"Holman!"
Chapter Four: Island Blues
01x04:Paniolo

Isana was still new to the island, she was still trying to get the hang of everything and she was still trying to understand her way around the island. And yet so many things were happening. She was working on building herself up and trying to become a better version of herself. A version where she was still so madly in love with her ex-partner, where she didn't get constant text messages and emails from him and the team explaining how things were different. How so many people were added and that everything seemed terrible without her. But she didn't care. She needed this, this time away from everyone else.

Life was chaotic sure and sure she had no friends or knew anyone on the island, but who needs friends when you are constantly drowning yourself in your work? It's honestly very indifferent, but she truly didn't want friends either. She would rather come home to Minty snuggling up under a blanket and watching action movies until she couldn't blink.

The absolute truth was that Nick Torres broke her. He broke everything inside of her when he rejected her and she couldn't keep reminding herself of that. She didn't want to, there was no way in hell she was going to let herself dwell on it. Who knows maybe she will find true love within the security of this Island. Or Maybe? Just maybe Nick Torres will get his head out of his ass and tell her everything.

Currently, she was walking into the office, with Kai and Jane.

"Near-fatal gunshot wound on a morning ride is just bad luck?" Jane asks.

"Could be. But Jesse and Lucy thought there might be more there. Said the wife seemed like she wanted them gone."

"So you did some more digging on Whitman's background," Jane says as the partners nod.

"Uh-huh. Master Sergeant Kaleo Whitman spent most of his career with the 1st Marine Division and the Marine Mounted Color Guard until he requested a transfer home four years ago."

Isana takes the tablet from Kai's hands. "Stationed at K-Bay as a career planner. Lives with his wife and son."

" Record clean?"

Isana hands him the tablet. " Few minor dustups before he enlisted. Kid stuff. Marines straightened him out."

"I'm assuming there's a "but"?"

Kai sighs turning his computer screen to face Jane. " Now, this is where it gets weird. Kaleo said a hunter tagged him, right? But these are the approved hunting grounds in the area."

"And this is the location Kaleo said he was shot." Isana points to the area.

"Two miles seems a little far for a hunter to accidentally stray."

"I mean, it's possible." Kai tilts his head to the side slightly.

"But..?"

" Spoke to Forensics. The bullet pulled from Whitman was a .380." Isana continues.

"From a handgun, not a rifle."

"Maybe he didn't know," Kai says.

"Kaleo Whitman's been a Marine for close to 20 years. He probably knew."

"Which means he probably lied." Kai shrugs.

"What else is he lying about?"

When they go by the hospital to talk with Kaleo they find his room empty, his IV was still dripping which meant he pulled it out. He escaped after a nurse came and checked him out. Which wasn't good, now they had to put out a bolo for Kaleo and figure out just what the hell he was running from.

"Master Sergeant Whitman disappeared after a nurse's visit to check his sutures. Slipped out of the hospital and no one saw him leave." Jane explains.

"Dangerous move, considering his internal injuries from being shot."

Kai and Isana enter the bullpen together. "Hey. Gave Mrs. Whitman a wellness check. Says she has no idea where her husband is."

"You believe her? Considering she was all squirrelly at the hospital?"

" Well, something's off? I asked HPD to sit on her house, just in case." Isana explains as Jane nods.

"What about their son?"

" HPD's trying to track him down at his school and bring him home," Kai explains.

"No one informed him that his father was shot?"

Kai shrugs. " Wife said she wanted him to have a normal day."

"Yeah, that makes no sense at all. Stay on the wife. Find the son."

Jane leaves with Jesse who is still not Isana's biggest fan, or at least that's how she feels, she feels like he hates her because of the way they met. Which she felt was funny and badass on her part. Jane and Jesse found more than just Kaelo's cousin at that ranch, they found three pounds of crystal meth. So now it was time to take a lovely trip down to Ernie, who was the only person that was Nice to Isana.

"Been doing a chemical analysis of the meth we got from the ranch," Ernie explains still looking at one of his monitors.

"Since you called us down here, kind of figured there'd be more."

