Chapter 7

"At the end of the day, no matter what we did, we did it together." – Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV

.

The first thing that struck Magnum when he woke up was the throbbing pain at his side that was steadily keeping pace with the dull pounding in his head. His eyelids felt weighted shut and it took some effort to open his eyes. For a moment, he blinked blearily at the ceiling, mentally cataloging the parts of his body that were aching before deciding that he was sore all over. Slowly, a familiar sound filtered through – the gentle tapping of a keyboard, and he turned his head slightly towards it. He smiled drowsily when his gaze fell on the lone figure seated on a chair beside his bed.

"Hey," he rasped, voice husky from sleep. Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position. Leaning against the headboard, he rubbed his eyes, feeling groggy and more than a little disorientated. "What are you doing here?"

Looking up from her laptop, Higgins couldn't help but return the sleepy smile. "I'm sorry if I woke you up," she said, her voice soft and low. "I was just finishing up these reports for Robin."

"Don't worry about it," he waved away her apology, hiding a yawn behind his hand. "I've been doing nothing but sleep since I got back from the hospital. I even fell asleep after you left me alone with your hellhounds yesterday…" he broke off, looking a little appalled at the memory.

"You're still healing, you need the rest," she raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh at his expression. What he didn't know was that she'd checked in on him later that evening and was pleased to find him fast asleep with the lads surrounding him protectively. They made such a lovely, peaceful picture that she couldn't resist capturing the moment. Kumu loved the photo.

"I'm aware that plenty of rest is required for broken ribs but I've been getting so much of it I'm starting to feel like I'm part of the furniture," Magnum's grumbled reply brought her out of her musings and she watched as he squinted at his wrist before he remembered that he wasn't wearing his watch.

"What time is it?"

"A little after two," she answered. "You were nodding over lunch earlier so Rick and TC helped you to bed. Though at first, you kept insisting on cramming yourself onto the couch… again."

"It's a really comfortable couch. Don't knock it till you've tried it," Thomas grinned. He rubbed a tired hand across his face. "I don't remember much after sitting down at the table," he complained with a dramatic sigh that had Juliet rolling her eyes in amusement.

"Perhaps you could try avoiding trouble for a change."

He made a face at her remark, making her smile, but seemed to be contemplating her words seriously, lost in thought, so she went back to work on her laptop.

"Hey, Higgy?"

"Hmmm…?" she replied distractedly at the soft call, her attention still on the screen before her.

"I never got to thank you for the save."

"Well, technically, you helped save yourself – though we still need to have a conversation about that enormous and incredibly reckless risk you took," Juliet looked up, her expression turning serious as she met his solemn gaze. "I wasn't able to track the car you were in once it was out of range of the satellite. If you hadn't called Rick when you did…"

"Hey, hey," he said when she trailed off. "I'm okay. And we got the bad guys–"

"This time, Magnum." She gave him a hard stare. "What happens next time? One day, you're going to use up those nine lives of yours and then what?"

"Look, that's never going to happen," he reassured her with a boyish grin. "Not as long as I have you and the guys watching my back."

Higgins studied the eternal optimist before her for a moment, her expression softening. She'd come to realise that it was almost impossible to stay angry at him. She wasn't sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way, Magnum, Rick, and TC had come to mean the world to her, and she couldn't remember the last time she had friends who made her feel like she was part of a family.

"I shall be holding you to that promise," she finally said with a soft smile. Closing her laptop, she stood up when he yawned once more. "Get some rest, Thomas, I'll check in on you later."

"Thanks, Juliet."

~O~O~O~

Katsumoto dropped by Robin's Nest the next day to give them an update on the case and to look in on Magnum, though he would deny the second reason for his visit if anyone were to ask. Walking into the guesthouse, he wasn't surprised to find Rick and TC making themselves completely at home in the kitchen.

"Hey, Katsumoto!" Rick greeted, waving a slice of bread around. "Would you like some of my patented baloney and pineapple sandwiches?"

"Thanks, I'm good," the HPD detective answered, taking a peek at his watch. "Breakfast was… what? Two hours ago?"

