Steve followed his team outside and was rather curious when Gibbs and Pride stayed behind. “Where did you find Myriam?”
“Jerry found her signal pinging off a tower over on the other side of the island. Just on the edge of Mokuleia Forest,” Tani reported. “He arranged the HPD chopper to take us across because he didn’t think that she’d wait if we drove.”
“Good, good. She’s probably tracked Parsons into the reserve. It’s small enough to try to make her way to the water and escape by boat,” he noted. “That’s how she got out of New Orleans.”
“Let’s hope she waited for us.”
Steve didn’t comment as he took the keys from Danny and got into the driver’s seat, barely giving him time to get in before taking off for the area helipad that the police helicopter was kept. It didn’t take the team as long as it would take to drive to the corner of the island they suspected Myriam to be located. Jerry confirmed once they arrived that she was still in the same location and gave them the GPS coordinates.
Once in the arranged vehicles that were waiting for them, they hightailed it to the reserves.
They found Myriam sitting on top of a bench, slightly bloodied but with a satisfied look on her face. “What took you so long? Elijah and Parsons are inside. Tied up. Kneecaps shot,” she said as she shrugged. “All yours.”
Steve and Danny blinked at her blase greeting, Danny speaking up first. “What kind of crazy person shoots kneecaps?”
“To keep them from running away. Duh,” she replied. “Unless you would like them to be dead, which can be arranged, of course.”
“Who’s gun did you use?” Steve asked, looking at her.
She shrugged. “I see no gun here. But oh, wait, you want an explanation for the kneecap thing. Right.”
“That’d be nice,” Danny stammered.
“I had help.”
“Obviously.”
“And that’s all you’re going to get. We’ve got Elijah and Parsons, that’s all that matters.”
Steve ran a hand over his face and now understood why NCIS stayed behind. The knowing smiles of amusement on their faces spoke volumes. “I need a beer.”
“They are in need of some medical attention, should you choose to grant it to them,” she shrugged as she wiped a drop of blood out of her eye before realizing she had a small head wound. Ripping off a piece of her shirt, she bandaged her head and got to her feet. “I need something stronger than beer.”
Steve waved Tani and Junior ahead to deal with the two inside. Meanwhile, he went over to her to check on her injury and frowned. “You probably earned yourself a concussion. Did they slam your head into the ground?”
“Amongst other things, but I’m fine. I won.”
“Of course you did, but you’re getting checked out as well,” he said with no room for argument. Looking over to Danny, he nodded for him to oversee the others while he dealt with Myriam. “Come on. You’ve gotten into enough trouble today.”
“I’m fine,” she sighed as she pointed towards the building. “The bastard sang like a canary,” she said as she handed Steve a recording device. “I recorded it all. Asshole drugged my mother for at least twenty years. Beat her up. So I beat the shit out of him.”
He looked down at her device before eyeing her. “Yeah. We have her at the office, and she said as much. There isn’t much we can do for her in Hawaii since the case is based out of Louisiana, you know.”
“Yeah, but that’s fine, we have Cullen to prosecute for the kaboom. Not sure if that’s gonna be an NCIS thing or civilian thing since I technically fired her.”
“It’s NCIS since it was an attack on your base,” he assured her. “Civilian or not, she’s NCIS.”
“But it’s still your case.”
“Well, I could always transfer the case back to you, but you’d need an office,” he replied playfully. “Luckily, there’s room for an NCIS office in our building; I’m sure the governor wouldn’t mind.”
She let out a small laugh as she started to walk towards the road. “Rebuilding our office would take quite some time and money. And I do like that table of yours in your office,” she pointed out. “I may have to take you up on your offer. Though there would be one downside.”
“And what would that be?”
“My brother would want to kill you almost daily,” she smiled with a glint in her eye.
“Ah, which one? Because Nick was basically pretty murderous just an hour ago.”
“Cole actually likes you, but yes, Nick. And not for the reasons you may be thinking right now,” she winked and turned around to keep walking. “And I thought Nick would go away after dropping off Danny’s car.”
“He wanted to, but Danny convinced him to stay. And then we brought your mother in. I made him listen in from the observation room.”
