Chapter 12

"She disappeared," Kono repeated flatly. "Another identity?"

Chin was already typing, searching cyberspace. "Nothing on Emma's credit cards, and she transferred her funds somewhere I can't find them. We can get cyber on this but It will take a while."

Steve's elbows were on his desk, forehead in his hands. "Get notification to the airports and ports, get a bolo out."

The team exchanged concerned looks, and silently elected Danno to speak. "Steve…are you sure that's the best idea? I mean…she's not...she's not a perp. She's just scared."

"Yes, I'm sure. We need to know where she is in order to protect her. If she wants to be safe, why didn't she stay under HPD protection? Why didn't she call me? We're going to find Carrey, and we're going to put him away," Steve said tensely as he ran his hand over his head. His hair was messy and a millimeter longer than it normally was, but by Steve's standards it was a foot, a glaring sign that his routine had been compromised. "She's scared," he repeated. There was a moment of silence as he processed everything.

Lou put a large hand on Steve's shoulder. "Maybe it's the best thing for her. Fresh start, you know?"

Steve shrugged it off silently as he felt the team's gaze waiting for his response. He felt a fight in his chest, begging for him to pull her back, back into the place where he could watch over her, the place where he could put up walls around her…and shoot anyone who tried to hurt her. But at the same time… "I just picture her, you know, starting over in a new place. Forced to leave her home, again, because some asshole teens wanted money. I mean, how is she supposed to live a normal life when she's constantly checking over her shoulder for…him?"

"It's her decision, Steve," Kono reminded him, "She gets to make the choices in her life, she's taking control where she can get it."

Finally, Steve felt himself giving up. "She's making herself feel safe. Fight or flight, right?" The others nodded. "Okay, yeah. Um, go home. Take some time, take care of yourselves, yeah?" They nodded again.

Danno tilted his head curiously. "Steve, you good? Want me to give you a ride?"

"I'm good, I'm fine, don't worry about it. I'm gonna, I'm just gonna go home. Maybe go surfing. Surf report?" Obviously changing the subject, he looked to Chin and Kono.

Kono nodded quickly, "Yeah, they look good. Diamond head has some crests, but I was going to check out the bowls tonight."

Steve was gathering his things, "Yeah, maybe I'll see you there. Like I said, everyone, go home, get out of here."

Danny nodded and flapped his hands, shooing them out of the office. "You heard the boss, early release. Go get your vitamin D and get some grub."

The team split and all went separate ways, but instead of driving home, Steve felt himself pulled in the direction of the flower shop. He parked outside, and his heart thumped loudly as he saw Emma's silhouette inside the store. When he went to the door, it was locked, and when he rapped lightly on the window he saw her tense. For a moment, he thought she would turn him away, but she strode over and unlocked the door. "Steve," she greeted cautiously. "Come to arrest me?"

"Where's Lily?" He replied, diffusing her tension.

"She insisted on making me a lei before I left." It sounded like a complaint, but Steve could see the love in her words. It was obvious that Lily was Emma's best friend on the island, and in a second he realized how scared she must be to leave this shop and this life behind her.

"So, you're leaving again. You're running?"

"I am."

"And you have what you need?"

"I do." Lily bustled out of the back room and placed the orange ilima lei over Emma's head, kissing both of her cheeks.

"You," she said to Steve, "Out."

He bowed his head, "I'll be waiting outside." He leaned against his car and tried not to watch the two women through the window. Although Steve had expected tears, they simply held hands and spoke to each other, Liliuokalani occasionally cupping Emma's cheek in her dry palm. Finally, Emma exited the shop and approached Steve.

"Need a ride to the airport?" He asked lightly, "I know a shortcut."

"I'm not going to the airport," she replied. Finally at a loss for words, Steve stared at her. She looked away for a second, but then met his gaze fiercely. "I did a thing."

"A thing," Steve repeated.

"It's not entirely legal," she continued. His eyebrows rose, but he stayed silent. "I found him. I pulled a list of…" she cut herself off, taking a deep breath. "You don't need to know how I did it."

Steve was unable to contain himself. "Emma, that's great! That's…but you're not staying?"

"You don't have anything to hold him, do you?" When Steve didn't respond, she smirked. "That's what I thought. This is me, getting a head start."

"You don't have to go!" Steve blurted desperately. He didn't know where the emotion was coming from, only that it was there. "You can stay in Hawaii, you can move in with me! I'll make sure you're safe."

"I can't move in with you."

"Well, then, we'll find you another place. The whole team will help. You can keep your job at the shop. You can keep Lily." Finally, he saw tears form in her eyes, but they were tears of frustration.

"Steve, stop! You don't understand. I need this. Hawaii…it was never home for me. As soon as those boys stepped through my door, I lost it. I lost the security that the island was giving me, and the easiest way to get that back is…to leave."

"You can stay, you can fight." He stepped toward her, but she held out a hand to stop his advance.

"I can't fight right now."

"I'll help you."

She rolled her eyes and threw her hands up. "You're useless." But she could tell that he was only trying half-heartedly to get her to stay, not able to give up.

"So, there's nothing I can do?" Steve asked.

"Of course there's something. Go arrest the bastard."

Steve smiled darkly, "Looking forward to it." He paused again, then let himself really look at her. Her strength, her beaty, her fierceness. "So, this is goodbye?" She nodded, and, at a loss for what to do, he offered his hand. She shook it, a wry smile on her face. "Goodbye, Emma."

"Danielle," she corrected. "Steve, I really appreciate everything. Seriously, everything."

"Well, Danielle…" the name felt funny on his tongue, "I'll do it again. You just say the word."

"Bye, Steve." He was the one to walk away, slipping into the driver's seat and pulling into traffic without looking back. It didn't sit entirely right with him, leaving her on the edge of the road, but he put it out of his mind as he called Danno.

"Hey, Danny, I'm picking you up in fifteen….yeah, yeah…we've got a perp to put away."

Well folks, that's the end. I really hate cliche endings and happily-ever-afters, so...sorry if that's your thing. This was my first H50 story, but check out my profile for NCIS, Criminal Minds, leverage, and SVU stories. Thanks for reading!