Chapter 10

Steve just enjoyed being outside and with Mel again. The time in the hospital was way too long for him again, even though he knew that once again it had been a damn close call and he was really only still here at all because of his Mel's attention and willingness to help.

If she hadn't just driven off to help a stranger...

Steve moved a little closer to Mel. Astonished, she looked at him.

"Is everyone okay?"

He nodded.

"I'm just grateful right now that you exist and that I get to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Which isn't very much time at all." A voice rang out from the parking lot.

Steve and Mel jumped to their feet and Steve automatically pushed her behind him.

"Greer."

"Yes, Greer. There you two lovebirds are, sitting on a beach together again, adulating yourselves."

She almost spat out the words, so much hatred was in them. Her gun was pointed at Steve.

"Why Greer?"

"Why? Can't you answer that question for yourself? You with your perfect world and even Catherine managed to bond. Only I haven't. I'm so tired of it. I loved you Steve, I wanted to be with you and spend my life with you, but you left."

Briefly her gun had slipped down a bit, but now it was pointing right back at the level of Steve's heart.

Then suddenly everything happened very quickly. Just as Greer pulled the trigger to shoot Steve, he was pushed aside by Mel, who suddenly held a gun in her hand and pulled the trigger as well.

Shortly thereafter, Greer went down, hit. Mel staggered briefly, but remained standing.

Just then, Danny with Junior and Catherine with Ian arrived back in the parking lot and jumped out of the cars.

Ian disarmed Greer, whose eyes stared lifelessly into the sky.

"Steve, Mel, are you guys okay?"

Danny, Junior and Catherine ran to the couple.

Steve was straightening up in the sand, while Mel still stood frozen, gun held tightly in her hand and aimed at the parking lot.

Danny stepped up beside her and carefully placed his hand on the gun.

"Mel, give me the gun."

"What?"

"The gun, you can give it to me, we're here now."

Danny felt her grip loosen.

„Good girl."

Danny took the gun while Steve also stepped up beside her and protectively put his arm around her shoulders. Mel began to tremble.

"Is she ..., do I have her ...?"

Steve pulled her to him, turned her so she was facing the ocean and not the parking lot, now put both arms around her and kissed her on the crown of her head.

"You saved my life - again."

Over her head, Steve looked questioningly at Danny. He signaled that Greer was dead and that he would take care of everything. Steve nodded gratefully to him and to the three others and walked with Mel down the beach a bit. Away from the action. She was still shaking and he spoke soothingly to her. Thoughts swirled in his head, however. Since when did his girlfriend carry a gun and, moreover, know how to handle it? He took a breath, however that had come about, it was his luck!

Danny, Junior, Ian and Catherine looked after Steve and Mel. Danny was still holding Mel's gun. This one looked brand new. Questioningly, he looked at Junior.

"Did you know ...?"

The latter shook his head. Danny began to grin.

"Well, so much for 'she's not Catherine, she doesn't have a gun in her glove compartment'..."

"What's that supposed to mean? She didn't get that thing from me."

Danny gave Catherine a quick hug.

"I know."

Thoughtfully, Catherine looked at Danny.

"But I talked to her about Greer and that she might try again. According to that, I guess I am to blame after all."

"Then you're partly responsible for Steve being alive."

Ian hadn't said a word the whole time.

"What I'm wondering is, where did Greer's bullet end up? Because she definitely fired one."

He held out the magazine of Greer's gun to them.

Again, the four's eyes wandered to the couple walking along the beach. By now, the Hawaii PD had arrived. Greer was driven away and Mel's gun was taken to forensics.

Danny and the three others confirmed that it was self-defense, and a check of the gun revealed that Mel had a valid gun license and had just bought the gun yesterday here on the Big Island. Danny shook his head; the woman never ceased to amaze.

When the car with Greer's body was gone, Danny texted Steve that he could come to the parking lot with Mel now. Shortly after, they saw the two approaching. Mel was still very pale and the shock was still in her limbs.

Slowly Steve maneuvered her to the ambulance and she sat down on the step.

Catherine nudged Ian, who was watching them both warily, and whispered, "Now don't look like that all the time. What's the matter?"

"Haven't you seen it yet?"

"What?"

"The collar of her denim jacket is covered in blood."

Horrified, Catherine looked first at her friend and then inconspicuously at Mel.

Catherine swallowed. Ian was right. Catherine looked at Steve and he shook his head imperceptibly. He had noticed it, too. Now he carefully removed Mel's denim jacket and handed it to Danny. Hissing, Steve sucked in his breath when he saw the graze on her neck.

Mel seemed to still be so under adrenaline that she hadn't even noticed the blood running down her neck. The paramedic tended to the wound and then wanted to help her into the car to drive her to the hospital, but Mel just shook her head.

Silently, she got up, left the others and went back to the beach. Chaos reigned in her mind.

She had killed a human being.

All her life she had fought to save human lives and today she had put an end to one. Tears came to her eyes. She felt someone step behind her and then put both arms around her.

Steve.

She closed her eyes, leaned against him and took a breath.

If you like you can listen to Stand by you by Rachel Platten at this point.