Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.

Family Life, Chapter 5

Fall, 2021

Over the next three days, Steve settled into a routine with his new team. He kept in touch with 5-0 with phone calls, texts, and a joint lunch on Thursday with both teams. Chin and Kono spent a lot of their time running facial recognition programs and checking the coconut pipeline for any unusual chatter. Danny led the remainder of the 5-0 team in the investigation of the murder of a local businessman.

Catherine was struggling to get through the week. After watching Steve with Danny on Tuesday night, any illusion she had that Steve would willingly give up Danny for her was shattered. The Steve McGarrett she knew all those years ago was gone. In his stead, she found a more balanced Steve 2.0. This Steve no longer had 'daddy' issues. He was at peace with his memories of earlier life on the island. This Steve wasn't afraid to love and commit. This Steve had more laugh lines than worry lines.

Catherine knew that her team preferred to work with Steve than her. When Steve discovered that the team members were new to the islands, he started bringing in local treats. The malasadas and cocoa puffs were a huge success. Catherine tried to pull the team's focus back to her, but Steve was too slick in charming her team. The final straw was when he invited everyone over to the home he shared with Danny and the boys for a cookout on Saturday afternoon.

Catherine was included in the invitation, but she couldn't decide whether she would attend. It would be sadistic to watch the man she wanted more than anything with the family she wanted for herself. Watching Jack and Jesse hurt almost as much as watching Steve and Danny. The deciding factor was that she was the leader of the team so she should be there to make sure that Steve didn't steal her authority too.

The party was in full swing by the time that Catherine arrived. Danny answered the front door when Catherine rang the bell. It was a very awkward moment for both.

"Catherine, please come in. I think everyone is already here, although it's kind of hard to tell. The team has grown in the last few years, and some of our support staff is here too. Your guys are here too. Oops, I hear the oven going off. You know the way to the back." Danny was relieved to have an excuse to let Catherine find her own way to the party.

Catherine glanced around the living room as she strolled to the back yard. The room had morphed from John McGarrett's man cave to a family-oriented room. The oversized entertainment center was full of kid movies and photos of the family. The couch and chairs were durable and comfortable. When Catherine moved further into the room, she saw the large portrait of Steve and Danny from their civil ceremony. Catherine felt an ache in her heart. The men had such a loving look on their faces.

The back room had also changed. The small dining table had been replaced with a larger table. School books sat at one end. John McGarrett's desk had been replaced with a double workstation so Jack and Jesse could work online at the same time when required. Catherine couldn't breathe. Everywhere she looked was evidence of a rich family life. It was one thing to spy on the men and their sons from afar. It was another to see it up close and personal.

Catherine hurried outside hoping to be lost in the horde of people long enough to pull it together. She saw the changes there also. The giant playscape Steve and Danny constructed was the most obvious addition. There was also a large grill and several tables set up for food.

The volleyball net was up and a combination of adults and kids were playing. Catherine saw Jack and Jesse on one side of the net. Another boy she guessed must belong to Chin was playing on the other side. Another boy and girl she couldn't identify were also in the game. She was able to identify the rest of the 5-0 team, even the new members, and she also recognized Kamekona. The rest were unfamiliar; she could only guess that they were somehow affiliated with 5-0 or were family or significant others of one of the teams.

Steve was circulating around the crowd as co-host with Danny. He wore board shorts, a tank top, and slippers. He was gorgeous. Her team was spread around the area mingling with the rest of the crowd. Suddenly, Steve turned around and spotted her. All too quickly for Catherine, Steve was at her side.

"Hi Catherine. I didn't see you come out. Have you been here long?"

"Uh no, I just got here. It looks like you've got quite a crowd. The place looks great."

"Thanks. Can I get you a cold one? Let me introduce you to the new guys." Steve walked Catherine over to one of the large coolers and pulled out a Longboard. Then he patiently made sure that she met everyone there. If tested, Catherine knew that she would be unable to name most of them. On the other hand, she would have known Jack anywhere. He was the image of his father at that age.

Steve finally excused himself so he could start grilling the meat. Catherine was grateful for the respite. She found herself in the middle of the volleyball game and half-heartedly tried to spike the ball to the other side of the net. On her third attempt, she managed to hit Jack in the face. He went down with a cry of pain.

Danny came running to the beach with Steve on his heels. Jack's nose was bleeding freely and his left eye was showing signs of swelling. Malia grabbed a couple of towels and a wet washcloth from the kitchen before joining the group crowded around Jack.

Catherine watched Danny comfort Jack while Steve did a quick assessment of his injuries. Jack was trying to put up a brave front, but the blow to his face was painful and bloody. He was sitting in Danny's lap and Danny was doing his best to soothe his son.

Malia briefly examined Jack and determined that Jack was more scared than injured. She wiped the blood off Jack's face and hands and prescribed an ice pack for the eye. The nose wasn't broken and a concussion was ruled out although Malia advised the men to keep a close eye on Jack for the next 24 hours.

Fortunately for the hungry crowd, Chin and Finn manned the grill when Steve ran off to see to Jack. The rest of the 5-0 team set the remainder of the food out and called everyone to serve themselves. As the group moved toward the house, Catherine went over to Jack and knelt in the sand.

"Jack, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was trying to spike the ball and I guess that it got away from me."

"That's okay Commander Rollins, Dr. Malia said nothing was broken and I'll probably have a really cool black eye when I go to school on Monday. Jesse got hit with a soccer ball last summer and almost needed stitches. Danno, I'm really hungry. Can Jesse and I go wash up and get our plates?"

