Thank you Stephanie for your review and thank you everyone that follows this story.

CW: slight mention of smut/nudity, cursing

"You know, eating fried shrimp every day isn't the best for your health, right?" Karen asked her friend as they sat at Kamekona's Shrimp truck the fifth time that week.

Grinning, Ally happily munched on her spicy shrimp special. "You're just jealous because you only took the tuna."

The brunette raised her eyebrow, looking down at the tuna salad the owner Kamekona made for her. "Well, it tastes amazing, he did a great job. It's a lot healthier than your choice of the day."

The blonde threw a piece of bread at her before they both broke out in giggles. It took them a few minutes to calm down again. "So have you found your mystery guy yet?"

"I thought I did but I'm not sure. Remember that day when I took over for Ms. Jones?"

Ally licked off shrimp sauce from her fingers and nodded her head. "The trip to Pearl Harbor? I thought I'd never see you again." She told her honestly, a frown pulling the corners of her lips downward. "You haven't been here for long, it woulda been sad if you couldn't enjoy your time working here."

"Thanks," Karen snorted, pushing her friend's shoulder with a smile. "Anyway, the commander leading that task force that got us out...he reminded me of him."

"But? There shouldn't be a but in this. Either it's him or it isn't, what's his name again?" Ally asked, sipping on her coconut water.

The brunette leaned her head on her hands, thinking hard on the name. "It's something with S."

"Wow, very easy sistah. There's dozens of names starting with an S." Ally grumbled, pushing the food away from her. Thank god it was a Friday and school was out for the day. "How about Simon?"

Karen tried the name on her tongue, then wrinkled her nose. "No, that's not it."

"How about Sam?"

"Don't think so." The brunette shook her head.

Ally sighed again. "Okay, Shaun?"

Another shake.

"Sebastian?"

Another disappointed crinkle of Karen's nose, followed by her blowing a raspberry. "I'm never drinking again, it's like someone wiped my memory."

"Well, next time you should make him wear a name tag." The blonde laughed. "Now, how about Ste"

"Steve!"

'Steve, fuck!' Karen groaned as she felt him bottom out inside of her. His pupils blown and only a tiny ring of blue around them, she was getting lost in his movements and his kisses that ran up and down her neck.

Getting pulled out of her daydream, the brunette only noticed she was staring when Ally hit her calf with her heel.

"What's the matter with you?" she scream whispered as they both watched the two men walk up to the shrimp truck.

The shorter blond was lecturing the taller man, nearly screaming at him. "What the hell is wrong with you? I'm having a date with Gracie and Charlie this weekend, I'd like to be alive for that."

"Danny, why are you so tense? We had a suspect to apprehend." The dark haired guy shrugged, waiting for Kamekona to come around.

The owner had just walked back from a table sitting behind Karen and Ally and grinned at the two men. "My two favorite haoles. McGarrett, Jersey."

Karen lifted her head sharply when she heard that name. "That's the guy that saved us, the commander I told you about."

"Who? The hot one or the short one?" The blond asked with a grin as she turned her eyes in the same direction.

Rolling her eyes, the former New Yorker girl groaned at her friend. "Tall, dark and handsome. From what I gathered he's the leader of the task force here on O'ahu."

"Well, if you never find your Steve, maybe you should shake up with him." Ally suggested, raking her eyes over him and running her tongue over her lower lip.

Shaking her head, Karen lightly hit her friend's shoulder. "Would you shut up?"

In that instance Steve turned around and locked his stormy blue eyes on her familiar green ones.

Danny watched his partner curiously.

They had decided with the last case being over to take a break and enjoy a nice meal at Kamekona's after having another near death experience with Steve's race car driving skills.

They were greeted by the big Hawaiian walking out to them, but soon Steve's attention was diverted to a pair of females sitting across from where they stood. A blonde in a sweet summer dress and brunette woman, dressed in a button down and slacks, who he recognized to be Ms. Bishop from the hostage case they had a few weeks back.

