Chapter 15

"Awkward Moments"

Lynch closed his eyes and held his fists against the sides of his head, "I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy." He opened his eyes again and blinked several times. T.J. was still standing before him and Keller was still sitting in a chair with a smug expression. "Someone better tell me what's going on. Now!"

Keller's mouth stretched into a smirk. "I would say you've been set up, J.J.. But maybe I'm still a little confused from the trauma I've been through."

"I'll show you trauma." Lynch stepped forward, but staggered to his left, but was helped into a chair by Arthur.

"I see someone gave you pain meds," Keller observed. "I'm sure it was more to keep you subdued than to ease your discomfort."

"Mr. Keller," Arthur Stetson broke in, "you would do well to keep your words to a minimum."

Keller snorted, but refrained from speaking.

Slouching in a high backed chair, Lynch rubbed his eyes. "T.J., I thought you were dead."

"That was exactly what you were supposed to think," he replied. "We had to sell it to Five-0 and from what I hear of your performance, I think we did."

"So…did anyone die?"

"No one died. The lead vehicle was driven remotely and my death, well, that was a bit more complicated. Do you want me to explain?"

"No, I've seen The Sting, I know how it works."

T.J. shook his head. "It was a little more involved than in that movie."

"I- just forget it.' He waved his hand to stop any further explanation.

Keller was amused by the whole situation. "I think the whole plan was quite clever and very well executed, especially you getting shot."

Lynch glared at him, but rested his head against the chair. "I don't know why this happened, but I'm going to figure it out. And I sure as hell am going to find the SOB who put a bullet in me." With that he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Arthur retrieved a blanket from a nearby chest and laid it over the young man's lap.

Keller stood and began making his way toward the door at the front of the room. "Well, it's been real, gentlemen. See you at our next reunion."

"Save it Keller," Mr. Hamilton ordered. "You're not going anywhere,"

A smile touched Keller's lips as he turned to face the man who had just entered the room through a hidden door in the paneled wall. "And how are you dear old dad-in-law. It's been a long time."

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

Natalie wasn't going to be dissuaded from pairing her Uncle Nate with Kono. She cleverly chose the version of hide and seek that would force them to be close together. The little girl knew her Uncle Nate was hiding downstairs, so she was pretending to look for him upstairs. That way Kono would find him first and be forced to hide with him until Natalie decided to end the game.

For now she would stay where she was, lying on her stomach on Steve's bed, listening and waiting. She sighed. This matchmaking business was really hard work, but her Uncle Nate and Kono were meant to be together. She decided it would be worth it in the end. I wonder how Kono's doing down there anyway? Natalie thought.

Kono was halfheartedly looking for Nate because she certainly didn't want to locate him before Natalie did. She looked around the corner of the living room and spotted Nate wedged behind one of the glass doors that separated the two rooms. She thought about walking away, but they had made eye contact. It would be more awkward to pretend she hadn't see him then to actually hide with him.

"This is kind of a lame hiding spot, don't you think?" Kono whispered.

He shrugged. "I hide easy or impossible, never in between."

"You play this often?"

"Don't you?" he smirked.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, when we're trying to find a suspect."

Nate smiled. "Well, at the risk of sounding forward, are you going to join me in my lame hiding spot?"

"Sure."

Nate flattened himself against the wall to make room for her. They stood in silence for a few minutes waiting for Natalie to find them. They could hear her upstairs.

"Uncle Nate, you're really good at this," she called. "I'm not sure if I can find you…but don't come out."

They sighed in unison.

"Is she doing this on purpose?" Kono asked.

He knew Natalie was doing this deliberately, but he answered, "Your guess is as good as mine."

Kono's arm kept brushing up against him. He hoped she was not feeling too uncomfortable standing so close to him. He could smell her shampoo or whatever it was. Coconut, he thought.

He smells nice, Kono thought.

Is that pineapple? he wondered.

What does he smell like? It reminds me of far away places and adventure. Are those even fragrances?

I'm going to talk to Natalie about this match making game she's playing, Nate thought

I'm being ridiculous, Kono told herself. What kind of girl does he think I am? First, I fall asleep on his shoulder and now I'm standing in this tight space with him. He's gonna get the wrong idea…

I hope she's not thinking I planned this. What kind of guy would she think I am?

Wait, don't I want him to get the wrong idea, which is really the right idea, which isn't wrong at all. I do like him…

Nate grew impatient in the cramped space. I'm going to give Natty thirty more seconds and that's it. He shifted his weight and accidentally bumped against Kono.

…what if he put his arms around me? Kono thought. Would I be okay with that? I am still mad at him.

A few moments later, she felt two strong arms encircling her waist. Breathe, she told herself.

