Steve walked into his house to find Catherine sitting on the couch waiting for him. He could see she was upset and he knew exactly why. It was time he talked to her, and he wished he didn't have to, he wished he could just take a shower and put this God forsaken day behind him, but he had to talk to her.

He sat down on the couch next to her and sighed. She looked over at him and he knew this wasn't going to be easy.

- "Why did you push me away? I don't understand."

- "Catherine, listen..."

- "It's because of her, isn't it? Danny's sister, Summer?"

- "Catherine, look. While I was down there I had time to think. And I have to be honest with you, I can't keep doing this. I can't keep pretending that everything is okay when it isn't."

- "I admit that things have been different the last few weeks but it's normal, Steve. I mean, we're different."

- "I get that Catherine, I really do, but the truth is that, what I thought I felt for you wasn't real. I thought I still loved you when in reality I loved the idea of you. I got confused and what I thought was love, was in fact longing, for the past, for what we had. Being trapped down there gave me perspective. I'm sorry, Catherine, I really am."

- "So what? What are you saying?"

- "I'm saying that it's over, Catherine. I'm sorry, but I can't be with someone I don't love."

- "And you love her? You don't know if you love her. You love the chase, the forbidden fruit, Steve, and that's exactly what she is. She's Danny's sister and that makes it forbidden. That's why you think you love her. Nothing else." – She was pissed, he could tell.

- "You're wrong, Catherine. I love her. It might have taken a while to see it, but now I know for sure how I feel for her. Choosing you over her was a mistake to begin with, I see it now. And I'm not going to make that mistake twice. I'm sorry Catherine but we're done. It's over."

- "Fine. Whatever. Just don't come crawling back to me when you realize I was right all along." – And with that, she stormed out.

Steve closed his eyes and sighed, leaning his head back, wishing things could've gone differently. He wished they could've remain friends, but he was now seeing that that was impossible. He still cared about her, but only as a friend. He was sure that with time she will come to realize that this was for the best. And if she doesn't, well, as long as she doesn't try to get in between him and Summer, then it's all good.

Summer. There's another talk he had yet to have. "Might as well do it while I still can", he thought. He got up and made his way out of the house and back into his truck. Looking at the rearview mirror, it was then that he really saw how he looked. Concrete dust covered his hair and clothes, a few scratches on his face and a cut on his upper lip. He didn't care. He knew that that conversation was more important than the way he looked.

After driving for a while, he finally arrived at her house. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of his truck and walked up to her door. He felt nervous, his hand slightly shaking when he rang the doorbell. "Here goes nothing.", he thought just as she opened the door.

Summer could hardly believe the sight in front of her. There Steve stood, covered in dust, battered and slightly bruised.

- "Steve? What's wrong?"

- "Nothing's wrong. You got a minute? I need to talk to you."

- "Sure. Come in. Are you okay?"

- "I'm okay, Summer." – He smiled. - "Can we talk out here?"

- "Okay, Steve, what's going on? You're starting to freak me out." – She was expecting him to be at the hospital getting checked out or at least at home, resting. Not standing on her doorstep.

- "Just hear me out to the end, please. Is that okay?"

- "Okay."

- "Okay, so... I have made plenty of mistakes in my life. But so far, none as big as the one I made a few months ago. Leaving you, choosing Catherine over you, that has to be the biggest one so far."

"Here I was in a relationship with someone who truly loved me and I threw it away and for what? For someone who I thought I loved. You were right, Summer. Only, it wasn't just her that wasn't fully invested in the relationship. I wasn't either. And it only took me having a building dropped on my head to fully realize that."

"Look, I know that I probably don't deserve a second chance but if by any chance you were to give me that, I swear to you I will do everything in my power to prove to you that I really love you and I will spend every waking moment making it up to you. I'm so sorry, Summer, for everything that I put you through and for how much I hurt you. I love you." – Steve felt winded, like he had just finished running a marathon, but he needed to let Summer know how he felt, how sorry he was for hurting her.

