A/N: Please be aware, this chapter is rated M (to be safe) for adult themes, in accordance with the standards of this FanFic Site. Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Finding Peace

Steve loaded his new truck with the necessary gear for their overnight hike, and he and Lori headed out to the Kaiwa Ridge Trail. "It's beautiful," he said again. "It's in the Keolu Hills between Kailua Bay and Waimando Bay. At the very top, you can see 360 degrees down into the valley... breathtaking". As he spoke, his hands punctuated his excitement. His eyes were bright with love for his island and the beauty it had to offer. She was flattered that he wanted to share it with her. "What," he said wondering why she was staring at him from the passenger seat.

She shook her head. "Nothing, I'm just excited to see it. It sounds perfect."

"It is. Its twelve miles up to Pohaku Kua where we'll camp. It's a flat piece of rock that jets out like a lookout point over the bay. There's a shallow cave there, more like a cut out in the rock really, that's pretty well hidden by natural cover. The best part about it is, it's not on the main trail. We'll have to cut through fairly dense ground cover and circle around to the ridge. It'll take us most of the day to get there, but it's worth it. Tomorrow morning, we'll go another four miles to the top. The terrain is rougher and steeper, less traveled. Most people head toward the back side of the mountain away from Pohaku Kua. There's a clear path that takes you near the top, thirteen miles total, to a really nice lookout. If you'd rather do the well traveled path we can, but my trail's better," he winked.

"Your trail it is. How did you find this Pukah..."

"Pohaku Kua," he sounded out.

"Pohaku Kua"

"Good, you're learning. I spent every weekend camping when I was growing up… hiking, climbing and camping."

"So you've always been like this."

"Like what," he said, frowning.

"You know, fearless."

"You think I'm fearless?" he asked with a cocky grin.

"I think you don't back down from a challenge."

"Is that a good thing?"

"In your line of work, yes. I think its part of why you're so good at your job, Super SEAL."

Steve unloaded their gear and shouldered his pack. Lori pulled her hair back into a loose knot at the crown of her head. Steve reached over and took hold of the backpack straps over Lori's shoulder. He centered the weight and pulled her to him. "Ready?"

She smiled and kissed him quickly on the lips. "Ready."

Hiking with Lori was even better than he had anticipated. He was impressed with her stamina and determination. She was quite strong to be so small, and she climbed as well as any partner he had hiked with before. He learned something new about Lori too on the climb. She was every bit as competitive as he. She matched him step for step, rarely falling behind. Close to Pohaku Kua, Steve led the final push. They left the somewhat clear path opting for much less traveled ground to the right. Steve held branches so that Lori could scoot under and move forward. She, in turn, did the same for him. They moved in tandem up and around the mountain. Steve reached the ridge first and turned to extend a hand to Lori. She secured her footing and reached for him. The last of her energy drained away as she landed on the ridge in Steve's arms. He stepped back, pulling her with him, and guided her to the edge of the lookout. Every shade of green was visible in the surrounding landscape. She could see a waterfall in the distance that coated the side of a sister mountain. The water in the bay beneath them was as clear and blue as a cloudless summer sky. She could see giant sea life as it whirled and twisted in its underwater sanctuary completely unaware of her intrusion. She watched the waves play on the sand, rolling in and out with melodic flow. Steve was right, it was breathtaking. The sun was low over the horizon, highlighting the surface of the water so that it looked like part of the ocean was on fire. She understood why Steve wanted to protect this blessed place. This is what peace must surely look like. Steve watched her study his island, his home. He knew it had not been a mistake bringing her here. This was his place; it had always been his place alone. He had never even thought of sharing it with anyone, not until now anyway. He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her enjoying the view as if it were for the first time. The overwhelming beauty never ceased to amaze him. He felt incredibly small up here. "It changes your perspective, huh?"

Lori shook her head in awe. "It's... "

"Yeah". He squeezed her shoulders. "I'm gonna' set up camp before daylight fades."

