Title: From Darkness into Light

Summary: On assignment in Colombia, Kono and Steve are apprehended and held captive by members of a drug cartel. Will the trauma they experience bring them closer together or push them further apart?

Rating: Rated T (Mentions of sex, torture and rape)

Disclaimer: I wish that I do, but unfortunately I don't own these characters.

Authors Note: Even thought I have nothing against Catherine or Adam, I've always liked the dynamic between Kono and Steve. Since we don't get to see them work cases together very often I'd thought I write a story about it. Also I realize this is a procedural drama but my story is more or less about the pairing. Be aware that there are mentions of torture and rape in this story.

I'd love to see what you guys think. So please leave a comment.

On assignment in Colombia, Kono and Steve were apprehended and held captive by members of a drug cartel.

Chapter 1

When the US government learned of a military transport that was intercepted in Colombia a few weeks ago, they asked the 5.0 taskforce to help them retrieve their stolen weapons. Their assignment was simple. Locate the cartels hideout; assess the size of the operation and call for military backup. However things didn't work out exactly as planned. Only when they entered the jungle and located the camp, did they realize the size of the operation they stumbled upon. Before they had time to retreat, they were spotted and apprehended.

Now sitting in a musty and dark cell, with nothing but two mattresses on the floor, Steve and Kono had nothing to do but bide their time until someone came to look for them. The first few days consisted of coming up with plots for an escape. However after they realized that any moves they would make would probably get them killed, they decided to sit tight and wait for the US government to organize a rescue mission.

From what they could tell, the cartel stumbled upon the weapons transport in error. A lucky break that they now sought to repeat. They now wanted information from Steve and Kono regarding other US military weapon transports they could seize as if the two were privy to every import and export route the US military used in South America. No amount of pleading or explaining seemed to deter their captors from their goal. So every day one was taken for interrogation while the other sat alone in the stuffy room, waiting and praying that their captors wouldn't inflict too much damage on their friend and colleague.

After ten days of repeated questions and threats, angry and frustrated with the lack of information they were receiving, their jailers turned to bodily force to get what they wanted. At first it was a slap, a punch, a push but eventually the slaps and punches turned to beatings. One particularly bad day, Steve was brought back to the cell with a bloody nose and multiple contusions to his body.

When the door was shut Kono scurried over, worry etched on her face. "Boss, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." He said trying to wipe the blood that was dripping from his nose, with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Let me get some water." She said hurrying towards the left side of the large door where a metal bucket with a ladle sat. The food they received was severely lacking in any nutritional value or taste for that matter but at least they were provided with plenty of water. "I don't have a rag but I can use my hands if you don't mind." She said bringing over the bucket and placing it on the floor next to him.

"You don't need to do that Kono." He said wincing softly as he tried to sit up to better face her.

"Come on. You let me use your leg like a pillow last night. It's the least I can do." She said giving him a small smile. His eyes crinkled in humor and his lips lifted into a small smile before wincing when the wound on his lip, which had begun to close, opened once again. Steve was a solemn person, no one could deny that, but spending twenty-four hours a day with him for the last ten days, Kono got to see him in a different light. She got to see that under that stoic exterior there was a caring and compassionate individual, with a sense of humor no less. With sleep escaping them for most of their days, they had plenty of time to talk. They spoke of their childhood, their family, even their hopes and fears.

Bringing her wet hands over his face, several times, she wiped away the blood that had started to dry up. Thankfully his nosebleed had stopped, indicative of a nose severely hurt but not broken. She rubbed away the dirt that had gathered on his face and carefully ran her fingers over the wound on his lip trying to stop the small amount of blood that had escaped it. When she was done she washed her hands in the water and sat down next to him. "Anything else hurt beside the face?"

"My ribs a little, but nothing I haven't had hurt before." He said looking over and giving her a small smile.

"I guess tomorrow will be my turn." She said chewing on her lip worriedly. There was no escaping the torture their captors had planned for them but deep down she had hope that something or someone would come barging in and save them from another day of pain and worry.

