"What is it with you CIA people and sarcasm?" Amelia asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I never use sarcasm," Chace said with such a sincere tone that if she didn't know him, she would have believed him.
"Sure, and I am the queen of England," Amelia said as she lifted the cup to her lips, taking a sip of her iced coffee. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a large envelope in Chace's hand. "What's in the envelope?" she asked him.
Chace looked over at her for a second before he opened the envelope and showed it to her. "What can you tell me about this picture?" he asked.
"Chace, what have you gotten yourself into?" Amelia asked as she took the picture out of his hand.
"So you do know who the man in the picture is?" Chace asked her as he sat down on the bench, clapping his hands together and leaning forward. He turned his head to the side, observing an elderly couple walking past them.
"Wo Fat," Amelia said as she handed the picture back to Chace. "He killed John McGarrett, and I know he was behind the attack on your dad. But you can't get involved with this, Chace," she said, moving off the bench to stand in front of him. "Chace, he kills people who get in his way."
Amelia saw in his eyes that there was something he was not telling her. "What is it?"
"Did you know that Steve's mom is a CIA agent?" Chace asked, looking down at the envelope for a moment. He didn't know how to tell her why he had followed her all the way to Hawaii. He just had to make sure she was okay and that nothing would happen to her or Alex.
"Steve's mom was killed when he was a boy?" Amelia said, confusion evident on her face as she saw him staring down at the envelope, seemingly afraid to tell her what was really going on.
"Chace."
Chace looked over Amelia's shoulder to see a woman walking towards them. "She is very much alive," he said, nodding his head towards the woman.
"What?" Amelia said as she turned around to see a woman walking towards them.
"Amelia, I would like for you to meet Doris McGarrett," Chace said as he moved off the bench. "Doris, meet Amelia McGarrett, your son's wife."
Amelia looked at the woman who stood beside Chace for a moment, her brow furrowing in confusion. "It is Richards and his ex-wife," Amelia muttered under her breath, trying to comprehend the unexpected situation unfolding before her.
Turning her gaze towards Chace, she mustered the courage to question him. "What is going on here, Chace?" Her voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion as she pointed towards the ground, silently urging him to explain.
"Show her," Doris's voice cut through the tense air, her tone a mix of authority and anticipation.
Perplexed, Amelia glanced at Doris before facing Chace again, who was now extending a picture towards her. "Show me what?" she inquired, her eyes flickering between Chace and the mysterious woman beside him.
Chace hesitated, a conflicted expression crossing his face before he finally spoke up, his voice heavy with burden and regret. "I wanted to tell you before, but I was instructed not to. When you mentioned taking Alex to see Steve, I knew I had to inform you," he explained, his gaze shifting towards Doris, who stood ominously beside him
Amelia turned the picture around, and what she saw made her heart drop. It was a picture of her and Alex in the park near their home back in England. The memories flooded back, the happy times she spent with Alex before everything changed.
"What the hell is this?" Amelia asked with a loud voice, her eyes darting between the two of them.
"Wo Fat somehow found out about you and Alex," Chace said, reaching out his hand towards her.
"Don't." Amelia took a step backward. "I am nothing to Steve anymore, so why..."
She looked up at Chace, fear written all over her face. "Alex."
"He won't get near her," Doris assured Amelia as she walked closer, a nervous look on her face.
"Does Steve know about this?" Amelia demanded, pushing the picture against Chace's chest. "Don't answer that because you being here is telling me the answer is no." She turned towards Doris, her eyes pleading for an explanation.
"Amelia," Chace began.
"You should have told me the moment you knew that this monster was after my daughter," Amelia cut him off. With a determined look on her face, she turned and almost ran out of the park, ignoring Chace's calls. She needed to get her daughter and keep her as far away from Steve as possible.
Steve turned his head to see Alex sitting on the bench, her legs swinging back and forth as she gazed out over the vast ocean. There was a contemplative look in her eyes, a hint of something weighing on her mind. As Steve observed her, lost in her own thoughts, he could sense a wave of concern washing over him.
"So, that is her?" Steve heard Kamekona ask him, breaking the silence that enveloped them.
"Yeah, that's Alex," Steve replied, a soft smile playing on his lips as he turned back towards the plates on the counter. "What do I owe you for the food?" he inquired, reaching out towards Kamekona.
"It's on the house," Kamekona said, his voice warm and friendly as he glanced over at the little girl. "She must take after her mother in the looks department," he added with a chuckle.
Steve chuckled softly. "Thank you, man," he said appreciatively before turning to walk towards Alex. "Who's hungry?" he asked as he placed a plate in front of her, then circled around the bench to sit beside her.
"I am," Alex replied with a smile, her eyes widening as she took in the generous portion of food before her. She looked up at Steve, a hint of uncertainty crossing her face. "Daddy, I can't eat all of this," she confessed, leaning in towards the table.