Lori shaded her eyes and looked toward the horizon. The sun was setting quickly and her legs suddenly felt like lead. Reluctantly, she turned away from the view. Steve went to work building a fire while Lori explored. There was, indeed, a natural cut in the rock that created a shallow shelter. Ground cover and thick vine crawled up and over the entrance, blanketing it with a delicate curtain of green. Lori fingered the strands, gently tracing the lines as they crossed and tangled in a sturdy web. She lifted a bundle of vine and stepped inside. Soft light filtered through, illuminating the rock walls of the cave. It was wide, wide enough for a man of Steve's height to stretch comfortably across, but only five feet or so deep. Lori ran her hand along the wall. It was cool and textured like wrinkles in stiff fabric. Light poured in as Steve pulled back the curtain of greenery, securing it to a branch overhead. "We can sleep in here or out there, whichever you prefer."

Writing on the wall opposite wall caught Lori's attention before she could answer. She moved closer to read the faded script. "Long after I'm gone, someone will find this marker and wonder who it was for. They won't recognize your name or mine, but they'll know that someone cared enough to climb this mountain in memory of you, and they will know that you were loved. I miss you, Mom. Love, Steve." She followed an arrow that pointed down to a small metal cross stuck deep into the earth. It was simply adorned with a necklace of rope on which hung a single piece of turquoise. Lori squatted down to read the name and date inscribed in the rock, just above the cross.

Steve's voice shattered the silence. "I wrote that one month after my mom died. I don't know if no one has ever found it or if, maybe, it's been found but considered sacred and left alone. I've certainly never shown anybody before." She could hear the sadness that lingered in his voice.

Lori swiped at the tears in her eyes and thought about what he had just said. Moved by his confession, she rose to her feet and crossed the breadth of the cave to him. Standing toe to toe with him in the shadows, she found it difficult to breathe. She reached for him with trembling hands and stroked his cheek. Her eyes conveyed more than she could ever say. Steve encircled her waist and pulled her in close. He kissed her sweetly at first, then urgently, forcing her lips to part, sending shockwaves through her entire body. Her hands flew to the back of his head, pulling him closer. They each fed off the other's desire as they kissed each other wildly. Butterflies leaped low in Lori's gut. Driven by need, Steve lowered his hands and cupped her rear lifting her up and around his waist. He went to his knees, bracing himself with one arm and lowering her to the ground beneath him. Eyes locked, he could see her need, reflecting his own in her clear, cat-like eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

She caressed his cheek. "I'm sure," she whispered and lifted her lips to his.

He kissed her again, agonizingly tender kisses that sent waves of pleasure up and down her spine. She arched her back, legs still wrapped around his waist. Somehow finding control, he pulled back. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but we need to talk about something first."

Lori frowned. "You want to talk? Now?"

"Believe me, I would much rather be doing..." He motioned back and forth between them. "this, but we need to talk first." He hovered over her for a moment more before settling back on his heels. He scrubbed his face and growled. Clearing his head with a deep breath, he stood and offered Lori a hand up. He led her out of the cave and back to the fire. She stood, watching him stoke the fire, wondering what he could possibly want to discuss. Without looking at her, Steve dove in. "I don't like your six month rule, at least not where it concerns me."

Lori shoved her hands into her back pockets. "You talked to Claire."

Steve nodded. "I did."

"Then you know why."

"I don't care why."

Lori jerked. "Excuse me".

Steve twisted to look at her. "I know why you made the ridiculous rule. And maybe you needed it before, but not anymore."

"It's not ridiculous," she snapped, but finished in a whisper, "It's necessary."

"No it's not."

"Don't push me on this, Steve. It's necessary so that no one else gets hurt."

Steve stood and met Lori face to face. "You made up that rule so that you wouldn't get hurt. I understand that." He reached for her, but she slapped his hand away and stumbled backward. Steve caught her before she lost her footing and trapped her hands behind her back. "I care about you and I care about what happened to you, but I don't care about your six month rule. Six months isn't long enough, not by a long shot."

She was breathing quickly, face flushed with anger. Her eyes darted back and forth searching his, for what he didn't know, but he held her gaze allowing her the time she needed to find what she was looking for. Her expression softened as she thought about what he had said. Her body relaxed and she dropped her chin. "Steve... I..."

