Disclaimer remains.
A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! :) May the shippy-ness continue. And I love throwing in Alex's old projects in weird strange places.
If I Die Young
Chapter Four
"This is bull." Kono growled, slapping down her make up brush, "I can't do this one handed."
Her sister sighed, "Well if you'd let me *help* you."
Kono shook her head, "no, no I want to do it myself...gonna have to take care of myself when I get out of here."
"That's not happenin'." The two women looked up and smiled in unison at the tall dark headed man leaning against the doorjamb, his hands in his pockets, ankles crossed. "There's no way you're staying by yourself." He quirked a brow.
Kono snorted, shaking her head and closed the bag, growling at it as it flapped across the bedside table as she zipped it. Ailana and Steve tried not to smirk,
"Besides...I think you're beautiful just the way you are.' He said softly, entering the room. "Make up is overrated." He winked and the girls' hearts stopped.
"Well thanks, Steve." Kono said, blushing in spite of herself. Ailana took the bag and put it up, kissing her sister's cheek.
"I'll be back kiddo." She grabbed her purse and left, waving her fingers at Steve.
Steve smirked,
"She's gay."
"Huh?"
"My sister...she's gay..." Kono smirked, then laughed at Steve's obvious disapointment,
He grinned, enjoying her laughing, "Well, doesn't matter. I have all I need right here." He took her hand and her heart stopped again.
"You're such a flirt, McGarrett."
He grinned, "Dont you know it." he winked, "I just have that effect on all women...*all*" He winked.
Kono rolled her eyes, "You are so...yeah I can see why Danny can't stand you half the time." She grinned playfully.
"Aww..Danno loves me." Steve affected hurt through his grin. "I'm just confident in my mad skills. And I could help you." He wiggled his brows.
Kono laughed, then groaned as it hurt, "Hell no! I'll look..like a clown or something..no offense, Steve...I think if I had to pick a man to put on my face it'd be Danno."
Steve shook his head, "You just don't want me that close to you." He gave her a smoldering look and she smiled. She'd missed this banter since the House Operation...
"You don't know that, sailor." She smirked. There was a semi-awkward silence for a minute,
"So." Steve breathed, "WHat's your plans after you blow the joint?" he smiled, still sitting on the edge of her bed.
Kono sighed, "Not sure...My apartment is an upstairs unit, I could stay with mom, but she works all day, and Ailana and Tara's apartment is almost as small as mine, so we're trying to figure that out."
Steve nodded, "yeah...maybe you could stay with me..seeing as it's all my fault anyway."
Kono sighed, "how is it your fault? Just because you're my superior therefore me getting wounded is your fault?" She quirked a brow.
Steve sighed, "I just feel that way, ok? I'm responsible for you." He said softly,
Kono nibbled her lip, "I'm sorry, Steve...I didn't mean to sound harsh. But still, you boys are gone all day.."
"Governor's giving us leave until you're better."
"What?" Kono sat straighter, "That's insane! All the crap that could happen in that time!"
"We'll be on call, but not have to report to the Palace...she wants you taken care of."
"I have a million family members, McGarrett." Kono laid back, "I'll find someone."
Steve crossed his arms, stubbornness lining his face, "Maybe I want to take care of you."
"I just..I don't feel the need to be taken care of, though I know I'll need it for a few days."
"Weeks...try weeks Kono..you'll be in that sling for at least two."
She glared at him. He glared back and this is how their partners found them...glaring each other down.
"You'll never win cuz." Chin said, mirth in his voice.
"Worth the try." She said, tightlipped as the two continued to stare each other down.
ifidieyoung
In the end, Steve won. It was startling how easily everyone agreed that she should stay with him until she was healed. He was her freakin boss for pete's freakin sake! It seemed like everyone was trying to throw them together in whatever situation they could. Steve smiled to himself as he gathered a few things from his office before going to take her home. He looked up to see Chin standing in the door, he quirked a brow, "Hey." He smiled.
The older man nodded,"You take care of my cousin, okay?"
"That's the plan, Chin." He said, "She'll be safe there."
"Is she safe with you?" His voice was low.
"What?" Steve was confused for a moment, he looked up, searching Chin's face for a clue.
"My cousin loves you, McGarrett. If you're taking care of her to ease your guilty conscience and have no deeper feelings for her, then we have a problem, and trust me, you don't want to have a problem where I'm concerned. I'm fairly certain your father would give me permission to whip your ass."
Chin's words hit Steve in the middle of the chest and he took a deep breath..not the warning that he'd beat his ass if he hurt Kono, but more that she cared for him.
