Sarah ran out of the water ahead of Steve, forcing her legs through the knee-deep surf. She was exhausted but determined to beat him. She could hear him behind her gaining ground as his voice explicitly told her he was gaining on her too. She let out a low growl and pushed harder until she was on the beach and then up on the grass in his yard, collapsing on her knees and then falling forward on her hands and stomach, gasping for air. She looked to her right as he laid on his back only a couple of seconds later.
"Damn Sarah! I don't know where," he panted, "you hide all that strength in that little body of yours."
She laughed and rolled over on her back. "I was very…" she breathed hard, "competitive with my brothers."
They both lay there letting their bodies calm when he finally looked over at her. "Ok, my loss. What do you want for dinner?"
Sarah rubbed her hands together victoriously, "Hmm, let me see. What am I hungry for?"
He sat up on his elbow, "Be nice! You know my limitations when it comes to cooking."
She laughed over that, knowing full well he had only a limited menu and even a couple of those items were sketchy. "You can make a good burger."
He knew she was letting him off the hook easy, so he decided to reward her for that. "How about if I take you out for a nice steak dinner instead?" He leaned over and kissed her. "Besides, I haven't been following up on my boyfriend rules lately. It's been a while since I've exercised the dinner one."
"I like that idea." She smiled at him as he stood up and held his hand down to her, pulling her up. She put her arms around his waist. "Did you let me win?"
"No! Have you forgotten how competitive I am too?"
She could always tell when he was lying. She learned that from playing poker with him so many times. She stood up on her toes and kissed him, knowing full well that he had let her win, but she didn't care. She loved him for it.
Sarah walked toward his truck, with her hand over her stomach. "Oh my god, why did I order the ten ounce and not settle with the seven?"
"Because you grew up with four older brothers and learned to eat like them too. I love a girl who eats when you take her out and doesn't squabble over a salad," he put his arm over her shoulder, "or the wimpy seven ounce."
She giggled, "I'm paying for it now."
He took her hand and kept walking past the truck. "Let's take a walk on the beach and work some of it off then."
She followed behind him smiling. It was the first time he had ever held her hand while walking. They got to the edge of the beach that was across the street from the restaurant and took their shoes off, hiding them in the bushes. The sun had already set but they could still make out just a hint of color over the horizon. The waves washed up calmly at their feet as they strolled along.
"I can't remember the last time I just walked on the beach for no reason," Steve said, squeezing her hand. "This is nice."
Sarah moved closer to him, gripping his arm with her free hand. "This gets you a lot of extra boyfriend points too you know."
"Really? And how do I cash those in exactly?"
She stepped in front of him. "What exactly would you like?" she asked sweetly.
He smiled devilishly at her. "You know what I want."
She blushed and giggled, "You're going to get sick of me."
"Sick of you?" he said shocked, shaking his head, "Oh no, that'll never happen." He put his arms around her, "You have no idea what you do to me Sarah. What you have done to me. That rule about not looking or talking to other girls," he smiled, "that's the easiest one of all. I'm not even sure other women exist anymore," he pulled her close up against him, "and I don't care. You're the only one I can see now."
"I'm…" she said almost breathless after what he had just said to her. "I'm in love with you. I always have been, so please don't say things like that to me unless you mean it. You'll only break my heart." She rested her forehead on his chest. She loved what he said but still wasn't convinced he was on the same level as she was. This relationship she had with him over the past couple of years changed her life. She fell in love with who he was in the beginning knowing him only as a friend, but now that the stakes were even higher, it was scary being with him sometimes, knowing it might all disappear at any moment, leaving her literally heartbroken
"Sarah," he said gently, wishing he could explain to her what he felt, but he just didn't know how. Expressing himself in that way was never one of his stronger points, but yet it was breaking his heart that she was still so unsure of his intentions. "Look at me," he said firmly; needing to step out of his comfort zone for her sake, hoping what he was about to say would ease that anxiety she felt. He had no time to plan it out so decided to just go with his gut and hope when he jumped off the cliff that he'd land softly, but when she finally looked up at him he smiled even though her expression was worried, because he knew inside that she really had nothing to fear, and neither did he. "I love you Sarah. Not because we were friends first or because we're sleeping together now. I fell in love with you because of who you are and the way that makes me feel as a man. I look at you sometimes and I can't believe my good fortune. I'm learning as I go what my responsibilities are in this relationship with you and it's not a chore, and not for one second have I regretted any of it. I love where this is going, and I'm glad that it's you I'm going there with. I'm scared too, because if I lost you, I think it would damage me for the rest of my life." He hoped that clarified it, searching her face for a clue.
