Perfect
Pairing: McRoll
Based on ending for 10x22
(If you haven't watched the last episode of Hawaii five-0 season ten and do not wish to know what happens, do not read, this has massive spoilers)
Chapter one
It was a surreal feeling, after ten years on the island and he was leaving it all behind, even if it was just for a little while. Having received a text from Danny saying he missed him already, he quickly replied back, and then turned his phone to airplane mode, gazing out the window of the plane.
When he landed back on the island a ten years ago, he hit the ground running and he hadn't stopped since. It was his father that brought him back, his father's unfinished investigation that kept him on the island initially and then finding his Ohana that cemented Hawaii as his home once more.
It was time to look beyond that though.. He had spent so many years taking care of everyone else and keeping the island safe that he had forgotten to ensure he was happy. He had always felt happy in Hawaii with his Ohana and yet at the same time, he felt something was always missing..
"Is this seat taken?", that voice was so familiar to him, and he turned his head from the window to the familiar face standing right in front of him. His heart began to race, speeding up quickly at knowing she was there, the same way his heart beat had speed up when Lincoln Cole had mentioned her in the car.
After saying goodbye to Danny and the rest of the team, he wasn't expecting this, though he knew in his heart that he was planning on looking for her, that was a closely guarded secret, but it had been on his mind for a while now.. Ever since Joe and his mother died, he had wanted more than anything to have his happy ending.
"Catherine", his voice was husky and still a little emotional after the goodbyes he had endured at the house, and while his heart was racing a million miles an hour, he was trying to play it as cool as he could on the outside. Seeing that smile on her face, he knew she was still the one, would always still be his girl.
"Hey, Sailor", taking a moment to take her all in, it was then that he realised that after Cole's contact had been killed who was going to decrypt the cipher, Cole must have contacted Catherine. "It was you?", he asked in a curious but knowing way, even if it wasn't him directly asking him for a favour this time, she still came through for them all. "You cracked that cipher".
She smiled shyly and nodded her head, "Mm-hmm.. Lincoln, uh, got a hold of me. Said you guys needed some help, so yeah", it confirmed what he already knew, that Lincoln was a good man and that he would take care of the team in his absence, he could see the way the man looked at him when he told him that Catherine was the one that got away, and how it must have shown in Steve's eyes that the wasn't over it, hadn't moved on and is very much still in love with her.
He chuckled, and nodded in return, "He's a good man Lincoln". Steve always had trust issues, but he usually had a good radar on wether he could trust a new comer.. It was the same with Adam, Lou, with Tani and Junior, and with Quinn.. They all had a trust me feeling and it was the same feeling he had with Lincoln, that he could trust him to keep an eye on things and help out the team.. He had made him a member of the five-o task force, though Danny and Lou were the two in charge since they had seniority.
"Well he must be, I mean you gave him the keys to Danno's car", Catherine had always known that Lincoln was a good man, and it was good to see that Steve believed so as well. It was after all Lincoln that brought them back together, Lincoln being the one to give her the information on which flight he was flying on. She had only come back that same day, having only time to transfer from one flight to the next.
Chuckling a little with that grin of his, "Well, I mean, we can't have Danny Williams drive his own car". He liked to torment Danny over the years with the whole not letting the man drive his own vehicle, but he knew that Lincoln would hand those keys back over to Danny as soon as he was well enough to drive again.
Scoffing a little at his words and chuckling, "Like he ever did". One thing she admired about Steve and Danny's relationship was the whole bromance thing they had going on. It was really nice to know that while she was out doing her duty with the Navy and then with the CIA, that he had Danny and the rest of the five-ohana to take care of him.
Still continuing to stand, still feeling a little unsure about things, she waited for Steve to speak, and smiled when he asked her, "You gonna sit down?". She smiled, feeling more reassured about it and nodded, letting out a soft nervous giggle as she sat down, taking her bag from her shoulder and putting it down on the ground.
Just as she sat down and put her bag down, the seatbelt sign came on and both of them moved to buckle up their seatbelts.. This was a journey he was looking forward to, and though he was leaving behind some very special people, he knew that one day he would be back on the island with his Ohana, including Catherine.
Having spoken to Lincoln in depth over the last week since Steve had made his decision to leave the island, Catherine had ultimately decided to walk away from the CIA as well. She had already put her resignation in and was ready to follow Steve on whatever journey he decided to take.
Looking out the window once more, then turning his head to gaze into her eyes, her doing the same, both holding the gaze for a few moments, sitting back in her chair, her head on the headrest, she asked him one simple question that she hoped would convey everything she knew she needed to say later to him, to reassure him she was truly with him on this. "You ready?"
He nodded his head, giving it a moment before he answered her question with just one word, "Yeah". This was what he had been ready for along time ago but never realised till this last couple of years.. He was ready to start the next chapter of his life with Catherine.. She nodded her head and smiled softly, and then he did something that just about took her breath away.
Looking down at their hands, he held his hand out for her, his heart racing at the gesture, and he felt safe and protected for the first time in a long time when she moved her own hand closer and linked her hand in his, their fingers interlacing together, her own heart fluttering when she felt that physical contact with him.. This was a new start for the, a new beginning, and this little gesture meant the world her that she took a moment to marvel in their hands being linked before she moved her gaze back up towards Steve.
Sharing a smile with each other, she knew that they could make it work this time.. Both away from work and away from the distractions that always led them to be apart, now they could truly be in this together and start a life together, a life they had always both wanted to live.. They both had so much more to say, but it was a long flight and they had all the time the world when they got to their destination..
Author Notes
Well, well, well.. It all turned out sooo amazing in my opinion.. I really loved how it ended and that we as fans and as fan fiction writers can add on and imagine what comes next. As soon as I saw her face in it at the end on the plane, I got the inspiration to do this story. I'm always going to follow up my Winds of change/One for sorrow version where she came back to Steve when Doris died, but since we McRoll fans got our wish for Catherine and a happy McRoll ending, I thought I'd also do a version where it follows on from after the show.. The title for this story came from Ed Sheeran's Perfect, and as soon as I watched this episode, it felt perfect so I can think of no better title for it.
As always, it is a McRoll story first and foremost, however I am going to keep everyone up to date with what I think the five-o taskforce is doing, and how their stories are going to continue. I feel as though five-o wasn't disbanded like many thought it would be, it was left as it was, kind of how when Steve left to go find Shelbourne at the end of season two, and came back in season three and I feel that Lincoln Cole will remain on the island and help Danny and Lou as the senior guys now. I do feel sad for how Danny's character was left, however I do feel I understand why Peter Lenkov went in the direction he did with Steve.
As always, hit me up with ideas, things you might wanna see the team up to, this is quite obviously going to be a very different story then that of the Winds of change/One for Sorrow verse, any ideas or suggestions on any of my stories, let me know.. If you want to chat about how the show ended, don't hesitate to send me a PM. I'm really excited it ended this way because as sad as it was to see it end, it makes me feel more creative as a writer as well.
