Six Months, Two States
A/N: Obviously our little universe is in chaos right now, and that has definitely affected the pace of my writing. I have no idea what the future holds for our beloved couple or our show as a whole, and I'd love to guarantee an uncanceling or a season four on some other network but obviously I'm not in charge of those decisions. The devastation of knowing that we've lost our onscreen queens put me on pause for a beat, but now I realize that it's become the responsibility of us writers to keep these beloved characters alive and relevant in real time.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the brilliant creative team of NCIS: Hawaii and no profit has been made from this story. Also, F you CBS, Paramount+ and everyone who had a hand in screwing over the greatest cast in the history of network tv. #SaveNCISHawaii
Make The Call
Washington, DC never stopped moving, and the fast pace and constant motion had been a major factor in Kate's choice to accept the position at the prestigious law firm that had brought her to this town. When you're constantly moving you don't have time to stop and think. Her life on the beltway had been a blur of perpetual motion, a nose to the grindstone carousel that consisted of early mornings, late nights and lots of quality Pinot Grigio. Her transition from lawyer to officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency hadn't really changed anything about her habits or her routine, it simply meant that she was serving another master. Instead of protecting the secrets of her clients and dealing with judges she was now protecting government intel and dealing with federal agents, and in a very short time she realized that the true road to success was in developing a good working relationship with the men and women of the various agencies that her office served. She was effective, intelligent and personable, which was how she initially met FBI Special Agent Craig Wright. To be fair, her predecessor Lena Van Buren had literally thrown herself at the former marine, and his distaste for the vile woman and her tactics had led to him grudgingly agreeing to work with the only member of her team that she hadn't tried to send to talk to him.
Over the course of that investigation Wright had not only learned to respect Whistler for her professionalism and dedication to duty, but also for the strength and resilience that had led her to seek a career in US Intelligence. He was no stranger to the profound impact of losing someone to war, and he admired her for taking that pain and using it as an impetus to honor her brother's memory by doing what she could to keep his brothers in arms safe. He could see what Van Buren was doing to undermine that career, and when he spoke with Baldwin and realized what depths the irrationally spiteful woman would sink to out of her hatred and jealousy for the rising star in her employ he had placed a call.
"Gibbs."
"Gunny," Wright greeted, "do you know anyone at the DIA?"
"I've never met Baldwin, but Van Buren is awful," Gibbs declared, "I usually send McGee to deal with her. From my understanding, her team isn't much better."
"Have you met Whistler?"
"Can't say I have."
"She's the most impressive I've seen in years," Wright admitted, "she's the only one I'll deal with over there."
"What's she doing on Van Buren's team?"
"Circling the drain," he sighed, "she makes Van Buren look like a probie, but since Lena is currently her boss-"
"Got it," Gibbs cut in, "she really that good?"
"She is."
"What were you thinking?"
"There's a conference coming up in Honolulu," Wright explained, "and Baldwin's sending Whistler to represent DIA."
"Van Buren pissed?"
"Not yet."
"But she will be."
"Most likely, but before she has a chance to derail a promising career, maybe you could help?"
"How so?"
"Do you know anyone at Pearl?"
So Gibbs had made the call, exactly one week before Kate Whistler had boarded that flight to Hawaii. If anyone other than Wright had made the request, Gibbs probably would have stayed out of it. But the lance corporal was a good soldier, an honest leader and one of the best judges of character that he had ever known. If Wright was impressed by the DIA officer, that was reason enough for him to get involved. He was certain that if anyone, NCIS Special Agent In Charge Jane Tennant at Pearl Harbor would succeed at either eliminating Van Buren or securing Whistler. The fact that the outcome had been Van Buren transferring to the Pacific Rim had surprised him, but given what he knew of Tennant he fully believed that it would only be a matter of time before she ran the despicable woman off her island, and he said as much when she called him after it all went down.
"We got Van Buren," Tennant had brightly informed him, "but you already knew that, didn't you?"
"Who better than Jane Tennant to take out the trash?"
NCIS Headquarters, Hawaii
Shaking her head as she recognized that the ever cryptic Gibbs had ended their call, Jane walked out of her office to check in with Lucy on their latest case. "It's a puzzler," the young agent admitted, pulling up her notes on her tablet as the older woman leaned over her shoulder to look at it, "our guy was clearly attacked and the restaurant was rather busy, but nobody saw or heard anything. It's almost like-"
Just then none other than newly assigned DIA liaison Lena Van Buren came storming into the bullpen, and Lucy stared wide-eyed as she approached Jesse and rudely demanded to speak in private to "Your boss!"
"I'm right here Lena, no need to attack my agents," Tennant coolly stated as she stood and turned to face the crass woman, "what did you need?"
"I want to know what was said between you and Whistler!" she snapped, and Jane didn't fail to notice that the mention of Kate's last name hadn't registered even a blip of a reaction from her junior agent. Interesting. "Yes, I'd love to talk to you in my office," the SAC smiled, turning away from Lucy and gesturing to the doorway, "shall we?"
Closing the door behind the irate woman, Tennant crossed the room and leaned on her desk and said, "Why didn't you just ask Whistler? I'm pretty sure you were still her superior when she returned to DC."
Seething, Lena crossed her arms and snarled, "Because I'm asking you."
"Is this related to a case?" Tennant challenged, taking a seat and flipping open a file that contained the daily stack of approvals that required her signature.
"You know damn well it doesn't," Van Buren spat, incensed that the SAC was completely dismissing her.
"Come back when it does," Tennant stated. Yes, my busy work is more important than you.
"You listen to me Jane Tennant," Lena growled, "you may not like that you got me instead of that little bitch that you wanted, but I promise you I will make your life a living hell every chance I get if you don't start showing me some respect!"
As Lena stormed out Jesse was on his way in, and she almost ran directly into him. "Watch where you're going!" She snapped, and he stood in the doorway and stared dumbfounded after her as she stomped through the bullpen, slammed through the glass doors and disappeared into the elevator.
"And that is?" He questioned, looking at Lucy as she shrugged and Tennant supplied, "That's our new DIA liaison Lena Van Buren."
"I thought-"
"Yeah, me too," Tennant sighed, "but instead we got the wicked witch."
"Guys?!" Lucy interrupted, "Who are we talking about?"
Kate Whistler. The woman whose hotel room you were in, the reason I'm certain you've been so off lately. The one person who I believe could bring the old Lucy back. "Doesn't matter," the SAC ruefully admitted, "for now we've just got to play the hand we got."
Wheels In Motion
As he loaded his fishing gear into his truck Gibbs was surprised to see none other than DIA Director Randal Baldwin pulling up in front of his house.
"It's the weekend Director, and the fish won't wait."
"You knew, didn't you?" Baldwin accused.
"I had a hunch," Gibbs replied as he scratched the back of his head, "solves your problem though, right?"
"I'm not going to say that I'm sad to see her go," the DIA Director admitted.
"Nobody is," Gibbs concurred, "and Whistler?"
"I assigned her a new team."
"Van Buren's people out of DC?"
"Out of the DIA altogether. Wagner is monitoring domestic cells in Idaho, Estrada is infiltrating an eco-terrorist group in Vermont and Phelps is working with WITSEC in Iowa."
"There are domestic cells in Idaho?" Gibbs asked.
"No. But there also aren't eco-terrorists in Vermont."
"So what are they doing?"
"I imagine Wagner is bored out of his mind in the middle of nowhere with sketchy web access at best, no cell towers within miles of the bunker we've got him working in and all communication from within heavily monitored. Estrada's eco buddies frown upon the use of technology, so I imagine she's having a blast living in a tent and collecting vegetables to can for the co-op."
"Nice," Gibbs chuckled, "and Phelps and the secretary?"
"Phelps is assigned to a witness who doesn't believe in the program and doesn't trust the government, so he's been busy. And the secretary? She applied for a dozen jobs but the only offer she got was from a small newspaper in Alabama."
"That'll do."
