Guardian
A/N: Well, if I was worried 2 chapters in a day would send you guys into cardiac arrest, I shudder to think what three is going to do to you. I would wait and post this tomorrow, but I won't be able to access this computer much. So instead of waiting until Wednesday, I'm just going to roll with it.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.
Chapter 57
"You guys have fun." Steve called from the door as all the women filed toward the car.
"Don't worry boss. We won't let anything happen to her." Kono gave him the 'remember you trained me' took, and it did wonders to help ease the tension in her shoulder. "Plus, Chin said Duke mentioned something about him and Kapahu patrolling the area today."
"Thanks, Kono." Steve gave her a quick hug. "Now you guys go have fun." When the last car door shut, Danny headed back to him.
"What were you two back here plotting?" Danny asked as Steve ushered him through the door.
"No plotting. Kono was just assuring me that Grace will be well protected while they're gone." He smiled.
"I have no doubt. Anyone tries anything today and they're likely to crawl away with a bloody stump. The only question will be which one of the aunts will be responsible for the bloodshed." Danny stood in the middle of the living room, staring around at the house. "Do you realize this is the first time the two of us have been alone in this house in I don't know how long?"
Crossing the room, Steve pressed himself against Danny's back, grinning as he kissed his neck. "Yes. The thought had occurred to me. What do you think we should do? We know they aren't due back until between 2 and 3."
"What sounds good to you? Do you want to try to knock out the rest of the boxes in the office?" Steve offered. Aside from the fact that he kept running into the boxes when he went into the room, he also thought it would be nice for Danny to have his few remaining things settled.
"I'll admit, I had other ideas about what the first suggestion out of your mouth might be, but that one has merit." Danny started for the office.
"Work first. Play later." Steve called after him before following. "And believe me, we will play later." He said under his breath.
"Ten boxes. How is that all I kept from an apartment I've spent almost two years in is ten lousy boxes?" Danny popped the first one open. "Kitchen." He handed the box off to McGarrett.
"I'll go find places for these." He paused at the door. "Feel free to move stuff around in here to make room."
"And mess up your finely honed system of organization? I think not." Danny scoffed.
"Not kidding, Daniel. Half the stuff in here is my dad's and I just haven't cleaned it out yet." Steve looked around at the shelves full of things that he'd been dusting since he moved back to Hawaii. "Maybe after I unpack this stuff we should recycle the box to clean out a few things."
Not waiting for an answer, he ducked toward the kitchen. Thanks to the tiny size of Danny's apartment kitchen, there were only a few basic kitchen staples to find homes for in the larger kitchen. Quickly finished, he hauled the now empty box back to the office. He found his partner on the floor in the middle of a stack of books and CDs.
"I would harass you for still having CDs, but I really don't have room to comment." He pointed to one corder where a stack of CDs covered a large portion of one shelf. "If you don't mind them mixing, you can just add yours to the collection there.
Danny scooted his pile of CDs over to that corner. "I really should load these stupid things onto the iPod that Rachel let Grace get me for Christmas a couple of years ago. I think the poor thing has all of twenty songs on it."
"Seriously? That's just sad. As long as you don't have a bunch of inappropriate stuff, we should make a thing of it some night with Gracie." Steve continued putting random books his father had accrued over the years into a box.
"Make a night of what?" Danny asked.
"Putting the music on your iPod. One of the things I remember growing up was listening to the music that my Dad loved with him. Given your taste in music, I bet you did the same thing. Our tastes evolve over time as we find new and different things we like, but I think every kid should have the chance to appreciate the music there parents grew up with and loved." He placed another few books into the box, content to continue working during the conversation, so Danny's arms wrapping around his waist as he reached for books from the top shelf startled him.
"You are a genius." Danny sighed as he spoke.
"Not that I'm not flattered by that statement, but what the hell are you talking about?" Steve set the books carefully in the box beside him before turning to return Danny's embrace.
"Yes, we should definitely do that with Grace, but think about what we talked about last night. If there is one thing I know about Rachel, it is that she had very distinct taste in music. She loved classical stuff, but there were also a couple of British bands that I remember her listening to all the flippin' time. They used to drive me crazy. It can't be that hard to find their stuff these days. I'll be able to give those to Grace. Rachel played those things so much when she was really little. I can give her those as a connection to her mother." Danny stretched up on his toes and kissed Steve.
