At night Steve returned to Catherine's house, and knocked on the door.
"Steve? Why didn't you go inside? You already have the key", Catherine said, being ironical.
"Hey to you too, Cath", he answered a little upset.
"What was that on your face?"
"This?" Steve said pointing at the mark of the slap in the face. "Lynn! Did you hypothetically tell her that Ethan is my son?"
"So ... well ... I didn't say yes, but I didn't say no. Sorry Steve, but she provoked me , and I didn't know she would get to that point".
"It's ok. Where's Ethan?"
"He's sleeping".
Steve went to the bedroom and stopped by Ethan's bed to see him.
"What is it, Steve?" Catherine asked.
"Catherine, I'll ask one more time, this boy is my son?"
"I'll say one more time, Steve. I wouldn't do that to you. I didn't hide a child from you".
"Oh, of course! Because you never lied to me, Catherine!" Steve said it with irony.
"Steve, if you're referring to the CIA, I already told you everything".
"Yes, more than a year later".
"Steve, I tried to talk to you. But you didn't have time for me, the work always comes first", Catherine said.
"You're not being fair, Catherine!"
"You didn't have time for me, but for Lynn you maked a candlelight dinner, for Lynn you rented a suite at the Hilton", Catherine said and her eyes was wet with tears.
"Catherine, how do you know that? Are you spying on me?"
"Kono told me! I was sad because in your opinion I never deserved anything".
"What? And how many times have I crossed half a world, just to see you in your Navy break?" Steve asked.
"And how many times have I put my job at risk in the Navy, just to help you? And when I said that I'd always love you, and you said nothing? Nothing, Steve! Anything!" Catherine yelled at him.
Steve was silent.
Catherine slapped Steve, more than Lynn, only with words.
"Steve, go away! Let us not hurt ourselves any more". Catherine said, very upset.
"Okay, Cath", Steve said sadly.
"And just so for you know, Ethan isn't your son, but he really did like you".
"I liked him too", Steve said, getting out and closing the door.
Ethan woke with the noise of the argument.
"Mommy!"
"Hey, little angel. Mommy is here", Catherine said, wiping away her tears.
Steve went home, and couldn't sleep. He thought of everything Catherine said. Did he really treat Lynn better than he treated Catherine? Did he lose Catherine because she didn't have the attention and affection she deserved? When he slept, it was four o'clock in the morning.
Catherine also thought about everything she did and her wrong decisions. Had she been so hard on Steve? Could they start over someday?
Next day, Steve woke up with several knock on the door.
"Danny, do you know it's Saturday?"
"What happened to your phone, Steve?" I've tried to call you many times".
"I didn't hear Danny!"
There was a police chase on the streets of Waikiki which ended with five people being shot and the thieves dead.
"If the thieves are dead, HPD can solve that, Danny", Steve answered.
"One of the five people shot is Catherine", Danny said.
"Oh, no Danny! Don't tell me she is dead!"
"No Steve! She was taken to the hospital".
"What about Ethan?"
"Duke said they took a kid to HPD, a boy who is crying a lot, asking for his your mother. But the boy doesn't want to talk to anyone".
"Danny, give me five minutes to change my clothes", Steve said climbing the stairs.
Danny and Steve went to the HPD. Arriving there, Steve saw Ethan crouch in a corner asking for his mother, and approached him.
"Hey, buddy! It's me, Steve. Do you remember me?"
Ethan looked at Steve and extended his arms to him. Steve caught Ethan in his lap.
"The bad guy hurt my mommy".
" I know buddy, but the doctor is taking care of your mommy, and she'll be fine. Don't cry, please", Steve said while was stroking Ethan's head.
Ethan hugged Steve and laid his head on his shoulder.
"I can ask Rachel to stay with him, Steve. He can play with Charlie", Danny said.
"You want to play with Charlie?" Steve asked Ethan.
Ethan shook his head saying yes, and Steve and Danny left Ethan with Rachel and went to the hospital.
Catherine was undergoing surgery in her leg. When Catherine was moved to the bedroom, Steve came in to see her. She was still sleepy.
"Hey, Cath. How are you?"
"Steve ... Ethan ... where's my son?" Catherine asked.
