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AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Hello, Hello, wonderful readers! We've got the last update for the month coming today. I'm super excited for next month's updates. They're going to be GREAT! Font' forget to leave me a review and I'll see you in November!

Chapter 457

When Tani got the call from Noelani she thought it was work related. She hadn't ever expected the call that she actually got. It didn't matter that she had a case, it didn't matter that she was supposed to be helping Grover, what mattered was getting to the Morgue.

She got there, bursting into the room where Noelani's office was, right before the actual morgue. There she found Koa, looking shaken and still like he was rather sick. Noelani was handing him a tea to drink. His eyes had turned to her when she came in but realizing it was just his sister, he had lowered them again.

It was never good when he couldn't look at her. And it wasn't good that her emotions were still so raw. The panic was receding now, being replaced with the utter horror of what had happened, the anger that it had gotten this bad without her noticing.

She turned her eyes away from Koa to Noelani as the coroner approached her.

"He's gonna be fine," Noelani said to her.

"Thank you," she whispered. She turned to the other person in the room, the other person who had called her to give her more information. The one who had saved her brother. "Adam…"

"Hey, it's okay…"

The door swung open again and when Tani turned Con was heading towards her. Though she saw him glance to Koa, his eyes primarily stayed on her.

"Hey, hey, I heard what happened… are you okay?" he asked. He had crossed to her, his hands resting on the hands she had framing her head. It was a clear sign she was frazzled and part of her loved that he had noticed that and was trying to soothe her.

He seemed to look at her a long time, even after she nodded, as if he could tell she was lying and was deciding to call her out. After a moment a cold glare slid away from her and towards Koa "Is he?"

Koa flinched under Con's gaze. They were buddies before this, they had been getting along. He had thought very highly of Con, had liked that she was dating him, thought he made her more fun. She liked that Koa was looking up to him even if he was a criminal.

"I'm fine… he's fine… why are you here? I thought… I thought you were with Ro today. How did you…"

"Ro had me working today. She… she called me," he said. "Told me what happened. Said you needed me and to drop what I was doing and go to you."

Tani was not expecting that. Rowan's dislike of her was not a secret to anyone. She didn't think she would ever do something so kind for her. Especially if it meant letting Con go.

"That's… that's actually really nice of her. How did she…" she glanced to where Adam was standing, just a little to the side, trying to not intrude on their conversation. "You must have called her…"

"No actually… she already knew. She kinda… she called me first," Adam said. "She's how I found him."

"She called me too," Noelani said. "She told me they were coming. Said he'd need two doses and it'd be wise if I got them ready."

Tani took that in. "Did… did he…?" Noelani nodded. "How could she have possibly known…"

"I know you don't want to believe it but…"

Tani found herself rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, psychic."

She sighed a bit and both Adam and Con exchanged a bit of a look before Adam said: "Look we should give them a couple of minutes," Adam said.

Con didn't seem convinced, but he turned to Tani, silently asking if she agreed with this. When she eventually nodded he left with Noelani and Adam, leaving her alone with Koa.

Without realizing it, she found herself pacing trying to keep the tears out of her eyes. He still couldn't look at her and she knew why. He knew what was coming.

The instinct was there too. To yell at him, to lecture him, to shake him and hit him, but she was fighting it. She was shaking herself. She was just so angry, so afraid of the what ifs, of where Koa would be if she didn't have people to intervene.

She just wasn't sure he was truly aware of the severity of what happened.

"You are so lucky that they brought you here. Do you get that? If the cops got involved…"

If possible Koa sunk lower into his seat. "I know."

"You know," she echoed. She still wasn't sure that he did know, that he really understood what had happened. What could have happened. Did he understand that this was hurting her as much as he was hurting himself?

The urge to scream climbed up her throat but she tamped down. Just looking at him, the way his shoulders were hunched, he was defensive. He was not in a place to hear a single thing she had to say.

She forced herself to lean back against Noelani's desk. Her fingers gripping the underside so tightly it hurt.

"How long have you been using?"

