Disclaimer: I do not own anything Hawaii 5.0 that is all CBS and whatever is not in the show I made up so yeah.

Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and the follows! To clear things up this is before the show. 5 years to be exact. I love these two together and I hope you all are enjoying it as well!

You're Alright

The day was turning out to surprise him. First Lia had managed to get his cell number and called to ask if he liked peanut butter and jelly. Then seemingly cancelled the burger request and to dress casual. Seemed simple enough.

He drove through the park road early wanting to surprise her. He was actually excited for whatever she had planned. Parking in front of the observation center he locked the truck and headed inside. He walked up to the person at the front office. She buzzed him inside and gave him directions to where he could find Lia. He walked down the hallway and found her office. He went to knock but stopped and just took in the room for a bit.

She sat at her desk and was typing away. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun and she was wearing glasses. She wrote something down suddenly before putting the pencil in her mouth to bite down. He took the opportunity to knock on the doorway. She looked up from her computer and instantly smiled at the welcomed company.

"Steve! I should've realized that you would be early." She stood up from her desk and walked over to greet him with a kiss on the cheek. He could only laugh.

"My military presence. Couldn't help it."

"Good.

She walked over to her desk and started to shut down to leave.

"I thought you went to UH?" He asked pointing to her Stanford sweater she had on. She looked down and then nodded.

"I gradated from Stanford when I was 16." She replied pushing her glasses up to her nose.

"So I take it you have some pretty good stories then. 16 year old in college sounds pretty risky."

She could only chuckle as she shut her computer on the desk. "Yeah risky for people who decided to have lives in college. I instead made sweet love to the books of the library."

"Overachiever?" He guessed.

"Does it show?"

He pinched his fingers, "Only a little."

She beamed, "Then I am doing my job."

She walked to her coat hanger and stripped the sweater off. She put her glasses in a purse next to the rack. He took the opportunity to see her casual wear for the evening. It was lose fitting shirt with her jean shorts. She was definitely going for casual. He was greatly appreciating it. She turned to face him, her shirt reading Schist Happens.

"I didn't know they made Rock Puns on shirts." He commented.

"If you find just about anything if you look on the Internet. This was a gift from Bob's sons last Christmas."

"It suits you."

She grabbed her backpack and swung it over her shoulder. She walked up and motioned for him to leave.

"After you Commander."

They walked out of the building and headed to his truck. He put the keys into the ignition.

"Where too?"

She pulled her ponytail out and nodded to the road.

"Head down Crater Road and I'll let you know when to stop."

They drove in a comfortable silence for quite some time. Steve let her relax for a couple mintues before he started to wonder just where they were heading toward. Since they had past Spot 8 just some time ago.

"So where are we going?" He finally asked. She stayed quiet.

They continued down the highway. "Um. Lia.."

She didn't even open her eyes, "Just keep driving Commander. When you past 9 don't worry about it."

"But-"

"I said." She paused, "Don't worry about it."

He kept quiet as they made their way past 9 and she had them continuing down the road. She sat up from her relaxed position and pointed to a path off the road. It clearly showed a 'Do Not Pass' sign.

"Lia.." Steve was skeptical.

"Keep driving."

He stopped at the sign and squinted to read the fine print.

"This is an active volcanic spot Lia. It sign says to keep out."

She nodded, "I know. I put the sign up. Keep driving."

Now he was getting frustrated,"Lia…"

"I'm sorry Commander. Do you have a problem with following orders?"

She watched as his hands on the wheels clenched till the skin turned white.

"Lead the way." He insisted. She smiled and went into her pack. They drove down a dirt road for a couple miles before she told him to stop. There was still light out with was good. Because this was an active volcano and he was greatly displeased with every decision from his new friend. They got out of the truck and she motioned for him to follow.

"Now I get that Hawaii is pretty. You grew up here you can vouched for that. But I guarantee that you are about to see something tonight that you have never seen before. "

He followed her through the terrain. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination or if the ground was just completely unstable. She was a professional though right.

"Ok, here we are."

He stopped walking and looked at the view in front of him. It was a lookout point for the Halemaumau crater. It was a beautiful site to witness. Although he had seen it many times before.

