Sammy and Ilna, love you guys.

REAL McRollers and Readers thank you for all the wonderful feedback.

Leslie P. Hoover first appeared in Oblivious: Switch - that fabulous moniker and idea for the final scene are courtesy of Sammy.

On this Veteran's Day, my heartfelt thanks to all who served.

Absolutely Anything

"I have to catch Senator Tanaka before she gets monopolized," Catherine's former assistant, Jen said. "I'll see you at the office." As she turned to walk away, she lifted her chin almost imperceptibly. "Heads up, creeper at 6 o'clock."

Catherine made a scoffing sound of disgust when she turned to see Edward Astor, a notoriously misogynistic banker cross the ballroom of the fundraiser. Impeccably dressed and oozing a creepy charm, Astor's two thousand dollar suit was accessorized with a blue tie and pocket square.

Steve returned from the bar and handed her a drink. "Astor's coming this way and look who's with him."

"Of course he is and ugh, Leslie Hoover." Her eyes took in the man walking at his colleague's side. The second man was sixtyish, with a botoxed forehead topped with gelled back black hair. "Maybe he won't remember me."

Steve smiled. "As I've told you before, you're impossible to forget." He stepped closer as the men approached.

"Catherine," Edward Astor offered a hand. "Commander, good to see you."

Steve nodded a silent response. Astor greeting his wife by name and himself by rank didn't go unnoticed.

"I trust you remember me, Catherine?" Leslie Hoover's grin was smarmy. "It's been years and you haven't changed a bit. Still as beautiful as ever." His eyes flicked to Steve. "Commander McGarrett."

Billionaire real estate developer, Leslie P. Hoover had repeatedly insisted on Catherine coming to his home to get a list of employees for a building he owned that had been a potential target of domestic terrorism. She and Kono had led an evacuation of 1,300 people from a multi-storey office complex and he was too busy hitting on her to turn over the information until she had to threaten a warrant.

"I remember you, Mr. Hoover," she said with a tiny frown of distaste.

"Commander, I see your wife did leave the task force for another position after turning down my offer to join my private security detail."

"Years later, and Chief of Staff for the Governor of Hawaii is a little different than security for a realtor."

Hoover disregarded the realtor dig and backed away a bit to avoid looking up at Steve, who was taller by several inches. "Offer's still open, Catherine."

"I'm even less interested now," she said with a tight smile.

"And she has two children, don't you, honey?" Astor pointed with his drink in hand. "I'm sure you need to limit yourself, being a momma and all. Having little ones underfoot is a chore."

"It's Lieutenant Rollins, not honey, and we both love spending time with our family. My children aren't a chore," she said, adding, "Enjoy the fundraiser," as a parting line.

Catherine stepped back and turned away while Steve glared until both men broke eye contact first and turned to follow his wife, catching up in two easy strides.

"Ew, I need a piece of that cheesecake now. And maybe a Silkwood shower," she said with a smile at his expression. "My restraint skills are worn thin."

"Want me to hit him for you?" he teased. Steve knew better than anyone she was absolutely capable of handling herself.

She snorted a laugh. "Which one?"

"Either. Both. And your restraint was commendable, Lieutenant."

She pecked his cheek. "Thanks. Now let's get some dessert and get home for story time."

Catherine was exiting the restroom and stepped up to Steve when a nearby conversation had her shaking her head with a smile.

Two younger women were standing by the bar discussing an upcoming referendum.

"And mister icky Astor was at the last meeting, trying to push his agenda," the first one said. She was in her late twenties and held a club soda in one hand while nibbling a cookie.

"He was trying to schmooze up to Lieutenant Rollins before, with the ever creepy Leslie P. Hoover." Her friend emphasized the P and rolled her eyes. "Of course she was on to him; he was frowning after she and Commander McGarrett walked away."

"He's so gross. He offered my brother a job a few years ago when he passed the test for fire chief with the highest score." The woman's dark eyes glinted with pride in her sibling. "As if. He was absolutely looking for someone who'd lean his way for inspections. Jackass. Issac turned him down flat. He was just this side of legal or he'd have reported him."

"He called the Lieutenant Catherine, like they were friends. So ewww. And wait, Astor called her honey."

"He did not. Really?"

"I was like three feet behind them." Her friend held up the hand that wasn't holding a drink. "She shut him down in like three seconds and did it with her usual class."

The other woman grinned. "Good. She's awesome. You know, I asked to sit in on the referendum review and Jen said I could. I wanna be Lieutenant Rollins when I grow up," the girl teased with a smile before the two stepped back as the bar area grew more crowded and they blended in with the surrounding throng of party goers.

Steve slid an arm around Catherine's shoulder and kissed her temple. "I agree, you're pretty awesome."

"Aww, thanks. Right back at you. And they're very sweet, I just shut down a pair of creeps, par for the course, unfortunately."

"And because of your example, they'll hopefully do the same if they need to. I'm sorry anyone has to in this day and age, but knowing they can and having a role model like you is important."

She leaned up to peck his cheek. "Thanks again."

"In a perfect world by the time Angie's working, she won't have as many jackasses to deal with."

"But if she does, I have zero doubts our daughter will put them in their place."

Steve nodded. "And have the skills to defend herself if she ever needs to."

Thinking of their confident little girl Catherine smiled. "I'm one hundred percent certain she will."

Beach house

Catherine bent to kiss DJ good night and followed Steve, who'd taken Angie to her room. Having changed into shorts and a tank top, she padded down the hall barefoot and stopped just outside her daughter's room when the conversation between father and daughter reached her ears.

"And then I 'spalined to all my animals…" Angie's hand swept the room where all but Angie the aardvark, DJ the giraffe and her stuffed Felix the goat - who were in her bed - were seated in a semi circle on the rug. "I told them that everybody had to be re'pectful and nice to everyone. People who aren't are mean and hurt other people's feelings."

"That's a good lesson, baby girl." Steve kissed her head as she settled against the pillows. "It's important to remember."

Angie nodded seriously. "If anyone's not nice we tell them to be re'pectful. I gotta stick up for myself and other people." She smiled. "Like you and Mommy do."

Hearing the soft footfalls enter the room, Steve turned just when Angie said, "Mommy, I'm ready for good night kisses," and held up her arms.

Leaning over to kiss her goodnight, Catherine couldn't help looking at Steve's proud expression at their little girl's conversation. "Daddy's right, that's an important lesson. Because everyone's …" she led.

"Everybody's the same. Nobody's better than anybody else." She grinned at her parent's proud agreement. "And girls can do anything, like be on the task force or be the gove'nor or an astronaut or a zoo lady who has lots of goats, right Daddy?"

Steve smiled and bent to kiss his daughter's head full of curls before straightening to wrap an arm around Catherine with a smile. She had the best role model he could ask for and he was very proud she was understanding it more and more each day. "Absolutely anything, baby girl. Absolutely anything."

# End thanks for reading

Find all our stories (in chronological order!) on our website: marirealmcroll dot wixsite dot com backslash real-mcroll

Or in the McRoll in the REAL World community here on fanfiction dot net Find us on Tumblr: mcrollintherealworld dot tumblr dot com

You can join our mailing list by emailing us realmcroll at yahoo dot com with: Add me, please! in the subject line. Or just drop us a line to say hi! We love hearing from our readers.

And find me on Twitter asking your opinions on all things McRoll in the REAL World! at Mari21763 and add #REALMcRoller