Steve POV
Steve felt like he couldn't breathe. He knew there were three pairs of eyes focused on him, and that was what he was most worried about. His team. His ohana. Steve understood his duty to his country, and accepted what the outcome would be, but if something happened to him, Chin, Kono, and Danny would never be the same, and he knew it.
Steve took a deep breath, composing himself, before standing up, silently signaling the team that they should come in. Steve turned around, not being about to look at the dread that was plainly written on their faces. He knew from that look that they had all already figured out why Commander Connelly had visited him. They just didn't want to believe it, either.
Danny finally broke the silence, "So... so when do you leave?" He asked, solemnly. Steve turned to face his ohana, struggling with how to deliver the news. "Tomorrow evening," Steve practically whispered. Telling them made it feel real. Steve watched as what he had just said registered on their faces. Danny looked shocked, confused, and scared. Even Chin, who usually kept his emotions in check, had a deep frown, and his eyes were angry. Steve knew the anger wasn't directed at him, but at the people who put him in this situation. Steve could barely even look at Kono. She was completely and utterly distraught. Steve's heart ripped into a million tiny pieces as the usually tough and badass woman broke down into tears.
Kono POV
Kono felt hot tears run down her cheeks. She couldn't even fathom the thought of Steve not being there everyday when she needed him. She needed Steve to be ok. If he wasn't... Kono didn't even want to think about it as she stepped towards Steve, who opened his arms willingly for her. Kono closed her eyes and tried to stop crying. She shouldn't be the one breaking down. Steve was the one getting sent to God knows where in order to do God knows what.
Kono could feel Steve breathing deeply, trying to keep his emotions in check as well. Kono knew she should let go of her boss, but she needed him now. His arms were warm and strong, and she felt safer there than anywhere else in the world. If she wasn't going to be seeeing him for a while, than she definitely wasn't going to let go now.
Steve obviously wasn't ready to let go either, as he had one hand was in Kono's hair, holding her head to his chest. Kono pulled away slightly, looking Steve in the eyes. His beautiful green-blue eyes were sorrowful, and she knew that he blamed himself for causing them all pain. "It'll be ok boss. As long as you come back, it'll be ok." Kono sniffled. "I will come back. I promise you Kono, I will always come back."
Steve squeezed Kono tighter before eventually releasing her. "Guys, do you mind if I have a minute alone with Steve?" Danny asked, trying to sound upbeat, but the waver in his voice told Kono that Danny was just as scared as her. "Of course Danny. C'mon, Kono," Chin replied, towing her towards the door. Kono knew Danny and Steve were like brothers, and that it was possible that he was feeling just as terrified, if not more, than her.
Kono didn't see Steve as a brother. No, that would definitely make the feelings she had for him inappropriate. They were borderline inappropriate anyway. He was her boss. And sadly, that's all she assumed he wanted to be.
Four Weeks Later
Steve POV
Steve shook off his Kevlar vest while running through the marketplace, and threw it at the two boys running beside him. Steve willed himself to go faster, knowing that he needed to get as far away as possible. He had promised Kono that he was coming back, and he fully intended to keep that promise. Steve heard the blast, and then everything happened in slow motion. He grabbed the girls in front of him into his arms, hopefully covering them, and prayed. Then, everything went black.
Kono POV
Kono eyed her calendar on the wall of her office once again. One month of Steve's three month deployment was already finished. She could get through this. She missed him terribly though. The team really just wasn't the same without him, and she had been counting the days until he would return and make the constant ache in her heart disappear.
Kono's phone rang, pulling her away from her thoughts about Steve. It was Danny. "Hey Danny, we got a case?" Kono questioned hopefully, needing a distraction to keep her mind off Steve. On the other end, Danny took a deep breath. "Just... just meet me and Chin at the palace Kono, it's... its about Steve." Kono suddenly found it hard to breathe. She couldn't manage to get out any words. "Kono, Kono!" Danny yelled, in response to the silence, "He's coming home." Kono knew that was supposed to reassure her, but it didn't. That meant that he had been injured in battle. Otherwise, he would be staying until his tour was completed. Images of Steve getting shot and tortured bounced through her head. This couldn't be happening. Somewhere, halfway around the world, Steve was injured and needed his family, but they were stuck on Oahu and couldn't do anything about it.
Kono finally found her voice, "I'm on my way, Danny." She said and hung up. She ran to her car, and strayed it, but before she could go anywhere, broke down into tears. The fear in Kono's mind was paralyzing. He had to be ok.