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AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Happy Tuesday my wonderful readers. For those of you who were like… Rowan's gonna stay behind?! Yeah, like she's going to do that. For those of you wondering what Steve's problem is… he doesn't fully trust her brother's yet, and he's still afraid of her powers. Mainly because he's not going through the void right. BUT things are going to get quite interesting in the next chapter or so, so hopefully you guys enjoy it. As always don't forget to leave a review and I'll see you guys tomorrow!

Chapter 327

He couldn't believe he was doing this. That he was on a plane right now, heading back to Morocco to get his mother. This wasn't where he had wanted to the night to end.

"Hey, you okay?" Catherine asked, coming to sit beside him.

Steve, who had been lost in thought, jolted when she touched his arm. He was mourning the romantic night he worked tirelessly on, and thinking about his mother when she was younger, when she was just his mother and not this.

Steve sighed, no, he was not okay. He wanted Rowan. He wanted Nahele. He had shot the kid a text before he got on the plane but it was late and the kid was probably asleep. He wasn't going to be settled until he knew that Nahele knew what was going on and was still reasonably assured that Steve would be back in only a few days.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said instead.

"I wanted to tell you, I did. You were the last person I ever wanted to lie to, Steve," she said. And Steve nodded realizing that she meant about her going undercover. Yeah well her leaving made it clear to him just how much he loved Rowan, so it had actually worked out. It was also the start of the year they now called the Year of Deceit but you know. Yeah. "And then when I found out what you did for me, how you came through when my cover was almost blown. You saved my life."

Mmm, she was getting at something here, and she was altogether too close to him. He didn't like it, nope, nope, he needed to put space between them.

"You would have done the same for me," he told her, because it was true. Just cause they ended didn't mean that he was going to let her die. He carefully shifted away from her, but she slid closer to him anyway. Maybe if he asked more questions she'd get distracted.

"When did they recruit you?"

"When I was in Afghanistan," she admitted pivoting so her knees were pointed to his, to the point where they were almost touching. God, how was he going to get her to stop without having to be like: hey. Quit it.

"So last year when you came to Hawaii was to…?" he asked and she nodded. "Yeah, okay."

So it was to say goodbye. He knew it.

"You know… uhm… I'm not sure if you know… but Rowan… she nearly got me killed… so while you might have been okay with everything she clearly wasn't."

"Catherine… what are you talking about?" he asked with a scowl.

"Didn't she tell you? I got outted at every turn. My handlers… they had no idea how it kept happening and it wasn't until they found that app imbedded in all their software and imbedded in my phone… Steve, even when we got rid of it, word was put out, personally by Wo Fat himself, about me. I mean he went to great lengths to be an imposition to me. He found a way to get a hold of my positions and sell me out to the people I was going after. He blew my cover every chance he could get. Rowan must have been so pleased."

"Yeah I heard about that, but uh… that was during the Year of Deceit…" he started but when Catherine turned to him clearly bemused, Steve shook his head. "We call it that because he never told anyone the truth. He was lying to her, he was lying to me, and he was lying to her bodyguard, to Nahele and to himself. And uh… that's when all the sabotage started, right?"

"Well yeah," she said.

"Okay… well… I haven't managed to get to that part of the year yet with her, but I'm going to guess that all that sabotage was probably Wo Fat's doing. I doubt Rowan knew about it."

"That's nice to think but…"

"No seriously. One of the lies he told her to keep her from wanting to come home was that uh… was that you and me… we uh… we got married and uh… we adopted Nahele. So… you know… Rowan was under the impression that you were in Hawaii with me the whole time. She wouldn't have told him to blow your cover, especially since she didn't think you were on covert ops."

"Oh… wow… he uh… huh…"

Steve half chuckled. "Wo Fat just doesn't like you, probably in solidarity for Rowan. Rowan told him before he went dark that you were back… and he had figured out that while she was getting tortured, I was dating you… he must have enacted revenge on her behalf. I bet if you told her, she'd be upset about it. So… you know… feel free to tell her, I'd love to listen to her yell at him again."

Catherine nodded and Steve nodded with her. "She means well… Rowan but uh…"

"She didn't come back the same, did she?"

Steve shook his head. "She's a lot more like him now, but you know, I'm actually starting to get used to it. It's kind nice that she's not all hyper and bouncing around from situation to situation. She's a lot more capable though I still wouldn't trust her with a gun…"

"And you and Wo are talking."

