DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own "Hawaii Five-O" or any of its characters.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! WOW ... Thank you so much for all the reviews! You're all so sweet! I really appreciate it!

I've been working on this chapter for the last month and it is not finished yet. However, I know how much you guys have been waiting for it and I know you want to get more Steve and Maddie. So, what I've done is given you the very first part of it. I know this chapter isn't nearly as long as you're used to, but I didn't want to make you guys wait another day before giving you something!

As always, thoughts are in italics and flashbacks are in bold.

Also, please, let me know your thoughts. I'm always looking to improve my writing.

Anyway, enough of my rambling! ENJOY!

xoxo

DivaLola

CHAPTER 32

Steve tensed when he felt Maddie finally lift her head from the crook of his neck, worried she'd insist he put her down. When she didn't, he glanced out of the corners of his eyes and felt both relieved and worried when her eyes fluttered closed, only for her to immediately force them open. Relieved that it hopefully meant she'd sleep soon, but worried that she was so exhausted and still fighting it. He watched as the length of time her eyes stay closed increased, and each time she was slower to open them. Finally, she laid her head on his right shoulder, her eyes remaining closed. He couldn't keep the small smile from his lips.

Maddie knew she should tell him to put her down, but she'd missed him and she felt so safe in his arms. Since they were almost to her dressing room, she ignored her head screaming at her to run, and instead gave in to the moment. What's one minute, she thought tiredly as she breathed in his scent.

As they entered her dressing room Steve glanced around. Years of training kicked in as he automatically and quickly memorized the layout of the room, its exits, any spots they were vulnerable, and any places that would give him advantage and cover in any kind of tactical situation. Once he'd noted all this, he slowed and took the room in like a normal person would.

"You can set her on the couch," Pete said.

Steve looked towards the two overstuffed couches and his grip tightened on her, not ready to set her down. He didn't know if she'd let him hold her again. Even though he was angry with her, it didn't mean that he wanted to put distance between them.

Pete's voice pulled Maddie from her fantasy world. A world where Steve loved her back. A world where he hadn't led her on. A world where someone wasn't after her. And better yet, a world that didn't have her performing a massive show when she could barely function.

Maddie's eyes opened as the last few minutes came back to her. Stupid alpha male, she thought, tensing as she thought back to the scene he'd made.

Feeling her stiffen, Steve's stomach sunk. He tried to meet her eyes, but she refused to look at him. Why is she mad? Steve wondered, his anger increasing. She's the one who lied and had everyone mixed up in it!

Pete watched his friend stand in the middle of the room looking down at the woman he loved, even if he was too stubborn to realize how he felt about her. "Steve," he softly called.

"Yeah, of course." He walked towards the couch with the blanket he recognized as hers jumbled on it. Reluctantly he lowered her onto the soft, comfortable couch.

The second Maddie made contact with the couch she let go of him. Although she wanted and wished she could stay snuggled into him forever, she also wanted to get away from him as soon as possible. Not only was she pissed off at his behavior, but the more physical contact she had with him, the more it hurt. It just reminded her of what she wanted, but could never, and would never, have. As she felt his eyes on her, she reminded herself that if things were fine between them she would never avoid eye contact. Just as she was looking towards him another coughing spasm hit. Steve immediately sat beside her and gently began to pat her back. By pure will power alone she kept from tensing at the physical contact. As her coughs died down she noticed Doc take a seat on the edge of the coffee table. For some reason, this brought her back to the moment and she was reminded of Steve's alpha male display. As her anger flared Maddie forcefully shook Steve's hand from her back. Her eyes shot to his, and Steve saw the fire in them.

"What the hell is your problem?" Maddie angrily whispered. She inwardly cursed her voice, wishing it sounded stronger.

Although he was expecting it, Steve's eyes widened in disbelief. "What is MY problem?" He paused. "Are you kidding me right now?" He scoffed. "What is YOUR problem?"

Her jaw clenched. "You had no right to do what you did back there! I'm an adult and can take care of myself," she seethed.

Steve shook his head in frustration. "Right... you can take care of yourself," he said sarcastically. "I can really see that." He paused, trying to breathe through his anger. "Maddie, you're even more exhausted than you were when you got to Hawaii. Something, by the way, I didn't think was even possible. Do you remember?" His heated eyes met her fiery ones. "When you fainted in front of me?" His voice rose slightly as he brought up the incident. Every time he thought about it he saw her lying unconscious on the marble floor, an image that would haunt him for a long time. "Now you're really sick. You're not taking care of yourself. You can't go rehearse! How would you have done that?!" He looked at her and waited for her to answer. "You tell me how you'd honestly be able to rehearse right now and I'll let you. I won't stand in your way." Steve didn't need to see her nearly snarl at him to know he'd made a mistake. Crap, he thought.

Pete and Doc shared a look before silently standing and leaving the room. Both Maddie and Steve paid no attention to them.

