kauhale (home)

*Three Days Later*

*Jess's POV*

He had visited her every day when he was free. Before work, after work and any spare time he had, he spent with her. She knew that Steve was looking into the message she had received before the explosion; they'd recovered her phone from the building but there had been no word on who had sent it. Ryan had been released from jail but there was no sign to indicate that he was still in Hawaii.

The doctors had informed her that she'd have to have a couple of weeks off work and was told to rest as much as she possibly could. But the most important thing was that she was allowed to go home today. She was finally allowed the comfort of spending the nights in Steve's arms with that sense of security he gave her. Danny had visited her a lot, telling her about how Grace was doing and the woman he had spoke to at the charity event before the explosion had got in touch with him and had set up a date. She was happy for him, he deserved a bit of happiness after the messy situation he had been in with his ex-wife.

Steve had told her that he'd be the one to pick her up after he had finished work to take her home. So there she sat waiting patiently on the edge of her bed clutching the bear that Kamekona had given her a few days ago.

The door to her room opened and she looked up smiling, eager for him to get in and take her home. But the face she saw wasn't the one she was expecting.

"Danny? Where's Steve?"

Danny smiled gingerly at her, "Ummm super SEAL was urgently requested by the governor. He hadn't a choice so here I am on strict orders to let you know that he is sorry and to take you home and watch over you like a newborn baby"

She felt a bit disappointed that he wouldn't be the one to take her home but she knew how important his job was so she smiled softly at Danny and attempted to get off the bed without hurting herself. She was still a bit sore, her stitches still feeling tight so she took a moment to take a few deep breaths before attempting to pick up her bag. However that was taken from her hands as Danny had made his way over, his arm now around her waist helping her to walk. She knew it was going to be a while until the pain went but she just wanted it gone, she hated depending on people.

They had left the room and were about a quarter of the way down the corridor when she stopped. All the walking was tiring her out and she had to take a few more deep breaths to try to get the pain to subside. Danny took it upon himself to find her a wheelchair, which normally she would have frowned upon, but right now she couldn't think of anything better.

"Thankyou," she told him as she sat down, thankful for the relief.

As he wheeled her out of the hospital he attempted to take her mind off the pain by filling her in on the details of his date that was taking place that evening. She smiled as she welcomed the distraction.

*Hours Later*

She had managed to change into her jogging bottoms and a loose tank top, the only clothes that she owned that didn't seem to press on her stomach too much, and was now sat outside on one of the lounge chairs watching the waves crash onto the sand. It was now 8:30pm and Steve hadn't been in touch nor was he home.

She closed her eyes and tilted her head back and decided to just listen and take in the sound of the ocean, it was a sound that had always made her feel as if she was right at home and seemed to calm her. She heard the decking creak behind her as if someone was there which startled her causing her to jump and whip her head towards the source of the sound. Her stomach throbbed with pain as she had moved too quickly. There he stood just watching her.

"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump," he told her as he offered up his hands in a show of surrender.

She released the breath she had been holding when she realised that it was just Steve. She smiled as he made his way over to her motioning for her to move up so he could join her. She moved as far forward as she could without causing too much pain and he sat behind her placing his legs either side of hers allowing her to lean back resting her head on his chest.

"You're freezing," he stated as he rubbed his warm hands up and down her cold arms to try to warm them up a bit.

"Once I'd sat down I found it too hard to get back up with my stomach so couldn't get up to get a jumper," she admitted feeling a tiny bit stupid that she hadn't thought it through properly.

He laughed a little which made her smile, he'd been working so hard on trying to find out who had sent her the message he hadn't had the time to laugh that much recently.

"I missed you," she told him as she looked up to look at him.

Smiling back at her she could tell that it bothered him that he wasn't the one to pick her up today, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to pick you up, I couldn't get out of the briefing the governor wanted me in on".

She kissed him softly, "it's okay, I'm just glad your home," and she was telling the truth. She knew his work meant a lot to him and she understood completely.

