We were laughing and living, drinking and wishing,
And thinking as that checkered flag was waving,
Sure would like to stay in, Talladega.
Like a stone, time rolls on,
You can't hit pause, that's just the deal,
Most days in life don't stand out,
But life's about those days that will, like,
Eric Church- Talladega
I am currently un'betaed so please excuse my errors
(Marissa's Pov)
I stood in the middle of HQ with an empty box in my hand. The office was empty at 7:30; Steve was in charge of taking care of the kids this morning as I left with the excuse I had some errands to run
Steve and I still haven't had a conversation about my job switch between the kids and the cases rolling in are quiet moments consisted of a quick kiss goodnight and then trying to catch a couple of hours of sleep before Liam woke up for his feedings or another case would roll in.
I decided I would take the job Governor Denning was offering. I glanced at all the empty offices one last time before heading to my own. I decided to hide the box until I told the team tonight I was leaving.
Chin was the first to walk in the door.
"Hey you are here early" Chin greeted.
"I wanted to catch up. Steve is in charge of the kids this morning" I replied.
"Everything okay?" Chin asked.
"Yeah everything is fine. You don't have to worry" I answered.
"If you or Steve need anything all you have to is ask. We are ohana. "Chin replied giving me a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Chin. Same goes to you" I said. Chin searched my face again before heading to start up the smart table.
Chin and I arrived at the crime scene the same time as the rest of the team arrived. Steve looked disheveled when he got out of Danny's Camaro. I couldn't help but send him a smirk when he walked up the scene.
"I am guessing you had a hard time this morning" I asked earning a snicker from Danny.
"Babe you really shouldn't pick on him he had a real rough morning" Danny answered sending a smug smirk in my husband's direction.
Chin and Kono joined in on the teasing as my husband casted us his best Navy stare.
"What's going on here?" Steve asked Duke.
"We got a couple on stabbed to death at the start of the diamond head trail." Duke replied leading us to the bodies.
"Any id on the bodies?" Steve asked Max who was standing over the bodies.
"No id. Just a set of keys and cell phones, Commander" Max replied moving the male body.
"How long have they been out here?" Kono asked.
"An anonymous Call came in about 30 minutes ago." Duke chimed in.
"Kono see if you can get that 911 call. Marissa see if we can find their car in the parking lot." Steve ordered.
I took the keys from Max and made my way into the parking lot.
(Steve's POV)
Max and his team were now loading up the couple.
"This is exactly why I refuse to go hiking with you" Danny mumbled taking in his surroundings.
"That's because the only form of exercise that you do is walking to your fridge for a beer or running your mouth" I shot back.
"ouch, brah" Chin said with a laugh.
"You know Steven. Every adventure I have been on with you since I have been here as either got me shot at or almost falling to my death. So I like to play it safe in my apartment at least I know I want fall of some cliff or have a gun pointed at me." Danny ranted.
"That's called paranoia Danno." I shot back.
Danny signed before starting to canvas the area. After an hour of searching and not finding anything we headed to the parking lot. Marissa was watching as HPD hooked the victim's car up to the tow truck when we came down.
"Find anything in the car? I asked Marissa.
"Found their wallets. Victims are Casey and Joey Clifton. The couple was from Oregon. "Marissa stated waving the evidence bag with their ids.
"Duke is questioning some of the hikers coming down the trial." Chin added.
"Alright lets head back to HQ maybe Max or CSU will have something for us" I dismissed.
Danny was messing with the radio as we drove back to HQ.
"Will you just pick a station?" I said growing annoyed with his constant station searching.
"Hey buddy, I know you are in a bad mood from this morning but I believe this is still my car" Danny shot back with a smug smirk.
"Is that your way of saying you want a thank you?" I asked.
"Yeah I would appreciate a thank you" Danny muttered.
"Thanks Danno" I said with add sarcasm
At HQ Marissa and Kono were going through the couples phones.
"Find anything useful?" Danny asked looking at the pictures that were on screen.
"Just the usual tourist pictures and work emails. Nothing that sticks out" Marissa replied.
"I broke down the 911 call. Nothing on that either. It was a male caller maybe in his 40s. The only thing is he was very adamant to keeping his identity anonymous." Kono added
"See if you can trace the call. Maybe are caller knows more than we think." I order.
"On it, boss" Kono replied taking her tablet into her office.
A few minutes later Marissa received a call and was headed down to Charlie on a hit on the couple's car.
