Title: White Smoke
Fandom: Magnum PI (2018)
Rating: PG
Length: 759 words
Pairing: Gordon Katsumoto/Noelani Cunha
Content notes: baby fic
Authors Notes: “White Smoke” means that news you’ve been waiting for has arrived, as in the white smoke that comes from the Sistine Chapel when they elect a new pope.
Summary: Gordon shares some good news with the gang



Knowing that it was worth more than his life was worth to do otherwise, Gordon put the phone on speaker before he dialled the number, grinning to himself as a familiar voice, and a familiar greeting, came through.

“Gordy! Do we have white smoke yet?”

Magnum had taken to asking him the same question every time he’d seen him for at least the last three weeks and every time Gordon had answered, “No,” with a roll of his eyes.

Today he answered, “Yes.”

There was a split second of silence, which was not something Gordon usually associated with Magnum. “Wait, what?” Then his voice got lower in volume, like he’d taken the phone away from his lips. “Guys, Noelani had the baby!”

The last two words were uttered at full volume and were followed by a chorus of voices. That told Gordon two things: first that Magnum had put the phone on speaker, second that they were all at La Mariana.

“Are you serious? When? Boy or girl? Do we have a name?”

Magnum’s questions came thick and fast and Gordon turned back to Noelani in her hospital bed, a pink bundle in her arms. “We came in late last night,” he said. “No name yet... and it’s a little girl.” A chorus of aahs made him grin, all the more because Higgins’s voice was the quietest. “She’s perfect... tiny... lots of dark hair... and she looks exactly like Noelani. Thank God.” He said the last before Magnum could and Noelani looked away from their daughter long enough to roll her eyes.

“Gordon.” It was Higgins talking. “How is Noelani?”

“Amazing.” He went with the first adjective that came to mind. He half expected another eye roll, but instead he got a soft smile. “Tired. Hoping we can get her parents over today; they’re having trouble getting a flight.”

“Text me their info.” TC’s voice came through the speaker. “I’ll call them when I get to Island Hoppers, let them know where I can collect them.”

Noelani’s jaw dropped open and Gordon shook his head, even though TC couldn’t see him. “You don’t have to-”

“Gordon, Noelani’s like my little sister.” TC’s voice was flat and Gordon knew it was useless to try to argue with him. “And it’s her mom and pop’s first grandchild, we can’t have them waiting on no commercial flight!” He sounded indignant at the bare thought. “Tell Noelani I’m on my way, I’ll have them here  in a couple of hours.”

The kindness, the way that it was offered, and probably post partum hormones and tiredness had tears flooding Noelani’s eyes. Gordon sat down on the bed beside her, looping his free arm around her shoulders. “Yeah, and tell her we’ll swing by later with some food.” Rick was ever practical. “We can do way better than hospital dinners, and I doubt even you will want to cook.”

“Plus it means Higgins can steal the blue jello.” Magnum’s crack was followed by an impatient noise from Higgins and he snickered. “Okay, we’ll leave that for Noelani.”

“Thanks guys.” There was a rustle from the bundle in Noelani’s arms, a little fist rising into the air. “I gotta go... someone’s getting restless.”

“Okay... Gordy, listen, congratulations, okay. We’re all really happy for you.” Magnum paused. “Oh, and send us a picture. I’m not telling Kumu without one.”

Gordon chuckled. “Will do.”

He hung up then, turned his attention back to Noelani, who was still wiping her eyes. “We have good friends,” he told her and she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“The best.” He quickly sent Noelani’s dad’s contact information to TC, a picture of the baby to Magnum, then left his phone face down on the bedside locker. There was another snuffle from the blanket and he pushed down the side of it, the better to see the baby’s face. “She’s still out,” Noelani whispered, settling herself more comfortably against him.

“You want me to take her? You should probably get some sleep...”

She fixed him with a knowing look. “You just want to hold her.”

“Guilty.” He didn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed of admitting it. Carefully, he reached out with his index finger, touching the little fist that was still moving and even with her eyes closed, the reflex did its job, the baby’s fist opening and closing around his finger, holding on tightly.

Gordon grinned, delighted, while Noelani shook her head. “Doesn’t that just say it all,” she murmured. “Daddy’s girl.”

Gordon couldn’t think of anything better.