This story is my second offering for the Moonlight cross-over challenge and is a follow up to ‘The Long Journey Home’. Both stories are cross-overs with H50.
If you haven’t read ‘The Long Journey Home’, that story focuses on how a mysterious attack on Mary Ann McGarrett and her subsequent rescue by Mick St. John finally brought her home to Hawaii again. After the attack, Mary Ann has a long heart-to-heart with Beth, who tries to gets her to reconnect to her brother, Steve. When Mary Ann sees Mick for the first time, she takes his uncanny resemblance to her brother as a sign from God that she should go home and reconnect with Steve.
Key points from ‘The Long Journey Home’ are that vampires of the Pacific islands and the Far East are referred to as blood demons. Steve McGarrett had encountered blood demons years earlier on a covert operation, and was nearly killed by one. Another blood demon saved his life, and Steve and his family were afforded the protection of the blood demons.
In the aftermath, it is learned that the attack on Mary Ann was part of a plot to force her brother Steve to break a promise, starting a war between human and blood demons. In an effort to help Steve, his partner, Danny Williams, comes to LA to learn more about Mick St. John and to find out what became of Mary Ann’s attacker. Suffice it to say, Danny gets in trouble and it requires the combined efforts of Mick and Steve to get him back to Hawaii in one piece. Danny, however, is horrified by some of the things he’s seen. When he learns what a blood demon is, courtesy of Mick, Danny washes his hands of Steve and the two men return to Oahu estranged. Eventually, they reconcile, but Danny remains terrified of Mick.
‘Affairs of the Heart’ takes place about a year after ‘The Long Journey Home’ and focuses on the subject of Beth’s turning, Mick’s reluctance to perform it and the strain it causes. For those of you who watch H50, ‘Affairs of the Heart’ takes place between episodes 2.22 and 2.23 (Wo Fat is in jail, but the season finale hasn’t occurred yet). ‘Affairs of the Heart’ consists of 10 short chapters, all of which will be posted before the Season 3 premiere of H50.
The usual disclaimers apply. I don't own any of the characters, but just have fun playing with them.
Hopefully, you’ll enjoy this second story.
Affairs of the Heart
Chapter 1
“Kneel.”
“Please, don’t hurt me!!”
“I said, kneel.”
“I swear, I won’t do it again!!
“You’re right, you won’t.”
“Why are you doing this??!!!”
“Because I can.”
In the pre-dawn darkness, two eyes flashed as the blade found its mark. Hidden from sight, two blue eyes watched in horror.
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One day earlier
“One bag? That’s it?” Mick stared in mock disbelief as Beth finished packing.
“For heaven’s sake, I’m going to be gone less than a week. Mary Ann and I have been trying to sync our schedules for months now and a few days in Hawaii is all we can manage.” Beth grinned mischievously. “Besides, I’ll be dressing for the beach.”
Images of his scantily clad wife basking on the Hawaiian sands flashed through Mick’s mind. He knew Beth was tweaking him, but neither man nor vamp relished the idea that what was theirs would be on display.
“OK, just promise me you’ll stay out of trouble.”
“Seriously? I’m going to visit a friend whose brother is some kind of super cop, play tourist and spend some quality time on the beach. What trouble could I possibly get into?” Seeing her husband’s ‘Are you kidding me’ look, she relented. “Point taken. I promise if I even get a hint of trouble, I’ll run the other way.”
Hoping to put Mick at ease, Beth slid into his embrace. “Hey. I’m sorry. I know you worry.”
“With good cause.”
“Trust me, I’ll be fine.” Sealing her promise with a kiss, Beth felt her husband relax. “I just wish you could come with me.”
“Tropical sun isn’t exactly the vampire’s friend …”
“True, which is why I want to get as much of it while I can…”
The words hung in the air, the ensuing silence evidence of the last great barrier between the two. Mick released his wife, then picked up her bag. “I’ll take this downstairs.”
Beth started to apologize, then thought better of it. Why should she? They’d been at an impasse for months now and while Mick had finally agreed to her turning, he was stalling. This trip to Hawaii was becoming less a vacation and more a retreat, giving Beth some time alone to contemplate her future if Mick reneged on his promise to turn her. Then again, perhaps a few days apart would make him less reluctant once he had a foretaste of an eternity without her.