The whole team was gathered around the smart table as a new lead came in. Casey and Joey Clifton were not who their ids said they were. The couple was an ex con duo who used to rob high end stores until one of their robberies went wrong and a civilian was killed. They changed their identity and have been in hiding since.
"Do we know anything about the girl who was killed on their last heist?" I asked.
"Victim's name was Ashley Winters, age 18 was in the store when the robbery has happening. Witnesses say she was shot when a security guard and Joey were fighting." Marissa read off.
"Ashley's father Hank and spent thousands of dollars to have these two caught." Chin added pulling up a photo of a white male in his mid-40s.
"That is motive right there" Danny said.
"Yeah it is. Any leads where he might be?" I asked.
"He was still living in Oregon up until 3 weeks ago when he cashed out his accounts and bought a plane ticket to Hawaii" Chin replied.
"Let's see if there is any hits on his credits card and bring him in for questioning. " I stated.
A couple of hours later there was not hits on Hank Winters. IT was getting late and the team decided to call it night and pick back up in the morning.
Marissa was making dinner when I got back to the house. Ty was sitting at the table doing his homework. Liam was banging away on his high chair while Lily was dancing and singing along to a Disney movie.
I ruffled Ty's hair before walking behind my wife and wrapping my arms around her waist. I could feel her smile as I kissed the back of her head.
"Nice mess you left in the laundry room this morning" Marissa smirked.
"Lily got a hold of her bubble bath and spilled the whole bottle all over her floor" l replied turning my head enough to check on our daughter.
Marissa let out a humors laugh and she continued to throw together dinner. I was enjoying having my arms wrapped out my wife. We haven't been able to be this close in a while.
Liam began to get fussy when Marissa asked if I could feed him. 20 minutes later Marissa called Lily to the table to eat.
"Dad, can we take hike this weekend?" Ty asked.
"Sure buddy" I replied.
Marissa gave me a look like don't promise him if you know you can't take him. Lily was animatedly talking about princesses and cartoons that she watched as Liam banged his toys on his high chair.
After giving the kids and bath and tucking them in Marissa was downstairs in the laundry room throwing the towels from the bubble incident to wash.
"Hey" I said standing in the doorway.
"Hey, the kids go down okay?" She answered.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
I noticed my wife's body tense as those words left my mouth. I talked to Governor Denning already and he informed me of Marissa's new job.
She closed the lid of the washer and stood in front of me. We both sat down on the couch in silence.
I wanted to have this conversation without starting a fight.
"I took the job" Marissa whispered leaning her head on my shoulder.
"I know. You don't have to do this." I replied kissing her forehead.
"I love our team but I think this will be good for us." Marissa stated.
"When do you start?" I asked letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Monday" she whispered.
The conversation ended there with both of us going over this new change in our heads. Every part of me was screaming at me to fight her to stay with the team but instead I kissed her forehead again and enjoyed the silence.
The next morning the team was gathered around the smart table going over more evidence on our case. It turns out Hank Winters finger prints were found on our victim's car.
Hank Winters was waiting for us in his hotel room. This was too easy but the look of gilt on his face said it all.
Hank Winters confessed to killing Joey and Casey after his PI found information on their name change. He wanted them to pay for killing his daughter.
Danny and I looked at the man knowing what he did was something we would do if anyone ever hurt our kids.
HPD escorted Mr. Winters to holding until his case was arraigned.
Marissa was standing in the middle with a box of her stuff in her hands and Chin and Kono were bombarding her with questions.
"Moving out on us babe?" Danny asked.
She had tears in her eyes as she was about to speak.
"I am leaving the team" she replied trying to hide her tears with a smile.
"Wait, what the hell is going on?" Danny asked looking at me for an answer
"I was offered a job with Governor Denning and I am taking it." Marissa replied.
"You have nothing to say to this?" Danny asked casting his glance in my direction.
"I wanted to do this another way. I wanted to do this over dinner. But this is something I want to do. I am going to miss you all." Marissa replied choking back tears and setting her box down.
She hugged Chin and Kono first before heading in Danny's direction. This was the first time I ever heard my partner become speechless.
She stood in front of me before I pulled into a hug.
Kono had tears in her eyes as she headed out the door with the rest of the team leaving me alone with my wife.
Marissa pulled away enough so I could see her face. I wiped the tears sliding down her cheek before I leaned in kissed her.
Happy Easter everyone. I appreciate all my comments and new followers that i have recieved :). Please read and review