Catherine Rollins smiled when she spotted Mary McGarrett waiting outside the arrivals area and hurried toward her. The trip back seemed to take forever, but the truth was it was a normal flight with just a few turbulence to make it interesting. She hugged the younger woman before releasing her and following her toward the exit. "Mary, how is he?"
"He's doing okay, but he'll be a whole lot better when he sees you. You're better for him than any of the medications the doctor's insist he takes," Mary said with a mischievous grin.
"I'll do my best," Catherine told her.
"Don't worry, I'll be long gone before my brother is up to anything like the last time you visited...if not I'll invest in some good ear muffs," Mary told her. "How long is your leave?"
"Admiral Bennett called in several favors and I 30 days," Catherine answered. They'd reached the parking lot and Catherine realized Mary was driving Danny's Camaro. "Nice, how did you manage this?"
"Danny's on drugs," Mary answered with a grin. The truth was she'd simply asked and been given the keys before she left the hospital.
"Ah," Catherine said as they got into the car and drove out of the parking lot.
5050505050
Steve could hear Danny and Rachel talking, but didn't want to intrude on their conversation. He knew Grace was with Kono in the park downstairs, while her parents discussed the possibility that Charles could be his. No matter what way the DNA tests went, someone would be hurt. If it was Danny, then he'd be there to help him deal with whatever happened. Maybe he'd take him out and they'd both get drunk before taking a cab home.
"I talked to Stan, Danny, he says he loves me no matter what and I..."
"Do you love him, Rachel?"
"Not like I loved you, but I don't think I'm cut out to be a cop's wife...it's hard enough to be your friend and be afraid every time the phone rings."
"If Charles is mine, Rachel...I want him to know and that means Stan won't have a say in how he's raised."
"I know, Danny, and I won't fight you on visitation."
"Thanks, Rachel...why don't we go check on Kono and Grace so Steve can sleep."
Steve sighed tiredly and debated whether he should push the button that would deliver the pain meds to his body, but he wasn't there yet. If he could move without setting off the fireworks, then he could do without the heavy drugs.
"You're not fooling anyone by being macho all the time."
A smile formed as he opened his eyes and turned to look at the woman who'd spoken those words. She stood framed in the open doorway with a smile that made his heart beat faster. "When did you get in?"
"About an hour ago. Mary picked me up," Catherine said and moved to his bed. She sat on the edge and leaned down to kiss his cheek, but found his mouth instead. "I thought...when they told me Wo Fat had you..."
"I'm sorry, Cath, I didn't mean to worry you," McGarrett said.
"It's not your fault, Steve.. Wo Fat is not man enough to come after you unless he's got his paid thugs..."
"Thugs?" McGarrett said with a grin.
"You know what I mean."
"I do," McGarrett said and raised the head of his bed so that they were face to face. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, but if you wanted to see me all you had to do was ask. I'm not one of those girls who enjoys hurt/comfort...especially when it comes to her man," Catherine told him.
"Glad to hear that," McGarrett said and nuzzled her hair. "God, you smell good."
"Yeah, right...I need a shower and I haven't slept in over 24 hours and I'm..."
"Just what the doctor ordered," the injured man told her. "How long will you be here?"
"30 days...and I'm staying at your house so don't go thinking you'll be able to disobey doctor's orders once you're released. I plan on..."
"Making me feel better...you know I always thought the whole 'kiss it better' worked really well and there's plenty of places I could use that procedure right now," McGarrett said with a roguish grin.
"I don't think that's going to happen, Mr. Super-SEAL," Catherine whispered against his lips. "When you get home you'll be going straight to bed..."
"Hmm, who can argue with the doctor...especially when..."
"Down, Boy, I said you'll be going straight to bed...I'll be on the couch."
"But what if I need something?"
"I'll make sure you have a bell..."
"Rather have you," Steve said and pressed his lips to hers. He drank in the scent of the woman even as she shifted and looked at him with a hint of a mischievous smile. God, he could drown in those eyes and be a happy man, but the sound of footsteps warned them they were no longer alone.
"Commander, I need to start your antibiotics. Excuse me, but could you leave."
"Steve, I'll be right outside the door," Catherine said and kissed his lips gently, unaware of the way the woman glared daggers at her.
"You really should be resting, Commander," Paulina told him.
"Seems like that's all I've been doing," McGarrett answered and closed his eyes as the nurse adjusted the flow of the antibiotics.
