CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

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: March 8, 2013

(Although Emily has been his primary focus since shortly after arriving at Capt. Stewart's office, Danny hasn't missed a thing and he's heard every word Sam, Capt. Stewart, Steve, Caroline, and his in-laws have said. Danny Williams knows a thing or two about being paralyzed by fear because he came damned close to it himself when they lost little Gabe and he thought he was going to lose Caroline, too. On the surface, he's calm and collected but, inside, his heart is breaking for Steve and Sam, and also for the sweet baby girl he's now holding. Looking down into Emily's little face, Danny decides, then and there, that he's going to step up to the plate and do everything he can to help Sam "find her way home." That he's made the right decision is only reinforced when the beautiful child in his arms reaches up with her little arms and hugs her Uncle Danny. Standing up with his niece in his arms, Danny takes the few steps necessary to bring him to the other end of the room where his wife and in-laws are talking quietly.)

"Hey, Sam and Steve are going to need the rest of tonight and, probably, a good bit of tomorrow, at the very least, so they can work some things out, and this little lady is getting really sleepy. Libby, Mike, you guys have had a lot thrown at you in the past couple of hours and you two need to have a conversation of you own, so Caroline and I are taking Emily home with us. After all, we haven't seen nearly enough of her lately, and it'll be good practice for us both. That okay with you, Gorgeous?"

(His wife and in-laws all look at him in amazement for a moment but Caroline recovers quickly and gets on the same page as her husband, stepping over to take Emily from him and cuddle her as Danny's arm slips around her waist. The meaning of Danny's words finally sink in with Libby and Mike and they glance at one another in concern for a moment before looking back at their daughter, son-in-law, and niece.)

"Good practice? Does this mean that the two of you have decided to try to have another child?"

"Yeah, Mom, it does. Danny and I had a good bit of uninterrupted time to talk while we were out on the boat, and, well, we've both decided that we want to try again."

"Are you two sure you're not rushing things? We've just gotten you back, Caroline, we do not want anything to happen that would upset you again."

"Dad, I promise you and Mom both that this is going to be okay; I'm going to be okay. Danny and I want children of our own and, no, it's not too soon to try again. As long as I have Danny and my family, I'll be okay, promise. And, after a year or so, if we can't have children the usual way, we want to adopt. In the meantime, we have Grace and Emily and Eric to love and be loved by in return."

"Caroline. ."

"I'm not going to go off the deep end again, Daddy; I'm not. I'm a lot stronger person than you think I am, and I've finally figured out that I'm not the only person in this equation. Danny went through a great deal of pain and suffering because I was . . Well, a selfish, inconsiderate. . . Bitch."

"Caroline!"

"I was, Danny, and the three of you can try and sugar-coat it all you want, but, when I realized I'd lost the baby, I just gave up! I didn't care about how anyone else, especially you, felt. So, okay, there it is, but, I'm not that person anymore and Danny and I are going to be here for each other from now on. Trust us. Please."

(Although they had all been standing, Libby abruptly sits back down, plops down, actually, into her chair again and looks from Caroline to Danny and back again.)

"Daddy and I just want you to be happy, Sweetheart; that's all we've ever wanted for you and Sam. . The two of you are going to have to forgive your father and me, this is your decision; not ours. I hope you both know that your father and I support you in whatever you decide and that we both love you very much."

"Your mother's absolutely right and we're here for you anytime you need us."

(Minutes later, after having kissed the children good night and Caroline, Danny, and Mike have left the room so Emily can say goodnight to her parents and Mike can get her bag from their car for Caroline and Danny, Libby sits alone in the conference room and finds that she feels a little out of control at the moment. Life has thrown her some fairly intense twists and turns over the years but none have been so painful and difficult to deal with than the ones that have taken place over the past couple of months. Libby sends up a quick prayer for all her children as well as one for herself and Mike. When Mike walks back into the room ten minutes later, he finds his wife lost in thought and with an odd expression on her face. Concerned, he kneels down beside the chair in which she's sitting and takes both her hands in his.)

"Libby, are you all right?"

"No, Mike. No, I'm not. I do believe that, once Sam is back on a more even keel, I'm going to schedule some time with Capt. Stewart for myself."