I thought I posted this chapter eons ago. Julieb is somewhere shaking her fist at me. (I still miss her to pieces.) This was one of her favorite stories. I hope you enjoy.
Steve rushed through the door to find a worried Grace waiting for him.
"He's over there, Uncle Steve." She pointed to the hallway.
With a nod, Steve followed Grace's direction. He knelt beside Danny.
"Let me have a look."
"Easy, alright? No manhandling."
"Don't worry. I'll be gentle."
Danny scowled and replied. "Uh huh, like you know what that means."
He raised his voice a little too much, and Steve shot him a quick frown.
"Sorry. Go ahead. Have a look, please." Danny sighed. "Really I think I'll be fine. Just need a minute. It hardly hurts."
Steve got down to business and made a quick assessment. Bruising was already evident as well as a slight swelling on both Danny's foot and ankle. And pain was etched across his partner's face. You could only see it, though, if you knew Danny well.
"You sure that doesn't hurt?"
"You know my language would be a lot more colorful if a certain pint-sized person wasn't watching my every move."
"I don't think you're moving much there, Danno." Steve raised himself into a crouch and reached for Danny. "Let me help you to the sofa."
Danny batted his hand away. "Nope I can do this myself."
"Sure looks like it to me, Danno."
Grace giggled.
"All this because you had to tell my daughter about Elmer Fudd, Steven."
"Not sure what that has to do with you tripping over her toys, Daniel."
"She spent so much attention taking care of Mr. Hoppy that everything else went to pot."
"Went to pot? Danny, did you hit your head on your trip to the floor?"
"No." Danny stopped and thought for a moment, scratching his scruffy chin. "Maybe."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "Sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I'm okay. Besides the throbbing ball of fire that was once my ankle and a headache that won't quit." Danny waved at his foot. "Please help me up."
"Well, alright then." Steve pulled his friend slowly to his feet, holding on tight as Danny wobbled. "I got ya, partner."
"I know what will help, Danno." Grace headed for the kitchen.
Danny watched his daughter go with a smile before turning back to Steve. "Thanks for coming over. I think I scared Grace a little."
"Nah, she's fine."
Grace reappeared with a bag of frozen peas and a dish towel. "I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner! I learned this in first aid class. It's called improvisation."
Steve nodded, pleased with the little girl. "Very good, Gracie. We can use them for an ice pack until we get to the ER."
"Wait a minute. No hospital."
Danny repositioned himself on the couch, propping his foot awkwardly with a throw pillow.
"Danno." Grace groaned. "You have to go see the doctor. Your foot could be broken. And you hit your head."
He wanted to go on ranting. It felt good to release some steam. Helped with the pain. But this was his daughter. Danny gave in immediately.
"Alright, Monkey. Just to be sure."
Steve smiled at his best friend, locking eyes for a few seconds. Danny would do anything for Grace.
/././
They were met at the ED entrance by an aide with a wheelchair. Steve must have called ahead. Danny squinted in fluorescent light. He'd lost time on the drive to the hospital. With a deep breath, he focused on getting through the moment without alarming Grace. Because with his foot no longer propped up, he was close to having an out of body experience from the pain. Thankful for Steve, he gave an order he knew would be followed.
"Please sit out here and wait. Grace doesn't need to come back with me."
Steve didn't want to leave his friend's side. But he understood. He nodded. "Anything Danny."
"Okay then, no more Super SEAL lessons for my daughter. Elmer Fudd? Really Steven?"
Steve grinned and waved for the aide to push Danny through the doors to triage. He'd never admit how much he liked Danny calling him Steven.
/././
"Commander McGarrett?"
Steve shot up, scattering cards everywhere. He and Grace had been playing a rousing game of Go Fish. Neither of their hearts were in it though. They were both too worried about their Danno.
"How is he? How's Danny?"
"Mr. Williams is fine. Would you like me to walk you back?"
Steve looked around frantically. He couldn't leave Grace alone.
"I need to make a call first."
The woman smiled. "Just let the check-in desk know when you're ready."
She disappeared through the swinging doors.
/././
"It's not broken, Danny. You have a sprain. So no cast." Steve smiled at those familiar, but now blurry, blue eyes. "But you have a concussion from the knot on the back of your head."
"So that's why you interrupted my much-needed nap?"
Danny had passed out once the meds hit his system, drooling on himself happily. Now he was more than a bit testy with his best friend.
"And just where is my daughter, Steven? Did you leave her alone out there?" Danny craned his head toward the door. "You better not be filling her full of gummy bears and chocolate."
Steve laughed. "You must be high, Danny. Why would I do that? I learned my lesson last time."
"That's right. Sugar rushes are a bitch." Danny rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically. "And it's all granola and green smoothies for the Super Perfect Neanderthal. I believe you."
With a tilt of his head and a soft smile, Steve watched his best friend for a few seconds before filling him in. "Grace is with Kono out in the waiting area."
Danny fell back against the pillow, closing his eyes. "Thank you. You're really the best."
"Come on, sleeping beauty." Steve nudged Danny. "Let's get you home so you can rest up in your bed."
"How about your bed?"
Steve helped Danny sit up as he scanned the room for his clothes. "I'll ignore that. For now."
"For now." Danny gave Steve a lopsided grin. "I'll take that."
/././
A day or two later…
Steve crept into the house, hoping he hadn't alerted Danny. He wasn't supposed to stop by but couldn't resist checking on his best friend. Closing the door, he held his breath as he spun around to survey the darkened room.
"I am armed, you know, Steven." Danny sat on the couch facing the door, wrapped foot propped on pillows.
"Why are you sitting there with your gun out?"
A giggle turned into a snort. "Um what?"
