Wow! Thanks to everyone for your comments and interest in this story. We have enjoyed reading every one of them. So, we now have a team and we have an office. Some of you have been anxious to have this newly-formed team work a case. We are getting closer to jumping into a couple of very active cases, so please keep coming back for more. Sam and I both hope you will enjoy what we have planned!
A Wrinkle in Time – Chapter 6
by Cokie and Sam
The elevator doors slowly opened and Steve made the short trek down the hallway. He stopped at the glass doors and could see the team – his new team – gathered around a computer table, all in animated conversation. This is real, Steve thought to himself as he opened the door.
"Anybody working around here?" he asked, a wide grin on his bruised face.
Catherine sucked in her breath and turned around before quickly rushing toward Steve. In the few seconds it took her to reach him, she took in his pained expression despite the smile on his face. She wanted to grab him in a hug, but not only did she not want to hurt him, she didn't want to overstep business protocol and make things awkward.
Steve took care of her indecision by wrapping his arms around her, giving her an 'I missed you' hug with the promise of more to come. He kissed the top of her head before stepping aside and greeting his father, who had joined them in the entrance.
The team looked on in relief. No matter what both John and Cath had said, they knew the two of them had been worried. Danny turned to Chin and mumbled, "Chalk one up for Detective Danno; I deduced they were a couple. She was way too worried for Steve to be just her boss."
"Hey, now," Lou said when Steve looked their direction. "I didn't know this team was all kissy-kissy, lovey-dovey when I signed on. McGarrett, you kiss me and the other side of your face is gonna be black and blue..."
Steve held out his hand. "I'll try to restrain myself, Lou. Welcome." He glanced at the others and said, "I'm glad you're all here."
"Not as glad as we are to see you," Chin replied. "Looks like you took the rough way home."
Steve nodded. "Yeah, you could say that. I'm happy to finally be back. So, I guess you guys will have to fill me in. Looks like you're hard at work there." He waved his hand toward the computer table.
"I was just showing them they don't have to be afraid of it," Chin said with a grin. "I'll show you all the cool stuff it can do later."
"Let's go sit down," John urged, pointing to the conference room. "I'm proud to say that we have been quite busy."
"Can't wait to hear all about it," Steve told him with a wink. He knew his dad could see he was ready to find the closest chair and sit.
Catherine touched Steve's sleeve, whispering, "Are you OK? Can I get you anything?"
"I'll be fine," he promised, looking her in the eyes. "But I would love a water."
She smiled at him and nodded toward the conference room. "You go on; I'll be in with your water in just a minute." She dimpled and added, "Save me a seat."
H50 – H50 – H50
Steve gratefully sank into a chair at the long table and barely managed to squelch the sigh of relief that he felt. The fact that he was sitting in a comfortable chair was only slightly diminished by the ache in his back and leg. But he thankfully accepted the relief of getting the weight off his leg.
"So," Danny asked with a smile. "Is this customary attire for our team? I'll have to stock up on my camo."
"No uniform; you can continue to wear your flowered shirts, if you so choose," Steve shot back. "Now, what have I missed?" he asked as Catherine joined them.
"Wow, right down to business," Danny said. "No chit-chat at all, huh?"
"I've missed two full days around here," Steve explained, looking around the table. "I need to get up to speed so I can know what I need to do next. I'd like a full briefing before I call the governor."
Chin nodded and started, "In addition to Computer 101, we have been quite busy gathering Intel these last couple of days."
Steve grinned. "Good. If what I saw as I entered is any indication, it looks like you are enjoying it."
The captain grinned, his eyes lighting up. "You could say that."
"So, what else is happening?"
The team filled him in on the last couple of days and he could hear the excitement in their voices and knew this was a good decision. He could feel that these people would be a cohesive team. They were jumping in to complete each other's sentences and bouncing between subjects in order to ensure he had all the information they had found. Steve sat there and smiled at them.
"Why are you smiling?" Cath asked.
"Because I am very impressed with you guys. I mean, you've been at it a little over two days and what you've accomplished is fantastic. You have files, valid leads and cases to solve. I don't think you missed me at all," he remarked.
"Well, let's not go that far," Catherine said, relief that he was actually there sounding in her voice.
"And we have a kitchen full of food to back that up," John said beneath his breath for Steve's ears only.
Steve looked at each team member. "Thank you, Guys. Why don't you decide on what leads we will follow first while I go call the governor and tell him I am back. If he agrees, we can call it an early day and reconvene in the morning. I, for one, could use a long, hot shower."
"Weren't gonna say anything," Grover mumbled, grinning when Steve looked his direction.