************************************************************************************
Kono Kalakaua stretched languidly under the cool, crisp sheets, careful not to wake her sleeping lover. Yesterday, she’d left the 5-0 task force and the seedy underbelly of Oahu behind to spend a crime-free, romantic weekend with Adam Noshimuri on the island’s North Shore. Memories of last night’s moonlit stroll along the beach and their subsequent lovemaking brought a contented smile to her face. Adam was so unlike any other man she’d ever known - strong, sexy, yet vulnerable and one with a past.
How Kono met the heir apparent to the Yakuza, the Japanese mob, was serendipitous. After she’d completed a fantastic run on an early morning wave, someone approached her, complimenting her skill. Turning to thank her unknown admirer, Kono found herself gazing at an attractive man, a dazzling blend of occidental and oriental heritage. Once she recovered, she thanked him and he walked away. As smitten as she was, Kono still noticed two burly men that shadowed her admirer at a respectful distance. This man was obviously important, but who was he?
During subsequent mornings at the beach, Kono periodically noticed her admirer watching from a distance, his two bodyguards still in tow. From time to time, she noticed another man trailing behind, appearing to take pictures of people on the beach. Sometimes, the photographer would turn his camera on her mysterious admirer until one of the bodyguards chased him away. On one of these occasions, curiosity got the better of Kono and planting her board in the sand, she approached her camera-shy fan. One way or the other, she was going to find out who he was and why he kept coming back to watch, but always at a distance.
Oddly enough, her admirer seemed both pleased and dismayed when she confronted him. Before he answered her, he signaled his two bodyguards to move out of earshot.
‘I’m sorry. I mean no disrespect. I just thought it would be better if you weren’t seen with me.’
Seeing her confusion, the man explained.
‘My name is Adam Noshimuri. My father is Hiro Noshimuri, someone I’m certain you’re familiar with. Now do you see, Officer Kalakaua, that I only meant to keep you from getting into trouble?’
Trouble was something Kono had just gotten out of. ‘Borrowing’ $10 million from the HPD asset forfeiture locker to save her cousin Chin’s life led to a suspension from 5-0 followed by an involuntary and dangerous undercover assignment. It was only recently that life had returned to a relatively normal routine and strained relationships with her co-workers were restored.
Never being one to back away from a challenge, Kono thanked Adam for his consideration then gave him her phone number. In the ensuing weeks, they’d had private dinners out of the public’s prying eyes, but soon, their relationship became more serious. Adam had convinced her that he wasn’t like his father and was working to legitimize the family businesses on the islands. Still, there were those who would only see Adam as Hiro’s heir and until he proved otherwise, her lover would always be under a cloud of suspicion.
And so would she.
The first night she went to his bed, Kono knew she was playing with fire, but once committed, she didn’t regret her actions. What she did regret was not telling Chin about their relationship, and when her cousin learned of the affair, Adam’s own actions that day couldn’t have made him look worse. By the end of that awful night, her lover had been arrested for conspiracy to commit murder and a short list of other charges. Eventually, his lawyers managed to get the charges dropped, shifting the blame on a now deceased associate.
At Chin’s urging, Kono found herself in Steve’s office the next morning, acknowledging her relationship with Adam. While her cousin might forgive her for being kept in the dark, her boss wouldn’t. After all, Adam’s uncle was believed responsible for the murder of McGarrett’s mother nearly 20 years earlier.
For the longest time, Steve just stared at her, his stony silence more intimidating than the dressing down she expected. Silent or not, his face belied his feelings; initial shock gave way to disbelief then disappointment. That was the worst. For the second time in a brief period, Kono had let her boss down by not being honest with him. If she did it again, she might lose his trust, perhaps forever.
Finally, Steve took a deep breath, then locked eyes with Kono.
‘OK. I’m not your father. I can’t tell you who you can socialize with or not. You want to have a relationship with Noshimuri? You think he’s legit? That’s your call. But if he’s not, if he uses you to compromise our mission, you’ll have me to answer to. Do you understand?’
She’d left him then, after acknowledging her responsibility. On her way back to her own office, Kono was keenly aware of the other two members of the task force trying to appear unaware of what had just transpired. But they knew, and that made her feel even worse.
But now, alone in her private paradise with Adam, all Kono wanted was to was to enjoy their time together. She just prayed that her feelings for him hadn’t clouded her judgment and the price of their love wasn’t the trust of her friends and colleagues.
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After he dropped Beth off at the airport, Mick returned home hoping to hit the freezer for some much needed down time. He loved his wife more than anything, but his reluctance to turn her was driving a wedge between them. The ride to the airport had been in stubborn silence, their parting, awkward, leaving him in a foul mood. If he didn’t act soon, he feared Beth would ask another to turn her, something he just couldn’t allow. Knowing who was at the top of her short list of alternate sires, Mick’s mood worsened finding Josef waiting for him at the apartment.
