8

The next day, Steve came home around seven o'clock in the evening. He was never home this early, but work was slow at Five-0, and there was nothing to do there. So, Steve had decided to take an early night and go home. He needed to get some rest because he hadn't slept well in almost a week. Chrissy had gotten to him, and she had finally won. He was home early, something she'd always bugged him about. Thinking about it, he couldn't help but smile.

When Steve arrived home, he quickly stripped off his clothes and went into the bathroom. Pulling his shaving kit out of the cabinet, he began to shave the two days' worth of stubble along his cheeks, jawline, and chin. After all that had happened with Chrissy over the last forty-eight hours, he hadn't even bothered to shave because he felt like hell and didn't particularly care how he looked. However, as he gazed in the mirror and ran the razor over his cheek, he laughed. He couldn't help but remember how much trouble he'd had shaving after coming home from the hospital. When Chrissy had heard him cursing from the bathroom, she'd knocked on the door and asked him what the problem was. After a few avoidance tactics, he'd eventually admitted that the pain in his torso was being affected when he tried to shave. So, taking matters into her own hands, she had taken the razor and finished the job. To be honest, it had been a complete turn-on to watch her shave him. He hadn't told her that, though. Somehow, he'd figured that telling her about that would scare her a little bit. Sex was still something Chrissy struggled with, and he hated the idea of pushing her into it. He knew she would tell him when she was ready. However, it was still up for debate since they were apart now.

Steve took a long, hot shower. Water had always cleared his head for some reason, and it was doing so now as it always had. As the water streamed down his body in tiny rivers and beads, he leaned back against the shower wall. He sighed, and secretly hoped he would see Chrissy soon. He was sure that he if he went over to her house to talk to her, she wouldn't answer the door. Besides, she'd left some of her things here, and he was sure she'd pick them up sometime. Then, he'd have to convince her to stay. It wouldn't be easy, but he was pretty sure it could be done. He was a Navy SEAL, after all, and had been involved in some of the most dangerous top-secret missions ever known to man. Certainly, he could handle a woman, and convince her of the truth.

Lori waited until she saw Steve open the shower door before she made her move. Quietly, she climbed off of the ladder she had up against the house and slipped in the house. Tiptoeing around, she noticed various items of women's clothing, which she guessed belonged to Chrissy. The thought made her angry, but she tried to ignore it. She had a job to do, and she couldn't be worried about that little twit. Instead, she just had to get Steve under her control. He was hers.

Silently, she slipped up the stairs, listening as the sounds of the shower running came closer and closer. She was very tempted to go in now and confront Steve. He would be naked and vulnerable, two perfect qualities for what she was about to do. However, she resisted the temptation. If she did go in now, she knew she would be distracted purely because of the fact that Steve was naked and alone with her. She'd had that fantasy practically since she'd met him. Regardless, it would be a distraction she didn't need because she was sure she wouldn't have the nerve to point a gun at him if she was busy checking him out.

Lori finally decided to wait outside the door to the bathroom. That way, she wouldn't be distracted by him and she'd actually be able to do what she'd come here for. So, with her gun in hand and her back against the wall, she waited.

Stepping out of the shower, Steve dried himself and wrapped a towel around his waist. Even though he fastened it adequately, the towel still managed to slip and rest seductively on his hips. He decided it didn't matter and quickly tidied up the bathroom. Flipping off the switch, he exited the bathroom.

However, just as Steve entered the hallway, Lori jumped out in front of him, gun in hand, blocking his path. He put his hands on either side of his head, really wishing he hadn't left his gun on the kitchen counter. Luckily, the gun in Lori's hands wasn't his.

Steve asked, "Lori, what's up?"

Lori shook her head, her face filled with anger, "For being a Navy SEAL, you're pretty dense. I love you. Can't you see that?"

Steve sighed, "Yes, I do, but I don't want to encourage you when I don't have the same feelings for you. I love someone else."

Lori chuckled bitterly, "Yeah, you love the boring little single mother who just wants you because you're a convenient substitute father for her child."

"Don't talk about things you don't understand, like love. The only type of love you understand is obsession. The only reason you want me is because you could compete with me for the rest of my life. To be blunt, I've dealt with that my entire life, and what I really don't want to do is spend the rest of my life competing with the person I love."

"I thought Steve McGarrett was always up for a challenge."

"In my work, absolutely. However, in my personal life, I like things to be a lot easier because they never have been. Before you showed up, I was just beginning to settle into a routine I liked. I was talking to Chrissy a couple of times a day, having dinner with her, that type of thing. However, you threw everything out of whack when you walked into Five-0 headquarters looking like a hooker. Thanks to you, my personal life is now a disaster."

