Steve turned the card over in his fingers for a few moments, then picked up the phone and dialed.
"Master Chief Nolan," he said. "Steve McGarrett. I was wondering if we could speak, sir."
#*#*#*#*#
They met at the coffee stand outside Iolani Palace. Steve chuckled when Robert ordered plain black coffee.
"Well, now there's something I see you have in common with Jax," he said, hoping to start their conversation on a positive note.
Robert smiled, raising his cup slighting. "Military, law enforcement, fire – I guess we got used to just needing the heat and caffeine as quickly as possible. Though here, maybe not so much the heat."
"Let's sit in the shade – or we could go inside, if you're uncomfortable –"
"No, no, not at all. It's a beautiful day." They sat on a bench shaded by a tree with fragrant flowers. The quiet sounds of visitor chatter and birdsong filled an otherwise awkward silence.
"Thank you for meeting me," Steve said.
"Believe me, the pleasure is mine. After our initial visit, I wasn't sure if we'd be given another opportunity. I apologize, again."
"I am willing to believe you meant well," Steve said. "We were very surprised. I've known Jax for, well, several years now, sir, and to my knowledge, there's been no contact."
Robert cleared his throat, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, cradling his coffee in both hands. "That, uh, that's correct. We heard she'd left New York, and Jeannie was, well, she was upset that she didn't tell us."
"And before she left? How much did you see her, after 9/11?" Steve asked.
"It was so painful, especially for Jeannie," Robert started, then sighed and shook his head. "But we didn't make much effort. The holidays, mostly. Which I guess is why Jeannie was so hell bent on seeing her now."
"Did you follow the trajectory of her career?"
"Knew she switched from LEO to medic," Robert said.
Steve felt irritation rise like bile in his throat. "Respectfully, sir, that is a gross understatement. After she was almost killed in the process of aiding countless civilians on 9/11, she tackled the elite education and training required to become a tactical medic. The civilian law enforcement equivalent of our combat corpsman. She was selected for SWAT both in New York and here in Honolulu."
"She never told us," Robert said. He shook his head again. "Though I guess we never asked."
"When she was badly injured again," Steve said, choosing his words carefully, "she came here. Specifically, to Danny."
"Detective Williams, yes. Her training officer."
"Well, here on the island, we take ohana – friendship, family – very seriously. Jax didn't just have Danny to depend on then, she had the Five-O task force team and all of the extended friends and family. What I'm saying, sir, is that she has found here what she hadn't had in New York, since the death of her brother. Your son, and my sincere condolences for that loss. I know it was devastating as parents. I also know it was devastating for Jax. As were countless other events, of which you and your wife are not aware." Steve paused and took a sip of his coffee. "But she has fought her way back from all of it, physically and mentally, and she's in a good place now."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"All due respect, sir, but I'll be damned if I allow your wife, or you, to undo any of what she has fought so hard to achieve. None of it is my story to tell, but suffice to say – what she has endured and overcome would have most men, myself included, curled in a fetal position under a hospital bed somewhere," Steve said, his voice going hoarse with emotion.
Robert straightened and looked at Steve. He nodded. "Understood."
"I expect that my team, particularly Detective Williams, will be treated with equal respect," Steve continued. "Danny is one of Jax's closest, most trusted friends. He's been an integral part of her life. And mine."
"I've always thought highly of Detective Williams," Robert said.
"Well, to speak plainly, it is not so much you as your wife that concerns me," Steve said. "But I wanted to talk to you first, man to man."
"I'll see to it that Jeannie understands."
"Good." Steve paused, then pulled out his phone. "Because Jax does want to give you another opportunity to speak with her." He thumbed an icon on his phone screen, and a picture of the twins appeared. "And we want you to have the chance to meet your grandchildren."
Robert swallowed hard, instantly overcome with emotion. "Grandchildren?"
Steve showed him the picture. "Twins. William Daniel and Anne Hart McGarrett. Billy and Annie."
"Oh my God," Robert whispered, looking at the picture in amazement. "I can't believe it."
"We were hoping you'd come for dinner this evening," Steve said. "Barring an emergency of some sort, with either my job or Jax's," he added.
