Chapter 1:
"Danny, I'm so sorry." Steve murmured as he drove the Camaro down the road from the 5-0 head quarters.
Danny sighed with irritation as he sat in the passenger seat. He was seething with an angst and frustration towards Steve he hadn't felt in years as the A/C blew against his hot body.
"I mean, no one knew anything about the drugs there. How were we to know what they did, exactly?"
Maybe try questioning instead of leaping at them with guns?
"Now. . .you would probably say some smart ass comment if you could talk. . .probably something like. . .'well, maybe if you weren't so hell bent on using that damn gun of yours, it wouldn't result in chases.'" Steve chuckled at his impression of Danny.
Steve's tone infuriated him. Danny let out a warning growl.
Steve chuckled. "What, you didn't like that? I thought it was pretty spot on."
Danny let out another growl as he stared forward at the dash, continuing his pouting.
"But Danny, as you recall, I went about it peacefully."
Danny growled again. No you didn't, you piece of work!
"I did! No guns, no force. . .they went crazy. So I had to act on the defense."
If Danny could, he'd roll his eyes. He just let out another growl.
"I know. Okay. I'm sorry. Again. But until the team of researchers and chemists figure out an antidote, you can just relax and hang with me."
Danny turned to look at him as Steve continued to drive down the road.
"We'll just pick some things up at the pet store, and get home." Steve murmured as he reached over and offered his hand to Danny.
Danny hissed. Really? The pet store? I'M NOT AN ANIMAL!
"Danny! Come on!" Steve spoke in surprise. "That wasn't a jab, we need some stuff. The team gave us 3 days. 3 days. . .you have to be a cat. Wouldn't you rather be comfortable than not have the things you need?"
Danny sighed. He sniffed Steve's hand and nudged it with his nose. Fine. If we're doing this, I guess it's wise to have a few things.
"There you go. You can even come in with me." Steve murmured as he ran his hand over Danny's head and down his back. "I'll give you as much of an opportunity to choose things you like."
Danny sighed again. I guess I have to get used to being a cat for a bit.
"Chin and Kono are calling Rachel."
Aw, fuck please don't call Rachel. Danny grimaced at the thought of his ex knowing he was now a furry creature.
"They're just telling her so that she's prepared. I'm hoping she'll be at my house by the time we get there." Steve said as the car slowed and they turned into a parking lot. "I'm planning on telling Grace, too."
Aw, Steve, come on, man. Danny let out a disgruntled meow.
"I know, man, but I'd rather her know that you're a cat than lie to her, saying 'oh, he went missing.' Or. . . 'oh, he went on vacation. . .and decided not to tell you or call you.' This is the best I can think of. And. . .if it takes the researchers and chemists a bit longer. . .she will know, and. . .we won't have to drag anything out. And most importantly, we won't have to lie to her."
Danny sighed as he felt Steve scratch his shoulders. I guess this won't be too bad.
"Grace will probably like you better as a cat." Steve chuckled as he found a parking space and pulled into it.
Danny let out another disgruntled meow making Steve laugh.
"I'm sorry. Come on, Danno." Steve murmured, going to pick up Danny.
Danny stood up and leapt into Steve's open arms, sticking to Steve's body as he did.
"Ow!" Steve chuckled as he grabbed Danny's petite, golden-blond, fluffy body and pulled him close. "Okay. Can you get yourself unstuck?"
Danny retracted his claws as best he could and slipped them from Steve's shirt.
Steve chuckled and rubbed Danny's cheek. "Alright. You are learning fast. Let's go."
They wandered into the store, with Danny resting on Steve's broad shoulders as Steve pushed the store's cart around. They did get a few odd looks, including a few double takes, as Danny sat on Steve's shoulders. It made Steve chuckle and smile as he looked around.
Steve had grabbed a bed, reasoning with Danny that even though he was welcome to sleep in his bed, he also had the choice of sleeping in his own bed. Steve wandered down another aisle, grabbing a small cat post. This made Danny meow loudly.
"What?"
Danny meowed into his ear again.
"Well, I can't have you tearing up my furniture. And I know you would if given the chance."
Danny pushed his forehead against Steve's ear. Yeah, I would. Especially when you weren't looking, you ridiculous animal.