Any doubt she had about his feelings was put to rest. She felt a welcoming calm float through her, which instantly reflected in her smile.
He saw it clear as if they were standing in the sunshine rather than the moonlight. That glow Danny had spoken of was illuminating off of her. He brushed his hand through her hair. "You know me Sarah. Don't second-guess that sixth sense you have with me. I rely on it and so should you. You know I love you, and you know that I'm in love with you." He smiled at her as if everything he was saying should have been common knowledge to her. "You know it."
She hugged him for those words, fighting back the tears. "I do."
He put his arm around her shoulder and started walking again. "Now I get the whole idea of strolls on the beach. This is like therapy."
"You and Danny should try this," she grinned, resting her head on his shoulder as they walked.
Steve laughed, "Too close to water, one of us would try and drown the other. That's why our therapy in the car is safer. Nowhere to run too and if you try and off the other by crashing, you're going to die too."
"You're crazy," she laughed and then shivered. "It's getting kind of chilly."
He slipped his outer shirt off, "Chilly," he scoffed, holding it open as she slipped her arm in and turned while he helped her put it on. "Every time it drops below eighty you get cold."
"I know," she laughed. The ritual they just performed had almost become a running joke. She couldn't count how many times she'd stolen his shirt or jacket since she'd known him because she was cold.
"I want boyfriend points for this good deed from now on."
"Ok." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"That's more like it," he grinned.
They walked for a while longer and then made their way back to the restaurant. The moon hadn't yet appeared and it was even darker as they searched the bushes for their shoes.
Sarah slipped her sandals on and was standing on the sidewalk waiting as Steve sat in the sand and brushed his feet off before putting his socks and shoes back on.
"Do you want to stop for ice cream on the way home?" Sarah smiled at him.
He looked up at her laughing, "Are you serious? A half hour ago you were dying because you were so full, now you want ice cream?"
"I always have room for ice cream."
He shook his head, "Whatever you want."
She stepped off the curb. "You know what I want," she smiled seductively, paraphrasing his words.
He looked up at her tone of voice, "Sarah! You naughty girl." He smiled at her still wearing his shirt. He didn't know what it was about that, but seeing her in it was a turn on. He heard a car in the distance as he got up, looking down the dark street that was void of streetlights, not actually seeing it but he didn't think anything of it either. He looked back at her as she laughed, turning her body so her back was to the street.
Sarah heard the tires screech, but before she could react she heard Steve yell her name and then felt her body being thrown through the air, landing hard on her side in the middle of the street. She saw the car speed off down the road with no lights on. It was then that she felt his arms around her.
"Are you ok?!" he said, leaning over her with a panicked expression.
She was still dazed trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"Sarah?" he repeated even more concerned over her not answering.
"Yes! Yes," she answered, gripping on to his arm, feeling the blood on his elbow. She pulled it away quickly and looked at her hand. "You're bleeding!"
He stood up and bent over, helping her to her feet, ignoring her statement as he looked down the street where the car had disappeared and then behind him for anymore danger.
"They didn't even stop! What was that?" she asked trying to get a look at his arm as he quickly led her over to his truck, all the while scanning the area. "Steve!"
He didn't reply as the lights on his truck flashed, unlocking it. He opened the passenger door and shuffled her in, wanting her in a safe spot.
"Ouch." She shifted on the seat and realized then that she had a scrape on her knee through the tear in her pants
"Let me see," he said after leaning over her and taking his gun from the counsel between the seats.
