The Flying Trapeze
Chapter Two
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. I wished for them on a star. Didn't work.
Author Notes: The first day on the flying trapeze.
They dressed quickly and headed out to breakfast. Steve gave Kono a once over in the tights and leggings the camp had recommended she wear. She looked amazing. She had on a pair of shorts over the tights and leggings, but he knew when she got to practice and took them off he was going to have a hard time concentrating. He needed to though. Her life depended on him holding her. He knew it was important and he would not let her down, literally.
As soon as they were down the stairs from their jungalow Steve took Kono's hand. It had only been a day, but it felt so natural. Kono smiled from ear to ear as they walked to the mess hall. They met up with the Wicks on the way and chatted about their first night in the jungle. Kono really liked them. She hoped she would end up with a marriage like theirs. She could see it with a guy like Steve.
At breakfast they met a couple who were engaged and wanted to test their relationship with the challenge of the retreat. The guy, David Crowder, creeped Kono out. He kept looking at her like he was undressing her with his eyes. He told Kono more than once that she was "so exotic looking". His girlfriend didn't look too happy and Kono could tell it was making Steve really mad. At one point he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her physically closer to him. She leaned in to him to let him know she appreciated it. The girlfriend, Janet, was doing the same thing to Steve and when Kono had enough she pulled Steve up from the table.
"I need to stop off at the jungalow before practice. Alex."
Steve was relieved for the out she had given them.
"Okay, Sweetheart, I'll come with you."
"Oh, Alex, can't you stay and talk to us? Grace can catch up later."
"Sorry, there's nothing I'd rather do than spend time with my wife."
Steve reached for Kono's outstretched hand and stood giving her a kiss right in front of them. Kono was totally taken by surprise. It was just a barely there brush of her lips, but Kono almost dropped her cover in her surprise. She closed her eyes and when she opened them Steve was smiling down at her. He slipped his arm around her waist and they left the dining hall to meet Danny and Chin. They were extremely quiet as they walked to the rendezvous point. Finally Kono had to say something.
"What was that?"
Steve knew it. He had gone too far.
"Are you mad?"
"Mad? No, I loved putting them in their place. I was just surprised. You know?"
"Sorry. Next time I'll warn you."
"Next time?"
"Uh…that isn't what I meant…"
"It's okay Steve. I was just teasing you."
"You had me worried for a minute. I don't ever want to step over a boundary with you Kono."
"Oh."
Steve thought she sounded disappointed.
"No, you're right. We're playing a part. Stick to the story."
"Right."
"Right."
"What right?"
Danny sidled up to them.
"Getting kind of friendly there aren't we detectives?"
Steve realized he still had his arm around Kono's waist. He pulled back abruptly.
"Oh, you're just jealous you don't get to play."
"Darn right I am. I am sick of changing beds."
Chin arrived just then.
"I can't stay long guys. I am supposed to help out in the SPACE. I'll see you two there next."
"Okay, what do we know?"
Steve and Kono started.
"Danny, check out the jungalows of the Stewarts and the couple David Crowder and his girlfriend Janet. They both seem suspicious. We haven't met anybody else yet. The Wicks seem really nice so no worries there that we know of. It's only the second day. This is going to take a while. Danny how about you?"
"There's a guy in housekeeping that disappeared last night after we were sent to the staff headquarters. Someone said he preys on the women who stay at the retreat. He looks for an unhappy couple and schmoozes the wife and sneaks out to meet them. Could be nothing. I'm going to follow him tonight."
"Chin?"
"The riggers are pretty talkative. Apparently the missing couple were no piece of cake. They fought like cats and dogs from the minute they arrived. The wife told someone this was the final straw. If they couldn't work something out at the retreat, they were going to call it quits."
"Hmmm. Okay, Kono and I will target another couple at lunch and then again at dinner. Let's meet up tomorrow at the same time and see what if anything we've discovered. See you guys later. We have a trapeze calling our names."
"Be careful guys. It's pretty high up and looks dangerous. The riggers said the key is learning how to fall in the net without breaking your neck. Take care cousin and watch out for her Steve."
"I will. I promise Chin."
The four friends and colleagues separated. Kono was quiet on the walk to SPACE.
"Penny for your thoughts detective."
"Don't you think it's kind of sad that so many couples here seem unhappy? Why get married if you're just going to be miserable?"
"Wow, how old are you? So jaded already?"
"I just…"
Steve stopped and turned Kono to face him. She wouldn't look at him and he reached under her chin, lifting her eyes up to meet his.