"I doubt that very much. You seemed too be doing more than you should have been," the woman scolded ad didn't miss the smile that formed on his face. She grew angry at the idea that the smile was for another woman and knew if it continued she would have to deal with the bitch.
"I thought you worked in the SICU?" McGarrett asked. There was something about this woman that reminded him of biting on tinfoil and he tried to shake it off.
"Usually I do, but they were short a couple of nurses on this floor and since I'm what they call a floater I volunteered to come in. Now, I've noted that you're not using the way you should be. There's really no need to ignore what your body tells you, so please stop being so macho and push the button. I''m sure Dr. Lewis would not have ordered it if he didn't think you needed it," Paulina told him and raised the side rails on his bed..
"I'll use it when I need it, Paulina," McGarrett told her as she finished taking his vitals.
"Can I come back in?" Catherine asked and saw the woman's eyes grow dark before she left the room. "What did I do to piss her off?"
"I have no idea, but she's got no right to be pissed at you," the injured SEAL answered.
"Well, she sure doesn't seem pissed at you," Catherine said and frowned when she noted the position of the rails. "Seems like she wants to make sure you don't go anywhere."
"As long as you stay there's no reason for her to worry about that."
"Don't go starting something you can't finish."
"Who says I can't finish?" McGarrett asked and pulled her close as she lowered the rail. "Now, why don't you put a chair against the door..."
"I don't think so," Catherine interrupted, but didn't pull away. God, it felt so good to hold her and he wanted nothing more than to pull her down with him, but it was not to be.
"Well, it's a good thing I brought plenty of shrimp."
"Kamekona, we're a little busy right now," McGarrett griped, but saw Grace and Danny behind him. It wasn't long before Chin, Kono, and Rachel came into the room. Grace headed straight for his bed and he smiled as Catherine moved aside and let the child take her place.
"Danno says you're a mess..."
"Grace!" Williams said.
"Did he really?" McGarrett asked and heard the others snicker as he stared at his partner.
"Well, you are," Williams stated.
"I'm not the only one in here."
"Maybe not, but you're certainly the most colorful," Williams said.
"Not for long," Kamekona said and opened one of the bags he'd brought with him. "I was going to call this Rainbow Shrimps Ahoy, but maybe it could be McGarrett..."
"Don't start, Kamekona," the injured SEAL warned.
"Well there's tiger shrimp so what about SEAL Shrimp ala McGarrett?"the big man asked. "It could be battered..."
"Just like Steve," Kono said and smiled as she helped Kamekona serve up the food. She handed Catherine a plate and watched as the woman returned to McGarrett's side.
"Do you want some?" Catherine asked.
"No, thanks, Cath, but right now I don't think I can handle Kamekona's specials," McGarrett answered.
"I brought my new specialty for you, Brah," Kamekona said and placed a bowl on the bedside table.
"What's this?"
"Chicken soup...mama style. She say you don't need spicy, not right now so she said to bring you this and told me to tell you there's plenty more where that came from," Kamekona said and smiled when McGarrett took the lid off the bowl and reached for the spoon Kamekona handed him.
"Smells great," McGarrett said.
"Hospital policy says there should only be two visitors at a time and what is that child doing in here."
"Ah, come on, Pretty Lady, give us a little..."
"I will not give you a little anything, Mr..."
"Pauline, if we promise to keep it down and not disturb the other patients..."
"I'm sorry, Commander, but hospital policy..."
"Commander McGarrett and Detective Williams are under police protection," Chin interrupted the woman. He'd seen her before, and thought she was pretty, but right now he thought she was simply a cold hearted bitch.
"Then why is the child here?"
"She's my daughter and she's allowed to visit," Williams snapped, glad his daughter was wearing the headphones and unaware of what was happening in the room.
"Pauline, what are you doing here?"
"I'm filling if for Johanna. She called in sick," Pauline answered.
"Johanna was assigned to the west section, Commander McGarrett and Detective Williams are in the east hall..."
"I figured I was finished with my patients and would help make your job easier," Pauline told
"I can handle my patients, Pauline, so please go back to yours," Kim Wong ordered and waited for the other woman to leave before turning to her patients. "Sorry about that. I'll make sure she doesn't bother you anymore."
"Thanks, Kim," Chin said and watched as the woman checked the charts.
"I see she already took your vitals, Commander, so that just leaves you, Detective," Kim said and proceeded to do her job as Kamekona smiled and wagged his eyebrows at the pretty nurse.
