Thank you so much Alex Lover for that review, it means a lot. Also thank you everyone for reading, favoriting and just giving this a chance.
CW: canon typical violence-description of 5.01, fluff
Karen slung her arms around his neck, smiling up at the former SEAL, her green eyes shining with mirth. "Thank you for breakfast, Commander."
"You're welcome, Miss Bishop. I'm glad you were satisfied." His smirk told her that he wasn't just thinking about the food but the night before.
Steve had been shot only a few weeks prior and the brunette still shivered thinking back to that day, Honolulu had been terrorized by a former employee of Venpax, a military contractor who worked on a combat drone, but it had been taken and hijacked by that employee and set on innocent people. All that just to get Lawrence Turner out of the country to sell secrets about military operations and the government.
Karen and a kid from one of her cases had been at the beach that day, in the middle of the shoot out. Every time she closed her eyes, she'd hear the screams of the people around her, see those that had been shot while trying to escape. Steve had called her, asking about her whereabouts and she knew it wasn't one of his social calls. Even though he had masked his worry, she knew that it had to be a bad case. And how bad it was.
First responders arrived on scene after the drone had left the area and she made sure Correy, the boy she had been with was okay. Somehow they were lucky, someone helped them and found a table to hide under, she never was able to thank the person who shoved them underneath it. Only when the former SEAL arrived and frantically called for her did they come out and make they're way to him. He pulled her into his arms, afraid to let go of her, that she'd be one of those laying in their own puddle of blood. The team had made fun of him for participating in PDAs when he was such a disclosed person, but seeing them together, Danny knew that his friend and partner were serious. The last time Steve acted that way was when Catherine had been kidnapped but comparing those to would be like comparing apples and bananas.
At the end of that day, he ended up being shot and Danny brought him to the hospital. When Kono called her to let her know that the threat was cleared and she could leave the palace where the former SEAL had placed her, Karen asked if everyone was well and alive. The silence at the end of the line made her heart skip and she didn't know how she had developed such strong feelings in the short time they knew each other, but she swallowed hard at thinking about this happening to him on a regular basis. The former surfer lightly tugged her hand, made their way to Tripler Medical Center and waited for Steve to be done with his treatment. He was so happy to see her at the hospital, sitting next to him and holding his hand, yet he never wanted Karen to worry like this again.
"You okay? Your head's been back on the mainland." He chuckled, his hands on her cheeks, giving her a concerned look.
Karen closed her eyes, shaking her head with a soft smile. "Just thinking about that case you had, with the drone." She saw his eyes clouding over and he pulled her into his arms, running his fingers through her loose waves.
"Oh baby. I'm so sorry, I never wanted you to see that." He breathed in her aroma, the smell of her shampoo that always made him smile.
Sighing, she laid a kiss under his jaw, feeling the coarse hairs of his beard lightly scratching her lips. "It's fine, I'm glad you're okay and I know your job is dangerous. I mean this is not happening every day, right?"
"No!"
Karen wasn't convinced, but she let it slide for the time being. She leaned up and sealed her lips with his, the hands on his neck drawing his head closer to her. Steve pulled her into his body, his hands moving to her ass and giving it a tight squeeze, earning a moan from her.
"I should get going. I have an appointment with one of the kids at school." Karen ended the kiss, licking her lips to savour his taste on them.
"Yeah, I need to get to the cemetery. It's my dad's death anniversary." He grew sombre again, leaning his forehead against her own.
She brushed her hands over his cheeks, giving him a tight-lipped smile. "You want me to come with you?"
"No, it's fine. I don't want you to be too late for that appointment."
"Kay, we'll meet up for lunch?"
Nodding his head, he sealed their lips one last time. "I'll call you, babe."
Smiling, Karen answered with a nod of her own and left his kitchen. She finally got a car of her own, thanks to Steve and Chin telling her what to look for, although the guys couldn't agree which was better for her safety. In the end the brunette ended up with a Mini Cooper. The former SEAL protested with the lack of crumple zone, but was ruled over by his partner and lover. She got in and made her way to Kukui High, enjoying the feeling of the wind ruffling her hair and the sun on her skin.
"Mahalo, Ms. Bishop, I will keep in mind what you told me." Kaelo called with a wave as he left her office.
She went back to the paperwork on her desk, something she had abandoned for the last three days and needed to catch up again. This was going to be a bitch to work through. Taking a deep breath, Karen looked over yesterday's case. Three boys got into a fight over a girl and all of them ended up getting suspended for the next two weeks.
"That's an awful lot of paperwork you got there."