"Happy to help." Steve gave him a quick kiss before his partner released him and returned to what he'd been doing. Just over an hour later, they had all the boxes dealt with and three of them refilled with things that had belonged to the elder McGarrett that were cleared to donate.
"I don't know about you, but I'm ready for lunch." Danny surveyed their progress with a smile. "And maybe some dessert."
/ GUARDIAN /
Kalea had outdone herself. The six women sat around the spa, sipping sparkling lemon water in stemmed glasses as their feet soaked in the jetted tubs of warm water.
"What color are you going to get?" Kono asked Grace as the little girl held a tray full of brightly colored, but age appropriate, nail polish options. Grace couldn't decide. She'd never been a spa like this before. Rachel went to get some 'me time', and had always promised she'd take Grace when she got older, but that day never came.
Seeing the little girls expression cloud, Dianne reached over and squeezed her hand gently. When Grace looked at her she just gave a small smile. "I'm glad you came with us today. It's been forever since I've had a chance to have a day like this and share it with someone."
Grace's face brightened a bit. She was sad she hadn't gotten to come with her mother, but she was happy to know that sharing with with her grandmother was something special for both of them.
"You ladies," one of the employees frowned at Catherine and Kono, "need to make a more regular habit of this."
"I'm afraid it's hard to show off a pedicure in combat boots." Cath retorted. "Not to mention, there's a shortage of nail salons and spas on naval vessels."
"Fair enough." Kalea countered. "But I expect both of you back in here every time you're in port. The rest of you with them."
"It might be tricky for me to accommodate. The trip from England takes a bit." Dianne retorted.
"Fair enough, but you come when you visit." Kalea wasn't letting up.
"We get it. We'll be back." Kono shook her head.
"You better be. We haven't had this much fun around here in ages." Kono's cousin grinned. She and her staff had given them massages and facials, then they'd all taken a break for a late lunch, and were now working through the manicures and pedicures. It was rare for them to get a group this size that was just enjoying a day together instead of getting ready for a big event, and the mutual affection between the six was easily apparent. Walking over to Grace, she sat down on the stool by the little girl, ready to continue her pedicure. "You, nani wahine, can come back any time you want. You tell your daddies it is my treat."
"Thank you." Grace grinned at the woman that had been so kind to them so far.
"So have you picked a color?"
"This one." She held up a beautiful purple color.
"Excellent choice." Kalea set the rest of the colors off to the side so she could get to work, smiling as she listened to the chatter among the women. She was happy to see her cousin surrounded by so much love. She knew things had been rough for Kono between losing her surfing career and sticking by Chin's side when the rest of the family turned their backs on him. It had never sat well with her, but she hadn't be strong enough to stand up to them.
"Kalea." Kono called her name. "Why don't you come by sometime for dinner with Chin and me. I know he'd like to see you."
"I'd like that." She didn't know how the younger cousin had known what she was thinking, but it was an olive branch she'd gladly accept.
/ GUARDIAN /
"Fruit is not dessert, even if isn't pineapple." Danny argued as he watched Steve filling two bowls with fresh berries and other assorted fruits that Danny wasn't even sure he could name.
"Sure it is. It's even better with this." Steve grabbed a can of whipped cream and sprayed some on top of each of the bowls. Handing Danny one bowl, he tucked the can under his arm before heading to the lanai.
"Still not dessert." Danny yelled after his before grabbing a fork and following.
…
/ GUARDIAN /
If you want to know what happens when you mix Steve with whipped cream covered strawberries, you might want to flip over to Guardian: Love Explored. If you don't, then congratulations, you have more will power than I do. ;)
The music bit is something that actually came out of a conversation with my husband and our 9 y/o son this weekend. We listen to wide variety of music and ended up taking a little stroll down memory lane with some of our favorites over lunch. There are also certain songs that I will forever associate with my parents or other moments of my life, and I imagine that is the same for many of us.
Now, if you're excited about getting three chapters (plus one in GLE) today, you know what to do. Hit that little review button and drop a line or three to let me know if you're still enjoying this little party.