Well, I think the plot bunnies have finally worn themselves out. This will definitely be the last chapter for a story that was only meant to have two! But it's still been a pleasure to write those unplanned chapters, and thank you so much for your kind reviews.

I said in my first author's note that I was going to include my thoughts on why Danny didn't appear in the final scene of the episode. Well, this is what my plot bunnies came up with. We've had the angst, the drama, and the odd cliffie. Now it's time for Danny to get some well earned rest, and for Steve to reflect on what he's learned.

Thank you again, and I hope to be back here soon.

Lessons Learned – Chapter Five

When Worlds Unite

If he had the chance, Steve McGarrett would find the nearest bunk, and gladly nosedive into it. Normally, of course, he could work the day around, and still have the energy to overthrow a corrupt government, but – well, for so many reasons, today's rollercoaster of events had left him physically, and emotionally, drained.

Until he'd called Chin, to update him on what had happened, Steve hadn't realized just how much those events had affected him. His third in command sounded unusually worried.

"You sure you're okay, boss? We've been watching the newsfeed here, and that bus is a mess!"

"I'm fine, Chin. I'm just waiting for Danny, then we'll be on our way in."

Breaking the connection, Steve then flexed his neck, rubbing away the tension around it. And if he was tired, he knew the same would go tenfold for Danny, who'd surely be exhausted by now, and… hm, maybe not. Aside from a crumpled shirt, a crooked tie that, of course, he now fastidiously straightened, and some minor cuts on his hands, he was as bouncily chirpy as ever.

Having run the gauntlet of backslaps from the various rescue teams, he now faced another – accepting the hugs and handshakes from Megan's overjoyed parents with a fellow parent's natural tolerance.

It must be a Jersey thing, Steve thought dryly, watching him lead them to where their daughter now lay on a gurney. There were times when he was sure his Jersey boy ate batteries for breakfast. He just kept going, and going, and going.

More seriously, he knew that Danny Williams didn't do anything by halves. He wouldn't leave this scene until he'd checked, then double checked, then triple checked, that Megan and her family were recovered enough from their ordeal to allow him to do so. Even when her gurney was finally rolled towards a waiting ambulance, Danny was right there beside it, smiling down at her. Reassuring her all the way.

Or maybe he was still on such a rush of adrenalin that he just couldn't relax, however much he tried – its inevitable consequence leading Steve to make a mental note for how to deal with that adrenalin-crash when it finally hit. A full coolbox of beer, and a few cosy blankets for another of their now regular 'debriefs' on the beach.

In that respect, he knew Danny Williams so well, but in others – hell, he was still totally clueless. What other talents did his friend have, that he didn't know about? With Danny, of course, the possibilities were endless.

Steve knew how to be a friend, though. Knew that, one way or another, he had to help Danny to wind down after such a stressful situation.

As the paramedics continued to treat Megan's injuries, it gave Steve the perfect chance to lead him gently away – far enough for them to talk in private, but still close enough that he could still see the little girl that he'd risked his life to save. He knew that talking would coax Danny into doing the same. That, in turn, would release the tension inside him.

It would also satisfy his own curiosity, and answer the question that he finally had the time to ask.

"So where did you learn to sign?" he asked at last, settling himself next to his friend on the ambulance stoop – noting that the tiredness he could see lurking in Danny's eyes was also starting to creep into his voice.

"Back in Jersey. One of the kids at Gracie's school was deaf, and… well, her parents wanted her to have as normal a life as possible," he replied through a weary smile, easing out kinks of stiffness from his neck and shoulders, before leaning against the door behind them. "I'd picked up some basics at the Academy too. My sergeant was an interpreter, both for signing and lipreading, so… well, as Grace learned to sign for Sarah, so did I."

Yep, should have guessed, Steve reflected through a proudly wry smile. Everything in Danny's life revolved around his precious Gracie.

"So you can lipread too?" he finally continued, pressing a bottle of water into his partner's hand – tagging another wry afterthought to his 'to do' list as Danny nodded through several reviving mouthfuls.

'From now on, Steven, be really careful with what you say.'

Wise words, of course, but advice that would be impossible for him to follow with Danny around – especially when the door beside them swung fully open, and a small bandaged hand waved for him to come inside.

Less than ten seconds after making that resolution, Steve found himself helplessly breaking it.

"Hey, Danno, I think you've found a new girlfriend," he grinned, gently nudging Danny's shoulder – unable to resist the follow-up that would make his life hell until Danny's tiredness finally caught up with him, and he crashed in mid-rant.

"She's smart, and cute. Not too tall for you either."

Exhaustion or no exhaustion, there was no way, in hell, that Danny was going to let that one go. Rising stiffly to his feet, he then leant down – and growled two words that were music to Steve's ears.

"Bite me."

The insult might have worked, of course, if he hadn't been grinning so much, and as for Steve – well, as he ruefully knew, once that smirk appeared on SuperSEAL's face, it stayed there for hours.

So it was a real surprise when he returned a few minutes later, his duties complete, and found a broad smile there instead – a grin that widened as Steve draped a brotherly arm over his shoulders and led him back to the car.

"Okay, SuperDanno, here's what we're going to do for the rest of today," he said at last, using the same tone he'd used with the fire chief, and so happy that Danny was too tired to argue.

"I'm going to drive you home, so you can get showered, cleaned up and changed, and get some rest. Then you're going to make an early start to your weekend with Gracie. Okay?"

It was a measure of how tired Danny was that his only protest was a single raised eyebrow. Or maybe he just knew, as he always freakily did, what his partner was thinking before he said it – agreeing that he'd been enough of a detective already today, and needed to be a father for the rest of it.

He needed sleep too, his eyes closing as soon as his head settled back against the seat behind it – giving Steve the rare and perfect chance to study him, without interruption, as he drove him gently home.

He'd learned more about his partner in this single day than… well, in the last six months combined. Now, more than he'd ever done before, he appreciated Danny's compassion. His affinity for helping people that formed so much of his character. His ability to forgive the people who failed to recognize it.

He just hoped that Nancy and Erica Harris could settle their differences, and forgive each other as easily. If they couldn't… well, Steve's smile now proudly widened as he glanced back at his sleeping partner.

If they couldn't, or wouldn't, he knew the perfect person to show them the way, and teach them the fine art of humanity.