He loosened his grip on her wrists and pulled her hands to her sides. He stepped back from her. "Come on," he beckoned and led her to a rock near the fire where he had spread their bed rolls. He settled on the ground in front of it and leaned back pulling Lori to the ground between his legs. She leaned back into his chest. He ran his fingers lightly up and down her arms, calming her. She closed her eyes and rested her head in the crook of his neck.

"I'm scared."

He wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Of what?"

She hesitated. "People that get close to me... people that I care about... they die."

"Do you really believe that or is it an excuse to keep people away?"

"I used to believe it... I think now, I just... I don't want to hurt like that again. The men I dated in the past, I think I somehow chose them because not sleeping with them was easy. Letting them go was even easier. That's not the case with you."

"I'm glad to hear it," he teased.

"What about you?"

"What about me?" he countered.

"Have you ever been serious about a girl?"

"Depends on your meaning of serious, but I've dated the same girl for longer than six months."

"Because you were committed or because you were only around every six months or so?"

He grinned at her accusation. "The last girl I dated meant a lot to me. We were... together... as often as we could be, but she's on active duty. Up until my father was killed, I was on active duty too so..."

"Are we talking about the pretty brunette in the white uniform?"

"When did you see Catherine?"

"Catherine... I saw her in your office one day. You hugged her and then she left looking a bit sad."

"Yeah, she had a new assignment... halfway around the world."

"You cared about her."

"Yes, I did. But things with Catherine were never permanent. They weren't meant to be permanent."

"Why not?"

"Well, things with her were almost too easy. She was more like a friend with benefits, you know. No strings attached kind of a deal. At least that's how it started. When the rules changed, I backed off. I wasn't in love with her and that wasn't going to change. You know, I understand a little of what you've dealt with and why you keep people at arms length. One could argue that we carry the same curse." Lori turned so that she could see his face. "My sister lives in Los Angeles. She's all I have left. I've lost a lot of good friends along the way, too. Loss is inevitable when you're a SEAL, but it still hurts like hell. I've lived my life fast and furious, just this side of anything permanent. I still do in a lot of ways. Until now, I've never really considered having someone in my life for keeps."

Steve could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. She shifted to face him. "You need to know what you're getting yourself into."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"I'm a train wreck, clearly."

He smiled warmly. "More like a hot mess, I'd say."

"As long as you understand."

He smiled warmly and leaned toward her. "Come here."

She leaned forward on her hands. Steve met her halfway and kissed her softly. He stroked her cheek lightly and her eyes opened. They studied each other through hazy eyes, questioning their next move, wanting each other desperately. Steve ran his hand through her hair where it had fallen loose around her shoulders. She leaned into his touch. He kissed her again, still soft and tender. She parted her lips and kissed him back. He kissed her cheek, her ear and her neck. She felt the burn of a small blaze every place where his lips had been. He moved back to her mouth, kissing her this time with a sense of urgency that she matched. He sat up on his knees, pulling her with him. She ran her hands across his chest feeling hard muscle under his thin shirt. She stretched her arms up and around to the back of his neck. Her shirt rose with the movement, exposing a tempting bit of skin at her waist. Steve's grip on her hips tightened and she leaned in to him. His hands slipped under her shirt and up her rib cage. She was warm and soft. A small moan escaped her throat nearly doing him in. He wrapped his arms around her back, exploring the flesh beneath his fingers. She trembled with anticipation. He nipped at her bottom lip and she ran her hands hard through his hair. Motivated by her desire, he moved his hands to her side and let his thumbs slip lightly over her breasts. She sucked in an audible breath and her eyes popped open. He suddenly remembered her words from before, "because not sleeping with them was easy," and he knew. She had never committed to a man which meant she had never been with a man.

"You've never done this before."

She sank back on her heels and shook her head. "No"

"I promised you we would take this slow. I stand by that."

