I apologize for postponing everything last week. It's almost over! Anyway, my other stories should be updated later today, I hope. Thanks to all of you readers out there.

Chapter Thirteen "What We Have Become"

"I concede," Zach said before taking another bite of his food. Across the table, Kono raised her eyebrows, but Zach did not elaborate.

"Just so you know," Kirk said to her as he nudged his brother. "He never accepts greater authority than his own when it comes to food."

"Guess I should feel special," Kono said.

Kirk nodded. "He has very discriminating taste buds."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Zach interrupted.

"I'm with you all the way, brah," Kono said.

Zach gave Kono a funny look, and she realized that he'd never heard that word before.

"Sorry," she said. "It means 'brother' in pidgin. You know, how people call each other bro or dude."

Zach nodded and seemed to be thinking hard about it. "Pidgin is a creole, right?"

Kono looked surprised that he knew that. "Yeah. A combination of English and several other languages."

"You know, I keep telling my sister that language is a living thing and not to be so uptight about her beloved Modern Language Association."

"Hey," Kirk said in mock seriousness, "The MLA is the only thing standing between us and utter linguistic chaos."

"Then why do they keep changing their minds?"

"Because they have committees."

Zach shuddered and went back to his food. Kirk gave Kono a smile as if to say, yes, he's always like this.

Kono smiled back. "Mia must have had a lot of fun with you guys growing up."

"Sometimes," Kirk agreed. "She used to be a lot more adventurous. She made Dad and Morgan teach her to surf when she was six. They didn't think she was old enough, but I guess because I was learning, she wanted to."

"She's still got it," Kono said. "I mean, for someone who hasn't surfed in two years, she's pretty good."

"She hasn't?" Kirk looked up from his plate, fork in midair.

"That's what she said anyway."

Kirk shook his head. "I would have thought living here..."

"Yeah," Kono said. "Maybe it's like what you said about being alive. I can understand not wanting to do something that reminds you of what you used to be."

"You used to be a surfer," Zach said as if he knew all about it.

"Yes." Kono nodded. "I hurt my knee and I couldn't do it anymore. It was really hard to get back in the water as just me without everything else I had before. But I'm glad it happened."

Zach nodded like he understood perfectly. "You found something else to do."

"Yep." Kono smiled. "Being a cop is nothing like being a surfer, but I think it's what I was meant to do."

Zach looked at Kirk and seemed to be thinking hard. "Now I get the look," he said.

"What look?" Kono asked, confused.

"The Andrea look."

Kirk elbowed Zach harder this time.

"Who's Andrea?" Kono asked, looking between the two of them.

"No one," Kirk said quickly and glared at Zach.

Zach put up his hands in defense and slid out of his chair. "I'm going to... go," he said. He headed for the door of the restaurant and disappeared outside.

Kono crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "What was that all about?" she asked.

Kirk sighed. "Andrea was—is my ex-wife," he said.

H-5-O

Steve wasn't sure how to form the words he wanted to say. He knew in his head, but getting it out into the air was another story. But words were the only comfort Mia would accept from him. He couldn't hold her hand or hug her. He would have done those things if he didn't know that she wouldn't respond well to it.

It surprised Steve when Mia started talking again.

"I know you want to say the right thing," she said. "I know you feel helpless." She shook her head. "But there's nothing to be said or done. Nothing that hasn't already been." She paused and Steve almost thought that was the end of it. "Waking up," Mia continued. "Waking up was like a nightmare. My whole family was there looking at me. I know they were just so worried and needed to know I was okay, but it was... terrible."

Steve nodded. "You hate being surrounded when you feel like that. People tell you you're gonna be okay, but you know you never will."

Mia turned her head to look at Steve. "Yeah," she said.

"When my mom died... it was like that. I just wanted everyone to go away and leave me alone."

"I know. You know nobody else could understand because they're not you."

"And I know... I don't understand what happened to you, but I do know how you feel. I know what it's like when everything turns upside down, and you don't think anything could ever be right again."

"And you're going to tell me it can?"

"If you let it... It took me about eighteen years to really feel okay. But it made me realize how much time I wasted, how many years I can never get back."

"So are you saying you're just fine now?"

"No. I'm saying, I'm better, better every day."

There was a long pause and Mia wondered if she should say what she was thinking. She remembered the choice she had to make and that there was no other option.

