Pillow Talk

"Nothin' Says Lovin' Like Camo and MREs"

By Cokie

Author's Note: Rumor has it that Sam and I are off plotting terrible things for Steve. Just to show that the "fluffy gene" is still in place, we are offering you the following for your reading pleasure. But... just for the record, be on the lookout for "Stairway to Heaven", coming soon to a fanfic box near you! Cokie

Oh yeah, that 'rumor' put a huge smile on my face. Cokie's right, you should enjoy the fluffiness as long as it lasts. ;-) Sam

~~~H50~~~

Steve dragged himself home at 0134 after a full work day that had begun the previous morning at 0445.

At that time, his sleep had been interrupted when he had received a phone call from the governor's office. The daughter of one of the governor's aides didn't come home from a party that was held at a friend's house. The aide and her husband had gone to the address of the party and learned that their daughter and two college guys had left before midnight. Unfortunately the boys had not been invited and no one there even knew who they were.

That is, the ones who were still conscious didn't know who they were. Five-0 hauled everyone in… in a paddy wagon no less, along with the older brother in the house who happened to be the "chaperone" and the "adult".

They had spent the day talking to hung over teens after calling all the parents that morning. The parents whose house had been used were on the big island and made a hasty return home after spending five minutes on the phone with Chin.

Five-0 had spent the day tracking down leads, in a day-long deluge of rain, but thankfully the girl had been found in a soggy tent on the beach, still with the two boys she left with. Unfortunately she had been drugged and tests at the hospital had showed she had had intercourse in the last few hours. So the case was being treated as a kidnapping and rape and both men were spending the night in separate holding cells.

Maybe by tomorrow when they reached the blue room, they would be ready to talk. Steve was certain he would make them.

Steve was normally a very neat, well organized person. That trait had been ingrained in him from living with his dad for sixteen years, but the Navy certainly ensured he remain that way. But tonight, he was soggy, his clothes were still damp and he was here by himself; Catherine was on reserve duty and wouldn't return until sometime late tomorrow. His boots came off at the top of the stairs. His mud-caked shirt was tossed inside the bedroom door and his cargoes were dropped at the end of the bed. His boxers and tee shirt felt relatively dry, so Steve pulled back the covers and crawled inside all in one fast move.

His last conscious thought was that he needed sleep tonight… Catherine would be home tomorrow and he hoped the evening would be filled with something other than sleep.

And sometimes a guy just needed to refuel…

~~~H50~~~

He was aware that his phone pinged around 0430.

Not again.

Steve reached out his hand to try to find the phone on the night stand, but had no luck.

Gotta be here somewhere.

He then vaguely remembered dropping his pants on the floor, so he flipped in the bed and reached for the pants at the end of it. Feeling for the phone in the darkness, he finally found it and used his thumb to activate the screen. Steve opened one eye and read the text, smiled in his half-wakeful state and remained where he was, on his stomach at the opposite end of the bed. He closed his eyes and was back asleep before the screen on the phone deactivated.

The message was short and sweet. On my way home, don't shoot me.

~~~H50~~~

Catherine opened the front door hesitantly. She had sent a text message to Steve telling him she was on her way but didn't receive a reply and didn't want her boyfriend rounding the corner upstairs with a weapon in his hand.

Once had been enough and she had learned that lesson quickly.

But all was quiet in the house, so she left her duffel in the living room and made her way upstairs. She found his boots in the hallway and smiled.

Rough night, Commander?

The bedroom door was partially open and she could see his shadow in the dim light of early morning. Smiling, she went to the bathroom, picking up his damp shirt on the way, before moving closer to the bed.

Steve was sleeping at the bottom end of the bed, his head on one bent arm; the other arm hanging off the bed, still holding the cell phone. He was still wearing his shorts and tee shirt from the day before. At least she presumed so because there was a mud-colored stain on the back of the shirt.

Catherine was tired and truly wished to climb into bed with him without waking him. Unfortunately, he pretty much spread-eagled all over the bed and she really didn't appreciate that foot in its dirty sock on her pillow. Hating to do so, she decided he needed to move.

"Hey," Cath whispered in his ear. "Wake up, Steve."

"Hmm, you home?"

"Yeah," she replied, taking the phone from his fingers. "Want to move up where you belong?"

"Nah, 'm good. C'mere."

His hand tried to blindly reach for her.

"No! Down boy. Come on, Steve, I'm beat and have no place to sleep. Move."

"Oh."

He began twisting on the bed and pulled away the covers to climb back in, holding them for her as well. "Now, c'mere." He opened his eyes and saw her remove her shirt. He blinked, seeing her in her black tee shirt and camo pants that she was just unzipping.

"You're wearing cammies?" he asked, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

"Not for long," she replied, dropping them. "I'm exhausted, apparently you are, too, and I want to get some sleep. Thankfully this is Saturday. Maybe your phone won't ring at the butt-crack of dawn."

Steve squinted at the window. "I think this is the butt-crack of dawn."

Catherine climbed into the bed and snuggled in close. "Then pray that phone is silent."

Steve offered his arm and she cozied up to his shoulder. "Did you take a shower?"

"Eh… was waiting for you."

"Gee, thanks," she replied around a huge yawn. "Bad case?"

"A way long day. And not much sleep. You know the best thing about you being on reserve duty?" He couldn't contain his own big yawn.

"No," she said and yawned again.

"Coming home in your camo. That's nice."

"I brought you a present," she said. "Will show you tomorrow."

"What?"

"Steve, let's sleep."

"What'd you bring me?"

"I picked up a couple of beef stew MREs. So if you want to have play time tomorrow, I suggest we get some sleep."

"Camo and MREs? Sweet. You're my kind of woman, Rollins."

"Damn straight I am. Now will you shut up?"

"Aye, aye, Lieutenant. Just be prepared to report for kitchen duty tomorrow."

They went to sleep with matching smiles on their faces.

~~~H50~~~