"You are not other people Kono. You are an amazing woman and someday you will be an amazing wife and mother. I also know that you will pick just the right guy because you will not settle for anything else. Besides, if he doesn't treat you right Chin, Danny ad I will kick his butt. Got that?"
Kono grinned really big. Steve's words made her feel special and cared for.
"Got that."
Steve slipped his arm back around her waist and pulled her to him as they made their way to SPACE: the camp version of a Big Top.
When they walked into the place Kono's eyes went immediately to the trapeze. The trainer and his assistant were on it. Kono loved watching the girl fly through the air to the man's arms. It looked high up. She hoped they didn't start that high today. She needn't have worried. The couple saw them and waved.
"Alex. Grace. Welcome to your first lesson."
The man waved to Chin who lowered the bar he was hanging from all the way to just above the floor.
"I'm James and this is Lani. You two ready to get started?"
Steve looked at Kono. They both shrugged.
"We think so."
"Okay, today is all about three holds. Alex, you will learn how to hold on to the bar with your legs. Grace, you will learn how to hold on to the bar with your hands and your legs. The most important hold we will learn second. That is the catching hold."
Kono and Steve looked at each other and smiled. Steve knew Kono was on cloud nine.
"Do you trust each other completely? You have to in order to do the catch."
Steve looked deeply into Kono's eyes. They both spoke at once.
"Completely."
"Okay then, Steve sit down on the bar and grab the ropes."
Steve took off his t-shirt and his muscles bulged out of his tank top. James showed Steve how to wrap his legs around the ropes and hang upside down. When he had it down, James motioned Chin to raise Steve to just above Kono's head. Lani showed them how to clasp arms and then Chin raised the bar up off the ground a couple of feet. James started timing them to see how long Steve could hold Kono's weight. Kono lifted her head and smiled up at Steve's upside down face.
"Hi."
"Hi yourself."
"Okay, macho man, show me what you got."
After two full minutes of holding her weight James had Steve start to swing her back and forth. Kono giggled. It was infectious. After a few minutes of that it was Kono's turn.
"Okay, Grace, you're next."
Lani showed Kono how to hold the bar and then bring her legs up between her hands and wrap her knees around the bar, releasing her hands so that she could catch Steve's. Kono was a quick study and Lani complimented her on how well she arched her back. Steve watched her in fascination. She was amazing. She could have been a circus performer. He was sure of that. He watched her swing back and forth hanging upside down.
They continued to practice a couple of feet off the ground until James said they could try one catch and call it a day. Steve sat on the swing until James signaled him to get into position. Lani put a belt around Kono's waist that held support lines and she got into place. Both of them were raised about six feet off the ground. James talked them through it and when he told Kono to let go, she hung by her legs and reached for Steve . He caught her and she released her legs from the bar.
"Yeah!"
Steve looked down at Kono. She was smiling up at him.
"We did it! We did it!"
"Great job you two. Tomorrow we'll let you try it up there with a net and show you how to fall into it the right way."
"I can't wait!"
Chin lowered them back to the ground. He loved seeing his cousin so happy. She was really having a good time.
Steve and Kono thanked James and Lani and headed out to lunch. They were late and only the Wicks were still in the dining hall. That was fine with Kono. She loved talking to them.
"So, what are you youngsters going to do with your afternoon?"
Steve looked at Kono.
"Surfing?"
"Absolutely."
After they finished lunch they headed back to their jungalow hand in hand as usual. They grabbed their suits and headed to the bathrooms to dress. The camp had loaner boards and they made the quick ten-minute walk to the beach in no time. They talked about the case on the way.
"We still have to connect with the four other couples. Let's plan on that at dinner. We'll find at least two couples we don't know and sit with them."
"There's a campfire and smores after dinner. Maybe we can get a chance to talk to the others as well."
"Sounds good. I wish this wasn't a case. I'm having a really good time Boss."
"Kono I think you can call me Steve from now on when we're alone. I mean, we have slept together after all."
Kono laughed and punched him in the arm.
"You wish."
And Steve did. He wanted a relationship with Kono. The more time he spent with her in this more relaxed environment, the more he liked…make that loved what he saw. He had been noticing her all year, especially when the four of them did stuff together after hours. She was kind, caring, and a good listener. He found himself falling for her more and more every day and this time together undercover just convinced him she was the girl he had been looking for.
