Hawaii Five-0 is property of CBS and its creators.

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Steve McGarrett was tired. He was 85 years old. He had a long string of accomplishments, in the Navy, as head of Five-0, as security adviser to the last several governors. He had been married to his husband and soulmate, Danny Williams, for 50 years. He'd helped raise Danny's daughter Grace and watched her marry and have kids of her own, then watched her kids have kids. He was ready to move on.

Danny wasn't. Steve knew he couldn't die and leave Danny on his own. It wasn't that Steve was afraid Danny couldn't live without him; it was that Steve couldn't live—couldn't die without Danny. Their soulmate bond was unbreakable, even, apparently, by death.

Steve lay in the hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and oxygen and feeding tubes and anything and everything else he could be. Danny sat by his side, where he'd been since Steve had been admitted over a week ago. Danny looked worn out, too, not just from lack of sleep from sitting with Steve, but from life. Steve didn't know why Danny couldn't let go.

"Danny," Steve gasped, gripping Danny's hand, "I need to go, please."

Tears filled Danny's eyes. "I know, Steve," Danny said. "It's just. . .it's hard to let go."

"I need you to," Steve begged. "Please," he said again.

"I'm sorry. It's just. . . I'm not ready."

Steve nodded and closed his eyes, resigned. He couldn't rush Danny, couldn't make the decision for him. All he could do was endure until Danny was ready.

Steve felt tears fall on his face. "I want to," Danny said. "I know it's time. It's just. . . I'm scared. Scared of what comes next."

Steve understood, he really did. He wasn't scared, though, not if Danny was going to be with him. He just needed to convince Danny.

Steve drifted into semi-consciousness, Danny still holding his hand, tears still falling. Steve didn't know how long it was before Danny drew a deep, shuddering breath and spoke.

"Okay," he said. "Okay, let's do this."

Steve tugged on Danny's hand, and the other man crawled into the hospital bed beside him, settling in next to Steve. Steve turned his head to share one last kiss with Danny, deep and passionate despite the fact that it was hard for Steve to breathe. Then he put his arm around Danny and drifted off for the last time.