Work Text:
Clear The Air (2x05)
Ma'eme'e (Clean)
The air needed to be cleared, that much Kono knew as the cab came to a stop at the end of the long drive way that led up to Steve’s house. She had not had a chance to talk properly to Steve (or Danny) outside the bank or even after Fryer revealed she was working undercover as Chin had bundled her into the car and driven straight to the hospital so her arm could be looked at by a doctor and treated. It had taken some (a lot) of convincing for Chin to just drop her off at the hospital rather than wait with her but he had eventually agreed albeit hesitantly after extracting a promise that she would let him know what the treating doctor had said which she had done by sending him a message once she had got into the cab and given Steve’s address as her destination.
“Miss? Would you like me to take you somewhere else?” The cab driver queried as he looked back at her in the rear view mirror.
The question pulled Kono from her revelry and she looked up the length of the driveway to Steve’s house which was daunting in a way it never had been before, and she exhaled in a long withdrawn manner knowing she could not prolong it. “No, no, it’s fine. Mahalo.” She reached into the pocket of her stained jeans and pulled out the last few notes of cash she had on her then leaned forward and handed it to the driver before she grabbed the white paper bag from the hospital pharmacy as it contained her prescribed antibiotics and pain medication as well as an antiseptic cream, a bundle of wound pads and rolls of gauze. “Mahalo.” She repeated before she pushed her aching body out of the cab then closed the door behind her.
Kono turned to look over her shoulder at the retreating cab before she looked back at Steve’s house as she silently doubted her decision to show up at his house unannounced especially after such a tumultuous day where all her lying had been uncovered but she needed to talk to Steve considering all he had done for her since their meeting on the golden sand at Waimea Bay where he not only gave her an amazing job but more importantly a very special Ohana. She blew out a stuttered breath and ignored the way the pain flared in her arm as she had refused any and every offer of pain medication at the hospital as she needed to be clear headed and not muddled by pain medication which she was starting to regret with each and every vicious throb of the gunshot wound.
Logically Kono knew that she could not stand at the bottom of Steve’s driveway for much longer without drawing attention to herself but suddenly her idea seemed like a really bad one as she had no idea how she was going to say what she needed too. She shifted on her feet as she looked out at the road behind her again before she steeled herself as she had used the last of her cash to get to Steve’s.
It took Kono more time then she cared to admit to drag her weary body up the driveway and to the front door of the McGarrett home. She raised her arm up, curled her hand into a fist and went to knock on the door however she stopped herself from doing so as she let her hand drop back down to her side. This was ridiculous, she thought as she ran her hand over her face wincing as she used her injured arm without a second thought. She took a few more seconds but she knocked twice on the door before she could hesitate again then stepped back as she absentmindedly clutched the white paper bag tighter causing it to crinkle.
A slight groan left Steve’s lips at the quick double knock on his front door and he threw the ice pack he had been using to ice his hand down on the coffee table as he pushed himself up off of the couch. It had been a twisted day, one that he still had not completely reconciled, and he did not have the energy left to deal with anything else.
Kono shifted as her nervousness increased with every second that it took for Steve to come to the door as she knew he was home and she had turned up unannounced. She found herself holding her breath and she jumped at the sound of the door being unlocked before it was pulled open. “Hey... boss.” She paused unsure if she could still call him ‘boss’ seeing as she did not know where they stood.
“Kono.” Steve was unable to keep the surprise out of his voice as she was the last person he expected to see considering not only the events of the day but he would have thought that Chin would not have let her out of his sight. “Ah sorry, come on inside.” He stepped aside to let her in as she looked to be wavering on her feet. “Did you come straight from the hospital? How did you get here?” He asked as the driveway was empty with the exception of his truck.
“Uh yeah, I took a cab.” Kono answered as she hesitantly stepped past Steve and into the house stopping just inside as she turned around to look at him.
The uncertainty, the hesitancy, in Kono was unsettling to Steve and he was alarmed by it. “Take a seat.” He waved his hand towards the couch. “Do you want something to drink? Coffee? Hot Chocolate? Tea? Orange or pineapple juice? Water?” He offered every non-alcoholic option he had as he knew she would have been given antibiotics and pain medication for her gunshot wound.
