Chapter 2: Not Her Home
May 30, 2010
O'ahu Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii
Alexandra gaped wistfully at the two graves that were in front of her. One of them belonged to her deceased brother, Max, and the other to her Aunt Krystyna. She was supposed to be at a different cemetery, honoring Jack McGarrett, but she decided that she couldn't go until she put flowers on Max's and Krystyna's graves first. She bowed her head, not knowing what to say or if she should even say anything at all. She felt a sudden sadness sweep over her, she wanted to cry and curse God for letting them die. All she did, though, was drop to her knees and put one rose on Max's headstone and another on Krystyna's.
Maxmillian Sarna, she read. Brother and Uncle. Died July 8, 2008.
"I miss you both," she whispered. "I'm sorry you had to die the way you both did."
With those last words she stood up and began to walk to her car, which she inherited from Max. She stopped walking when she was halfway to the car to glance back at the graves.
"I love you guys," she whispered as she did the sign of the cross and turned around to drive home.
Home. It's just a house, she thought. A house that Krystyna left to me, but it isn't my home. I have no home.
Same Day
Sarna House, Manoa, Hawaii
Alexandra stood in her aunt's old house (which belonged to her) near the front window. Earlier, when she returned from the cemetery, she changed from Leah's annoying dress into a white jumper dress that had a blue floral print. She was eating strawberry yogurt while staring at a car where two FBI agents were sitting in, tailing her.
She heard the front screen door screech open and her brother walked into the house.
"Hey," Josef greeted. Alexandra quickly glanced at him; he was short for a man, had dark hair, pale skin and hazel eyes, many people said the two siblings were clones of each other… in respect to facial structure.
"Hey bro," Alexandra greeted her eyes fixated on the FBI. "Grab a seat, I know there's only like one couch, but ones better than nothing."
"What are you staring at," Josef asked ignoring her statement about the couch and coming towards the window.
"The Feds," Alexandra replied turning around to throw herself on the couch.
"Wait a minute, the FBI is after you?" he asked in shock. "What did you do? Did you kill their leader" he added in a hushed tone.
Alexandra gave her brother a blank stare, "If you keep whispering like that, their leader will come after you."
"I was kidding," Josef assured sitting down on the couch. "But seriously, what did you do? Can they hear us?"
"No, they weren't in here. I checked for any bugs and they just… you know, want to keep an eye out on me. It's a long story," Alexandra tried to explain without letting her brother know about what happened in Kenya.
"Anyways, look, sis, I was talking with Leah and we know that you don't like being in Hawaii because of the memories-"
"False, I don't like being here because I'm always somewhere else…working… which is something I love," she lied. Josef was spot on when he guessed that it was painful memories that drove her away each time she was in Hawaii.
"But, everyone misses you, and we worry all the time. I'm sure with your skills you can get a job anywhere, some police force or something, just please come home," Josef said.
"Josef I c-"
"Please, sis," he pleaded. "When dad did mom in and then died himself I thought I was going to go crazy, but then Max and Krystyna died, literally, weeks apart and you were always out there-"
"Out where!"
"Out there! I don't know! You're always gone and I don't know if you'll ever come home or if I have to go to the morgue and confirm that it's you!" Josef raised his voice. "The point is I can't bear to have someone else die. I'll have to be institutionalized!"
"Josef, I can't just not show up in Langley. I'll get burned!" Alexandra posed, stretching the truth a little (she wouldn't be black listed for not coming in to work; just a slap on the wrist).
Alexandra really wanted to find her pack of cigarettes now. Her abilities and skills as an operative were useless in the presence of her older brother. She would love to stay, nothing appealed to her more, but at the same time she knew she didn't belong in Hawaii.
"Stay for a couple months," Josef proposed.
"A couple more days!" Alexandra countered.
"A couple more weeks!"
"Deal!" Alexandra agreed.
Just call off work, stay for a few weeks, then go back to D.C, Alexandra instructed herself.
"That is amazing, sis! Tonight, Alexandra, Leah's going to make a huge supper, so I better see you at my house! Little Max loves you!" Josef gleefully invited as he ran out of the house.
"Thanks for the invite," Alexandra called out after him scraping the bottom of her yogurt cup with her spoon. "I hope she made Polish food, I haven't had any in five years!" she added sarcastically.
May 30, 2010
Twelfth Precinct, Waikiki, Hawaii
Steve was a little surprised at what he had done. Never, not once, in his thirty years of being alive did he imagine that he would have to take a position, like he did, from the governor of Hawaii. He was to be in charge of a task force which would have full immunity and means. It sounded like something out of a bad TV show.
"Commander," a young, native officer called. "Here's the paperwork for your father's case."
The officer seemed a little hesitant to hand over the case and Steve began to analyze every possible reason as to why. Maybe it was because Steve was a white man, a haole, or it could have been because the jerk detective from earlier warned everyone about Steve.
