DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Hawaii Five-O" or any of its characters. I do, however, own Maddie, Pete, Tina, Carl, Mo, the stalker, etc.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello everyone! This update is quite short, but I wanted to post it anyway and give you all something new.

Chapter 36, Part 9 will be the last part to the pre-show. I want to get to the rest of the story that I have had written in my mind for so long.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND...

1. Like always, thoughts are in italics.

2. Hand-written notes are in bold. As are flashbacks.

3. So far, this story takes place in Season 2 of Hawaii Five-0. However, it will span into later seasons as the story unfolds.

Thanks again for all the feedback and for simply reading my story! You guys are the best! As always, reviews and/or PM's are incredibly welcome!

Anyways, enough talking on my part. Enjoy this update even though it is short.

Enjoy!

xoxo

DivaLola

Chapter 36

Part 8

Steve suddenly stopped typing and cocked his head as he listened closely. When they stopped, he assumed she'd just been moving around in her sleep. However, thirty seconds later they started again. "Damn," he mumbled.

"She awake?" Kono asked.

Before he could answer they heard rushed footsteps followed by the bathroom door closing loudly. He turned around and focused on the door leading from their room into the bathroom as if he could see through it. His brows furrowed as he heard the door's lock click into place.

Subconsciously he licked his bottom lip as he heard the sink immediately turn on. What's she doing? he wondered. The thought was barely out when he heard her get sick. Damn, he silently cursed as he rose. Taking big, purposeful strides, he was at the bathroom door in seconds. He leaned in close as he knocked quietly. "Mads?" he gently called through the door.

Crumpled on the floor, Maddie squeezed her eyes shut and pursed her lips trying desperately to hold in the sob at Steve's voice. It reminded her of what she couldn't have. Him. If her stalker got into her room without her whole security team and Five-O knowing, she knew there was nothing she could do to protect Steve except stay away and let him go.

"Maddie?" he said when she didn't respond.

Pull yourself together, she told herself as silent tears ran down her face. She took a deep breath, hoping it would help steady her voice. She knew Steve would be able to hear the tears in her voice if she didn't calm down. She sniffled quietly and wiped at her wet face before answering. "Yeah?" She breathed irregularly, holding her breath every few seconds as she continued to hold back sobs.

He placed his hands on each side of the door's frame and bowed his head as he listened closely. He immediately heard she was upset even though he was positive she was trying to hide it. He hated that she was upset and alone inside. "I'm coming in," he stated. "Unlock the door." When he didn't immediately hear the click of the lock, he sighed. I should've stayed with her, he thought.

"I'm fine," she responded. Her stomach was still churning, however she didn't think she'd be sick again. Not that there was anything left to throw up. She leaned away from the toilet and began taking repeated deep breaths. She needed to calm down. She knew she wasn't going to be able to hide in there much longer before Steve got impatient and barged in whether the door was locked or not. In fact, she was surprised he hadn't done so already.

"Madeline..."

She smirked slightly as she wiped at her wet face. Only he can sound concerned when he's warning and threatening me at the same time, she thought. And with just one word. "I'm okay, I promise. I'll be out in a sec."

She coughed as she started pulling herself off the floor, something that was difficult because of the massive brace. After much struggling, she stood with her hands on the edge of the sink. Warily, she glanced at herself in the mirror and immediately cringed at her reflection. Her face finally had a bit of color to it. However, it wasn't the kind she'd been hoping for. It was now pale with splotchy red patches. Her nose was bright red and running, and her eyes were bloodshot. Although she'd stopped crying, tears still clung to her lashes.

"Who are you?" she whispered as she stared at the unrecognizable woman looking back at her. She hated that the months of constant fear had turned her into this pitiful, pathetic, crybaby version of herself. She'd always been so strong. Even her father's abuse hadn't broken her down the way this stalker had. She despised herself for letting the psycho affect her this way. However, he'd found her Achilles heel: Steve. He's smart, she thought sarcastically, resentfully.

