Chapter Three

-"He arrived in the early AM. He rented a car and put Catherine's info into the GPS. He turned several messages from the team and at least 20 from Lynn on his phone. Damn, he needs to resolve that asap. He arrives at Catherine's place around. It is a modest brick house in a nice neighborhood. He rings the doorbell, then knocks loudly several times. Catherine is thinking, who is at my door this early? She gets her gun, looks through the peephole, and thinks her eyes are playing tricks; it is Steve. Cath, is Steve. Are you in there? She opens the door to that goofy smile. Steve, what are you doing here? Come on in. A world of emoting rushed through him, her hair was all messed up, her seal top hanging off her shoulders, but he thought she was the most beautiful person in the world. Steve, why are you here so early? Catherine, I know it is early but I have a lot to tell you. Okay, but you could have called instead of flying all the way here and waking me up. Look, Steve, it's early, and I am tired. I just got off a long rough mission. I know, but just let me say this, and we can talk more tomorrow, Catherine. I am sorry for not believing you and for fighting for you. I was wrong and an idiot, and I want you to know I never stop loving you. You bastard, you think you can just swoon in here and say those words when you have another woman in your bed back home? How did you get my address, anyway? Your Dad. My Dad! When did you see my Dad? The light went off, you are the one that had the video to clear me. Yes, ma'am, and he smirked. I am sorry, Cath, you had to give up your life for me. You are free now and. And nothing. Thank you, Steve, but I am really tired. I'll show you to the guest room, and we'll talk tomorrow when I am more awake. Okay, he didn't like it, that he had to sleep in the guest room. Here is your room, towels in the bathroom, good night and I see you in the morning. Good night, Cath. She was mad but secretly happy he was here. She needs to make him squirm for a while because he did hurt her and take her for granted. He showered, put on his boxer, and tried to go to sleep and not thinking about Catherine being in the next room.

-"He got up the next morning and decided to cook breakfast for her. She always likes it when he cooks. His phone buzzed, and another message from Lynn. He hit delete without reading it. Catherine woke up and smelled bacon. She slowly remembered last night and Steve is there. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, and headed into the kitchen. Steve is standing facing the stove in nothing but his boxer. She couldn't help but smile and remember how much she like the look and his hot ass. He heard but waited; he pretended to drop his fork and bent over; he heard her gasp and then shook his booty. Good morning, sleepy head; he turns around. She shows off, and she smiles. You need to get some food in here, woman. It's not much. I cook the last of the bacon, made you some eggs, just the way you like them, and toast. Here, he hands her some coffee; she tastes it, and you still remember. I will never forget it. Steve, thank you, and I want to explain why I left; I never meant to lie or hurt you. I know, but eat first and then we talk. Okay, she laughed, what so funny. I remember your Mom breaking in when we were in bed; I was so embarrassed, and she asked me how I like my eggs, and then you asked the same thing; I knew why you did it,. You didn't want your Mom to know how deep our relationship was and you knew how I like my eggs. All the time you made breakfast for me when we were on leave and had time to cook for one another. Guilty as charged, I just didn't want her to know how deep our feelings were with one another so she could start meddling and messing things up. Well, we did a pretty good job of that ourselves; yes, we did.

-"Cath I am sorry I never told you what you mean to me and that I love you more than life myself. After you left, I was so mad and pissed at you for breaking my heart again. I felt like a fool, all the pitiful look, the sad, poor Steve. You know how I hate to be pitted and for people to feel sorry for me. Everyone started trying to set me up. Danny, Lou, and Ellie mostly. Who is Ellie? is the ADA and was a friend to my Father. We became friends, friends? Yes, just a friend who never thought of her that way. She set me up with her friend Lynn; that is how we met. Catherine held her hand down. Cath, I am not saying this to hurt you, but I just want you to know how broken I was without you. Danny was nagging me daily. We had so many more arguments than the norm, and Lou was coming over all the time, saying it was time to move on. I was a mess. I was in a bad mood all the time, doing crazier things more than ever and taking more risks. The team stages an invention, saying I am not myself; I said I am fine. They said you are not fine, and I was going to get myself killed by them. I never put the team in danger, so I at least tried to put the anger I had aside while I worked. I did, and then the nagging started again about dating, but never from Chin & Kono. They never interfered just said they knew we loved each other and love always finds a way. She smiles at that because of their loyalty. I bit the bullet and agreed to go out with Lynn. I was miserable but decided to fake it; I kept wishing it was you. Lynn was over the moon and tried to be a perfect woman. Agreeing with everything I said, laughing at things that weren't funny. Texting and calling me nonstop with silly emoji. Posting on social media which I told her not to do. Snooping in my house looking for things about you.

