workerbee32

Fiction - "Setting me up to Bring me Down"

workerbee32 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:32:01 GMT

Title: "Setting me up to Bring me Down"
Author: workerbee32
Fandom: Haven
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Nathan/Duke
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Christmas Special
Disclaimer: I do not own any of it. It belongs to other people and I borrow them occasionally. No infringement intended!
Author's Notes: Written for my pal raynedanser, who asked for a Christmas time Nathan/Duke story.
Summary: Nathan and Duke exchange gifts.

Setting me up to Bring me Down

Duke set his glass down and informed Nathan and Audrey that he might as well lock up the bar downstairs, since the real party was at Audrey’s apartment anyway. He made his way down to the bar and locked the door behind him, then began putting the chairs upside down on top of the tables. He had his back to the door, so the knock that came after about the third chair was placed upside down made him jump. He turned to see Nathan waiting to be let in. Duke walked over and unlocked the door, letting Nathan in before locking it again behind the cop.

“You come to help me put up these chairs? Gotta say that was very considerate of you.” Duke knew Nathan had no intention of helping him close, but it was fun to give him no way to say no to it. Nathan started putting chairs up on tables and Duke smiled, it worked. Duke Crocker, master manipulator.

After all the usual closing duties were done, Duke stood behind the bar looking at the giant tote of Christmas decorations he had taken down earlier in the day. “I can’t believe the entire town thought it was Christmas.” He leaned against the beer cooler as Nathan stood facing him on the other side of the bar.

“Speaking of,” Nathan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red envelope that was barely bigger than a business card. “I got something for you before-“ He handed it to Duke, “well, before.” And left it at that.

Duke looked at Nathan as he held the small envelope in his hand. “You got me a gift?”

Nathan nodded and put his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, it’s nothing special. Just open it before I take it back.”

Duke reached under the bar and came back with a gift bag decorated with penguins wearing Santa hats. He extended his arm to Nathan and shook the present until Nathan grabbed it. “Well, looks like great minds think alike.”

“You bought me a gift for Christmas?” Nathan held it and looked surprised. Duke nodded. “You go first.” He nodded at the contents of Duke’s hand.

“No, you.” Duke contested and Nathan gave him a look. “Fine, same time. Ready?” Nathan nodded. “Go.” They both opened their gifts and looked at each other.

“Seriously?” Nathan looked to Duke and pulled out the contents of his bag, a pair of handcuffs lined with black fur. “Duke.” He looked at him pointedly.

“What? I thought you would like to feel what it’s like on the other side of those things.” Duke smirked and held up the bright yellow card that had been inside the red envelope. “A Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card? Really? How will you play Monopoly with Parker now that your Community Chest is a card short?”

Nathan shrugged and walked around to the other side of the bar. “The thing about these-“ He held the cuffs up with one finger, “is that your assumption is wrong.”

“Oh yeah?” Duke cocked an eyebrow. “So you’ve been in cuffs before?”

“As a matter of fact, yes I have.” He unlocked one of the cuffs and looked at Duke. “But that pair had zebra print fur on them.”

“Oh yeah?” Duke asked. “And who was on the other end of those cuffs? Parker?”

Nathan turned the cuffs over in his hands and worried his bottom lip before shaking his head. “Nah.” He nodded to the card Duke was still holding. “Tell you what, you can use that right here, right now or you can save it for another time and we can test the strength of these cuffs.” He held the set of fur covered bracelets up and yanked on them to give Duke a better visual.

Duke glanced up at the locked door and then back to Nathan. “I have several meetings coming up this week-,“ Duke put the card back in the envelope and placed it on the counter. “This might be better used at a later date.” He stepped closer to Nathan, eyes hooded.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.” Nathan closed the space between himself and Duke, handing the cuffs over to the taller man.

“Oh yeah?” Duke looked surprised. “I thought you’d be dying to slap these things on me.”

Nathan wrapped his hand around the back of Duke’s neck and pulled their mouths together into a rough kiss. Duke grabbed the front of Nathan’s shirt in his fist and pulled them as close together as he could; pressing his thighs against Nathan’s and tilted his head in an effort to consume Nathan as much as he possibly could. Duke was almost lightheaded from the contact, feeling every blood cell rushing to his cock. He was almost embarrassed at how quickly this whole thing was turning him on, but he knew what he was hoping for when he bought those cuffs. He should’ve been better prepared for this, should have expected this.

“Cuff me.” Nathan exhaled against Duke’s lips and Duke’s knees damn near buckled. Even if he had expected this, he couldn’t have possibly expected this. Duke grabbed Nathan’s shoulder and spun him around, pinning Nathan against the bar. Nathan put his arms behind him, letting Duke tug them into the right position to secure the first cuff onto Nathan’s left wrist.

“Too tight?” Duke asked, his thumb rubbing the skin on the inside of Nathan’s cuffed wrist. Nathan pressed his ass against Duke’s cock as a reply. “Jesus.” Duke muttered as he slapped the right cuff onto Nathan’s wrist.

Nathan stood up straight and turned to face Duke. “Got me where you want me?” He smirked.

