CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

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 17, 2012

(Because both Caroline and Grace were doing such a good job in keeping it together when they left Sam's and Steve's, Danny can do no less. Although the three of them are quiet as they drive out to the cemetery, there is no tension in the car. When they park, there is just a brief moment when Caroline turns a little pale and hesitates before getting out of the car, but Grace's little hand on her shoulder and, when Caroline turns to look back at the little girl, the love on Grace's sweet face give her the courage to open the door and step out of the Camaro. Grace is right behind her and firmly grips Caroline's hand as they wait for Danny to come around the car. When they reach the grave site, not a one of them moves or speaks for several minutes because Caroline can't and both Danny and Grace know she needs a little time to adjust. Finally, Caroline takes a couple of steps and kneels down so that she can reach out with a shaking hand and touch the granite grave marker of her son. She slowly traces his name and then the inscription which reads, "Though we never knew you, you will live in our hearts and we will love you forever", and a lone tear slowly slides down her face as she bows her head and closes her eyes. Both Danny and Grace join her and Grace gently lays the stuffed angel on top of the marker above Caroline's hand. A few moments later, Caroline raises tear-filled eyes to her husband and her heart clinches at the pain she sees in Danny's expression.)

"Tell me about him, Danny. Tell me about our son."

"He . . He was perfect, Caroline. So tiny, so precious, and, maybe I'm imagining it, but I . . I think he looked like both of us."

"I don't think you're imagining anything; after all, Gabe was our son. . . I'm so very sorry I wasn't there for you, Danny. I'm so very sorry you had to go through losing our son alone."

"I wasn't alone. I had Grace and our family and friends, Caroline. I . . I was afraid that you would . . That you would be angry with me because . . Because I had named our baby and because you weren't at Gabe's funeral."

"Oh, Danny. . ."

"Cmdr. Shelton thought . . ."

"Danny. . You did what you had to do and what the doctor was telling you was best for me at the time."

"I know."

"I wish I could have been here for you, Romeo."

"You're here now, Caroline, and now we can be here for each other."

"Me, too, Danno."

"You, too, Monkey."

(They spend a good bit of time at Gabe's grave and, by the time they leave, both Caroline and Danny are experiencing the pain of their loss but also the first, faint feelings of hope either of them have known in quite some time. . .

Caroline has been working on her homemade lasagna for about ten minutes and Danny is helping when Grace, walks into the kitchen with a solemn expression on her little face.)

"What are we going to do with all of Gabe's stuff?"

"Mom and I have talked about that, Monkey, and we've got an idea."

"But we'd like to know what you think, Grace; after all, Gabe was your brother."

"We thought we'd give Gabe's things to a shelter for battered women and children."

"What's 'battered' mean, Danno?"

"Do you remember your friend Jill from before you moved to Hawaii?"

"Um hmm. Her father hit her and her mother and you arrested him and put him in jail."

"That's right, Monkey; Jill's father 'battered' them. Jill and her mom went to live with her grandparents, but there are a lot of women and children who have husbands and fathers like Jill's and they don't have any where else to go so they go to shelters where people take care of them until they can take care of themselves. They're safe when they go to these shelters because the people who hurt them don't know where they are and they have lots of security there, too."

"But sometimes, Grace, these women and their children have to leave their homes very quickly. Sometimes, they don't even have time to take any of their own clothes, so people in the community have donated money and volunteered their time to build and staff these shelters, and other people donate clothes and furniture for the women and children to use while they're there."

"And that's what you and Danno want to do with Gabe's things."

"Yes, Sweetie, it is, but we want to know what you think about our idea, too."

(Grace looks at both Caroline and Danny for several minutes while she thinks over everything they've told her. Finally, she puts one little arm around Caroline and the other around Danny and smiles up at them both.)

"I think Gabe would like your idea a lot and so do I."

"I'm going to need your help, Grace, because it's going to be very hard for me to do."

"I'll help you, Mom. It's something I can do for you and my brother."

"Thank you, Sweetheart. I'm going to call the shelter on Monday and find out what their procedures are for donations. I'll let you know when I'm ready to start. . To start packing everything, all right?"

(And Grace gives Caroline a hug and kiss and makes sure that she stays close to her Mom for the remainder of the evening. Danny, his emotions running high, watches as Caroline patiently explains everything she is doing to Grace and lets the little girl have some hands-on experience in the kitchen. It's going to take some time but they're all going to get through their grief and they're going to do it together.)