A few hours later Steve arrived on the mainland and went straight to the prison. He talked with the prisoner at length, but did not get any important information.
"What a waste of time!" Steve exclaimed as he walked out the prison gates. He called Danny and told him everything he heard from the prisoner.
Danny listened intently but came to the same conclusion as Steve. "That doesn't help us at all, Steve."
"I know, Danny. But I had to try."
"Are you going to catch a flight back later today?" Danny asked wondering if he would have to pick him up at the airport.
"I don't know, Danny. I think since I'm here I'll take the time to get some rest."
"I think you should do that, buddy. Go to a hotel, have dinner and sleep. You don't seem to be sleeping well lately. The kids are fine, I picked them up from school and took them to their grandparents' house after I left headquarters. I told the babysitter she could go to her house."
"Thanks, Danny. How was Don's mood?"
"It didn't seem bad, he seems to like his grandparents."
"Yeah, he does," Steve said and sighed. Don just didn't seem to like him.
"The girls looked a little sad, but they brightened up a little when Grandma greeted them with a smile and a hug."
"Margaret is a good grandmother. I have a lot to thank her for," Steve said in a mysterious way.
"Why?" Danny asked.
"Nothing, Danny. Thank you very much once again. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Okay, Steve. Have a good rest."
Danny ended the call and Steve went in search of a hotel for the night, but first he stopped by a snack bar and ordered a snack, and then ordered another.
"Now I'm satisfied," he thought after he finished eating and then asked for the bill.
A few minutes later he checked into a hotel and took the room keys from the desk clerk. "Room 502, Mr. McGarrett."
"Thank you," Steve replied. He got into the elevator and , when the elevator reached the fifth floor, he was paralyzed when the door opened.
"Steve?" Catherine was also surprised to see him after so long.
The door began to close and Steve quickly pushed the button to open the door again.
"Catherine... come in," he said still half stunned by the chance encounter.
"But you're going up, and I'm going down," she replied.
"You're right. That's my floor." He stepped out of the elevator and she stood still.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I'm... living, Cath." He didn't say everything was fine because it wasn't true.
Catherine gave him a friendly hug. "It's good to see you after so many years."
"It's good to see you too," he replied.
"I'm staying in room 510. I'm leaving now, but I should be back in two hours at the most. If you want to have dinner in the hotel restaurant with me you're welcome."
"Sure, it will be great to have dinner with you. I'm staying in room 502," he replied.
"I'll call you when I arrive then. See you in a bit." She stepped into the elevator and smiled at him.
"See you in a bit, Catherine."
Steve entered the room and lay down on the bed. He stood there staring at the ceiling still not believing that he had found Catherine in the hotel. "What were the chances of this meeting happening?"
At her grandparents' house, Lyla asked Caroline to call Steve.
"Hi, Daddy!" Lyla waved to him.
"Hi, sweetheart. How are you?" Steve asked.
"I want to go home, Daddy."
"Tomorrow you're going home, okay? Daddy needs to stay here today."
"What if there is a yellow monster in my room?"
"There are no monsters at Grandma's house and your sister will take care of you."
"Don't be long, okay? I love you, Daddy!"
"I love you too, honey," Steve replied.
Caroline took the phone from Lyla's hands and said hello to Steve.
"Hi, honey. How was school today?"
"It went fine, Dad. I have some homework to do and I'm going to need your help."
"Sure, Carol. We'll do it throughout the week."
"Okay." Caroline replied and Steve asked about Don.
"He's in his room, Dad. He's the privileged one who has a room all to himself here at Grandma and Grandpa's house."
"Okay, daughter. Tell him I said hello. See you tomorrow."
A few blocks later, Catherine arrived at the doctor's office to show all her medical tests. The doctor was in great demand, and he would stay there late.
"What's up, doctor? What are my chances of being a mother?" she asked anxiously.
"None, Catherine. I'm sorry," he replied clearly and objectively.
The ground seemed to have opened up for Catherine. "What about artificial insemination?"
"Still no chance."
Catherine got up from her chair and collected her tests. She didn't want to cry in front of the doctor. "Thank you, doctor."
She had traveled miles to hear an expert doctor's opinion and left so disappointed.
She went back to the hotel and her wish was just to lie in bed and cry. She was so frustrated and felt so alone at that moment, but she remembered that she had invited Steve to dinner. She washed her face, touched up her make-up and went to the door of his room.
"Are you ready?" She asked.
Steve realized that she had cried, but didn't want to be indiscreet. "Yes, I am."
"Then can we go?"
"Sure," Steve left the room and offered his arm to her. He wasn't even hungry because he had eaten so much at the diner, but he would be able to eat an ox just to be by her side.
PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter!