“No wonder he hates you so much more.”
“I think he was actually crying or pissed off, too,” Steve quipped. “You’d better give him a call that you’re alright.”
“I can’t,” she pouted as she turned to look up at him and continued to walk backward to put as much space between herself and the scene with her father and his lover.
“Why not? It’ll only make things worse for me!”
“I ran out of battery. Just enough juice to give you my location.”
Steve rolled his eyes at her and handed her his phone. “Call your brother.”
“I don’t know his number,” Myriam scoffed. “21st century. Everything is on smartphones. I believe we had this discussion already.”
“You are trying to get me killed by him, aren’t you?” he questioned.
She smiled demurely and walked away. “You landed at the clearing at the bottom, right? I’ll just wait for you all down there, or you can send someone to come for me because I’m not going back with them. I’ll probably push them out in the air.”
“You missed the cars,” Steve replied. “That’s alright, with you being concussed and all. We can take the chopper back. It’ll take them a few hours to come back by car, so by the time they arrive, you have been checked out in the hospital and won’t have to see your father come in.”
“I don’t need the hospital,” Myriam objected as he pulled her over to the car to make the trip to the clearing quicker.
“Yes you do, don’t want to give your brother, or Auggie, reasons to kill me. And while we’re at the hospital, you can say hi to Auggie and tell him that you got them.”
The mention of her friend made her pout. “That was a dirty play, Commander.”
“I can play dirty when needed,” he smiled as he helped her into the car and got into the car himself before driving back to the chopper. He then dialed his phone to call the governor and requested that NCIS would take up the space above them for offices of their own. When the governor responded he’d get in touch with NCIS with positive reactions, he hung up the phone. “That’s one thing sorted.”
“Hm,” she hummed as she settled in her seat. “So what is next?”
“Hospital, Auggie and then back home for you to rest up. I’m pretty sure Gibbs and Pride are already writing up your statement.”
She smiled and looked at him. “That’s not exactly what I meant, but thanks for the reassurance.”
“What did you have in mind then?” Steve briefly looked over at her before turning back to face the road. “You want me to take you out to a bar or something?”
“Yes. As I said, I want something stronger than a beer. I deserved that.”
“You’re likely concussed.”
“I’ve had worse, I’m fine, Steve. I’ll go with you to the hospital to have them check me over, we’ll say ‘hi’ to Auggie, and then you’re going to take me to a bar, and we’re going to drink. To celebrate that we got the assholes.”
He let out a snort. “Yes, ma’am!”
“Then we can discuss what you and I have obviously been avoiding,” she added. “Preferably without an audience present.”
Steve thought for a moment. “Instead of going to the bar, we could go to the supermarket to get food and booze and I could take you to my house?”
Myriam’s lips twitched.
“Because I only have beer in my house.”
“And no chance of being crashed on?”
“Nope.”
“Okay,” she breathed out her agreement as she looked at him.
He looked over at her to make sure that she was serious and sure about their plans because it was a certain shift from the other day. All he could find was something he didn’t recognize in her. A sense of contentment. Presumably because her father and Parsons were finally in custody. “Okay.”
~o.O.o~
After landing the chopper and getting into his car, he hooked her phone onto the charging cable he had in his car so she could call her brother on the way to the hospital. “Oh come on!” Myriam whined. “Not fair.”
“Call. Or I have the hospital keep you for observation for the night.”
“We just set up a dinner date or whatever you want to call it. Seriously?” She argued as she stared at her phone as blinked through the charge.
“I’m more than happy to do that tomorrow,” he nodded. No, he wasn’t, but he was pretty sure that this was one of the ways he could get her to call her brother even if she didn’t want to. He took the phone out of her hand, turned it on as he drove and hooked it up in his carkit as he found Nick’s number and dialed it, much to Myriam’s dismay and huffing.
“I wasn’t worried,” Nick greeted her. “Did you get the asshole?”
“This call is being made against my will and yes. Though he may require medical and therapy if he ever walks again. He certainly can never run,” she glumly replied. “Him or his girlfriend in more ways than one.”
