Steve dropped the string of fish on the picnic table, "man bring food," he smiled speaking in a caveman dialect, "woman rewards man."
Lexi giggled as he playfully wrapped his hand around her long hair, gently pulled her head back and kissed her.
"Well," she said, taking his arm, "Come with me." She led him into the house and on the table was a dinner already prepared. "I went out and shot a bore, skinned him and made this for you."
"Ha ha, very funny," he scoffed, gently shoving her with his elbow, "Did Keha's wife make this?"
"Yes, he came by a little while ago." she walked over to a box, "He also brought some more water and muffins for breakfast."
"They're good people." he proclaimed, filtering through the duffle bag.
Lexi leaned against the table, "It seems to me everyone in Hawaii is 'good people'. I could get used to this way of life."
Steve pulled a shirt out of the bag and looked at her, not sure if she was making a statement or a question for him as to their future. He'd thought about the later of the two while he was fishing. LA was a long way from the islands and just the thought of her leaving made him cringe. He pulled the shirt over his head and took a seat at the table. Lexi took the other. She started to reach for some bread and he took her chair and turned it in his direction so they were facing each other. "This is really hard for me. I'm not sure what you want me to say." he shook his head, "I'm not easy to be around. I'm stubborn, hard headed. I'm on call 24 hrs a day. Sometimes I work late and don't make it home at all. When I am home, I'm pretty set in my ways."
"What are you trying to tell me exactly?" she asked, "You don't have room in your life for a relationship?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying, but I guess what I'm trying to tell you is that," he took her hand, "I would really love it if you were here all the time, in Hawaii, but I can't promise you that I'll be available all the time."
She was glad he was being honest with her, and she knew he was sincere when he said he would want her there all the time. She wasn't sure herself if she could sell everything and move 2,000 miles away for a man she just met. But there was something about the two of them together that just felt natural, comfortable and right. Neither one could decipher it, it was just there. He was so much like her father in so many ways, that serious Navy attitude that everything had to be thought out and planned. Just like her father though, once you broke through the ice, they melted into a real heartfelt human being, somehow from what she had seen from Steve so far, he was the same way.
"Not everything has to be planned on paper you know." she smiled cleverly, "some missions are just played by ear. They can turn out to be the most successful."
He chuckled at her parody of his lifestyle; somehow she always managed to turn his absolute reasoning into mush. "I'm being too serious again aren't I?"
She moved her chair away and reached for the bread, "You're a planner, a Navy man, there's nothing wrong with that." She scooped up some of the pork meat and set it on his plate, "if you're happy with the way you live your life, then you're very lucky and shouldn't change a thing."
"What about you?" he asked curiously, "are you happy with your life in LA?" he watched her face closely trying to read her, but her response was so open and honest that it surprised him.
"Yes," she looked at him directly, "I was, until I met you, now I'm not so sure."
He nodded in agreement, "Me too." He reached over, running his hand slowly through her long, silk hair, letting it gently sift through his fingers. She had a subtle way of pointing out the obvious to him. He thought he was content too, but now, after being with her, he wasn't so sure he was ever really happy, because if this is what it's supposed to feel like, then he was missing it in his life, until now. He just didn't know how to explain it to her. Everything he ever did was rationalized, but he had absolutely no explanation for why he was falling in love with her after only two days. It was impossible, but after making love to her on the beach and sitting across from her now, it was unmistakable. It was happening, whether he could rationalize it or not.
A breeze blew in through the window and Lexi unknowingly in her sleep huddled closer to him. Her body was draped over his, protecting him from the chill. He carefully reached down and pulled the blanket over her, wrapping his arms around her. Lexi slowly came out of her slumber, instantly aware of her body's sensations. She lifted her head off his shoulder and faced him. It was dark in the room but she could see him even without the light, his image was etched in her mind. His hands slowly moved over her naked body in a way that she'd never been touched before. It was the same motion when he made love to her, it wasn't rushed or demanding, it was calm and precise.
She smiled sweetly and leaned down, whispering in his ear, "You feel it too, don't you?"
Her comment needed no explanation, not only did he feel it, he was relieved to know that he wasn't in this alone, that maybe it wasn't as crazy as he thought. "I'll find the time for you." he said quietly, "If you come to Hawaii, I'll make the time for you."
Lexi laid her head back down on his shoulder, "You and paradise?" she smiled, "How could I ever turn that down." She felt his arms tighten around her.
Lexi stood on the beach looking out toward the water. "What a beautiful day." She took in a deep breath, enjoying the moment and the view. The morning sun was already warming the air, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the ocean was calm and as smooth as glass.
Steve came up behind her, carrying two sets of goggles and the spear gun. "Almost like Paradise?" he asked. "It's like this practically everyday."