"Not if I can help it." He said giving her a serious look.

"What? You think you'll volunteer for all the beatings, while I sit here nice and cozy?" She couldn't help but smile softly at him, appreciative of his protective nature and his willingness to prevent her from being hurt.

"I wouldn't call this room cozy." He said raising his hand and sweeping it around the small space they were being kept in.

"True, but that wouldn't be fair Steve." She said looking at him. In the last few days she came to realize how generous Steve really was. As their boss, he protected the team, even put his life in danger if he had to, but being locked up with him she realized how far the man was willing to go to keep her safe.

"Kono…"

"Lets not talk about this." She said interrupting him. "What ever happens will happen, not like we can do much about it." She said patting his forearm. "Lets just enjoy the calm before the storm and not worry if the wave is going to sweep us away."

As much as he wanted to protect her, she wanted to do the same for him. He was willing to put his life on the line for her and at that moment she realized she was willing to do the same for him. In the last few days her feelings for him started to shift, from boss to friend to something she couldn't explain or comprehend at that moment. They weren't as simple as they once were. They were deeper and more complex. Maybe being held prisoner with someone brought out feelings one wasn't aware of but maybe the feelings had always been there, hiding under the surface.

Steve woke to a piercing scream coming from the other side of the metal door. Jumping up he looked around the room and realized that Kono was nowhere to be found. "Oh my God." He whispered to himself, rushing to the door trying to hear what was going on the other side. It didn't take him long to realize their captors were hurting her. Her screams were filled with pain and agony. He could hear her calling for him. Screaming his name over and over, her voice cracking and raw. A sense of duty, anxiety and panic over took him as he ran against the door and tried to break it down. Angry he banged against the door, his fists red and swollen from the force, begging them to stop. A helplessness overtook him as he shouted, pleaded and offered them his life, just so they would stop, but to no avail. Her screaming went on for what felt like hours.

When he suddenly couldn't hear her any more he stepped away from the door afraid that they had killed her. A few moments later the lock in the door turned and two guards walked in, pointing their guns at him. Just as he was about to rush them a third one brought in Kono. She draped over his shoulder, her arms limp and her hair hung down the guards back as her head swung back and forth. The guard dropped her unconscious body onto the mattress like a sack of potatoes and retreated from the room. Unable to concentrate on anything but Kono's unconscious form he stepped away from the two pointing guns at him and rushed across the small room towards her.

Dropping down on his knees next to her he took in a deep breath before he slowly bent over her to move her chestnut hear away from her face. As the curtain of hair fell away from her, Steve sucked in a painful gulp of air as his stomach dropped. Her face was marred with bruises, which extended down her neck. Her left eye was swollen shut; her lip still bleeding. He followed the bruising down her body. Her short-sleeved shirt and short pants allowed him to see the bruises that are slowly appearing.

Adrenaline, anger and chest splitting pain still ripping through his body he pulled at the sleeves off his tee-shirt, until the material gave way. Retrieving the bucket of water from across the room he dipped the small scraps of cloth into the water, determined to take care of her as she took care of him the night before. Wringing the rags one last time he scooted closer and ran the wet material over her face carefully. He dabbed at the still bleeding lip several times until the blood finally ceased trickling from it. When done with her face, he moved slowly down her body trying to clean out the rest of her cuts and bruises, which covered her arms and hands. Carefully wiping the dirt from her hands he saw how hard she must have fought their captors. Soaking up the cloth he took his time cleaning up her fingers and nails. If her screams hadn't convinced him, her broken and bloody fingernails only proved to him of fight she put up. Scooting toward her lower half he rung out the scraps of cloth once again ready to tackle the last of her bruises. Even with the fading light streaming thought the small window of their cell; Steve froze momentarily, when he spotted the bruising covering her upper legs. A hollow undistinguished sound escaped his throat as her name escaped him lips. "Oh God" he said, squeezing his eyes shut as heart contracted with searing pain. The bruises on her thighs outlined fingermarks and at that moment time suddenly stopped, forever, for him and for Kono. The little hope he held onto dashed. Kono didn't receive just a simple beating she was raped. That realization brought tears to his eyes. Tears of pain and regret, tears of guilt and ache, tears he couldn't hold back. Hunching over like a small child he took her hand into his and held on as if his life depended on it.

