Ends
The end is nigh. That's what they say, right? That the end is coming soon. That they should be prepared. That it will only happen once.
But it's not true. Maybe in the terms of the end of the world in general, but not in the terms of the end of his world. Steve might be the only person who can say that he has experienced the end multiple times, only for it to happen again.
First, it was when his mom died. It had shattered everything he had known. The perfect family. The perfect future. The perfect life. He was sent to live on the mainland, away from his father and away from his sister; the only other person who knew what he had felt. He hadn't been prepared for any of that.
Then his father. They hadn't spoken in years and that should have been a sign in itself. Yet the surprise was still there when Anton Hesse took the phone, demanding the release of his brother before taking his father's life; all the while on the phone to him. Steve had vowed revenge there and then. He had gotten use to loss, as much as a human could. It didn't cut him deep anymore, not after losing so many men in the field. But he could remember each one, and this was no difference. Only this time it was personal. He hadn't been prepared for the repercussions that followed.
His return to Hawai'i had been hard. Returning home after many years and because of his father's death wasn't the ideal situation. But the Governor's support into helping him find Hesse was incentive enough to keep him there. He found a team - and a new family - before they had caught a new case and he was glad to be home. They had found Hesse and he had killed him. Shot him twice. Straight into the chest and into the ocean. Steve hadn't spared a second thought to it, sure they would find his body washed up somewhere and that would be the end of it. Closure and revenge in one.
He should have known better when there was no sighting of Hesse's body, but the idea of a watery grave - literally sleeping with the fishes - was enough for him especially after what he had done to his father. Time passed and Five-0 worked, grew closer and helped him on the case of his mother's death and the evidence found in the Champ toolbox. And then Hesse reappeared, this time cornering Chin with a bomb collar out on the streets of Oahu for everyone to see. Luckily, the end this time was good. They captured Hesse and got Chin back alive.
Steve also met Wo Fat, and let him go. How was he supposed to know that he was the mastermind behind it all? The man who would go on to kill Jenna, torture him, terrorize his family, get them caught in the middle with the Yakuza. The list went on. There was no end. Hesse led them to Wo Fat, who led them to the Yakuza, who led them to Shelburne, who he had thought ended with Joe. But there was more. Wo Fat didn't stop there.
He knew personal relations gave his enemies a bigger berth to hurt him with. But he couldn't fight the family he gained with his team, or the growing affection for his rookie. He tried; convinced himself that they were a team and that's all and that Kono was simply a very beautiful woman who elicited feelings purely on a physical matter.
That had lasted all of 3 weeks.
The team became ohana and Kono became something more.
Time passed and they carried on with their jobs. Wo Fat was the constant in their cases - if they caught wind of him or found him everything else was dropped. And it happened multiple times over the years. But Steve never got the chance to end him because he was always one step ahead. He always had leverage. A man on the same flight that his sister was then working on. A gun trained at his partner's head guaranteed to kill. A car waiting to crashing into Chin's bike as he rushed to where they were. A bomb strapped to the underside of Kono's car with the trigger in his hand.
It always varied but it was always one of them. Never him. Because Wo Fat knew that Steve didn't care if he died, as long as he took him with him. But he wouldn't let him take another life of someone he loved.
Eventually Steve had solved all the riddles, cleared the air, and discovered the truth to his family and behind his mother's death. It was horrible, it was discerning, but it was the truth and that was all he needed. It had taken years - decades - but in the end, it was what was needed. He had his family by his side to help him through it and his wife to comfort him. Together they made up the team who hunted down Wo Fat for the last time. There were no more questions or time for playing games. This had been the time to end it for once and for all.
Steve hadn't gone with the intention of killing him. Only to apprehend him so he could spend the rest of his life in solitary, either going mad or thinking about what he did. Steve had a plan. He had been prepared. They'd take out all of Wo Fat's men, ensure there was no way for him to find leverage, capture him, put him in jail and await the court to sentence him. Once in prison, he would visit him every now and again to see how he was doing whilst being able to carry on with his life. Keep Hawai'i safe, spend time with his friends, give Kono the family she always wanted; all without having to look over his shoulder anymore.
And it almost worked. He had been so close. So very close. But the final fight, just before Steve managed to knock him to the ground, Wo Fat fired one last bullet, aimed randomly and hitting a gas canister among 5 more in the corner of the room where they were. It caused an explosion and Steve had ran out of there before the others went off, demanding the rest of the team out too. Danny, who had had his back. Chin, who had been rounding the other entrance. Kono, who had been ready outside.
The explosion had been huge and with Wo Fat inside, Steve was happy to be out of it. That was until he noticed Danny and Chin on the ground near him, with the latter already getting to his feet in the direction to where he was sure Kono had been waiting. Steve didn't have to see it to know that it wouldn't be good, but he had forced himself onto his feet and headed in that direction anyway, stopping only to fall to his knees next to where she laid with a slab of metal piercing her abdomen and a smaller one in her leg. The explosion had blown in her direction, and she hadn't been able to get away quick enough.
Kono had been conscious until the ambulance got near. He had kept her talking which drifted into murmurs and finally nothing. But the pressure the three of them kept on her wounds made sure she didn't bleed out there and then. Then the EMTs arrived and Steve's sure they had to practically force the three of them away to help her.
The rest is a blur. He remembers getting confirmation that Wo Fat truly was dead, that they had found his charred body after dousing out the flames. He remembers not caring much beyond the fact that he no longer had to worry about anyone he loves being in danger except for Kono who was at that moment in surgery. The doctors hadn't been confident and told them to prepare for the worst. Steve couldn't think like that because he finally has what he had wanted for as long as he could remember and the only thing he needs then is her by his side.
But it wasn't meant to be. Two weeks later and Steve sits next to the bed he has been at for the fortnight, leaving only to shower, change and use the bathroom. Not once has she woken up, not once has she breathed by herself. The loss of blood had been too much and her heart had stopped multiple times on the table until the lack of oxygen had left her brain dead. They put her on a life support system after the last time they had resuscitated her and the rest Steve didn't understand. Because when he holds her hand, it's still soft and smooth as it always has been. It's still warm. She's still got the tanned look to her skin and her hair is still that dark brown, fanned out on her pillow like a Hawaiian goddess.
She's beautiful and if it wasn't for the tubes, wires and the constant beeping of the machines around them, he could probably make himself believe that they were back at home in bed and he is watching her sleep like he does on most mornings.
They've all been in. Her family, her friends, their team. The latter visit everyday with Danny getting him out of the room to eat and Chin sitting with his cousin. They slowly brought up the topic of switching off her life support but he wouldn't hear anything about it. Day after day, he'd ignore them until finally they force him to listen. Remind him that he's not the only one hurting or losing someone, but he is the only one with the choice and the final decision.
Everyone says it's what's best for her and it's what she would have wanted. In the end, there's nothing left to do but to sign the papers and allow the doctors to flick a small switch that truly finally takes her away.
Out of all the things he's lost, all the endings he's encountered, this is the only one he's been able to control, and it hurts the worst.
A/N Thank you again for the reviews and add. It means a lot to me and really motivates me to write more. This chapter was not supposed to be sad at all. In fact, my first idea was a load of smut, but it didn't fit it well. I can't help but write angst for some reason. Hopefully the next one will be lighter and happier.
I must thank Tiana-P again for letting me discuss ideas with her and for her help.
Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with Hawaii Five-0.