"And that way if the need rises, you also have it there to use." Steve chuckled and set the cat post in the cart.
They continued walking around the store. They went to the bowl selection and picked out 2 bowls. They then continued to another section.
"I'll be sure to make your food so you won't have to deal with the regular cat food stuff. . .only fair because you did the same for me." Steve said absentmindedly as he looked up at down at the shelves of cat food. "Oh, and I thank you again for that." He gazed at the bagged foods. "Can't taste all that good. . ."
Danny purred and let out a soft mew in his ear.
Steve grinned. "You like that thought, huh?" He whispered.
Danny bopped his head against Steve's neck.
Steve chuckled as he continued to another section. "Oooo, kitty litter and a box. . ." He reached out for one.
Danny growled and meowed warningly.
"What?"
Steve, I can go in a toilet still! I don't need a box! He growled.
"You need a place to. . .go, Danny. Come on." Steve murmured as he grabbed a simple box and a bag of litter.
Oh, my god! You can't be cleaning up after me! Ugh, I know we're together, but. . .that's just too much! Danny huffed out a loud breath and growled again. How embarrassing. . .geez. . .
Steve only laughed at Danny's response as he moved his cart to the cashier's counter.
"Hello! Oh, what a lovely cat!" The young woman said as Steve stopped at the counter. "Is it okay if I pet. . .him?"
Steve nodded. "Him." He turned to Danny. "What do you say, bud?"
Danny hopped down from Steve's shoulder onto the counter and sat in front of the woman. He let out another small, delicate sounding mew. Alright. Let's get this thing over with.
"What's his name?" The woman asked as Steve put the smaller items on the counter.
"Danny."
"Hello, Danny. What a handsome kitty you are!"
Yeah, yeah. You're kind. Very kind. Danny purred and allowed the woman to massage him at his shoulders.
"How old is he?"
"39." Steve answered absentmindedly as he set the bowls on the counter.
"Sorry, 39?" The woman asked, clearly surprised by the number.
Steve shook himself. "Sorry. . .he's about. . .5?"
"Well, he looks mighty lovely."
Steve nodded. "Thank you."
"Newly acquired?" She asked as she scanned the cat post, the box, and the litter.
"Um. . .nah, just new. . .items. I've known this guy for a while." Steve said as he looked down at Danny.
Danny looked back up at him with his blue eyes.
"I've never seen a cat with his markings and that blue of an eye color. He's really handsome looking."
Steve looked up and smiled at her. "Well, thank you. . .from the both of us."
She nodded. "Must say, it's quite different to see a cat freely in a pet store."
"Oh, is that against the rules?" Steve asked as he grabbed Danny to hold onto him.
The woman shook her head as she began to scan the items. "Not that I know of. I've seen cats on harnesses or in open purses or carriers, but not so freely out. As long as he doesn't run off and loose in the store, I imagine it's okay."
Steve smiled. "Oh, good." He said as he patted Danny's rump before setting him down on the counter.
The woman smiled. "Did you find everything you were looking for today?"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
After purchasing the wares, and driving from the pet store, they headed to Steve's home. The sky was painted with reds, yellows, and oranges. Steve turned down his road as he glanced up at the sky and back down to the road. "Almost there, buddy." He murmured as he slowed his truck as he drove onto his driveway. "Well, looky here." Steve murmured as he parked in the wide driveway.
Danny looked at Steve, expecting that he'd tell him what was going on.
"Rachel and Grace are already here." Steve murmured as he kept his gaze on Rachel's car. He turned the truck off and sighed. "Okay. Here's the window. Stay in here for a bit. I'm going to go talk to her, okay?" He said as he rolled the window down. He exited his truck and closed the door. He walked over to the car. As Steve approached the car and saw Rachel roll down the passenger window, where Grace sat.
"Ma'am." Steve started. "Do you know how fast you were going?" Steve said in his best cop voice.
Grace giggled.
Steve smiled at her. "How's it going, gals?"
"Good." Grace responded. "Mum said you wanted to talk to me?"
Steve glanced at Rachel. She weakly smiled, worry etched on her face. He looked back to Grace's bubbly face. "You are most definitely right, m'lady. You wanna go sit on the steps?"