"Have you found a place to live yet, Lou?"
"Yeah, yeah, wife can't stop buying stuff and the kids can't stop posting selfies of themselves every three minutes to show their friends back home. But we're settling in."
"That's good to hear," Steve told him. "Maybe soon we can have a cook out to meet everyone."
"Malia mentioned that last night," Chin told him. "We should do that. But for now, Boss, looks like you need to take that shower and hit the sack."
"Yeah," Steve replied. "That's the plan as soon as I talk to the governor."
"Hey, are you going to fill us in on what you've been up to these last few days?" Danny asked.
Steve looked at the anxious faces. "Sorry, guys, but what I do with the Navy is classified. Both Cath and I will be in the reserves and might still be involved in missions to some extent. What happens during those weekends is confidential. So..." he grinned at them and shrugged.
They got his message loud and clear.
H50 – H50 – H50
Steve eased himself from the front seat of his dad's old pickup truck. "Jeez, Dad, when's the last time you had the shocks replaced on this thing?"
John grabbed Steve's backpack from the back seat while Catherine gently placed her arm around Steve's waist as they walked to the front door. "Been home all of 30 seconds and already complaining," John muttered. "Just get in the house."
Steve glanced at both Catherine and his dad. "I can't remember ever being so happy to come home before."
"Don't celebrate too soon," Cath warned him. "I want to know what happened to you. And don't you dare think 'it's classified' is going to satisfy me."
Steve chuckled. "Never thought it would."
"Do you want a shower now?" Cath asked. "Or are you hungry?"
"I'm famished," he admitted. "Let's order something."
"Not necessary," John told him. "We have a bevy of leftovers. What are you in the mood for?" he asked, winking at Catherine.
"OK, maybe I went a bit overboard with the cooking," she admitted.
"I'm sorry," Steve told her.
"What? What are you sorry for?"
"For not being able to call," he told them. "You cook when you're either worried or upset."
"But...," John yelled from the kitchen. "I haven't eaten this good for a long time. Although tonight, you get first pick. Pretty much anything your heart may desire."
Steve looked at Catherine and smiled. "Yeah, already got that," he whispered, leaning over and kissing her lips. "Later," he whispered before snaring her hand and heading toward the kitchen. He glanced in the open refrigerator while his dad was looking at options.
"Shit. You really did cook."
"What'd I tell you? And I gotta say, you were right about the ragu. That was better than your grandma's."
"OK, enough, guys. Yeah, I cooked," Cath said, grinning at them. "Next week, you can eat pizza and take-out Chinese."
"Dibs on the ragu," Steve told them.
Thirty minutes later, Steve handed his bowl to Catherine and leaned back against the couch. "That was perfect. Didn't know how hungry I was."
"When did you eat last?"
He looked at Cath and thought. "Had some mac and cheese yesterday before I left the infirmary."
"Infirmary?" John asked.
"Just for an exam," Steve assured them.
"Exam for...?" Cath asked.
"OK, listen up and I'll tell you what I can. But remember, I'm OK, Cath, so don't go getting all pissy when I tell you."
"I never get pissy," she replied, glaring at him. "But something tells me I won't like this story."
"We left out last Tuesday evening and made a drop. First, the plane was crap and then we jumped. My chute got a kink in it and I couldn't control the landing very well. Ended up in a riverbed and hit some rocks. I got bruised, but got up and found the rest of the team."
"Ouch. Anything broken?" Cath asked, touching his arm encased in a brace.
"No, just sprained. My six is bruised and I tore some muscles."
"Looks like you landed on your face," John remarked.
"Gee, thanks, Dad."
"Then what happened?" Catherine asked, wanting the entire story.
"Mission was a success although it took longer than we thought. The target... had moved, so we had to get more Intel. We found them and engaged and everyone got out safely. We bugged back to base where I was seen in the infirmary. And now here I am. End of story."
"That is a very abridged version," she complained.
"Well, it's what happened."
"What did the doctor say?"
"Sheesh, Cath, I have bruises. It's really OK. But I will be much better after a shower."
"Did he give you any meds to take?"
Steve glared at her. "In the backpack."
"Any follow up appointments?"
The glare continued. "I'm supposed to go to Tripler. And I will, but I didn't think I could sit in the ER after the trip home on a cargo plane. Besides, I needed to see the team and the office. Any more questions?"
She smiled. "Not right now. But we will be discussing a doctor's appointment very soon."
