"Steve. You don't need to handle me like glass. I promise you, I won't break." Alyssa complained for the umpteenth time as Steve helped her walk to his house. Since Alyssa's injuries were not life-threatening and what she needed most was rest, the doctor discharged her after the mandated 24 hour observation period for her concussion. Of course it took some cajoling and browbeating from Alyssa to get what she wanted, but she did not want to spend another night at the hospital if at all possible; she'd had enough of hospitals to last her a very long time.

Steve insisted on picking her up, for which Alyssa was grateful, but when he took the road to his house rather than to her apartment, she complained. "Steve. I'm fine. You can take me home. I'll be totally OK."

"I know you will," was Steve's answer. "But while you are recovering, you'll stay with me so that I can keep an eye on you and make sure you are taking it easy, and " Steve looked at the road ahead, "in case you need anything," he added quietly.

He pulled up in front of the house and walked around to help Alyssa out. She had already opened the door and had her feet on the ground ready to push herself up, and stealing herself for the stab of pain that she knew would come with the motion. Before she even realized it, Steve was there. He gently lifted her into a standing position, and, with his arm around her waist led her inside.

"I'm OK. You don't need to bother," Alyssa continued. She was uncomfortable with the attention being paid to her. I really can take care of myself."

Steve helped Alyssa sit down on the couch, took a deep breath, and kneeled in front of her so he could look her in the eye.

"I know you can take care of yourself, Aly," Steve said. "God knows I've seen you do it. But the point is, you don't always have to. How about you let me do it for a little while? Just long enough for you to get your strength back." Alyssa smiled at Steve and nodded.

Steve was not as successful as he would have hoped in keeping Alyssa still. After a few days of resting in bed, she came down the stairs in clothes that Kono had brought over and went into the kitchen. One glance in the cabinets and the refrigerator was all the proof she needed that although her brother had many skills, cooking was not one of them. Without an actual discussion, Steve and Alyssa came to an accommodation. He would shop and she would cook. Alyssa loved to cook and cooking for somebody as appreciative as Steve, who was not accustomed to home-cooked meals was particularly pleasurable. Not only would she make dinner, but she would also bake and make and freeze meals that she froze for later. It was not long, until the entire team was spending several nights a week at Steve's house enjoying Alyssa's food and the company of family.

In this way six weeks passed quickly and Alyssa was finally given clearance to go back to work.

On the Sunday before she would come back, Steve and the rest of the Five-O team and families gathered for a picnic that would also double as a celebration of Aunt Deb's life. Steve and Alyssa used their surf boards and paddled out a ways into the ocean where the water was a beautiful clear blue. Sitting on her board, Alyssa took off the lei that she was wearing and placed it on the water. As it bobbed on the water and the tides started taking it away, she just said, "Good bye, Aunt Deb. And Aloha."

Steve and Alyssa paddled back to shore and the friends waiting for them there.

Steve insisted on driving Alyssa to work on Monday since there was a celebration welcoming Alyssa back. The entire Five-O team was going and then Steve would take Alyssa home.

Alyssa was thrilled to get back to work. She was so excited, in fact that she was not paying attention to where Steve was driving. "What are you doing," she asked when she realized that he missed the HPD parking lot.

"Taking you to work," Steve said smiling. "Relax and trust me." Steve parked the car and they rode up the elevator to the floor that housed the Five-O headquarters. The rest of the team was already their and they were all smiling as if they shared a joke - a joke that Alyssa missed.

"What...?" Alyssa looked at Steve in dazed confusion. "What's going on, Steve?"

Steve grinned and rocked back on his heels, like an excited school boy. He reached into a file cabinet and pulled out a badge and Alyssa's Kimber 1911. He handed her the badge. Alyssa gaped. It was not the pin that she wore when she was in uniform. It was in a leather case. She opened the case and looked up at Steve in disbelief.

"Really?" she was able to stutter? Steve nodded and grinned even wider.

"Given your performance during the human trafficking case and how you handled yourself during the kidnapping, I was able to convince Sargent Kama to transfer you to Five-O. Welcome to your new job, Detective Grant."

Alyssa was staring at Steve so intently, she barely heard the cheers and applause from the rest of the team.

The End

I hope you enjoyed this story. It was fun and challenging to write and I very much appreciate the constructive critique that I received. As always, I love your comments and reviews. I do have some ideas on what I would like to do next, but will welcome your thoughts and recommendations as always.

Thank you again