Sammy and Ilna, as I've said before, Oblivious will always be close to my heart, because it brought Sammy and I together as friends and eventually writing partners. And through Sammy, I became friends with Ilna. The rest is ... REAL... I LOVE you guys!

REAL McRollers, your love for the Oblivious series warms my soul. Many, many thanks.

Kelly, for all the info and input on this one, and your undying support of my creative efforts, I'm so very grateful. You've helped me keep this installment REAL. And been as REAL a sister as any blood relative could ever be. And it's posting on J's B-Day!

Hugs to all, Mari

Oblivious: Hummingbirds

Mihaly's Tattoos
Oahu

Steve and Catherine stood with the owner, Mihaly, and Yaas, another artist, at the counter of Mihaly's. They were standing beneath a sign that read:

NO KIDS

NO ONE UNDER 18

NO GANGS

NO COLORS

NO FOOD

NO ATTITUDE

It had made Steve grin slightly. He liked clearly defined parameters.

He and Catherine were showing both artists images of tattoos on an unidentified victim that had been dumped on the grounds of a member of state's Ways and Means Committee's home.

"Yeah, that's my work. This guy came in to have an old tattoo covered. See here?" Mihaly pointed to some heavy blackwork on a closeup of the dead man's bicep. "There was a prison tattoo here, and here, like you suspected. I reworked new art over it."

Before they could speak, the second artist, Yaas, offered, "The woman's was a brand."

"Woman?" Catherine asked. She and Steve exchanged a look. "He came in with a woman?"

"Yes, Ma'am. About your height and weight. Maybe twenty five, twenty six. She wanted an ankle tattoo covered. Definitely a brand." He looked at his boss and both men nodded.

"Would you sketch me the original?" Catherine had her phone out to photograph the image. If they could identify the tattoo, they could identify the pimp and quite possibly get a break. "Could we go somewhere more private?"

"Absolutely. Right back here, Lieutenant." Mihaly led her into a smaller room they used to work just as Steve's phone rang.

"Go ahead, I gotta take this, it's Max." Steve spoke to Max for a minute and ended the call. He followed up with a call to Danny. He told his partner their progress, suggested he contact the human trafficking division in case this was more than a simple case of an ex prostitute accompanying a boyfriend, and instructed him to then break for the night. It was late and they'd been at it for two days.

Steve had just ended the call when a patron in the shop addressed him.

"Excuse me, Commander McGarrett?"

He turned to see a young woman in her early thirties. "Yes?"

"Can we talk?" Her long dark hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she wore a pair of cutoff jeans and bikini top with a tank over it. She was seated on a loveseat with a book of flash art in her lap, rubbing her arms against the cold as she looked at pre-drawn tattoo selections. She patted the seat next to her, but Steve stood by an armchair.

"Do you have information on the victim?"

"Victim?" She looked confused for a second, but recovered quickly. "Oh, ah the dead guy. No. I'm Tammi. That's with an i by the way." She held out a hand and Steve shook it. "I wanted to ask you ..."

He crossed his arms and waited for her to continue.

"How do you feel about hummingbirds?"

"How do I feel about ...what?" Steve's brows furrowed.

She pointed to the tattoos partially visible beneath his T-shirt. "Ohh, can I see your tattoos?"

Steve's eyes widened slightly, his face registering disbelief. "Excuse me, what?"

"I'm getting one." She giggled. "Of course I am, why else would I be here? I know you have two so I was wondering … could I see them?"

"See ...?" Steve's eyes scanned the area, but Catherine was still in the back room with Mihaly and Yaas. "No."

"Just a teeny peek?" she cajoled. She leaned forward, pulled the end of her ponytail over her shoulder and twirled it through her fingers.

"No."

"Okay, I understand, it's not ... convenient in here. We could ..." Her voice dropped. "Go outside, maybe. If you want. We'd be back before ..." Her head inclined towards the door Catherine had gone through, "anyone missed you. Unless ..." Her voice dripped with innuendo until Steve's expression stopped her cold. She smiled, changed course and pointed to the book in her lap.

"So, about the hummingbirds. What do you think about hummingbirds on my hip?"

Steve was already moving towards the area Catherine was in. "I think that's a personal decision."