"Just eat what you can, baby," Steve reassured her, a gentle smile on his face as he began to dig into his own plate.
"So, how's school?" Steve inquired, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin.
"We ate frogs in school the day before we left to come see you," Alex shared, taking a sip of water.
"Frogs?" Steve raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of frogs?"
"Chocolate frogs. It was Ally's birthday," Alex explained, a twinkle in her eye.
Steve let out a chuckle. "Ah, I see," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "I thought you meant real frogs for a moment there," he joked, gesturing with his fork in the air, eliciting laughter from Alex.
"You're so silly, Daddy," Alex giggled, looking up at him with adoration in her eyes.
Steve was about to say something to Alex when he heard someone calling his name. Startled, he turned around to find Cathrine standing there, her eyes fixed on the little girl before her. Steve quickly stood up from the table. "Cathrine," he said, gesturing towards her, "Alex, this is Cathrine, a friend of mine."
Alex gazed up at Steve, her eyes curious, waiting for an explanation. "Cathrine is a friend from the past," Steve explained, turning to Cathrine with a smile.
"Hey, Alexandra, it's nice to meet you," Cathrine greeted with a warm smile as she settled down on the bench beside Steve. "The last time I saw you, you were just a baby."
"It's Alex, and I'm 6 now," Alex corrected, shifting her gaze to her father. "I'm not hungry anymore, and I want my Mommy."
Steve scolded, "Alex, you're being rude."
"I want my Mommy," Alex insisted firmly, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her mother approaching. "Mommy!" she exclaimed, rushing towards her.
Steve closed his eyes momentarily, trying to gather his thoughts as he watched Amelia approach. He sensed her tension as her eyes met Cathrine before she looked back at Alex, a smile softening her features. She picked up Alex and joined them at the table. "I'm sorry, something has come up, and I need Alex for the rest of the day," Amelia stated, her gaze flickering between Steve and Cathrine.
"Of course," Steve replied, getting up from the bench. "I can pick Alex up tomorrow, and we can spend the day searching for mermaids. How does that sound, Alex?"
"Just you and me?" Alex asked, peeking up at her father.
"Yes, just you and me," Steve affirmed, glancing over at Amelia, who was still eyeing Cathrine warily.
"Okay, Daddy," Alex consented, burying her face in her mother's embrace.
"I'll call you when she's ready," Amelia said, turning to leave, shaking her head in disbelief. She couldn't shake off the hurt of seeing Steve with Cathrine after all this time. She walked away, her mind still wrestling with unresolved emotions.
Steve sat in his office, deep in thought as he replayed the conversation with Cathrine in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was right; maybe he wasn't over what had happened between them. Lost in contemplation, he was startled when a knock on his door broke the silence. Startled, he turned to see Chace standing in his office, the last person he expected to see.
"Chace," Steve said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"Steve," Chace replied evenly.
Steve eyed Chace warily, wondering why he was there. "What are you doing here, Chace?"
Chace closed the door behind him before answering. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Amelia and Alex."
Steve's eyes narrowed. "Of course not," he retorted sarcastically, his disdain for Chace apparent.
Chace's gaze met Steve's, unwavering. "Is there something you'd like to say to me?"
A bitter chuckle escaped Steve. "Oh, there's plenty I'd like to say to you."
Chace gestured for Steve to speak his mind. "Let me have it."
Steve leaned against his desk, his eyes cold as they locked onto Chace. "Who are you with?" he asked, nodding towards the badge on Chace's belt.
"CIA," Chace replied, adjusting his badge.
Steve's curiosity piqued. He reached out and took an envelope Chace offered him, pulling out a photo that made his blood run cold. Without a word, he flung the picture across the room, then grabbed Chace by the shirt, pinning him against the wall. "What the hell is this?" he seethed.
Chace pushed Steve off him, a grim expression on his face. "You didn't think Wo Fat would dig into your past when you dared to challenge him," he spat. "Now it's Amelia and Alex who will pay the price."
Steve's heart pounded with fear and rage. Before he could respond, Danny entered the room, concern etched on his face. "Is everything okay here?"
Chace's voice cut through the tension. "Wo Fat knows about Alex. He's coming for her next."
Panic surged through Steve. "Where are they now?" he demanded, reaching for his phone.
"Amelia is likely on a flight back to England," Chace informed him.
Steve turned to Danny, urgency in his eyes. "Call Duke. Get officers to the airport to find Amelia and Alex."
As Danny made the call, Steve reached Amelia on the phone, his desperation evident. "Amelia, you can't run from this. Come back, and we'll face this together."
But Amelia's resolve was firm. "I have to do what's best for Alex," she said before ending the call.
Steve's heart sank. Turning to Chace, he demanded, "Where would she take Alex?"
Confused, Chace replied, "England?"
