Chapter Text
“I can’t believe this.”
Jacq ignored her boyfriend while she read the paper in her hand. She was flummoxed. “Did you read this list?”
“What?” McGarrett looked over at her. The couple had just returned to Dr. Stone’s house after an appointment in Honolulu and had retreated to her bedroom. They were sitting on the bed, both with something in their hands. “Sorry. I’m still stuck on this sonogram. That’s our baby.” He showed her the tiny picture again. He was acting like a little boy with a toy.
“Yes, it is.” She couldn’t help but smile at him, then she waved the paper she was holding. “This is the list of things I can’t eat or should avoid eating large amounts of. I’m glad you’re happy, because I’m not.” She tossed the paper away and flopped back on her pillow.
Seeing the woman he loved upset had Steve scrambling to grab the paper and scan it. He didn’t want her to be unhappy. “If you can’t have these things, then I won’t either.”
“Be careful before you promise me anything.” She sat back up and pointed at one of the items. “Limited caffeine throughout the pregnancy and the entire time I’m breastfeeding. Also, no alcohol. I’m going to get cranky very quickly.”
“You don’t have alcohol often and I’m sure we can find something to substitute for it in the evening. Also, you don’t drink coffee.”
She growled at him. He’d forgotten. “Several of the teas I like have caffeine in them… like the Assan. It helps me wake up in the morning and gets my juices flowing.”
“I thought that was what your runs are for, which you can still do. Dr. Levy specifically mentioned that.” He’d heard most of what the OB/GYN told them during the appointment, when he hadn’t been distracted by the ultrasound.
“That’s because we ran in the mornings together when we were college roommates on the mainland. And at a certain point, running is going to be uncomfortable and hard. I’m going to be carrying a lot of extra weight around and will probably develop edema in my extremities.”
“Edema?”
“Swelling and water retention. I’m going to have cankles.” She smiled when he laughed.
McGarrett leaned over and gave her a kiss. He pulled back, but stayed close. “Your ankles will recover, just like you will.” He paused, then added. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh, no.”
“Hey, I have very good ideas, no matter what Danny says or tells you. Anyway… I think we should have a party to tell the team about the baby.”
“I don’t know, Steve.” There was a grimace on her face.
“You’ve made me keep it a secret for two weeks already. I think it’s time to tell them.”
“Can’t we wait a couple more weeks?”
“Why?” He didn’t understand her hesitance. He wanted to celebrate their good news, even if it wasn’t the good news he’d been hoping to celebrate.
“Because of the fact that this is a ger….” She really hated that word and refused to say it. “Because I’m an older mother-to-be. Once I’m out of the first trimester, all the statistics improve and then I’ll feel like celebrating.” She could see he was unhappy. “I know how much your ohana means to you, but-.”
“Our ohana. They’re just as much yours as they’re mine.”
“Fine, our ohana, but I don’t want to celebrate and then lose the baby.”
“Don’t even think that.” He cupped her face. “Our baby is strong like us and those who came before us. However, I understand where you’re coming from.” He took a deep breath. Compromise was the key to a good relationship. No matter how much he disliked it, they needed to agree on what they were going to do. “Let’s wait a week and see what happens. The team is smart. They’ll probably figure it out on their own.”
“Wanna bet on it?” She smirked at him.
“All right.” He grinned. “Terms?” He was happy to see she was in better spirits all of a sudden.
“If I win, Danny gets to be in charge of the team for a week and you have to listen to his orders.”
“I-.”
“That’s what I want if I win. This is not a negotiation. And no second guessing him. He’s in charge.”
“Fine.” The former SEAL thought about what he wanted… besides the obvious, which was to tell the team their news. But since she brought his partner into it, he’d do the same. “If I win, you have to call Danny, Danno, for a week.”
“He’s going to hate that.”
“Exactly, but I’ll enjoy it. And it might make him more accepting of my occasionally use of it. Deal?” He held a hand between them. She took it and they shook.
“Deal. You better not give anybody a hint or let the cat out of the bag, that makes the bet null and void.” She chided and wagged a finger at him
“Hey, I can play by the rules.”
“Says the man who utilizes a rendition room to get suspects and criminals to cooperate.” She gave him a smug smile
Steve sat up and glared at her. “It’s sanctioned by your friend, Governor Denning. Take it up with him.”
“I just might.” She continued to grin. Then she gasped as he dove forward and gave her a searing kiss. All thoughts fled her mind. It was always fun to battle the man she loved, but other activities were much more enjoyable.
*****
“You never told me how the proposal went.” Danny commented as he climbed out of his partner’s truck. “I’ve asked you a few times and you always skirt the question.”
“More like a dozen times, but who’s counting?” McGarrett got out of his vehicle and slammed the door. He met the other man at the edge of the path that led to the backyard of Jacq’s house. He sighed. “I didn’t end up asking her.”
“Why the hell not? You went to a lot of effort what with the flowers, the special wine and the fancy meal.” Williams almost shouted as they started around the house.
“It’s complicated. Can we please not talk about this?” Steve growled.
“No, I got dragged into helping you with your grand plan. I deserve to know why you didn’t ask her.”
“The time wasn’t right.” The former SEAL froze when they reached the back edge of the house. “What the hell?”
“What?” The Detective peeked around his partner and whistled. “Seems like something interesting is going on.” He pushed the other man forward. “Let’s find Jacq and ask her what she’s up to.”
“Fine.” McGarrett growled and continued down the path to the stairs.
What had brought him up short was three piles of stuff in the profiler’s backyard. Two were made up of boxes and the third was all furniture. One of the piles of boxes was huge and was in the middle of the yard. The other two piles were small, just a few small pieces of furniture and half a dozen boxes. The back door to the house was open and the head of Five-O bound up the stairs and into the house.
“Jacq?” He called out.
“Steve? I’m upstairs.” Came her faint reply.
“Come on, Danno.” McGarrett took the stairs two at a time
“Don’t call me that.” Williams growled, but he still followed the other man up the stairs.
“What’s with all the boxes?” The Navy officer asked when he reached the upper landing, then he rushed forward and cursed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He pushed the profiler out of the way and glared at her.
“Moving that dresser. What did it look like I was doing?” Dr. Stone countered as she tried to get around him and back to what she had been doing. The dresser in question was solid wood, with six-drawers and beautiful inlay. She had just gotten it out of the small bedroom which connected to the master suite, using furniture mover pads.
“You shouldn’t be straining yourself.” He hissed at her and blocked her path.
“Why shouldn’t she be straining herself?” The Detective asked once he joined them.
“Ignore him.” Jacq glared at her boyfriend, swung around, and gave the other man a hug. “Hi, Danny.”
“Hey, Jacq.” He hugged her back. When he pulled away, he inquired. “What’s with all the stuff outside?”
“Well….” She pointed at the open doorway. “It began with me cleaning out this bedroom, because the security company is coming by next week to move the camera feeds into my bedroom. And when I started going through everything, I realized I needed to do a purge of the other guest rooms and my own closet. I even found stuff my father told me he got rid of and a host of other things. Then I opted to store some of the extraneous furniture that I don’t really like. It turned into a whole thing.”
“Sounds like it.” Danny looked around. “You know I’ve never been up here before, not really.”
“Let me give you a quick tour.” She ushered him away from her scowling lover and showed him the two main guest bedrooms. Then they peeked into the master suite and ended up in front of the small guest room’s door, where the dresser was still sitting. “This all started because of those.” She pointed at the four-monitor cluster on the wall the room shared with the guest bath. Multiple camera feeds were displayed on each screen. “I’m moving them into the second closet in my bedroom, since neither Steve nor I is using it.”
“How were you planning on getting this downstairs?” McGarrett asked when he tried to lift one side of the dresser. It was heavy. He checked a drawer and found it empty. “What’s this made of?”
“Teak. And I was going to use a pulley system, which is how I got it up here in the first place. It’s easy-peasy.” She waved off his concern. “Why are you both here?”
“We were in the area for a case and wanted to see if you’d like to grab lunch.” The former SEAL answered. “Danny and I will get the dresser downstairs. Come on, Williams.”
“I wasn’t anticipating doing manual labor. Lunch is on you.” His partner complained as he moved to the other side of the dresser.
“Lunch is on me, if you get it downstairs without damaging it. It was my great grandmother’s.” She stepped to the side and let the two men lift up the heavy piece of furniture.
“Sweet Jesus, this thing weighs a ton.” Danny grunted as he followed McGarrett, who was walking backwards.
“Let me help you, Steve.” The profiler stepped forward before he could start going backwards down the stairs.
“Don’t even think about it, Jacq. You stay there and supervise.” He growled, but she just ignored him.
“You’re going to be dealing with most of the weight. You need help.” She countered and joined him. The three of them got the dresser downstairs with minimal issues. Once at the bottom of the stairs, she moved aside and let them get it outside and into the backyard. “Put it with the other furniture.” She ordered.
After the two men did just that, the head of Five-O stalked over to her. “I thought I told you no. You shouldn’t be straining yourself.”
“I didn’t strain myself.” She pet Burt’s head. The former police dog had woken up from his nap in the living room and joined his owner as soon as her hands were free of the dresser.
“I’m going to ask again, why shouldn’t she strain herself?” The Detective glanced from his partner to Dr. Stone and back, then it hit him. “Are you pregnant? Is that why you didn’t ask her to marry you?” He posed a question to each of them.
“You gave that one away. That’s a point against you winning the bet.” It was Jacq’s turn to growl.
“Hey, I didn’t tell him.” McGarrett argued. The glare he was getting made him swallow hard. “Fine. I take the blame.” He relaxed when she smiled, then looked at his partner. “You can’t tell anyone. We have a bet.”
“I won’t” Danny grinned. “Congratulations.” He gave the profiler another hug, then embraced his partner. “I’m so happy for the both of you.” A look of uncertainty passed over his face. “This is good news, right?”
“Definitely.” Steve replied and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder. “We’re just waiting to tell everyone, though I think the team is going to figure it out on their own.”
“Thus, the bet.” Dr. Stone shared. She was grinning and leaned into the Navy officer.
“Only you two would bet on the team figuring it out.” Williams became unsettled by the smirks his two friends were sending his way. It made him ask. “What are the terms?”
*****
“Can I join you?”
“Of course, Lou.” Jacq smiled up at the Captain. She was sitting at the team’s regular table in front of Kamekona’s shrimp truck and eating her lunch. Burt was under the table, sitting between her legs, his head in her lap. She had a small dish of shrimp sitting next to her own lunch and was feeding them to her dog in between bites.
“What are you eating?” Grover asked as he studied her meal, then glanced behind her to see the menu board. “Those are tacos. Kamekona doesn’t sell tacos.”
“They’re steak tacos from that truck over there.” She pointed to the other side of the parking area. “I was craving red meat, but I promised Burt shrimp. We compromised.”
“Kamekona isn’t going to like you using his table when you aren’t eating his food.” Lou smiled and shook his head.
“That’s why I ordered the shrimp and the taco truck doesn’t have tables. He’ll get over it.” She took another bite of her taco and closed her eyes in enjoyment. It was very tasty.
Flippa appeared at that moment with Lou’s order and set it in front of him. Before he could walk away, he noticed what the profiler was eating. “Dr. Stone, I don’t want to point out the obvious, but-.”
“Then don’t, Flippa. Could you bring me some salt and a bottle of hot sauce?” She continued to eat.
“Um, sure, but Kamekona, he-.”
“Don’t. I’m already well aware. I’m more than capable of handling your cousin. Hot sauce, please?” She glanced at him and waited, her taco halfway to her mouth. He nodded and hurried away.
When she turned back to her companion, his eyes were narrowed. “You don’t like hot sauce. You despise spicy food.”
“I don’t despise it. I prefer not to eat it, but this taco needs a little something.” She took another bite, set her taco down and fed Burt another shrimp. The Dutch Shepherd gobbled it up and put his head back in her lap. “Heat or spice needs to be subtle, not so extreme it blows out my taste buds.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Lou chuckled. She was talking about the chili he brought to a team function a few months ago. He was positive the top of her head was going to come off after she tried it.
“Yes, it was. I’ll make chili for the next party and you’ll see how it’s done.”
“You’re on.” He began to eat his lunch.
A few minutes later, a shadow settled over the table and its two occupants looked up to see Kamekona, in all his glory. He was holding a bottle of hot sauce in one hand and shaker of salt in the other. “No outside food.”
“Can I have the hot sauce, please?” She ignored his indignation and held out a hand. She’d stopped eating until she could add a little spice to her meal. He simply glared at her. “I bought shrimp. Now give me the hot sauce and salt.” She demanded. She wasn’t scared of him. He might look big and scary, but he was a teddy bear in actuality.
“Big Kahuna or not, no outside food.” He reiterated.
Instead of continuing the back-and-forth, the profiler stood up and walked over to him. She grabbed the two items he was holding, but he didn’t let go. She dropped her voice to a whisper and moved closer to speak into his ear. “Don’t make me hurt you in front of all these people. You’ll never live down the humiliation.” He growled and let go of the condiments, then strode away from the table as fast as he could without a word.
“Nicely done.” The former head of SWAT congratulated her as she retook her seat and began to apply the hot sauce and salt to her tacos.
“Thank you. I’m used to handling stubborn men. You just have to know each of their weaknesses and how to exploit it. Kamekona’s is his public image. Threaten that and he’ll do whatever he needs to in order to maintain it.” She took a bite of her partial eaten taco and smiled as she chewed. “Perfect.”
“What’s McGarrett’s weakness?”
“Why would I tell you that? I’d lose my edge.”
“Neither of us wants that. You’re the only one who can keep him in line.” They both laughed and ate their lunches.
Several minutes passed in silence as they enjoyed their meals. Jacq finished first and sat back with a smile. “That was delicious and really hit the spot. I need to eat red meat more often.”
“Happy to see you enjoyed your tacos.” Grover offered as he finished his fried rice. “Watching you eat reminded me of something.” There was a glint of something in his eyes.
“What’s that?” She asked as she gave Burt the last of the shrimp. She scratched his head when he placed it back in her lap. She gazed across the table at her companion and their eyes met.
“When Renee was pregnant with Will, she ate tons of steak and burgers and over-seasoned everything.” He grinned. He’d seen her flinch minutely. “How far along are you?”
“Around three months.” She growled. “You had an unfair advantage.”
“Not my fault I have two kids and know the signs.”
“It’s half your fault, technically.” Dr. Stone sighed. She and Steve were now tied, one to one and there were still five more days to go. She wagged her finger at Lou and threatened him. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Congratulations.” He continued to grin. “You’re going to be a great mom. McGarrett as a father, I’m less sure about.”
“He’s going to be fine, but if he’s not….” She smirked. “I’ll sic you and Danny on him.”
“More than happy to help, Doc.”
*****
“I hate petty crooks.”
“I know, Jacq.”
“They’re really hard to profile.”
“You already mentioned that, twice, Jacq.”
“Sorry.” The profiler ran a hand through her hair, then got back to looking through the police reports. She was standing at the interactive table in the Five-O bullpen with Jerry and Lt. Kelly. The long-time police officer was smiling and chuckling at her comments, while the conspiracy theorist was enthralled by the security camera videos from the three robberies they were investigating. HPD had asked for Dr. Stone’s assistance with the three smash-and-grabs that had occurred near Waikiki after a man had been badly beaten at the last robbery. He was in critical condition at the hospital and the tourist industry was on edge. The GMs from three of the bigger hotel chains had complained to the Governor about better protecting their guests and in turn, Sam spoke to the Chief of Police. That led to HPD all but throwing the case at Five-O to get some results. “Are there any connections between the three businesses they hit? And are we sure it’s the same four guys?” She asked, turning to look at Chin.
“Jerry’s working on confirming that the crews are the same as we speak. Sadly, no apparent connections between the business, other than all three deal in mostly cash transactions and had plenty of it left on site.” He reiterated. He and Jerry had already told her all that. She was a little off today, but he took it in stride. He stepped closer when she quirked her head. “What is it?”
“All of that makes me think inside job. Yes, they all have a sign posted mentioning discounts if you pay in cash, but knowing they left it on site those evenings leads me to believe it’s someone with an intimate knowledge of their businesses.” She responded. “Same security or cleaning company, maybe.”
“Excuse me.” Lt. Kelly stated as he moved to take her place. She stepped aside and let him access the investigation notes. He began to look through all the information they had on the three crimes.
While he was busy with that, Dr. Stone began to pace back and forth across the bullpen, her hands running through her hair at each turn. She was antsy and on edge, which was completely out of character for her. She only got agitated when something was wrong. After five minutes of her cutting a path across the office, Chin had had enough.
“What’s wrong, Jacq?” She froze at her words.
“Sorry.” She blushed. “It’s weird not having Burt with me and it’s unsettling me for some reason.”
“Why didn’t you bring him today? You usually don’t go anywhere without him, unless he isn’t allowed.” Lt. Kelly prodded as he continued to work through the information. He’d confirmed they used different cleaning services and was on to security companies.
“He’s been a little clingy lately and I wanted a break.” She shrugged. “This is my own fault, I know. I left him to play with Coronado in the backyard. They were having a blast when I left.”
“Lesson learned, I guess.” He smiled over at her. He greatly enjoyed working with her and was appreciative of all she had done for the team and his old friend, Steve. The other man deserved to be happy after everything he’d been through and the psychologist did that for him, as well as keeping him on his toes.
“Yeah.” The profiler came over to the table. “Any luck?”
“Turns out you were right.” He brought some documents up on the display and pointed at them. “They all use the same security company. I sent a request to the main office for a list of employees.”
“Ask them to include recently fired employees, too. It would make more sense that the unsubs are disgruntled ex-security officers. You don’t suddenly start robbing places if you have a steady job, not with the background checks and psychological assessments most security companies do.” She offered.
“Good thinking.” He quickly sent off a second request and looked at her in confusion. “What’s wrong now?” She was contorting her upper body around in an odd way.
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you moving like you dropped something down your shirt?” He asked. Jerry was still distracted by the video files and didn’t seem to hear what they were saying.
With a sigh, she responded. “If you must know, my boobs hurt.” She pulled on the bottom of what he could only assume was her bra.
“TMI, Jacq.” He said with a laugh and a shake of his head.
“Hey, you asked.” She stopped adjusting her undergarments and glared at him. “Anyway, tender breasts are a common symptom when you’re-.” She stopped speaking abruptly and froze again. In her head, she was cursing up a storm. Her propensity to explain medical conditions was going to get her in trouble one day, or it just had, if her friend was able to infer where her statement was going.
“When you’re what, Jacq?” He inquired and a big grin spread across his face.
“If I say nothing, would you be willing to drop it?” She ducked her head, praying he would be amenable to the idea.
But he ignored her and asked. “Are you pregnant?”
“Pregnant?” The unexpected word had brought Jerry out of his daze and he turned his head to look at her, a smile beginning to form. “Are you and Commander McGarrett having a baby?”
“Lieutenant Commander and I hate myself right now.” She muttered before nodding at the two men. “Yes, we are. I’m about three months along.”
“Congratulations.” Chin pulled her into a hug. The conspiracy theorist walked around his colleague and embraced the profiler when the other man let her go.
“Mahalo, guys. But could I kindly ask that you not tell anyone? Steve and I have a bet, which I am sadly on my way to losing.” She looked at them hopefully.
“Sure. Not a problem. Jer?” Lt. Kelly looked at his friend.
“I’ll try my best, but I’m not great with secrets.” He believed in complete transparency, after all, and if someone asked him a question, he’d answer to the best of his ability.
“It’s better than nothing.” Dr. Stone shrugged. She was afraid she’d have to admit defeat to her boyfriend and wasn’t looking forward to it.
At that moment, the table beeped and Chin checked the notification. “The security company responded to my request. We have a list of names and look here.” He brought the list up on the screen. “Four employees were recently fired for illegally accessing client camera feeds. Did you confirm it’s the same four people at all three scenes?” He gave the conspiracy theorist a look which had the other man hurrying back to his place at the table.
“Yes. The builds and heights all match up as do some of their mannerisms. I’m pretty confident it’s the same group at all the robberies.” He stared at the Lieutenant, waiting to see what he said.
“They I’d say we have four likely suspects. I’ll alert HPD and see if they can round them up for us. Good work, team.” He cried.
Jacq smiled at the glee on his face. She admired Chin for always staying positive when he could. “All I did was point you in the right direction.”
“You did more than that.” He set a hand on her shoulder and they shared a look. She was a vital part of the Five-O team and he wouldn’t allow her to forget that or downplay her contributions. “Let’s notify the team and get out there. We have some men to question.” He began to tap on the table again, sending out notifications. Good news or not, they had work to do.
*****
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do, Steve. We both know Jerry is going to crack from the pressure of trying to keep a secret and it’s best if they hear our news from us.” The profiler kissed his cheek. “Don’t look so upset. This means you win the bet.” She carried the tray of sandwiches and tea out onto her lanai, leaving the former SEAL in the kitchen.
“This is not how I wanted to win.” He muttered before he followed her outside.
The couple was at the Jacq’s house and had invited Kono and Adam to join them for tea and a late lunch. She’d made finger sandwiches and a few two-bite desserts for them to enjoy. The night before, she’d told McGarrett about her run-ins with the rest of the team and then admitted defeat. He’d tried to convince her she still had a chance, but she waved him off. She had already invited the other couple over for the next day with plans to tell them their news. She didn’t want Kono to find out in passing, especially if the young couple was trying for their own baby. It wouldn’t be fair and she was all about fairness. Steve wasn’t happy about the turn of events, but she wouldn’t be dissuaded.
He shook his head and quickly helped unload the contents of the tray onto the table. Officer Kalakaua perked up when she saw all the offerings. “This is quite the spread.”
“I like people to have options.” Dr. Stone pointed at the two teapots. “I have chai and floral teas to pick from. The chai’s in the red pot and has caffeine and a little kick to it, while the floral is in the cream pot and is very mild. Help yourselves.” She turned on her heels and went back into the house to put away the tray.
While she was gone, the head of Five-O poured some of the floral tea into his cup and his girlfriend’s, before taking a seat. “How are you doing, Adam? Are you enjoying being on the team?”
“I’m doing okay, now that I’m off probation. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I feel better about helping out with cases.” He grabbed the red teapot and poured himself some, then he pointed at it and asked his wife. “Do you want some of this?”
“Sure. Mahalo.” She smiled at him and while he took care of the tea, she picked out a selection of sandwiches for the both of them. She looked up when their hostess rejoined them. “I really appreciate you inviting us over, Jacq, but was there any particular reason you did?”
“Well, we’re the only couples on the team and I thought it would be nice to hang out when it had nothing to do with work.” The psychologist responded as she took her seat. She didn’t want to ruin their meal with the real reason she had asked them over, not just yet. With a shake of her head, she smiled when she looked down at her cup. She took a sip of her tea and winced. Still a bit too hot. She grabbed a couple sandwiches for herself, sticking with the cucumber and chicken salad ones. The former SEAL had grabbed a couple of the tuna ones she insisted he make. The smell had nauseated her. “There’s dessert, too, so save room.” She reminded everyone.
“I’m happy for the invite. Your place is isolated and a nice escape from the city.” Adam added. He and the profiler still did hand-to-hand lessons when there was time in their schedules, though she hadn’t requested one in the last few weeks. He’d have to ask her about that later.
“My slice of paradise.” Jacq said with a smile.
The couples ate and chatted about inconsequential things, like the weather, their families and life in general. They all slowly finished their food and sat back, sipping their tea. Adam and Kono shared a look that didn’t go unnoticed by their hosts, but they said nothing as the young woman got to her feet and started to stack the dishes.
“After a meal like that, you have to let me clear the table. Wanna help me, boss?”
“Sure, Kono.” McGarrett rose, dropped a kiss on his girlfriend’s cheek and helped his teammate carry the empty plates into the kitchen. They’d have dessert after a while, once they’d digested for a bit, but he could get them out to come to room temperature while he was inside.
“That was less than subtle, Adam.”
“We weren’t going for subtle, Jacq. However, since you and I are good friends, I thought I’d have better luck getting the truth about our invitation to tea out of you.” He set his cup down and leaned forward on the table. “Why the invite?”
“You’re our friends. Does it need to be anything more than that?” She gave him a sweet smile.
Noshimuri grinned back. “If it was just a friendly lunch, you would’ve invited the whole team.” He tilted his head and added. “Also, Jerry has been avoiding me and Kono, ever since you came to the office to help with the smash-and-grabs. We caught the guys by the way.”
“I heard. Started blabbing the minute they were picked up by HPD.” She gave a heavy sigh. “Jerry has no poker face.”
“Exactly the reason we invite him to poker night, though he doesn’t always come.” Adam replied with a laugh. “What does he know that Kono and I don’t?”
“It’s the whole rest of the team actually. I decided that Steve and I should tell you personally, instead of you finding out by accident. You see….” She trailed off when she heard movement behind her and a familiar hand came to rest on her shoulder.
“Jacq’s pregnant. We’re having a baby.” The former SEAL shared. Kono froze halfway back to her seat and stared at her friends in amazement.
“You are? That’s amazing news.” Officer Kalakaua dove forward and gave the profiler a hug. “Congratulations.” She added when she pulled back, then she stopped when she saw the look on the other woman’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re not upset?”
“Why would she be upset?” Adam asked as he stood and came around to shake hands with McGarrett. “Congrats, man.” He gave Dr. Stone a fast hug.
“Mahalo.” The Navy officer smiled and kept his hand on his girlfriend’s shoulder in support.
“Well, I thought… maybe… since you guys were married… that you might be trying for a baby yourselves and our news might….” Dr. Stone stopped speaking when she noted the grins the married couple were sporting.
“We’re not trying, because of my job… I mean, our jobs. It’s dangerous work and we just got married. We want to wait a bit before worrying about children.” Kono responded. She was still getting used to her husband being Five-O.
“Yeah. And we have lots of time. Is this why you haven’t set up training classes with me the last few weeks?” The former Yakuza member prodded. He still had a big grin on his face.
“Couldn’t take the chance of getting hurt. Also, I like to work out in the morning and that’s when I’m most nauseous.” Jacq shared with a shrug. Everyone else chuckled. She tilted her head back and addressed her boyfriend. “Now that the whole team knows, we can have the party you want so much.”
“Great.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss.
Adam and Kono laughed at their friends. Their ohana would take any excuse to throw a party.
*****
Dr. Stone surveyed her backyard and smiled. Everyone looked like they were having a good time. She knew she should probably join the gathered group, after all the party was for her and the baby she was carrying, but she was enjoying her observation point on the lanai. She propped herself against the door jamb and sighed happily. Then a pair of arms appeared on either side of her as they wrapped around her, the hands splaying over her stomach. She shifted to lean back against the warm body and fought a laugh when lips nibbled on her ear lobe. A familiar voice spoke to her.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“Just watching our friends having fun. We should probably get back out there. The party is in our honor.” She shared her thought from a few moments ago.
“In a minute.” MCGarrett kissed her ear again, then whispered into it. “Why exactly is the Governor and his wife here?”
“They’re my friends and… we might never have met if it hadn’t been for Sam. He sent you to see me, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but even if he hadn’t, I’m sure we would've crossed paths. We were fated to meet from the moment your grandfather brought my dad into the world.”
“You’re probably right.” She chuckled when she heard him gasp. “Yes, shocker, I know. I’ll be sure to never say that again.” She rubbed her hands over his. “We need to discuss the terms of the bet.”
“No, we don’t. We never should have bet on the team finding out about the pregnancy.”
“But we did, Steve, and you won. I’m a woman of my word.”
“You only lost because you insisted on telling Adam and Kono before Jerry let the cat out of the bag.” He continued speaking before she could argue with him. “But to placate you and your sense of honor, I will take a consolation prize.”
“Which is?” Jacq cuddled back against the head of Five-O.
“Call Danny, Danno, once in front of the whole team, and let me get his reaction of video.”
“You’re mean.”
“It’s payback for all the grief he gives him, daily, during every investigation and whenever we hang out together.”
“Fine. I accept your new terms.”
“Good.” He kissed her ear. “How are you doing?”
“Fine as can be expected. I’m happy to have survived the first trimester with minimal issues.” She turned her head to get a better look at him. “What are you really asking?”
“This baby.” He rubbed his hands over her stomach again. “It’s going to change everything, our relationship, our lives.”
“That’s what babies do, Steve. But we’ll get through it together and I have a good feeling he or she will bring us closer together. Have some faith.” She kissed his chin and went back to looking at their friends, one of whom was coming towards them. “Incoming.”
“He sure knows how to ruin a moment.” The former SEAL gave a sigh and pulled his hands from around her.
“He didn’t ruin anything.” She gave him another kiss, this time on the cheek, and added. “And get your camera ready.” She walked over to the stairs and down them. “Do you need something?”
“No, but this party is for you.” Williams commented, then glanced in his partner’s direction as he joined them. “You shouldn’t monopolize her.”
“I was doing no such thing.” The Navy officer countered.
“Then come on.” He made a beckoning motion with his hand and strode back over to their friends and teammates.
With a glance behind her, Jacq ensured her boyfriend had his phone ready, which he did. “Hold your horses, Danno. We’re coming. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.” She responded to the Detective with a smirk.
A look of outrage came over Danny’s face when he turned back towards her. “Hell no. You aren’t allowed to start doing that. Pregnant or not. I already have your pain-in-the-ass boyfriend doing it. Not you, too. I….” His rant kept going even as his teammates laughed and the couple rejoined the party. Sometimes, bets really did benefit the many and not just the one.
Notes:
A little filler chapter to start things off. Lots of action coming up soon, I promise.
Chapter 2: Fear Not
Notes:
Okay, this chapter has a bit more action in it than the first one did. It also might be a little triggering to anyone who might have been involved in a school shooting. I hate giving spoilers like this, but I just wanted people to be aware. I will add, this is NOT a school shooting chapter, not in the traditional sense. It is a twist on it and was partial inspired by Season 7 episode 8, 'Hana Komo Pae.'
Please enjoy.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“What the hell was Newark PD thinking?”
“Probably that these guys had gotten over their beef with you while they were in prison.” Steve replied to his partner, who was currently pacing the bullpen on their offices while he ranted. He was staying out of the other man’s way and the work their teammates were doing.
“Then they clearly didn’t read the file on the Hardy brothers. They love to hold a grudge.” Danny ran a hand through his hair. “How the hell did they find out I moved to Hawaii?”
“The team’s been in the news a few times, including in papers on the mainland. And if they hold grudges like you say, they probably kept tabs on you.” Lt. Kelly answered from his place at the interactive table with his cousin, even though it wouldn’t help the other man’s mood any. The cousins were doing research on their current issue.
“That doesn’t make me feel any better, Chin. And their POs should’ve been keeping tabs on them. How the hell did they even get on a plane?”
“The alert went out too late to stop them and their plane had already landed by the time your old partner called us.” It was Kono’s turn to comment as she went through CCTV footage.
It was currently all-hands on deck for Five-O’s latest crisis. Two men Danny had sent to prison had miraculously gotten out on parole and were now somewhere on O’ahu. The men in question, Drew Hardy and his little brother, Joey, had ties to organized crime and were violent felons with a laundry list of charges in their files. Newark PD and New Jersey Corrections had failed to alert Danny regarding their release and by the time someone did tell him, they were already on their way to the place he now called home. Thankfully, the team was happy to help track them down and put them behind bars, even if it was just for parole violations. The one downside to the current situation was that it ruined what he had originally planned to do with his day. Grace’s class was having a Career Week and he had been slated to speak to her class today, but he found a pretty good sub. He stopped pacing when he heard the elevator ding and a woof of excitement. Burt came running into the office with his owner a few steps behind him.
“Hey, Jacq. Thanks for doing this.” Williams declared with a sigh of relief as he gave the former police dog’s head a good scratch.
“Happy to help since you don’t want me working the case.” She rubbed her slightly distended middle. She was in her fourth month and had gained a small amount of weight which she was still adjusting to.
“You and baby McGarrett are staying out of harm’s way.”
“Baby Stone-McGarrett.” The profiler corrected her boyfriend.
The former SEAL came over to her and gave her a kiss. “Right, Stone-McGarrett.” One of his hands lightly brushed over her belly. “Feeling okay?”
“I feel great and I’m excited to speak to Grace’s class about my job.”
“No serial killers and no visual aids.” Danny reminded her.
“I already said I wouldn’t, but these kids are smart. I’m sure as soon as I say I’m a criminal psychologist that they’re going to know what I do for a living. They are the internet generation after all.”
“Change the subject when they do that.” The Detective ordered.
“I already have a plan on how to handle it. Calm down before you pop a blood vessel.” Jacq scanned the office. “Where’s the rest of the team? I thought they’d be here helping.”
“Jerry’s down in his office, dealing with a family thing and Lou and Adam are out speaking to their contacts, trying to find us a lead on the Hardy brothers.” Chin shared.
“Thanks for not saying the Hardy boys, I don’t need you ruining happy childhood memories.” The profiler stated with a chuckle. Her boyfriend grinned down at her. “Are you okay watching Burt?” She asked him.
“Sure, but he isn’t going to like being left here.” McGarrett stated.
“He’ll be a distraction at the high school and I want the kids to be focused on me and what I’m saying.” Dr. Stone reminded him. They had talked about this on the phone after Danny had alerted the team about the issue and called her for help covering for him. She checked her watch. “I probably should go. Let me know if you make a break in the case.”
“Will do.” Steve gave her another deeper kiss.
Jacq started to walk away, but paused when the sound of nails hitting the floor rang out behind her. She turned back and addressed her pet. “Burt, sit and stay.” Her voice was firm and commanding.
The former police dog did as directed and sat, however he let out a loud whine and his butt wiggled on the ground. It was obvious to everyone he didn’t want to follow his owner’s orders, not when she was moving away from him.
“I got him.” The head of Five-O went over to Burt and grabbed his collar. He waved as his girlfriend departed, then he looked at his team. “Are we making any progress?” He walked over to the interactive table and kept a firm grip on the dog, who trotted along next to him. He pulled away a little in the direction of the elevator, but stayed next to Steve.
“Some. I was able to track them through the airport. They were picked up by a black SUV with stolen plates. I was able to follow it for a bit, but lost them in downtown, near the edge of Koreatown.” Kono shared.
“Grover and Adam are having some luck.” Chin added. “They texted with an update. An arms broker Adam knows sold a large number of guns to a guy with, I quote, ‘a heavy New York accent’ about a week ago. Seems the Hardy’s might have some friends on the island.”
“New York and New Jersey get confused all the time and that’s just great. Not only are two violent felons after me, but they have friends and are likely armed. This day just keeps getting better and better.” Danny complained.
“We’ve handled worse odds and come out on top. We’ve got your back, buddy.” His partner reminded him.
“I know that. But I don’t want to take the chance of innocent people getting hurt when they come for me.”
“That’s why we’re not going to wait around. We’re going to hit the streets and find these guys before they have time to plan something.” McGarrett stated with authority. He pointed at Lt. Kelly. “Get Jerry up here to monitor things.”
“On it.”
“The rest of us are going to reach out to all our contacts and CIs. I want these guys found by the end of the day.”
Officer Kalakaua nodded at her. “We’re on it, boss. Once Jerry joins us, Chin and I will get out there.”
With a hand still on Burt’s collar, Steve went over to his partner and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the elevator. “Let’s go find ourselves some bad guys, Danno.”
*****
“Dr. Jacqueline Stone. I’m here to speak to Mrs. Weber’s class.” The profiler said to the security guard at the front desk to the high school and handed over her driver’s license. She looked around the lobby as she waited for him to confirm she was supposed to be there. It was unnerving to see armed guards, metal detectors and magnetic locks in a public school, but it was a sign of the times. It was very different from her own high school experience, where you could duck out at lunch without anyone being the wiser, or slip in after first bell and make it to first period before your teacher even knew you were late. She rubbed her stomach. Her baby’s childhood was going to be unlike her or Steve’s and was another thing for them to worry about that. She shook her thoughts away when the guard spoke to her.
“Thank you, Dr. Stone.” He gave back her ID. “You’re on the list and I called the office. Some students are coming down to escort you to the correct room.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Officer….” She wasn’t sure of his name since he didn’t have a name tag on his uniform.
“Just call me, Patrick. All the kids do.”
“Then thank you, Patrick.” The psychologist turned away to wait for her escorts and let the guard get back to his duties. She smiled when she saw three students headed her way, two with familiar faces. “Hi, guys.” She held her arms open and embraced Grace when she stepped forward to hug her.
“Jacq, I’m so happy you could cover for Danno.”
“Me, too.” She stepped away from the young woman and gave out another hug. “You’re getting so tall, Will.”
The young man blushed. “Thanks.”
“And who’s this?” Dr. Stone gestured to the third student in the group.
“This is Cindy. She’s been dying to meet you for a while now.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Cindy. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She shook hands with the girl.
“Same here.” The third student was a young woman, roughly the same age as her teammates’ children, though she was a few inches taller than Grace with straight blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Her frame was willowy and her skin was pale. Jacq was positive in a few more years she would be a knockout.
“Let’s get to your class before your teacher wonders what happened to us.” The profiler herded the teenagers back in the direction they came from and smiled when Grace slipped her hand into hers. It only took them a few minutes to get to the classroom, where an older woman was waiting for them by the door. “Mrs. Weber?” Jacq asked.
“Yes, and you’re Dr. Stone. I’m pleased that you could come on such short notice.” The teacher offered her hand to the other woman and they shook, then she closed the door to the room and moved to stand in front of her class.
“Happy to help out.” She surveyed the class. There were about thirty students packed into the room, a room that looked much like the one she had high school classes in with desks that were probably older than her. It was nice that some things stayed the same. She watched as her three escorts returned to their desks and the teacher called the room to order.
“Let’s quiet down and take our seats.” The older woman directed. It only took a couple minutes for all the students to settle and return to their desks. Jacq was impressed. Mrs. Weber must be a well-respected educator to get that type of response from a room full of 16- and 17-year-olds. The older woman gestured towards their guest. “This is Dr. Jacqueline Stone, a renowned criminal psychologist. She’s going to be speaking to us today about her job.” She stepped aside and let the pregnant woman take her spot in front of the class.
“Hello, class, and thank you, Mrs. Weber.” The profiler waited for the teacher sit down at her desk, then scanned the room. “First off, you’re welcome to call me, Jacq, and secondly, for those of you who did a little research about what a criminal psychologist does after hearing I would be taking Detective Williams’s place today, I won’t be speaking about serial killers or showing you any crime scene photos.” Several of the boys groaned in disappointment, while others chuckled. “Now that I’ve got that out of the way, we can begin. As a criminal psychologist, or as we’re more commonly known, a profiler, it’s my job to….” Dr. Stone continued to speak about her job and work and was pleased to see she was holding most of the class’s attention.
After about thirty minutes, Jacq wrapped up her talk and was about to ask if there were any questions, when a loud noise echoed through the hallway. She froze and looked at Mrs. Weber. She knew well what that was the sound of and rushed over to the door, engaging the handle lock and the deadbolt.
“Do you have a panic button in here?” Jacq asked.
“Yes, was that-?” The teacher pushed a button on the wall behind her and stood.
“That was a gunshot.” The profiler pulled out her phone and saw that she had no signal. That wasn’t good. She glanced up and saw the students doing the same as her and having the same bad luck. “I want everyone to stay calm, all right? Whoever is out there appears to have a signal jammer, so we can’t call for help. Right now, we need to barricade the front door and the back fire door to ensure no one gets in until help arrives.” She hurried over to a bookshelf near the front door and began to tug on it. “Grace, Will, get up here and help me.”
The two teens hurried to do as she asked. The young woman addressed her aunt. “Jacq, who do you think is out there?” Grace joined the profiler on one side of the shelf and began to pull, while Will pushed on it. The heavy piece of furniture slid across the floor and in front of the main door to the room. Mrs. Weber and a few of the other students were doing the same with the fire door.
“I don’t think it’s a disgruntled student. Only military, law enforcement and criminals can get their hands on signal jammers. We need to find a way to make a call.” Dr. Stone hurried over to the teacher's heavy desk and began to push it towards the door. She had seen the door was reinforced metal but she wasn’t going to take any chances with her teammates’ children’s lives or the lives of any of the other students.
“Shouldn’t the panic button alert the police that there’s a shooter?” Will asked as he helped her with the desk.
“If they have jammers, we have to assume they know about the alert system. They could’ve easily cut the line. Are any of your classmates athletes?” She asked the two teens.
“Some of them. Why?” Grace asked as they got the desk in place against the bookshelf.
“I have an idea.” Jacq hurried over to the windows. They were an old style that turned on an axis. If they could get the panel off, she was sure the opening would be big enough for a person to get through. She looked out at the side lawn of the school and was pleased with what she saw. “I need you to pick out the five fastest runners in the room. I have a plan.” Grace and Will hurried off to speak with their fellow students.
Mrs. Weber approached the profiler. “Dr. Stone, I don’t like this. We only heard one shot. If this was an active shooter, we-.”
“There would have been a lot more. I think this is something else.” She could see the older woman was scared and worried, but doing her best to hide it. She needed to keep her mind occupied with other things. It would keep her and her students calm. “Do you have any tools? A screwdriver or a hammer?”
“Those aren’t something they give us, but maybe in my contraband box. Students aren’t allowed to have anything that can be perceived as a weapon.” She went over to her desk and unlocked the bottom drawer. She pulled it open and lifted out a box. She brought it back over to the pregnant woman. “What are you trying to do?”
“Get this window off, so we can evacuate the students and call for help.”
“I can’t allow you to endanger their lives. They’re my responsibility.” Mrs. Weber hissed.
“I understand that, but if we can’t contact the police, help is never going to come and a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt when parents come to pick-up their children. I don’t want to put them in danger, but it’s the only way.” Jacq sighed. “Please, Mrs. Weber?”
“It’s Rosanne. I think you can call me that given the situation.”
“All right, Rosanne.” Dr. Stone smiled and turned. Grace was coming over with five teen boys, while Will and Cindy were doing their best to calm their classmates down and get them into the corner of the room away from the doors and the windows. “Are these my five runners?”
“Yes, two football players, two track & field runners and one lacrosse player.” The young woman stated.
“Good. Now here’s the plan. After we get this window off, the five of you are going to….”
*****
“These guys are a lot smarter than I remember them being.” Danny complained as he and his partner came back into their office. Burt trotted along beside them. The former police dog immediately laid down under the interactive table and pouted. He was missing his owner.
“They have help. They always say two heads are better than one.” McGarrett shared.
“Drew and Joey don’t have a whole brain between them and that worries me. They can cause a ton of mayhem with minimal effort. I wanna catch them before they destroy the whole island.” Williams ran a hand through his hair again. He’d been do that all morning. Thankfully, he used enough hair gel that it stayed in place and didn’t get messed up.
“They’re made-men, which means they don’t have to think. Others do it for them. They probably-.” The head of Five-O stopped speaking when his phone began to ring. He pulled it out and answered. “McGarrett.” He got a fun look on his face when he heard the reply and pulled his cell away from his ear, putting it on speaker. “Who is this?”
“My name is Billy Kamaka, sir. I’m a classmate of Grace Williams and Will Grover. Dr. Stone told me to call you.” A young male voice came through the phone and was filled with fear.
“Are you the Billy who Grace hit?” The Detective asked as he came closer.
“Yes, sir, but we’re friends now.”
“Why did Jacq tell you to call me?” The former SEAL wanted to find out what was going on. If his girlfriend couldn’t call him herself that meant something was wrong.
“We heard a shot, sir, and then none of our phones would work. She helped us barricade our classroom, then came up with a plan to evacuate us.” Billy’s voice became slightly distant for a moment, meaning he likely had set the phone down. They heard movement and then he came back on the line. “She wrote down what I was supposed to tell you.”
“Read it to me, Billy.” Steve ordered as he watched his partner dig out his phone and make a call. He hoped he was alerting the team and HPD.
“Single shot. Bad guys using a jammer to block phone calls. Hit panic button, but likely they cut lines. Working to evacuate Grace and Will’s class as we speak. Contact HPD, SWAT and EMS. Surround school and breach through classroom.” The teen read off what had been given to him, then paused. “Mrs. Weber’s here.” There was a brief pause.
“Rosanne Weber. Who am I speaking to?” Came a mature female voice.
The Navy officer straightened up. “Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett, Mrs. Weber, head of the Five-O Task Force. We’re mobilizing now. Where are you and Billy?”
“It’s Billy, I and two of his classmates. We’re leaving the classroom in groups of three, per Dr. Stone’s guidance. We’re gathering in the faculty parking lot on the North side of the school. There are three large trees between the parking area and the windows of my classroom. We’re using the trees as cover. Dr. Stone posted a lookout at the edge of the building and at each tree to help the others get to safety. I’m worried someone’s going to figure out what we’re doing before long. I don’t want my children put at risk.” It was obvious the teacher was concerned, but was following the instructions of the more experienced profiler. The active shooter training they held at the high school only covered one specific situation, which this wasn’t. She had to have faith in the process.
“I understand, ma’am, but Jacq is doing the right thing. We’ll be there with back-up as soon as possible. Call back if there’s any change in the situation.” McGarrett ordered.
“All right, Commander, but please hurry.” The phone went dead.
Steve looked at his partner, who has gearing up. He went over and followed suit. After he had his vest on, he spoke. “Did you alert the team?” Burt had joined them. He knew the routine.
“Yeah, and Duke and Captain Henry and Emergency Services. Do you think…?” Danny started only to trail off as he met his friend’s eyes.
“It’s very likely the Hardy brothers and their friends, going after Grace. But Jacq isn’t going to let anything happen to her or Will or any of the other kids.”
“Let’s go before we have to find out.” Williams checked his weapon and grabbed a couple extra clips. Then he gave Steve a hard look. “What about you? Aren’t you worried about Jacq and the baby?”
“Of course, I’m worried, but she knows what she’s doing.” He grabbed an extra vest off the rack, one in his girlfriend’s size. She would want to help as soon as she was safe and he would let her after he made sure she was okay and wasn’t in any immediate danger. Or at least that was what he was currently telling himself. She was carrying his child, after all. “Burt, stay.” He wasn’t going to put Jacq’s pet to work, since this wasn’t a situation where he could really help and would just be in the way. Without another word, he turned on his heels and strode out of the office. They had a school to rescue.
*****
“All right, we’re the last group.” Dr. Stone stated as she looked at the three teenagers. Cindy, Grace and Will had insisted on staying with her until the end. “Once the current group gets to the last tree, we’ll lower Will out the window first, then he can help you and Cindy to the ground.” She addressed her teammate’s daughter, who was standing beside her.
“What about you?” The younger Williams asked. She hadn’t missed the fact her aunt omitted herself.
The profiler rubbed her stomach. “I don’t think I can get out the window by myself without hurt myself or the baby, so I’m going to stay here.”
“But, Jacq, you can’t. Uncle Steve, he’ll-.”
“Don’t argue with me, William.” Dr. Stone chided the young man, using his full first name to emphasize her point. “Let’s get you outside.” She herded the three teens over to the window and watched as the three students they had helped to the ground a few minutes ago made their way from tree to tree. “Let the lookouts know to follow after you.” She reminded the teenagers.
“We can’t leave you here.” Grace hissed as she and her aunt helped Will out the window, holding his arms tightly and bracing themselves against the wall, like they had done with all of the students. He dropped to the ground with a light thud. They watched him hurry over to his classmate who was standing at the corner of the wall closest to the front of the building. He relayed the plan to the football player, who nodded.
“Your father will kill me if anything happens to you.”
“And Uncle Steve will rip me a new one if I leave you here alone.” Grace got a look in her eyes that reminded the profiler of her father. “I’m staying.”
“We’re not arguing about this, Grace.”
“Exactly.” She saw Will was back below the window. “Let’s help Cindy down.”
“You are definitely your father’s daughter.” Jacq muttered as she assisted Cindy up onto a chair so she could get out the window.
“I’m scared, Dr. Stone.” The young blonde whispered.
“I know you are, Cindy. I’m scared, too, but Will is going to be there with you and the police are on their way.” She scanned the view out the window when she heard a set of tires screech. “Actually, here they are.” She saw Steve’s truck, Lou’s SUV and Kono’s crossover, along with a handful of squad cars and an ambulance. “All you have to do is run from tree to tree over to the parking lot, just like your classmates. I know you can do this. You need to have faith in yourself.”
“She’s right, Cindy. You CAN do this.” Grace told her friend.
“Okay.” The girl went through the open window and they lowered her into Will’s arm. He helped her the rest of the way.
“Now, go. Quickly and quietly.” The profiler whispered as she and Grace stepped back away from the window.
Will grabbed Cindy’s hand. “I’m going to be with you the whole time. I won’t leave you.” He glanced at the lookout and got a head nod. He pulled his friend with him to the first tree.
Over in the parking lot, Five-O was taking control of the scene and HPD was moving the teenagers and their teacher away from the building and behind the emergency vehicles. The former head of SWAT cursed when he saw his youngest child dart out into the open.
“What the hell was Jacq thinking? If whoever was shooting inside the school sees them, they’ll-.”
“She’s trying to keep them safe, Lou, and doing the best she can.” McGarrett growled at his teammate. Another vehicle rolled up and he breathed a sigh of relief. SWAT was there. A minute or two later, Captain Henry was striding over to the along with several of his men. “Thanks for joining us, Captain.”
“Happy to help, Commander. Can you give me a sitrep?” George asked.
“We’re still figuring out what’s going on. All we know is there was a single shot fired inside and no one is answering calls to the office or the guard desk. One classroom has almost completed evacuation. Dr. Stone was there for career day and with help from the students, got word to us about the situation.” The Navy officer responded.
“Industrious woman. You’re a lucky man, Commander.” The head of SWAT said with a smile. Every member of HPD knew about their relationship.
“Don’t I know-.” Steve was interrupted when Lou gave a cry of dismay.
“Will, stay where you are.” Grover shouted. “We’ve got two gunmen coming out the main entrance.” He alerted the team.
