Payback

Chapter One

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They are not mine. I want to fix this whole season, but I'm not a miracle worker.

Author Notes: More of the Kono undercover story with Fryer. Even though the case is over, someone is out to get revenge on Kono. It also seems Frank Delano wasn't the man at the top of the hierarchy of the gang. Someone else was involved…someone much more ominous.

Steve dropped down on one of his Adirondack chairs and watched Kono surf. He had made her one of his fruit smoothies after he came back from his run and saw her surfing. The rest of the house was still asleep.

He thought he heard Chin slip out and head home to Malia, but he knew for a fact that Danny and Lori were still wrapped in each other's arms in his guest room. Who knows, maybe they were cuffed again. His lips twisted into a grin.

Last night he entire team had celebrated a little too much after finding a cargo hold full of kidnapped Asians before it was too late. The human trafficker had left them to die when Five-0 captured him. He refused to tell them where they were. On a hunch, Kono figured it out and the 30 women and children were found alive.

He sighed as he watched his favorite surfer take a wave. She was beautiful out there. His thoughts went back to the last few months. He knew he had hurt her badly and he wasn't sure if their relationship was ever going to recover. He wanted to fix things so badly, but his accusations in the interrogation room and his lack of trust in her had changed the way they spoke and acted around each other.

He knew Lori being on the team when she came back only made her feel more and more like she had been replaced. What she didn't realize was that no one could replace her. He just wished he could convince her of that. He had been such an ass to her. That was his self defense mechanism. If someone he cared about was in danger he would ramp up. When he saw her in the car with the dead guy his stomach had clenched and his heart had started racing. He didn't think straight in moments like those. He let his emotions dictate his actions and his first initial response was to attack her. Smooth McGarrett…real smooth. You hurt the one woman you care about the most in this world.

Kono emerged from the surf with her surfboard under her arm. She ditched it on the grass and gladly accepted the drink he offered up to her.

"Thanks Boss."

"Kono, you used to call me Steve when we weren't working. Do you think you could start doing that again?"

She thought for a minute.

"Nope. Not sure I can."

Steve bit his lip.

"Oh."

Kono took a long drink and sat quietly for a minute.

"Where is everybody? I know we celebrated kind of late, but it's pushing noon."

"I heard Chin slip out and go home to his wife when I got back from my run and was on my way to take a shower. Lori and Danny are still wrapped up in each other, literally. They're in my guest bedroom and let's just say, I prefer being out here."

Kono snickered, but then got quiet. It made Steve nervous. She used to always be so open and now whenever he was with her he felt she was guarded. The silence grew between them and he started to squirm when Kono finally spoke again.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Am I going to stay in the office forever now? You used to take me into the field, but now it seems like Lori does most of that and I'm just the techie. I guess I get it. I mean it's obvious you don't trust me anymore and well, I don't trust you either so I guess that makes us even. I do think I deserve a chance to practice my skills as an officer, but it's your call. I'm going to head out. I'll see you Monday."

Kono slammed the glass down a little too hard on the table and stood to leave, but Steve was up out of his chair and grabbing her arms fiercely.

"Dammit Kono! I do trust you. I just…I have to take Lori into the field because the governor has her reporting to him. If I don't it could jeopardize our team's very existence. It doesn't mean I don't trust you. You have to believe me. Kono, I'm trying here. I really am."

"Steve you're hurting me."

Steve dropped her arms like he burned them. He stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her instead. She went stiff and his heart started hammering in his chest. He stepped back and cupped her chin, lifting her eyes to his.

"I don't know how to fix this, Kono. I don't know how to fix us, but I can't stand it anymore. I miss your smile. I miss joking around with you. I miss wrestling with you and taking rides on my motorcycle with you. I miss you at work and away from work. I miss you so much. It's like even though you're in a room with me, I don't exist. You haven't said a dozen words to me that weren't job related in weeks now. Just tell me what to do to make it right. I'll do anything you ask. I just want you back in my life."

"I am back, but this is going to take time. I just…thought you…"

"What?"

"Never mind. It doesn't matter."

"Everything about you matters Kono. I just wish I could make you see that. I hurt you and I would cut off my right arm to go back and undo what happened, but I can't. My only defense is how much I care."

Kono laughed, but it was mirthless.

"Then you could have fooled me. You have a funny way of showing it."

"I know. I'm an idiot."

Kono's breath caught and her eyes flew up to meet his. Had he really just admitted that he had messed up?

"Well, at least we agree on something."

Did she just offer up an olive branch? Her eyes twinkled just a little bit. It was the first time since she came back that he had seen that look. He took the opening.

"I promise I'll make this up to you Kono. You need to know that I will never forgive myself for what happened. I'll do anything to get you to trust me again. I mean that."

Kono's eyes searched his face and he felt goose bumps on his arms. She had a way of looking at him that turned him into a twisted mess. Her eyes were moist and she nodded slightly as a tear trickled down her cheek. Steve reached up and captured it with his thumb. His hand cupped her slender neck for a moment and he felt the urge to bend and kiss her, but he knew it was too soon.

If he had a choice he would scoop her up into his arms and carry her to his bed. He'd make love to her and show her how he felt instead of just trying to explain himself. He wasn't good with words and usually screwed things up.

Kono's eyes went wide as she looked into Steve's. Was he going to kiss her? She was sure she would not survive that. She backed away from him with her eyes down. She couldn't risk looking at him in the moment, afraid of what else she would see there. It was too much to process.

"Uh, I really need to go. I forgot I promised a friend I'd spend the day with her. I'll see you on Monday…Steve."

Just like that she was gone. His only solace was that she used his name. Maybe there was a chance for them. He couldn't handle the idea that he'd lost her before he ever really had her in his life the way he wanted her to be. He prayed he'd get the chance. He just needed to take it slow and easy. She reminded him of a wild horse in some ways. She could bolt if she felt threatened. He sighed and plopped back down in his chair. His eyes went back to the ocean as if it could give him the answers to his questions.

The drive home was filled with thoughts of Steve. What was he really trying to say to her back there? His tone of voice, his eyes, his touch; they all seemed to be telling her he cared more than he usually let on. Was it possible he was interested in her as a woman? She shook her head violently. No, he had never indicated anything like that. She was reading into it because of her own feelings. Get a grip, Kono. He just wants the team back the way it was. Letting yourself entertain such ideas will only get you hurt again.

Kono pulled up to her little house and climbed out of her car. She raised the hatchback and pulled out her surfboard as another tear made its way down her cheek. Damn Steve McGarrett. Since when had she let him get under her skin so much? She was so despondent as she entered her house that she didn't pay attention to the fact that she wasn't alone until it was too late.

She was taken out with one bone crushing right hook. Her surfboard clattered to the floor.

Steve sat staring out at the ocean at a loss as to what to do. He had not realized until now how much he had hurt Kono and their relationship. He was so stupid sometimes. He didn't hear his cell phone go off on the table next to him at first. When it finally registered that it was ringing, he hoped it was Kono, but it was Chin.

"Yeah Chin, what's up?"

"Is Kono still there?"

"No, she just left. What's wrong?"

"Ray Mapes escaped from prison last night."