John saw Steve roll his eyes at her and grinned as he glanced at his watch. "Catherine, looks like you have everything under control. I'm picking up Kalani in a few minutes for dinner and to look at another condo, so I'll see you both in the morning." He stood to go get ready. "Cath, make sure he behaves."
"Stop it, you two, you make it sound like I'm five."
"Goodnight, Son. Get some rest. You're really cranky when you're tired."
Steve looked at the stairway and asked, "You didn't by any chance install an elevator while I was gone, did you?"
John scratched his head, knowing it would be rough walking up those steps. "Sorry, but it isn't finished yet."
"Fine," Steve complained with an exaggerated sigh, preparing to scoot himself off the couch. "I'll take the stairs."
H50 – H50 – H50
"Steve, you OK in there?" Catherine asked after hearing the shower turn off twenty minutes later. She had been ready to barge through the door without asking if he didn't come out soon.
"I'm... fine," he admitted but his voice sounded 'off'.
A knock on the opened bedroom door caused her to turn around. "Hey, Cath, I'm just leaving, but I thought Steve might need his backpack—what's going on?" he asked, seeing the look on her face.
Cath motioned for him to come closer. "Steve, I'm gonna come in, OK?" At no reply, she tried again. "Steve?"
"Yeah, come on."
She opened the door to find him in a white towel, leaning against the sink with his eyes closed.
"Oh, Steve," she breathed out after getting her first look of the dark bruises that mottled the skin above the towel. She could tell they didn't end there but dipped down below his waist as well. "What's wrong?" she asked, lightly touching his arm and moving to his other side.
"I'm OK," he told her, still with his eyes closed. "The hot water felt good, but when I got out I got kinda hot and dizzy. It's nothing."
"The white knuckled grip you have on the sink tells another story," John told him from the open bathroom door. "Let us help get you out of here."
Steve opened his eyes and stared at the three of them in the steamy mirror. "I can do it," he assured them. "It's better now."
Catherine reached down and picked up the wrist brace and saw a whole lot of what looked like a white Ace bandage. "Where did you have all these bandages?" she asked in shock. "And how do we put them back on?"
Steve chuckled. "I don't need them. Doc put them on mainly for the trip home. He said they might help but they weren't absolutely necessary."
"Are you sure?" she asked, clearly not buying the story.
"Really. Besides, they bugged the hell outta me."
"Come on, let's move to the bed."
"Dad, don't you have someplace to be?"
"Yes, I do and Kalani will totally understand if I'm a bit late. Now stop arguing."
"Yes, sir," Steve grumbled, gratefully leaning on his dad on the trip toward the bed.
"Dad!" Steve nearly squealed when John grabbed the towel just as he sat down.
John tossed the towel on his son's lap, reminding him "Seen it before, Son. And we need to look at those bruises."
"Look," Steve huffed out. "They are bruises. They hurt. Nothing we can do about them."
Catherine moved the corner of the towel to look at Steve's inner thigh. "Did you ice this?"
Steve looked at her. "Sorry, but we used the last of our ice for cocktails the night before," he reminded her.
She looked at him in compassion. "I know that's gotta hurt bad. How did you even..."
"Hey!" He reached for her hand. "It will get better, OK. Stop worrying. And Dad, go to dinner; tell Kalani hello for me."
John nodded and stepped back. "Cath, you got this?"
She nodded and smiled at him.
"'This' can take care of himself," Steve grumpily told them.
John moved toward the doorway. "Call me if you need anything," he told Catherine.
She nodded and turned back to Steve, dropping a kiss on his mouth. "Yes, you can take care of yourself, but I'm here, so you don't have to."
H50 – H50 – H50
Steve was lying on the bed in as comfortable position as he could find. Cath picked up the wrist brace again and reached for his hand. "Let's get this back on."
"I don't need it," Steve attempted.
"Look at the swelling in your wrist and hand," she told him, pointing to his fingers. "The brace goes on and I'm going to elevate it with a pillow. And I think you should see a doctor tomorrow."
"You're cute when you're worried."
"You're trying to change the subject." Ignoring his protests, she fastened the velcro straps around his wrist. "Now, what else can I do?"
"Lie down with me."
Cath shook her head. "I will hurt—"
"Stop it and come around here and lay down," he ordered. "Please."
She grinned and moved to the other side of the bed. "Well, since you put it so nicely." She carefully laid down on her left side. "There."
Steve looked at her and smiled. "You're too far away. C'mere," he whispered, holding out his arm so that she could scoot closer. "There, that's better."
She placed her head in the crook of his shoulder and finally sighed in relief. "Steve, I was so scared when we didn't hear anything. Normally when you are in the field, I've had my Navy duties as well. This time... well, it really sucked."