She shook her head. "I want this. I want you... here, in this beautiful place." The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon and the sky was clear and rich with stars. She looked dreamlike in the light cast from the fire. Steve sat quietly, watching the shadows dance on her hair and skin. She reached for him tentatively and stopped, unsure of herself. Steve caught her wrists before she fell back on her heels. He pulled her hard against him and kissed her with just as much power. Lori slid her fingers down his chest finding the hem of his shirt and balling it in her fists. She lifted his shirt up and over his head, raking her knuckles over his bare skin along the way. Steve's hands fell back at his side. He watched as her gaze traversed his chest and abdomen then back to his lips and eyes. He smiled lazily and reached for her, needing to feel her in his arms. He kissed her again, deep and slow. She shivered as he lifted her top up and off. Lori crossed her arms and pulled her sports bra over her head. Shyly, she clasped her hands under her chin and covered her breasts with her forearms. Steve wrapped her tightly in his arms, caressing her back and shoulders. He nuzzled her neck and traced a path with his tongue between sweetly placed kisses. Lost in the feel of his lips on her skin, she flattened her hands against his chest and slid them lightly around his neck. She lowered her chin and found his lips. Steve ran his hands over the smooth skin of her breasts. Her stomach muscles tightened but she remained quiet. He watched as surprise gave way to need. Her eyes darkened and he was struck by her beauty. She glowed in the firelight, her cheeks flushed with passion. He held her protectively and lowered her to the thin bedroll beneath them. He tugged on her bottoms and she lifted her hips in answer. She watched as he rolled to his side and deftly rid himself of his kaki cargo pants. She chuckled at how very "Steve" cargo pants had become. Unlike most men, cargo pants were a daily necessity for Steve who always had his pockets full of survival gear.

"Something funny?" he teased as he hovered over her.

She shook her head, eyes wide. He held his weight with his arms and lowered his knees to rest on either side of her hips. Lori ran her hands down his triceps and forearms, taut from holding his weight over her. He bent his elbows and lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss was deliberate and agonizingly tender. The fire in her gut grew and spread until she thought she might explode. She watched as small beads of sweat bathed his forehead. It was overwhelming, this feeling that gripped her so completely both physically and emotionally. At the height of her anticipation, Steve nudged her legs apart with his knee and they joined together as one. She buried her face in his neck to muffle her cry. Steve felt her fingers dig deep into his back as she arched her hips and pressed her body into his. She felt his strength and power in the way he moved, felt his gentleness in the way he spoke, reassuring her with his tender words and protective hold. She opened her eyes and marveled at his body, slick with sweat, muscles taut. Her toes curled as heat raced from her gut, through her chest, to her face. Trembling beneath him, she tingled from head to toe, her body spent from the waves of passion that had consumed her moments before. Steve rolled to her side pulling her on top of him as he went. He pushed the hair back from her face and twisted it behind her head in one hand. He used the other hand to trace a soft line over her eyelid, down her cheek, and across her nose, finally resting on her bottom lip. She kissed his finger and opened her eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked in a whisper.

"Yes, way better than okay." She kissed him lightly on his lips and slid to his side, leaving one leg entwined with his. She lay half on him, half on the bedroll and ran her hand over his chest. He held her tightly against him, arm around her shoulder as he covered them with the second bedroll. "I didn't expect to feel this way about you," she whispered, her voice thick with exhaustion.

Steve frowned at the night sky above them. "What do you mean?"

"Just that I care about you more than I should. I may even love you… I don't know, I've never been in love before, but this feeling I have, it seems like it ought to be pretty close."

She was right. Being with Lori was different than it had been with other women. He was different, he realized. He wanted her to feel safe and loved. He wanted her to feel his love for her. He wasn't sure when it had happened exactly, but somewhere in the middle of everything they had been through, he had fallen in love with her. Feeling a little overwhelmed by this realization, he remained quiet but continued to stroke her arm where it rested on his chest. He felt her body relax against him and he knew she was asleep. He moved as carefully as he could, sliding out from under her so that he could see her face. She curled in to him in her sleep. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and whispered, "I think I may love you too".