His sudden outburst had startled his son and Cindy, causing the young woman to stumble and fall to the ground. Will still had a hold on her hand as she landed and turned back when his forward momentum was halted. He hurried to help her up, but not without the gunmen seeing him. Even with the police presence, they aimed their guns in the direction of the teens and opened fire.
Lou grabbed a tactical shield from one of the SWAT team members and barreled out into the open, running to protect his child and the other teen. He yelled over his shoulder. “COVER US!” He felt bullets hit the metal, but kept going.
“GROVER!!” McGarrett shouted even as he lifted his rifle and hurried forward, using one of the parked cars as cover. His teammates and several HPD officers joined him and took careful shots at the two armed men. They couldn’t take the chance of a stray bullet going through a wall and hurting one of the students or teachers inside. A couple of their shots hit extremities and caused their bad guys to retreat inside.
“Get your ass in gear, son.” Lou hollered at his boy as he stepped in front of him and Cindy, who was now on her feet. Will wrapped an arm around her back and they made themselves as small as possible. His father protected them all the way to the parking lot. The Captain tossed the shield aside and grabbed his son, pulling him close. “What the hell were you thinking? You could’ve been killed.”
“I couldn’t leave Cindy behind.” Was his muffled response.
“Come here.” Lou pulled the young woman into his arms with Will. She had silent tears falling down her face and took the comfort offered.
“Will, where are Grace and Jacq?” Danny came over to the threesome.
“Aunt Jacq was afraid of hurting the baby getting out the window and Grace wouldn’t leave her.” Removing himself from his father’s embrace, he pointed back at the trees. “We need to get the guys to safety, too.” His four classmates were huddled behind the trees and building, respectively, obviously frightened by everything that was happening. Any element of surprise was now gone since Cindy and Will had been spotted leaving the school.
Chin voiced a concern. “They’ll likely head to the classroom where they were coming from.”
“And find Grace and Jacq.” Adam finished his thought.
The former SEAL ground his teeth together. “We’re not going to let that happen. I have a plan.”
*****
“Do you think-?”
“They’re fine, Grace. We heard Lou shout. He’ll keep them safe. We need to stay here and be quiet.” Jacq wrapped her arms tightly around the teen and pulled her close. They were huddled in a closet at the back of the classroom. She knew there was a good chance whoever was in the building was going to check out the classroom and they needed them to think it was empty. They had to be as quiet as possible. “Your dad and Steve are here. They’ll come get us.”
“What about the lookouts? What if they-?”
“Shh, Grace. You have to believe they’re okay. The team is going to make sure they get to safety.” She rubbed her hands up and down the teen’s back and closed her eyes. She was terrified, but she couldn’t let it show. In some ways, their current situation was scarier than her run-ins with serial killers and that was saying something. But she had faith in her boyfriend and their team. McGarrett would move heaven and earth to get her back safely. She knew that for a fact.
“I’m scared.” Grace whispered.
“Me, too, but help will be here soon. We need to be quiet until they get here.” The profiler was regretting not bringing Burt with her. Her pet always brought her such comfort.
They both fell silent as they huddled together in their hiding place. It had been a while since they heard all the gunfire, but thankfully, it seemed to have all been outside, which gave Dr. Stone hope that the students and teachers in the other classrooms were safe and unharmed. The single shot that had been inside gave her pause. It didn’t mean anyone was dead, but they could be seriously injured and in need of medical assistance. She pushed those thoughts away. Worrying wasn’t going to do anything but increase the adrenaline pumping through her body, which wasn’t healthy. A noise in the classroom made her freeze and clamp a hand over Grace’s mouth. They couldn’t make a sound. A gasp escaped her lips when the door to the closet opened, then she breathed a sigh of relief. It was her teammates.
“Are you both okay?” Steve asked as he helped his niece to her feet and passed her off to her father. He fell to his knees in front of Dr. Stone and pulled her into his arms.
“We’re okay.” She responded. “I knew you’d come.” She whispered into his ear.
“Always.” He pulled her up until they were both standing and ushered her over to the window where Adam was standing. Their newest teammate was holding a vest and handed it to his boss. “Put this on.” She did so without a word.
Lt. Kelly and his cousin were studying the furniture in front of the doors. “Nice job with the barricades.”
“I didn’t want to take a chance they’d try to come through the doors, Chin.” She stepped forward but was blocked by her boyfriend. “I can help move everything out of the way.”
“You’re not doing that or anything else. You and Grace are heading to the parking lot.” McGarrett growled. “Lou’s outside to help you to the ground. He and Adam and a bunch of SWAT guys are responsible for getting you to safety.”
“But-.” The psychologist started, only for Grace to come over and grab her hand. Danny, Chin and Kono were already moving the shelf and desk out of the way of the front door with assistance from a couple of HPD officers.
“Come on, Jacq. We need to go.” The teenager said to her aunt. She wanted to check on her classmates.
“Yes, of course.” She glared at the head of Five-O, who had an amused smirk on his face. He knew she would do whatever was necessary to make Grace feel safe, but she didn’t like it when he acted smug. She grabbed the collar of his vest and pulled him down into a hard kiss. “Be careful.” She warned.
“You, too.” He watched as Adam helped Grace out the window first, then the profiler, before he followed after them. Grover and a team of SWAT members with tactical shields were outside to get them safely to the parking lot and the waiting EMTs. Duke had been directed to have Dr. Stone checked out as soon as she reached the command post, then he was to radio the teams so their three-point assault could take place. They were breaching at the front and back entrances of the high school and from the classroom. The four lookouts had already been moved and rejoined the rest of their class.
“How do you want to do this, babe?” Williams asked as he and his two teammates joined their boss. HPD was covering the door, which was still closed.
“As soon as we know they’re safe, we’re going to make our way to the office, checking any open doors or classrooms we find along the way. It would make sense our bad guys have a presence in the nerve center of the school.” The former SEAL checked his weapon and led his teammates to the door.
“And if we meet with resistance, boss?” Kono inquired. She and her cousin already had their game faces on.
“We put them down with extreme prejudice.” McGarrett replied. His radio came to life and he got the go-sign. He flipped the two locks and pulled open the door. “Moving.” He disappeared out the door into the hall, his team right behind him.
*****
“I’m fine, Phillip. I really wish Steve hadn’t called you.” Jacq whined.
“No one called me, Jacqueline. I heard the request for the ambulance and where it was going, and you texted me this morning to tell me you’d be speaking at the high school. I put two-and-two together.” He was holding her wrist and checking her pulse. They were sitting on the couch in McGarrett’s office and the former police dog was sitting next to his owner, his head in her lap. “Since I couldn’t get near the high school, I opted to wait for you here. I knew you’d be returning eventually, since Burt was here.” The dog perked up at his name and his tail swished across the floor.
“I didn’t have a lot of options. After the EMTs checked me out, Duke shoved me in the back of a squad car and I was driven here against my will.” She peered around him, trying to get a look at Danny’s office. “I really should be with Grace.”
“She’s laying down like I told her to. Let her sleep.” The surgeon chided his goddaughter and released her wrist. “Also, you’re the one who’s pregnant, not her. I’d really like to take you to the hospital for a full work-up.”
“No.” She stated firmly and sat back on the couch. Her eyes locked on Jerry who was out in the bullpen, manning the interactive table. She wanted to go out and ask him for a status, but knew Phillip would only try to hustle her back into her boyfriend’s office to rest. She decided to try to reason with him. “Nothing happened to me besides a rise in my adrenaline levels. Nobody shot at me or hurt me in any way. I’d like to find out how the team is doing though.” She got to her feet and Dr. Gaines did the same.
The physician sighed. “I’d rather you….” He trailed off when she kissed his cheek.
Jacq hooked her arm through his and pulled him out of the room. “I’m not asking to go back to the scene. I want to make sure the team is okay.”
“Fine.” He rolled his eyes. She had a good point and he couldn’t deny her this. The father of her unborn was in a dangerous situation. She deserved to know he was unharmed.
“Jerry, how’s the team?” The profiler asked as she joined her teammate at the table.
“Everyone’s fine and the scene’s secure.” He looked up at her and smiled. “I was just about to come tell you.”
“And who were our bad guys?” She asked as she perused the information on the display.
“The Hardy brothers and some of their friends. They were all killed at the scene.” He saw her arch an eyebrow and continued. “They wouldn’t surrender. The team didn’t have a choice.” He clarified.
“Understood.” And she did… understand. A peaceful resolution wasn’t always an option, especially with people who took control of a high school and shot at teenagers.
Letting go of her uncle, she stepped up the table and tapped on it. “What about the students and faculty?” She began to look at the reports that were coming in.
“Two injuries. The principal took a bit of a beating and a security guard took a bullet to the shoulder. He tried to stop the gunmen when they entered the school.”
“Patrick?” She froze and looked over at him. She still didn’t know the officer’s last name.
“Yes, Patrick Whitetail. It was a through-and-through. He was transported to the hospital and is in surgery.”
“I better get back.” Phillip declared. He was the head of surgery and was a bit surprised no one alerted him to a gunshot victim, especially since his team knew where he was headed when he left the hospital. He pointed at his goddaughter. “Stay here and remain calm. I’ll call you later to check in.”
“Yes, Phillip.” Jacq gave him another kiss on the cheek and watched him leave the office. She breathed a sigh of relief and got back to reviewing the documents and photos coming in from the scene. She and Jerry worked in quiet companionship, while Burt sat next to his owner and leaned against her leg. Loud voices had her turning towards the doors again. The team was back. Any remaining tension evaporated from her frame as soon as she saw Steve. She walked right over to him and into his arms.
“You okay?” He whispered to her as he kissed her head and held her close.
“I am now.” She muttered back.
“You guys are cute.” Kono stated with a grin.
“Not that I’m not enjoying your reunion, but where’s Grace?” Danny asked. Now that the threat to him and his family had been neutralized, all he wanted to do was see his daughter. He was extremely thankful that Rachel had taken Charlie to see her family and they weren’t on the island. He could only imagine his ex’s reaction once she found out what happened.
“In your office. Phillip gave her a once over and had her lay down. He just left.” The profiler responded.
“We saw him when we walked in.” Lou shared. He pointed towards his office. “I’m going to write up my report and get home. I’d like to spend the rest of the day with Will and Renee.” He was glad his wife had picked their son up after the incident at the school and knew that she would want a breakdown of what exactly happened as soon as he got home. He wasn’t looking forward to that, but she deserved to know.
“I think we’re all going to do the same. And I’m giving you tomorrow off. Enjoy your time.” The head of Five-O declared. He watched his team disperse to get their work done before leaving. He ushered his girlfriend towards his office and addressed the man at the interactive table. “You do the same, Jer. That should give you time to help your mom.”
“Mahalo, Commander.” Jerry smiled and began to shut down what he was working on.
“It’s Lieutenant Commander.” Dr. Stone called out over her shoulder as she was pushed into Steve’s office.
“Give me a few minutes to write up my report, then we can go. Did you…?” He pointed at his laptop as he took a seat behind his desk.
Jacq dropped into one of the visitor chairs and nodded. “Wrote it up as soon as I got back, then Phillip gave me a once over. It should be in your inbox.”
“Good.” He quickly began to type up his incident and firearm discharge reports. He sent them off to the proper group, then reviewed his girlfriend’s account of the morning. He knew most of it, but he could read between the lines. The whole incident had scared her. He knew he needed to discuss it with her, but that could wait until they were home. He signed off on it and sent it out as well. Finally, he shut his computer down and stood. “Let’s go.”
“Okay.” The profiler stopped petting Burt and got up. She let him take her hand and lead her out of the office. They both waved at Danny as they made their way to the elevator.
It was a quiet trip down to the lobby and outside. McGarrett had parked his truck next to hers in the lot. Duke had taken her keys at the scene and a uniform had driven it back. The HPD officer had been waiting for him when the team got back to the palace. He wanted her close to provide her with the comfort she needed and led them over to her vehicle. He pulled her keys out and unlocked the passenger door.
Dr. Stone let him help her up into the vintage automobile and asked. “What about your truck?”
“You can drive me to work on Thursday and I’ll get it then. I know what this truck means to you.” Once she was clear and Burt was nestled between her legs, the former SEAL shut the door, rounded the vehicle and got in. He put on his seatbelt and started the engine. He’d driven her truck a few times and was comfortable behind the wheel. Then they were off.
They didn’t speak during the long drive to her house, but once they left the city, she reached over and put a hand on his thigh. It brought a smile to his lips. He glanced in her direction every few minutes, but she was looking out the window while she stroked Burt’s head and neck. As they pulled off the main road and into the jungle, she withdrew her hand. He rolled the truck to a stop in the clearing in front of her house. Even as the engine cut off, neither of them made a move to get out.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He finally said, turning in his seat to get a better view of her.
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“You’re never been at a loss for words, Jacq.” He was trying to be encouraging.
“I was scared. More scared than I’ve ever been in my life and that’s saying something. When I heard that shot….” She trailed off. It felt good to get it off her chest. She didn’t want to hide what she was feeling from her boyfriend. What happened effected not only her, but their child as well.
“You kept your head and protected those students. When you couldn’t call for help, you found a way to get word to us.”
“I-.” Her head was down and her sole focus was on the former police dog, taking comfort from him.
“Hey. Look at me.” He reached over and grabbed her hands, gripping them tightly and waiting for her to lift her head. When their eyes met, he continued. “You did good. I’m proud of you.”
“Mahalo.” She gave him a watery smile. “I thought you’d be mad I didn’t evacuate with Grace.”
“Never. You did what you thought was best.” He slid over and gave her a kiss. He released her hands and cupped her face. He smiled into their connection when she fought him for control. They eventually needed to break for air. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered. “Let’s head inside. You deserve a long soak in the tub, then we can curl up on the couch with the baby name book. We still haven’t picked out a name if it’s a girl.”
Jacq laughed, gave him another peck and pushed open the door on her side of the vehicle. She let Burt get out first, then quickly followed him. She met her boyfriend in front of the truck and let him take her hand. He led her down the path to the backyard. “I know you want to plan for any situation, but I have a good feeling it’s a boy.” They walked up the lanai stairs and he looked back at her. All she saw was love. She was a very lucky woman.
Notes:
Thank you for reading.
The next chapter is one of my favorites that I've written for this series. I really hope you all like it.
Chapter 3: Connecting the Dots
Notes:
Apologies for the delay in posting the new chapter. Work is a little crazy right now and I didn't remember until this morning.
Enjoy!!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Why are you here?”
“Don’t you want me here?”
“No, I love that you’re here, but normally you work at home.” McGarrett responded quickly when his girlfriend glanced his way. He was behind his desk, doing some file reviews, while the profiler was lounging on his couch with her computer in her lap. She was doing her best to work around her growing baby bump. She was entering her fifth-month and was glowing. Having her in his office was distracting for him, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable at a table or the desk?”
“This wouldn’t be an issue if I had my own office.”
“I think there’s a closest next to Jerry’s cave that’s available.” He smirked in her direction.
“You’d just love that, wouldn’t you?” She rolled her eyes when his smirk morphed into a full-fledged grin. “I’ll remind you of this moment the next time Burt takes your spot in bed.” The former police dog lifted his head off the floor and wagged his tail. He was lying next to the couch, being as close to his owner as he could since he couldn’t put his head in her lap with it currently occupied.
“Well played, Doctor.”
“Mahalo, Lieutenant Commander.” She finally smiled at him, then went back to her work. She was writing up some notes on a cold case she’d recently finished reviewing. She quirked her head when her laptop beeped. She’d gotten a new email. “Interesting….” She muttered as she began to read.
Seeing that she was distracted by her laptop again, the head of Five-O got back to his own work. He was looking at some personnel files he got from Duke and a friend in the Navy. It was time to expand the team again. They were catching a lot more cases and having a bigger team would allow for better coverage. Also, with a baby on the way, he’d likely be taking more time off and wanted to make sure Danny had all the bodies he needed to run the team successfully, during his absences. He had a couple of good prospects. He hoped to set up interviews in the coming few weeks.
In actuality, their team was already expanding, in a way. Danny’s nephew, Eric Russo, was joining the crime lab today. He’d come to the island a few years back and shown an aptitude for science. His uncle had urged him to go back to school, which he had done and now he was following in Danny’s footsteps and becoming law enforcement, kind of. Steve had only interacted with Eric a few times and found the him a little whacky, but it would be nice to have an inside source at the lab and hopefully, he would mellow a bit in the professional environment of HPD. However, given who his uncle was, McGarrett doubted it, which made him smile.
All his contemplation gave him an idea and he spoke to the profiler. “Danny isn’t going to be in until later. You could use his desk until then.” He didn’t think sitting on his couch was good for her back.
“I’m good.” She waved a hand over her shoulder at him in dismissal. Then she scanned the office through the glass walls and locked on the person she sought. She shouted. “Hey, Lou, could you come in here?”
The Captain searched around for the source of his summons and grinned. He ambled over and came into his boss’s office. “You bellowed, madam?”
“Yes, I did. Do you know a Detective Ortiz on Chicago PD?” She asked.
“Can’t say that I do. Why do you ask?” He came closer.
Jacq swung her legs off the couch and set them on the floor, being careful not to step on her dog. She held up her laptop for Grover to see. “I just got an email from her, asking for help with a case and inviting me to Chicago. I wanted to see what you knew about her before I accepted.”
“I still have some friends on the force. I can reach out and gather some info for you, if you like.” Lou shrugged in her direction, then noticed the former SEAL was getting up from the desk and heading towards them. He didn’t look happy.
“I’d love that.” Steve grabbed her laptop away from her and began to look at the email. “You could’ve asked to see it. What’s gotten into you?” She pushed herself to her feet with a little effort.
“You said, before you accept. Don’t you think we should discuss you going to Chicago?” The Navy officer asked as he scanned the email she had displayed on the screen of her computer.
“Maybe I should leave.” Grover stepped back towards the door.
“You don’t need to go anywhere, Lou.” Jacq growled at him, then turned to address her boyfriend. “Detective Ortiz believes there’s a serial killer targeting Latina women. She seems desperate for my help and I want to give it to her.”
“You’re pregnant.” He reminded her as he closed her laptop and dropped it into one of the visitor chairs.
“I’m aware.” She rolled her eyes at him. “But I’m still in my second trimester. Physicians usually don’t put travel restrictions on pregnant patients until late in their third.”
“Don’t you think you should discuss it with Dr. Levy?”
“I’m going to. What’s the problem, Steve?” She couldn’t understand what was wrong with him. She crossed her arms and waited for him to explain.
“You can’t go traipsing off to the mainland without discussing it with me.”
“Traipsing?” Her voice went up an octave in disbelief. He was making her mad. “I’m an adult and can go wherever I want to go.” They had argued about this before.
“You’re carrying my child.”
“That doesn’t give you permission to stop me from doing my job.” She went for a low blow. “We’re not married, so you don’t get to tell me what to do.” As soon as she said it, she knew she’d gone a step too far.
“That’s. Not. Fair.” He growled at her. He wanted to marry her with all his heart, but had decided not to ask her so they could focus on the baby. And she knew that.
The profiler’s face crumbled. “I… I…. Oh….” Tears streamed down her face and she bolted around Lou, heading out of the office, across the bullpen, and disappearing down the hall to the elevator. Burt ran after her.
“Wait, Jacq….” McGarrett cried. He tried to go after her, but his teammate blocked his path. “Move, Lou.”
“No. You need to calm down before you find her.” Grover put his hands on his boss’s shoulders. “She didn’t mean it and neither did you, but her hormones are all out of whack. Take a breath and sit.” He pushed the Navy officer down onto the couch and sat next to him with a sigh. It had been awkward to witness their disagreement, but he thought he had a solution everyone would like.
“I want to marry her.” Steve blurted out.
“The whole team knows that. Williams told us all about the fancy ring you got her.” The Captain shared.
“I never should’ve confided in him.”
“Probably not, but you did and we all know.” Lou took another deep breath. “I have a suggestion.”
“What?”
“How about I go to Chicago with her?” When the other man didn’t object, he continued. “I know the city and have friends on the force. I can help out with the case and make sure she stays nice and safe at the precinct.”
“I don’t know. I-.”
“She doesn’t argue with me for the hell of it and I can stand my ground when she tries to do something dangerous.”
“She can be very stubborn.”
“I’m aware, McGarrett.” Grover thought for a minute. “What about her FBI friend?”
“Edgerton? What about him?”
“We can ask him to join us. Between him and I, we can protect her and you won’t get yelled at again about trying to tell her what to do.”
It rubbed the former SEAL the wrong way to even think about asking the FBI agent for a favor, but he knew Ian and his girlfriend were close and he wouldn’t let her go into a dangerous situation, no matter her argument. “I have his number and will reach out to him about going.”
“Good man.” Lou lumbered up to his feet and groaned. That couch was awful low and he was rather tall. It was a struggle. “I’ll call some of my former coworkers and get the inside scoop on Detective Ortiz, then once Jacq accepts the invite, we’ll coordinate our travel plans.”
“I appreciate your willingness to help me… her… us.” The head of Five-O stood as well. He was embarrassed their teammate had witnessed their tiff.
“No problem.” Grover pushed the other man towards the door. “Now, go find the Doc and apologize. Won’t do for you to be at odds with her. We both know she always wins in the end.” He chuckled at the glare he got from Steve and watched him walk across the office. He pulled out his phone. He had some calls to make, but first, he needed to tell his wife what was going on.
*****
“Thanks for coming with me, Lou.”
“Not a problem. I’m rather partial to Chicago and am looking forward to eating some real pizza while we’re here.” Grover held the door to the precinct open for Jacq and let her go in first. Once they were both inside, he led her away from the desk and up a flight of stairs. He knew where the homicide detectives’ bullpen was and there was no reason for them to ask around. Both he and the profiler were wearing their Five-O badges, alerting the cops and detectives around them that they were law enforcement. The only funny looks they got was when someone noticed Burt walking alongside them. He’d have to ask McGarrett about getting the dog his very own badge for situations like this.
It was three days after Steve and Jacq’s disagreement. They had reconciled with minimal yelling, then the head of Five-O had shared his teammate’s solution to the problem, which led to him getting a passionate kiss from his girlfriend and the Captain a big hug. Lou’s friends on the force didn’t know much about Detective Ortiz, so the profiler had accepted the request with only minor hesitations. Then the two friends had packed their bags and were on their way. The former SEAL had contacted Edgerton, or more accurately left a message on his phone. They hadn’t heard back from him before they flew out the day before, so they didn’t know if he was going to meet them in Chicago or not. They found the doors to the bullpen open when they got upstairs and headed right in.
An older man in a suit perked up when they entered and stepped away from the young patrol officer he was speaking with in order to intercept them. “Grover?” He had a big grin on his face.
“Matt. It’s good to see you, man. Are you assigned to this precinct now?” Lou shook hands with the other man.
“Got transferred about a year ago, when I made Sergeant. What are you doing here?” Matt was a tall, thin, African-American man, about the same age as Grover, maybe a little older. His short-shaved hair was grey as was his neatly trimmed beard.
“Escorting my friend.” He gestured to the woman next to him and then over to the other man. “Dr. Jacqueline Stone, this is Detective Sergeant Matthew Brown. We worked together years ago and have stayed friendly since.”
“Nice to meet you, Sergeant.” She offered her hand to him and they shook.
“You’re the famous profiler. I’ve read about you in the papers. You do impressive work.” He scanned her, noting her belly and the dog by her side, but didn’t comment on either.
“Thank you.” She blushed.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Matt asked as he glance between them.
“We’re here to see Detective Ortiz. Could you point us in her direction?” She asked.
The grin disappeared from Brown’s face and he turned, pointing to a small conference room on the other side of the bullpen. “She’s over there. I have to go.” He walked away from them without another word.
The psychologist and Lou shared a look. They were both a little concerned by the Sergeant’s reaction, but it was too late for them to back out. Jacq had accepted the request for assistance and was a woman of her word. She strode towards the doorway they had been directed to and knocked on the frame. “Detective Ortiz?”
“Yes?” A young woman lifted a head full of messy brunette curls and stared at the profiler. “Dr. Stone?” Not waiting for an answer, she stood up straight and came around the table she had been leaning on. “Thank you so much for coming.” Then she noticed something. “Are you pregnant?”
“Yes, in my fifth month. Is that a problem?” Jacq came further into the room and slipped off her coat. It was only October, but there was a chill in the air already.
“No, of course not. You just didn’t mention it when we talked.” The Detective eyed Grover suspiciously, but did her best to focus on the other woman.
“Doesn’t change my ability to help you or not.” The profiler had seen her eyeing her colleague and made the introductions. “This is Captain Lou Grover, formerly of Chicago and Honolulu PDs and now a member of the Five-O Task Force, like myself. And this is Burt, a former HPD K9 officer.” She tossed her coat over the back of a chair by the table and walked over to peruse the whiteboard. There were pictures, maps and documents tacked on it, along with sticky notes. She began to read through everything that was there.
“How old are you, Ortiz?” Lou wasn’t one to beat around the bush. She was a young, short, thin woman with tan skin and brown eyes. She was likely Latina, based on her skin tone, last name and the faint accent she had.
“27. And before you ask, I made detective a year ago. Most of my fellow detectives at the precinct don’t think much of me, which is why I asked for Dr. Stone’s help. They all think I’m imagining things.” She ran a hand through her curls and surveyed the other people (and animals) in the room. They were an interesting mix.
“Explains why Sergeant Brown gave us the cold shoulder when we asked where to find you.” The pregnant woman stated as she rubbed her belly and turned to look at the other woman. “Detective Ortiz, I’d-.”
“Call me, Angela.”
“Then, I’m Jacq. Why don’t you give us a rundown of what you have so far? Then we can build off of that.” She stepped away from the board and rejoined Grover near the door. Burt stuck with her wherever she went.
“Sure thing.” Ortiz moved over to the documents she had been looking at and began. “The first murder was almost three months ago and….” She gave a detailed account of the four murders, how the bodies had been found and the last known locations of the victims. There were definite similarities between the crimes and noted escalations, both in the states of the bodies and the timing of the kills. As she was wrapping up, a voice from the doorway startled all three of them.
“This is like old times, isn’t it, Jacq?”
The profiler perked up and hurried to greet the new arrival. “Ian. We weren’t sure you were coming.” She gave him a big hug, which he returned with a grin.
“I was tracking a fugitive through the backwoods and there wasn’t any cell service. By the time I got McGarrett’s message, you were already in the air. Then I was on a flight and got in late. This morning, I had to check in with the local field office. They’ve offered you their services if you end up needing them.” Edgerton told her everything while he pulled back and scanned her from head to toe. “You look happy and very pregnant.”
“I’m both those things.” She laughed and ushered him into the room. “Detective Angela Ortiz, this is Special Agent Ian Edgerton of the FBI. He’s here to round out your helpers.”
“I appreciate the FBI’s assistance, Agent.” She offered him her hand and he took it firmly.
“Ian or Edgerton.” After he shook her hand, he nodded at Lou. “Good to see, Grover.”
“You, too.” The Captain stated gruffly.
“What are we looking at, Jacq?” Ian perched himself on the edge of the table and studied the whiteboard.
“Definite serial killer who is escalating, which could mean he’s starting to lose control. We need to gather some additional information, then I can finalize my profile.” Dr. Stone responded. She knew her friend didn’t need, or want, all the details, just what the next steps were. Angela beat her to the punch.
With a smile on her face, likely because someone actually believed her, the Detective asked. “Where do we start?”
*****
“We’ve made a lot of progress in the last two days.”
“Yeah, but I’m not sure if it’s going to be enough.” Jacq sighed and rubbed her belly. “Based on my calculations, he’s probably going to kill again in the next few days. We’re running out of time to stop him.”
“Hey.” Edgerton said as he got up from his place leaning on the table next to her and moved to stand in front of her. “You’re doing everything possible. We will stop him. You need to believe that.” He had implicit faith in her skills and seen her in action enough to know she was the real deal, but he needed her to remember that.
“Thanks.” She smiled at him, then chuckled. “Steve is not happy you’re here helping out.”
“He’ll get over it.” He retook his spot next to her.
“What exactly happened between the two of you? Steve refuses to tell me and always says I should ask you. So, I’m finally asking. What happened?” After a couple of minutes, she nudged him when he hadn’t responded.
“I threatened to kill him if he ever hurt you.”
“Men.” She rolled her eyes and pushed off the table with a little effort. She walked over to the whiteboard and picked up one of the pens. She uncapped it and began to write. She was pretty sure she had the profile and wanted to write it down for when Lou and Angela got back. They were off speaking to one of their witnesses, a server at a bar, who had seen the last victim a few hours before she was killed. “Could you maybe apologize to him? He’s the father of my child and potentially my future husband.”
“I’ll think about it.” He was standing next to her when he responded and she jumped back in shock. He always moved stealthily and had a habit of startling her. “Sorry. Do we have a breakdown of our unsub?” He preferred the word perp, but used her terminology when they worked together to keep the peace.
“I think so. Once they confirm the witness’s statement, I’ll know for sure.” She put the pen away and stroked Burt’s head. He was leaning against her leg. She smiled. He was her personal shadow.
“We have a problem.” Detective Ortiz declared as she barged into the room with Grover a few feet behind.
Before realizing who it was, Ian stepped protectively in front of his friend, then asked. “What’s wrong?”
“My captain called in the FBI, without speaking to me. They just arrived and I was informed they’re taking over the case.” Angela shared. She ran her hand through her hair. It seemed to be how she dealt with stress.
“We heard them introducing themselves when we got back. It’s a couple of guys from the BAU.”
Jacq straightened up at Lou’s comment and headed to the door. “Where are there?” He pointed off into the bullpen to where the larger conference room was. Two men were standing outside the door speaking with the precinct captain. There was a familiar face, which caused her to smile. “Hey, Rossi.” She called out. One of the two men turned and grinned in her directions. He excused himself and strode across the space between them.
“Jacq, what the hell are you doing here?” He hugged her and smiled down at her. He was an older man, tall with salt and pepper hair and a goatee. His face was warm and he looked at Dr. Stone with a myriad of emotions, all of which were happy and joyful at her unexpected presence.
“Probably the same reason you’re here, to catch a serial killer targeting Latina women.” She gripped his arms tightly. He looked good. It had been a long time since they had seen each other in person, but that didn’t change the fact that they were friends. He had mentored her early in her career and even tried to recruit her to the BAU, but she liked the ability to pick the cases she wanted to work. Also, the bureaucracy of DC rubbed her the wrong way.
“If someone had mentioned you were here, I never would’ve agreed to the request for assistance, not that it isn’t great to see you.”
“You, too.” She glanced behind him, causing him to turn to see who was there. His colleague and the precinct captain had joined them.
“Captain Mitchell, why didn’t you tell me Dr. Stone was here assisting with the case? She’s the best profiler in the country, after myself.” Who was the better profiler was up for debate and they enjoyed ribbing each other about it. The FBI agent started at Mitchell, waiting for an answer.
“I wasn’t aware you knew each other, Agent Rossi.” The Captain didn’t look happy. “I’ll leave you to your work. Let me know if you need anything.” With that, he turned and departed.
“He didn’t tell you, because I asked for Dr. Stone’s help.” Angela shared.
“And you are?” Rossi asked.
“Let me introduce everyone. Detective Angela Ortiz, Chicago PD. Captain Lou Grover, Five-O Task Force. Special Agent Ian Edgerton, FBI. Burt, former HPD K9 officer and I’m Dr. Jacqueline Stone, profiler.” Jacq quickly indicated each person in their group, including herself for the benefit of the other BAU member. Her old friend took the hint.
“I’m Senior Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi and this is my colleague, Dr. Spencer Reid. We’re both members of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.” He offered his hand to Ian. “Been a while, Edgerton.”
“Yes, it has, Rossi.” The sniper seemed to have a great deal of respect for the other man, at least from what Dr. Stone could tell.
David stepped into the room and scanned the board. “You already have a profile?”
“Yes, and our unsub is likely to kill another woman in the next few days, if he sticks to his pattern of escalation.” Jacq shared.
“Maybe we should….” Reid started, hoping his colleague would understand, which he did.
Rossi pulled out his cell, dialed a number and put it on speaker. A woman answered. “How may I serve you, my liege?”
“Garcia, I need you to contact the plane. If they haven’t left, I need Luke and Tara here, ASAP. If they have, make them turn around and I still need Luke and Tara.” David barked over the phone.
“On it, boss.” They could hear tapping in the background. “They haven’t left yet. Dr. Lewis and Luke will be there shortly. Need anything else?”
“Who is that?” Dr. Stone asked Spencer.
“Penelope Garcia, our technical analyst.” He provided.
“May I?” The pregnant woman asked, stepping closer to the phone.
“Sure.” Rossi answered. “Garcia, this is Dr. Jacq Stone. She needs you to do something.”
“How can I help you, Dr. Stone?” Came the sweet voice of Penelope.
“Can you look for any murders, 10 to 15 years ago, either unsolved or written off as gang related?” Jacq asked.
“Sure. What are the particulars?” There was typing over the phone again.
“Latina females, late teens to early 20s. Strangled, maybe disfigured post-mortem, with signs of recent sexual activity. Bodies would’ve been wrapped up in some way and disposed on in a dumpster or back alley in a high crime area. Concentrate your searches to cities and towns with college campuses in them or nearby.” Jacq rattled off the summary, highlighting aspects of their current case as well as parts of her profile.
“Can I ask why you’re focusing on college towns?” Reid interjected, before adding. “Not that I disagree with you, but I’d like to understand your reasoning.”
“Okay.” The profiler took a deep breath. “Based on the fact that all of the victims are college-aged woman and given that strangulation is a very intimate crime, I believe our unsub may have killed before, likely when he himself was in college. That first death was probably an accident and he killed her in a fit of rage. That also explains the disfigurement of the victims’ faces.”
“And why he threw them out like trash?” Grover inquired. He appreciated her methods and her thought process and wanted to be sure he understood.
“Yes, but at the same time, he wrapped them with care, protecting their bodies from the elements and the garbage in the alleys they were discovered in.” Seeing that no one else had any comments, she went back to speaking to Penelope. “Got it, Garcia?”
“On it. I’ll call back when I have the results.” The line went dead.
“You really think our unsub has done this before?” Spencer asked. He thought her explanation made a lot of sense. He and Rossi had reviewed the case files on the plane. She wasn’t making any assumptions they hadn’t. Honestly, he was impressed. He’d have to do a little digging into the other profiler and her relationship to his current mentor.
“Yes, and probably greatly regretted it, which led him to get his act together and lead an upstanding life, then something happened three or four months ago that prompted him to start killing. A drastic change in his routine or some other highly stressful situation.” Dr. Stone turned towards Ortiz. “What did the witness have to say, Angela?”
“She confirmed what was in her original statement. That our last victim was with a generic white guy at the bar.” The Detective informed the group.
“And before you ask, Jacq.” Lou began. “She couldn’t be more specific. Said all white guys look the same to her unless they’re Brad Pitt or George Clooney.” The others chuckled, then he added. “I had the manager of the bar send his security video of that night to Jerry. He’s going to look through the footage from all four bars and see if we can find the same face in the crowd.”
“Good. Then here’s the profile. White male, early to late 30s, college educated….”
*****
“Good work, Jacq.”
“All I did was develop the profile, Dave. Your team, Ian and Angela did all the hard work.” Dr. Stone was standing next to Rossi in front of a two-way mirror. On the other side of the glass sat a distraught young man, their unsub. With help from the BAU, they had set up a sting operation at two bars they had determined were the next likely locations for their killer to hit. Penelope and Jerry had monitored their op and provided overwatch. The unsub had taken their bait and walked out of the bar with Angela on his arm. After leading him into a nearby alley, where she claimed her car was parked, they had arrested him. The profiler, Grover and David had stayed at the precinct and breathed a sigh of relief when they got word he had confessed everything as soon as he was in custody. Jacq and Reid had just finished interviewing the unsub to take his official statement. It was being typed up as they spoke and with his signature, the case would be closed.
“We should work together more often.”
“I’d like that, but law enforcement normally either calls in the Feds or a private consultant, not both. Though I have been known to work FBI case from time to time, but usually when the BAU isn’t available.” She reminded him. This was a frequent conversation they had, pretty much any time they chatted. Rossi also would offer her a job, which she always turned down. “And no, I’m not coming to DC to work at the BAU with you. I have a life in Hawai’i.” She rubbed her belly to emphasize her point.
The FBI agent chuckled. “I can see that. May I?” His hand hovered over her middle.
“Sure. The baby is just starting to move around. I’ve only felt it a couple times. Steve hasn’t been able to yet.” She let him stroke her middle and smiled at him.
“I’m glad things are going well with your Lieutenant Commander.” He removed his hand and gave her a hug.
“Me, too.”
They were interrupted by someone opening the door to the observation room. Luke Alvez stuck his head in. “They’re gassing up the jet, Rossi. We need to go.”
“I’m coming.” Dave responded as he let the young woman go and stepped back. Luke departed, but left the door open. The FBI agent looked Jacq square in the eyes. “I’ll let you know when the next seminar is and we can coordinate our talk.”
“Will do.” She watched him leave, then slowly exited the room herself, Burt at her heels. She headed back to the conference room they had been using as their command base. Lou and Edgerton were sitting inside. Ian got to his feet and hurried over to her.
“I submitted my report. I got a call about a manhunt in Texas and need to leave, ASAP.”
“Go and be careful.”
“I’m always careful.” The sniper hugged her, nodded at Grover and strode out of the room.
“You ready to go home?” The Captain rose and came over to her.
“More than ready.” Picking up her coat and putting it on, she let him usher her out of the room and looked around the bullpen. “Where’s Angela? I want to say goodbye.”
“She’s speaking with her captain. He’s done an about-face and she’s back in his good graces.”
“Good for her.” Jacq pulled out her cell. “Do you want to fly out tonight? I might be able to swing a last-minute flight.”
Lou shook his head. “Tomorrow. Tonight, we eat pizza, actually, the best pizza in town.”
She was kind of hungry. “I could go for a slice or two, but it better live up to your claim.”
“Oh, it will.” He grinned at her. He was a food connoisseur and wasn’t going to let her down. A tap on his arm had him turning. “Ortiz, all done getting apologized to?”
“Yeah, the Captain even admitted I was right from the start. I wanna thank you both for coming all the way to Chicago to help me. Between you and the FBI, the whole case has been wrapped up with a big bow and the ADA is ecstatic.” The young detective shared, a smile finally gracing her lips after days, maybe weeks, full of stress and doubting herself.
“You’re the one who realized something was going on, Angela. There wouldn't have been a case without you.” Dr. Stone stepped forward and hugged her. “Call if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks again, Dr… I mean, Jacq. You, too, Captain Grover.”
“Anytime, Ortiz. Goodbye.” He watched as she walked off, then looked back at his colleague. “Pizza?”
“Yes, please.” She hooked her arm through his and they left the precinct together. When they walked outside, she asked. “What’s their policy on dogs?” Lou laughed at her comment and she gazed at Burt. She’d only go where he was welcome.
“Maybe we should swing by the hotel and get his vest, then they can’t say no.”
“Fine with me.” The profiler let him help into their rented SUV and while he made his way to the driver’s seat, she dialed her phone, which was still in her hand. Before she even got it to her ear, a voice called to her.
“Jacq?”
“We’re on a plane tomorrow, Steve. I’ll send you our flight details as soon as I have them.” She knew she was promising a lot, since she hadn’t even called about their flights, but if worse came to worse, she’d consider chartering a plane. She’d do anything to be home with the man she loved.
“I’ll be there, whenever it is. I love you, honey.”
With a smile on her lips and as Grover started the vehicle, she replied. “I love you, too.”
*****
“My lei is very pretty.”
“I’m glad you like it.” McGarrett grinned over at her. They were together in her bed and all she was currently wearing was her welcome-home lei and sheets bunched around her breasts. They were on their sides facing each other. Even given her pregnant state, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. “Did the case go smoothly?”
“Yeah, even if the precinct captain called in the FBI behind Detective Ortiz’s back.”
“But you knew the one guy, right? Rossi?”
“Yup.” She smiled at him and reached out to cup his cheek. “As soon as he saw me, we became one big team and made short work of finding our unsub.” She closed her eyes for a minute. Talking about work in bed wasn’t something she enjoyed, but he had broached the topic and she wanted to give him a better picture of what happened. They hadn’t really discussed the details of the case over the phone when they checked in nightly with each other. “The unsub almost seemed glad we caught him.”
“Sometimes bad guys are like that.” He shifted forward and gave her a kiss. It took all his resolve to not get lost in her. He’d missed her more than he cared to admit. “So, who was he?”
“Could we not talk about this right now?” She was enjoying his closeness too much to talk about serial killers. She opened her eyes to see his reaction.
Steve grinned at her. “All right. Edgerton called me.”
“What?” She recoiled from him in shock and withdrew her hand from his face, holding it to her chest and playing with the petals of her lei. “Why did Ian call you?”
“He was letting me know he made sure you stayed at the station during the whole case and that you weren’t in danger at any point in time.” He shrugged and settled his hand on her waist, drawing her back towards him. “Seemed a bit out of character, but I appreciated the reassurance.”
Realization struck her and she laughed, earning her a funny look. “I asked him why you were at odds and he shared that he threatened you. I told him to apologize. The call was his way of doing that without actually saying sorry.” She still hoped her old friend took the time to really apologize. He’d likely do it in person to ensure the sincerity of his words was evident.
“Good to know I won’t be taken out by a sniper if I upset you.” The former SEAL shook his head. He didn’t really think Edgerton would’ve made good on his threat, but it was nice to know he’d earn some level of respect from the other man. Before he could say another word, he heard barking. When they got home, they’d left Burt and Coronado outside to play and reconnect, but it appeared the dog now wanted back inside. He rolled away from his girlfriend and got up. As he started to put his clothes back on, he spoke to her. “I’ll go get him. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I think I’m going to take a shower.” Jacq flipped over and hefted herself out of bed, draping her lei over the bedside lamp once she was on her feet. “I still smell like the plane and am now sticky and sweaty as well.”
“I’m glad you said it and I didn’t.” He grinned over his shoulder at her when she growled and hurried out of the room before he got distracted. Seeing his pregnant girlfriend standing naked in front of him was tempting, but he needed to let their animals in.
With a shake of her head, the profiler ambled into the bathroom and right over to the shower. She turned on the water and stepped away to let it warm up. She brushed her teeth quickly and rubbed her belly. She felt the baby move and smiled. Deciding that the water was likely the right temperature, she went back to the shower and climbed in. It was perfect and she felt her body start to relax. Traveling was stressful under normal circumstances, but add in being pregnant and it became almost unbearable.
“Mind if I join you?” Steve asked as he opened the door and stepped in.
“If you like.” She said, her voice almost purring. She felt his arms come around her. One of his hands stroked her growing belly, while the other cupped one of her breasts. His lips started to do delicious things to her neck. Letting her eyes slide shut, Jacq gasped and leaned back against him. She was pretty sure this was heaven and never wanted to give it up… or the man standing behind her.
Notes:
Hope everyone liked the little crossover.
Chapter 4: For Your Own Good
Notes:
Fans of the show are going to note I pulled a later season storyline into this chapter. I also put the kibosh on it, as the writers should've in the series. I also threw a wrench into the overall story, but that's par for the course with me. Enjoy.
Chapter Text
“I’ve been thinking….”
“That’s never a good way for you to start a sentence.”
McGarrett growled at his girlfriend and she laughed. “We’ve talked about this before. I do have good ideas.”
“I didn’t say otherwise. I just said that it was never a good way for you to start a sentence.” The profiler looked up from her laptop and saw him glaring at her. She sighed and asked. “What have you been thinking about?”
“I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do after I leave the Navy.”
“I assumed you would stay head of the Task Force.”
“I can’t do that forever. I’m not getting any younger and need to think about supporting you and our child.”
“Our child and I are just fine. But what is your grand plan?” She went back to the work she was doing on her computer. The Honolulu DA had hired her to review the psychological assessment of someone she was trying to prosecute and determine if the diagnosis was correct. It wasn’t ideal, since she didn’t have firsthand knowledge of the individual, but she could see if the defense’s expert was trying to pull one over on the prosecution and the jury. All she’d found thus far was a ton of buzz words and not a lot of substance, which should make the DA happy. However, she still had about twenty pages to read through.
“I was thinking Danny and I could open a restaurant.” He stated happily.
Jacq froze and looked up again. She had to be sure he was serious and it looked like he was. She shook her head and firmly said. “No.”
“Huh?”
“No, Steve. You are NOT opening a restaurant.”
“Since when did you get to tell me what I could and couldn’t do.”
“First off, you do that to me all the time, or, at least, try to. Second, what do you know about running and/or owning a restaurant?” He hesitated and opened and closed his mouth a few times, which caused her to nod. “Exactly, nothing. I read a study about restaurants and the failure rates a couple of years ago and the statistics stuck with me. 60% close in the first year, 80% close in the first five. They’re money-pits, especially if you go in with no knowledge.”
“But I could learn.” He’d thought it was a great idea, but what she was telling him was starting to change his mind.
“Restaurants are very expensive and you’d lose a ton of money while you’re learning.”
“You could help me with that.”
“Sorry, no. My financial advisors would laugh me out of their offices if I suggested investing in a restaurant.”
“But it’s your money.”
“Yes, and I want to keep it, so you, me and the baby are taken care of.” She saw him frown and sighed. She knew what was going on. He was trying to show her that he could be the breadwinner for their little family and wanted to provide for them. She needed him to change direction. “Why not focus on a post-military career doing something you’re good at?”
“What do you suggest?” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. They were sitting at the little table on her lanai, enjoying a quiet relaxing Sunday afternoon, until he brought up their current topic of discussion.
The profiler smiled at him. “Do what Billy did and start your own security company. There’s a big need for that, what with all the businesses, companies and corporations spread all over the islands of Hawai’i. Given your skills, you’d be very successful. Also, you can stay the head of Five-O, even if you don’t go out into the field. You’re a brilliant strategist and a wonderful leader. You can direct others to get the bad guys and stop crime.”
“I thought a restaurant would be fun.”
“For about two seconds.” Her eyes darted back down to her laptop. She quickly opened a new email and typed up a quick note for Ms. Keli’i. Even without finishing it, she knew there was something hinky about the report.
“I’ll tell Danno the plan’s a no-go.”
“You already talked with him about it?” She kept typing.
“Yeah.” He got to his feet. “I’m going to start on dinner.”
“I can help.” She sent off her email and shut the lid of her computer. When she lifted her head, she quickly grabbed it and did her best to steady herself. She was woozy and her vision had blurred. Something wasn’t right. “Steve?” She’d been a little warm all day, plus her hands were puffy, but she hadn’t thought much of it. Now she was thinking differently.
“What, honey?” He paused in the doorway to the kitchen and glanced back at her. He could see she was flushed, her cheeks red and blotchy. He hurried to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t feel right.”
“Let’s get you inside and you can lay down.” He put a hand under her elbow and started to lift her up.
“No.” She shook her head, even as she got to her feet. She wavered and grabbed on to him. “I need a doctor. You need to take me to the hospital.”
“Are you sure?” He asked. When their eyes met, he knew his answer. She was scared, which was never a good sign. He helped her over to the wall. “Lean here for a minute. I’m going to get my keys, lock up, and we’ll go.”
“What about Burt and Coronado?” They’d last seen the animals sleeping in the living room.
“They’ll stay here. Hold on.” Once he was sure she wasn’t going to fall over, he grabbed her laptop and ran into the house. He closed the kitchen door behind him, locking it as he did, snatched his keys off the counter, putting her computer in their place, and went into the back foyer. He set the alarm, opened the back door and shut it. He locked the door and was back by her side in a flash. “I’ve got you. Lean on me.”
“My head’s throbbing. I think my blood pressure’s going up.”
“I’ll have you in the truck in a minute, honey. Hold on. We’ll call Phillip once we’re on the road.” She was incredibly unsteady on her feet and it was slow going getting her down the stairs and along the path. It was taking too long. He brought them to a halt and swept her up into his arms. She was heavier, but not by much and this allowed him to jog down the path and stop by his vehicle in no time flat. He set her back on her feet, unlocked the truck and helped her up into it. Once she was inside and buckled up, he slammed the door and ran around the front of the vehicle, getting in the driver’s seat. He started the engine and sped out of the clearing.
Having pulled her phone out of her pocket once she was settled, Jacq was already dialing her godfather’s number and putting it on speaker. They heard it connect, but she didn’t give him time to even speak. “Phillip, something’s wrong. Steve and I are on our way to the hospital.”
“Symptoms?” Dr. Gaines’s tone was professional and showed he was already in doctor mode. He trusted her to know when something wasn’t right.
“Blurred vision, severe headache, rise in body temperature and it’s getting a little hard to breath.” She was almost panting. “And my hands are slightly swollen.”
“I’ll alert Dr. Levy and we’ll meet you at the ER doors. Steve?”
“Yeah, Phillip?”
“Use your lights and sirens.”
“We’ll be there as fast as I can get us there.” McGarrett turned on his lights and the sirens began to blare.
“Hold on, young lady. You’re going to be just fine.”
“I will, Phillip. See you soon.” She ended the call and sat back with her eyes closed. The loud sirens were not helping her headache, but she was thankful more than ever that her boyfriend was in law enforcement. They’d be at the hospital soon and everything would be as right as rain. Or at least, that’s what she kept telling herself.
*****
“Are you comfortable?”
“Yes, Steve.”
“Do you need me to get you anything?”
“No. I feel much better.” Jacq reached out a hand to him and he seized it with both of his. She was sitting in a hospital bed in one of the ICU’s private rooms. They’d gotten to the hospital in less than thirty minutes and had been met by three doctors, two nurses and a gurney. The passenger door had been opened before the former SEAL even brought the truck to a complete stop. The medical professionals had lifted the pregnant woman out of the vehicle and immediately laid her down on the gurney, rushing her inside for a full assessment. Phillip had paused for one moment and told McGarrett to park the truck in the visitor’s lot and to get inside tout de suite. He had done just that. By the time he found his girlfriend, they’d already taken blood, given her a quick exam and checked if the baby was in distress, which it thankfully wasn’t. Then the couple had been hustled up to their current location. After taking a urine sample and helping her into bed, a nurse had inserted an IV, getting her hydrated and comfortable. Then they waited. The head of Five-O had texted the team once he caught his breath and it seemed they were all on their way. They were ohana and when a member of their group was in trouble, they would all be there to do what was needed to support and help.
