Author's note: Just a warning, this is a really short lil chapter but I wanted to give you guys something, as I know it's been longer than normal! First thank you so much you sweet gems for all the amazing reviews left on the last chapter. I was honestly a bit emotionally exhausted (along with everyone in the McGarrett household lol) after the Friday night/ Saturday escapades and then I just started doing 1st grade homeschool with my daughter which is such an adventure and although is not crazy time wise, I'm figuring out my new rhythm and figuring out when I have time for writing. I will do my best to get back into the swing of things and hope you enjoy this lil update. I felt like there would be a lot of mental processing to do after "the reckoning" as nothing is ever going to be solved right away. Anyway, happy Wednesday 5-0 friends!

Chapter 8

Nahele grabbed the rolled up sleeping bag from under his bed and tossed it to J. He couldn't recall the last time he had been this relaxed and felt like an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. As he sank down gingerly onto his bed, his heart was light in spite of the pain in his backside.

"You alright there, old man?" J smirked, having seen him wince.

"Funny." Nahele shot back.

The conversation shifted to a band that was coming to the island on tour, and both boys settled in. Nahele chose the better part of valor and rolled onto his stomach. He cocked his head, seeing his phone light up with a text.

"Who's that?" J asked.

"I don't know. I don't know the number. Shit." Nahele grimaced and read aloud. "I know you have the video and just know that if you show it to ANYONE, I will be passing around some videos of your little fight club. You can join your sister in Club Suspension."

"Rachel's one of those girls that really takes advantage of the fact that we won't beat her up." J had seen the video earlier and shared in Nahele's lack of surprise at the guilty party's identity. "With everything that's happened, did you tell your dad about fight club?"

"No." Nahele sighed and buried his head into his pillow. "Honestly, I would have, if it had actually seemed relevant to anything."

"It kind of seems like something he would have done when he was our age."

Nahele shrugged. "It does, but that doesn't mean he's going to be okay with it now. We're fighting on school property, there's no adult supervision and there haven't been any ground rules to keep people safe."

J chuckled. "Funny how that didn't bother us before."

"I think I've been scared straight."

"Me too."

Nahele snorted. "How's that?"

"Dude, I'm still in shock that I'm allowed in this house. Let alone sleeping on your floor. With your dad's pull with the governor, I figured I'd be kicked out of school… expelled."

"I don't think he would have done that… but I think he did respect that you came to talk to him."

"I have never been so terrified in all my life… and I don't mind saying so."

"Anybody who says they're not scared of him is lying. Except for maybe his team. Which is why they're his team." Feeling suddenly restless, Nahele kicked his blanket off. "When I took Myah's spankin' for her… which sucked by the way… he told me he was proud of me for taking responsibility for screwing up and trying to make it right. I really… don't ever want to lie to him again."

"Well…" There was a lengthy pause before J continued. "Guess that's how we stick it to Rachel. Tell him about fight club before she has a chance to."

Nahele groaned at the thought. J was absolutely correct in that beating Rachel to the punch would take all the wind out of her sails. Regardless, that didn't guarantee a painless outcome for them. "The other guys will be pissed as hell."

"I know."

"We'll probably still get suspended."

"I know."

"You could get kicked off the football team." Nahele leaned over the edge of the bed to look at J. "No way, man… if this happens, I'll take the heat."

"Like hell you will." J scoffed. "We got in this together. Besides there are way too many guys on the team in fight club. They won't suspend half the team."

"I guess you're right."

"What… uh… what'll your dad do?" For the first time during the exchange, a hint of nervousness could be detected in J's voice.

Nahele hadn't missed J's use of the word "we" during the original suggestion and his heart warmed briefly at the loyalty of his friend. He hadn't heard any details regarding J's conversion with Steve, but was not surprised to hear it described as terrifying. "I don't know. Look, if dad's still cool with us hanging out after Friday, then he's not going to change his mind over fight club."

"So he won't be mad? We won't be in trouble?"

"I don't know… I kind of think he might chalk it up to a boys being boys thing, but unless there's a good reason, I think he'll say you get in trouble at school, you'll get in trouble at home." Nahele groaned again. "I will knock your teeth in if you tell anyone, but I don't know if I can take getting whooped again so soon." Nahele considered himself about as tough as they came, but he couldn't deny that over his dad's knees, he'd been reduced to a little boy.

"So… it's worse than being in a fight?"

"Yeah, it's worse! I'm still freakin' laying on my belly."

"Okay. So that sucks. For both of us." J shifted uncomfortably, though from his expression, it did not appear that his discomfort had anything to do with his position on the floor.

Nahele squinted down at his friend. "Why? Your dad won't… care." He winced a little at his own words, wishing there was an easier way to have put it. He of all people understood what it was like to have a deadbeat father, but that didn't mean it was ever an easy thing to talk about.

"Well… when I talked to your dad, he basically said that if we get in trouble together again, especially if it compromises someone's safety, my ass is on the line same as yours."

"Oh, shit." Nahele said softly. He considered his friend's words for a minute. "Are you cool with that?"

"I mean, it's not like he said he was just going to haul me off and do it for no reason. As far as I can tell he lays down the law on you and Myah because he actually gives a damn. Which is more than I ever had. So yeah, I guess I'm cool with it."

Nahele nodded, hearing the vulnerability in J's voice. "Well, good. I'm tired of you getting off scot free."

Clearly appreciating the more light hearted tone, J snorted. "I'm tired of hearing you whine about it…"

"Hey I'll get him to give you a preview so you know what you're in for."

J threw his pillow hard at Nahele who caught it and launched it back.

J settled his pillow back underneath his head and sighed. "So what are we going to do? It's your call man. I've got your back no matter what."

Nahele sighed. He thought back to the absolute misery that had plagued him for the past couple of weeks. The tossing and turning at night, the constant headache and heaviness that sat like a weight upon his chest. He thought about the look in Steve's eyes when he'd try to talk to him. Looking back, Nahele could now recognize the pain in his dad's eyes at being shut out. He was somewhat amazed at how patient Steve had been, as he could have gone full on scary super SEAL on him at any time and Nahele didn't think Steve was above using the team's interrogation room for his own purposes. Nahele's heart clenched as he recognized that Steve had given him the benefit of the doubt and had been clearly hoping that he'd open up to him on his own. Nahele wished now that he had. He would have saved himself a whole lot of trouble, not to mention pain.

Hugs were not rare in the McGarrett household, but Nahele didn't think he'd ever forget sobbing into Steve's chest after getting punished. Steve had told them he'd never give in or give up on their family. It wasn't the first time he'd voiced that kind of sentiment, but perhaps for the first time, Nahele didn't feel even a shadow of doubt about the permanency of their family.

Nahele also felt that for the first time, he was free to make his own choices about who he wanted to be. He wasn't tied into being like his biological father. Kaili only made choices that benefited himself and Nahele felt clear minded enough to recognize that he already made decisions on a daily basis that were carrying him away from that lifestyle.

The open conversation with Steve that day had felt so good, so freeing. Nahele wanted that to continue with all his heart. Regardless he still didn't relish the idea of telling the man that he had willingly stepped behind the maintenance shed and used the skills Steve had taught him to kick the asses of his schoolmates. He wondered if Steve would tell him he was on ice as far as boxing or other martial arts training went since he'd chosen to use it in an irresponsible manner.

Nahele realized J was waiting silently for him to process and wondered if his friend had fallen asleep. He peered over the side of the bed and saw the flash of J's eyes indicating that he was still awake, but patiently waiting. "We'll tell him tomorrow." he said.

"Okay."