Duke licked his lips and started unbuttoning Nathan’s shirt. “You have no idea.” The smirk left Nathan’s mouth and he lunged, arms secured behind his back, to make contact with Duke’s skin. Duke stopped unbuttoning and moved right to ripping Nathan’s shirt off. “You’d think a guy who asked to be handcuffed would have a bit more patience.” Duke tugged at Nathan’s pants, pulling the cuffed man into a kiss that made Duke’s cock throb with anticipation. “To be honest, I’m not sure I have the patience for any foreplay shit either. You look so god damn good in those cuffs. Now I know why you’re always so hot to get me in those things.”

Nathan nipped at Duke’s lower lip. “Maybe next time we can venture down that avenue.” Nathan’s eyes travelled down Duke’s body and then back up. “But right now I just really want you to fuck me. So let’s get this show on the road.”

Duke opened his shirt and pulled it off, tossing it to the ground. Nathan licked his lips again and Duke rubbed his chest, eyes on Nathan’s while they followed Duke’s hand down his belly to his crotch. Duke cupped his hard cock over his pants, kneading it for a moment before undoing the fly and pulling them halfway down his thighs. Duke wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked it slowly, keeping his eyes on Nathan’s reaction.

“This needs to speed up, I can’t take this shit.” Nathan growled the last word and it made Duke’s cock twitch. “Take my pants off.”

Duke grabbed Nathan’s face and kissed him slow, taking pleasure in the impatient groans coming from Nathan. Duke’s hands moved to Nathan’s belt, unbuckling it before making quick work of the fly to get Nathan’s cock free. Duke kissed Nathan’s neck and pinched the lobe of his ear between his teeth. “Best Christmas gift ever, seeing you all strung out and begging.” Duke knelt down and looked up at Nathan.

“Holy fuck.” Nathan’s head fell back and his hands tightened into fists behind him. “Jesus.”

“Didn’t expect this, did you?” Duke looked wholly too pleased with himself and Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off it. Duke held Nathan’s cock at the base and slid his mouth over it slowly.

“Fuck.” Nathan hissed and rolled his hips into Duke’s mouth. Duke wanted to take his time sucking Nathan’s dick, he really did. But there was a heavy reminder of what was waiting on the other side of that blow job hanging between his legs. Just the sight of Nathan this starved for his touch had Duke about ready to come like a horny junior on prom night. This needed to happen fast or the blow job would be the main course instead of the appetizer.

Duke hollowed his cheeks around Nathan, flicking his tongue over the nerves at the underside of the head. Nathan moaned with his mouth clenched shut and came against the back of Duke’s throat. Duke pulled his mouth off Nathan’s dick and swallowed, stroking Nathan through the little spasms that followed his orgasm.

Duke stood and ran his hand up Nathan’s chest. “You with me, partner?” He wanted until Nathan looked up at him, panting and nodded. “Good. Because round two is just around the corner. Turn around, Hoss.” Duke helped Nathan turn around and held up his hand. “Wait a sec.” Duke knelt down again and came back with lube.

“You keep lube in the bar?” Nathan breathlessly laughed. “Why am I not surprised?”

“A successful bar has a little of everything. Never leave your patrons wanting.” Duke popped the cap and squeezed out a healthy amount of lube into his hand. He ran his hand down Nathan’s ass cheek and slid a couple fingers into the crack of Nathan’s ass. “And you most certainly look like you are wanting.” He slid a finger into Nathan’s ass, letting Nathan get used to the pressure before adding another finger.

“Quit this shit and get to it.” Nathan pressed back before pulling himself off of Duke’s fingers.

Duke squeezed a bit more lube onto his cock and stroked it a few times. He pressed the head of his cock against Nathan’s hole and took a deep breath. This was fucked up and hot and all kinds of complicated, but he sure as hell wanted nothing more than to know what it felt like to have Nathan wrapped around his cock. So he pressed forward and rested his forehead on the back of Nathan’s neck. After a moment to pull his cells back together, he focused on the pace he wanted to set. He pulled out and slowly pushed back in while Nathan grabbed at skin with his hands shackled behind him.

Duke could only go slow for a few moments before his hips started moving on their own, brain me damned. Everything about Nathan was pulling Duke closer to climax. The smell of him. The sight of him, hands cuffed behind his back and his ass wrapped around Duke’s cock. The tight heat of Nathan’s body accepting him. The sounds Nathan was making as he was being fucked into the bar. It all added up to Duke feeling like he was at the helm of a runaway train. He couldn’t do anything but sit back and enjoy the ride before the inevitable fiery crash that was ahead.

Duke reached around and pressed his palm flat on Nathan’s stomach as he felt the tightness of his orgasm slamming into him. He stuttered a few kisses on the back of Nathan’s shoulder as he pumped through the aftershocks.

Duke pulled out of Nathan and turned Nathan around to face him. “Where’s the key?” Duke asked after going to the gift bag Nathan’s gift was in and finding it empty. Nathan, naked from the thighs up, walked over to Duke and pressed himself against the other man’s body.

