Ok, so it's been almost a year since I started this and we're only up to the second episode (yikes!). Sorry about that, guys. My rather lame excuse is that Kono is a very difficult character for me to write and real life catches up with you, yada yada yada. So anyway, I hope you all enjoy this short look into Kono's headspace after what has been, I'm sure, a very trying day for her.

Coming Home (Ohana)

Kono fingered her new patron saint pendent absently from where it hung on its delicate chain as she watched her new co-workers fight over the grill from the doorway. Steve had invited everyone to his house for dinner after Kono's make-shift graduation ceremony, stating that they all needed to relax after such an action-packed case.

"It's a grill, Steven, not a fireplace! Turn down the heat, or you'll burn the steaks!"

"I know how it works, Danny. I think I've got it covered. Contrary to your opinion, I can do something without blowing it up."

"Yeah, that'll be the day…"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Kono observed the two men standing by the grill in the backyard of the McGarrett residence; one tall, dark-haired, and wielding a pair of tongs, the other short and blonde, with one arm crossed and the other gesturing at the object in question. Both had eyes locked on the other, neither one willing to back down. Then, by some unspoken agreement, the staring contest broke with no acknowledgement of a victor. Steve turned back to the steaks to flip them while Danny went back to setting up the rest of the food on the side table. But one could just see the fleeting smirks on both of their faces.

The best part of Kono's night so far had been the look on Steve's face when Danny had walked through his front door wearing a white, v-neck t-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of really battered Converse. This was the first time any of them had seen him in anything but his "professional attire" and it took McGarrett a couple minutes to digest the fact that his partner wasn't born with a tie around his neck. The bickering started ten minutes later, once Steve finally wrapped his head around the fact that his partner had other clothing in his wardrobe than just button-down shirts and patent leather loafers.

"I wonder what Fate had in mind when those two met," said a quiet voice behind her. Kono turned her head slightly to glance at her cousin. "It's certainly going to be an interesting partnership," Chin remarked, his gaze now lingering on the two men that were studiously avoiding eye contact with one another. Kono couldn't help but agree with him.

She had never met such polar opposites and was surprised that they hadn't killed each other by this point (no matter how much Danny was convinced that Steve had it in for him when he got shot on the first day, as he constantly reminded them all). Chin had told her about the incident with the suspect on the roof and that the Jersey detective had looked like he wanted to toss McGarrett off the top of the hotel instead. She didn't want to imagine what the car ride that followed must have been like.

Kono felt Chin gently lay a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the present. Her cousin was now looking at her with mild concern in his features, eyeing the bruises on her face and arms. "Are you doing alright, Kono? You took some pretty hard hits."

The surfer felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth over his protectiveness. She never could understand how people, especially his own family, could ever think for a second that Chin Ho could be a dirty cop. It just wasn't in his character.

"Yeah, Chin," she replied, tilting her head so it rested on his shoulder, "I'm doing just fine. I've got my ohana to protect me." She felt her cousin chuckle slightly and his arm wrapped around her shoulders to pull her into his side for a hug. He pressed a kiss into her hair and then moved off to get between Danny and Steve, who had gone from pointedly ignoring each other to arguing over the merits of football verses baseball.

Kono let their voices wash over her; a calming wave that eased the pain and uncertainty of the day away until it felt like a distant dream. For the first time since her surfing accident, she felt like she finally found a place where she belonged. A place where she was needed and protected. These people were her family, her ohana.

She felt like she had finally come home.

So please remember that I am accepting prompts for any season 1 episode. And drop a review to let me know what you think! Trust me, it's very appreciated.