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 (for romance)

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

Author's Note: Love the feedback – please keep it coming! Let me know what you like & don't like! Revised/updated chapter!

Hours later, Steve breezed into his office and stood in front of Julia sitting at his desk. Warily she looked up. She looked exhausted but still professional. He smiled, and wordlessly reached out his hand to her. Taking his hand, she let him lead her around the desk and over to the couch where they both sat. Julia tucked her stocking feet underneath her as she leaned against the side of the couch.

"Jennifer was living here in Hawaii. We'll get her address when we call her landlord in the morning. Her parents are arriving from the mainland tomorrow morning as well. Hopefully, they'll be able to give us some more information as well as ID her body. You did a great job today, Julia."

She smiled, tiredly, and rubbed her eyes. "Thanks. I'm glad I could be of help. You have a terrific team here, but there is still a bunch more for me to follow up on. I've confirmed she was an employee at Metadyne in their marketing department based on her financials and her social media profiles. I want to comb through the company financials with a fine-toothed comb tomorrow, and I think I have a line on who owns the company, but they aren't making it easy on me."

Steve looked a bit surprised. "So you can come back?"

"Well, if you want me to. We haven't found her killer, or her connection to the Chases, and you've got just a few days to wrap this up. But if you want, I can go back to my research at the University – I've got an article due this month I haven't started, and grading to do…"

"No. I mean yes, if you can make the time for us, we could absolutely use you. But you should let Five-0 pay you for your time."

"It's not necessary, really, although I appreciate the offer. Besides, technically I am already paid by the State of Hawaii," Julia grinned, tiredly.

"Dinner then? I'd like to thank you somehow." Steve looked at Julia, sitting there exhausted and yet unwilling to accept even a stipend in compensation for her time and energy. Clearly she had better things to do than hang out at HQ searching through financial records.

Julia thought for a moment. It had been a while since she'd accepted a dinner invitation. Her life was complicated enough, and she really didn't need to bring more drama into it. But sitting next to Steve, she felt like laying her head on his shoulder and drama or no, just sinking into his whole Steve-ness. Great, now she's making up words. Clearly she was tired. "Dinner sound like a fair trade. But something other than pizza. Just don't tell Danny, he'd be insulted by my anti-pizza beliefs."

"Other than pizza it is. Right now we should get you home. Are you okay to drive? I could give you a ride home." Truth was Steve wasn't sure Julia had the energy to even walk to her car, she looked so small and tired on his couch. It was all he could do not to sweep her into his lap and hold her close, nuzzle her hair, and caress her soft cheek. Woah. Where did that come from? he thought. He steadied himself and tried to remain focused on the case.

"I'm fine, but thank you. I have an 8:15 lecture tomorrow. I can bump my graduate study group in the afternoon, and drop by around 10 if that works. Only this time I'll work out in the bullpen – you need your office back." Julia stood up, painfully slipped her shoes on to her swollen feet, and started packing up her notes.

"Danny and I are meeting her parents early, then we'll be in. But Chin and Kono will be here, and I'll have Chin grab another laptop from downstairs for you if that's ok."

"Tomorrow it is, then." Julia looked to see Chin's office light off, Kono heading out, and Danny waiting for the two of them. She reached out for Steve's hand and exaggeratingly hauled him up off the couch, laughing. "Come on, let's all go get some rest for now."