Winds of Change
Pairing: McRoll
Chapter 12:
Waking up the next day, bright and early, Steve had made a change of plans. He was still planning on saying goodbye to Joe and to have a memorial service for him, but instead of burying him, he remembered a conversation he had with him about scattering half his ashes at his ranch and the ocean in Hawaii. It's where his heart ultimately lied, in those two locations.
"Wouldn't it be nice to have your ashes scattered in two places, representing two sides of someone Steve", one half scattered through the Hawaiian waters and the other half scattered on my ranch".
Was the exact words he had used. It had come one day when the two of them were sitting out in the lanai, not long after he transferred to Pear Harbour to overseas SEAL training, having a beer and talking about life and that he needed to tell Catherine what she meant to him before it was too late. Steve had explained that he and Catherine had their own way of showing how they feel for each other and Joe accepted that.
"You okay Steve?", Catherine day up in bed and moved closer to Steve, wrapping her arms around him, and kissing his shoulder tenderly. He turned his head and smiled softly, nodding his head, "just thinking about a conversation I had with Joe not long after he transferred to Pearl, I remember he told me he thought it would be nice to have half his ashes scattered here in Hawaiian waters and then the other half in Montana at his ranch".
That did sound like the Joe she knew, and if she knew Steve as well as she knew she did, he would want to honour and respect his wishes. "I think that's a good idea Steve, we can do that while we are here and then scattered the rest once we get back to Montana". Catherine knew it was hard for him to have to deal with all of this, Joe had ex wives, but no children so it all fell into Steve.
She couldn't imagine having to deal with making these kinds of arrangements so she held him a little tighter and kissed him again. "The Navy and HPD did all the arrangements for Dad and I'm just", he ran his hands through his hair and blew out air, sighing in frustration, "I don't know what I'm doing here Cath". Squeezing his arm gently, she looked into his eyes, searching them wanting to assure him she was there.
"I'm no expect on what to do about the funeral service but I'm here every step of the way Steve, we can do this together". She knew he wasn't just talking about the funeral, he couldn't just let this lie and he knew that he needed to find the people behind this attack.. He had no doubt in his mind that Greer was the one who tipped them off, and gave them the names of the SEALS involved in that raid. "About the mission, we got this.. we know what we are doing.. we have done it a thousand times before, it's no different this time".
He sighed softly, and nodded, swallowing back a lump in his throat. He wasn't used to showing his vulnerable side, but over the years, he had opened up to Catherine many times that it became second nature to him. "Cath, I just.. I don't know if I can say goodbye". Joe White had become more than a mentor to him. He saw Joe more then his father in his adult years and it was Joe that helped to shape him as the man he is today.. How did he say goodbye to him?
It was hard enough saying goodbye to his father and he didn't have much time to grieve before he got fully into life on the island full time as a leader of a taskforce, now having to say goodbye to one of the only direct connections to both his parents, it was going to be hard.. Pulling him into her arms, she held him tighter, rubbing his back in circles. "I know Steve and I can't imagine what you are feeling, just know, I'm here, I promise".
Being in her arms, he felt safe, and protected.. Right now he was vulnerable and she never failed to make him feel better, "I appreciate you being here, I know the next several months are going to be tough, but I know we needed to take the time to do this.. I wouldn't have focused knowing we hadn't".
Kissing his cheek, she nodded in understanding, "I'd not want to be anywhere else Steve, we are a team still and I'm always in your corner". She was about to ask if he wanted to go take a shower and get ready for the day when Steve's cell rang, he reached to pick it up, "McGarrett", his voice was flat, not it's usual business like self, but he perked up when he heard who it was..
"You didn't have to do all that Danny, but I really appreciate it so much".
Nodding his head, he sighed sadly.. "I know buddy, we'll be ready by then… come swing by and we'll go together". Hanging up the phone, he smiled softly, "Danny made the arrangements as soon as I told him about Joe, all we need to do is show up.. I'll have to let them know of the change to have him cremated when we get there". Danny knew that Steve needed to get back his focus on finding Joe and the rest of his team's killers and the one that put the hit out, and so he wanted to just do this one thing for him.
Catherine smiled softly and hugged him, "Danny is a good man", Standing up, she held out her hand to him, "Why don't we go shower and get ready.. We have a big day, and we are leaving early in the morning to head back to Montana". Taking her hand, he smiled sadly and nodded, standing up beside her.. "We're gonna find them Catherine, and when we do, they are going to wish they never messed with my team".
Author Notes:
Let me start by with a huge apology for allowing this story to fall by the way side.. This was my first McRoll fiction and it is still one of my favourites by far.. I lost interest in writing for a while and then when I got back into it, I came up with new stories.. This one and my other ones, To new beginnings and the Missing piece, I will try to get updated as well in the next week or so.. I have found my passion back heavily for writing and in particular writing these amazing Hawaii five-o stories.
SteveMcGarrettLover:
I really hope this is a nice surprise for you that I have updated this one finally. I am glad I brought Danny into it, I figured I couldn't have him back in Hawaii for even a short time and Danny not see him. I'm going to try to get those updated as well now that my passion is well and truly back for these stories.
Jag389:
Thank you, I appreciate your kind words.
Pilarmnavas:
Thank you very much, and yes it was very much a author's licence kind of thing.. I wanted Steve to say goodbye to Joe on the island, it felt important that he have his family with him when he do that.. I hope you like the next two I have done.
Zheth22:
Thank you so much and I am sorry for such a huge delay but I hope you still continue to read now I have updated it. I am certainly continuing with this.. It was always buy intention, it just got backburned for a while.
St:
Awe thank you so much, I appreciate your words, I hope you are reading my latest works as well, there are quite a few new ones now.
Navymcroll:
Aww I do as well, Danny, Cath and Steve work so well together xx
50fanofmcgarrett:
Aw thank you so much and I apologise for the delay, I hope you continue reading.
Guest:
Thank you, I appreciate your words.
Brooklyninrosewood:
Finally there is more, I have updated this story over a year later nearly and I am so sorry for the delay, but please read my other stories as well if you haven't already.
FicreaderT:
I appreciate your words, thank you so much.. I agree, there is so much unaccounted time and I am really loving that I can re-create this.. I am so sorry for the delay in this one, I hope you continue to read and enjoy.