Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I have to address something, in the end Naomi refers to Steve as "Commander" but his rank is actually "Lieutenant" as the event took place a few years before the present. This was pointed by one of the readers so thanks for that. Any other anomalies arise please let me know.
Chapter Two
Four Years Later – Governor's Ball, Honolulu, Hawaii
"How come I always end up looking like a waiter and you look like James Bond?" Danno asked as they entered the Governor's Ball, dressed in formals for once.
"Oh come on Danny, you don't look that bad" Steve laughed as he tried to placate his partner.
"Oh yeah? If one more pompous senator slash business man asks me for a drink I'll shoot him" He said this while smiling at an attractive blonde clearly eyeing Steve. "See? With you around I'll never get laid".
"Please, I don't want to know about your sex life" Steve reached for a glass of scotch passed around by a waiter. "I thought you were bringing a date tonight?" he asked as he took a sip of his drink.
"I was, but then she had to cancel on me".
"I'm telling you she's married. But you refuse to listen to me".
"She's not married, it's just that her job is very demanding".
"Your jobs more demanding than hers, I don't see you cancelling on her".
Danno was quiet for a moment, "What would you know? I haven't seen you dating anyone".
Steve smiled at that. He was right; he wasn't seeing anyone after he had broken up with Catherine. Even that hadn't been a relationship really, more a friends with benefits kind of arrangement. Just then the Governor approached him followed by a dark tall man, with a lovely young woman on his arm.
As they approached, he couldn't help but notice her and admire how beautiful she was; she was what one would call a classical beauty. Her hair was a rich mahogany swept to one side of her neck. She wore a dark green chiffon strapless dress that floated around her legs as she walked; her jewellery was limited to thick silver hoops and what looked like beaten silver wristbands on both wrists. As they came closer, Steve noticed the woman's piercing green eyes that stood out in her face, which had minimal make-up, only a sweep of eyeliner on those amazing eyes, and pink lip-gloss. Her cheeks looked pink but it didn't look like it was cacked with make up. Something about those eyes was familiar, but he knew he had never seen her before.
"Hello Commander McGarrett, Detective Williams, I hope you're enjoying yourselves" said the Governor, who looked very different in her black evening gown, "Where are Mr. Kelly and Ms. Kalakaua?"
"Good evening Ma'am. They are just at the bar. And yes we are enjoying ourselves" Steve replied as he shook her hand.
"Steve I would like you to meet someone. When I told him about you he insisted on being introduced to you" she turned to the man accompanying her, "Lt. Commander Steven McGarrett, Mr. Nicholas Morales and his daughter Naomi" she made the introductions but something caught her eye, "Oh I must get this. Please if you'll excuse me" and she left a stunned Steve looking at the beautiful woman standing before him.
Now he knew why those eyes were so familiar. He had never been able to forget her beautiful green eyes, even though they had been filled with fear and pain at the time. Even now he sensed wariness in her eyes as he came forward and shook her father's hand.
"I am so glad to meet you finally. You are the man who saved my daughter and I wasn't able to thank you properly" Morales gave him a firm shake and patted him on the back.
"Pleas Mr. Morales, I was just following orders. But I appreciate it" Steve gratefully accepted the thanks. He turned to Naomi and smiled, "Good evening ma'am. It's nice to meet you finally in better circumstances".
She hesitated but smiled back, as she took his offered hand, "Yes it is. I would like to thank you once again for everything you did for me and the other ladies".
Morales by now had started talking to Danny, who watched inquisitively.
"Do you know who they were?" he asked her.
"No I was never told who they were. Some security thing apparently" she waved her hand dismissively.
Morales returned, "I'll leave the two of you to get acquainted while I mingle. Thank you once again Commander McGarrett for everything" and he left.
Naomi turned to him, "If I'm not mistaken, you were only Lieutenant at the time".
"Yes. It was only two years ago that I got promoted to Lt. Commander. Can I get you anything to drink?" Steve asked her.
He noticed that she hesitated a little, "Can I come to the bar with you?" she asked, trying her best not to reveal her anxiety.
Steve just smiled and offered her his arm, through which she slipped her own arm into and rested her hand on his bicep. He hadn't realised how short she was; the top of her head only reached the middle of his chest, and that only added to her fragile air.
He remembered how he had thought she looked like a child when he had seen her abused and tied up lying huddled on the floor. She had certainly changed in appearance since then, but her manner, her hesitation and anxiety showed through to someone like him, who was trained to read body language. Even though she walked close to him, he noticed she tensed up if another person walked too close to her.
Steve could feel a protectiveness coming over him; similar to what he had felt when he had rescued her. It had been the reason he had staid with her while her father was on his way, even though his superiors had not encouraged it.
He knew they were far away from those circumstances, but he also instinctively knew she had not recovered completely from her ordeal.
-X-
When her father had persuaded her to accompany him to the Governor's Ball she had not wanted to go. She was enjoying her vacation and had not wanted to spend her evening among people she didn't know and didn't want to know. She had enjoyed the solitude and peace that the island of Hawaii had offered her; it was a different kind of peace that she had not had since she had been rescued four years ago. Even though she lived with her father in their beautiful mansion in Virginia and it was quiet and nice but it didn't offer her tranquillity.
