Chapter 3

By BethBobbyxoxo

AN: thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed my last chapter I read and appreciate each one of them – I hope you enjoyed it :)

So who loves Mary? (ME!)

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It was almost three o'clock in the morning when Steve heard the screams of Grace.

He jumped up out of bed and ran into her room, taking in the sight of the little girl thrashing about on the bed, clearly still trapped in her own living hell.

'Grace! Gracie!' Steve shook her shoulders, trying to stop her thrashing.

Her eyes flew open, full of fear as she looked up into his face, momentarily unaware of where she was.

The fear was short-lived, and then came the tears.

Steve lifted her up off of the bed and pulled her to him, feeling her small frame as it racked with sobs.

'I know honey, I know,' he soothed, rocking her back and forth gently.

'I want my Mommy,' she wailed, pressing her face against his chest.

'I know you do, I know.' Steve had no idea what to say to her, he couldn't bring himself to tell her that it was okay, because it wasn't.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and bare chest, clutching him to her so tightly that Steve regretted not throwing on a shirt.

He rubbed her back gently and kissed the top of her head before standing up, lifting her arms around his neck as he did so that he could support her more easily.

'C'mon sweetie,' he said turning to carry her downstairs and outside onto his back porch, overlooking the beach switching on the garden light as he did so.

She didn't look up as he did so and only when he settled his weight into the hammock did she relax her vice grip on his neck. The gentle swinging of the hammock soothed her more than Steve could as he held her in her arms and let her sob for all she had lost.

It was almost an hour later when Grace's sobs subsided and she asleep, her head resting against his chest.

Steve put his arms around her waist gently as he let his head fall back against the material of the hammock, trying to relax.

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Steve woke to the sound of a car and he jumped up, only just saving the little girl still asleep on him from hitting the floor as he almost catapulted them off the hammock.

'Shit, oh, oops, sorry Gracie.' He said to the little girl who, having jerked awake, was trying to work out where she was.

Grace looked up at him tiredly and gave a small smile.

'Hi,' she mumbled.

Must have got her morning skills from her mother, her father would have thumped me for waking him so suddenly, Steve thought.

'Come on, there's someone at the door.' Steve said, standing up and carrying her into the house before setting her down in the kitchen.

'Stay here while I answer the door. Then I'll fix you up some breakfast, okay?' Steve told her.

Grace nodded, looking around for a second, before walking over to one of the chairs on the kitchen table and pulling herself onto it.

She's awfully calm, Steve thought.

After her dream last night he had expected her to be hysterical.

Steve checked the peep hole before opening the door to Chin and Kono.

'Um, heard of shirts Boss?' Kono asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Give him a break, Cuz, it's nine-thirty in the morning! You're the early bird here.' Chin nudged her.

'You woke me up, sorry, she was asleep and I fell asleep and I didn't even realise what time it was.' Steve rubbed a hand across his face.

'Sorry for coming so early. Hey Gracie-girl,' Kono walked into the kitchen.

'She seems better,' Steve commented pointing at Kono, watching their rookie hug Grace's shoulders.

'I had a talk to her Mom, apparently she had a good cry, some sleep and then was up at six to go surfing before I went to pick her up,' Chin said quietly 'she scares me sometimes, the way she deals with things can't be healthy.'

Steve nodded 'we've all got as much leave as we need, so she can take as long to deal with it as she needs to.'

Chin nodded 'I know.'

'I need to get her some breakfast.' Steve said.

'You go get changed and Kono'll make us all something. The kid sure can cook.' Chin told him.

Steve nodded 'okay. I'll be two minutes.'

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Sooooo, who else would like to fall asleep in a hammock with Mr Alex O'Loughlin? (I sure would!)

Sorry for crap update but I don't have time for a proper chapter until Friday and I thought a week and a half was too long to wait –hence this little filler – next chapter I'm moving onto the funeral :)

Hope you enjoy.

Review?