Baldwin stared for a moment as Gibbs climbed into his truck and drove away, then pulled out his phone and placed a call.
"Your star is rising Whistler, just like we knew it would," he said in greeting, "and it's no longer a matter of if, but when you will move on. Since you are too damn good for me to hold back I feel compelled to help you move forward, and as such I need to ask what you see in your future."
Kate had been buried in her work almost constantly since her return from Hawaii, especially since she had been thrust into a leadership role that she hadn't anticipated. The benefit was that it made it easy to avoid the bar scene and Cara and all of the complications that came along with being single in that world, but the drawback was that there were no distractions from the mental and emotional turmoil that had been a constant in her alone time since she had returned. What do I see in my future? I see me transferring to Hawaii and tearing Oahu apart until I find Lucy. She's what I want, she's all I want. But do I dare admit it? Do I dare tell you that DIA superstar Kate Whistler is so smitten with a random woman that she only knew for three days that she would happily move her entire life halfway across the globe to be with her? I should tell you. I should totally tell you that all I want is to go back to Hawaii. To her. To-
"I don't really have an answer for that," Kate responded, and she wanted to smack herself for not telling the truth, "but given that you're calling me on a Saturday morning I'm assuming you're about to make me an offer." Why are you so ashamed to be head over heels for the most insanely gorgeous woman you've ever met? Why can't you just say "I met someone, and she's there, and I'd trade my soul for just one more day" or something romantic like that? What the hell is wrong with you Kate?
"No offer," he replied, "just trying to get a feel for what the future looks like."
"Oh," she replied, confusion and a little disappointment in her tone.
"What's your take on the new team?" He asked.
"Quinn and Soto are solid. Good, hard workers, smart, willing to put in the time and energy required to get the job done, but neither has exhibited any leadership qualities thus far."
"It's only been a few weeks Whistler, how-"
"How long did it take for you to know that I was ready?"
"Touche'," he replied, "you didn't mention Burgess."
"He could take my job tomorrow," the blonde admitted, "he's one of the best I've seen."
"That's quite a compliment, coming from you," Baldwin admitted, "but he's not quite ready to step up just yet, is he?"
"Not yet," she agreed, "but given a few months to learn the ropes he will be. Why do you ask?"
"Your former boss is already at odds with the team at Pearl," he explained, "I'm just trying to figure out my next move. If Van Buren can't figure out how to work with the NCIS Hawaii team then I think you-"
"Don't say it," Kate interrupted, "because if you do, then I'm going to believe that it might be true."
"Okay then, I won't say that Tennant is not happy with Van Buren, and I won't say that Lena's not making any friends on the island. I won't tell you that she's pissing off people left and right, and I won't say that she's already been banned from the FBI offices in Honolulu by none other than ASAC Curtis. What I will say," he continued as she listened in stunned silence, "is that I am certain that if Jennings and Bryant weren't there she would be gone tomorrow. I am also confident that I can relay the message that you would have no issue with moving to Hawaii once Burgess is ready to take command. Would I be correct?"
Kate went silent for a moment, considering the implications of how she answered that question. If I look too eager to go to Hawaii, will it be a detriment? What if Baldwin leaves and someone less favorable takes his place? If I make the request official it can be used against me. God, I want to get back to Hawaii before it's too late, before she meets someone new and forgets all about me.
At the silence on the other end of the line Baldwin assured, "This is off the record Whistler, just a conversation between colleagues. Right now they are looking for a DIA liaison in New Orleans and Jacksonville, and as much as I'd hate to lose you-"
"You know that I love to surf and would probably jump at the chance to be near the ocean," Kate surmised, "right?"
"Right."
"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll pass."
Baldwin paused a beat, then admitted, "I'm glad to hear that, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't recommend that you at least take some time and think it over."
"No offense boss, but after the dressing-down I took in that interview at Pearl it's going to be a while before I'm ready to put myself through that again."
"Not every interview is going to be like that one Whistler, and what better way to show what you're made of than to jump right back in there at the next opportunity?"
"Why do I feel like you're trying to get rid of me?" Kate asked.
"I'm not," he defended, "but if you have any intention of moving up, it would be in your best interest to take any and all offers seriously."
"Up?" she questioned, wondering how far up he was thinking she wanted to go.
"FBI is already knocking," he admitted, "as well as a few other letters of the alphabet. If it looks like you've got roots in DC-"
"I don't."
"And your girlfriend?"
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"She works right down the hall from me Kate, and she likes to talk. Everyone saw the ring-"
"What ring?"
"The one you bought her in Hawaii?"
"I did no such thing," Kate deflected, incensed that the irritating woman wouldn't just leave her be, "not that it's anybody's business, but I broke up with her when I got back. I should have done it before I left, and I regret that I didn't, but I certainly did not buy her a ring or anything else on that island."
"Okay so if you truly have nothing to tie you here, then it would be good for your career to accept the invitation from the Jacksonville office."
"Are you suggesting that it would hurt my career to decline?"
"I didn't say that," he replied.
"But you think it."
"I just think it would be good to start that ball rolling now, if you're serious about moving on."
"Can I have a few days to think about it?"
"Take a few weeks," he advised, "the invitations will come out next month."
"Nice," she said with a derisive chuckle.
"Just wanted you to be prepared," he defended, "we both know you're too good to stay in one place for too long."
"I appreciate that, but I really would prefer to stay the course here for now and take the time to prepare Seth for his future in leadership."
"Consider it done. And Whistler?"
"Yeah?"
"We're damn lucky to have you."
Sighing as she hung up and placed a stack of neatly folded towels in the linen closet, she wondered where Lucy was and what she was doing right now.
Kapi'olani Regional Park, Waikiki
"Alright Luce, I'm set up on the bench."
"We're on the tennis courts," Tennant added, glancing across the net at probie Eddie Peterson, "eyes open for our suspect."
Lucy had proudly made the break in the case of their homeless vet, her dogged determination leading to the the discovery of a resident who had caught the attack on his drone during the filming of a tiktok flyover of the beach walk at sunrise. She had delivered the sixty second video to Ernie, who had been able to track the username to an IP address that led to a former Army engineer who was currently working for a private government contractor. Once they obtained the original video Ernie had been able to push in on the suspect's face, and after running it through facial recognition they got a hit - Devin Guzman, dishonorably discharged PFC, USMC.
Further investigation into Guzman's life showed a history of anti-military protests, heavy activity on a number of anti-government websites and a penchant for routine. Following breakfast he often spent time in the park, and the previous evening he had been bragging on one of his sites about the beatdown he had recently given a vet and how "tomorrow the Avenger strikes again!" The decision had been made to set up a stakeout, to track his movements and be ready to intervene if he decided to attack. They had Lucy set up in the shade between the tennis courts and the bench, where Jesse was eating breakfast with an obscene amount of insignia patches on his jacket and a hat emblazoned with USS Erie on it screaming out that he was a sailor.
"Remember, he could be armed, and he has already proven that he is dangerous," Jesse warned as she pretended to birdwatch with her binoculars and the ridiculous bucket hat he had produced from his backpack, "do not engage unless it is absolutely necessary."
"Got it," Lucy said, her eyes darting nervously around the beautiful, secluded area. She wasn't going to tell the team that being in this park was torture, that she was seeing a statuesque blonde running, taunting her through this very stretch of trees. She wasn't going to tell them about the walk that morning from the hotel beach to the cafe', or of how Kate had stopped halfway through this grove to push her up against that tree right there and kiss her breathless. Was there anything sexier than being swept off of your feet and kissed like that? God, she was so confident, so incredibly sexy when she snatched me up and pressed her lips to mine. I couldn't resist if I wanted to, I fell into her and wrapped my arms around her neck and she was so strong, so sensual, as she- oh crap, he's running!
"Lucy, stop!" Jesse cried out as she took off running, throwing herself at their mark and knocking him to the ground. "Got him!" She proudly announced, pulling out her handcuffs and securing them to his wrists before standing and hauling him to his feet.
