Chapter 16

BethBobby

505050

Hmm, I just had no inspiration for this one. I was going to write it on Friday, but I had a different idea spinning around my head so I had to write that instead. (That has been posted too for anyone who ships Steve/Kono, it's called 'I do kind of enjoy not going to work' so you can read that if you're interested. It's only a one-shot) and my laptop has been playing up again (I see a new laptop in the very near future!) so I apologise for the delay. Will try to update on Wednesday depending on how much work I get from uni on Tuesday so if it isn't posted then it'll be Friday before I get chance.

As usual, enjoy and please review.

50505050505050

'Looked so surprised when she said to me

Can you move the mountain then we can both see?

She fell in my arms then I melted away

She said why won't you ask me ask me to stay?'

Olly Murs – Ask Me to Stay

505050

Steve arrived at the clinic with Grace in tow almost half an hour before her appointment was due to start.

'So, we can go for fried chicken after I've been to see Lily?' Grace asked.

'Yes,' Steve rubbed his eyes and sighed.

That was the deal, no puppy, instead fried chicken.

No puppy my ass, Steve had thought, thinking again about her birthday and deciding that he was way too much of a soft touch.

Lily met them outside her room and shook hands with Steve before crouching down to say hello to Grace.

'So Grace, how are you today.' Lily asked.

'Good, Steve says we can go for fried chicken when we're done.' Grace told her cheerfully.

Steve shook his head and pinched his nose as the therapist looked up at him.

'Grace, why don't you go and wait in my room for a minute okay?' Lily told her, smiling at the little girl.

'Okay.' Grace nodded, walking into the room.

'Bribery Commander McGarrett?' the therapist turned to him and smiled.

'Her Mom had told her that therapy was for naughty people. I managed to talk her down from a puppy to fried chicken,' Steve explained with a helpless shrug 'I'm still learning the ropes here.'

'Children are hard work and therapy does have its well known stereotypes. I can see why her mother may have held that perception.' Lily nodded understandingly 'I'll go and talk to her, I would prefer it if you stayed out here. Children are less likely to open up with a parent or carer in the room. Not that I'm trying to say you're pushy or whatever, it's just a fact I've often found.'

Steve nodded; he needed to make a few calls anyway.

'I'll come and get you if we need you.' She said disappearing into the room and closing the door behind her.

Steve sighed again and sat down in one of the armchairs that were dotted around the waiting area.

He couldn't help but feel concerned that this might only make Grace worse.

Reliving the events of that day over and over again to a stranger.

But, the stranger was a woman.

Maybe Grace would find it easier to talk to a woman than she did talking to him?

Steve didn't know.

Fuck, I'm so bad with kids. Danno was right. He thought rubbing his forehead again.

Stop doing that! It's becoming like a nervous twitch!

Steve could almost imagine Danny scolding him for it, as his mother would have done when Steve was a child.

He knew what it was like to grow up practically without a parent.

It wasn't as easy as people thought.

Maybe Grace would be different, after all, she had him and Chin and Kono and their family.

She would have people around her all the time.

It wouldn't be the same, but he knew that his team would do their best for the little girl no matter what, for Danny.

505050

It was almost fifty minutes later when Grace returned to him, with puffy, red eyes.

'Steve!' she ran over and threw her arms around his neck, still hiccupping from the tears.

'You okay?' he asked, worriedly glancing up at Lily.

'I am now.' Grace replied.

'Good, look, why don't you stay here for a second while me and Lily talk okay?' Steve said lifting the little girl up as he stood before setting her back down on the chair.

Grace nodded.

'Two minutes.' Steve promised, earning himself another nod.

Once he and Lily were back inside the room the therapist turned to him.

'Well, she's doing really well, all things considering. She had nothing but good things to say about you and Chin and Kono and her parents.'

Steve felt himself relax slightly; he hadn't wanted the woman to think he was failing as a parent.

'She needs to go back to school, she's a bright kid and her thoughts are running away with her. She told me about the nightmares she's been having. The ones where you die as well as her parents and her Grandmother is telling her that it's all her father's fault.' Lily raised her eyebrow slightly.

'Danny and his mother-in-law had a strained relationship. She didn't like the fact that he was a cop.' Steve explained 'she didn't think he was good enough for Rachel.'

Lily nodded 'that makes more sense now. She needs to come back probably every week, especially when she starts school again, but she will get better. She'll never fully get over it, but if you and your team keep doing whatever it is that you're doing, she'll get through it. You're doing an amazing job for someone who apparently is 'terrible with kids' Steve. '

'Who told you that?' Steve asked, shocked, did Grace think he was bad with her?

'She said that her father had laughed about it but that she thought you were great.' Lily explained, seeing the shock on Steve's face.

'Oh, okay. Thank you Lily.' Steve smiled, shaking the little woman's hand.

'No problem. Same time next week?'

'See you then.' Steve nodded turning and walking out of the room to where Gracie was sat.

When she saw him the little girl jumped up.

'Are we going for fried chicken now?' she asked, practically bouncing.

Steve rubbed his forehead.

With her around, he was pretty much guaranteed to end up with a nervous twitch.

505050

Hope you enjoyed.

Please review!