Dr. Noelani Cunha

Magnum felt his stomach turning upside down at the news of Juliet still being alive. He stared at Noelani, looking for any sign that she was just joking with him, as bitter and cruel that joke was, but it was very much unlike her, even if she was ever so frustrated and angry with him whenever he’d visit her to call in for a favour. She brought him good news, and he didn’t know how to process it. “She’s… alive?” But he saw the wound, he saw the blood, she was not responsive. 

It took him a few moments to take in that information, then he suddenly got up and moved to hug Noelani tightly. It just meant that she did additional tests, on her own accord or maybe on McGarrett’s, he didn’t know, but it also didn’t matter. He was relieved that Higgins was still alive, and that they could help her. At the same time though, Magnum felt anger boil in him. “There’s no way I’m getting out of here anytime soon, is there? I have to sit here and wait! I can’t even help her! I assume you can’t really turn a blind eye and let me leave, can you?”

Noelani hugged him back real quick as he did hug her. The relief was very, very clear on his face and so she didn’t mind. Besides he was safe in here. This interaction was safe between them. She just had to make sure he would stay put. That would be the hard part, but then again, for once, she was entirely in the loop with the investigation and not just as an afterthought. 

Somehow, McGarrett managed to convince Katsumoto to hand him over into their custody, which he didn’t know was for the better or worse. Magnum, however, could only pace up and down, wait until Steve returned, with news that would either free him of any suspicion or put him behind bars. He hoped that he’d be back with good news, and that Five-0, as biased as they might be to a certain degree, would work on proving he was innocent in all this.

As the door opened, Magnum turned around, seeing Noelani out of all people. His heart sunk a bit, since he expected Steve, but at least her presence put him at ease a little bit. It also meant that they still didn’t have anything concrete that would tie him to the murder, except for the fingerprints, which was absurd in his opinion. He lived there, after all. 

“Dr. Cunha, a sight for sore eyes.” He said with a weak smile and moved to sit down on the chair. “If she had news, he better sit down, just in case. “Could be better, considering they’re charging me for murder. The lead… what’s the rush? Is Kastumoto pressuring Five-0 to put me behind bars?”

He really hadn’t caught on to it. Now that was something that spoke volumes. Normally he would be able to tell that her presence meant he was basically off the hook. Noelani sighed. She really had to be patient with him tonight, she guessed.

The call was a bit unexpected, but Noelani didn’t question Steve’s motives behind it. She knew the lead was big, she knew time was against Five-0, against HIggins and Magnum in this regard. She knew Steve didn’t want to torture Magnum any longer than necessary, which was probably why he asked her to go to him.

Honestly, she guessed the moment she walked in there, would be the moment it would click in him, that Five-0 didn’t actually believe he was the murderer, so she expected some kind of relief from him. At least Five-0 was not investigating against him. And she would put him out of his misery about Juliet any second now.

Tani really couldn’t remember the last time the girls had a proper girls night, no guys around, just them, relaxing and enjoying themselves, now alongside the babies, little Danielle and Maleah, who Tani loved so so much and the little ones were partly to blame that she started thinking about being a mom in the future. The support system within the ohana was amazing, and she was sure she’d get all the help she would need. But until then, Tani was full on focused on spoiling her two little nieces as much as she could, as well as their mothers, so when she arrived at Steve’s house in the evening, she didn’t arrive with empty hands. There were two bags in one hand, an adorable stuffed teddy bear and a onesie saying ‘I ♥ mermaids’ in each of them, because Tani fully intended on making the girls love mermaids. In the other hand, Tani had a tray full with homemade goodies, since she figured both Noelani and Alani deserved to treat themselves today, plus with her and Renee over, they could take turns in taking care of the little girls.

“Hi!” Tani practically squealed out at the sight of Noelani and Maleah opening the door to greet her. “I’d hug you, but my hands are a bit full, with things perfect for girls night, and for you girls’ two little gems. I swear Maleah’s growing like weed! She’s such a big girl already, aren’t you, you cute little bug!”

“Hugs after!” she said as she motioned for Tani to go through to the back where Renee and Alani were already. Maleah waved excitedly as she recognized her aunt and probably just reacted to Tanis own excitement. “We have lots of food and stuff already. Alani made Steve drag out the tv so we can even watch a movie together, if we want.” She grinned at that, but it was so nice how domestic Steve had gotten with Alani and now his baby girl around, Danny just matching his best friend in it, though he was on the side a bit of the emergency guide to Steve, too, like Alani was for her.

“I dare say she agrees. Both babies grow like weed. Whenever you take your eyes off them, they grew another centimeter.” It was exaggerated, but it felt like that. Maleah had much longer awake times and sleep times, now. She was trying to hold her own head and she reached for everything. But her happy place was and would probably remain Dannys embrace. Nothing whatsoever could hurt her when her Dad held her.

