Steve wanted to leave the hospital the next day, but Lono would not sign discharge papers and left him feeling frustrated as Danny changed into street clothes. He lay back against the pillows, feeling every bit of damage to his body and knew he'd had worse, but at this moment he couldn't think of when that was.

"Who's going to stay with you?" McGarrett asked.

"Rachel and Grace," Williams answered and Steve heard the change in his voice. He knew how much Danny cared for Rachel and hoped things would work out for them.

Steve looked toward the door as it opened and smiled at the woman who entered. "Good morning, Rachel."

"Good morning, Steve, is Danny ready?"

"I don't know..."

"Hey, Rachel," Williams said with a smile when she moved to hug him.

"Are you ready to go?"

"I'm ready," Williams answered.

"Where are your discharge instructions?" McGarrett asked with a grin.

"I...they're," the Jersey native looked around, and realized the nurse had yet to bring them. "Hell..."

"Danny, please tell me you don't use that language around our daughter," Rachel lightly chastised.

"I don't, Rachel," Williams assured her as the door opened again.

"Detective, I see you're ready to leave," the nurse said and pointed to the wheelchair.

"You bet," Danny said and turned to his partner. "Steve, I'll be back..."

"You need to rest, Danny," McGarrett told him.

"I'll see that he gets plenty of rest," Rachel assured him and felt the heat rush to her cheeks at the smile on her ex-husband's face.

"Now that's the best offer I've had in a long time," Williams said as the nurse handed Rachel the paperwork.

"Dr. Wahine wants to see him in a week," the nurse said.

"That'll be easy...I'll just come visit Steve and she'll be here," Williams teased and saw the hint of a smile on his partner's face. "You need anything just call."

"I will, Danny, thanks," McGarrett said simply. He watched them leave and reached for the control for the television, but found there was very little on to keep his attention. He closed his eyes and thought about the events of the last month, but opened them when he heard someone at the door.

"I'm sorry, Steve, I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't, Keanna," McGarrett said with a smile.

"Are you sure...I can come back later."

"I'm sure...unless this is a professional visit."

"No, purely personal and selfish. I...Steve, I..."

"Don't say it, Keanna, I know all about hospital protocol, and I assure you I'm making my own decision here and besides, you're not my doctor," McGarrett told her.

"No, and I'm glad...because then I'd have to hide what I'm feeling and well, I'm like the rest of the female...and some of the male staff."

"What?"

"We're all waiting to see you get out of that bed and take a walk...preferably without anything covering your...ass-ets." Wahine said and smiled at the thought of being with this man.

"Well, I could put on a show just for you," McGarrett said.

"Oh, I'd like that," Keanna said.

"Will you do the same for me?"

"Oh, I think it could be arranged, but I doubt you're in shape for anything like that right now."

"You'd be surprised at what I'm in shape for," Steve said.

"Something tells me you're not just saying that," Keanna said and lost herself in his eyes.

"I'm not and you can't blame it on drugs either since I haven't taken anything since midnight," McGarrett assured her.

"Still being a Super SEAL Rambo type?"

"Danny talks too much."

"Or else he just knows you too well," Wahine said. "Oke said he's probably going to release you in a couple of days. I have a few days off and was wondering..."

"I'd love to have my own private doctor."

"It would be in an official capacity, but I'd enjoy giving you a full physical," Keanna said.

"You're on," McGarrett told her and smiled before pulling her close and kissing her. The sweet taste of her lips reminded him of strawberry wine and he knew he could lose himself in the feel of her against his body.

"I think I'd better go before we go any further...I might not be able to stop."

"Who said I wanted you too?" McGarrett asked.

"What if..."

"Tell them you're doing a physical and I'm all for it," Steve said and smiled when she ran her fingers along his cheek.

"Sorry, but those drugs are still in your system so physicals...full and personal will have to wait until I get you home," Wahine told him and pulled away as she felt the flush of her cheeks. "I'd better go..."

"You'd better stay."

"I'll come back later."

"You better," McGarrett told her and sighed heavily as he watched her leave. She really was a beautiful woman and he wanted to spend some time getting to know her.

5050505050

Danny stepped into the curio shop and spotted the woman standing behind the counter. She wasn't as cold this time and actually smiled at him as he moved toward her.

"Detective Williams, it is nice to see you again. I will get Grandfather," Halia told him, but did not have to move because the elderly man was standing behind her.

"Welcome back, Detective," Akamu Liwai greeted him with a smile that made his whole face light up and his eyes sparkle.

"Thank you, Mr..."

"Grandfather is what I answer to," the elderly man said.

"Thank you, Grandfather," Williams said. "Halia called to tell me you have finished with the mug."

"I have," Liwai said and reached for a box beneath the counter. He placed it on top and opened it, his gnarled hands shaking as he pulled the mug from where it was nestled in navy blue tissue paper. He cradled it for several seconds before handing it to the man who'd ordered it.