*Steve's POV*

He had so much going on in his head right now he felt awful. Awful that even with him not being there to take her home and not being there to help her around like he said he would, she still understood that he couldn't help it. He was lucky to have someone like her in his life although he had a feeling that what he had to tell her would push her away completely.

"What's going on in that head of yours McGarrett?" he heard her ask playfully, breaking him from his thoughts.

He brushed her hair away from her face and rested his hand on her cheek and looked into her eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked again, this time with a concerned tone to her voice.

"I'm just tired, let's go upstairs? You're freezing," and with that he kissed her forehead, stood up being cautious not to hurt her and began to walk inside.

"Ummm a little help please?" she called out to him laughing at the fact that he had forgotten she couldn't get up on her own.

He swiftly turned back and made his way over to her, leant down and kissed her softly on the lips. "Sorry," he whispered as he wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her to stand up.

It took her a while to get up the stairs but he was patient. She was now lay in bed reading a book that Danny had gotten her from the shop in the hospital whilst he took a shower. He had to tell her what was bothering him but all he could think of was what he would do if she was to get angry and leave.

He got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around his waist deciding that he needed to just get the matter off of his chest as soon as possible. He left the bathroom and walked into their bedroom as she looked up and placed her book on the side.

"Hey," she smirked raising her eyebrows, even when he needed to be serious she could still make him smile.

He sat by the side of her on the bed and looked at the floor. A soft hand cupping his face brought him out of his thoughts as she turned his head to look at her.

"Tell me what's going on with you," she told him softly, urging him to just tell her what it was that was bothering him so much.

"That briefing I had today with the governor, it wasn't for anyone else, it was for me," he told her hoping that she'd get the picture and he wouldn't have to explain it any further.

"Right..."

He took a deep breath knowing that he'd upset her by explaining what he meant.

"One of the old commanders I used to work with when I was with the Navy was in there," he told her still looking in her eyes hoping that he wouldn't have to just blurt it out and ruin everything they had.

She smiled urging him to continue.

"Jess they need me, I have to go away for a while," he couldn't keep it from her any longer.

"Oh," he heard her say quietly, her hand leaving his cheek to be placed upon her lap. The silence in the room killed him. He cursed himself and the governor for pulling him into that briefing. Just when Jess needed him the most he'd be pulled far away from her. She was fiddling with her nails and he honestly didnt know what to do.

The silence made seconds seem like hours.

"Jess, say something, anything?" he asked her praying that she'd tell him that they were going to be okay.

*Jess's POV*

She felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. She needed him. But after a while it dawned on her. This wasn't his fault. He had tried so hard to make this work; the least she could do was understand why he had to do this.

She lifted her head to look at him; he hadn't taken his eyes off of her longing for her to answer him.

"How long for?" she asked quietly, scared that the answer would be too much.

"I honestly don't know, 3-4 weeks at the most, no one can tell with these missions," he told her truthfully not wanting to keep anything from her.

She nodded before looking back at him.

"I'm sorry, I really am," she heard him say and her heart broke in two. She could tell that this was as hard on him as it was on her. But they'd been through so much already together; surely they could get past this?

She placed her hands around his neck and lifted herself, his strong hands now under her arms helping her so that she was straddling his lap on the edge of the bed holding him close. He had wrapped his arm around her waist, his hand behind her neck just longing for this moment to never end. He loved her being in his arms, he longed for it every moment of every day.

Pulling away from him she placed her soft hands on either side of his face taking in his face. "When do you have to leave?" she whispered hoping that she'd at least get one night with him before he had to go.

"Tomorrow night," he told her as he looked towards the floor again.

Once again she cupped his face with her hand and brought her lips to his softly. He responded to the kiss as soon as her lips had touched his. She had missed him and it seemed like he had missed her too.

The kiss deepened as his hands explored her body moving under her top. He stopped as he felt the edge of the bandage as he thought that if they were to go through with this right now then it'd only cause her more pain. Her hand covered the top of his and moved it up towards her breast smiling at him as she did so, "it's okay," she told him before covering his lips with hers again.

