To be honest, I wasn't sure if I should write this story or not. I mean, the bickering between Steve and Danny is such fun to watch, and isn't meant to be taken too seriously. But the plot bunny for this story has been nagging at me so much that I've decided to go for it.

It's set during Paradise, and centres around the argument that the boys have on the cliff. Even though it achieved its aim of distracting Matinsky enough for Steve to take him down, I felt so sorry for Danny. He was trying so hard to use his training and experience to talk Matinsky down peacefully, and Steve just didn't take him seriously.

So this is the first chapter of a multi part story, as my idea on how Danny might have reacted, and why he didn't appear in the final scene back at the Palace. That's explained in the final chapter - and don't worry, there is a happy ending! But for now, as Steve is about to discover, there's trouble in paradise. Danny's been angry with him before, of course - but he's never been as angry as this!

Lessons Learned - Chapter One

When Worlds Collide

Steve McGarrett hated paperwork, almost as much as the terrorists that he'd been trained to pursue. It was bad enough at the best of times, but after the death of a suspect, it was even worse. So when he stared down at Matinsky's body, his heart didn't sink with regret, or any kind of remorse.

He'd killed several innocent women. He deserved no pity. He'd get none from Steve McGarrett.

But the paperwork was still going to be hell.

Still, that the best thing about being the boss. It meant that he could delegate such tedious tasks. If he avoided it for long enough, he knew Danny would get so fed up that he'd finally do it himself. Despite his partner's constant protests, it had worked like a charm in the past, and… uh-oh. As he turned away from the cliff to return to his friend, Steve realized it wasn't going to work today.

Still cradling Kristen protectively against him, Danny finally raised his head and looked towards him – and Steve had seen that thunderous expression enough times to know where its anger was heading.

But why? Kristen was safe, Matinsky was dead, the case was closed, and… oh, hell. Oh, crap.

Yes, they'd saved the day, again, without innocent bloodshed. But the ends didn't justify the means. He could see its cost now, in Danny's eyes, as he rose to his feet, still holding Kristen against him.

Mocking his attempts to talk Matinsky down had hurt him. It had hurt him a hell of a lot.

Before Steve could say anything, though, either to explain or apologise, Danny strode past him – focussing all his attention on the woman who still clung to him as if her life depended on it.

"Easy now, it's okay, you're safe now. It's all over now, everything's going to be okay."

For Kristen, maybe. Her ordeal was over, and… yes, thank God, she and her husband would be okay. As an ex husband himself, Danny was already making the call that Elliot Clark would be praying for.

But as he followed them to the car, Steve knew this happy ending had come at a painful cost – another attempt to apologise pointedly ignored as Danny helped Kristin into the back seat. Settling in beside her, still refusing to meet Steve's eyes, he'd made his feelings perfectly clear.

He was livid. Furious. And for Steve, it was going to be a long and lonely ride back into town.

With no-one to talk to this time around, he had to settle for self conversation instead – giving himself the furious lecture that he wished would come from his ominously silent partner.

The safe release of a threatened hostage needed special training. Patience and compassion. Years of often traumatic experience. Skills that Danny had, but he didn't.

You tried to find a connection. Common ground to work on, even if it brought back painful memories. As Steve now sadly realized, the common ground that Danny had tried to establish with Matinsky had done just that.

'I know what it's like to have someone you love walk away from you.'

He'd needed back-up then. Support. Anything, in fact, except the response that Steve had given him. Kristen, too, must have wondered what the hell was happening as they'd stood and yelled at each other, arguing about the best way to rescue her.

For Chin, Kono, and everyone else who knew them, this was par for the course, but – no, as he studied Danny's face in the rear view mirror, Steve knew this time was different. Until now, their bickering had stayed behind a mutually respected line. Today he'd crossed it.

He'd humiliated his partner in the worst possible way. Thrown years of experience and expertise back in his face, and - damn it, Danny had every right to be angry. Steve just hoped he'd calm down enough for him to repair the damage before they left for home.

By the time they returned to the Hikina, those hopes for reconciliation still seemed unlikely.

Yes, there was a slight smile on Danny's face as Kristen flew into her anxious husband's arms – shrugging in modest embarrassment while they'd thanked him in a whirl of hugs and handshakes. But when Steve stepped awkwardly forward to receive his share of their gratitude, his heart sank. Danny moved away from him, maintaining a distance between them that, if anything, now felt even wider.

And just as he'd expected, the drive back to the heliport was every bit as bad as Steve had feared. It passed in silence. Complete and worrying silence.

Even when Danny finally broke it, the frustration in his voice did little to ease Steve's worry, or his conscience.

"Sometimes, just sometimes… for once, I… I just wish you'd respect what I'm good at."

Staring back at him, but not daring to reply, Steve just nodded as he followed him into the chopper – a raised hand warning him that anything he did say would be a waste of breath, and a waste of time.

Instead, shaking his head in frustration, Steve settled into his seat and strapped himself in. He'd screwed up, big time. Danny was more angry with him than he'd ever been before. And as Kauai fell away beneath them, he had no idea how to repair the damage.