So I needed to fix the end. My mind came up with this.. :)
Steve takes Cath’s hand, squeezing as the plane starts taxiing. Once in the air Cath turns to him.
“So Jersey? Really?”
Steve huffs out a laugh.
“Yeah Danny thought I’d find some peace there.”
“I’ll stay with you for a couple of days, but I have a new assignment coming in.”
“I’m just glad you’re here now.”
“As if Danny would let you walk away alone.”
“He and Lincoln are quite the pair.”
“Between them they make sure you are taken care of, sailor.”
Cath smiles at him, shutting her eyes and settling back against the chair. Steve squeezes her hand again and lets himself relax, his mind on Danny waiting for him as he drifts off to sleep.
******
Steve smiles as he watches the new recruits going through their paces. Clara introduced him to a friend working at the coast guard training centre after Steve moped around Jersey for a month. It took him a week to volunteer and he’s been here on and off for the last eight months. He’s in regular contact with his team and he met up Kono and Chin a couple of times, but he thinks he’s ready to go home now. He misses the team but most of all he misses Danny. He keeps going back to the last image he has of him, sitting on his chair looking out over the sea. He should have walked back, and .. his heart knows exactly what he should have done but back then his mind wasn’t ready. Right now his heart has convinced his mind that Danny is his peace and quiet, despite his loudness. His phone pings and he knows it’s Clara reminding him to be on time for dinner. He shoots a text back before waving to the crew, he finished his goodbye rounds already and he’s more than ready for some food.
******
The overhead lights blink on and Steve fastens his seat belt. The plane starts its descent and Steve closes his eyes. The touch down is a little rough, and when the lights blinks off he remains in his seat waiting for the plane to empty before he grabs his duffel from under the chair in front of him.
He’s impatiently waiting for his suitcase by the baggage belt and he keeps glancing at the big window at the end of the hall, trying to catch a glimpse of his partner. Danny insisted on picking him up and Steve agreed readily. When he walks through the sliding doors the first thing he sees is Charlie holding up a sign with ‘Aloha Uncle Steve’ on it in bright rainbow coloured letters. His eyes find Danny, the world around them fades away, and Steve’s heart skips a beat. Someone barrels into him and the moment is broken. Charlie spots him and is running top speed towards him, Steve catches him easily, hugging the little boy close as he walks towards Danny. He sets Charlie down on his feet when Danny opens his arms. He falls into them and tightens his arms around the broad back, he inhales Danny’s familiar scent and instantly relaxes. Danny is murmuring stupid nonsense into his ear and Steve just hugs him closer, not willing to let go just yet. When Charlie tugs on his pants he draws back a little, ruffling the boy's hair. He looks at Danny, pulling him in slowly. One hand cupping his cheek, he lets his thumb trail over Danny’s lips. He leans in and gives Danny ample time to pull away but when he doesn’t move Steve dips down and kisses Danny full on the mouth. Danny briefly kisses him back before he draws back. Softly smiling he tugs Steve’s ear.
“What took you so long, huh?”
A loud ‘ewww’ from Charlie startles them both into a laugh and Steve picks him up, swinging him high making him giggle. He slips his arm around Danny’s waist as they walk out of the airport. He stops and breaths in the humid, ocean air. He’s home.
Author note: Hopefully this little drabble can brighten your day!
Steve had been watching over Danny for about an hour now. He felt helpless, worried out of his mind, and the overwhelming guilt that came with knowing that it was his fault that Danny got hurt didn’t help. The only thing keeping Steve grounded was holding Danny’s hand, letting him know he was there even if he might not feel a thing, his fingers running over the knuckles.
Flashbacks were running through Steve’s mind as he let go and hid his face in his hands. Everything they had been through in the past 10 years, all the times they had saved each other, all the times they stood together and proved how well they fit together again and again. Everything Danny had done for him. Everything people had said about them, but they had never taken too seriously.
How long have you two been married?
Can’t bear to be apart, right?