“No rush.” Nathan licked at Duke’s lips and the other man leaned into the contact with a kiss. Duke grabbed Nathan’s face and deepened the kiss.

“I’m not trying to kick you out,” Duke ran his hand down the side of Nathan’s neck to his chest. “Just wanted your hands on me too.” Nathan turned and opened his hand behind him to reveal the key.

The End

+ Feedback is encouraged and appreciated!
+ Feel free to point out grammar/spelling mistakes if you spot them, seeing as I usually don't get my stuff beta read before posting.
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Fiction - "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"

workerbee32 — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:10:14 GMT

Title: "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"
Author: workerbee32
Fandom: Moonlight
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Mick/Beth, Josef, ADA Ben Talbot
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Series Finale
Disclaimer: I do not own any of it. It belongs to other people and I borrow them occasionally. No infringement intended!
Author's Notes: First ever Moonlight fic!
Summary: Mick had seen her injured before. Scraped, cut, bruised. Wounds that took days or weeks to heal, but they healed. They’d heal and scar to remind him that being connected to him was dangerous for her. But this was different. This had nothing to do with him. And yet, it had everything to do with him.

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

If Mick were human, his heart would’ve been beating out of his chest. He got a call from Talbot, the new ADA, that there had been an accident. Mick knew before the words were spoken that it was Beth. He could hear the ADA’s pulse quickening through the phone. Abbott was scared too. She wasn’t dead, but it was dire.

“You should get to the hospital as fast as you can, Mick.” Talbot told him. Mick didn’t wait to hear what was said after that. He was already on his way.

* * * * *

Mick had seen her injured before. Scraped, cut, bruised. Wounds that took days or weeks to heal, but they healed. They’d heal and scar to remind him that being connected to him was dangerous for her. But this was different. This had nothing to do with him. And yet, it had everything to do with him. This was his world, his love, his Beth. She was lying in a hospital bed and hooked up to numerous machines that were taking care of the mechanics of keeping her alive. The doctor told him that the blow to her head was too severe, caused too much damage. She’d likely never wake up. And, if she did, she’d be severely brain damaged.

Mick sat at her side for a week. He stoically listened to all the voices telling him that the best and most generous thing he could do would be to let her go. Let her be at peace instead of wandering in limbo.

Mick liked to replay the little moments in his head. The time when she tried to teach him how to dance, but ended up with bruised toes because he had two left feet.

“You can gracefully scale a ten story building, but a simple tango or samba has you tripping over your feet.” She teased. “And mine!” She laughed and so did he. He always laughed when she did. It was a reflex and now he wasn’t sure he’d ever laugh again.

But other times he’d recall their deep discussions. Her heart break over Josh’s death and the sadness that came with realizing that she hadn’t really wanted him. She wanted to want him. She should have wanted him.

“Don’t get me wrong, I loved Josh.” She had told Mick. “But I wasn’t in love with him and I certainly wouldn’t have felt right marrying him.” Equal parts victory and guilt shot through Mick at that revelation. “It wasn’t that I didn’t love him, I guess I just love you more.” She smiled at him and he smiled back.

Their discussions about Josh and Mick’s own disastrous marriage brought the same old questions back up. Would Mick turn Beth if it were the only option? Would he bestow the curse of eternity on her if not doing it meant he’d lose her forever? He had mastered the art of avoiding a straight answer. Decades as a plain sight vampire gave him an impressive skill set and avoidance was one of the big ones.

“I think that I’d like to go to Paris.” Beth told him out of the blue one night.

“I believe that can be arranged.” Mick’s mouth quirked at the corner, “Josef has a home there. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind lending it to us for a week or two.”

“No.” Beth shifted beside him on her couch. “I mean that it is where I think we should go to start over when I get turned.” She was watching him, gauging his reaction but he gave her nothing. He could tell she worded that carefully so as not to assume he would be the one turning her. She said it so casually, so he knew it wasn’t meant to turn into one of their knock-down-drag-outs about the subject. This was simply her expressing a fantasy future that Mick was sure would never have to be played out. He could play along because, no matter how sick he thought the fantasy was, he wouldn’t deny her the notion of them starting a new life together in Paris.

“Paris, huh?” His eyebrow quirked, playing along.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “New names, new place. I wouldn’t be able to stay in LA as a vampire anyway.”

“I don’t know,” Mick said, his face dropping a little, “I like your name. Beth. My Beth. It would feel wrong to call you something else.”

Beth sat in thought for a moment and then replied. “Fine. I can stay your Beth but that means that you have to stay my Mick. Different last names though. Something that sounds good with both our names, maybe.”

“Mick and Beth Smith it is then.” Mick pronounced with a smirk.

Beth rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because that wouldn’t be suspicious at all. Might as well be Mick and Beth NotVampires.” They laughed. It was all so silly, so absurd. So impossible.

But now, sitting beside his sleeping Beth, all Mick could think of was Paris and forever and seeing her eyes open and looking into his.

* * * * *

“I can’t say that I’m that shocked.” Josef said, standing at his living room bar pouring a fresh blood cocktail for himself and Mick. He handed a glass to his friend and then took a swig of his own. “But it is a bit of a strange move to make, being the self-loathing vampire you are.”