"Things will be different now," he promised her. "Did they give you much problem when you requested reserves? We really haven't had a chance to talk about any of this."
"There were hoops to jump through, but all is good," she promised him, watching him blink his eyes to stay awake. "Hey," she whispered. "Why don't you take a nap."
"Nah, let's just relax," he told her, then yawned.
"It's too early for me to go to bed for good," she told him, "but I will stay here while you take a nap. You deserve it."
"I'll stay awake. We can talk."
"Shh," she told him. "I'm right here."
"Good." His eyes closed and she watched him take a deep breath. Then another. By the third breath, he was out for the count.
H50 – H50 – H50
Two hours later, Catherine was still awake, her phone in one hand and a pen and notepad in the other. She had Googled 'torn groin muscles' and had stared at photos that matched Steve's inner thigh.
She didn't know if that was worse or the horrible bruise that extended from his rib cage down close to his knee and also extended around half his back. She had never seen bruises as dark and painful looking as these and they hurt her to even look at them.
She set down her phone and turned slightly to stare at him. In addition to all the other injuries, he had hit his face at some point in the fall. Steve had a small cut near his left eye and a scrape on the side of his cheek. A bruise on his forehead disappeared into his hairline. Cath knew just how lucky she was to have him back, in one piece, battered and bruised aside.
She eased from the bed and reached for her sleep shorts on her way to the bathroom. Mere minutes later, she slid into bed once again, scooting as close as she dared, so as not to wake him. Cath had begun drifting to sleep when his mumbling brought her awake once again.
"Dad?" Steve's body tensed and his head tossed on his pillow.
Steve's phone rang, which it so rarely did when he was deployed. He glanced around the HUMVEE and pulled it from his pocket, activating the screen.
"You don't talk to your father nearly enough…" The words floated down to him.
"Dad?"
Suddenly his world was a jumble of screaming, of fighting, of heat from fiery blasts hitting him from all directions. He was thrown into the middle of a firefight, fighting for his life… and the life of his prisoner. Anton raced toward a fallen ranger and grabbed a weapon, swinging it around toward him. Instinct took over and he fired before realizing the implications of shooting the man. "No, no, no," he screamed.
"No, no, no!"
His phone began to ring once again and he knew he didn't want to answer. Yet, he had no choice.
"Victor?"
"Steve!" Catherine sat up as soon as Steve's body language changed. She knew he was in the middle of a nightmare before he even uttered a word but she couldn't wake him.
"Hey, Steve," she whispered. "Come on, wake up," she pleaded, her hand rubbing his arm. She could feel the panic manifested in his movements and Cath was afraid he would hurt himself. "Steve, wake up. It's a nightmare, you're safe," she promised, finally feeling his body relax beneath her.
"Are you awake?"
"Huh? Yeah, yeah, I'm OK," he assured her while trying to get his breathing back under control.
"Dreaming again about Freddie?" she asked, snuggling against him.
"I was… no, not Freddie. I was in the convoy in Korea. It was, I dreamed about shooting Anton. And talking to Victor and my dad on the phone. It's weird but I feel like something bad is gonna happen."
"It's over," Cath assured him, kissing his cheek. "Thankfully your dad is fine. I'm sorry this won't let you go."
"Yeah," Steve agreed. "Me, too. Weird that I am only having these now that I'm back at home. Sorry I woke you. Again," he added.
"No worries," she said, snuggling close against his uninjured side. "Sleep tight."
"Mmm, you, too," he said with a yawn. "I did talk to both Freddie and Kelly last week," he told her. "Doc said he's really doing well for what he's been through."
"That's good," she assured him. "Maybe soon he will be well enough to transfer to Tripler."
"Yeah, that's what they're hoping for. That way they would be closer to his parents. I told Freddie I switched to the reserves and I thought he was gonna hop the next plane to 'talk some sense into me' as he put it."
"Are you still glad you made this decision?"
"Yeah, I am. No regrets. Especially after seeing the way all of you were working together today. I was really impressed."
"We do seem to work together well. And having you there will only help. Because you, Commander, are a born leader."
"Oh, yeah?" he asked, grinning at her. "Maybe I can lead you in some maneuvers…"
She placed her finger over his mouth. "Not tonight. It's late and we've got an early date at Tripler in the morning."
"Cath, come on…"
"Shh," she kissed him. "Leaders don't whine," she whispered against his lips. "Go back to sleep."
"Fine," Steve grumbled. "But no doctor."
Cath settled against him, closed her eyes and smiled. That's one bet you're gonna lose…
H50 – H50 – H50