Disclaimer: I still own nothing. Yes, 'tis I. I am back from the grave. evil chuckle

"Tom, are you coming?" Julie shouted at him from the Ferrari outside. Magnum threw a towel and sunscreen into his bag.

I couldn't sleep that night. Julie usually told me everything, even when she was having guy problems and Mom wouldn't answer her 'indelicate' questions. Why was she hiding this from me? Was she trying to protect me?

Julie frowned at him when he appeared. "What's wrong? You look like you didn't sleep a wink!"

"I'm fine, Julz, just a little groggy."

"I'll take the couch tonight," she said. "We can't have Hawaii's top private investigator not performing top notch!" She made a face at him before hopping in. Magnum gave her a responding wry grin before sliding into the driver's seat.

"By the way, Higgins is going to join us later," Julie informed him halfway to the club.

"What? Why?"

"Because I invited him."

Magnum let out an exasperated noise. "Julz, I appreciate you making friends with everyone in my life, but that doesn't extend to Higgins. He's a wet blanket!"

"And he's been cooped up inside that house by himself for almost three weeks!" Julie reminded him. "I'll make sure he behaves, don't worry."

Shaking his head, Magnum returned to his contemplations.

Who would Julie run away from? It couldn't be Dad- I'd know if Dad had done something to her. Had she gotten involved with some guy and now he wouldn't take no for an answer? Suddenly, something hit me with dread: was she pregnant?

Magnum looked over at Julie with worry, then relaxed.

No, Julie was much too smart to let something like that happen. Besides, if my instincts were correct, she'd be experiencing morning sickness or something.

Tony looked up from his doughnut in time to see the red Ferrari go zooming past him. Muttering a curse, he quickly got into his car and followed, careful to move out of sight every once in a while.

Once they arrived at the beach, he hurried to a deli across the street and made a phone call.

Beach outside King Kamehameha Club

"TM, what is the matter with you?" TC demanded. "You're on a Hawaii beach in the middle of the summer with your best friends, Rick's made lunch for us, and you look like you're in the seventh circle of hell!"

The worst thing about being so close to your best friends? They can tell when something's wrong, even when you try to hide it.

I decided to tell them. Hey, they had helped me out before. Maybe they could help me find out why Julie was hiding something from me.

Magnum looked to make sure that Julie was out of hearing distance.

She was running down the beach for "exercise," and being stopped by a guy every now and then. Magnum could tell without looking, because Rick's jaw would clench.

Talking quietly, Magnum admitted, "I'm worried about Julie."

"Why? She's fine… and not just to the eye," TC waved it off.

Rick's arm jerked, "accidentally" spilling TC's beer all over him.

"RICK!" TC jumped up, swearing left and right as he desperately tried to wipe off the liquid now all over his shirt.

"Sorry, muscle spasm," Rick said, his face a picture of innocence.

"I dunno," Magnum answered TC's earlier question, ignoring his comment about Julie's appearance, "but she's hiding something from me. I mean, why would she suddenly drop everything in her life to come and visit me after a few years?"

"Maybe because she missed you?" Rick suggested.

"Julie's not that way; she'd call or something first. And another thing…"

I told them everything: the plane ticket, the money, the way she refused to talk about why she was here…

"You don't think she's in trouble, do you?" Rick asked, looking worried.

"Julz is pretty independent, so I don't think it's a boyfriend or anything." Magnum nodded over to where she was brushing off the twelfth guy to approach her.

"Aw, great," Rick muttered, frowning.

"What was that?" Magnum asked absently.

"Nothing."

Whatcha' doin' tonight
I wish I could be a fly on your wall

"Rick this is delicious!" Julie said with surprise. She stole a bite of chicken off of Magnum's plate, ignoring his complaints.

"Thanks, I worked hard on it." Rick looked directly into her eyes, hoping to gauge her reaction. He also secretly hoped she would see that his heart was in his eyes. He barely noticed that Magnum paused to hear her response, too.

"If the club doesn't work out, you could open up a restaurant," she suggested with a laugh.

To hide the sting he felt, he dipped his head and laughed along with her. "I'm not that good," he argued. Oh, now he was fishing for compliments.

Are you really alone
Who's stealin' your dreams

"Believe me, if Julie gives a compliment concerning food, it's well deserved," Magnum assured Rick. "She's always been picky in taste."

