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: Happy Monday! Hope you all enjoy this chapter. I absolutely loved writing it. :)

Trust.

Whoever said third times a charm would be correct. Because on the third day everything went to hell.

She had thought they were in good place. Granted she was going crazy being so close to him and not being able to sort out her feelings. But she was going to take whatever she could get.

They had gone to the farmers market that morning. Steve was picking up some produce when he watched a man come up behind Lia. His hand went to his concealed weapon and was about to pull it out when she turned and squealed before jumping into his arms. He picked her up and swung her around in a bear hug. Steve put a pip into his step to meet up with them.

"Gosh what are you doing here!" She questioned as the man set her down.

"I got in town last night. Went by your place and your neighbor said you were over here. So here I am!"

Lia pressed her lips together and hugged him again, "God! Look at you! It's great to see you!"

"Ahem." A voice cleared behind them. Lia released her friend and turned around.

"Steve!" She said brightly, as she pulled Steve close. "This is my friend Shane Moore. Shane this is Commander Steve McGarrett." The two men sized each other up. Shane broke first and held out his hand. Steve took it and made sure to give a good squeeze.

"How do you two know each other?" He questioned, Lia and Shane looked at each other and laughed.

"Lia here stole my internship right from under me while at Stanford."

She rolled her eyes, "It's not my fault you had a flawed Thesis and Bob picked me. Besides, I didn't see you complaining about your project in Costa Rica when I was researching. It looks good on you."

"We did have some good times. The coffee was great too." Shane winked.

Steve coughed and turned his head away.

Lia rolled her eyes. "Can't win them all."

Steve blinked and looked at Lia, "Because you know so much about losing."

She pinched his arm and smiled and turned back to her friend, "Well Shane. I won't be at the lab till next week but I would love to catch up. You have my number?"

"Course. It's one of the reasons I am here." He pointed to her head bandage, "When you get all healed I'll be around. Can't wait to get out in the field and see those new machines you got cooked up."

She gave him a polite smile and one last hug.

"It's good to see you! Don't be a stranger."

She and Steve walked away and headed back to their truck. He was quiet as they drove back to her place. Pua met then at the door with glee and followed Lia into the kitchen. When they were inside they set the bags on the table. Lia started taking out the produce and washing them in the sink.

"I think you are right about buying fresh. I'm going to have to start fending for myself when you leave so this is a great start."

Steve ignored her and walked out of the kitchen.

She looked at Pua, "Oh man." She put the fruit away and dried her hands on the towel next to the sink and before following him. He was in the living room opening up his laptop and she stood in the doorway.

"I don't want to fight," he says clenching his jaw and he typed on his computer.

She raised her eyebrow, "It will cause a fight?"

He glances at Lia, chin resting on his hand and nodded. She tapped her fist against the doorway and thought about what might be wrong and then smiled.

"This is about Shane."

His eyes went back to the screen,"Pretty and Smart."

"Steve." She argued, "Look. Shane is a friend."

He stopped typing and cocked his head to the side. "A friend who you used to have coffee with in Costa Rica."

"HAH!" She yelled pointing at him. "That's fresh! Oh that's fresh." She walked away and headed back to the kitchen. Steve got up quick and followed her.

"So you don't deny it."

"Deny what?" She asked while taking an apple and setting it on the cutting board.

"You and Shane. An ex boyfriend perhaps."

She turned to face him. "Whatever did or didn't happen with Shane and I is my own business. And I would like you to drop it."

"But when you accuse me and Catherine."

She looked up from chopping her apple. "Which was a real thing. As in your guys had a thing. There was a thing to be had. So me assuming was not out of the blue.'

"Fine. Yes. Catherine and I had a relationship. But it's over. Done. Now what about you?"

"What about me?"

"What about- Jesus you are infuriating. What about you and Shane. Did you guys have a relationship."

She slammed her knifed to the board. Pua barked at her.

She got herself until control before speaking very softly.

"No. No Shane and I did not have a relationship. Much to his dismay. Did he try in Costa Rica. Yes. Did I take him up on his offer. No. That's it. End of story."

Steve nodded and backed off, "Ok."

"Ok?" She asked frustrated.

He shrugged, "Ok. That's all I needed to know."

She pushed the apples aside and turned to face him.

"I'm going for a walk."

"A walk? What- No. LIA!" She was already out the door the dog following close. He was behind her in a heartbeat. "Lia! Come on."

