The Flying Trapeze

Chapter Four

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. Reality can be so ugly.

Author Notes: I'm back in town and cooking away on the story, so updates should come daily from now until the end.

Once again Kono woke up to the most wonderful feeling. She was wrapped in the strong arms of one Commander McGarrettt. Oh what a feeling! She'd start singing, but she didn't want to wake the Wicks that early. Instead she put tiny little kisses to the side of Steve's neck where her face had been buried. She heard a growl and then she was rolled over on her back and that same Commander was hovering over her smiling down at her.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

He whispered to her.

"You better stop doing that every morning Officer Kalakaua or I will not be responsible for my actions. What happened to taking thing slow?"

"I thought that was slow."

"Oh, you are so going to get it."

Kono whispered breathily in his ear.

"I hope so McGarrett. I really hope so."

"That does it, you asked for it."

Steve launched into a tickle fest that caused Kono to bust out laughing."

"Okay..okay…you're going to wake the neighbors."

"No, you are. Now let's get going. I want to get to the SPACE and see if we can crack our friends Lani and James. You ready to fly this morning?"

"I am so ready to fly."

Steve went to push himself off of her and Kono pulled him back to her for a brief kiss. He growled at her again and rolled over.

"You are going to be the death of me."

"Hey, don't use those words."

"Sorry."

They changed quickly into their practice clothing. Steve was so tempted to turn and watch her get dressed, but he was a gentleman.

He was dressed first, so he went down the steps to wait for her. When she came down almost to him he reached for her waist and she put her hands on his shoulders. He swung her the rest of the way down to the ground. He held his hand out and looked into her eyes smiling. It was so incredible to openly display affection. Steve wasn't afraid to be obvious about it now. Kono could swear her body was filled with helium as she floated to the dining hall with him. They deliberately sat at the Wicks table. Tim looked a bit uncomfortable when they sat down, but it was barely noticeable before he covered it with a warm greeting. Karen immediately went on a fishing expedition.

"So, you two left the performances early last night? Where'd you go? Midnight swim?"

"Uh, Alex wanted some "alone " time, if you know what I mean."

"Oh, my dear, I know exactly what you mean. Tim was all over me the first few years we were married. He couldn't keep his hands off me."

"Still can't."

Kono wondered if Steve was struggling with this as much as she was. The way the two looked at each other, Kono could swear they were totally in love with each other. Maybe they were. Killers could fall in love too, right?

"So Tim, what was it you said you did for a living again?"

"Oh, I'm an analyst for a corporation in Chicago. You probably never heard of them."

"Try me."

"Okay, it's, uh, Rolotech International."

"You're right. I never heard of it. What do you make?"

"Electronics. So what do you do Steve?"

"I'm a firefighter. I know, hero complex, right?"

"That's funny because I was saying to Tim that you looked like a cop."

"Really."

Kono laughed at that.

"There is no way I'd marry a cop. Right Honey?"

"Grace has a thing about guns."

"Uh huh."

"Grace, we need to get over to the SPACE. We'll catch up with you guys later."

Steve stood and reached for Kono's hand. Tim didn't take his eyes off of Steve's. It was almost like a challenge. Steve stared back in a challenge of his own. Kono was so proud of him in that moment. They definitely hadn't heard the last of the Wicks.

When they arrived at the SPACE Kono looked up at the trapeze. They had the net strung and Lani was standing up on the top platform. James waved for Steve to climb the rope ladder up to the platform he was sitting on. Steve gave Kono a quick kiss and squeezed her hand.

"Have fun today."

"You too."

They climbed up to their spots and listened carefully to the instructions. They started out by learning how to drop in the net. Lani and Kono went first. It was terrifying to let go of the bar the first time, but after Kono learned how to manage the bounce, it was really fun. She especially loved flipping herself out of the net and on to the ground. She laughed so hard when she was bouncing in the net that Steve told her to hurry up. He was jealous. Steve smiled down at her and then it was his turn. He had a great time as well. After that they started on the swings and catches. Steve missed the catch the first three times, but after that and the he caught her every time. James and Lani were satisfied with their progress and climbed down to watch. It was almost lunchtime, so James told Steve to do one more catch. Steve winked at Kono.