“I’m sorry for turning up unannounced.” Kono made no attempt to move as her hand rubbed at the bandaged wound on her arm.
Steve cautiously moved closer to Kono seeing the worried almost terrified look in her eyes and it unsettled him even more. “Come on, let’s sit down.” He gently guided her over to the couch and then to sit down not missing the minute tremble. “I am going to get you a glass of orange juice. I’ll be back in a minute.” He decided she needed a sugar laden drink and he hurried to get to the kitchen as he knew it was not a good idea to leave her alone for too long.
Bad idea, Kono’s mind screamed as if it was a blinking neon sign even as she involuntarily relaxed back into the comfort of the couch. It was too late now but maybe she should have waited to give Steve some time to process and for her to get a decent night’s sleep in a medicated slumber.
Kono looked a million miles away when Steve reached her and he set the orange juice down next to his own glass of pineapple juice and the half slushy ice pack before he sat back down beside her. “Kono, hey, you are always welcome here.” It seemed like a good place to start as he let his eyes look over her in assessment. It was easy to see the toll that everything had taken and he regretted not forcing her to talk to him before now.
A hint of a smile, of relief, tugged at the corner of Kono’s lips as Steve’s words felt like a safety blanket being wrapped around her. She clasped her hands together digging her nails into her own skin leaving crescent shaped marks. “I am so sorry Steve.” And she really was as she hated all of the lying she had done and all of the hurt she had caused. “I didn’t know what to do or how else to help.”
Steve let his eyelids flutter closed for a few seconds before opening them again as the guilt of everything that had happened weighed heavily on him. “I understand Kono.” The past several months had him off balance so he really did understand how it felt not to know what to do or how to help as there had been several moments like that for him.
“You shouldn’t have hit Fryer.” Kono caught sight of the bruised knuckles of Steve’s hand as she recalled the hit. As pleasurable as it was to see Fryer get hit she was sure it was going to have all sorts of implications for him and that was certainly something she did not want.
“I’d happily do it again.” Steve admitted even as he flexed his hand as the bruising was going to be extensive by the time the morning rolled around even with the ice.
“I know you would.” Kono did know that he would do it again for her.
Steve laid his hand over top of Kono’s to stop her from digging her nails into her own skin. “What’s going on sweetheart?” The term of endearment slipped out on accident as she seemed terrified and unsettled which was worrying as he was concerned there was something else that he had missed.
Kono blew out a shaky breath and her hands fumbled around Steve’s until his hand was encased in the both of hers. “Do I… Is there… Can I… ughhh…” She stumbled over the question that she wanted to ask as she was terrified of the answer to her unasked question.
“Hey, hey, take a breath and then have a drink.” Steve instructed as he reached out and picked up the glass of juice bringing it to her clutching hands.
It took a few seconds of fumbling for Kono to untangle one of her hands from where she was clutching Steve’s hand and she took the glass shakily bringing it to her lips and taking a few small sips. She set the glass down on the table and her hand went back to Steve’s hand that she was still holding. “Do I…” She swallowed thickly and shook her head as her eyes welled with tears involuntarily. “Do I still have a place with, in, Five 0?” The words tasted bitter as she rushed them up and her voice shook.
Steve was sure his eyes bulged and his stomach dropped as Kono’s question felt like a gut punch. “Yes, of course you do as long as you want to Kono.” He rushed the answer out as they had all missed her however he could also understand if she felt she could not come back to Five 0 considering all it had already cost her. He cleared his throat and his tongue darted out to wet his lips. “But I will understand and respect any decision that you make.”
A quiet sob left Kono’s lips and she quickly pressed her hand to her mouth to stifle the noise even though it was too late. Hearing that she could return was a weight lifted off of her – one that she had not realised was there. “I’m sorry.” She said and the words came out in a garble as she dropped her hand away from her mouth. “I want to come back, I do, I just didn’t know if I could.”
“It’s home and despite everything that has happened we are still Ohana.” Steve assured Kono before he hesitated. “We don’t have to now but we are going to have to discuss all that has gone on sometime soon.” He hated to bring it up but he wanted to hear from her and not read it in the reports that Fryer had agreed to have delivered to his office first thing in the morning.
