things work."
"Makes sense." Deb smiled.
Catherine relaxed as they pulled into the driveway. She liked Deb. Truthfully, she reminded Catherine of her own mom. A little crazy, sure- but warmhearted and kind. This was why Steve had sounded absolutely crushed.
"You know, I don't have a key and I think Mary and Joanie are out." Deb piped up.
She laughed and held up her keyring, "You're in luck. I do."
Deb grinned, "Of course you do." She sagged against the entryway as Catherine unlocked the door. "You know, I'm… I'm pretty beat. I think I'm just gonna lay down for a minute until Mary gets back."
Catherine nodded, "Let me know what I can get for you, okay?"
Catherine: Inside the wire. Package is secure.
Steve: Using military slang to make me feel better?
Catherine: Affirmative. Need me to head back to HQ?
Steve: Negative. Keep an eye on Deb and Mary?"
Catherine: Copy that, Sailor.
Steve: Thanks, Cath.
"Hey, mom." Catherine settled into the weathered beach chair and pressed the phone to her ear, "Happy Thanksgiving. You and dad eating dinner yet?"
"Hi, sweetheart!" Evelyn squealed over the phone. "We're just cleaning up. Your father's doing the dishes. How's that sweet boy of yours?"
Catherine dug her toes in the sand and closed her eyes, "Steve's good. Caught a case. So goes life."
"How are you doing, Catherine. We're worried about you, you know." She chided.
"I know. I'm okay, mom. Just adjusting." Catherine hesitated before adding on, "Is it weird that I'm so hung up on this? I mean…. I've been in combat. I've seen people die. Why is this one hitting me so different than all the other times."
Evelyn laughed like the free spirit she was, "Sweetheart, I'd be worried if you weren't hung up on it. You know, I used to worry that seeing and experiencing everything that you have would make you stop feeling. It's okay to feel things, darling. That's what makes you human. It's okay to feel like a human once in a while."
Catherine thought about those words. It was something she had heard her mom say to her dad when she was a little girl. It was something that she had said to Steve once right before he had left the Enterprise for BUD/s. "I feel like I'm screwing this up." She groaned.
"The only thing you should be screwing is Steve. I'd like a grandbaby before I'm too decrepit to get around."
"MOTHER!" Catherine laughed. "I'm being serious! I don't know what the hell I'm doing!"
Evelyn laughed, "You need to relax. Stop trying to be in control all the time. You've had a lot of change recently. I think it's high time you give yourself a fucking break."
Catherine nearly choked. "Did you just drop the F-bomb?"
"Well, I needed you to know I was serious!" Evelyn exclaimed.
"I love you, mom. Tell dad I love him too."
"It'll get better, sweetheart. You'll find your place." Evelyn soothed.
Catherine watched from the living room as Steve sat out on the brick patio and wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulder. She sided up to Aunt Deb and gave her a hug, "They're gonna be okay."
"I hope so." Deb sniffled. "You promise me. You'll keep 'em close?"
"I promise." Catherine swiped the tears that were peeking out of the corners of her eyes. It's okay to feel, she reminded herself.
Steve stood up and led Mary back into the house. After a short announcement directing everyone to convene at Nicky Demarco's joint, he grabbed Catherine's hand and led her up the stairs. Shutting the door behind him, he loosened his tie and slumped onto the bed. "I, uh, I owe you big…. For today." He sighed.
Catherine crossed the room and sat beside him, "You don't owe me anything." She said softly. "You know I'd go to hell and back for you." A smile quirked on her lips, "Besides. Your Aunt's pretty cool and she gave me her chocolate chip cookie recipe." Catherine nudged his shoulder with hers. "It's gonna be okay."
He scrubbed his hands over his face. "Do you ever miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"Being on the Enterprise? In, uh, in our own little world. Just separate from it all?" Steve rested his elbows on his knees and looked over at her.
Catherine stared into the grooves of the hardwood floor, "All the time." She admitted. "Life was a lot simpler back then." She picked at the hem of her white chiffon dress. Her mother would have a fit about her wearing white after Labor Day, but this was Hawaii- not the mainland south.
Steve sighed, "I just feel like life threw another fucking curveball and I'm tired of 'em."
"Sometimes," Catherine began, "You just have to take a swing and see what happens."
Steve hefted Shelby up the trail in the nearly-tactical baby carrier he had strapped to his back like a rucksack. Catherine pulled up behind him with Will wrapped snugly in a cocoon of fabric. "This is it." He groaned as he reached behind him, heaved Shelby carefully over his head, and set her on the ground. Steve looked around at the spot where he and Mary had hiked to with Joanie after Aunt Deb had passed.
He hadn't exaggerated one bit. The view was magnificent and the fresh air did them both a world of good. Catherine eased down to the ground and freed Will from the sling. "Why am I out of breath?" She gasped, "I used to run four and half minute miles. Is the air thinner up here or is it just me?"
"It's just you." He smirked.
Catherine scoffed, "What? Are you saying I've gotten soft?"
Steve grinned, "That's exactly what I said, Rollins."
She poked him in the side with a finger of steel, "Uh huh." Catherine reached in the bag they had hauled up the trail and tugged out a picnic blanket. Snapping it in the air, she spread it out and settled Will and Shelby on top. Steve laid back on the blanket and flew Will through the air on his extended arms. "Tell me, Sailor." She began, "Did you ever think we'd make it?"
He chuckled, "I thought you were, uh, you were gonna pass out a mile back."
Catherine rolled her eyes, "Not what I meant."
"I know." He surveyed the area, "We, uh, we didn't make it easy on ourselves. That's for sure." Steve sat up as Shelby wiggled up onto his lap. "Alright, pretty girl." With both kids settled on his lap and Catherine beside him, he looked at Shelby, "Let me tell you about your Great Aunt Deb."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Leave your thoughts in the reviews!
Carol Burnett is one of my all time favorite H50 guest stars! I can't think of anyone more perfect for that role! So, I'm curious: who are some of your favorite guest stars? For me, Jimmy Buffett and Joan Collins were some of my favorites!
Have a wonderful week, wonderful people! Be kind, be gracious, love others!
XO,
-Mags-
