I do not own Five-0 or any of it's characters. No copyright infringement intended.

So this is a bit of a departure from my previous stories. We're going to start at the end and go back to the beginning. Please let me know what you think!

Erin

It seemed like a lifetime ago that we'd been walking out of that warehouse. Danno had just cuffed Dao King who was running a trafficking ring on the island. The team had shared a laugh as I said the words everyone knew was coming, "Book 'em Danno."

We were all making our way back out to towards the vehicles when the first shot rang out dropping our perp. Everyone hit the ground as a second shot rang out, and then I heard the pop and a splash. I turned and fired off a single shot and we watched the shooter tumble from the rooftop. As we glanced around we all breathed out our relief as we got to our feet.

"Steve. Hey babe, why don't you sit down for a second." Danny said as he walked towards me. Chin had checked the perp and shook his head confirming that he was dead.

"I'm fine Danno. Let's just get moving. This is going to require a mountain of paperwork, I don't want to be here all..." My words tapered off as I saw the concern in his eyes. I tore off my vest and realized what my whole team was staring at, my stomach. I glanced down and saw what they did. A rapidly expanding bulls eye of blood as it spread out across my white shirt.

Just like that, my knees collapsed underneath me and I went down to the ground with Danny easing the way. A single round had pierced my vest and that was all it took.

People always think that death is hard but, the truth is that dying is the easy part. All you have to do is let go.

My thoughts blurred as a million things raced through my head. All the usual things I assume.

What if your life ended today? Would you be prepared? Are you leaving behind a lifetime of unfinished business? Did you have all the moments you'd hoped for? What would go through your mind if you knew that it would all end today? Truth is when the choice is taken from you, the what ifs are no longer an issue.

I've heard all the clichés about your life passing before your eyes, seeing the light, all of it. Does any of it really happen? Maybe it does.

As I lay here, I can feel the slowing of my heart rate. It's not painful, as you might expect. In a way it is kind of peaceful. Almost as if my body is trying to persuade me to let it all go. Mesmerized by the slowing cadence of the blood as it moves through my body. Everything I feel, everything I see and hear is telling me to just close my eyes.

The problem is, when I close my eyes I can see and hear all the things that I will leave behind. I won't hear Danno bitching about my insanity, or hear Kono laugh. I won't find out if the spark that I felt when I thought Lori was in danger was real or if it was just the adrenaline as it coursed through my system when I assessed her injuries. I won't get to see Chin in his element as he tracks a perp through a minuscule electronic fingerprint. And I won't get to watch Gracie grow up. That hurts more than dying ever could.

As the light begins to fade, I can feel her breath against my neck her fingers shaking as she shifts them over my neck in search of my rapidly fading pulse. I can even feel the hot tears as they track along my cheek. I'm not sure anymore who they belong to. I can still hear them all as the clouds begin wrap around my vision, though their voices are getting further and further away.

"Steve, come on babe. Hang on for me." Danno yelled.

"How far out are they? Chin I need an ETA! NOW!" Kono yelled.

"2 minutes. They'll be here in two minutes, I can hear the sirens." Chin answered.

Then I heard her and it made my heart stutter.

"Steve, please...please don't go." She whimpered against my chest. Her hands were searing hot against my skin.

"STEVE! Come on this is not how this is going to end!" Danny screamed, his emotions spilling over into each word as his hands gripped my shirt lifting my upper body off the ground and into his arms.

"He's not breathing. Come on babe, please..." Danny screamed into the air.

It was a moment of clarity as I felt it all. I heard it all but, it was like I wasn't really there anymore.

That beautiful girl sat beside me, her hands covered in my blood as the tears ran down her face. Lori, she was the only thing that I saw. Just Lori. I took one last deep breath and let her name fall from my lips, and then it was like the whole world started over from the minute she walked into my life.

"Lori."