Realization dawned on Steve. "No, not England. Joe," he exclaimed, dashing out of the office with a sense of urgency that mirrored the storm of emotions within him.
Two hours later, Steve pushed the glass doors open, dragging Amelia along with him. He halted in the middle of the bustling office, where his gaze fixed on Danny exchanging nods with a figure seated in one of the chairs. As the person stood up, Steve's temper flared upon recognizing Chace.
Alex, Steve's daughter, turned her head and let out a shrill scream as she spotted her uncle Chace in the stranger's office. With a mix of surprise and joy, she dashed towards him, and Chace enveloped her in a warm embrace, lifting her up in the air.
"How's my girl doing?" Chace beamed.
"Uncle Chace!" Alex giggled, delighted to see her favorite uncle.
Steve, furrowing his brows, instructed Amelia to wait in his office before redirecting his attention to Chace and Alex's heartwarming moment.
"Go wait for me in my office," Steve commanded tersely to Amelia.
"Sure thing, boss," she retorted, the fire in her eyes matching his intensity, before storming off into his office.
"I need to talk to your mom for a few minutes," Steve informed Alex, who clung to Chace, her eyes reflecting innocence and curiosity.
"Are you going to yell at mommy again?" Alex inquired, her voice tinged with concern.
Steve knelt down to her eye level, gently reassuring her, "No, baby. Mommy and I just need to talk. Okay?"
Satisfied with his response, Alex turned to Chace, "Can Uncle Chace take me to get something to eat?"
Steve agreed with a smile, granting Chace permission to accompany his daughter for a snack.
Meanwhile, in Steve's office, tension brewed as Amelia awaited his arrival.
"Steve..." Amelia began tentatively as he entered.
"Shut up," Steve retorted sharply, assuming a defensive posture.
Their exchange escalated as Amelia stood her ground, refusing to apologize for prioritizing their safety.
"She is my daughter, so don't tell me it's not my job to ensure her safety," Steve asserted, his voice filled with protectiveness.
The air crackled with unresolved emotions as their argument reached a climax. Steve, visibly agitated, turned away to collect his thoughts, while Amelia held her ground, her defiance unwavering.
"We're not finished here," Steve declared, his tone laced with determination.
Amelia met his gaze squarely, her voice unwavering, "We were done a long time ago."
Steve Stiffened stood there, his heart heavy with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future. His eyes locked with Amelia's, two people who once shared a love now shattered by distance and time.
As the tension in the room thickened, Steve clenched his fists in frustration. He knew Amelia was not speaking about the present moment, but about the years that had slipped through their fingers like sand in an hourglass.
"Alex is not leaving this island until I am sure she is safe," Steve declared, his voice wavering with emotion. He turned to see Amelia's hand on the door handle, ready to walk away from it all. The air buzzed with unresolved feelings and unspoken truths.
"And when do you think that will be?" Amelia's voice was laced with a mixture of anger and hurt. "A week? A month? A year?"
Steve felt a surge of frustration rise within him. "I don't know," he snapped.
But Amelia was relentless. "Why do you care all of a sudden?" she challenged, her eyes searching his for answers that even he couldn't articulate.
Steve took a step closer, his frustration boiling over. "She is not leaving until I am sure he can't get to her," he insisted, pointing a finger at Amelia in a gesture of defiance.
The room seemed to shrink around them, suffocating them with the weight of unresolved emotions and unspoken truths. Amelia's next words cut through the tension like a knife, reopening wounds that had never truly healed.
"The last time you saw her, she was 4 years old. She is 6 now. So tell me, Steven, where have you been the last 2?" Her words were like a dagger to his heart, a painful reminder of the years lost to silence and distance.
Steve staggered back, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You left me. Not the other way around. You took my daughter and moved around the world. What was I supposed to do?" His voice cracked with emotion, the pain of abandonment etched into every word.
Amelia's gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of regret passing through her eyes. "I don't know. Maybe you should have come for us. Or were you too busy with someone else?" Her words hung in the air, heavy with accusation and regret.
In a moment of raw emotion, Steve reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. "What are you talking about?" he pleaded, confusion clouding his gaze.
Amelia's heart raced as she pushed Steve back, her mind swirling with a mix of panic and determination. She had to leave his office before she said anything else that could jeopardize everything she had worked so hard for. But as she turned, she saw the puzzled expression on Steve's face morph into shock, and she knew she had made a mistake.
Without another word, she briskly walked out through the glass door, the cool breeze outside offering a brief respite from the tension that hung in the air. She needed to get away from Steve, from the mess she had inadvertently stumbled into by mentioning Catherine's name. How could he not know what she was talking about? Did he really think she was oblivious?
As she made her way down the hallway, her thoughts in a whirlwind, she felt a firm grip on her arm. Startled, she turned to see two officers blocking her path. "Excuse me," she said, attempting to move past them, but they stood firm, their expressions tense.
