Fic: Don’t wait until it’s too late
Title: Don’t wait until it’s too late
Fandom: Hawaii Five-O
Pairing: Steve/OFC
Summary: Always in the face of danger, Steve and Kami learn a valuable lesson.
Warnings: none / this is AU
Disclaimer: Anything recognizable is not mine….
Word Count: 1256
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“Kami?” She could hear Steve’s voice softly in her ear. It was an all too familiar tone he was using. One of deep concern and worry. “Kami? Wake up!” He gently shook her after no response. “Please God! Not again!”
She could hear desperation and panic in his tone now. She tried to open her eyes but she couldn’t. They were like lead weights. What was going on? She didn’t like to hear Steve’s voice like that. She knew something was really wrong, if only she could open her eyes and reassure Steve that she was ok. It felt like she was underwater and she could hear Steve through a thick wall. Why couldn’t she respond? “I’m ok Steve!” she cries to herself.
~~~~
**BLAST**
The team emerges from their hiding spots after the explosion. Steve looks around.
“Where’s Kami?”
“Over there, Boss!” Chin points towards where the fire still roars after the blast. The team rush over to her. “Kami!” Steve cries with concern. “Kami! Wake up!” he shakes her briskly. He can’t believe this is happening again. They took all sorts of precautions and this happens again. One of his team is down. “Please God! Not again!” he pleads with panic setting in.
Chin is calling for a med flight. The rest of the team tries to revive Kami.
~~~~
Kami can hear Danny now. Why is Danny here? Where was she anyway? Why can’t she remember? It must be Steve’s doing. That is all she knows for sure. If it was just Steve then she could have been lying on his beach after a long swim or maybe his large bed after a wonderful night of other activities. But if Danny or the rest of the team is here then it means we barely made it out of danger yet again. They were always close to death around Steve it seemed. He was like a danger magnet. And that was what she loved about him. She was drawn to that magnet just like the danger that always followed. But she couldn’t tell him that. She wasn’t ready to let her heart out of its cage just yet. She barely was able to admit it to herself never mind blindside Steve with that. She wasn’t sure he could handle that news, ever. He wasn’t the pretty house and white picket fence type. Heck, neither was she! If only she could open her eyes and look into Steve’s intense hazel eyes again, maybe she could allow her heart out long enough to say how much she really feels.
~~~~
Steve picked Kami up in his arms carefully; they needed to get her away from the moving fire. When they were a safe distance away, he carefully lowered to the ground, cradling her close to his chest. He sat on the ground rocking her gently. He tried to keep her as warm as possible. The paramedics were on their way and Steve was getting really nervous. She was out too long. She looked pale and pasty. He hated seeing her like this. It was like she was a wax replica, not the vibrant women he knew so well. She relished this type of danger as much as he did. But he hated when she took as many risks as he did. They matched in so many ways it was scary. She walked into most situations just like he does. Like it was a challenge to come out the other side alive. It was part of what he loved about her. So why has he never told her that? He was afraid to let his heart get broken again. It was the one thing he didn’t risk as nonchalantly as he did everything else.
One of the team had draped a blanket over them; he didn’t even register who it had been. He was just concentrating on Kami. He started to hum to her softly. Some random tune he didn’t remember the name of. He didn’t think she could hear it, but he hoped she could feel it.
~~~~
Kami felt like she was underwater, floating carefree. She felt warmer now and could feel a strange vibration from somewhere far off. It was very comforting. It felt like she was in a cocoon. Maybe she could just stay here a while longer. But what about Steve? Was he worried about her? He would be freaking out right about now.
From the day she met him, he was the type that would worry about any of his team. He knew he put them in danger, but he also knew they were trained professionals. That was why he handpicked them to work with. Even if she and her partner Ano were late add-ons to the team, he took them in just the same. They all got along like any other ohana. Steve was the Big Kahuna - Papa if you will. She felt like the mom at times, other times the big sister. And the others were just like a bunch of kids. They were all great! Had she told them how much she loved them lately? No. That was one emotion she always had a hard time with. She was going to have to change that right away. As soon as she could open her eyes.
~~~~
Steve kept looking to the sky. “Where the hell are the paramedics? They shoulda been here by now!!” he growled, growing more anxious.
“We’re out on a remote island. They should be here shortly.” Danny reassured him. Glancing at Chin.
Chin made a call to get an ETA on the med flight. “2 minutes out. Kono and I will go flag them over.”
Ano had been standing back to give Steve room to help his partner. He knelt down next to them. “Kami, its Ano. Please open your eyes for me! I want to see that intense glare of yours! I am so sorry for failing you today.” Ano held back the tears that burned in his eyes.
“Ano, it wasn’t your fault! Please don’t blame yourself. You know she won’t blame you.” Steve reassured him. Ano couldn’t stay and watch Kami in this condition. It broke his heart.
Steve kept talking to her in a gentle tone. “Kami, baby, please wake up! I need to see those gorgeous eyes glare back at me. We need you back now. The kids are getting out of control and you always know how to snap them in line.” He rambled.
”You can’t leave us!” Steve sobbed. “We need you here! No, scratch that. I NEED YOU! I need you! Please come back! Wake up.” He said desperately. He was losing patience now. “Where are those fucking paramedics?!” He was rocking Kami more vigorously now, trying to jar her back to him.
~~~~
It felt like she was in a boat that was bouncing out on the sea. Was she out on Steve’s boat? Nah, doubtful. The team wouldn’t have all been there. Wait, the team, the mission. They had gone on a mission. Steve had flown them out to a remote island to catch a group of fugitives. Last thing she was doing was shooting up the jungle and then…
**BLAST**
Kami came to with a jolt in Steve’s arms. She looked up into his amazing eyes and smiling face.
“Hey there baby!” Steve cooed at her.
“Hey.” She croaked.
“Welcome back!” He hugged her hard. He pulled her back to stare into her eyes.
“Kami?” “Steve?” They said at once. “I love you!”
~~FIN~~