Lori woke in the middle of the night on her side, facing the dying fire. She felt Steve curled around her, holding her protectively, even in sleep. Her body began to tingle again, triggered by his closeness and the memory of making love to him hours before. She stroked his hand lightly, entwining her fingers with his. She ran her thumb over rough knuckles, remembering what it was like to feel those fingers on her naked skin. Like Steve, his hands were inscrutable. They were calloused and scarred by a life lived on the edge, unyielding in service to his country and its people, yet they had also been soft and tender as they had explored her body, gently urging her beyond any feeling she had ever experienced before. He began to stir behind her and she realized that his fingers were moving with hers. She rolled back against him and he lifted himself out of the way so that she landed on her back underneath him. He pulled the hand that he was holding over her head and lowered his lips to hers. They made love again, joining together with a slow and easy familiarity that carried them beyond desire. The soft sounds that escaped from her as she rocked beneath him drove him to the peak of pleasure. He collapsed on top of her and she could feel the pounding of his heart as it beat at a ridiculous rate in time with her own. They slept tangled together, spent from a day of hiking and an evening of unveiled passion. Dawn came early, even for Steve who usually greeted the sun, coffee already in hand. He ran his fingers across Lori's face, gently waking her from peaceful sleep. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled, pleased to see his face first thing in the morning. "Hey," was all she could mange.

"Hey, yourself," he said and kissed her gently on the nose. He stood, wearing only his pants, slung low over his hips. She sat up on her elbows and drank in the sight of him. He seemed to glow in the soft light of early morning. She felt her cheeks flush with desire. Wrapping the bedroll around her, she collected her clothes and readied herself for the day.

They climbed mostly in silence as Steve wasn't kidding when he said the last few miles were rough. The effort was well worth it when they reached the top. You could indeed see 360 degrees of breathtaking natural wonder. Steve pointed out distant landmarks, expounding on their history and significance. "Next week we tackle the stairs at Koko Head Crater," he said pointing to a mountain far in the distance.

"The what?"

"The stairs at Koko Head… You'll see," he winked.

They ate their lunch on the edge of the precipice, feet dangling over the side. It was the most perfect two days Lori could have ever imagined. Reluctantly, they headed back down the mountain toward everyday reality. She prayed that the magic they had found at Pohaku Kua would follow them home. They stopped at the diner where they had had their first real conversation. Lori reflected on how far they had come in just under four months. Steve reached across the table and took her hand. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm not."

"Not what," he said, confused.

"I'm not thinking about anything, and it's wonderful."

He snorted, a notorious over-thinker himself, he understood exactly what she meant. For the first time in a long time, he was perfectly content to just be.

H5OH5OH5OH5OH5O

The peace they had found came abruptly to an end the moment Grace was taken. Lori waited at FiveO, desperately needing to pace, but unable to do so on her badly sprained ankle. She picked up her phone and put it back down again in frustration. He said he would call back as soon as he knew something. "We're on our way to a storage shed on the south end of town. Peterson gave us the address just before he died. Pray it's good." That she had done. She also ran the address and found that it did indeed match to a large storage facility. She picked up her phone again and nearly dropped it when it rang. "Hey, did you find her?"

"Yeah, we got her. She' fine."

"Oh, thank God."

"They're taking her to the hospital, just to be sure. I'm gonna' meet 'em there. We'll do the paperwork tomorrow."

"Okay, I'm gonna' go on home then. Let me know if I can do anything."

"Will do. Oh, hey Lori?"

"Yes?"

He hesitated, having never experienced the gravity of what he was about to say. "I love you."

Profoundly moved, she lost the ability to form words.

"I'll see you tonight," he promised.

And just like that, he was gone. Lori blinked, not entirely sure of what just happened. As the truth sank in, she felt her pulse quicken and her cheeks flush. He loved her. Even more shocking was the fact that she loved him. She would tell him tonight when she saw him and then she would show him, bum ankle and all.

A/N: I'm worried that tomorrow's episode will throw a serious kink in my story as Catherine returns on Valentine's Day. This was the first truly "mature" chapter that I have ever written. I would appreciate any and all feed back!

Ren