Steve winced at that. "Yeah… no… I unno," he said. "It's weird. We have a mutual understanding, is all. I can call him so long as it's about Rowan. Anything else he won't talk to me. Which is fine, it's not like I want to talk to him…"

"And he can call you about Rowan," she finished for him and Steve nodded.

"It's not that bad of a deal, he… he knows a lot about her and uh… he cares about her safety like I do so… yeah it's helpful," he said. "And I don't mind Rowan talking to him either, keeps her from running off and getting in danger. He's gotten pretty good at talking her down apparently."

"Sounds like you and her got everything sorted out," she said and Steve smiled.

"Yeah. Everything. She adopted Nahele, so he's living with us again and I got her back. Gave her that label this time, didn't even fight her on it," he said. "Everything's just… it's just perfect. Maybe no movie perfect, but perfect for us."

He noted a bit of discomfort on Catherine's face but better she got used to it now. Rowan was his forever and the sooner Catherine accepted that the better.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

Steve had given Wo Fat a wonderful idea. So while Steve had been wining and dining he had sent Jian off on a spa day. Except he hadn't booked her appointments, he had handed her his black card because he didn't know what she'd like. He had also given her a dress to wear, he didn't buy one because he'd need her approval to do that, so he went with one of her own dresses. The cream colored one he liked so much.

Then he had bought her favourite dinner, dressed himself up, plated the meals to make it look like he cooked it himself and then waited for her to come home.

When she did she was stunning, her hair was done up in this wonderful coiffure, she had smoky eye makeup and nude lipstick. The dress, her cream coloured past the knee cocktail dress was being held up by a halter top and bared a lot more cleavage then it should. He already knew from experience that the feel of that silky tulle that the skirt was made up would feel amazing against his bare thighs so he was definitely looking forward to the evening portion of the night.

They were part way through the meal, she had just offered to go get more wine for them, when the phone call came. Rowan's number.

She was literally supposed to be fucking McGarrett right now, or at least comatose from fucking McGarrett. Why the hell was she calling him now? They hadn't had an argument, had they?

He looked up and realized that Jian was staring at him so he tried to smile as warmly as possible. "It's business related, I'll be right back," he said and then quickly made his way to their bedroom. He shut the door behind him and moved as far away from it as possible before picking up his phone.

"What? What is going on? You better be in trouble because if this is just McGarrett drama I'm going to hang up."

"No something happened."

Wo Fat sighed god, Steve must have gotten hurt then. How though? They were on a date?!

"What, what happened?"

"Are you busy?"

"Well… kinda…. why?"

"Are you with anyone?"

"…I mean… yeah… but not like right beside me… Rowan…?" he checked the phone again and saw that she had hung up. What the hell what had she done that for? And then he felt the static crawl up against the back of his neck and he hoped she didn't do what he just thought she did.

"Hey," Rowan said appearing beside him. Wo Fat yelped and jumped sideways. It took a minute to compose himself and then he was glaring at her. Why the hell was she here?

"You need to stop doing that!" he hissed at her.

"I don't have time for this," she snapped. "Look, remember when I said I'd call you when that situation happened and it was time?"

Wo Fat narrowed his eyes at her. If he was referring to the situation with his father then yes he knew exactly what she was talking about. "I suppose."

"Well it happened, Steve left for Rabbit tonight," she said and then he was flat out glaring at her. Firstly, because it was Rabbat and not Rabbit and secondly because she was supposed to call him.

"You were supposed to tell me before he left. You said we'd go together."

"Yes, I know, I know but he wouldn't let me tell you, said he had to do it himself," she snapped. "And then he went with Catherine."

"So, he has to do this by himself but he had to take his ex with him? Rowan what bullshit is that?"

"It's a lot of bullshit and now I'm mad," she hissed.

"You should have pulled me, you should have pulled me before he left," he growled. "Right, I'm going to get set up and then you're going to throw me…"

"Hell no, I'm coming with you. Me and you we're going to do this without him. Show him who he should have actually taken with him!"

Wo Fat sighed. "Good God, Rowan. I'm not going to take you into a battle against the CIA just because you're jealous of Catherine. Now is not the time to sort out these issues. Just call Con…"

"I did already, he's busy. So it's me or nothing." Wo Fat tried not to glare at her. Of course she called Conejo first. She always called him first for battle situations. This was the only jumping to Hawaii with Conejo thing all over again. God why did that make him so angry?

"Oh and you're not going to just pull him in?"

"He said I could if I really need him but only if it's an emergency. Now are you going to let me come with you or are you going to try to get to Rabbit before Steve makes his move using conventional transportation?"