Mick could feel his friend’s eyes on him, studying him the way Beth would. “Well, things change.” Mick said before bringing his glass to his lips for a drink.

Josef’s brow arched and Mick hated it because it was the look Josef always had when he wasn’t buying Mick’s vague answers or reasoning. “Oh yeah?” Josef’s sarcastic swagger was in full effect. “Things changed and suddenly you love being a vampire? You dig the night life and completely embrace the fact that you have to nip on the neck of a stranger to survive? You look forward to watching generation after generation of friends die off? Good to see decades of denial fall away so spontaneously.”

Mick sat down on one of the sleek couches in Josef’s living room and put his head in his hands. “You’re really willing to bring Beth into this? To pass the one part of yourself that you truly hate about yourself on to her? Josef stood beside the couch, looking down at his friend.

“What other choice do I have?” Mick asked, his voice low enough that mortal ears wouldn’t have heard it. Josef did. When Mick looked up, he saw the concern flash behind Josef’s eyes. A genuine jolt of emotion shook both of them before Josef’s features faded back to his usual pithy sarcasm.

“So,” He sat down next to Mick and put his arm around his friend’s shoulders, “Is this going to make her my daughter-in-law or grand-daughter?”

* * * * *

Mick wasn’t wanting for money or connections, but there were things that Josef simply insisted on taking care of. While Mick prepared things on the Beth end of things, Josef went above and beyond getting everything else ready. A new villa in Paris, identities set up in all the legal channels and a plane on stand-by for when Mick was ready to pick up and leave LA with Beth. Mick usually rolled his eyes at Josef for going so broad and overboard, but he found himself being nothing but grateful this time around. It was the logistical details that Mick didn’t have time for, didn’t have the focus for. It was enough that he was having to mentally prepare to turn Beth into what he never wanted her to be, he couldn’t be bothered with French realtors and picking out furniture for the new home.

Standing at Beth’s bedside, Mick let out a sigh. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“You already have.” Josef looked bored of the gratitude, but Mick knew better.

“No matter what they say about you, Josef Kosten, you are a great person.” Mick smirked as he held onto Beth’s hand.

Josef scoffed. “Let’s not let that bit of information get out, then people will expect me to be-“ He wrinkled up his nose in mock disgust, “kind.” Mick laughed and he saw that the sound of it lit up Josef’s face for a brief second. “Glad I can entertain you, old friend. Do you mind me asking when you plan on carrying out this plan of yours?”

Mick stroked the back of Beth’s hand with his thumb. “Soon.” He replied softly.

Josef walked over to stand at Mick’s side. “How exactly do you plan on doing this? Here? Because I do not think that would be advisable.”

“I will take her to my apartment. It will have to be quick, but I will unhook her from the machines and get her to my apartment as fast as possible. Once I get there, I will do it.” He kept his eyes on her, hoping she’d wake up and tell him how stupid this whole plan was.

“How, exactly do you plan on getting a comatose woman out of a hospital without someone noticing or trying to stop you?” Josef pressed.

Mick let go of Beth’s hand and turned to face his friend. “I was hoping my extremely charming friend would have a conversation with key members of the staff to make my exit go smoothly.”

“Oh Mick St. John, you do know how to butter a fella up.” Josef retorted with fondness and sarcasm. “And if my limitless charm does not work?”

“Then your limitless bank account might help.” Mick smirked.

“I’ve always taken great pleasure in being your sugar daddy.” Josef teased and put his hand on Mick’s shoulder. “I will see what I can do.” And with that, he was off to work his magic.

* * * * *

Josef’s charm hadn’t been enough, so he had to pay off a handful of people to look the other way while Mick made his escape from the hospital with a lifeless Beth in his arms. He moved as fast as he could through the back streets of the city, a blur zig zagging a path to his apartment. Josef was waiting there with the door open. If this went wrong, Mick would need all the help he could get and Josef planned on being there if it became a worst-case scenario. Lord knew that he was familiar with what that looked like. He would probably never admit it, but he had wished someone had been there to help him through his own failed attempt to turn a mortal lover into an eternal one. He wasn’t going to let Mick go through this by himself.

“You better hurry.” Josef told him as he carried Beth through the doorway. “Her heart is barely-“

“I know.” Mick cut him off curtly. “I know.” He repeated with a softer tone as he carried her up to his bedroom and laid her across his bed, Josef on his heels. “You don’t have to stay.” Mick told Josef without looking away from Beth.

“Yes I do.” Josef replied simply. No bolstering bullshit or sarcasm.

Mick stole a quick glance at his friend and turned his attention back to the task before him. Turning Beth. He closed his eyes and listened to her heart as the beating started to slow. He wondered for a split second if he should let it stop, let her die a human death at peace in his bed instead of a vampire’s brutal true death centuries down the road. But the idea of her being gone completely, for good, made him feel like screaming until the world ended. Until the grandchildren of all the mortals around him were long gone and centuries had turned many times over with him shouting his sorrow at the world. The decision wasn’t hard, not anymore. Beth had to be eternal. He simply didn’t know how to be in the world if she wasn’t.