However, even though she was aware she'd lost herself, she couldn't seem to find her way back. And that frustrated her. Maybe being home for a while will help, she , she hoped it would. But being home meant seeing Steve everyday. And now more than ever, she was terrified of what her stalker would do to him. Hell, she was terrified what stunt he was going to pull in her show tonight. She'd read between the lines of his note. It was a threat. As simple, and as dangerous as that.

With the faucet still running, she leaned down and splashed cold water on her splotchy face hoping it would help her appearance. She knew Steve was going to be on her with questions the second she exited the restroom. She didn't want, or need, him seeing the evidence showing exactly just how upset she was. She knew it was too late to completely hide it from him, so she'd just have to play it down. Big time.

Her shoulders slumped at the idea. She was so tired of pretending. So tired of keeping secrets. It was exhausting. Everyday they seemed to become heavier, weighing her down in ways she hadn't even recognized herself yet. All she wanted to do was tell Steve everything she knew. Which, of course, wasn't much. After all, she had no clue who was after her. She just knew she needed to take his threats seriously. Knew that he could get to her, or anyone he wanted, whenever he felt like it. He'd just proven that... again. A shiver ran down her body and the nausea surged at the thought.

More than anything, Steve wanted to bust in the bathroom, but after the step forward Maddie had taken, he didn't want to risk losing the progress they'd made. Instead, he waited and listened closely.

After a minute of running cold water over her face, she turned the faucet off and blindly reached for the hand towel beside the sink. As she dried her dripping face she tried to bank down the fear and panic she was feeling, knowing Steve would be able to read it in her eyes. Hell, it's probably coming off me in waves, she thought bitterly. She set the towel down and once again stared at her reflection. It was better. Not great, but better. It looked like it should after just getting sick. And she knew he'd heard that.

She unlocked the bathroom door leading to the makeshift bedroom, however she didn't open it. Although she wasn't ready to face Steve, she knew she had no choice. Don't fall apart when you see him, she warned herself. Laying her hand on the doorknob leading from the bathroom into the main room of her dressing room, she closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled deeply. She repeated this several times before finally opening her eyes and sighing. No matter what she did it didn't change the fact that she was shaken to her core. Nothing was going to change that. She'd just have to deal with it, hide it, and somehow keep going.

Before she could change her mind she unlocked the door and opened it. Just as she'd predicted, Steve was right outside waiting, standing with his arms folded across his chest and a frown marring his features as his eyes slowly looked her over.

Seeing him caused the fear to rise. Oh God, what if he gets to Steve, she worried as her heart rate escalated. However, she reminded herself she had to control her emotions around him. He was too quick and too good at reading them. She silently cursed his years of training. Damn Navy SEAL. I'm surrounded by them.

Anger surged within Steve as he saw the fear in her eyes before she quickly banked it down. As soon as he found who was stalking her, he was going to kill him. That's a fucking promise, he mentally vowed.

Knowing she couldn't handle much more of his silent study without cracking, Maddie moved to take an awkward step forward. Before she could, he stopped her by shifting slightly and blocking her way. "You okay?" he whispered.

As her eyes locked with his, the threat on the note ran through her mind. I thought you'd learned your lesson already. Have a good show…

He wasn't safe, and it was all her fault. She wouldn't let anything happen to him. She couldn't let him suffer for something he had nothing to do with. If it came to it, she'd let her stalker have her if it meant Steve would be safe.

Steve watched her closely, wishing more than anything he knew what was going on in that beautiful head of hers. Come on, baby, he thought, talk to me.

Maddie swallowed hard, fighting like hell to keep her immeasurable fear hidden. "I'm okay," she lied.

Steve's jaw flexed in frustration, disappointment, anger, and a whole myriad of other emotions. "Mads," he whispered. He wanted to reach out and hold her, but he felt the distance she was putting between them. Knowing her as well as he did, he knew it wasn't a good time to push her.