Lori aimed the gun, "Shut up, Steve, or I'll shoot, and after I'm done shooting you, I'll go over to your girlfriend's house. I can't tell you what might happen there."

Steve tried to keep his voice as calm as possible, "I swear to God, Lori, if you do anything to hurt Chrissy or Sarah, Five-0 will make sure you rot in prison for the rest of your life."

Lori's eyes dared him, "If they can catch me, that is."

"We caught and killed the biggest arms dealer in the world and his accomplice. Taking down an obsessive federal agent will be a piece of cake."

"Aren't you arrogant? Not exactly a quality I would have thought of you until this moment. It took you four years to find Wo Fat, and there were a lot of bumps in the road along the way."

"Still got him, and they will get you if you murder anyone tonight."

"Fat chance. Besides, who says I'm going to kill you right away? I mean, there's a lot of things I could do to you."

Steve's stomach knotted. He had a bad feeling he knew exactly what she probably wanted to do with him. Obviously, Lori had a thing for him, and probably some of it was sex-related. She probably wanted to torture him that way, get her pleasure out of him, and then put the gun to his head. There's a way to go. He really didn't want to go through that. He'd endured some of that torture when he was captured as a SEAL. No, he wasn't fond of it, but he knew that as long as it kept Lori away from Chrissy and Sarah, it didn't matter what he had to go through.

Steve laughed, "Go ahead, Lori. Make me a sexual prisoner. That's all you really wanted me for anyway. You think you can control me that way. I hate to break it to you, but I'm an uncontrollable person. See how long you can last with me while I'm always fighting back."

"I just might. I love a good challenge."

Chrissy knew something was off when she parked at the end of Steve's driveway. Something just felt weird, very much as it had the day she'd been attacked by one of Wo Fat's hired guns. She was instantly glad she'd decided to leave Sarah with Catherine. Quietly, she made her way up the driveway. As she came up on the porch, she could distinctly hear two voices screaming at each other from inside, and it wasn't a good kind of screaming.

Chrissy eased the door knob open and tiptoed in the house. The yelling was much louder inside, and she knew the voices belonged to Steve and Lori. At first, she thought it might just be a typical lover's quarrel, but when she caught the words "kill," "murder," and "gun" coming from Lori, she knew it was much more than that. Glancing around, she looked for a weapon to take upstairs with her. When she saw Steve's gun on the kitchen counter, her heart stopped. He was unarmed, and from the sounds of it, Lori had a gun. She needed to get help and get up there fast.

As Chrissy grabbed Steve's gun, she pulled out her cell phone out of her pocket to text Danny. She wrote:

Need help! Steve's house NOW! Please HURRY!

Grasping Steve's gun in her right hand, Chrissy replaced her phone in her pocket and started toward the staircase. Steve and Lori's voices grew louder, and she overhead part of their conversation. It was intense.

Steve interrogated, "Lori, why did you lie to Chrissy about us spending the night together? Because you told her that, she's leaving Hawaii and me. I'm not sure I'll be able to live without her."

Chrissy thought she heard a slap. Lori shouted, "Don't you get it? It's me you want, not her. I had to tell her something so that she would stop interfering in our relationship."

Steve's voice grew louder, "Stop interfering in our relationship? What about my relationship with Chrissy? You didn't care if you interfered in my relationship with her, did you? No, because according to you, you are my soul mate and the only woman I'm supposed to be with for the rest of my life. What about me? I think I should get a say in my own life."

Chrissy's heart stopped. Steve had never slept with Lori. She'd just admitted it. One question still remained: how did she know anything about Steve's bedroom? Well, Chrissy decided she would ask the question herself.

When Chrissy reached the top step of the staircase, she tiptoed close to the wall until she saw Lori, pointing a gun at Steve, who only had a towel wrapped around his waist, as though he'd just come out of the shower. She felt mortified for him, especially considering the way Lori stared at him, like some type of food.

Steve caught sight of her when she was about ten feet behind Lori, and she could see the relief in his eyes when he saw her with the gun pointed directly at Lori. This was the man she loved, even if he wasn't particularly smart in his word choices sometimes. However, she knew that their relationship was going to undergo some major changes if they made it out of here alive.

Chrissy asked, "How did you know all of that stuff about Steve's bedroom? And cut the crap. I already know you never slept with him. You admitted that."

Lori half turned around to glance at Chrissy, "I'd put that gun down, honey. I'm not sure you know how to use it."