She both needed the answer and dreaded it. She didn't want to know how long she had been missing the signs. Or worse, explaining them away.

Koa shrugged, but even he knew she wouldn't let this go. Eventually he murmured: "About a year."

She flinched, found herself biting back the urge to scream. Not at him, just in general.

A year.

A whole year and she hadn't noticed?

How had she not noticed?

How had she not said anything any time she thought he was doing something shady?

Why had she given him so much freedom?

It took a moment of trying to control her breathing but eventually she managed to grit out two sentences.

"You need help. You're going to rehab."

Koa was silent. She knew he was going to argue. But he was going to rehab even if Con had to knock his ass out, put him in the trunk and throw him into the rehab himself.

"Look, I… I get it, okay? I was… I was stupid. It won't happen again. I'm… I'm done with that stuff."

She had been watching him carefully. She knew every word was a lie, something he'd hope she believed, something to stall until he could get his next fix.

"You can't even look at me." That got him to turn his eyes to her. "You should have died today." He said nothing, but even she could tell that he still didn't quite get how serious this was. "I promised dad, I promised him, I promised him that I'd look after you."

"I'm not a kid alright."

"You're not a man either!" she cried. When he didn't say anything, something in her snapped. The damn broke, the tears that were threatening were becoming more and more thick n her eyes and she got stuck on one simple question as she crossed to him. "What are you doing? What are you doing, Koa? What are you doing?"

She found herself on her knees in front him, fisting that blanket around him. The anguish was in her voice, probably clear as day on her face. Still he couldn't even look at her.

"You're stealing, you're rolling with bangers, you're getting high. This isn't you. You weren't like this. Where you're headed, you're gonna end up in jail or you're gonna end up dead. Do you understand that? You are my only family. You are the only think I have. You can't leave me."

That was what got him. Finally, he would look at her. Could take in her tears and see them for what it was. His hand came out of the blanket and grabbed hers.

"I'm sorry."

The tears wouldn't stop now. The fear that had her had given way to the relief that he was alive, that she had a chance to fix this, to save him. Now that she could afford to feel that relief the sobs broke through her. Her head rested against his chest as she continued to cry, as she tried to reign it in all while Koa repeated his apology.

She knew he meant it and she wanted to believe him. But she knew she couldn't. Maybe once she got him into rehab she would start believe him again. But first, first she needed to get him the help he so desperately needed.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

Rowan had shown up at the restaurant early that afternoon, with three salads. Steve and Danny had both been trying to work on the renovation though mostly getting distracted by their ongoing argument about who was to blame for the break in.

That argument and any work they were pretending to do was put on pause when Rowan showed up. Steve had been concerned right away, why was she there, why wasn't Con with her and then when she answered his questions, it was what emergency could Tani have that she'd need Con for?

Rowan had been tight lipped about that part, only saying it wasn't her story to tell and they've have to ask her themselves. So they both sent off text to Tani to ensure she was okay before moving onto the food she had brought.

She had gotten them all salads. She had said she had gotten them the kinds they would all like, except they hadn't come with salad dressing. It was from a new place, very healthy, fresh ingredients, health conscious so all their salads came without dressing.

They were all standing at the counter that would eventually be their expo counter, except for Rowan who was sitting on their sample barstool, between the two, finally silent, men. Every couple of minutes her fork would dart over to Steve's bowl and another mouthful of salmon would be gone.

"Babe, babe, stop it, you have your own. Eat your own salmon."

"I did, I want more," she said already eyeing Steve's bowl again.

"I also want salmon, Ro."

Rowan quickly turned a dark glare onto her husband. "Listen to me McGarrett, you put this baby in me. I'm the one growing it, always uncomfortable, always needing to pee. And at some point it's going to rip its way out of me. Now shut up and let me eat the salmon."

Steve didn't even argue, he simply slid the bowl over to her with a soft: "At least save me some."

Danny shook his head and took another mouth full of the salad, having already eaten the bits of steak that had been chopped up and added in. "This tastes like a shoe."