"Lucy..." Jesse growled, disapproval on his face as he approached.
"What?" She challenged with a questioning shrug of her shoulders.
"Why did you do that?" Tennant, who had just arrived in the grove, asked. "Did he say something? Was he about to attack you?"
As their suspect was hauled off while he screamed anti-government epithets, Lucy faced her superiors and said, "What? He was running away!"
"He was jogging Luce," Jesse admonished, and she turned bright red as Tennant suggested, "Let's hope we have enough from the video to lock him up. See you back at Pearl."
Jesse stood still and watched her walk away, then turned to the junior agent and asked, "Everything okay?"
"Except for the fact that I just blew the op? Peachy," she groaned.
"We have enough to charge him," Jesse soothed, "and given his penchant for running his mouth I'm guessing we'll have at least a dozen more charges by the time he shuts up."
"She's going to replace me, isn't she?"
You'll be fine," he said with a gentle fist bump to her shoulder, "it's just growing pains."
"I always feel like I'm failing," Lucy admitted, "like I'm on borrowed time and sooner or later Tennant's going to realize that I'm not good enough." Why can't I stay focused? Why do I keep letting Kate get inside my head and interfere with my concentration on the job? I can't stand being where we were. I can't stand knowing that she only wanted me for the weekend, that she just took what she wanted and went back to her life. Rationally she knew that Kate had never treated her like that, and in fact had made her feel more loved and desired than anyone she had ever known. Irrationally she couldn't help but try to believe that since Kate seemed too good to be true that she probably was, and the constant reminders all around her had become almost too much to take. Maybe I would be better off back on the mainland, back in Texas. Better the devil you know...wait, what's Jesse saying?
"...and you were hand picked, by Tennant. She knew you were young and inexperienced, and that there would be bumps in the road, but she chose you anyway. She believes in you Lucy. I believe in you. Heck, even Ernie believes in you, and he doesn't believe in anybody. The question isn't are you good enough, it's are you ever going to believe that you are?"
She had no response, but her eyes were wet with unshed tears.
"I know you're going through some stuff right now," he soothed, "but it will pass."
"Will it?" She asked, and because he didn't know any better he replied, "We all have family stuff Luce, and I hate that yours doesn't appreciate the amazing person that you are. If you ever want to talk about it, we're here for you."
God, I wish it was just family stuff. I'd give anything to go back to having my disapproving family as my biggest problem. Should I tell you? NO, that would make it too real. I can't have that conversation, I can't have one more person on this island who knows about her. I don't even want to go to my favorite bar anymore because she was there. "Thanks," she sniffled with her eyes on the ground, "but I'm good."
Maybe It's Time
"Lucy wait, where are you going?"
"I have a life Kate," the sassy brunette responded, "and I don't see any reason to prolong the inevitable. You're going back to your life, why should I wait any longer to go back to mine?"
"Lucy," Kate implored, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes, "please..."
The sound of Lucy's phone ringing shattered the silence, and she answered it as she looked Kate directly in the eyes. "Hey boss, no I'm not doing anything important, I'll be right there."
Taking a step toward the frustrating brunette, Kate reached for her hand and accused, "You don't believe that, you just said it to try to minimize the hurt."
"Two nights, three days is what you said Kate," Lucy snapped as she pulled her hand away, "and day three is over."
Kate bolted upright in her bed, shaking all over as she tried to convince herself that it was nothing more than a bad dream. Recently she had moved from having sweet, sexy dreams of the gorgeous brunette to actual nightmares where Lucy was cold and callous and indifferent to her feelings. Rationally she knew that Lucy had never treated her like that, but irrationally she couldn't help but wonder if it was her subconscious trying to deal with the pain of the separation, or worse yet, if it was her subconscious picking up on clues that her cognitive brain hadn't registered in the lust filled haze of their encounter.
Grabbing her phone, she was almost disappointed to see that there were no missed calls or messages from work, as it had become her norm since taking this position to wake up to at least four or five a day. If I don't have anything from work to distract me, I'm going to go crazy thinking about her. Then I'm going to do the unforgivable, I'm going to abuse my power to find her.
"Dammit," she said aloud, looking at the calendar and wondering how it was possible that almost two months had gone by since she had returned from Hawaii, since she'd last seen Lucy. In that time she'd done nothing but work, avoid the social scene like the plague, and stare at the bottles of wine that she couldn't bear to open because the taste triggered too many memories that she desperately needed to forget. That's not true, I don't want to forget that it ever happened, I just want to find a way to remember it without this soul crushing pain. Maybe I need to get back out there, try to at least make some new friends? I still can't imagine touching anyone else, but friends? Maybe. Her phone buzzed with an incoming text just then, and she scowled as the familiar name popped up on her screen. Opening the message, her stomach turned as she read the suggestive note from her ex. Deciding that enough was enough, she punched Cara's number and put the call on speaker.
"Good morning beautiful," Cara answered, "what an unexpected surprise to-"
"Enough Cara," Kate snapped, "why are you going around telling people I bought you a ring?"
"I did no such thing! Sylvia noticed my new ring and just assumed that it was from you, because I bought it right after you got back. She's the one telling everyone that we're engaged!"
"And you didn't correct her?"
The silence from the other end of the line further enraged the already pissed off blonde, who disgustedly added, "Why am I not surprised?"
"Look, Whistler, I know you said you needed some time, but I miss you. We had a good thing going, and I know I screwed it up, but it's been a few months and I had really hoped that you'd be over it by now."
Shaking her head in disbelief, Kate replied, "I will never be over it. What you did was unforgivable, and I honestly don't know why I even still talk to you. If you are serious about trying to salvage what's left of our friendship, I need you to stop lying about our relationship right now."
"Geez, somebody's grumpy this morning," Cara deflected.
"I'm serious Cara, you need to go to work and tell Sylvia the truth."
"Fine," the brunette grudgingly agreed, "so are you free for drinks tonight?"
"No, I am not," an irritated Kate replied.
"I think you should do something to change that," Cara suggested, her voice dropping to a whisper as she added, "I promise to make it worth your while."
"I'm hanging up now," Kate responded, shaking her head in disbelief, "and I'll be waiting for the word that you have rectified the situation with Sylvia."
Maybe it's time to get out of the city for a few days, get some space between me and all of this baggage that I can't seem to shake. I wonder if Baldwin would be ok with me accepting that interview in Jacksonville? He is the one that suggested I explore my other options, and maybe he's right about seeing what else is out there. I know my team is ready for a few days without me, and Seth is ready to be in command. Maybe I will love it in Florida. If not, there's always Louisiana. I guess I'll never know if I don't go, and if nothing else it'll be a chance to go surfing. Literally, one phone call and tomorrow at dawn I could be on a surfboard, why am I hesitating?
After a surprisingly easy phone call with her boss, Kate called her second in command to inform him that she was going to be out of town for a few days. She then called her assistant, and James quickly secured a flight and lodging. "Your tickets and boarding pass should be in your account," he explained, and she briefly stopped packing to check the airline's app on her phone and he was correct, it was there. "The car service will be at your place in an hour, and there will be a rental waiting for you at the airport when you arrive in Florida. No hotels available, so I set you up in an oceanfront condo. The condo provides beach chairs, bikes and surfboards, and the surf shop is a short walk if you need anything else."
"And headquarters?"
"Not far, an easy drive from your condo."
"Sounds good, thanks James."
"Have a great trip," he replied, "just call if you need anything else."
Fast Eddie, Boomtown And Juicy
"What happened to the new guy?" Lucy whispered as she joined Jesse in the kitchen.
"Didn't work out," the senior agent shrugged.
"Jesse?" Lucy questioned, her voice lilting in that way that made him feel like a chastised schoolboy as she pinned him with her patented Lucy Tara stare.
"Okay!" he said in a gruff whisper, "Eddie hooked up with-"
"Eww," Lucy shuddered, "not Van Buren!"