"What you lookin' at, buddy? That's the woman you saved from Emery."

His partner nodded, crossing his arms over his chest and not leaving her out of his sight. "I know, but I know her from somewhere else, I just can't tell you where."

"Well, you could always ask her out on a date instead of watching her like a creep." Danny's hand was shoved into his pants pocket, waving his other around like he always did.

Swiftly turning to his partner, the Navy veteran stopped ogling her. He couldn't help it, just like the way she was dressed wasn't helping him to keep his cool. The way the slacks were tight around her butt and the button down had ridden up a bit to give him plenty of skin to look at. It had been a while since he considered a real relationship, the last time with Catherine, not that he would be thinking about getting serious right now. But even though he couldn't start anything, his line of work wasn't the best ground to have a relationship.

"I can't take her on a date, my mother has finally decided to come home." Steve denied, earning a snort from his partner.

Danny grinned at him. "So, your mom can stay with your sister and you can go hiking or get to the gun range or whatever, it's not like it's an all too friendly visit."

"You know what Danno? Shut up?" The commander ended the argument, turning back to get their usual from Kamekona.

He hadn't been able to contact Doris, not even Joe had been lucky enough. Until a few days ago when she called him, letting her son know that she'd be home for a few days. Under the radar but home with him, that's what she wanted and that's probably what Steve needed now.

His partner had already told him that he was tired of his moping and the heartache he carried around. He needed to be focused, but there was no way he was going to be focused when he was dating someone. Cat had been something else, she understood the job and the risks they took every day, he didn't have to fear for her, but someone outside of the military or the front line?

He'd probably mess it up anyway.

"If you won' ask her you won' know, brah." Kamekona commented, leaning through the window of his truck. He could read his friend like an open book now, having heard from Danny and the rest of Five-0 how the break-up was messing with him.

The task force leader answered with a deep groan. "Not you, too." He grumbled, snatched his plate and left the Jersey detective standing to watch him walk away.

"He need a new wahine, brah." The big man said with a grin on his face, handing Danny his own plate. "The Ohana needs a few more keiki."

Laughing, the blond left the truck with a wave at Kamekona and the two women and sprinted for his car, already seeing Steve drumming his fingers on the wheel. This was gonna be great. He'd get McGarrett on track again, after all they called him Smooth Dog in the SEALs. Steve would have a new woman in his arms in no time.

"I have no idea how you got me to agree to come here with you." Panting, Karen refastened her backpack and squinted up at the remaining trail they had to tackle.

Ally stood a few feet above her, watching her friend pant, a few strands escaping from her ponytail and her face red from sweating and exertion. "Come on, don't be such a baby." The blonde waved at her friend, moving again on the trail. "It's a great workout for your butt, this way you won't have to pay ridiculous fees at the gym."

"I hate you, Ally." The brunette grumbled, following her friend. She couldn't deny that the view was amazing from up here but to get there was torture.

"Just think about that commander we saw the other day, I bet he'd love to grab onto those buns of steel."

Smirking, Karen stopped to look at her friend. "How'd you know that he'd be into that, maybe he was watching you."

"Oh no," Ally shook her head. "He was definitely into you, he couldn't keep his eyes away before he stormed off."

"He didn't look all too happy when he left." The brunette shrugged and walked past her friend.

Sighing, the blonde made to follow the former New Yorker, knowing she just ended the argument. Karen had been on the island nearly two months and beside her drunken tumble in bed and the hostage situation nothing exciting happened to her, so Ally swore to herself to make her mainland friend forget about her horrible ex and let her have fun. If that meant setting her up with Commander Sexy, the blonde would do it.

Grinning at the thought she caught up to her friend. "What's with the grouch, Karen? I thought you wanted to get back in the game. Forget Martin and Kaylee, you're in Hawai'i now, live a little."

Holding onto her backpack the brunette stopped and turned around, not sure how to answer that question. She wanted to be happy and in love again, but the hurt and betrayal she felt ever since she left New York ran so deep that she was afraid to never be carefree and happy again.

