Chapter 63

Kono had taken Danny's advice to heart and decided to open up to Charlie, he really was a sweet man and she could see it turning into something much more serious. She wished she could talk to her mother and get her advice, but her beloved Mom had suffered a devastating aneurysm a few years back. Although Nani Kalakaua survived, she was left brain-damaged and unable to speak. That was another sign that Charlie was the right man for her - from the minute he had met her parents he had been at ease with her disabled mother, not being awkward and just chatting to her as normal. She knew her Mom understood what was being said to her, just from her expressions and the way she would ever so lightly squeeze her hand sometimes.

For such a fearless warrior, Kono could be a bit of a wuss when it came to matters of the heart and she had built herself up to having 'the conversation' over a couple of days. After it was all over, she laughed as she wondered what on earth she had been worried about. Charlie was totally cool with her indecision, saying that it was a big deal for him as well. He had secretly liked the girl ever since their awkward first kiss when playing spin the bottle on the beach all those years ago, but this was different. This was an actual relationship now they were both adults and he was terrified of screwing it up too. He made a silent pact with himself to not push Kono and just let things develop at their own pace, then if it did lead somewhere they could both be sure it was what they wanted.

Chin had noticed, but resolved not to give his cousin a hard time. He knew how risk-adverse she was when it came to relationships and didn't want to make her feel that she was somehow doing something wrong. His mind drifted to his own blossoming romance with the lovely Ms. Hills. She had a sharp mind and was full of life, having reverted back to her normal bubbly personality once all the stress of the toolbox evidence saga had dissipated. The new Governor recognized talent when he saw it and had already offered her a job in his administration.

A few years ago Chin had proposed to Malia Waincroft, a successful doctor on the island. Then the whole situation of the stolen money had arisen and he had pushed away everyone in his life for a time. It had been him doing the pushing away, but he knew that some people had thought that it was her who had left him and he felt very guilty about that. She had been nothing but supportive and he had refused to let her help him. He hadn't seen her since they broke up, but decided then and there to seek her out and apologize. He grabbed his keys and headed to the hospital.

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Malia came down from the ward and stopped dead in her tracks. Chin was sat waiting in the corridor, he stood up and approached her nervously, "Um, hi. I wondered if you had time for a quick word? That is, if you're not too busy." She looked puzzled but quickly agreed and led him into an empty office nearby,

"It's been a long time, Chin. How are you, have things got better for you?" Chin sighed at her concern for him, she was genuinely interested in his well-being even after everything that had happened. She really was a good woman,

"I'm good. I was offered a spot on the Five-0 Task Force and then it all came out that it was my uncle who took the money and so HPD gave me a promotion to lieutenant . . . but, I actually came to apologize for everything I put you through back then. I didn't give you the chance to help me and that was selfish. I also let people think that it was you who broke things off and that was unforgivable . . . I was just so angry and bitter and realize now that it made me push everyone away so I didn't drag them down with me. You were far too good to be associated with a dirty cop."

She looked stunned at Chin's uncharacteristic outburst, "You were never a dirty cop, Chin. If other people couldn't see that, then to hell with them! I can't lie, it really hurt me when Kono and other members of your family automatically assumed that I just dropped you at the first sign of trouble." Chin had to swallow a few times to control his emotions and he wished so much that things could have been different,

"You're the best person I know, Malia. I just wanted to come and tell you that and say how sorry I am for my behaviour when I was first accused of taking that damn money. You deserve to be happy and a really big part of me wishes that it was with me, but I think that is just me being selfish and it actually might not be the best thing for you." Malia looked at the man with a wistful expression and she let out a long sigh,

"I thought for a very long time that my happiness would be with you, be perhaps you are right. Some things should just stay in the past," she looked bashful for a minute and glanced away as she spoke, "there's a nice doctor here that I have my eye on, not that he knows it yet." Chin gave a little nod of his head and the corner of his mouth lifted up in a rueful smile,

"Well I only hope that he realizes the good thing that he could have if and when you make your move. I'm happy for you, Malia." She smiled back shyly, Chin could still make her heart flutter when he directed that smile at her,

"Thank you . . . oh, I nearly forgot to tell you, I'm an Auntie now to a very special little girl. Gabriel has met a lovely lady called Vanessa and they had baby Sara in the summer of 09. I don't see them much, his job keeps him in South America most of the time. Maybe I'll put in for some leave and go visit for a week or two. They have a beautiful estate, he's doing very well in his career."

"That's really great, Malia. I'm so pleased that Gabriel had made something of himself, I was very worried when he got caught up in that gang when he was a teenager," he paused, "well, I said what I came to say, I'm just sorry I didn't see you sooner. Time slips away and before you know it another year has gone by." She nodded,

"That it does," Malia stepped forward and fondly took his face in her hands as she placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, "you're a good man, Chin Ho Kelly. Don't ever forget it." Chin watched her walk away, part of him so very sad at giving up this wonderful woman. But some things just had to be left in the past. He promised himself that he would tell Laura how he felt and see if she wanted to make things more serious.

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It was Sunday morning and Steve had eaten a leisurely breakfast after his morning swim and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Danny and Grace. It was surf lesson time and Danny preferred the privacy of Steve's beach – there was no chance of another surfer crashing into his precious little daughter. Kono sometimes rocked up to assist - Steve deferring to her superior knowledge and prowess when it came to riding the waves, but she wouldn't be coming today as she was spending the weekend with Charlie. He checked his watch, they would be here soon and so he pulled out the surfboards in preparation and decided that a light wax couldn't hurt.

He let a warm smile come over his face at the thought of Grace's reaction to seeing the bigger board that he had selected for her, promising that she would be 'upgraded' if she had developed her skills sufficiently. Today was the day to try the next size up and Steve knew that she would be very excited. He was just about to fetch the pot of wax from his garage when he saw a small motor boat coming closer, as if it was aiming directly for his beach.

He frowned and walked closer to the shoreline to get a better look, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand. The craft was much closer now and too late he saw the raised gun of the person on the boat. There was no gun shot, but he felt the sharp sting of a dart and looked down to see it sticking out of his bare chest. He stared at it in disbelief, slowly raising his hand to pull it out and just letting it tumble from his fingers onto the sand. In a few seconds his vision was already blurring and he sank onto his knees and then collapsed back onto the sand. He was just clinging to consciousness by the time the person from the boat had waded in from where it was moored and stood over him. He blinked as he struggled to bring his vision into focus and could only manage one word before he passed out,

"Mom?"