"Yep," TC nodded, grinning. "Then we got hungry."

Accepting a cup of coffee from the big man, Katsumoto sat at the counter and watched the former Marines make short work of the sandwiches. "How do you patent a baloney and pineapple sandwich, anyway?"

"What?" Rick mumbled, his mouth full, and then shrugged. "I know a guy."

"Of course you do," Gordon replied, amused by the candid answer. "Why do I even bother asking?"

"I'd say welcome to the club but I think you're already a full-time member by now," TC chuckled. "So, here to see Thomas?"

"And Higgins – I thought she was here too since she was the one who buzzed me in," Katsumoto looked around. "Where are they?"

"They're both at the beach. Our boy was feeling a little cooped up after an entire day in bed so we made a space for him be out in the open while still getting the rest he needs," Rick said and indicated with a tilt of his head. "C'mon, I think it's time we joined them."

~O~O~O~

The occasional, almost imperceptible, sounds of contentment emitting from her companion, who was lying down on a similar deck chair next to her, was enough to make Juliet smile. Rick and TC had set up several of the comfortable chairs in a small, shady area on the private beach after breakfast, after they caught sight of the extreme longing on the recovering man's face when he'd looked out towards the sea from the kitchen. To say that Thomas had been ecstatic when he found out about the arrangement would had been an understatement. Turning her head, she almost laughed aloud at the blissful look on his face when he glanced over and met her eyes.

"Katsumoto's here," she said casually as she sat up.

His sleepy, relaxed look disappeared as his eyes widened. "Really?" He paused, head cocked to one side, as they both heard the sound of footsteps drawing nearer. "Wait, he's right behind me, isn't he?"

"Nice to see you too, Magnum," Katsumoto replied with an answering smile when he caught sight of the grin on the other man's face. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks," Thomas said, sitting up carefully. He waited until the three men were seated on the other chairs before asking, "Here to fill in some of the blanks for us?"

"It depends," the HPD detective answered enigmatically. "What would you like to know?"

"Did you find the laptop?"

"It was in Beck's office at the warehouse where Magnum was held," Katsumoto answered Higgins' question with a nod. "It would have taken us awhile to crack the encryption on the flash drive without it. Because we already knew what to look for, we also found a hidden partition on the device, and a lot more files there."

"Aiona did say that the couple of files she managed to open had names and numbers on them…" Magnum remarked thoughtfully.

"Actually, the files had more than that. They contained details of Beck's operation, including associates, accomplices, and collaborators. We also uncovered a list of names of those who were being blackmailed into doing his dirty work for him."

Higgins tilted her head slightly. "I take it you found his man inside the department?"

"We did," Katsumoto replied but offered no other details. He could tell that Magnum was especially curious and appreciated the fact that the PI refrained from asking further about the internal HPD matter.

"Huh… no wonder the guy was so desperate to get it back," TC commented from his seat beside Rick.

The HPD detective nodded. "Beck kept meticulous records and this allowed us to shut down his operation for good." Katsumoto looked over at Magnum. "In addition to all that, we also have him on kidnapping, aggravated assault, and attempted murder. Thanks to both you and Aiona, he and his men will be going away for a very long time."

"Good," Rick grunted, a simple answer that belied the dangerous flicker in his eyes, one that was reflected in TC's as well.

It was there a second and gone the next, but it was a stark reminder that while Magnum and his buddies might look like average, ordinary guys, they were anything but that. Behind their pleasant and seemingly harmless demeanour were highly trained, battle-tested special operators who went through and survived some of the worst horrors of war. Remembering his own rush of anger when he first caught sight of Beck standing over the semi-conscious PI with a cruel smile on his face, obviously enjoying Magnum's pain, Katsumoto was once again grateful that no one else saw what happened but him. Otherwise, he would have had to deal with the wrath of two former Marines and one former covert operative on top of everything else that happened that day.

"I'm glad you're all here," Magnum spoke up, breaking the silence that had fallen over the group and drawing everyone's attention to him. "I'd like to say I really appreciate you guys having my back the other day..."