Ernie takes a step away from the monitors. "Michelangelo didn't paint the Sistine Chapel in one day."

"You're comparing this meth to Michelangelo?"

Isana rolls her eyes at Kai's Obvious stupidity. " He's comparing himself to Michelangelo." She explains as Ernie nods smiling.

"Well, to be precise, I sculpt with data. He sculpted with marble."

"Right. That is the only difference." Kai sasses as they walk around Ernie's desk.

"All right. Good news, bad news. Meth has a unique chemical makeup. If we can track the distribution, I might be able to figure out who's dealing it."

"Okay, what's the bad news?" Lucy asks.

" I need to take a trip to HPD to access the narcotics database."

Kai scruches up his face. "That's bad how?"

"Detective Reed. From the drug task force. They used to date. They don't anymore. It's a thing." Lucy explains as Ernie takes a seat at his desk.

"Never mix business with pleasure. People just end up getting hurt."

"Broke your heart, huh? It's okay." Kai touches his shoulder as Isana's phone chimes she pulls it from her pocket.

"Uh, it's HPD. No sign of Whitman's son Micah at school today. Or anywhere."

"Since the meth at the ranch was found in a kid's backpack, I'm thinking this isn't a coincidence," Kai explains.

"Time to check back in with the wife."

With that the trio leaves, after piling out of the car, Kai sighs finally tucking his phone away, he had been on it since they got into the car.

"You got to be kidding me," he says.

"Is that from Tennant?"

" It's just family stuff." He responds vaguely

"Want to talk about it? I've had every issue imaginable with my family."

"Nope. I'll pass." Kai says as Lucy turns to look at Isana,

"Hey, don't look over here, this isn't summer camp and we aren't holding hands and making friendship bracelets."

"Seriously? We're all millennials. Oversharing's kind of our thing."

"My thing is keeping personal and professional separate," Kai responds as Isana nods.

"Agreed."

"Even so, sometimes an outsider's opinion helps," Lucy says.

Kai sighs caving into Lucy's sweet charm and adorable looks. "It's my father. He's fallen over a few times."

"Is he sick?"

"Yeah. Came back to help take care of him, but it seems he doesn't want to take care of himself." Kai continues.

"How so?"

" Skipped his last four doctor appointments." He explains as the two women are listening intently.

"Maybe he's worried if he goes to the doctor, he'll get more bad news."

Kai makes a face before knocking on the door. The wife creeks it open only appearing halfway through the door.

"Mrs. Whitman. Special Agent Pachelecki again. These are my colleagues"

"We already spoke." she cuts her off.

"I know..."

"And I told you I don't know where Kaleo is." Mrs. Whitman continues.

"We're here to talk about your son, Micah. Is he home?"

" No. I'm sorry." Mrs. Whitman says. She was looking around avoiding eye contact and Isana takes note, immediately getting into a defensive mode.

"He wasn't at school today either."

"Micah's fine. And now's not a good time." Mrs. Whitman goes to close the door.

Kaie stops her. "Hey, ma'am, with all due respect, we can't find your husband. And we believe he's involved in something serious. Possibly Micah, too."

" So if we can have a few minutes," Lucy says as Isana and the group step inside the house.

"And you told Special Agent Boone that Micah was at school."

"I thought he was." Mrs.Whitman says as she enters the house.

"Aren't you surprised to find out he's not?"

She shakes her head. "He's probably with his friends."That's what they do sometimes. They skip class."

Isana can tell something isn't right and begins looking around.

"Well, there's more. Uh, we found several pounds of meth at the ranch. In your son's backpack." Mrs.Whitman makes a face of annoyance. "Is none of this a surprise to you?" Kai says as she rolls her eyes.

" I really can't talk right now."

"Well, we need to speak to Micah. So if you can start calling..." Lucy starts.

" I think you should leave." Mrs. Whitman gestures for the door and now the others can sense something is wrong Isana is studying Mrs.Whitman watching her intently.

"Sorry, may I please use your bathroom?"

She rolls her eyes. " Make it quick." she points to the ceiling indicating that it's upstairs.

