"He tried to get help, but he couldn't shake the addiction. A detective roped him into helping with an investigation in exchange for amnesty, but... things didn't come out the way that anyone hoped for."
Rock cleared his throat and the sound of it was raw.
Like gravel in his throat.
Kaleo's eyes watered. "So, you've had floaters since then?"
Rock's head nodded, hiding and revealing the light from inside over and over. "He resisted bringing someone on permanently, but our Chief had to put his foot down. We need someone to fill the gap. We can do the job without but we're not at full strength the way we are."
Kaleo understood that. "It's not going to be easy for him. Making the change like this."
Rock leaned back and gently clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I had a feeling you'd see the issue."
"I've... I've never lost someone I worked with like this." Kaleo cleared his throat. "We've had people transfer in and out. That happens to everyone." He tipped his head back and tried to blink away the tears. It didn't quite work. "I can't imagine what everyone at this station house went through, but even more what Faust is going through."
"If you need help making the transition here," Rock offered, "come and see me. Or any of the others. We all want to make sure you fit in. I think we've all been missing someone in Seth's seat. Looking for that... missing piece."
Kaleo's shoulders sagged a little at those words.
Shaking his head, he looked at Rock. "Those are big shoes," he drew in a breath and let it out. "I'll do my best to fill them, but... I just don't know if I can."
Rock stood up and stretched, his back bowing enough that Kaleo could see the man's salt 'n pepper hair in the light from the doorway. "I think you're the right guy for the crew, Kaleo."
While Kaleo couldn't see it exactly, he had a feeling that the other man was smiling.
He thought he could hear it in his voice.
"I heard they called you Duke back in Hawaii."
Kaleo smiled at that.
"Yeah. I don't know how it stuck, but it started at the beach. We were heading back to the firehouse from a call whenanother call came in from the water recreation dock nearby in Hawaii Kai. Our truck had a surfboard rack on the side for water rescues. We got to the boat dock in record time thanks to everyone getting out of the way. It turns out that the swimmer in distress had gone out for a leisurely swim to stretch his muscles and started to float, enjoying the easy rocking water in the harbor. It's not a place to swim, but... sometimes you can't get people out of the water when they feel the need to get in it.
He was too far out to get in under his own steam and a boat that attempted to get close enough to get him out of the water had stirred up the water and the older man was struggling even more.
"I took the board out, cutting through the water until I got close enough to pull him up."
Kaleo felt the rush of the moment, retelling the story, but he also felt the ache in his muscles.
Taking the board had been the best call, but once the rush of adrenaline was over, it took pure human steam to get back in, but it was worth it and more to hear the older man look up at him.
"When we got back to the dock his wife and daughter were there, worried sick.
"The older man waved off their concern even though he was shaking with exhaustion. He told them he hadn't seen swimming like that since he'd seen Duke Kahanamoku swim when he was a kid."
Kaleo shook his head.
"It was a nice comparison, but I doubt I was anything like Duke even when he was older. Skill and talent like that? One in a lifetime. It was probably just the rush of gratitude that made me seem better than I was."
Rock waved for him to go inside. "The man saw what he saw. Gratitude probably added a little burnished color to the thoughtsin his head, but in that moment, he saw what you were. A hero. Just like the hero in his childhood."
Kaleo stood up and rolled his shoulders to work out a little of the stiffness that had settled in from the cold wall that he'd been leaning against. It felt good to bring some warm blood through the cooler muscles of his back. "Thanks, Rock."
The older man chuckled. "No need for thanks, Duke." He clapped a hand on Kaleo's shoulder. "You'll fit in just fine."
EIGHT
LEXIE