Didn’t they deserve some happiness, after all? Wasn’t Danny the only person who’d always been by Steve’s side, never left him, and even welcomed him into his family? Suddenly everything seemed so clear, so simple. Steve was in love with Danny Williams and had been for years.
“Hey.”
Steve’s head jerked up. He was so relieved to hear the soft voice that he felt his whole body relax, everything focusing in on Danny now.
“Hey,” he replied just as softly, holding out one hand to gently lift some hair from Danny’s face.
“Why’d you stop holding my hand? We’re fighting?” Danny teased, the morphine letting him be more honest than usual. “It felt nice,” he mumbled quietly, and Steve immediately held his hand again, never to let go.
“No, no we’re not.” Steve couldn’t stop smiling. He didn’t understand why he’d ever wanted to leave this place. Leave Hawaii, the 5-0, his ohana, but especially his Danno. Finally he knew exactly what he needed.
**
It had been a few days since Danny was let out of the hospital, but he still couldn’t move too quickly without getting hurt. Steve had taken care of him like always, made everything so easy, but at the same time it only made things more difficult for Danny. There was no way he could get used to Hawaii without Steve.
They were now sat on their beach chairs, drinking cold beers and watching the sea, talking about everything and nothing. It hurt Danny to even think about how long it would take for him to have this again.
“So, I guess you have to leave soon, to catch your flight-” Danny started after they had been quiet for an unusually long time, but stopping with a surprised look on his face when Steve just shook his head.
“There is no flight, Danny. I can’t leave you, not now. Not ever. Don’t get me wrong, I will need some time from work, need to clear my head. But-” Steve shook his head, like he was annoyed that he couldn’t seem to find the right words. “It’s time I only want to spend with you,” he finally finished, voice soft and hands twitching with how nervous he was.
Danny looked at him for a long time, not believing his own ears. “Are you-” He winced as he tried to sit up too quickly, Steve reaching over to help him. “Are you telling me you’re not leaving? You’re going to stay?”
“I’m staying,” Steve confirmed, a goofy grin spreading over his face, and the hope started blooming in Danny’s chest again. “I picked you, didn’t I? And I’ll never forget it again.”
The words Danny had heard before all these years ago were like music to his ears. Steve had gotten close now, helping him sit up in the chair, and the worried look in his eyes only made Danny love him more.
Oh, fuck it, Danny thought, as he used his hands to pull Steve down and kiss him. Steve kissed him back without any hesitation, his hands going straight to Danny’s hair, changing the angle a little bit to deepen the kiss.
They kissed, and they kissed, and finally everything clicked. This was everything they’d both wanted, and they could do whatever they wanted now, whenever they wanted. Danny’s dream of them growing old together on the beach didn’t seem so far away anymore.
Ok. But the way Steve held Danny's hand while Danny was asleep in the hospital bed. And Danny's, "why'd you stop holding my hand?" after he woke up!
And Steve acknowledging Danny's the person he cares about MOST in the whole world.
And Steve's gut-wrenching prayer. Asking God to take him instead of Danny, just LET DANNY LIVE.
And Steve's sweet smile when he reads Danny's text on the plane. Danny saying he ALREADY MISSES STEVE even though it's been like 5 minutes since he saw him last.
Clearly our boys are in love with each other and can't imagine their lives without the other in it.
So I really want Danny to say "I told you not to make me come looking for you, you stubborn Ass. But before we go back I have some conditions. No exes, no mysteries, and no more 3 letter agencies please!!!"
Thanks for the prompt!! This was written kind of quickly, un-beta’d, and I might polish it later, but I hope it does service to your wonderful idea. I ended up splitting up Danny’s dialogue, but I think it worked. :-)
***
“Danny,” Steve sighed, closing his eyes and gripping the phone tight. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“I almost didn’t answer; I didn’t recognize this number,” Danny said. “Not that I mind -- texting is fun and all, but yeah, it’s . . . it’s good to hear your voice, too. This your new number? The team will want --”
“I’m calling from a payphone. It’s -- “ he stopped. “I started thinking, maybe I shouldn’t keep in touch.”
