It is a truth universally acknowledged that an experienced Commander at Hawaii Five-0 must be in want of a partner. Everyone from his own squad to those serving in any capacity of law enforcement on all the islands are so certain of this fact that they make every effort to meet the perceived need.

And so it was that when Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett's partner Danny Williams was placed on desk duty after breaking his leg the search for his temporary replacement began.

"Kono, have you heard there is an opening in Five-0?" Detective Chin Ho Kelly asked his cousin over dinner one night.

"Yes, Chin, it's all over the squad room. Everyone is talking about putting their resume in for it."

"What about you?" He asked, his enthusiasm for the idea clear.

"Why are you so concerned with my career? I am doing just fine."

"They should not have started you as just a beat cop when you returned from your undercover assignment. You gained so much field experience and essentially brought down a drug cartel single handedly. I don't think they showed you the respect you earned on that year long assignment."

"Yes but technically I wasn't working for HPD on that assignment. I was granted leave to work with the DEA. Who I think would want some credit for the take down as well. It was a great experience you are right. Before even graduating the academy I got to dive right in to a real assignment making a real difference. So it's not as if I didn't benefit from the situation and if my career has yet to see any results from it than maybe that's my fault for not demonstrating the level of skill and knowledge I should after all I have learned."

"Or maybe your boss wanted the DEA to put him on that assignment and he is punishing you for that fact." Chin retorted.

"Maybe," she conceded, "but then I'll just have to prove myself to him."

"And you do love having to prove yourself for whatever reason. Instead though you could apply for the assignment at Five-0 and have the possibility of a boss who respects you."

"Where's the challenge in that? Kono joked, but seeing Chin's earnest expression added, "I'll think about it." Mostly Kono just wanted the subject dropped. In this she got her wish as Chin did not press her further that night.

Later that week Kono was completing in a small sparring tournament the department held several times a year to encourage everyone from rookies to seasoned detectives to maintain their hand to hand skills and stay in shape. Kono had defeated her first two opponents and was waiting to see who she would face in the next round when she noticed her cousin and his Five-0 commander watching from the far sideline. She was not the only one to note their presence. The whispers started quickly and it seemed everyone upped their game a little in the matches. After defeating her next opponent with a little more difficulty than she had anticipated Kono found herself resting against a column watching her colleagues and accidentally overhearing a very enlightening conversation.

"Do you really not think there is anyone here who could fit in on Five-0?" Chin Ho asked his friend.

"I haven't seen anything that changes my mind on this, Chin." Steve answered in his typical clipped tones.

"What about Kono?" Chin persisted. "She has the experience you want and you must have noticed her sparring skills in her matches."

"She has experience I grant you, but as for her sparring I think given the obvious lack of skill of her opponents all I could glean from her matches was that she has acceptable combat skills but nothing exceptional."

After this the two men moved away so Kono did not hear the rest of what was said. Not that she could have heard it anyway with all the blood rushing in her ears. Acceptable? Her skills were acceptable not exceptional. Whatever doubts Kono might have had about her abilities as a cop these never extended to her ability to kick ass in the literal sense. When she was eighteen Chin Ho had taught her to channel the anger she felt at the injury which permanently ended her surfing career into martial arts. She then mastered kickboxing, hand fighting and any other form of hand to hand fighting she could learn at gyms, dojos or from private instructors across the islands. How dare he dismiss her potential without so much as any real consideration. Kono got a hold of her anger and put all of her considerable energy into her last match which made her the winner overall, for the third straight time. Impressed now? Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett she thought as she dropkicked her opponent for thefinal time.

The next morning Kono visited her cousin at his office at Five-0 headquarters. She knocked gently on his open door and he looked up from his paperwork with a smile.

"Cousin. What brings you here?"

"Can't a girl visit her cousin in the middle of the day without inviting suspicion?"

"I suppose some cousins can, but this cousin is a detective and I detect something more than familial affection is responsible for this visit."

"Fine. Let's cut to the chase. What would I need to do to get the spot on Five-0?"

"What?" Chin asked in obvious astonishment. "I thought you couldn't possibly be less interested the last time we talked."

"No you were right, Cuz. I was not interested at the time, but I am now."

"Why the change of heart?"

"I have something to prove." She said simply.

"And Kono never backs away from a challenge." Chin observed fondly. "Well I don't know why you feel you need to prove something today that you didn't yesterday or what exactly you feel you need to prove but for now I'm just happy you've changed your mind."

"Okay so what do I need to do?"

"Let me talk to Steve and see if we can get you on for a trial basis." Chin suggested after a moment's thought. "Have you cleared it with your Captain?"

Kono smiled at the memory of her conversation with her boss earlier that morning.

"As a matter of fact I did. And as it turns out he is fine if I leave his squad anytime."

"I bet he is." Chin laughed knowing that his young cousin could be as stubborn and determined as anyone he had ever known. It was one of the things that made her a good cop, but he could guess that it might not make her the ideal subordinate. "I'll call you later and let you know what Steve says."

"Great, Cuz. Thanks." Kono said giving him a quick hug before breezing back out his door. "I look forward to working with you!" She called confidently as she sailed down the hall.

"Was that your cousin?" Steve asked Chin coming to his office from the other direction.

"It was."

"What did she want?" Steve asked still watching her retreating form.

"That's something I'd like to talk to you about."

"Okay then, talk." Steve said and as he settled himself into a chair Chin thought about the best way to pitch Kono as Danny's replacement that would most appeal to the Steve he had come to know over the past two years. Just as Kono never backed down from a challenge neither did Steve. If that's what got her to consider joining Five-0 maybe the same thing would get Steve to agree to try her out as his partner.

"So what's up?" Steve asked after a minute of Chin's contemplative silence.

"Well . . .