He gently swept her hair back from her neck and pressed a soft kiss against her lips before letting his fangs extend. His iris’ turning to the vampiric creaming pale blue and his body tensing as he leaned down to sink his fangs into her neck. He remembered the taste of her blood, the sweet notes it carried. He had only tasted it once, but he would never forget it. She saved him with her blood once, now it was his chance to return the favor.

Mick shut his brain off and drank. Too many thoughts were clouding his head and he worried he’d get lost in them. If he didn’t stop at exactly the right moment and then give Beth his blood, he would have no one to blame but himself for losing her. He willed himself to stop thinking, to focus on the weak beating of her heart until he barely felt it anymore. He pulled back from her neck and bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw significant blood. He quickly joined his mouth with Beth’s, forcing his blood into her mouth with his tongue. It wouldn’t take much to turn her, but he wanted to make sure the job was done. He kissed her, tasting the mixture of his own blood and hers as he puffed short bursts of air into her to move the blood further into her body.

Josef stepped forward and place a hand on Mick’s shoulder, signaling him that he had done all he could. The rest would take time.

* * * * *

ADA Ben Talbot’s looked up from the paperwork he was shuffling through to see who had knocked on his door. He was met with the portly suit wearing private investigator he had hired when Beth Turner went missing three months before, Philip Harris.

“Mr. Harris, it’s been a while.” Talbot pointed out, his face stoic to hide the annoyance bubbling below the surface. “It would’ve been polite to answer my calls over the past few weeks.”

Harris sat down across from Talbot and tossed a manila legal size envelope onto the desk. “I’m not paid to talk on the phone, I’m paid to dig until I find the bone.”

Talbot arched an eyebrow as he grabbed the envelope off the desk. “You found the bone?”

“Like a bloodhound in a graveyard, no pun intended.” Harris leaned forward in his chair. “Take a look.” He gestured to the envelope and Talbot pulled a stack of 8x10 pictures out. The top picture was of Mick St. John walking down a dark street.

“St. John?” Talbot asked, looking at his hired bloodhound with a gleam in his eye. “Where?”

“Paris, France.” Harris replied. “But he’s not going by St. John anymore. He’s Mick Cantrell.”

“He’s not as smart as I thought.” Talbot stared at the picture. “Keeping his first name was a dumb move. You can’t kill a woman and run off to France just to use your real name.”

“Keep going.” Harris waved his hand toward the stack of pictures.

Talbot went through the first couple, shots of Mick walking or other mundane activities, then Talbot’s hands stopped dead. “Beth Turner.” He exhaled and ran his index and middle fingers over the picture in disbelief.

“Beth Cantrell.” Harris corrected and received a look harsh enough to make him reel a bit. “I mean, she’s going by Beth Cantrell now.”

“Impossible.” Talbot stood, the shock moving him out of his chair. “She was essentially dead. There is no way she is walking down a street in France with Mick St. John.”

“Cantrell.” Harris corrected and immediately regretted it.

“Stop saying that!” Talbot paced, still holding the pictures.

“I also confirmed your suspicion. They’re vampires.” Harris whispered the last word.

“No.” Talbot stopped pacing and whipped to face Harris. “Not they. Just him. He’s a vampire. Beth isn’t.”

“She might not have been before, but she sure is now.” Harris informed. “They made weekly trips to a blood bank for blood. They never bought food, well, human food anyway. They rarely went out in daylight. If they did, they shaded their faces most of the time and made the trips short.”

Talbot sat back down and flipped through the remaining pictures. Mick and Beth walking together at dusk toward a theater showing a French film. Mick and Beth standing hand in hand at a street vendor as she looked at jewelry. Mick and Beth embracing, lips met in a kiss, in front of an old building.

“Did she seem happy?”

Harris looked jarred by the question, but nodded. “Actually, yes. They both did. And, as far as I can tell, they don’t hurt anyone. I followed them closely for weeks and never saw their fangs once. I never saw people go into their home without coming out looking the same as when they went in.”

“They weren’t feeding on anyone? Just the blood from the blood bank?” Talbot asked.

“Looked like, yeah.” Harris nodded. “If you didn’t know what to look for, you wouldn’t be able to tell they were vamps at all. Just a normal, happily married couple.”

Talbot tossed the pictures onto his desk and sighed. “Married?”

“Legally, yep. According to the country of France, they are husband and wife.”

“Mr. & Mrs. Cantrell.” Talbot nodded with defeat in his body language. “Good for them.”

The End

+ Feedback is encouraged and appreciated!
+ Feel free to point out grammar/spelling mistakes if you spot them, seeing as I usually don't get my stuff beta read before posting.
+ Please don't take and pass this off as your own.
+ Feel free to friend for future fic updates!.

Fiction - "Somewhere a Clock is Ticking"

workerbee32 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:55:57 GMT

Title: "Somewhere a Clock is Ticking"
Author: workerbee32
Fandom: Hawaii Five-0
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Steve/Kono
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: 1x12 Hana 'a'a Makehewa (Desperate Measures)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of it. It belongs to other people and I borrow them occasionally. No infringement intended!
Author's Notes: Title taken from a Snow Patrol song.
Summary: After Chin's close call with the bomb, Kono has to deal with what she might regret if it had been her instead.