"Okay, just Okay." Kai takes off walking up the stairs.

"Uh, Mrs. Whitman. Is everything okay?" Isana asks.

" I'm just worried for my husband. I need time to process." Isana watches as Mrs. Whitman makes the universal sign language hand signal for Help and she elbows Lucy who nods indicating she saw it too.

"Of course, I understand completely." Lucy nods and begins drawing her weapon. Isana draws her gun taking a step back she gets it partially out when a guy runs towards her from the nearby closet. He pushes Lucy in the opposite direction while tackling Isana, her gun slides to the opposite side of the room and she slides to access to the floor landing on the hind part of her feet. He opens a pocket knife and goes to lunge at her and she dodges it, he lunges towards her again and she kicks him in the face. He falls onto the coffee table and stands up and she runs off he swings the knife to and fro and she dodges each swing causing him to get the knife stuck in a door. He pulls the knife out just as Kai comes running down the stairs he pushes Isana behind him fighting the guy now before shooting him in the chest twice. The guy falls on the floor next to Kai just as Lucy stands up with her hand behind the back of her head, The guy shoved her so hard, he caused her to stumble back, hitting her head. In all honesty, Isana had the guy, and her hand-to-hand was getting better and better. Not that it wasn't before, she was just better at it this way. She didn't want to show her hand, she didn't need anyone judging her, she use to be a killing machine and now, well she was just an NCIS agent on this beautiful island.

Jane talks with Mrs. Whitman in her office as Kai, Isana, and Lucy are all at their desk.

"So calm. How can you do that? A man just attacked us." Lucy speaks up, and Isana feels for at that moment, she can't relate but she feels.

"Wasn't calm in the moment."

"I feel like I'm seven cups of coffee in," Lucy explains tapping her pen against her desk Kai sighs as Isana looks at him.

"Hey, there's no trick. Just too much practice in life-threatening situations." Isana explains sending Lucy a comforting look.

"After a few hours, you get good at compartmentalizing."

"And the man you shot?" Lucy asks.

"Don't have a lot of sympathy for drug dealers who try to kill my F-colleagues."

a smile creeps on both Isana's and Lucy's faces. " You almost said "friend".

Kai smiles still not taking his eyes from his monitor. "I almost took a knife for you. Actions speak louder than words."

Lucy's face turns scared, she nods muttering "Yeah." pressing both fingers to her neck to check her heartbeat.

"Hey. I don't like what I had to do. And I don't want to make a habit of it. But, right now, I'm just I'm cruising on adrenaline. And tonight I will crash."

Isana nods. "Yeah, and I have had like six red bulls so I feel no emotions right now." Lucy and Kai both laugh.

Ernie enters the room wearing a backup. A tablet in his hand.

"All right, for what it's worth, the suspect you took down was a real scumbag." He hands the tablet to Lucy first, who looks over the rap sheet. "Name's Jon Mendoza. Just released from Halawa for an assault that left a guy blind. And that's the cherry on top of a lifetime of felonies."

Lucy hands him the tablet and he hands it to Kai as Isana walks over looking over Kai's shoulder. He fights the urge to roll his eyes peacefully at Isana's scent. "What about gang affiliations?"

" Uh, his ink connects him to at least four. He plays the field." Ernie explains.

"So we're no closer to ID'ing the group slinging the meth?"

" Well, we're a little closer." Kai hands Ernie the tablet. While Isana is perched on the end of his desk. " I managed to pinpoint the chemical makeup of the drugs. So now I guess I'm..." Ernie sighs as Isana giggles at his annoyance about seeing his ex.

" If-if you're on your way to HPD, - I'm coming." Lucy practically jumps out of her seat.

"No, no, no. You're not invited."

"A. I'm useful. And B, don't you want a wingman for when you see Detective Reed again?" Lucy says as Kai and Isana both nod with smirks on their faces.

"Fine." he pouts as Isana and Kai laugh. They leave the two partners laughing as they leave the room.

"How is it That this is your second case with us and you already taking hits?" Kai smirks at Isana.

