A/N: Thank you for the great reviews! They keep me going. And, thank you for reading. I'm enjoying writing this fic even more than I anticipated.

Chpt:3

Lori knocked lightly on Kono's open door. Kono looked up from her notebook and smiled. "Hey, what's up, Sister?"

"Hey," Lori replied pleased with the friendly greeting. "I need your help". Lori unconsciously held her breath waiting for Kono's response. She couldn't remember the last time she had asked anyone for any kind of help.

"Sure, whatcha need?"

Lori ventured inside Kono's office mentally noting the surf board in the corner and the refreshing sent of salt water and fresh linen that hung lightly in the air. "I need a sparring partner."

"A sparring partner," Kono repeated.

"Actually, I need someone to teach me how to use what I already do know, in the field. Twice now, I've been knocked down and someone else, namely Steve, has had to either help me up or save my ass."

"Part of the territory, you know. Comes with the job."

"I know, but I want to be able to hold my own on the job. I don't want anybody worrying that I'm a weak link."

"Well, I'm glad to help, but I think you should talk to McGarrett."

"Whyyyyy?" Lori asked with obvious trepidation.

Kono chuckled. "Because, when I first started with 5-O, Chin and Steve helped me out with the street version of everything I'd learned at the academy. My cuz and I scrapped while the boss coached. They taught me how to anticipate a perp's moves and how to counter best, using my speed and strength. McGarrett's good at picking out your strengths and weaknesses. He can teach you how to best use your strengths and help you improve where you're weak."

Lori thought about it for a minute while Kono gathered the rest of her belongings. "Let me know what you decide."

"I will. Thanks". Lori stood in the hallway and watched Kono exit while contemplating her next move. Deciding, she pulled in a deep breath and headed toward Steve's office. Having celebrated the safe return of the school children the night before, today had been an unusually quiet day. It was still early, yet Steve and Lori were the only ones left at 5-O. Lori started to knock on Steve's open door but stopped at the sight of him lying on his couch with his arm flopped over his eyes. They had had very little time to recover from their quick trip into North Korea. As tired as she was, she could only imagine how spent Steve must be. She leaned her head on the doorframe and allowed her eyes to drift the length of his body. She watched his beautifully carved chest rise and fall with each steady breath. Ignoring the flutter in her gut, she thought about this complicated man that she had come to respect. As a profiler, she understood that most people could be logged and categorized with very little overlap. The occasional few would fool you, but it was rare. That said, she had no defined place to put Steve. Maybe that was part of the attraction. "That and those wash board abs," she thought. Smiling to herself, she quietly turned to go, but was halted by Steve's husky voice. "Where you going?"

She shuttered involuntarily and turned back around. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"I wasn't asleep," he said as he rolled onto his side and tucked both hands under his head and cheek.

Lori flushed wondering if he had noticed her indulgence in his sleeping form not a moment ago.

"Did you need something?"

"Nothing important," she whispered. "We'll talk later. You rest."

"No, stay," he urged. "Have a seat. Is it about those copies you sent me? The reports to the Governor's office?"

"Actually, no, but... what did you think?"

"I think you were fair and... concise... meaning you left out a lot of questionable details". She relaxed as one corner of his mouthed turned up in a mischievous half grin.

"Those reports were completely honest". She tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably in light of Steve's infectious grin. "The Governor is a very busy man. He doesn't need to be bothered with every minute detail. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Completely," he agreed on a yawn.

A moment of comfortable silence passed. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Lori leaned forward in her chair and rested her clasped hands on her knees. "I asked Kono if she would help me with hand to hand field combat. She obliged, but told me that I should talk to you about it. She said you helped her when she first joined Five-O."

"Yeah, I did, me and Chin"

"So... will you help me?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll help you."

"Thanks," she answered on a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She dried her palms on her knees and started to stand.

"Wait". He studied her through sleepy eyes. "Where's this coming from?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, arms crossed in front of her chest.

"I've seen you downstairs in the gym. You look like you know what you're doing on the mat"

"I do... on the mat, but twice now, I've had my ass handed to me". Steve couldn't help but notice as her hands flew to her back pockets. It was one of her tells. That's where her hands went when she was uncomfortable. She may be the profiler, but he knew body language, especially her body language. Boy had it been speaking to him lately. He liked the way she moved. She walked with purpose and confidence. She was completely unaware of her own beauty and the affect it had on others. She relied on her brain rather than her looks. Chin and Kono had relayed to him her unease at the muscle car gathering when she was forced to parade around in the form-fitting slut gear, complete with six inch heels. Chin, incidentily, did not neglect to mention that, slut gear aside, she looked smokin' hot. A slight inflection in Lori's voice snapped him out of his revere as the image of her in six inch heels faded. Steve tuned back in just in time to here her say, "I was pretty much desk ridden in my old job. I mean, I've had field training, but no real experience in the field. Like I told Kono, I want to hold my own so that the rest of you know you can count on me when we're out there doing what we do."

Steve narrowed his eyes, trying to process what she had said while he was... thinking. "Tomorrow morning, 9AM, my place. Bring your gear, including a swimsuit... one built for laps not for turning heads," he said, again with the grin.

Lori felt her cheeks flush a second time. She was pleased, however, to see that Steve's looked a little pink too.

"9AM," she nodded. "Got it". She paused at the door. "Are you gonna' sleep here tonight?"

"Too tired to drive," Steve answered, eyes closed.

"Come on, I'll take you home. We can pick up your truck after you've finished torturing me tomorrow."

"You sure?"

"Yes, of course. Come on, let's get you home."

Steve swung his feet to the floor and sat for a moment on the couch. He scrubbed his face with his hands and ran them through his hair.

"You sure you want to start my training tomorrow? I can wait until you're 100%."

"No, tomorrow is good," he said as he stood. "I just need a good night's sleep."

"Alright then," Lori conceded. "I'll grab my stuff and we're out of here."

TBC

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