Danny was silent. Steve could feel the hurt and betrayal from thousands of miles away.
“We still don’t know if the threat is over, there could be more . . . I can’t do this, Danny, I can’t keep putting people I love in danger.”
“Steven. Don’t do this. You plunge yourself into that hole of guilt . . . you go too deep, there’s no coming back.”
Now Steve fell silent. He had promised to come back, but maybe it was safer if he didn’t.
“Steve? Steven!”
“I love you, Danny. Take good care of Eddie for me.” He hung up the phone before he could change his mind; before his emotions betrayed him.
Danny slowly thumbed the call off his phone screen, then pulled up another contact and pressed call.
“Yeah, Catherine? I’m gonna need Steve’s location. It’s time to bring our boy home.”
*******
Danny pulled the scarf up around his neck, hunched against the wind and a few determined pellets of freezing rain, as he made his way to the rental car building. The inconveniences of flying in to a small airport, he supposed.
The Jeep he’d requested was fueled up and ready for him. He tossed his bag into the passenger seat as he climbed in, wincing a bit. He hadn’t been back to driving for very long, and the flight had already stiffened his healing muscles. At least the bruising was completely gone. It had been weeks before Tani could look at him without tears.
The freezing rain quickly gave over to snow, making the drive even more peaceful. He thought nothing of the conditions. Montana snow was still easier than Jersey ice.
He wasn’t surprised to see Steve on the porch as he pulled up to Joe’s ranch. He wondered if there was ever -- would ever -- be a time that Steve wasn’t hyper-aware of his surroundings. He wondered the same for himself, now, as he pulled himself carefully, stiffly, out of the driver’s seat.
"I told you not to make me come looking for you, you stubborn ass."
“I wouldn’t have thought you’d look for me here,” Steve said, pulling a blanket tighter around his shoulders.
“Yeah, for someone who needed to get away from memories . . . you picked a weird place for that,” Danny said. He studied Steve, taking in his appearance. His cheeks looked a bit pinched under his thick, soft beard, but his beard was trimmed, his eyes clear. Danny had seen worse. He snorted as he took in Steve’s bare feet.
“Must be slipping if you could track me,” Steve said. “Or was it a lucky guess?”
“You gonna let me come in, or you gonna get frostbite on your toes?”
Steve smiled at him then, genuine and full of affection. Danny felt relief wash over him.
“Get in here, Danno.” Steve held his arms open, and in a few steps, Danny felt himself wrapped tight, cocooned with Steve in the warmth of the blanket.
******
“I can’t believe you low-jacked me,” Steve said, but he was grinning.
“Catherine said she’d tag the one thing you’d never ditch.”
“My Sig?”
“The picture of Grace and Charlie, actually,” Danny said. He raised his eyes to look into Steve’s.
Steve’s breath caught. “I love them. That’s why I can’t come back, Danny. She knew, she knew exactly how to get to me, how to hurt me the most -- I almost lost you. What if it’s not over? Hell, what if someone else I took down decides to come after me? What if they go after the kids?” He stood up abruptly and walked to the fireplace. Resting his hand on the mantel, he turned his back to Danny.
Steve flinched when Danny rested a hand on his back. “Turn around and look at me,” Danny said softly.
Steve turned, reluctantly, and even with his head ducked down, Danny could see tears threatening to well over.
“Steve. You remember the last time I got shot? Did that have anything to do with you?”
Steve shook his head.
“No. That was one of my old cases. That guy could have decided to go after the kids. Thank God he didn’t. But Petterson did, remember? He took Gracie. You’re not the only one who’s made enemies in their line of work, Steven. I have, too. Your dad did. Your mom. And Joe. But you have something they didn’t, Steve, you have a family. An ohana. You taught me that -- you gave me that. And now, instead of turning to that family for comfort -- comfort we all needed -- you ran.”