"I can handle my own Holman"

He nods chuckling. "Oh really, I took a knife for you if I recall."

"Mmm, your right, guess that means I owe you one."

He smiles while nodding. "I guess so. I will hold you to it, Pacheleki."

"I am so sure Holman."

With that their flirting ends. Ernie ends up finding where the meth was made and now it's up to the Trio to get it handled, while Tenant and Jesse are up finding Kaleo in the mountains.

"I'm thinking about earlier today." Lucy pulls her comm from her ear.

"The guy who attacked you?"

" No. Your dad." Lucy says as Isana almost chokes on her water.

Kai chuckles "What, now?"

" Yeah, why not?"

" Shouldn't you be worried about all the gangbangers with guns we're about to arrest?" Kai explains heading over to the trunk of the car, he grants extra ammo.

"This is me compartmentalizing." Kai and Isana make a face at her. "Hey, you helped me. I'm gonna help you."

Kai makes a face as Isana shrugs. "You don't need to worry about my dad, okay? - I'm handling it."

"Are you? Handling it?" Kai sighs. " All I know is you're there for your teammates. Saved our lives, and you barely know me. But with your dad..." Lucy places more ammo in her pocket.

"He's a grown man. He can take care of himself."

Isana winces. "No offense, but is that why you came home? So he can take care of himself?" Lucy nods fist-bumping her for asking the questions this time.

Ernie's ex cocks her gun, " Time to roll." she says as the trio look back at her,

"Good to go. On your six." Kai closes the trunk. "That's Ernie's friend?"

"Ex-friend. You mean." Isana sasses.

"Looks Like Sarah Connor got together with whatever Ernie is."

"A baller. Ernie's a baller." Lucy replies as Isana giggles.

"- Seriously?"

" - Yeah. A stealth baller." Lucy says giggling alongside Isana they all pile into the car and head for the warehouse. Swat drives the car through the building. Causing everyone to get down. The trio looks around the room.

"Hey! Are they the only ones here?" Lucy asks.

" That's what it looks like."

"- Four guys? Where's the rest of the gang?" Isana asks, after rounding up the four members and collecting statements they find out that the others were headed in the mountains where Kaleo was along with where Tennant and Jesse were supposed by it didn't take a genius to figure they were probably under fire. Isana realizes she knows a guy in the national guard that could easily help and in the end, they save Tennant and Jesse and Kaleo and his son.

And all they needed was a little faith and trust not just in themselves but in each other. Kaleo's family invited the team to a Lauau and Isana was excited she needed to dust off her cowgirl boots, she had been waiting to do so. Isana was running late, she arrives with a white t-shirt, that hugged her chest just right and some short shorts, a cowgirl hat, and her signature boots on her feet. Kai practically chokes on his drink.

"Hide-hoo! Why Hello? Fellas."

"Well I'll be damned, those boots don't look new at all." Jesse sasses as Isana rolls her eyes.

"I use to be a cowgirl back in my day,"

"Your day" Jesse scoffs. "Aren't you like nineteen?"

"Im old enough to know how to ride a horse, can't say the same for some city slicker," Isana says as Kai laughs at Isana's joke,

"Hey, hey! Cut the music! Cut the music! Everybody listen up! Special Agent Tennant, on behalf of my 'ohana, we'd like to present you with a gift." They present Jane with a specialty hat,

"Thank you very much." Jane puts the hat on and everyone cheers.

Kaleo's cousin laughs. "Uh, haven't forgotten about you, Special Agent Boone. Here we go, here we go. This is for your bravery and for being Hanohano." they give him a specialty hat as well.

"Hanohano."

"Yo, yo, yo! We also got you one more thing. For your 'okole. As we're guessing you're about to be pretty sore." everyone laughs as he hands him a pillow. Jesse had been complaining about his butt hurting the entire time they were riding.

" All right, turn the music back on!" They begin line dancing as Kai takes Isana's hand they start dancing and he places his hands on her waist as she laughs about something he said, everything seemed to be perfect, Isana didn't miss her home anymore. Because her home was right here in front of her and boy was the view great.

Word count: 3200