Take me to Paradise

Moving too fast

Chapter 4

Clara got out of the shower. She had decided to take one to get the salt water and sand off of her body. And it also gave her a chance to rearrange her thoughts.

She couldn't be falling for the Commander, could she? "Fuck!" she whispered as she stepped out of the shower. Hastily she pulled the towel around her body and started to get dressed. Clara was pulled out of her thoughts regarding Steven J. McGarrett by a knock sounding at the door.

"Clara, you okay?" she could here Kono's voice coming from the other side. "Steve send me to tell you that dinner will be ready soon.

"I...Thanks Kono, I'm down in a bit. I'll just get dressed real quick." she said and finished pulling her shorts up.

A few minutes later Clara came down the stairs and went out to the lanai were the others were already preparing for the dinner. Hearing her footsteps Steve looked up and smiled at her. He, too, had been thinking about his feelings but Steve knew he couldn't and shouldn't act upon them.

"Hello sailor!" he heard from beside him, pulling his interest away from the teacher.

There stood Catherine Rollins. She was on leave again, judging by the clothes she was wearing.

"Oh, hey." he said, giving her a smile and welcoming hug. Only Catherine had other plans and kissed him soundly on his lips. Lucky for Steve his co-workers didn't see it.

On the other hand Clara wasn't sure what to feel. As she came outside she saw a woman kissing Steve and it made her insides crawl. Somehow she wanted to be kissed by him like that.

"Clara!" Kono called her and grinned at the teacher. Clara looked up and went over to the other Detectives, walking by Steve and the other woman. Moving past the couple she felt the Commanders eyes on her, but she never looked back.

"So what is for dinner?" Clara asked once she took a seat beside Grace and Danny.

"Well Steve makes a mean Steak, so prepare your taste buds." the Jersey Detective said and put the salad on Grace's plate.

"You need to eat the salad, too, Danno. It's better for your heart." his daughter said.

"I know Monkey, but thanks for telling me."

Grace grinned at him and started with her salad. Clara smiled and looked over at Kono. "Who's the woman with Steve?" she asked and put the salad on her own plate.

The Hawaiian detective looked over to the lanai, where their boss stood with Catherine. "Oh, well she works for the Naval Intelligence. She is a friend of Steve."

Clara nodded her head and took a quick sip of her coke.

"Okay everyone. I got the meat, so lets eat." Finally Steve had come and brought the steak for which everyone had been waiting for.

All had been enjoying the dinner. It was a real big family sitting at the table and fun with each other. But then Catherine turned to Clara.

"So how long did you know the guys?" she asked and smiled at the woman sitting across from Steve and her.

The Five-0 team stopped their chewing and watched the exchange between the teacher and Steve's long time friend.

"Well I only just met them today after I accused Steve of harming Danny's daughter when he came to get Grace from school. Later on Kono brought me to Kamekona's where I met him again and he invited me along." she said, the words coming slightly harsher than Clara wanted to.

"Oh well, it's nice to meet you, too, then Clara." Catherine said, after every one at the table seemed to have forgotten that she was never introduced to their new friend.

Clara gave her a tight smile, feeling the jealousy creeping into her heart.

Throughout the dinner, Steve took the opportunity to study the teacher more closely. Clara was reserved but still talked her fair share with him and his friends, he knew now that she was a really good artist and by the praise from Grace a very good teacher too. And yet there was something bothering her.

"Well I better go now. I have a few papers to grade." she said standing up and waving off any of the protests that came from the Task Force members. She went inside to get her things and shortly after came out again to say her good-byes.

Steve jumped from his place and walked over to Clara, Catherine's and Danny's eyes following him. "I'll give you a lift." he said and led her out to his truck.

'What was that?' Kono mouthed at Danny who shrugged his shoulders. That there was something between their boss and friend and the teacher, they all could see, but still weren't sure what it was and if both would act upon it.

Together the Commander and the teacher made their way to his truck, but not before Clara spoke her mind. "You know, you don't have to do that." she said and looked over at Steve.

"I know, but I want to. And besides it gives me sometime to get to know you better."

Clara didn't know how to feel about this. The only thing she could see in her minds eye was the kiss he shared with Catherine. So the only thing she told him was where she lived.

She could hear Steve clearing his throat many times, but decided not to ask him if everything was alright.

"So..uhm...do you have anything planned for tomorrow?" he finally asked and Clara turned her head to look at him.

"No, not as of yet."

Steve nodded his head and looked back ahead. Normally he would have gotten to Clara's address by now, but he decided to take it slow, though he wasn't sure where all this was coming from. He was a Seal, he shouldn't feel like such a pussy.

"Well, if you are free, would you like to meet up?"

Clara looked at him, he sounded awefully hopeful. She shook her head and moved her gaze back down to her lap.

"Listen Steve, you're really nice and so are your friends, but I don't think it's good for us to meet some more." She stopped and let out a sigh of relief as the truck came up in front of her building.

"You should do that with Catherine. She would be a better match."

Fuck. That was it.

"Clara, she isn't"

"Stop it Steve, you don't need to defend yourself." Clara said and got out of the truck, not giving him the time to tell her good-bye.

She had hastily made her way towards her door. Once inside Clara leaned against it and breathed a sigh. Maybe it was the right decision to leave before anything could go wrong. Nodding her head at her own declaration she proceeded to get ready for bed.

A/N hope you liked it, please let me know what you think about it.