Chrissy laughed, "Believe me. I know how to use it. I wouldn't be Steve McGarrett's girlfriend if I didn't."

Lori shot back, "You're not Steve's girlfriend! You're his whore!"

Chrissy had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, "Really, Lori? You think I'm Steve's whore? I hate to break it to you, but I've never had sex with Steve, so I can't exactly be his whore."

"You're lying!"

"No, I'm not. Not that I like to broadcast it, but I was raped nine years ago. Sex isn't exactly on my list of favorite activities. Not only that, but I haven't even tried it since then."

Steve's eyes widened. He'd known Chrissy hadn't had sex since Michael raped her, but he hadn't known that she hadn't even tried. The thought intimidated him. He wasn't exactly sure what their relationship was at the moment, but if they were still together, that made him even more worried about pushing her too fast. Rape wasn't an easy thing to overcome, and victims could be easily spooked by harmless touches. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. He loved her.

Lori taunted, "I don't believe you."

Chrissy shrugged, "Then don't believe me. I really don't care either way. The only reason I'm telling you is because it proves that Steve and I have a relationship that is based on more than just sex. I understand that you want to get into bed with him, but that isn't the way to his heart, at least not in my experience."

Lori replied, "But he doesn't want you. He wants me."

Chrissy shook her head, "That's where you're wrong, Lori. He doesn't want you. When you admitted your feelings for him a year and a half ago, he brushed it off because he didn't want to hurt your feelings, but your feelings aren't my primary concern right now. Steve loves me, Lori. He doesn't love you."

Lori fired the gun. Chrissy fired just a split second afterward. Steve tackled Lori to the ground and pulled the gun out of her hand, although the bullet that had pierced her chest had basically done her in. She'd tried to aim the gun at him as he took her down, but the bullet had taken away most of her strength and he was able to wrestle the gun away from her. Throwing the gun aside, he crawled over to Chrissy.

Lori's bullet had just grazed her arm, proving that not all federal agents were good shots. Still, it was painful, and there was some blood spilling from it. Chrissy wasn't very concerned about it. She was a little more worried that Lori was still alive and would jump back up like Glenn Close at the end of Fatal Attraction. A small bullet graze seemed like nothing compared to that. Steve, on the other hand, was treating her injury like a fatal gunshot wound.

Steve propped her back up with the front of his body. As he analyzed the wound, Chrissy whispered, "You might want to get dressed. The police will be here soon and I don't think they would appreciate seeing you basically naked."

Steve rolled his eyes, "I'm not naked. I have the towel. Besides, you're hurt."

Chrissy shook her head, "Steve, the bullet just grazed my arm. I'm fine. I'd be more worried about Lori."

Steve shook his head, "She's dead."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I checked her pulse and her heartbeat multiple times. By the way, where the hell did you learn to shoot like that?"

"I watched a certain Super SEAL in action."

"There's no way you could have learned to shoot from the few times you've actually seen me shoot."

"Did you forget that you taught me how to shoot a gun?"

"Not exactly, but I wouldn't call that a shooting lesson?"

"Why? Because you were practically feeling me up the whole time?"

"I wasn't that bad."

"Sure, and I suppose all of that hand movement around my waist was just to test my focus."

"Which you did poorly at, I might add."

"I couldn't focus on shooting a gun when you were touching me like that."

"On the other hand, you were pretty good at focusing on the touching, which is also good."

"Are you seriously coming onto me in a towel while I am bleeding on the floor and your ex-co-worker/stalker is dead on the floor less than five feet away?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Go put some clothes on while I keep a hand on my arm. I'll be fine."

"I think that's the first time I've ever been told to put my clothes on. I'm hurt."

"Shut up and put your clothes on."

An hour later, the Honolulu Police Department and Five-0 were wrapping up their investigation. All of the members of Five-0 corroborated that Lori had behaved in an obsessive manner around Steve since her return, and Catherine described her confrontation with her a few days before. Steve and Chrissy were interviewed, and Lori's death was declared self-defense. Steve had tried to convince Chrissy to let him take the blame for shooting Lori, but she wouldn't have it. She knew he was just trying to defend her, but there was nothing worse than lying to the police, especially about killing someone. Besides, Chrissy knew she'd acted in self-defense, and didn't regret it.

Chrissy was sitting on the porch steps while the paramedic finished bandaging her arm when Steve breezed out the door and sat down beside her. Sarah sat on the other side, but was still very confused as to why Mommy had a big "cut" on her arm. Steve grabbed the hand of the opposite arm and squeezed it.