"Hey, officer," Steve stopped the kid before he could walk away. "What's the news on the other haole detective?"
The kid's eyes widened a little when Steve used the word haole, but then he seemed to have composed himself.
"You mean Detective Williams, Commander?"
"Yeah, him," Steve mumbled thinking of the unpleasant encounter he had with the blonde cop.
"He's been here six months. I don't know him that well, but Meka does."
"Meka?"
"He's over there," the officer pointed to a different native man who was older than the uniformed officer and sitting at a desk.
"Mahalo," Steve said walking over to the cop named Meka. "You Meka?"
"Why?" Meka asked.
"Because I need Williams' address," Steve explained in a domineering tone.
The man pulled out a pen , a stack of sticky notes and wrote down an address, "Here. I suggest you listen to an Ipod while you're with him. He's never short on words."
Steve gave Meka a weird look, thanked him and turned around to leave the precinct. He now had an idea of who he wanted on the task force; Danny Williams, his dad's old partner, Chin Ho Kelly and maybe a couple recruits… if he could find any that wanted to be on a task force.
As he was walking towards the door, which was on the other side of the precinct, another young officer ran in with a bloody towel around his hand. Steve saw the captain's door fly open and the captain running out to assist the injured officer.
"Why the hell did you come here? You should've gone to Hawaii Medical!" Steve heard the captain yell.
"It wasn't that bad, I didn't want to waste time," the officer explained himself making Steve hide a smirk as he neared them.
"I swear to God, Mawika, one of these days, you're going to die because you didn't go to the hospital!" the captain shouted. "And you!"
Steve paused when he saw the captain of the precinct stand up and point directly at him. It seemed as if every single pair of eyes in the room was on him. In response, Steve only nodded.
"McGarrett, get your team a nurse, you'll avoid travesties like these!"
"Yes sir," Steve nodded quickly exiting the building.
As he hailed a cab, Steve thought of the captain's words about a nurse. It would benefit them to have one; she, or he, would be in the field with the team, would definitely have to be trained with shooting a gun and had to have backbone. Alexandra Sarna flashed before Steve's eyes. He didn't know if she knew how to shoot a gun, or if she's ever held a gun, but she worked in Somalia, which did tell him that she was brave.
He pulled out his phone and searched for Josef Sarna's number. He knew he exchanged numbers with him in the past; hopefully he hadn't changed it since then because he needed to ask Josef for Alexandra's phone number. Steve wanted her on the team and he was going to ask her to be on it…. And maybe on a date also.
May 30, 2010
Sarna House, Manoa, Hawaii
Alexandra was lying on her couch thinking of how she would call her superiors to tell them she wouldn't be going on any missions for the next few weeks. She closed her eyes, not wanting to think of how stressed out she was and how badly she wanted a cigarette. Suddenly she heard someone knocking very lightly on the door, as if their knuckles hurt when they hit the door. She lifted herself off of the couch and made her way towards the front of the house.
When she opened the door she saw the bald man from the church standing there in his cheap suit.
Alexandra smirked, "Sorry, I'm Catholic and I have no interest in joining you in the Jehovah faith."
"Okay, come one, we both know I'm not a Jehovah's Witness," the FBI agent said.
"Could've fooled me," Alexandra mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing. Keep talking, elder one."
"Alexandra Sarna," the agent began. "If I even suspect that you're trading our government's secrets to anyone in Hawaii, then I will personally grab you and haul your ass to the good ol' capitol."
Alexandra breathed out and shook her head in a sarcastic manner, "Good thing I brought my sneakers. Wouldn't want you to grab and haul me anywhere."
"Watch yourself, or I'll do it for you."
"Geez, where'd they find you? The Babysitter's Club?" Alexandra asked.
The agent looked like he wanted to rip Alexandra's hair from her scalp and fashion himself a toupee.
"It was a joke…just go," Alexandra rolled her eyes as the man retreated down her porch steps.
When she closed her door she let out a sigh. She loved annoying people who were of apparent importance. She felt like it was her job to bring them down to earth every once in a while.
Her phone suddenly began to ring.
"Hello," she said when she pressed talk.
"Alexandra?" Steve's voice asked from the other end.
Oh God, how did he get my number?
"No," she quickly replied (sarcastically, of course). "Just kidding, it's me."
"I'm turning onto your block, is it okay if I stop by?" he asked.
Alexandra looked around the house. It was definitely spotless with no furniture, aside from the couch.
"Sure," she replied, her tone indifferent, but her heart racing faster than it did when she was afraid of someone killing her.
"Great. Could you open your door?"
Alexandra opened her door, again. She could see a taxi cab making its way towards her house and the two agents in their car looking lonely. The taxi stopped in front of her house and Steve stepped out wearing cargo pants, boots and a gray polo. She was positive that her heart missed a beat when she saw him, but her mind told her to forget about it.
