A/N 1: Well, here we are at the end. It's been the most wonderful journey with all of you, and I'm so grateful for all your kind comments and the support. You'll definitely be seeing me back in the fandom soon and if any you have thoughts/comments on what you'd like to have me write, just drop me a note!

A/N 2: It's kinda short but I think it finishes up the story well. Hopefully you all agree. :)

Disclaimer: I have no rights to Hawaii Five-0. This story is done purely for my own enjoyment.

As Steve exited the water and walked toward them, Danny smiled at his daughter's smile. It had been three months since they had returned from Russia and Grace wanted to spend all of her free time with her favourite uncle—probably to make sure he was still here, Danny reckoned. Today she had managed to wrangle everyone into surfing, Kono and Chin included.

Steve lay down on the beach next to Grace with a smile. "How ya doing, Gracie?"

"Good! I'm keeping Danno company for a bit 'cause he said it's too soon after lunch to go into the water."

Steve's piercing blue eyes met Danny's with a smile. "Oh really? I thought the 20-minute rule was only for old ladies."

"Shut it, Steven. I'm just making sure that I don't attempt to go in the water before my body is ready."

Both his partner and his daughter started laughing, but he was okay with that. "Hey Uncle Steve," Grace said once they had calmed down. "What are those scars from?" She was pointing to the two slightly jagged areas of raised skin on his side.

The first was, of course, courtesy of a dirty Interpol agent in Moscow. It was smaller but still large enough to be a reminder of what had happened when Steve had left. The second, much larger and higher up, was from his final fight with Gregorovitch and was reminder for something else.

Almost a week after returning to Hawaii, Steve was finally released from the hospital. Danny could tell he was still worn down and tired, but he also knew the other man just wanted to get home, get back into the life he had thought he was giving up for sure. Chin and Kono had made sure that Steve's house was completely cleaned up, and all traces of that night had been removed. When the team gathered at the home for a barbeque a short time later, Kono had come up and punched Steve in the arm. "That was for leaving. Don't do it again, okay?" Then she had hugged him. "Welcome home for real, brah."

Chin had given him a hug too, and said, "What Kono said. It's good to have you back."

Halfway through dinner, there was a knock on the door that opened to reveal a very contrite Joe White on the doorstep. He apologized profusely for leaving before knowing everything was okay, and then had pulled Steve aside; he put his hands on Steve's shoulder, and looked him in the eye. Steve just nodded in response, and it had pissed Danny off that he had no clue what had just happened between them. Nevertheless, after that the five of them had pizza and beers and hung out the rest of the night, talking about everything and nothing; and starting the long path to healing.

It had taken a bit more with the governor, though. Steve had talked to him alone, and when he had come out both Steve and Denning looked pissed. When Danny had asked, Steve had told him that he had simply informed the governor he had been called up for a classified op requiring his skill set, building on the lie by saying that he had told Danny and the team that Mary was sick. Denning hadn't believed him but it was the story Steve was sticking to. "I called in a favour and had one of my old CIA buddies call in and confirm everything, so Denning had no choice but to accept it. He wasn't happy about it though."

"And why where you so angry?" Danny had asked.

Steve had just pressed his lips together, his face blank, and shook his head. "Something he said, about my loyalty." Danny bristled in anger himself, thinking that Denning wouldn't be questioning Steve's loyalty if he knew the whole story; but he also knew that the governor could never know about the unsanctioned hit. The man was too straight-laced to let Steve get away with it.

But get away with it he did, it seemed. When HPD reported the event at McGarrett's house, various national and international agencies suddenly started sending officers to Hawaii to get the full story on how Anton Gregorovitch had met his end. No one questioned the fact that the terrorist came to Hawaii to get revenge, and though a few agents subtly pressed McGarrett for answers about the shooting in Moscow, it seemed there was not any evidence other than vague suspicions against the SEAL. After all the questions had been answered, debriefings had, and forms filled out, the various agencies started to pack up and everyone at Five-0 started to breathe a little easier.

After that Five-0 started to slide back into place with their fearless leader back at the helm. It felt good to Danny, felt right to have things back the way they were. Steve had chosen to share only the basics of his month away with Kono and Chin, and had kept Danny in the dark about most details, which made it difficult when one of them would inadvertently say something that brought storm clouds to Steve's eyes; but everyone, including Steve, just pushed past because everyone wanted to move on.

So when Grace asked her question, Danny wasn't sure how Steve would respond. It brought everything that had happened back to the forefront. "Well, Grace, those are scars I've gotten fighting bad guys."

"Oh. You were hurt?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah, a little."

"Was that from when you left?" Steve had had to grovel and buy Grace shaved ice every day for a week before she had forgiven him. She knew only that Steve had left to stop a bad guy, and knew nothing of that night when they got home; but even with that good reason, it still took her a very long time to even come close to forgiving her favourite uncle. Because of her anger, Danny knew Steve would rather avoid talking the whole fiasco then get her mad again; so he cringed at his daughter's question.

But Steve surprised him by going ahead without flinching. "Yes, they were from when I left."

"But you're okay now?"

Steve nodded, looking at Kono and Chin surfing easily on the waves, at Danny, and finally at Grace herself. "Yep, I'm fine. I'm great actually. Because your dad brought me back. Beause I'm home."

Well that's it. A happy ending, but never fear: as long as I'm around, there will always be more Steve-whump/angst to be had. Thank you again for all the kind words and I hope you enjoyed not only this chapter but the story!

Charlotte