“Kneecaps?” The big wide smile Nick had on his face could be heard over the phone.
“It’s the only way to go. But I was told I had to check in and make sure you were aware I’m okay. I’m on my way to the hospital now. Again, against my will.”
“Much appreciated, Steve,” Nick said as he let out a relieved sigh. “You sound okay, so it’s likely minor. Are you coming home after or are you going to get drunk somewhere to celebrate and Cole and I aren’t invited?”
Myriam looked over at Steve for that answer. “Good question.”
“I thought you didn’t want any disruptions?” Steve countered. “I mean… I wouldn’t object, but yeah, you wanted no disruptions.”
“You also changed the tune a couple of times here.”
“Alright. I get it. You’re going by the Commander. I don’t need to know anything else. I’ll let Cole know what is going on,” Nick sighed, disgruntled. “Glad you’re in one piece. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll have someone update you on the hospital visit if need be,” she added.
“Very well. And Myr? Thank you.”
She let out a breath and nodded. “This is the first step, Nick. Pride will make sure that they’ll get what’s coming for them. I promise. See you tomorrow,” she said as she disconnected the phone and crossed her arms back over her chest and looked out the window. “I still think the hospital is a stupid idea.”
“Just humor me Myriam,” Steve smiled as he reached over to pat her hand. “I’d rather make sure there is nothing else that might be missed.”
She required a few stitches on her head, and aside from the concussion, she was just a bit dented and bruised, nothing major. They then went by Auggie, who was having the time of his life as he was playing with his phone. He was scolding Siri at some point, but it seemed as if he had managed to get his phone working for him with voice commands. She had watched him for a while as she stood in the doorway before knocking on the door. “Look at you, having fun.”
“Myriam!” Auggie smiled widely. “Yeah, did you know, this phone is best for people who can’t see? The voice over function is great, and I can even send messages through dictation, and it reads things to me, how cool is that?”
“Very,” she let out a chuckle as she sat down on the edge of his bed and put her hand on his chest. “I got them. Steve got Isabella and my mother, and I got my dad and Parsons.”
“Dead?”
“Kneecaps.”
“Good girl,” he smiled at her. “And you’re okay?”
“Yeah, just a bit dented, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“Are you going to celebrate?”
Myriam let out a snort. “Yes. Of course.”
“Have one on me,” he nodded. “They’re talking about transferring me to a rehab facility not far from here, so I’ll let you know,” Auggie replied as he held up his phone. “I need your phone number.”
Myriam smiled as she took his phone and put in her contact details for him. “Now, don’t send me those awful meme pics, okay?”
“I can send you nudes?” Auggie grinned.
“And I’ll forward them to Joan. And everyone you’ve ever worked with,” she playfully retorted as she put his phone back in his hands. “Have fun playing. I need a stiff drink now.” She then saw the look on Auggie’s face change and quickly put her hand on his mouth. “Don’t you even dare say that. We’re not alone!” she hissed as she got off the bed.
Auggie started to laugh. “Have fun. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t,” she smiled at him. “After all, if you decide to stick with me and NCIS, I’ll have to be included in your rehab process and see what you need to be functional at the office!”
“I am sticking around, there’s no way you can get rid of me. Director Vance was remarkably alright with me asking for a permanent position and not to be on loan from the CIA.”
“Yay,” she planted a kiss on his forehead. “See you later.”
“See ya, gorgeous.”
She then walked out the room and looked at Steve. “Are you happy now?”
“Totally,” he laughed. “Let’s go and get you whatever bottle you want.”
“Bourbon. A good bottle of wine and maybe vodka.”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Sure.”
“Take me to the best winery store. The wines I drink aren’t cheap,” she remarked. “While I could get a couple of bottles from the house, I don’t want to have to face my brothers. If you think my tastes are expensive, you have no idea how deep Nick’s are.”
“Somehow, I don’t doubt that. I think I know a good store to find what would satisfy your palate,” he smiled as he escorted her out of the hospital. “Now, I remember you said you don’t care a lot for fresh seafood, so what do you think about steak?”