"Understood. We will be there, just name the time and address," Robert said. "And . . . thank you."
#*#*#*#*#
Jax paced back and forth from the kitchen to the front door, Steve watching her with amusement.
"You're going to wear a path," he said. "You know, if anyone should be nervous, it's me. I went and married their daughter without so much as a hello, much less asking for your hand."
Jax dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "You're a Naval officer. It doesn't get any better than that, as far as they're concerned. And you didn't tell them I worked at Tripler now?"
"Nope," Steve said.
"Maybe my mom will think I'm a nurse. Nursing, that's a suitable profession, right?"
"Of course, but a trauma medic is equally suitable."
"It's not very lady-like. Nursing is more lady-like. That will play."
Steve stopped her in her tracks, wrapping her small hands in his. "You are not going to play," he said firmly. "Everything about you is exactly as it should be, and you should be damn proud of what you do and what you've accomplished. I sure as hell am."
The doorbell rang, making Jax jump.
"Jax. It's going to be just fine," Steve said, bending and brushing a kiss to her cheek. He took a deep breath and opened the door. "Chief Nolan, Mrs. Nolan, hello. I hope you didn't have any trouble finding us?"
"Please. Robert and Jeannie," Robert said. "And no, the GPS was spot on." He shook Steve's hand firmly, then looked past him to where Jax was standing anxiously. "Honey. Thank you for inviting us. I can't tell you how happy we are to be here."
Jax returned his hug awkwardly.
"Commander McGarrett, what an absolutely lovely home," Jeannie said.
"Oh, please – Steve. And thank you. It's been a family home for a few generations," Steve said. "Jax has made it feel so much more inviting."
"And Steve's sister Mary," Jax added. Talking about the house seemed like a safe topic.
"Well, it's a far sight better than any of those hovels you inhabited in New York," Jeannie said.
Robert cleared his throat.
"Could we get you all something to drink?" Steve asked. "Beer, wine, coffee, tea?"
"Beer sounds great," Robert said.
Jax bolted for the kitchen.
"White wine?" Jeannie asked, raising an eyebrow at Jax's retreating form.
"Coming right up. Please, make yourselves comfortable." Steve caught up to Jax in the kitchen. She had an unopened beer in one hand, digging frantically through a drawer with the other.
"Can't find the opener," she mumbled. "Where the hell do we keep the opener?"
Steve took the bottle from her and twisted the cap off easily. "Because we don't use one?" he offered. "I'm going to pour your mom a white wine; would you like one?"
"God, yes," Jax said.
They returned to the living room with drinks in hand, and discovered that Pupule had rather cornered Jeannie against the sofa.
"This is, um, a delightful cat," she said hesitantly. "Nice kitty."
Jax laughed, easing the tension they all felt. "Pupule, don't be rude," she said. "Go up to your bed."
Pupule narrowed his eyes at Jeannie, then stalked off toward the stairs, swishing his tail.
"Vet office being used as a front for drug dealers," Jax said, handing Jeannie a glass of wine.
"Well that's," Jeannie paused, "exciting."
"Yes," Robert said quickly. "So you've been working on the same task force as Comman – as Steve? Is that how you two met?"
Jax glanced at Steve, who nodded encouragingly. "I came here on medical leave," Jax said, "figured while I had time I'd take Danny up on his invitation to visit. I helped out with an undercover op, and then applied to SWAT. Eventually my SWAT captain and I both ended up with Five-O."
"So you work with your husband," Jeannie said. "That's lovely, dear. But don't you think it's dangerous? I understand you have children to consider now."
Jax took a breath. "Actually, now I work at Tripler. In the emergency department. They have a wonderful daycare for the twins."
"Tripler certainly has a great reputation," Robert said. "For an Army hospital." He winked at Steve, who laughed quietly.
"I miss working directly with Jax," Steve said, "but as you said, with kids to consider, I'm thankful she was willing to consider a job there. And she's able to do a lot of good, working with our active duty and retired military vets, and all that goes with it."
"Here, here," Robert said, tipping his bottle toward Jax.