"I thought we would fit better this way," he whispered. "Do you mind?"

His words lingered in her ear. She turned to face him. His eyes smiled down at her. She realized just how blue they were. "I do…I mean no, I don't mind." She allowed her eyes to travel to his lips. There was a slight grin playing at the corners of his mouth as if to tease her. She slid her arms around his neck and asked, "Do you mind?"

The dimple in his left cheek answered for him. No, he didn't mind.

She ran her tongue along her bottom lip as she leaned into him and closed her eyes.

"Kono?" Nate said louder then was necessary. "Are you okay?"

Kono's eyes flew open. Nate's arms were not around her nor was he about to kiss her. "What?" She felt her face grow hot. What was I doing?

"Are you okay?"

She cleared her throat. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I was just wondering because you turned to face me and smiled and then you said 'I do'."

To her horror, she discovered she was indeed facing him. "I did?"

So," he wondered, "what did you mean by 'I do'?" His eyes not only held concern, but a hint of amusement as well.

"Um…" she began. I think I just told him I would marry him. Oh, my, gosh, I'm such an idiot. Good thing he interrupted me before I kissed him.

"Kono…are you sure you're alright?"

"I was just saying, I do…" she paused, making the mistake of looking into his eyes, which made the rest of her words melt away.

"Yes?"

She cleared her throat again, "I do…wish Natalie would find us."

It seemed to Nate that she could not say the words fast enough. It was almost as if she needed to get those particular words out before what was really on her mind slipped off her tongue.

What's wrong with me? Kono wondered. Maybe it's the affects from the tear gas. Can it affect you like this? Whatever it is, I'm not myself. She tucked some hair behind her ear. "I think I should check on Natalie," Kono suggested, backing away.

"Watch out for the b-"

Kono's foot caught on the box and she began falling backwards. Nate caught her in his arms just as Steve opened the front door.

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

Mr. Hamilton stood by the window of his study peering out at the ocean. He hated being in the same room as Paul Keller. The last time had been at Annie's funeral and they hadn't spoken a word to each other. Now they had to speak. It was imperative.

Keller sat tapping his fingers on the arm of the upholstered chair as he waited for the older man. He knew better then to speak first in William Hamilton's domain.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressive. Both men held such deep rooted contempt for the other it was impossible to rid them of it. The one thing that had kept them from killing each other in the past had been Annie and now that she was gone the task had befallen to the unsuspecting little girl, Natalie.

Still looking out the window, Mr. Hamilton spoke, "You're going to do something for me."

"Like hell I am."

Mr. Hamilton turned his fierce gaze on Keller. "You will."

Keller was unfazed by the force of the man's words and he shot back, "What are you going to do shoot me? Cut me up into a million pieces? Go ahead. Annie would be so proud of you."

Mr. Hamilton gripped the top of his desk chair, digging his fingertips into the leather. "I'm prepared to offer you a deal."

"A deal? How amusing. Is this official or unofficial?"

"That's of no consequence."

"So we're going deep dark." Keller lifted his chin. "What do you want?"

"I'm interested in taking down a business associate of yours."

"One I don't like, I hope."

Mr. Hamilton smirked. "Wo Fat."

Keller's look became serious. He stood and wandered over to a book case. After selecting a book, he flipped through it. "If I ask why will I get an answer?" He looked up. The older man's granite like expression was answer enough. "I do this for you and I get to name what I want in return."

"That depends on what it is."

"Natalie."

"The fact that you just used your daughter as a bargaining chip shows how unfit you are to be her father."

Keller slammed the book closed and tossed it on a nearby table. "Coming from you, that's interesting, because you were such a shining example of a father."

Mr. Hamilton walked around the desk, his face not betraying how that last comment cut through him. "Natalie stays where she is." His tone offered no sign of yielding. "Where neither one of us can harm her."

"Well, you can forget my help then."

"What about Annie's murderer instead?"

Keller's eyes narrowed. "Why would you tell me? Why haven't you gone after him already?"

"I only recently uncovered the person's identity and I have nothing else to tempt you with."

"You expect me to trust you?"

"I would be surprised if you did." Mr. Hamilton watched as Keller calculated the risks involved in such a venture. He knew it didn't matter how many times the younger man went over the proposition; he would always come up with the same conclusion. Revenge equaled satisfaction.

"Tell me his name."

Mr. Hamilton laughed with no trace of humor. "You don't get that until you've completed the assignment."

"Well, you have to give me something. How did you get this information?"

"That is no concern of yours. You should focus on the mission I've given you, so you can go after Annie's murderer."

Keller scowled, unhappy with the way the older man controlled the situation. But he couldn't take a chance turning down this proposition, even if it were possible he could end up with nothing. "My man, Jonathan Quinn, I want him out of prison. If I'm going to do this I'd like to have a friendly face around."