"You do know this is an active volcano." He warned as he watched smoke appear from the crater. He turned to see Lia just smiling.

"Yes. Yes it is. Have a seat." She showed him a small rock surface overlooking the cliff. He took a seat next to her and ran a stressed hand over his face.

"You brought me. To an active Volcano."

Opening her backpack she brought out two Ziploc bags with sandwiches inside. "No sense of adventure." She suddenly stopped and grabbed his arm. "Look!" She whispered. Steve watched in amazement as the crater began to bubble and boil. Major lava pockets bursting to the surface. It was both thrilling and terrifying.

"I thought you SEALS had nerves of steel." She teased. Steve continued to look at the boiling pockets in front of him. Unable to move. She could see the red reflection of the moving surface across his eyes.

"Pretty cool right?" She asked. He just nodded.

"You are probably the most insane person I have ever met."

"Only 3 out of 4 doctors agree. I don't take it to personally."

She opened up the bag and took out one of the sandwiches to eat. She handed him the bag. He took the other sandwich and took a bite.

"I would have to say you are a hell of a risk taker."

She cocked her head to the side and drank some of her water. "Now I am curious. What else does my file say about me?"

"Something along the lines of Caution and Warning seem to fit."

She threw her head back and laughed, "You know what Commander. You're alright."

"Just alright?" He amused.

She rolled up he trash and took a napkin from the backpack to wipe her mouth.

"Nights still young. But I think this is enough excitement for you. We should be heading back. Mary, our receptionist doesn't really have the same love for late night crater walks like myself. She gets worried."

Steve began to help her clean up the mess, she took the trash from him and put it into a sealed bag.

"That's surprising." He mentioned dusting off his pants, "Her not liking this. It seems so safe to be out here alone."

He offered her his arm which she took with ease, "You worry to much Commander." They walked in silence back to the truck.

They made it back with little chit chat. Lia's emotions were slightly on the fritz. He was making her heart want to explode and she was hoping to make it back to the center without making a fool out of herself. Steve on the other hand was beside himself. He just want to pull the car over and figure out why everything seemed so intense. Was is a date? Should he kiss her? Was she enjoying his company. For the first time in what had seemed like ages he was not sure of something. They pulled up back to the village and he escorted her out of the car.

At the same time they went to open the bed of the trunk to grab her bag. Knocking each other off. "Careful." He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. She placed her arm on his to keep steady. They were close. Too close for her liking right now. She watched his eyes as they trailed to her lips which seemed suddenly so dry. She moved closer as he leaned forward. He was going to kiss her. She wasn't imagining this. A crack of thunder in the distance startled her. She jumped out of his embrace and ran a worried hand through her messy hair.

"Thanks for coming out with me." She squeaked. "I hope we can do this again. Maybe?" She left it open for another time.

He nodded, "It was different. That's for sure." He backed away cautiously not wanting to scare her. "Next time though we stay on solid ground though. My treat."

Her heart galloped a little. Next time. So he wanted to see her again.

"Next time?"

He nodded, "Yeah. Next time."

She was beaming, "I'd like that."

"I have your number now, so. I will call you."

She gave him a reassuring smile, "Ok. Sure. I'll answer. I mean." She laughed nervously, "I'll be looking forward to it."

He laughed as he got into his truck. Lia waved goodbye as he drove away and put her face in her hands.

"Ugh you idiot!" She muttered to herself. This was bad. She had only met this man two weeks ago yet she couldn't get him out of her head. She was drawn to him that was the truth. She just hoped it wasn't one sided.

True to his word they stayed on stable land. He had called her 3 days later to make arrangements for their second date. He had arrived early of course. Luckily she was prepared and was already set to go. He drove the down to a small burger shack that was on the beach. It was a beautiful night out. She had chosen a simple dress and sandals with a shall for the occasion. Steve wore a nice button down and some board shorts. He was truly an island boy.

"You look beautiful," He complimented. She blushed as she scooted closer to the table in her chair.

"A change right? Not covered in dirt and grime. Or blood. As it were."