She reached out and caught the tail of his shirt as he walked by. "Please tell me you still appreciate this everyday."
He smiled at her, "I appreciate it more and more everyday. You never know what gift the Hawaiian Akua's will grant you." he wrapped an arm around her waist, "sometimes they're very," he pulled her closer, "very generous."
Lexi looked into his smiling blue eyes and felt completely at ease, "Hmmm, you know…" she sighed, "when you cut through all that Navy Seal, ninja with a gun, tough guy persona," she wrapped her arms around his neck, "you're quite the romantic."
Steve laughed out loud at her statement.
She playfully smacked him on the arm, "You are."
He put his finger up to her lips, "Shhhh…don't wake him. I've never let him out before, I'm not sure what he's capable of."
She snickered at him, "Don't mock me. I'm going to tell Danny and everyone on your team how sweet you can be, and in your precinct, and their wives!"
His smile faded and he glared at her, "Well that does it then." Lexi screamed as he bent down and scooped her up over his shoulder, "I'm going to have to drown you."
She didn't fight as he carried her out into the water, "Oh please, please officer…" she teased, lifting his shirt and caressing his back, "I'll do anything if you spare my life."
He stopped when he was waist high and she slid down his body until they were facing. "OK, I won't drown you, but that statement might come back to haunt you someday." He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth and held up the goggles, "Are you coming out with me?"
She took them from his hand, "Yes, but I don't want to fish. I don't like going that deep." she cringed, "I'm claustrophobic, even in the water."
He looked at her questionably, "But you like the water, right?"
"Yes. I love swimming, surfing, snorkeling, I just don't like diving way under."
"Fair enough."
Lexi swam next to him until he went down deep. She stayed on top and watched through the clear water as he speared a fish in a matter minutes, and then another. After two more catches he swam over to where she was. He held up the four he had caught, "Do you think this is enough? I don't want to waste them."
"They look perfect. Nice job Tarzan." She took off her mask and laid back in the water and started kicking back toward the shore. She could feel the reflection of the sun off the water beginning to burn her legs. She already had a tan from living in LA, but she knew the Hawaiian sun could be dangerous if not respected. By the time she made it to the beach Steve was not far behind. She yelled out to him, "I'm going up. I feel a sunburn."
He stood up in the chest high water taking off his fins, "Ok, I'm right behind you."
Lexi sprinted up the sand toward the house. The late morning breeze dried her skin before she made it there. She stopped at the picnic table and wiped the sand from her feet before going inside. She looked back toward the water and saw him walking up with the fish in tow, holding them up and admiring them. He looked so beautiful and boyish at that second. The feeling started someplace deep inside her and moved through her body until it ended up on the tip of her tongue as words that flowed out of no where, "I love you." She realized she was smiling when she said it. To her relief, he was still to far away to hear her. Her smile quickly faded when the reality of where she was and why she was there came creeping back into her thoughts. This place was so captivating it could make anyone fall in love. As she walked into the house she was so caught up in her own thoughts she didn't notice the presence of another person. Before she could react, it was too late.
Steve set down the spear gun and laid the fish on the table. They weren't the biggest he'd ever caught but decided they were good enough. He looked toward the open door and yelled out to her, "Lexi, will you bring me that knife sitting on the counter?" When she didn't respond he walked toward the door, "Lex?" he asked again. He heard a faint muffled scream from inside and instantly became aware that something was wrong. He stopped and leaned against the outside of the house and peered inside at his gun sitting on the table partially under the blanket. He cursed himself for not having it on him. A small pile of wood was stacked next to his feet and he reached down, picking up one of the logs. He flung it against the window shattering the glass; in the same motion he stepped inside the house and reached for his gun.
Lexi felt the knife against her neck as she and the man both turned toward the commotion. In the next second Steve was standing in the doorway with his gun pointed at them.
"Let her go!" he demanded in a calm but fierce voice. He had both hands on the weapon and tried to take aim at somewhere on the man's body, but all was concealed by Lexi.
The man had been told that McGarrett's aim was deadly accurate. He had one hand over Lexi's mouth and the other one had the knifepoint against her throat. "We're walking out that door."
Steve shook his head, "No your not. I'll kill you first."
Lexi tried to struggle but as she did he pushed the knife slightly into her skin, drawing blood. She winced at the pain and looked up at Steve's expression as it turned from a controlled anger to a furious rage. He stepped closer to them, speaking through gritted teeth, "If you hurt her, I'll cut your fucking heart out!"
The man smiled devilishly at Steve and glided the knife over Lexi's throat, pretending to slice it open. "Don't miss and hit her." He moved positions and grabbed the back of Lexi's hair pulling her head back. She groaned from the force and blood from the wound dripped down her throat in a small stream.