-"You know, at your house, she was so nasty to me, trying to piss me off so I would lose it, but she didn't know I am trained to deal with hurtful words. She said she made you delete my contact from the phone, you slept together in our bed lots of nights, soon was moving in, eventually married and had kids. She was going to be Mrs. Steven John McGarrett, and you said she was better than me in bed. Catherine, none of that is true, so you didn't sleep with her in our bed, he hung his head, yes that part is true, and I am so sorry. I was very, very drunk that night; I don't even remember much, but it was before Valentine's, and I was thinking about you. I called out your name, but she didn't say anything. The next morning she asked for a shirt and got one. The ring was in the dresser, and she threw it at me because she was pissed. I just slept with her, called her your name, and the engagement ring. I was a jerk, but I felt bad so I took her to a fancy restaurant. I wanted to break up with her the next day, but Danny begged me not to give it so many times. Day and night, and in between this, I was sleeping with a stranger on a plane. What! The governor made Danny & I go to counseling in Maui, and this girl was in the middle seat, and she flirted with me; I was drinking again, and I became a player. I got drunk and hooked up. Danny was so mad when I came back drunk and woke him up. I am sorry, Cath, I was a mess; if you didn't want me or love me, I found it in the streets. Steve, I never in a million years I would here those words come out of your mouth. I became someone I wasn't because I couldn't get over you leaving me. When you came back to get me for your Mom, even though I tried not to show it, I was so happy to see you and wanted to hug and kiss you so badly. I didn't even care about Lynn seeing it. I am so sorry and hope you can find in your heart to forgive me and let me make it up to you. I won't give up; I won't no matter how much you push me away. Steve, what did my dad tell you? He told me everything, and yes, I am the one who went with him to see the Director to get you free. Why didn't you tell me we could have used it to keep me home? I was a fool and thought I knew everything and had it under control. It cost me to lose you. I did take you for granted, refusing to express how I truly felt when I should have kissed the ground you worship on.

-" Oh yeah, check your bank account; there should be a 5 million deposit courtesy of the CIA. Are you serious yet? I figure they owe you something for what they put you through, but even I was surprised when she said 5 mil. Who am I to argue with the director of the CIA? You deserve it, Catherine, and so much more. Uh, when do you have to go back to work? I ask the governor for a lead of absence with no return date. He did ask you. Why? I just said it was a personal matter, and he knew it must be important because I had never taken time off. Okay, what about you and Lynn. I was in such a hurry to get to you, I didn't have time to deal with her. I wont agree to anything until you end with Lynn. You need to do that first. I do it now, over the phone. No, Steve, that's not right; you should do it in person because she will go ballistic if you don't and not believe you. If I come back to you so soon, she will think I made you do it. If what do you mean if you come back? We have a lot of work out, Steve. There is hurt on both sides, and it is going to take time for us to work through our problems. Does the Captain have anything to do with it? The captain? Yeah, the guy who is in love with you? How did and thought my Dad? Yeah, he is telling me if I don't get my act together, a certain Captain has his eyes on you. I beat the crap out of him if he tries. You do no such thing, caveman and she laughed. How he had miss that smile and those beautiful brown eyes so much. Go back to Oahu, break up with Lynn, and then come back, and we see where things go. Good thing you got all that money; these airline tickets aren't cheap, and he laughed. Can I at least stay through the week with you? I promise I fly back and come back. Okay, deal and I pay for the ticket. I am rich and she raised her eyebrow. Thank you, sugar Mama, and he kissed her. Sorry, he said with a sheepish look on his face, you are not sorry. You're right. I am not sorry, and wink at her.

AN: Thanks to everyone who is still reading this. It does make my day. I am hoping I am getting better writing as I post more stories.