This is the first flashback to reveal a little bit of their past. Every now and then I´m gonna add one of the flashbacks to provide some background history about them.

I´d LOVE to know what you think!

I knew I didn´t want to be here. This was my first night back in port, back in the civil world and I could think of a better way to spend it, then being in a loud, crowded bar with my so called friends. I´ve been on board of a ship for the past 4 months, imprisoned with these people and no privacy. I didn´t even understand how I got here, but apparently I needed to work on my ability to say no.

I carefully nipped on the strong drink in front of me and watched the people around me. I was fascinated by their ability to change back to being civilian in an instant. They were laughing and they were loud and just having a good time. It seems that I was the only one who had a hard time letting go and forcing my thoughts away from the past mission. Maybe it was because I was a newbie, because this was my second mission and I didn´t have a routine yet that would help me to ground myself and shut out what had happened.

"Hey Catherine, stop brooding! We´re back, we´re alive and you need to relax!" Jenna´s voice startled me and I forced a smile on my lips. She didn´t seem to realize it was fake, or she didn´t care because she instantly turned away and pulled another guy to the dance floor. I sighed inwardly. I didn´t want to be here, it didn´t feel right. My eyes wandered around. There were so many people here, the music was too loud for my liking and the smoke made my eyes tear up. I didn´t belong here.

Suddenly a movement at the bar caught my eyes. There were a bunch of guys and I immediately knew they were Navy. You can see it in the way they carry themselves, always with confidence and pride that could be misinterpreted as arrogance. They were ordering another round of drinks and all female eyes in the room were drawn to them. At least the ones that weren´t military. And that were a lot. They were tall, all 4 of them, wearing casual clothes. Being here in Coronado made me think that they were probably SEALs, the way they behaved just confirmed my thoughts.

For a brief second my eyes met with one of them, a tall, dark and extremely good looking guy. I felt heat beginning to spread through me and shook that feeling off. I was in a bar, where most women just were looking for someone to get laid. Preferably by a sailor. And I certainly didn´t want to give anyone the impression that I was one of those women. Still I couldn´t turn my eyes away and I saw the small smirk on his full lips. He lifted his beer and toasted me and I finally looked away, trying not to blush.

"Catherine, you should go over there and get one of those guy to warm your bed tonight." Jenna´s voice teased me. Her voice was painfully loud due to the amount of alcohol she already had. I glared at her, killing her in my thoughts, slowly and painfully. This woman was a damn good officer and I knew I could trust her with my life, but as soon as she changed from her uniform to civil clothes, she went crazy.

I grabbed my drink and said "I think I´m heading back. Have fun and I´ll see you tomorrow." I turned and ignored her calling my name. I made my way back towards the entrance which meant passing the bar, when I felt someone grab my arm and pull me around.

"Come on Catherine, we just got back. You can´t leave." Jenna swayed a little in front of me and I instinctively grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Jenna, go back." I tried to raise my voice over the music. My eyes searched for one of the guys and Jim nodded, coming over.

"Hey Cat, you´re leavin`?" he asked, wrapping his arm around Jenna´s waist.

"Yes, you´ll take care of her?" I asked, knowing that Jenna was in good hands. Jim was tall and strong as a bear and I knew he had a secret crush on the tall blonde girl.

"You know I will. You´re okay?"

"Yeah, just not in the mood for this. I´ll head back and will see you tomorrow."

"Take care."

"I always do." I watched Jenna hug Jim and giggle something inside his ear, that made him blush. He turned and guided her back to the table. I turned around to leave, carefully avoiding to bump into someone. But just when I was about to leave, two guys started to yell at each other, standing there aggressively gesturing. I thought about making my way out quickly but before I could do so, I felt two strong hands wrap around my waist and pull me back. Just in time, as I saw a fist landing forcefully in one of the guys face, making him stagger and hit the floor just where I had been a second before.

"Careful." A low, slightly husky but strangely soothing voice murmured into my ear and I calmed down. I turned my head, finding myself face to face with the dark stranger at the bar, his hands still around my waist. His face was serious and I saw that his eyes were blue. His friends decided to intervene and drew the two guys apart, placing them on chairs.