Somewhere a Clock is Ticking

Steve left Danny’s apartment and drove around aimlessly for a while. It was Christmas and, while it was fun to watch Danny play Santa for Grace, there was still a dull ache in his chest. He was used to being alone; it was how he liked it most of the time. After he got sent back to the mainland by his dad, he finished raising himself and where he fell short, the Seals took over. But the holidays were different. The usual calm and peace that came with being a ‘lone wolf’ (as Danny had called him once) was harder to handle.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he retrieved it. Kono. He tapped ‘Answer’ and put the phone to his ear. “Hey.” He greeted, more than slightly curious as to why she was calling. Last he saw her, she was laughing herself breathless at Kamekona’s attempt to sit on Santa’s lap to make his list known.

“Hey Steve.” She returned, he took note of the lack of background noise. She wasn’t at Danny’s anymore.

“Everything ok?”

“Yeah, I was just-“ She paused and he heard an exhale before she spoke again. “I was wondering if you wanted to come over for a beer or something.” She said in a tone he could tell was supposed to be casual, but failed. “It’s just, It’s Christmas and I’m gonna be alone at my place and I thought you might be alone at your place so we might as well be alone together, ya know?”

Steve smirked, she was mumbling. It was cute. “But if you’ve got plans or something, I mean, I didn’t mean to assume or anything. But-“ Steve grinned at her nervous ramble and cut her off.

“I’ll be there in ten, ok?”

“Ok.” She said quickly and then backtracked. “Yeah, I mean, ten sounds good. See ya then.”

* * * * *

Steve knocked on the door, a six pack of Longboards in his hand. It opened and Kono let him in. He had been to her place once before with Danny to pick her up, but he hadn’t retained any of the details of her small apartment. But, now that he looked at it, it was smaller than Danny’s. But it was better decorated, which didn’t surprise him. The only reason Danny had all the things he had in his place was because Grace had said something to Rachel about it and Rachel told Danny he needed to make more of an effort to make it a home. So he did, for Grace.

But Kono’s place was comfy, warm in a way Steve knew his place would never be. The touch of a woman, he noted, made all the difference. Her apartment had one common room that served as a living room, bedroom and dining room. Off to one side was her little kitchen and the other side was her bathroom. The walls were covered in art work, prints of paintings of the ocean. The walls were a pale blue, but didn’t feel cold. Instead, he felt enveloped in the calm of the space. She took the six pack from his hand and pointed him towards the small couch against the wall under a large abstract print of a faceless surfer curled into a wave.

“I like the decor.” Steve said loud enough for her to hear in her kitchen as she put the beer in the fridge and brought back two bottles.

“Thanks.” She smiled and handed him one of the beers. “If I can’t be out there every day, this is a decent replacement I guess.” She sat down beside him and took a sip from her bottle.

Steve took a long swig, leaning back against the couch, stretching his arm across the back of the cushion. Kono was sitting forward, her elbows on her knees. “Something on your mind?” He asked and watched her start to speak twice before she finally found what she wanted to say.

“Chin had a bomb around his neck.” She said, her eyes glassy with the promise of tears. “He almost died.”

“But he didn’t.” Steve pointed out, but it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She turned in her seat and looked at him.

“That could’ve been any one of us.” She said, taking a big pull off her beer and looking to Steve as though he should have answers. He didn’t. “He just happened to be closest. I just-“ She looked away from him and blinked a few times rapidly. “It was scary.” She said softly.

Steve sat up, turning towards her and putting his beer on the coffee table. “Kono.” He spoke her name to get her to look at him. It didn’t work. “Hey. Look here.” He instructed and she followed orders. She always followed his orders. “What Chin went through, I’m not gonna lie, it was horrible. But I wasn’t going to let anything happen to him. I wouldn’t let anything happen to any of you. No matter which one of us would’ve been in the collar, it would have ended the same way. We’re family. We take care of each other, right?”

She nodded and wiped the one rogue tear that started to fall down her cheek. He knew that his message got through, but he could also tell that there was still something gnawing at her. “Keep going.” He urged, grabbing his beer back off the table and taking a drink.

“Huh?”

“There’s obviously something else you want to say.” He set his beer back down. “Go for it.” He watched her shift in her seat for a moment and set her own beer down. She traded fiddling with the beer label to picking at her fingernails. A tiny jolt of panic went through him, what if she was too scared to do this? What if being in Five-O was too much for her? Nah, he shook his head to himself, because he hadn’t met another woman who could handle herself quite as well as Kono. At times, she could give Steve a very real run for his money. Five-O was where she belonged.

“I stood there and watched Chin with the bomb around his neck and all I could think was that I have so much I haven’t said or done. If that had been me-“

“If that had been you, just like Chin, you would still have time to do and say those things. We would’ve gotten you out of it too, Kono.” Steve cut her off and put his hand on her knee as he reassured her. Again, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

“You’ve got to stop that.” She shook her head. “Stop talking to me like I’m the mom of a kidnapped kid. Stop with the reassurances and platitudes.”