Kaylee had been her best friend since childhood and they never went too long without the other. Karen and Kaylee, 2Ks people dubbed them whenever they saw them together. They were a team, even when Kaylee decided to pursue her career as lawyer, they never let go of that friendship.

To top it off, she was the one to introduce her to Martin, who'd after four years into their relationship asked her to marry him. Everyone was happy for the newly engaged couple but a month before the wedding, Karen wanted to surprise her fiancé with lunch from their favorite restaurant two blocks away from his law office, when she heard the distinct sounds of someone having sex - in his office room. Heart pounding, the brunette lifted her hand and rapped her knuckles against the dark wood of the door. When no one answered, Karen pushed it open and let out a startled gasp.

"Martin?"

"Shit…Karen!" He turned and she saw her best friend, leaning against his desk with her skirt hitched around her waist and both their hairs in disarray.

The brunette gaped at them, not sure if it would be better to laugh or cry, when all she wanted to do was scream and slap some sense into them. "You and HER? We're about to marry in four weeks, were you going to go through with it?!

"This has nothing to do with our wedding, Karen. She means nothing to me." the blond male shrugged, with his pants still around his ankles and the only thing covering his - well manliness would have been too nice a word to use - was his dress shirt.

Kaylee gaped at him, tears of shame and hurt shining in her eyes. Pulling down her skirt, she excused herself and left the office, sending one last apologetic look to her childhood friend.

"I can't believe you'd do that, Martin!" Karen cried when he finally pulled his pants up.

Rolling his eyes, the lawyer brushed his fingers through his hair. "You're making this out to be more than it is. It was just sex, we fucked and that's that. We're going to marry and forget about it."

"Oh no, I'm not going to forget!" The brunette rounded on him, pointing her finger at the blond. "Who's going to tell me you'll not cheat with your secretary then, who's going to tell me you'll keep your vow? I should have listened to my parents and should have left you high and dry when they saw you with Julie!"

Holding up her hand, Karen took the engagement ring off. In the past she had fallen in love with the beautiful design of the emerald cut center diamond and the smaller ones placed in the band. "I think you should give this to the woman that actually tolerates your cheating tendencies." She placed it on his desk and left the office without another glance back. It had taken her three years to finally believe what her family had known for a while.

"Relax, mom." Karen smiled as she listened to her mother Caroline prattle on about a possible vacation to Hawai'i. "I've got a second bedroom so you guys can stay with me."

She walked through the lobby of the hotel she rented her apartment in and waved at Clark, the security guard standing next to the front desk. With a grin he returned it and resumed his conversation while Karen pushed the call button for the elevator.

It had been a long day at school with a group of guys fighting over a girl and another student wanting to kill herself because no one liked her. The brunette thankfully was able to diffuse both situations with the help of the teachers but still knowing those stories was taking a toll on her after she took that dreadful hike with Ally. Not that Ally or their surroundings were bad, but the memories it brought up welled up her own insecurities.

"Honey, listen, your father and I'll be calling you again with the details. We just wanted to make sure you are doing fine, you sounded off the last few days." Her mother always knew when something had been wrong and as much as she tried to reassure her, Caroline still could smell the lie three miles against the wind.

Taking a deep breath, Karen entered the cab, pressed the number for her floor and leaned back against the wall, waiting for the doors to close. "I know mom, but honestly I'm just stressed out from work, it's different here at the school. Nothing like the office I've been training at." There was no use in telling them about the hostage situation. Her father would have her on the next plane out in 0.5 seconds.

"Well if you're sure, how about we talk more tomorrow? That way your father and I can look up some of the flight details."

"Definitely a good idea." The brunette smiled but looked up hastily when she saw a gloved hand moving between the closing doors of the elevator, feeling her heart rate speed up again. "Listen mom, I'm in the elevator now, the line's going to cut soon. Love you guys."