A shuddered breath had Kono’s lungs seizing before she shook her head softly as a burst of emotions hit her all at once. “No, no, we should do it now… talk about it, I mean. I don’t want to keep having to go over it as it has been hard and I have hated every minute of it.” Her mind was all over the place and the pain that was radiating through her entire arm was getting harder to ignore. “And I don’t want this hanging over all of us.” She pushed herself up off of the couch ignoring the way she wobbled as she needed to move.
Steve was concerned about Kono’s physical condition but he also understood the need to move when it came to heavy topics of conversations. “Take your time Kono.”
Kono forced herself to move even as her body continually protested pacing around Steve’s living room. “You were right that I should have come to you and I really wanted to but I had to do this on my own too… I was equally responsible for the trouble we got ourselves into, we did it for Chin, and you were wrongly imprisoned because of Wo Fat so I couldn’t add any more onto you.” She had to stop to draw in a sharp breath but only just long enough to fill her lungs. “I know it was a shock especially considering you arrested me with a dead body beside me and I wanted to tell you but Fryer wouldn’t even entertain the idea from the outset and I got it, I did, but the longer it went on and the harder you and Chin and Danny tried the worse it got… I wanted to scream that I wasn’t a dirty cop but I couldn’t because if I did then it all came crashing, crumbling down and that could not happen.” She was out of breath and she was not sure if she was finished but she also felt that Steve should be given an opportunity to speak.
The sight of Kono so frazzled alarmed Steve along with the words that were being spoken hurriedly but what was more alarming was her overall condition as she wavered and stumbled even now that she had paused in her pacing. He pushed his own weary body up off of the couch, rounded the coffee table, and stopped in front of Kono hesitating for a few seconds before he delicately wrapped his hand around her left elbow below the bandage. “Shit! You are bleeding.” The blood was spreading and seeping through the gauze and bandage wrapped around her arm where she had been shot and he quickly deduced that she had to have torn a stitch or several without even seeing it. “Come sit back down and I will grab a first aid kit.” As much as he wanted to continue the discussion her bleeding wound took precedent.
Kono frowned as she looked down at her blood covered bandage. “Oh! That’s why it hurts so much.” She said a little dumbfounded as her exhausted brain and body were not working all that well in unison.
“Kono, have you have any pain medication?” Steve asked as he pulled one of the first aid kits he had around the house out as the bleeding needed to be stopped.
“No.” Kono sat down heavily on the couch. “I wanted to talk to you first.” She admitted even though the pain was growing and muddling with her making her brain fuzzy, and she listed towards the arm of the couch.
Steve shook his head as he set the first aid kit down on the coffee table then opened it up once he had sat down. “Talking to me is not more important than you not being in pain.” He could not really talk considering his own aversion to pain medication but he did not want any of his Ohana to be in any kind of pain at any time. “Are you okay with me taking a look?” The least he could do was ask considering she had gotten shot while undercover trying to save her badge and her reputation.
Kono frowned at Steve’s question as it seemed inane to her. “When did you become so hesitant?” She mumbled as she awkwardly held her arm out towards him silently providing permission for him to examine the bloody wound.
A short albeit tired chuckle left Steve’s lips at her mumbled question as it had relieved a little more of the tension between them. “Did the doctor prescribe any pain medication?” He asked as he nimbly and delicately peeled the wrap of gauze from around her arm and then eased the soaked bloody wound pad away wincing as the wound was reddened, swollen and bleeding steadily.
A hiss left Kono’s lips as the wound pad tugged on the torn skin of her arm as the blood acted like glue between the pad and the stitches. “Uh yeah, it’s in the bag.” She waved her hand vaguely in the direction of the bag as she did not know what specific combination she had been given.
“Do you want to take a dosage now?” Steve questioned as he examined the wound closely thinking she needed it. “I am going to have to put a couple of stitches in as you have already torn a couple unless you want me to take you back to the hospital so it can be done?” It would not be his first (or last) time stitching (or re-stitching) wounds however he understood if she wanted someone with a medical license to do it.
“I’d rather you do it.” Kono answered as she had no problem with Steve replacing the stitches in her arm as she certainly did not want to go back to the hospital.
