Always

Chapter 3

Joe's ranch, Montana, 1530 hours

Catherine had arrived at Joe's ranch about a week ago and she had to admit that it had been an emotional rollercoaster for her - though she hadn't really expected anything else. She had been surprised, when Steve had called her instead of Danny or anybody else of his ohana back in Hawai'i, but nonetheless she was happy that he did. They had always had an understanding of one another and she was glad that even after everything that happened, he still trusted..and needed her.

Her heart ached for Steve, as she watched him wash the blood off his hands, before taking a seat on the edge of the horse trough. Standing in the kitchen or at least what used to be the kitchen and was now marked by lots of bullet holes, telling a story neither of them would ever be able to forget, she watched him stare into the distant with empty eyes. Steve was definitely the strongest man she had ever met, but he had to endure so much pain already and he just derserved to be happy. He had lost both his parents, his aunt and now life took Joe away from him, too. The person that was like a second father to Steve, the only person that could give him some stability and a family of sorts after his mother had faked her death and his father had sent him away.

At the same time, she felt a pain in her chest, whenever she thought about Joe. She had only met the man a few times, but she always admired him for the way he looked out for Steve. Catherine had liked him from the beginning. However, a part of her couldn't help but feel glad that Steve was the one who survived the attacks on his former SEAL-team. She hated herself a little bit for thinking that way, because it was selfish and she knew it. But even after all this time, she still cared so deeply about the well-built man that was sitting on the horse trough.

In the course of the week, they had spend basically every waking minute searching for the men behind this and they were getting closer, she could feel it in her finger tips. They barely talked about their feelings, as soon as the sun rised. However, at night, it was different. He often woke up during the night, bathed in sweat and breathing heavily. His sleep has been taunted by horrible nightmares. Most of them brought him right back to the day Joe died. Other times he saw Catherine or Danny take the bullet for him.

Some nights he eventually started talking about his dreams, about what had happened, and other nights he just enjoyed her presence or asked her how she was doing. She told him about her parents, about her brothers, about work. Most nights their hands would intertwine at some part of the conversation and they would often fall back asleep that way.

"Hey." he said quietly, trying not to startle her, because she seemed pretty caught up in her thoughts. He stopped in the doorframe, while she was still leaning against the kitchen sink.

"Hey." she replied, hurrily wiping away the tears she didn't even notice she had been shedding, before turning to look at him, "You okay?"she asked, hoping that he hadn't noticed, but of course her prayers were unheard - she could see it in his eyes. It was a cloudy day and the lights were off, but she was still able to make out any change in his facial expression.

Before she could protest, he had pulled her in for a hug and was now slowly wrapping his arms around her in both; a soothing and a protective manner. She felt safer than she had in a long time, so she just let it be. She rested her head against his torso, listening to the soft pounding of his heart, while her arms were wrapped around his back, automatically pulling him even closer.

He took in that to him still so familiar scent of vanilla and lavendel, when he buried his face in her hair, after placing a soft kiss on her head. Whenever she was close, all his pain and sorrow seemed to fade away and he felt like he could breath again. They just stood there like that for minutes and he could feel the wet stain in his tee grow, as she was silently crying, but he didn't mind it all.