Slightly pushing the doors open again, it revealed the broad shoulders Karen had already gotten to know on the few occasions they crossed paths.

Commander Steve McGarrett moved inside, gun ready to shoot the suspect should he do something stupid. Looking around he could only see the brunette woman that haunted him. Wherever he went he saw her, either at Kamekona's or at the trail he usually went to for a run. Steve had spotted her together with the blonde a few days ago, deciding to get her out of his mind.

"I, uh, sorry." He didn't know why he was acting all nervous when he saw her now leaning against the back of the elevator. Steve lowered his gun and stepped off to the side, pushing the button for the tenth floor. Watching the doors close, he tapped his foot on the floor.

They made it to the third floor before the elevator made a loud clanging noise and shuddered.

Putting a hand back against the wall, Karen let out a deep sigh and slid down to the ground. "You might as well get comfortable. It could take a while."

"Fuck!" Steve ran his hand through his hair and paced on the closed space. He turned back and went over to the technical board, pushing every button as well as the call button. "God damnit!" Agitation colored his words as he pulled out his phone and tried to call Danny but he didn't have service.

"Are you on a case right now?"

"Yeah, we traced our suspect's phone to this location. My partner and I wanted to take him in, but now." He shrugged his shoulders and copied Karen, sitting down next to her.

She breathed out a sigh, leaning her head back before she looked at him. "I'm sorry this happened. Sounds like you got the same shit day that I do."

"What happened? Not another hostage situation I hope?" He tried to joke but bit his tongue as soon as the words left his lips.

Giggling softly, she shook her head. "No such situations, just teenage boys trying to show off to a girl they like and girls having a very hard time with life."

"Sounds like a tough day to me, too." He chuckled, stretching his legs and opening the clasps on his vest. If they'd have to stay for a while he'd get comfortable and leave the best, too. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, this happens like every third week. But this is the first time I got stuck here." Karen was thankful to not be stuck in that elevator on her own and that she wore linen pants and not the dress she had pulled out that morning. "You?"

Shrugging, Steve leaned his elbows on his bent knees. "I mean this is like a break from work that I don't get often enough and to top it off I have a pretty good company."

"Ditto, Commander."

"Please, it's Steve. We're stuck in pretty close proximity for a while, the least we can do is forsake formalities."

Nodding her head, the brunette smiled up at him, her green eyes finding his blue ones. "Do you sometimes get the feeling that you already met a person but can't place exactly where you did?"

"Yeah, and I can't help but feel it now." Steve slightly turned to Karen, watching her carefully. He knew he had seen her before, not just in his dreams. "I met you that night in the bar."

"You were there with your friends."

Steve grinned, nodding his head and lifted his hand towards her cheek. "It was your first week on the island, you celebrated with your coworker I think."

Biting her lip, Karen couldn't help but let her eyes flit to his lips. She had been dreaming about that night and now she finally found him. Reaching up, she softly placed her hand on his cheek, feeling the coarse hair of his beard under her palm. The brunette leaned in and closed the distance between them, feeling his hot breath on her lips. Closing her eyes, Karen awaited the feel of the kiss, wanting to be back in her room and letting his hands and lips roam over her body.

"Commander McGarrett, are you alright in there?"

With a gasp she opened her eyes and pushed away from the former SEAL. Like a bucket of ice water the voice flowed over her and she looked up at Steve who silently groaned at the intrusion.

"Yeah." He stayed in his place, his eyes never leaving her as he answered the security who was assigned to get them out.

"We'll get you out of there, just hang tight."

"Sure." Steve let out a soft sigh as he watched Karen scramble back a few feet so they wouldn't be in a compromising situation once they opened the doors to the elevator. In all honesty he wouldn't have minded to wrap her up in his arms and have his way with the woman that haunted his dreams for weeks. Here he was, stuck with her in that tiny elevator when he had told Danny that it just was a one time thing and until he had found her today, he thought that was still the case.

But after that near kiss he wanted more, definitely wanted more than that one time in her bedroom upstairs.