When the elevator opens to the lobby, he pulls her close to him protectively. He never wants to let her go, nothing felt as good as being with her. She reaches behind and grabs his dick, giving it a squeeze. She slow struts out of the elevator and throws him a look that makes him lose his mind. Why does she drive him so crazy? It's ridiculous at his big age that he should be so irrational and so infatuated with her, but here he is, and he's been that way since the first time they met.
"You said you wanted to talk, should we find someplace private?" It comes off in a seductive purr. Catherine's not done with him yet. But before he can respond, his phone rings and he automatically picks it up.
"McGarrett."
"Steve, where are you? I just got back from the bathroom. I miss you." Lynn says seductively. Steve's thrown off guard, he hadn't checked who was calling figuring it was either a case or Danny. He blinks rapidly and takes a look at a curious Catherine.
"I'm downstairs babe, I'll be up in a few. Miss you too." As soon as he says it he sees the pain in Catherine's eyes. She brushes past him and stalks to an elevator slamming her hand into the up button. Steve hangs up the phone and runs to Catherine as she boards the elevator. Her sadness has turned into rage as she wrestles his hand off her arm. "Cath…"
"Take another elevator. We're done." She sneers, and he lets her go. He needs to collect himself before he goes back up to the rooftop.
Steve rides up an elevator alone, bracing himself for whatever may come next. By the time he's found his license and is admitted back into the bar, the place is in full swing, and there's no sign of Catherine or Scott, Rachel, and Scott's friend for that matter. He's barely interested in whatever Lynn, Melissa, and Danny are talking about. His world is spinning, now that the fire between them had been reignited, he wouldn't be satisfied until he's shown her how much he's missed and loves her.
Danny's disgusted with Steve; he knows something went down between Steve and Catherine. He noticed how Steve had been distracted while readying the car, how he stared at Catherine when Lynn wasn't there, and the mess of emotions on his face when he came back to the table; Danny knows that anguished look. Now he thinks he understands, Catherine may be sadistic, hurting Steve over and over, but Steve loves the pain. He's an addict, and she's his drug of choice. And Danny knows an addict will only get better when they decide they want to get better; Steve did not want to get better.
Steve steals a glance at his phone. Nothing. He wants to text her and apologize, but what they were about to do had been wrong. In a way, Lynn had saved them from fucking up their relationship more. He didn't want to betray Lynn and knew Catherine wasn't a cheater, but it had been so hard. He knows he shouldn't have texted her earlier in the night, but he just wanted to be acknowledged by her. He didn't like being ignored or left out, which is precisely how he felt about finding out her being on the island for a year. He hated being left out because secretly he was always alone, the little boy whose parents didn't want him had turned into the man whose woman didn't want him. He wasn't enough for her to stay and that kills him inside, but now that she's here, what did it mean? Should they take a second chance?
SM: Let me prove how sorry I am to you.
CR: No need. I'm fine.
SM: I'm not fine. Let's talk. Tomorrow, come over.
CR: Absolutely not. We tried talking, didn't work out well. We aren't cheaters and look what happened in a room full of strangers.
SM: It was the alcohol.
CR: Sure.
SM: Let's talk, please. What if I came with you to the doctor?
CR: What?
SM: The therapist. Let's try therapy. I want to have a relationship with you, even if it's platonic.
CR: Are you serious? This isn't funny. I take therapy very seriously. We aren't a couple, friends don't do therapy sessions.
SM: I'm being serious. What did you say the other night—that therapy would benefit me, well I wanna try it.
SM: Also, therapists see friends. Danny and I go sometimes.
CR: I'll think about it. If we do this, a big if, you're paying and I get to choose the therapist.
SM: Fine w me.