The former SEAL shifted forward and brought their head together, resting his forehead against her temple. “You really scared me.”
“I scared myself. But one of the things all the pregnancy literature says is to trust what you’re feeling. If something doesn’t seem right, it is better to get a checkup and find nothing, than to write it off. What I felt wasn’t normal. Thank you for doing as I asked.”
“Always, honey. Just like you need to trust yourself, I trust you, especially about medical things.” He kissed her cheek. When she turned her head and looked at him lovingly, he stole a quick kiss. The door sliding open made him pull back and he glared. “You have the worst timing, Danno.”
“Not my fault the two of you are always making out. I assume that’s how she ended up pregnant in the first place.” Williams plopped down into the chair on the other side of the profiler’s bed and gave the pregnant woman a serious and concerned look. “How are you doing, Jacq?”
“I feel a lot better, just waiting for Dr. Levy to come by and share my test results. We still don’t know what happened.” She looked behind him as the door slid close. “Where’s the rest of the team?”
“The nurse would only let one of us come back, so I was elected to find out what was going on. I need to report back after a bit.” He sat forward and moved to the edge of his seat. “You had us all worried.”
“Me, too.” She shared with a smile. “But we’ll soon know what happened and the path forward. I have an idea, but without the test results, I can’t be sure.”
“What do you think it is?” Steve asked as he kept her hand firmly grasped between his.
“I don’t want to speculate.” She glanced back at the door when it opened again and her godfather came in with a young woman around her age. “Dr. Levy.”
“Dr. Stone.” The other woman broke out into a big grin. “Hey, Jacq, how are you feeling?”
“Better, Liz, but I’d like to know what’s going on.” Dr. Levy wasn’t only her doctor, but her former college roommate. They were old friend, but didn’t see nearly enough of each other for their liking.
“Well….” Liz looked down at the pad and scrolled through the document on the screen. “We completed your blood work and a urine analysis. There was excess protein in your urine. You know what that likely means.” She lifted her head and looked at her pregnant patient.
McGarrett wasn’t having it. No one was telling him anything. “Well, I don’t. What does it mean?” He felt the profiler grip his hand and she answered.
“I have preeclampsia. Was my blood pressure elevated?”
“Yes, it was, Jacq, but we put you on medication and that is helping, since you feel better. We talked about this early on, given the fact that this is a geriatric pregnancy.” Dr. Levy continued. Then she laughed when her patient growled.
“I hate that word.”
“But it is the medical term for it.” Liz sighed at the glare she was getting. “Fine, given you’re in your mid-30s.”
“Could someone please explain for us laymen?” Danny interjected into the doctors’ back-and-forth. “Steve looks like he’s about to lose it.” The Navy officer had clenched his jaw and tightened his hold on his girlfriend’s hand.
“I apologize, Commander.” Liz said with a strained smile. “Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy, usually indicated by high blood pressure, higher than normal levels of protein in the urine and potential organ damage.” The former SEAL jumped to his feet in a panic at her words.
Dr. Gaines stepped forward and rounded the hospital bed, setting a firm hand on the father-to-be’s shoulder. “Steve, calm yourself. She doesn’t have any organ damage that we can detect and is on medication now. Sit down and take a breath.” The head of Five-O did as instructed, then he looked at his lover when she tugged on his hands to get his attention.
“The treatment is bed rest, medication and giving birth as soon as it’s safe for the baby.” She shared with him. “I need to take it easy, that’s all.”
“Actually, we going to delay you giving birth as long as possible, due to your age. We want to give the baby the best shot at healthy development. If you’re monitored closer, I don’t see any issue with you carrying to term.” Liz stated matter-a-factly, before looking at her pad again. “I want to keep you overnight for observation, then you can go home with supervision.” She checked her watch. “It’s time for rounds and then I have a C-section to prep for at 8pm. Hit the call button if you need anything. Bye, Jacq, gentlemen.” She nodded her head and quickly departed.
“Perhaps I should delay my vacation.” Phillip spoke again, addressing his goddaughter.
“You will do no such thing. The housekeeper already called and let me know that everything is ready for your visit. You’re going.” Dr. Stone kept her voice even and tried to remain calm. Her uncle only took a couple weeks off a year unless he was sick and he wasn’t backing out of his regular Thanksgiving vacation, not if she had anything to say about it.
“Housekeeper?” Williams was confused. Jacq didn’t have a housekeeper.
“For the Maui house, though she’s more of a property manager, really.” His partner replied.
“You have a house in Maui?” The Detective looked at the profiler in shock.
“Yes, and a hunting cabin on the Big Island and a beach shack on Kauai, plus a few other properties on other islands.” She shrugged at his gaping mouth and added. “You have to remember my family has lived in Hawai’i for almost 150 years, back when it was jungle and not much else. That’s plenty of time to purchase land and property, some of which we’ve donated to the State and back to the Hawaiian people.”
Danny shook himself out of his stupor and got to his feet. “I’m going to go give the team an update. I assume you’re going to be off tomorrow, babe.”
“Yeah. I need you to make sure our two new team members get properly settled in. Junior is starting at the academy and Tani has to do her requal at the range.” McGarrett stated.
“I’ll take care of it all. You take care of her.” He leaned down and gave his pregnant friend a hug. “If he starts to annoy you, give me a call.”
“Will do.” Jacq waved at him as he departed. She turned back to her boyfriend. “I don’t mind you taking tomorrow off, but then you have to get back to work.”
“But Dr. Levy said you needed supervision.”
“And I’ll have it. Phillip?” She shifted her gaze to her godfather.
“Yes, Jacqueline?”
“How would some of your nurses like to earn a little extra money on the side?”
*****
“I can stay. The team is doing fine.”
“No, Steve. You hovered all day yesterday. You need to get back to work. Also, one of Phillip’s surgical nurses is already slated to come today.” The profiler leaned on her boyfriend as he helped her down the stairs. She’d never minded the stairs until she got pregnant. Burt trotted along ahead of them, then sat at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for his owner. He knew better than to stop on the steps and risk tripping her.
After sending Steve home (to take care of the animals) and a restful night in the hospital, Dr. Stone had been released early the next morning and reminded to take it easy. The head of Five-O had driven her home and hustled her upstairs. He brought up her laptop, her mail and her latest medical journals, all in an effort to keep her occupied and comfortably resting in bed. He split his time between lying next to her, occupying one of the plush chairs in the sitting area of her bedroom and taking Burt out to play and burn off excess energy, giving his girlfriend some breathing room and a break from the needy men in her life. Coronado had fallen asleep next to her and only left to do his business and eat, before returning. Her boyfriend brought her lunch in bed, but allowed her to come downstairs for dinner. She was in desperate need of a change of scenery. She had slept well with McGarrett getting up when she did to help her into the bathroom, though she kicked him out to maintain a modicum of privacy. It was the next morning and she was insisting he get back to his routine and leave her in peace. He’d tried to bring her breakfast in bed, but she refused, stating she would eat downstairs and wait for her private nurse to arrive. Three of Dr. Gaines’s nurses were looking for a little extra income and had volunteered to help her out on their days off.
“Having you here is unnecessary.” She stated once they reached the back foyer. When she saw him frowning, she quickly added. “I love that you’re here, but a break would do us both good and I’ll have a medical professional with me. They’ll check my blood pressure, my protein output and my glucose.”
The former SEAL led her into the kitchen and got her seated at the table. “And hopefully take a nap or two. You need to rest.”
“Napping is a given.” She gestured to her stomach. “I’m carrying around a fifteen-pound medicine ball. Standing up tires me out sometimes.”
“You could’ve stayed in bed.” He reminded her, before heading to the fridge. He still needed to make them breakfast before he headed into the office. He was kind of hoping he was still there when the nurse arrived. He didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone.
“But down here, I can sit in the living room or at the table here or go out and get some sun. There are a lot more options downstairs than there are upstairs.” She watched him pull food out of the fridge and set it on the counter. “What are we having?”
“Eggs, fruit and toast.”
“No bacon or sausage?”
“Too much sodium.” He stated offhandedly, earning him a growl. He didn’t even spare her a glance, because she would’ve seen him grinning. “Sodium effects your blood pressure. I was listening to what Dr. Levy said before she discharged you.”
“A little bacon never hurt anyone.” She muttered as she pet Burt who was sitting beside her. He whined and wiggled, and she realized what that meant. He was hungry. “Let me get you your breakfast, baby.” She pushed herself out of her chair, but frozen when Steve swung around.
“I’ll fill his dish after I get the eggs on. Sit down.” He was whisking eggs in a bowl and glaring at her.
Jacq glared right back and walked over to the containers she stored the animals’ food in. Both Coronado and the former police dog got dry food in the morning to snack on throughout the day and got a heartier meal in the evening. “You handle our meal. I’ve got this. If I don’t feel well, I’ll tell you.” Flipping open the containers, she scooped food in the appropriate dishes, closed them back up and returned to her seat at the table. “See, I was fine.”
“Stubborn woman.” McGarrett growled as he went back to the eggs. His eyes had stayed on her the whole time she was moving around the kitchen, just in case she became unsteady and needed his help.
“I’m aware of that fact, but you need to remember….” She trailed off.
“Remember what?” He threw his question over his shoulder. He dumped the eggs into the hot pan and began to scrap them around the pan, letting them cook slowly and keep their light and fluffy texture. The bread was in the toaster and would be popping up soon. Thankfully, the fruit was already cut up since he had done that the afternoon before when his girlfriend demanded tea and a snack.
“It’s my body and I know it best.”
“I know it pretty well myself.” He smirked, not that she could see, and turned off the burner. He dished up the eggs on to two plates, put toast on each and sprinkled a little cheese over the profiler’s eggs. He took her plate and the bowl of fruit to the table, then went back to pour them both some juice and get his own plate. Soon they were both at the table eating.
“I’m aware of your intimate knowledge of my body, since that’s how I ended up pregnant in the first place.” Her breakfast was soon gone and she nursed her glass of OJ. She’d stopped having tea in the morning since she couldn’t have the kind she liked best. She scratched Burt’s head. He’d eaten and quickly returned to her side. Her phone, which was sitting on the table, chirped and she glanced at the screen. “Rosie’s here.”
“Perfect timing.” Steve shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth, stacked his plate on hers, along with the empty fruit bowl and took them all to the sink. Returning to the table, he chugged his OJ and placed the glass to the sink as well. He glanced at the door when he heard the tinkle of the bell on Coronado’s collar. The cat had decided to join them and headed right to his food bowl. With a shake of his head, he hurried over to Dr. Stone, gave her a searing kiss and opened the door to the lanai. The alarm was already off since he’d let Burt out earlier, before his girlfriend had gotten up and got ready for the day. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do.” She watched him disappear from view and shook her head. First, he wanted to stay, now he was eager to leave. After a moment, something occurred to her. He probably wanted to speak to Nurse Campbell before she got to the back door. Shaking her head again, Jacq got to her feet again and took her empty glass to the sink. She looked at all the dishes and sighed. She began to run hot water and found the soap. The former police dog was leaning against her leg until he wasn’t. She heard him growling and turned her head to verify it was who she thought it was. “Hey, Rosie. Burt, stop.” The Dutch Shepherd stopped growling, sat down and continued to watch their guest.
“Hello, Dr. Stone, and thanks. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do there.” The nurse stepped into the kitchen from the porch.
“While he knows you from the hospital, you’ve never been here before and that put him on guard. You’ll be fine now. Did you and McGarrett have a nice chat?” The profiler went back to her dishes.
“He just wanted to check on a few things.”
“I apologize. He’s a worrywart and must be in control at all times.”
“It’s okay.” Setting her bag on the table, Rosie joined her patient at the sink. “Would you like some help?”
“Sure, you can dry. There’s a towel over there.” Jacq watched the other woman as she retrieved the towel and came back. Nurse Rosie Campbell had been a member of her godfather’s surgical team for over seven years, but worked at the hospital since the psychologist was a teenager. She’d seen her around when she visited her father and/or grandfather, but they didn’t officially meet until she joined the surgery department. Rosie was ten or fifteen years older than her, though she didn’t look it. Her hair was black and piled up on her head, out of the way. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement, unless it was an emergency. She was slender and tall with tanned skin from all the hours she spent surfing and sailing when her schedule permitted. The mother-to-be honestly thought Phillip had a bit of a crush on his nurse, given that she was his go-to date for any official function he was required to attend, but he evaded the topic whenever she brought it up. She was happy Rosie was one of the three nurses helping her out while she was resting at home and had a feeling she was doing it as a favor for her godfather. She began to hand the clean, wet dishes to the other woman.
“Where would you like me to put these, Doctor?” The nurse held up the two glasses she dried.
“Down by the fridge. We can put them away once we finish up.” When she came back, the profiler asked. “Do you think you could call me, Jacq, at least while we’re here together?”
“I’d like that.” Rosie smiled and continued to dry.
Soon all the dishes were clean and dry and put away. The nurse helped Dr. Stone into the living room where she got her seated on the couch, then she left to grab her bag and the other woman’s laptop. After handing over the computer, she took a seat in one of the chairs next to the sofa and asked. “So, what would you like to do today?”
The profiler grinned. “Let’s play it by ear and see what happens. Though I expect to learn all kind of interesting things about you, Miguel and Lucy over the next few months and I’m pretty excited about it.”
The two women laughed. Her convalescing was off to a great start.
*****
“You don’t need to fix me lunch, Miguel.”
“It’s part of the job description, doc, and I don’t mind. I’m a wiz in the kitchen.” The young man jogged back over to the house and vaulted up the stairs, going straight into the kitchen.
Jacq shook her head and went back to working on her laptop. With help from her boyfriend, Nurse Miguel Ramirez had moved the table off the lanai into the middle of the yard and set up an umbrella to keep the sun off, before the head of Five-O left for the office. She had been sitting there all morning with her nurse for the day, then mentioned she was hungry. He immediately offered to make her something and off he went. He was the youngest member of the surgical team and had way too much energy, but was an excellent nurse and was taking good care of her. Having an at-home nurse was going well, but it was only the second day of it. She had a good feeling though. She tried to move her feet, then remembered Burt was lay on them and couldn’t. Coronado was sprawled out next to her laptop and she gave him a scratch whenever she paused to reread something. A door slamming shut had her turning in her seat. Someone must be in the clearing. The former police dog was up in a flash and ran across the yard, disappearing from sight. A couple of happy barks echoed in the clearing. It was someone he knew. The profiler smiled when a familiar face appeared and rose to her feet.
“There she is.” Came the energetic cry of her visitor.
“Deb, what are you doing here? You always show up unannounced.” Jacq started towards the older woman.
“I like to make an entrance.” Deborah held up a hand. “Don’t you move. I’ll come to you. You’re supposed to be resting.” She crossed the yard as quickly as she could and embraced the younger woman.
“Did Steve call you?” Jacq returned the hug. She was overjoyed her boyfriend’s aunt was there and he would be too when he got home.
“No, he called Mary and she called me. You gave us all a scare. Sit down, sit down.” Ms. McGarrett helped her back into her chair and slid into the one next to her. “You don’t look sick.”
“Neither do you.” The profiler countered.
“You’ll be happy to hear I’m in remission.” Deb smiled.
“That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you sought treatment.”
“I am, too. Now, how are you feeling?”
“Much better. I’m on medication and have an at-home nurse taking care of me during the day.”
“And where is this nurse?”
“Inside, fixing me lunch even though I told him not to.”
“Him? How progressive.” The older woman smiled when her hostess laughed.
“You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I was planning to surprise Steven for Thanksgiving again, but when I heard about your hospital stay, I opted to come out a bit early. Do you mind?”
“Of course not. And you can stay here, of course.”
“I assumed I would because my nephew is likely staying close, since you’re carrying his child and my grandniece or nephew.” Deb leaned forward and held out a hand. “May I?”
“Sure.” She grabbed the other woman’s hand and held it to her stomach. “The little guy is really starting to move around.”
“You’re having a boy?”
“That’s what I think. Steve wants a girl. But we’re going to wait to find out.” She laughed when Deb recoiled. The baby had given her hand a good kick. “I told you.”
“Definitely a boy and from the feel of things, he’s going to take after his father.”
“I hope not. I don’t need another controlling man in my life. I want him to be like John or my grandfather.”
Tears entered the older woman’s eyes without warning. “That would be very nice.”
“Having you here would’ve made them both very happy.”
“Don’t you make me cry.” Deb pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. Neither of them said anything while they both pulled themselves together. “What is the plan for Thanksgiving this year?” The older woman finally asked after a few minutes.
“No plans. We were just going to have a quiet meal at home. I’m supposed to stay off my feet and watch what I eat, which takes a lot of the enjoyment out of Thanksgiving.” The profiler saved the document she had been working on, then picked up her boyfriend’s cat and cradled him against her shoulder. Burt had returned to his place under the table and rubbed against her leg.
Steve’s aunt sat back and waved a hand at her in dismissal. “None of that should stop you from enjoying the holiday. I’ll whip us up a nice small family meal with all the familiar flavors but being conscious of the fact you can’t have certain things. What do you say?”
“Sounds good to me. We’ll need to come up with a food order in the next couple of days, so I can send it to Mr. Lee with enough time for him to get everything.” Jacq shared. She was excited by the prospect of celebrating. Steve was so worried about her that he seemed to forget having a baby was a joyous occasion and something to be thankful for.
“Perfect.” Deb got to her feet. “I’ll go take a look in the pantry and start on the list. Plus, introduce myself to this nurse of yours. I’m sure he could use some help with lunch, especially since there’s three of us now.” She began to walk towards the house, but halfway there, she stopped and looked back. “And don’t you dare call Steven. It’ll ruin the surprise.” Then she was gone.
Dr. Stone laughed and shook her head. McGarrett was sure going to be surprised, but hopefully, he’d be less concerned about her now that she had two caretakers looking out for her.
*****
“Are you sure you don’t want any help, Deborah?”
“I’m positive. This is the least I could do, especially since Jacq’s letting me stay through the New Year.” The older McGarrett chided her nephew.
“I’m happy for the company and it makes Mr. ‘I have to be in control’ a little less worried.” The profiler stated, earning a laugh from Deb and a glare from her boyfriend. She leaned forward and set her elbows on the table, watching the older woman move around her kitchen. It was two weeks after the arrival of their visitor and the McGarrett matriarch was fixing them Thanksgiving dinner, but Jacq was puzzled. “So… this might be a dumb question, but… where’s the turkey?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, young lady. Everything is being taken care of.”
Dr. Stone ignored her comment and continued. “I know for a fact that you ordered a turkey, because Mr. Lee called to confirm the poundage, which seemed a little large considering there are only three of us.”
“You are eating for two, honey.”
“Yeah, but a 20-pound bird seems like overkill.”
“20 pounds?” The former SEAL was in shock. That was enough to feed over a dozen people.
“I have my reasons, don’t worry about it.” Deb glanced over her shoulder at the couple and shook her head. She went back to her gravy. Rolls and pie had been made the day before and the pregnant woman had been confused by the quantity. She’d assumed the recipes were just that size and/or Steve’s aunt wanted them to have options.
“Now that I think about it, we seem to be missing quite a few of the normal food items associated with Thanksgiving.” Steve was growing suspicious. His aunt ignored him. Then suddenly, Burt, who had been laying on the floor out of the way, scrambled to his feet and bolted out the door to the lanai. That meant they had a visitor. Getting to his own feet, the Navy officer went to the door and looked out. After a few minutes, a big grin broke out across his face. “Lou, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Is that any way to greet the man who comes bearing turkey?” Grover strolled into a kitchen carrying a large roasting pan with foil wrapped over the top. “Mrs. McGarrett, could you open the oven? I’ll slide this piece of perfection inside and we can finish cooking it.”
“Of course.” The older woman quickly opened the oven door and pulled the foil off as the pan went in. “It looks great.”
“Thanks. I do I know how to cook a bird this size. I come from a large family.”
“That’s exactly the reason I gave you the turkey to cook.”
“What’s going on, Deborah?” McGarrett went over to his aunt. The rest of the Grover clan, at least Renee and Will, came into the kitchen and greeted the profiler with hugs and well wishes.
“Well, Steven, I know you were planning on having a nice quiet Thanksgiving with just the two of you, which became the three of us, but that didn’t seem right. Thanksgiving is all about family, and your team and your other friends are your family. This is the time to be together and celebrate. And this year, we have something extra special to be thankful for, the precious life Jacq is carrying. She gave everyone a scare, but being with her and seeing she’s all right will do wonders at putting them at ease.” Deb laughed when her nephew gave her a bear hug and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you.” He whispered.
“You’re welcome.” She was still stirring the gravy, but pointed at the table with her elbow. “Why don’t you, Captain Grover and Will work on getting that table and all the chairs outside? Plates, silverware and linens are stacked in the dining room, along with the serving dishes and utensils.”
“When did you do that?” He was in awe of his relative.
“When Jacq was getting one of her check-ups from the nurse of the day and they went into the living room for some privacy, I poked around and found everything we needed to have a proper holiday meal. We can go small for Christmas.” She laughed when he kissed her cheek again.
The head of Five-O hurried over to the table and pulled his girlfriend chair into the middle of the room with her in it. “Come on, Lou. You, Will and I are in charge of moving this table.”
“On it, buddy. William, grab a couple of chairs and let’s head outside.” Grover went to one end of the table and lifted it. McGarrett did the same and they carefully got the table out of the house. The teenager followed them with two of the chairs. More voices were heard out in the yard. The rest of Five-O and their extended family had arrived.
Renee spoke to the profiler. “Where are the leaves? I can grab them.”
“Closet between the guest bath and my study. There’s three of them, but they’re heavy. You may need to carry them one at a time.” Jacq watched the other woman leave the room and slowly got to her feet. She headed to the stove. “Well played, Deb.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jacqueline.” The older woman kept stirring her gravy, but there was a smile on her face.
“Now I know why you asked about the linens in the upstairs’ closet and where I kept my serving pieces. I should’ve known.” Dr. Stone continued.
Deb moved the pot of gravy onto a back burner where it would stay warm and switched off the burner it had been on. She then turned and grasped the psychologist’s shoulders. “Just because Steven says to keep it small doesn’t mean we should or are going to. You’ll feel better with the whole team here and all your friends. Love is the best medicine.”
Jacq smiled and laughed, pulling her boyfriend’s aunt into a hug. She was overjoyed they would be having a traditional Thanksgiving meal with the whole gang and actually… she was already feeling 100% better.
Chapter 5: Battle of the Matriarchs
Chapter Text
“I’d rather stay here.”
“Are you sure? I know how much you value your privacy.”
“I do, but it isn’t like I’m having a full exam. You check my blood pressure and heart rate and take a little blood to make sure my glucose is okay, then put on the fetal monitor to check on the baby.” Jacq smiled at her nurse. She was coming up on one month of at-home care and they were falling into a nice routine. But that didn’t stop her nurses from fretting over her, especially Rosie.
“I can go inside if you want.” Deb offered. The three women were at the table on the lanai, enjoying some tea as well as the sunshine and sea breezes. At least, they were until Nurse Campbell stated it was time for Dr. Stone’s next check-up.
“Stay right where you are.” The profiler looked up at Rosie. “Go get your bag and whatever else you need. I’ll be here waiting for you.” She grinned when the nurse did as she suggested/ordered. “Thanks again for the special birthday surprise you made a few days ago.” She said to her boyfriend’s aunt with a smile.
“Just because your birthday is near a major holiday doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be celebrated. And Steven mentioned German Chocolate was your favorite.”
“It is, but I rarely make or buy one because it takes forever for one or two people to eat the whole thing.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here.” They both laughed. Rosie returned a couple minutes later and pulled her chair over next to her patient.
The nurse started with the blood draw and set the vial aside, then put the blood pressure cuff on Dr. Stone’s left arm. “Both feet firmly on the ground and breathe normally.” She reminded.
“I know.” The psychologist sat there and tried to relax. Suddenly, Burt jumped to his feet and ran down the stairs, where he took up a defensive position and began to growl. Someone appeared out of the jungle from the path that led to the guest bungalow and the two secure storage buildings. “What the hell are you doing here?” The pregnant woman hissed at her unwelcome guest.
“I came to see you.”
“Well, I don’t want to see you.” Jacq was clearly angry and Rosie shifted in front of her.
“You need to calm down. Your blood pressure and heart rate are going through the roof.” The surgical nurse warned.
“I’m fine. Could you please go inside and call Lieutenant Commander McGarrett? Tell him his mother is here.”
“I don’t think….” The medical professional glanced over her shoulder at the older woman standing in the yard.
“I’ll be fine. Deb is going to stay with me.” Dr. Stone said softly. The McGarrett matriarch was on her feet and glaring down at her sister-in-law.
“All right. If you need me, I’ll be inside. We still need to finish your exam.” Rosie pushed herself up to standing and hesitantly went inside, pulling her phone out as she did.
“Deborah, it’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough, Doris.” Steve’s aunt went to the top of the stairs and slowly walked down them. The former police dog shifted, keeping himself between the intruder and his owner. “She doesn’t want you here. You need to leave.”
“She’s carrying my grandchild.”
“That doesn’t matter. She has a medical condition and you’re exacerbating it. Don’t make me call the police.” Deb threatened. She saw alarm on the other woman’s face. It was obvious the other Mrs. McGarrett hadn’t known about the profiler’s hospital stay.
“Fine.” Doris ground out. “But I’ll be back.” She walked over to the path and disappeared into the jungle.
Deborah shook her head and turned, heading back up the stairs. She took the nurse’s vacated chair and grabbed both of Jacq’s hands. “Deep breaths, young lady. In through your nose and out through your mouth. You need to calm down.” The profiler’s cheeks were flush and she was panting.
“I’m trying.” Dr. Stone whispered as she did as the other woman suggested. It took a few minutes, but her coloring improved and her breathing was almost back to normal. She glanced at the door when Nurse Campbell came out.
“The Commander wants to speak with you.” She offered the phone to her patient.
“Lieutenant Commander.” She corrected. She took the phone and held it to her ear. “Steve?”
“Are you all right?” Came the worried voice of her boyfriend.
“Better now. She’s gone, but she said she’d be back.”
“I’m coming home.”
“No, I’m fine. Rosie’s going to finish my exam and then I’m going upstairs for a nap.” He needed to be calmed down now.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. You work on figuring out how she got to the island and where she’s holed up. We may need to sweep the whole property to make sure she isn’t hiding somewhere nearby.” She was concerned about the fact that Steve’s mother had come from the side path. There was a derelict bungalow past the second secure storage building, as well as ruins of older buildings out in the jungle. Those were all places someone could hide or camp without easily being seen.
“Agreed.” He sounded more in control. “Chin and Kono are out your way with our two newest team members. I’ll ask them to swing by and check it out. Please go rest.” There was still concern in his voice and a bit of anger that he hadn’t been there with her when his remaining parent decided to drop in.
“As soon as I get off the phone. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Jacq pulled the phone from her ear and hung up, giving the cell back to its owner. She struggled to get to her feet and the other two women hurried to help her “Can you finish my exam upstairs?” She asked of Rosie.
“Yes, I can.” The nurse pulled the cuff off the pregnant woman’s arm and tossed it on the table. “I’ll get you settled upstairs and come back for my things.”
“Okay.” The profiler was weary and appreciated the other women helping her. They got her inside and slowly made their way upstairs. Burt ran ahead of them and into the bedroom. When they reached the top of the stairs, she added. “Some of the team is going to come by to make sure Doris left.” She didn’t want Rosie or Deb to be startled by more unexpected guests.
“Not a problem, young lady.” Steve’s aunt stated as they went into the master bedroom and got the psychologist laying down on the bed on her side. She sat on the edge of the mattress while the nurse hurried back downstairs to get her bag. “I think she should give you something to help you sleep.” Burt jumped up on the bed and laid against his owner’s back, providing comfort in his own way.
“I think that’s a good idea.” Jacq reached out a hand and grabbed one of Deb’s. “I’m so glad you were here.”
“There’s no place I’d rather be. Now close your eyes and rest.” The older woman watched her shut her eyes, but kept her hand. She wasn’t going to let her brother’s widow upset Dr. Stone and would do whatever she could to protect her.
*****
“It’s very nice to finally meet you.”
“You, too, ma’am.”
“What did I tell you, Junior?”
“Sorry… Jacq. The military ingrained manners in me and it’s a hard habit to break.” The young man rubbed his neck and the profiler chuckled.
“We’ll work on it together. Eventually, you’ll get it and I’ll keep reminding you when you forget.”
“Mahalo. I’m just happy the Commander agreed to let me join the team… after I complete the academy.” The former NCO shared.
“Lieutenant Commander and you’ll get there.” The profiler was sitting in her normal chair on the lanai. Her two-hour nap (with a little help from a mild sedative) had done wonders for her mood and her blood pressure and she awoke in time to see Chin and Kono and meet the two newest members of the team. Junior had been left at the house, while the others combed the property for Doris and any other potential intruders. She posed a question that had been nagging her. “I’ve been meaning to ask, why didn’t you join us at Thanksgiving?”
“Well, it was my first Thanksgiving back home in a few years and my folks wanted me to spend the day with them and the rest of the family. I got the invite from Mrs. McGarrett but I had to decline.” He seemed upset he hadn’t been able to come.
Dr. Stone did her best to put him at ease. “I completely understand. Family comes first, but I expect you at the next holiday party, if at all possible.”
“I’ll be there.” Junior smiled at her. His years in the military had also taught him camaraderie was important to building a solid team and he wanted to be part of Five-O, in every way. Three people slowly entered the backyard from the three paths.
Lt. Kelly went straight over to the lanai and spoke to his friend. “We couldn’t find any sign of her. Even checked the three empty bungalows. Nothing in them other than a few building supplies.”
“Bobby Park is working on renovating one of the bungalows. He likely left a few things there in order to finish up the first phase.” Jacq shared. Her eyes darted to the one unfamiliar face in the crowd. Chin took the hint.
“Dr. Jacq Stone, this is Officer Tani Rey.” Lt. Kelly made the introductions.
“So, you’re the famous profiler?” The other woman didn’t look impressed, but Jacq wasn’t fazed and kept smiling.
“So, you’re the officer who slugged her supervisor and cheated on an exam at the academy?” McGarrett had told her all about the young woman.
“I like you.” Tani finally smiled.
“And I’m sure you’ll grow on me.” The psychologist turned to the other person at the table. “Deb, how about we get them some of that lemonade you made?”
“Six glasses coming up.” The older woman stood and gave the pregnant woman a stern look. “Don’t you move.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Nurse Campbell had to leave early due to a surgery being moved up, but Steve would be home soon, so it wasn’t a major concern. Also, half the team was standing in her backyard.
Kono mounted the stairs and sat on the bench beside Dr. Stone’s chair. “How are you doing?”
“A nap did wonders, just like I predicted, and Rosie gave me another exam before she left. I got a clean bill of health. But I pray Doris doesn’t come back, because if she does, I might end up back at the hospital.”
“Don’t even think that.” Officer Kalakaua grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “And how’s my niece doing?”
“Has Steve got you rooting for a girl?”
“Well, we don’t need another one of him, so it’s mostly just wishful thinking.”
Jacq laughed. “She… or he is really starting to move around. Last night, he or she kicked so hard, it woke me up.”
“Sounds like a boy to me.” Chin stated from his place at the foot of the stairs. Tani and Junior had joined him. There was a bit of shade there, which got them out of the hot afternoon sun.
“That’s where I’m leaning, too.” The psychologist shared with a smile.
At that moment, Steve’s aunt came out with a tray of glasses and a tall pitcher of lemonade. She poured the sweet beverage into the glasses and handed them out to everyone. They all sipped the cool drinks and relaxed. As they each finished their lemonade, they returned their glasses to the tray and said goodbye to Jacq and Deborah, before heading to the clearing and their waiting vehicles. Soon it was just the profiler and Deb, sitting on the lanai and enjoying each other’s company in quiet contemplation.
That was the scene that McGarrett came home to. He smiled when he saw the two women together, two of the most important people in his life. He walked up the stairs and gave his girlfriend a kiss, then scratched Burt’s head. The former police dog was sitting next to his owner and rubbing against her leg. Finally, he gave Deb a kiss on the cheek. “Everything okay now?”
“Yup, the team didn’t find any trace of her on the property and my vitals are all back to normal.”
“You can’t let her get you worked up, Jacq, not in your current state.” He gave her a disapproving look.
“I know that, Lieutenant Commander. I was just so shocked to see her come out of the jungle.” She began to hoist herself out of the chair and he hurried to help her, leading her into the kitchen. Thankfully, not much cooking needed to be done, since they were having leftovers in an attempt to clean out the fridge. “Did you figure out how she got on the island?”
“No. Frank’s in Thailand and was surprised by my call. He doesn’t know anyone else who would’ve flown her to O’ahu.” The former SEAL helped her into a chair, then he and his aunt started to get things out of the refrigerator. It was an eclectic selection of food items.
“What about Joe White?” The profiler wasn’t done.
“He didn’t answer my calls.” He glanced over his shoulder at her and saw that she was watching his every move, a stern look on her face. They needed a change of topic. He didn’t want her to get upset again and talking about his mother always seemed to do that to both of them. “None of that matters. She’s here and we’ll have to deal with it. Deb?”
The older woman already knew what he wanted. “The moment she reappears, my first call will be to you and my second will be the police.”
“Good. Let’s not let Doris ruin our evening.” Steve turned and held up a couple of containers for Dr. Stone to see. “Which of these do you want?”
*****
Jacq was in a good mood. She’d been able to convince Miguel and Deb to leave her for a few minutes, so the older woman could run an errand for her to the North Shore. Mr. Lee had called about her latest food order, but he didn’t have anyone available to delivery it, which meant either someone needed to go get it or she’d have to wait a day or two for her items. It was a big order, which meant at least two people were probably going to be necessary to handle it, and with her fridge almost empty of food, they needed someone to pick it up before the day was out. Thankfully, Bobby Park and his team were on the property finishing up the first phase of bungalow #8’s renovation. The crew was leaving slowly as they completed their assigned roles, while their boss was sitting with the profiler on the lanai, keeping her company, enjoying a drink and talking about the next phase of the reno project.
“Guest house or storage?” He asked, before taking another sip of his lemonade.
“Neither.” He raised an eyebrow at her answer, so she continued. “Steve’s been spending a lot of time out here and the main house is pretty much my domain. I’d like to turn the building into some type of clubhouse for him.”
“Clubhouse? What is he, twelve?” Bobby laughed and stole a look at Dr. Stone. She was grinning. They’d known each other a long time and that was the only reason he was acting more friendly than he normally did with clients.
“No, but he acts like it.” She restrained herself from laughing. “Since the reinforcement of the walls, windows and doors is now complete and the guys are finishing up the soundproofing and drywall for the inner-side of the outer walls, it means we can start working on the layout of the interior.” She slid a sheet of paper over to him that had a rough sketch on it.
The contractor picked it up. It showed an entryway that led right into a large open area. There was also a hallway with four rooms off it with storage shelves opposite the doors to the rooms. “Give me the breakdown, Jacq.”
“The smallest of the four rooms, the one at the end of the hall, is going to be storage for his surfing stuff, camping equipment and diving gear. The other rooms will be two bedrooms with a bathroom between them, in case someone needs to sleep off all the fun they’re going to have in the great room.”
“And what kind of fun are you thinking of?” He liked her plan thus far, but he needed specifics to make sure they didn’t need to alter or add electrical or plumbing lines.
“Pool table, poker table, and a sitting area with a couple of couches, easy chairs and a big screen TV. The old kitchen area will be a full bar with sink and full-sized fridge.”
“Stove, range and microwave?” He asked.
“Sure, but you may need to add a large island to separate the kitchen area from the play area. That should provide ample counter space along with room for the appliances, as well as tons of storage.”
“So, you’re building him a deluxe man-cave? Not a clubhouse?”
“Tomato, tomahto.” Jacq shrugged in his direction. She really thought the former SEAL would like her surprise.
Bobby laughed. “I’m kind of regretting I never asked you out.”
“You are almost fifteen years older than me and I think we make pretty good friends.” His comment made the profiler feel better. He was envious. However, Steve might be contrary about her gift, since he wasn’t the one in control, but she was willing to risk it. She was startled when someone came out of the jungle, from the opposite side of the yard from where the workmen were. Burt was inside napping, having gotten tired of following the crew around and getting in their way as they worked. Her boyfriend’s mother had returned. She did her best to remain calm. “Bobby, why don’t you do check on the guys? Make sure they’re installing the security system correctly?”
“Are you sure?” The tension between the two women was almost tangible. All the same, he got to his feet.
“Yup. Come back in about ten minutes.” She watched him walk down the stairs and head off to where his team was working. As soon as he was gone from sight, she addressed her guest. “Mrs. McGarrett.”
“Where are your bodyguards?”
“Deb ran an errand for me with my nurse and Burt’s inside. I can get him if you like.”
“That’s okay. I’m good.” Doris swallowed hard and walked over to the base of the stairs. She made no move to climb them. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, but having you pop in out of nowhere isn’t good for my blood pressure.”
“I hadn’t realized you’d been ill.”
“It’s preeclampsia, just one of several pregnancy complications that can occur in older mothers-to-be.” She shifted slightly in her chair and then got to the matter at hand. “Why are you here?”
“I heard about the baby and wanted to see you… and Steven. You’re carrying my grandchild. I’d like to be a part of… their life.” The older woman had hesitated on the pronoun.
“If you want to see your son, you know where he is. But I find it very suspicious that you show up at my home when you know he’s not here, which leads me back to my original question. Why are you here?”
“I was hoping….” The CIA operative broke eye contact with the profiler and studied her feet for a minute, before lifting her head. “You could help me explain my side of things to Steve.”
“No.”
“No?” Doris was confused. She’d thought the psychologist would want to help.
“It’s not my place to get in the middle of things.” Jacq was loath to do it, but she did it anyway. “What I will say is that you have a lot of nerve.” Seeing Mrs. McGarrett didn’t understand, she continued. “You lied to him. You lied to John. And your lies hurt them both, mentally and physically.” The death of her friend still stung and the cause was standing in front of her. She pushed ahead. “You abandoned your family to save yourself. You might want to think about apologizing to Steve AND Mary, then explaining why you did what you did, without half-truths and omissions. Get down and dirty and tell them everything.”
“That’s harder than you think.”
“Only because you’re making it hard.” Dr. Stone took a deep breath. She could feel her heart rate going up, because she was angry at the woman in front of her on behalf of the man she loved. She calmed herself as best she could and took a few deep breaths. “Until you try, and I mean really try, to reconcile with your children, I’m not letting you anywhere near my baby.” She rubbed her stomach and felt her child move. “Because if you don’t show that you can change and do better, I don’t want to take the chance of you hurting them as well. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal, Doctor.” A flicker of emotion passed over Doris’s face before her mask fell into place. “I should be going before your bodyguards return.”
“That would probably be wise. Goodbye, Mrs. McGarrett.” The profiler watched her boyfriend’s mother turn and walk back the way she came, disappearing into the jungle, much like she arrived. She relaxed as soon as her visitor was gone and took a few more deep calming breaths. She wasn’t panting or hot, which meant she was probably okay. She snagged her glass of lemonade off the table and gulped it down. Returning the empty glass to the table, she sat back and closed her eyes.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine, Bobby.” Her eyes slowly opened. The contractor and the last of his crew were standing at the base of the stairs, watching her. “All done?”
“Yup. Tom and I will come out in a few days to do the prelim sketches of the space and verify everything is going to work like you want it.” He stepped closer. “Are you sure-?”
“100%.” She heard a car door slam. “And it sounds like Deb and Miguel are back. Get out of here. I’m sure you have better things to do.” She smiled at him and saw some tension leave his shoulders. She appreciated his concern, but it wasn’t needed. “Give me a call and let me know what day and time you’re thinking about stopping by. Maybe we can do a walkthrough together.”
“Of course. Bye, Jacq.”
Dr. Stone waved at him as he headed down the path and around the house. A few minutes later, her nurse and her boyfriend’s aunt appeared, each with a box in their arms. She pushed herself to her feet and went into the kitchen. They had food to put away, then it was nap time. She didn’t think it wise to mention her guest, but she would have to tell McGarrett later and he wasn’t going to be happy.
*****
“Um, Steve?”
“Hmmm?” Came the Navy officer’s reply. He was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed. He’d helped Jacq through her evening routine and got her situated before he changed and disappeared.
“I need to tell you something.” She really didn’t want to tell him at all, but she couldn’t keep it from him. She alternated between wringing her hands and petting Burt, who was lying beside her in the bed. He’d likely stay there until McGarrett came out of the bathroom.
“Go ahead.” His voice was garbled, then he spat out what was in his mouth and repeated himself. “Go ahead.”
“Your mother came by this afternoon.” All she heard was silence, then footsteps. Turning her head, she spotted him standing just inside the bedroom and staring at her, dumfounded. Without intending to, her eyes scanned him from head to toe. He was standing there in just boxers and looked absolutely delicious. She blamed it on all the hormones pumping through her body. They made her incredibly horny and adding in that Steve was gorgeous, her sex drive was probably triple what it normally was.
“Stop looking at me like a piece of meat.” McGarrett stated sternly, though there was a touch of amusement in his eyes.
“Well, technically, you are one and a very nice one to boot. It’s not my fault. Blame my hormones.” She gave as good as she got.
The former SEAL bit his tongue, figuratively, and took a deep breath. While he appreciated the fact that she found him attractive, she’d distracted him. “Let’s go back… what? Doris was here?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“When Deb went to pick up the groceries and Bobby was here with me.”
“Are you okay?” He headed around the bed, sat on the edge of the mattress and grabbed her hands.
“I’m fine. Miguel did an exam when he returned and everything was normal.”
“Did you speak with her or did you send her away again?” He was giving her his own appraisal. She looked fine and he knew he needed to trust her nurse to know if something was off.
“We spoke.” Jacq gave a heavy sigh. Her boyfriend seemed mainly concerned about her and didn’t appear to be angry. That was good… she hoped.
“About?”
“The baby… and you.”
“Huh?”
She sighed again. “Go finish getting ready for bed and I’ll tell you everything.” He looked like he wanted to argue, but didn’t. He stood and went back into the bathroom. She spoke firmly. “Burt, your bed.” The former police dog got up without a single whine and jumped down to the floor, heading over to his resting place next to Coronado’s. The cat was already asleep. It seemed like only seconds had passed when McGarrett returned and slid into bed next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Soon she was cradled against his chest with his hands resting on her baby bump. She placed her hands over his and cuddled back against him. Her eyes slid closed. She was comfortable and felt so safe in his arms.
“Tell me what happened.” He said softly.
“She emerged from the jungle like last time, while Bobby and I were chatting on the lanai. I sent him back to the worksite and we exchanged pleasantries.”
“Really?” Steve was shocked. He knew because of his personally issues with his mother that his girlfriend wasn’t her biggest fan. He smiled when she explained.
“Lull ‘em into a false sense of security, then strike.” He squeezed her closer and she took that as a sign of his approval. “Then I asked why she was here. She said it was for the baby, but I didn’t buy that for a minute. She came when she knew you weren’t here. She finally told me it was because she wanted my help reconciling with you.”
“She shouldn’t have done that. It’s-.”
“Whoa, hold your horses.” She grabbed his hands and tugged on them. “I told her she needed to speak with you and start off by apologizing… for everything. And if she didn’t, then I wasn’t going to allow her in our child’s life, because I couldn’t trust her.”
“You really said that to her?”
“Yes. She hasn’t earned the right to be our baby’s grandmother and we have plenty of other people to love and care for our baby without bringing her into the mix. Honestly, I don’t think I could ever really trust her, not after everything she’s done to you and Mary and….”
“My dad.” He and the profiler agreed that the blame for John McGarrett’s death laid firmly at the feet of his wife, outside his actual killing which was all Hesse. “Did she accept what you said?”
“She did, but I’m not sure she’s capable of being honest with you or anyone else. I’m hoping she’ll just leave and forget about us.”
“I don’t think hoping is going to work. This is Doris we’re talking about. If she wants something, she’ll keep trying to get it.”
“Then I won’t be held responsible for my actions if she shows up unannounced again.”
Steve laughed. “Could you at least try not to kill her?”
“Try?” She felt him nod, his cheek rubbing against the side of her head. “Fine, I’ll try.”
“Mahalo” He kissed her temple. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” She wasn’t quite ready to go to sleep yet, so she asked. “What do you want to do this weekend?”
*****
“Hello, Steven.”
The Navy officer froze mid-strike. He was working on building a small garden bed near the main guest bungalow. Jacq had expressed interest in growing her own vegetables and was thinking about getting pots to put them in on the lanai. But he had a better idea. With a little help from Bobby Park, he’d picked a section of land near the bungalow and Bobby’s crew cleared the area of brush and foliage. Now, he had to properly fertilize the soil and get it ready for planting. The profiler and their pets were inside napping and Deborah had gone into the city to see some friends. Because everyone else was occupied, he thought it was a good time to start on his project. He was shirtless, hot and sweaty and in no mood to speak to his mother. He continued to hit the ground with the hoe and spoke to her.
“What do you want, Doris?”
“I was hoping to speak with you for a few minutes.”
“I’m busy.”
“I can see that. What exactly are you doing?”
“Creating a vegetable garden for Jacq. She wants to grow fresh veggies. I’m getting it started. Gotta aerate the soil and put down fertilizer.”
“Would you like some help?”
The head of Five-O growled and tossed his hoe on the ground and turned around to face his mother. “No. What do you want?”
“I want to apologize.”
“For what?” He tried to keep his shock out of his voice and off his face. It would seem his girlfriend’s conversation with Doris had actually sunk in.
“For everything I’ve done to you, your sister and… to John.” There was pain in her eyes when she said her late husband’s name. She appeared upset, but Steve didn’t buy it. She was a consummate actress and a seasoned spy. Lies were her business. Seeing he didn’t believe her, she continued. “I never meant to hurt any of you. I left to protect you and-.”
“No, you left so you could go back to being a spy. You let us believe you were dead and because dad thought you were dead, he went after organized crime figures, which made him send Mary and I away to protect us. Your lie made Mary and I lose both our parents.”
“But I’m alive and I’m here. I want to be in your life.”
“But you’re not my mother, the mother I knew as a kid. You’re just someone who looks vaguely like her. I don’t know what’s the truth and what’s part of your cover.”
“Please, Steve….” Tears slid down her cheeks and she hastily wiped them away. “I’m more sorry than you could ever know. And I loved your father so much. I gave up the only life I’d ever known to start a family and really live with him. But people were looking for me and that car bomb….” She swallowed hard. “Came at an opportune moment. I took the out it gave me, because if they found me with a family, they would’ve used you against me.”
The Lieutenant Commander studied his mother. She seemed sincere and her emotions were on full display. But she’d lied to him so much that he wasn’t sure…. Was it worth the risk? He was nothing if not bold. “I accept your apology, Doris, but we’re nowhere near okay. You have a lot of explaining to do. I want to know the truth about Wo Fat and his father and about your involvement with the Yakuza and Hiro Noshimuri.”
“It’s going to be hard for me to tell you all of that.” She sighed at the stern look on his face. “But I’ll try, because I want to be in your life and in your baby’s life.”
“That’s going to take convincing Jacq and you’re on your own there. She-.” He was interrupted by a muffled voice.
“Steve?” It was the profiler, but she sounded faint and far away.
The former SEAL scrambled for his shirt, which was laying on the ground out of the way, and pulled a white speaker out from under it. It was a baby monitor receiver. He’d grabbed it out of the nursery, leaving the transmitter in the master bedroom where his girlfriend was napping and taking the receiver with him while he worked. “I have to go.”
“Of course. Will you-?”
“I’ll tell her about our conversation, but she trusts you even less than I do.” His mother nodded at him.
“I’m leaving Oahu tonight, but I’ll come back soon. Goodbye, Steve.” She slowly turned away from him and started down the path around the guest bungalow.
He watched her for a minute, then called out to her. “Bye, Mom.” She paused for a second, then she was gone. Remembering what he needed to do, he pulled his shirt on and ran in the direction of the house, the receiver firmly in his hand. He jumped up onto the lanai and pushed open the door into the house. Closing the door behind him, he was up the stairs in less than a minute, taking the steps two at a time. The profiler was sitting up in bed when he arrived, Coronado on her baby bump and Burt next to her. “Hey, honey.”
“How’d you know I was awake?” He held up the baby monitor in his hand and pointed at its twin on her bedside table. He laughed when she rolled her eyes. “I thought you were going to join me.”
“I had a chore I needed to do.” He came closer to give her a kiss, but was stopped by a hand on his chest.
“You stink.”
“Hey, I was working outside and it’s hot.”
“Clean up and then you can have a kiss.”
“Okay.” She dropped her hand and he surged forward to kiss her anyway. “I’ll take another when I come out.” He ran away when she tried to hit him and hurried into the bathroom to clean up, her laughter following after him. Even though his conversation with Doris had been upsetting and full of emotion, he felt lighter and surprisingly happy. He wasn’t sure if his mother or the woman he loved was the cause. He only needed to think about it a moment… definitely Jacq.
Chapter Text
“Are you sure, Max?” McGarrett asked.
“Yes, Commander. All five were killed with strychnine.” The medical examiner explained.
“From the reports I read, it’s doesn’t sound like a peaceful way to go.” Grover interjected. The full Five-O team, sans Dr. Stone, were standing in their bullpen, getting a briefing from Dr. Bergman about the suspected-homicide cases HPD requested their assistance with. Five deaths over the last three weeks, all from tainted drugs. They were leaning towards it being intentional.