"I'm not," she finally said. "I honestly don't think I'm any better really. Maybe I can fake it until someone gets too close."

"Was your family any help?" Steve asked.

Mia shrugged. "I think when it happened, I was so shocked and angry that I wasn't really paying attention to them. I left them like that, and I guess I never changed."

"But you still seem close with your brothers."

"You have no idea what 'close' is. When I left, the night before, Kirk took me to the coast and we went surfing. I knew his heart was breaking because he didn't say anything. He didn't tell me not to leave or how much he would miss me. I... I pushed him away, and I wouldn't admit it."

H-5-O

Kono stirred her straw around in her drink as she waited for Kirk to continue. She was certainly surprised that he had been married, but more so that they were even talking about it. And she still wanted to know what the look was.

"Zach really liked her," Kirk said. "Andrea, I mean. Or, he liked how she made me happy. He was still a teenager when we got married. He came up with the 'Andrea look' for the way I looked when I was content, I guess."

"So when he said he hadn't seen the look in a while...?" Kono said.

"He meant that since the divorce and losing Mia, I've been... difficult to be around."

"So what brought back the look? Seeing your sister again, I guess."

"Yeah, that and today. It's been nice."

Kono smiled almost shyly. "I'm glad I could be part of it."

Kirk smiled back. "I'm glad you could too."

"So... How long were you married?"

Kirk shook his head. "About seven years."

"Wow. What happened?"

Kirk looked like he was about to answer and then thought better of it. For a moment, he seemed to be searching for the right words. "A lot of things," he finally said. "I told you I'm not easy to get along with, and that was part of it. And for her part, she... well, she decided she didn't love me anymore."

Kono was surprised at how open Kirk was being and felt bad for asking about something that must have been a very painful memory. But at the same time, it seemed as though he wanted to tell her, so she was happy to listen.

"When was this?" Kono asked.

"About five years ago. I mean, it took a while because... well, I'm of the opinion that if you love someone you don't stop. I didn't want to be difficult, but... I was. I am."

"But Zach seems to think you're happier now."

Kirk gestured around him. "Must be this place. It's all so laid back. Makes you kind of forget about all that crap."

Kono smiled. "That's how I always felt about surfing and now the guys I work with."

"From what I've seen, they seem pretty great."

"Yeah. It's like working with family."

H-5-O

Morgan stuffed his glasses back in his pocket and sighed. He looked across the table at Danny and Chin and he knew what had to be done.

"I think I'm going to have to call in reinforcements," he said.

"Meaning?" Danny asked.

"My assistant would be very helpful with all this. More eyes, you know."

"You think he'd be able to come?" Chin asked.

"She," Morgan corrected. "And I'm certain of it. I think she would jump at the chance to visit her sister-in-law, anyway."

"Wait a second," Danny said. "Your assistant is your wife?"

"Yes. I'll call her if it's all right."

"Go ahead. We need all the eyes on this we can get."

Morgan went out into the hall and dialed the first number on his speed dial. It was a few rings before she answered.

"ADA O'Brien?" she said, a smile affecting her voice.

"Mrs. O'Brien," he replied also smiling. "I have a favor to ask."

"Does it involve hours of research, probably over night?"

"It might, but there's a very good reason for you to perform this favor."

"And what's that?"

"Well, it requires you to come to Hawaii."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I'm serious. I've been trying to help out the local task force get Durante. I think I need some more eyes."

"Morgan, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yeah, the kids can stay with Mom and Dad, and you can help us here."

"That's not what I meant. You being involved in this, it doesn't seem wise."

"I know all about the case, Kyra, and they'll need the help getting a conviction when they finally find him. I know it's not ideal, and before you say anything, I know it's not going to make Mia better, but it will make her safe."

"Just... Yes, of course I'll come, but don't do anything crazy, all right?"

"When am I crazy?"

"Oh, I don't know, the time that little boy pushed Amy on the playground?"

"He was a punk."

"Yes, dear. But Ricky Durante is a dangerous criminal and you are a lawyer, not a super hero."

"I thought I was your hero?"

"Mine. Just mine."

"Okay. Tell Amy and Michael I love them."

"All right. I'll call you when I leave."

"Thanks, baby. I love you."

"I love you too, super prosecutor."