"You can trust, me Chin." Steve said quietly, his gaze level. "I"m not sure where this is going to go, where it can go, given the circumstances...but I will never intentionally hurt her."
The older man watched him levelly and Steve had an odd flashback to the look his father gave him when seeing if he was lying to him. "You make sure of that, McGarrett." He nodded, turning and leaving.
Steve stood there for a long while before picking up his things and heading out. He had no idea how to make this work, even though he wanted it too. There was the option of keeping it a secret..but that wouldn't last long, the team would know and it would screw with the dynamic...then again she wasn't his partner...so..it wasn't like it was Danny. He scrunched his face. That was a disturbing thought. He shook his head as he pulled into his yard, Kono's mother's car already there, she must be inside getting her settled. He stopped for a minute in the door watching the four women, Lee hovering and mothering, Ailana and her girlfriend unpacking and setting up the downstairs bedroom and taking orders from Kono meekly, with longsuffering glances at each other. Kono was standing in the middle directing traffic..good god how much did that woman have?
"DId you bring your whole apartment?" Steve spoke up, his arms crossed as he stood in the door way to the bedroom.
"Minus the furniture." Kono smiled, "You insisted I stay here for the duration of my recovery..so you asked for it, brah." Her eyes twinkled and he smiled and there was quietness...until Tara smirked a giggle then an ouch as Ailana hit her playfully. Yes, Steve and Kono were that obvious but no need to go making a giggle fest out of it was Ailana's pointed glare.
Steve shook his head, "What am I gonna do with you." He sighed dramatically and turned away towards the kitchen where Lee followed him,
"Now, can you cook?"
"yes ma'am."
"Well?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you drink lots of beer and burp?"
"Only with the boys ma'am." His eyes were sparkling at the interrogation as he unloaded groceries,
"Leave the toilet seat down, I want it to be easy for her."
"yes ma'am." He nodded.
"Do the dishes."
"yes ma'am." He bent into the fridge, stocking it well.
"Be polite if she askes you to help her dress."
"yes ma'am..always."
"I'll be checking on her every evening after work, I am her mother after all." The small Asian woman bustled around him everywhere he moved in the kitchen.
"Yes ma'am, only necessary."
"Don't break her heart." There it was again, this out of the blue instruction from the Family.
"Never, ma'am." He said, lowering his eyes to hers, the woman bored her eyes into his until she was satisfied he told the truth.
"Yo brah..you take care of my girl's little sister, okay?" Tara called as Ailana pulled her out of the door.
He smirked, "Got it." He saluted and watched as the ladies got in their car, waving as they drove off, shutting the door behind him he blew out a breath and turned back to the rest of the house.
"I'm already bored." Kono pouted, coming into the main room, "I can't surf, I can't do anything with this damned arm.." she plopped on the couch and glowered at the tv, looking like a little kid.
"Well, I can't imagine I'm that boring." Steve smiled, setting next to her, extending his arm behind her on the couch, "I think we could come up with a lot of interesting things to do."
Kono gave him a level glance, "Are you being perverted? Cause I'm not in the mood."
Steve frowned, "No..no I'm not." he gave her a look, "Now..where's my Kono's pretty smile." He thumbed her cheek gently, rewarded with a small smile, "Tell me what you want for dinner, and you can sit here and order whatever movie you want." He kissed her cheek on impulse, "I'm at your beck and call."
Kono smirked, "Surprise me with dinner." She said, blushing from the brush of his lips and stubbly chin on her cheek. "And it's a chick flick, so deal with it...I feel like a little J-Lo."
Steve groaned, "Not the pregnant daddy baby movie thing."
Kono giggled, "Deal, brah...deal. And the correct term is baby daddy and he isn't the baby daddy..he's the cheese farmer."
Steve made a growly disgusted sound.
"There's boobs." Kono offered with a laugh.,
"Bout the only damn good part." He growled.
ifidieyoung
The movie was better when it wasn't Mary Ann he had to watch it with...cause this time his viewing partner felt cuddly and he ended up with a warm ball of Kono curled up to his side, he even smiled when she did, watching her as she reveled in things that girls liked..like romance..and cute men..and babies. "He's so hot." She murmered once.
"What? Huh? Not hotter then me."
Kono smirked, reminded of the CHiPS argument not too long ago, "Why no, Steve..you are infinately hotter then Stan..by far. I like you without your shirt off better then him..." Her eyes twinkled and she laughed at his pleased look. "You have such an ego." She sighed.
"I know." Steve shrugged, stroking her arm lightly, moving to her hair, he drew in her scent. "I'm always on the guys' side in movies like this."