"Sure but why don't you change your shirt too? I know manly men don't mind a little blood but some of the ladies are a little squeamish." Danny released Jack and watched him head to the house with his brother. He took the hand Steve offered and rose to his feet and turned to face Catherine.

"I expected you to take a shot at me or Steve but you hurt one of our boys again and I'll personally take you down." Danny walked away before he said something he might regret.

Catherine felt no small amount of trepidation when Steve leveled his death glare at her. "I resent that you tried to pull me away from my family when you engineered my return to active duty. I accepted it because of the threat to my family and the islands. But know this: when this is over I never want to see or hear from you again. If I see you anywhere near me or my family, I'll get a restraining order against you. We both know what that will mean to your career. Our past friendship is the only reason I haven't reported your conduct unbecoming. You've used up your free pass. Now I suggest that you make up some excuse and get the hell off our property."

Catherine was speechless and could only nod in agreement. She was grateful that her team was busy filling their plates and didn't witness the exchange. She took a few minutes to pull herself together before she walked toward the house. Catherine wished a hole would open up in the yard and swallow her up. She stopped at one of the long tables where Danny was supervising the kids' meals.

"Danny, thanks for having me but I'm going to head back to the base. Jack, I'm really sorry I hurt you. It was nice meeting you and Jesse. Take care of your dads. They're two of the best."

"I know Commander Rollins. Danno and Daddy are the best. Me and Jesse are really lucky."

Catherine nodded to Steve and walked around the front of the house to her car. She drove down the street to the nearest public parking lot and parked at the farthest spot from the store before she broke down crying. Catherine finally accepted that it was over with Steve. She knew that even if something happened to Danny, Steve would never come back to her. She had tried to threaten his family and that was something Steve would never forgive or forget.

The party broke up in early evening. As usual, the gang helped with cleanup before leaving. Catherine's team sensed that something pivotal had passed between the two commanders before Catherine left the party and talked about it before confronting Steve as they said their goodbyes. Steve declined to comment about the conversation on the beach and wished them a good weekend.

Jack and Jesse held their own powwow about Catherine when they were getting their showers. Jack remembered seeing pictures of his daddy when he was in the Navy and he was sure that Catherine was in a few of them.

When Steve and Danny came in for story time, Jack decided to ask about it. "Daddy, did you know Commander Rollins from when you used to be in the Navy?"

Steve looked to Danny for a hint on how to handle the question but Danny only shrugged. Steve opted for the truth without giving any details. "Yes, Catherine was one of many people I met during my naval career."

Jack was sure it was something more and persisted with his question. "That's not what I meant. You were friends before, weren't you?"

"Yes we were friends."

"But you're mad at her now. She didn't mean to hit me in the face. It was an accident."

"It was an accident, but that's not why I'm angry with Catherine. She wants to come between Danno and me and break up our family."

Jack mulled over this information. "Was she your girlfriend?"

"Not exactly. We went out a few times when we were at the same base."

Now Jesse was puzzled. "But Daddy, I thought you were only with guys. I know Danno was married to Aunt Rachel. I didn't know that you used to like girls too."

Steve put his hand on his forehead and tried to stave off a headache. Danny decided to cut Steve a break. "Boys, I guess we never talked about this before. We decided to wait until you asked, and it seems that now is the time. A lot of people are attracted to the opposite sex. Boys like girls and girls like boys. Some are attracted to the same sex. Boys like boys and girls like girls. Some like both. They know who they're attracted to and it stays that way."

Steve could see where Danny was headed and knew what to say. "Sometimes, people start out one way and change. It was that way with Danno and me. We always dated women, and Danno even got married to one."

"We know that. Aunt Rachel was married to Danno and Grace is her mommy. We don't have a mommy but we have two daddies." Jack remembered the conversation he had with his daddies earlier.

"That's right. Danno and Aunt Rachel were divorced when we met and became partners at 5-0. We became really good friends too, and then sometime during our first year together it became something more. When Danno needed a place to live with Grace, I invited them to stay here. I knew by then that I loved him, and Danno realized that he loved me too. I'd never been attracted to another man and neither was Danno. We just loved each other so much that it didn't matter that it meant we would be two men together. If you're really lucky, love is like that."

Danny nodded in agreement. He was deeply touched at Steve's explanation and he could see that their sons understood. "Jesse, we talked to Jack before you moved in about some of this. He has always lived in a home with two dads but you used to live with a mom and a dad."

"Danno, I love living with you and Daddy and Jack. Even when you or Daddy is upset with each other or me or Jack, you don't stay mad and yell all the time. I only get a tummy ache when I eat too much junk or I'm sick. And I'm never scared when I'm home."

Steve moved closer to Jesse and cuddled him. "Danno and I love that you're our son and Jack's brother. We just want you to know that how it is with Danno and me."

Jack had already moved on to other concerns. "Daddy, don't you work for Commander Rollins? Are you going to be in trouble when you report to the base on Monday?"

"No, I don't work for Catherine. I report to Admiral Halloran; I'm only assigned to Catherine's team. I'll be fine but it will be a little awkward. The important thing is that the team has a job to do. We'll focus on that."

Finally satisfied with Steve's and Danny's answers, Jack and Jesse were ready for their story. Sunday passed all too quickly and Jack did indeed sport a black eye on Monday morning. Steve sent a note with Jack explaining his injury.

He hugged the boys and gave Danny a hard kiss before heading for the base. His anger with Catherine had cooled but he knew that he would have to be careful if he didn't want to give Catherine an excuse to bring him up on charges. It was going to be a long day.