The Truth about Ohana

Chapter Four

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. I would love to write for them though.

Author Notes: The time on the island drags out for months and Kono and Steve have to make a new life for themselves always wary that they will be discovered. Their relationship deepens, as they become the very best of friends, relying only on each other for protection and relationship.

For the next two weeks Steve spent his time caring for Kono. She needed her dressing changed daily and needed help to get around the house. A shower was a production as she had a hard time moving. The muscles of your abdomen help you with everything from bending to standing and it exhausted her to get ready.

Steve tried in every way to guard her privacy and only helped as much as she asked him to. The first time had been the hardest as she still wore underwear and so he had to help her get her pants and t-shirt off as well as slide her underwear down and unclasp her bra.

She grimaced when he pulled the shirt over her head. He kept his eyes on hers and he watched as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. He averted his eyes as he offered his hand to steady her getting in the tub and sliding the curtain shut.

"Call me when you need to get out, okay?"

Steve sat just outside the door and waited. He hated seeing her this way and he would do whatever it took to get her back in shape and able to care for herself. He knew that although she was in incredible pain, she would never show it. They were alike in that way. He had never thought about their similarities until now. No wonder they clicked so well together at work.

Only a few minutes had passed when Kono weakly called his name.

"St…Steve?"

"Yeah. I'm right here."

"I need help getting out."

Steve handed her a towel, but she could only clutch it around herself as he pulled the curtain back and held out his hand for her once again. Once out of the tub, Kono fell against him, exhausted. He helped her wrap and tuck the towel in and then helped her into the bedroom again. She leaned heavily against him and he suddenly felt incredibly protective of her in such a weakened state. It was something he thought he would never witness and he felt a lump growing in his throat as he helped her sit on the edge of the bed.

Grabbing another towel from the bathroom, he towel dried her hair and then combed it out for her.

"I feel like a little kid having her mom brush her hair."

"Hey. I resent that statement. I am not a mom."

Needless to say Steve loved the feel of her hair as he combed and patted it down. She smelled like vanilla and coconut: two of his favorite things. He reluctantly stopped combing and smiled at her, hoping he would get to do that every day.

"What do you want to wear?"

"Jus…just a t-shirt and some track shorts, okay? No underwear for awhile."

"Good idea."

Steve searched through her bags and found an HPD t-shirt that looked slightly big for her. Hmmm. He also found some shorts with an elastic waist.

"How about these?"

"Yeah."

Words seemed beyond her scope at the moment. He sat beside her on the bed until he was sure she had some strength returning and then he gently lifted one arm and tucked it through one sleeve and then the other arm. She leaned slightly forward and he slipped it over her head. Kono reached for his hands to stand and then let the towel drop revealing her long legs. Yep, that was definitely his t-shirt. As he held the shorts for her to step in them he grinned.

"Sooo, exactly when did you swipe my shirt?"

"You gave it to me one day when we were surfing Brah."

Steve remembered then.

"So when were you planning on returning it?"

Kono finally grinned back. The first time he had seen her do so in days.

"Uh, wasn't exactly planning on returning it. It makes a great sleep shirt."

"I see how it is. Uh, Kono, I need to change your dressing. You up to doing this? We need to get the wet bandage off and a new dry one on."

"It's okay."

Steve went and got the first aid kit and then Kono held her shirt up while he peeled the bandage off. The fieriness had gone somewhat from her wound, but it was still reddish. Steve wiped the area with antiseptic making Kono throw her head back and start panting. He quickly applied the cream as she grimaced and bit her lower lip. The new bandaged was applied quickly and he reached to tug the shirt out of her hands. Her knuckles were white and he saw how pale her face had gone. He couldn't resist brushing her hair back and cupping her cheek, bringing her tear-filled eyes back down to his.

"Hey. You okay?"

"I will be. I can't believe how bad this thing hurts."

"Bullets will do that to you. Don't you remember the bank job when you took one to your arm?"

"Yeah, but that was just a graze."

"Well this one tore a hole in your stomach Kono. You're lucky to be alive."

"Am I?"

"Oh, Kono, you can't blame yourself for what happened. You were the one caught in the middle and you have nothing to feel bad about. Okay?"

"Wish I could believe that. If I had never gotten involved with Adam he might still be alive."

Steve stroked his thumb across the apple of her cheek.

"You can't change the past and beating yourself up about it won't change anything."

"If that's true, why do you constantly beat yourself up about your dad? That wasn't your fault either Steve. If anyone is to blame, it's your mother. Right?"

Their eyes were locked. Both were in conflict and wanted to shrink away from the truth, but in acknowledging it they suddenly felt a new level of intimacy. They shared something that the rest of the team didn't. Steve slid his hand around the back of Kono's neck and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her.

"Thanks for that and you're right. Let's make a pact to stop the other one every time they start to berate themselves for what they did or didn't do. Deal?"