Her lips twitched again as she smiled, avoiding looking up at him. “Sure. I could go for steak,” she replied, amusement in her voice.
Not a half hour later Steve parked the car in front of his house. The steak was easy; he had several of them in the fridge anyway. No, it was Myriam’s expensive taste in alcohol that she hadn’t been lying about where they had to go a special shop for. “Welcome,” he said as he pointed at the house after getting out the car.
Myriam stepped out and looked around. While it wasn’t as large and grand as the house Nick had arranged for her and her siblings, it was modest and nicely tucked against the water if you had a boat or wanted a swim in the water without the chemicals of a pool like they had.
She smiled at the homeliness of the inside. It was something she hadn’t had except when she was by Gibbs or if she would choose to hide wherever Pride was living at the time. It almost disappointed her how much she missed out on because of what her parents had done.
“What’s that smile?” Steve laughed as he continued to walk to the kitchen to pour her wine and grab himself a beer while he pulled the steaks out of the fridge to get to room temperature.
“Our home in New Orleans is more like a museum,” she started as she glanced around. “The only times I was in a real house that felt like it was a home and lived in was when I was sent to DC and Gibbs took me in or when I was with Pride until then. Even my apartments, wherever I was assigned, remained fairly minimalistic but … tasteful. Still, I lived in a museum-like an environment.”
Steve slowly nodded. Even Myriam’s current home didn’t look like a home to him, just aesthetically pleasing. “I grew up in this house, my dad still lived here when he got killed, I never really bothered to find another place, this place is perfect,” he said as he walked back and handed her a glass of wine. “It has its quirks, though. Creaks. Leaks.”
“That should be an experience given the way the weather can be here,” she grinned as she accepted the glass and sipped, not moving away. “So what is the plan for dinner?”
“Steaks,” he said as he pointed behind him. “Currently warming up gently. Could do potatoes or rice, whatever. Mac and Cheese, likely.”
“Hm,” she hummed as she glanced over her shoulder. “Sounds complicated and probably would take awhile.”
“At least 30 minutes for the steaks to be the right temperature to cook,” he nodded as he took a sip of his beer, not moving an inch as he looked at her. “If you want mac and cheese with that, should be easy enough.”
Myriam let out a breath as she looked up at him. “You’re not going to grill me about how I found him and with who I was?”
“Nah, we all have our little secrets. The most important thing is that you kept them alive and that they’ll get what’s due. And you made it out with only a few bumps and bruises, so that’s a good thing. Had it been differently… I might have had to protect you from a set of overbearing NCIS agents.”
She snorted, bringing her glass up to her lips as she thought about her stand-in parental figures. “They mean well and I probably would have been taken in by a friend in New Orleans if they hadn’t done what they did.”
“I could tell that they care for you a lot, but they also respect your ability to handle yourself in the field. I just can’t help but wonder how they will be when I go into the office tomorrow if they are still hanging around,” Steve admitted.
Myriam swallowed her sip of wine and slowly set her glass down on the nearby table before turning to him. In her action, she placed herself almost right up to him. “Is that because of their whole fatherly behavior and the not so subtle innuendos that our friends have been throwing around that got us here that has you afraid?”
“I can handle them, that’s not a problem. Maybe even a couple crazy brothers,” Steve grinned as he watched her move even closer. “Then again, the best and most frustrating experience has been the one that’s played hard to get since the day I met her.”
“I never said I was easy to get along with, or that I handled shit well,” she replied, arching her eyebrow. “Although life certainly feels much lighter all of a sudden today, so I needed to – reevaluate my life decisions and how I want to move forward with it.”
He slowly nodded, understanding how the weight of her father and her friend’s attempted murderer was now off her shoulders. “Does this mean there won’t be any more questionable pranks or tests anymore?” he asked, his voice deepening as she turned, turned her face up.
Myriam’s eyes met his, and while she could have verbally answered his question first, instead she pushed herself up and pressed her lips to his. It didn’t take long at all for the kiss to grow, and her hands found their way up and over his shoulders, around his neck to hold herself to him. No, she thought. No questionable pranks if she could avoid it. At least if he wasn’t involved on her end of the game.