That's it! We've come to the end of the story, which was meant as a likely occurrence in the show if... Again this was my own personal take on that possible scenario, and I'm pleased that so many of you followed and left reviews. I hope to return with another story in 2014. Thanks again!

H50H50H50H50H50H50H50H50H50H50

Barely ten days following surgery, Steve was already exasperating the doctors and nurses about his whining to be discharged. That morning Danny stopped by the hospital to check on his partner and found him arguing with his doctor.

"Oh Danny, glad you're here, man. Would you tell the doctor over there that I'm all right and that I can get out of here?" Steve griped while sitting in bed.

"You want ME to tell a DOCTOR that you're fit enough to walk out of this place?" Danny said sarcastically.

Steve crossed his arms across his chest in puffed out in annoyance, "Yeah, right. Look who I'm asking here. You'll probably take his side."

"That's right." Then Danny calmly turned to the doctor and asked, "What's the prognostic, doctor?"

"The tests are encouraging. Heart is strong. Good breath sounds. No fluid collecting in the pleural cavity. His lung is inflating normally."

"Then, what is keeping me here?" Steve asked petulantly.

"Your white cell blood count is still a bit high. We'd like to keep you for an additional twenty-four hours."

"TWENTY-F? You've got to be kidding me?"

The exasperated doctor turned to Danny. "What is it with him? Can you please tell me?"

Danny laughed. "Do you have an hour to spare?"

"Very funny," Steve pouted.

"Will it kill you to stay here another day?" Danny asked.

"YES! Yes it will."

"I can bring you some overdue paperwork to occupy your time?" Danny smirked.

"Now I really need to get out of here." Steve tossed the bed sheets aside and sat on the edge of the mattress. What he hated most in his work was filling out reports and knew Danny was serious enough to dump that load on him.

"Hey, hey, hey, where do you think you're going?" Danny asked as he grabbed hold of his partner's arm.

"Home. I can recuperate there," Steve snapped.

"Doctor, how about I watch him for a few days. Would you let him go?"

The doctor's eyes drifted from one anxious face to the other. "You sure you want to take on that responsibility, Detective? Looks to me like a tough assignment."

"I've had worse."

"We'll take him down for another chest x-ray to see if the lung is still clear before I discharge him. He will need to continue taking antibiotics."

"I'll see that he follows instructions. Thank you, doctor," Danny said before turning to Steve. "Say thank you to the good doctor, babe."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Doctor Hemshaw said with an amused grin as he walked out of the room.

"Now lie back," Danny instructed as he gently pushed Steve back onto the mattress, "and rest. You're still a bit pale and emaciated."

"Reason why I need to get out of here and get some fresh air and exercise."

"Patience, babe. Patience."

"What about Gaby? Won't she miss you if you stay over at my house?"

"Gaby's visiting her mother. She'll be there for a couple of more weeks."

"Anything wrong?" Steve asked after picking up on Danny's rather bitter tone.

"We just need time apart to sort out our feelings. I feel like we don't really connect. It's hard to explain."

"Women, huh?"

Danny snorted, "Yeah. Friendship's okay but a relationship?" Danny shook his head. "Brings on too many headaches."

With his head resting against his pillow, Steve stared at Danny with a grateful glint in his eyes. "Thanks for coming clean with me, Danno."

"Don't mention it you crazy Neanderthal animal."

Steve grinned at the moniker. "Feels good to have you back."

"I never really left and I don't think I was ever going to."

Steve tilted his head forward and smiled. "Really?"

"Really." Seeing Steve's roguish grin, Danny squinted. "Don't be cocky or I swear I'll bring that mountain of paperwork at home for you to occupy your time." Steve's grin grew wider. "I mean it babe, wipe that smug off your face."

"Say Danny, no more secrets, okay? You have something on your mind, you tell me, even if you need to collar me and tie me down to a chair for me to listen."

"Yeah, about that," Danny started, a bit unease. "I'm sure you know Denning's shut down Five-0 for a while?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah he told me. I need to meet with him once I'm out of here. Wants to discuss my behavior."

"He didn't tell you about..."

"What?"

"Damn Steve, he asked me to be a mole inside Five-0. To report every move and decision made to him. Says if I don't do it he'll assign someone else like he did with Agent Weston."

"Then do it," Steve said matter-of-factly. "I'd rather it be you than some stranger who has no idea how we operate. She or he might report false accusations and we'll be right back where we started it. You'll see fit to keep me in line and bring me back on track if I derail."

"You sure you're okay with that?"