Grace nodded. "Sure."
Steve opened the door and let her hop out and run over to his small front porch. He closed the door and looked at Rachel. "Have you told her anything?"
Rachel shook her head. "No. . .I figured you'd want to tell her and. . .you could explain things a bit better." She said quietly.
Steve looked over at Grace as she sat down on the steps and looked over at him.
"Steve?"
Steve looked back to her.
"Um. . .how is he?"
Steve smiled. "He's a trooper, that's for sure."
Rachel's gaze moved away from Steve, down to the empty seat next to her.
"Hey."
Rachel looked up at him.
"He's Danny. He'll be okay." Steve smiled weakly at her. "We have a guy who. . ." He paused, looking at the car's gear shift, thinking of a way to explain Dr. Robert Young to her. "He just. . ." He paused again. "He knows what he's doing with this kind of stuff."
Rachel weakly smiled again. "I hope he'll be okay."
Steve nodded. "He will be. It's painful. . .changing like that, but he'll be okay." He said with a smile. "He's acting the same. . .ornery, pouty, but kind. He's very much 'Danny in a cat's body'."
Rachel smiled widely at those words.
Steve grinned. "Alright, well. Let me chat it up with Grace."
"Okay." Rachel nodded.
Steve tapped the window frame and moved to the steps where Grace sat. Steve sat next to Grace on his steps. "How was your day, Gracie?"
"Pretty good. I got a 96 on a test I thought I didn't do so well on."
"Awe, excellent!" He offered a hand for a high five, which Grace gave him. "Great job!"
"Thanks." Grace smiled.
Steve paused. He gazed at the girl that smiled at him. She reminded him a lot of Danny.
"Have you seen Danno?" Grace asked. "I texted him, but he didn't respond."
Steve's smiled fell. He took in a deep breath. "Alright Grace. . .I'm just going to get to it. I have to tell you about what happened today."
Grace looked up at him with wide eyes.
"We had a case today at work. Danno and I went to a warehouse where. . .researchers were making drugs that do bad things."
"What kind of bad things?"
"Some were as simple as poison. Some were. . .a little more complicated than that." Steve paused. "They. . .change people's forms and their DNA to make them something they're not."
"Okay. . ."
"And. . .things happened that lead to a fire fight and a chase and Danno. . ." Steve swallowed. "Danno got caught in the vapors of one of these drugs. . ."
Grace continued to gaze at him. Worry streaked across her face.
"Now, he wasn't poisoned, he wasn't. . .killed or hurt. . .he was just. . ."
Danny had been waiting for a while. He hated that he had to stay in the truck for another moment longer without seeing Grace. He had spent too much of the day not being able to talk with her, and even though he would not be bale to talk with her, he could at least communicate with her the way a cat would. He hopped out of the open truck window and ran towards Steve and Grace who at on the steps of Steve's house.
Grace looked up at the small, light blond tabby that ran to them. She grinned. "You got a new cat Uncle Steve?"
Steve grimaced with a smile on his face. "Kinda?"
Danny went right to Grace and began to purr as he rubbed against her leg.
"Danno was turned into a cat today." Steve blurted out unexpectedly.
Grace turned to looked at Steve with an open mouth. "What?"
"Danno accidentally brushed up against a table with a bunch of chemicals on it. One of the vials fell on the ground and he was caught in the vapors." Steve stopped as he watched Danny rub against Grace's legs, walking back and forth. He finally walked near Steve, brushing against his leg before going back to Grace. "Of course, we have yet to figure out how exactly those drugs worked to change him by just vapors, but. . ." He waved his hand and shook his head. "Anyway. . ."
"So. . .this is Danno?" Grace looked at Steve.
Steve nodded.
Danny meowed at Grace.
Grace looked back at Danny and chuckled as Danny placed his two front paws on her knees. He sniffed the air, flaring his nostrils, inhaling Grace's scent. Grace moved her face to his. "Hi, Danno." Grace murmured softly. Danny touched his nose to hers and rubbed his cheek against Grace's. Grace smiled as she offered a hand.
Danny immediately moved his head to her hand. Hey monkey. She leaned over her thighs and stroked past his ears and down his back. She did it again and again and he continued to purr loudly with his front paws on her knees still.