He couldn't contain himself, he needed her. He needed her to know how much he desired and loved her. She wasn't wearing a bra which only seemed to turn him on even more and as his thumb grazed over her nipple she moaned urging him to carry on. She moved her hips slightly, the softness of her thighs rubbing against the towel he had around his waist. Lifting her carefully he removed the towel and let her straddle him once again this time relishing in the fact that he could now feel her warm, soft skin against his.

She lowered one of her hands and grinned at how aroused he was. She heard him moan softly as she slid her hand over his member before gripping it gently and moving along his length slowly. She was only wearing a small pair of panties now as the jogging bottoms she had on before had made her too hot.

He crashed his lips onto hers before moving his hands behind her and ripping the fabric of her panties to allow them to come off. She squealed in delight and giggled softly.

"You do know you now owe me seriously," she told him as she found him just looking at her, taking the sight of her in.

"You're beautiful," he stated before moving to take her lips again as his hand cupped her gently. She heard him groan at the wetness he found before sliding a finger inside of her slowly. Her nails dug into the top of his back as she leaned back slightly, still straddling him. His thumb located her clit before sliding a second finger into her. Her hips moved against him as he worked his fingers inside of her and on her clit allowing an overwhelming feeling of pleasure to take over her.

"I need you," she whispered into his ear, her voice filled with passion.

Steve wasn't about to deny the one he loved of anything so gladly complied to her wish.

"You sure it won't hurt you?" he asked with genuine concern in his voice. Sure he wanted her, badly, but if it was going to cause her pain then he wouldn't. Once again her lips covered his which he took as her answer.

His strong hands wrapped around her small frame and lifted her slightly, positioning himself. She moved her hips as he slowly lowered her onto him, groaning softly as he slid inside of her. He moved in slow, gentle thrusts as she wrapped her legs around him, her hands gripping his shoulders.

"Oh god, Steve," she moaned as her nails dug into his back urging him to move faster. And that's what he did. His warm hands gripped her hips as he picked up the pace, causing her to moan uncontrollably. The sounds of her moans were urging him to move faster and harder, completely forgetting about her stomach, as she too moved her hips to match his movements.

"OH STEVE!" she called out as she reached her climax as Steve soon found that he couldn't hold on any longer. Thrusting one last time he too reached his peak and moaned loudly as he came. They both held onto each other, the room silent apart from the heavy breathing that came from the both of them.

She pulled away slightly and rested her hand on top of the bandage on her stomach. She'd got carried away in the moment and hadn't given it a second thought. It was sore but not unbearable. Steve noticed her holding her stomach and felt bad.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked her, hoping to god that he hadn't.

She shook her head as she kissed him softly before moving to the bathroom to clean herself, Steve soon following.

They were both lay on their backs in their bed looking at the ceiling, Steve's arm stretched out as she rested her head on his shoulder. He just wanted to savour every moment he got with her until he had to leave her. The movement that she made brought him out of his thoughts as she was now lay on her elbow on her side looking up at him.

"We'll be okay you know," she told him, she wanted him to know that she would still be here when he came back.

He smiled and leant to kiss her forehead before returning to his previous position.

"Danny and the guys are only a phone call away and you can contact me right?" she asked, desperate to know whether or not she had to go the whole time without talking to him.

"Yeah course, it won't be very often but I'll get a chance to phone you when I can," he told her with a smile that reassured her completely.

She nodded before leaning over to turn the bedside lamp off. She kissed him before tracing his face with her fingers.

She moved to lay on her other side, which she found to be the most comfortable position she could find, her head still on his shoulder. He moved too so that now her back was against his chest, his strong arms around her allowing her to feel safe. She felt him kiss the back of her head before whispering, "everything will be okay, I love you" and with that she found herself drifting off to sleep, safe in the thoughts that she would be fine and so would he.