“It’s not, Captain. Ten to twenty minutes after exposure, the body's muscles begin to spasm, starting with the head and neck. The spasms then spread to every muscle in the body, with nearly continuous convulsions, and get worse at the slightest stimulus. The convulsions progress, increasing in intensity and frequency until the backbone arches continually. Convulsions lead to lactic acidosis, hyperthermia and rhabdomyolysis. These are followed by postictal depression. Death comes from asphyxiation caused by paralysis of the neural pathways that control breathing, or by exhaustion from the convulsions. The subject usually dies within 2–3 hours after exposure. It is an ugly way to kill another human being.” Max shook his head in disgust.
“Killing is always ugly.” Chin said sadly. He tapped on the interactive table, where he was standing with Jerry, and brought up images of their victims. “HPD didn’t realize there was a connection until the third death. The first two victims were known heroin users, mainly recreational. They concluded it was probably a bad batch. Then our third victim died.” A picture of a handsome young man appeared on the display. “Local rich kid did a few lines of cocaine at a club and started convulsing. Someone called 911 and EMS got to him quickly, but he died at the hospital.”
“A public scene like that isn’t good.” Tani shared her opinion.
“No, it’s not. HPD got tons of concerned phone calls and the kid’s parents are demanding answers.” Jerry added to the conversation. “The fourth went unnoticed for a bit. It was attributed to a fentanyl overdose.”
“That’s because we were waiting on the toxicology report.” The ME stated. It wasn’t Noelani’s fault she missed it. Strychnine poisoning isn’t something everyone is familiar with and she had held off on finalizing the death certificate until they had the full report. “The fifth death was also in public… at an NA meeting. The meeting coordinator called HPD and the CDC. They were fearful it was more serious than one person. But based on descriptions of the eyewitnesses, it had all the hallmarks of strychnine poisoning. The crime lab put a rush on the blood work and confirmed that.”
“Are we sure this isn’t all just a coincidence?” Williams asked. He didn’t want to cause a panic and declare that someone was out there randomly poisoning people.
“Highly unlikely.” Kono wedged herself in-between her cousin and the conspiracy theorist. She’d done some research on their poison. “Strychnine is most commonly made from the seeds of the strychnos nux-vomica tree which is found mainly in Southeast Asia and Australia.”
“So, not something they would’ve accidentally snacked on?” Junior inquired. The academy was letting him do bouts of shadowing with his future team, but he was still required to attend certain classes and to pass all his exams. He had one next week that he was worried to death about. However, someone lacing drugs with poison took priority.
“No. The only commercial way to get it is in gopher and mole poison.” Officer Kalakaua was pretty sure the whole thing was deliberate, but the ‘why’ eluded her.
Adam spoke up. “There are a few places on O’ahu you can purchase it. They advertise it as a way to kill mongooses, though it’s dangerous for any living thing to ingest.” He and his wife had worked together on the research. They were finally in sync with each other at work, as well as at home. But McGarrett still didn’t pair them together for obvious reasons.
“All right, let’s get back to our victims. Is there any connection between them beyond their drug use?” The head of Five-O wanted to focus on stopping whoever was doing this, not the poison of choice. Knowing more about strychnine was helpful and tracking who purchased some might get them a lead, but their killer could easily claim they bought it to kill mongooses, or they could have had it lying around the house for years and it was a poison of opportunity.
“No, boss. We have four different drugs of choice, different social statuses, different ethnicities….” Kono trailed off. There were no commonalities.
Danny sidled up to his partner and dropped his voice. “We might need to loop in Jacq to help us find a direction to go in.”
“No.” The former SEAL hissed. “She’s supposed to be resting, not stressing out over some killer on the loose.”
“I know for a fact she’s still doing consulting work. How is this any different?” The Detective wasn’t going to just drop it because Steve was worried about his pregnant girlfriend. If she knew the situation, she’d jump at the chance to help them.
“It just is.” McGarrett shook his head. “Anyway, I said no. Drop it. We can do this on our own.” He glanced around the room and saw all eyes were on him and Danny. He spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “For now, our victims are all we’ve got. I want to interview their family and friends and see what we can uncover.”
The team nodded their heads in agreement. Hopefully, the current plan would lead them to their killer and they’d stop them before there was a sixth victim.
*****
“Hi, Dave.”
“Jacq!! What a pleasant surprise.” Agent Rossi smiled at his old friend.
The profiler was grinning as well and shifted slightly on the couch. She was in the living room of her house, with her laptop set up on a TV tray, since her growing belly wouldn’t allow her to put it in her lap. Mr. Lee had left just a few minutes ago, having brought her groceries and mail with him. There’d been a package along with the normal letters and publications she got and it was from the BAU. Lucy Costello, her nurse for the day, had helped her open it and its contents led to her starting a video chat with her frequent collaborator. “I got the box you sent me.”
“Did you now? Only took five days to get there. That’s pretty good.” There was amusement in his eyes.
“I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific. What do you expect?” She countered with a laugh.
“You could always move to DC, then I could hand delivery things to you.”
“Hard pass."
“It was worth a try.” Rossi chuckled. “What did you think?”
“I think you didn’t need to send me anything, but all the same, thank you so much.”
“It’s from the whole team.”
“And whose idea was this?” Dr. Stone held up a onesie with ‘Junior FBI Agent’ printed on the front. She angled it so he could see it through the camera.
“I have no idea. Someone must have thrown it in there when I wasn’t looking.” His grin refuted his denial.
Jacq shook her head and set the baby clothes aside. “I think Steve’s going to love the ‘Navy Plebe’ one.”
“Good. Getting Navy stuff is one of the few advantages of working at Quantico.” The FBI Agent sat back in his chair and shouted. “Reid, get in here.” He returned to looking in the camera. “Spence wanted me to let him know when we chatted next. I think he wants to say hello.”
“Me, too. I read his recent paper. A little dry, but insightful.”
“I’ll let you tell him that.” He glanced away from the camera and rolled to the side. His colleague stepped into the frame.
“Hello, Dr. Stone. How are you feeling?” Spencer squatted down so he didn’t have to bend over to be visible.
“Not bad, but forced bed rest will do that. I read your paper.” She wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
He smiled at her. “My team felt it was too clinical. What are your thoughts?”
“Your analysis was excellent….” She trailed off.
“But…?” Reid wasn’t the best at reading cues; however, he could tell she had something further to add.
“While I understand you were writing about a unique killer you and your team caught, it lacked a touch of humanity or emotion. If you’ve read any of my papers, I like to add something about the impact and aftermath of the crimes committed. Show that there’s a little hope even in the face of tragedy.” She shrugged. Not all profilers were like her, she knew that, and even her own profiles and approaches varied from case to case, but some profilers were so technical that it was hard to get through their published works without losing interest or falling asleep. She’d gathered from working with Spencer that he was a bit socially awkward, but he cared a great deal. She felt he needed to show that in his analysis.
The young man nodded at her. “After meeting you, I’ve been working my way through everything you’ve published. You have a unique way of making things seem….” He struggled to find the right words. “Less grim.”
“Thank you for the compliment.” She smiled brightly. “I-.” A voice interrupted her. Someone was speaking on the other side of the camera.
“Guys, we caught a case.” It was a woman.
“We’ll be right there, JJ.” Rossi responded as he came back into frame. “We’ve gotta go, Jacq. I’ll call you soon about our next lecture. I think we need to switch things up.” He smiled at her. Reid had already disappeared, probably on his way to wherever they met to discuss their cases.
“Sounds good. Be safe, Dave. Let me know if you need any help.” She waved at him.
“Will do.” The camera feed cut out.
Jacq sighed and closed her laptop. She was bored. She was mainly working on cold cases and file reviews. What she could really do with was a nice juicy RECENT crime to solve. She sighed again and checked her watch. She turned her head and looked at her nurse. “Time for my next exam?” She asked.
“Yes, it is, Dr. Stone.” Lucy stood, grabbing her bag from the floor as she did. She was an older woman with gray hair pulled back into a ponytail and out of the way. She was wiry and strong. She’d worked with the profiler’s father and grandfather at the hospital and was no-nonsense about most things. Any attempt to have her call the pregnant woman by her first name had been ignored. She came over and sat beside her patient, starting her examination as soon as she was. “Would you like to take a nap after this?”
“Sure, then we can have lunch.” Jacq smiled and let the nurse do her work without comment. Once she finished up and stowed her gear. Lucy helped her up off the couch and they mounted the stairs. Coronado was sitting on the bed waiting for her when she arrived. “Hi, little one.” She gave him a pet and sat down. She was grateful to be off her feet. The extra weight and messed up balance were getting old. She couldn’t wait for the baby to put in his… or her appearance, and get back into shape.
“Meow.” The cat immediately tried to climb onto her bump, but she fended him off.
The profiler pulled her phone out of her pocket and laid on her side. She patted the mattress in front of her. “Right here, buddy.” Coronado curled up in the indicated spot. She was grateful Burt was outside, snoozing in the sun after playing in the ocean. She’d have to have Steve hose him down later and didn’t want him on her nice clean bed in his current state.
“Do you need anything else, Doctor?” The nurse asked from the doorway, her hand on the knob.
“No, Lucy, thank you.” She held up her phone. “I’ll text you when I want to come downstairs.”
“Sleep well, Dr. Stone.” Lucy left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
Jacq sighed and tossed her phone on the bedside table. She pet Coronado and closed her eyes. She was tired, but she wasn’t sure she could sleep. Pushing away the thoughts buzzing around in her head, her mind calmed and she began to relax. Then her phone rang and her eyes popped open. With another sigh, she answered the noisy object, ignoring the caller-id. “Hello?”
“Hey, Jacq.”
“Danny.” She smiled and rolled onto her back. It was the easiest way for her to sit up. She struggled a bit and was panting when she finally made it. “What can I do for you?”
“You okay?” His voice was laced with concern. He knew what her symptoms had been and likely thought she was having another attack.
“I’m fine. Sitting up is a full work-out in my condition. I got a little winded. I just laid down for a nap.” Her smile was still in place and she let her boyfriend’s cat crawl onto her bump.
“Shit. I’m sorry for waking you.”
“It’s okay. I’m tired, but not particularly sleepy. Now what’s up? Why are you calling me in the middle of the morning? Nothing’s wrong, I hope.” She knew if Steve had been hurt, he wouldn’t be making small talk and likely would’ve shown up in person, because of her current state.
“Nothing’s wrong, I promise. I wanted to call you really fast, while my pain-in-the-neck partner was busy with something else. What are you doing tomorrow morning?” His voice was hushed, probably so he wouldn’t be overheard.
Dr. Stone thought for a moment about her schedule. “I’m planning to sleep in. Steve’s supposed to go spearfishing with Chin and Junior tomorrow at dawn. He asked Rosie to come by early so I wasn’t alone, but after he leaves, I’m going to turn over and stay in bed. Why?”
“How early is early?” He sounded skeptical.
“They want to be out on the water by dawn, which means he’ll have to leave here no later than 4:30am. Sunrise is between 6 and 6:30 and he has to get to the marina.” She paused and added. “Tell me why.”
“Sweet Jesus. He’s crazier than I thought he was. Who in their right mind goes fishing that early, especially when he could be at home in bed with you?” He was irate, but still speaking in a whisper.
“While I appreciate the sentiment, I’m not saying anything else until you tell me what you want from me.”
The Detective sighed. “I’d like to swing by and speak with you. You-know-who is a stubborn SOB and unlike him, I’d appreciate your insight.”
“Okay…. So, this is about a case?”
“Yes, but don’t tell Steve I called you.” He paused for a minute. “I gotta go. Talk to you later.” The line went dead.
Jacq sighed and pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the screen. Her friend hadn’t told her very much, but she thought about what he said, and didn’t say, inferring based on what she knew about the other man. He wanted her help with a case and McGarrett didn’t want to bother her. She’d asked her boyfriend about work several times since she went on bed rest, but he wasn’t forthcoming. She knew he was trying to help her relax, but honestly, not knowing stressed her out more than knowing did. Working on cases was therapeutic, at least for her, and going through her process made her forget about what was bothering her. She smiled, put her phone back on the table and pushed Coronado off her stomach, laying back down as soon as she could. The little cat laid down in front of her and she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep with a smile on her face. She was looking forward to get back to work.
*****
“Hey, Jacq.”
“Morning, Danny.” The profiler greeted her guest as she was helped into the kitchen by Rosie. It was almost 7am and she was grateful her friend had waited a bit before showing up at her house. When her nurse had come up to tell her about his arrival, she was already dressed and only needed to get down the steep stairs (with assistance) to start her day. She slid into her chair and pet Burt who had sat down beside her once she was settled.
“Here’s the case file.” The Detective dropped a folder and a USB drive on the table in front of her.
“Wait one minute. I haven’t even had breakfast yet and neither have the animals. Why don’t you scoop up Burt and Coronado’s food into their dishes, while Rosie starts on my breakfast, and I’ll begin reading through the file, okay?” Danny was just as bossy as his partner and needed to chill out.
“Fine.” Williams got up from his chair and did as she asked. The nurse was already working on food for her patient.
Dr. Stone flipped open the file and started to skim through the information. She grimaced at the photos of the victims. Strychnine wasn’t pleasant and showed the killer had a lot of rage. She reached for her laptop, but couldn’t get it from where it had been pushed in the middle of the table. She got to her feet and bent forward. She almost had it that time.
“I’ve got it. Sit back down.” Danny chided her as he returned to the table. The former police dog was already munching on his kibble and Coronado had just wandered into the kitchen for his food. He grabbed the computer and waited for her to retake her seat. He placed it in front of her and dropped back into his own chair. “What do you think?”
“Someone is very angry. That’s what I think. Were all the victims recreational users?” She asked as she plugged the USB into her laptop and opened the folders on it. She headed right for the full autopsy reports.
“Yes. Why do you say they’re angry?” He was watching her.
“Because there are lots of drugs that can make murder seem natural or even accidental. Strychnine is violent and messy. It makes the victim suffer until they die. Killing like this takes rage, or being a sociopath.” She was going through the autopsy notes and photos. One of the victims had seized so hard he’d broken bones, including vertebrae in his neck. “You should be looking for someone hurt by a drug user.”
“So, someone with a user in their family?” He wasn’t sure where she was headed.
“No, someone who suffered because of a person on drugs. A car accident that was caused by someone high on drugs. Drug-related psychosis leading to someone attacking an innocent bystander. Anything along those lines. The person behind these deaths is lashing out at drug users and likely has no personal connection to any of the victims. They’re just an alternate target for their rage. Someone this angry would take a hands-on approach with whoever caused their rage.” Jacq continued to go through the case files, both on her computer and in the paper file, until Rosie set her breakfast on the table. She was starving and dug in.
While she was busy eating and reviewing the data, the Detective pulled out his phone and made a call. “Hey, Jerry. Are you in the office?” He’d asked the conspiracy theorist to report to work early while the head of Five-O was otherwise occupied. “Great. I need you to look for any deaths, accidental or criminal where the perp was high.” He nodded his head. “Exactly. Go back six months.”
“A year would be better.” The profiler threw out in between bites.
“Make it a year, buddy.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath when he heard the other man’s response. “Who else is here isn’t any of your business. Do the search and call me back with the results.” He opened his eyes and nodded. “That’s the correct answer. Talk to you later.” He quickly hung up the phone, tossed it on the table and rubbed both hands down his face.
“Steve warned the whole team to leave me out of the loop, didn’t he?” Jacq hadn’t needed to hear the other half of the phone conversation to know what was said. Her friend’s actions spoke loud and clear.
“He’s trying to keep you and the baby healthy, but seems to forget you’re working on cases for other people. You’re part of the team and should be involved when there’s a need for your skills.”
“I appreciate the support, Danny, but McGarrett isn’t going to be happy, especially if you’re involving others on the team. They aren’t going to appreciate being yelled at by him.” She ate a few more bites off her plate and pushed it away.
“What about me? Doesn’t it matter if he yells at me?”
“He’s always unhappy with you and yells at you daily. Honestly by now, it shouldn’t faze you.” She gave him a look and did her best to ignore Nurse Campbell laughing over by the sink.
“You have a point. I don’t like it, but I accept it.” He gestured to all the files. “Are you going to write me up a profile?”
“Yes, but it’s going to take some time to get through everything and write it up. Why don’t you go outside and play with Burt? Rosie needs to give me an exam and then I’ll pour over all the data. I’ll need an hour or two.”
“I’m game. Holler if you need me.” He stood and called to the former police dog. “Come on, Burt.” He and the Dutch Shepherd strolled out of the kitchen and went to play.
Dr. Stone continued to work, while the nurse cleared her plate. However, when Rosie came back, she slid her chair away from the table and let the other woman do her job. It only took about ten minutes to go through everything, then she was back to work. She was thankful for the thoroughness of her teammates and HPD. She had all the data she needed to compile a profile.
An hour passed without issue and they were reaching the conclusion of the second hour when the profiler heard voices outside, one of which was raised and indignant. She sighed and quickly put the finishing touches on her profile. Saving the document, she pushed herself up and out of her chair, Rosie rushing to support her as she made her way out onto the lanai.
“What are you doing here, Danno?” The former SEAL growled at his partner. “I thought you were working the case.”
“I AM working the case, babe.” The Detective wasn’t intimidated by the other man in the least.
McGarrett stole a look at the house. He and his best friend were standing in the middle of the backyard, Burt laying in the grass next to them. The former police dog was tuckered out after playing fetch and running around in the water. Steve spotted his girlfriend watching them and realized what was going on. “I told you not to involve her. She’s-.”
“A criminal psychologist and a member of our team. It’s not like I’m asking her to go out in the field with us. She’s-.”
“Pregnant and has a health condition. You’re adding to her stress level.” The head of Five-O was beyond unhappy, but so was his partner.
“I didn’t stress her out. She wanted to help. I-.”
“ENOUGH!!!” Jacq shouted as she moved to the head of the stairs. Her nurse had a vice grip on her arm and quickly snatched up her wrist, checking her pulse. The two men turned to look at her in shock. “The both of you are out of line. I’m a grown woman and capable of making my own decisions.”
“Jacq, you need to calm down.” Nurse Campbell warned in a whisper. She didn’t want to interrupt, but the health of her patient was more important than anything else.
“One second.” She whispered back, before returning to her stern, disapproving tone. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Honey, I-.” Steve stepped forward, but she wasn’t having it.
“No. DO. I. MAKE. MYSELF. CLEAR?” She repeated.
“Perfectly, doc.” Danny was fighting a grin. It was nice to see his friend put in his place. “Shouldn’t you sit down?” His pleasure didn’t override his concern for the pregnant woman.
“I will in a minute. Your profile’s done. I just need to email it to you.” She turned to the nurse. “I’d like to sit in the living room after I send out the email.”
“Sure thing, Jacq.” Rosie turned them back towards the door into the kitchen and slowly led her patient inside. They made a brief stop at the table, where the profiler sent the email out as promised. Finally, they went in the living room and she got Jacq seated on the couch, swinging her legs up so she could relax more easily. She jogged back into the kitchen where the men were standing, worry on both their faces. “Are the two of you going to behave?”
“Is she-?” McGarrett started.
“I’m about to give her an exam. But she should be fine. She wasn’t having any problems until you arrived, Commander. You can’t get her worked up. She needs to stay calm.” The seasoned nurse saw the Navy officer blush and duck his head. Seeing he was properly chastised, she grabbed her bag and went back to her patient. The men followed her.
“It’s Lieutenant Commander, Rosie. Don’t give him a promotion he didn’t earn.” The profiler told her nurse with a grin. She was reminded of the first time she’d told Steve why she refused to simply call him, Commander.
“I’ll remember that for the future.” The nurse began her examination, while the head of Five-O and his partner looked on without a word. After fifteen minutes, she sat back with a smile. “Everything looks okay, but you need to sit here and relax for the next hour or so.” She got to her feet. “I’m going to let you finish your discussion. However, if I hear a single raised voice, you’re going upstairs and I’ll sedate you.”
“We’re done with the yelling. I promise, Rosie.” Steve stated as he stepped forward. The nurse smiled at him as she left the room and he quickly took her spot sitting on the edge of the couch beside the mother of his unborn child. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“I know.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it supportively. “What about you, Danny?”
“I’m sorry, too.” The Detective responded absentmindedly. His eyes were locked on his phone as he scrolled through something on the screen. “You went a completely different direction than we’d been looking, Jacq. This is going to help a lot.” She’d taken what she already told him and expanded on it, giving them a perspective they hadn’t even considered.
“What are you talking about, Williams?” The head of Five-O asked.
“Her profile. Come on, babe. We have work to do.” Danny beckoned to his partner.
“I-.”
Jacq wasn’t having it. “Go, Steve. Find your killer. We can talk about everything once he’s in custody.” She smiled into the kiss he leaned forward to give her and watched as he hurried out of the room, talking to his partner as soon as they got outside. She shook her head. Her wish for a current crime to solve had come true. She could only hope it reached a satisfactory conclusion without anyone else dying from strychnine poisoning.
*****
“She was right.”
“I know, Danny.”
“We weren’t even looking at who they got their drugs from.”
“I’m aware, Williams.”
“If we hadn’t gotten that profile when we did, we’d have another dead drug user on our hands.”
“I was there when we caught him, Danny. You don’t-.” Steve stopped speaking and looked up at his partner. “Have we had this conversation before?”
“Yes, after the first case she helped us with.” The Detective was grinning from ear to ear. “She’s part of the team and a valuable asset. You seem to keep forgetting that.”
“I’ve never forgotten that.” McGarrett growled as he went back to writing up his report. “I do live with her after all.”
“Unofficially.” His partner reminded him.
“Don’t you need to write up your report?” The former SEAL wanted the other man to go away and leave him in peace.
“I’ll do it later. I’m having fun annoying you.” Danny chuckled when his friend growled again.
It was three days after Dr. Stone had given them the profile and they’d used it to successfully catch their killer. He was a man who lost his wife and young child when an impaired driver had hopped the curb downtown and taken out several pedestrians. The incident broke the man and his anger festered until all he could think about was vengeance for him and every other person hurt by drug users. He’d given the poisoned drugs to the victims for free, using their need for a fix against them. The team had actually spoken to him, because he was one of the witnesses at the club where the local rich kid had died. Part of Jacq’s profile was that the unsub would want to see the pain he inflicted on the victims and revel in it. That conclusion led the team, Jerry in particular, to pour over the security footage from all the scenes. As they identified people in the videos, they researched their connection to drug related crimes and finally got a match.
With a suspect to investigate, Five-O set up an undercover sting to trap him. Kono, Chin and Adam (it was his first chance to show the more seasoned members of the team what he was made of) would be their bait, playing addicts looking for a fix. Then after tracing the unsub’s movement, they moved in and were able to trap him. He tried to run, but didn’t get very far thanks to Tani and Junior, who were their teammates’ back-up. As Danny put the cuffs on, he’d attempted to explain and justify his actions, but no one listened to him. HPD hauled him off and now, all the team needed to do was file their paperwork and enjoy a few much-needed days off.
Well… Steve also needed to apologize to his girlfriend. He’d tried to each evening they were at her house together, but she deflected his attempts, focusing on the case, the baby and his surprise project that was stopping her from going to a section of her own property. He appreciated her keeping his focus on work and that she didn’t appear to be upset with him, but there was a bit of tension between them that he really wanted to resolve. And that’s exactly what he was going to do as soon as he finished his report and got his partner to do his own work.
“I’m willing to admit you were right.” The Navy officer stated as he continued to type up his recollection of the planning and execution of the sting. Jacq’s profile was referenced several times. If the case went to trial, she’d have to testify and would destroy any defense in the process.
“Excuse me?” Williams was stunned.
“You heard me. If you ask me to repeat myself, I’ll take it back.”
“No, no, no.” Danny sat forward and held out both hands. He wanted to enjoy being right. “I’m just shocked you admitted it.”
“I should’ve gone to Jacq as soon as we linked all the cases, but-.”
“I get it, babe. You were worried about her, but you need to let her make her own decisions. She has enough medical knowledge to diagnosis herself and knows when something isn’t right. She is the one who insisted you take her to the hospital in the first place.”
“I know all of that, Danno, but if anything were to happen to her… or the baby, I don’t-.”
“That’s why she hired a nurse, so she would have an impartial person there to take care of her if something goes wrong. She isn’t going to purposefully put herself, or the baby, in jeopardy.”
McGarrett sighed and hung his head. He agreed with everything his partner was telling him. He knew that the profiler had hired a nurse to allow him to continue working and keep him from controlling her every move. And since they lived an hour from the hospital, having a medical professional on hand during the day ensured nothing happened to either mother or child. He pushed all those thoughts away. He was going to have to speak to Jacq about his overreaction later and didn’t want to keep rehashing it. He changed the subject. “Are you ready to be in charge of the team when I go on leave?”
“Yup.” The Detective resumed lounging in the chair and smiled at his friend. “Though there’s a betting pool for how long you last before you come back to work.”
“And how long did you bet it would be?” Steve had expected as much. His control issues, which his girlfriend loved to bring up, would make it hard for him to stay away, which the team knew, but he’d promised to be there for her and the baby and he wouldn’t break that promise for anything. He was going to surprise them all.
“Nope.” Danny shook his head. “If I tell you, you’ll make sure I lose and I think I have a good chance of winning.”
“I’ll just ask Jerry then.”
Williams shook his head again. “He’s not running the pool.”
“Who is?” The former SEAL was surprised. He couldn’t think of anyone else on the team, besides the conspiracy theorist, who’d be taking bets.
“I’m not telling you, babe.” The Detective got to his feet. “I’m going to start on my report. Enjoy your weekend and thank Jacq for me.”
“Thanks, and you, too.” The Navy officer watched his partner leave his office and then got back to his report. He was almost finished and once he’d read through it, he’d bundle up all the evidence to go along with his report and those of his teammates. The rest of the team had completed all their paperwork while he and Danny spoke with the DA and the Governor about the investigation. Denning had been pleased with the quick work Five-O did to close the case and tried to hide a grin when he’d heard about Dr. Stone’s involvement. His boss had caught him at the end of the briefing and asked about Jacq. After he gave him a quick rundown, the Governor mentioned coming by to check on her. All he could do was agree and escape as soon as he could. They’d hosted the Dennings at the baby shower, but having his boss come by ‘just because’ made him uncomfortable. He stopped his contemplation after a couple of minutes and finished his work.
By the time he did his final read-through, he had his partner’s report as well and was able to send everything to the DA in a single email. He waved at Danny as he left and shut down his computer, following quickly after him. He was looking forward to going to Jacq’s, relaxing and begging her forgiveness. He could only pray she accepted.
*****
“You look comfy.”
“I am, just a little hot.” Jacq smiled at her boyfriend from her place on the couch. She was sitting there with her feet up and leaning her back against one of the armrests. Burt was draped over her legs, his nose nuzzling her bump, while Coronado was sprawled over her stomach. The profiler was stroking the animals at random with one hand and holding a book in the other. She occasionally paused to turn a page. “Case closed?”
“Yup. Our suspect gave tainted drugs to Adam and we had Eric on site to test them for strychnine. When they came up positive, we read him his rights and handed him over to HPD to book.” McGarrett came into the living room and wedged himself on the edge of the sofa by her. Their little family was all clustered together and that made him feel wonderful.
“Did he try to explain why he did it?”
“Yup, like you predicted in your profile.” He pulled the book out of her hand, tossed it on the coffee table and leaned forward to give her a searing kiss. She quickly joined in. When they needed to breathe, they barely pulled away from each other, their foreheads touching. “He even explained why he killed strangers. Said he couldn’t get to the person who killed his family, so why not kill other drug users before they could cause the same pain he’s felt for the last nine months.”
“Good thing I told Danny to have Jerry go back a year.” She smiled and he gave her another gentler kiss.
“Your profile was accurate in every way.” He whispered.
“I’m glad.” She kept her voice soft in order to not ruin the mood.
“I’m sorry I didn’t involve you sooner and that I yelled at Danny about asking you for help.”
“Apology accepted.”
“I-.”
“No, Steve.” She covered his mouth with her fingertips. “I understand why you did it. I’m sorry I shouted at you and got Rosie all concerned.”
“You can’t let me get you worked up.” His words were muffled because of her fingers.
“Then stop trying to control everything.” He laughed at her comment, pulled her hand away and gave her another kiss.
“Speaking of Rosie, where’s your nurse of the day?” He’d helped her downstairs that morning and left before her at-home nurse arrived. He wasn’t sure whose turn it was to come by.
“Miguel had to leave early. His intramural team’s game got moved up because the field was double booked.”
“What?” The former SEAL pulled back in surprise.
“Calm down. He was really torn about staying or going. I finally made him leave and promised I’d stay on the couch until you got home. But now that you’re here, I can go use the bathroom.” She picked up Coronado, waking the little cat in the process, and handed him to his owner. “Burt, down.” The Dutch Shepherd whined for a second, but did as she ordered.
Tossing his pet aside, the head of Five-O scrambled to his feet and helped her up. The couch was low and he knew she had issue with leverage in her current state, especially when she was closer to the floor. He wrapped an arm around her waist and walked her out into the hall. “Do you want me to-?”
“Go see what you want to have for dinner. I’ll be fine now.” She waddled away from him and down the hall to the guest bathroom. She disappeared inside and closed the door behind her. Burt sat down outside the door, waiting for her to reemerge. His cat sibling followed him and began to play with his wagging tail.
McGarrett chuckled at the scene, then shook his head and went into the kitchen. He was pleased to find the fridge full stocked, which likely meant another order from Mr. Lee had arrived. He found ground beef and pork and decided to make burgers for dinner. We worked on gathering all the things he’d need and was just mixing up everything when the profiler came into the kitchen, their two animals following after her. “How do burgers sound?” He asked.
“Good, as long as you put some cheese on mine.” She sidled up next to him at the counter and grabbed tomatoes to start slicing them. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
“What’s going on with your house?” He turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow, so she continued. “Since you’ve been spending all your time with me the last few months, who’s looking after your house?”
“Well….” He went back to making the burger patties. “I swing by after work once a week to get my mail and check on things, but actually, Junior is staying there.”
“What?” She was confused. “Why isn’t he staying with his family?”
“There’s some tension between him and his father. Also, he’s an adult and who really wants to move back in with their parents if they have another option.”
“I lived with my father until he died, but I understand what you’re saying.”
“And I get a free house sitter out of it. He’s just responsible for utilities, at least until he fully joins the team.”
“That’s very nice of you.” Jacq nudged him and smiled. He might try to be the stern Navy Lieutenant Commander, but he was a big softie at heart.
“I do try.” After washing his hands, Steve moved over to another section of the kitchen and pulled out a cast-iron pan. He’d prefer to grill them outside, but wanted to stick close to his girlfriend. He enjoyed spending time with her in the kitchen and catching up. He’d like it more if she was sitting down, but he didn’t want to start an argument, not after she accepted his apology.
“May I ask another question?” Dr. Stone asked as she tidied up the items he’d used to make the burger. Then she needed to get dinner together for the animals and make a salad to go with their main course.
“Sure.”
“When am I going to be able to go down the path to the guest bungalow and the secure storage buildings again?” She knew he was working on something over there, some kind of surprise for her. She’d resisted temptation thus far, but she really wanted to know what he was up to.
The head of Five-O thought for a minute. The garden he was creating still needed a bit more work before he put on the finishing touches. “A couple weeks, maybe three. I’m waiting on Bobby to get me a few more things.” It was now his turn to pry. “What about the bungalow renovation? When do I get to see the finished product?”
“Around the same time.” The contractor had actually brought by the items he special-ordered for her earlier in the day. He still needed to hook up the appliances, then they’d do another walk-through and finalize the furniture placement.
“Great. We can surprise each other.” He set the patties in the hot pan and looked at her. “Now, how do you want your burger cooked?"
Notes:
I'd like to thank Wikipedia for the description on strychnine. Hopefully it is accurate.
Chapter Text
“You did all this?”
“The manual labor part, mostly. Bobby and his guys cleared the brush, got me all the supplies I needed and ordered the plants, then I put it all together.” Steve gazed at his girlfriend. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.” The profiler stepped forward, letting go of his arm in the process. She walked closer to the vegetable garden he’d created for her. The bed was about four feet by five feet with space to make it bigger if needed. Rocks were laid along the edges of the fertile earth, with flat paving stones creating a walkway on three of the sides and blending in with the existing path. There were three rows of plants growing in the garden, in a variety of shapes and sizes and netting was stretched over a wooden frame, protecting the vegetables from mongooses and other animals to include their pets. “What are we growing?” She turned to look at the two men standing there, watching her.
“Bobby?” McGarrett prompted. He’d let the contractor pick most of the plants, except for the tomatoes, since he knew Jacq liked them and ate them all the time.
“Tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and then there are radishes, onions and carrots planted behind them.” Bobby Park shared.
“Technically tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers are fruit, but I like all of those. Thank you so much. Both of you.” She walked back over to her boyfriend and kissed his cheek.
Steve smiled down at her. “We can see how they all do and if there aren’t any issues, can expand into other vegetables over time. The nice thing about Hawai’i is that it’s always growing season.”
“And there’s enough protection from wind and heavy rains that it shouldn’t get torn up.” The contractor offered.
“As long as Burt doesn’t get any funny ideas.” Dr. Stone glanced at the former police dog, who was sitting next to her. She’d need to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn’t decide to investigate on his own.
“Worse comes to worse, we can go with your original idea and use pots on the lanai.” The former SEAL suggested with a shrug.
“Or we can turn one of the last two bungalows into a greenhouse.” The pregnant woman smiled. They had lots of options.
“Actually, I believe there are the remains of a greenhouse past the derelict bungalow of this side. My guys and I could easily rebuild it.”
“Don’t give her any ideas, Bobby.” Steve looked at the other man and was fighting a grin.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Lieutenant Commander.” The contractor clapped his hands and then rubbed them together. “Are we ready to see the finished bungalow?”
“Definitely. Lead the way.” Jacq hooked her arm back through her boyfriend’s and the couple followed Bobby down the path to the backyard. They traveled across the green expanse to the other path and past the first three buildings, until they reached the fourth. Burt trotted after them the whole way. They stopped outside the front door. Bobby offered her the keys, but she shook her head. “Give them to him.” She nudged her head in McGarrett’s direction.
“Why me?” The head of Five-O took the keys and stepped up to the front door.
“You’ll see.” The profiler had a smug smile on her face, her eyes never leaving him as he unlocked the door and pushed it open. As he crossed the threshold, she followed after him along with Bobby and spoke again. “Surprise!”
“Huh?” He looked around the interior of the bungalow and was gobsmacked. Right in front of him, there was a kitchen with a huge island, a fancy gas range and a large sink. In the far back corner were a couple of couches, two easy chairs, a coffee table and an 80” television mounted on the wall. Just next to the TV area and closer to the door was a poker table with built-in slots to hold chips, a wooden card shoe and eight leather chairs around it. Finally, adjacent to the foyer was a familiar looking pool table. It had a red felt top and ornately carved legs and rails. The last time he’d seen it was in Jacq’s grandfather’s study in his bungalow. “What is all this?”
“She had me build you a man cave, Lieutenant Commander.” The contractor shared, then pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “I’m going to go take some photos of the old greenhouse and do some prelim measurements in case you change your mind about rebuilding it.”
“Thanks, Bobby.” The profiler said to her friend as he left. She ambled into the room and pulled out one of the chairs from around the poker table, taking a seat with an oomph. Burt planted himself between her legs. “Take a look around. There are more rooms down the hall.” She urged of him, before shifting uncomfortably for a moment. Her focus then turned to giving her pet some love.
The Navy officer wandered around the great room, then disappeared down the hallway. He came back after a few minutes and stared at his girlfriend in amazement. “Why did you…?”
“Since I got pregnant, you’ve been spending all your time here with me. And I doubt that’s going to change once the baby’s born, since you’ll want to stay close. Plus, you’ve got your own house taken care of for the time being.”
“That doesn’t explain why.” He walked over until he was standing in front of her and squatted down next to the former police dog.
“I wanted you to have your own space. Now, you can have the guys over for poker or pool or to watch the game and don’t have to worry about disturbing me or the baby.” She rubbed her belly.
“You don’t want to be forced to watch sports with me anymore.” He smirked at her.
“That’s just a happy bonus.” She smiled back at him. “And we have more guest space. Theoretically, there’s enough space for the entire team to sleep over after a party if they don’t want to drive home in the dark, or if they’ve had too much to drink.”
“You’re the best girlfriend a guy could ask for.” He stood and surged forward to give her a hard, intense kiss.
Jacq was panting when he pulled away and she hoisted herself up onto her feet. “I’ll remind you of that next time I do something you disagree with.”
“It’ll probably only work two or three times, max.”
“I’ll take it.” She patted Burt’s head and made her way over to the door. “Let’s lock up and go back to the house. I have some emails to respond to.”
After explaining to him that his existing code for the alarm system would work, the profiler stepped outside and let him set it and lock the door. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and ushered her in the direction of the main house. They spotted Bobby and waved to him as he disappeared in the direction of the clearing and his vehicle. The couple was soon inside and he helped her into her seat at the head of the table.
“What’s with the boxes?” Jacq pointed at the two white file boxes at the far end of the table. She’d noticed them at breakfast but got distracted by work, the arrival of Bobby and finding out what her surprise was.
“I need to do my taxes.” McGarrett responded on his way to the fridge. He poured them each a glass of juice and brought them over to the table. He sat in his usual chair next to her with a clear view of the door.
“Your taxes?”
“Yeah. I’m trying to sort out which things are work-related and can be deducted, and what things can’t be.”
“Do you want some help?”
“No, I’ll figure it out. I don’t want you stressed.”
“Taxes don’t cause me stress, not in the least.”
“I’ll take care of it. You just worry about the baby.” He leaned over and rubbed her stomach. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m ready for baby to put in an appearance. The extra weight and back pain are getting old.” She rubbed the small of her back and sighed. Her weight was a frequent topic of discussion, especially when he asked how she was.
Steve thought for a moment. “You only have another week, maybe two, right?” He grinned. “Right in time for Valentine’s Day.” It was February 6th and he knew her thoughts of Valentine’s.
“Don’t even think that.” She growled. “Anyway, that’s only if baby decides he or she wants to be timely. Babies can come early or late. Due dates are just an estimate.” She covered his hand with hers. “What do you want to do until lunch?”
“You work on your emails and I’ll try to make sense of my financial documents, then we can take a nap. How does that sound?” He stood, grabbed one of his boxes and slid it over to his spot at the table, before resuming his seat.
“Perfect.”
*****
“Everything locked up?”
“Yes. All the doors and windows are closed and locked and the alarm’s set.” Steve replied as he came into the master bedroom with Burt by his side. Coronado was sitting on Jacq’s pregnant belly and she was petting him.
“I heard Burt barking. Was there a problem?” She asked as she watched him begin to undress. If her back wasn’t bothering her, she would’ve been tempted to see if he wanted to fool around a little bit before bed. Even though they couldn’t have sex given she was in her ninth month, they had the ability to thoroughly enjoy themselves.
“I left him inside when I went to water the garden. He must have heard me turn on the faucet for the hose. That’s when he started barking. I filled his outside bowl, too, since I already had the hose out.” He left her field of view, heading into the bathroom to clean up.
The profiler looked at the former police dog, who was sitting next to her side of the bed. “Silly baby.” She laughed when he put his front paws on the edge of the bed and stood on his hind legs. He licked her face and whined a little. “Burt, down.” There wasn’t room for her, Steve and the dog in the bed together, not with her distended middle.
“Burt, your bed.” McGarrett ordered as he returned. He was now dressed in light-weight pants and a t-shirt. Since she had reached her last couple months of the pregnancy, she’d been running hotter, which meant they were keeping the bedroom cooler, so she would be more comfortable. All of which led to him having to wear more clothes so he didn’t freeze to death.
The Dutch Shepherd whined loudly, but obeyed.
“Mahalo. He’s been clingy all night.” She gave her boyfriend’s cat a final scratch behind the ears and moved him off her lap. He stood, jumped off the bed and went to cuddle with Burt, who was pouting.
“Nothing’s wrong, is it?” The former SEAL knew the former police dog was very in tune with his owner and often could sense when something wasn’t right.
“Just some back pain… like I mentioned earlier.” She locked eyes with him and saw he was concerned. “It’s perfectly normal.” The look stayed on his face and she sighed. “Your back would hurt too if you were carrying a twenty-pound weight around your middle.”
“You’re-?” He didn’t get to finish his question, before she was answering it.
“I’m fine.” Turning away from him, she switched off her bedside lamp and slid down under the covers. She laid on her side facing him.
McGarrett took the hint and shut off his light, joining her under the sheets. He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek. “Night, honey.”
“Night, Steve.” Jacq closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.
The couple slept peacefully for a few hours, then Dr. Stone began to toss and turn. She awoke with a jolt, a hand going to her stomach. She inhaled sharply. The bedroom was dark, but she heard movement. Something wet nudged her arm and a low whine came to her. It was Burt.
“I’m okay, baby.” She whispered. A stab of pain went through her middle and she took another deep breath, her teeth grinding together. “Or maybe not.” She reached out a hand towards McGarrett’s side of the bed and jostled his sleeping form. “Steve!” She hissed.
Thankfully, the Navy officer was a light sleeper and awoke instantly. “What?” He looked around and not being able to see anything, turned on his lamp. He saw his girlfriend sitting beside him with a hand to her belly and a grimace on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I’m in labor.”
Panic rose up inside of him, but his years of military training pushed it away and he focused on what they needed to do. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, menstrual-like cramps, sharp pain in my back and legs and the baby has shifted.” Jacq turned watery brown eyes his way. “We need to go to the hospital.”
“And we will. Let me grab your bag and robe and we’ll call for an ambulance once we’re in the truck.” He jumped out of bed, grabbed his phone off the table and went into the closet.
“I don’t think we can wait for an ambulance and they’ll just take me to the closest medical center.” She hissed in pain.
“I know that. Where’s your bag?” His muffled voice came from the closet.
“Downstairs in the kitchen. I had Rosie move it down there a couple days ago. And what are you going to do about it?” She was referring to her hospital concern. She threw back the sheets and carefully slid out of bed, snatching her phone off her bedside table and slipping into her around the house shoes. The former police dog began to nuzzle her belly and continued to whine. “Stop that, baby. Steve?”
He rushed back into the room, fully dressed, with her robe over his arm. He came around the bed and helped her into it. She dropped her phone in the pocket and returned both her hands to her stomach. “We’re going to start driving towards the city and have them meet us on the way. Plus, I plan to tell them where you need to go.” He started to help her out of the room.
“I want to call Phillip.”
“We will, honey. Let’s get you to the truck first.” They slowly made their way downstairs, stopping a couple of times for her to deal with the pain she was in. Her pet followed them the whole way. “What do you want to do about Burt?” He indicated the dog with a wave of his hand.
“We should probably leave him outside. He’ll have water and shade and can do his business. There’s no telling how long we’ll be gone.” She stopped in the back foyer and he went into the kitchen to grab her bag and his keys. While she waited, she turned off the alarm and unlocked the back door. “Outside, Burt.” She ordered. He sprinted out the door and into the backyard, frolicking in the moonlight. She shuffled after him, then felt a hand catch her elbow. She shook it off and ordered. “Take care of the alarm.”
By the time he had set the alarm and secured the back door, the profiler was at the base of the lanai stairs and her dog was back by her side. McGarrett ordered the Dutch Shepherd to stay and protect as he helped his girlfriend down the path and around to the clearing. As soon as they were both situated in his truck, he sped down the road, his lights flashing but no siren (since it was the middle of the night).
Steve grabbed his radio and spoke calmly. “This is Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett of the Five-O Task Force. Dr. Stone is in labor. I need an ambulance to meet us on the road into Honolulu.”
“I’m sorry, Commander.” Came an unknown female voice. “Unless it’s an emergency, I can’t send an ambulance at this time.”
“Why the hell not?” He was beginning to lose his cool. He glanced at Jacq and saw her doing her best to tamp down on the pain she was feeling. “She has a-.”
“There’s been a multi-car accident in Waikiki and all available EMS personnel have been dispatched to assist. I-.”
“Just ask them to send one when they can.” The pregnant woman hissed. She fumbled to pull her cell out of her robe pocket and quickly found her godfather’s number. She dialed and ignored the continued back and forth over the radio.
As soon as she heard Phillip’s voice, her anxiety level decreased. “It’s the middle of the night, Jacqueline. What’s wrong?”
“I’m in labor.” She responded.
“How long?”
“I’m not sure. I just know it hurts.” The pain was very distracting.
“Take a deep breath and clear your mind. I need to know how long.” His bedside manner came to the forefront.
“Contractions for a couple of hours. They woke me up when they strengthened.” She glanced at Steve and was happy to see he was off the radio. His eyes were glued to the road, but she knew he was listening to what she was saying to her uncle. She pulled the phone away from her ear and put it on speaker.
“Any other symptoms?” The surgeon inquired. While he wasn’t an OB/GYN, he’d been a doctor long enough to know what to ask and how to handle emergency situations.
“Back pain.”
“And when did that start?” Dr. Gaines could be heard moving around through the connection.
“Last night.”
“That’s not precise enough, Jacqueline. A few hours ago last night, or 24 hours ago last night?” The silence from his goddaughter was all he needed to know the answer and growled at her. “You should’ve called me. I assume you figured out when your water broke as well?” He was perturbed with her. She knew better.
“Probably about 9am yesterday morning.” The profiler reached out a hand to her boyfriend and he grasped it firmly in his.
“You really are impossible, young lady.” Keys jangled. “I’m about to leave for the hospital, but I’m going to stay on the line with you and Steve and help you through this.”
“Thank you, Phillip.” She squeezed Steve’s hand when another contraction hit her.
The two doctors continued to speak all the way to the city limits of Honolulu. But right when the couple could see the bright lights of civilization, Jacq let out a loud scream.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” The former SEAL asked. She was holding his hand so tightly he was afraid she was going to break it.
“Pull over.” She yelled.
“We’re almost there.”
“Baby doesn’t care. I need you to pull over.” She bent forward and tried to push the pain away, without doing any other kind of pushing.
“Phillip?” McGarrett asked of the doctor.
“Jacqueline?” Dr. Gaines needed to know what she was feeling.
“I wanna push.” She responded.
“Pull over, Steve. Then you need to get her carefully out of your truck and laying down. You’re going to have to deliver the baby.” They heard the slam of a door. “I’m at the hospital. I’ll see if I can get an ambulance to come and get you, but it doesn’t sound like they’re going to make it in time.”
“Right.” The former SEAL pulled his vehicle onto the side of the road and bolted out the door. Yanking the passenger door open, he put his arms under his girlfriend’s body and lifted her out of the cab.
“Put me in the bed, I don’t want our baby born in a ditch.” She pleaded as she cradled her cell in both hands. It was her lifeline to medical help. Her knowledge of obstetrics was limited and she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do.
McGarrett didn’t even consider arguing with her and after getting the tailgate down, set her on it. He climbed into the bed and pulled her securely into the middle of the space. “What do I do now?”
“I’m going to walk you through it, Steve. Do exactly what I tell you to do.”
“Whatever you say.” The head of Five-O quickly positioned himself where he needed to be and followed the directions Phillip gave him. It seemed like minutes and hours passed at the same time. Right as he heard sirens in the distance, their child made its grand entrance into the world.
“Is it okay?” Dr. Stone pleaded as she struggled to sit up more in order to see what was happening.
“He’s perfect.” McGarrett crooned as he held his child in his hands. Then it began to cry, not enjoying the loss of the warm safe place it had been in.
“He? It’s a boy?” She finally saw her baby and smiled. Her boyfriend was holding him higher to give her the chance to see him.
“He’s beautiful, honey.” The Navy officer was on the verge of tears.
The sound of a vehicle stopping close by made him look around. There was an ambulance on the other side of the road and two EMTs were running towards them. They climbed into the bed of the truck to assess their patients. Dr. Gaines spoke to them through the phone, telling them what they needed to do for his goddaughter and her child, but the parents only had eyes for their baby.
Steve slid closer to his girlfriend and she was finally able to touch her baby. “What’s his name, honey?” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. He knew the name they’d agreed on, but she always reserved the right to change her mind and he wanted to be sure.
“John James Stone-McGarrett, just like I told you at our first Thanksgiving together. He’s going to be strong and brave like the men he’s named after and his daddy.” She curled a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down into an emotional kiss. Their family was complete.
*****
“Where’s my godson?”
“Godson? Why do you think you’re going to be my son’s godfather?” Steve glared at his partner as he came into the ICU room. John was cradled in his arms as he paced across the small space. His girlfriend was dozing in the bed.
It had been a hectic few hours. After the arrival of the EMTs, Jacq went through the afterbirth and was wrapped up along with her baby. Mother and child were then loaded into the ambulance and taken to the hospital, while the head of Five-O followed behind them in his truck, his lights still flashing. Drs. Levy and Gaines met them at the doors to the ER and did quick check-ups of their patients. Once they determined everything was all right, the family of three was moved up to a room in the ICU to ensure the profiler’s immune system was protected from infection. Phillip spent a few minutes with them before he left to get some more sleep before his shift. He had three surgeries later in the day and had no desire to reschedule any of them. A nurse had hooked the new mother up to an IV after her godfather left, giving her fluids and a mild pain killer. She had drifted off after about ten minutes, happy she wasn’t in pain any longer and that their son was there.
McGarrett had texted the team while they were in the ER and was actually surprised his partner had arrived so early. The sun wasn’t even up. “Are you the only one here?”
“Yeah. The rest of the team will swing by throughout the day.” The Detective set his hands on his hips. “Are you telling me I’m not his godfather?”
“No, but I don’t want you assuming things. Jacq and I need to discuss it.”
“I’m an awesome uncle and will make a fantastic godfather. Now let me see him.” Williams ambled over to his partner and peered into the bundle he was holding. “I’m glad to see he looks like his mother.”
“What are you trying to say now, Danno?”
“All I meant was-.”
“Do I need to separate you two?” Dr. Stone’s voice broke through their argument. It was barely a whisper, but they clearly heard her and came over to the bed.