Steve smiled reassuringly. "Yeah. That's one way to have a lock on you being a straight shooter with me."

Danny pursed his lips as emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He reached out a hand to Steve. "Never again, partner."

Steve obliged by clasping Danny's hand and gave it a hearty shake. "Never again."

H50H50H50H50H50H50H50hH50H50H50H50

Three weeks later, Steve's doctor gave him a clean bill of health and cleared him for work. Given Danny's decision to act as an informant, Governor Denning agreed to reinstate Five-0 and let Steve off the hook with a fair warning.

On a bright Saturday, Steve, Danny and Grace spent a fun day together while Rachel and Stan met with their respective lawyers to discuss the terms of their divorce. The two partners refrained from discussing work or the divorce proceedings and concentrated on creating the perfect holiday for little Gracie.

Towards the end of the afternoon, they drove to Kamekona's shaved ice stand where they met with Officer Monsoon, whom Steve had called over to discuss an important matter with him.

"Danno, I'd like a big cherry shaved ice," Grace asked.

"Sorry Monkey, just a small one or your mother will have a fit. It will ruin your supper."

Grace pouted but didn't lay down the arms, as she clasped her father's hand and dragged him to meet with Kamekona.

Danny and Steve exchanged conspiratory nods before the blond followed his daughter to buy her a cold treat.

"Danny here tells me that you're making detective soon. Congratulations," Steve casually broached the subject with Doug once Danny was out of earshot.

"Thanks. I'm really excited about it. This is what I've been working on for so long and it's finally here. I'm looking forward to it although it is a bit daunting, but Danny said he'd give me some pointers."

"You and Danny go a long way back, don't you?"

"Yeah, since he transferred to HPD from Jersey. We've been friends ever since, though with his work at Five-0 we hadn't hooked up until recently. He's the best."

"Yes he is," Steve said fondly. "Once you get your badge, how about you join us at Five-0?"

Doug looked at Steve in puzzlement. "You're pulling my leg, right?"

"I don't joke about things like that. Danny and I discussed it and we think it's a good idea. My team is backing me up on this. Danny says you're the best officer on the force right now and that's good enough for me. I checked your background. Unblemished record, resilient, hard-working. That's what we need. I've already spoken to Captain Grover and Governor Denning. They are both ok with it. It's your decision."

"Me at Five-0? I don't know if I'm material for your game."

"Well I'll take you on a trial basis first. Danny will be your mentor to ease you into the job just as he did me. It's the least I can do for him after he gave up that same opportunity at HPD. And it'd be my way to thank you for trying to convince Danny to stay at Five-0."

"Believe me he never wanted to leave. His heart wasn't in the new job. It was tearing him apart."

"He told me, but it's reassuring to hear a stranger confirm it."

"That's a mighty big offer, Commander."

"It is. Of course the balance of power would shift toward the male side but Officer Kalakaua is looking forward to kicking our butts. I know you and she have met before?"

"Yes we did. She can handle herself fine. What did Captain Grover say when you asked him?"

"He wasn't too thrilled about it. Says he didn't want to lose a valuable player on the team. Called me an arrogant bastard."

"You and he are like cats and dogs."

"We rise to a challenge and recognize talent when we see it. We do hate each other's guts that's for certain, but I respect him as a law enforcement officer. He can hold his own."

"I don't know what to say."

"Take time to mull it over. There's only one condition though."

"What's that?"

"We work together as a team. No favoritism. If something's not right we discuss it, we don't let it fester. Understood?" Steve was steadfast in his statement.

"Understood, sir."

"I don't want a repeat of what happened."

"You got it, Commander. And thank you."

Danny returned with Grace who wore a huge smile on her face, barely visible behind her big cup of shaved ice. "I can't win an argument with her."

"What's wrong?"

"I knew we shouldn't have come here. I told her only a small shaved ice and look at this," Danny pointed to the medium-sized cup in Grace's hands.

"Thank you Danno," Grace said sheepishly, sharing a conniving grin with her Uncle Steve, which Danny was quick to notice.

"What are you grinning about?" His eyes swiveled from one impish-looking face to the other. "You asked him?"

"I did."

"And?" Danny asked expectantly.

"I told Doug to mull over the offer."

"I just did." Officer Monsoon stepped up to Danny and extended his hand. "I'm looking forward to having you as my mentor, Detective."

Danny broke into a wide grin and nodded obligingly to Steve before shaking Doug's hand. "Welcome aboard, soon-to-be Detective Monsoon."

The End