"Done."

"Don't even think about crossing me, Hamilton."

"You can leave the room now. Arthur's waiting outside the door for you."

Keller wasn't going to be dismissed; he would leave when he was ready.

"Is there something else you needed?" Mr. Hamilton's tone was cutting.

"No," Keller smirked, "I'm done here." He started toward the door, but before he left the room he turned back. "Oh, by the way, I meant to ask who it was that planned my escape." He received no reply. "I know it wasn't you because it was too clean. No casualties. I know that isn't your style."

"Get out."

"I'd like to meet him sometime." Keller opened the door. "Or was it a she?"

Mr. Hamilton ignored him and walked back to the window, while Arthur escorted Keller away. He heard the door close behind the two men. He drew in a deep breath, breathing out the words, "Revenge equals satisfaction."

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

Steve froze in the doorway, trying to make sense of the scene before him. Under normal circumstances he might have been amused. However, Kono was here for the purpose of protecting Natalie, instead, she was in Nate's arms and Natalie was nowhere to be seen. "What the hell is going on here?"

Kono scrambled to regain her footing. In her haste, she jerked Nate off balance and the two of them fell to the floor in a heap. Steve's eyebrows shot up and he crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation.

Nate lifted himself off Kono and offered to help her up. She pretended not to see his outstretched hand and pushed herself to her feet.

"She tripped," Nate explained.

Kono brushed the hair back from her face thinking that sounded like the lamest excuse ever. Biting her upper lip, she could only imagine what her boss was thinking, especially after their conversation yesterday.

"Kono, could you please go find Natalie," Steve said.

"Ah, sure," she replied, thankful for a reason to get away.

When she disappeared up the stairs, Steve took a few steps toward his brother and asked in a low voice, "What were you doin'?"

"Nothing," Nate answered. "She tripped."

Steve's brow furrowed. "And you just happened to be standing close enough to catch her?"

Nate threw his hands in the air. "We were playing hide and seek with Natty."

"So you and Kono were hiding together?"

"That's how you play this version," Nate insisted. "It was Natty's idea, not mine." Steve nodded his head in response, but Nate wasn't sure his brother believed him. "Seriously, Steve, what else would we be doing?"

There was one thing that came to Steve's mind, but he held up his hand and pushed away the thought.

Before their conversation could continue further, there was a light knocking on the door. The way Steve's hand went to his gun did not escape Nate's detection. Steve opened the door and for the second time since he had come home, his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Good morning," a sweet voice said. "I'm Nicole. You must be Steve." She held out her hand, which Steve shook. "Nate's told me so much about you."

"Has he?" Steve asked.

"It was all good," she assured him.

Nate cringed. His two worlds were colliding and the consequences could prove to be irreparable. He tried to calculate whether or not he had enough time to sneak out the back door before his brother allowed her to enter. Just as he was about to edge his way toward the back, Nicole walked in.

Nate had not seen her dressed so demurely in a long time. She wore a white sun dress that fell just to her knees with a light turquoise print that resembled flowers. On her feet, she wore white flip flops and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. A brightly colored bag hung from her shoulder.

"Nate," she said as she crossed the room to greet him. Patting his chest with her hand, she stood on her tip toes to give him a simple kiss on the cheek. "Did you sleep well?" she asked, sliding her arm around his waist. She turned to Steve. "Sometimes he doesn't sleep very well."

Nate looked at Steve, who seemed to be waiting for another explanation. Movement on the second floor balcony caught Nate's attention. Kono stared down at him, her hands griping the railing as if she might collapse. Their eyes met for a moment. He caught an imperceptible shake of her head and then she turned away, disappearing down the hall.

Nicole noticed Kono's retreat and smiled to herself. Turning her attention back to Nate, she straightened his shirt collar and asked, "So are you ready to go?"

"Go where?" Nate replied.

"We had plans, remember?"

"Nate, I thought we were doing something?" Steve questioned.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Nicole said, looking at Steve, "Nate is always doing that. You know, making plans when he has other plans. I do try to keep him organized."

"Really?" Steve said. He had a hard time believing his brother, who by the age of four had become quite adept at organization, would need help in that area. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Can I ask how you two know each other?"

"I love this story," she smiled.

Nate swallowed the bitterness that rose in his throat. Nicole was about to tell her fanciful version of how they met. He needed to get her out of there. "The story is not that interesting and sometimes Nicole gets the facts mixed up."

"Oh, you're silly, Nate," Nicole said, squeezing his arm. "You're just embarrassed because you were so dashing."

My brother is going to throw me out after you tell this story, Nate thought.