"Yup," Jesse replied, "and you know Tennant..."
"I do," she agreed, "but really, how dumb is he?"
"Dumb enough for Van Buren to know about certain things that are none of her business," Jesse replied, "thank god Tennant was onto them and gave him some fake intel to share."
"Why would he think that sleeping with Lena and sharing details about our team that are none of her business was a good idea?"
"I don't know," he sighed, "but you should've seen Tennant rip into him! She cut him to the quick without raising her voice, called him every kind of unprofessional in the book! She gave it to Lena too, even went over her head to Mackenzie and Bryant. Both of them backed Van Buren up though, said it wasn't their business what she did in her personal time."
"Wow, why would they defend her?"
"I honestly don't know if she has something on them or what, but all I know is that Tennant said if they weren't going to do anything about the inappropriate fraternization, she would."
"So she told the new guy his trial period was over," Lucy surmised, "and sent him on his way."
"It's just basic common sense," Jesse said as he threw his hands up, "you don't mix business with pleasure. Especially," he added, "when you know how your boss feels about it."
Nodding in agreement, Lucy was making herself a cup of tea when she noticed their boss entering the bullpen. It had been about a month since the embarrassment of the op in the park, and over that time Lucy had learned a lot more about her team and her place in it. She was constantly in awe of Jane Tennant, who literally seemed like she was capable of doing anything she set her mind to. She was a strong leader, a kind and patient mentor, and a mother whose maternal instincts were not just for the children that she had given birth to. Being a member of Tennant's team was possibly the best thing that had ever happened in her career, and there was almost nothing that she wouldn't do to stay in the woman's favor.
"Hey Juicy, Boomtown," Tennant said to their dismay as she poked her head into the kitchen, "now that Fast Eddie's out I need to find his replacement. I'll be interviewing for the open position today, so if you two are done gossiping?"
As Tennant walked away Lucy whispered, "How did she know?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Jesse opened his mouth to reply but Tennant somehow heard and responded, "I know everything Lucy," as the door to the kitchen closed behind her.
Looking properly chagrined, they scrambled to follow her into the bullpen.
"Jesse, you get to be acting SAC while I'm tied up, and Lucy, I need you to run over to DIA and see if Van Buren is willing to actually do her job and help us out with the list of officers who have been read in on the project."
"And if she won't cooperate?" Lucy, who would rather have been told to clean the toilets, asked.
"Remind her that we can get the information, it will just take longer. That doesn't help our case, it's not a good look for her, and in the end it's only our lieutenant that she's hurting."
Jacksonville, Florida
The smile on Kate's face was so big it actually hurt as she turned the rental car into the parking lot of the charming condominium complex that she would call home for the next couple of days. Taking a deep breath as she got out of the vehicle, she decided to walk straight to the beach and unpack later. The beach was relatively empty, and she marveled at the difference between this tranquil, private stretch of sand and the crowded, bustling beaches of Waikiki. This is a completely different world. Even the sand is different, it's softer, like powder. God, I needed this. I can't wait to hit the waves.
The tranquility of the moment was shattered by the ringing of her telephone, and she sighed as she looked at the unfamiliar number and answered, "Kate Whistler."
"Welcome to the sunshine state! I trust your flight went well?"
"Director Mullins," Kate smiled as she recognized the voice of the DIA agent she had spoken to when she had set up her interview, "it was a great flight. Much faster than my last one."
"And it will be a much easier move, if you choose to join our team," he replied. "For now why don't you get settled in, explore the town and see if we can't charm you into making this little trip a permanent arrangement."
"And the interview?" She asked.
"I have you scheduled for Thursday."
"That's three days from now," she said in surprise, "why am I already here?"
"Baldwin suggested we give you a few days to enjoy yourself, see what life will be like if you said yes," he replied, and at her lack of response he added, "see you Thursday, nine am sharp."
Shaking her head in disbelief and wondering if anyone in this business ever said goodbye before ending a call, she turned to walk back to the condo and take her bags to her unit. Approaching the front desk, she produced her ID and received the code to unlock her door, then grabbed her luggage from the car and hauled it to the elevator.
"Hold the elevator!" Kate heard just as the doors were starting to close, and instinctively she reached forward to press the button to stop them from shutting.
"Thanks," said the dark skinned teen in board shorts, "just get in?"
"Yeah," she replied with a smile, "looks like you've been here for a while."
"We live here," he explained, "I'm Theo. My parents own a few of the units, but after dad retired he decided to make one of the bigger rentals our permanent home."
As she nodded her head in understanding the elevator stopped on her floor, and when she realized they were on the same level she asked, "Which way is 502?"
"That way," he smiled and pointed, "we're in 508. See ya!"
Shaking her head in amusement as he trotted away, she wondered, not for the first time, what pre-Hawaii Whistler would have done in that situation. She wouldn't have held the elevator.
The rest of the evening was relatively quiet, and time seemed to fly as she unpacked, placed a small grocery order and decided what she was going to do for dinner. She was torn between utilizing the fully equipped kitchen to whip up a fresh meal and the tiredness that was driving her to just pick a restaurant for delivery, and when she found the handwritten welcome note from the condo owners with a list of their favorite spots she decided to order in. When the grocery order arrived before her dinner she was surprised, then slightly panicked when the restaurant confirmed that her order had already been dropped off. Deciding that the quickest way to find her missing meal was to call the condo owner, she dialed the number on the fridge to ask if this was normal. "Ever since the pandemic delivery drivers have gotten lazy," the woman had explained, "and they generally just leave everything in the front lobby. My son is actually down at the pool and due home any minute now, I'll text him and have him bring it up for you." Within minutes Theo was knocking on Kate's door, and when she had gratefully offered him a tip he had graciously declined.
She then poured a glass of wine, plated her food and carried it through the open sliding glass doors that led to the decently sized balcony. As she sat there and ate with the gentle sound of the ocean waves slapping the shore she couldn't stop her mind from wandering to a different balcony on a different ocean in what sometimes felt like a different lifetime. That first night in Honolulu, the extravagant hotel with the enormous balcony. The dinner had been amazing, the wine exquisite, and the view breathtaking. But it all paled in comparison to a pizza party on a tiny balcony in a much less impressive hotel. Sighing in defeat, she got up and cleaned up her dishes, then decided to turn in early so that she could surf at dawn.
DIA Headquarters, Pearl Harbor
When Lucy entered the offices of the DIA the first thing she noticed was the clownishly proportioned, doe-eyed woman chewing gum behind the counter of the reception desk. Taking a deep breath, the tiny brunette approached the receptionist and asked to see Lena Van Buren.
"What's this about?" The buxom blonde asked, skeptically looking Lucy up and down in a way that made her feel like a fatted calf on an auction block.
"Agent Tara, NCIS here on official business," she replied, flashing her credentials at the clearly unimpressed secretary, "it's urgent."
"We all have urges honey," the blonde creepily replied as she picked up the phone. "Lena, an agent Tara here for you. Says she's with NCIS. Yes, she's alone..." leering at Lucy she then added, "I guess, if that's your type. Sure, I'll send her right in."
"Down the hall and to the right honey," the blonde stated, batting her eyes with a flutter of her hand in the general direction of Lena's office, "she's waiting for you."
Lucy shuddered, walked away and felt like she needed a bath. In kerosene. Or maybe a good old fashioned Silkwood scrub after the bubble brained blonde had undressed her with her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she paused for a moment to steel herself for the coming encounter, then pushed open the door to DIA officer Lena Van Buren's office.
"Agent Tara," Van Buren cooed as she leaned forward on her desk, the position revealing a generous amount of her ample bosom, "how is it that in all the time I've been on this island we have never met?"
Aghast at the lascivious nature of the repulsive woman's greeting, Lucy stiffly replied, "Officer Van Buren, I-"
"Call me Lena," the raven haired viper interrupted as she rose and circled around to the front of her desk, "I insist."
