Hi everyone, sorry for the long wait. Thanks so much for your reviews! They really make me happy. And thanks to Sweepeaspatch for still helping me with grammar and giving her advice.

Hope you are all healthy, take care!

It's been a while since I was here, so here's an extra long chapter! Hope you like it!

Chapter 17

"Mutilating the detective Inspector, was that surprise or shock to see me?" A voice suddenly said.

Camille and Kris turned towards the doorway to see Nick hovering in it.

"Nick, what the hell are you doing here?" Kris asked annoyed as the glasses on her tray almost toppled over and Camille helped by grabbing it from her and putting it down on the kitchen counter just in time before more glasses would break.

"O, I missed you too." Nick had closed the distance between Kris and him and took her in a bear hug as he lifted her off the ground easily.

"You two know each other?" Camille asked surprised.

"Of course we do, this is my little friend." Nick said as he kissed Kris's cheek and put her down. "She's like my tiny sister. Annoying and irritating." He put his arm around her and pulled her close as he smiled wide. "She can be sweet, somewhere deep inside, if she really wants too." He grinned cheekily.

Kris made an annoyed sound as she loosened herself from his big arms by twisting away easily. "We work together." She clarified quickly.

Kris didn't seem happy at all. Her voice sounded strained. Camille looked at Nick again.

"Yes, we're partners. For three years now. I missed my other half so much that I thought; lets see what's she's up to!" His eyes swooped over Kris's body, took her in. As if he studied her.

Kris read his blue eyes and shook her head. "What's she's up to?" She repeated his words. "She's up to vacation. I told you so." Irritation seeped through her words.

"Yeah." His eyes scanned her face. "So you said."

"What are you doing here?" A wrinkle appeared between Kris's brows as she glared at him.

Camille was surprised that Kris wasn't happy to see this man. She usually loved being around people and it had seemed to her that they were friends. From the stories she'd heard about him, the emails she had read...

Nick shrugged. "What can I say? I'm up to vacation also. What better way than to spend it on the beach, with the sand, sea and with you? And I get to help out your friend."

Kris looked from Camille back to him. "I don't understand. You took an eight hour flight just to help Camille?"

He smirked and the dimples in his cheeks showed up clearly. "No, I just told you that I am on vacation too, just like you. You are on vacation aren't you? That's what you said? "

Camille noticed how his eyes didn't sparkle anymore. It was as if he said those words but meant something else with them. As if there was a double message in them. She looked at Kris. What was going on? And what was going on between them? Camille's eyes grew wide when she saw Kris's upper lip pull back in anger. That was new. She'd never seen Kris behave like that. She saw Kris very angry before, but that had only happened once, or twice in all these years that they knew each other.

"Yeah right." Kris snapped as she walked away.

The Beach

Kris frowned as she paddled back on her surf board towards the beach. What was that man even thinking?! Coming to control her like that! She was sure that was the only reason that he was here. Why else would he be? She didn't buy his story about coming here to help Richard and Camille. Not all this way. Did he know? She remembered how he had stared at her. 'You are on vacation aren't you?' She had heard that tone, paired with the look he gave her. He knew... Had to be. He knew her all too well. That stupid man! Why couldn't he just leave her be? Why did he have to mingle into her bussiness? Because that was what he was going to do. She could be sure of that. How did he find out? And did the Commander also know? She sighed in frustration. She felt suffocated by his presence. How could she carry on with her plans if he was breathing down her neck all the time? Maybe he would be too busy with Camille's case. But after that? She'd have to find a way to ditch him. She could do that. She was creative. But he was smart. Very smart.

Camille looked at her friend who waded away from the waves carrying her board. "Maman said I could find you here." Camille stated as she plopped down on the sand.

Kris sat down next to her with a deep sigh as she threw her board on the ground. "I'm sorry that I overcooked Richard."

Camille smiled at that. "Yes, poor Richard. He really didn't enjoy that. You should really be more careful with those English men. They're quite rare on Saint Marie. Stop damaging them please."

Kris smiled as she shook her head. "Well, at least it was tea that I spilled on him, not coffee."

"The difference being?" Camille asked with big eyes. Both beverages were too hot to get on your skin.

"That he likes tea?" Kris tried softly as she smirked.

"O yes, he likes it. But not all over him."