"You ready?"

"Always."

"Here goes."

Steve wrapped his legs around the ropes and began to swing. Kono started swinging towards him. They would smile at every pass. Kono lifted her legs and hung them over the bar. She let go with her hands. She swung two more times and when she judged it was right she said go and let go reaching for Steve's hands. Just as she did the net collapsed below them and she was left holding onto Steve's arms as he held her. James and Lani yelled at them from below.

"Hang on!"

Chin had been watching and he and James ran over to the winch to lower them to the ground. It was jammed. This was not an accident. Steve looked down at Kono.

"I'm not going to drop you Kono. I've got you."

"I know you do."

"We can't keep hanging like this for very long though. I'm not going to be able to hold on forever."

"I know."

"Trust me when I say we can do this."

"I do."

"Okay, I'm going to swing you and I want you to swing your legs between my arms and over the bar like you do when you get set to swing, then reach between my arms for the bar and pull yourself up to a sitting position. After that. I'll swing up like usual and sit up. We can share the swing sitting and facing each other. You can put you legs over mine and sit in my lap until they figure out what to do. Got it?"

"I got it. It could work."

"It better work."

Steve started swinging. As he bent from the waist and swung her, it didn't take much for Kono to be able to get enough momentum to swing her legs up past onto the bar. The scariest moment was when Steve had to let go of one of her hands so she could grab the rope. They did it and then he let go of the other hand. Kono was now half on the bar with her hands the only thing holding her up. She used all her strength to pull the rope and get herself to a sitting position. After that, Steve swung up and caught the ropes above her hands and unwrapped his legs to sit on the bar as she slid her legs over his. He let go of the swing with one arm and put the other one around her waist holding her close. Kono buried her face in his neck and just let him hold her. He whispered in her hair.

"Thank God you're okay Kono."

"I knew you wouldn't drop me."

They couldn't get the winch untangled, so the riggers worked on the net to reset it. Someone had deliberately loosened the winches on two corners causing it to fall. Once the net was in place and declared ready, they instructed the couple to fall into the net.

"I don't want to let go."

"It'll be fine."

"Steve, I know I haven't said it yet, but I want you to know I love you too."

Kono let go and fell safely into the net. Steve looked down at her in surprise. It was all Chin could do to stop himself from running to her and hugging her. Steve was next and once he was on the ground, they went into each other's arms. James was livid.

"There is no way that many things could malfunction at one time. I'm calling the FBI back in on this."

Chin went over to look at the winch. Something had been jammed into the crank. Steve walked over with James and they all three studied it.

"There is no way both of those winches would fail at once. Someone deliberately loosened them and jammed up the bar winch."

"The question is were they trying to kill you and Lani or Grace and I?"

It wasn't long before the camp director arrived and shortly after that, the police. No FBI could be seen. What was going on? Steve was going to contact the governor. They gave their statements to the police and then Kono and Steve excused themselves. They headed for the beach where they thought they'd be alone and were relieved to find it empty. Kono sat down on a log while Steve paced back and forth waiting for the governor to answer the phone. Once the call was connected, he told her everything that had happened and Steve asked her to tell him everything she knew about Sam Weston. Kono could see he was in Seal mode. His mood was murderous and he yelled through the phone more than once. Finally he lost it completely.

"You don't understand. Kono could have died today! I want Weston back on the case or I want to know why he isn't."

Kono couldn't hear what the governor was saying, but when Steve hung up he threw the phone across the beach. He paced back and forth in the sand for a minute and then kicked it sending it flying through the air. He ran his hand through is hair and crossed down towards the water and stood with his arms crossed and his head bowed. Kono gave him a minute and then approached him from behind. She slipped her arms around his waist. Steve sighed and turned in her arms. He studied her face and reached up to run his hand over her hair and then ran the back of his fingers along her cheek. When he spoke to her his voice was full of emotion.

"I was scared today."

"Me too."