Rick's head shot up at the subtle message. Magnum, however, had gone back to sipping his beer as if he hadn't meant anything in specific by it. Julie nodded, dusting her hands off.

"Tom says it's because I'm used to the best," she excused, shrugging her thick hair all over her shoulders.

Why can't I bring you into my life
What would it take to make you see that I'm alive

A shadow fell over them. Julie shaded her eyes to look up and see Higgins standing over them, stoic expression and all. "Higgins!" She started to get up to greet him.

"No, no, don't bother," he quickly assured her, awkwardly sitting down. "I take it I'm supposed to join in this barbaric ritual?"

Magnum gave Julie a look that clearly said I told you so.

"Besides, all that will happen is we shall gain more sand in our clothes than is on the beach and-" Higgins abruptly stopped when a lone grape went sailing through the aim and beamed him right in the smack-dab middle of his forehead.

TC and Rick froze mid-bite. Magnum coughed when his beer went down the wrong way.

Staring at the perpetrator in shock, Higgins blinked twice.

Julie crossed her arms over her chest. "Higgins, if you're ever going to get some enjoyment out of life, you need to loosen up! You're worse than a crotchety old woman!"

Rick, TC, and Magnum held their breaths, waiting for Higgins rant at her.

To their surprise, he slowly cracked a smile before sheepishly asking for some food. Julie soon had him laughed and chatting with the group in a way they had never seen him act before.

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight

After eating, Magnum lay down with his head in Julie's lap. Rick watched enviously as she ran her fingers through Magnum's hair. She occasionally rubbed his forehead gently, looking down into his eyes with a trust that Rick coveted.

Their talk mostly circled around Julie staying in Hawaii. Apparently, she wished to stay longterm.

"Maybe I can help you during your investigations," Julie suggested. "You know, your sidekick or whatever. I can do some writing on the side, keep my stories going…"

"It's not exactly the safest work in the world, Julz," Magnum reminded.

"Well, you need someone to take care of you!"

"No, I don't! I'm fine on my own; have been and always will be." TC snorted at that, earning himself a glare from Magnum.

"Have you seen the condition of the guest house?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at him. She counted off the problems on her fingers. "It looks like two hurricanes and a tornado hit it. The sheets in the bedroom haven't been washed in a year. Your bathroom has more mold and humidity than a rain forest. There are cobwebs in the cabinets. The rug has crumbs, dust, dirt, and God knows what else in it. Your closets are bound to burst on whoever has the misfortune to open them. And your kitchen area is a disgrace!"

"I've been telling him that for years," Higgins informed dryly.

"And your eating habits? Freeloading breakfast off of Rick, drinking three beers a day at minimum? Tommy, you're going to run yourself ragged."

Magnum sat up and looked her straight in the eye. He was about to start yelling at her when he saw the worry in her eyes. Sighing, he took her hand, squeezing it.

Rick watched the way Magnum handled her. He never gave her an inch, despite her best attempts with her doe eyes and pouting. He treated her equally, except when they argued like siblings.

If hearts were unbreakable
Then I could just tell you where I stand

"Ok, I'll make you a deal: you can do whatever you want with the guest house. You can cook, but you have to foot the bill for whatever groceries you buy. I'll let you help out with some cases, but you have to step out when I say so. No questions asked. Dad cannot know what my financial situation is at any point. I will not communicate with Dad unless I chose to, without you constantly reminding me. And no bossing me around, all right?"

Julie nodded. Rick bit back a smile as he saw her cross her fingers behind her back. "I promise."

I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
(Wait.. I already am)

"I'm going for a walk." Julie shoved Magnum off of her, brushed off the sand, and stood. "Anyone want to join me?"

Rick quickly stood. "I need to start heading back, anyway," he admitted reluctantly. Julie nodded and followed him, weaving through the people until they were at the water's edge.

Saw your face in the crowd
I call out your name

Rick started to walk after her but TC stopped him for a moment. "Hey, Rick!" Rick paused, giving his friend a questioning look. "Try to talk to her, instead of mooning. You're making me sick!"

Both TC and Magnum went off in peals of laughter at that. Higgins frowned at Rick, his gaze threatening.