Danny looked at the mug and swallowed back the emotions as he looked at the intricate detail that went into making the mug. He looked from it to the aged man whose hands were shaking and wondered how he'd managed to keep them still long enough to not only handcraft the picture, but the sailor's creed and the date the original mug had been made. He ran his fingers over the etchings and a hint of a smile was born.

"Does it meet with your approval?"

"It surpasses it," Williams answered. "I owe you...big time."

"You owe me nothing so long as you and your chosen brother have mended the fences," Liwai told him.

"We have," Danny said and reached for his wallet.

"Do not think to insult me by putting a monetary value on it," Liwai said.

"I don't understand."

"Years ago my father created that mug for his chosen brother. I have simply replaced it for another man so that a friendship can be completely mended," the elderly man answered.

"I can't..."

"Yes, you can, Detective," Halia said with a smile as the elderly man turned and walked away. "You have given my grandfather something he lost when his hands began to shake. He has not been able to do anything like this in many years, but when he saw the picture it gave him something to hope for. He loved his father and listened to his stories, but the one that always made an impression on him was the story of that mug. You may have broken it in the heat of anger, but you brought life into him when you asked if he could replace it. Money could never heal my grandfather the way you did today."

"But..."

"Take it and know the value of your friendship with your chosen brother for it is worth far more than money. Thank you, Detective, you have given him purpose again and a feeling of belonging," Halia said and wrapped the gift before handing it to Williams. "Take it and know as irreplaceable as it seemed, it was also a healing balm for my grandfather. Good bye, Detective."

"Thank you," Danny said and left the curio shop with the precious gift that had breathed life into an old man.

5050505050

Steve had never been so glad to be home and headed to the back of the house as soon as Mary opened the door. Chin and Kono had picked him up and brought him home and were helping Mary in the kitchen. Rachel, Grace, and Danny would be joining them for a late lunch and he was looking forward to seeing them. Mary would be leaving in a couple of days, and he wanted to spend as much time as he could with her.

"Steve, would you like something to drink?" Mary called from the open doorway.

"Just water," McGarrett answered and looked toward the ocean. He wanted to go fro a swim, but it would be a couple of weeks before the cast came off his leg. Then there were the other wounds and his ribs, yeah, it looked like he was in dry dock for a while yet. He turned when he heard footsteps and wasn't surprised to find his partner moving to join him.

"You still look like hell, Steve, are you sure Lono signed your discharge papers or did you go AWOL?" Williams asked.

"I got my walking papers," McGarrett answered.

"More like shuffling if you ask me," the Jersey native said and placed a box on the table in front of his partner.

"What's this?"

"Open it and find out," Williams told him.

"Will something jump out and bite me?" McGarrett asked.

"Maybe...like I said open it and find out. You have had all your shots right?"

Steve reached for the box and opened it to find a mound of brightly colored tissue paper. He frowned when he pulled the tissue from the box and lifted the item from inside. His breath caught in his throat when he looked at the cherished mug he'd thought lost to him forever. "How?"

"I found the man who made it. Okay, not the man, but his son and he remembered his father making the mug and the reason behind it. I know it's not the original, Steve, and I'm sorry I took that away from you..."

"Danny, this...this..."

"I know...and I'm sorry.. I wish I could change what happened..."

"No, Danny, that's not what I was going to say," McGarrett told him. "This is just like the one my father gave me, but it...I just...thanks, Man."

"Anytime," Williams said and sat back with a smile.

"Steve, did you want this now?" Chin asked.

"Yeah, bring it out," McGarrett answered.

Chin placed the item on the easel they'd set up at McGarrett's request once Mary told him a package had arrived. He knew what it was and had called Melina Collins to make sure before arranging this display. He looked at the mug, a treasured gift from the past that was now renewed and hoped this gift would represent the future as well as the past.

"What's this?" Williams asked when McGarrett looked at him.

"Open it and find out," McGarrett told him.

Danny frowned, but moved to the easel as Rachel and Grace watched with the others. He eased back the tape and removed the brown paper that covered it. His mouth opened in surprise at the painting of his daughter, forever immortalized with a smile that spoke of the happiness she'd felt at the moment the picture was taken.

"Steve...how...this is..."

"Beautiful," Rachel observed, and touched the frame that covered the portrait. It was dark mahogany inlaid with gold leaves and she was amazed at how well the artist had captured their daughter's innocence. She took Grace by the hand and led her into the house while the others quietly followed.

Danny Williams walked over to the table and sat down in the chair next to his partner. He couldn't find the words to express how he felt and just reached out with his hand, surprised when McGarrett took it without a word. So many things had happened in the last six weeks, but their friendship had survived and grown stronger with the shattering of a mug and the renewal of the bond that made them brothers.

"Thanks, Danno," McGarrett said with a grin.

"Oh, no, you did not just say that!"

"What?"

"You're childish...you know that!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh really...I suppose you're thinking about going for a swim! Well let me tell you something about your cast. You go getting that wet and it'll drag you down and I'm not going to save your ass!"

"I never asked you too..."

"Oh, Hell, they're at it again," Chin said with a smile that spread to the others as the partners settled back into their usual bickering relationship.

The End!