She had never thought that coming to this boring event would bring her face to face with the man who had never been far from her mind in the past four years. As soon as she had heard his name she had been on alert; and when the Governor had walked them toward him her eyes had never left him. He looked so different from the last time she had seen him. Then he had worn his black combat uniform and his face had been covered in camouflage paint. But she had seen him in the hospital and she remembered how handsome he was.
Now dressed in a black suit, white dress shirt and slim black tie, he looked devastatingly handsome, like someone from a different world. But he was as polite as she remembered him to be.
As he led her to the bar they talked; small talk that was slightly awkward at best, almost like a first date.
"What would you like, Ma'am?" Steve asked her formally as they reached the bar.
"Just a San Pelagrino Aranciata, please. And please call me Naomi" she smiled at him, as she felt herself blush. Why was she acting all giddy like a schoolgirl with him?
It was strange really because ever since she had come back from France she had never looked at a man with interest. She just couldn't bring herself to.
Steve passed her the drink and must have noticed that she had been intently looking at every move the bar tender was making. "Do you want me to taste your drink for you?" he asked her.
"No, thank you. I just have gotten into the habit of checking my drink" she took the drink he was holding and watched as he collected his own glass of scotch.
"You don't look very comfortable inside, would you like to go to one of the balconies? It's less crowded but not isolated either" Steve had somehow guessed that she was not comfortable in crowds, but would have also hesitated to be alone with a man.
"Sure that sounds lovely" and she followed as he led the way toward one of the French doors.
"So you have been stationed in Hawaii now?" she asked just to make conversation. She had not spoken to a man alone in a long time.
"Actually, I am in the reserves now and run the Five – O Task Force for the Governor" she watched his Adam's apple bob as he took a sip of his drink. "I came back after my father passed away. I grew up in Hawaii".
"I am sorry to hear about your father. I hear he was in the Police Department. Was his death in the line of duty?" when she saw him tense up a little she tried to apologise, "I am sorry that was a very personal question".
"No, no that's fine. I guess you could say he died in the line of duty. He was murdered by some one I have been unable to get as yet".
"I am sure you will succeed. You seem very determined" she sipped her drink, "You managed to rescue me".
Steve looked at her and she could feel his gaze in the dark. The balcony was lit just by lanterns that gave it a romantic air, "If you don't mind my asking, are you doing okay?" he asked her.
Naomi had no idea how to answer him. She couldn't tell him the truth, it was too personal and she hardly knew him, even if he had rescued her. So she put on the mask she usually wore when she was asked this question, "I am doing alright" she didn't get the same satisfaction as she usually did when she had evaded the questions about her captivity. "I have my good and bad days".
She had looked down and had not seen him move till she felt his touch on her chin, pulling her head up to look into his eyes. They were a dark midnight blue, which made her want to drown into them, "Just take one day at a time. There's no hurry. You went through an ordeal most people would not be able to survive".
If only her father could understand what Steve was telling her. If only she herself could believe it. "Thanks for saying that. I forget sometimes".
Steve smiled, "Anytime". He moved away and casually asked her, "So how come you're in Hawaii?"
"My father wanted to look into some business opportunities, and I thought I could get a vacation out of it".
"So how do you like it so far?"
"I haven't seen much of it. We have been staying at one of my father's friend's villas. But I would like to do the tourist thing one of these days" which was a complete lie. For one her father would not let her leave, and she herself did not have the confidence to explore an unknown place herself. After her last fiasco, she had never attempted it.
"How about I take you one of these days?"
"That would be lovely. But I wouldn't want to take your spare time away from you".
"It's no trouble" there was music floating in from the main ball room, "Would you like to dance?"
She hesitated again. She had not danced with a man in so long, but she knew she wanted to feel the way she had felt when he rescued her and carried her in his arms. Safe and secure. It had been so long since she had felt safe. "I would love to".
They danced for a long while. The music was mostly Jazz and Frank Sinatra classics. It was very romantic and Naomi was surprised that Steve could dance as well as he did. He wasn't great and one couldn't call him a dancer, but he was graceful and there was no awkward stepping on toes.
He held her close, but not too close; they fit each other quite nicely and she liked the feeling of his body close to her. It was a surprise for her since she was always wary of anybody getting too close. But with Steve she was only aware of how good she felt.
Just then a couple waltzed passed them. The man was an attractive blonde man who was an inch or two shorter than his lovely Asian companion. She was surprised when they moved toward them. "Hello there boss" said the woman as she smiled at Steve and her.
"Hey, you having fun?" Steve asked as he laughed slightly, his chest vibrating against her.
"Danny is a great dancer" she laughed as she looked at her dance partner, "If a little awkward".
The blonde man looked slightly pissed off, "Oh come on. I was being a gentleman when I offered you a dance. No one else was".
"Okay children calm down" Steve turned Naomi toward them as they moved off the dance floor, "Naomi I would like you to meet my partner Detective Danny Williams and Officer Kono Kalakaua".
"Nice to meet you both" she shook their hands.
"A pleasure" Danny said.
They all talked for a while as the ball went on around them. Naomi was grateful that after such a long time she felt normal. It was the first time in four years that she actually believed things would get better.
Hi everyone. I hope this chapter was good. Just in case some are wondering what Naomi would look like in her dress, I have added a link in my profile so just have a look.
Please review!