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: So incredibly humbled that people are following this story. So after work I did what I do best. Write out another chapter for all of you! Now. Angst alert. Just saying. Though it's all part of the the plan! Enjoy! And let me know what you think :)

Hesse

The first time she heard the name Hesse was the night of her graduation from the University of Hawaii.

Steve was in town. Steve had surprised her. It was the most perfect surprise she could've asked for in truth. Steve had been there in his Navy Blues whistling as she received her doctorate.

She hadn't expected him to be there.

He was on an assignment the last 3 weeks. Then again nothing about the last 3 months have been normal. She had never been in a relationship this intense this fast before and it scared the shit out of her, but it was also a thrill and she loved every second of it. For some reason he kept calling and she kept answering.

So when he took her in his arms and whisked her away to his truck she decided to not questions his motives.

Besides.

It had been a long 3 weeks of separation.

He drove very fast to her house.

Cradling the back of her head, he kissing her one way and then another, he walked her backward, over to the bed. "Steve." She broke the kiss, "Steve. What about dinner." Her knees hit the edge and she tumbled back, sprawling across the mattress. Steve came down on top of her, took her mouth again, and savaged it until she gave up talking. "Dinner can wait. You. Me. Now."

She decided it was not worth arguing.

She awoke some hours later. Dinner long forgotten. She stretched and turned and reached out to the other side of the bed and found it empty. Groaning she opened her eyes and noticed the sheets had been cold for some time. Kupua sitting there staring at her. She smiled and waved at him when she sat up and looked around the room for Steve. She heard hushed voices coming from down the hallway and she was curious. Climbing out of bed, she grabbed his T shirt before throwing it over her head and walking through the doors. The dog just yawned and walked to his own bed in the corner of the room.

She looked down the hall and found him standing in the middle of her living room in just his sweat pants. Obviously upset with whoever was on the other line.

"Look I'll be out there in 20 minutes. Have a team ready to deploy. You get any word that Hesse has made a move I hear about it alright. Fine. McGarrett out."

He slammed his phone shut and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Work got you down Brah?"

He turned surprised and his mouth went dry as he took in her appearance. He held his phone towards her.

"That. That is my shirt."

She looked down confused and tugged the edges down a bit, "This? Nah. I got this a couple weeks ago. But. If you want it, I might be in the mood to bargain. If you have something I want."

He walked towards her and pulled her into his arms, "What did you have in mind?"

She let out an exasperated breath and shook her head, "Not something you can accomplish in 10 min."

He squinted his eyes, "The boat on your birthday said different."

She rolled her eyes, "Flaw. I was flawed. It was heat of the moment. I was intoxicated. Everything was intensified"

"Yeah. Sure. I'll say." He kissed her soundly as she held him close. He groaned and stepped away. "As much as I want a repeat of last night I have to go."

She understood , "I know. It's your job. I'm kind of getting used to these fly byes. Feel like I'm dating James Bond or something."

"Nah. He isn't as cool as me."

She shrugged and walked past him patting his bare chest, "You go get ready. I'll make the coffee."

"I thought we just had coffee." He called over his shoulder.

"HAH. That's funny." She walked into the kitchen, "Towels in the closet."

After a 3 minute shower and a quick dressing he was ready with his pack to go. She walked up with a thermos of coffee and gave him a quick kiss.

"Thank you for the surprise. It meant a lot you were here today. Even if it was just for a couple hours."

"It was important to you. So it was important to me." He kissed her cheek and walked out the door.

She followed him out, "You know I'm a Doctor now." She yelled as he was walking to the car. "That's a big deal."

He stood on the steps into his truck and hung over the door. "Goodnight Dr. Reynolds."

She smiled and waved, "Have a safe trip Commander McGarrett."

"I'll call you!"

"Maybe I'll answer!"

With a final wave he pulled out of her driveway. Lia looked at her watch. She still had time before she was due anywhere important. She could get a few more hours of rest.

Things changed after that night. She didn't know what had happened on that mission. But she knew when Steve had reappeared the next time he was different. Colder. Distant. Suddenly things began to changed. Missed calls. No responses. It was clear that something was troubling him and he was pushing her away. She was trying to accommodate him, giving him his space.

She just needed to know where they stood.

He walked into her office on a Wednesday. She was on a conference call with a colleague on the mainland back in the states who was begging her to come out and teach a semester course for summer interns interested in her program. She met his eyes and the look he carried was what she was dreading these last couple weeks.

"Gary, I am going to have to call you back. Thanks" She hung up the phone and leaned back in her chair. "Steve. What brings you out here."

He cleared his throat, "Thought it would be appropriate to see you in person."

"Sure. Come in. Shut the door behind you."

He did what she had asked and stood in front of her desk.

She offered him the chair but he refused, "No. Thanks. I'd rather stand."

"Alright." She looked around the room. "What's going on?"

"I wanted to let you know that I haven't been ignoring you. Just. I've been busy."

She clicked her tongue against the inside of her cheek and nodded, "I see. Well I am very happy you have found the time to pencil me in."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "It's been a rough couple of weeks I get it. I just thought with your new projects it would be better if I just stayed away."

She rocked back and forth on her chair slowly and point to him, "Just not let me know right. Keep me in the dark."

He nodded, "I admit it. I should have called you but-"

She suddenly sat up and tossed the pencil on the table, "Damn it Steve. This isn't about you calling. This is about you know thinking you shouldn't trust me. Or just let me in."

"Look." He point out, "Things are tough right now. Stuff you wouldn't even begin to understand."

"So then tell me that. Don't leave me in the dark thinking I did something wrong." She raised a finger to silence him, "No. I'm speaking."

"This is about that last mission." She finally expressed, "The one after Graduation. That night. you got a phone call." She began snapping her fingers, "Something dealing with hear from Hesse."

He looked shaken for a minute, 'How do you know about Hesse?"

She shook her head, "Nothing. Except you were trying to find them. Then you came back and things weren't ok. Now we aren't ok. Are we?"

His silence gave her the answer. She got up from her chair and walked to stare out her window. He moved closer to her but she raised hand to stop him.

"Just don't" She refused to look in in the eye, "Look. I'm going to the mainland at the end of this week. I won't be back for a while."

He looked away and clenched his jaw, "Mainland? As in-"

"The states."

He crossed his arms defensively, "Just up and go? Just like that? What about your program?"

"The Harris Foundation is up and running. Our new sensors and monitors already in place. My team on the base can handle things. If not I'm just a phone call away."

He was visibly angry now, "How long?"

She finally turned to him, "3 months."

"What about us?" He asked.

She didn't know whether she was going to laugh or cry, "Steve. I have been here the whole time. You have to decide what this means," She referenced between them, "I'm not sticking around waiting for an answer. So you need to resolve whatever personal issue is going on with you soon or end this. It's not fair to both of us."

"Ok." He complied.

"Ok." She answered.

The tension was thick in the room.

"Anything else Commander McGarrett?"

He shook his head. "That would be all. Have a nice day Dr. Reynolds."

He left her office and she made a quick call to Gary accepting his offer.

It took Steve McGarrett 2 weeks to come up with an answer. In the form of a text. Containing very few choice words such as "Serious." Followed by "Too Soon." with a conclusion of "Just ending it."

She got his message loud and clear.