Justified – Story 1 in the Unbreakable series

Disclaimer: Characters belong to the writers & producers of Hawaii Five-0. My own characters belong to me

Rating: T (romance)

Pairing: Steve/OC, Steve/Danny (friendship - no slash)

Author's Note: More Steve & Danny banter for the fans. Updated chapter.

Steve and Danny headed back to Five-0's headquarters as the sun began to dip in the late afternoon. Steve looked in the rear view mirror; Julia's black convertible was right behind them. Her dark sunglasses hid her eyes, but she was smiling and talking, apparently on her cell phone as she drove.

"Didn't she strike you as strange? She's like a mini-Max, only a heck of a lot prettier and I don't think she plays the piano," Danny asked.

"What do you mean?"

"When I finished briefing her, her face completely blanked. I thought our visit was going to be a giant time-sucking waste. And then she asked to see the vic? Who wants to see a picture of a dead body? It's like she's Columbo, only without the cigar. This 'mysterious' woman who solves all of these cases by sensing the trends in the data, becoming 'one' with the case, or whatever. Like solving a case is very zen. It's just weird, that's all."

"Charlie said she was the best. She's not just an accounting professor. She's a mathematician, theoretical mathematics at that. I've worked with people like her before. And it's not like you don't have quirks." Steve looked ahead at the road, replaying the afternoon. She had quirks, yes, but there was something else… a strength that seemed almost equally countered by a deep, personal vulnerability. Steve found Julia to be puzzling yet intriguing. She wasn't his personal type, he reminded himself, although he couldn't deny that he found her stunningly beautiful.

Steve pushed a button on his phone, "Chin? What did you guys get at Metadyne?"

Chin's voice came on over the speakerphone, "Nothing much. We asked around, no one there recognized her. Most of their executive staff is away for a few days at a conference in Phoenix. Chase's secretary was there, but she wouldn't give us a copy of his schedule. We put in for a warrant, but it will take a little time. How did it go with the accountant?"

"Interesting, but we'll see. I need you to do a full profile search on Dr. Julia Abbott, maiden name Julia Reeve Somers, approximately 33 years old. Dr. Abbott is coming over with us now, so print out what you find and put it in a file. Also have Kono make a copy of everything we've found so far on Chase for Dr. Abbott to get started. We should be there in ten." Steve hung up.

"I still say she's odd. Pretty, don't think I didn't notice, but odd." Danny looked over at his partner. Steve's face was fixed firmly in a blank stare on the road ahead. Pretty, hell, she was gorgeous, Danny thought. And clearly higher on the IQ scale than Danny and Steve combined. Danny continued, "The whole herbal tea thing? And the way she looked at Jane Doe's picture? What was that about?"

Steve looked over at Danny, "She's just used to working in a certain way."

"Yeah, like someone else I know. I still say she's odd. She's like a savant, only a savant in three inch heels."

Steve smiled a half smile and looked at Danny.

"What? What is that look for?"

Steve continued to smirk. "I knew you'd notice. You always notice a beautiful woman, particularly her legs."

"Uh, excuse me, Mr. 'Why-don't-you-let-me-help-you-down-as-I-lift-you-with-my-big-manly-SEAL-hands.' I saw the way you checked her out. I wasn't the only one who noticed her or her legs." Steve grimaced at Danny's answer. "And don't make that face at me either. You and I both know that you know that I know that… whatever. You like her. You do."

"I don't 'like' her," Steve said, frowning. "I acknowledge that she's an attractive woman, and that she seems to be very good at her job. I appreciate that she's taking the time to help us on this case."

"Ri-i-ight. So you weren't thinking about breaking out a little Al Green with the good doctor when you were 'helping' her out? Hah."

Steve turned away from Danny to look back at the road, and cleared his throat. "We have a case, just so we're clear. Jane Doe, the Chases returning in four days, Metadyne, ring a bell?" Steve's tone made it clear that Julia was not up for further discussion.

Danny looked out the window with a small smile as they pulled into the parking lot at headquarters, "Whatever you say, Steven."