Chapter 2: A day full of questions
Tani had been deep in thought for what seemed like an eternity when her most recent colleague came to interrupt her.
"We have an investigation. Junior, McGarrett, Dany, and Adam have already left for the field. We will do the briefing by videoconference."
"It works, I'm coming right away," she replied evasively.
"Is everything alright ?" The ex-soldier asked puzzled.
"Yes, why ?"
"Like that, it was just to be sure," she retorted, smiling mischievously. The young woman had also observed the previous scene. She may not have been on the team for a long time, but Quinn believed the bond between her young teammates was much deeper than it seemed. In any case, she was delighted to have chosen 5-0 because, in addition to having an exciting job, the brunette finally had the impression of having found real friends. The two young women left in the direction of the open space and set to work. A gang shootout had gone wrong, causing several victims. The governor had requested the intervention of the team to avoid endless reprisals. The four men had gone on a long interrogation tour. The two young women and Lou had been assigned to tedious searches through HPD files as well as social networks to establish connections.
Several hours later, the two groups took a well-deserved lunch break. Quinn, Tani, and Lou went to Kamekona, but their teammates could not join them because they were on the other side of the island. The elder was gone to order when the two women sat down at a table.
"Are you telling me what is bothering you or will I have to guess alone?" The newcomer asked unable to resist any longer. She had always been curious by nature and very much appreciated her teammate.
"Seriously, am I that obvious?" The brunette retorted understanding that she had no chance to deny. She didn't feel like it. After all, Quinn and she got along well. Maybe she could help her sort out her thoughts.
"To be honest, it's pretty obvious. Since Junior entered your office at the start of the day, you have been completed elsewhere. What has happened ?"
"It is nothing very important, he asked me to accompany him to a family reunion this weekend.
"It's a big step but I thought you were only friends." The brunette asked surprised. "We are friends only everything link to his family is very complicated and he needs moral support. Honestly, it is nothing. I'm just doing him a favor. He did the same for me a few months ago by accompanying me to a friend's wedding. Before you noticed it was not a date. The boys bothered us with this for days, but it was purely platonic."
"I believe you when you say that these are platonic. After all, going to a wedding alone is always depressing and dysfunctional family reunions are not much better. Only the fact that you are the benchmark of the other in this kind of moment that means something."
"I know but I'm not sure I want to know what it means. I don't want to ruin everything. Also, even if I could determine the nature of my feelings nothing says that they can be reciprocal," Tani confessed feeling the need to express her doubts to someone.
Her interlocutor was about to reply when Lou and Kamekona returned with their orders.
"Do I interrupt you?" The policeman asked intrigued by the melancholy of his protege. The two young women exchanged a brief look and then tried to dodge the question.
"You don't interrupt anything other than a few discussions between girls."
"Oh it smells like a scoop," the restaurant owner exclaimed always eager for new information. He had not become an informant for anything.
"Immediately, it's a cliché. We are not teenage girls. You may be used to the conversations of Samantha and her friends, but we have passed the age for a long time. It is not because we are much younger than you that you must be confused," the pretty Hawaiian said playfully by starting to find a smile at the idea of teasing the newcomers. They all laughed.
"First of all miss Rey, I'm not that old. Besides, Kamekona's remark had much more to do with the fact that you and Junior have been flirting for months. If you think I haven't noticed what state your conversation this morning has put you in. Finally, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. Only it is not because you were teased the last time that I am not ready to listen," their elder remarked seriously. He was trying to make her understand that she could confide in him without fear. It was not her style to speak freely about her feelings and they all knew it. Usually, he didn't try to force her, but this time Lou felt it was different. The restaurateur looked at her knowingly.
"Seriously, am I so transparent as that?" She asked, giving up on the idea of denying.
"You are a rather gifted kid but you sincerely believe that it is possible to hide anything from a band of an experienced cop without any gossip to get their teeth into it," the informant announced bluntly.
"I admit that seen like that," Quinn laughed spontaneously. This remark slightly relaxed the atmosphere and the young policewoman lowered her guard.
"Do you remember the discussion we had when you learned about the wedding? You told me that Junior was looking at me in a way that made you think he had feelings for me. Were you sincere ?"
"No, but seriously, mini Mc Garrett looks at you as if you were the center of the world. I thought it was obvious to everyone. Well, I have to go to work. Finally, if I can give you advice is that the little one also inherited the communication abilities of Captain America so if you want to know his feelings you will have to shake him," Kamekona finished before going back to his truck, leaving them all speechless.