“I’m exhausted, Danny, like never before. I thought, getting away, getting some space, would . . . and then I almost lost you, because of a vendetta against me and I thought -- I wanted to get as far away as I could, before anyone else got hurt. I didn’t want to risk hurting the team any more by staying.”
“You hurt us by leaving,” Danny said softly. “You hurt me, leaving.”
“Danny, I’m so sorry,” Steve said. “I should have been there for you.”
“Did leaving help? Has some space and distance helped you, Steve?”
Steve shook his head, the tears finally spilling over. “No,” he rasped. “God, no.”
Danny pulled him into his arms, Steve tucking his face into his uninjured shoulder. Danny could feel a few hot tears splash onto his neck.
“You needed a vacation and instead chose an exile,” Danny said, rubbing Steve’s back. “Nincompoop.”
Steve chuckled and held Danny tighter.
“I’m pretty sure we’re both exhausted,” Danny said. “Come on, let’s get some rest. Then we’ll talk.”
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to follow Steve down the hall and into the bedroom he was using. Steve shucked off his jeans and pulled on a pair of soft, faded flannel pants.
“My bag’s still in the Jeep,” Danny said, but he was already unbuttoning his jeans and flannel shirt. Steve reached into a drawer and pulled out a similar pair of flannel pants and tossed them to Danny. It was easy enough for him to shed his jeans, but he winced as he tried to ease his arms out of his shirt.
“Let me help,” Steve murmured. He gently, carefully slipped the shirt off Danny’s broad shoulders and tossed it aside. His fingers traced carefully over Danny’s black t-shirt, where he knew the bullet wound was, feeling the small bandage still present. “It’s healing?”
“Yeah, Steve. It’s healing just fine.” Danny pulled on the flannel pants, shooting a glare at Steve’s smirk when he rolled the hem up. “Shut up and gimme some socks, would’ja?”
The bed was soft, the fluffy quilts just the right weight, and Steve’s shoulder the perfect fit. This was different than sharing the bed in DC. There was no hesitancy, no caution. DC had been about efficiency and Steve’s raw anguish. This . . . this was mutual exhaustion and mutual comfort.
“I shouldn’t have left,” Steve said, rubbing his fingers absently over Danny’s bicep. “You were already living in my house, this should have happened a while ago.”
“Well. Technically, nothing’s happened yet,” Danny said. He thought they were on the same page, done with fighting this thing between them, but what if --
His thought was cut off by Steve leaning up and over, pressing his lips to Danny’s in a soft, sweet, lingering kiss.
“There. Now, technically something has happened.”
“Can I hope for more to happen?” Danny asked. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face if he tried, but Steve looked solemn.
“If you can forgive me,” he said quietly. “And if you can’t, I’ll understand.”
“Goof,” Danny said, wrapping his hand around the back of Steve’s neck and pulling him down for a kiss, one that was not quite as soft, or sweet. “Steve. I do forgive you. Yeah, it hurt but . . . I know you were trying to do what you needed to do, to protect us. But next time, listen, hunh? When you get wrapped up inside your head and feel like you need to run, listen when I ask you to stay, yeah?”
*****
Danny woke slowly, the smell of coffee and bacon drifting in from the kitchen. He sat up in bed, stretching out his stiff shoulder, and stopped in surprise at the sight of Steve’s bag, open and mostly packed at the end of the bed. He slipped out of bed and padded toward the kitchen, careful not to trip on the too-long pajama pants.
“Babe?”
Steve grinned and poured a second mug of coffee, holding it out to Danny.
Danny accepted it and took a grateful sip. “Your bag is almost packed.”
“Good work, detective.”
“You thinking of running away some more?”
“Thinking of running home,” Steve said slowly. “With you. For good -- no running; not me, not you.”
Danny pretended to think it over. “Okay. But before we go back I have some conditions.”
“Okay,” Steve said cautiously.
“No exes, no mysteries and no more 3 letter agencies please!!!"
“Danny, you have to know, Catherine wasn’t --” Steve started earnestly.