They surfed for the afternoon and as luck would have it, they talked to two more couples: the Carlsons and the Panteras. Kono took a break for a while when Steve started instructing the two men on surfing. It was their first time and he enjoyed showing them some moves. The women were sunning themselves on the beach. Kono decided to strike up a conversation so she sat down with them.
"Can I just say what a hunk your husband is?"
"Uh…thanks. I guess."
"Tall, dark, handsome, muscular…what a six-pack. Those tattoos, those eyes and those long eyelashes. Girl you are so lucky."
"Well, look at her. She's gorgeous too. Figures he'd be married to someone like you. Perfect body and you surf too. Dreamy girl. He is absolutely dreamy."
Kono's eyes drifted over to the three men where Steve was instructing them before they went in the water. He caught her eyes on him and winked at her. The women were right. He was gorgeous. She got lost in those eyes. She had been held by those arms and had her arm across that six-pack. She shook her head trying to pull herself together. She had to keep reminding herself it was only an illusion. It wasn't real.
The afternoon went pretty well after that. Steve came and got her after a bit. They rode a couple of more waves together.
Neither couple raised any red flags, but Steve knew whoever did this was good, really good. They grabbed their boards and each other's hands and headed back to shower before dinner. In the mess hall they spotted the last two couples eating together and made their way over to join them.
"Hey, we watched you two this morning. You're naturals at it."
"Thanks, but who knew?"
The couples introduced themselves as the Smiths and the Bernards. Kono almost smirked at the name Smith. Seriously? Smith? She doubted it. After dinner they headed out to the campfire and Steve pulled Kono into his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned her head back on his shoulder and they played the love struck newlyweds. It wasn't hard. Neither one knew the other even had feelings, but they were over the moon for each other. Steve nestled his chin over her shoulder and leaned his cheek against hers.
"The guys told me this afternoon that I'm married to one hot chick. I have to say that I agree completely."
"Funny thing. The girls said the same about you. I think it involved eyes and muscles and…well…you get the drift."
"Well then it's a good thing I'm in a monogamous relationship."
"You better believe it baby."
Kono turned in his arms then and they looked at each other. Kono didn't know if it was the campfire, the way he was holding her, or the comments by the other couples, but she kissed him while seven other couples looked on. It was just a brush at first and then Steve was kissing her back. She realized what they were doing and pulled away to look at him in shock. She stood up and headed for their jungalow without saying a word. Steve didn't know what to do. He hung back for a bit giving her what he thought was enough time.
He mumbled something about her having a headache and headed out. She was in bed turned away from him when he entered. He slipped his clothes off and slid into bed. He didn't know what to say so he just lay there looking at her back. It was then that he saw the tiny shaking of her shoulders.
"Are you crying?"
"Kono?"
"Steve not now, okay?"
"Kono talk to me, please?"
"I can't. I'm too embarrassed."
Steve reached for her and pulled on her shoulder until she turned over and looked at him.
"Come here."
Steve pulled her into his arms. He held her close and brushed her tears aside.
"It's all my fault Kono, not yours. You were just playing the part. I'm the one that pushed it. I'm sorry, I just. I like you Kono. I mean, really like you. I feel like we've gotten close the last three days and I'm struggling a bit with my feelings."
"You are?"
"Look Kono. I'm only human and you're well…you're great Kono. I just…I wanted to kiss you, okay?"
"You did?"
"Yeah. I'd like to do it again, soon."
"How soon?"
Kono was looking at him in a way that turned him into putty.
"Now?"
Steve pulled her closer into his arms and kissed her gently. He brushed her hair back from her face and thumbed off her tearful cheeks. She drew a shaky breath in and looked up at him with a look of complete affection. Steve descended on her lips again. He sighed into the kiss and Kono relaxed in his arms and just let herself feel. Steve ran his hands up and down her back tenderly comforting her. Kono could feel herself falling asleep. Steve pulled back to kiss her softly on the neck and behind her ear. He whispered softly.
"Go to sleep sweetheart. I've got you. Don't worry about us. We're okay. We'll figure it out. I'm here Kono. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"
He feathered his lips across hers once more, her head slipped down on his shoulder and she closed her eyes. Steve had lulled her to sleep. The last thing she thought she remembered was his voice soft in her ear.
"Love you…"
Then she fell asleep.
Author Notes: Sorry guys. I went ahead and posted tonight. It's Spring Break and I am going to Seattle in the morning. I'll get back to updates on Monday unless I end up with some free time at the hotel. See you soon.