"It's fine," she assured him, becoming alarmed over his demeanor. "Who was that?" she asked again, her voice shaken.
He closed her door and went around the other side, eyeing the parking lot with the gun at his side.
Sarah followed his movement becoming more and more concerned by his actions. He got in the driver's seat and started the engine. "Stop! What's going on? Who was that?"
"I didn't see who it was but I have a good idea and if I'm right he should have quit with the tire slashing." His voice radiated his anger. "This little stunt throws any mercy I have for him out the window. I'll fucking bury him next to his kid if he wants to play this game."
Sarah stared at him, knowing he was talking about the boy's father. She realized then what had happened to her wasn't an accident. That car had intentionally tried to run her over. She startled in her seat as his cell phone went off.
He pulled it out of his pocket and reached over with his other hand, assuring her she was safe by gently caressing her leg. "Hello," he answered in the same rough tone of voice.
"Mr. McGarrett this is Townsend Security Company, could I please have your Code to verify your identification?"
"Gracie," he said, wondering what the hell was up now.
"Thank you. Are you at home Sir?"
"No."
"I'm calling to inform you there was a violation in the system at your residence which has caused the alarm to go off. The police have been notified and are in route."
"What area of the house?" Steve asked, gritting his teeth.
"The front window is what I'm getting on my computer?"
Sarah could scarcely hear the caller on the other end, but knew it had something to do with his house. His eyes narrowed and she could see the intensity in his face, wondering if the call had something to do with what had just happened to them.
"Ok, I'm about five minutes away," he informed them.
"I'll inform the police you are on your way home. We'll send a representative out there first thing in the morning to assess the damage and reset any lines that need fixing. If you need any further assistance you can reach us twenty-four hours a day by the number on your home keypad. We'll send for a complete report of the incident from the Police Department. If there is nothing else I can assist you with Sir, then you have a safe evening."
"Thank you." He hung up and slammed the phone down on the dash. "Goddamnit! Someone broke into my house!"
"What is going on?" Sarah practically yelled, her heart racing as tears of fear stung her eyes.
He looked over and saw the alarm all over her face. He leaned over and hugged her. "It's ok, Sarah. Don't be scared."
She clung to his shirt and trembled.
"Nothings going to happen to you, I promise. They weren't aiming at you. I think it was because you had my shirt on and it was dark."
She looked down just then and saw the blood on his arm, suddenly realizing that he had probably saved her life earlier in the street. It reminded her of the day on the boat when he had told her that he couldn't watch something bad happen to her without giving it everything he had to protect her. He had proved that by throwing himself in the path of that car to save her. She slowly pulled away from him. She didn't thank him because she knew that's not what he would have wanted to hear. He didn't do it for the acknowledgment; instead she put a hand on his face. "I'm not scared. I trust you."
He smiled at her and kissed her, thanking her for that. He sat back in his seat and put the car in reverse, heading home.
They drove up his driveway seeing the two patrol cars. The three officers were standing out front but Steve was a little surprised the lights in the house were off. He could however clearly see the broken front window.
As they got out the officers met them halfway.
"Hey Steve," one of them spoke up and then glanced at Sarah, a little surprised to see her with him. "Sarah," he acknowledged her.
"Hey Jack," Steve replied. "So what's going on here?" The greeting was informal as he followed them up the path from the driveway toward his house.
"We got a call from your security company about a breach in the system but when we got here all we found was this broken window. We looked around but couldn't find any signs of forced entry. We knew you were on your way so we decided to just wait for you. I don't think anyone's been inside. You can see the rock on the floor in your living room."
Steve unlocked the front door and stopped before going in, turning to Sarah. "Wait out here until I know it's safe, all right?"
She nodded, hanging back with one of the officers.
Steve went in with the other two, turning the lights on and scanning the downstairs.
"Does anything look out of place," Jack asked him.
"Nope." He went in the kitchen first and then upstairs as the other two followed behind him. "It looks like they just broke the window." He looked around his room and checked the lanai doors, making sure they were still locked.
"Do you have something to cover the broken window with?" The other officer asked him.
"Yeah, I've got something in the garage."