I took a step back and turned to him.

"Thanks, I guess I wasn´t leaving fast enough." I saw him nod and a genuine smile crossed his face . I couldn´t help but smile back. This guy was dangerously sexy, tall and I had to look up to him. He leaned against the bar, comfortably. He was muscled, filling the shirt in all the right places. His jeans showed long, strong legs. He slowly drew back his hands and grabbed his beer. For a second I was able to see a tattoo on his arm.

"Leaving already?" he asked and I nodded.

"Not in the mood to party." I placed my drink on the bar behind him.

"Why are you here then?" his eyebrow rose questioningly and he smirked again. I thought about what I must look like for him. He probably thought I was one of the women who came here to find a one-night-stand.

"My friends. I don´t know how I ended here, I was sure I said no." I smiled at him and he nodded again.

"Yeah, same here." His eyes held mine and I felt it like a caress. His gaze was intense and I wasn´t sure if he was flirting with me or not.

"Well, I better..." I started, trying to say goodbye politely before I made a fool of myself.

"Hey, that was smooth, man!" His friends came back, commenting on his rescue mission when he had pulled me out of the way.

"Don ´t you want to introduce us, Commander?" a tall, black guy asked and when said Commander didn´t react, he extended his hand. I took it and he held mine in a firm grip.

"Lieutenant Phillips, Ma´m, at your service." he introduced himself. "This is Lt. Boulder, Michaelis and your savior is Lt. Commander McGarrett." I shook hands with Boulder and Michaelis as well and nodded to my savior.

"Lt. Catherine Rollins, nice to meet you." I introduced myself and smiled when I saw the slightly surprised look on McGarretts face.

"Wow, out of all women in Coronado you had to save a Navy ass?" Michaelis laughed and slapped McGarretts shoulder.

"No offense. Lieutenant." he apologized and I laughed.

"Don´t worry, I´m off duty right now. I was just about to leave." I smiled at them, nodded to McGarrett. "Thanks for saving my ass, Lt. Commander." I saluted and left. Outside I took a deep breath, enjoying the cool breeze. I could still hear the music. I slowly turned to the parking lot and towards my car. I felt better now, even though I regretted not being able to talk to Lt. Commander McGarrett. I had to admit, I found him attractive.

"Lieutenant." I heard footsteps behind me and slowed down, but still making my way to my car. "Catherine." I stopped and turned and saw McGarrett running towards me.

"Lt. Commander." I said, instinctively standing at attention.

"My name is Steve, Catherine." I relaxed, acknowledging that this was private.

"Are you okay?" he asked and I nodded. Suddenly I was aware of the fact that the light was dim, only a few street lights were shining. And his gaze was upon me again, making me nervous. I cursed myself. Since when did a man do that to me? I usually didn´t react like this, I had my career and wouldn´t allow myself any distraction. But somehow this didn´t work with him. He was attractive, very sexy, and I remembered the feeling of his hands around my waist pretty well.

"Thank you again, Lt. Commander." I started, but he interrupted me.

"Steve remember?" he flashed me a smile and for a second I thought my knees would get weak. The smile was bright and a little arrogant, manly and I couldn´t help but admire the curve of his lips.

"Steve." I repeated, my eyes still on his lips. If I could see me right now, I´d be embarrassed to stare at his lips shamelessly.

"Wanna go for a walk at the beach?" he asked and I blinked in surprise. Steve seemed to be surprised as well, but quickly recovered, showing me his smirk. I really should say no.

"Okay." I said. I gestured to my car and he walked me to my car, holding the door open for me and then sat down in the passenger´s seat. He guided me to a secluded beach a bit out of town. For a second I thought that I might have made a mistake, leaving with a total stranger. But then again, I don´t know what it was about that man, but I trusted him. And I wasn´t a naïve or helpless little girl either. When I turned off the engine, he got out and again, opened the door for me. He held out his hand and I took it. He didn´t let go, not even when we were at the beach. I stopped and slipped of my high heels and enjoyed the warm, fine sand under my feet. My toes curled into it and I sighed.