"I'm just glad we got to you when we did," Rick frowned at the memory of the close call. "And since you brought it up, it's time we talked about that totally insane stunt you pulled."

"I know that it was a risk–"

"Risk?" Rick interjected, his voice rising. "What you did went way beyond letting two attack dogs out of the back of a car and hoping that they'd go for the bad guys instead of you."

"He's absolutely right, Magnum," Higgins agreed, her disapproval obvious. "They could have easily killed you and gone for the flash drive on their own."

Magnum shook his head. "I know Beck's type. He likes to gloat – nothing was going to happen to me until he got what he wanted."

"I wouldn't exactly say nothing happened to you…" Rick scowled, the memory of Thomas' various injuries still vivid in his mind. "If I remember correctly, your bruises had bruises, on top of bruises…"

"Don't forget all that blood…"

Rick looked towards TC with huge eyes at his statement. "And the almost dying on us part!"

Thomas blinked in bemusement at his best friends for a moment.

"Okay, I take it back – it wasn't nothing," he amended, clearing his throat. "Look, it was the only move I had left at the time," he continued, an earnest look on his face. "I had no idea where I was, and we all knew that even if you managed to pinpoint my location, it would have been too late. At the rate they were searching the place, they were going to find me before you even got there. The only way was to bring them to you instead."

"Still… it was one crazy plan, TM, even by your standards," TC muttered, shaking his head.

"I know and I'm sorry that I scared all of you." He saw the glint in Rick's eye and quickly added, "I promise not to do it again."

Rick shot TC an incredulous look. "You know what, man? If we had a dollar each time he says that, I think we could retire by now."

"Hold on!" Magnum protested with a laugh. "Okay, I promise to try my best not to do that again."

"What do you think?" Rick asked, looking at the rest of their friends. "Should we let him off the hook so easily?"

Higgins pursed her lips. "I don't know…"

"Well, you could always let him buy you gifts that you're allergic to before you forgive him," Gordon suggested drolly, highly entertained by the entire conversation.

"Come on, Katsumoto!" Magnum huffed. "I was trying to apologise at the time. How was I supposed to know you were allergic to macadamia nuts?"

"I'm allergic to all nuts, Magnum," the HPD detective retorted, straight-faced. "Especially you."

"Haha, very funny," Thomas answered grumpily as his friends sniggered. TC's chortle was especially loud and it set off another round of laughter that even he couldn't help but join in.

"All right," Rick announced, standing up and stretching. "Since we've officially scared away all the wildlife from this area, it's now time for me to go set up for another night of off-key singing. Miss out on a microphone or forget to load a song and you'd think the whole world was ending."

"They take their karaoke that seriously?" Juliet asked, looking amused at the notion.

"You have no idea." Rick grinned. "You know what? Come for the next karaoke night, or when Thomas is better. We can do a song together as a group."

"As long as I get to pick the song," TC said as he eyed Magnum, who looked suspiciously back at him. "The last time TM got to choose, we almost got kicked out of the bar."

"But it was a good song!"

"No, man… it wasn't…"

~O~O~O~

It took Thomas a few more days after Katsumoto's visit before he felt well enough to resume his normal routine. His ribs and wounds were healing well enough, he was on the mend, and he finally shook off the lethargic feeling that had plagued him since he left the hospital. He even got used to having Zeus and Apollo around after his initial pushback. It wasn't something he'd admit to Higgins but, in some way, he missed their constant and steadying presence when she finally decided they weren't required to watch over him any longer. At the rate he was recovering, it wouldn't be long before they were chasing him around the estate once more. But if that was the price for normalcy, he was more than happy to pay it.

It was another week later, on a beautiful sunny morning, when the call came in, just as he'd returned from his time out in the ocean on the surf ski. Hanging up the phone after a brief conversation, Magnum pondered the reason behind it awhile before deciding to head over to La Mariana to update his brothers.

"Hey!" Rick called out enthusiastically from behind the bar the moment his friend walked through the main entrance. "Look who the cat dragged in."

"I think you meant who got dragged into the hospital the other day," TC said cheekily. Magnum shot him a look that had the big man guffawing. "Too soon?"