Could you be more transparent? I can't believe anyone actually falls for this. God, you disgust me. "Okay, Lena," Lucy tried, "I was hoping that you could help with the list of officers who have been read in on operation Blue Dragon?"
Eyes traveling up and down the tiny brunette's tight little body, Van Buren licked her lips and asked, "What's in it for me?"
Shivering in revulsion, Lucy responded, "Isn't doing your job what's in it for you?"
"I get paid to do my job, which I do well," Lena sultrily replied as she invaded Lucy's personal space, "but the sharing of intel depends on how well my colleagues treat me."
"I would think," Lucy suggested as she took a step back, "that you would derive a general sense of satisfaction from helping us catch the killer."
Leaning in close enough that the junior agent could smell her awful perfume and feel the heat radiating off of her body Lena hotly whispered, "I derive satisfaction from a much more primitive space."
Recoiling from the unbelievably lewd and entitled advance, Lucy backed away and, when she found herself bumping into the door she implored, "Look, no offense but I'm not comfortable with what I think you're insinuating. I'm just here trying to do my job, to get justice for our dead marine, and maybe forge a good working relationship with you and your agency. I know you know we can get the information through channels, but you can get it faster, and since you are the NCIS liaison we had hoped that you would be willing to help."
Returning to sit behind her desk, Lena looked Lucy up and down and replied, "That's a pretty speech, dear. Tell me, is that all you, or are you just regurgitating Mama Tennant's words?"
Lucy paused a beat, narrowed her eyes and asked, "Don't you care at all about Lieutenant Barnes?"
"The question isn't whether I care, sweetie, the question is, do you?"
"Are you actually saying what I think you're saying?" Lucy challenged.
"Such a pretty, naive young thing," Lena tsked, "come back love, when you understand how the game is played."
Shaking her head in disgust, Lucy pulled open the door and headed down the hall to the elevator. When she approached the reception area she heard, "Joanna darling, whatever are we eating today? I'm suddenly starving," then sidestepped the blur of bubble gum pink motion that had emerged from behind the desk and was now bolting down the narrow hallway.
Sun, Sand, Surf
Five AM looked different in Florida, though to be honest Kate wasn't really sure what she expected. Whereas the early morning surf crowd was already in the water in Oahu from the North Shore to the more touristy beaches of Waikiki, Jacksonville on a Wednesday morning was virtually uninhabited. The statuesque blonde smiled and waved at young Theo as he ran toward the surf with his body board in tow, then tucked her surfboard up under her arm and followed him into the white capped sea of blue. As she paddled out she scanned the horizon, saw no sign of sailboats or sunrise cruise yachts and wondered if that was even a thing in this part of the world, then turned to sit on her board and wait for the swell to come. Sitting in the calm of that morning and hearing nothing but the cries of the seagulls and the crashing of the waves on the shore, Kate was assaulted with memories of the last time she been in this position on a surfboard. That stupid barista kept chatting me up, and I was desperately searching for where Lucy was sitting on that beach. I didn't even hear a word the obnoxious woman said, though I vaguely remember making words that seemed appropriate to fill in the gaps when she stopped chattering. Riding that first wave in was awesome, it was one of the best runs I'd ever had and as I slid off my board at the end and turned around there she was. God, she was gorgeous. I'd do anything to see that smile just one more time.
The ocean swelled and Kate leaned forward to paddle, then stood as the wave crested and expertly rode the tide into the shallows. Smiling triumphantly as she popped up out of the water, she realized that it was suddenly no fun to surf without an audience. That's new, I've never needed anything but the ocean and my board before. God, what have you done to me? Why did I just let you go? Sighing as she spun her board and paddled out again, she silently berated herself for letting a three day dalliance imbed itself so deeply into every single part of her every day life that she couldn't seem to do anything without thinking about what she had lost. They say time heals all wounds, but they never tell you how much time. God, I miss her.
"Good morning," said the sun bronzed, classically handsome surfer who paddled up beside her.
"Morning," Kate replied, her mind still on the intoxicating brunette who had changed everything about her world, "surf's a little calm this morning."
"Calm?" He replied, "This is actually a pretty decent swell." Just then the surf rose, they leaned into the momentum and soon were emerging on the shore. "Go again?" He asked, and as she agreed they both turned and mounted their boards, paddling in unison as he offered, "I'm Raul, by the way. I believe I own the condo you rented."
"Kate," she replied, "and I didn't mean to insult your waves."
When they reached the calm and sat up he asked, "I'm guessing this is your first time in Florida?"
"Nah," she grinned, "it's just that a few months ago I spent a week surfing in Oahu. Game changer," she explained, "and now, surfing anywhere else-"
"Is a disappointment. I get it," he laughed, "so, what was it like on the North Shore? I've always wanted to go."
"Life altering," she admitted, "but I also enjoyed surfing Waikiki."
"Bah, Waikiki is for the tourists," he scoffed, "why waste your time there?"
"Let's just say there was a lot going on, and the last few days I just didn't have time for the drive."
"He must be a pretty special guy," Raul observed as he paddled away.
"She is," Kate whispered as she looked to the shore, then followed suit as she caught the next wave.
They surfed companionably for another hour, with Theo and his friends eventually joining in on the banter as they rode wave after wave. Kate was enjoying their company, though she couldn't help but realize, in the silence between the conversations, how empty it felt without somebody waiting for her on the beach. Emerging from the water, Kate was surprised to hear, "Uh-oh!" from Theo as a petite, beautiful woman who bore a striking resemblance to the teen stood with her arms crossed on the wooden steps. "Dad's in trouble now!" Theo shouted as he ran off toward the buildings, laughing as he darted past his mother, who was waiting for the pair of surfers with her arms crossed firmly across her chest. "Hey babe," Raul greeted, "this-"
"Don't 'hey babe' me!" The dark haired woman snapped, "You know you were supposed to pressure wash the pool deck this morning!"
"So this is Kate," he said with a roguish smile, "she's-"
"In 502," the scowling woman finished, then smiling warmly she extended her hand and said, "Welcome Kate, I'm-"
"Oh my gosh, you're Isabel!" The tall blonde gushed, taking the woman's hand as she recognized the voice of the woman she'd spoken with on the phone the night before, "it's a pleasure to finally put a face to the voice that saved my dinner last night!"
"Happy to help," Isabel said with genuine affection, "you wouldn't believe how often that happens."
"Well thanks again," Kate said with a genuine smile, "and thanks for the recommendation - that food was delicious!"
"You're welcome," Isabel smiled, "and if you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. Now if you'll excuse us," she said as she pinned her husband with a warning glare, "we have some cleaning to do."
Laughing as she watched them walk away, Kate grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her waist, then picked up her board and headed for the outdoor shower to rinse off.
After returning to her condo Kate had taken a real shower, done a bit of research on the sights to see in the area, then taken a brief, self-guided tour of the city. Although she found it to be laid back, beautiful and surprisingly charming, it still paled in comparison to her beloved Hawaii. Is it really that much better on the island, or is it specifically who is on that island that makes it so special? The shame of it was, the DIA building was nearly identical to the office in Hawaii, with it's cool white exterior and palm tree lined walkways, but somehow the Honolulu office seemed superior. If you saw a photo of each without a label you would literally not be able to tell the difference. Are you going to choose to be miserable for the rest of your life, pining away over a woman you will never see again? The choice in front of you is a no brainer, you should take this job. It will be good for your career, it will get you out of that horrible mess of a social life in DC, and you'll be able to surf every day.
Sighing as she pulled into the parking lot at the condo, she decided that she needed to put as much energy into this opportunity as she had put into every other chance at career advancement that had ever come her way. As soon as she entered the coolly appointed living space she had opened the sliding glass door to the balcony, the smell of the salt air and the sound of the ocean weaving a spell that she knew she could never tire of as she threw together a light salad for lunch. She then took her meal and her laptop outside to sit at the patio table, intending to brush up on the agent that would be conducting her interview while she ate. "Okay Dewey Mullins, what is it that's important to you?" After a deep dive she found that he had grown up in Massachusetts, was a die hard Bruins fan and used most of his vacation time during hockey season. He also had a wife that he had met while attending school at Boston Cambridge University, a best friend in Annapolis where he also spent at least a week of vacation every year, and a love of seafood and harbor towns.