"That feels so good." I heard him chuckle and that sound made me laugh too. He still held my hand and I realized that he had slipped off his shoes as well. We walked towards the water and I tried to memorize the scenery. The full moon was shining down on us, giving enough light to see the smile in his face. The stars were bright and the waves were softly rolling onto the beach, while a warm breeze was messing with my hair. It felt great. Plus, the handsome man by my side who still held my hand. I shivered, when his thumb slowly started to brush over my hand.

"So, you´re a SEAL." I said, finally breaking the silence. It wasn´t a question.

"Yes, Ma´m." he said and I giggled.

"My name is Catherine."

"Okay Catherine," I heard the smile in his voice and the little husky timbre in it, send a shiver down my spine. "How long are you gonna stay?" he asked. I looked up at him, smiling. This should be interesting.

"30 days leave, at least that´s what it looks like now. You never know though." I heard him laugh and this was such a sexy sound.

"So, Cat, what do you plan on doing with 30 days leave?"

"I don´t know yet. I think right now is a pretty nice start of my leave."

Steve stopped and so did I. We looked at each other, our eyes locked, the moonlight allowing me to see the expression of his face. His eyes held mine and his gaze was intense. He put his hands on my waist again, slowly pulling me closer so I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. I started to move my fingertips over his skin and suddenly found myself flush against his hard, chiseled body. I held my breath when I felt him so close. His eyes moved to my lips and I wetted them with my tongue.

He looked me in the eyes again as if asking my permission. It was a cute and very loving gesture and I only reacted on instinct. I tiptoed and pulled his head down and then our lips met. My heart skipped a beat just to start racing again. My lips tingled and I tightened my grip on his neck when my knees went weak. Steve wrapped his arms around my waist and held me against him when he deepened the kiss.

I heard myself moan when his tongue slowly teased my upper lip. I melted against him and kissed him back, giving in to his dominance. He played with me, teased me and made me just want more. When his tongue slipped between my lips, I moaned again. And when I gently caught his lower lip between my teeth, I heard him growl.

We kissed for an eternity, both not willing to give in. It was like a dance, slowly approaching, teasing, seducing and then withdrawing, just to start the game again. Finally we broke the kiss, both breathing heavily. His hand moved up to my face, gently tugging a strand of my hair behind my ear and then sliding down the side of my neck.

"I should let you get back home." he whispered but I didn´t feel like leaving at all. I didn´t want this evening to end.

He smiled at me and stepped back, taking my hand again, we started walking back to my car. This time he drove, gently placing his hand on my knee and leaving it there the whole time. We looked at each other every now and then and with every look, with every smile, with every little smirk, my body temperature was rising until I though I was burning inside. My body reacted to his mere presence and I felt desire rush through me.

I couldn´t remember the last time I reacted so strongly to a man... if ever. But here I was and I suddenly asked myself what I´d have to do to get him to spend the night with me. I was shocked a little by my own bluntness, but I couldn´t help but want this man. I bit my lower lip, trying to find words or a gesture, just something to show him what I wanted. But I found myself being strangely self-conscious and shy.

"You okay?" I met his eyes and found out that he was watching me intently.

"Yeah..." I sighed and cursed under my breath.

"Wanna go for dinner tomorrow?" I heard myself ask and his smile grew wider.

"I´m gonna pick you up this time." I laughed and suddenly felt like teenager with his first crush. I´d see him again tomorrow. At least he was interested enough to have dinner with me. Didn´t sound too bad.

We stopped at the bar again, where we met, because his car was still there. He turned to me and kissed me, ever so gently this time. It was just a short lingering of his lips on mine but it fueled my hunger for this man. I wrote my address down quickly and handed it to him. When he got out, I did the same, walking around my car and waited for him to get to his car. I watched him pull out his keys and unlock the dark SUV.

"Hey Commander." I asked and he turned around, his eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Yeah Lieutenant?"

"Thank you." I smiled at him and he returned his smile. I saluted and he mimicked my gesture. And while this gesture showed respect and acknowledgment, his smile definitely was flirtatious.

We shared one last look and then I took off, feeling tired but at the same time excited and curious. I was looking forward to seeing him again.