Rowan shot him a glare but Steve but a hand out to her to calm her down before leaning over her to glare at Danny.

"No. It's simple and it's good. There's nothing wrong with your salad, it's a good salad. And if you don't stop complaining about the salad my wife didn't have to get you and you make her cry, I will not hesitate to bitch slap you."

Danny turned right away, slamming a hand down on the countertop that startled Rowan and had Steve jumping to the defensive immediately. He was ready to tell Steve to go ahead and try hitting him, he wouldn't like would happen if he did, but someone was coming through the plastic curtain.

"Oh! Hey! Pua! There you are!" Danny said as the man came into view. "Ro said Con got pulled off the case, but you've got something, right?"

"Well…"

Steve exchanged glances with Danny. "Uh-oh…"

Pua stuttered a bit before finally get it out. "I'm sorry, Detective, Commander, but we hit a wall. Those tools are probably off-island by now."

Steve crossed his arms over his chest, not smiling. Danny was just plain quiet which was worse.

"Man! What happened to our very promising lead?"

"Yeah, it… it turns out it was a dead end."

Without even looking up from her salad, Rowan said: "Why you lying? Just tell them the family needed them more."

At that Pua's eyes widened and Steve and Danny exchanged another look.

"What the fuck is she talking about?"

"Uh…" he started but both Danny and Steve turned away from him and to Rowan who clearly wasn't going to lie to them.

Steve put a hand to his wife's arm and her eyes turned up to him. "Babe… can you explain what you just said?"

"He and Con tracked them down before he had that Tani thing prop up. Some family has them. Their entire house got taken out by a wildfire. Insurance is giving them the run around, they're doing their repairs themselves, living in tents. Both of them talked about it and figured they needed them more."

Steve and Dany turned back to Pua who had the god sense to look crestfallen and a bit worried.

"It's true… about them needing the tools more…"

"Why didn't you just tell us that?" Danny asked.

"Cause neither of you are reasonable," Rowan said. "Thanks for all the help Pua. Don't let them make you feel bad, you guys didn't the right thing."

"Yeah, we really appreciate you looking into it and totally understand," Steve said, if only to prove Rowan wrong.

"Its fine, boys. You can buy more tools," she said. "I'll let Steve use my credit card."

Pua said goodbye, and apologized again for how things ended up and that left Steve and Danny turning back around to their salads.

Steve was the first to talk. "Alright, I guess we're going to City Mills tomorrow to get new tools."

"Hold on, stop," Danny said.

"What? What?"

"Okay. We got to think and reassess a little bit. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate, assess a couple of things. We're way behind where we should be and I think maybe we need to… talk a little bit about some stuff."

"Well, were way behind, you keep fighting me on the aesthetic, and then the booze and this, and we've had a bunch of setbacks. We were both in quarantine, you got shot, you broke your arm."

"I broke my… well you bought a phony, cheap ladder, that's why I broke… but that's not the point, okay? That's not the point. The point is we are spending way too much money, we're not even close to opening. I think that maybe the way we're going about this is not working, would you agree with that?"

"Yes," Rowan said just as her husband said: "Wait a minute."

Then they both paused and turned to her. She took in both stares and said: "This is a very dysfunctional way to do this."

"Oh and how would you do it?"

"Decide on a plan, hire a contractor, then an interior decorator. Bam, done."

Danny shook his head. "Great money bags over here…"

"Okay, stop it," Steve said, halting Danny before he could say anything else more insulting to Rowan. "What are you trying to say here. Are you saying that we made a mistake with this?"

"Yes," Rowan said again.

"Ignore her," Steve said immediately. "Is that what you think?"

"No, I'm not saying this is a mistake. I said that maybe we could use a little help."

"A little help? Like… what Rowan said. You wanna hire somebody? You just said we don't have any money."

"No, not Rowan's idea. I don't want to hire. I just think, maybe… we just, you know… maybe we bring in another partner, someone…"

"Whoa… wait a second. That's the worst idea you've ever had, another voice in this? Danny, come on, besides, Steve's is supposed to our thing. No?"