Danny held up a hand to interrupt him. “Babe, I know. I, ah, might have been the one to suggest Catherine get you through the first leg of your little expedition. She told me, it’s not that way between the two of you . . . explained it when we were talking about putting that locator on you. I don’t just mean Catherine. No more Lyns, or Ambers, or Brookes . . . no more half-assed attempts to convince ourselves that there’s anyone else for us but each other.”
Steve nodded enthusiastically.
“And for the love of God, Steven -- I don’t care who comes with an envelope or a message from the beyond -- no more. Stop letting your past hurt you. You’re not responsible for the choices of your parents. You don’t owe them anything. You don’t owe the CIA or the NSA or any other alphabet a damn thing.” Danny didn’t try to keep the anger out of his voice.
“The Navy?” Steve asked quietly.
Danny heart skipped a beat. “You’d give it up?”
“For you.”
“Babe. Asking you not to love the Navy, to cut yourself off from your fellow sailors . . . God, your brothers . . . no. No way. But no crazy stunts! No more jumping in with Junior on crazy missions!”
“I’ll ask you first, I promise,” Steve said, grinning.
“Ask -- first -- no, no, Steven, that is not --” Danny stopped, narrowing his eyes at Steve. “You’re joking.”
Steve shrugged. “Mostly.” He turned back to the stove and cracked some eggs into a skillet.
“So?” Danny asked. Steve looked back at him over his shoulder.
“So, what?”
“So, do you agree to my conditions?”
“Yes, Danny,” Steve said, rolling his eyes. “Yes, I agree to your terms, I accept your conditions, nag, nag -- here. Eat your breakfast. We need to get to the airport, catch the next plane out.”
Danny took a bite of perfect scrambled eggs and moaned softly. Steve raised his eyebrows and gave him a heated glance.
“I never even got my bag out of the car,” Danny said.
“Well, that’s gonna make packing real easy for you, buddy.”
“Or . . . you did, at one point, want to get away. Get some space. Clear your head.” Danny gestured around the ranch house, the wide porch, and the peaceful scenery around them. “You could still do that.”
Steve put his plate down across from Danny’s with a thunk. “I thought you wanted me to come home.”
“Oh, I do. Absolutely. But . . . we’re here already. We both could use some time away, some time to rest, and heal . . . together. Don’t you think?”
Steve nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Yeah. Yeah, that sounds nice, Danny.”
Danny grinned back at him. “And, you know, we can see if . . . maybe that something more we mentioned will happen.”
Steve stood up quickly.
“Ste -- where you going?” Danny waved his fork at Steve’s still full plate.
“I’m getting your bag out of the car and calling Catherine to say thank you,” Steve said.
“Nincompoop!” Danny called after him.
“Your nincompoop,” Steve yelled back over his shoulder.
Danny shook his head in resignation. Steve still didn’t have socks on.
In lieu of that minute in 10x 22 we don't talk about of Hawaii Five 0 and my love for all things McDanno...
Danny and Steve are have a seemingly trivial conversation when Danny just goes,
Danny: Did I ever tell you the story of how I got kicked out of the Boy Scouts?
Steve: You were a Boy Scout?? How did I not know about this?!
Danny: You're such a control freak, Steven. I swear to God. And yes, I was a Boy Scout, briefly.
Steve: On with the story, Daniel.
So Danny goes on to tell Story of how he didn't know at the time that becoming the boyfriend of a fellow Scout was a big no-no and how they got caught kissing and their parents got called and they were "politely" uninvited from any and all Boy Scout activities in the future.
Danny: Ma was livid. Apparently so was Ricky's parents. But they are New Yorkers, they're always mad.
Steve: You're bisexual?!?!
Danny: Seriously? That's all you got from the story, Steven?
Steve: Oh no, I got plenty from that story like how the Williams' rage is a genetically acquired trait but back to my question, Danno.
Danny: Christ! Yes, Steve, if the fact of childhood boyfriend escaped your notion. I am in fact a mythically acclaimed bisexual.
Steve: Uh.
Danny: Uh? That's all you gotta say? Uh?