They helped him cover the window with a piece of plywood.
"Do you have any idea who might have done this?" Jack asked him.
"Yes, but I'll take care of it." He looked at the three of them, thanking them, which was their cue to leave.
Jack motioned to his bloody elbow, "You should clean that up." He knew there was more to the story but also knew Steve and his team were capable of handling whatever it was. "If you need any help with anything, let me know."
"Thanks Jack."
Sarah stood by the front door as he came back in from walking them out.
"Come on, I'll take you home," he said to her.
"Don't stay here tonight," she said fearfully. "Come stay with me."
"I planned on it, because I'm not letting you out of my sight after what happened."
She tried to not look so worried but did a poor job of hiding it. She leaned into him as his arms went around her. "I'm worried about you."
"Don't be. Danny and I'll take a ride over and see Malakina Leese tomorrow morning and get this thing settled. I'd love to go tonight and drag his ass out of bed, but I don't want to leave you alone until you're safe at work tomorrow. Besides, he's a native. He's lived here his whole life. He's not going anywhere."
"Why didn't you tell Jack and the others what happened at the restaurant?"
"Because I'm going to take care of this on my own." He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "That was the biggest mistake he ever made getting that close to you, and he's going to pay dearly for it."
"Are you sure it was even him?"
Steve nodded, "It was him. I'm sure of it. I also know it was him that slashed my tires. We got prints off the side of the truck. Danny wanted to confront him then." He sighed, wishing now he had listened to him. "I figured Leese needed to feel that justification that he never got, and I guess I thought he would end it there, but this tonight." He looked at her regretfully. "This is beyond anything I thought he was capable of. I'm sorry Sarah to put you in the middle of this."
"You didn't put me in the middle of anything. He did." She put her arms back around him.
Sarah's eyes flew open and she shivered, but not because the temperature had fallen below eighty, but because the dream had been so vivid. She felt his arm pull her in closer against his body and his calming voice in her ear.
"It was just a dream."
She rolled over so she was facing him, snuggling closer. He welcomed her with open arms. The dream became a distant memory as her heart fluttered over his security.
"I love you." Her voice wasn't frightened, but sincere.
He didn't have to see that stellar expression he loved so much, he heard it. Having her this close and her choice of words only stirred his desire for her. He rolled her over on her back and looked down at her, feeling confident she was seeing the same thing from him. He touched her lips with his fingertips, gently gliding them over the softness as he made his way down her chin, over her throat and then touching her breasts over her shirt all the while keeping eye contact with her, enjoying the smoldering look that only encouraged him. He didn't say a word, but reached down and lifted her shirt over her head, wanting to really feel her. She laid back after helping him, her hair falling all over the pillow. He moaned softly at the sight of her; it was exactly the place he had been trying to get back too.
She would never question his love for her again, she wouldn't have too; it was shinning down all over her. His hands moved over her slowly as if he were taking in every detail of the body he had fallen in love with. He understood now that passionate bond that had always seemed like folklore to him, something that existed on paper or in sappy love songs, but here he was experiencing his own love story that was nothing short of spectacular, swearing to himself that it was one of a kind, no one had ever felt like this before; also knowing this was it, she was the one. He couldn't imagine being in this place with another woman, ever. It was impossible to him. She was warm and safe, letting him be who he was and knowing that he never had to make excuses because she loved him in spite of all his flaws and loved him even more because of some of them. He wanted to stand in the middle of a crowded room and shout out that he was in love with Sarah Hickey.
She slid her hand over his arm and moved her leg, positioning him into that sweet spot. She could feel his heart racing and how badly he wanted her pressed between her thighs, even through the sweats he had on. She pulled down on them, freeing him, shuffling them down the rest of the way with her feet until he was naked on top of her. Her hands caressing his back, his arms, his neck, down and then back up again, their eyes locked on each other. It was the most romantic moment of her life.
