Author's Note: A couple of years ago I did some research into Hawaiian myths and legends, thinking that someday I might do a Hawaiian ghost story. Well, that hasn't happened yet, but I thought this superstition (or is it?) was interesting.

And I immediately thought about Danny and his disbelief of all of what he calls "mumbo jumbo". I hope you enjoy. Cokie

Pillow Talk

"Good Vibrations"

By Cokie

"I'm doing it again."

"Mmm…" Steve was too busy canoodling on Catherine's neck to stop and talk. His lips traveled from the crook of her shoulder up behind her earlobe, which, in actuality, was driving her crazy.

But she was still distracted.

Catherine arched her shoulders, essentially pushing him away. "It is really distracting, Steve."

Steve raised his head and looked at her. "What?" He leaned in again and grinned. "I thought…" What he thought was garbled when he zoned in on her lips.

"I'm 'v'a'rin…STOP!"

She pushed.

And he opened his eyes to stare at her. "What the hell's wrong?"

She began feeling beneath the covers. "If you would let me say something… I'm vibrating."

"Oh." He grinned.

"The phone, you dummy. Why the heck do we have to sleep with it?"

"Oh, that." Steve's excitement from a moment before turned into a pout. He did a dive beneath the sheet. "I'll get it."

She sucked in her breath. "That wasn't the phone," she managed to squeak while he was groping beneath the covers.

"Damn," he said, glancing at the phone log while throwing the sheet off his head. "It was Danny. What the hell does he want at zero thirty hours?"

"Maybe you got a case and we didn't hear the phone. But just now was the first time I felt the vibrations. You'd better call him," she said in a resigned tone.

"Might as well," Steve grumbled. "Not doing anything else." He hit redial for his partner, holding the phone in one hand and snaking his other arm under Catherine to draw her closer to him.

"Steve, sorry to call so late. Are you still up?"

Cutting a glance toward Cath, Steve mumbled, "Not anymore." The comment earned him a slap on his stomach but Catherine couldn't control her laughter, which caused him to laugh, too. "What's wrong, Danno?"

"Sorry, Steve but I need some help. The car died and I need a lift."

"Now?"

"Well, yeah. I went to the grocery and spent a fortune and I don't know what's wrong but this brand new Camaro just up and died. The battery's getting a charge, but it just won't start. I've got a lot of frozen food that needs to get in the freezer."

"OK, where are you?"

"On the Pali, about –"

"Wait. You're on the Pali?"

"Yeah, I'm just—"

Steve groaned. "Please tell me you didn't buy any pork?"

"Excuse me? I'm stuck on the side of the road and you want me to read my grocery list?"

"No, seriously Danny, did you buy any pork?"

"Yeah… a ham steak? Why the hell does that matter?"

"Aw, geez, I'll be there in a few. But I'm warning you, that ham isn't going in my truck. It stays behind."

"Steven, what the hell do you have against my ham?"

"It's not me, Danny, it's Pele. If you drive the Pali at night with pork in the car, she'll stop your car every time. I've seen it before—"

"Hold on… you actually believe that bunch of nonsense? Steve, I thought you were beyond all that superstitious mumbo-jumbo."

"Don't make fun, Danno. Now first thing we have to do is throw away the ham and then see if the car works. My guess is that it will start right up."

"I will not throw away my ham."

"Are you prepared to sit by the side of the road until daylight?"

"Well, no, why would I-?"

"I'm telling you, either the ham goes or you sit because that ham isn't getting in my truck."

"Oh, now, that's just ridiculous. Let me talk to Catherine. Maybe she will be sane and reasonable about this. Of all the crazy, asinine ideas…"

"Cath, would you pick up Danny and his ham on the Pali tonight?"

"Hell, no."

"Did you hear that, Danno? See, I told you!"

"You people are certifiable. An old, dead god can't dislike my brand new ham. I'm calling Chin!"

"So, you don't want a ride?"

"No, I don't. My ham and I will wait for Chin Ho."

"OK, I'm guessing you'll see him around six. You know, after daylight. Because he won't give your ham a ride either!"

"Good bye, Steven." The phone suddenly shut off.

Steve chuckled and set his phone back on the bed and reached for his pants. "There is no reasoning with some people."

"You don't really believe Pele doesn't like ham, do you?" Catherine asked.

"Not really, but I've seen too much that can't be explained. The ham stays behind. I don't want to have trouble with the truck while it's still under warranty."

"You're going to pick him up?"

"Yeah, of course. He's my partner. I'll call Chin on the way and tell him not to bother."

Catherine climbed out of bed. "I'm coming with… listening to his rant might be worth losing an hour's sleep."

"OK, but when we get back, we're gonna finish that vibration thing."

"That's a deal, Commander. No superstitions there!"

~~~H50~~~

An hour later…

"He's still pretty pissed." Catherine came into the house in front of Steve, then waited while he reset the alarm.

"Yeah, well, he'll get over it. Throwing away the damn ham was cheaper than getting the car towed."

"Agreed, but when you threw it down the hill I thought he was going to jump after it."

"Well, we could have said that the mo'o wahine led him away. That has happened on the Pali, too."

"I didn't know you were so superstitious," Catherine said, climbing the stairs to head back to bed.

"I don't consider it superstitious," Steve said, following behind her. "I was raised to be respectful of certain myths. We got that from my grandmother. She was very 'into' honoring the island that became her home."

"My family calls that 'old wives' tales'," Cath said. "Speaking of," she turned around and grinned at him. "Have you ever heard the one about 'you'd better finish what you start'?"

Steve grinned back and pulled off his tee shirt. "Oh yeah?" He grabbed her by the waist and pushed her backward on the bed, landing next to her. "I understand you like good vibrations."

~~~H50~~~

The Nu'uanu Pali Pass has been filled with superstition from ancient times. After the Pali Highway was built, those superstitions continue, one of which is that the goddess Pele won't allow any pork to travel the highway, especially at night. Cars have been known to stop and/or die along the roadway if they are carrying pork.

In reading this superstition, I immediately thought of Danny.

If you are interested in learning more information about the superstition, please head over to Mostly Five-0 for more of the story!

mostlyfive0 dot wordpress dot com