"Okay that did not come out right. And you have a dirty mind." Steve ran his hand through his hair.
"Yea especially after the other night."
"Other night?"
"You really don't remember, do you?"
Hands on his hips, Steve frowned. "Why would I ask you if I remembered?"
"Ah huh. Now you're just dodging the question."
"What question? You didn't ask a question."
Danny chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "You're so easy, babe."
Steve glared. "You feel like messing with me? Now? You bored or something?"
"No, nope. It's you who's messing with me, my friend."
"It's late, Danny. Please take your meds and shut up."
"I already did, Steve." He wiggled his eyebrows and snapped the waistband of his boxers.
"Well, that explains a lot." Steve backed away from the couch.
"Why are you here, anyway?"
"I can't come and visit my best friend who happens to have a bum leg?"
"It's ten at night."
"Since when do you have a curfew?"
"Fair point." Danny pulled the coffee table closer and rearranged his pillow so there was room for Steve beside him. "There's beer in the fridge. Grab one and join me. There's a Die Hard marathon on tonight. All night."
/././
Steve jerked awake, heart racing. It took him a breath to remember where he was. Something exploded on the television. The night came rushing back. Danny, two beers and action movies. Would have been a perfect combination if Danny wasn't injured.
"Bed. Sleep now." Danny pulled Steve's arm into his lap.
Steve removed his arm from Danny's lap, keeping his face straight. "Hey don't make me carry you to bed."
"You and that mouth of yours." Danny purred and leaned in close, eyes focused on Steve's lips. "Always with the inappropriate."
Summoning all of his restraint, Steve chewed on his bottom lip and shook his head. "Not tonight."
"Come on. You've been coming on to me forever."
"Not like this."
"Like what?"
Steve sighed. "You're not yourself, Danny."
"Maybe I am more myself. Ever think of that?"
"Alright. It's bed time. And by that I mean you in your bed. By yourself."
Danny saluted Steve. "Yessir!"
"Come on, smart ass." Steve offered Danny his arm.
"Okay. Thank you." Danny yawned. "You're so good to me."
Steve pulled Danny a little too close, pressing their bodies together. The world could stop right there. But he knew he was asking for too much.
"You gonna take me to bed or what, big guy?"
Danny's breath was warm even through his T-shirt. Steve shivered.
"Yessir, Danno, sir."
Danny poked Steve in the ribs. "Funny."
They didn't speak as they hobbled back the hall. Steve made sure Danny was comfortable and turned to leave. Danny stopped him with three simple words.
"I love you."
"I love you, too. I'll be on the couch."
"You gonna kiss me good night?"
"Maybe tomorrow. When you feel better."
"Fair enough. Sweet dreams."
Chuckling, Steve smiled. "You caved."
"I caved?"
"I expected you to –"
"You want me to beg." Danny propped himself up a little higher.
"Beg?" Steve cleared his throat.
They stared at one another. Bickering had always been their thing, and even though, for them, it was a form of flirting, actually flirting was something new. And maybe a little awkward.
Danny yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Ignore me. I'm out of my mind."
"When aren't you?"
A puff of air, half chuckle and half pressure release escaped with Danny's next breath. Steve shifted his weight from one foot to the other, hands first on his hips and then shoved into his pockets.
"Could you please give me a kiss good night, you big dumb jerk?"
A smile spread across Steve's face. He couldn't help it. He smiled so hard he had to close his eyes for a second. Shaking his head, he let a silky slip of a laugh slip out.
"You think I'm funny?"
"No."
"No?" Danny's eyebrows creased into a mix of confusion and hurt.
"No." Steve sat on the edge of the bed. "I think you're," He leaned in, inches from Danny's face. "I think you're sexy."
Danny pulled away, dissolving into giggles. "You think I'm sexy?"
The way he said the words made Steve cringe and he blushed a deep pink as he averted his eyes to study a pulled thread in the bed's comforter.
"Hey, whoa. No. I'm sorry. You can think whatever you want. It's me." Danny grabbed Steve's forearm and let his hand slide down to cover Steve's hand.
"It's both of us." Steve laced their fingers together. "What are we doing?"
"Our usual?" Danny shrugged. "Acting like idiots."
"Then why don't you just kiss me? It's not like we haven't been dancing around this forever."
"Hey, I wanted to kiss you first. Now you're saying why don't you just kiss me?"
"How do you know it was you? Maybe I wanted to kiss –"
Danny grabbed Steve's shirt, stopping him mid-sentence. "Shut up."
Steve closed his eyes and leaned closer. "Make me."
"That's my line." Danny whispered against Steve's mouth, making him lick his lips. Danny took the opportunity and planted a kiss, closed-mouthed at first, but then it changed. Intensifying until Steve was on top of Danny. "Ow, Steve, ow."
Steve jumped up. "Shit, your ankle. God, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm good." Danny touched his lips. "Better than good."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Now, scoot. Before I lose my resolve."
Grinning Steve shuffled backwards toward the door. "Good night, Danny."
"Good night, Steven."
"I'm still sleeping on the couch."
"You sure?" Danny waved for him to go. "Ignore me. Go."
"I may be a Neanderthal animal, but I'm still a gentleman."
Danny ruffled his covers, adjusting his sleep pants. "Get out of here before I turn into an animal."
"You couldn't catch me with that bum leg."
"Try me." Danny growled.
"Alright, that's my signal to leave." Steve paused in the doorway. "Sweet dreams."
He didn't wait for Danny's smart ass reply. He kept moving until his butt hit the couch. The Die Hard marathon was still going. Steve settled in for the night, snuggling with Danny's favorite afghan, and drifted to sleep thinking about the awkward, wonderful kiss.
Thank you for reading. Stay safe out there. Until next time...