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 tugged on her abaya, adjusting it as she strolled through the market. The August temperatures were unforgiving, but wearing a culturally appropriate garment that covered her from head to toe made going into town unnoticed a lot easier. It also allowed her to carry as many concealed weapons as her heart desired- a big bonus in her line of work.
"So what happened between you two?" Caroline asked in Arabic as they loaded up on supplies for the house. "You're both acting like everything's fine, but we all know you're not sleeping together anymore."
She waited until a group of shoppers had passed before answering, "We're working. Respecting professional boundaries."
Caroline laughed and pulled Catherine around a corner to retort in English, "Bullshit. What happened?"
Catherine sighed and went back to conversing in Arabic as they paid for their haul, "We just cooled things off is all. It was getting complicated."
"Because he's head over heels for you."
"Because we have to work together." Catherine clarified.
Caroline grabbed half of the shopping bags and began the walk back to the safehouse, "I don't blame you. Jude's a good guy. He deserves someone who's all in. It's just good to see he finally put himself back out there."
A tiny smile quirked up on Catherine's lips, "I think it was good for both of us." It had been. Catherine and Jude had cooled things off and returned to their status quo. The fling, brief as it was, had gotten her out of her funk. Yes, she would always love Steve, but more importantly, she could move on and enjoy life and thrive in her job. She'd had the 'once in a lifetime' kind of love and now it was time to return to fighting for God and country.
The crowds began to thin out as they weaved their way back to the house, alternating between backtracking and taking the long way to shake any tails. "So when were you gonna tell us?"
Catherine looked over at Caroline, "Tell you what?"
"That it's your birthday."
She blushed, "Not a big deal. You know how it goes- never know where you're gonna be when the day rolls around, you just hope you're alive to see it."
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Said like the jaded operative you pretend to be."
Forty. Catherine knew the day was coming. She saw it on the calendar. Was this where she saw herself at forty? Running clandestine operations all over the globe? Having barely spoken to her parents in the last few months? Single?
So this is forty.
Catherine shrugged, "Not a big deal."
"Tell that to the giant teddy bear in there." Caroline tilted her head towards the safe house as they hurried inside.
Jude Beckett was a miracle worker, she decided. How he had managed to smuggle a bottle of her favorite tequila into the country was beyond her. Margaritas were made, shots were taken, and after a rousing game of Spot the Operative, of which Jude was still the uncontested winner, Decker and Caroline had retired to their rooms for the night.
"So how does it feel, Princess?" Jude grinned as he finished the last of the dishes, "Officially over the hill?"
Catherine rolled her eyes and stifled a laugh, "Thanks for the reminder."
He gave her a nudge with his elbow, "It's not so bad. I hit the big four-oh a couple years ago, and look at me. Living the dream and looking good doing it." He smirked.
She giggled, "Alright, hotshot." She leaned back against the sink and crossed her arms, "Thanks for tonight. It was nice to let loose."
"What are self-appointed best friends for?" He joked. "Now, if we had been back home it would have been an epic party that your house would have quite possibly never recovered from. Here we just have to make do with our contraband liquor and team bonding." Jude pulled a small box out of the refrigerator and handed it to her. "One more surprise."
Catherine opened the box and immediately looked up at him, "You got me a cupcake?"
Jude chuckled, "What's a birthday without cake?" He kissed her forehead, "Happy Birthday, Princess."
She pulled the cupcake out of the box and split it down the middle, offering him half. "Do I even want to know how you got a cupcake in the middle of nowhere?" Catherine asked as she swiped her finger through the frosting and popped it in her mouth.
"Buddy of mine was going into the city. He brought it by yesterday when you and Marshall were out with your asset."
Catherine took a grateful bite and savored the sugary dessert. "Ohmygod." She mumbled, her eyes rolling back in her head out of delight. "This is amazing."
"Did you make a wish?"
She giggled, "I'm not six."
Jude snatched the cupcake out of her hand, "There's no age limit on wishing. No more until you make one."
Catherine swatted at the cupcake, trying to grab it back. "Come on, Beckett. Hand it over."
"Not until you make a damn wish, Princess."
She huffed and closed her eyes. A second later, they were open again and her hand was extended expectantly, "Wish made. Hand it over."
Jude plopped the cupcake back into her hand and finished off his half in one bite, "So what'd you wish for?"
Catherine hopped up on the counter, "Can't tell you or it won't come true."
"C'mon, give me a hint." He begged as he stood in between her knees. "I'll make it happen."