Confident that she was prepared for whatever tomorrow would bring, she picked up her fork and tucked into the food on her plate. She was only a few bites in when the raindrops began to spatter on her screen, so she hurriedly scooped up her belongings and rushed inside. "Dammit!" She barked as she smacked the top of her foot on the step between the balcony and the living room, then hobbled her way across the carpeted space and into the dining room. Why do you always have to be so proper? Why do you always sit at the table to eat, why can't you just relax on the couch? I bet Lucy knows how to relax, she probably doesn't even have a dining room table. Can we stop thinking about Lucy for maybe five minutes?
Kate rose and took her dirty dishes to the sink, where she rinsed the plate and fork before placing them in the dishwasher. Returning to the very comfortable sofa, she decided that she had earned a little down time, so she grabbed the remote and flicked on the tv. Scrolling through the unfamiliar channels, she rolled her eyes at the daytime lineup of talk shows and reality shows. Seriously, why are Americans so obsessed with celebrities? How is there an entire industry built on paying people to talk to those overpaid narcissists? And reality tv, seriously? It's all totally scripted. Who watches this garbage? She finally came across a channel that was currently in the middle of a Hawaii Five-0 marathon, and she smiled softly as she recognized the iconic coastline of Waikiki Beach. Grabbing a pillow, she turned on her side and relaxed into the couch, stifling a yawn as she wrapped herself in a blanket and drifted off into sweet dreams of lush green mountains, magnificent beaches and the charming brunette with the sexy little drawl who had been the best part of it all.
All That And A Bag Of Chips
After the disturbing, unsettling experience at the DIA, Lucy had returned to NCIS headquarters empty handed. She had never seen her boss as angry as she had seen her when she explained what had happened with Van Buren, and she was grateful when Tennant told her to take the rest of the day off. She knew that the older woman was going to raise hell with the powers that be, and she was honestly too upset to talk any more about the unbelievably creepy experience. A sudden craving for potato chips and dip had her stopping into the grocery store on her way home, and as she stood in the chip aisle and contemplated what flavor she wanted she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
"Lucy!" Trig boomed, rushing down the aisle and scooping her up in a big, brotherly bear hug, "We've missed you! It's been what, two months since we saw you last? What have you been up to?"
Avoiding everyone that met Kate, avoiding everywhere I took Kate, burning bridges with whatever reminds me of Kate. "Well, my landlord sold my place," she lied, "so I had to hurry up and find a new apartment. I had less than a week to get out, and it happened at the worst time! I was doing mandatory overtime, like 24 hour shifts, and in between shifts I was searching for housing. I missed out on a couple of promising listings because I was tied up at work, so I had to settle for what was available the day I needed to move. It's not great, but on the bright side it is also super tiny and ridiculously overpriced."
"Is it on the other side of the island?" Trig asked.
"No, it's not far from here, why?"
"Because we figured you must have moved far enough away that the bar is no longer in your neighborhood, otherwise why would you go from stopping in three to four times a week to not stopping in at all?"
"Like I said, work's been busy," she deflected, "this is actually the first time I've gotten out while the sun was still up in months."
"Since you're free," he suggested, "why don't you join me for a drink?"
"Sure," she grudgingly agreed, "let me finish my shopping ad get my groceries home, and I'll meet you there in say an hour?"
"Meet you there? I'm not taking my eyes off you," he said with a snort of derision, "I'm making you dinner, then we'll go get that drink."
"Trig," she warned, her eyes downcast as she fidgeted, "you know-"
"About your weird rules? Yeah, I know," he said derisively, "Seriously Lucy, we love you. Why can't you just let us in?"
Those weird rules allow me to have a sense of normalcy, the freedom to be "just Lucy". If y'all knew what my job was, what I really do and the awful things I see every day, you'd look at me differently. I learned the hard way to keep work and life separate. If you know where I live, you know where to find me, and I cannot allow anyone who reminds me of her to be inside my home.
"I have my reasons," she whispered, "can I please just meet you there?"
Trig took a deep breath and looked to the ceiling, then with a defeated shake of his head returned his gaze to the frustrating brunette and said, "Sure, I'll meet you there."
"What?" She said, throwing her hands up as he turned and walked away, "I'll be there!"
DIA Headquarters, Jacksonville, Florida
"Whistler! Right on time," said Director Dewey Mullins as she entered his office, "so nice to finally meet you. Please, have a seat."
"Likewise," Kate smiled as she sat down, "Director Baldwin speaks highly of you."
"Well he's not bad for a Capitals fan," he chuckled, "but I guess we can't hold his delusional hometown affiliations against him. Before we get started, can I get you anything? Coffee, water?"
"No thank you," she replied, "I'm good."
"Okay then," he replied as he flipped open a notebook on his desk, "Let's get started."
The interview had been the total opposite of the nightmare in Hawaii, and she was impressed by the complete professionalism that Mullins had exhibited. He didn't know or care to know anything about her private life, and when she had broached the subject he had explained that as long as she was willing and able to bring her skills to his team and respond around the clock if necessary that was good enough for him. He even went as far as to take her on a tour of the building, introducing her to everyone on the team from his most senior agent right down to the employees in the cafeteria and the mailroom. "You'll find that the most important members of the staff are sometimes the private citizens," he explained, "I can't tell you how many times having a good relationship with those guys has saved the day for me."
"The cleaning staff knows everything," Kate chuckled, "and I know I would probably starve on the daily if it weren't for my kitchen staff, who always seem to know what I need."
After returning to his office he had made her a generous offer, nearly twice what she was being paid in DC, and explained the added duties she would be expected to perform that were factored into the pay increase. He had also made it clear that she could bring her current assistant onboard, as well as any other members of her team that she wanted to add to the roster. At the conclusion of the interview he had advised her to take a day and think on it, but was clear that he needed an answer by the end of business Friday. How am I supposed to make this decision that quickly? This is a huge change if I accept, my entire life would be uprooted and I would have to start all over again in a strange city with no family, no friends, no sense of community. I wonder if James would relocate? It's one thing to take him from office to office in the same city, but a different state?
Sighing as she drove down the freeway and headed for the condo, she had to admit to herself that if the offer would have been in Hawaii these thoughts wouldn't even be a concern. Turning on the radio to distract herself, she smiled and sang along to "Heads Carolina, Tails California". Heads Florida? Tails Louisiana? If I'm being honest, keep the coin, I don't want either choice.
Beach Life
After a quick lunch Kate changed into her suit and headed for the beach, figuring she might as well enjoy herself while she made what might just be the biggest decision in her DIA career. She ran into Raul in the supply room, and he offered to take her chair and umbrella to the beach and set it up while she grabbed a surfboard. "If I didn't know any better I'd swear you were on the DIA's payroll," she chuckled as she gratefully accepted the offer.
"Honestly, the chair and umbrella setup is a perk we offer during peak season," he explained, "it's part of Theo's chores. But for a fellow surfer? I'm honored to be of service."
Five minutes later Kate was approaching the umbrella shaded chair that Raul had just finished setting up, and as she dropped her bag in the sand and kicked off her sandals he offered, "If you don't have any plans tomorrow night you should join us on the beach. We build a bonfire, roast hot dogs and make s'mores, and just generally relax and enjoy the evening. All of the renters are invited," he added, "so it wouldn't feel like you were crashing or imposing."
"Thanks," she replied, "I'll think about it."
As she hit the waves her joy was infectious, and soon the water was filled with at least a dozen surfers of varying experience. She laughed out loud at the ridiculous antics of a very uncoordinated, very comically terrible at surfing super skinny guy named Cory, who had paddled up to her in the calm and introduced himself while they were waiting on the swell. "Sorry!" He had gasped at the end of the run, where he struggled to stand in the crashing surf after colliding with her and knocking both of them off of their boards, "I don't know how anyone can steer one of these things!"