Steve's adrenaline was beyond capacity. He searched out any scenario to end this conflict. He couldn't get a clean shot at him and was afraid he might hit Lexi. If it was anyone else he might have made a move already but he just couldn't make a clear plan in his head that wouldn't keep her 100% safe. His body stiffened when he felt the barrel of the gun against his neck.
"Drop it," the voice behind him said.
Steve let the handle of the gun go. It dangled on his trigger finger. The barrel faced the ground but he didn't drop it on purpose. As soon as the hand came around to grab it, he made his move.
Lexi couldn't see, but heard the commotion at the door as the man holding her head back jerked her harder, throwing her on the floor. She reached out a hand grabbing him by the shin as he tried to help his partner. He fell to the floor and as she reached out to grab his hand with the knife he came around too quickly, stabbing her in the left shoulder.
Steve had begun to get the upper hand when he heard Lexi cry out. It wasn't a scream from fear, it was pain. He saw the man raising the knife again toward her and he dove at him. His right hand grabbed onto his wrist, holding the knife, while his other went for the man's throat, squeezing the life out of him.
"Steve!" Lexi screamed out. He looked over toward her as she sat up, her left arm limp, she lunged toward him with her good arm extended, trying to protect him. The blow to the side of his head sent him flying off the man. He felt dazed and rolled over onto his stomach, pushing himself off the floor. Lexi reached for the knife, taking it easily from the exasperated man. She swung around at his partner, missing him. He came back at her, hitting her hard in the face with his fist.
"Take her outside to the boat!" the second one yelled. He then turned to Steve as he struggled to stand. Blood poured from the open wound on his forehead. The man mercilessly hit him in the gut with the log, sending him to the floor again.
Steve reached out for Lexi as the other one drug her limp body toward the door. "Lexi!" he gritted through the pain and tried to stand up again, "I'm going to kill the both of you!"
The man smiled and watched him struggle to stand up. Blood dripped off Steve's chin forming a puddle on the floor. The man spit blood from his mouth onto the floor next to him, from their earlier struggle. "You're going to kill me?" he mocked Steve, leaning in toward him. "C'mon you bad ass Seal…kill me," he laughed.
Steve pushed off the floor before the man had a chance to react. The blood in his eye left him partially blinded but he knew exactly where his target was located. He could have attacked blind folded. He went low, tackling him around the waist and driving him backwards toward the table. They both crashed into the chairs, breaking one of them.
Lexi slowly came too and was instantly aware of her dilemma. She tried to push off the man dragging her across the beach but when she lifted her left arm she cried out in pain from the knife wound. "Take her!" he yelled to another man. She watched him jump out of a boat that was bobbing in the surf and run toward them. "Give me your gun!" he demanded, "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch!"
"No!" Lexi screamed trying to fight them off as she watched him run back toward the house. She felt a prick in her arm and turned to see him ejecting something into her. Her vision blurred and the last thing she remembered was hearing the gunshot and screaming his name.
Steve dove for his gun that was just feet from where they landed. He rolled over on his back and fired two shots into the chest of the man. He stumbled backwards toward the door staring at Steve wondering how in the hell he was able to get the better of him. He fell against the doorframe before falling to the ground, dead.
His partner heard the shot and stopped in the sand. He raised his gun when he saw someone coming out of the house. When he realized what was happening he remembered the only advice they had given him, McGarrett has deadly accurate aim. He turned and headed back toward the boat, forgoing a show down with him.
Steve held the gun out in front of him and braced himself against the doorframe. He stepped over the dead man and made it to the picnic table before having to catch his balance again. His head was pounding and the relentless blood coming from his wound had a straight path right into his eye. He wiped his hand across his face and looked out to where the boat was. He saw a man running toward the water and raised his gun, firing a shot at him. He pushed himself off the table and started running toward him. He got about fifty feet when his body felt like it hit a brick wall. He forced himself to take another step, and another. He had to get to Lexi. If they got her off the island, they would kill her and he loved her too much to let that happen. By the time he made it to the beach the boat was gone. He dropped to his knees in the surf, barely conscious, "Lexi!" he cried out before collapsing in the water.
Keha watched as Steve fell face first into the surf. His body motionless. He dropped his rifle in the sand and ran as fast as he could to him. He grabbed him by the back of his shirt, lifting his face out of the water. He rolled him over and got him into a sitting position, putting his arms around him and lifting him off the ground and at the same time forcing whatever water was in his lungs out. Steve's body unconsciously convulsed the seawater out. Keha lifted him over his shoulder and made his way back toward the house and to his truck. He looked back over his shoulder one last time in hopes of seeing the woman, but he knew they had taken her. If only he could have got word a few minutes sooner of the approaching boat, he might have been able to help.