Steve: Well this is information that I would have liked to have many years ago. But it's never too late I guess.
Danny: What are you on about now, you weirdo?
Take note that Steve might be across the globe and maybe planning on going home to finally, finally to ask Danny on a date or propose because at this point dating just seems like going back and he is tired of backtracking.
And maybe, he buys a ring, perhaps he stops in Jersey and possibly goes to Grace and quite certain he makes it home and blows Ricky Bonaducci's ribs out of the water with a romantic dinner overlooking the horizon as he finally gets the peace he'd been looking for.
Danny's kisses feel like everything he didn't know he'd been needing all this time.
Danny unlocked the door with a grunt, trying to juggle coffees, keys and pastries. Successfully managing this trick, why was Steve never around to witness these miracles, honestly! Danny set the coffees on the shared front desk and began turning on lights.
"How did you leave thirty minutes before me but get here thirty seconds before me?" Steve asked from the door, laughing at his partner. Danny sniffed, reaching for the coffees and pastries.
"See if I buy you delicious treats again," he huffed, preparing to take his bounty to his own office. Steve raised his hands, worry creasing his forehead.
"Babe, I'm sorry, don't take the goodness away from me," he pouted,, reaching over to grab Danny's wrist. Danny gave him a hard look, seeing the patened McGarrett puppy eyes.
"You are a child and you don't deserve my treats," he sighed, handing over coffee and Steve's half of the goodies. The big, bright smile he got in return was entirely worth it. This was a routine they went through every day or a variation of it at least.
"Uh, hello?" a small, tremulous voice said from the door. They both turned to the small woman hovering in the doorway. "I'm hoping you can help me? I've heard so much about you..."
"That'll be his crazy antics, getting us a bad rep," Danny said with a smile, inviting the woman in. "Danny Williams, pleasure to meet you. This giant idiot is Steve McGarrett."
"Nice, Danno, reeaal professional," Steve protested, holding a chair put for their prospective client. Danny flapped a hand at him to shush him and asked the woman how they could help. Steve rolled his eyes, pulling a face at the back of Danny's head. The woman, who had looked nervous and jumpy, giggled.
"You two really are exactly the same," she said. "You probably don't remember me, you helped me a long time ago. I thought you'd left the Island. I was so happy when I heard you came back and opened this place. I hope you can help me again."
Danny shared a look with his work partner, best friend and, more recently, life partner. Steve gave him a serious one back. They had been through a hell of a lot since the day they met. They had nearly lost each other when Steve left with Catherine just six months before.
Danny thanked any god that cared to listen, every day, that Steve had changed his mind and come right back home. He was glad they had talked, really talked, no riddles or half truths or deliberate misunderstandings. And now they were here, together.
"Ohana PI are always happy to help," Danny assured her with a smile, bumping his shoulder with Steve's.
Okay, so Steve says his goodbyes to everyone and heads to the airport. Danny is still sitting out on the beach and Tani comes out and asks him if he’s okay. He says no. There was a lot he didn’t tell Steve while he was here, because he couldn’t, and now Steve’s leaving, so he’s missed his opportunity.
Tani isn’t exactly sure what Danny needs to tell Steve, but she’s onboard. She says, “Not yet you haven’t!”
She gets Danny in her car, and Junior comes too and the put on the lights and sirens and haul ass across town to the airport. Danny’s still recovering from being shot, so he can’t run, but Junior gives him a piggy back ride and all three of them catch up to Steve just before he’s going to go through security.
Steve’s like, “What’s going on, guys?”
Junior puts Danny down and he and Tani look at Danny, and Danny can’t figure out what to say, so he just grabs Steve and kisses him, right there in front of everybody.
Then Danny lets go and says, “That’s it. That’s all I had to say.”
Steve shakes his head and laughs and asks, “Is this you coming out, Danno?”
Danny says, “Sure, yeah. Whatever. Will you stay?”
Steve looks around for a moment and then says, “Yeah. I’ll stay.”
Give me a ship + two tropes and I’ll tell you how I’d mash them together.