Summer didn't know what to say. There he was, telling her exactly what she wanted to hear, and yet, she wasn't sure she was ready to be with him again. She still felt hurt over what he had done. It took all of her strength to bury her feelings for him and now he was telling her he wanted her back. Could it really be that simple?

- "Steve, I… I don't know what to say here. Look, I'm not saying I don't have feelings for you, but… You hurt me when you decided to choose Catherine. After everything that happened, I don't know if I can put myself in a position where I might get my heart broken again."

- "I understand. But I promise you, Summer, I will never hurt again. Now I'm sure that you're the one I wanna be with. No reservations, no doubts. You're the one for me."

- "I don't know, Steve. Listen, just, let me think about this. A lot has happened today and I think we both need some time to process everything. I promise, as soon as I come to a decision, I'll let you know. Is that okay?"

- "Of course. Take as much time as you need. I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere. Oh, just one more thing I think you should know. Danny knows. He has known since the beginning, apparently." – Steve said, a small smile on his lips.

- "Of course he did. I swear, that man is going to be the death of me." – She couldn't help but chuckle. Of course her brother knew. But what surprised her was the fact that he didn't say anything, to either of them.

Steve didn't say anything else, he simply kissed her cheek and walked away. Summer saw him get in his truck and drive away. Now she was faced with a dilemma. Should she give him a second chance or should she just reject the idea and stick to being coworkers?

Summer went back inside, grabbed a glass of wine from the kitchen and sat on her back porch, the events of the day replaying in her mind. She nearly lost her brother and Steve and in that moment she would have given anything to have them both safe and sound and for her to be the one buried under that collapsed building. And now, Steve was telling her how he had made a mistake with Catherine and how much he loved her.

She had to admit. She still loved him, dearly, but she wasn't sure she should just give him a second chance and forget everything that happened up until that moment. But on the other hand, she really wanted to be with him. Yes, he had hurt her but it was for what he had thought was a good reason. And at the time she understood where he was coming from. If it was her, she would've probably made the same decision. With that said, it didn't mean that it didn't hurt when he chose Catherine over her.

She was confused and she knew exactly who she could turn to for advice.

- "Williams"

- "Hey Danno. It's me."

- "Hey sis. Everything okay?"

- "Yeah. Listen, I need to talk to you. I need some advice. I know it has been a long day, but I was wondering if I could come over, maybe even bring dinner with me?"

- "As long as you're bringing pizza, then feel free to drop in."

- "Deal. I'll be there, say, in an hour?"

- "Sounds good to me. I'll let Mel know that you're coming and bringing dinner."

- "Okay. I'll see you in an hour. Love ya. Bye."

- "Love you too. Bye."

And with that, Summer hung up the call and made her way to her bedroom, to shower and change. Thirty minutes later and she was ready and walking out the door to her car. She drove to her favorite pizza place and picked up dinner. Then it was just another fifteen minutes' car ride to her brother's house.

She knocked and Grace was the one who answered. After the usual greetings and teasing that always occurred when Summer went over, they all set the table and ate dinner together. It was clear they were avoiding to talk about what had happened earlier and she was grateful for that. She hated to imagine what her brother and Steve must've felt while under all that rubble.

Eventually, dinner was over and it was time she talked with Danny. Grace had gone to her room to do her homework and Melissa was doing the dishes, so Danny grabbed two beers and lead her to his backyard. Sitting in the patio chairs, they stayed silent for some time, while Summer collected her thoughts. Danny was the first to speak.

- "So, what do you wanted to talk about?"

- "Steve came over the house earlier."

- "Oh, is that so? What did he want? Worried about the paperwork?" – Danny had an evil smirk on his lips.

- "You can stop right there. He told me you know." – She said, chuckling at her brother's attempt to play clueless.

- "For a Navy Seal he sure has loose lips."

- "Funny."

- "Seriously now, what did he say?"

- "That he ended things with Catherine…"

- "About time if you ask me." – He said, interrupting her. She just lifted her eyebrow at him, which he responded by lifting his hands in surrender. – "Sorry. What else?"

- "That he knew now that he had made a mistake and that… That he wanted a second chance, even thou he knew he didn't deserve it and that he loves me. That's pretty much it, in broad lines."