“You did great, Jacq. He’s beautiful.”
“Mahalo, Danny.” Her eyes were little slits, but she lifted her hands out to her boyfriend. “May I?”
“Of course, honey.” Steve carefully transferred their son into her arms and dropped a kiss on her temple. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired and sore. Liz said the soreness will last a few days, but thankfully, she wants to keep me for at least 48 hours before I’m discharged, which means I’ll be getting the good drugs.” She smiled when the two men laughed. She looked down at John and sighed happily. She rubbed one of his cheeks with her finger and thought about what Danny had said. She disagreed with him. Her baby looked like his father. McGarrett didn’t know it, but his father had shown her baby pictures of both his children. Her boyfriend had been a cute baby and his child would take after him, hopefully without the need to constantly be in control.
“So, what do you thing, honey? Should we let Danny be John’s godfather?” The former SEAL asked, fighting a smirk when his partner growled.
“I have no objections, but if your best friend gets to be his godfather, then so does Ian, since he’s one of my closest friends.” Her eyes were locked on their baby, who was beginning to move around a little. Because of that, she didn’t see the shock on Steve’s face.
“Edgerton? Really?”
“If you don’t like Ian, then my other choice is Sam.” Jacq fought not to smile when he gasped and his partner laughed. She raised her head and with a straight face, asked. “Ian or Sam? You pick.”
His girlfriend wasn’t giving him a lot of options, or more accurately, desirable options. Either his boss or a man who threatened to kill him would be their child’s godfather along with Danny. He went with the lesser of two evils. “Edgerton.” The FBI agent didn’t live on the island and he didn’t have to interact with him often, not like the Governor.
“Excellent choice.” The profiler smiled in her head. She was pretty sure when Ian found out about the honor she was going to bestow on him, he’d visit her more often and that made her happy. At that moment, her son opened his eyes and began to cry. “I think that means it’s time for breakfast.”
“Which is my cue to leave.” The Detective came closer and gave Dr. Stone a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back later after I get Grace from school. She wants to meet her new cousin.”
“I look forward to it.” She watched him leave with a wave and then shifted her clothes until John was happily suckling. She let him do his thing and lifted her eyes to see McGarrett gazing at her with a soft smile on his face. She hated to ruin the mood, but she needed him to do something for her. “You better get going, too.”
“Why would I be going anywhere?” His pleasure had turned to confusion.
“First, they're not going to let you stay overnight, so you need to figure out if you’re going to my place or yours. Second, you need to go to the house and feed the animals. And if you aren’t staying there, you need to bring them to your place, at least until I’m released. Finally, I’d like you to grab my laptop. I want to send out an email to my friends and colleagues to tell them about the baby.” She chuckled. “Plus, you should probably hose the back of your truck out.” Giving birth was a messy process and EMTs rarely cleaned up after themselves, unless it was their own rig.
“I hate when you use reason against me.” He growled as he perched himself on the edge of the mattress. If he had to leave, he wanted to be as close to her as he could while he was still there.
“Reason is a very useful tool. Did you call Deb and Mary and let them know?”
“Yes, right after I texted the team. Deborah informed me she’s planning to come out in a month or two to meet him in person. She was tempted to come sooner, but wanted him to be a bit more settled before she visits.”
“What she meant was she wants him to be sleeping longer before she stays with us. Did you contact anyone else?”
“Who are you referring to?” He knew she was after something.
“What about Joe White and… your mother?”
“I didn’t call either of them. I don’t even know how to contact Doris.” The former SEAL snorted out a laugh. “But knowing the two of them, they already know. They seem to have sources everywhere.” He leaned forward and gave his girlfriend a kiss, then dropped one on their son’s head. “I’ll be back soon.”
“We’ll be here.” She stroked John’s head as he continued to eat. “Could you ask a nurse to come by when you pass the desk?”
“Sure.” He gave her another kiss, stood and slowly left the room, the door sliding open and closed for him. He turned back as he stepped away and smiled at his family. The new mother’s focus was completely on the baby she was holding. He picked up his pace. The faster he did what he needed to do, the faster he’d be back with them.
*****
“Where did this all come from? It looks like a flower shop exploded in here.” McGarrett asked as he stepped into his girlfriend’s ICU room.
“They were all delivered after you left yesterday afternoon. It smells heavenly in here; way better than it normally smells at the hospital.” The profiler smiled at him. Every flat surface in her room was covered in flower arrangements and plants. She touched the roses on her bedside table. Steve had brought them to her after he returned from her house on the first day of her hospital stay. It was the morning of her third day and she would be discharged shortly. “Well, actually, Sam and Sarah brought those and then they were here when the rest were delivered and helped arrange them.” She was pointing at a Calla lily plant directly across from her bed.
“Are we taking all of them home with us?” He came over to the bed and gave her a kiss. Their son was sleeping in a bassinet within arm’s reach of where she was sitting.
“All the plants, for sure. Plus, the roses you got me and a few others. The rest I’ll ask the nurses to disperse to people who might need some cheering up.” Most of the other patients in the ICU were recovering from surgery, or some type of serious injury, sickness or disease. She was sure they’d appreciate something pretty to look at while they recuperated. She was a one-off. The maternity ward was an open access area and with her immune system, her doctors weren’t taking any chances.
The former SEAL sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. “We’ll see what fits in the truck.”
“Mahalo.” She smiled brightly. “Where’s Burt and-?”
“Down in the truck. I called Phillip when I got here and he sent out a nurse to watch them, while I came up to get you. Have you seen Dr. Levy yet?”
“Nope, but she should be by soon. She has to give me my after-care instructions, set up John’s and my first post-delivery appointment and then sign me out.”
“I was hoping she’d be here when I arrived.” All Steve wanted to do was get his girlfriend and their child home. The last few days he’d missed cuddling and sleeping with her, not that he’d admit that to anyone. Also, they needed to start adjusting to John’s arrival in the lives. They would both have to adapt and modify their routines to include what he needed. He was looking forward to his two- to three-month vacation, except for the sleepless nights, but they’d be able to rest and relax during their son’s naps.
“I’m glad you’re both here.” Dr. Levy stated as she came into the room. Two nurses were behind her pushing carts. “Are you ready to go home?” She locked eyes with her former college roommate.
“More than ready.” The profiler smiled at the other woman, then turned to her boyfriend. “You brought the car seat, right?”
“Already got it secured in the backseat of my truck.” He got to his feet and pointed at the two nurses. “I assume they’re here to help with the flowers.”
“Yes, I thought you could use some extra hands. Which ones are you taking with you, Jacq?” The physician asked of her patient.
Dr. Stone pointed out the arrangements and plants she wanted to take home with her, then her boyfriend, with her duffle in his hand, and the two nurses left with the carts to load everything in the truck. With her boyfriend gone, the OB/GYN gave her a thorough physical and went over what she could and couldn’t do postpartum. They also reviewed what symptoms meant she should immediately come back to hospital. Right as McGarrett returned, Dr. Levy was setting up her appointments.
“We’ll do a video call appointment in three weeks and in six weeks, you’ll need to come here for another full exam. I’ll send you an email later today with exact times and so forth. No sex until after the six-week appointment. Am I clear?”
“Crystal, Liz.” Jacq threw back the sheets and swung her leg over the edge. After slipping on her shoes, she got to her feet slowly, then sighed when she looked behind the Navy officer. There was a nurse with a wheelchair waiting for her. “That’s not necessary. I-.”
“It’s hospital protocol. Just go with it, my friend.” Dr. Levy waved the nurse in and spoke to the head of Five-O. “Take good care of them, Commander.”
“I will.” Steve smiled. He appreciated how well they’d been treated at the hospital. The staff’s connections to the Stone family were probably a contributing factor to that, beyond their dedication to their patients.
“It’s Lieutenant Commander, Liz.” The psychologist snapped as she got settled in the wheelchair and the nurse handed her son to her.
“Get out of here, both of you.” The OB/GYN shook her head and departed. She needed to get back to her ward and tend to the rest of her patients, though it was always nice to see her old friend, even if she was stubborn and cranky.
The little family and their escort made their way slowly down the hall to the elevator and then outside into the bright Hawaiian sunshine. Miguel, who was leaning against McGarrett’s truck, perked up when he spotted them headed his way. The former police dog’s head was sticking out the front passenger side window and he barked happily when he spotted his owner. Coronado came into view at the commotion, his front paws resting on the edge of the window.
“Congrats, doc.” The surgical nurse stated with a smile.
“Thanks, Miguel.” The profiler let her boyfriend help her out of the wheelchair and waited for him to open the back door of the truck’s cab. “I’m going to sit in the back with John.” She informed the man she loved.
“I assumed as much.” The former SEAL held out his hand to the younger man. “Thanks for watching them, Miguel.”
“Sure thing, Lieutenant Commander.” He shook the offered hand and started walking backwards towards the hospital. “I need to get inside. Bye.” He waved and turned, then jogged through the automatic doors.
With his girlfriend busy putting their son in his car seat, McGarrett thanked the nurse who manned the wheelchair and watched her roll it back into the building. He then waited for Jacq to finish up with the car seat and helped her into the truck. He scratched Burt’s head and rounded the front of the vehicle, getting in the driver’s seat.
“Let’s get you home.” He looked in the rearview mirror at her.
“Amen. Burt, stay.” The Dutch Shepherd was trying to climb into the backseat, but she wasn’t having it. His feline brother was already in the profiler’s lap and he was feeling left out. He whined and laid down in the front passenger seat, his head sticking through the gap where he could keep an eye on his owner and his brothers.
“How do you want to do the introductions?” Steve asked after they’d been on the road for a few minutes.
“Slowly and carefully. They are both going to have to learn how to be gentle.” Dr. Stone’s gaze shifted from her baby, to her dog, to the cat in her lap. She was thankful the two animals were relatively well-behaved and that the former police dog obeyed commands. It would make integrating the infant into the household relatively easy. “And they’ll have to go outside during naps.”
“Smart.” He smiled at her and continued driving.
The rest of the drive was done in silence, with Steve keeping an eye on his girlfriend in the mirror and the profiler tending to their son and the animals. It seemed like no time had passed and they were pulling off the main road into the jungle, going from pavement to gravel to dirt. He pulled the truck into the clearing and parked it, shutting off the engine. He got out, came around the truck and opened the front passenger door, releasing Burt.
“Backyard, Burt.” The Navy officer ordered, before opening the back door for his girlfriend and removing his cat from her lap. “Let me help you out, then I’ll get him.”
“No, I want to take the whole car seat.” Jacq began to disentangle the straps from the device holding her baby. It took a couple minutes, but she finally did it. She slowly backed out of the truck and let McGarrett help her down. Leaving him to lock up, she slowly made her way to the path, where the former police dog and Coronado were waiting for her. She shook her head. Even though she was no longer pregnant, she had a bad feeling they would remain her constant shadows. She sidestepped them and rounded the house. Then she froze.
“What’s wrong, honey?” The head of Five-O asked as he caught up with her. He smiled. The backyard was full of their teammates, their families and all their friends. Tables were set up, full of food and presents.
Having spotted the family’s arrival, the group shouted. “CONGRATULATIONS!!!”
“Our ohana is the best.” The Lieutenant Commander stated as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulders and ushered her over to the crowd.
“They really are.” She whispered back to him as they were warmly greeted by the family of their own making.
*****
“I don’t think either of us is going to have to cook for the next week, maybe two.”
“Perfect.” Jacq said as she came out of the nursery. She’d just laid James down for a nap. She was thankful their friends had only stayed a couple hours and began to leave as soon as she took the baby inside to be fed. She’d heard everyone outside, cleaning up, putting stuff away and saying goodbye to Steve, while she was upstairs with James, feeding him, giving him a bath and doing her best to settle him down for his nap. Infants pretty much only ate, slept and pooped when they were a few days old. None of their ohana had asked to hold the baby, letting him stay with his mother and father, but they had fawned over him and commented on how much he looked like both of his parents. It had been a nice thing to come home to, but the new mother was exhausted. She looked down at herself and sighed. She was wearing sweats and a loose shirt. None of her normal clothes would fit, not until she lost the ten to twelve pounds she gained. She’d worry about that tomorrow. “I think I’m going to take a shower, then have a nap of my own. I’m wiped.”
“Would you like some company?” McGarrett was sitting on her side of the bed, watching her.
“There will be no fooling around for six weeks. You heard Liz.”
“She said no sex. Fooling around is still on the table.” He stood and came over to her, taking her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest and sighed.
“I’ll pass. I want to get the hospital smell off of me, put on something comfortable and fall into bed.”
“If you’re sure.” The former SEAL was disappointed. He’d missed holding her and being close with her. Now that the baby was here, he’d thought things would start returning to normal. All the same, he understood. He’d read every baby book the profiler bought or borrowed. Postpartum women went through several stages and he knew he couldn’t rush her. She was beautiful to him, no matter what, and he loved her completely. He’d support her the best he could.
“Positive, but stick around. You need to keep an ear out for James and for the animals wanting to be let back in. I assume you left them outside.” She stepped away from him and went over to her dresser, pulling out clothes to put on after her shower. She suddenly remembered her bag and the plants and flowers that were still in the truck, but she pushed that thought away. Being clean and getting some sleep were more important. She’d worry about the stuff in the truck later.
“I did.” He sat back down on the bed and resumed watching her.
“Excellent.” She carried her clothes towards the bathroom, but paused at the entrance to her closet. “You may want to change.”
“Why?” He was confused.
“You can’t hold me while I sleep with your shoes, belt and pants on.” Then she disappeared. He heard the water come on a minute later.
Standing up, a smile spread across Steve’s face and he began to strip until only his boxers remained. It wasn’t what he’d been counting on, but he’d take it.
Notes:
The baby is finally here!!!! Thank God. More drama to come. Stay tuned....
Chapter 8: Getting Back to the Plan
Chapter Text
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Jacq doubled over and tried to catch her breath. She was standing at the foot of the lanai stairs and had just returned from a run on the beach with Burt, who was laying in the grass and panting. She’d pushed herself to go a bit farther than she had been the last five weeks. Her body still felt strange, even considering she’d lost 6 pounds since coming home from the hospital with James. She wanted to feel like herself again. “We went down past the old airfield, then came back.” She shared as she stood up and mounted the stairs. Her boyfriend was sitting in her normal seat with John in his arms.
“That’s a nice long run.”
“Yeah, it was. And it felt good, but it also showed me I have a long way to go before I’m in shape again.” She sat down on the porch and went through her stretches. She didn’t want her muscles to tighten up later and stop her from running the next few days.
“You don’t have to push yourself so hard. You’ll get there.”
“Says the man who runs five miles without breaking a sweat.” She threw back at him. “He been asleep since I left?”
“Yup. I wish he was this good at night.” Their son was loud when he was unhappy or hungry and had a tendency to jolt them both awake at night when he began to wail.
“You and me both.” The profiler got to her feet with a sigh. She was tired.
McGarrett studied her. He could see the exhaustion and wished he could do more for her. Then he remembered something. “Is your appointment today?”
“Yeah.” She was excited to hear what Dr. Levy was going to say to her. Having her doctor tell her she was better would do wonders for her morale and she was going to have lunch with her godfather afterwards. He’d only been out to visit a couple times since she gave birth and she missed him, but she knew he was busy at the hospital and couldn’t fault him for taking his work seriously. “I need to shower, change and eat before we head out. Are you sure you don’t want to come along? Phillip would love to see you.”
He shook his head. “I’m going to use the time you’re gone to do a few things around here, like my taxes.”
“You still haven’t finished those?” She started to go inside.
“No, and before you ask again, I don’t need any help. I’ll get them done soon.” He shook his head at her and returned the focus to her trip into the city. “I put the stroller in the truck when I got back from my run.”
“Your truck or my truck?” She’d stopped in the doorway to the kitchen and was looking at him suspiciously.
“My truck. Your truck doesn’t have airbags and the car seat is already hooked up.” She was now glaring at him, but he didn’t buckle. “Doesn’t work on me, honey. You might want to think about getting another vehicle.”
Instead of answering, Dr. Stone rolled her eyes and went into the house. Steve chuckled and continued to rock John in his arms. Burt eventually came up to lay next to him on the lanai. He stayed in his chair outside until he heard movement in the kitchen. He carefully stood and wandered inside. His girlfriend was making herself eggs and toast, a glass with juice was already at her place on the table.
“Don’t you think it would be a good idea to have a vehicle that it’s okay to transport our child in? I have to go back to work at some point and you can’t use your truck. It isn’t safe.” He watched her cook her food, but she didn’t respond until everything was dished up and she was on her way to sit down.
“I have another vehicle.”
“You do?” He sat down next to her after she slid into her chair.
“Yeah, I put it in storage after I came back to Hawai’i and decided to use my grandfather’s truck. It’s comforting to drive and makes me think about him.” She took a few bites of food, then chuckled. “My car’s probably due for an update. It’s at least 12 years old by now and I haven’t driven it in almost six years.” She didn’t want to think about what condition it was in.
“I can help you research new vehicles if you want.” The former SEAL offered.
“I’d like that.” She checked her watch. “Shoot. We need to head out. Can you get him in the truck, while I finish eating?”
“Will do.” McGarrett stood and headed out of the house. He followed the path to the clearing and unlocked his truck. It only took a couple of minutes to get John situated in the car seat and he was extremely thankful the infant was still asleep. It would make his girlfriend’s drive into Honolulu easier. He leaned against the seat, keeping the door open until Jacq arrived. Burt, who had followed him from the house, tried to get into the backseat. “You aren’t going, buddy. You, me and Coronado are staying here.”
The big dog whined and opened his mouth to bark, but a firm voice stopped him.
“Burt, quiet. Get inside.” Jacq hissed at her pet as she entered the clearing. If he woke the baby, it would be a miserable drive to the hospital. She adjusted the strap of the diaper bag on her shoulder and continued over to the truck.
Steve laughed as he watched the former police dog trot around the house dejectedly. He stepped forward and gave the woman he loved a kiss, his arms going around her and pulling her close. “You have quite a way with him, honey.”
“Just like I have quite the way with you.” She gave him a kiss back and pulled his keys out of his hand. “We’ll see you after lunch.”
“I’ll be here.” The head of Five-O softly closed the door of the truck and stepped back, watching her get behind the wheel, start the engine and ease away from him. He remained standing there until the truck disappeared from view. With a heavy sigh, he turned and returned to the house. He really didn’t want to work on his taxes and tried to think of something else to do for the next few hours. Right as he sat down at the kitchen table, it hit him. He pulled out his cell and made a call. It was time to get things back on track and in order to do that, he was going to need a little help. He knew exactly who to ask for it.
*****
Detective Danny Williams was sitting at his desk, hard at work. He’d never realized how much paperwork McGarrett did on a daily basis, but the last month and a half had given him a new appreciation for being in charge of a team of people. True, they were all people he cared about; however, none of them could help him fill out these forms. It was better that they focus their time on cases. They currently were working on two, though in actuality, they weren’t Five-O’s cases. The team was assisting HPD with tracking down a bootleg ring and the FBI needed some insight into the local crime factions for a task force they were forming. Grover, Chin and Adam were with the Feds, since they all had varying degrees of exposure to organized crime on the island (they were omitting Noshimuri’s intimate knowledge of the Yakuza), while the rest of the team was dealing with their bootleggers.
Danny lifted his head. Jerry was out at the interactive table, monitoring HPD’s current sting to trap a group selling pirated DVDs. They were hoping the sellers would lead to the producers. His phone was sitting next to his laptop and began to ring. He answered it and put it on speaker. “Williams.”
“Hey, Danno.”
“Get bored already, babe?” He smiled as he continued filling out the requisition form on his screen. He and his partner texted with each other daily since Steve had gone on paternity leave, but this was the first time he called.
“No. I need your help with something.”
“Only if you help with all these forms. Why did you never mention the amount of paperwork your job entails?”
“Not so easy to be in charge, is it?” There was definite amusement in the former SEAL’s voice and he was trying to rile his partner up, but the other man didn’t take the bait.
“What do you need help with, babe?”
“Do you have time to swing by that flower shop we went to last year?
“Probably, why?”
“I need you to order some flowers for me.”
“Why don’t you just call them yourself?” The Detective didn’t understand the head of Five-O’s habit of making things more complicated than needed and adding to other people’s workload. “Unlike you, I have work to do.”
“Are you going to help me or not?” Steve growled through the connection. He’d kind of missed arguing with his partner, but he was always so difficult.
“No, not without you telling me why you want my help.”
“Because…. Because….” He was loath to do it, but he honestly needed the help. “Because you made good suggestions about the arrangements last time and I want her to like them as much this time as she did last time.” He hoped his friend got what he was implying.
“Are you saying I have good taste?” Danny smiled. He knew what the Navy officer was planning and was happy to help, but wanted him to sweat a little first.
“Yes, but if you tell anyone, I will deny it to my grave.”
Williams chuckled. “Fine, I’ll help. Are you going all out like last time or are you going to try being a bit more subtle?”
“She loved all the flowers before and said it was very romantic, but I don’t want to do the same thing. I was thinking maybe four large bouquets of her favorite flowers in a variety of colors. How does that sound?”
“Not bad. Need me to pick up anything else? Some of that fancy wine she likes?” Danny wasn’t really thinking about what he was asking, since his eyes were scanning the form on his screening. He was giving it a good once over before he sent it out.
“She can’t drink while she’s breastfeeding, you know that.”
“TMI, babe.” He quickly closed the document and attached it to the email he’d already drafted, sending it out with a couple of clicks. “Fine, no wine. Anything else you need?”
“No, I’m going to call Mr. Lee after I get off with you. Jacq left a few minutes ago for her 6-week appointment and I want to make these calls while she’s out, then I have to try to finish my taxes.”
The Detective gasped. “I thought you would’ve finished those weeks ago.”
“Don’t start with me. I’ve been putting it off because we’ve been doing things around the house and trying to catch sleep when we can. You never told me how disruptive babies could be.”
“Why give you an advantage I didn’t have? No one warned me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to warn you.” Danny chuckled when his partner growled again. “Now, back to your taxes. They aren’t that hard to do and you only have three weeks left to get them in. I-.”
“Stop.” McGarrett interrupted him. “I don’t need your help or anyone else’s. Jacq keeps offering, but I know I can do them on my own. I just need to sit down and knock them out.”
“Then why don’t you? Jacq is a smart woman. You should let her help.”
“Not going to happen, Danno. I know how to do them and I will get them finished in time. Back to the flowers. Will you-?”
“I’ll go get them ordered as soon as I finish one more form I need to fill out and check on the team. Text me the kind of flowers you want. You want them sent to the house?”
“Yeah, but have them call when they’re on their way. I’ll probably meet them in the clearing so Jacq doesn’t see.” The Navy officer paused for a minute, thinking over what the other man had said, then asked. “Why do you need to check on the team? Do you need me to-?”
“Everything’s under control. Don’t worry about them or anything else.” His partner began to speak again, but he cut him off. “Bye, Steve. I’ll let you know about the flowers and how much you owe me.” He hit the end button and the call disconnected. He sat back in his chair and started to laugh. He wasn’t sure how much longer McGarrett would last before his curiosity got the best of him and he returned to work. His need to control things was rearing its ugly head. He could only hope he held off for a couple more weeks, which would ensure he won the betting pool.
*****
“You didn’t tell me how your appointment went yesterday.” McGarret commented as his girlfriend came into the kitchen.
“It was fine. I’m all healed and she’s pleased with my weight loss. And before you tell me again, she agreed that there isn’t any rush and to not push myself.” She replied. She poured herself a glass of water and came over to the table, sliding into her normal seat with a sigh.
“I give good advice.”
“I never said you didn’t.” Jacq placed the baby monitor in front of her on the table and sat back in her chair, trying her best to relax for a moment. She watched the Navy officer as he continued to write, but after a minute or two, sat forward to look more closely at what he was working on. Her eyes got big when she realized what he was doing. “Are those your taxes? I thought you already finished them.”
“I’m getting there. I’ll get them done in the next day or so.”
“Are you sure you don’t-?” She began to ask until he held up a hand to stop her.
“I’ve got it, honey. I’ve done my own taxes since I left the academy. I know how to do them.”
“Then what’s taking you so long?” She grabbed her laptop, flipped it open and logged on.
“Last year was complicated. Accidents, medical bills, etc. I have lots of work-related things to claim and I need to do it right. I don’t want to be audited.”
“If you let me help you, you wouldn’t get audit.” She opened her email and combed through her newest messages.
Steve shook his head. It was time to change the subject. Between the profiler and his partner, he was never going to hear the end of it if he didn’t get his taxes submitted soon. “Do we have anything on the schedule for Friday?”
“Not that I can think of. Why?” She absentmindedly responded to him. She had an interesting request in her inbox, plus an email from Rossi. He wanted her to review the first few pages of a paper he was working on. She’d do that first.
“I thought it might be nice for the two of us to have an ‘adult’ dinner together.” He emphasized the word ‘adult.’ Most of their conversation since John’s birth revolved around him and he wanted the chance to talk about them as a couple for a few hours, not that they’d ever be just ‘them’ again, but they were more than parents. He wanted to remind her of that.
“That sounds wonderful. Do you need me to do anything?”
“I’ve got it covered.” He answered quickly, earning him a silent stare. Feeling eyes on him, he looked up. “What?”
“Should I be concerned?”
“No.” He firmly stated. When she didn’t stop staring at him, he added. “I have everything planned out. When you go upstairs Friday night to feed John and put him to bed, I’ll get dinner ready. Would you mind dressing up a little?”
“No, it’ll be fun.” She gestured at herself. “I’ve been wearing leggings and loose t-shirts for the last six weeks. Getting back to normal will be great and good practice.” She smiled and returned to her work. She had already read half a page of Dave’s paper and there were some edits and suggestions she had for him. She dove into it.
As the profiler sat there working, she grew restless and began to shift and stretch. She was barefoot and eventually one of her feet hit her boyfriend’s leg. She let it rest there and after she finished up her review of Rossi’s paper, moved on to the case request she’d received. She skimmed through the documents and her foot began to rub up and down McGarrett’s leg, almost of its own volition. After several minutes, she became aware of what she was doing and stole a glance at her boyfriend. He was biting his lip and doing his best to keep his focus on his taxes. A smirk graced her face as she shifted her foot to the inside of his leg and began to lightly ghost it up his shin and then along his thigh. She was actually a bit surprised. Ever since she gave birth, she’d rebuffed most of his attempts to be intimate, beyond cuddling and kissing, but today…. Honestly, she wasn’t sure what had come over her. All she did know was she wanted him, in every way that mattered.
“You okay, Steve?”
“Just fine.” He hissed out through clenched teeth, his eyes still on the papers in front of him.
Sliding down in her chair a bit to increase her reach, her foot inched closer to his crotch. “Are you sure?” Her toes hit something hard and her smirk morphed into a smile. She pressed a little closer, then fingers wrapped around the top of her foot. He was finally looking at her and his pupils were so dilated his eyes looked black.
“In the mood for games, are you?”
“Yes, actually, I am.” She hoped he understood her meaning. As he jumped to his feet, it was obvious he did.
The former SEAL had released her foot as soon as he began to stand and in an instant, was pulling her up out of her chair and into his arms. He smashed his lips against hers and let his hands rove over every bit of her body he could reach. Not to be out done, Jacq gave as good as she got and fought him for control of their kiss, even as she pulled his shirt from his pants and dipped beneath. Realizing he was almost dragging her backwards in the direction of the stairs, she stopped her exploration of his back and wormed her arms around his neck, leveraging herself up in order to wrap her legs around his waist. Unhindered, he strode across the kitchen and mounted the stairs two at a time. He’d been tempted to take her into the living room, but decided being upstairs where they could hear John if he needed something was a better plan.
It only took seconds for them to reach the master bedroom and he stopped just inside the doors. He broke for air and when something bumped against his leg, he breathlessly ordered. “Burt, out.” He kept his voice low, having no desire to wake the baby and ruin his plans. The dog whined and continued to nudge him. “Now, Burt, out.” He demanded again. The Dutch Shepherd trotted out of the room and Steve tossed his girlfriend on the bed.
“Be careful with me.” She hissed at him as she worked on getting herself undressed, tossing her clothes away from her and not caring where they landed.
Ignoring her, the head of Five-O spotted Coronado staring at him from his cat bed. He grabbed his pet and strode over to the doors. He dropped the little animal next to his canine brother and closed the doors. He wanted uninterrupted time for however long he could manage it. “That’s better.” He muttered as he pulled his shirt over his head. He saw the woman he loved laying naked on the bed, watching and waiting for him. He had his belt, pants, and boxers off in a flash and joined her.
McGarrett was in heaven as he worshipped Jacq’s body. He’d missed touching her like this and bringing them both pleasure. He didn’t even see her scars when they were together in bed, just her curves, her softness and her pure sensuality. She was unlike any women he’d been with before and he knew he never wanted to be with anyone else now that she was in his life. He kissed her hard on the mouth, then trailed kisses down her body, starting with her jaw and ending with the soft skin along the inside of her legs. He made his way back up her body and grinned as she whimpered and squirmed under his skilled hands. Right before she reached her breaking point, he smoothly entered her and in minutes, brought them both to climax. He flopped down next to her, but instead of passing out like he wanted to, rolled off the bed, heading into the bathroom. He cleaned himself up, then took a wet cloth into the bedroom, taking care of the remaining mess once he was back beside her. He dropped the dirty cloth over the side of the bed and shifted closer to her.
“That was intense.” The profiler whispered, once she could speak again.
“I’ve missed you.” He replied. He kissed her cheek and ran his hand across her belly, eventually finding the scar there. He traced it with his fingertips without really intending to.
“That much is apparent.”
“You’ve been distant.” He shared.
Turning her head, she gave him a pained smile. “I haven’t felt like myself, but today…. I don’t know. It felt right.”
“I’m glad.” He stole a fast kiss, then focused on what his hand was doing. He studied the scar. He was happy she’d been able to give birth naturally, because both her godfather and Dr. Levy had been concerned about how she would handle a C-section given her previous injuries. Something about this one scar seemed a little off. “Is it less puffy?”
“Some.” She answered. “I spoke to Liz about it. She thinks stretching it out like it was during my pregnancy may have broken up some of the scar tissue. Once I lose the rest of the baby weight, I’m going to speak to Phillip about it. He takes pictures of them every once and awhile to see how my treatments are going. He’ll be able to see if it changed. I also rubbed stretch mark cream on my belly, thighs and hips once I entered the third trimester. That could’ve helped, too.” She looked away from him, her cheeks turning red. She was embarrassed. Steve grabbed her chin and pulled her face back towards him.
“You’re beautiful, inside and out.”
“Mahalo. I-.” Whatever she was going to say was interrupted when crying echoed out of the nursery, followed by barking in the hall. She gave a heavy sigh. “I’ll get John.”
“And I’ll take Burt and Coronado outside to burn off some energy.” He gave her another kiss and rolled out of bed again. He picked up his clothing and began to put it back on.
On the other hand, Dr. Stone got up and headed into the open door of their son’s bedroom, naked. The infant didn’t care and it wasn’t like she was going outside where someone might see her.
McGarrett’s eyes followed her until she disappeared, then he shook his head. Her habit of walking around the bedroom naked did crazy things to his libido and he couldn’t get distracted. Fully dressed again, he went over to the doors into the hall and swung them open. Burt and his cat were sitting there, waiting for him. “Come on, guys. Let’s go outside.” He strode over to the stairs and headed down, the two animals following after him.
*****
Lifting the spoon out of the pan on the burner, Steve gave it a little taste and smiled. “Perfect.” He whispered. He turned down the heat and shifted to look into the large pot next to the pan. The water inside it was boiling. He carefully picked up the pasta from where it was sitting on the counter and dropped into the water. He’d made it himself and knew it needed less than a minute to cook. Then his phone rang. He scrambled to get it out of his pocket and answer, while keeping an eye on the pasta. “McGarrett.”
“Can I come downstairs yet?” It was Jacq.
“No, and why are you calling me?” He began to pull the pasta out of the boiling water and added it to the pan with his sauce.
“I didn’t want to shout down the stairs and wake up John.” There was a pause, then she added. “Plus, I’m hungry.”
“I need a few more minutes. I’ll come get you when it’s ready. Okay?”
“All right, but hurry.” The profiler hung up and the line went dead.
Putting his phone away, the former SEAL got back to cooking and chuckled. He was pretty sure he was rubbing off on his girlfriend. It was killing her to not be in control or know what was going on. He turned off the burner with the pasta and sauce in it and put a lid on top of it, letting the flavors soak in. He’d dish it up after they had their salads, which were already on the table outside on the lanai. He went out the door and checked everything for himself, adjusting the bouquets he’d strategically placed and pouring the sparkling cider he’d opened earlier. Dessert was in the fridge, to be served after they had their main course. Everything was ready.
Going into the house again, he cut across the kitchen into the back foyer, but he paused at the living room doors. Burt and Coronado were laying on the couch, watching him. “How do I look?” He asked the animals as he adjusted his jacket. He was wearing a dark pair of linen pants, with a cream button-down short-sleeved shirt, a belt and a dark-colored linen jacket, which was almost the same shade as his pants. He’d finished his outfit with a pair of boat shoes and a touch of cologne.
The cat and dog tilted their heads and just stared at him.
The Navy officer laughed and mounted the stairs. He strode across the landing and into the master suite. He stopped cold. “You look amazing.”
“Mahalo.” Jacq smoothed her hand down her skirt. “I know how much you like this dress.” She was wearing the mauve-colored silk dress of her mother’s, along with a pair of heeled sandals and her hair was down. She smiled shyly at the way her boyfriend was gazing at her and ducked her head, asking. “Food?”
“Right, yes. Let’s go have dinner.” He held out his arm to her and she came over to him with a brief detour to grab the baby monitor off her nightstand. When she hooked her arm through his, he took the receiver from her and dropped into his coat pocket. They headed down the stairs together, went through the kitchen and out onto the lanai.
Her shy smile turned into a full-blown grin when she saw everything he’d set up. There were two vases of lilies on the table, a mix of reds, oranges and yellow, while on the floor on either side of the table there was one vase with red roses and the other with pink. She let herself be led to her seat and slid into it. “This looks wonderful, Steve.”
“Glad you like it. There’s salad, entree and dessert, plus some of that non-alcoholic cider I know you like.”
“Sounds perfect. May I?” She picked up her fork and pointed at the plate in front of her. He nodded and sat down, then they both began to eat. The salads were simple but tasty. They ate them quietly, just enjoying each other’s company.
McGarrett finished first and sat back, waiting for her. As soon as she dabbed her mouth with her napkin and leaned away from the table, he stood. He grabbed both their plates and headed inside. “I’ll get our main course.”
“What are we having?” She inquired. He’d already disappeared inside.
His voice was muffled when he replied. “You’ll see.” It took a few minutes, but he soon came out with two steaming plates of food. As he set her plate in front of her, he smiled and told her. “Homemade ravioli with parmesan cream sauce.”
“You made pasta?” She stared at her plate in shock.
“Yup.”
“When?”
“When you went for your run, I made the dough and put it in the fridge to chill. Then during your nap before lunch, I rolled it out and filled it.” He retook his seat and watched her. She raised her head and met his eyes.
“That’s why you insisted on fixing lunch, so I wouldn’t see them in the fridge.”
He chuckled. “Only partially. I like taking care of you and you’ve been doing so much else, making lunch seemed like the least I could do. Give it a try.” He picked up his fork, but didn’t start to eat. He watched her as she sampled a piece. Her eyes closed in pleasure. He grinned and began to enjoy what was on his plate.
“This is amazing.” The profiler declared after several more bites.
“I’m glad you think so. Don’t forget there’s dessert.” A nervousness settled into the pit of his stomach and he did his best to tamp it down. It was almost time. He couldn’t understand his anxiety. He already knew her answer. “What do you think of the filling?” He decided some small talk was needed; it would help keep him calm.
“It’s nice. A little nutty, a little tangy. What’s in it?” She was down to her last ravioli and set her fork aside to sip some of her cider. She couldn’t wait until they could have wine with dinner again, or at least on their dates.
“Pine nuts, goat cheese and minced mushrooms.”
“The world is ending, there’s no meat.”
“I wanted the meal to be light.” He offered. He didn’t think she was complaining, but all the same, wanted to explain.
“And it is. I like it. I like everything thus far.” She quickly ate her last piece of pasta and drank more cider. “I’m just wondering what’s for dessert.”
“In a few more minutes, you’ll know.” He grinned at her and ate the rest of his meal without further comment. He could feel his girlfriend’s eyes on him, but ignored it. He was soon standing and clearing their plates.
“Are you honestly not going to tell me what we’re having?” She questioned.
“Nope.” He disappeared into the house and he chuckled when he heard her growl at him.
Jacq sighed and strained to hear what was going inside the house. Plates clinked together as they went into the sink, the fridge door opened and closed a couple of times, and drawers slid out and back in. That didn’t give her a lot of information. The anticipation was starting to build.
“Close your eyes.” The former SEAL called out to her.
“Fine, but under protest.” She was being stubborn; they both knew that. She shut her eyes and waited. The sounds of his arrival came to her and something was set in front of her. Finally, he sat back down. She continued to wait, but couldn’t take the not-knowing. “Any time now.” She muttered, earning herself another laugh.
“All right, open your eyes.”
When she did, his smiling face greeted her, then she tilted her head down. A dessert plate was sitting in front of her and on it, there was a fruit tart, expertly made, with a variety of berries sitting atop the pastry cream. But there was something out of place. Stuck into one of the strawberries was a ring, a ring she’d seen once before. A smile spread across her face. She had suspected there was a reason for the special dinner and all the care he’d taken in planning it. She looked up and inquired. “Are you asking?”
“I am.” There was a minute tremble in his voice.
“Then I’m accepting.” She held out her left hand. “Do you want to put it on me…? Make it official?”
“I’d love to.” McGarrett jumped to his feet and came around the table, pulling the ring out of the tart when he did. He then dropped to one knee and took her hand. “Thank you for making me the happiest man on earth, Jacq. I’m looking forward to spending the rest of my life fighting with and loving you.” He slid the ring onto her left ring finger and gazed at her, his eyes filled with nothing but love and gratitude.
The profiler looked at the ring and smiled. It was beautiful. She reached out and cupped her boyfriend’s face with both hands. “And I’m so happy we found each other and that I opened myself up to you and your team. It was a hard decision, but one of the best ones of my life.” She leaned forward and kissed him. He quickly deepened it, enjoying how she tasted. He was over the moon happy. She was no longer just his girlfriend and the mother of his child. She was now his fiancée and hopefully soon, would be his wife.
*****
“It’s beautiful, Steve. I still can’t believe you designed it.”
“I didn’t want some generic ring. That ring links us together and shows that’s we’re connected.” The Navy officer took Jacq’s left hand and studied the ring he’d give her a couple days earlier. It looked good on her and fit perfectly. The jeweler had questioned the size he’d ordered, but he insisted it was correct. Her fingers were very slender and he had no desire to get it adjusted after he gave it to her. He never wanted her to take it off. “I still think it’s funny that tridents and psi’s are basically the same shape with minor differences.”
“Shows it was destiny.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. The couple was sitting on the floor of the living room along with their son and their pets. John was getting some tummy time to help strengthen his muscles and learn to raise his head up. He was getting better at the latter and enjoyed the chance to look around. His furry brothers were staying close and low, happy for the chance to interact with the infant, while heavily supervised. The former police dog inched closer and licked one of the baby’s hands, eliciting a smile and a laugh. “Good boy, Burt. Remember, gentle.” She scratched her pet’s head.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea for them to be so close?” He gestured at the animals, even as Coronado climbed into his lap and curled up.
“Growing up with animals can improve a child’s self-esteem, social skills and cognitive development. We just can’t leave them alone.” She smiled at the man she loved and earned herself a kiss.
“I trust your knowledge.” He brushed a hand across the small of her back. “Do you want to talk about the wedding?”
“What aspect of the wedding do you want to talk about?” She knew he was after something.
“When do you want to get married? We could probably pull everything together in a couple of months.”
“I have no desire to be a June bride and want to take my time picking out a dress and losing the rest of the baby weight.” She responded quickly.
McGarrett nodded. He was disappointed, but he’d do whatever was needed to make her happy. If she was uncomfortable, it would turn the whole thing into a disaster. “When were you thinking?”
“If I’m completely honest, I’d like to get married in the fall, maybe around Thanksgiving. We’ll all be together, including Deb, Mary and Joanie, most likely, and then they won’t have to fly out here multiple times. It’s a long expensive flight.” She paused, then quickly added. “Also, I’d like to go somewhere with snow for at least part of our honeymoon.”
“Snow?”
“Yeah, I miss fall and winter in the States, but we’ll come back here for Christmas. What do you say?” While she was speaking, her focus had returned to their child, but she stole a peek at him. He appeared to be thinking it over.
The head of Five-O shrugged. “That doesn’t sound so bad. We live in paradise already, so going someplace tropical seems redundant. And I’d love to go snowboarding. Not a lot of options for that in Hawai’i.” He then asked her a question. “Do you ski or snowboard?” There was a lot he still didn’t know about her, but he knew all the important stuff, like how much he loved her and she loved him.
“No, but I’m happy to watch you or sit inside reading a book in front of the fire. And I have to take care of John. He’s too little to go out on the slopes.” She grabbed one of her baby’s hands and got a smile out of him. He was a sweet little boy.
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” He realized in that moment everything in his life would need to revolve around their son, at least until he was old enough to make his own decisions. It would take some time to fully embrace the notion, but he was a planner and could adapt. “I don’t need to-.”
“If you want to snowboard, snowboard. We don’t have to spend every minute of our honeymoon together, but I expect some quality connecting time, since that’s the whole point.” She was facing him and had a stern look on her face, though hints of a smile were threatening to break out.
“Not a problem.” He gave her another kiss and she grinned. “I-.” A knock on the back door interrupted him. “I’ll get it.” He moved Coronado out of his lap and scrambled to his feet.
“Actually, we should both get it. I’m pretty sure that’s your engagement gift.” She carefully picked up John, got him settled on her hip and slapped her fiancé’s leg. “Help me.”
“You got me a gift?” He was confused, but pulled her up until she was standing next to him.
“Yup.” She held out her hand. “You got me a ring and I got you something very important.” She strode out into the hall and opened the back door, a genuine smile appearing on her face when she saw who it was. “Hello, Keith. How are you?” She stepped back and gestured to the interior of her home. He stepped inside.
“Not bad, Jacq. How are you doing?” He smiled at her, then he spotted the baby. “Here he is.” He rubbed the baby’s cheek and earned himself a giggle. “He’s adorable.”
“Thanks. It was a team effort.” When she felt a hand on the small of her back again, she knew the former SEAL had joined them and made introductions. “Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett, meet Keith Peters, CPA.”
“Mr. Peters.” Steve offered his hand to the other man and they shook. He studied their guest. He was an older, African-American man with salt-and-pepper hair and a pleasant face. He was a few inches shorter than him and a few pounds heavier. Then it hit him. “You’re an accountant?”
“Yes, Lieutenant Commander. Jacq asked me to stop by to help you with your taxes.”
“I don’t need help.” He replied, then he turned to the woman he loved and said it again. “I don’t need help. I’m almost finished.”
“You do need help and he’s going to make sure you file them on time. Follow me, Keith.” She beckoned to her visitor and walked into the kitchen, stopping by the large table. She pointed at the two file boxes sitting on the far end. “That’s all his documentation.”
“Let’s see.” The account opened one of the boxes and smiled. It was all organized. “This is going to be much easier than yours, Jacq. I should be able to get this done in a day or two, then I’ll bring it by for your review and signature, Lieutenant Commander.” The Navy officer had followed them and was frowning at his future wife.
“Good to hear. Can I have a word with you?” He grabbed the profiler’s elbow and pulled her back out into the hall. Once they were out of sight from the accountant, he hissed at her. “You didn’t need to call him.”
“I know you hate giving up control, but I wanted to do this for you. You’ve been trying to finish them for weeks and seem to be procrastinating. This is a present and now you don’t have to stress about it. Please?” She stepped into his personal space and batted her eyelashes at him. She did her best to ignore John pulling on her hair. She might have to consider putting it up in a bun until he was a little older.
McGarrett immediately caved and growled at her. He gave her a hard fast kiss. “As you like to say, I do so under protest.”
“Noted.” She smiled at him and led him back into the kitchen where their guest was waiting patiently for them. “Now, why don’t the two of you chat and make sure Keith has everything he needs.”
The men nodded at her and sat down at the table next to each other, discussing the contents of the boxes. Dr. Stone smirked and strolled back into the living room, quickly resuming her place on the floor with their pets. Her fiancé needed to learn she’d do her best to always get her way.
Chapter 9: By Any Means
Notes:
This is the other chapter my beta had issues with (along with chapter two). It is also a little more gory than usual for me. There is violence, a handful of deaths and a sad injury. Hopefully that properly prepares everyone without me giving anything away.
PS Sorry for the delay in posting. It was a awful Monday to say the least.
Chapter Text
“You’re going to get frown lines if you keep doing that.” Jacq warned from her place on the couch. She was feeding John, but looking at the person sitting next to her, who was wearing a sour expression.
“I don’t need to head back to work yet.” McGarrett stated.
“Yes, you do. It’s driving you crazy to not know what’s going on, especially since Danny stopped responding to your work-related texts and phone calls. And you’re starting to annoy me a little bit, too.”
“I am?”
“You are.” She chuckled and readjusted her baby. “Plus, if you go back to work tomorrow, I win Nicky’s pool.”
“Nicky’s behind the betting pool?” He inquired, then her whole statement hit him. “You bet on me?”
“Of course, especially since I could directly influence the outcome.” She swallowed as his frown morphed into true displeasure. “I plan to split it with you, after Nicky takes his cut. And you really are starting to grate on my nerves. I need the reprieve. Also, it is just one day a week. I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like the thought of you and John being out here alone.”
“We won’t be alone. Burt’ll be here. He won’t let anything happen to us, will you, baby?” She gave the former police dog a scratch behind the ear. He had his head in her lap and was nuzzling his human brother. He gave a soft happy bark in reply. He was learning the appropriate response based on John being present or not.
“How exactly are you going to handle him and the baby?” It was clear Steve was looking for any excuse to not go into work, even though he’d love for his fiancée to win the bet instead of his partner.
She’d already thought of that and immediately answered. “When it’s time to feed John or lay him down for a nap, I’ll let Burt and Coronado outside to play and burn off energy. Then I can go out on the lanai afterwards and relax, or play with John. I’m great at multitasking. Also, they don’t need constant supervision, which means I can start working on some of the requests I’ve received over the last two and a half months.” In actuality, she’d already started consulting again, but nothing major, mostly file reviews and cold case work. She hadn’t had the time to work any active investigations.
“I want a better cut.” He declared with a smirk.
“What?” Dr. Stone asked, as John finished eating. She shifted his position and was all ready to burp him when the man she loved carefully took him away from her, after swiping the cloth she had over her shoulder. “Mahalo.” She said while putting herself back together.
“You’re welcome.” He replied and got to his feet when she stood, gently patting and rubbing the baby’s back as he did. “And what I said was I want a better cut of the bet, since this all hinges on me.” They strolled into the kitchen together, their animals following after them. “I was thinking 75-25.”
“How about 60-40?” She countered with a smile. She didn’t care about the money, but was enjoying the negotiation.
“I deserve more that 60 percent.” He smiled when his son burped and then cuddled into his shoulder.
She rolled her eyes at him and slipped into her spot at the table. “Fine. 70-30, in your favor, and not a cent more.” Inside she was laughing. As long as she remade the money she bet, he could have it all. She’d probably buy him a present with her winnings for being a good sport.
“Deal.” McGarrett held out his hand and they shook, then he got John situated in his bouncy chair, which was on the table next to his spot. He sat down next to his fiancée with a sigh. He wasn’t exactly excited about being forced to go into work, even if it meant he’d know what was going on. Danny was doing a good job, by all reports. All the same, it was just one day a week and the break would probably be good for his relationship. They’d been spending 20-22 hours a day with each other with little breaks when they each went for their runs and when certain chores or activities popped up. All the same, he’d miss her and John and just being alone together at her house by the ocean. He cleared his throat and asked. “What do you want to do for the rest of the day?”
*****
Jacq smiled as she softly closed the door to the nursery behind her. John had gone down for his late morning/lunchtime nap with minimal complaint and for that she was thankful. She pulled the baby monitor from the pocket of her sweater and checked the volume, holding it to her ear. She could hear her son breathing. Good. She thought as she headed towards the stairs. She wanted to go outside and play with the animals for a bit before she had lunch, then she’d try to do some work before the baby woke up. She really hoped she could get all of that accomplished without interruptions. Their morning had gone well. Steve had stayed until after she went on her run and only called her once to check in. When she was finally alone, she’d been able to get a little work done, plus spent time cuddling with her baby, and the animals behaved themselves. They’d been excited to go outside when she took John upstairs and she wanted to reward them for their patience.
She’d only gone down a few stairs when she heard Burt barking angrily from outside the house. Someone he didn’t know must have arrived. She picked up her pace, then froze when a long bang followed by a yelp reverberated through the house, likely through the open windows of the master bedroom. She knew that sound well; it was a gunshot. She didn’t want to think about what the yelp was. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she unlocked it and punched in a number. She lifted it to her ear and waited. After two rings, it connected.
“911, what’s your emergency?” A no-nonsense female voice inquired.
“This is Dr. Stone of the Five-O Task Force. I just heard a shot fired outside of my home with a possible injury. I need immediate back-up and for Lieutenant Commander McGarrett to be notified.” She kept her voice low and carefully made her way to the back foyer, then she turned and went down the hall away from the door. She could hear movement outside and didn’t want to alert whoever was out there to where she was. Steve would probably be upset she hadn’t called him, directly, but she needed more than just her teammates’ help. 911 would be able to get medical services and uniforms to her location quickly, as well as contact her team. She was just opening the hall closet, when she heard the operator respond.