"Speaking of children," Jeannie said, "I do hope you're not hiding them from us this evening. I am just about to explode with waiting to see them."
Jax hesitated.
"They're napping," Steve filled in smoothly.
"And how old are they?" Jeannie continued. "I guess not old enough for Jacqueline to have lost the baby weight."
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Jax said, incredulous.
"What?" Jeannie asked, sniffing. "I just made an observation."
"No. You made a disparaging comment," Jax said, straightening her spine. "Completely unnecessary, and exactly the sort of thing I intend to protect my children from, even if it means you don't get to see them."
"I don't know where this attitude is coming from," Jeannie said. She brushed away non-existent tears from her eyes.
"It's not an attitude, it's called having some self-respect and some boundaries, mom."
"Where'd you get that nonsense?"
"It's not nonsense, it's therapy, and you definitely need some!"
"Oh," Jeannie sneered. "Therapy. Where you learn to blame your mother for everything."
"No. Where I finally learned not to blame myself for everything. Where I learned how to function with the PTSD that controlled my life for years. Where I learned that I deserved good things, that I deserved to be happy."
"Happy? You don't know what it's like to lose a child, to know that you'll never be happy again."
Jax wavered. It always came down to this, to losing Billy. But now, Steve's hand was warm and solid at her back. Now, she wasn't alone.
"I don't know what it's like to lose a child, thank God."
Jeannie tilted her head up, savoring her moment of victory.
"But you are not the only person who lost someone that day. I lost my brother. I lost my best friend and the person I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with. And I lost my parents. I lost you, just as sure as if you'd been in those towers. But unlike Billy and Jake, you had a choice. You chose to take yourself out of my life. And I will not apologize for how I've lived it since. I will not feel guilty for doing what they would have wanted me to do, to keep living, to find love, and family, and happiness."
Jeannie took a step back, shocked. For once, she was speechless.
Jax took a softer tone. "And I will not apologize for the way I dress, or for the fact that yes, I've put on a few pounds from, oh, eating like a normal person and having children."
As if on cue, there was a familiar thumping sound from the twin's bedroom.
"Mrs. Nolan – Jeannie," Steve said. "For whatever reason, you extend a great deal of courtesy and respect to me."
"Well, you're an officer, highly decorated," Jeannie said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world."
"As is Jax," Steve said. He held Jeannie's gaze for a long moment. "Her career is every bit as remarkable as mine. Not to mention, she is the mother of my children, and believe me when I tell you, she has managed that entire process with courage and dedication beyond anything I've ever done. So, as I think it's already been made clear to you, let me reiterate: if you want a relationship with Jax, with me, and with our children, you'll extend the same courtesy and respect to her as you do to me. If you're not willing to do that, you can leave now."
"I will," Jeannie said. "Oh, Jacqueline, you know I've only ever wanted the best for you."
"Then you should be happy for me," Jax said quietly. "Because this – Steve, the babies, my job, my friends – it's better than I ever could have imagined."
"We are happy for you, honey," Robert said. "And so proud of you, too."
"Yes," Jeannie said, nodding emphatically. "Please, please let us – let me see the babies. And I am proud of you, and happy for you. You were such a difficult child, and still just so young when we lost Billy and lost touch with you . . . I forget that you're a grown woman, and you don't need my advice and direction any more."
Jax sighed. "Well, that's really not the issue, here, but if you're willing to try . . . I'm willing to try, too. And I don't want to keep you from knowing your grandchildren."
Jeannie clapped her hands. "Is that them I hear stirring around?"
"Yes," Steve chuckled, "they have their own way of letting us know they're ready for company. We'll go get them." He took Jax's hand and they slipped down the hall.
They paused in front of the door to the baby's room, not visible from the living room.
"I'm so damn proud of you," he murmured, brushing a kiss to Jax's forehead. "Not that you need me to be, but I am."
"It's easier to stand up for the kids than it is to stand up for myself," she said quietly.
"You're an amazing mom, and an amazing person." He kissed her again, quickly. "Now, let's go show off our amazing babies, shall we?"
#*#*#*#*#