It was a shit move because she knew if he tried to get there himself he'd have to take the long way because he was a wanted man. He'd miss everything. And he knew she was mad enough to both leave him behind and go herself just to spite him and Steve.

He was going to tell her that he would, that he would need her to jump to one of his safe houses while he got himself ready so Jian didn't find her when the door to the bedroom flew open and Jian Hui was staring them down. Rowan blinked her eyes at her and then a smile spread onto her face.

"Is this the Doctor?" came out of Rowan just as Jian Hui snarled: "You've got to be kidding me."

The two women stared each other down. Rowan had never seen Jian before, or at least, he thought she hadn't.

"Wait… wait… I know you!" Rowan cried. "You're the girl, the one from the room. I saved you!"

Wo Fat turned she had done what. Jian straightened. She glanced to Wo Fat and then to her.

"Rowan… what are you… uh… what are you talking about?" he asked.

"Yeah, when I sent us all in separate directions, I ended up here, in the washroom. I crash landed in the tub," she said. "Yeah, uh… the yakuza were trying to break down the washroom door her, cause her brother defaulted on some debts or something and uh… I paid them off well… you did. I gave them an IOU."

"Your brother defaulted on more debts."

"Yeah and sold her a sex slave," Rowan said.

"WHAT?!" Wo Fat thundered but he was ignored. He should have asked more questions about the Japan incident, should have asked her more about that girl she saved, but after getting her back from North Korea Wo had just kind of forgotten to ask. He was just happy she was safe and home. And he was worrying about what Con was going to do with the information he got from Hawaii.

"I assume you've had no further issues?" Rowan asked then she winced. "Guess not cause he kidnapped you, right? That was a shit move, but I've pretty much ruined him. Did Wo Fat tell you what he's doing to pay off the debt?"

She had this big giant grin on her face, probably because her punishment was fitting. She had Hatachi working off his debt in a maid service café. The poor boy had to dress up like a female maid every night for a very specific clientele. Yes, this was a happy ending service but only if the maid chose to go that far, he wasn't sure what Hatachi was choosing to do.

Jian just stared at her with big blinking eyes. "But your hair was… supposed to be red…"

"We dyed it and cut it and… I don't look that different, do I?" Rowan asked. There was a terrible pause and then Rowan, his stupidly oblivious Rowan, offered her a hand to shake saying: "Kay well let's get properly introduced. Hi, I'm Rowan, I'm his si…"

"No," Jian snapped. "No, you're not his sister because you're not related…"

Rowan's eyes crinkled, but not in surprise because she knew that Wo Fat had lied to her and said that she and him weren't talking anymore, and she knew why he had to do that. She shot a worried glance to Wo Fat and then said… "Well… no I mean… not by blood… I'm just kind of adopted… I know he told you that…"

"Look, thank you for saving me back then and thank you for the ransom money. That was very nice of you. But you're not related, you're just some woman my boyfriend picked up and decided to keep, which is quite strange of a grown man to do. So, excuse me if I don't trust him after he abandoned me to spend a year traveling with you," she snapped and then she turned her eyes to Wo Fat.

Jain's face was enough for him to know that she was done and suddenly a bolt of worry ran through him. He didn't want to break up with her again. "One second, Ro," he said and then pushed Jian back through the door and into the living room. "Alright… I know how this looks…"

"She is not your sister," Jian snapped. "You're not related. You picked that girl up and kept her. Why? Because she's pretty? Don't forget I've seen you waltz with her."

"It was a video, it was simply to fulfil a life goal of hers…" he whispered as Rowan asked: "Which time?"

Jian turned her unimpressed eyes to him and he winced. Fuck Rowan and her mouth. Why had she followed him outside?

"Ro go back in the room please," he ordered but she shook her head.

"This is all a misunderstanding, okay? He and I… we're not really talking it's just something's going on and if you'd just let me explain…" she started but Wo Fat turned, pushed her back into the room and slammed the door shut.

Jian Hui folded her arms over her chest to stare up at him. "You have feelings for her…"

"Yes. Yes I do. She is the first person in a very long time to elicit any kind of warm feeling for anything other than myself and money, but it's not a romantic thing. It has never been romantic…"

"Seriously, I've got a man. Trust me, you'd just have to see Steven to understand why me and Wo are not a thing…" she called from behind the door.

"GODDAMN IT, ROWAN!" "Sorry, I'll shut up now."

She wasn't sorry. He knew she wasn't. He turned his pleading eyes to Jian Hui hoping to god she'd believe him.

"Look. It's… it's about my father."

"Your father's dead."