- "And what did you say?"

- "That I needed time to think. To be honest, I don't know what to do. On one hand, I want to be back with him. But on the other, I'm scared that if we get back together he will just hurt me again."

- "I get it. Listen, I don't know if it will help or not, but while we were down there, his thoughts were with you. Sure, he was focused on getting us out of there, but he couldn't stop thinking about you. He knows he screwed up, he told me that much. He knows how much he has hurt you and he knows that there's nothing he can say or do to change that. Now is up to you. Are you ready to get back in a relationship with him?"

- "Truthfully? I don't think I am. It still feels very fresh, you know? Not just the break-up, but seeing him with her as well. I don't think I can be with him right now without having the image of him with her in the back of my mind."

- "It sounds like you know what to do, sis. Just give it time and when you're both ready, you can try again. Look, no matter what you decide, I got your back, okay?"

- "Thanks, Danno. I appreciate that."

- "Anytime, sis."

And with that, Summer knew exactly what to do. Excusing herself, she walked to the far end of the yard and grabbed her phone from her back pocket.

- "McGarrett."

- "Hey, it's Summer."

- "Hey. Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

- "I'm fine, Steve. I was wondering if I could come over in a little bit. I need to talk to you."

- "Sure. Come over whenever you want. I'll be here."

- "Okay, I'll see you in a few. Bye."

- "Sounds good. Bye."

Summer walked back towards where her brother was still sitting, this time with Melissa by his side. She placed the empty beer bottle on the table and told them she had to go. Kissing her brother's cheek as well as Melissa's, she said her goodbyes and walked out to her car.

She had no idea how she was going to tell him but she needed to be honest with him. As she drove to his house, she became even more sure that this was what she needed to do. It didn't mean that they couldn't try again in the future, just not right now.

Summer parked her car in his driveway and walked out, heading for the door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked and waited. For some reason she was nervous. The door opened and when she looked up, Steve was standing there, a kind smile on his face.

- "Hey."

- "Hey."

- "Come in. Or do you want to talk out here?"

- "Out here is fine, if that's okay."

- "Sure. If it makes you more comfortable." – He could see she was nervous.

- "So, I thought about our talk earlier."

- "Okay."

- "Here's the thing. I'm not gonna lie to you and say that I don't love you anymore, because I still do, very much so. But, I don't think I can be with you. At least, not right now. You literally just ended things with Catherine and I'm not ready to be in a relationship with you just yet. I'm not saying that it will never happen, I'm just saying that it's too soon."

- "I get it. And I don't wanna push you to do anything you're not comfortable with. But I have to ask. Where does that leaves us?"

- "I think that, for now, we should just remain friends. Maybe start over. I know it's not ideal, or what you were probably expecting but that's what I think is best. I'm not saying that we are never getting back together, I'm just saying that not right now. Is that okay with you?"

- "Summer, I love you, you know that. And I knew it was a long shot that you would even agree to stay friends with me, let alone give me a second chance. So, if I get to have you in my life as my friend, I'll take it. I'd rather have you in my life as my friend than not having you in my life at all. With that said, friends it is." – Steve smiled. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but at least he still had her in his life. He will wait for her, no matter how long it takes.

- "Thank you, Steve. I really appreciate it. And who knows? Maybe one day, we can try again."

- "I'm not going anywhere, Summer." – He walked up to her and hugged her, letting her know that he was okay with her decision.

They stood in each other's embrace for a little while, before Summer took a step back and said goodnight. He watched her walk to her car, getting on and drive off. Steve had to admit that he was hoping that she would give him a second chance, but he was happy that at least she was willing to be his friend.

Since he went back to Catherine, that he and Summer had gone from being together to just being coworkers, no longer laughing together at inside jokes or just hanging out. They even stopped with their surf lessons, because it made Summer uncomfortable. So, he thanked God that he could now have a chance to try and rebuild their relationship. Granted, it was starting from the ground up but, hey, at least it was something.

Now, he needed to focus on showing Summer that he meant it when he said that he would do anything to make it up to her. That was his mission now. No matter how long it took.