"But I really wanna know what you think. Will you help me pick one out? Do you like hummingbirds? I think they're so … colorful and, you know, pretty." She pointed to an image in the book. "I want classy, but not trendy."

Steve's head snapped around at the snort of laughter he'd be able to identify anywhere. He sighed in relief to see Catherine in the doorway, an amused grin firmly in place.

"All done here, Commander. I sent the images to the DOJ, my contacts in the FBI and Max." She gave him a dazzling smile that he knew was hiding a smirk.

"Good. Great, let's go." He glanced at the suddenly perturbed looking woman who was staring at Catherine, said, "Good luck," and began to leave.

"Aw really?" She pouted at Steve before pinning Catherine with another look. "He was helping me pick out a tattoo, aren't you guys off duty now?" Her gaze darted to Steve.

He gave her a curious glance. "No. Uh, good luck," Steve repeated, and with what he considered nothing more than an odd occurrence already leaving his mind, led Catherine out of the shop with a hand brushing the small of her back as she was saying, "As soon as they get info on the girl's tattoo, they'll call me."

Catherine said nothing else until they were around the corner, standing at their vehicles. When Steve said, "I'll meet you at home," she burst into peals of laughter.

"What? Oh, no, no." He shook his head before inclining it towards the shop. "No way. That woman was just ... strange."

"God, your face." Catherine sputtered out between gasps for air. "Did she offer to have your name tattooed on her ...?" She snorted another laugh and Steve made a huffing sound.

"Catherine ..."

"Oh, God, I'm sorry. I'll see you at home." She patted his chest and climbed into the car still chuckling, leaving Steve to get in his truck with a head shake and amused expression as he watched her pull away from the curb.

McGarrett/Rollins Home

They arrived at home seconds apart and exited their vehicles together. Catherine was grinning as she unlocked the door.

"Really, Catherine? Still?"

"Really. If you weren't so ... "

The conversation continued inside as they each greeted Cammie. "If I wasn't so ... what?" Steve was fighting to control a smile but he wasn't fooling Catherine.

"He's awfully cute when he's befuddled, isn't he, Cammie?" Catherine grinned and kissed his cheek, yelping when Steve caught her around the waist and effortlessly hoisted her over his shoulder.

"And she's exaggerating again, isn't she, Cammie?" he played along, addressing the dog, who'd begun to canter around at her humans' jovial tones and movements. "That woman, Tammi" he snorted, "was just odd, she wasn't hitting …" Her laugh stopped him.

"Put me down, McGarrett, and admit you were oblivious to Tammi. Which I'd bet money is spelled with an i."

At his surprised huff, Catherine grinned, chortled, "Ha!" triumphantly and swiveled to get the upper hand, but Steve anticipated her move. He easily caught hold of her legs and continued walking through the house, out onto the deck, and down the path.

When they reached the water's edge, her eyes were as wide as her smile.

"Don't.

You.

Dare.

McGarrett.

These are new boots!"

Steve swung her outward but instead of tossing her in the water, he placed her gently on the sand and kissed her.

Catherine's eyes danced with mirth. "I'm still right. Did she ask to touch your ... tattoos? You know, to get a feel for them?" she snickered.

Steve did a double take. "What? No! She wanted to see ..." He stopped with a small grin playing at the corners of his mouth as he realized Catherine was right. Again. She knew him so well.

"I bet she wanted to see them." She couldn't resist teasing him. "Up close."

"Caaath..." He shook his head.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and when his hands slid to her waist she chuckled. "So, how do you feel about hummingbirds?"

"Why? You planning to ..." He raised an eyebrow and ran his eyes over her.

"Nope."

"Didn't think so."

"Can't say I blame Tammi with an i, though. I've wanted to see and touch... " her fingers danced from his shoulders to his elbows and back. "These arms, with or without tattoos," her smile was lascivious and her eyes sparkled at his smile. "Since the day a really cute guy bought me a rack of ribs." Her laugh was low when she chuckled against his lips.

"That can be arranged, Lieutenant." He deepened the kiss and they swayed together until Steve lifted her back off her feet and her hands found purchase in his hair. "That can definitely be arranged."

.

End. Thanks for reading.

.

Oblivious will return.

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