Thomas couldn't help but laugh at that, giving TC a quick hug before taking a seat at the bar.

Rick grinned as he exchanged a fist bump with the younger man. "Good to see you, buddy," he said, sliding a bottle of beer towards Magnum before pulling it back. "Wait, you are allowed to have alcohol, right?"

"Yes! Finished the meds a few days back," the PI said as he happily accepted the beer. "I definitely won't miss being half asleep half the time."

"Or the watchdogs," Rick added, and then narrowed his eyes at the odd expression that crossed his friend's face. "Or do you…?"

Magnum hummed, suddenly very interested in the label of his beer bottle.

"I knew it!" Rick crowed. "You miss them!"

"I wouldn't go that far…" Magnum protested with a sheepish look. "But yeah, it was kind of nice having them around for those couple of days." He paused and then added quickly, "Don't tell Higgins."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she already knows about it."

Thomas considered TC's statement seriously for a bit and then grinned. "That's probably true but just in case, don't say anything to her."

"Our lips are sealed," the pilot chuckled.

Rick's sharp eyes caught a look in Magnum's eyes as the laughter tapered off.

"Okay, what is it?" he said, throwing the cloth he'd been using to wipe the bar counter over his shoulder. "Spill."

Magnum looked up from his beer. "Got word – I've been called up."

Rick leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "Yeah? When are you leaving?"

"I'm not sure – the briefing with Captain Greene's tomorrow."

"Okay, we'll head over to the Nest after breakfast," the former Marine door gunner declared after exchanging a look with TC.

"You don't have to do that…"

"Hey, it'll be a chance for us to catch up with Higgy and Kumu," TC replied easily.

"In that case, I'd appreciate you both coming over tomorrow," Magnum said with a small, thankful smile, and then cocked his head towards their usual booth. "Want to grab some lunch together before I head out to meet my new client?"

"I could eat," Rick mused.

"You could pass on a few meals."

"Just what are you trying to say, Theodore?"

"That you may have some trouble fitting into your uniform, Orville."

"Hello, pot, nice to meet you."

"Just calling it as I see it, my brother."

Thomas shook his head in amusement as his buddies continued to trade insults; the sound of it both reassuring and familiar. He wasn't sure what he did to deserve incomparable friends like Nuzo, Rick, and TC, who always had his back no matter what – to the point of risking their lives for him. Or Robin, who made it possible for them to start over in Hawaii, as if the writer somehow knew that keeping all four together was the key to helping them heal after their ordeal in Afghanistan.

After his talk with Rick and TC the other night, before the start of the whole fiasco with Beck, the razor-sharp pang of despair that would hit him whenever he thought of Nuzo or the anger towards himself each time he remembered his inability to save one of his best friends had lessened somewhat. He knew those feelings would never fully go away but Thomas recognised that he was now ready to forgive himself for what he deemed as one of his greatest failures.

And while no one could ever replace Nuzo, in the short time since settling here, his small family – his Ohana – had grown to include Higgins, Kumu, and much to his surprise, Katsumoto. Not forgetting a circle of friends whom he could count on like Shammy and Noelani… even Jin. One thing was certain; he couldn't have asked for or found a better family of friends.

"Guys!" he quickly broke in before the bickering between Rick and TC could progress further. At the rate they were going, the three of them would still be at the bar when dinnertime rolled by. "Could we at least get some food while you two continue to argue–"

"Discuss…" Rick interrupted with a raised finger.

"Fine," the PI conceded with a look of fond exasperation. "Can we please go eat while the two of you continue to discuss this, whatever this is…?"

Laughing, TC draped an arm over Thomas' shoulder as Rick grinned at them from behind the bar. "Lead the way, brother, lead the way."

.

The End

A/N: Well, that's it, folks! Thank you for joining me on my first foray into this fandom, and especially for the reviews, favourites, and alerts. You've been great!
To Drjscully, Cottsie, Lhaven: You've been nothing but amazing! Thanks so much for staying with me and for your encouraging reviews for Chapter 6 (and 5 as well from Cottsie)!

Finally, much love to sHoT for the beta! XOXO