"No Steve. NO!" She stopped walking and turned to face him."You can't just attack me over something like this."

He was silent and just stared at her.

"Steve. The first step to a relationship. Any good relationship, happens to be trust. Which we do not have. We didn't have it in then. We don't have it now. So if you will excuse me. I am going for a walk. Something I don't need your permission for, nor do I care."

She left him in her back drive and headed down the path to the beach with Pua closely behind her.

Steve gave her his space.

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She returned some hours later calmed down. Kupua walked into the house and went straight to the couch to lay down. She followed inside and found Steve at her kitchen table nursing a beer. There were files on the table in front of him. He offered her a chair to sit down. Confused she took the chair and he pushed a file in front of her. It said Naval Intelligence.

"Go ahead." He offered. "Open it."

She looked at the folder and back at him, "Steve this is confidential. This is United States property. Government Property. If they-"

"Lia." He interrupted, "This is me trusting you."

She swallowed and nodded before opening the file. It contained a picture of two men via satellite image. The surname Hesse below both of them. She went through the file and saw some pretty horrific things.

"I don't understand?" She whispered.

He interlocked his hands and leaned forward.

"These men, are very bad people. People who are always a step ahead of me."

She continued flipping through pages.

"Steve-"

"It's why I was so distant. I became so involved in this case and it just consumed me. Still bothers me."

"Then what changed?" She whispered aloud. Shutting the file and pushing it back.

"You." He whispered taking the folder back.

"Me?"

"You came into my life and knocked everything off balance. When it came down to my duty on this mission or you. I had to take a step back."

She nodded, "You should've told me."

"I realize that now and I agree. I was scared and that wasn't a feeling I was used to. Knowing if anything were to happen to you.

"Steve," She rolled her eyes, "I'm not your responsibility."

"As long as there is something going on between us you are. I protect the ones I care about. You included."

She sat up and scooted closer to him. Put her hand to the back of his head and pulled him close and before kissing him. He held her face and did not let go. When she pulled away she ran her thumb across his cheek.

"Thank you for telling me the truth. It means a lot to me."

He kissed the inside of her palm. "You mean a lot to me. Which makes what I'm about to tell you more difficult."

"What is it."

"I got a call today. After you are cleared on medical leave I'm to report to the base. I'm being deployed."

"Deployed?" She shot her eyes and and forth looking at him. "As in middle east. Front lines you can be killed in a second deployed."

He laughed and looked down. "As in Afghanistan on a military base with the best soldiers I know. There really isn't a front line. This isn't like I'm being drafted for Germany Lia."

"For some reason that doesn't make me feel better."

He gave her a defeated chuckle and pulled her into his lap.

"I don't want to give up on us." he admitted, "I'm willing to try again. Do it right this time. No more secrets."

"Ok." She whispered leaning into his chest. "No more secrets." She leaned up and began to kiss his neck.

"Hey what are you doing?" He asked with amusement.

"Consummating our relationship."

He narrowed his eyes "Doc said nothing strenuous."

"Well then Commander." She whispered softly into his ear. "You'll just have to do all the work. I have no problem with that. " In a quick second he had his arm under her legs and lifted her out of the chair. He lifted her with no problem at wall and walked them to her bedroom. Kicking the door shut behind them.

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"I feel nervous. Should I be nervous?" She asked in a panic as they drove the streets towards the base.

Steve put his hand over Lia's while he drove, "Relax. You are going to be fine."

"This is payback."

"On what grounds?"

"I don't know. Something."

He laughed and brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"Lia, it's just my father."

"Yes, Your father! Whom you neglected to tell me would be at the base. The same base you are shipping off to war from. I am already filled with anxiety about you leaving and now I have to meet your father!"

"He is going to love you."

She shook her head in frustration and opened the passenger mirror above her.

"You look beautiiful Lia. Don't worry."

"You can shut your mouth and keep driving Commander."

The truth is she looked better. The bandage was off her head and the stitches were concealed by her hair. Even though her arms were healing nicely she was self conscious of them and wore a light sweater to cover it up. Her doctor had given her a clean bill of health 2 days ago. Steve told his CO he would be ready to leave a day after. They spent the last three days getting to know each other. Hardly leaving the house and overall just enjoying each others company. Something new to the both of them. Now they were on their way to the Naval Base to see Steve off.

"You know I have a property here. On Oahu."