Steve raised his hands in silent surrender and motioned for her to carry on. Kono stood up and started pacing in front of the coffee table, one hand on her hip and the other worrying her bottom lip. “Here’s the thing.” She started to say, staying in motion with her eyes off of him. “The reason I’m here, the reason I’m still on this team is because-“ She cut herself off and shook her head. “Okay, this is ridiculous.” She walked over to him and stood staring down at him. “Please stand up.” She requested and he did.

They stood face to face for a moment, and just as he opened his mouth to say something, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss. Steve stiffened for a moment, confused, but loosened in her hold as he put his hands on her waist. It wasn’t how he had envisioned it happened, but he was okay with that. Steve wasn’t really a plan-things-out kinda guy.

When the kiss broke, she took a step back and locked her eyes on his. She was reading him, gauging his features to see if she should laugh or cry. He suddenly became very aware of every tick and movement of his face. “Kono-“ He said softly, but she cut him off.

“That was wildly inappropriate and I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to be on my knees with a bomb around my neck thinking of how I wished I would’ve told you. We can chalk it up to hero worship or PTSD from watching my cousin nearly blown up.” She was pacing now, her head down and her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not.” Steve told her, causing her to stop and look to him. “And there probably is a little shock there as motivation, but-“ He stepped toward her and held her face in his hands, “that felt pretty real to me.” He rubbed softly on her cheek with his thumb and smiled. They looked at each other, smiling, for a moment before Steve tilted his head down to kiss her again. This time it was slow, precise. Steve was running the show, moving his hands from her face down to her hips. She draped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him.

* * * * *

Steve woke up before she did and immediately remembered what had transpired the night before. He was in Kono’s bed and she was lying on her stomach stretched out on the other half of the bed, her arm pressed against his. He gently rolled to his side and watched her for a moment before he pressed his lips to her bare shoulder. She stirred, but didn’t wake. He knew he should let her sleep, but there was an urge that made him start running his hand over her back in an effort to wake her up. He needed to see her, to look into her eyes and know that this was for real. He learned the hard way that feelings from the night before aren’t necessarily the same in the light of the next day. A very real panic set into him that Kono would wake up and regret the entire thing.

Kono turned her head to face the person gently rubbing her bare back and smiled. “Good morning.” She immediately read the worry on his face and her smile fell. “Is it good?” She asked, shifting to her side to face him.

Steve let the worry fall away and smiled. “Very good. Great, in fact.” Her eyes told him everything he needed to know. She was there and she wanted to be. And, best of all, she wanted him to be there too. “Merry Christmas.” He whispered, pressing his lips to hers.

“Christmas was yesterday.” She pointed out, curling against him.

He pulled her body close to his and laced his fingers into her hair. “Yeah, well, it feels like Christmas morning to me.” He punctuated the sentence with a kiss to her forehead.

The End

+ Feedback is encouraged and appreciated!
+ Feel free to point out grammar/spelling mistakes if you spot them, seeing as I usually don't get my stuff beta read before posting.
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Fiction - "Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops"

workerbee32 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:05:00 GMT

Title: "Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops"
Author: workerbee32
Fandom: Hawaii Five-0
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Steve McGarrett, Danny Williams, Grace Williams (Steve/Danny if you want to see it)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Gen
Spoilers: 1x20
Disclaimer: I do not own any of it. It belongs to other people and I borrow them occasionally. No infringement intended!
Author's Notes: My first ever Hawaii Five-0 fic!
Summary: Steve McGarrett was no stranger to broken bones. Or cuts, or bruises, or casts for that matter. What was an alien territory for him was having his cast turn into a full on art project.

Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops

Steve McGarrett was no stranger to broken bones. Or cuts, or bruises, or casts for that matter. What was an alien territory for him was having his cast turn into a full on art project.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Danny piped up from the couch on the other side of the room. He was nursing a beer and kept his eyes on the scores scrolling across the ticker at the bottom of the screen.

"I couldn't tell her no." Steve said, sitting on the floor with his legs stretched out under the coffee table. He was instructed to sit and stay until Grace came back.

"You didn't have to tell her to, I believe your exact words were, 'go nuts' on it. Now she's gonna drag out all her stickers, markers, paint-" Danny turned his gaze to Steve so he could absorb the reaction to this one with sick pleasure, "and the glitter."

The reaction was everything Danny hoped for and more. Steve's face jerked to look at Danny and his mouth formed an O as he shook his head. Danny chuckled and nodded. "Oh yeah babe, you've gotten yourself so deep in the unicorn's ass you're gonna be waking up with glitter in your eye boogers. I can't wait. I'm just glad it's not me. Lord knows I've had my share of disco ball mornings." Danny went back to his scores as he took a long pull from his beer.

Steve was about to get up from his position and make a run for the door when Grace returned, sticker covered box of supplies in hand and a smile spread across her face. Until she saw Steve poised to get up. "What are you doing, Steve? You can't leave!"