Kris shrugged. "At least you got to undress him." She teased.

"Yes, very romantic." Camille said sarcastically as she did an eye-roll. "I didn't have time to think of anything else other than to stop his skin from burning." She shook her head.

"I think that he was already burned, but do continue to fool yourself if that makes you feel better." Kris stated with a big smile. "Shall I do it again?"

"What?" Camille asked.

"Burn your DI?"

"To what purpose?" Camille questioned as she narrowed her eyes at Kris.

Kris shrugged as she smiled cheekily and stared at the sea. "Let's see... So I didn't interrupt anything in the kitchen? Between the two of you?" She looked at Camille now and studied her. "I could spill some tea on his trousers next if you'd want...? It seemed like you enjoyed undressing him? I don't know." She shrugged innocently. "I just want to help. I mean... Everything for you." She began to laugh.

Camille looked away and hoped that she wouldn't flush. "So you know detective McGarrett? What a coincidence." Camille changed the subject fast as she eyed Kris again. How utterly wonderful that she could use Kris's partner to get back at her now.

"Yes, such a coincidence!" Kris snapped annoyed. "Can you believe it? It's suffocating." She looked away.

"He seems very sweet. The way he hugged you..." Camille tried carefully.

"That's nothing. I'm like a sister to him." She stood up angrily. "He may seem charming, but once you get to know him you'll think differently. He can make me so angry!" She snapped as she clenched her fists.

Camille put her hand above her eyes to shield them from the sun. "What's wrong Kris?"

"I feel suffocated. Like he's here to control me." Kris admitted as she straightened herself and had a look of despair on her face. "And I hate that."

"Why would he want to control you?" Camille asked astonished as she stood up now too.

"I don't know." She shrugged again. She wouldn't meet Camille's gaze.

"You must have some idea."

"I don't." Kris answered sternly as she took her surf board from the ground.

"I don't believe one bit of that." Camille tried to read her, but it was difficult. Kris could put up walls so quickly that her face became unreadable.

Kris looked down at Camille. "I just spoke to your Commander who had had spoken to my Commander and suddenly I am summoned to help with that party tomorrow evening. Unbelievable." She shook her head angrily.

"You're going to help?" Camille uttered enthusiastically. She'd love to work with Kris again. And it made her feel more safe when she had her around. Camille saw the angry look on Kris's face. "O... Was that too happy?"

Kris huffed.

"You usually don't mind helping someone out." Camille stated surprised.

"Of course I don't mind! Usually. It's just... This time... It's different."

"What's so different?"

"I was having my vacation and he comes barging in and without talking to me he has arranged for this to happen." To control me. To keep an eye on me. I'm sure of that.

"Who?"

"Nick of course. Nick. That stupid snail!"

Camille bit her lips as she looked away and tried not to laugh.

"Is something funny?" Kris snapped at Camille as she put her free hand in her side.

"No." Camille said as she tried not to smile but it was just too hard. "Snail? I'm sorry, but if you blurt that out with such passion and anger.. It does look a bit funny." She apologized as she stood up now too. Kris could be so cute and charming, even when she didn't want to.

"I'm glad that you are enjoying yourself!" Kris spat.

"I'm going to enjoy you telling me what exactly is going on." Camille stated as she gave Kris a stern look now.

Kris sighed. "Please, not now. I'm going to explode, I just calmed down a bit. I love the sea. It does soothing wonders. I'll really tell you soon."

Camille grabbed Kris's board and took it away from her, placing it behind her in the sand. She had been patient long enough.

Kris looked with surprise in her eyes at Camille. "You did not just take my board away from me." She threatened both astonished and fondly.

"I have been patient for a very long time Kris Milano. And it just ended. I won't have you bite the head of my new lover off before he even becomes that." Camille quipped.

Kris looked away and sighed. "Camille-..." She warned.

"No, you don't get to walk away from me this time. You know that. I've been patient enough."

Kris sighed and straightened her rash guard and took her shorts from the ground. "It's nothing really. Just a small problem. I don't want you involved. I don't want to hurt you." She said as she stepped into the shorts.

"Ha, ha. Very cocky!" She laughed out loud at that and winked at her. "You won't, you know that."

Kris shook her head. "No, I... I've become such a bitch.."

