Chapter 3

The life ride began while Allie was out to sea onboard the Enterprise. She got a call from her old Commanding Officer. Joe, and the only time he ever called Allie was to give her updates on Steve.

And from the way his voice sounded, this update wasn't so good. "Allie."

"Commander White." She replied.

"Don't worry, Steve is okay." There was short pause before he added "For now."

"What does that mean? What's happened? He's really okay?"

"It's John, Allie. He's dead."

Allie gasped and felt tears immediately fall down onto her cheeks. "Oh my god. Does Steve know? When did this happen?"

"Allie, calm down." Joe ordered. "Listen, Steve had been working on a mission dealing with men by the names Victor and Anton Hesse. Steve captured Anton with a convoy and Victor came to Hawaii and took John hostage. Then he called Steve and 'offered' him a trade: John for Anton. When Steve told him that it wasn't going to happen, Victor's men appeared and blew up the trucks in Steve's convoy."

"Oh my God," Allie said again.

"It was a hell of a mess," Joe continued. "And Anton tried to get away by going for a dead soldier's gun. Steve had no choice but to shoot him in defense and killed Anton. After that, Victor decided to get even and shot John."

"Where is Steve?" Allie demanded. "How is he doing with all this? And why hasn't he called me yet to tell me everything himself?"

Joe had no answers.

Allie tried calling Steve for two days straight and got no answer. This only made her more worried that he might have gone and done something dumb like get himself blown up or even worse, gotten himself killed. And it was extra frustrating because Allie was in the middle of the ocean and couldn't do anything. The Enterprise wasn't scheduled to get back to land for other two months.

A week had passed before she finally heard from Steve. He was in Hawaii for John's funeral and wanted her there with him. Her best friend needed her, and Allie was out in the middle of nowhere without a way to get to him.

The next time they talked, Steve told her about forming his own special team, Five-0, to track down Victor Hesse. He told her about Danny Williams and his little girl Grace, and about cousins Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua. They sounded like amazing people and Allie was glad that they were there to help Steve.

Finally, those long two months passed and Allie stepped off the ship back onto Hawaiian land. She couldn't wait to see Steve and hurried on her way to the McGarrett's house.

"Steve?" Allie called as she walked in. No answer. She looked around and upstairs before poking her head out the back door.

There was an empty beer bottle and a towel hanging on the back of one of the wooden chairs. He was swimming. Allie sat and waited for him to come back.

When he came ashore they hugged and he sat her down in another chair before going inside for more beer. When he returned he caught her up on everything that had happened since they last talked. He had taken care of Victor Hesse, found out about Wo Fat and discovered that his mother's death hadn't been an accident. Then he dropped the bomb.

"I've decided not to reenlist in the Navy. And before you say anything, here's why. I really love my team and what I'm doing here. Not that I didn't love the Navy, but this is where I have to be. Also, I have to continue Dad's investigation and find out what really what's going on here."

Allie sat back and collected her thoughts. She knew that this was something he had to do, but a part of her was sad and angry because they had joined the Navy to stay together. Still she understood his reasons and told him, "I completely understand. Do what you have to do. But be careful, okay? I promised your dad a long time ago that I would take care of you and it's going to be harder this way. But I'm not going to fail him now."

"Thank you, Allie." He took her hands. "I've missed you so much. There were times when I wished we both worked nine to five jobs and then ended the days together right here on the lanai. That way, we'd never have to worry about being apart again."

A wave of old feelings washed over Allie. What Steve had said didn't sound so terrible. Deep down, she had suspected for years that she could live like this forever with him. Live in this big house full of family love and childhood memories. Live the rest of her life with Steve and his big eyes and brave heart and silly smile that hadn't changed since he was nine years old. There was nobody else in the world that could make her so happy just by smiling.

It wouldn't be impossible. Would it?

They spent the night just hanging out enjoying the beach, beers, and each other. Then when it got late, Steve offered Allie the spare room for the night so she wouldn't have to drive back to base in the dark

The next morning Steve told Allie that he wanted her to come back to the house for dinner and meet his Five-0 team. So after her shift was completed she drove back to the McGarrett house.

Allie walked inside and was greeted by Grace Williams, the daughter of Danny Williams or as Steve liked to call him, "Danno." Grace led her out back where she met the rest of the new Ohana: Danny, Chin Ho and Kono. The night was wonderful. The entire Five-0 team was amazing and she could see how happy they made Steve. Especially Danny.

The weeks went by. Allie and Steve spent time together but not enough as Allie would have liked. Their jobs definitely needed tending to and sometimes it made them work odd hours. Still, they managed. Then about a month after Allie met Steve's team, she headed to a meeting with her new C.O. and got some amazing news. After, she called Steve to meet her for lunch so she could tell him..

They met at Kamekona's shrimp truck. When Allie arrived she saw Steve sitting on the back of his Silverado waiting for her. She was in full uniform and Steve made a comment saying how much he missed wearing his. Allie laughed it off and then pulled him over to the shrimp truck to order. Steve introduced her to Kamekona and then he and Allie sat down on one of the benches.

"Okay, so I have big news and I can't wait to tell you." Allie blurted out.

"Really?" Steve said. "I do, too. I was just waiting for the right time to tell you."

"Well, then you go first."

"Okay." Steve took a deep breath. "You remember when I told you that Danny was dating Gabby, the woman from the museum?"

Allie gave him a strange look. "Sure. Dr. Gabby Asano, right?"

"Right. Well they broke up last week and I…well, I was thinking about asking Danny out."

The strange look Allie had had on her face must have turned into a shocked one because Steve rushed with, "I know I've never told you about my feelings for men, but the truth is that I never knew I had them until I met Danny. I don't know if he's interested in men, but maybe if we start spending more time with each other and Gracie away from work, then maybe there could be something there, you know?"

Allie couldn't reply. She could hardly breathe for God's sake, never mind talk. All she could see was the image of her and Steve their lifetime together fading. And all because she hadn't told him once about the feelings she had been developing for him ever since he had made her fall off her bicycle.

But she couldn't say anything about it now. Not after what he told her about Danny. So she opened her mouth to say something else.

"I love you, Steve!"

His eyes got huge and Allie started to panic. How could she just blurt that out? That wasn't what she wanted to say!

"I-I always have!" Why wasn't she stopping? "You've always been everything. I just, I just could never tell you because we were friends and I guess that I was afraid telling you would change everything we had. I couldn't let that happen, Steve. But after hearing how you feel about Danny, I don't know. I got scared and had to say it. I love you."

Steve didn't move and just watched her. His face was pale and his lips were tight. Finally, he sat forward and said, "How could you tell me this now Allie? You've had YEARS of time to tell me and you don't say a word. And now right after I tell you about my feelings for my male partner you decide to dump this on me? what's wrong with you? What the hell are you playing at?"

He really was mad. Allie tried to calm him down. "I don't know, Steve. The words flew right out of my mouth. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry. Just forget that it happened. Please."

"Just forget about it? Are you kidding me? Your supposed to be my friend, Allie! My family! How can I just forget about you doing something like this? What do you even want me to say to you now? Huh? What do you want to hear?"

Allie's heart stung as she angrily stood up. "Nothing. Like I said, forget about it. You'll have plenty of time to because I'm heading out to Japan on the Enterprise for the next three months. If you haven't forgotten about it by then well, then consider this goodbye. Because I can't be around you if you're going to hold my feelings against me."

She turned around and walked back to her car. And even though she was still angry, part of her hoped that Steve would stop her.

He didn't.