"It's not gonna be Steve's," Rowan said for Danny.

Danny simply pointed at her but Steve rolled his eyes.

"Please, would you listen to me? I'm gonna figure it out, alright? We'll get a loan we'll borrow some money, whatever. I don't know. But we're gonna get it, we're gonna figure it out and it's gonna be awesome."

"Well… before we go that route… I was thinking… since it's a family restaurant," Danny said carefully his eyes falling on Rowan who had gone back to picking the salmon out of Steve's salad bowl, except this time he was just letting her, offering her the bowl and everything.

Steve followed Danny's gaze down to his wife. She turned up to him, another bite of salmon in her mouth, took in the stare, followed his gaze to Danny who was also staring at her and then together they watched her piece together what Danny was insinuating.

"Oh… oh no…" she said quickly with a shake of her head.

"Well, Miss-Invests-In-Local-Businesses. How about you invest in us? Become a partner in our family business."

"I would, but you two aren't a good investment," she said. "I mean, you guys are constantly arguing, can't agree on anything, you want to open an Italian restaurant in the middle of China town… I haven't even seen a business plan…"

"If this goes down you'll get dragged down too."

"Nu-uh, our finances are separate."

"I can't believe… I mean, he's just going to get the loan from you. Why wouldn't you want…."

"A loan is something I can literally siphon off his paycheque, the amount of capitol you're going to need to get this up to my standard is WAY too high for anything other than half partner and neither of you will like it if I take control. This is supposed to be your thing, not the thing you start and then get me to fix for you when it goes belly up. Nor would either of you actually want to owe me. I let Con collect my debts. Think about that."

That seemed to be the conversation done and over with. Danny glanced to Steve over Rowan's head and half smiled at Steve mouthed: "I'll talk to her," to him.

Despite not even looking up Rowan said: "I saw that. And it won't work."

Danny bit back the laugh that threatened to escape and Steve had to advert his eyes so he wouldn't snigger.

Despite the setback, they were both certain that things were going to be okay.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

Adam had had a bad day. On top of having Koa OD on him, he hadn't managed to snag the CI he wanted. He had thought that he had offered such a great deal, that there was no way should would turn him down. But Jessie Nomura had proved him wrong and shut him down. Hard.

Now after all of that he had to return to the house he used to share with Kono all on his own. It wouldn't be so bad if things weren't so bad between him and Kono, but they were and returning her there without him reminded him of that.

So imagine his surprise when he got there and found Jessie waiting on his porch for him.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried this was trap. But he also knew there was no way Rowan would let him walk into a trap. She'd've called him by now. Unless she hadn't bothered and sent Con, but he didn't see any sign of the assassin hanging around.

Still Adam put his car in park and carefully got out of it.

"Bout time," she said as he walked towards her.

He came to stand before her. "How did you know where I live?"

"Let's just say I'm resourceful." When Adam just stared at her she huffed and the stood up to approach him. "You know, a while back I pulled a couple of jobs with this guy. Real badass. Not someone you'd wanna mess with. Guy's name was Michael Noshimuri."

Great she knew his brother.

"Your brother, right?"

"Yeah."

"What you said before, about growing up with some bad people, knowing how they think. I thought that was all smoke. Guess I was wrong about you. Where is Michael these days?"

"He's dead."

"I'm sorry. How?"

"I killed him," he admitted, because it was true. No point in denying it. Sooner or later she'd find out. "I didn't have a choice. It was either him or me."

That was only partially true. The option was killing Michael or Michael killing him, Kono and Rowan. He chose to protect his real family.

If that upset Jessie she didn't say. She simply nodded at him. "If I do this thing, am I gonna end up dead?"

"I won't let that happen. I'll protect you. You have my word."

She nodded again and she moved a step closer to him. "Alright, Noshimuri. You got yourself a CI."

Then she offered him a hand to shake.

Adam found himself smiling. This was the first step in the right direction to figuring out who was trying to muscle Wo Fat out of his territory and saving his family.