"You know...I feel a little fatigued..."
"I don't think you could feel a little anything, Kamekona," Williams teased.
"You wound me, Brah," the big man said and touched his fingers against his forehead as he moved closer to the dark haired woman. "Yes, I think I got a fever. Maybe you could give me some TLC."
"TLC? Oh, you mean The Learning Channel. I'm not sure what station you tune too, but I can find out," Wong said.
"Come on...a pretty nurse is just what the doctor ordered. How about I buy you dinner and..."
"I might just take you up on that, Kamekona, but are you sure you're man enough for me?" the nurse asked.
"Oh, I think I might be," Kamekona said and followed the woman out of the room.
"Steve, you look tired," Catherine said softly.
"I'm okay," McGarrett answered as the others seemed to enjoy the meal Kamekona supplied.
"Grace, why don't you come sit on my bed for while," Williams suggested and helped his daughter down as McGarrett nodded gratefully.
Catherine leaned in close and whispered softly as she kissed him. "Push the button and I'll stay until they kick me out."
"Promise?" McGarrett asked.
"Promise," Catherine said and watched as his fingers strayed to the button and pushed it. "Go ahead and sleep."
"Thanks...where's Mary?"
"She said she wanted to speak to Joe White," Catherine answered and brushed her fingers through his hair. She knew the medication would kick in pretty fast and he'd be asleep before long.
"Just tell...tell her to stay 'way from Wo...Wo Fat," McGarrett said just before he gave into the sleep his body and mind craved.
5050505050
Joe White stood up as Mary McGarrett approached his table. She'd called to ask if she could talk to him alone and he'd suggested she meet him here. She looked so much like her mother it scared him and he wondered what she would say if she knew the truth about her mother's death. It was something he would have to keep from her until he could be sure they were all safe.
"It's good to see you again, Joe," Mary said and hugged the older man before taking the seat opposite him.
"You look great, Mary. That new job seems to agree with you."
"I love it, Joe. Where else does a girl get to fly all over the world and it doesn't cost her a dime?"
"The Air force," Joe said with a grin.
"But then I'd have to fight and I don't think I'd be very good at that," Mary told him and ordered a coffee when the waitress appeared.
"I know you didn't ask to see me to discuss your job, Mary, so what's going on?"
"I did something stupid today."
"What did you do?" Joe asked, his tone serious and slightly reprimanding as he looked at the woman seated across the table.
"I went to see Wo Fat."
"Sonofabitch! What the hell were you thinking? You might as well have drawn a big target on your back and waved your hands in the air! That bastard wouldn't hesitate to take you out if he thought it would get him what he wanted!"
"What does he want, Joe? Why does he hate Steve so much?"
"He blames Steve for his father's betrayal...their father's betrayal."
"Don't you mean our father's betrayal? Why does he blame Steve and not me?"
"Jealousy? Is that what this is all about, Mary? You think Wo Fat should hate you as much as he hates your brother?"
"No, of course not! I just don't understand why he wants Steve dead!"
"Steve was born after Wo Fat and your father didn't know about him. If he had I know things would have been different," Joe explained.
"Did you know her?"
"Know who?"
"Wo Fat's mother. Is she like him? Does she blame Steve for what happened?"
"No, she doesn't. Min Hoi is a beautiful woman and hates what her son has become. She knows what he does and she despises what he stands for."
"Steve told me Wo Fa grew up on the streets and that's why he turned to the Yakuza."
"That's part of it, but Wo Fat strikes me as being born bad. He'd despise Steve even if your father was involved in his life. Min was afraid of him...she still is, but at least now he's locked up," Joe told her.
"He's been locked up before...it never stopped him then," Mary told him as the waitress returned with her coffee.
"I'm calling in a few favors to see that it doesn't happen this time," Joe told her.
"Sometimes I wonder what you and Steve and my father do to make people owe you favors."
"You're better off not knowing," Joe said with a hint of a smile.
"Let me guess...you'd have to kill me if you told me."
"Something like that," White said and looked around. There were a few patrons in the coffee shop, but it had thinned out since he got there. "Mary, do us both a favor and stay as far away from Wo Fat as you can."
"I'll stay away if possible, but if he goes after Steve again I can't promise I'll be the good little sister...because I'm not, Joe, and I am as protective of my family as Steve is."
"I can see that," White said. "Are you hungry?"
"A little...I missed Kamekona's feast at the hospital," Mary said and took the menu from the middle of the table.
TBC!