Deciding that there was too much traffic in the water she smiled and helped him to his feet, then grabbed her board and replied, "Lots of practice bud, LOTS of practice."
Watching her walk away, the hapless sap scrambled to retrieve his board and follow. "So," Cory said as he invited himself to take a seat under the shade of her umbrella, "what's a guy gotta do to get some private lessons?"
Peering at him through the designer sunglasses that she couldn't wear without feeling connected to the only other person that had ever worn them, Kate smirked and suggested, "Go to the surf shop? Pay a pro?"
"Seriously," he said in mock despair as he clutched his chest, "what's a guy like me gotta do to get noticed by a girl like you?"
Assessing him as if actually considering the request, she found it almost comical that he was literally the exact opposite of what she was attracted to. He was ridiculously tall, skinny and fair, with light blue eyes, skin paler than hers and super straight blonde hair. "Look, you're a really nice guy and you seem? Fun," she offered, "but you're just not my type."
"Can't blame a guy for trying," he said with shrug, "but maybe you'll change your mind after a few days of my charming company and dashing good looks."
"Doubtful," she laughed as she popped open a hard seltzer and offered him one, "but I suppose I can't stop you from trying."
After a while they were joined by Isabel, Raul and a few of the other renters, and Kate found herself having a genuinely good time in the relaxed conversation that flowed around her. She found out that Raul was originally from New Mexico, but had met Isabel while at the University of Miami and never looked back. Cory was from Virginia, and had spent his youth wiping out on the shores of Assateague Island. He had a twin sister, Chloe, who was apparently the more adept surfer in the family.
"What about you, Kate? What's your story?"
Grateful for the sunglasses that helped to conceal her truth, she deflected, "You know, the usual. School, work, parents with high expectations. My older brother went to the military, I went to college."
"Any special guy in your life?"
"I, I met someone, recently," she admitted, "but it was long distance and complicated and I was just coming out of a very messy breakup. Ever since then, I just haven't been in a very "dating" kind of place."
"So you're single?" Cory hopefully exclaimed.
"I guess I am," Kate admitted, "but you're still not my type."
"Anyhow," Isabel interrupted with a placating pat on Cory's shoulder, "Raul says you spent some time in Hawaii? What was that like?"
"Amazing," Kate replied, a smile lighting up her face as she recalled, "nothing you've ever seen could do justice to the beauty of the islands. From Waikiki Beach to Diamond Head and the mountains, trails and off the beaten path beaches, there is always something new to be discovered. I'm a history nerd, so Pearl Harbor was a bucket list must see for me, and it did not disappoint."
"Wow," Isabel breathed, "you sell it like a tour guide! Was it hard to find your way around?"
"Honestly? Not really," the blonde replied. "At first it was all business and surfing for me, I hit the North Shore before dawn and surfed every morning, then back to the hotel and off to meetings during the day, dinner in the hotel at night. Then I met a local," she blushed, "not an islander, just someone who now lives and works on the island. Then-"
"Your special someone, the long distance complicated someone?" Isabel guessed, and Kate quickly deflected, "Yeah, I'd rather not talk about it if-"
"Leave her alone Izzy B!" Raul cut in, "Who wants a drink?"
Eventually the little gathering broke up, and Kate returned to her condo where she showered, had dinner and settled in with her laptop in front of the tv. Turning on a documentary about Pearl Harbor, she was soon scrolling through article after article on the history and culture of Jacksonville, though her eyes kept straying to the blasted tv and the images of Oahu on the screen. Sighing as she accepted the inevitable, she put the laptop away and shuffled down the hall to the bedroom. I really did want to love this place, and I do, but it's no match for Oahu.
The next morning when she woke up it was raining, and though the rain wouldn't have normally stopped her from surfing the thunder and lightning that accompanied it were enough to keep her inside. She called Mullins, thanked him for his time and the generous offer, but explained that it just wasn't the right time for her to make the move. After that very difficult conversation she had called her boss to fill him in on her decision, called Seth to see how they were doing without her, then called James to have him arrange her flight home.
"Looks like I can get you on a flight Saturday afternoon," he told her, "and I just got you bumped to first class."
"Thanks James, I'll see you Monday."
She spent the rest of the morning catching up on work, her makeshift office on the dining room table making her yearn for clear skies and epic waves as she watched the ocean churning in the storm. By mid-afternoon the storm showed no signs of stopping, so she decided to indulge in a completely unproductive, unnecessary afternoon nap.
That evening she dressed comfortably in jeans and her favorite lightweight hoodie, then headed down to join the crowd at the bonfire on the beach.
"I thought we were going to get rained out," Isabel admitted as she greeted Kate and offered her a seat, "but around four o'clock the rain stopped and everything dried up. Would it be ok if Raul popped into the condo before you go back up? There's a complaint of a leak in the unit below yours and he wants to verify that it's not coming from the bathroom sink."
"Yeah that's fine," Kate replied, then paused as Isabel called her husband to tell him to go ahead and check it out before joining them. "Hot dog?" She asked once she hung up.
"Please," Kate smiled as she took the offered seat, then laughed out loud as Cory rolled up and sat beside her. "Surfer Kate," he boomed as he perched on the log beside her, "I'd like you to meet my much more athletic, much less attractive twin sister, Chloe."
Kate greeted the tall, blonde female version of Cory, who accepted her offered hand with a, "Wow, I get it," to her clearly enamored brother.
"Nice to meet you Chloe," Kate deflected with an embarrassed smile, "I hear you're a much better surfer than your hopeless brother here."
Chloe laughed out loud as she companionably took the empty seat next to Kate and suggested, "You can be the judge of that in the morning."
"Okay," Kate laughed as she took a sip of her drink, "challenge accepted."
After a wonderful, light-hearted night of food, fun and laughter on the beach, Kate had said good night to her companions and headed back to her condo.
Surprised to find the television on, she moved to grab the remote and was surprised to see a sticky note attached to it.
From one dreamer to another, the magic starts at 1:45am
It was a little after one when she read the note, and she chuckled as she moved to the en-suite to shower and change into her pajamas before investigating the mysterious note further. The tv had been on the standard roku screensaver, so until she hit a button she was going to be in the dark as to what the "magic" was all about.
Fresh from the shower she entered the kitchen, poured a glass of wine and returned to the living room. Easing down onto the sofa, she grabbed the remote, pressed a button and settled in under a blanket. Ok Raul, let's see what you got for me. That's Waikiki, the aquarium. I know this view, the aquarium was in our line of sight from the hotel. I didn't know the aquarium had a livestream, that's pretty cool, but it's not magic. Why would he- Looking at the corner of the screen, she realized that the time in Waikiki was 7:45pm. Oh my god, no way is this-
The video stream was without sound, but there was no mistaking the tiny fireworks in the distance that lit up the corner of her screen. With tears streaming down her face, she watched the silent display and experienced the same devastating sense of loss that she had felt with that first sip of the island wine, and she cried herself to sleep as she stared at the dark ocean framed by the lights of the Waikiki nightlife and wondered where Lucy was and what she was doing right now.
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
It's just a bar Lucy, just a place with four walls and some tables, quit making it more than what it is.
Lucy stared insolently at the chalkboard sign touting cold drinks and the chef's special seared ahi tuna, and wondered for the millionth time if she would ever have met Kate if not for that colorful menu.
"If I'd have known you were the future tourist I'd have bought the chalk", she had flirtatiously said that first night they'd met, but if she'd known how deeply this would hurt once Kate was gone she wondered if she would have done anything differently.
Not a chance. What's that they say? It's better to have lost at love than never be loved at all? You weren't looking for anything that afternoon when you walked in, and you ended up having the best time of your life with the most amazing woman you've ever met. Maybe you just need to put yourself back out there, get off your couch and out of your head and try to move on with your life.