"I'm okay, I promise," she said as she averted her eyes. She couldn't handle it anymore. Couldn't handle this conversation. Couldn't handle looking at him as he stared at her in that protective, caring, concerned way of his all while she lied to him. She awkwardly stepped to the side and headed towards the couch.

Steve's stomach sunk. He was worried that whatever nightmare she'd just had was going to undo the progress they'd made. Not wanting her to fall, he wrapped his right arm around her waist. His heart constricted as he felt her tense, however he told himself to ignore it. There was no way he was going to let her push him away. No matter how many times she did it, he wasn't going anywhere. The night of the barbeque she'd told him she was alone. And yes, maybe she had been. He'd let his hunt for Anton and Victor Hess consume him and as a result, he'd basically abandoned Maddie. He was never going to let that happen again. Even if it was what she claimed she wanted, he knew it wasn't. It was just her fear talking. His hope was that she'd eventually recognize he wasn't going anywhere and that he could protect himself. Maybe then she'd finally tell him everything. He just hoped it wasn't too late by the time she did.

"Easy, Mads," he quietly said as she stumbled slightly. "I got you." Her stomach churned, understanding the deeper meaning behind the words.

Carefully he helped her onto the couch. Once she was safely seated, he disappeared into the adjoining room, quickly returning with the ice water tank and the blanket. With the utmost care, he got her situated, making sure she was warm and comfortable. When he was done, he sat on the glass coffee table in front of her. "I'll just be at the table working," he murmured. Although he wanted to push her and force her to open up about what had happened in her nightmare, he knew it wasn't going to happen. She had shut down on him for the time being. And with the pressure of the show and her current rundown state, it wasn't the time to push her. It would only cause her to retreat further. "Want me to grab a trashcan? Just in case you get sick again," he whispered.

Although she tried to hide it, Steve saw the hint of a blush and knew she was embarrassed. She averted her eyes before forcing them back to him. She shook her head. "I'm okay."

"Okay," he replied. "Think you can handle a little food? I'm worried you have nothing in your stomach."

Just because she didn't need a trashcan didn't mean her stomach had settled. At the mere mention of food, her mouth watered from nausea. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw, trying her best to ward it off. "Okay, no food. But definitely in a little bit," he said. "Just sit here and rest." More than anything he wanted her to get some more sleep, but he knew that wasn't going to happen right now.

As he slowly stood, he leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her hairline. Before pulling away he leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Everything's gonna be okay, Mads." He kissed her again, this time in her hair right above her ear, before turning and walking back to his laptop.

With Steve now behind her, a single tear slid down her pale face.

An hour later, Steve, Kono and Lori still sat at the table in Maddie's dressing room. The two women continued going through fan mail, while Steve was checking up on the last two new bodyguards Maddie had hired. So far they'd all checked out, just as he'd expected.

Over the last hour, Maddie had barely moved from her spot on the couch. More importantly, she hadn't said a word. Although he was working, Steve kept worriedly eyeing her. He wished he could see her face and not just the back of her head. However, he didn't need to see it to know that she was probably rehashing her nightmare. He'd seen her act a little funny after a nightmare, but never like this. But then again, he'd been in bed with her the other times and been able to get her calmed down and back to sleep. That didn't seem to be an option at the moment. And even if it had been, he knew something about this nightmare had been different.

About thirty minutes earlier, Ryan had come in and sat in one of the overstuffed armchairs. He'd immediately noticed something was off with her and had eyed Steve questioningly, who'd only slightly shrugged and shook his head. Ryan could tell she was in her head and that whatever she was thinking about wasn't good, so he'd flipped the TV on. Although she was staring at it, she couldn't tell anyone what she was watching or what it was about. She was too lost in thought, worrying over the show that night and whether "Unknown Sender" would go for Steve. She remembered flying above the crowd and looking for Steve, only to find him dead, staring at her with lifeless eyes. Oh God, she thought. What if her dream had been some kind of premonition?

Before she could spiral anymore, an African American man in his late fifties walked in and said, "Hey princess!"