"I can guarantee you that it costs me to say that but he is right."
"I imagine that I will first wait to see how the weekend turns out. I know it's complicated for him to go see his family and I don't want to disturb him anymore. After all, we all need a friend in this kind of moment. Finally, I know that it all starts with good intentions, but I don't want to spend too much time on the subject. So, could we move on?"
"There is no problem but don't hesitate. The new one that works for you too. I know you are the only two women and the three youngest. Maybe we make jokes, but we're family first," Lou said wisely and kindly. He knew it was not always easy to balance personal and professional life. Particularly when the two found themselves nested. The policeman loved his youngsters very much and he was convinced that their relationship could work soon. His two interlocutors smiled touched and they started their meal in a good mood.
Somewhere on the other side of the island, their four teammates were seated at the table of a taco truck to eat before continuing their tedious task. Steve, who was aware of his protégé's dilemma, decided to inquire about his decision.
"So do you know what you are going to say to your uncle about this weekend?"
"I'll go. After all the family it's too important to give up at the slightest difficulty," the former Navy Seal absently replied with full thoughts.
"You're sure it'll be fine. After all, you are going to spend the weekend near your father. I know he reacted badly after the parole hearing. For what it's worth, I'm sure you've made the best decision." "Thanks, It warms up my heart. Finally, I don't know how he will react. I haven't spoken to him again since our last argument, but my mother and uncle promised to make sure he kept up. Also, in case of a problem, I would not be alone."
"Really ?" Dani asked cheekily. The lieutenant suspected what he was up to, but he wanted to hear it from the young recruit. The three men exchanged a playful look.
"I deduce from this that you know that I asked Tani to accompany me. I can know why I have the impression that you are going to room me again. After all, it is only two friends who are doing themselves a service, as I did for her friend's wedding or she did it by accompanying me to the hearing. You have to stop thinking."
"Please, you devour it with your eyes every time you have the occasion. It may be just a friendly service, but you're still so close. The only person you lie to when you say you don't feel anything for her is yourself. Seriously you are as credible as Steve when he said that Cath was only a friend," Grace's father mocked gently.
"Hey," the commander grumbled before being forced to agree to the evidence.
"Does it show that much? I don't think she knows. After all, she would have told me if she had noticed anything."
"I think it's only for us that you are obvious. On the other hand, if you want information on the reciprocity of your feelings you will have to ask him. Finally, if you want my opinion I think she has completely fallen for you. Tani just has to react like you and buried her head in the sand," Adam added, finally deciding to take part in the conversation. It was not his habit to meddle in the love lives of others, but it became necessary. Besides, the youngest of the group came to ask for their advice.
"Imagining that everything is going well it will not be a problem for the job? I mean we are partners. Even if there are no specific rules, I imagine that it must make things more complicated."
"It's a question of balance. It was never a problem on the team. After if I can give you advice based on my experience is to think carefully about what you feel and what you want to say to her. If it is only temporary you should consider keeping it for yourself. On the other hand, if your feelings are really strong, you need to talk to them. I have wasted precious years with Catherine, and I regret it. Besides suppressing your feelings is not beneficial for the job. Whatever happens, you will always worry about her," Steve explained kindly. It had been a while since he had noticed that the feelings of his protégés for each other were changing. According to him, life was too short for them to waste their time asking questions.
"It's really unfortunate that it didn't work between you, like between me and Kono. There is nothing better than living together. You know if there is one thing that I learned from my divorce is that even if they look like superheroines, these young ladies also have their past and their fears. Tani is very independent and discreet it is not for nothing," Noshimouri noted.
"I know you are all right, that's just ..."
"Easier said than done. We know you don't worry. After all, why you think you are divorced and/or unable to maintain a stable relationship," Danny reassured with his usual sarcastic air. The four men laughed and continued their lunch in a good mood.
At the end of the day, the investigation was resolved, and everyone went home. The two cadets were reassured by their teammates. Nevertheless, they still had thoughts in their heads. Besides his feelings for his colleague, the young man could not help thinking of his family. For her part, the former master swimmer could not stop imagining how her life could have turned if she had not been recruited for the 5-0. The young woman kept telling herself that she no longer wanted to keep people at bay as she had done since her childhood, particularly Junior. She had complete confidence in him and the impression that she could no longer imagine her life without him. That night they saw their dream populated with promises. They did not know what awaited them during this weekend or even after. Only for some time, they found themselves not being afraid of the future as long as they faced it together.