“Calls have gone out and backup has been requested. Are you armed?” The voice was softer with a touch of concern.
The profiler sighed and rummaged around in the closet. She knew it was in there, then she spotted what she was looking for. She pulled it free and replied. “I don’t have a gun, but I do have something that might be considered a weapon.” She heard the back door rattle. Someone was trying to get in. Thankfully, she’d locked it and the door from the kitchen to the lanai when she let the animals out. She could easily stay in the house and wait for help to come, but she couldn’t do that. The yelp echoed through her head. She knew what it likely had been, but didn’t want to speculate. She needed to deal with the threat and see for herself.
“Commander McGarrett advised that you should remain in the house until the Task Force and uniforms arrive.”
“Lieutenant Commander and that’s going to take 20-30 minutes if there are available units near the North Shore. Didn’t you hear me say there was a possible injury?” She growled through the phone.
“I understand, Dr. Stone, but your team is coming by helicopter. Once they're picked up, it should take no more than ten minutes to reach you.” The voice was desperate for Jacq to remain where it was safe.
“That’s too long.” She crept towards the kitchen and stepped in. “I’ll be back in a minute. Don’t go anywhere.” She set the phone down on the counter and could hear the operator calling her name faintly. She squared her shoulders, heading for the back door. Placing her right hand and the item it held along the door jamb, she unlocked the door with her left and pulled it open. A man was standing on the lanai, two others were at the base of the stairs. They were all holding guns, guns that were pointed at her. She swallowed and asked as calmly as she could. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, you and your baby can come with us.” The man in front of her demanded. His voice was gruff and his clothes were grungy. She wasn’t sure if that was on purpose or not.
“And why would I do that?” She was provoking him, but she needed to. She had already formulated a plan, but he needed to make the first move.
He pointed at the gun in his hand. “Do I really need to lay it out for you?”
“I think I’ll pass.” She smirked at him. His two companions were starting to look nervous.
“If you-.” He began as he stepped forward. Then he was in range.
Moving towards him, Jacq pulled her hand off the door frame and rammed the item in it into his stomach, while her left hand went for the gun, pushing it away from them. Machetes weren’t made for stabbing, but adrenaline and motherly instinct could make the impossible possible. The blade slid into him and when her hand and the hilt met his abdomen, she twisted it to ensure major blood vessels were damaged and there was no chance of him surviving. She released her hold on the machete and pulled the gun back towards her. He’d let go the moment the blade entered his body. She transferred it into her right hand, even as the weight of his body collapsed onto her. Holding him in place with her left hand, she pushed the gun out over his shoulder, aiming at one of the other two men.
The men at the base of the stairs were in shock. She fired at the first one before he even realized what was happening. The bullet struck him in the heart. He was dead before he even hit the ground. The last man standing had come out of his stupor when she fired and shot at her, but both bullets impacted the dead body that was draped over her, acting as a shield. She took another shot, aiming once again for the heart, but he moved in such a way that it caught him in the throat. Arterial spray spewed out of the wound. He dropped his weapon and clutched at his neck as he fell to his knees. He tried to breath, but instead of air, all he got was blood. He pitched over onto his side, wet gurgles the only sound he could make.
With adrenaline still pumping through her, she shoved the dead body off of her and it fell to the porch with a thud. She tossed the gun out into the yard and looked down at herself. Blood soaked the bottom part of her shirt and the top of her pants, with a pool around where the man had been standing in front of her. Her hands skimmed down her body, feeling for any wounds or injuries. She sighed with relief when she found none. Dashing back into the house, she went into the kitchen and found the first aid kit in the storage closet. With that in her hand, she checked the baby monitor and still only heard breathing. John was completely unaware of the drama unfolding below him. She dropped the receiver back into her sweater pocket and picked up her cell as she stepped into the hallway. She swung the door closed and set the alarm. Opening and closing the door around her, she locked it and weaved her way around the dead and dying bodies. She put the phone back to her ear.
“The threat has been neutralized and I’m uninjured.” Once she was clear of the bodies, she looked in both directions, searching for any sign of her dog. A furry lump was visible down the path near the corner of the house and she ran towards it. “BURT!!!” She cried as she fell to her knees next to him. He let out a low whimper. “I need a medevac helicopter to my location.” She demanded through the phone. She could see blood matted in his fur.
“I need a full sitrep, Dr. Stone. Who’s Burt and what are the nature of his injuries?” There was relief in the operator’s voice, likely pleased that the psychologist had come back on the line after the faint gunshots in the background.
“He’s my dog. He has a chest wound. I-.”
“Your dog? We can’t send-.”
Jacq hissed at the woman. “He’s a former HPD K9, decorated multiple times. You WILL send a medevac, NOW, with the HPD vet on board, or so help me, I will make sure you never work in law enforcement again.”
A visible swallow was heard and the woman began to respond. “I’m sorry, Dr. Stone. I’ll-.”
“I have to contact my vet. I’ll call back shortly.” She pulled the phone away from her ear and disconnected. She pet Burt’s snout and leaned down to kiss him. “It’s going to be okay, baby.” He licked at her fingers and she let him. She searched through her phone and found the right number. She hit dial and put it on speaker, then set it down next to her. While it rang, she opened the first aid kit and started to pull out supplies. She wasn’t sure what to do, but she could try to stop the bleeding.
The call connected and a sweet young female voice answered. “North Shore Veterinary Clinic, how may I help you?”
“This is Jacq Stone, I need to speak with Dr. Morgan.” She begged.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Stone, but Dr. Morgan is busy. Maybe I can help you.” The bubbly voice was irritating to say the least.
“It’s Dr. Stone, and my dog was shot. Can you help with that?” She yelled. She knew it wasn’t the young woman’s fault, but she needed the vet, not the receptionist.
“One moment.” The woman’s voice was subdued and then she was on hold; horrible music coming over the line.
“Great, elevator music.” She complained as she put gauze over the wound she could see and pressed. The former police dog whimpered again. A noise from the jungle had her swinging her head around and she froze, then something emerged and she relaxed. “Come here, little one.” She held out her free hand and Coronado scampered over to her. He climbed up her shirt and nestled his head against her neck. She rubbed his back. “It’s okay. They aren’t going to hurt you or anyone else again.” He purred at her.
The music stopped and a familiar voice came on the line. “Jacq, what happened to Burt?” Her vet asked, his normal formality gone in the face of an emergency.
“He’s been shot. He’s conscious, but bleeding. I’m putting pressure on the wound.” She cut back a sob. “I don’t know what to do.” The desperation in her voice was apparent and her calm demeanor was beginning to crumble. She needed to know what to do to help her pet, her baby, survive this ordeal.
“You’re doing exactly what you should be. Stem the blood flow and don’t move him until I get there. One of my techs is gathering supplies as we speak and we’ll be there as quickly as we can.” His voice was calm, but also filled with urgency.
“Thank you, Dr. Morgan… Ed. I need to call 911 back. I’ll see you soon.” Tears had started to trail down her face. It was unclear if they were from sorrow or relief.
“Have faith, Jacq. He’s going to be okay.” The call ended and the line beeped at her.
Wiping at her face, she switched hands on the wound to allow herself to reach and dial her phone. She redialed 911, put it on speaker, and after one ring, it connected. A male voice answered.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“This is Dr. Jacq Stone of the Five-O Task Force. I was-.” She began only for him to speak over her.
“One moment, Dr. Stone. We were expecting your call. I’m transferring you to the shift manager.”
“Thank you.” She replied. There was silence for a few seconds, then a deep friendly voice spoke to her.
“Dr. Stone, this is Supervisor Haoa. I’m happy you called back.”
“I told the woman I was speaking with I would. I needed to call my vet. He and one of his techs are coming to help. I wasn’t sure how long it would take the medevac helicopter to gear up and arrive.” She was sorry for hanging up, but also not. She would take any assistance she could get to make sure she and her child were safe and that Burt was taken care of.
“Where’s your vet coming from?” The 911 supervisor asked.
“The North Shore. He’s the head of the North Shore Veterinary Clinic.” There was a brief pause and voices were heard in the background. He came back on the line.
“I’m having some uniforms sent to the clinic to provide escort. That’ll ensure he gets there as quickly as possible. The HPD vet is still gathering the supplies he needs. Our medevac isn’t equipped to handle canine patients. They need to switch out some of the gear.” He explained.
He was being very helpful and for that, she was grateful. As she went to responded, she saw movement in front of her, then a person with a shotgun came out of the jungle. She gasped and he hurried towards her. “Kenny, you scared the shit out of me.” She put a hand to her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
“Sorry, doc.” The little man rubbed the back of his neck and blushed. He was a short, stocky man, with dark skin and hair, and dressed in brown pants and a cream shirt, both made out of linen. “I heard gunshots and came to find out what was going on. You okay?”
“I’m-.” The profiler started only for Mr. Haoa to interrupt her.
“Dr. Stone, are you all right? Who’s Kenny?” He was frantic to make sure she wasn’t in further danger.
“He’s one of my neighbors and came when he heard the shots. He’s also armed. Could you-?”
“Already alerting Commander McGarrett and your teammates.” More voices in the background. “They should be there in less than a minute.”
At that moment, a whirring sound filled the backyard and the psychologist turned her head to find the source. A black helicopter with ‘Honolulu Police’ on its tail came into view. She’d heard humming for a few minutes, but didn’t have time to analyze what it might be. However, it now made sense. “They’re here.” She cried out and picked up the phone. “Mahalo, Mr. Haoa.”
“Happy to help, Dr. Stone.”
Hanging up and shoving her phone back in her pocket, she breathed a sigh of relief as the helicopter landed on the beach and blades began to slow. The back door opened and people jumped out. Only one face mattered and he was coming directly towards her. Help had arrived.
*****
McGarrett had been bouncing in his seat since he sat down and his partner set a hand on his arm. He tried to relax, but he couldn’t. When HPD had called and alerted them to what was happening at Dr. Stone’s house, he’d almost collapsed. He knew he shouldn’t have gone into the office and of course, something like this had happened the minute he did. Then he pushed those thoughts away. It could’ve happened at any time and Jacq could take care of herself. Dispatch had been relaying information to them through the helicopter headsets. His fiancée had taken care of the threat and Burt got shot, likely when protecting his owner and his baby brother. However, he wouldn’t feel better until he could see them with his own eyes.
“We’ve arrived, ladies and gentlemen. I’m setting us down on the beach. Then you can disembark.” Came the voice of the pilot.
“Game time.” The former SEAL growled to his teammates. He straightened up, checked his weapon, and removed his headset; everyone else did the same. He felt the landing skids hit the beach. They hopped twice as the pilot found a good spot, then they stopped moving and the engine cut off. He pushed open the door and jumped out. His four teammates followed him. He saw the bodies on the ground by the stairs and one on the porch. He scanned the area and found the profiler. He moved towards her, even as he barked orders. “Danny, check those bodies. Kono, scope out the perimeter of the house. Adam, you’ve got the paths, right first then left. Junior, you’re with me.” They all did as he said.
“Steve!!” Dr. Stone cried as soon as he was close.
“Junior, cover us and don’t shoot Kenny.” The Navy officer commanded. He knelt beside the woman he loved and hugged her. He pulled back just enough to give her a fast kiss, then he saw the blood. “Are you hurt?” Even as he asked, he checked her out with the hand not holding his weapon.
“I’m fine. The blood belongs to the guy on the lanai. Burt’s been shot. I heard him barking then a gunshot and a yelp. I was so scared.” She sobbed, the tears finally broke free and flooded down her face. She didn’t need to be brave or strong anymore. He put his free hand on the back of her neck to help reassure her and to get her to focus. He knew she’d been scared and her hormones were still out of whack, but he needed her to stay with him and concentrate.
“We’re here. The rest of the team is coming by car and should arrive soon. Where’s John?”
“He’s inside. After I dealt with the gunmen, I made sure he was still asleep and locked and alarmed the house. I had to find Burt and Coronado.” The cat was still clinging to her and she stroked his back.
“I want you inside with John. I’ll have Kono take you to change and then send Adam in when he finishes the sweep of the paths.” The head of Five-O shared.
“I can’t, what about-?”
“I’ve got him, ma’am.” Since there didn’t appear to be any threats in the area, Junior had knelt on the other side of the Dutch Shepherd and was nudging her hand aside. She released her hold on the wound and let him take over.
“Not ma’am.” She corrected absentmindedly. Movement from the clearing alerted them to Kono’s arrival.
“The house is secure, boss, and I didn’t find anyone else lurking in the general area or any vehicles in either clearing, except for Jacq’s SUV.” Officer Kalakaua reported. The profiler’s new vehicle had arrived a few days earlier and the head of Five-O mentioned it when he’d been catching up with the team earlier in the day.
“I saw a truck.” Kenny interjected. He pointed into the jungle from where he emerged. “It’s by the ruins of the old warehouse.” He’d known the Stone family a long time and was familiar with the property.
“Kono, help Jacq inside. When I send Adam in to relieve you, I want you to take Kenny and some uniforms who are on their way to that vehicle and check it out. Clear?”
“Crystal. Come on, Jacq.” The other woman came over and began to assist her off the ground, but the new mother wasn’t done.
“Dr. Morgan and one of his techs are being escorted here by HPD. Don’t shoot them.” She warned.
“We’ve got it, honey. Go.” He said to her softly. He watched Officer Kalakaua take her over to the house and a couple of minutes later, they disappeared inside. He then spotted his partner beckoning to him. “Junior, you got this?”
“Yes, sir.” The former NCO replied.
“Kenny, stay here with him until Kono comes and gets you.” He didn’t wait for the other man to respond. He simply got to his feet and strode over to his friend. “What do you have, Danny?”
“All three are dead, though the one guy didn’t go quick. No ID on any of them, but the guy on the porch had these in his pocket.” The Detective held up a set of keys in his gloved hand. He knew he wasn’t supposed to touch the bodies until CSU and the ME had arrived, but he knew the man in front of him would want answers.
McGarrett nodded and took them, not carrying about fingerprints or evidence. “I’ll give them to Kono, when she comes out of the house. She’s going to investigate a vehicle Jacq’s neighbor saw in the jungle. I’ll going to hold down the fort here. I want you in the clearing. Some uniforms should be here shortly with Jacq’s vet. Tell them where to go and have the officers set up a perimeter. Once Duke and the rest of the team arrives, I’d like you to take command. I want to be with Jacq and John, for as long as I can be spared.”
“You got it, babe.” Williams could see his partner was angry and upset. “They’re okay, Steve. Jacq did what she needed to do to keep herself and your son safe. And we are going to figure out who’s behind this.”
“I….” His emotions were a jumble. “Thanks, buddy.” He gave his friend a manly hug and watched him leave for the clearing. Adam emerged from the path and gave him a thumbs up as he crossed the yard, heading for the other path. Everyone was doing as he asked.
“Commander?” A voice inquired from behind him. He turned and saw the chopper pilot standing there.
“Yeah, McGuire, what do you need?”
“The medevac is inbound. My co-pilot and I were going to head back to the city, if you didn’t need us to stay. If you do, I still need to move. The section of beach I’m on is the widest in the area and the medevac helicopter is a lot larger than my bird.” The man replied.
“You can head back. We have vehicles on the way and can return to the city in them. I appreciate the ride.” He held his hand out and they shook. Chin was driving his truck out for him. He was hoping he’d been able to stay with the profiler, while the rest of the team handled the crisis. Tani and Grover were in HPD SUVs, which would be enough room for the whole team to get back to the office in.
“Any time, Commander.” He departed and got into the chopper, then the engine came to life and the blades began to spin. A few moments later, they departed, heading south back to Honolulu.
McGarrett moved into the middle of the yard and continued to scan the area, keeping an eye out for any movement. Several minutes later, he turned when his teammate reappeared from the path that led to Jacq’s grandfather’s bungalow. “How’s it look, Adam?”
“Everything appears normal. I didn’t see anyone or signs of anyone having been in the area, but there’s a lot of jungle and I mainly stayed on the path. We’re going to need a lot more people if you want to sweep the whole property. Jacq’s estate is a lot bigger than it looks.” Noshimuri reported. “What do you want me to do now?”
“Head inside. I want you to stay with Jacq, while Kono investigates a truck in the jungle. Jacq’s comfortable with you and I know you won’t let anything happen to her or John.” The former SEAL stated, then he pointed at the lanai. “Be careful to not disturb the bodies or any of the evidence. Danny already went through their pockets and Max isn’t going to be happy about it.”
“Sure thing, Steve.” The young man made his way over to the stairs and stepped carefully over the bodies, their weapons and the blood pool. He headed inside and softly closed the door behind him.
A few seconds later, two men sprinted into the yard and went right towards Burt. The Navy officer recognized the older man as Dr. Morgan, Jacq’s vet. Some tension in his shoulders evaporated. The former police dog meant a lot to his fiancée, even if she hadn’t initially wanted the animal. They’d grown close over the last three years and the profiler would be crushed if he didn’t survive, especially not when he’d been trying to protect their family. A couple uniforms wandered across the lawn towards him and he pointed them to the two paths.
“Stand guard at the paths. When more of our backup arrives, I want a person at each of the bungalows. That clear?”
“Yes, sir.” They quickly replied and did as directed. The backyard grew quiet again as people went about their duties and he resumed watching and looking for threats. The back door opening caught his attention mid-scan and he waited to see who it was.
“Hey, boss.” Kono called out as she exited the house, working her way around the bodies and doing her best to not mess up the evidence. She jogged over to him. “Jacq and John are laying down in the master suite and Adam’s up there with them. Do you still want me to go check out that truck in the jungle?”
“Yeah.” He tossed the keys he got from his partner at her and she caught them. “Those were found on one of our DBs. If it’s their vehicle, those should get you inside.”
“Good deal.” She started to walk away, but he spoke again, causing her to turn back.
“Kono.” Once he had her attention, Steve said to her. “After Kenny shows you to the vehicle, have a couple of the uniforms escort him home. He lives in a bungalow on the edge of Jacq’s land. Anybody who doesn’t need to be here should be cleared out as soon as they’ve done their jobs.”
“Sure thing, boss.” The young woman waited a beat, but when he didn’t say anything further, she hurried off to investigate the mystery truck in the jungle.
A few more minutes passed, then the faint sound of sirens hit McGarrett right as the deafening whir of a helicopter filled the back yard. He looked up and spotted the medevac flying overhead. He followed it as it flew out over the ocean, then swung around to land on the beach. The blades slowed as the back door slid open and two men hopped out, both of whom he knew. He kept his focus on them as they approached, but in the background, he saw two paramedics pulling a backboard and some other equipment out of their ride. One of the two men spoke to him and held out his hand.
“Commander.” They shook.
“I’m surprised to see you here, Harry.” Steve addressed Officer Yamada. “What are you-?”
“I was with Doc when he got the call about Burt. I thought I could help out. He knows me and I can help keep him calm during the flight. Just because he isn’t mine anymore doesn't mean I don’t care.” The K9 handler was emotional, but quickly pulled himself together.
“Doc Tanner, I’m glad you could make it.” The head of Five-O spoke to the other man in front of him. The HPD vet had always reminded him of a country doctor he’d seen in old movies. He was an older Caucasian male with a weather-beaten face, wispy blonde hair that was beginning to turn white and piercing grey eyes. His face only had two expressions, jovial smile or no-nonsense and blank. He was currently sporting the latter.
“Happy to be of assistance. Now where’s my patient?” He looked around and spotted the group on the ground, but made no move in that direction.
“Over here, Doc. Jacq called her vet, Dr. Morgan. He and one of his techs have been here for ten minutes or so. They can probably give you a status.” He led the two men over to where Burt was laying.
“Excellent.” The HPD vet replied.
“Officer Reigns will be flying back with you to the animal hospital. Provide him with any updates you have and he’ll relay them to me.” The former SEAL stated once he was in hearing range of Junior, who nodded his head, clearly understanding that it wasn’t a request, it was an order. “I’ll leave you to it.” Instead of immediately departing, he knelt next to the Dutch Shepherd’s head. The dog’s eyes were tiny slits, likely from the contents of the IV Dr. Morgan had inserted. He rubbed the bridge of the dog’s nose and leaned down, whispering. “You did good, buddy. Don’t give up. Jacq, John and I need you.” Burt let out a low rumble. He took it as agreement and got to his feet.
Once he was standing, he saw Danny coming around the house and walked with his partner down the path, away from where the dog was being worked on. Dr. Bergman was right behind them. “The calvary’s here, babe. Lou called SWAT after he left the palace. They’re going to guard the perimeter, while HPD combs the woods. Duke’s coordinating his people.”
“Mahalo, Danno. I appreciate it. Are you ready to take over?”
“Of course. Get inside and be with your family. I’ll come get you later and give you an update.” The Detective informed his friend.
McGarrett hurried towards the back stairs, his focus on being with the woman he loved and their child, but he heard Max reprimanding his partner and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Detective Williams, you know better than to touch the bodies before I’ve had a chance to examine them. These protocols are….”
The ME’s voice faded as Steve stepped into the house, closed the door behind him, and bolted up the stairs. He strode across the landing and headed into the profiler’s bedroom, or more aptly their bedroom.
Adam jumped to his feet, then recognized who it was. He nodded at his boss and left, shutting the doors behind him.
The Navy officer set his weapons on one of the dressers, then took off his vest, his belt and his shoes, setting them on top of his guns. He rounded the bed and laid down on his side. Dr. Stone was facing him, but her sole focus was on her son who was sleeping in front of her, with Coronado curled up beside him. “Honey?”
Jacq didn’t say a word, just reached out for him. He grasped her hand with his and interlocked their fingers. He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the back. He was where he belonged and nothing else mattered… not right now, at least.
*****
“How can these guys not have criminal records?” Danny whined.
“Without fingerprints, I’m having to rely completely on facial recognition.” Jerry explained. “There’s normally a margin of error with these kinds of comparisons, but when the only pictures I have are of their lifeless bodies, it increases. But both the FBI and NCIS have offered their assistance, which should help.” He was frustrated, but doing his best to keep his cool and continue working. An attack on one of them was an attack on all of them.
“Did Max explain why he couldn’t get us fingerprints?” Kono asked. She spared her boss a look. He was standing there, apparently following the conversation, but his mind appeared elsewhere.
It was two days after the attack on the profiler and they still had very little to go on. Once backup had arrived and the scene was secured, Dr. Bergman made short work of examining the bodies and removing them, after CSU got their pictures. All their causes of death were rather obvious, but he would do his due diligence and conduct full autopsies, hoping against hope that he could provide them with something more to go on. Kenny had taken Officer Kalakaua, several HPD officers and a few CSU techs to the truck he had found in the woods, then was escorted home. Eric was one of the techs, there at the behest of his uncle to find out who had tried to hurt the profiler and her son. He was happy to help and had collected tons of evidence, but none of it led them anywhere. While all of that had been going on, McGarrett stayed inside the house, supporting his fiancée as she processed what she’d been through and done. He’d gotten a report on everything as the sun started to set and people began to leave. Duke officially released the scene, but several uniformed officers were staying to provide security, since they didn’t know if their three gunmen had any friends who might come looking for them. Thankfully, it was a quiet night.
The day after the attack, the head of Five-O managed his team remotely, afraid to leave Jacq alone. She refused to go outside and checked the locks any time she passed a door or window. She’d also insisted that he go to the secure storage building that housed her father’s gun collection and bring back his old hunting rifle. It moved with her from room to room throughout the day, though Steve insisted on carrying John when she had the gun in hand. She’d even stayed inside when Bobby and his team came to clean up the blood on the lanai, the path and in the grass. Eventually, she had retreated upstairs, restricting her movements to the master suite, the nursery and her bathroom. The one piece of good news they got was Burt was recovering nicely from his surgery and the bullet had been removed after doing only minor damage. The profiler wept with relief when he told her. But today, he had come into the office to get a full briefing from the team, not that they had much to tell him. They weren’t even sure he’d heard what they’d said thus far.
“All three of them had burns on each finger, obliterating any ridge detail. He sent DNA samples to the lab to run through CODIS. No matches have come back yet.” Chin shared. Like his cousin, he was eyeing his old friend with concern. He’d tried to tell him he didn’t need to come in, but he insisted.
“And where are Grover, Adam and Tani?” Williams asked. He wanted to keep things moving while they waited for the Navy officer to speak up.
“Lou took them to the lab to look through all the evidence we’ve collected thus far. Everything from the truck is there, plus the stuff we got out of their motel room.” Kono responded. She’d found a room key in the glove box of the truck, which had been stolen from a used car lot a few days earlier. The key led them to a seedy motel with a cash-only policy, no security cameras and a staff that asked no questions. The room was full of stuff including some badly-made fake IDs. Every time they thought they were making headway, they just ran into another dead end.
The ding of the elevator had everyone but Jerry turning to see who it was. A familiar face strode into the bullpen. “Where is she, McGarrett?”
“What are you doing here, Edgerton?” Those were the first words Steve had spoken in over an hour.
“The FBI Field Office alerted me to the situation. I caught a ride on a military transport and got here as fast as I could. Now, where’s Jacq?” The sniper looked on the verge of being angry and that was definitely out of character, at least from what the team had seen of him in the past.
“She’s….” The former SEAL trailed off. He didn’t want to have this conversation in front of his friends. They were already concerned about the profiler. If they heard what he said to Ian, they’d insist he go home. “Come into my office.” He stepped to the side and gestured away from the group. He let the FBI agent stride passed him and spoke to the conspiracy theorist. “Jerry, reach out to Jacq’s contact at MI-6 and our POC at Interpol. By widening our search, we should be able to find out who these guys are.” His statement made it clear he’d been listening to everything they told him. He swung around and walked into his office, closing the door behind him. His guest was already sitting in one of the visitor chairs. He took a seat in his chair and sighed.
“Where is she, McGarrett? And why aren’t you with her?” Ian demanded.
“She’s at home, because she refuses to leave the house.” He growled out, before sighing again. “When I left this morning, she locked the door behind me and set the alarm, then went upstairs to hide. There are four HPD officers out there providing protection and sweeping the area around the house at regular intervals. And I’m here trying to figure out who attacked my family.” There was frustration in every word he said. He couldn’t be in two places at once, no matter how much he wanted to be.
“What can I do to help?” Edgerton offered. His anger was dissipating and he had a strong desire to do… something. He could be ruthless if the situation called for it and would do whatever was needed to protect Jacq. She was his family, in every way that mattered.
Without hesitation, Steve told him. “Go out to the house and be with her. Prove to her she’s safe. If you’re out there with her, I don’t need to be concerned about anything happening. I know you’d kill for her… hell, I know you’d die for her if it came to it. That’ll allow me to find out who’s behind this and stop them from ever coming after her again.”
“I can do that.” The sniper responded. Then something occurred to him. “What about Burt? She usually always feels safe when he’s around.”
“He got shot.” McGarrett saw shock on the sniper’s face. The FBI must’ve omitted it from the information they provided. He continued. “He’s alive and recovering at the HPD kennels under the supervision of their vet.” He took a deep breath. “He got shot protecting her and by doing so, alerted her to the fact something was going on. If he hadn’t, she would’ve walked outside none the wiser and run right into three gunmen. He saved her life and John’s.” Before he headed home, he planned to stop and get some prime steaks. The former police dog was going to be spoiled for the foreseeable future. He was never more grateful that he’d insisted Jacq take Burt on after the incident with Doug.
“Is he expected to make a full recovery?”
“Yes. Dr. Tanner is hoping to release him tomorrow, but I haven’t told Jacq yet. It isn’t a sure thing and I don’t want to get her hopes up.”
Ian got to his feet. “I’ll head out there now. Can you let HPD know I’m on my way?”
“Of course.” Steve stood and held out his hand. The two men shook. “I’m glad you’re here. And I know Jacq will be happy to see you and introduce you to John. He’s your godson after all.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting him, too.” The FBI agent swallowed hard and looked away for a moment. When he turned back, he locked eyes with the head of Five-O. “I want to apologize for threatening you. I only did it because-.”
“There’s no need, Edgerton. I get it. But all the same, I appreciate the sentiment. We’re good.” With a final nod, Ian left, crossing the bullpen without a word to anyone else. The former SEAL rubbed his face with both hands and took several calming breaths. He hurried out of his office and rejoined his team, asking. “What else do we have?”
*****
“As you can see on the diagram, I want a camera every ten feet around the perimeter.” The profiler stated. The two men sitting at the table with her shared a look, then one of them spoke up.
“I understand why you’re saying that, but it’s overkill and will be overly expensive to implement.” Bobby shared and pulled his own copy of the diagram out of the folder in front of him. It was an aerial map of her property. There were spots marked along the property line, a lot less than were on hers. “Based on the recommendations of the security company, this configuration will allow for optimal coverage and-.”
“No, I want-.” She began, but a hand on her arm had her looking to her right.
“Jacq….” Edgerton warned her. “Why not let the experts do their jobs?” He arched an eyebrow at her and waited. He smiled and nodded, when she sighed.
“Fine. Use your configuration, Bobby. Let me know when they need to go upstairs to add the feeds to the system. I don’t want them to disturb John.” The profiler acquiesced. It was clear to both her friends she wasn’t happy, but she knew better than to argue with the sniper.
The contractor got to his feet, grabbed his papers and smiled at her, trying to soften the blow. “Great and will do. I’ll come get you if we need to make any changes.” He nodded his head at the FBI agent and quickly left before the profiler could change her mind. The door from the kitchen to the lanai was open and letting in a gentle breeze.
“Don’t pout.”
“Do you know how big of a pain in the ass you are?” She hissed at Ian.
“No more than you are and for all your complaining, you still keep me around.” He grinned, ignoring the glare she sent his way. Eventually, she chuckled and his smile grew.
“I’m glad you’re here, even if you refuse to stay in the house.” Dr. Stone informed him. He’d arrived the day before and since then, she’d begun to relax. Steve had mentioned it last night, leading to her rolling her eyes and distracting him, which helped her even more. She was kind of happy now that her friend hadn’t been in the main house.
“The guest bungalow, as you call it, is big enough to sleep around a dozen people and is bigger than the average house you find on the mainland. I’m comfortable out there and it allows you and McGarrett to maintain your privacy.” He took a sip from the glass in front of him. Getting fresh squeezed juice was one of the perks of visiting Hawaii and one he indulged in whenever he visited his friend.
“The two guest bungalows were originally used to house the staff for the estate, one for those who worked in and around the house and the other for those who managed the factory and plantation activities. Over time, their purposes haved changed, but the family has always maintained them. The other bungalows less so, but I’m changing that.” She opened her laptop and looked for the document she’d been working on before Bobby arrived.
“I’m aware.” Ian was a fan of her armory. He loved when he had a chance to pop in and peruse the weapons in the collection. Even though her father was gone, she still occasionally got new guns or unique pieces, adding them to the appropriate room without fanfare, just like he would’ve. “How are you feeling?”
“Less jumpy, even though you took my gun away.”
“You don’t need a gun, I’m here.” He patted his side where his SIG-Sauer was strapped. “You just worry about John.” He gestured at the baby monitor that was sitting between them on the table. She’d put the baby down for a nap after he had his lunch about an hour ago, which is when the two adults ate. Bobby showed up right after they finished eating. He chuckled. “Also, you didn’t need a gun. As long as you have a blade or a bat-like object, you’re good to go.” He was familiar with how she’d killed the gunmen who attack her and how she took out the two serial killers she went toe-to-toe with.
“I actually need to ask Steve when I’m getting my machete back.” Dr. Stone knew it was evidence, but the DA had already called her to inform her no charges would be filed. It was self-defense; everyone agreed on that.
“I’ll buy you a new one.”
“You don’t….” She began, but claws digging into her pants leg distracted her. She reached down and pulled Coronado into her lap. The little grey-and-white cat curled up against her and she stroked his back. He’d been staying close since the attack. She started her comment over. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to.” He smiled at her. The sounds of someone on the steps outside had him jumping to his feet, his hand going to his gun. He relaxed when he saw who it was. “McGarrett.”
“Edgerton.” The former SEAL greeted the other man and went right over to the woman he loved. He leaned down and gave her a kiss. “Hey, honey.”
The profiler checked her watch. “What are you doing here so early? I thought you and the team were working on identifying….” She paused and changed her word choice. She didn’t want to think about the three men she killed. “I thought you’d be leading the investigation.”
“I handed things off to Danny.” Steve grabbed her hand off his pet’s back and tugged on it. “Come on. I have a surprise for you.” He was smiling. There hadn’t been a lot for them to smile about the last few days, so she was intrigued.
“Okay.” Jacq scooped up Coronado and got to her feet. She followed her fiancé out onto the lanai and smiled when Ian took the cat from her and handed her the baby monitor. It still surprised her how much of an animal lover he was, given his skillset and temperament. They went down the stairs onto the path and stopped. Dropping the receiver into her pocket, she waited patiently for the Navy officer to tell her what was going on.
“We’re ready.” The Lieutenant Commander called out. Someone came around the edge of the house; someone the couple knew. But it was who was with him that had the profiler running forward and diving to her knees.
“Burt, baby, you’re okay.” She cupped the Dutch Shepherd’s face and kissed his snout. He gave a soft bark. He was moving under his own power, though rather gingerly. He had a bandage around his middle, patches of shaved fur peeking out from under it and showing where the vets had performed surgery.
“Hello, Dr. Stone.” Officer Yamada greeted the emotional young woman. He could see silent tears falling down her cheeks.
“Mahalo for bringing him home.” She looked up at the K9 officer and smiled.
“Just doing my part.” He grinned down at her. “Doc Tanner wanted me to tell you, Burt needs to take it easy for the next couple of weeks, no running or rough housing. At the end of the two weeks, you can take him to his regular vet to look at the incision and he can remove the stitches when he feels the wound has healed enough.” He shared.
“He’s going to be pampered and waited on hand and foot. You’re a hero, baby.” She gave the dog another kiss and he licked her face in return, causing her to laugh.
“And he’ll need help up and down the stairs, too, honey.” The head of Five-O chimed in. He’s asked Harry to be there when Dr. Tanner released the former police dog and then requested his former handler transport him out to the house, since his vehicle was easier for the injured animal to get in and out of.
“I can do that. I’m just glad he’s home.” She carefully put her hands around the animal’s neck and hugged him close. Things were starting to get better.
*****
The group standing in the bullpen was silent, all waiting for the briefing to start. Jerry and Kono were typing away on the interactive table, trying their best to get the video connections properly established. The whole Five-O Task Force was in attendance, along with Governor Denning, the Chief of Police, Duke and Agent Edgerton, who was standing at the back of the group where he could keep an eye on the doors and his friend. Jacq was standing between McGarrett and Adam, with Baby John strapped to her chest in a carrier. Burt was lying in a dog bed at her feet. She’d barely let the former police dog out of her sight since he came home three days earlier. She tried to bring Coronado to the meeting, as well, but Steve had put his foot down. The cat would be fine for the few hours she was in town, though he knew she was going to have lunch with her godfather after the meeting. Ian would be going along, which allayed any concerns the former SEAL had about her outing. Suddenly, two images popped up on the display and everyone straightened up. It was time for the briefing to begin.
One of the images was on a single person, who smiled when he scanned the gathered people. “Jacqueline, darling. I’m so happy you’re all right.”
“Thanks, Harry.” She replied to the MI-6 agent. She then spoke to the two men on the other side of the screen. “Agent Hanna, Grisha, I appreciate you helping the team find out what happened.”
“That’s what friends do for each other, Doc.” Sam offered. “You helped us and we weren’t going to turn down a chance to do the same. Langford, why don’t you kick things off?”
“Of course, my good man.” The Brit cleared his throat and began his report. “Based on the information and images the Task Force provided me, I was able to identify your three gunmen. The ring leader was Leo Sokolov, the US-born grandson of Anatoly Sokolov, a rather notorious Russian gangster.”
“How did you identify Leo?” Denning asked.
“He recently visited his grandfather in Moscow and MI-6 happens to have him under surveillance. My colleagues investigate anyone Anatoly meets with, which meant we already had a file on him. The other two men were his cousins, on his mother’s side of the family.” Harry smiled. “I provided this information to Agents Hanna and Callen, due to their familial connections.” He chuckled when G rolled his eyes.
“What does that mean?” Grover demanded. He didn’t like Langford or his general attitude and wanted the briefing to keep moving.
“I have a CI, who’s a former KGB agent.” G offered, then sighed when the man beside him nudged him. “And I’m dating his daughter.”
“That and Arkady likes you.” His partner shared.
“Don’t Sam.” The former CIA operative warned in a low voice. “I took the information Langford provided and asked Arkady about Leo and Anatoly. It took a little prodding but he came back with some information.” He gave his partner a look and let him take over.
“McGarrett, do you remember some Russians who were running a cyber scam on Oahu? I believe you and your team busted up their operation.” Agent Hanna inquired of his fellow SEAL.
His partner answered instead. “I remember. Steve went in guns blazing and killed a bunch of them. Then a few weeks later, the ones who got away tapped our phones and tried to kidnap Jacq. She whacked one of the guys with a $500 bottle of booze, which I had to pay for.” The Detective complained.
“I offered to pay for it.” Dr. Stone interjected, sending a glare in Danny’s direction, then she turned back to the display and asked. “What does that group have to do with Leo and Anatoly?”
“Turns out one of the guys McGarrett shot was Anatoly’s son and Leo’s uncle.” Callen replied. “Leo went to his grandfather, hoping to join his organization, but before he agreed, Anatoly wanted him to prove himself and sent him to Oahu to get revenge for the death of his son.”
“Why not come himself?” The head of Five-O stepped forward.
“He’s too well known. Every spy organization between Russia and Hawaii would’ve been tailing him. Would’ve been darn unsightly to boot, since he knows he’s under surveillance and enjoys toying with whoever’s following him. On the flip side, the boy and his cousins had no criminal records and were relatively unknown, outside their one visit to the motherland.” Harry chuckled.
Jacq stepped forward, moving until she was standing in the middle of the group and directly facing the display. Additional comments died on several people’s lips. She had the floor. “Do we need to be concerned about further retaliation?” No one responded, so she added. “We’ve killed his son and his grandson. He can’t be happy about that.” She rubbed John’s back through the carrier. He snuggled closer to her and she closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. She and Steve would do whatever they had to in order to protect him, even go against a well-known Russian gangster.
“Per Arkady, he’s cutting his losses.” G explained. “All his sources back in Russia told him the same thing. Anatoly’s gone against the two of you twice and lost twice. He’s moving on and plans to steer clear of you both. The worst appears to be over.”
“And my colleagues here at MI-6 will continue to keep close tabs on Sokolov and his associates, plus any chatter we intercept. They have been told to contact me personally if any of your names are mentioned or if Hawaii is discussed. My first call after that will be to you, Jacqueline, unless I decide to take care of the threat myself.” Langford looked directly at her. She smiled at him and his eyes twinkled with pleasure.
“Thank you, Harry.” She said to him again. He was a good friend, even if he tended to avoid personal connections.
“And on that note, I must be off. I have a flight to catch. Cheers.” The MI-6 agent’s connection dropped off and the image of the two NCIS agents took over the screen.
Callen spoke up. “Arkady is supposed to be keeping tabs on him, too, for what that’s worth. If we get any intel, we’ll send it your way.” He waved to someone off camera and the display went blank.
“Since it appears that the immediate threat is over, I’d like to pull the four uniforms off protection detail. Any issues with that, Commander?” The Chief of Police addressed the head of Five-O.
“None, sir. Thank you for the assistance and all the manpower. Dr. Stone and I greatly appreciated it.” McGarrett touched the small of his fiancée’s back, causing her to turn towards the head of HPD, and smiled at the other man, who apparently no longer actively disliked him or was at least better at hiding it.
“Sergeant Lukela, make the call, but establish a weekly check-in with the Doctor for the next month. You can never be too careful.” His subordinate saluted him, then he nodded at the Governor, before turning on his heels and leaving the Five-O offices.
“If you need anything, Jacq, you call me or Sarah. We’ll be there for you without question.” Denning walked over to her and stopped right in front of her. She gave him a gentle hug.
“Will do, Sam. Sarah and I are supposed to have tea next week at the residence. Maybe I’ll see you then.” The profiler gave him another hug, being careful not to smoosh her baby. She watched him leave. Once he was gone, she spoke to everyone left in the room. “Thank you all for everything you’ve done. You involved everyone you could think of to make sure we found out who was behind this and to make sure they wouldn’t come after us again.”
“We’re ohana, Jacq. We’ll always be there for each other.” Kono embraced the other woman and smiled at her. The new mother was getting teary-eyed. Someone else noticed.
Edgerton had been silent throughout the briefing and follow-on discussion, but when he saw her getting emotional, he immediately came to her rescue. “Come on. We need to get going, or Phillip will eat without us.” He weaved through the group around his friend and grabbed her elbow. He and the surgeon had met a few times, most notably after her two kidnappings, and got along well. He spoke to her pet. “Burt, up.” The dog slowly got to his feet and the FBI agent bent down to grab the dog bed, handing it to the profiler. He led her out of the bullpen, keeping a firm grip on her elbow.
“Bye, guys.” She called out and waved over her shoulder, then blew McGarrett a kiss, since they didn’t get to say a proper goodbye. The pair, plus Burt, disappeared.
Steve squared his shoulders and scanned the faces around him. He was so lucky to have each of them in his life, but now it was time to get back to work. “Let’s write up our final reports and put this case to bed.” They each nodded at him and dispersed. Hopefully, everything would return to normal, or as normal as it usually was for Five-O.
Chapter 10: Brief Aside
Chapter Text
All right faithful readers,
In all the years, I have written fan fiction, I have never received a comment like the one I received today (6/13/2025). I started writing fan fiction in high school and continued through college and entering the workforce (late 90s to late 2000s). I started up again during COVID (2021) and began to post here on AO3. In my honest opinion, I have improved as a writer as I wrote more and more, plus I have branched out and perhaps become more daring in what I write about. I have to say though that my stories are tame compared with some of what I have read on this site. I have read graphic descriptions of pretty much anything you can imagine and beyond. That is why this comment flummoxed me to no end. I have no idea what made this person react with such vitriol to what I depicted in Chapter 9 of this story. I diligently attempt to attach notes at the beginning of any chapter I feel might have something triggering or unsettling for my readers.
But here's the moral of the story. I'm not forcing you to read what I write. If you don't like it, that's your opinion and you are welcome to it. Stop reading. There is no reason to write things like this person did. I have run across a handful of stories on AO3 that weren't my cup of tea. What did I do? I stopped reading and moved on. I didn't feel in necessary to say anything to the author. They are allowed to express their creativity in any manner they choose.
Here's the bottom line. People who spew hateful things without anything useful to say are not welcome here. Trolls who want to make everyone else as miserable as they are, are not welcome here. This is a community of people who like to read and write. There are THOUSANDS of stories here. Find one you like and enjoy. DO NOT harass authors who are just trying to enjoy themselves and share that joy with others.
Final points. The comment has been removed, as will all subsequent comments like it. The user's name will not be shared (though I will note they were a guest, not a registered user). I really hate that I needed to take time away from my weekend to address this, but I want to be clear with all of you about what I find acceptable. A new ACTUAL chapter will go up on Monday as planned. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Jayme Stone
Chapter 11: Stuck in the Middle
Chapter Text
“What are we doing here, babe?” Danny asked his friend as they got out of the former SEAL’s truck.
“I already told you, Danno.” Steve snapped as he slammed his door shut and rounded the vehicle, joining his partner on the sidewalk. They’d just finished up a meeting with an FBI contact and instead of heading back to the office, made a quick detour. “I’m picking up some tea for Jacq.” He locked his truck once both doors were closed
“But Chinatown? And doesn’t Mr. Lee get her any groceries she needs?” They started walking.
“He does, but he’s out of town and she doesn’t want to wait for his assistant to catch up with all the orders. Seems the poor guy isn’t nearly as efficient as Daniel is.” McGarrett chuckled. He’d listened to his fiancée go on a ten-minute rant about how this happened every time Mr. Lee was away. He grabbed his partner’s arm and stopped him from crossing the street, allowing a car to whiz by.
Chinatown wasn’t a very large area and was nestled next to downtown Honolulu, a short walk from the Five-O offices. Given that it was only made up of roughly 20 blocks, it was surprising how much it felt like a different world. There were traditional temple gates and paintings littered throughout the area, and the colors and smells seemed right out of Shanghai or Hong Kong. Even the buildings had Chinese flair to them and anyone who wasn’t Chinese stuck out like a sour thumb, except in the street market where tourists went to get a touch of local flavor, or an overpriced souvenir. The two men did their best to ignore the strange looks they were getting and the fact people fled when they saw their badges and guns.
“What’s this tea she wants?” The Detective was resigned to the task at hand. They crossed the road now that there were no cars in sight.
“Dragon Well. It has a longer name than that, but she says the guy at the shop knows her and if I mention her and that name, he’ll give us what she usually purchases.”
“Everyone seems to know Jacq.”
“She’s lived here most of her life as has most of her family for the last 150 years. Also, she likes to build relationships with people; makes them remember her.”
“And she’s generous. Don’t forget that.” Williams added.
“Never.” The Navy officer chuckled, then he grew serious when he saw a couple of men down and across the street from them. They were armed, the bulges under their light jackets a dead giveaway, and watching them. “Did you-?”
“I saw them. Where are we going?” Danny asked.
“Around the corner at the end of this block.” McGarrett responded. They knew those men were likely Triad members and very dangerous, but they’d never attack two members of law enforcement without provocation. If they did, every member of HPD would swarm Chinatown and arrest anyone with the slightest connection to the crime organization. Also, the Feds would take a bigger interest in their dealings. However, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t have eyes on them for as long as they were in the Triad’s territory.
Staring down the block, he saw two more armed men appear. Something else was going on. The Triad would never send four foot-soldiers to watch two cops. He straightened up and was about to say something else, when suddenly, a dark colored SUV with tinted windows came tearing down the street, sending people scurrying away and into businesses that lined the streets. The four Triad members reached for their weapons as the windows rolled down and automatic weapons peeked out, shooting a stream of bullets at the men on either side of the street.
“Danny!!” The head of Five-O shouted as he drew his weapon and ran forward, firing several shots at the vehicle, even as the two Triad members in front of them took multiple bullets to the chest and extremities and collapsed to the ground.
“Behind and to your left.” The Detective also had his gun out and was able to shoot out the rear window of the SUV, before it sped up and disappeared around the corner. “I’ve got the two guys over here.” He cried as he hurried across the street to check the status of the men there, who were laying on the ground bleeding. His gun remained out in case of further threats.
Without a word, Steve sprinted down the sidewalk and knelt next to the other two men. He checked for a pulse on each of them, but needn’t have bothered. Their eyes were open and glassy, a clear sign they were gone. “Both of these guys are dead.” He called out to his partner.
“Same here.” Williams replied. “I’m calling for back-up.” He got to his feet and locked eyes with his partner. “What the hell is going on, babe?”
“I have no idea.” The former SEAL replied. He stood up and scanned the area. People were looking out the windows of the surrounding buildings, too afraid to come out and see what happened to see for themselves. What just happened boggled his mind. Who would attack the Triad in broad daylight and in front of Five-O? It didn’t make a lot of sense to him, but he was sure he and his team could figure it out.
*****
“What do we know thus far?” McGarrett asked of his teammates.
“As you suspected, our DBs are known Triad members, low level by all accounts.” Chin replied. “My contact inside the Triad wasn’t eager to talk to me about what happened, but they believe it was the Yakuza.”
“I don’t think so.” Adam spoke up and shook his head. “No offense to your contact, but the Yakuza would never attack in broad daylight with civilians in the area. Their attacks are usually subtle with minimal witnesses.” While he was no longer a member of organized crime, he knew enough about his former ‘colleagues’ to know they’d never be so sloppy.
“Do you have someone you can call to confirm with?” Danny inquired. He believed what Noshimuri was saying, but they needed to be sure.
“Yeah. I know who to reach out to.” Adam stepped away from the group and pulled out his phone.
The rest of Five-O continued without him and Steve asked another question. “What about the vehicle? Have we found it yet?”
“Yeah, boss. It was found abandoned and fire-bombed near Pearl City. CSU is going over it to see if they can salvage anything. Eric didn’t sound very hopeful, though.” Officer Kalakaua answered from her place at the interactive table. Jerry was taking a much-needed day off and she was happy to take over for him. “I’m sweeping CCTV feeds from the area to see if we can figure out where our gunmen escaped to and how.”
“All right, I want….” The head of Five-O trailed off when the elevator dinged. He looked towards the doors and waited. A smile spread across his face when he saw who it was. “What are you doing here, honey?”
“Don’t honey me. The shooting in Chinatown is all over the news. I got here as soon as I could get John and Burt ready to go.” Dr. Stone’s son was in his car seat, which she was carrying, and her dog trotted along next to her. He was healing nicely. All the bandages were gone and his fur was slowly growing in, though he still had a weird patch on his side.
“Danny and I are fine.” He strode over to her, grabbed her shoulders and gave her a quick kiss. “But I should’ve called. I’m sorry.” He was trying to do better about keeping her informed.
“Apology accepted.” She smiled up at him, then grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him down into another kiss. “Who wants to tell me what happened?” She asked as she stepped around the man she loved and scanned the faces of her teammates.
“The Triad and Yakuza are trying to kill each other.” Tani responded.
“I don’t think so.” Jacq shook her head. Her statement was very definitive, especially considering she didn’t know all the facts.
“Why do you say that?” Chin prodded her. He knew her well enough to know she had a reason for what she said. He didn’t know about all the cases she had handled, but those he was familiar with never involved organized crime.
“At the end of the day, the Triad and the Yakuza are businesses and this is the worst publicity they could ask for. Also, they’ve struck a very delicate balance over the years to avoid getting in each other’s way. A broad daylight shooting brings them a bunch of unwanted attention from local law enforcement and the Feds.” The profiler shared.
“You seem to know an awful lot about organized crime. I didn’t think that was your forte.” Steve noted, unknowingly echoing his old friend’s thoughts. The couple discussed her cases regularly and he’d even taken the time to read a few of her papers. He didn’t remember anything about the Triad, the Yakuza or any of the other major crime groups.
