An International Incident chapter 22

Hey guys, chapter was posting in a wrong format, i hope its fixed now, sorry.

Hope you like, sequel with Steve back to normal having trouble planing a surprise birthday for Danno following up. thanks for the reviews.

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It had been a year now, Steve was back at work and the 5-0 team was doing better than ever. Danny still looked for tale tell sign of Steve's PTSD but it seemed to have faded, of course there will always be things he will never forget, things he could never get over but he had learned to live above them, and forge through life like the Navy SEAL he was. Of course there had been countless sessions of therapy, it didn't much help because most of the things, he could not talk about, they were classified but in spite of all he had made tremendous progress. His team had received him back with the same familiarity he was used to though now and again some would treat him with care, he could sense that. Danny would not make any secret of it, whenever he found Steve to be acting what he would call odd or quiet in a weird way he would not hesitate to point it out. He was adept at reading him even better than before, and he would make him talk and vanquish whatever darkness at that time. He had made progress and he was glad to be back with his Ohana the way it had always been, even better now Danny and Rachel had remarried and lived together now as a family, they would still fight but as any old married couple, they understood each other better now and Danny was indeed a much better version of himself now. Danno still ranting but happier than he had ever been before. The loss of his family had always been like an ache he had to adjust to but now Steve got to see the real Danno as he had been in Jersey before his divorce and Danny would always say that he was an even better version because he didn't have to deal with Steve being dead anymore, it had been like another limb missing even with his family back. Now that all was in order and Danny felt like he had it all now. Steve was only glad to be part of that family.

The one thing that had him nervous and unsure was Catherine ,she was back in his life but he wasn't sure if he should let his guard down and accept the love that she was offering him, always afraid she would disappear again, he wasn't sure if that wouldn't break him. So, he had played it safe but she was always there, ever loyal, ever loving, but then she had always been like that until she left, so he was cautious. But Catherine had resigned from the CIA like she promised and reenlisted in the Navy with the condition that she be stationed at the Honolulu Base. She seemed content with that, her usual fire to go and save the world was now focused on saving Steve. She had not wanted to join 5-0 because she had always said this was Steve's thing, she wanted her own thing, that was one other reason she had up and joined the CIA in the first place. Now she just wanted to give him his space as he began his journey to recovery. They had progressed from friendship naturally and now Cath had moved back home, just like before. Steve was beyond happy about that but still expected her to leave, sort of slept with one eye open. But as the time passed and now it was a year since that time he could not continue to wait any longer in fear, he had to take the plunge. Seeing Danny so happily reunited with Rachel, wearing his ring again, looking at it now and then with a smile he knew he could not just stand aside in fear anymore. Cath had done everything to show him she loved him, she had stayed, and whenever she was deployed somewhere she would always come back. In this past year she had proved that to him. And he had never denied that he loved her, that she was the only woman he truly loved, and that made him nervous now as he sat in his truck looking at her laughing and eating shave ice with his Ohana outside Kamakona's shrimp truck.

Would she say 'yes', would she say 'no, lets continue the way we are- because I'm planning on leaving'? Would she…?

He was startled when his passenger door was suddenly opened and Danny got in beside him.

"What, you've been parked out here for quite some time, we are now on the third shave ice. What's the hold up?" Danny asked, looking skeptically at him. "Not thinking of aborting the op are you?" He said looking at the ring in Steve's hand.

"No, just…I don't know, what if…what if she says…?"

"What if she says no?" Danny asked and proceeded to study Catherine too from the car as Steve was doing. "Not a chance." Danny said convinced.

"No?"

"No way, that lady loves you Steve. Yeah she has run many a time but I think this time even you have noticed she doesn't seem to be ready to go anywhere else."

"She might leave, you know Cath is much like my mom, she…"

"I think she has found a permanent place to stay here, I think she has found home, she isn't going anywhere. And if ever the CIA comes calling we'll be there to defend her."

"Or she might just fake her own death and …"

"No way, Cath won't do that, I'm sure of it, she will not do that to you. She won't leave you willingly, you just have to make her sure of how you feel. I know you have an inherent habit of protecting yourself but I'm telling you, this time just let your guard down and you won't regret it." Danny said with conviction and Steve snorted at that but continued studying Catherine from the car. He had had this ring for close to a month now but finally Danny had managed to get this little get together so that Steve could make his grand gesture, he wasn't going to bail again this time.

"Ok then, here goes nothing." Steve said with a nervous sigh.

Danny clapped his hands, "Great buddy. Besides I wouldn't let you postponed my opportunity to be best man at your wedding." Danny got out of the car. "Just give me a minute, I have to rejoin the team and pretend like I don't know anything, also I have to give Kame the signal."

Once Danny had rejoined the group Steve got the courage to get out of the car and walk towards the group.

Cath was busy chatting with Tani when Danny made his way back from his car where he had gone to 'grab something', he didn't say what. They were waiting for Steve to join them any minute. For Cath, this was one of their usual hangout especially with her friends, she was unaware of anything except that Steve was being a little late than usual. He had said he was running some important errand.

Danny made some sort of gesture to Kamekona and then Tani screamed, nudging Cath to look up. There was a huge placard floating with a balloon in the air written, "Will you marry me Catherine.'

She screamed too and covered her mouth with her hand, in complete shock, her heart thudding.

Tani nudged her again and she looked only to see Steve strolling towards her, all dressed up in a tux and all, looking like James Bond, only better, like that time he had surprised her for Dinner. She could only stare at him as he made his way to her. Cheers and yells were going on but she could hardly pay attention to it, all her focus on Steve.

Steve knelt before her, a ring box in hand, opened.

"Miss Catherine Rollins, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me? You complete me and I simply can't imagine living this life without you."

Catherine felt drops of tears falling from her cheeks onto her summer flower dress, she had not realized she had been crying.

She could not speak, all she could do was nod vehemently but that was good enough for Steve, he slipped the shiny diamond ring on her finger to everyone's cheers and hoots. He stood up and lifted Cath from the bench into his arms, carrying her away to the car like that last time he had surprised her.

Once in the car she kissed him and told him "yes, with all my heart and forever."

And Steve's world was flooded with light, the darkness forever vanquished