He wasn't even inside her yet, but he could already feel that connection with her. The power she had over him, all that time he wasted. He could have had this. He moved down her body kissing her throat her bare breasts his hand touching places that made her shiver and moan, stroking his back as he made his way lower and lower until she thought she might die from the pleasure. He held her firmly around the thighs so she couldn't move as his tongue played with her, teased her. It was beyond anything she'd ever experienced sexually. He had talents in bed she knew, but she considered him a human prodigy for what he was giving to her at that second.
She gripped the sheets with both fists, arching her back as he tightened the grip forcing her to lie still as her body naturally fought against it. It hit her with so much force she cried out over and over, pleading with a higher power.
He finally released the tight grip and made his way up, kissing her belly, feeling her hands stroking his body as if thanking him for that. He rose above her making eye contact once again as he plunged inside her with one swift move, repeating it over and over as she welcomed him. He slid an arm under her neck and lifted her up to his lips, all the while never once breaking stride. It was going to happen soon and he could tell already it was going to be explosive. She felt too good for it not to be. He laid her back on the bed still holding her around the shoulder staring at her as she spoke to him with her eyes, telling him how good it felt.
"I love you," he whispered to her, never knowing the power of those three little words until that very second.
She kissed him for that as tears fell from the corners of her eyes, drinking him in and feeling that love as he held her tighter.
"You feel so good," he shuddered, moving to her neck, tasting the salt from her tears. He couldn't have loved her more than he did at that moment. It swept over him, heightening his senses as he rose up needing to see her. She was like an angel looking up at him. Her face flushed but her eyes acutely aware of what was happening between them and almost as if she were reading his mind giving him what he was searching for.
She felt his body tense and his expression became weak as he succumbed the powerful force that gripped ahold of him, ripping through him like nothing he'd felt before. She held him tighter, knowing if it was anything like he'd just given her a few minutes before then he must be in ecstasy at that second. She smiled over that doing anything she could do heighten the moment for him, hearing her name as if he were begging her for mercy.
He collapsed on top of her completely drained of any strength, whimpering softly as the after shocks continued to torment him in the most pleasurable way. He couldn't move, he couldn't think straight. She was like a drug and he was addicted from that second on. She gave him what no one else ever had, sanctuary.
Sarah heard him in the kitchen the next morning as she came down the hallway. She was already showered but still in her robe after quietly getting up without waking him, knowing he wouldn't go home until she was ready, not wanting to leave the house without her. She wanted to get a jump on getting ready first and let him sleep a little longer.
She came around the corner as he held the carton of orange juice up to his lips with his head tilted back, eyes closed, drinking it down as if he had just come from the desert. She smiled at the display as he finally pulled it away taking a deep breath.
He saw her and smiled. "Sorry. You drained me last night of all my juices." He shook the empty carton, "I needed a refill."
She went up to him as he held his free arm open to her. "You do what you have to do to get replenished. I'll keep a steady supply just for you."
He kissed her, setting the carton down on the counter. "I think I caught it just before the expiration date. It tasted a little bitter."
"Could be," she agreed, "I haven't gone shopping in a while."
He kissed her again, moving his hand over her backside, "I'm going to jump in the shower. I want to get to work and then over to Leese's. I want this settled today."
She nodded in agreement with him. "Are you hungry?"
"No, just get ready so we can go. I don't want to leave you here alone."
She was right on the money with that thought; glad she was already halfway there. "Ok."
He kissed her once more and started to walk off when he stopped and turned back around, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her forcefully up against him. "By the way, good morning and I love you," he smiled.
She felt her body tingle. "I love you too."
He swatted her butt, "Good, now hurry up."
She giggled and went for the cupboard, taking out some muffins and poured herself a cup of coffee that she had brewed before getting in the shower. She popped a couple of muffins in the microwave and smiled at the empty carton of OJ on the counter, making a mental note to get some more. She picked it up and looked at the expiration date, seeing that it wasn't for another week. She smelled the inside but didn't notice anything weird about it. Her attention was distracted by a soft knock on her apartment door.