Camille shook her head. Kris had never been a bitch in all this time she knew her. And if she had been a little bit harsh, there was always a good reason. Or she apologized for it. "If you have, then there's a good reason for it."

"That's sweet of you to say but I fear there isn't."

"There is. Hit me."

"What? I'm not going to hit you."

"Yes, you are. Throw it out, we're going to spar. Just like in Paris, remember?"

"How I threw you on the floor so many times? I remember that."

"I'm not even going into that, you're deflecting. Get me." Camille ordered as she put up her hands.

Beach, near the tree line

"What are they doing?" Richard asked in horror.

"They're sparring." Nick said as he crossed his broad arms in front of his chest.

Richard eyed the muscular arms and almost did an eye roll. Great, Camille was already drooling over this beach model. Richard felt even smaller next to him. He was smaller. But it was like he felt himself shrinking even more. He took a handkerchief and dabbed his forehead.

"Is your Camille anything like Kris?" Nick asked as he gestured towards Camille.

"I wouldn't know, would I? I don't know detective Milano at all. And she isn't my Camille." Richard muttered as he dabbed his neck now.

Nick looked down at the small, peculiar guy. "Isn't she yours?" Nick asked with a raised eyebrow to tease him.

"No, she's no one's really." Richard said annoyed. Like she was someone's property! What kind of man was this?! He didn't pick up on Nick's teasing tone.

"So she's single." Nick concluded evilly. Feeling full well that the other man wasn't at ease with the subject. And probably had a sensitive spot for the dark beautiful DS.

"Yes." Richard responded gruffly. For some reason, he didn't want this man, or any man to know that she was single. Or to even be interested in her. He wanted other men to stay away from her. "She doesn't just let anyone close. It took me a long while to get to know her really." Richard warned him. He hoped it would scare the other man off.

"It did?" Nick asked as he tried not to smile. He had the feeling he was treading on egg shells here.

"She's quite difficult I have to say..." Richard confided in him. Trying to put Camille down so Nick wouldn't like her. "A handful and all."

"I like to have my hands full." Nick said as he winked at Richard and smiled inwardly. He shrugged as he looked at Kris. "I like them difficult."

Richard stopped wiping his skin and looked up at Nick in surprise. "You do? Why would you like such a thing?" He hated the way he just didn't understand Camille or other women most of the time. He had wished so many times that he could understand. Why would this man like a thing like that?

Nick shrugged. "The complicated ones... I guess they're interesting. They really have something going on on the inside."

Richard looked away and swallowed. So this man wasn't just interested in superficial women. Something cold settled in his stomach. It was a strange feeling, but a familiar one. "O... I don't know about Camille... You know..." He wanted to say that she was superficial. Anything to keep this man away from her. But he couldn't get that over his heart. Because Camille Bordey wasn't superficial at all. She was very deep and caring, she had a kind and warm heart, she loved people. Richard pressed his lips together and felt an enormous need to push this man away from her and keep him at a safe distance. "You should know that she loves the other side." He blurted out before he could stop himself.

Nick looked at him in surprise. "The other side?" He repeated confused.

"Yes well... You know." Richard shrugged casually. "Women, she falls for women." Richard scrunched his face up. "Doesn't really like men. Hates them really." Richard enjoyed himself. It was like some evil, hidden away part in himself came up, a jealous green monster and he just couldn't stop himself. "The men that want something romantic, or even come close to trying such, or even hints at this... She bites their heads off. It's like she has an extra sense to feel this about a man, that they're interested in more."

"Like a spider." Nick said as he smirked.

"Yes, she really hates men. Especially the ones who come on to her or show any interest in her." Richard said as he crossed his arms in front of his chest now too and studied the two women. He was on a roll now. "If you only knew what I've seen..." He shook his head. "And what was left of the poor men who even tried..." He stated dramatically. He looked up at Nick and tried to read his face. "Ahh well... Just a warning you know? Because you wouldn't think this when you see her, she can be really friendly." He shrugged again. "But I can tell you... There have been many suitors. And that didn't end well for them..." Richard was smiling on the inside. He tried to keep his face straight. If only this would work and the taller man would fall for it.

But the detective was silent as he studied both women sparring. He admired the way they moved; their strength and their friendship. He'd never really seen Kris with a friend or someone she loved. It had always been work. Lots of work. He dreaded the anger he saw radiating off Kris. He knew that anger, from when they were sparring together. She could become explosive. She was a sensitive woman. That's what made her good at her job, made her see things or pick up on things people tried to hide. Things he would miss.