"Deal. Now I really need to lie down again. I feel like I just put in a day's work."

Steve helped her slide under the covers.

That day had been a turning point for both of them. He looked out the sliding glass doors now to where Kono was sitting on the steps of the Lanai looking at the sea. He popped a couple of beers as she was officially off her antibiotics and strode out to sit just above and behind her on the steps. An eager hand reached out for the bottle he dangled in front of her.

"Finally."

"You earned it. You've done amazingly well for two weeks Kono. You okay?"

Kono sighed and leaned her head against his knee.

"Yeah, just wondering what the future holds."

"That's some pretty deep thinking going on there Detective."

"Will we ever be detectives again Steve?"

"I don't know Kono. I just don't know."

He ran his hand over her hair and reached down to squeeze her shoulder. The need to touch each other had become stronger and stronger as they both began to feel the isolation. It felt good to have someone there. Steve was starting to wonder about his own feelings right now. He was so drawn to her, but was it because he was lonely and he was taking care of her…wanting to protect her, or were the feelings something more? He pushed them aside for now. The woman had just lost the man who might have been the love of her life…certainly her first love and she would need time to heal from that.

Kono was looking up at him upside down. She could tell he was lost in thought and totally unaware she was looking at him. Her heart felt warm looking up at her caretaker, protector…brother? She knew she loved him with all her heart, but the last few days her feelings had been confusing. Adam had held her love for so many months now, but she found herself drawn to Steve in a new and deeper way.

Steve finally glanced down at her and smiled, she returned the smile. Both could feel the new bond they had and it lightened the dark emotions they had both been wrestling with.

Steve stood up and reached down his hand.

"You have been sitting for too long. Let's get you onto a lounger and I'll make us some lunch."

Kono took his hand and stood gingerly up. Steve lifted her lightly up the stairs with his hand and just as she settled into the cushions Steve's prepaid phone went off. He sat on the side of the lounger and took the call. It was Danny.

"Hey man. It's good to hear your voice finally."

"It's good to hear yours. How's Kono?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself? She's sitting right here."

Steve smiled and handed the phone to Kono.

"Hey Danny. I'm doing great. Honestly. I'm actually allowed outside by my guard dog daily now."

"I'm so glad. Chin wants to say hi too."

"Hey Cousin. You really okay?"

"I am. Steve is taking really good care of me."

"Let's put the phones on speaker phone. We have news."

Steve spoke up first.

"What's going on guys?"

"Are you guys sitting down?"

"Yeah. Why? What's going on Danny?"

"I don't know how to tell you this man except to just say it. You've both been declared dead."

"Wait. What?"

Kono reached out for Steve's hand and he squeezed it tightly in his.

"Some of Michael's thugs were picked up and they told the authorities that a hit had been put out on both you and Kono. They were pretty sure since you couldn't be found that the hit had taken place. They've been searching for your bodies and decided you must have been tossed at sea."

"Do our families know?"

"Yeah, Steve, they do. I'm sorry buddy. Your mom took it real bad…Kono's family too."

"Oh God…"

Steve reached out and stroked the tears off Kono's cheeks as they began to spill out and down.

Chin's heart went out to his cousin, as her family was really close.

"I'm sorry Kono. I spent time with your parents, but we feel it's better if they believe this for now. Who knows how long this will take? You will both be safer this way. At least the authorities won't be looking for you."

Danny spoke up.

"We're rounding them up one at a time Steve and a special task force has been formed by the governor. He wants your death avenged and the mafia taken down once and for all. He's really putting the manpower and funds to that end. We have hope that you won't be there forever."

"Does the Governor know we're alive?"

"We think it's best he doesn't know for now. Just the four of us know."

"Okay. We will trust you guys on this."

"We've mailed you a package. It's money, Steve. It's in cash so you guys won't have any kind of electronic trail. It should get there in a few days and you can restock food and buy a few things. Just think of this as a long vacation. You've both earned it."

"Wish it did feel that way. Do you have any idea how frustrating this is?"

"Yeah, we kinda do. Listen. It will be a month before we contact you again, okay? Keep destroying the phones each time. We don't think the Yakusa will stop looking for you until they have bodies. Anything else you need?"

Steve looked at Kono and she shook her head. She was too stunned to respond anyway.

"No. We're good for now. We miss you guys."

Danny and Chin spoke at once.

"We love you guys."

"Us too. Take care and be careful."

Steve hung up and then stomped on the phone with his foot. Kono thought maybe he was channeling some of the same frustration and grief she was feeling.

They just sat and looked at each other for a minute and then Kono was reaching for Steve and he had her in his arms again. Neither one of them said anything, but they knew just how the other was feeling. It was going to be a long time before they could get back to their previous lives.

This would be their new home for better or worse.

Each of them was thinking the same thing.

Thank God they had each other.