The young mother chuckled. “I’ve had a few run-ins with them and back in college, I co-authored a paper with an Econ major about how crime syndicates compare to big business. It was interesting to dissect the similarities and differences. You’d be surprised.” She saw the questioning look on McGarrett’s face and explained. “It was an undergrad paper, not something I published.”
“Hey.” Adam stated as he rejoined the group. Everyone gave him their undivided attention. “Per my contact, it wasn’t the Yakuza, but it seems the Triad has attacked a couple of their holdings in the last ten days. Killed a couple of people and stole some product.” He didn’t go into detail. He wasn’t sure his friends and colleagues would appreciate any additional information.
“So, we’re in the middle of a war?” Junior posited. He looked around the room and saw that several people were thinking the same thing.
“Or someone’s trying to start one.” Dr. Stone suggested. She really didn’t think the Yakuza or the Triad were behind the attacks on each other. There were too smart to get into some type of turf war.
“All right.” McGarrett stated, bringing everyone’s attention back to him. “We need to set-up meets with our contacts inside both groups and talk this out with them. Confirm they aren’t behind the attacks and see if they’ll give us some time to figure out who is.” He pointed at Lt. Kelly. “Chin, you and I will go see the Triad. See if your contact can get us a meeting with the leadership.”
“On it, bruddah.” He walked away from the group and pulled out his phone again. He’d have to be extra convincing to get a meeting with the elusive leaders of the Chinese crime organization.
“Adam, I’d like you and Grover to-.” The head of Five-O began.
“I’ll go with him.” The profiler interjected. Her fiancé gave her a look, shock all over his face.
“No, you can stay here and-.”
“No, Steve. Let me go with Adam.” She gave him a soft smile and set a hand on his arm. “No offense to Lou, but we need to stay calm and use logic with the Yakuza. Tempers and emotion will only anger them and stop any chance of us figure out who’s behind this. Trust me to handle this.”
He didn’t look happy and shook his head. “You need to stay here with John. After what happened last month, I….” He trailed off and studied her. There was a tinge of fear in her eyes, but also the steely resolve he loved so much about her. “Okay, but you’re getting HPD back-up.”
“They won’t meet with us if there are cops around. I’m not a cop and Adam is a former member. That’ll give us a shot at a peaceful conversation.”
“They’ll stay out of sight, but be in the area if you or Adam needs them. And I want you to keep your comms open so Kono can keep tabs on you.” The former SEAL was adamant and breathed a sigh of relief when she nodded.
“Not a problem.” She looked around the man she loved at his partner. “Danny, could you and Lou watch John? I’ll feed him before we leave and we’ll try not to take very long.”
“Not a problem, Jacq.” The Detective responded.
Grover chimed in, too. “Uncle Lou is happy to help.” He pointed at her pet. “What about Burt?”
“He’ll stay here and keep an eye on his brother.” The profiler turned to Noshimuri. “Could you set up the meeting? Preferably someplace neutral? I have no desire to walk into the lion’s den.” With her head still turned to look at her friend, she let Steve give her a tight hug. She appreciated his willingness to let her get back into the game and conquer her fear.
Adam smiled at her and nodded. “I know just the place.”
*****
“Interesting choice of venue.”
“I thought you would appreciate it.” Adam grinned at Dr. Stone as he parked his vehicle and cut the engine. They both climbed out and headed to the ramp, meeting at the base and walking up it together. At the end of the ramp, there was a lake and beyond the lake was a massive temple. It was built in the classic Japanese Buddhist style with a red and white base, black roofs and yellow accents. They were at the Byodo-In Temple, part of the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. Built in the 1960s, it had been designated a state landmark and was iconic for tourists and locals alike. They seemed to be the only people there, which was strange.
“Where is everyone?”
“Elsewhere.” He tapped a sign he was standing next to. It said ‘Closed for Private Event.’ “The Yakuza has pull, even if it isn’t an active Buddhist temple. Come on.” He led her to the left, passed the bell and up a small hill. There was a small tea pavilion nestled into the trees, beside a tiny shrine. Several men were scattered about, two at the juncture where the path branched off towards the pavilion, two further down the main path and several others lined the edges on the clearing. The four men in the pavilion stood up at their approach.
Jacq was confused. No one had stopped them or searched them. She analyzed why that might be and quickly came to a conclusion. Even given the way he’d left the organization, they still trusted Adam. That said a lot about his character. She grabbed his arm to slow his pace and whispered. “Did you tell them I was coming with you? The Yakuza isn’t big on outsiders.”
“Yeah, Hajme already seemed to know who you were, but let me start the conversation.” He whispered back. He stopped them in front of the four men, bowed and said a few words in Japanese, before switching back to English. “And this is Dr. Jacqueline Stone. She’s a criminal psychologist and a good friend of mine. She asked to come with me to speak with you about the current situation.” Three of the men had stony expressions on their faces, but the fourth smiled, stepped forward and held out his hand.
“And I am Hajme Masuda, current head of the Yakuza in Hawaii. It is a pleasure to meet you, Doctor. Shinobu Tsuiasa told me about the great service you did for him.” They shook hands and he chuckled when the men around him gasped, including Noshimuri.
“The pleasure is mine and to be honest with you, I didn’t know who he was when I helped him. I only found out later when the Tokyo Police told me who I’d inadvertently met with.” Reclaiming her hand, she blushed and shrugged. She looked at Adam and gave him a half smile.
“You failed to mention one of your run-ins with the Yakuza involved meeting the head of the largest clan.” He hissed at her.
“You can’t tell McGarrett. I need to do it myself and tactfully. He isn’t going to be happy.” She begged of him, then added. “Shouldn’t we get to why we’re here?”
“Right.” Noshimuri squared his shoulders and looked at the man who’d taken control of the organization his father once led. He’d known him a long time and hoped he’d listen to what they had to say. “You heard about the attack in Chinatown this morning?”
“Who on Oahu hasn’t?” Hajme replied.
“The Triad believes you’re behind it.”
“Then they’d be wrong.” He countered with a grin.
The profiler agreed with him. “Personally, I don’t think you had anything to do with it.”
“You’re a smart woman, Doctor.” Masuda stated with a chuckle.
“I also don’t think the Triad attacked your people.” She continued.
“But we know better. It had to be them.” The man behind Hajme and to his right hissed.
“Quiet, Kenji.” The Yakuza leader barked at his subordinate. His head was down and turned in the other man’s direction. He straightened up and addressed the two Five-O members. “And why do you think that?”
Adam gave Jacq a look and nodded. He’d let her take the lead. She was good at talking to people and getting them to give up information. Also, she would keep them guessing. On the other hand, they knew him well and he wouldn’t be able to steer the conversation in the right direction.
“First, I can tell you’re a smart business man.” Hajme arched an eyebrow at her, so she continued. “Dangerous, yes, but definitely not stupid. Attacking the Triad in front of that many witnesses, and Five-O, is reckless and apt to draw a lot of attention from the authorities. You have no desire to be on Five-O’s radar.” Her eyes darted to Kenji. He didn’t look very happy and was acting oddly, in her opinion. She’d have to keep an eye on him.
“I do not. But what of the Triad?” The head of the Yakuza asked. He seemed very interested in what the profiler had to say.
“While they have a tendency to be a bit more reckless than the Yakuza, they aren’t stupid, either. The person, or persons behind these attacks isn’t as smart as they think they are.”
“What do you know of the Yakuza? Nothing. You should keep-.” Kenji started.
Masuda wasn’t having it. He yelled at the man in Japanese. Kenji swung on his heels and strode away from the group. The man before her and her friend locked eyes with her. “I apologize. Kenji seems to have lost his manners in his distaste for this meeting.”
“Close knit, secret organizations are always distrustful of outsiders. I understand and appreciate you meeting with us.” She did understand, but also believed Kenji’s reaction was disproportionate to what she was saying. She’d have to ask for more information about the man once their meeting was over.
“I have known Adam all his life and respected his father. While he may no longer be a part of our… organization, as you call it, it doesn’t hurt to hear what he and you have to say to us.” His gaze moved from her to Noshimuri. “And now that I’ve heard it, what do you want?”
“Give us time to find out who’s behind this, before you retaliate.” Adam stated simply.
“You mean you want us to show weakness.” Hajme countered offhandedly. Anger tinged his words, but he did his best to control it.
“No.” Dr. Stone put a hand on Noshimuri’s arm and took over again. “Show restraint, like you are right now. Restraint takes strength and shows wisdom. Acting without all the facts could lead to your downfall.”
“What of the Triad? Are you asking the same of them?”
“We are.” Adam took back over and pleaded with his father’s old friend.
“24 hours.” Masuda quickly replied. “Any more time and I’ll be forced to act in order to save face.”
“Thank you.” Jacq blurted out, cutting off her friend and colleague. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. A day was better than nothing.
“Of course, Doctor. I’m not a fool, after all. While bloodshed would prove a point, a war is something neither the Yakuza nor the Triad needs.” He bowed to her and then spoke to his people in Japanese. “You may leave first. We will follow in a few moments.”
“We appreciate you listening to what we had to say. Goodbye.” She nodded at the head of the Yakuza and turned around, waiting for Noshimuri to do the same. He said a few words to the other man and joined her. They walked slowly away from tea pavilion and down the hill. “What do you think?”
“I believe him, on all counts, but we’re going to have to work quick.”
“That’s McGarrett’s only speed.” They both laughed at her comment. She glanced behind them. She could see the gang members gathered at the point where the two paths met and asked a question. “What can you tell me about that Kenji guy?”
“His name is Kenji Higashi. He’s a hothead and is in charge of Hajme’s security. He was friends with my brother.”
“Kono, are you on?” The profiler whispered. They’d kept the radio connection live as ordered. Honestly, she didn’t think it was worth arguing with her fiancé about.
“I’m here, Jacq.”
“Can you start gathering some info on Kenji? I’d like to know a little bit more about him and his background.” Dr. Stone asked.
“Sure. I relayed your conversation to Steve and Chin. They were able to get two days.” The other woman shared, but there was an unspoken question in her words.
“I didn’t think arguing with Masuda was a good idea. He was really quick with his answer.” The profiler and Adam started down the ramp, then she slowed her speed, but didn’t stop moving. Something in the parking lot caught her attention. “How far out is our backup?”
“Three minutes. Why?” Kono’s voice was immediately filled with concern.
“Get them here ASAP. We have three people on racing motorcycles near the entrance to the lot, but not parked. They are in all black leathers and black helmets with tinted visors. Have Junior and the other unmarked car hang back to pursue them if needed.” They were almost at the bottom of the ramp, but she grabbed her friend’s arm and brought them to a stop.
“Are you sure they aren’t visitors?” Officer Kalakaua was hesitant to send in HPD unless there was a need.
“I’m pretty sure.” She could hear the Yakuza coming closer to where they were standing. Suddenly, the riders revved their engines and sped towards them, pulling out automatic weapons. Jacq pivoted and ran back up the ramp. “Get down.” She screamed. Everyone was startled by her cry and hunched over in response to it, then shots filled the air. She was able to get between Hajme’s muscle, who were pulling out their weapons, and tackled him to the ground. Adam did the same with his second in command. Even as both sides fired at each other, sirens echoed across the open space. HPD was almost there and because of that, the three gunmen swung their bikes around and made their escape, weaving around the incoming cop cars and down the winding road. A couple of the HPD vehicles parked at the bottom of the ramp, while the others gave chase.
“Jacq, are you all right?” Noshimuri asked as he rolled off the man he knocked to the ground and took stock of himself.
“I think so.” She pushed herself up and addressed the head of the Yakuza. “Are you hit?”
“No. I’m fine, thanks to you.” Masuda was angry, but he calmly declared. “I’ll give you 48 hours to find out who did this. It’s the least I can do since you saved my life.”
“I’ll take it.” She got to her feet and looked around. Three of the Yakuza security were bleeding. “Kono, we need EMS to our location. We have injured.”
“I’m on it. Are you and-?” It was obvious the young woman was concerned for her husband.
“We’re fine. Tell McGarrett what happened and have him warn the Triad. Our instigator is getting more brazen.” She shook her head. Steve wasn’t going to be happy with her.
*****
“Adam, are you okay?” Kono asked and rushed to her husband, hugging him close.
“I’m fine. There was only one serious injury. One of Hajme’s bodyguards got shot in the arm and the bullet nicked an artery.” He shared as he hugged his wife in return. He stepped back and watched as the profiler rushed past him, straight over to Danny, who was holding her baby. They both were coming down from the adrenaline high of the attack.
“Come to mommy, John” She took her child and cuddled him close. One of his little hands grabbed her outer shirt and he screamed in excitement. “Any problems?” She was speaking to the Detective.
“He was an angel, decidedly unlike my partner. I’m ecstatic he takes after you. But he was starting to get a little fussy.”
“He’s probably hungry.” She cupped her son’s head and dropped a kiss on it, then reached down and pet Burt, the dog was bumping against her and whining. “I’ll take him to the storage room to feed him and change my clothes.” No one had either noticed or commented on the wet spots on her tank top. As she started down the hall, she heard the elevator ding and pounding feet coming closer to her. A hand on the small of her back alerted her to the former SEAL’s presence.
“You should have stayed in the office like I said.” He declared and kissed her temple. She pushed open the door to the storage room and stepped inside. He came in after her and closed the door behind them. Someone on the team had set-up a comfy chair and a high table inside, obviously in an effort to give her a location where she could have some privacy with her child away from the glass-walled offices in the bullpen.
“No, I shouldn’t have. Because I did go, I got us the time we needed to find out who’s behind this, saved the head of the Yakuza’s life and possibly identified a suspect.” She dropped the duffle bag that was over her shoulder on the floor and sat down in the chair with a heavy sigh. She really wanted to get her wet shirt and bra off. She held up John. “Could you hold him a minute?”
“Of course.” Taking their baby, he studied her. “What happened to your shirt?” There was a wet spot on each of her breasts.
“A combination of adrenaline and thinking about John while those three guys shot at us caused me to start lactating. Thankfully, I stashed some extra clothes in my vehicle.” Jacq leaned forward, put the bag between her feet, unzipped it and pushed Burt aside when he tried to stick his head in the opening. She took out a clean tank and bra, setting them in her lap. She struggled out of her outer shirt, draping it over the arm of the chair, and pulled the wet shirt over her head, tossing it on the ground. Sitting back in the chair, she sighed. “Let me feed him, then I’ll finish changing.”
“Here you go.” He gave John back to her, then squatted down next to the chair while she got their son situated and the little boy began to eat. “Are you okay?” He stroked the former police dog’s back. Burt had sat down next to him, with his head on his owner’s knee.
“I’m fine, but it’s a good thing I’m situational aware.” She chuckled. “Not that they were very subtle. Goes to show you hotheads are not the best planners or evil masterminds.”
“Who are you talking about? Did Masuda give you a possible suspect?” The head of Five-O has missed her previous comment and needed clarification.
“No, one of his people is my suspect. He was angry and aggressive and kept blowing up whenever I went against what these attacks are trying to be. I think he’s trying to start a war.” She closed her eyes and tried to relax. John was an aggressive sucker. Also, she’d been scared, and sitting with the man she loved and talking about work returned some normalcy to her crazy day.
“Is this the same guy you asked Kono to do some research on for you?” His teammate had shared Jacq’s request with him while she relayed what had happened at the temple.
“Yeah, Kenji Higashi. I was thinking I could build a psych profile on him and determine if he’s the kind of person who would do something like this. But right now, I’m otherwise engaged.” She gestured at their baby.
“I’ll go take a look and keep the ball rolling.” He started to stand, but stopped himself. “Why would a member of Yakuza want to start a war?” He wanted to see where her mind was going, before he immediately agreed. He might love her, but he was still the boss and needed to make decisions with the whole team in mind.
Jacq smiled at him. She was glad he was thinking things over before he just did as she asked. “One word, control. If there’s a war, he can either make sure Masuda is killed in one of the attacks, or show he’s weak and usurp power from him. He was probably hoping for him to be killed at the temple in front of Five-O and with himself as a witness. I can only hope Junior and HPD were able to catch one or more of our bikers. We might be able to get more information from them.”
“Makes sense.” He finally got to his feet and gestured at the door. “I’ll let you know what we find.”
“Could you hand me my shirt before you go?” Using her free hand, she pointed at the ground next to the chair, where she had dropped her tank top. He arched an eyebrow at her and she explained. “I need to use it as a burp cloth. I didn’t grab the diaper bag before I came in here.”
“Oh.” He muttered before retrieving her top, then he chuckled as he handed it to her. “Once I get a status and we establish a plan for Kenji, I’ll bring it to you.”
“Mahalo.” She responded. She watched him leave the room and giggled. They were both so domesticated now that they had a baby in their lives, but also still very focused on work. It was an interesting combination. She scratched the top of Burt’s head and shifted John slightly. She really hoped her hunch led them in the right direction.
*****
“Are we really thinking that a member of the Yakuza hired a Korean biker gang to start a war?” Danny asked incredulously.
“It’s not unheard of.” Noshimuri shared. “The Yakuza occasionally contracts out their dirty work to other organizations. My own father was known to do it. Plus, my brother and Kenji were avid racers. They probably met these guys years ago.”
“None of that matters. That guy in there is our only lead and Jacq’s theory is better than what we had before now, which was nothing.”
“Hey!” The profiler cried out indignantly. “It’s not a theory or a guess. I assessed Kenji and determined he has the will, the mental capacity and the audacity to make a power grab.” She reminded everyone.
The four teammates were standing outside the holding room. Inside was the lone biker who had survived the HPD pursuit of their three gunmen. Thankfully, Junior had winged their prisoner, knocking him off his bike in the process. It gave them someone to question and hopefully get some information out of.
“But it’s still a theory, honey, just like any profile. You take what you know and you make a guess based on years of study and research, and your own personal experiences. I’m not saying it’s wrong. But until we have more info, it’s a theory.” McGarrett reasoned.
“Fine.” Jacq hated when he used her own statements against her. However, she wasn’t done yet. “I wanna be part of the interrogation and prove my ‘theory’ correct.”
“No, Danny and I are going in. You and Adam can watch from upstairs.” The head of Five-O all but ordered.
“Actually, babe, I think she should join us.” Williams interjected into the conversation. Noshimuri was trying his best not laugh from his place beside him and across from the psychologist.
“Whose side are you on?” His partner asked.
“I’m on the side of doing this right, instead of half-assed. She’s not going to be in any danger. The guy’s injured and chained to a chair, plus we’ll be in there with her. And it’s her theory. She deserves to see this through.” The Detective raised an eyebrow at the other man and waited.
Instead of arguing, the former SEAL looked at his fiancée and asked. “Shouldn’t you be with John?”
“He’s asleep in his car seat and Lou and Burt are watching him. I have at least an hour before he wakes up and that should be ample time to question our shooter.” She gave him a smug smile.
“Fine, but you follow our lead. Adam, get back upstairs.” Steve snapped. He was not happy.
“Sure thing… boss.” Noshimuri smirked, swung around and hurried towards the elevator. He wanted to get upstairs before they started. He didn’t want to miss the show.
“Insubordination. I have no idea why I left the military for this.” McGarrett muttered, earning him chuckles from his two partners. He’d get them both for this. He pushed open the door and entered the rendition room. He was followed by Jacq and Danny came in last, shutting the door behind them. The profiler moved to leaning against the wall across from their prisoner, while Williams joined him in front of the man handcuffed to the chair. “Dong Nguyen?” The Navy officer asked.
“No speak English.” The man responded in broken English; his accent heavy. He was young and Asian, with dark hair and eyes, eyes filled with uncertainty and defiance.
“Funny, considering you were born and raised on Oahu and graduated from a public high school here in Honolulu with high marks. I know our education system isn’t the best, but even I know you have to be able to speak and read English in order to graduate. Wanna try again?” Danny asked with a shrug. Dong growled at him instead of answering.
McGarret kicked out his foot, hitting the chair right between his legs and pushing it back a few inches. The prisoner gasped and looked down at his lap to make sure everything was okay. When he lifted his head, there was a touch of fear in his eyes, replacing the defiance they’d once held. “We know you speak English. Just like we know you were hired to start a war between the Triad and the Yakuza. But what we don’t know is who hired you. Give us a name.”
Dong kept his mouth shut and sat there, glaring at the two men in front of him. The Navy officer glanced behind him and nodded, then another voice joined the conversation.
“I was at the temple when you started shooting.” Dr. Stone declared and pushed herself off the wall, stepping closer to the prisoner. “But you weren’t aiming at me.” She walked around the three men and leaned against the wall behind Dong. “You were aiming at Hajme Masuda and just to inform you, you didn’t hit him. He’s alive and well and probably looking for vengeance. The Yakuza doesn’t look fondly upon someone trying to kill one of their own.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nguyen hissed out; his accent having completely disappeared.
The profiler ignored his denial and smirked. She’d gotten him talking. She continued. “Your friends are dead, by the way. Killed while fleeing HPD.” She heard him suck in a breath and nodded. She leaned forward, setting her hands on the back of the chair, and whispered in his ear. “You’re a loose end. How long do you think you’re going to stay alive when whoever hired you finds out we have you? A day? Two days? A week?”
“I’ll stay alive a hellava lot longer if I keep my trap shut.” The biker replied. His fear was on full display. For all his bravado and the attack, he was just a scared little boy.
“Not if we let everyone know you sang like a canary.” Danny added. He understood what the young woman was trying to do and decided to help.
“He knows I wouldn’t do that.” Dong yelled.
“Thank you for confirming whoever hired you is male.” Jacq stated with a chuckle. She stood up straight and came the rest of the way around the chair, squatting down in order to look up into their prisoner’s eyes. Panic was setting in. “We can make it seem like you did.” Seeing he didn’t believe her, she explained. “This is a rendition room, where Five-O can do whatever they want to do to anyone they have in it. I know McGarrett doesn’t have any qualms about using extreme methods to protect Hawai’i and you did shoot at me.” She held up her hand, showing him her engagement ring. “We’re engaged and I’m the mother of his child. I think that’s pretty good motivation for him to hurt you. And even if you tell us nothing, it will make our lie all the more convincing.”
Dong frantically moved his gaze between Steve and Danny, unsure if the men would actually torture him for information, or to make it seem like he gave them something. He returned his eyes to Dr. Stone when she began to speak again.
“But I don’t think it needs to come to that. All I have to do is say two words and I’ll know the truth.”
“Two words?” The prisoner was confused.
Jacq nodded and said. “Kenji Higashi.” She smiled when his pupils dilated and he bit his lip. “Aha, that’s what I’m talking about.” Nodding her head again, she got to her feet and glanced at her fiancé. “I told you it wasn’t a theory.” She swung around and headed for the door. It buzzed and she pulled it open. “But feel free to verify.” She tossed over her shoulder as she exited and the door closed behind her.
“You walked right into that one, babe.” Danny told his partner with a smirk.
“Don’t start with me.” The former SEAL growled. He shook his head and sighed. The woman he loved was never going to let him hear the end of this. He’d stuck his foot in it royally, but they still needed to confirm. He made an off-handed remark to his partner as a grin spread across his face. “Can you go grab that spare battery and the jumper cables that go with it?”
*****
“You were right.”
“I know.”
“How long are you going to hold this over me?”
“For as long as it takes for you to realize questioning my abilities is only going to get you in trouble.” Jacq replied with a happy sigh. She was laying on her bed, with Burt and Coronado beside her. John was in the nursery and McGarrett…. Well, he was currently rubbing her feet as a way of apologizing to her. “Oh, that’s the spot.” His thumb was pushing into the arch of her foot and it felt heavenly. She thought about what had happened after she left the interrogation room.
Their prisoner had spilled his guts as soon as Steve and his partner put on their little show with the battery, and explained how Kenji had promised his gang a permanent place inside the Yakuza if they helped him take out Masuda. With Masuda gone, Kenji had enough support to take control of the crime organization. With that information and the texts Dong had kept as leverage, Five-O had everything they needed to take Kenji into custody. Even knowing how the Yakuza would react, the former SEAL refused to let Adam warn Hajme about their impending arrival. They busted into the Yakuza leader’s home with SWAT and HPD as back up. Everyone was pointing guns at everyone else, at least until Noshimuri spoke up and told the Yakuza why they were there. Masuda refused to believe what he was told, until they showed him Dong’s confession and saw the texts with his own eyes. Then Hajme had tried to kill his head of security with his bare hands. Five-O was able to keep them apart, getting some cuffs on Kenji and having him led out of the house by HPD. Finally, they apologized for bursting in on Masuda and his people and hastily departed, back to the office to do their paperwork and alert the Triad that the threat had been dealt with. As people finished their reports, they each left for a long weekend and a chance to avoid thinking about work for a few days.
While all of that had been going on, Dr. Stone had taken herself, John and the former police dog home. Once they arrived, she’d written up her own report and sent it to Steve, then got settled on the lanai where she could sip tea and work on file reviews while enjoying the gentle sea breeze. Her baby was next to her in his bouncing chair, being entertained by his two furry brothers. The sun was heading towards the horizon when she headed inside to feed her son and lay him down. That’s when McGarrett had arrived and begun his apology, while sharing how everything went. She couldn’t really refuse, considering how good the foot massage felt after the day she’d had, but she had another issue to deal with.
Sitting up, Jacq looked down the bed at her fiancé. “I’m hungry. How about some dinner?”
“All taken care of. I put it in the oven to stay warm, before I went to find you. I didn’t know I was going to be put into service.” He smirked and released her foot. He crawled up the bed and straddled her, giving her a deep, searing kiss from his position looming over her. He smiled into the kiss when she groaned and grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer. When his lungs demanded oxygen, he pulled back just enough to whisper. “I thought you were hungry.”
“I am. You distracted me.” She pushed him to the side, away from the animals, and slid to the end of the bed. She wobbled a little once she was on her feet, but soon found her balance. “Dinner, guys.” She cried. Burt and Coronado scrambled off the bed and bolted out the door, heading for the stairs. She chuckled, grabbed the baby monitor and followed after them. The former SEAL was a few feet behind her.
Once they were all in the kitchen, the profiler set to work fixing dinner for the two animals, while the head of Five-O set the table and got their meal out of the oven. Based on the containers it was in, Jacq immediately knew what they were having.
“What did you order me?”
“Shrimp fried rice, since I know it’s your favorite. Kamekona and Flippa say hello and want you to bring John by when you have a chance. They haven’t seen him since the day we brought him home.” He began to dish their food on to plates. They’d likely have leftovers, but it would give them options over the next few days. “I got some plain shrimp for the D-O-G and the C-A-T.” He didn’t want to use their names or they wouldn’t have a moment of peace while they ate.
“That was very nice of you.” She set the animals’ bowls of food in their normal places and stepped back to let Burt and Coronado at them. The former police dog was still getting a little steak in his as a continued reward and to give him the protein he needed to heal properly. She headed over to her seat and sighed. The glass of water at her place taunted her. “I really wish I could have some wine.”
“A few more months and you can.” Steve placed a plate in each of their spots and joined her at the table.
“Actually, it’s best to wait until after I’ve weaned him to drink any. Though some doctors say it’s okay to have no more than one glass of alcohol a day as long as there is at least two hours before the next feeding.” She groaned. “That’s means I can’t have any at the wedding.” She began to eat.
“I’m sure we can figure something out.” He took a couple bites of food, then used the opening she gave him to change the subject. “You brought up an important point. We should probably start figuring out our plans for the wedding. November will be here before we know it and it’s always a good idea to have things booked well in advance.”
“That’s usually only an issue with the venue and the cake. We already have the venue.” She gestured in the direction of the backyard and took a drink from her glass.
“You want to get married here?” He frowned at her and sat back in his chair. She hadn’t mentioned that to him.
She frowned at him. “Oh, Steve. I’m sorry. I should’ve discussed it with you. I-.”
“Whoa, honey. Calm down.” He reached over and grabbed her right hand which she was moving around wildly. “It’s okay. Getting married here is perfect. It’s where we first met and where I saved your life.”
“And where we first kissed.” She squeezed his hand and got a squeeze back.
“Exactly.” He smiled. “And we’ll raise our son here. Having one more memory will make it all the more special.” He took another bite of his food, while keeping possession of her hand, then asked. “What about the cake?”
“I know a couple of great bakeries. I can set up a tasting at each of them over the next couple of weeks and we can work on picking out the design and flavors.” She was watching him closely. She realized they needed to make all of the wedding decisions together going forward. It wasn’t fair for her to assume things. It was THEIR wedding.
“I’d like that.” He could see the concern in her eyes. “It’s okay, honey. I promise.” He relaxed when she smiled and then pointed out another matter. “But don’t we also have to pick colors, flowers and a theme out?”
“No theme, please, and I was thinking with sticking with native flowers.” She reclaimed her hand and continued eating. “Why don’t we spend the next few days hashing out the rest of the details and making some decisions?”
“Sounds great and we still have a few months to finalize everything.” He restrained himself from jumping when he noticed their pets sitting between them, patiently waiting for the treat they seemed to instinctively know was coming. He grabbed a plain shrimp and gave it to Burt, then grabbed another for his cat. He chuckled as they gobbled them down. When his gaze lifted, he took a moment to stare at Jacq and a soft smile spread across his face. He thought to himself. We have the rest of our lives to make decisions together and I can’t wait.
Notes:
I also want to thank those of you who wrote supportive comments and kudos'ed the Brief Aside I posted on Friday. It means the world to me.
Chapter 12: It Takes a Village
Chapter Text
“Hey, boss.” Kono stated as she stuck her head in McGarrett’s office. She studied him for a minute. He was pouring over the contents of a binder and didn’t look up at her greeting. She wasn’t aware of any cases they were working on where they were using hard copies. Almost all of their active investigations were strictly digital. “What are you working on?” She asked as she fully came into the office.
“Nothing.” He almost yelled as he slammed the binder shut, lifted his head and did his best to look innocent. His hands were splayed across the front of the binder.
The young woman came over to his desk and looked at the cover of the binder. She could distinctly see the word ‘wedding’ and part of another. “Are you working on wedding planning?”
“Yes.” He hung his head. “Jacq and I got into an argument, any actual argument about our plans. Not one of our playful banters, or even about her being stubborn or me being in control. It was a true disagreement. And I’m trying to look over the options again to see if I can find a compromise.”
“Weddings are stressful. I’ve been there.” Kono dropped into one of the visitor chairs and scanned the man behind the desk. If she hadn’t been working with him for the last seven years, she probably wouldn’t have noticed it. He was stressed. She made a suggestion. “Have you been out on a date with Jacq since she gave birth to John?”
“We’ve had a few date nights at the house.”
“That’s not a real date. I mean gone out to a restaurant without the baby or Burt or Coronado being there.”
“That’s not really possible. John has to go everywhere with at least one of us.”
“Not true. Danny and Lou have watched him when you both were busy with other things. I think the two of you need some time to yourselves without a needy baby being there.”
“I don’t know….” The former SEAL was hesitant.
An idea occurred to Officer Kalakaua. She could only hope her better half would be okay with what she was about to do. “How about this? You make a reservation at a nice restaurant. Bring John with you into town and drop him off at my place. Adam and I would love the chance to spend some time with him and if we run into any problems, you, or anyone on the team for that matter, is just a phone call away. What do you say?”
“I could see if Nicky has any openings for Friday.” He replied with a shrug. His friend would likely help him out with a last-minute reservation.
“No, no, NO.” Kono stated with a shake of her head. “Don’t take her to a bar. You need to go somewhere romantic, where you aren’t going to run into anyone you know.” She gave him a hard look. “You have connections all over the island. You should be able to get a reservation at any restaurant you want.” She contemplated the matter for a moment. “What about that fancy new French place? They do multi-course meals with wine pairings. It’s a great place to enjoy good food, while not overeating. I know she’s still concerned about the baby weight.” The two women made a point to talk at least once a week, especially if they didn’t have the chance to see each other in person
He nodded and smiled. “It’s a good idea, Kono. I’ll reach out to some people I know and see if I can finagle it. I appreciate your help.” And he really did. It would be nice to be a couple again for a few hours.
“Any time, boss. And remember Adam and I can babysit.” She stood and grinned down at him. “I’d still figure out a compromise to your problem. Can’t have a romantic dinner with your fiancée if you aren’t engaged anymore.”
“Mahalo.” He watched her leave his office and reopened the binder in front of him. Then it hit him. He knew exactly what to do to resolve their argument. Now, he just needed to get Jacq on board with it.
*****
“Hey, honey.”
“Oh, Steve, you’re home.” Jacq twisted in her seat and saw him coming down the path. She hadn’t heard his truck arrive in the clearing, like normal, because she was completely enthralled in her work. She was at the table on the lanai. John was in the playpen next to her, on his back, gnawing on a teething ring. She was pretty sure his baby teeth were in the process of emerging and was being cautious. She didn’t want him in pain. Either way, he enjoyed having the teething ring in his mouth and didn’t fuss nearly as much when he was in possession of it. Coronado was laying by his head, supervising, while Burt was sitting outside, standing guard. She got to her feet. “I’m sorry about this morning. I-.”
“Hey, now. You don’t have anything to apologize for.” He bound up the steps and gripped her shoulders, locking eyes with her. “We’re both to blame and both had valid points. But I may have come up with a compromise.” He gave her a fast kiss, which she quickly deepened, grabbing on to his shirt and drawing him close. When she pulled back, she grinned up at him.
“Of course, the great planner thought up a solution.”
“Well, I do have a need to be in control.” He ushered her back to her seat and sat across from her. “As you know, I want to get married on the beach.”
“Yes, and I don’t.”
“Because you want to wear heels. However, what about we have a temporary walkway and platform installed in the sand, then cover the walkway with a carpet and the platform with a thin layer of sand? That means I get my beach wedding and you can wear the shoes you want to without getting stuck in the sand.”
The profiler considered his proposal. It was rather ingenious and she kind of wished they had thought of it that morning, before they got into their argument. She sighed and nodded. “I think it’ll work. Thank you.”
“Of course, honey.” He reached across the table and she gave him her hand. He gripped it firmly. “With the wedding planning and John, we have a lot going on and haven’t really had a break.”
“Tell me about it. Between John, the animals, the wedding, my consulting work and Five-O cases, I’ve barely been able to take a breath.”
“Exactly.” He smiled at her and got a tepid one in return. “What do you say to a night out with just the two of us?”
“But what about John? I-.”
“All taken care of. I got us a very reliable babysitter.” He chuckled. “Actually, two of them.”
“You did?” He nodded in response to her question. “Who?” She asked.
“Kono volunteered herself and Adam to help us out and I got us a reservation at that new French restaurant all the newspapers and critics have been raving about.” He’d called in a couple of favors to get one of the sought-after tables and would likely need to take out a loan to afford it, but his fiancée was worth the hassle and the price. They needed a night away.
“I’m not-.”
“Don’t overthink it, Jacq.”
Even though he’d told her not to overthink it, she considered his idea. She was stressed, exhausted and in desperate need of a break. A night out seemed to be exactly what the doctor ordered, but it wouldn’t stop her from worrying about her baby or thinking about him. They’d been able to do it the few nights they had romantic dinners at the house, but she’d been close by if her baby needed her. This was going to be different and she wanted to fully embrace this opportunity. She had an amendment to his proposal to help her with that. “I’m game, but do you think we could spend the evening not talking about John? It won’t stop me from thinking about him, of course, but it would probably be a good thing for both of us to not let him be a topic of discussion.”
“Sure, but do you think you can actually do that?”
“I can try. You’re right, I need a break. And that means a complete break.”
“Deal and we’ll call each other on it if we slip up.”
“I can live with that.” She then asked. “Did you really get a reservation at L’eau Bleue?” She was impressed.
The head of Five-O nodded. “A guy owed me a favor and he called in a favor and that got us a reservation at the best table in the place.”
“Good friends to have.”
“Not exactly friends, but close enough.” He had no desire to tell her the details.
“You know it’s expensive, right?”
“Yes, I’m aware. I have a feeling I’m going to have flashbacks to that charity dinner and two-bite plates.” The hospital benefit had been an eye-opening experience for him, but the evening had ending of two definite high-notes.
The profiler laughed. “I don’t think that will be the case, not from the reviews I read. I’m just disappointed I’m not going to get to try the wine. They have a first-rate wine list from what I’ve heard.” Her comment caused her to frown.
“Hey.” Steve tugged on her hand which he was still holding and waited for their eyes to meet before he continued. “If you feed John right before we head to the restaurant, you can have one glass at the start of the meal.” He was hoping he was remembering what she told him correctly.
“That could work.” The psychologist stood up and pulled her fiancé up out of his seat. Moving closer to him, she released his hand, grabbed the nape of his neck and brought him down into a searing kiss. His arms went around her and their bodies pressed together. They shared kiss after kiss until they were both panting. Still holding her close, he rested his forehead against hers and their breaths mingled. A whisper from her broke through the silence. “Now, I just have to figure out what to wear.”
McGarrett chuckled. “I have some thoughts about that.”
*****
“Jacq, is that really what you’re wearing to L’eau Bleue?” Kono asked with a raised eyebrow after opening the front door of the house she shared with her husband to their guests. She motioned the other couple in.
“No. Steve’s got my dress in that garment bag he’s carrying. I need to feed John and change.” The profiler explained with a sigh. She was doubting the former SEAL’s plan in that moment. There were too many moving parts for her liking. She glanced down into the car seat she was carrying and saw her baby looking up at her. She smiled down at him. He must have just woken up. “Where can I-?” She began to ask, then Adam stepped forward and took the garment bag from his boss.
“You can use the spare bedroom. Follow me.” He led his friend and her child away from their significant others.
“Thanks again for doing this, Kono.” McGarrett said to the young woman. He slid the diaper bag off his shoulder and offered it to her.
“Happy to help out, boss.” She took the bag. “Anything we need to know?”
“Not really. There are diapers, wipes, a changing pad, a few toys, a blanket, a couple of bottles of breast milk and a few other things in there. And if you run into any issues, we’re just a phone call away.” He shrugged. He was trying to do as the woman he loved asked and not worry about their son being with their teammates, but if he was honest with himself, he was struggling. He noticed Adam return from the hallway and he came right over to his wife.
“I’ll take charge of that.” He lifted it out of her hands and went towards the kitchen. “I’ll put the bottles in the fridge.” He disappeared again. He must have heard their conversation as he was returning to the living room.
“Do you want to sit down?” Officer Kalakaua gestured at the sofa.
“I’m good.” The Navy officer replied and adjusted his jacket. He was in a dark suit and white button-down dress shirt, but no tie. He was clean shaven and had on a hint of cologne. He checked his watch. They’d gotten to the married couple’s house a little later than planned and needed to leave soon to make their reservation. His fiancée had actually fed John before they left the house, but it was a long drive and she wanted to give him a little bit more before they left him for a few hours. His eyes darted back to the hallway when he heard the clip-clop of heels and he smiled. “You look amazing, honey.”
“Thanks.” The profiler was wearing the black lace dress she wore to the State dinner a couple months after they first met. He loved it and had almost begged her to wear it for their evening out. She adjusted their son on her hip and came over to her lover and their friend. She set the car seat on the coffee table and grabbed her purse out of it, shoving it and the garment bag over her arm at Steve. “Take these.” Once she was sure he had both items, she turned to the other woman and transferred John from her arms into Kono’s. She brushed her baby’s cheek and he laughed. “Be good for Aunt Kono.”
“We’re going to have a blast. We’ll play with toys, take a nap and maybe even change a diaper.”
“You’re on diaper duty, sweetheart.” Adam stated as he rejoined them, earning a laugh from his bride. He placed the diaper bag on the table next to the car seat. “Shouldn’t you guys be going?” He suggested to the couple.
“Yes, we should. Come on, honey.” McGarret grabbed Jacq’s elbow and pulled her towards the door.
“But I-.”
“The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll be back.” He reminded her as he crossed the threshold of the house.
“Right. Bye, guys.” The new mother waved at her friends as she and the former SEAL disappeared into the night.
Kono and Adam both chuckled. Noshimuri closed the front door and turned to look at his wife. “What do you want to do now?”
“I think John is ready for a little nap.” The infant was yawning and his eyes were getting droopy. “Once he’s asleep, we can have our dinner. He’ll probably be awake by the time we finish, then we can figure out what to do next.” She and the profiler had discussed the little boy’s routine and knew he always got drowsy after eating.
“Sounds good to me. I’ll get started on dinner.” He headed back into their kitchen.
“And I’ll get him settled.” She knelt down in front of the car seat and carefully put him in it. She didn’t buckle him in, but did move the straps out of the way so he was comfortable. She rubbed his belly and smiled when he fussed some, but soon his eyes were closed and his breathing was steady. Getting to her feet, she grabbed the car seat and took it into the kitchen. Babysitting was off to a great start.
*****
“How’s the wine?”
“Amazing. Fruity with just a touch of sweetness.” Dr. Stone lifted her glass and took another sip of the golden liquid. They were currently between courses and awaiting their server’s return.
The engaged couple had arrived at L’eau Bleue with five minutes to spare. The hostess had formally greeted them and immediately took them to their table. It was situated in a tiny alcove on the edge of the dining room, giving them privacy but also full view of the rest of the restaurant. They perused the menu and opted to do the five-course dinner with Jacq getting a single glass of wine for the evening and the head of Five-O doing the wine pairing (at his fiancée’s insistence). Their first course was carrot-ginger soup. It came in a tiny bowl and was creamy and rich without being too heavy. It took off the edge of their hunger. That was followed by their appetizers, a ham and melon plate. Again, it wasn’t an overly large portion, but it was sweet and salty and very satisfying. They were currently waiting on their summer salad and their conversation had come to a screeching halt. They’d mainly been discussing food. They were in desperate need of a new topic. Steve broke the silence.
“Yesterday, you mentioned you were working on a couple of cold cases. Anything interesting?” He grabbed his glass of water and drank some. He’d already finished the wine for the appetizer course.
“Yes, both of them are interesting for vastly different reasons.” She set her glass of wine down and smiled. “The first is a series of home invasions from about twenty years ago in Milwaukee. Five of them in the course of three months. Then as quickly as they started, they ended. The detectives gathered a ton of evidence. I’m still sifting through it, looking for motives and patterns. The victimology is the only common denominator I’ve found thus far.”
“If you’d like another set of eyes, let me know.”
“I might just take you up on that.” She continued to smile at him.
“What about the other one?” He asked. He noticed her smile falter and frowned. “You don’t have to-.” He knew there were some cases she couldn’t talk about.
“No, I want to tell you.” She looked around and made sure no one was in earshot. “It’s a serial and I’m not sure it’s appropriate dinner conversation, especially here.”
“You’re probably right.” Talking about violent and sadistic murders might be the norm for them, but not most other people. Another thought hit him and he opted to share. “I’ve been thinking about the second secure storage building.”
“What about it?” The smile was back on Jacq’s face.
“Well, we should probably think about adding to the supplies stored there. We need stuff for….” He trailed off and cursed in his head. He hadn’t wanted to be the first person to mention their son. He scanned his fiancée and was surprised to see her still smiling. She almost looked like she was trying to stop herself from laughing and was biting her lip.
“It’s a good idea.” She opened her purse which was sitting on the table next to her. She pulled out her phone. “I’ll put it on my to-do list.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t-.”
“It’s okay, Steve. It probably wasn’t realistic to ask either of us to not bring up John. Our world now revolves around a small, defenseless human being. Not talking about him is making this dinner awkward and our relationship is a lot of things, but it’s never been awkward.”
“I’m glad it wasn’t just me.” He chuckled, then perked up when two servers approached their table. One set a plate in front of Dr. Stone, the other a plate and a glass in front of him. The first server departed and left his colleague to explain the next course.
“Before you, you have a summer salad of little gem pearl lettuce, guanciale, peach slices, fine beans and hazelnuts with a light lemon vinaigrette. And your wine pairing, Commander, is a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It is fruit forward and on the dry side. It will complement the salad nicely.” The server’s gaze moved between the couple. “Do you need anything else?”
“No, thank you.” The Navy officer responded and then watched him walk away. He looked at the profiler and arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t correct him.” She hadn’t corrected any of the servers who got his rank wrong, at least in her opinion. Most people in the Navy just called him Commander. Honestly, he was pretty sure she corrected people just to amuse herself.
“Didn’t seem worth the effort.” She picked up her salad fork and began to eat. “This is wonderful. I’m really glad we picked the woodland menu.”
“Me, too. Everything’s been excellent thus far.” He was honestly surprised at how good everything was. It was a marked improvement from the charity dinner. “Maybe you should recommend this place to the hospital for their next benefit.”
“I could, but it’ll only happen if the chef donates his time.” She stopped her inhalation of her salad and paused to sip some more wine. While the man she loved ate more of his own meal, her thoughts wander to John. She hoped things were going well at Kono and Adam’s.
*****
“Thank God you’re here.” Adam swung open the door and ushered in their visitor. There was wailing in the background. Kono was pacing across the living room with John in her arms. The baby was bawling and screaming, clearly unhappy about something.
“How long has he been crying?” Danny asked as he approached his teammate and took the child from her.
“This time, twenty minutes. The other time thirty-five or so, then he wore himself out and fell asleep.” Officer Kalakaua shared as she rubbed her ears. “We were hoping he just got fussy when he was tired.”
“This isn’t fussy.” Williams declared. He cradled the infant tightly, hoping to make him feel safe, and began to rock him. He quieted some, but still continued to cry. “I assume you did all the normal things.”
“Yeah, we changed him and tried to give him a bottle. He drank a little, then refused any more.” Adam dropped onto the couch and gave a weary sigh. Who would’ve imaged a couple hours of babysitting would be so exhausting? “We called you as soon as he woke up and started to cry again.”
“You did everything I would’ve done.” Danny looked down as the crying started to abate. The little boy’s eyes were closing. He’d worn himself out again. “Call Lou.” He whispered.
“Why?” Noshimuri asked as he stood back up and pulled out his cell.
“Shhh.” The Detective hissed. “He claims to be some type of baby whisperer. Let him prove it and figure out what’s wrong.” His voice was hushed. He wanted the infant to stay asleep as long as possible. Hopefully, the former head of HPD SWAT would get there before he woke up again.
“Maybe we should call Steve and Jacq.” Kono offered. Her great idea had seriously backfired. She’d thought this would be a nice trial run for her and her husband to determine if they wanted kids. She now had no desire to have a baby at any point in the near future.
“No, they deserve to have a nice quiet night alone together. We’ll figure this out. Now call Lou.” Danny ordered. Deciding that it was best to keep John in his arms instead of putting him in the car seat, he paced the room, much like Kono had been doing when he arrived. He heard Adam in the background speaking with Grover. He didn’t live too far away and if he wasn’t busy, could be to the Kalakaua/Noshimuri house in a few minutes. The sound of footsteps had him turning.
“He’s on his way.” Adam shared.
“Good.”
“Where’s Grace? I thought you had her this weekend.” Kono inquired. She was upset about the situation with John and embarrassed she had to call Williams for help. Also, she hated to interrupt his time with his daughter.
Danny smiled, allaying some of her worry. “She’s at home with Charlie. Neither of them would be helpful with a baby emergency and it was almost Charlie’s bedtime. I didn’t want to mess up his routine.” He looked at the infant in his arms again. “Did Jacq mention John having colic or fits like this?”
“No, just that he’s loud when he wants something.” Noshimuri responded.
“That’s an understatement.” Williams muttered. He continued to pace the living room and after several minutes, there was a knock on the door. He turned in that direction and watched Adam open it. Lou ambled in and took stock of the room.
“What’s the emergency? Everything seems fine.” The Captain stated.
“If you’d been here fifteen minutes ago, it would have been a different story.” Kono explained. “He’s had two major crying fits and only stopped when he fell asleep from exhaustion.”
“It’s not his diaper and he isn’t hungry. And Jacq and Steve didn’t mention colic or any other conditions.” Noshimuri added.
“Hmm.” Lou pondered the situation. “Did anything help? Even the littlest bit?”
“When we first gave him the bottle, he calmed down and stopped, but that only lasted for a couple minutes.” The young woman shared.
“And when I held him tightly, the volume went down a notch.” Danny threw out.
Grover wandered over to the diaper bag and began to look through its contents. He pulled out a few things, setting them aside and out of the way. Then a big grin spread across his face. He lifted a small object out of the bag and waved it around for everyone to see. “Eureka.”
*****
“Are you sure you don’t want to try another bite?”
“I’m good.” Jacq held up a hand and shook her head, her other hand was rubbing her stomach. “Between the sorbet, the bite you gave me and my tart, I’m stuffed.”
“More for me. I still don’t know why we got an extra dessert.”
“The sorbet wasn’t a dessert. It was a palate cleanser between the entrée and dessert. That’s why it wasn’t very sweet, just tart and light.” She put her hand down and studied her fiancé. He was eating his dessert with gusto and she cut back a laugh. “Do you want to swing by the diner after this?” She asked in jest.
“No, this meal was actually filling.” He set his fork aside and finally looked at her. Her smirk said it all; she’d enjoyed herself. He could see that she was relaxed and rejuvenated. He really owed Kono for suggesting a night out and volunteering to babysit for them. He contemplated how the meal had gone.
After the arrival of their salads and his slip-up of mentioning John, the awkwardness completely disappeared. As they ate their food, they chatted about what was going on with their baby, things they needed to do around the house and of course, work. They smiled and laughed and didn’t even notice when their server returned to clear their plates. The entrée course arrived soon after and at that point, their choices for the evening began to diverge. McGarrett had venison medallions in a port wine sauce with cherries and roasted root vegetables, while the profiler received a roasted chicken thigh in a hunter cream sauce with fondant potatoes and sautéed greens. After trying a bite or two, they exchanged plates to sample what the other was having, then they returned each plate to its original owner and ate the rest of their meal. It was all delicious. Once the table was cleared, they got tiny cups of lemon-lime sorbet. It had been a nice bonus, even if it did confuse the Navy officer. Finally, their desserts had arrived. Steve got a chocolate lava cake, while the psychologist had a fruit tart. Again, they tried, swapped and returned the desserts. They were extremely rich and tasty.
