Chapter 17

Helen continued to hug Steve tightly, just happy that he was alive.

Catherine now approached Steve, just as relieved as Helen. She also hugged him, but much more carefully than Helen, because she had already seen how hard it was for Steve to stand. Now she whispered something in his ear that only he could hear. "I'm so glad you're back with us."

"Me too, Cath."

Catherine pulled away from Steve, looked at him, and made a decision that Steve was unlikely to be happy about. "We're taking you to the hospital now."

"Why did I suspect that?"

Steve didn't protest in principle, but he really didn't want to go to a hospital on Maui, he wanted to go to one on Oahu.

First, however, Steve was treated in an ambulance, and when the paramedics wanted to take him to the hospital, he refused and just got out. Then, when Danny was about to go on a rant, Steve stopped him.

"I'm still going to the hospital, but not on Maui, on Oahu. So let's fly home now."

Steve tried to sound normal, but it was really hard for him to stand up straight and talk because his whole body hurt and his face felt like a steamroller had run over it. Danny took note of Steve's decision and said nothing, not wanting to argue with him.

A few minutes later, the helicopter that had brought the team to the island landed next to them in a meadow and everyone got on. Steve sat next to Catherine and Helen, who hadn't said a word since Steve's rescue, just looking out the window. The flight didn't last long, but Steve was so exhausted that he just couldn't take it anymore, so he closed his eyes and leaned against Catherine's shoulder. Catherine was more worried than relaxed because they didn't know if Steve had suffered a more serious head injury and had just passed out instead of just falling asleep. Catherine convinced the pilot to land directly on the hospital helipad. She had also called the hospital and had a team of doctors waiting for them. Steve had not yet regained consciousness, so the doctors took him out of the helicopter and put him on a stretcher. Then the doctors immediately ran back into the building with Steve. Helen and Catherine ran after them while the pilot flew away and landed somewhere else to clear the hospital's landing pad. Inside the hospital, Steve was brought into a treatment room and Catherine had to sit with Helen in the waiting room.

After about 20 minutes, the rest of the team joined them. Just as they were seated, Danny's cell phone rang.

"Detective Williams."

"Hello Detective, I work at the Coronado lab and have the results of the paint analysis on the scratch marks found on Liana Upton's car. I haven't been able to reach Commander McGarrett, so I'm calling you now. The marks belong to a red Lincoln Zephyr. I hope this information helps you."

"Yes, thank you."

Danny hung up with a shocked face, causing everyone to look at him with questioning looks.

"We have a problem. The paint marks found on Liana's car don't match Moore's red car."

"So he lied to us," Kono concluded.

"Yeah, I guess he's not our perpetrator at all, but he's trying to cover for someone. This could also be related to the kidnapping. It looks like we have to go back to Coronado and ask our friend Moore what's really going on."

Danny, Chin, Kono and Lou then left for Hickham.

About an hour later, a doctor entered the waiting room and approached Catherine and Helen.

"You're with Commander McGarrett, aren't you?"

"Yes, that's right. How is he?"

"As well as can be expected under the circumstances. We were able to take care of the minor wounds quickly, only his fractured cheekbone took longer because we had to operate on him to remove splintered pieces of bone. We were able to rule out any other serious injuries. He hasn't woken up yet, but you are welcome to see him."

"Thank you."

The doctor led Catherine and Helen to Steve's room, where he left them alone.

"Um, Catherine, I know this is going to sound a little strange, but...well, could you maybe leave me alone with Steve for a moment?"

"Of course."

So Catherine left the room, closing the door behind her. Helen went to Steve's bedside and gently took his hand in hers.

"Hey, Dad. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened to you. After all, it was my fault. If I hadn't come to you a few days ago, none of this would have happened... And you sacrificed yourself for me, so now I know that what Danny and Catherine told me about you is true, you are always there for your people. I hope one day I can give something back to you... Anyway, I'm really sorry, but there was something good about our trip. I'm sure that I want to stay with you. I... I love you."

Helen hesitated a bit, but then leaned forward, held her hair back, and gave Steve a kiss on the forehead. Then she looked at him for a moment, turned away, and walked out the door of the room to where Catherine was standing. Helen was about to head for the exit to get some fresh air, but Catherine stopped her when she saw the tears on Helen's face. Helen herself had not even noticed that the tears had come when she had talked to Steve. Catherine took Helen in her arms and stroked her back. This was a little strange for Catherine because it was the first time she had ever hugged Helen and then at such a moment. At the same time, Catherine remembered that she was now a mother and somehow she hadn't really come to terms with that yet. It had all happened so fast.

"Hey, Helen, it's all right. Steve will be fine, he's been through worse."

"It's not that. I just... I feel bad because it's my fault that those people... tortured him. And then I left him alone with them, I should have helped him."

Catherine took a small step back, put her hands on Helen's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Listen to me. It's not your fault. Besides, you were right to leave. Steve was trying to protect you, and if you had stayed with him, those men could have continued to use you as leverage, or even tortured you. And believe me, that would have hurt Steve a lot more than his current injuries. The important thing is that we rescued him and he's back with us. And think about it, if you hadn't escaped, you wouldn't have been able to call me and we might not have found Steve so quickly.

Helen nodded, and as she thought about Catherine's words, she realized that this was probably true and that she wasn't to blame for the whole thing.

"I'd go get some fresh air anyway. I'll be right back."

"Okay, see you in a minute."

Catherine let go of Helen and walked into the room with Steve. She sat down in the chair next to his bed and took his hand.

Helen had sat down on a bench outside the hospital. She needed to catch her breath. Her mind was spinning. Did she really want to be here? For a moment she was unsure, but her heart said yes. She never thought that someone other than her mother would mean so much to her. Her heart tightened briefly as she thought of the fear she had endured for Steve. Fortunately, he was fine so far, but she still had the image of him staggering toward her, supported by Danny. Thoughtfully, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed her godmother's number. She told her godmother about Maui, but when she learned of the danger Helen was in, she stopped listening. Even as Helen repeatedly assured her that Steve was not to blame for what had happened and that she was in good hands here, her godmother interrupted and announced that she was coming to Oahu immediately. Helen hung up and slowly walked back to the hospital. She would have to warn Steve and Catherine. Her aunt was ready to do anything to get Helen back to Coronado.

A pair of almost black eyes followed the girl as she disappeared back into the hospital entrance…