CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
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 17, 2013
(The night before the McGarretts are supposed to leave for Washington, Libby and Mike host a family dinner at their house and they've invited the entire family. Sam seems to be more like her old self as she laughs along with Kono as they watch Emily and Eric chasing one another and Grace around the Thrasher's den while Steve and Tony are out on the back deck with Mike, Danny, and Chin. Caroline and Lana are helping in the kitchen, and Libby is at peace for the first time in a long time. Although Rosa was invited, too, she graciously declined the invitation as she had a date with a very nice gentleman who happens to be the pharmacist at Rosa's drugstore. Of course, Steve checked the guy out, at Rosa's request as she is still not too trusting, and was glad he could tell the lady they've all become so fond of that the man really was a good guy. Looking around the den and out the kitchen window and seeing all her children and grandchildren, laughing and relaxed, gives Libby a very happy inner calm. Deciding that it's time for the steaks she's had marinating to go on the grill, she grabs the container and threads her way through three giggling children to the deck. Once there, she gives the steaks to her husband and then hugs Steve.)
"I think what you're doing for Sam is wonderful, Steve. I'm so very glad you're my son-in-law."
"I love her, Libby."
"I know you do, Son, but there are a lot of people, a lot of men who wouldn't understand what Sam's been going through. Most of them would just walk away."
"I'm not most men, Libby, and I will never walk away from Sam. Ever. I can't."
"I know. I also heard about what Danny did. My girls are the luckiest two women on Earth to have you and Danny. Think I'll go over there and tell him how much I appreciate what he did."
(And Libby does just that while Steve helps Mike get the steaks on the grill.)
"She's right, you know. You boys are exceptional; we couldn't have asked for better husbands for our girls."
"Your daughters are pretty exceptional, too, Mike. I'd say Danny and I got the better end of the deal."
"Not according to our girls. 'Course, the four of you are blindsided by love, so . . . "
"And you're not, Mike?"
"Now that was a stupid question, wasn't it, Son?"
(After a wonderful dinner that is completely free of anything negative, the McGarretts tell everyone goodnight, with Sam hugging both Libby and Mike very tightly, and head home. The next afternoon, they are at the terminal of the Honolulu airport reserved for private flights at 1430 hours so that Sam and Merlin can file their flight plan, check the weather reports, run their pre-flight, and be ready to take off at 1600 hours. Emily quickly feel asleep once they were in Steve's truck and on the way to the airport, and she is sleeping like a little dark-haired angel in her Daddy's arms while her Mommy takes care of business. Sitting in the plush terminal while Sam and Lt. Cmdr. Monroe get everything taken care of, Steve looks down at his daughter and smiles as she sighs in her sleep. Although she has his dark hair and eye color, she is pure Sam in Steve's opinion and he couldn't be happier. He remembers Danny teasing him in Sam's hospital room the night Emily was born about Steve now having a daughter of his own to worry about. At the time, Steve knew Danny was just trying to get a rise out of him, but, as he gazes at Emily's long, dark lashes lying against the soft skin of her cheek, her nose that is a miniature of Sam's, and her sweet little mouth that is also his wife's, he realizes that he will do whatever it takes to protect his child. A small pang of fear darts through him as he also realizes that there are going to be boys in his daughter's future and some of them are going to break her heart; a thought which sends a fierce sense of protectiveness through him as well. Placing a soft kiss on Emily's silky hair, Steve sends up a quick prayer that his daughter will, one day, have a brave and honorable man in her life who loves her as much as he loves her mother. Sam and Lt. Cmdr. Monroe walk up just in time to see Steve cuddle Emily closer, and a sweet smile spreads across Sam's face.)
"Hey, Sailor, you ready to board?"
"Yeah, I have a feeling Emily is going to sleep all the way to Denver."
"She'd better not else she'll keep us awake all night. The plane Rob's letting us use has a couple of jump seats in the cockpit and I think we'll be able to secure Emily's carrier to one of them, so you guys can spend some time with us if you want."
"Sounds like a plan, Beautiful. How about we do that now? I can always take Emily back to the passenger cabin when she wakes up if she wants to do a little running around."
"Okay, then, I guess we're ready to board so Merlin and I can run the pre-flight."
"Go ahead, Beautiful. Merlin can help me with Emily's carrier since the ground crew already loaded our luggage."
(Steve waits until Sam is through the door leading from the terminal to the tarmac before he looks over at Lt. Cmdr. Monroe who is just reaching for Emily's carrier.)
"I know Mike and Sam have probably already said this, but I want to thank you for being Sam's co-pilot on this trip. After all, this is a personal trip completely unrelated to anything military, and you're not getting paid, so . . I really appreciate you going."
"You're welcome, Sir. I hope you know I'd do anything for your wife. She's the best C.O. I've ever served under. And you're wrong, you know. . Adm. Thrasher is covering my meals and lodging for this trip, but the most important 'payment' I'm getting is the fact that I can do something to help Cmdr. McGarrett get through this 'rough spot'. Anyone on the base would do anything for her, Sir; we all think the world of her."
"So do I. And, since this is a personal trip, how about you drop the 'Sir' and call me Steve."
"Done, Si. . Steve; if you'll call me Joe."
"Agreed. Now, I think we'd better get ourselves on board that aircraft so we can get in the air."
(Everything goes very smoothly on the flight and, once awake from her nap, Emily has taken to flying like a duck to water. Steve has a strong feeling that she's going to follow in her mother's footsteps one day judging by the absolute delight she displayed when he took her back to the passenger cabin and they spent some time looking out the plane's windows. They are in luck with some good tailwinds and land in Denver a little ahead of schedule. Mike has done his job well, and it isn't long before Sam, Steve, Emily, and Joe Monroe are settled in comfortable rooms at a motel not too far from the airport. Emily is the only one who's eaten anything since Rob Stanton made sure the plane's galley was well-stocked with foods Emily particularly likes after talking with Steve. Emily fell asleep on the ride from the airport to the hotel and is now sleeping peacefully in her portable baby bed in Sam's and Steve's room and Steve and Joe make a quick run to a Mexican restaurant for take-out for themselves and Sam. Their dinner conversation consists of Sam and Joe telling Steve some interesting and amusing stories about some of their newer pilots but they don't linger because they have an early flight in the morning and a long day ahead of them.)