CHAPTER ELEVEN
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams – PART III"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: November 2, 2012
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Although it may seem like this part of "Elusive Dreams" is coming to an end, I promise you it is not. There is still more drama for our guys and girls in this story, so please keep reading and reviewing. I would love to hear from all of you if you have suggestions, as well. Thank you so much for reading my work! Michelle
(Sam leans in the doorway and watches as Steve expertly changes Emily's diaper, puts her in a sleeper, and "flies" her around the nursery making "zoom zoom" noises which causes their beautiful baby girl to laugh delightedly and clap her little hands together. Steve is actually a very good pretend fighter pilot, and Sam is laughing right along with Emily.)
"Okay, Baby Girl, here we go again. . . Two bogies at Angels five and closing fast! We need to take them out before they get close to our carrier; it's all up to us! You ready?"
(And off they go again. They succeed in shooting down both bogies, of course, and Steve brings Emily in for a landing on the carrier which happens to be her bed. Sam claps her approval and moves next to Steve so she can lean over and kiss her daughter goodnight. Both parents stay put, each with an arm around the other, while Emily cuddles with a small, brown teddy bear and nods off to sleep. Sam shoots Steve a sexy, little look that has him focused on her retreating form and following her into their bedroom in less than a heartbeat. . . .
When Danny called Rachel to bring her up to speed on Caroline's condition and ask if Grace could spend the night, Rachel quickly agreed saying how very glad she was that there had been a breakthrough and that Caroline was well on her way to a full recovery. Since Caroline was just being discharged from the hospital after a two-month stay, Rachel told Danny she would bring Grace over the their house herself and she would bring dinner for them, as well. Danny is honestly and deeply touched by his ex-wife's ready agreement and kind offer, and he quickly accepts. He wastes no time in getting Caroline's things packed and both of them home. It doesn't dawn on him that Caroline is going to walk into their house and right by the nursery until she is already through the door from the garage and heading to the den.)
"Caroline!"
"Yes, Danny?"
"I . . . Sweetheart, the . . ."
"It's all right, Danny; I know the . . ., the baby's room is still the way we left it the day of the cookout at Mom's and Dad's. Seeing it isn't going to send me back to 'never never land'; promise."
"I wouldn't hurt you for anything in the world, Caroline."
"I know that, Danny. I also realize that you've been through Hell the past couple of months; you had to deal with our baby's death and funeral all by yourself while I selfishly retreated into no man's land so I wouldn't have to face the fact that we'd lost the child we both so desperately wanted. I am so very sorry, Danny; for everything."
"What happened was not your fault, Caroline. Don't, for one second, ever think that you are in any way to blame for our son's death."
"I understand that, Danny, but I should have been there for you when our son died."
"Baby, you couldn't help what happened; Cmdr. Shelton and Capt. Stewart both agreed that the realization that our baby was dead was too much of a shock for you to cope with and that's why you retreated into the catatonic state."
"Because I'm weak, Danny. I wasn't woman enough to be there for you when you needed me the most. I failed you."
"No, Caroline, you didn't fail me. You could never fail me."
"But you needed me and I wasn't there for you!"
"Listen to me. . . What happened was not your fault; you did not let me down. I love you, Caroline. As corny as it sounds, I can't live without you, I need you more than I need my next breath. I know that we've got some work ahead of us before we can get back to where we were before the accident, but we can do this; as long as we're together, we can do anything."
(And to punctuate his words, he gives his wife a very sweet kiss that melts her heart. Moments later, Caroline looks Danny in the eye, takes his hand, and gently tugs in an effort to get him moving, with her, to the nursery. For just a moment, Caroline stands in the doorway of the room the two of them had so lovingly prepared for their baby and looks around. From the furniture to the curtains and wall hangings to the tiny outfits lying on top of the changing table and the many stuffed animals scattered on every spare surface and in the crib, everything is exactly as they left it the day of the accident. Caroline steps into the room and crosses to the crib where she reaches down and picks up a small, stuffed rabbit and just stares at if for a moment. Turning to meet Danny's eyes when she feels the gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder, Caroline sees just how much he's suffered the past two months. But she also sees love and hope in his gaze and she turns into his arms so that they can hold one another and finally, share their grief for their lost child. . . . )