Steve pulled her tightly against him and just held her. He didn't let go of her for some time. Kono had never seen this side of Steve before. It was so endearing. He made Kono feel valued and cared for. She had never had a man feel this way about her before. It was sweet, but frightening at the same time. When his arms finally relaxed he tucked his face into her neck and stood there again not moving. When he finally released her, her dropped to the ground and reached for her, pulling her into his lap. He cradled her face in both of his large hands and kissed her with such emotion Kono felt dizzy from the kiss. They stayed on the beach like that for what was left of the afternoon. They didn't talk much. He held her and they kissed and they watched the ocean. When it was time for dinner they headed back to the camp. Steve held her hand tightly in his and interlocked their fingers. He held it like he was afraid she'd disappear. Losing his mother and then his father had really affected Steve and she knew he was afraid of losing her too. She spoke up as they neared the camp.

"I'm not going anywhere Steve. You know that right?"

"I do. But this is all new for me. The way I feel about you is not like anything I've experienced before in a relationship. You make me strong and weak at the same time. It's a bit unnerving."

He laughed nervously.

"But in a good way."

"I like that."

"You better."

They entered the dining hall together, a smile back on both their faces. They sat with James and Lani and talked about what happened. Several other couples joined them during the course of dinner all asking about the two of them and how they were doing.

Steve shrugged and acted like it was no big deal. The Wicks were conspicuously absent. Everyone headed out to the SPACE after dinner. There would be jugglers tonight.

Part way into the performances by the jugglers, Steve took Kono's hand and they snuck out of the building. They were almost to the rendezvous point when Steve slowed down and nuzzled Kono's hair as he whispered in her ear.

"We're being followed."

Kono turned into him and nuzzled his neck as she whispered back.

"I know."

"Whoever it is can't know about Chin and Danny."

"I know."

"Trust me?"

They were standing melded into each other as they whispered."

"Always."

Steve wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her tightly against him and kissed her thoroughly. Then he spoke loudly so their tracker could hear.

"Grace, Baby, I couldn't stand another minute without holding you and making love to you."

"Alex, not here. Someone could walk by."

"Everyone's at the performances. Come on, no one will see. Be adventurous for once."

Kono tried to keep her composure, but the way Steve was putting open-mouthed kisses on her neck was driving her insane. He leaned back for a minute and looked into her eyes smirking at the reaction he was getting from her.

Two could play that game as far as Kono was concerned. She ran her hands through his hair and pulled him back up to her. She kissed him until she felt his lips shaking a little bit against hers. She knew he could feel her smiling into the kiss. That's when he really turned the tables on her and lifted her up into his arms. Kono immediately wrapped her legs around his waist and held on as he carried her over to the stone wall beside them. It was at that moment they heard two voices.

"You know, a good cop would be aware that their stalker had already left the scene, don't you think Chin?"

"I do. I also think certain people should keep their mind on the case. Looks to me like things are getting a little too "heated up". The lengths people will go to protect their cover."

"Yeah, what a sacrifice, huh, Chin?"

Steve backed up a little from Kono who remained sitting on the wall. They were both breathing heavily and Kono's cheeks were flushed. When Steve could speak he asked the question.

"Did you see who it was?"

"Yeah, but you aren't gonna like it. It was Tim Wicks."

"Wicks? He wasn't even on our radar."

"We saw you guys and saw him off to the side watching the two of you, so we laid low. Nice cover guys, but it was a little PG-13 for my taste."

"Hey, you try thinking on your feet that fast and see what you come up with."

"Oh, no I personally liked it, but Chin almost had a coronary."

"Look, you guys should know that Kono and I have some…feelings for each other that we are exploring, but it will not effect the case in any way. If anything, it makes us more in sync. After this case is over, we intend to explore it. I wanted you both to know up front. We aren't planning to hide it from you."

"Explore, yeah that's a word I'd use, but hey, I think it's great. You guys are good together and I love myself a happy ending. What about you Chin?"

Chin was staring at them in silence. Kono couldn't stand it.

"Talk to us Cuz."

"I think you are both amazing people, but I'm being guarded here for two reasons. One, I think it could effect the team and I'll need some time to see if it really doesn't and two you're my cousin, so I worry about you. If you ever hurt her Steve there won't be any place to hide."

Steve slipped his arm around Kono's waist.

"If I ever did hurt her, you would have my blessing to kick my butt, Chin."

"Okay, then I'm okay with it for now."

"Okay, we need to make this short. Any news at all?"