Taking a deep breath, Lucy plastered a false smile on her face and walked through the door.
"Lucy!"
"Texas!"
"Hey y'all," Lucy smiled as she approached her friends and grabbed the beer that Miguel had placed on the bar, "how've ya been?"
"I'm getting killed on the market," Trig lamented, "I've been missing my financial adviser. What do you think about steel?"
"She's not a stockbroker dummy," Coral said as she smacked him on the back of the head.
"Ow!" Trig cried out, rubbing his head as the old surfer smirked, "You know what I noticed?"
Narrowing her eyes as she observed the interaction, Lucy replied, "What did you notice?"
"That our cowgirl disappeared when the rodeo left town," Coral smugly announced, "but magically reappeared when they returned. Coincidence? I think not."
"Y'all are deluded," Lucy laughed, and it actually felt good to be around these people and ease into the same familiar banter that had made this place feel like a second home.
"So," Coral asked, "what have you been up to? Meet anyone interesting lately?"
Taking a fortifying sip of her beer, Lucy wondered how to explain that she had no desire to meet anyone ever again. Because of a no strings attached three day fling with a sexy goddess who blew your mind and left without a trace. "Work's been busy," she lied, "and I lost my apartment, had to scramble to find a new place." Liar liar.
"Yeah, Trig said your landlord sold your place, that really sucks Luce," Miguel offered, "but I wish I would have known, because my tenant recently went back to the mainland and my guest house is empty."
"Oh darn," Lucy replied, "I wish I'd known that before I signed a two year lease."
Not a single soul inside that bar believed her story, since it was very, very rare to find anything longer than a six month lease on the island. Miguel shot the two surfers a warning glare, then leaned forward and said, "Well I'm glad you found a new place, and I'm glad to see your face back in here."
"Thanks Miguel, it's good to be seen," she smiled, then took a sip from her bottle as she slowly turned to face the empty stool where she had first spoken to Kate. Staring at the empty stool as if to manifest the blonde, Lucy was surprised to hear Trig whisper, "It's just an empty stool, Luce, it's not going to hurt you." The sudden tightness in her chest was undeniable, and she felt herself spiraling as she looked around and saw Kate everywhere she looked. As her eyes bounced about the usually safe space she realized that the bar was infected by the beautiful blonde, because no matter where she looked there was a memory of the sweet, sexy, impossible to forget woman who had upended her entire world.
"Looks like our cowgirl could use a shot," Coral barked at Miguel, who was busy cooking and yelled for his new server to help.
"Who's Danny?" Lucy asked.
"New bartender, server, all around servant to Miguel," Trig chuckled, and Coral elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ouch!" He cried, rubbing his side as he side-eyed Lucy and wondered if Coral was going to warn her about the growing legend she had become and of the new bartender's fascination with wanting to meet her.
"What's your poison?" The new bartender asked, and Lucy replied, "Whiskey," while Coral and Trig simultaneously answered, "Bourbon! Scotch!" Shaking her head, the raven haired server extended her hand and offered, "We haven't met. I'm Daniela, but everyone calls me Dani. And you must be the famous Lucy?"
"I am," Lucy affirmed as she took the offered hand and looked into impossibly blue eyes, "it's nice to meet you, Dani."
"Likewise," Dani replied, holding Lucy's hand a beat too long as she leaned in and added, "but these guys talk about you so much I feel like I already know you. Are you really a cowgirl?"
"Coral! I swear if y'all tell one more person that lie I'm gonna-" Lucy turned and shouted at her friend, breaking the unwanted contact with the new bartender who was looking at her in a way that she wasn't quite comfortable with.
"So Miguel stole Dani from Barefoot," Coral explained, then leaning in close to Lucy she added, "doesn't she have the most beautiful blue eyes?"
"If blue eyes are your thing, I guess," Lucy cautiously replied. What are you doing Coral?
"She's also single and loves the rodeo," Coral supplied, and Trig scowled and interrupted with a raised glass and a, "To Lucy!"
The trio toasted their friendship and tossed back their shots, then ordered another round. They toasted to Lucy's return, ordered another, toasted to cowgirls, rodeos, the stock market. Killer waves, sunny days, new servers and old bartenders, and before Lucy knew it she was beyond hammered. To be fair, they all were, but when Antonio headed for the jukebox and said, "Do you know what I think we need?" she had never heard anything with more clarity.
Realizing what her young friend was about to play, Lucy leapt off of her stool and darted toward the jukebox, and would have tackled him if she hadn't been quite so inebriated. Instead she managed to trip over her own two feet, stumble into a table and land in a heap at his feet, her eyes imploring him to not do what she knew he was about to do. "Please," she whispered, "don't. I-"
Realizing that the last time they'd done their dance it had been in front of the mysterious blonde who had clearly stolen his friend's heart, Antonio reached down and helped Lucy up off of the floor, and as he gently embraced her he whispered, "I'm sorry, I forgot. I won't play it, I swear." He then steered her back to her seat and asked Miguel for a glass of water. "Drink up," he said, scowling at the drunken duo that knew better than to let their tiny friend drink so much so fast, "'Guel, would it be okay if I took her home?"
"No 'Tonio, you don't know where I live," she said as she gently slapped him on the arm, then laid her head on the bar and mumbled, "just need to rest my eyes for a few minutes."
"Okay, up we go," Coral said as she propped the tiny brunette up, "Lucy, have you eaten today?"
"Uhm, I think, maybe?" She said as she tapped her chin in thought, "No wait, I didn't!"
"Get her a burger Miguel, and some fries."
Once Lucy had eaten and switched to soda she began to feel a little less drunk, and eventually sobered up to the point that she both agreed to let Antonio take her home and to let Dani follow in order to drive him back once he'd dropped her and her car off at her apartment. Not one to give up her privacy, she directed him to an apartment complex a block down from her home. It was close enough that she could easily walk the rest of the way, but far enough that neither of the concerned pair would be able to find her actual home. "Thanks guys," she said as Antonio got into Dani's car, "I really appreciate y'all getting me home safe."
"We'll wait until you're safely inside," Dani insisted, and Antonio rolled his eyes and said, "Just promise me you're going to walk the rest of the way tonight."
Busted, Lucy looked back and forth between them, then turned and headed into the apartment complex they had parked in front of. She ascended the first flight of stairs, then paused at the landing and peered out at the street until she saw them pull away. Sighing in relief, she turned and stumbled down the short flight of steps, then shuffled out the front of the building and made a beeline for her apartment. She stood at the door and fumbled with her keys for a moment, dropping them twice before she finally got inside. Once the door was locked and the deadbolt was in place she hurriedly stripped, flicked on the tv and took a brief, cold shower to sober up. Wrapping herself in a large bath towel, she took a seat on the couch and looked up at the screen, where she was surprised to see the final showdown scene from what looked to be some random 80's gangster movie. I've been watching nothing but reality tv and cooking shows, why in the hell would that be on?
It took her still rather foggy mind a few minutes to find the remote she had dropped, then another twenty or so minutes to figure out that she had pressed "Roku TV" instead of "Netflix," and to piece together that it wasn't a gangster movie, but the classic chick flick "Against All Odds." She decided to finish watching the movie, and thought back on the first time she'd watched it in her parents media room with Marcella. She smiled softly at the memory of the very adult movie and the gentle, illicit kiss she had stolen from her very beautiful, very secret girlfriend, then fought to hold back the tears that always accompanied the memories of the first girl who had broken her heart. It was a lifetime ago Lucy, and now you know that there is still hope. Marcella was a hard lesson, but what you felt for her seems trivial compared to what Kate was able to make you feel. The dam finally broke as the strains of the movie's theme song began to play while the credits rolled, and she was hit with a violent onslaught of tears as she realized that the lyrics could have literally been written about her brief but unforgettable affair with the unbelievably beautiful blonde who had shattered her reality and broken her heart.
A hui hou