Steve sort of expected the answer Kono gave him but he really wanted her to take a dose of pain medication as it was going to hurt given how tender the wound looked already. “Okay, okay, but I need you to have some pain medication because this is going to hurt either way, and I would like it to hurt less.” He reached out and grabbed the paper pharmacy bag, opened it and then rifled through the contents until he found the bottle of pain medication – Vicodin – which he uncapped and then dispensed one single pill straight into her hand.
Kono frowned at the pill as she rolled it around in the palm of her hand. “I hate Vicodin.” She grumbled unhappily. “If I take it then we won’t be able to finish our conversation.”
“It will take a while for the meds to work.” Steve knew that for a fact as he pushed the glass of juice into her other hand silently imploring her to take it. “And we can still talk. Nothing that is said here will be repeated unless you want it to be.” He felt like he needed to assure her of that.
A huff left Kono as she put the pill into her mouth then washed it down with a large gulp of juice despite her reluctance. “Fryer had a witness and they picked me out of the line up I was in.” She was unsure of how much information Steve knew. “And he was all set to charge me until he realised he could use me to get to Delano and his crew of former and dirty cops… I knew it was dangerous but I was not going to get another opportunity and the case against me was solid.” The words came out in a rush as she wanted to get it out before the medication took effect. “I didn’t know about Fryer’s history with Delano but in all honesty it would not have changed things… I really am sorry Steve.”
Steve was reminded how stubborn Kono could be as he used an antiseptic wipe to dab at the seeping wound on her arm. “How about we stop apologising and forgive each other? We both made choices and I am not saying they are right or wrong but I think we are both tired and have suffered enough for our choices.”
A smile tugged at Kono’s lips as she nodded her head. “I like the sound of that boss.” She really did and it was a relief as she knew Steve’s words were the truth, and the pain medication, the Vicodin, was kicking in as the fuzziness around the edges was starting to settle in.
“Vicodin is starting to take effect, isn’t it?” Steve asked noticing the glaze settling in Kono’s eyes and it was easy to see that she was relaxing even if it was against her will.
Kono snuffled softly with an accompanying nod before a yawn overtook her.
Steve chuckled lightly. “Alright let’s get you fixed up before you fall asleep on me.” He pulled on a pair of gloves once he had finished setting out the supplies he needed on the coffee table. “This will hurt.” He warned. “Are you ready?” He wanted to check that she had not changed her mind about having him replace the stitches in her arm.
“Go ahead boss.” Kono settled with the help of the Vicodin.
The silence settled over the duo as Steve worked diligently yet effectively to remove the broken stitches, thoroughly re-clean the wound, replace the stitches and then bandage it so it was protected and would stay clean.
“All done.” Steve confirmed as he pulled off his gloves and dumped them down along with everything else that needed to be put in the trash.
Kono hummed disjointedly as her eyelids fluttered as the day had taken its toll.
A glance at the clock told Steve it was nearing midnight. “Stay right here.” He told her in a dulcet tone as he made quick work of gathering up the trash then headed off to dispose of it in the kitchen bin before he washed and dried his hands. He stepped out of the kitchen pausing to check on Kono seeing that she had languidly stretched out across the length of the couch much like a cat with her shoes kicked off as the Vicodin mixed with the exhaustion had her nearly asleep. With that in mind he quietly hurried up to the linen closet where he pulled out one of the spare pillows along with a white and grey striped pillow case which he fitted and a matching queen sized comforter before he returned to the living room and to Kono. “Kono, hey, lift up.” He snuck the pillow under her head as she was just about asleep then covered her with the comforter.
“ ‘oss.” Kono slurred as she stirred nuzzling her cheek against the pillow as her hand moved restlessly against the comforter.
Steve crouched down at Kono’s side. “It’s okay Kono.” He assured her as he caught her hand in his and gently rubbed his thumb around in circles across the back of her hand. “Get some sleep.” They all needed to sleep as they had all been running on empty for weeks.
A sleepy smile and more nuzzling followed by some burrowing had Kono sighing contently as she finally settled and slipped into a deeper sleep.
There was still a lot to be sorted out and a bit more rebuilding to be done as damage did not just disappear but Steve was glad that everything had worked out, that the team, the Ohana, were back together, and that Kono was resting soundly as she escaped being more seriously injured. As much as the day had been terrible it also had one or two bright spots in it.