"Really?" Steve asked surprised. "Where?"

"It's a small condo on the north shore. It was the second property Bob owned. He had it while he worked on this island."

"You mean to tell me we all that time I was spending money on Hotels to visit the big island you could've been here. With me. In Oahu."

She snorted, "You never asked. It never came up. Besides. I hardly ever come to Oahu for work and you know that I basically live at the Lab now."

He agreed. "True, well. I guess when I have some R&R I know where we are staying."

They pulled into the base and Steve showed his badge. He was accepted and let through. He pulled into the visitors parking lot and they exited the vehicle. He grabbed his pack from the back. Tossed it with one hand over his shoulder and wrapped his other arm around Lia escorting her into the base.

"God I haven't been here since. Well. When we met." She commented.

"It's not that bad of a reason this time."

She gave him some serious side eye, "Says you."

Everyone was busy and running around. He lead her through the building and they reached the hanger outside. She noticed that it wasn't just Steve leaving on the plane. There were dozens of soldiers getting ready and saying goodbye to their families. She swallowed a breath of air and kept her composure. Steve scanned the room for his dad and saw him near one of the tables.

"Dad!" Steve yelled. The man looked up and smiled getting up from his seat to greet them. Steve let go of Lia and pulled his dad into a hug.

"There's my boy. How you feeling." His father asked slapping him on the back.

"Great. Anxious to get back out there but great." She told his father honestly.

He father gave him a proud smile, "That's what I like to hear." He saw Lia standing behind Steve politely giving them space. John would have none of that.

"I see my son forgot his manners back on the Big Island. Come and give me a hug Lia. John McGarrett. Nice to see the woman my son has neglected me for."

She welcomed the older names embrace and gave Steve a look as if to say you told your father about me.

She pulled back and looked at the man with admiration, "It's wonderful to meet you John. Steve speaks so highly of you."

"Probably all lies." He turned Lia around in a circle. She laughed. "You did good Steve. This one is a keeper." Steve rolled his eyes and grabbed Lia away from his father.

"Act like a professional. Please dad."

John held up his hand, "No Promises. Hey come over here kid. Excuse us Lia."

Steve spoke to his father for quite a bit of time alone. She couldn't tell what hey were saying but she could see that it was needed between both father and son. The loud speaker announced the next flight to depart in 10 min. Steve patted his dad on the shoulder and made his way over to Lia.

"You doing OK?" He asked concerned. Seeing her eyes start to water.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Fine. Just. It's different you leaving this time. Knowing where you are going. Part of me wishes you had just snuck out of the house."

"Well. That's not use anymore. Least now you can contact me."

She nodded and pushed the hair out of her face, "Should I be worried?" She whispered looking around at all the families saying goodbye. Not knowing if it would be for the last time.

She couldn't stop the tear that fell onto her cheek. Dammit. He thought as he brushed it away.

"I'm going to be fine. Lia. You don't have to worry."

She blotted another one that threatened to fall. "Don't" She pleaded, "Don't do that. I know you are a SEAL and probably 20 thousand other things but I'm allowed to worry OK, don't take that away from me" She clutched his shirt and squeezed the fabric. Not wanting to let go.

"Ok." he whispered as he scanned her eyes. Hating the feeling she was going through.

The speaker blasted again, 5 minutes. She grabbed his face suddenly to kiss him, he wrapped his arms securely around her and brought her close. She felt the warmth of his skin against hers, breathing in his scent, memorizing the contours of his lips, before she pulled away tears free flowing.

"You better get going Commander." She spoke into his chest, "Don't want to miss your flight."

He kissed the top of her head, "Don't miss me too much."

"I always have Shane if I do." she teased.

Steve growled and kissed her one last time before shaking his head.

"You make me crazy."

She laughed and hugged him again, "Stay safe out there Commander. Come back to me."

He nodded and eased away from her slowly. Grabbing his pack he gave his father one last huge and walked away with the other soldiers. Lia walked over to where John was standing who wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"He's going to be fine. Don't you worry Lia."

She nodded and gave Steve one last wave as he walked onto the plane. He mouthed Aloha to them and she returned it. They stood in silence as they watched the plane take off. She let out a mournful sigh and John laughed.

"Come on, lets blow this Popsicle joint. You have a couple hours before your flight back to the big island and I know the perfect place for pancakes."

That plan sounded perfect and just what she needed.

"Lead the way John. Lead the way."