With a gasp, the brunette jumped in her seat and looked up at the stranger standing in front of her desk. He was Asian looking, around Steve's age, maybe a bit older and a burn scar on the left side of his face. Shaking her head, she stood up. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't trying to be rude, I just wasn't prepared for a visitor."
"That's perfectly all right. I wasn't one for an appointment, Ms. Bishop." He opened his suit jacket and sat down on one of the chairs, crossing his legs. "I'm here to ask a few questions."
Cocking her head to the side, Karen returned to her seat and leaned her elbows on the desk, motioning for the man to go ahead. Normally she would have called Steve and asked him to come by, but he was watching her every move. No way was she going to be able to get that message out.
"What can I help you with, Mister?"
"Wo Fat." He leaned back in the chair, seeing her hands fiddle nervously. Wo had trailed her all over the city, finally gathering enough intel to make sure she was the one he needed to ask - besides McGarrett. Karen Bishop would be the final link to all this. "Where is Doris McGarrett?"
She sat up straighter, feeling the lump return to her throat as he uttered those words. "How"
"Answer me Ms. Bishop, where is Doris McGarrett?" He was so calm and collected and yet underneath his demeanor she saw the anger and hate boiling. If she couldn't satisfy him with the desired answer, would he kill her?
"I think it's better if you leave, Mister Fat." She swiftly got up from her chair and made her way over to the door. Just as she was about to touch the handle, a hand grabbed hers and pushed her away albeit gently. Wo turned the key in the lock, effectively keeping her rooted inside her room, yet he had no desire to kill her. Karen Bishop was something else and he saw the appeal why his adopted brother loved her so much, not just physical attributes but her mind and the way she was with others. He had been there that day of the drone attack, something he didn't take credit for for once, and pushed her and that boy under a table, making sure they were safe.
He couldn't answer the question that had been gnawing in his mind ever since - why had he rescued her, when all he did before was kill those that stood in his way without batting an eye?
"All I want to know is where Doris McGarrett is. I know you still have contact with her, which you are keeping a secret from her son."
Her nostrils flared, her green eyes glaring at the dark haired Asian standing between her and her freedom. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Now leave this office before I call security."
"I know she told you about her life away from her home. Her life as an agent. She was sent to kill a man, but it went horribly wrong and she took in a child. A child she later abandoned because of her agency."
Wide eyes stared at him as she listened to his words, even though he was putting up a strong façade, Karen could hear the underlying heartbreak and despair. He was right, Steve's mother had told her that story, needing someone to confide in when her son had been angry again at something she hadn't deliberately told him. "That child, it was you, wasn't it?"
"Yes. She is the reason I am what I am today. Now tell me where she is!"
Taking a step back, she tried to put enough distance between them so he couldn't hurt her, at least if he didn't carry a gun. Swallowing against the dred, conjuring up the images of her laying on the floor and bleeding out, Karen jumped at the shrill ringing of her phone. Her eyes turned to the clock above the door. It wasn't noon yet, so either Steve was calling to cancel their lunch date or someone else was calling her. "I should get that. Everyone knows I'm in my office, if I'm not answering they'll send someone to take a look at why I'm not answering."
Slowly she inched her way back to her desk, never letting her eyes stray from the man before her. She reached for her phone, seeing Steve smiling up at her. Karen swallowed, knowing if she didn't answer he'd come over and it wouldn't end well for Wo Fat. With shaking fingers she pressed the accept button, holding the mobile to her ear. "Hey, Commander. You're calling early, is everything fine?"
"Ah yeah, listen. I've got a case this morning and it might take longer. Don't know if I can make it to our lunch date." The brunette forced herself to stay neutral, not wanting to let disappointment show in her answer nor the fear she felt at the possible threat of harm looming over her, but when she looked up the Asian man was gone. Breathing a sigh of relief, Karen said her I'll see you later's and good-byes and hung up the phone.
Letting herself fall back into her seat, she clasped her hands over her lips, trying to suppress the sobs that wanted to escape. She needed to get a hold of Doris, fast.
Grabbing the burner phone Steve's mom had given her, she sent a quick message to let the older woman know what had happened and what the hell was going on.
Karen couldn't tell anyone, especially not Steve. He had been trying to talk to his mother, wanting to know she was well and safe, but Doris never let him reach her. She wanted to lay low for as long as she could.
Taking a deep breath, she brushed the saltiness away from her cheeks. She needed to get back to work, go about business as usual. Steve would be furious and whatever they started would be over sooner than she'd like to. The brunette was pulled out of her thoughts by a knock on the door, feeling her heart rate speed up and her palms get sweaty.