“But honestly, we needed this girls night,” Noelani said. Alani laughed as she burped Danni and gave Tani a tiny wave.

@dtwilliams

The only thing that stopped Noelani from pacing that day, was the fact that her baby daughter was currently wide awake and mildly fuzzy. Maleah was eight weeks old now. She was usually a quiet baby, easy to handle, if everything was alright. It made her feel a bit better about the situation that had Danny be full-time at home still to help her recover and take care of their baby. 

The only reason why he was not there that night was simple: There was something big happening at Five-0, a huge take-down, that had them call Danny and Steve in to help them as both were still very much in the ‘new baby’ bubble, especially Steve, as his little one was his first kid, like Maleah was Noealnis first. Both first time parents also had to deal with the fact that they had step-kids around the same age. Noelani just had one head-start with Charlie already having known her for a very long time and trusting her through this. Steve pulled a little harder to ensure Chris was secure in knowing his new step-dad loved him as much as he loved his new sister. 

The thing they were involved with was a very loud take-down of a sleeper cell of terrorists, which had Khon2 news report live, so Noelani had that on, while she cared for the fuzzy baby, who just didn’t want to sleep or eat or play or be changed or anything else. Cuddling helped a little bit. As the news reported of officers shot, some dead, Noelani had to switch it off, as it made her way too nervous. In that case she was glad Maleah responded to cuddles like that. So cuddling and pacing helped. 

Finally, after what felt like forever, Noelani heard the door open. She glanced down at Maleah only to see her smile, her first real social smile! Finally and it was to the sound of Danny coming home. Tiny fists were raised toward the direction of the door, so Noelani carried her to the door and grinned at her love.

there were many things danny williams did in his life, some which he’d always boast around with, some he wasn’t overly proud of. the situation of the previous day fell into the latter category. he should have been ashamed of himself. out of all things he could have done, he had a one night stand. the irony ——— it wasn’t even night, just a simple shag in the toilet of the bar he just happened to have met leslie, the woman he told himself was the woman of his dreams. it was an illusion, a simple lie he told himself to try and forget the one his heart truly longed for. but what were the chances she would ever return his feelings, especially with a boyfriend and a seemingly happy relationship at that? so he went for it, took the opportunity, tried to make himself forget and move on. it didn’t work. it made things worse. she invited him over to her place, he offered a ride, and things went downhill from it, in quite the literal meaning. 

one car crash, death and visit to the hospital later, the detective, gloomy as ever, sad, shaken up and slightly broken, was about to face the one he was running away from and trying to forget. it really came back to biting him in the ass, didn’t it? but he had nowhere else to go, the team basically swarming him to the point where it was just too much. so here he was, sitting in noelani’s office, giving her a weak smile as she offered him the glass with water.  ❝ thanks. i know. hard not to know when everybody looks at me pitiful looks. ❞ he provided, a soft sigh passing his lips, back leaning against the backrest. ❝ i wish it was only him! every single person that knows what happened. they all ask if they can get me something, if i need something… it just feels like they’re overdoing it. i do need something. i need somebody who’ll listen. ❞ and well, he didn’t know a better person for that than noelani.

“They’re just worried,” She said gently as she sat down properly, doing so on the other side of the table, to protect herself a little. She wanted to be there for him, yes, but feelings were not easy to deal with and thus the physical barrier felt right, for now. There was no way she could stay there, if he needed physical comfort. They were friends afetr all and she would not deprive him of that, of course, she cared too deeply about the detective. In all honesty she was more than surprised that he sought her out... and on the other hand when he mentioned the others behavior it made sense. She was not as crowding. Steve’s behavior made sense, given what Tani and Quinn had told her. Focussing on Danny must be easier than focussing on his own trauma. And everyone else, well Danny’s trauma was easier to understand, easier to see for them, too, so easier to focus on, too.

“In that case, I formerly apologize for getting you water, though I am not sorry. Hydration is important to everyone.” She gave him a weak little smile at that. “I am all ears, Danny.” She would happily listen to him, be there for him. As she cared for him, being there for him was something she really wanted to be. She wanted him to be okay. It all came with them being part of this ohana, friends. And it came with her feelings for him, too.

