CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult situations and language

Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.

Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!

Date Written: July 10, 2012

(Sam is so angry and hurt that she is literally shaking like a leaf when she arrives at her parents' beach house. So upset is she that, at first, she doesn't register the fact that Steve's truck is in their driveway when she parks her Porsche and heads inside. When she walks through the back door, Steve, Mike, and Libby are sitting at the kitchen table and it's obvious that they've been involved in a serious discussion. Steve immediately stands up and Sam walks straight to him and begins to cry as soon as she feels his warm, strong arms close tightly around her.)

"I don't know why you're here, Steve, but I'm so glad you are."

"I'm here because Charlie Evans called me, Sam. Said you needed me, so, here I am."

"The Senior Chief also called me, Sam. What is going on between you and your sister?"

"Caroline has totally lost it, Dad. She's allowed her personal issues to spill over into duty hours, and, today, she was blatantly insubordinate to me. Everyone at the base and on the Coral Seas saw and heard her and I was forced to dress her down."

"Oh, Sam, you didn't do it in front of anyone, did you?"

"No, Mom. Unlike Caroline, I had more consideration for my sister than to humiliate her in public. . . This has got to stop; now! Caroline's irrational obsession is not only putting her marriage in jeopardy; it's also ruining her career in the Navy. . . And it's destroying my relationship with my sister."

(And Sam dissolves into a fresh round of tears as Steve tightens his arms around her and looks helplessly at Libby and Mike over the top of her head. Tension, so thick it could be cut with a knife, fills the room, and now Steve is getting more than a little angry at his sister-in-law. The only saving grace is the sound of Rosa's voice murmuring softly to Emily as she brings the baby to her mother. Sam lifts her tear-filled eyes questioningly to Steve as Rosa was at their house with the babies that morning. Wanting to ease the hurt he sees in Sam's beautiful eyes, Steve gives her an encouraging little smile.)

"I went by our house and picked up Rosa and Emily and Eric on my way over here, Beautiful. Figured seeing Emily might cheer you up."

"You figured right, Sailor, but, then, you've always known what to do to make me feel better. I love you, Steve."

"Right back at you, Sam."

(Sam takes Emily from Rosa and she and Steve sit down on one of the comfortable sofas with Steve's arm protectively around Sam's shoulders while she cuddles their daughter. Libby and Mike take in the sweet scene before them and thank God that, at least, one of their daughters is happy and secure in her marriage. Taking his wife's hand, Mike pulls Libby out onto their deck so they can talk without disturbing Sam and Steve.)

"Libby, I think it's time we had a talk with Caroline. Her behavior is reprehensible and it's affecting more than just her personal life."

"I realize that, Mike, but I'm not at all sure I know what to do about it; I don't know what to say to her."

"I know exactly what I want to say to that young lady. The first thing she needs to be reminded of is the fact that she is an Officer in the United States Navy, that her sister is her Commanding Officer. Regardless of their personal relationship, Caroline will demonstrate the proper courtesy and respect to Sam at all times when they are on duty. Secondly, she needs to remember that her behavior while on duty or in uniform reflects not only on her, but her family, friends, the Navy, and the whole of the United States Armed Forces."

"You're thinking like and Admiral and not a father, Mike."

"Because I am an Admiral, Libby! Insubordination in military ranks is an extremely dangerous thing; it breeds contempt! If Caroline continues to disrespect Sam, and Sam does nothing about it, the rest of the Officers and enlisted personnel under Sam's command will lose any and all respect for her. Sam's career in the Navy will be over! Do you want that to happen?"

"Of course not, but Caroline is our daughter, too, and yelling at her is not going to solve anything!"

(Now Libby and Mike are arguing and their voices are getting increasingly louder. Sam and Steve exchange worried looks and Steve gets up and walks over to the door so that he can look out onto the deck. His in-laws have "squared off" and are standing mere inches apart; both of them extremely angry.)

"I don't intend to yell at Caroline, Libby, but someone's got to talk some sense into her! If I have to do it as a superior Officer instead of her father, so be it!"

"She's hurting, Mike!"

"And you don't think the rest of us aren't?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Damn it, Libby, if anyone knows how painful it is to want a child and not be able to have one it's us; you and me! I certainly don't remember you acting like Caroline has been when we lost those four babies, and I hope to God I didn't, either! What right does Caroline have to think she's the only person on Earth who's ever gone through this?"

"She's not thinking straight right now!"

"Well, she damned well should be!"

"Caroline's never really gotten over the hurtful things those children said to her all those years ago and it's my fault for not taking the time to explain things to her."

"Caroline is not ten years old anymore! She's a grown woman and it's high time she started acting like an adult. Her selfish, irresponsible attitude is hurting everyone around her; and it is most certainly not your fault, Libby, any more than it's mine!"

"We should have talked to her, Mike! We should have explained why she had no brothers and sisters!"

"And, as you told Danny this morning, she was only ten years old! What would we have said? How would we have explained something we didn't understand ourselves?"

"Then, we should have done it when she was old enough to understand!"