"I'd hope so." Kono giggled,
"Well, seriously, she couldn't see how much he loved her? I mean, men don't do all that shit for a woman if they don't care." He frowned.
Kono smiled, watching him carefully, "Very true, they don't. So..why am I here?" It was silence except for the closing scenes of the movie, she seemed more intent on knowing Steve's answer then hearing the marriage proposal on the movie.
"Because.." Steve tried, "I..want to take care of you."
"Because you feel bad, feel guilty.' She probed.
"No." Steve answered honestly, looking back at the tv. They were quiet for a beat and he could feel her watching him, "That's not entirely it, because I care about you..." He said, shrugging.
It was enough for her now, she smiled, laying her head back down on his chest as the movie ended. She sighed, "Thanks..for watching it with me..and for dinner." She smiled, happy on her face.
Steve returned her smile, "You're welcome..let's get you to bed."
Kono nodded, nibbling her lip, suddenly shy.
"I'll be a gentlman I promise, I won't look at your boobies." His eyes sparkled.
Kono coughed, blushing deepily, "There's not much to see anyway." She regretted it as his eyes darkened, she swallowed. The tension in the room racketed high and they cleared their throats...remembering.
"You forget..I've seen them before." Was his husky reply. Flashbacks of them on the bed in the House, almost doing the deed flooded both of their heads. Kono cleared her throat, "Yeah..anyway." She walked to the dresser and yanked it open..."I may be able to do this."
"I'm sorry." He said softly.
"Stop apologizing..it's not like you." She said, turning back to him, gyrating to get out of her shirt. He stopped her, looking her in the eyes as he worked it over her shoulder and sling, never looking below her neck.
"It is when it comes to you, Kono. I'll apologize for everything when it comes to you not looking hurt or being offended."
Her heart fluttered..something had changed in her commander. She closed her eyes as he helped her work her baggy night shirt over her head, slowly threading her arm through the sleeve. He smiled, "See? I can be a gentleman." His eyes twinkled.
"If you're apologizing for that afternoon undercover, don't bother." She said, shaking her head.
He swallowed, "Well it."
"it what..was a mistake?" She quirked her brow. "I'm tired, we'll talk about it later." She picked up her shorts and gave him a look.
He nodded, "Good night Kono." he said gently, turning to leave as she replied her goodnight..he stopped, turning back to her, she gave him a confused look as he stood in front of her again, tilting her face to his, his thumb carressing her cheek, "I'm not apologizing for that..because I'm not sorry." HIs face closed in and she gasped as his lips touched hers in an incredibly tender kiss, his hands cupping her face. His eyes looked into hers and she saw a wealth of information in them...information that made her heart beat wildly, "I never, ever want to loose you." He breathed, "I'll do anything not to loose you." Hey it wasn't an I Love You but it was pretty damned close and it made her dizzy with the force of his emotion.
"Then maybe you better stay close so I don't run away." She breathed, he kissed her again, picking her up and laying her gently in bed, moving to settle behind her again, wrapping her in his arms again, a soft kiss on her cheek.
ifidieyoung
In the morning he made her breakfast, helped her dress again, being hilarious at being obvious not to look at her, then kissed her forehead with extreme tenderness before going off with Danny to check some things really quickly, leaving Grace to help for the couple of hours they'd be gone. Steve was like a freaking mother bear...not wanting to leave her alone for a second. Gracie was watching cartoons and Kono was sitting on the Lanai, soaking in the sun when she heard Steve's landline ring..she frowned, watching it til the machine picked up. "Hey you." It was a female voice, one Kono recognized and she frowned deepily, "You're not answering your cell, I guess you're still avoiding me. I really want to talk..you know..I regret it..Look I don't want to leave a romantic apology on your house phone, god knows who'll hear it..." There was a long pause, "We have something good, Steve." THe phone clicked off and Kono blinked rapidly. Have..not had...was all she heard. Catherine. "Are you hurting, Kono?" Grace's soft voice asked. She looked at the little girl's worried face.
Kono sniffed, wiping her sudden tears, "No, no I just.." She thought of something, "Yeah maybe I am a little..want to help me make some tea?" She smiled. Once the boys returned and Grace left, Kono went to her room and shut the door, pointedly ignoring Steve.
"What'd you do man." Danny gave him a hard look.
"Not a damn thing." Steve looked at the door in confusion, "You think maybe..you know."
"If so it's pretty bad...you did something Steven. You better fix it before she cries to her sister or mother and the whole Family is on your ass." Danny nodded at that, hurrying Gracie towards the car, Steve looked towards the door and advanced but stopped when he saw his machine light blinking. As he listened, his eyes slid shut. Shit. Shit shit shit.