She laughed nervously, "I don't think you can make this one happen."
"Try me."
Catherine placed her hands on his shoulders, "Not this one." She pulled him in for a hug and rested her head on his shoulder, "Thank you for everything."
Jude helped her off of the counter, "You should probably get some sleep. Early day tomorrow."
She eased up on her tiptoes and pecked his cheek, "Sleep well."
He chuckled, "I'd sleep better with you."
"Just friends." She reminded him, "Just having you in my life is all the benefits I need."
His laughter was lighthearted but his eyes were sad, "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
She placed her hand on his cheek, "Goodnight, Jude."
"Goodnight, Princess."
Catherine tossed and turned. The summer heat in Saudi Arabia was unbearable. Even stripped down to her skivvies, the air felt like a heavy blanket. Sleep was unattainable even at her level of exhaustion. Quietly, she rolled over and pawed through her bag. Catherine had avoided turning on her personal phone since arriving, but her mom would probably appreciate a quick text and some reassurance that she was okay.
Something like a million missed calls and unread texts flooded the screen as soon as she powered it up. A quick skim through told her that she hadn't missed much. One text, however, caught her eye.
Steve: Happy birthday, Cath. Hope it was a good one.
Tears welled up in her eyes. That damn wish Jude forced her to make came true. With shaking fingers, she responded.
Catherine: Thanks, Sailor.
With the text sent, she clutched the phone to her chest and closed her eyes. Her mind went back to the Enterprise. Back to the birthday he showed up in Jameson's office and surprised her.
The soft vibration of her phone brought her mind back to the present.
Steve: How's it feel to be part of the old folks club with me now? Staying out of trouble?
Catherine: What fun is that? Do ever stay out of trouble?
Steve: Fair point. Keep an eye on your six, okay?
That was odd, Catherine thought. Even at their worst, Steve had never told her to watch her own six. It almost sounded like a warning. She chewed on her lip for a minute before responding.
Catherine: Free to talk?
His response was instant, sending shivers down her spine.
Steve: I was hoping you'd say that. Secured line only.
Steve paced in his office as he waited for Catherine to call. Would she even call? Was he putting her at risk? It wasn't the pacing that kept his mind calm- it was the chafing. That damn vinyl jumpsuit had not been made for hand to hand combat, but as Tani had so graciously told him afterwards- he looked fabulous in red.
The state of his inflamed thighs aside, there was a more pressing matter at hand.
Greer.
Steve didn't know who to trust, so like usual, he opted for not trusting anybody. Catherine, though… He trusted her and he knew that Greer wouldn't hesitate to use her as leverage if it came down to it. Come hell or high water, he would still die for Catherine Rollins.
He checked his watch and slowly eased down into his desk chair, cursing that he didn't swing by the store for some baby powder before coming into work. His last message to Catherine had been sent two hours prior. That was never good. She had been responding quickly up until then.
His phone buzzed and he practically smashed it against his ear, "McGarrett."
"Hey, it's me. Sorry it took me a minute. We, um.. We had an emergency briefing. Some stuff went down here. I couldn't get to a line immediately."
Steve's mouth went dry, "Are you okay? Are you safe?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good. We, um… Some agents we were working with… They didn't make it. The news just got to us."
"Is the line secure?" He asked.
"Yeah?"
Steve leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, "Let me guess. Anderson. Stanton. Burke. Brubaker. Hennessey."
He heard Catherine swear on the other end of the line. A burst of static filled his ear before he heard the click of a door, "How the hell do you know?" She hissed.
"We've been working the Hennessey case the last couple days. It happened here. Got some intel from a spook about the others. Cath-" Steve pressed his fist against his desk, "You need to be careful. Are you in the field?"
She hesitated. "Yeah… yeah, I am."
It was his turn to curse. "Do you trust your team?"
It wasn't even a question she had to debate. "With my life."
"We're looking into a couple agents. There's a mole in the Company. Whether it's just one agent or a bunch, they're workin' for the Chinese government."
He heard voices in the background before Catherine came on the line again, "I gotta go. Look, if you get intel call me back at this number, okay?"
Steve stifled the fear and channeled it into rage, "Copy that. Stay safe. I've got your six."
"I've got yours. Stay safe, Commander."
A smile flickered across his face as the line went dead. He quickly saved the number in his phone until the chafing became too much to bear. He grabbed his keys and stormed out of the office. First, baby powder. Second, hunting down Greer and putting her in the ground.