He was silent before answering, "I think you look beautiful in most things. Even hanging off of a rope after repelling down a cliff."

"All covered in sweat and dust?"

He took a swing of his beer that was delivered, "I don't know. I kinda like you all covered in sweat and dust."

She stared at her menu, "You continue to surprise me Commander."

"I hope it's good."

"So far I haven't been disappointed."

They ate their food and kept the conversation light. When it was time to leave Steve paid the bill and suggested a walk along the water. She told him just for a few minutes because it was due to rain soon. He didn't believe her. She intertwined her arm to his and found herself enjoying his company more and more.

"So why geology? College that young had to mean you were beyond your years."

She shrugged, "All I have ever known I guess. I mean. My parents dragged me around the world for their research and home schooled me. I knew about rock formations and sediments before I could ride a bike. It's in my blood they would say."

Steve could relate, "My family is all military. Grandfather pearl harbor, Dad Vietnam then cop, after my mom died I got shipped to Military school back on the mainland. So I can see where you are coming from."

"It's rough losing a parent. Young?"

"16. Car accident. And yourself?"

"I was 14. Both perished during an eruption in Guatemala."

He whistled and shook his head, "That's got to leave a mark."

"It's the one place I won't go. But we move on. I flew across country after being accept to Stanford the next year. Finished within one year due to all my extra classes I'd taken. It's where I met Bob. He was the head of the geology department and old friend of my parents. So. It would seem natural to want to stick around him."

"How did you end up in Hawaii?"

"Bob was offered head researcher at the lab here. So I applied for a graduate program at UH and was accepted full scholar ship. I graduate in 3 months. So I can officially be labeled at Dr. Reynolds."

He smiled, "Nice ring to it."

"I think so."

A clap of thunder from up above startled them.

"Oh man. We won't make it back to the car. I told you we shouldn't walk far!"

"This is Hawaii, I'm sure it's just white noise. The rain won't even-"

As if on cue a downpour hit them. She looked at him in disbelief and he grabbed her hand to run. The storm moving quickly above them. Thunder getting louder.

"I told you! It's raining!" She screamed through the rain as they ran.

"Oh really" He screamed back."I hadn't noticed!" They didn't make it to the car but Steve found an overhead of a closed food stand. She was laughing trying to catch her breath as he dragged her under shelter.

"Maybe," She wheezed, "Maybe you should take this as a sign to just listen to me."

Steve had his hands on his hips huffing his chest, "Maybe you should stop being right."

She shook her head in disagreement, "Sorry Commander. Never going to happen." She jumped again at the thunder above them. Steve wrapped his arms around her.

"Works with active and flowing lava pits and thunder is her downfall."

She let out an annoyed hmm as he pulled her closer. "I'm not afraid of storms."

He smiled and leaned forward, "That so?"

"UmHmm."

"Good. Then you won't mind when I do this."

He moved slowly, taking his time to enjoy her in his arms. He move his hands down and laid them on her hips. She was soaking wet. Her dress ruined. She was nervous in his arms but he could;t imagine her being anywhere else. Without a second thought he then fit his mouth to hers. As he predicted was so worth the wait. She let out a low moan, and her arms came up to wrap around his waist, to draw him into her. She fisted her hands in the back of his shirt and took it all in.

When he pulled away her eyes were still closed. She smiled and moved closer.

"That was-" She gave him a half laugh, "Commander you can't just-"

He kissed her again taking her breath away and she pulled from him laughing. She hit his chest.

"Steve. Stop!"

"So you do know my name."

She stepped away when she just want to step forward and he gave her the distance. The rain had let up around them.

"I don't want the night to end." She admitted. He stepped forward and wen to pull her close again.

"So let's not. We can go have coffee. Or go to my hotel for coffee. Then we can have coffee tomorrow morning."

She leaned into his embrace and sighed, "As much as I like coffee. It's probably not a good idea."

He rested his chin on her head, "It's ok. There is always coffee for another time."

She moved to look up at him and brought her hand to his cheek, "But. If you want you can drive me home and I might be persuaded to make out in the driveway."

That was a plan Steve definitely could agree too.