"Sorry, ma'am, but you can't leave. It's the commander's orders," one of the officers said, his voice uneasy as he avoided her gaze.
Amelia's frustration bubbled to the surface. She glanced over her shoulder to see Steve approaching, his posture determined. "Are you serious?" she questioned, disbelief lacing her words. She couldn't believe he would go to such lengths to keep them there against their will.
"I told you Alex isn't going anywhere, but you, on the other hand, are free to leave," Steve remarked, gesturing towards the exit.
Amelia scoffed, arms crossed defiantly. "And how do you plan on keeping her here?"
"I can obtain a court order," Steve replied, a hint of smugness in his tone.
Amelia leveled a piercing gaze at him, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "You do realize I'm a lawyer, right?" She took a step closer, challenging him.
Steve mirrored her approach, their faces mere inches apart. "And I have my own ways, Amelia." His voice was low, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Amelia jabbed her finger into Steve's chest. "You..." But before she could continue, a voice interrupted, cutting through the tension.
"Mommy."
Amelia looked down to see Alex staring up at her with tears in her eyes. Feeling a pang of guilt and sadness in her heart, she knelt down in front of her daughter. Taking Alex's small hands into her own, she gazed into her eyes. Amelia had promised herself never to let Alex see how strained things were between her and Steve.
"Baby, I am sorry," Amelia whispered, gently wiping away the tears cascading down Alex's cheeks.
"Alex," Steve spoke softly, joining them on his knees. He took one of Alex's hands in his and offered a warm smile. "How about you and Mommy come stay with me at my house?"
"Really?" Alex's eyes lit up, looking between her parents.
"Mommy, can we go stay with Daddy?" Alex asked, wrapping her arms around Steve's neck.
"I don't think Daddy has..." Amelia began.
"You can stay in your Aunt Mary's old room. Would you like that?" Steve interjected.
"Steve!" Amelia's voice rose slightly in protest.
Alex's face beamed with excitement. "Yes, and then you can take me swimming! Can we look for mermaids?"
"Sure, baby," Steve replied, hugging Alex tightly. He then turned to face Amelia, standing up with Alex in his arms. "So, what do you say, Mommy?"
Amelia sighed, realizing she had no choice but to agree. "Sure, baby. You can stay with your Daddy for now."
The happiness on Steve's face dimmed slightly at Amelia's reluctant agreement. Alex turned to her mother, asking, "What about you, Mommy?"
"How about you stay with your Daddy, and I will come by in the morning? We can talk about it then," Amelia suggested, running her hand down Alex's arm.
"Okay, Mommy," Alex agreed, her smile returning as she looked at her father.
As Alex's attention shifted, Amelia muttered quietly to Steve, "This is not over," before standing up, taking Chace by her side and walked out of the glass doors.
"You okay?" Chace asked her with a worried look on his face.
Amelia, with tears brimming in her eyes, halted in her tracks, her heart heavy with pain and frustration. She turned around sharply, her gaze meeting Chace's concerned eyes. Without a word, she smacked his shoulder unintentionally as a wave of emotions washed over her.
"God, I hate him so much," she muttered, her voice laced with bitterness and resentment. Her hand pointed accusingly towards Steve's imposing office building in the distance.
"I know you think you were protecting Alex. But I hate to say this, there's no one better than Steve to protect her, and you know I'm right," Chace stated calmly, taking a step closer to her in an attempt to offer comfort.
Back inside the five- o office. Danny sat on the edge of his desk while Chin leaned back in his chair, discussing the latest case they were working on. The tension in the room was palpable as they reviewed the evidence, each lost in thought until they heard the door being opened. Steve and Alex's voices could be heard outside the office, causing both Danny and Chin to turn their heads simultaneously.
The door to Danny's office swung open, and Steve stood in the doorway with Alex on his arm. "I'm going to take Alex home," Steve announced, his gaze shifting between Chin and Danny before settling on Alex. "I'm also taking a couple of days off. Call me if you guys need anything." With that, Steve nodded at the two men before turning to leave the office, Alex in tow.
Danny and Chin watched as Steve and Alex disappeared down the hallway, leaving a sense of unease lingering in the air. Danny ran a hand through his hair, a troubled expression on his face as he turned to Chin. "Twenty dollars says this is only going to get worse," he mused.
Chin, never one to back down from a challenge, stood up and leaned on the desk, a glint in his eye. "Thirty dollars," he countered. "Thirty dollars saying it will get much worse, and then one of them will explode." With a wry smile, Chin turned on his heel and exited Danny's office, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Danny walked around his desk, his eyes falling on a picture of his own little girl. He sank back into his chair, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "I am so dead," he muttered to himself, the weight of the situation settling in. The dynamics within the team were shifting, and Danny couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worse.