Steve misses the daggers Danny and Lynn are both throwing his way. He gives a substantial effort to engage in conversation and puts his phone away. He kisses Lynn's head and lets her nuzzle into him. He whispers sweet nothings in her ear, and after 15 minutes of showing he's sorry, she's over it. Catherine would never be so forgiving, though he would have never acted so disrespectful to her. When he catches Lynn's phone he sees its well past one in the morning; the club is gonna kick them out soon enough. Danny suggests that Melissa drive his Camaro back to his house and Lynn drive the Silverado; Steve and Danny will check out how Grace's car runs. He adds, for good measure, that Steve's too drunk to drive. Steve wants to argue, but he knows he's actually pretty drunk still and that Danny's full of shit. Danny wants to rip Steve's head off, it's evident to Steve and probably everyone else at the table.
As they leave, Steve's super touchy-feely on Lynn to make up for being neglectful. It's not his style, and if Lynn knew him better, she'd see this show was more for him than for her. He wants to ride home with Lynn, have pity sex, and then for her to leave. But Danny's spoken, and Steve's not in the mood for one of his partner's moods.
The second Lynn and Melissa get off the elevator and head to their level in the garage, Danny grabs Steve by the arm and stares. Steve's not about to put up with Danny's bullshit, so he stares aimlessly at the elevator ceiling.
"What the fuck is wrong with you Steve?"
"What?"
"Steven, how many times did Doris drop you on your head? Are you fucking dumb?" Danny's furious with Steve.
"No Danny I'm not. Wanna tell me what's on your mind instead of insulting me?" Danny doesn't say anything, and there's a tense silence until they've gotten to the car.
"What does she have that Lynn doesn't? What does she do in the bedroom that keeps you shackled to her? What is there to love about her?" Now Steve's pissed.
"Danny we aren't talking about this. Catherine is off limits, I mean it, Danny. I'll fucking lose it, Danny." Steve warns Danny, and he means every word. He can barely deal with Danny's disdain for Catherine sober, but drunk Steve will beat Danny's ass.
They ride in complete silence until Danny pulls up to Steve's. The Silverado's parked and Lynn's car is still there. Great, he thinks. Danny opens his mouth several times before he finally spits his question out.
"Did you sleep with her? Tonight? I never took you for the type to cheat. The Steve McGarrett I know is more honorable than that." Danny's disappointed.
"No Danny we didn't have sex, Danny we didn't even kiss, we just talked. We're gonna try to be friends. I miss Cath as my girl, but I miss her as my friend more. I just want her in my life."
"Friends? I had to restrain you from fighting her boyfriend like four hours ago!"
"That was a mistake, but I was wasted. Please,, Danny, trust me, I know that I have a girlfriend. I just want Catherine to be my friend."
"Literally a day or so ago you called her the love of your life."
"She is, which is why if I have to see her with another man, I'll learn to deal. I can't lose her again Danny. Whatever she needs, I'm going to give her, wherever she goes, I'm gonna follow." Steve says with a conviction Danny's never heard from him.
"What if this is all an elaborate play and she's going to leave again? What if she never left the CIA and had another mission?" Danny just wants Steve to think through things so that he's not as crushed when she inevitably leaves.
"She's not in the CIA anymore. I called Joe and Doris. I called the Honolulu field office, she's a Marshal. But if this was an elaborate play, wherever she goes, I will go with her." He pauses and then continues, "Danny I don't expect you to understand, but I know what I want, and it's her. In any capacity, I can get. I can't explain it, but I love her so much Danny. There are no words to describe how I feel about her."
"You're so whipped it's gross. Get the hell out of my car you schmuck." Danny says jokingly. He wants to clear the air with Steve because he knows how hard this week has been for Steve.
Steve leaves the car and heads inside. He's exhausted, but he doesn't wanna climb into bed with Lynn, he settles for sleeping in Mary's bedroom. He doesn't know how he's gonna power through the 5-O family fun day at his house and dinner. He loves Grace, but he wants to resolve things with Catherine.
****I might make this M unless there is a serious objection. Just a heads up. *****