He didn't like you before, why would he like you now? She asked herself.
She saw that the two federal agents were eyeing Steve from their car, but thankfully the street was filled with parked cars and theirs just blended in. Hopefully Steve wouldn't see the two men keeping tabs on her.
"Hey," he greeted jogging up her stairs.
"Hi," she said in a very gentle tone.
Gentle? I can be gentle? This world has gone mad, she thought.
"You do know there's two guys in suits sitting in a car, right?" he pointed out to her chagrin.
"Oh yeah," she glanced at the FBI before closing her door. "They live next door, they're step-brothers who are also Jehovah's Witnesses," Alexandra made up.
Steve nodded his head and Alexandra was able to breathe. He didn't suspect she was lying, but then again she didn't really give him a good enough reason to think she was.
"I have an offer for you," Steve informed her out of the blue as he made his way to her couch.
"Alright," she said slowly following him.
"Governor's made me the head of a task force and I need a nurse on the team," he explained to her.
Alexandra felt like socking herself in the stomach. She knew that a lie about her career would come back to bite her in the butt.
"Umm-"
"You'd be working with me and police," he continued on. "But I need a yes or a no."
Alexandra glanced at her feet, she didn't know what to say to get herself out of that lie. If she told him the truth, he'd be angry with her for lying and he probably wouldn't be the only one who was angry. Her team would be for telling someone in the Navy she was a covert operative, her boss would be too and probably even Josef (she made him swear up and down to not tell anyone).
"I'm leaving Hawaii soon," Alexandra posed wishing she had a cigarette in her hand to calm herself down.
"I know, you have work in Somalia. But this way you could be home, here, and I really need help finding Victor Hesse," Steve vindicated. "Look, I need a nurse on the team who isn't afraid of scraping her own knee and you've spent the past few years in Somalia."
She had to stop herself from screaming that it was all a lie. That the last few years she hasn't been in Somalia, but on assignments. Alexandra felt awful, it wasn't that she hated Steve's guts, but she was afraid of being hurt again by him. She very well knew she still felt something towards him, but even if she joined his task force she would wake up every morning wanting to hang herself to avoid embarrassment.
He loves someone else, she thought . This isn't an invite to a date or anything, besides you have a job to finish in Africa, remember ?
She then remembered that cruel joke Max's friend, Mason, played on her at the club. He led Alexandra to see Steve kissing Catherine (a girl who broke Max's heart by kissing Steve) at that party. Mason knew Alexandra had a huge crush on Steve back then, and decided to break her heart for her. To this day she didn't comprehend why some of the male populace loved to bring down the female populace.
"I-"
"Please, Alexandra," Steve asked.
She wanted to say yes, to work by him daily, but she could already see the way it would play out. She would walk into their headquarters, pretending to be a nurse, Steve would somehow find out she was a covert operative and fire her. Then when she flew to Langley, they would burn her for trying to go rogue and work with the task force.
"I can't," Alexandra finally replied.
"Just one case, then," Steve suggested giving her a half smile which made her insides melt. "I know you think you don't belong here, in Hawaii. But, Alexandra, just listen, I don't see anyone else in that position. I want you there and if you think you still don't belong, then I'll let you leave, no harassment or goodbye parties."
Steve's monologue touched her. Nobody has ever looked her in the face and told her what's what. She was beginning to feel as if she fit in, just a tad.
Say yes, just say yes, for the love of God, say yes, it's one case!
"Deal," she smiled.
"Want to go meet our partner?" he proposed tilting his head and giving her another half smile.
"Okay Navy man, let's go meet the other cool cat," she replied rolling her eyes jokingly.
May 30, 2010
Kilo'aua Lane, Manoa, Hawaii
"This is wrong," a very skinny man with an Irish accent pointed out.
"No it isn't," the young woman replied tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.
"We're going to kill an innocent person. Two innocent people!"
"Listen, Dec, I love you, you know that," the woman said looking at her husband.
"Of course-"
"Then calm down and just follow my lead. It isn't like you're going to kill them, you're just an accessory."
"That makes me feel so much better. You realize they're more trained than us? That we're just the people in the background?"
"So, I still know my way around weapons better than anyone and you're the best at what you do."
"I'm going to get sent to their prison, Dette! They don't let people visit you in their prison!"
"Just relax!" the woman shouted as the other young, blonde woman they were stalking was walking out of her house with a very tough looking man.
"Oh God, look at the size of that guy. He's going to kill me if we get caught."
"Dec, he isn't going to kill you because he isn't going to be a problem. That's probably just an old friend of hers anyway."
"He looks like he's killed someone. He'll probably kill me."
The woman rolled her eyes and stared the blonde girl down.
"I can't wait to see your face, Alexandra, when you realize Derek is dead and no one is there to help you," the woman whispered.
"Derek isn't dead yet."
"He's being watched," the woman sneered, putting her car in "D" and driving away.