"And how about your Kris?" Richard asked carefully as he looked back at Kris who dodged one of Camille's blows and then did a hand stand on one arm to get away from Camille. He raised his eyebrows at that.

Nick looked down at Richard and smirked. "She isn't mine. If she would be, we wouldn't be standing here. I'd have her someplace entirely different, that's for sure."

"O?" Richard asked as he looked up at him. "You don't like the sea also?"

"O, I like the sea all right. I just don't like running after her when she's on the warpath and in her pit bull modus. And I don't like being on the receiving end of her blows." And he would like to have her out of danger. Far, far away from this island.

"She seems friendly enough." Richard commented as he studied her.

"Yeah, she sure is. She's a good person. But having her angry... Then I'd rather step aside." He smiled as he watched her move leanly and ever so fluently away from Camille's dodges.

Richard studied the side of the other man's face. "I haven't noticed that she was angry."

"She is now." Nick crossed his arms in front of his chest again.

"She's angry with you?" Richard asked as he looked at Nick.

Nick shrugged and smirked. "That's one of my talents I guess. Our relationship... It's complicated. We work well together. Very well. And it's enjoyable to be around her. She can be very caring, sweet and funny. I've never really had a dull moment with that one around in three years. But we collide. A lot actually. She's very feisty, fierce. She knows exactly how to push my buttons. She can read me like a book." He looked at Richard. "Which is very annoying. I hate it. Can I read her like a book?" He shrugged again. "I'd like to think so. But she's so complicated. Shutting herself down again. She's got some high walls." He sighed out loud. He looked at Richard. "Too much pain I guess. That's why people build walls. Don't you agree?"

Richard nodded. "I can imagine so." He mumbled. He had some walls of his own...

"How does one help someone like that? That's a mystery to me really." His blue gaze swept over Richard's face. "So that woman's an open book, until she's not. She's got the highest walls to climb ever. And can you imagine? I have a few walls myself I think. She's barged right through them. I don't even know how. It's annoying. It really is."

"It sounds like it." Maybe he had more in common with this man then he thought. He too had high walls, he too had Camille not in front of these walls where he wanted her, nope, she was way inside those walls lots of times. So yes, annoying? It most certainly was.

She too was a mystery to him. No open book at all.

"To be honest with you: Sometimes I can't live with her, but I think I couldn't live without her either." It had been weeks that he hadn't seen her and he had missed her. Even more so then he could have imagined. He had thought that he'd get used to it, but he hadn't. He'd been so happy to see her again. Holding her close and touching her had really felt good. He'd grown fond of her, very fond. That was all. Nothing more, nothing less. She was just an easy to like woman, that was all. Annoying and stubborn, but very magnetic.

Richard pondered that for a moment. Wasn't that the same as he had with Camille? Well, he didn't want to imagine his life without her in it anymore. That would be too painful and empty. Living with her? He didn't mind that a lot. Well, yes sometimes. But mostly no. So he could live with her. He just didn't want to live without her. He sighed.

Richard nodded as he narrowed his eyes at the sparring women. They both had stamina and were still at it. He was already tired from the sun and just standing here watching them.

"So, you never minded that Camille is a lesbian?" Nick asked.

"Oh well no..." He felt guilty about lying to Nick now, after all that the man just trusted him with. "No, we work together. And I don't look at her like that."

Nick raised an eyebrow at that.

"Just in a professional way." He said quickly. Another lie. But he didn't know the man. No need to let him see what was in his heart really, was there?

"Yeah me too." Nick lied. "But a man can dream can't he?" He smirked as he eyed Camille's boss.

"Yes, well... I prefer not to dream about my colleagues." Richard said professionally.

"Yep, so do I.' Nick nodded. "If only we could control our dreams... I never met anyone who could. Have you?" Nick quipped as he smiled. If Kris only knew what his brain had made of her in his dreams at night, she'd make his nose bleed or worse.

Richard didn't answer. That was coming too close to his reality. God knew how many sleepless nights he had had because of Camille. If she wasn't in his dreams, she was keeping him awake at night...

000

That's it for now. What did you think? I'll try to update sooner this time! Stay well!