Yeah he shouldn't have told her that but it was easier to say then his dad was somewhere, he didn't know where, and being held by the CIA. "Yeah about that…"

"Okay so you lied about being in contact with her and you lied about your father being alive."

"We really aren't in contact, it's just cause Steve got intel…" Rowan called through the door only to be cut off by Wo Fat roaring her name. There was half a beat of silence between his outburst and her soft: "Sorry."

God he was going to strangle her.

Jian looked at him, her arms carefully folded over her chest. "Stop lying to me."

Wo Fat didn't have time for this. Steve had a head start and he wanted to beat him there. "Fine. Fine. My Mom was murdered by Steve's mom. It was an accident, she meant to kill my dad. My dad got arrested and he's been held by the CIA in a place I didn't know about until Rowan told me tonight. Steve's gone to rescue him because his mom went to rescue my dad from the CIA. But his mom got caught, and I want to go and help. And if you want me to be 100% truthful, we never really dropped contact, Rowan and I. She properly forgave me on Halloween."

"So you're leaving to go save your dad," she said. "And you're going with her? Tonight?"

"Uh… well she's not going to take no for an answer. Seems Steve left with his ex and she wants to go to make sure nothing happens…"

"And she forgave you."

"Yeah, on Halloween."

"And you never gave up contact."

"Well I mean… she's been in and out of bad situations. She had a serial killer after her… and…"

But Jian was shaking her head. "Yep. Have fun with your new girlfriend. I'm leaving, we're done. By the time I get back here I expect you to be gone. Don't call me ever again."

Wo Fat stood there watching as she walked away picking up her coat and slamming the door behind her. As that door shut he felt as if it had shut on his own heart, but he quickly brushed that away.

He glanced to the bedroom door where Rowan was standing. "I… I could go after her… try to explain…" she said but he shook his head.

"No. I… I can't keep doing this with her," he said. "And besides, you're a part of my life. If she can't accept it, I'd rather deal with it now instead of down the line.

"I'm sorry. I should have waited… I shouldn't have…"

"Rowan!" he shouted and she fell quiet again. "I have to get my gear and get myself ready to deal with what will probably be a whole shit storm of void play. Now take me to my office before I shoot you to shut you up."

He thought she'd look upset that he was yelling at her, or threatening her, but she seemed to understand that he was hurt and lashing out because she just stared at him. Those big blue eyes filled with pity and concern. She carefully reached out and grabbed his hand then led him into the void.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

Steve and Catherine had a plan. They had grabbed one of the CIA operatives that worked out of that blacksite his mom was stuck in and got him to talk. He gave up all the information they needed about the security measures how many people where there, where they were holding Doris. He got it all.

He and Catherine had been talking about plans, about why Doris had done this and about what they were going to do when they heard a car pull up and stop and then several car doors shut at once.

That wasn't good, no one was supposed to know they were there.

Catherine and Steve went for their guns and moved, Catherine to the window, Steve to the door.

He waited for something, and got it. Someone opened the door and he attacked them, slamming them against the wall and then flipping them.

It wasn't until the person hit the ground that he realized it was Chin. He glanced back in time to see Kono and Grover coming up behind them both of them wearing shocked looks on their faces. Aw fuck, he knew he shouldn't have called Danny to tell him what was going on.

"Well, I guess we should've knocked," Chin said from his place on the floor.

"I should've known I couldn't trust Daniel Williams to keep his big mouth shut."

"Oh Danny was definitely worried, but that's not who we got our intel from," Grover said stepping over Chin to get into the house but leaving him on the floor.

Fuck it was Rowan.

"Little mamma called the house last night, said she wanted me to pick up Nahele, some big thing with Wo Fat," Grover said.

"Next morning we have Danny calling saying that you went out of town too," Kono said.

Then Chin, who finally got off the ground said: "Rowan left her phone in your house so we had to patch through to Wo Fat who got us to Rowan. She told us that you went off with Catherine, then she gave us your coordinates and said you two would probably need help. But she didn't give us the whole story. We don't know exactly what's going on but all indications are it isn't good. And I'm thinking it involves your mother. Are we right?"

They were. But Steve had other issues.

"Ro doesn't have her phone and she's off somewhere with Wo Fat?" he asked and Chin nodded. "And you don't know where?"

The all shook their heads. "Hey, we're here to give you guys a hand. Rowan has Wo, she'll be okay."

Yeah but that wasn't the problem. Steve had a feeling he knew exactly where Rowan was. Plan or not they were going to have to hit that blacksite tonight, because he had a feeling that Rowan was already there.