Steve leaned forward bracing his hand on the shower wall, letting the warm water flow down his back. He looked up into the sprayer and filled his mouth with water, rinsing out the dryness and then spitting it out at his feet. He felt a little light headed, grinning over the sensation, attributing it to the night before. It lasted longer than a normal head rush and he put his hand on the sidewall this time, putting his face back up in the spray, hoping to shake it off but it didn't work. His legs began to tingle and he reached over shutting the water off, still using the sidewall as a crutch. "Shit," he mumbled, feeling the sensation that he was going to pass out.
Sarah looked through the peephole and opened the door to Mrs. Kettles.
"Good morning," she said to the older woman.
"Good morning Honey. I was just coming back from my walk and wanted to know if they fixed that electrical problem you were having. I know we share the same wall and I'm sure some of the same outlets and if you're having issues, then I'm sure I will too."
Sarah looked at her oddly, "What electrical issues?"
Mrs. Kettles looked at her in the same way. "There was an electrician in your apartment yesterday afternoon. He said he was called out by the complex to look at some problems you were having in your unit."
Steve wrapped a towel around his waist and came out of the bathroom and into the bedroom reaching for the wall as a brace. He could feel his chest tighten, trying desperately to catch his breath, not sure what was happening to him. He pushed off the wall going for the bed when he felt his legs give way. He fell on the floor and rolled over on his back putting a hand over his chest, gasping for air, feeling like he was suffocating.
Sarah heard the fall and turned toward the hallway. "Steve?"
He tried to call for her, but couldn't get enough air to even breathe let alone speak.
Mrs. Kettles followed her as she went down the hall. She came within view and screamed over the sight of him convulsing and gasping for air. "Steve!" She fell to her knees next to him as he reached out grasping her arm. "What's wrong?!"
He shook his head and closed his eyes, concentrating on getting air into his lungs. He felt a hand on his forehead, holding his head down and opened his eyes back up to Sarah leaning over him. Her expression was firm as well as the tone of her voice.
"Look at me! Breathe slow and deep, slow and deep!" She had no idea what was happening to him but needed to try to stay calm for his sake, because she could see the alarm all over him as he tried to inhale unsuccessfully.
He looked beyond her to Mrs. Kettles who was reaching for Sarah's phone by her bed.
"I ca…I can't!" he whispered, "Sarah," he pleaded with her for help.
She took his hand and held it firmly. "It's ok, it's going to be ok. Just breathe sloooow," she drawn out the word trying to calm the panic that had overcome him.
He looked in her eyes and did as he was told, finding comfort in her presence and the tone of her voice
"Help is coming," she reassured him, stroking her hand over his forehead trying to hide the terror and panic that was sweeping through her, not understanding what was happening to him. To her relief he calmed as she breathed in slow and deep with him as if showing him how to do it.
"My legs…" he started and then worked up another breath before finishing, "can't…feel my legs. What's…happening?"
She could see the panic begin to emerge once again and tried to divert it. "Don't be afraid, Steve." She leaned over and kissed his forehead, fighting back the tears that were beginning to emerge. "Please, just breathe and help…help is coming," she stammered not sure she could hold it together for much longer. If he died right there she felt she might follow him.
He could hear the fear in her voice and squeezed her hand, getting his breathing under control again to the point where he didn't have the sensation of suffocating anymore. It was as if whatever was happening to him came in waves over different parts of his body. The tingling in his legs had turned to complete numbness and he could feel it beginning to reach his fingers now. The grip on his hand felt tight, but that was her hand squeezing, not his. The fright in her eyes was dramatic; no matter how hard she tried to hide it. 'You're fine,' he told himself, using his combatant training as a way to calm the anxiety. 'You're scaring her. Everything is fine. Just relax and breathe. Relax and breathe,' he repeated over and over, but no matter how much he tried to convince himself he was fine, he knew he was teetering on something disastrous. He also knew it had to do with the juice, looking up at Sarah just then, glad it was he who drank it, and not her. 'I love you,' he murmured just before his whole body succumbed to the drug.
He couldn't move, he couldn't talk; yet he could hear Sarah as she screamed his name over and over but he wasn't able to open his eyes and see her. He wasn't even sure he was breathing anymore. The only way he knew he was still alive was the pounding of his heart that sounded like a drum inside his head.