"He's fine, Cath. He's with Rachel and Charlie".
"Steve, I know I have no right to ask for this, but can you take care of him while I'm here?He has nightmares at night sometimes. Please, Steve".
"Of course, I'll take care of Ethan later. For now, I'll stay here with you".
"Even after yesterday? I'm sorry, Steve. I think I was hard with you".
"Cath, let's not talk about it. Now it only matters that you're okay".
Catherine just agreed.
"What were you doing on the street at the time of the chase?"
"I was taking Ethan to the beach. I want to teach him how to swim", Catherine answered.
"I'll teach Ethan to swim on my beach", Steve said.
"Can you really take care of him? Aren't you going to have trouble with Lynn?"
"She doesn't rule my life, and I can't continue to have a relationship with her", Steve said, taking her hand.
"Why?" Catherine asked.
"Because it's you I love!"
At that moment, the doctor went into the room. "Commander McGarrett , you only have five minutes. Our patient needs to rest now".
"Ok, doctor", Steve answered.
"Cath, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to get Ethan", Steve said kissing Catherine's forehead.
"Thank you, Steve. And I want you know it's you that I love too".
Steve smiled at her and left.
"So, what happened between you and Catherine?" Danny asked when they were in the car.
"We discussed yesterday, our second discussion in almost 20 years".
"Do you two argued about the boy?" Danny asked.
"Initially yes. I pressed her to know if the boy was my son, but then all the pain in our relationship came to light. I accused her of lying to me and she accused me of giving more importance and attention to Lynn than for her".
"Steve, you have to change your mind. You can't think you have the right to be in Catherine 's life, you're with another woman. And now Catherine has the son, and her son is forever. If you want to get back to her, you'll have accept the child".
"But I like the boy, Danny. I have nothing against Ethan".
"You were jealous of him, Steve".
"Ok, Danny. I think I was jealous of Ethan, but it's over, okay?"
Steve went with Danny to Rachel's house to get Ethan.
"Hello, daddy!" Charlie said to Danny.
"Hey, Charlie. Did you enjoy spending the day with your friend?" asked Danny.
"Yes," said Charlie.
Ethan heard Charlie to say daddy.
"Thanks for taking care of him, Rachel", Steve said.
"He's a good boy, Steve. How's Catherine?
"She's recovering, but she's going to stay in the hospital for a few more days".
"I can get Ethan at school and stay with him by the end of the day", Rachel told Steve.
"Thank you, Rachel".
" Let's go buddy? Say goodbye to Aunt Rachel and Charlie", Steve told Ethan.
"Bye!"
Ethan took Steve's hand and went with him. Danny was taking Steve and Ethan home.
"I've seen your mother, Ethan. She'll be fine, but she'll have to stay in the hospital for a few days. Tomorrow I'll take you to see her", Steve said.
"It's ok", Ethan answered.
"In the meantime, I'll take care of you, my friend. What do you want to eat today?" Steve asked.
"Pancakes!"
"Hunmm, you really like pancakes. Let's eat pancakes! What about you, Danny?"
"I like pancakes, too", Danny answered.
"Then it's settled, pancakes for dinner. But you have to help me do Ethan".
"Right!" Ethan smiled.
After dinner, Danny left. Steve put Ethan on the bed telling Navy stories to him. After Ethan slept, Steve went to clean the kitchen. He finished when he heard the doorbell.
"I didn't expect to see you today, Lynn", Steve said when he opened the door.
"Steve, I come to apologize for attacking you."
"Ok Lynn. Come in, We need to talk".
Steve was interrupted by the screams of Ethan, who was having a nightmare.
"What is it, Steve?" Lynn asked scared.
At that moment, Ethan ran down the stairs.
"Daddy!" Ethan said, trying to get Steve to pick him up.
"Steve, you bastard!" said Lynn.
"I can explain, Lynn".
"There's nothing to explain. Never talk to me again, Steve McGarrett !" Lynn said, coming out and closing the door angrily.
This wasn't how he wanted to end his relationship with Lynn, but in reality he was relieved. Steve calmed down Ethan and put him to sleep, again. Despite what happened, Steve liked to be called daddy.