"Ha, ha," Rick smiled sarcastically. "If you'll excuse me."

His friends' laughter followed him to Julie's side.

"What was that about?" she asked, wrinkling her forehead in confusion.

"Ah, nothing." Rick took a hold of her elbow. "C'mon, let's go."
You don't hear a sound

"So how do you like Hawaii?" Rick asked, changing the subject.

Julie looked over the water. "I love what I've seen of it so far." She glanced back at him. "Tom told me it reminded him of the better parts of Vietnam."

"Yeah, it's sorta similar." Rick's head ducked down slightly. He stopped when he felt Julie's pull on his arm.

"Tom says it's hard sometimes, functioning in the real world again," she said quietly.

"Sometimes." Rick sighed. "We saw some pretty rough stuff there. It's kinda hard to get it out of your head sometimes, you know?" Julie nodded, studying his face.

"You seem to cope with it pretty well," she observed.

I keep tracing your steps
Each move that you make

Rick shrugged. "Some days are better than others. Besides, I've got the club, Thomas and TC, and other things to make me happy."

He abruptly started walking again. Had he revealed too much?

Julie followed, not looking like she had experienced a revelation.

"Tom's not been the same since then," she whispered. He saw her frown. "I hate this. He always holds back now, like he's afraid I'll get hurt by touching me. And after Jack…" she stopped and stared at her feet.

After weighing his choices, Rick decided to let it slide. He was not interested in hearing about one of Julie's conquests, and she obviously did not want to talk about him.

Wish I could read what goes through your mind
Wish you could touch me with the colors of your life

At the door to the club, Rick paused. "Well, this is my stop." Julie looked up and laughed, realizing she had almost walked past it.

"Thanks for the walk," she said, looking away shyly.

Rick's head tilted towards her. Maybe, maybe… "Maybe you all can stop in for dinner tonight," he suggested. "I'm making linguini and chicken. Not as good as the club's cuisine, but it's nice."

I reach out
But you don't even see me
Even when I'm scream out

"That's sweet of you, but we've already intruded enough on your hospitality," Julie said. "Besides, I promised Tom I'd help him grill some burgers tonight." She paused. "You're welcome to join us, after you're done here tonight."

"Thanks, I think I will." Rick lifted her hand to his lips. "Until tonight?" She shyly tilted her head with a smile.

Julie smiled once more and started walking back to where TC, Higgins, and Magnum were sitting. Rick watched her go, and smiled when she looked over her shoulder at him.

Baby, you don't hear me
I am nothing without you
Just a shadow passing through...

"There she is, Carlo," Tony whispered. Carlo nodded. The two hurried down to the beach.

Julie swung her shoes in her hands, a thoughtful look on her face. She paused when a voice next to her said, "Ma'am? We'd like to talk to you."

She looked up to see two men in suits standing next to her.

When she saw the taller one's face, she let out an eardrum-splitting scream.

Magnum jumped and looked to see two gangsters trying to grab a screaming Julie and drag her off the beach. For a moment, his heart froze with terror. He shouted, "HIGGINS, TC!" while he started running as fast as he could to Julie's aid.

TC took off like a shot with Higgins close behind.

Rick had started to turn to enter the club when he heard Julie scream. He quickly spun around to see two guys in suits trying to carry her. One clamped a hand on her mouth while the other tried to grab her wrists. She hit him in the eye and kicked the other in the groin, but they refused to let go. Her wide eyes expressed her wordless terror.

Running now, Rick soon was at her side. He punched the smaller one in the jaw as hard as he could, only to get thrown down onto the ground and tackled.

Magnum and TC soon arrived. TC let at the taller one while Magnum wrenched his sister out of their grasp. Higgins caught up as fast as his limp would let him. He hit one over the head with his cane. Both goons scrambled up and ran as fast as they could towards a dark Sedan. Before any of the guys could catch them, they sped off.

Panting, Rick leaned over, his hands on his knees. He looked over at Julie. "You ok?" She nodded, but clung to Magnum.

Magnum looked down at the ground, seeing a picture of Julie. He picked it up and showed it to her. "Mind telling me what this is about?"

Julie looked from where the dust floated from the car speeding, to her brother, her whole being shaking violently.

Author's Note: Invisible by Clay Aiken. Review!