"Let me?" Maddie whispered, rage settling over her pale face. "Let me?" she asked again, her voice rising, which was a mistake as it only made her cough.

His face softened seeing hers scrunch in pain. Steve reached for her, but she batted at his hands. "Maddie... come on," he sighed.

Once the coughing spasm subsided, Maddie returned her furious gaze to him. "Let me? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Before she could continue he interrupted her. "You know I didn't mean it like that!"

Maddie ignored him and continued her rant. "And what was with your little display out there? Going all Navy SEAL!" She moved her head from side to side, enunciating the words 'Navy SEAL'. "And then telling George I'm going into lockdown and that he can't come anywhere near me? You're not the boss of me, Steven!" She knew she sounded immature, but she was just so mad.

He wasn't sure why, but her calling him by his full first name only irritated him more. As did thinking about George. "I kept my mouth shut long enough! That guy was out of line! Since when do you put up with crap like that?!" He didn't give her a chance to answer. "And don't tell me you like him, or try to tell me that you aren't happy that somebody put him in his place." Maddie said nothing. However, her silence told him he was right, and he smirked. "See!" He paused, taking a deep breath. He needed to get her to calm down and the only way that was going to happen was if he did too. "Maddie, I could tell he was making you uncomfortable. Maybe I could have handled it a little-" Steve paused, searching for the right word. "Gracefully."

Maddie's eyes shot to him as she quipped, "Ya think?"

"But, Maddie, I'm right. You can't rehearse anymore today if you want to be able to perform tonight." When he continued, his voice had softened slightly. "You're too tired and sick. You need to get some rest."

Maddie knew he was right. There was no way she'd be able to rehearse. However, she wouldn't admit that to him. "That's not true. I'm fine to rehearse."

Steve sighed as he tried to stifle his mounting frustration. Why does she have to be so damn stubborn? he wondered. "And tell me, how would you do it?"

Without missing a beat she countered, "Like I always do." She began to stand, planning to go rehearse, to prove to him she was fine. However, an intense pain shot through her tailbone when she was halfway up causing her to cry out and drop back to the couch.

Steve immediately reached for her, worry replacing his anger. She lightly swatted him away, causing an aching in his chest. More than anything he wanted to bring up what he'd said Sunday morning, as he knew that was the root of why she was currently so mad at him, but he knew it wasn't the time. She was already upset and he worried she'd just force herself to rehearse to avoid him if he did.

Steve watched as she breathed through the pain. "You okay?"

Gone was her glare as she met his eyes. Instead she looked at him hesitantly, obviously embarrassed. She gave him a small, tired smile as she nodded. He watched her eyes flutter closed briefly before she forced them back open. "Let's get Doc back in here," he softly said.

As Steve headed to the door, Maddie's scratchy and whispered voice stopped him. "I'm still mad at you."

With his back to her he smiled. "I know. And I'm still mad at you. But-" he paused and looked over his shoulder. "We'll talk about it later. After the show. Okay?"

Maddie knew he was talking about more than what they'd just been arguing about. She tried to hide the hurt she felt as his words echoed in her head. You know we're just friends… I mean, seriously? With the words came his laugh. The way he'd laughed at the idea of them together, as anything more than friends. Until then she'd always loved his laugh.

Steve watched her whole demeanor change as he waited for her to respond. As she tensed, her hands subconsciously reached for the fuzzy blanket next to her and she pulled it to herself. "Mads?"

She blinked as she tried to force the echoing words and hurtful laugh from her mind. "Hm?" she asked, trying to mask her hurt.

Steve's stomach plummeted at the look in her eyes. "Would you rather talk about it now? Would that be better?" he asked, his tone gentle and encouraging.

Maddie felt herself begin to panic. There was no way she was ever going to talk about this with him. She knew where he stood; they didn't need to talk about it. So, she played dumb. "I thought we just did."

Steve knew what she was doing and it worried him. Until recently it wasn't like her to avoid a conversation with him. "I'm not talking about that, Mads." He paused. "Sunday... I... just... I." He'd spent days thinking about what he was going to say to her and now that the opportunity finally presented itself the words wouldn't come. He sighed in frustration. "I'm sorry."

Maddie's heart ached. She assumed he was apologizing for not feeling anything more than friendship for her. However, she'd already received the message loud and clear. She didn't need to hear it again.

She could feel the tears stinging the back of her eyes, but she had promised herself there would be no more crying over him. Forcing a small smile she said, "I don't know why you keep apologizing. We're good!"

"Mads..." Steve began as his eyes bored into her. "I-"

Knowing she couldn't handle this much longer, Maddie pulled her phone from her pocket. "I'll just text Doc to come back."

His stomach felt heavy as he watched her put her walls up to try and keep him out. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, the door to her dressing room opened.

TO BE CONTINUED…..