Cover Me

Chapter Nine

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. If only.

Author Notes: Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. It has been a week since the last update and my only excuse is the season and work and parties and a kids Christmas musical and…you get the idea. Last Chapter. Fluff. Fluff. Fluff.

Danny and Chin dropped the two of them off at Steve's an hour later.

"Sure you guys don't need us to stick around and take care of you?"

"You just run interference with the governor so we can have time to heal. By the way, what took you so long tonight? We were almost killed."

"Wo Fat had some kind of a signal scrambler. We couldn't get a read and couldn't see the ship lights until we got pretty close. Then we followed the ship until the signal came from another place. It was really confusing and then Chin realized one of you must have pulled it off the ship. Sorry Babe. We did the best we could. Take it easy for e few days, okay?"

"We intend to."

Steve slipped his arm around Kono's waist and they waved good-bye to the guys as the sun started to come up.

"Come on. Let's get into bed before it's completely light. We'll pull the curtains too."

Steve shut the door and walked to the kitchen. He took out a couple of ice packs and loosened them up. Sitting one on the counter, he palmed the other one and slipped his arm around Kono's waist. He pulled her to him and placed the pack against her hot cheek. His eyes were full of compassion for her pain. She looked so bad. Her delicate features were a caricature of her former self. His voice came out husky.

"I wish I could take away the pain. I promise you Kono, when I get my hands on him, the pain he'll feel will make this seem like nothing."

Kono covered his hand on her cheek.

"I know we'll get him Steve. Right now, I'm just glad you're okay. I honestly thought they were going to kill you. Your pain has to make mine seem like nothing."

She reached down for the other ice pack and placed it against Steve's bruised and beaten jaw. They stood like that for a few minutes and then they both started to chuckle before they broke out into hysterical laughter.

"Aren't we the pair?"

Steve suddenly got serious.

"I love you Kono."

"I know. Me too. Love you."

Steve very carefully kissed her swollen lips.

"Ow."

"Ow. Ow."

"Ow."

Again the room was filled with laughter. They both dropped their ice packs to touch their split lips.

"Man. This is the pits. All I want to do right now is make love to you…to convince myself that you're really okay, but just getting in bed is going to be a chore at this point."

"Let me help you. My face hurts and my neck, but the rest of me is in pretty good shape."

Kono slipped her arm around Steve's waist and they slowly made their way down the hall to his bedroom. Kono had never been in his room before. It was nice. A huge window looked out on the ocean and Steve's bedding looked to be soft cotton. It was so enticing.

Steve reached to pull his shirt off and grimaced.

"Let me."

Kono stepped up to him. She gently took the hem of his shirt and lifted it slowly over his head. Steve tried not to wince as he pulled his arms up. It hurt like hell. Kono slowly drew her hands back down his chest. She splayed her fingers tenderly across his bruised abs and feathered her fingers across his broken ribs. Bending her head, she kissed him lightly on his sternum, forgetting how bad her lips hurt. She looked up at him. His face reflected back the same love she was showing to him. He reached to run his fingers into her hair and she sighed as she leaned lightly against him.

Steve started to sway.

"Okay there, cowboy, let's get these pants off you and get you into bed."

"Why Miss Kalakaua, are you trying to take advantage of me in my weakened state?"

"You wish. Lover Boy."

Steve stepped out of his pants and Kono turned back the bedding. She helped him lie down and covered him. When she turned away from the bed Steve caught her hand.

"Hey, don't go far."

"Just changing and going to the bathroom."

When Kono came back out again she was wearing one of his Navy SEAL t-shirts. He loved the way she looked in his clothes. A dimpled smile met his as she climbed under the covers and scooted over to him. Kono lifted her arm and Steve laid his head on her shoulder for a change. She ran her hand up into his hair and cradled him to her. She was feeling very protective at the moment. Steve's voice sounded heavy with sleep already.

"This is where I want to be from now on. I want to go to sleep like this and wake up like this and spend weekends in bed together."

His deep yawn was the last thing she heard before his soft breathing signaled his slumber.

Kono quietly reflected on the last few days. She had so many new and exciting feelings.

Being with Steve was a dream come true and just being with him made her happier than she could ever remember, even when she was surfing. He had forever written all over him as far as she was concerned.

Those feelings were overshadowed by the ever-present sense that they were in danger. She knew Wo Fat was not going to quit. He had to have known about the beacon under the boat. Why else would he dump them in the middle of the ocean when he thinks Steve knows something? He untied her hands on purpose. She was sure of it. Telling Steve would only get him ramped up again and he needed to heal, but she was also sure somehow Joe had answers. Steve trusted him, but Kono wasn't sure anymore. He was hiding something too. Kono looked down at Steve. She loved him so much, but their future was uncertain. There was no doubting their feelings for each other. At least that was solid, but their life was not going to be easy until this whole thing played out. One thing was sure. She would never leave his side.

"Could you please stop thinking and just sleep? We'll deal with all of it later. I promise. Now close you eyes."

Steve leaned up and kissed her softly before he ran his fingers over her cheek.

Kono sighed and snuggled down under the covers. Steve spoke one last time.

"Cover me?"

Kono reached for the bedding and pulled it up and over both of them.

"Always."

A/N: That's all for now, but after the holidays, maybe a sequel?