With a sigh of satisfaction, the head of Five-O set down his fork and drank the last of the sherry he’d received with it. “That really hit the spot.” He checked his watch. “It’s getting late.”
“I know.” She gave him a sad smile. “We should probably pay the check and go pick up John. We still need to drive home.” She reached for her purse and pulled out her wallet. It didn’t seem fair to make her fiancé pay for the meal, not when she was so much better off than him.
“Put that away.” He ordered.
“I don’t mind. I-.”
“Jacq….” His eyes locked with hers and he waited. She broke the connection first and put her wallet back into her bag with a sigh. He chuckled. “This was my idea and therefore, it’s going to be my treat.” He waved down their server and as soon as the young man was by their table, he asked. “Can we get the bill?”
“Just give me one moment, sir.” He bowed his head and quickly left.
“Are you sure, Steve?” She gave him a concerned look.
“Yes.” He’d already gotten his credit card out and simply handed it to the young man on his return. Two minutes later, he came back and left them to finish up and depart. The former SEAL scanned the receipt, his eyes catching the total. He swallowed hard and gave a generous tip. He signed the slip and put his card away. He got to his feet. “Come on, honey. Let’s pick up John and go home.” He came around the table and helped her up.
“I can’t wait to see him.” She smiled and they headed out of the restaurant. The valet already had their car waiting and they were soon on their way. As they drove, Dr. Stone reached over and put her hand on her lover’s thigh. He covered it with his and gave it a squeeze. The drive wasn’t long and soon they were pulling up in front of their friends’ house. After he put the truck in park and shut off the engine, she asked. “Do you think I should change?”
“I don’t think so. You can always give him a bottle to tide him over until we get home. I doubt they used both of them. Come on.” McGarrett opened his door, climbed out and hurried around the front to help her down. Together, they headed to the front door and he knocked. When the door swung open, he smiled at the person who greeted them. “Hey, Adam.”
“Steve, Jacq, you’re back.” He seemed flustered, but stepped back and let them come inside. His bride was sitting on the floor. The blanket from the diaper bag was spread out where she was and she was tending to John who was on his back, gnawing on a plastic ring.
“Oh, you found the teething ring. I forgot to mention it.” The profiler was cursing in her head. She’d been so scattered when they arrived to drop off the infant, his oral sensitivity had completely slipped her mind. “He didn’t-?” She began.
“He’s fine, Jacq. I promise.” Kono assured her. “We figured it out… eventually.” She gave her husband a look and he chuckled.
“Yeah… it was a team effort.” Adam added. He was happy his wife didn’t want to hide what happened from their friends. The new parents deserved to know about their interesting evening.
“Team effort?” The Navy officer’s gaze moved between the couple, trying to figure out if they meant what he thought they did.
“We may have called Danny and Lou for some assistance.” Kono clarified.
“You should’ve-.” It was the head of Five-O’s turn to be interrupted.
“Steve, it’s okay.” Adam clapped a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “We didn’t want to interrupt your evening. Danny and Lou are experienced fathers and are only a few blocks away. We called for help as soon we realized we couldn’t handle it. And Lou figured it out after only being here for a few minutes.” He felt the need to explain before they heard about it from Grover or the Detective. He was sure they’d make it was a bigger deal than it had been.
“I’m so sorry he caused problems.” The profiler hurried over to her child, knelt down and picked him up. The little boy gurgled happily and gave a cry of delight, waving his teething ring around in the air. She took him over to his car seat and got him secured into it.
Kono scrambled to her feet, grabbing the blanket as she did. She folded it up, handed to her husband, and spoke. “He wasn’t a problem at all, Jacq. And we’d happily watch him again, if there’s a need.”
“We’d love to babysit again, just be sure to give us all the information before you leave next time.” The former Yakuza member laughed when the psychologist turned her head and rolled her eyes at him. He headed into the kitchen to grab the diaper bag and the bottles of breast milk out of the fridge.
“I’m mortified.” Dr. Stone bemoaned as she stood up and grabbed the car seat.
“Don’t be.” The other woman stated as she gave her friend a hug. “Have a good rest of your evening.”
“I’ll see you guys on Monday.” Steve declared as he took the diaper bag from Noshimuri as he came out of the kitchen.
“See you then, boss.” Adam smirked.
The Navy officer shook his head, grabbed his fiancée’s arm and quickly led them out of the house. Jacq waved at their friends and they both heard laughter as the door shut behind them. It only took him a moment to get the car seat secured in the back of his vehicle and to help the mother of his child in. She was sitting with their baby. It was his turn to chuckle as he headed to the driver’s seat, climbed in and got them on their way. It didn’t take them long to leave Honolulu behind and he glanced in the rearview mirror. He asked. “What do you say about doing this again next month?”
His only response was a sweet smile and a loving look. And really it was all he needed.
*****
“The pastries you sent into the office were a hit.”
“Good.”
“You know, you didn’t need to do that.” McGarrett stated as he sat down on the edge of the bed and untied his shoes. Once they were off, he swung his legs up onto the bed and slid closer to the profiler. Jacq was sitting in the middle of the bed, feeding John. Burt was laying next to her on her usual side of the bed and Coronado was sprawled in between her legs. He’d gotten home a few minutes ago and had been surprised to find both of the doors to the lanai closed and locked. He’d used his key to get in and was happy to discover the alarm was off. He was pretty sure she was home, since her SUV was in the clearing, but knew she could have gone to one of the outbuildings. He walked through the lower level of the house and finding no one, headed upstairs. He would’ve called up the stairs but knew if he woke their son, he’d have to deal with the aftermath. After popping his head in the nursery, he’d strolled into the master suite and smiled at the scene that greeted him. Seeing their little family all together always made him feel immensely happy.
“Yes, I did. If I hadn’t, Danny and Lou would’ve complained about how our son messed up the start to their weekends and you would’ve had to bear the brunt of that. This way, we’ve nipped it in the bud before they had a chance to start.” She adjusted her baby’s angle and smiled down at the little boy.
“Oh.” The head of Five-O hadn’t really thought about it that way. He appreciated her attempt to protect him. The two other fathers had ribbed him a bit, but it had been mild compared with what they normally did. Mostly, his friends had wanted to know about the meal and how the whole experience had been. He was pretty sure Adam and Grover were considering L’eau Bleue for their next special celebrations with their wives based on his assessment, but he had warned them about the price. Neither man seemed concerned. He leaned over and kissed Dr. Stone’s cheek. “Thanks, honey.”
“Of course.” She felt John release and looked down again to see the infant yawn. It was almost like clockwork. She shifted her son and offered him to his father. “Take him.” She ordered.
“Sure.” Steve quickly took John from her and swiped the cloth from her shoulder. He burped the little boy while she put her clothes back together. “Did you make any progress on your two cold cases?”
“Yes.” She turned back to face him and smiled. “With your insight, I was able to finish the profile on the home invasions. A couple of the original suspects seem to fit the bill, but the detectives on the case will need to question them to be sure.”
“What about the serial?” He asked as he slid off the bed and headed towards the nursery. The couple’s animal scrambled after him. He heard Jacq chuckle and assumed she was following them. He laid their son in his crib on his back and rubbed his stomach, helping the infant to settle down. John drifted off to sleep. Turning back towards the door, he saw the woman he loved leaning on the frame watching him. “What?”
“You’re so domesticated.”
McGarrett rolled his eyes. “So are you.”
“Didn’t say I wasn’t.”
“Your serial?” He ushered her back into their bedroom. Their cat and dog stayed in the nursery to stand watch over their brother.
“I’ve requested more information from the detective handling it. Well, actually, he inherited it from his old partner when he retired.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. A shudder ran through her and the Navy officer wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer. “Sorry.”
“No reason to be sorry. I saw the crime scene photos. The victims didn’t go easily. It would upset anyone.”
“Thanks, but it’s my job. I’ve seen worse. I’m not sure why this case is getting such a reaction out of me.”
The head of Five-O rubbed her back, offering comfort as best he could. He asked another question. “What are you hoping the detective can provide you?”
The profiler smiled up at him. He knew just what to do to make her feel better, focusing on the facts of the case. “They were able to collect a bunch of physical evidence at all of the scenes and there’s been a lot of advancement in DNA testing and other investigative methods since the murders. I suggested they rerun the DNA, as well as conducting a familial DNA search and doing a full genetic work-up. Even if we can’t find the actual person, we might be able to discover what he looks like or unearth a relative.”
“That’s good thinking, honey.”
“I thought so, too.” She smirked up at him, then gasped when he dove forward to kiss her.
“Let’s talk about something else.” He whispered before kissing her along the chin, down her jaw and finally reached her neck.
“You’re the one who asked.” She moaned.
“And now I want a change of topic.”
“Any suggestions?” His hands seemed to be everywhere and she was come apart at the seams.
“How about we don’t talk at all?” He began to move her backwards towards the bed.
“Works for me.”
The only thing anyone would’ve heard after that was the sound of moans, groans and two people greatly enjoying themselves.
Chapter 13: To Live & Die in…
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“What’s the big emergency and why did you tell me to pack a bag for me, John and Burt?” Dr. Stone asked as soon as she came into the bullpen of the Task Force’s offices. In her hand, she was carrying her baby in his car seat. Over the opposite shoulder, she had a duffle bag and the diaper bag slung, and behind her trotted her dog with Coronado on his back. The two animals were tethered together by a short lead with either end clipped to their harnesses.
It was quite the scene to witness and Steve would’ve been tempted to chuckle if the situation wasn’t so serious. He spoke to the man at the interactive table. “Jerry, bring up the connection.” Expecting to be obeyed, the former SEAL strode over to the mother of his child and drew her into the middle of the room, where she could clearly see the display. “Someone needs your help.”
“Who?” The question was answered when the monitor came to life and the image of an older man appeared. It was someone they both knew. “Admiral Kilbride? What’s going on?”
“We need you in Los Angeles immediately.”
“Huh? I can’t drop everything and fly to the mainland.” She was very confused. “I don’t work for you or the Navy.”
“There is a man kidnapping, raping and beating Navy women. LAPD has handed the case off to us and our own psychologist is unavailable. You were the next logical choice.” Hollace’s face was blank, but she could see the strain and worry in his eyes.
“How many victims?” The profiler shifted into work mode seamlessly.
“Three. The first was a Navy wife abducted from her driveway. She was found three days later with minor injuries and little to no memory of what happened. The second was a Lieutenant, home on leave and was snatched after she left a bar where she was drinking with friends. Again, she was found three days later with slightly more severe injuries and no clear memories of what happened to her. The third….” He trailed off. It was clear he was affected by what had happened to these women.
“Is she alive?” Jacq opted to keep things moving. He hadn’t mentioned murder, but his reaction told her it had been close.
“Yes, but she has brain damage and is in a coma.” Kilbride pulled himself together. “The window between the incidents is shrinking. Six weeks between the first two, then three between the second and third.”
“He’s escalating.” Steve added to the conversation.
“Yes, that’s why we need you here now. With the level of escalation, he’s likely to kill the next victim and I want to avoid that if at all possible.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Fleet week is in ten days down in San Diego and we will likely have a huge influx of Navy personnel coming North to Los Angeles, increasing the pool of potential victims exponentially. We need to stop him before that happens.”
“We’ll catch the first flight we can get.” The former SEAL replied. He wasn’t letting his fiancée and their child go anywhere without him.
“Negative, Commander. There is a plane standing by at Hickam to transport you to the mainland. They’re awaiting yours and the Doctor’s arrival. I recommend you don’t keep them waiting.” Hollace waved at someone off camera and the connection ended.
“Jer, get the team back to the office, ASAP. I need to check on the statues on our ongoing investigations and Danny’ll have to take Coronado.” The head of Five-O ordered as he leaned down to unclip his cat from the former police dog and lifted the tiny animal up. Coronado cuddled close to him. “You’re going to have to stay here, buddy.” He told the cat, not that the feline would understand.
“We could take him with us.”
“I don’t think so, honey. I’m not sure he could handle 6 hours in a metal box.”
“I’m not sure I can either, what with Burt and John and you.” She smirked at him, trying to lighten the serious mood. He stepped closer and kissed her temple.
“How many days did you pack for?”
“Four. I have another bag down in the car. I didn’t have enough hands or shoulder space to carry everything upstairs. Here take him.” She handed him the car seat and stepped up to the table. “Jerry, I know you’re busy, but….”
“What do you need, Doc?” The conspiracy theorist looked at her and she could see the pain in his eyes. He hadn’t liked what they heard any more than the Admiral had enjoyed telling them.
“I need all the case files, crime scene photos and victim statements. I’m going to start going over everything on the plane.”
“Already in the process of getting them for you.” From all the investigation they had worked together, he knew what she needed to do her job and wanted to help in any way he could.
“Great.” She smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’d also like you to work with NCIS to look for older, related crimes.” Without reviewing the case files, she was guessing, but it was good to be prepared and would allow Jerry to stay busy and keep his mind off what was happening in Los Angeles.
“Search criteria?”
“Port cities with Naval bases or a large number of Navy personnel. Start in LA and work your way out. Any crimes against woman.” She paused. “What are the ages of the three victims?”
“All in the mid- to late-twenties.”
“Any crimes against woman aged 20-35. Go back ten years. Highlight those where the victim had memory issues or the details were fuzzy.”
“Do they need to be Navy or Navy adjacent?” He was already typing in the data and sharing it with the Ops team in LA.
“No, but keep them in two separate groups. If I figure anything else out, I’ll send it to you during the flight. If you don’t find anything promising, you can go back further.” She swung around and looked at her fiancé. “Do you think the Admiral is putting us on a cargo plane?”
“I hope not. John isn’t going to like all that noise. Are you, buddy?” He squeezed one of his son’s feet and the little boy giggled.
“I’m not going to like breastfeeding on a cargo plane with a bunch of military men staring at me.” She added and gave him a look.
“I’m sure he considered that, honey.” He assured her, but inside, he was praying they were on a passenger plane where they could have an iota of privacy.
The sound of the elevator dinging and several people talking had the couple looking at the door as the rest of the team joined them. Danny was at the front and asked. “What’s going on?”
*****
“Are we sure this is the right place?”
“It’s where Agent Castor dropped us, so yes.” McGarrett pulled open the door and let his fiancée go in first with their son. Burt slipped around them and ran into the building. The couple walked into a huge room with a high ceiling. There were stairs off to one side and a few bullpen areas broken up with different types of dividers, partially obscuring desks and chairs from their view. There was a second level which was pretty much just a walkway, save one glass-walled office that was hovering over a section of the first level. There were also people moving around from area to area. No one paid them any mind, not until a familiar face spotted them.
“Steve, Jacq, glad you could make it.” G stated as he rounded a wall and came over to them. It was clear to the Five-O members he’d been at his desk when they came in.
“Didn’t have a lot of options. I really couldn’t say no.” The profiler replied as she held out her hand to the NCIS agent. He grasped it firmly in his.
“You could’ve, but I’m glad you didn’t.” He smiled at the new mother, then shook hands with the Navy officer. “Commander.”
“Callen.” The former SEAL looked around. “Where’s Sam?”
“Following up on some leads. Kilbride is up in Ops waiting for you.”
“Actually, I’m not, Agent Callen.” Hollace declared as he came down the stairs, Nell a couple steps behind him. “Dr. Stone, why didn't you use the hotel room I had booked for you?”
“Because, Admiral, a friend of my father’s has a house here he isn’t currently using and he kindly offered it to us for the length of our stay. It’s actually the guest house, but it gives us the option to spread out a bit and not be on top of each other for however long we’re here.” The psychologist grinned at the older man. She was enjoying the unhappy look on his face. He may have demanded her presence and she had accepted the request, but it didn’t mean she was going to roll over for him. She was there as a courtesy and because she wanted to stop more women from getting hurt. She needed him to remember, she didn’t work for him. She nodded her head at the other woman. “Ms. Jones.”
“Doctor.” The intelligence analyst smiled at her.
“Have you made any progress on a profile?” The Ops Manager asked. He wasn’t going to play into her games and wanted to focus on the reason their guests were there.
“Some. The most striking thing is that I don’t think Mrs. Bowen was the first victim.” She was referring to the Navy wife, who they presumed was victim zero. She’d already shared her theory with Jerry from the plane and told him what to look for. It was apparent he hadn’t shared it with their NCIS colleagues.
“Really?”
“Yes, really, Grisha. I think there were at least two earlier victims. May I?” She gestured at Nell and waited for one of the two NCIS bodies to give her permission to continue.
Kilbride broke the silence. “Go ahead.”
“Now the first victim wouldn’t be seen as a real victim. It was probably a mutual arrangement. He would’ve picked her up in a bar or restaurant, anywhere you might find a casual hook-up. However, he likely made her uncomfortable and said things that raised some red flags. This would’ve happened six to nine months ago.” Dr. Stone laid out her theory.
“And the second victim?” Callen asked.
“Not consensual. Likely roofied and raped, but no injuries beyond made a couple of innocuous bruises or scratches.”
“That would've been reported. Navy personnel are-.”
“Admiral, you and I both know that the military is not the best at handling rape allegations or reports. They are known to sweep them under the rug or play them down. The victim probably didn’t report it for fear of being blamed or ridiculed for allowing it to happen.” The profiler chided him. “It would’ve taken place around three or four months ago. I already had Jerry start working on finding older possibly related crimes, but it may lead nowhere, especially if they didn’t report them. What we need to do is put a call out to all Navy personnel who were in LA around those times. Have alerts been-?” It was the psychologist’s turn to be interrupted.
“A bulletin was put out to all female Navy personnel planning to come to the greater Los Angeles area. It warns them to be on guard and to avoid traveling alone, especially at night.” Nell replied. “I’ll touch base with Jerry and we’ll get to work.”
“Focus on support personnel, someone with only basic combat training and similar physical characteristics to our three known victims.” Jacq added.
Ms. Jones asked a question for confirmation. “Slight with dark hair and eyes?”
“Exactly.” None of the victims were fighters and that was likely deliberate on the unsub’s part. Plus, all three were almost carbon copies of each other. Every serial had their type. The intelligence analyst nodded and headed up the stairs. Setting the car seat on the ground, the new mother knelt down next to it and adjusted her son’s blanket. Something had occurred to her while she was laying out her theory, adding some interesting dimensions to her profile. She needed a moment to flesh it out, before she shared it with the three men standing over her. She rubbed Burt’s back when he sidled up next to her and bumped against her. So lost in thought, she didn’t hear the door open and two sets of footsteps approaching the group. Introductions were made without her apparently noticing.
“Agent Kensi Blye, Detective Marty Deeks, this is Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett and Dr. Jacqueline ‘Jacq’ Stone.” Callen stated, pointing at people in turn, then he noticed the profiler hadn’t heard him. “Is she…?” He looked at the head of Five-O with concern.
“She’s fine.” Steve smiled. He knew what was going on and shared that with the group. “She’s realized something. She’ll shared once she’s got it all straightened out.” He shrugged. His fiancée had her processes and he knew better than to interrupt her.
“Agent Blye, I assume you and your partner escorted the two victims to the boatshed.” The Admiral inquired of his subordinate.
“Yes, sir. We came back here as soon as Castor relieved us. A couple other agents are there as well. We opted to keep Mrs. Bowen and Lieutenant Roth separated for the time being. We have them sequestered in the two interview rooms.”
“Excellent. As soon as Dr. Stone is finished… thinking, I’d like the two of you to escort her there. She’ll want to speak with both of them. I assume that’s accurate, Commander?” Hollace asked the head of the Five-O Task Force.
“You’re correct, sir. Any information they can provide her will help with the overall profile. She’ll continue to refine it as the investigation continues.” Steve replied as he looked down at the woman he loved. Suddenly, her head lifted and their eyes met. He helped her to her feet. “Honey?”
“I think we need to be looking at another crime.” Jacq blurted out. In that moment, she was glad she’d asked Jerry to investigate other crimes, similar in nature to the ones they were currently investigating. Hopefully, he had kept going back, looking for older crimes. That was of vital importance.
“Beyond the two you already mentioned?” G was confused. “You think he’s committed more rapes?”
“No, this crime wasn’t committed by our unsub, but he probably witnessed it.” The profiler looked around and saw confusion on everyone’s faces.
“Why don’t you explain, honey?” McGarrett urged of her.
“This crime would’ve been committed 15-25 years ago in the LA area. A woman, maybe a sex worker or addict, was drugged, raped and beaten to death, though the drugs were probably her own doing. And she probably looked like our victims. The person who killed her was likely Navy and our current unsub was a child, maybe her son. He would’ve seen her murdered and is basing his crimes on what happened to her.”
“You’re making assumptions, Doctor.”
“Yes, I am, Admiral, but the crime scene photos and the wounds the victims sustained show restraint and hesitancy on the unsub’s part, at least with the first two victims. Almost like he cared about them. He placed them on sheets and covered their bodies before he left them in those alleys.”
“What about the third one? He beat her bloody.” Deeks threw out. He was watching the psychologist with interest.
“He got over his fears. He won’t hold back if he takes another woman.” Dr. Stone tilted her head and asked a question. “What did you say about a boatshed?”
“That’s where are first two victims are waiting for you and the Commander. Agent Blye and Detective Deeks will take you there when you’re ready.” Kilbride responded. “I will alert Ms. Jones to the additional search criteria.”
“Have her ping Jerry, he’s already working on an expanded search. And actually, it’ll be me and John going to this boatshed. Steve has to stay here with Burt. Burt is obsessed with water and I don’t want him getting wet. We have enough to deal with without that happening.” She shook her head. The former police dog was sitting next to her and barked at his name.
“How about this?” Marty offered to the group. “Kensi takes the Doc to speak with the victims and the Commander and I can go to LAPD headquarters to search for this old crime. Nell’s got enough on her plate and we might find something this Jerry person doesn’t have access to.”
“Not bad, Deeks, but I’ll go with you. McGarrett can catch up with Sam and see if the leads we got amount to anything.” G countered. He was the team lead, after all, and was sure the two former SEALs would have their own way of doing things. He could put up with the Detective for a few hours. Their guests weren’t used to him, not like he and the rest of their team were.
“Sounds good to me.” Jacq picked up the car seat and turned to her fiancé. He gave her a quick kiss and grabbed on to Burt’s collar, so he couldn’t follow her. “Lead the way, Agent Blye.”
“My car’s out this way.” Kensi pointed her thumb over her shoulder and smiled at the other members of her team. “Try not to kill my partner, Callen.”
“No promises, Kens.” He chuckled when she laughed and Marty frowned. He watched the two women walk towards the doors to the outside, but Dr. Stone turned back right before they exited and looked right at him. “What, Doc?”
“The unsub probably attempted to join the military, the Navy specifically, but was rejected, likely due to mental unfitness. It would’ve been the catalyst for these crimes, look back around a year ago, once you find some suspects.” The psychologist waved at the group and disappeared.
“Is she always like that, Commander?”
“Yes, Admiral, but you need to also know she’s usually right.” Steve grinned, then turned to G. “Now, where do I link up with Sam?”
*****
“Thank you for giving me a moment to feed him, Agent Blye. It means he’ll sleep through the interviews.”
“Not a problem, Doctor, and please, call me, Kensi.”
“Jacq.” The two women smiled at each other as they walked into the boatshed. Agent Castor stood from his place on the couch. There was a pretty young woman sitting next to him, who was watching everything that happened with suspicion. She looked uncomfortable.
“Who’s with Lieutenant Roth, Castor?” The female Agent asked of her colleague.
“Grady is. Do you want me to stay?” His gaze moved from his fellow NCIS Agent to the profiler.
“It might be best if he waits outside. Mrs. Bowen deserves her privacy.” The psychologist responded. She knew that it wouldn’t be truly private, since she could see several cameras in the large room where they were and knew Kilbride would be watching her interview the victims, hoping for a concrete lead to follow instead of her ‘assumptions.’
“You heard her.” Kensi stated. He quickly left the way they’d come in. “Where do you want me?”
“Take a seat in one of the chairs.” Not waiting to see what the other woman did, the new mother strode over to the couch and set the car seat and diaper bag on the coffee table. She took Castor’s vacated seat and offered her hand to the Navy wife. “Mrs. Bowen, I’m Dr. Jacqueline Stone, a psychologist, criminal psychologist to be precise. I greatly appreciate you being here and feel free to call me, Jacq.”
“Linda.” The younger woman shook the offered hand, before asking a question, both of her hands back in her lap. “Why was I asked to come here?”
“I’d like to talk to you about what happened.”
Mrs. Bowen sighed and growled out. “I’ve already told everything to the police and to NCIS. I don’t know what more I can tell you.”
“I completely get that, but I’m going to try something different. However, before we start, I want to know how you’re doing.”
“How do you think I’m doing?” Linda’s eyes were filled with fury.
“You’re angry, embarrassed, ashamed and keep thinking about what you did wrong.” Jacq answered, her face calm and a small sad smile gracing her lips. “I can assure you that you bear no fault in what happened.”
“How…?” Tears entered the Navy wife’s eyes and she looked at her hands.
The profiler covered her hands with one of hers. “Because I’ve been through something similar. I was kidnapped and tortured by two serial killers.” The two other women gasped. She chuckled and continued. “Thankfully, I wasn’t the first one’s type and the second one was too arrogant to ever believe he could be stopped.”
“What happened to them?” Mrs. Bowen inquired. All the tension in her body had evaporated the minute she heard what the psychologist said. Finally, someone understood what she was feeling and wasn’t offering her empty platitudes.
“The first one is in prison serving a 200+ year sentence. The second… well… I beat him to death with a pipe. I let my anger get the best of me, but at least I know he’ll never hurt another person.”
“I wish-.”
“No, you don’t.” Dr. Stone squeezed her hands, which were now balled into fists. “It’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life. It’s nothing to envy or wish for, trust me.” She cleared her throat. “Right now, none of that matters. We need to go through what happened to you and afterwards, I’ll give you the card of a friend of mine. He and his wife are trauma therapists here in LA; trained psychiatrists, who are going to help you through what happened. I’ve already spoken to them and they’re awaiting your call. But if, for some reason, they’re not the right fit for you, they have the names of colleagues who would be more than willing to step up and help you. All right?”
“Okay.” Linda squared her shoulders. “What do you want to know?”
“First, take a moment and shake off all the emotions.” Jacq watched the woman beside her roll her shoulders and try to relax. Giving her a couple of minutes, she glanced at Kensi and saw the other woman watching her closely. They shared soft smiles. Returning her focus to their victim. “Better?”
“I’m as good as I’m going to get. Talking about what I remember… it’s hard.”
“I get that.” Dr. Stone offered both her hands to Mrs. Bowen. “Take my hands and close your eyes. Use our physical connection to ground yourself and know that you’re in a safe place. We’re going to stop this man so he can’t hurt you or anyone else ever again. You need to believe that.”
“I do. I don’t know why, but I do.” Linda did as she had been told and squeezed the profiler’s hands, taking the support offered. “Now what?”
“You tell me about the day you were taken, from the moment you got up. Then we’ll go over every fractured memory you have up until you were found. No detail is too small or unimportant. Begin whenever you’re ready.” Jacq sat back and waited. Then the Navy wife started to speak.
Mrs. Bowen’s day had started like any normal day for her when her husband was deployed. She had her routine and followed it, then when she went to bake some bread, realized she was out of yeast. She’d gotten in her car and gone to the closest grocery store to get what she needed. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary, not when she drove there, or while she was shopping and picking up a few other things she needed, or on the ride home. She’d pulled into her driveway, gotten out and went to the trunk to get her bags. Suddenly, a rag was put over her face and she struggled but it was no use. She’d passed out from whatever was on the cloth.
“Tell me about the rag.”
“I didn’t see it.” Linda shook her head, trying to remember.
“What did it smell like?” Dr. Stone knew her memories were incomplete and she had already mentioned everything she saw in her official statement, but they had four other senses to go over.
“It was sweet, but not something I’ve smelled before.”
“All right, did you taste anything when you woke up later?”
“Something chemically, then he poured liquid down my throat and covered my mouth and eyes. I blacked out a few minutes later. He did that two or three more times. My only clear memories are right before each time.” The Navy wife frowned.
“We’ll focus on those. But back to the chemical taste, describe it. What did it remind you of?”
She thought for a minute. “Like I licked a penny.”
“That means he used chloroform on you and we know the liquid he gave you was laced with a benzodiazepine. He gave you a roofie, which is causing your memory loss and it’s tasteless.” She shared her plan. “Let’s move on to what you felt. Tell me about his hands.”
“They were rough and scratched my face. And he was strong. He left bruises around my mouth from pressing on it.” Mrs. Bowen sighed. “Is this helping?” She needed to know reliving her pain was worth something.
“It is. More than you could possibly know.” The profiler looked at Agent Blye. “He likely does manual labor, something with his hands.” Kensi nodded and held a hand to her ear. Ops was probably speaking to her. Jacq returned her focus to their victim. “What else did you feel? Was the room hot or cold? Were you laying on something hard or soft?”
“I was on a concrete floor, just a thin piece of fabric between me and it and wherever I was held was hot and humid.” She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “I don’t-.”
“You’re doing great, Linda. Did you hear anything?” The psychologist already knew from reading the victims’ statements that their unsub never spoke, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a background noise or something else that was out of place.
“Um… yeah, there was a humming noise that seemed to come and go. It was only there a couple of times when I came around. The other times it was completely silent, or at least, I didn’t notice anything.” She took a couple of deep breaths. Remembering was hard.
“We’re almost done, I promise. What did you smell, besides when the rag was put over your face?”
“Well… I might have been imagining it. I’d had my car in the shop a few days before I was taken, but I swear it smelt like the place I normally get my oil changed at.” She gripped the new mother’s hands firmly and tried to calm herself.
“Excellent, Linda. Open your eyes. You’re safe. You aren’t back there with him.” Jacq waited a beat and the other woman did as she asked. Her eyes opened and she looked around frantically, then a sigh of relief escaped her. “Why don’t you stretch your legs for a minute and get a little air?” She sat back, releasing Navy wife’s hands and watched her stand. She hurried over to the window and took big gulping breaths of sea air, anything to replace the smells she’d been remembering. After pulling a slip of paper from the outside pocket of the diaper bag, Dr. Stone slid across the couch until she was sitting next to the NCIS Agent. They shared another smile.
“Impressive.”
“Thanks, Kensi.”
“Are you going to do the same thing with the other victim?”
“That’s the plan, but first, it might be wise to have someone escort Mrs. Bowen home. I’d suggest they stop somewhere and let her get a coffee or tea, along with a pastry or something. The caffeine and sugar will help her. Talking about trauma is very draining. And have them give her this.” She handed the business card in her hand to the other woman and tried to keep the pain out of her voice. She spoke from firsthand experience.
“You’re the expert.” Agent Blye got to her feet and headed to the front door. She needed to speak with Castor before he took their victim home.
Moving back across the couch, the psychologist stopped in front of her baby and rubbed one of his tiny feet through his onesie. Her profile was taking shape and once she spoke to Lieutenant Roth, she’d feel like sharing it with NCIS and her fiancé. Then they’d just have to find their unsub before he could hurt anyone else.
*****
“Honey, I’m not sure we should have him in here.”
“It’s fine, Steve. I’ve got him and he’s enjoying his teething ring. Aren’t you, baby?” Dr. Stone rubbed her son’s belly and he giggled around the rubber object he was holding in his mouth with both hands. She had the little boy on her hip and was standing in front of the table in the NCIS Ops center. The head of Five-O was standing next to her, her dog was laying at her feet, asleep, and Nell was sitting in front of a computer a few feet away. “Ms. Jones, bring up the list of Navy candidates who were disqualified in the last 18 months.”
“Yes, Doctor.” The intelligence analyst typed for a few minutes and then a large list was displayed on the screen in front of the couple.
“That’s a lot of people.” McGarrett uttered with a sigh.
“Yes, it is.” The profiler gave a sigh of her own and shifted John on her hip. After the day before, she’d been hopefully today would be easier, but there was still work she needed to do. She thought back to the events of the previous day.
After Mrs. Bowen left and the interview of Lieutenant Roth had taken place, Jacq felt drained. The Lieutenant, Jennifer, had confirmed what Linda had told them, but the young mother was exhausted from keeping her emotions in check and trying not to relive her own trauma. Once she was alone with Kensi, she’d asked the NCIS Agent to take her and her baby back to the house they were staying at. Agent Blye had done so without question. At the house, she’d played with John for a bit, then laid them both down for a nap. She knew her fiancé had arrived when Burt jumped on the bed and sprawled himself on top of her. The Navy officer had joined them and after the couple reconnected for a few minutes, they ate dinner and made an early night of it. They didn’t speak about the case, not until the next morning.
They’d gotten ready for the day with their normal banter, frequent contact and a few exchanges of kisses. Once they sat down to eat breakfast, they began to talk about the case again. Agent Hanna and Steve had got a bit of information from the leads they followed and Deeks and G were able to find a number of cases that fit her criteria. However, the profiler’s idea about their unsub being a Navy washout was the one she kept coming back to, so as soon as they reached the NCIS offices, they’d headed to Ops to go over what Nell had been able to come up with. But the psychologist was shocked at the number of people on the list.
“Is this just people in the LA area?” The new mother asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” Ms. Jones replied.
“Take out all the women.” A handful of names disappeared, but that was expected. Men were much more likely to sign up for the military and thus more likely to not make the grade. “And anyone who voluntarily dropped out or who was DQ’ed for not meeting physical fitness requirements.” The list was halved.
“That’s a lot better.” The former SEAL shared with a smile. He was trying to be encouraging. He could see the strain the woman he loved was under.
“Yeah, but we still have a lot of people to go through.” Dr. Stone sighed again. “Nell, I mean, Ms. Jones, did-?”
“You can call me, Nell. I don’t mind.” The other woman interjected.
“Thanks.” Jacq smiled. “Nell, did you make any progress on finding our two other potential victims?” Maybe those women could be of assistance with IDing a suspect, or so she hoped.
“Kind of. I compiled a list of all female Navy personnel who were in the area during the projected times and who met your profile, but I’ve only been able to contact about half of them and none of them reported anything out of the ordinary during their stays in the city.” The intelligence analyst explained.
“And the rest?”
“Most have been deployed or have returned to their ships. I haven’t had time to reach out to the NCIS Agents Afloat or for their regions yet. Once the team arrives, I was going to see if they could help out.”
“I can start on that.” The head of Five-O offered. “Do you have the list of remaining names and the people I need to contact?”
“Yes, right here.” Ms. Jones stood, grabbed a data pad from next to her computer and walked over to him, offering him the device. “You can use any of the desks down in the team’s bullpen area.”
“I’ll get right on it. Are you going to-?”
“I’ll be fine, Steve. If we make any progress, I’ll let you know.” He nodded at his fiancée and hurried out of Ops.
The intelligence analyst returned to her desk and spoke. “What’s next?”
“Show me all the Caucasians on the list.” Statistically, serial killer were usually white males between the ages of 20-40. It was the best place for her to start. Dozens of photos popped up onto the screen. “Get rid of recent high school graduates or anyone who attended college, even if they didn’t complete their degrees.” Their unsub was likely an underachiever and had no ambition about getting any more education than was required. Some of the faces disappeared from the screen. “Wasn’t there some physical evidence on the third victim which was posited to belong to her attacker?” The attack on their latest victim had been brutal and messy, finally giving them something to work with.
“Yes, a hair.” Nell responded and a new picture appeared over the others. It was a short dark hair. “I’ll remove all the blondes.”
“Great.” A dozen faces were left. The psychologist was impressed. “Are any of them employed doing manual labor? As a mechanic? Or working on heavy machinery?” The buzz of an engine and the oil smell would help them narrow it down further. Both the victims she’d spoke to had noted the same things. Their third victim was still in a coma.
“Eight of them. That’s much more manageable.”
“It is. Now we need to see if any of those eight have criminal records or were witnesses to crimes as juveniles. They’re going to be the ones we start with.” She smiled. “If McGarrett or the team finds us either of my proposed victims, we can show them a photo array and get an ID, I hope.”
“I’ll start compiling background on each of them.”
“Perfect, Nell. I can use those to develop a psychological assessment of each of them and then we can rank them for most likely to least.” The two women smiled at each other, the intelligence analyst turning back to her workstation after a moment. The profiler turned her gaze to her child and pressed a kiss to his head. With any luck, the whole ordeal could be over in a few days and the little family would be able to return home. She closed her eyes and said a little prayer, hoping against hope that her wish would come true.
*****
“What the hell, McGarrett?” Jacq yelled as she came down the stairs from Ops. She was looking at her fiancé with a mixture of confusion and concern. Their son was strapped to her chest in a baby sling and Burt trotted down after them.
“It’s nothing, honey. Just a little road rash.”
“And some bruised ribs.” Agent Hanna threw out from his place behind his old friend.
“You do know you’re not a federal agent, right? And are WAY outside your jurisdiction?” She asked, her hands on her hips as she scanned the former SEAL from head to foot and back up. He had red scrapes on both of his arms and one of his cheeks. She could only imagine what he’d done to acquire them and the reported bruised ribs.
“It was actually rather impressive. He-.”
“Stay out of this, Sam.” Steve growled at the NCIS Agent, earning chuckles from the other man’s team. He turned back to look at the profiler. “You see, I-.”
“Have you been to the hospital to be checked out?” She interrupted him as she came closer and put a hand under his chin, turning his head in order to see his facial injury better. She prodded the outside edges of the red area.
“Some EMTs gave me a once over. They told me to take some Advil and rest.”
“What am I going to do with you?” She muttered at him.
“I have some suggestions.” He gave her a cheeky grin, even though it hurt. He was considering an ice pack for his face.
“Not in mixed company.” She whispered as her hands dropped back to her sides.
“Doctor, Commander, please come to my office.” The voice of Admiral Kilbride came down to them from on high. The couple turned and saw him standing at the railing next to the door to his office. They nodded at him and he went into the glass-walled room, taking a seat at the desk.
“Time to face the music.” McGarrett stated under his breath as he ushered the profiler to the stairs and they headed up.
“Face the music? What did you do?”
“I think you’re about to find out.” It only took them a couple of minutes to reach the Ops Manager’s office and Ms. Jones met them outside. They all went in, the intelligence analyst shutting the door behind them. Hollace had a stern, no-nonsense look on his face.
Jacq attempted to lighten the mood and gauge just how angry the older man was with the former SEAL. “You know, his rank is actually Lieutenant Commander.”
“I’m well aware of what his rank is, Doctor, but that’s not the current topic of discussion. Explain yourself, Commander.” He ground out through clenched teeth.
“Could you be a little more specific, sir?” The head of Five-O wasn’t trying to be insubordinate, but he only wanted to mention what was necessary in front of the mother of his child.
“I am referring to this.” Kilbride turned the monitor of his computer so the others could see. A silent news report was playing on the screen. It showed the cab of a semi racing down a highway with a Dodge Challenger coming up alongside it. One of the car’s windows rolled down and a person slid out, a person Jacq knew well.
“Steve!!!” The psychologist hissed as she shoved the Navy officer. “You could’ve been killed. What the hell were you thinking?” He wasn’t given the time to answer. The Admiral replied instead.
“That’s exactly what I want to know, Doctor. The Secretary of the Navy, Director Vance and the Police Commissioner have all called me, asking me to explain why a Hawaiian cop was chasing our suspect down the highway in the middle of Los Angeles. Your high-speed chase caused thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.”
“My apologies, sir, but I was-.”
“Yes, I know. You were trying to help. I also know that Agents Hanna and Callen probably encouraged you to take these actions.” He sighed. He knew the members of his best team well and if it hadn’t been McGarrett, it would’ve been one of them. “I will handle the reprimand of my agents; however, it might be wise for the two of you to head home as soon as possible.”
“Thank you, sir. We’ll-.” Hollace interrupted the former SEAL again.
“Ms. Jones, could you please contact the hanger and have them gas up the jet? We need to get that plane back before Admiral Neally’s R&R is over.”
“Yes, sir.” Nell bowed her head to her boss and hurried out of the office. The Admiral gave a sigh and addressed the couple again, his stern countenance easing some.
“Even given the destruction you caused, I want to thank you both for assisting in the capture of our suspect before he could harm or kill his latest victim.” After having no luck finding the possible other victims, the NCIS team and McGarrett had opted to start on the pared down list of men on the Navy DQ list. When they got to the third man, they stumbled upon him with a woman, a victim they hadn’t even been aware of. Kensi and Deeks had tended to the drugged and injured woman, while the Navy officer had tagged along with Sam and Callen in pursuit of their fleeing suspect, which ended in a high-speed chase that every major network in LA had picked up.
“Admiral, I’m more than happy to pay for any damages Steve may have-.”
“That’s unnecessary, Doctor. I explained the situation to Director Vance and we’re going to split the cost with LAPD. We have a contingency fund for these types of incidents.” It was sad they had such a fund but certain NCIS teams were prone to leaving destruction in their wakes. “Plus, everyone involved is pleased we’ve stopped this rapist. The city can rest easier now.” Kilbride was on the edge of smiling, but quickly got himself under control. “Commander, I think you should go type up your official report. Then you can be on your way. Now, I’d like a moment alone with Dr. Stone.”
“Of course, sir.” He nodded at his superior and turned to his fiancée. “Honey, do you want me to take him?”
“No, I’m good. We’ll be along in a moment.” He gave her a quick kiss, they shared a smile and he hurried out of the office, leaving the profiler and Ops Manger alone together, or as alone as they could be with a baby and the former police dog in the room. “What can I do for you, Admiral?” She rubbed her baby’s back through the sling and he moved against her chest.
“Thank you for coming.”
“You already said that and you’re welcome.” She shrugged at him. She wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
“No, Doctor. I mean it, thank you.” He rose from his chair and came around the desk to stand in front of her. “You were under no obligation to come here and help us, but you did. The team and I couldn’t have identified him without your help.”
“Don’t sell yourself or the team short. You would’ve gotten there.”
“Probably, but not in time to save that young woman before he killed her. Your work ethic and methods were extremely effective.” He cleared his throat and bowed his head. It was obvious to her he was uncomfortable and she waited for him to continue. He raised his head and locked eyes with her. “I’d like to apologize for accusing you of making assumptions. Everything you posited proved to be true and I-.”
“Admiral….” She interrupted him and stepped forward, setting a hand on his arm. “Though I hate to admit it, at the end of the day, my assessments and profiles are guesses. I assume things based on years of study and statistical probability.” She chuckled. “And gut feelings. But don’t tell McGarrett any of that or I’ll never get a moment’s peace. I always yell at him when he calls what I do guesses, hunches, or… assumptions.”
Hollace laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“I appreciate that. I also appreciate the fact that you flew us here on a private jet and are sending us back the same way. Makes taking care of John quite a bit easier.”
“Of course, and Admiral Neally was glad to help as long as we get you back before he needs to fly home. He won’t be happy if he has to fly commercially.” He smiled down at her.
“Heaven forbid, an Admiral having to fly with the peons.” Removing her hand from his arm, she glanced at her watch. “Let me go hurry the Lieutenant Commander along and maybe we can get home today before it gets too late.” She walked over to the door and pushed it open. “Come on, Burt.” She called over her shoulder. The big dog ran past her and she watched him with a smile. There was no need to bid Kilbride goodbye. They’d said all they needed to each other and she was eager to go home.
*****
“It was nice of Danny and Chin to meet us when we landed.”
“I’m pretty sure Danny was only there to get rid of Coronado before he got stuck with him for another night.” The Detective’s daughter pestered him for a pet after every time they’ve pet-sit for the head of Five-O and it caused Williams to be out of sorts for days, usually blaming his partner for making him look bad. Steve glanced in the rearview mirror at his fiancée. “Where is he?” He was behind the wheel of his truck, while the profiler, their baby and their pets were all in the back seat of the cab. He probably should invest in a safer way for the animals to travel in their vehicles with them. If they got in an accident, they could be seriously hurt. He shook his head wryly. He was turning into such a parent.
“He’s in the car seat with John. Burt isn’t happy about it. Are you, baby?” The former police dog whined and nuzzled his human brother’s foot, the only part of the child he could reach from where he was sitting between his owner’s leg. It was dark outside the vehicle. The couple had arrived a little later than they hoped they would.
After leaving the Ops Manager, Dr. Stone had made her way downstairs in search of her fiancé. She’d found him in the team’s bullpen and helped him to finish up his report, shaking her head as more details came to light. He’d sent it to Callen for review and to be included in the official case file. The couple had bid the team goodbye, with hugs and promises to stay in touch, then Agent Blye and her partner offered to take them back to where they were staying. The LAPD Detective was duly impressed with the guest house they were using and by what he could see of the main house, at least until Kensi smacked him for being rude. Even with the extra hands, it took a while to get everything packed up, since John needed to be entertained and taken care of, plus Burt decided playing keep-away with Marty was his new favorite thing (he really shouldn’t have left his phone unattended in the dog’s presence, especially when Burt wanted attention). Finally, they all made their way to the jet, which was ready and waiting for them. The couple waved at their new friends as they drove off, then they hauled everything on board and were on their way. It was an uneventful flight. Dr. Stone had slept for most of it, or at least pretended to. She’d felt Steve’s eyes on her and knew he wanted to talk about the case. She, on the other hand, hadn’t, thus her little ruse. The sun had set by the time they reached Hickam, where their two teammates were waiting for them with the former SEAL’s truck and his cat, respectfully. Motivated to get home before it got too late, they’d said goodbye to Williams and Lt. Kelly and hit the road. There were halfway home and McGarrett decided it was time to have the conversation they needed to.
“How are you doing, honey?”
“I’m fine, just excited to sleep in our bed again.”
“That’s not what I was asking, Jacq, but you knew that. This case was hard on you.”
“Every case has its own challenges.”
“Stop putting on a brave face.”
“I’m not.” She sighed. She’d hoped to avoid this conversation until at least tomorrow or the day after.
“You are and I’d expect nothing less of you. But this is me. Talk to me. Tell me how you’re feeling. The case had a lot of similarities to your first direct run in with-.”
“My run in with Jesús. You can say his name.”
“Fine, it had some of the same key elements as what Jesús did to his victims.”
“Not really. He kidnapped, tortured, THEN raped his victims, killing them during the act.”
“But his trauma, it stemmed from-.”
“Watching his mother be murdered, which is really the only similarity. The methods, underlying psychoses and motivations are all different. Just because killers seem to be the same doesn't mean they are.” She turned to look out the window into the night and pet Burt, who had laid his head on her thigh, offering her comfort. She didn’t want to rehash what Jesús had done to her years ago. What she was feeling had nothing to do with what was done to her, it was about the victims and their pain. For some reason, she couldn’t seem to articulate that to the man she loved.
Without a word, McGarrett pulled his truck off the road onto a dirt turnout. He put the vehicle into park and switched on his police lights, sans sirens. After checking there were no cars coming, he got out, rounded the hood and opened the backseat passenger door, where the profiler was sitting. “Burt, move.” He pushed the dog out from between his fiancée’s legs.
“Steve, what are you doing?”
“Get up.” Undoing her seat belt, he nudged her hip until she was awkwardly standing, then slid under her, pulling her into his lap and slamming the door shut behind him.
“What are-?” She began to ask again, but stopped when he cupped her face and gave her a searing kiss. She melted against him and completely forgot what they were talking about. She shook her head when he pulled away and spoke.
“I love you, Jacq. And in a few months, we’re going to be married with plans to spend the rest of our lives together. I may not know everything about you, though I plan to spend the next few decades learning as much as I can, but I do know when something is bothering you. Like you always say, you have no poker face, unless you’re dealing with a suspect.” He smiled at her when she chuckled. “Talk to me, please.”
“I… it’s…. For some reason, this case… the victims… they got to me. Maybe it’s because I’m a mother now or because of what happened a few months ago.” She was referring to the attack on her and John at the house. She still didn’t like to talk, or think, about it. “But hearing what they went through, it was hard to listen to and even harder to stay impartial. I was so relieved when Nell told me you and the team had him.” Dr. Stone leaned her head into one of his hands, closed her eyes and sighed.
“You don’t always have to compartmentalize everything, honey, especially not with me. I’m here to support you, no matter what. Just like you support me. We’re a team.”
“You better not say that anywhere around Danny. You’ll crush his fragile male-ego.” She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
“Tough. He’ll get over.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Feel better?”
“Some.”
“Do you want to talk more about it?”
“Not right now.” She twisted around, breaking his hold on her, and saw that Burt had his head completely in the car seat and her son was playing with the dog’s snout. “We need to get them home. John’s schedule is all out of whack and our pets are winding him up. He may never go to sleep.”
“A warm bath would probably help, for both mother and son. I’ll have you there in no time.” Carefully getting out again, he returned to the driver’s seat and they were back on the road a couple minutes later. He left his police lights on to ensure they got there without issue. He looked in the rearview mirror again and saw she was back in her seat, seat belt fastened, but she wasn’t staring back at him. Her focus was on their child and their animals. He smiled at the sight and moved his eyes back to the road. In a few more months, they’d officially be man and wife and could really start their lives together. Not that their lives weren’t already completely intertwined, but their next chapter would begin. And he absolutely couldn’t wait.
The End?
Notes:
There you have it, story four is complete. YAY!!!
Now, I have a good news, bad news, more good news situation. First bit of good news is that there is a fifth story. The bad news is that the characters stopped talking to me near the end of the eighth chapter (out of twelve) and they haven't started up again. The more good news is that I started a new Stargate Atlantis series with one complete story and the makings of a second one. I am going to start posting the fifth story of this series in two weeks with the hopes I'm inspired to finish it (or at least the eighth chapter). After that, I will start posting my SGA story. I appreciate you all. Thank you so much for reading and your continued support.
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Alohagirl50 on Chapter 1 Wed 12 Feb 2025 09:35PM UTC
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jayme_stone on Chapter 1 Thu 13 Feb 2025 12:34AM UTC
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jayme_stone on Chapter 5 Fri 13 Jun 2025 10:57PM UTC
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