I do NOT own anything, but the plot.

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

As always, thank you and I hope you continue to enjoy what's to come!

Nalo a loaʻa

-loosely translate to "lost and found"-

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

"You can't go in for a moment," Danny mused without moving.

Cath spun around from Steve's hospital door to find the blonde detective sitting with his left leg crossed over his right, ankle at his knee, foot tapping blindly in the air with nervous energy.

"The shrink's in there with him."

"Wow," Catherine replied, walking toward Danny only to drop into the seat, hand on her belly. "He's actually getting help?"

"Yeah, was a last-minute thing and he didn't want to wait, so begged them to call in a psychiatrist that's cleared to talk to him the moment they could get them here." He tilted his head towards the dark-haired woman. "Between you and me, I think he would have backed out if they had made him wait."

"He does get weird with shrinks," Cath mentioned, laughing on how resistant Steve can be.

"Almost squirrelly," Danny agreed. "What are you doing here so early anyway?"

"Couldn't stay away," she replied with a small shrug. "Which is funny considering how leading up to this I couldn't bring myself to face him. Now I don't want to let him out of my sight."

"Know that feeling," Danny commiserated. "Y'know, sometimes I lie awake watching him to make sure this is happening." Huffing on a mirthless laugh, Danny shook his head. "That sounds creepy, and if you tell him I'll deny all knowledge."

"Our secret," Cath remarked, trying to be comfortable. "I know after the last time I left him you weren't exactly my biggest fan, but I've completely stepped back from the navy and any and all affiliations." Laughing, she couldn't deny Danny was right to pull the face he did as she said that. "I know, I know," Cath replied with an eye roll. "I took a desk job for the baby, but Steve coming back has shifted my entire perspective. The navy wants me for my naval intelligence skills, but unless they can give me a position at Pearl Hickham, I'm not going back."

"You quit?"

"I quit," Catherine confirmed, nodding her head. "I wanted the best for this kid, and when I thought I had to do it alone, I wanted to make sure I didn't run the risk of being pulled back in … he'd already lost his father before he even met him, I didn't want him to lose a mother too or worse… have a part-time parent."

"Lucky Steve came back," Danny murmured softly, finding an ease slicing his despair. "Can I ask you something, though? And I need you to be totally honest, because while it's great you gave up the navy for this kid, I need to know some things."

Cath didn't reply, only blinked at Danny with a level of bewilderment that seemed to draw tension in.

"I'm not here to cause friction or rock the boat, pun unintended given yours and that animal's life choices… I just need to know some things."

Cath rolled her eyes. "Just ask it, Danny."

"Just tell me this, Cath, are you here to stay?" Danny asked, pressing the urgency into the question. "I know there's a baby in the mix, but I need to know if there is any part of you that will one day decide a mission is more important than loving him. That somewhere else is more important than being by Steve's side."

"Danny-"

"He's like my brother, Catherine," Danny cut her off. "So, you have to understand my level of protectiveness over him, right now, is through the roof," Danny stated, while his tone was soft, his warning was not. "I have seen him battered and bruised, probably as many times as you have, but the Steve they bought home is not the man he was six months ago. He's there, lying in wait, wanting to be himself, but I can sense he's holding back." Danny shifted, his hands coming together as if to pray. "So, I need to know if this is a temporary fix or if you're in it for the long haul because I don't know if he can deal with anything but the latter."

As Danny finished speaking, Catherine felt her body deflate.

"I know my past hasn't been the easiest to trust me with, but things changed … when I came back earlier this year, I was already making the right moves to move back here permanently. I was sick of leaving him behind, Danny. I knew I broke him every time we split, and I didn't want that anymore." Large, dark eyes met Danny's and Cath felt herself break. "I love Steve with all my heart … how many people get a second chance with the love of their life after they're pronounced dead?" Cath's eyes watered again but she fought to hold back the tears. "I'm never taking a moment with that man for granted again."

"Okay," Danny started, nodding his head vigorously as that comment sunk in. "Okay, that's good. That's very good."

"We good?"

"We're good," Danny replied, gently sinking back into his seat.

Silence settled between them, not one of uncomfortable energy, but a gentle calm, a mutual understanding that Steve needed time and help.

"So, how did he make the realisation he wanted to talk to someone?"

"Apart from the flashbacks and nightmares?" Danny asked, giving Cath a look out of the corner of his eye. He saw how grief stricken she was at hearing that. "Yeah, the flashbacks are bad this time. Been privy to a couple but am quite happy the few days he's been here he's been able to sleep okay."

"Guess he's had other things to distract him," Cath observed, mournfully, twitching in her seat a little.

"Yeah, and the drugs help," Danny murmured sarcastically. "We sat awake all night. I could've slept, hell, I would've slept, but Steve… well, Steve couldn't sleep."

"So, you didn't?"

"I'm the back-up," Danny replied, proudly donning a stupid smile. "He started to talk around three AM." Shrugging, Danny watched the door for the umpteenth time silently willing it to be over so he could be in the room with Steve. "He's doing this for you," Danny mused, his eyes not moving, the same litany silently spoken. "Wants, and I quote, his head screwed on right before the baby arrives."

Danny still didn't move, but within seconds the sounds of soft sobs came from beside him and he twisted to look at Catherine as she sat bawling her eyes out.

"Catherine Rollins, are you crying? Again?" Danny asked in mocked shock. "What has happened to the tough girl facade I've come to know and hate?"

The parallels between Steve and Catherine were becoming abundantly clear every single day.

"Pregnancy hormones," she muttered, rubbing her belly. "Can't blame all of my emotions on Steve. This baby is killing me, I swear."

Laughing, Danny reached into is pocket for a tissue, grateful he had one to hand to the expectant mother.

"I remember when Rachel was pregnant with Grace. It felt like the wind would change direction and Rachel would just cry for an eternity over it."

"Don't give me another reason to cry," Cath concluded, rolling her eyes to stop herself.

"It's not a bad thing to cry," Danny discerned, albeit too casually, not hiding the connotation of what he meant. "Oh God, what if this kid doesn't kill you with emotions and turns out like a mini McGarrett?"

Cath laughed at the horror on Danny's face.

"That's kinda what I'm hoping for," Cath answered, grinning. "Could you imagine?"

"The hell he'll bring down on my life? Yes, yes, I can imagine," Danny exclaimed, looking flustered. "Oh, sweet Jesus, we're gonna have to find a cage big enough for him to grow into."

"By cage, I hope you mean cot," Cath chuckled.

"No, no, no-no, I meant cage," Danny argued, shaking his head with utter dismay. "You have met the neanderthal you decided to procreate with, right?" He asked and Cath nodded, the confirmation enough to goad him. "That emotionally stunted, bull-headed, likes to swim six miles and run ten every morning psychopath is about to give the world a miniature and I don't think it's ready for that …. I am well aware I am not."

"I reckon he's going to love you," Cath replied, her lips pulling into a small, satisfied grin. "Just as much as Grace and Charlie love Steve."

Danny's mouth fell open a little before snapping shut.

"Ah, so you can be rendered silent," Cath noticed and laughed again. "I mean it, Danny. I've seen the bond Steve has with your kids; I really hope you have it with this one."

Danny sunk into his seat, spent over that observation and he mulled over the fault.

"Least he stands a chance to be a normal civilised human being with my influence," Danny commented, and Cath swung her arm round to hit with him. "Ouch! I'm right and you know it!"

"I'd like to hope my motherly influence will be the saving grace," Cath comment, musing happily.

"I called him Rambino for a reason, Ramboette."

That earned him another smack.