Josef regarded his friend through hooded eyes; after a half century, he could read Mick like a book. Right now, the PI was on edge, which would work to the elder vampire’s advantage. To Josef’s surprise and delight, Mick had become more accepting of his vampiric nature with Beth in his life. Once his wife was turned, he believed Mick would fully embrace the vampire within and let go of his foolish dream to return to mortal form. For that alone, Josef owed Beth, a debt he was about to start repaying.
Until her call from the airport this morning, though, Josef hadn’t realized just how troubled the mortal woman was by Mick’s stalling. Beth hadn’t actually come out and asked for his help, but the elder vampire decided it was time for Daddy to give Mick a not-so-subtle shove in the right direction. If the younger vampire didn’t act soon, the repercussions could be devastating for all of them.
“So, Beth’s going to frolic on the Hawaiian beaches for a few days. Are you up for a little partying or are going to just sit around here and mope ‘til she gets back?”
“I have a clients, Josef, ones that expect me to do the job they hired me for. Trust me, I’ve got more than enough to keep me busy while she’s gone.” Mick raised his left hand, making a show of extending his ring finger. “Besides, I’m married, remember?”
“Cute.” Josef’s tone shifted subtly. “But maybe not for long.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What if Beth doesn’t come back? Are you going to ‘keep busy’ for the rest of your undead life?”
Mick’s eyes narrowed. “Why wouldn’t she come back?”
“Trouble just doesn’t find your wife, my friend, it ensnares her and one of these days, she won’t get away. Then where will you be?”
The younger vampire knew he was being baited and right now, he was in no mood to argue with Josef about what should be a private matter. “Nice try, but we’ve been over this. Beth isn’t ready.”
“And de Nile is a river in Egypt. Beth is more than ready. It’s you who isn’t.” Josef became serious as he approached his friend. “What’s it going to take, Mick? How many times will you save her from some dire situation before you realize you’re playing with fire? You of all people should know that fire is not the vampire’s friend.”
Sullen silence was Mick’s only response, but Josef could sense his friend’s smoldering anger.
Time to light the fuse….
“Or do you just get off on perpetually rescuing the damsel in distress? You’ve been at it for almost 30 years. Even for you, you’d think it would be old by now.”
Mick’s eyes flashed along with his temper. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what? Make you face the truth? You say you love Beth, but you just can’t bring yourself to make her your eternal mate because you’re still bound by human sensibilities. How many times do I have to tell you, Mick? We’re vampires - human rules don’t apply.”
Now for the explosion….
“Or is it something else? Maybe you won’t turn Beth because you want her to die so you can throw yourself on her funeral pyre and end your miserable existence.”
Before he knew it, Josef found in the grasp of a very angry vampire, something he was both prepared and hoping for. If he couldn’t get through to Mick, perhaps appealing to his inner vampire’s sense of self-preservation would work.
“Don’t tell me what to do! Beth is my wife, not yours! I can’t take the risk you did…”
Josef was stunned; Mick’s reluctance to turn Beth had nothing to do with lingering human mores. Mick was afraid to try because of Sarah Whitley, Josef’s own lover caught in the limbo between life and death. Fear alone was keeping Mick from making Beth his eternal mate, fear that he’d lose her forever.
Slowly, Mick released his friend, ashamed of his hurtful admission. “Josef…..”
“Don’t.” The ancient vampire roughly shoved Mick aside and headed for the door, but not without his own parting shot. “At least I loved Sarah enough to try.”
And Beth, having had a chance to deal with the whole human-vampire thing, has "difficult, dangerous and complicated" all figured out. She's ready for the next step. 
A new story! A great beginning. 
) , Beth and Mick's impasse, Kono's relationship with Adam, Josef and Mick's interaction, and to top it all off, that scary opening! 
Interesting point about the three couples....each have their obstacles, but which will overcome them?
She's not the only one 
) it was quickly paced and the dialogue was pitch perfect and flowed beautifully. I just wanted to keep reading the next word, sentence, paragraph. 
The Mick we know was never one to rush into anything, especially where Beth is concerned (difficult, dangerous and complicated, etc), so it stands to reason that even if he had agreed to turn her, he was going to worry about it and Sarah's failed turning definitely gave him something to worry about.