Finally everything settled. Noelani was settled with her new family, in a routine with the baby and Danny and they even had news that would come up soon. It was time for the boys to hang out again so Noelani and Alani arranged for the boys to have a poker night again - which ended up being a barbecue on the north shore actually, after fishing, so the boys could be with them. It allowed the girls to take over the McGarrett house that evening and occupy the garden. Noelani and Alani had spent the day together, just caring for their newborns and allowing the other to take a long shower and actually get ready to look a bit more human than most days so they were ready when Renee arrived first.

heartwarming didn’t even cover the way he felt, the way these small gestures made him feel all sorts of fuzzy and happy. he couldn’t remember being this happy even back in the day when he was still married to rachel. no. no, that simply didn’t feel right. comparing noelani to rachel and the marriage to noelani and to rachel was incomparable. nothing could ever compare to noelani and the way she and little maleah made him happy. simply being able to spend his birthday in bed with them, share breakfast with them, enjoy the small things in life had been a true blessing, and he wouldn’t change that for anything in the whole world. 

maleah’s soft coos brought him out of his thoughts.

blue-grey eyes shifted to look at her, meeting brown ones. her mother’s eyes. she looked so much like noelani, and he loved every single bit of it. eyes moved to noelani, to meet her soft kiss, the smile never fading from his lips. it was that bubbly, fuzzy feeling in his stomach, keeping him warm and happy. ❝ thanks, babe. ❞ it was a whisper, the words so gently flowing off his lips as he pressed his lips to hers once more, kissing her for a few moments longer. ❝ even cake? i haven’t had a cake in years for my birthday. ❞ she put so much effort into this, and he couldn’t even put into words just how much he appreciated it. ❝ there’s no place i’d rather be right now for my birthday. just me and my girls, having breakfast in bed and cuddling. i think it can’t get any better than this! ❞

“Then it is about time, right, Maleah,” she asked her little girl, who didn’t react much, but Noelani didn’t expect anything less from her, as she was a little baby who mostly communicated through coos, sqeuals and cries as well as smiles at this point. But she was learning every day. By now holding onto things and examining them was her newest favorite hobby and Noelani loved watching her do exactly that. “I am pretty sure you will love that cake, too.”

“I don’t know, Daddy, I think today there is a bit more in store for you than just cuddling with us.” She knew of the entire plan and she knew he would love it, especially the party in the evening where he would have everyone around him he loved, all his kids, his family, by blood and chosen. He would enjoy it a lot. “But we have a lot of time until then.” And she planned on sharing that time with only thier little girl. 

The fact that her boyfriend had plans on Valentines day that ended with her spending it at McGarretts was basically the telltale sign of things falling apart. It was time, really. For the last month Noelani found herself less and less interested in him and more and more interested in someone else, someone who was very much out of reach for her. 

“Dr. Simmons, this is Dr. Noelani Cunha, ME. I think there is something you need to see about the body that is on my table right now.” Noelani looked back at the body in front of her, frowning down at the open body in front of her. There was something severely wrong and outlandish with it, something she was not entirely equipped to handle herself.

Noelani had met Steve’s neighbor twice maybe at barbecues he threw. As she was a bit on the flippy side, it came along with a slight moment of shyness. That was until she heard that Beth also bore some of the brunt of the allergy to hospital the guys from Five-0 seemed to have. That very thought brought her to her doorstep right now.

If she could, Tani would have done a small happy dance then and there. She was so happy to hear that things were really working out for the two of them. The way Noelani blushed told her everything, and it was incredibly sweet to see. She thought they’d be a great couple from the beginning, ever since spying on them even before Steve left, on one of the parties they had in his backyard. They were sweet together, spent a lot of time together, and now here they were, happy, in love, in a relationship.

As she listened to Noelani, Tani made herself comfortable in the chair, just listening to her with a smile. Noelani practically radiated happiness and it was showing so much. “That is so old school and so sweet!” And even slightly unexpected, but in the best way possible. Who knew that Danny could be such a gentleman and such a sweetheart beneath all his ranting and complaints. “Waaaait a second… you guys already hit it between the sheets? Not that it’s any of my business, but you know…” She giggled a bit. “I’m just so happy that you guys got together. You’re always so cute around each other and well… I might have dipped that one evening on purpose to see if things could kick off.”

@drcunha​

“Weeeell... that one is rather recent, but we have been sharing a bed since the first date.” It wouldn’t hurt to tell her. They were best friends, girls did talk about that kind of thing and it wouldn’t hurt Dannys reputation at all. Tani knew him, knew how sweet he could be and was too often. “He cooked for us and I massaged him and there was wine. So we both had a glass or two too much to drive. He offered for me to stay, offered me his bed, for him to stay on the couch, but honestly that couch is not made for sleeping. Solution was to just share his bed. And he sleeps shirtless so, what a sight to wake up to.” And Tani knew that sight, actually, they had been out swimming an surfing together often and Danny had to take his shirt off sometimes when having to be patched up.

“We knew about that, by the way. We both just knew you were trying to get us together.” And in a way it worked. She just don’t think we really needed that kickstart to begin with. It would have happened either way.

❀ 𝔪𝔦𝔨𝔦 𝔨𝔞𝔲𝔨𝔞 ❀