"I'd love to hear it," Steve smirked.

Nate did not like Steve's expression. It was a scary, big brother smirk that said 'you better not have lied to me'.

"We met in Paris," Nicole began. Nate felt the heat from Steve's glare. "I was sitting alone at an outdoor café, when the waiter brought a long stemmed red rose with a note to my table. The note said…" she looked up at Nate, "do you want to tell your brother what it said or shall I?" Nate's eyes pleaded with her to stop, but he said nothing, so she continued, "The note said, 'It's so sad to drink alone. Let us join our glasses in a toast to you and to me'. Isn't that romantic?" She sighed. "I just couldn't bear to live without him."

Steve was thinking that either this woman was a pathological liar or, he hated to think it, his brother was. And judging by Nate's strange behavior the previous night he was beginning to think his brother was the liar. "Hmm," Steve responded. "That's quite the story. Nate never told me."

Looking back at Nate, Nicole asked, "You didn't tell him about us?"

Steve crossed his arms and stared at his brother.

Nate felt like someone plunged a knife into his stomach and was slowly turning it. Just last night he had told Steve there was nothing between him and Nicole, now here she was tearing his words apart. He could tell his brother was questioning the entirety of their conversation in the garage last night.

Why is she doing this? Nate wondered. He forced himself to look at Steve, but Nate could only see the image of his father's disapproving face. He blinked several times until his brother came back into focus. Steve's eyes looked like a raging sea of distrust and disappointment. Nate would rather face a firing squad than see that look in his brother's eyes, and yet, he deserved to see it. He had caused it.

"Go," Steve said.

Nate was desperate to try and fix the situation. "Steve I-"

"I said go," Steve ordered, leaving the room without another word.

Nate knew his brother was just like their father. When he gave an order, he expected you to follow it, no questions asked.

Nicole needed no further encouragement. She took Nate's arm and looked up at him with a triumphant smile. "Shall we go?"

* * * * * * H50 * * * * * *

Nicole had already planned how she would spend the afternoon with Nate. Now she only needed to convince him he wanted to spend it with her. She decided to start off by giving him the present she purchased for him.

"Before you pull out of the driveway, I have something for you." She took out a rectangular shaped package from her bag and held it out to him.

"I don't want anything from you," Nate replied.

"I understand you're upset with me because I made you look like a fool in front of your brother, but I'm a desperate woman."

"I don't care what you are. You just put my relationship with my brother in jeopardy."

"I'm sorry." Her green eyes misted over. "I truly am. I don't know why I have to be so wicked."

Nate turned the key in the ignition and was about to put his car in reverse, but Nicole placed a hand on his arm. He shook her off. "I'm dropping you off at your hotel and then I don't want to see you again, ever."

"Please, Nate, just open your gift," she pleaded, but he refused to acknowledge her. "I don't expect anything in return. Honest."

Nate laughed at the absurdity of the word "honest" coming from Nicole. "I don't believe you." He glanced over at her and was surprised to see the sincerity on her face.

"Open it…please." She held it out to him and this time he took it. She watched expectantly as he ripped away the brightly colored paper. "I hope you like it." She watched his eyes scan the book he now held in his hands.

It was a book of tree houses from all around the world; a surprising gift from Nicole.

"I remembered how you said you always wanted a tree house growing up," she said. "I thought maybe you would find one you liked and build it one day." She paused for a long moment waiting to see if he would respond. "My favorite is on page fifty-seven, in case you're wondering."

Nate put the book behind his seat and began pulling out of the driveway. He wanted to get her out of his car as soon as possible.

Nicole knew what was on his mind, so she told him what was on hers. "I thought we could spend the day together."

"Not happening."

"Oh, Nate, I know you're upset with me, but I want the chance to show you I'm just as sweet as that other girl."

"Other girl?"

"Your girlfriend, whatever her name is."

"She's not my girlfriend. I hardly know her."

She laughed, finding that hard to believe. "I still want to spend the day with you."

"Like I said, not happening."

"If you spend the day with me, I promise…I promise I'll leave you alone."

Nate glanced over at her again. He knew he probably couldn't trust her, but to have her offer to stay away from him was certainly something she had never done before. "Where would we go?"

"I haven't had lunch yet, have you?"

Nate didn't like that idea, but the only way he would be able to fix things with his brother would be to get rid of Nicole. "You'll leave me alone?"

"Yes," she said and then turning her head away from him she whispered to herself, "for a little while anyway."

A/N: Sorry again, for the delay in posting. I thought I would have more time in the summer so I could post more frequently, but it's not working out that way. I hope you liked the chapter. I'd love to know what you think about Mr. Hamilton being Natalie's grandfather. Thanks to everyone for reading and sending me all your lovely comments.