Journal #12
Saudi Arabia
Where did I think I would be at forty?
If you had asked me five years ago, I'd probably say that I'd be with Steve. Probably married. Maybe we'd have a kid or two. Maybe a dog. Well, he already has the dog now…
If you had asked me five years ago, I probably wouldn't have said I would be working for the CIA, sitting in a safe house in Saudi Arabia while my team discusses whether or not we think Greer had anything to do with the agents who died. Spoiler alert: My vote is yes. That woman is a bowl full of evil with a good helping of crazy.
Lord have mercy, I sound like my mother.
Lord have mercy, I just wrote 'Lord have mercy'. Am I turning into the gray-haired village crazy lady?
I still can't believe Steve texted me for my birthday. I doubt Lynn knows. With the time difference he was probably at HQ. Still, it feels like we're healing. It feels good.
"I can't believe you're making me do this." Steve grumbled as Catherine dragged him into the Five-0 offices. "You are an evil, evil woman. You know that?"
Catherine giggled, "All's fair in love and war. You're the one who said if it ever got released from evidence that you'd put it on."
Steve stopped her before they entered the bullpen. "You're not going to be able to unsee this. I'm talkin' nightmares for the rest of your life."
"C'mon, Britney!" Danny shouted from the doorway of his office with a blinding grin, "Time to suit up!"
Tani and Junior barreled out of the other side of HQ, "Oh my God. You're actually gonna do it?!" Tani shrieked before turning to Catherine, "Do you have a camera? I think we need a video too. Juns, get your phone out."
Catherine looked over her shoulder as Jude and Lincoln strolled in. "Where's Adam and Quinn?"
Lincoln gave Catherine a hug as he said, "Adam is on the mainland with Kono again and Quinn should be-"
"I'm here! I'm here!" Quinn shouted as she jogged out of the elevator, "Did he put it on yet? Did I miss it?!"
Jude leaned down and kissed Catherine's cheek, "What's happening, Princess?"
Catherine giggled, "Have you heard about the red jumpsuit?"
"It was phenomenal." Tani said, waving her hands dramatically. "McGarrett got brainwashed by Greer and a bunch of Chinese spies and they put him in a Britney Spears latex jumpsuit."
"Sensory deprivation as a method of enhanced interrogation." Steve corrected, "Not brainwashing. I was not brainwashed."
"Stop stalling. Get in the suit." Danny chimed in.
Catherine looked around, "Where is it?"
Grover joined them in the bullpen holding a cardboard box marked EVIDENCE, "Merry Christmas, Commander. I think it's just your size." He chuckled.
Steve snatched the box out of his hands and turned to Catherine, "I warned you. Nightmares. You're gonna have nightmares."
She giggled, "I'll take my chances."
He dipped into Danny's office and flipped the blinds shut. The team waited with baited breath as they listened to the pained grunts and groans as Steve squeezed himself back into the blasted thing. "FIVE SECONDS AND THEN THIS THING IS COMING OFF." He shouted through the closed door.
Slowly, the office door opened and Steve strolled, rather, waddled and squeaked out into the bullpen. He huffed and opened his eyes and stared down the gaping mouths that stared back.
Catherine was the first to break the silence, "Oh my God. It's even better than I expected!" She laughed as she braced herself on Jude who was doubled over in laughter.
Wheezing, he stood up and wiped the tears away from his eyes, "Shit, man. That's… That's fucking hilarious."
Steve pointed to Catherine and Jude. "You two are a pair of Marys." Slowly spinning in a circle to give them the full view, he added, "Take a good look folks. You'll never see it again."
"Maybe, but I'll never be able to unsee it either." Quinn snorted.
Tani and Junior thoroughly documented the moment, firing off the photos and video to the group. "You're a surprisingly good sport about this, McGarrett." Junior grinned.
Steve shot a glare at Catherine, "Are you happy?"
"Ecstatic." She snickered.
Danny stopped him before he could retreat to the office, "Say the thing."
"No."
"Say it."
"No."
The rest of the crew chimed in with the same incessant suggestion. Finally, Steve huffed and looked down at his feet. Composing himself, he looked up and flatly delivered the requested line, "Oops, I did it again."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
You all know how I feel about transitional chapters at this point, so I figured I'd lean into it and try to write something a little humorous before we dive into the Montana chapters. Leave your comments and reactions in the reviews!
And three cheers for the Britney jumpsuit.
Do something kind for someone else today and tell me all about it!
XO,
-Mags-
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