Steve asked the paramedic, "How is she doing?"

The middle-aged African American woman glanced up at him and smiled, "She's fine, sir, but very lucky. If the bullet had been even half an inch to the right, it could have been a much more serious injury."

Steve inquired, "Is there anything we need to do for it?"

The paramedic nodded, "It needs to stay bandaged until the wound heals so that there won't be an infection. I would recommend just keeping it clean with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide."

"We can do that."

"Perfect. Well, I think my work here is done, so have a good evening."

"You, too,"

After the paramedic had walked away and Danny had swept Sarah away, Steve sighed, "So, what about us?"

Chrissy looked at him, "What do you mean?"

Steve replied, "I mean, what is the status of our relationship now?"

Chrissy shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, a lot has been happening over the past few weeks."

"I agree. A lot has happened."

"I just feel like everything is moving way too fast. We've been on overdrive for weeks and I'm not sure where it stops."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that we need to slow down and take it from the beginning."

"Chrissy, if I've been pushing you—"

"It's not that, Steve. I think it's just a combination of everything, your job, Lori, our relationship, Sarah. It has nothing to do with you pushing me. I'm just not sure that I'm ready for all of this."

"Look, I know my job takes up a lot of my time, and I'm trying to cut down the number of hours I spend at work. Lori's dead. I love Sarah, and most importantly, I love you. I don't want you to feel any pressure from me. If you're not ready for all of this, it's just something I have to accept."

"I'm ready for a relationship with you, Steve. I'm just not sure I'm ready for more obsessive ex-co-workers and stressful cases that involve me."

Steve laughed, a little relieved, "I can't promise you that we won't have more of those in the future, but I don't think we have to worry about any right now."

"That's a relief."

"So, where are we right now?"

"Are we dating?"

"I think so. What does dating mean to you?"

"To me, dating is two people committed to one another. What does it mean to you?"

"Basically the same. Two people who stick together through good and bad because they care about, or, in our case, love each other. A couple who is fully committed to each other, mind, body, and soul."

"Wow, that's deep. I don't think I've ever heard you talk like that."

"I think you do that to me."

"So, we're dating?"

"Yeah, but we're in the first stages, so we're just getting our feet wet at this point."

"I have a girlfriend. I don't think I've said that…well, ever."

"Wasn't Catherine your girlfriend?"

"I never really considered her that, I guess. I don't really know what we were. Friends with benefits, I guess. It's nothing like you and me."

"What about before Catherine? You had to have had a girlfriend before that?"

"Not really. I'd never had anything long-term before that. I was with a few girls, but those were just meaningless flings."

"So, you've never 'dated' someone."

"In my opinion, no, not really. I can't say I wasn't committed in some of those relationships because I was, but there was something else missing. I don't know if it was the fact that I met most of them through the military or what. I guess I thought a military woman would do it for me or one of those girls who waits for sailors to come to port would satisfy me. I was wrong, though. I realized that when I met you."

"You know, all I've had until I met you was a couple of college boyfriends and the rape. That is my extent of knowledge with men. I guess it's something new for both of us. We'll just have to learn, like you said the other night at Pearl Harbor."

"I love you, Chrissy. Don't ever doubt me on that again."

Chrissy kissed Steve on the lips and whispered, "Trust me, I won't, especially not after you took down a crazy stalker in only a towel."

Steve's laugh was suppressed by a second kiss from Chrissy, this one much deeper and more passionate than the first. She whispered, "You won't doubt me, either, will you?"

Steve shook his head, "No."

Chrissy looked down, "Are you still mad at me about kissing Danny?"

Once Steve realized she felt guilty about kissing his best friend, he knew he could use it to his advantage. He replied, "Yeah, a little."

Chrissy kissed him again. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Steve nodded, "If this is the way you're planning on making it up to me, I like your way of thinking."

"It is."

"Good."

"By the way, kissing Danny was not a fun experience."

"Oh? Why not? You two looked like you were having quite a time the other night."

"It was all acting. If Danny did enjoy it, he was the only one."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Kissing him felt like kissing my brother. It just wasn't right."

Steve smiled, "Good to know."

Chrissy leaned close to his ear, so close he could feel her breath on his ear. "For the record, you are a much better kisser."

Steve couldn't resist the invitation in her voice. "Prove it."

That's all for now, readers. In a couple of days, be sure to check out my follow-up short story to "Words," "Choices." In it, Chrissy will face some major decisions that could seriously impact her relationship with Steve and the rest of her life. Thanks for all the feedback, and hope to see you again soon!