Danny limped up to the front door and took a deep breath before ringing the bell. Shifting his weight onto his good leg, he subconsciously rubbed his arm where fresh stitches were concealed beneath a stark white bandage.

The door opened slowly to reveal a bleary eyed Steve.

Hey," Danny finally said after an uncomfortable silence. When there was no reply he continued, "I…um…didn't see you at the hospital…and…um…wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You wanted to make sure I was okay?" Steve repeated with a slight slur to his words.

"Yeah…I did," Danny answered matter of factly.

Steve chuckled bitterly and repeated, "you wanted to make sure I was okay."

"I think we've covered that already…so are you?"

"I'd be a whole lot better if my partner would have stayed out of my way." Steve walked away from the door leaving Danny to stand outside with his mouth hanging open.

It wasn't often that he was rendered speechless. When the blonde regained the use of his mouth he followed his partner inside. "Come again, Steven?"

"I think you heard me the first time, Daniel."

"Oh…I heard you. I'm just giving you a chance to take it back."

Steve took a swig from a half empty bottle of whisky before spitting, "not unless you can take back being a miserable excuse for a partner."

"A miserable excuse for a partner?"

"Yeah."

"A miserable excuse for a partner?" Danny said even louder feeling his blood pressure rising to dangerous levels.

"I think we covered that already," Steve said using Danny's earlier words against him. "I was this close to having one of Wo Fat's men today…and you…you …"

"I believe saved your life would be what you're looking for."

"Saved my life?"

"Can we stop this repeating thing we've got going on?" Danny good arm was waving furiously as usual when he got animated. " And yes, I believe running and pushing you out of the way of a bullet…a bullet that hit me may I add…and messing up my knee again in the process…would be considered saving your life."

"Damnit, Danny…I didn't need you!"

"I beg to differ," Danny challenged before sighing and taking a painful step back. His knee was throbbing and he wasn't getting anywhere with Steve. "Look…you've obviously been drinking…"

"They don't call you Detective Danno for nothing," Steve taunted.

Danny rolled his eyes. "You make an annoying drunk. Coming here was a mistake."

"Just one more to add to your vast collection."

Danny's back went up. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

"Figure it out Detective Danno."

"I'm gonna go before we both say stuff we'll regret later."

Steve looked his friend in the eye. "The only thing I regret is thinking that I could trust you to have my back and to help me."

Danny told himself that it was the booze talking, but he still felt as if he had been punched in the gut. "Having your back is beginning to become a pain in my ass," Danny mumbled and then turned toward the door.

"Don't you turn your back on me," Steve practically growled grabbing Danny's arm…the one that had been deeply grazed by a bullet just hours ago.

Danny's vision blurred as the white hot agony travelled up his arm. Perhaps that's why he never saw Steve's fist flying toward his face…

TBC…