"Ms. Bishop? It's Clara, can I come in?"
"Y-Yeah, come on in." Karen shook her head, hoping that it had been a one time run in with Wo Fat. If Steve found out, all hell would break loose and he'd never forgive her.
Steve heard the tell-tale sign of Karen coming home, her keys tinkling when she opened the door, something the social worker insisted on so that he knew it was her. He could see the exhaustion showing on her face as plain as daylight and he felt like an idiot canceling on their lunch date.
Ellie watched the former SEAL, the corners of her mouth moving upwards. When they had met this morning they had talked about their father's, how John McGarrett had been there for her when she needed someone to lean on. She knew from what he had told her about his son, that he wished he'd done things differently and would have wanted to be a bigger part of his life. Now both their father's were dead and they felt a connection, nothing romantic, more like mutual understanding, maybe even close to siblings. Now she saw a different side to the straightforward military persona.
"Hey, babe. You okay, you look tired." Steve pulled the brunette into a tight hug, pushing his nose in her hair and inhaling the tropical smell of her shampoo. He placed a kiss on her temple, his hands rubbing the muscles in her shoulders and neck. Karen stifled a moan from his ministrations, leaning into his embrace.
It had been a long day for her and the unfortunate meeting with Wo Fat and him wanting to know about Doris hadn't made it better. Shortly after she sent off the message, Steve's mother had called her. She was of course distraught at the Asian man showing up at Karen's office and apologized for being the cause of all this, but needed her to know that all she did, all decisions Doris made were only to keep her children safe. Those included Wo Fat, after all he, too, was her child.
She left the circle of his arms, turning to the stranger sitting in his living room. Steve followed her line of sight and gave her a soft smile. "Uh, sorry, this is Ellie Clayton. My dad was investigating her father's murder. That's the case we had today."
The deputy prosecutor stood up and held her hand out, a bright smile on her lips. "It's so great to meet you."
Karen returned it with a tired smile, shaking the blonde's hand. "Same to you. If you'll just excuse me, I'd like to get freshened up."
"Of course, you want some sushi from Morimoto's? We'll just order in."
Nodding her head, Karen stood on the stairs before she turned to Ellie again. "Would you like to stay with us? We could talk some more. I don't want to come off bitchy, it's just one of those days, ya know?"
"Sure, if Steve won't mind." The blonde looked at her new friend, hoping she wasn't intruding on their time together.
The former SEAL shrugged, not much he could do when Karen already invited her to dinner and after all he had offered her a beer when he fixed his dad's car again. The brunette smiled at him and disappeared to the upstairs bathroom in his room, probably taking her time. Not that he minded. Steve wouldn't get her to have a Navy shower if he tried, Karen would have his balls if he did.
Taking a deep breath, the brunette leaned against the closed door. Once Clara had been done with her session that day, Karen got a call from Brett, a guy looking out for a few of the homeless kids. He talked about a boy having been out of the foster system for a while, running away and staying on the streets. Her heart broke for him, no mother to take him in the arm. No father to be proud of him.
She loved her job, she really did, but cases like that just broke her heart a little more.
Shaking her head, Karen shed her clothes and got the water running. She needed to wash away the day, wash away fear crawling up her back when she faced Wo Fat. She was itching to tell Steve, but she also knew if she did he'd hate her for hiding her connection to Doris. He had been looking for her ever since she left the island again.
Standing under the spray, she knew the tears she had been hiding all day were mingling with the water, washing down the drain with everything else that was floating around her head. All the worries about her future with Steve and the kids that came to her for help. She couldn't even tell him about the other secret she was hiding. A quiet sob escaped her lips, her hand wandering to her lower belly, thinking back to the doctor's visit a few days prior. They had been so careful, hadn't even talked about it and yet everything was going to go backwards. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Karen shook her head. No use in dwelling on it, once he got wind about her secrets he'd never want to speak to her again.
Finishing her shower, the brunette got out and dried off, getting into comfortable shorts and one of Steve's old shirts from BUD/S, she joined the former SEAL and Ellie in the living room, smiling at the assortment of sushi. Thankfully Karen got to meet Chef Morimoto in person when Steve took her there for a date a few weeks back and asked him for chicken and vegetarian sushi. The Iron Chef sent her an incredulous look before he smiled and brought her the best plate of Japanese food she ever had.
"I got your favorite."
Smiling at him in thanks, she sat down next to him on the couch, leaning into his side. Steve kissed her forehead, appreciating the way she looked in his clothes, he couldn't get enough of it.