Regret for bringing her on this assignment overwhelmed him as he sat helplessly next to her. "I should have realized these animals were going to use any method necessary to get what they wanted." He said to her unconscious form. "I'm sorry Kono." He whispered, extending his shaky hand toward her face.

As the tips of his fingers touched her bruised cheek Kono's terrified eyes snapped open. Choking on a scream she lifted her hands and pushed him away from her. Wincing in pain she shifted backward towards the wall pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. Her body vibrating with fear and tension.

Momentarily stunned by her reaction, he sat up straight trying to figure out why she would react as she did, until it dawned on him that he had been touching her before she opened her eyes. With the understanding it wasn't him she was afraid of but his touch, he scooted back trying to put distance between the two of them. "Its okay Kono. It's only me." He said softly trying to calm her down. "I won't hurt you."

Watching her huddled against the wall in fear, broke his heart. She looked so fragile, like a small child cowering in the corner afraid of thunderstorms. Sitting back down a few feet away from her, Steve spoke softly until he finally saw her relax enough to sit back down on the mattress and extend her legs out in front of her. "Can I come sit next to you?" He asked finally. When she nodded, he scooted over, putting at least a foot of distance between the two of them, trying to avoid making her feel uncomfortable. Apologizing again for scaring her Steve extended his hand, encouraging her to take it. After a few minutes of his coaxing she placed her hand into his and gripped his hand tightly as is holding on to him was the only way she would come out of this alive.

They didn't speak for the rest of the night. He sat next to her as she eventually curled down onto the mattress in a fetal position, whimpering softly as sleep overtook her battered form. Afraid of scaring her, he didn't touch her again, but sat close by, trying to convey to her that he was there for her, no matter what.

When the morning came, with neither one of them having slept much, Steve went to retrieve the fresh water the guard brought in a few minutes ago. Bringing it over he removed the ladle from the bucket and tried to get her to take a few sips. At first she was unresponsive but eventually she sat up, wincing in pain, and took the water Steve offered. She mumbled a soft "thank you," before handing him back the ladle.

"I wish they would just come in here and kill us already." She said leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

A lump formed in his throat, hearing her speak like that. He shifted closer and took a seat next to her. Careful not to touch her, he extended his hand again willing her to take it. She looked down to his hand for quite a long time before she finally placed her palm into his. "I won't let them hurt you again." He said softly, promising himself he would take any pain they decided to inflict upon him just to protect Kono.

When their captors came in that afternoon, Steve found himself jumping up from his sitting position, trying to intercept the guard that was making his way toward Kono. "I think it's my turn." He said offering himself to the guards.

Her head snapped up as his name escaped her lips. "Don't…" she said trying to get him to stop talking.

"But she is so much fun." One of the guards hissed at him. His yellow teeth protruding from under his mustached face. His greasy hair was tied with a bandana as his dirty and sweat stained clothes hung from his lanky form.

Looking over, Steve saw the fear and disgust that crossed Kono's face, only cementing his decision to offer himself to their captors. "Maybe, but you just don't know how fun I can be." He said before he rushed the guard. As the guard stumbled back the other one raised his weapon and pointed it at Steve's head.

Kono's small scream stopped him in his tracks. Realizing that seeing him get killed would probably push her over the edge completely, Steve surrendered and put his hands over his head giving up the fight. The guard with a gun angrily grabbed him by his collar and shoved him out of the room.

This is my first Hawaii 5.0 story I've posted…so I'm curious to see what you all think. Please leave a review. Thanks for reading.