Steve's sighed and sat back down. "I'm not going anywhere." He laid his cast out on the table in a gesture of surrender.

Grace smiled again and Steve hated that he was turning into a sap for this kid. He was never a kid kinda guy, but watching Danny with his daughter made Steve feel like he'd been missing something. Even watching Danny as he watched Grace spread out her multicolored tools of Steve's doom, it was hard to keep the warm feeling from flooding his senses. There was never anything but fondness and love from Danny when it came to Grace. It made a part of Steve ache for the relationship he should have had with his own father.

Steve hadn't realized how deep in his own head he was until he was pulled back by the sensation of Grace's breath being blown cool against his hand. She was drying some glitter paint near the edge of the cast by his thumb. He didn't pay attention to what was being painted or exactly how much of his once white cast was now brilliantly colored with glitter. Instead, he stole a glance of Danny. Instead of the fond, soft features that usually paint his partner's face when his daughter was involved, Steve was met with a distracted father. One who was also in his own head. Steve sat staring at Danny until Grace let out a happy laugh at her own handy work. Danny's eyes pulled back into focus and met Steve's.

"I'm almost done!" Grace grinned, but both men couldn't look away from each other.

"Hey Monkey?" Danny shook his vision from Steve and looked to his daughter. "Why don't you go get all of us some ice cream? All the trimmings, huh?" He looked to Steve for back up.

"Yeah, I'd like the works Gracie. Even a cherry on top." Steve's eyes never left his partner. Grace peeled out for the kitchen, eyes bright with determination and giddiness. Steve watched as Danny got up and walked over to the coffee table, sitting down on the floor to Steve's side without the cast.

"It's one thing, you know, to watch you be stupid on the job." Danny started, his eyes still on the television without absorbing any of the information it held. "But yesterday, that-"

"Yesterday was an accident." Steve started to defend, but Danny's hand went up to silence him.

"I know. I mean, you didn't know there'd be a dead body out there and you didn't know that rock was gonna slip." Danny ran his hand back through his hair. "Your death wish has become a constant in our relationship. It's you, me, the car and your giant fucking death wish. I get that. But at least I could blame that on you. Yesterday, I can't blame that-" Danny pulled his bottom lip between his thumb and index finger, pinching it with thought.

"I'm sorry." Steve turned towards Danny.

"God, don't say that. Don't take the blame when I just told you I can't blame it on you. You son of a bitch. Take the blame the five times a week you have me honest to God terrified that I'm never going to see my kid's face again. Say you’re sorry when you get me shot or when you send our car like a rocket through barriers. This time, Steven, this time shut up."

Danny's face turned towards the kitchen, where Grace slammed a cabinet and loudly apologized before her dad could react. "Do me a favor-" Danny turned to look Steve in the face, "get yourself killed on the job because I can't handle this accidental shit." Danny's eyes were red, promising tears if the conversation didn't end. Danny's face told him it had to end.

Steve worried the inside of his cheek between his teeth and nodded. "Okay." He shook his head and promised.

"Ice cream!" Grace came out of the kitchen with a giant bowl, which looked to be mostly toppings. She set it in front of Steve. "I gave you two cherries, because daddy always gives me two when I'm sick or get hurt. Don't you?" She looked to Danny, who was standing.

"I do." He said, the fondness for his littel girl written across his face again. "Sit down and finish your masterpiece. I'll go get the other bowls." He disappeared into the kitchen as Grace sat down to put the final touches on Steve's cast. Danny set Grace's ice cream on the coffee table and then took the spot on the floor beside her. "That looks fantastic." He told her with a grin. "Who knew I was raising the next Picasso? She's got the touch!"

Steve looked down at his cast for the first time since Grace had taken her brush to it. It was bright and colorful, but not in the way he had expected. Instead of silly glittery scrawl, Steve was met with a brilliant shimmering rainbow and carefully scripted lettering within the colored bands. Get Better! We Love You Uncle Steve! Grace & Danno

Steve's eyes pricked with tears. Tears for the father he never really had, tears for the look on Danny's face when he watches Grace, tears for the fear on Danny's face just moments ago. He blinked rapidly and smiled at Grace. "It's amazing. Thank you so much. Come 'er." He got onto his knees and motioned for her to come over. He wrapped his arms around her as best he could and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I'll have to frame it when it gets cut off."

Danny's nose crinkled. "I hate to think of what that thing is going to smell like when you get it off. It's not going to be the normal funk either, not with how you conduct yourself. It'll probably have to be hermetically sealed by a Hazmat team."

Grace's face fell a bit at the thought and Steve put his finger under her chin, lifting her face to look at him. "I won't let them have it." He vowed. "They'll have to seal me up with it." Grace laughed as Danny and Steve exchanged a look. Steve's tone was not lost on Danny. Both men knew that he meant it.

Steve McGarrett was no stranger to making promises and Danny knew Steve never made a promise he didn't fully intend to keep.

The End

+ Feedback is encouraged and appreciated!
+ Feel free to point out grammar/spelling mistakes if you spot them, seeing as I usually don't get my stuff beta read before posting.
+ Please don't take and pass this off as your own.
+ Feel free to friend!