"I honestly think that's the happiest I've seen him all day." Steve grinned as he scratched Danny's shoulder.
Grace smiled and then it faded. "Will he always be a cat?"
Danny looked at her and gently put a paw on her mouth, making her and Steve laugh.
"I guess that's an answer." Steve laughed. "Hopefully, no. We don't know how long he'll be like this, but there's a team of researchers and scientists working on an antidote as we speak. We want one to be ready by the end of the Thursday sometime, but we'll have to wait and see."
Grace sat back and looked at Danny as Danny hopped into her lap and sprawled himself in her lap. She looked sad to Steve.
"What's up?"
Grace bit her lower lip. "I-I don't know."
Danny looked up at her and let out a small mew. He sensed something was off with his daughter. She was sad. Disheartened. Upset.
Grace shrugged. "I. . ." She paused.
"Gracie."
Grace turned to Steve.
"I can't promise you anything. But I can promise you that I will do anything and everything I can to care for Danno and to find a cure."
Grace weakly smiled at him.
"Danno won't be no kitty cat forever." Steve murmured with a grin.
Grace smile grew at Steve's words.
Danny mewed again and rubbed his head against Grace's abdomen.
"See? Danno thinks so, too." Steve grinned as Grace laughed and petted Danny's head once more. "Do you want to stay for a while? I can take you home. And you can spend time with Danno."
Grace nodded. "I'd like that, Uncle Steve."
Steve grinned. "Okay. Let me go talk to your mum." He said getting up from the steps.
Grace nodded as she kept petting Danny's shiny, medium length, fluffy, golden coat.
Danny purred his content loudly. He loved his daughter. Even if he was a cat, he was still a father. And Grace was still his daughter. No matter how odd it sounded.
Steve grabbed a few bags from his car and watched Rachel leave. He closed up his truck and walked back to the steps where Grace and Danny sat.
"You went to the pet store?" Grace smiled.
Steve chuckled. "Yeah. We had to get a few things. Danno wasn't to happy about some of the suggestions."
Danny only purred as he sat on Grace's lap. What had happened roughly 20 minutes ago didn't matter all that much now, especially since Danny was with Grace.
"Should we go inside?" Steve asked.
Grace nodded. "Yeah, sure. Come on, Danno."
Danny let out a little squeak as Grace picked him up, cradled him in her arms, and carried him inside.
"Go ahead. Make yourself comfortable. I'll call for pizza."
Danny let out a loud, warning meow and glared at Steve.
"Rachel said I could. Plus, I was planning on ordering a salad, too, Danny." Steve murmured.
Danny hated how it was like Steve could understand him. . .like he could read his mind. It was so frustrating. At the same time, this would be difficult if Steve didn't know me so well. So maybe I shouldn't be so upset with him.
"Okaaaay. . .no soda." Steve said as for his cell phone.
"Aw, come on, Uncle Steve. It's pizza! You have to have soda with pizza!" Grace murmured as she walked into the kitchen with him and still holding Danny.
Steve chuckled. "Danno? Soda?"
Danny let out a sigh and a final meow of defeat. Fine, fine, you slice of pineapple.
"Alright, well Danny agrees! What soda do you want, Gracie?" Steve asked as he brought his phone to his ear.
"7 up!" She responded immediately.
"Okay. Hawaiian?" He asked.
"What else is there?" Grace smiled at him.
Danny let out a loud meow that made Grace and Steve chuckle.
Steve, and Danny, actually, helped Grace with the small amount of homework she had and they drove her home together. With, of course, Danny sitting on Grace's lap the whole way there.
"Bye Danno!" Grace whispered as she picked Danny up and gave him a small squeeze.
Danny let out a small squeak. Okay, yeah, bye Grace! Danny thought with a small grimace as he felt his body being squeezed by Grace.
Grace loosened her hold. She looked up at Steve. "Um. . .would it be okay if I. . ." She trailed off, looking at Danny and stroking his ears.
"Come over anytime, hun." Steve said with a smile.
Grace smiled weakly at him. She sucked in a breath.
Steve saw the tears in her eyes. "Hey. . ." He put a hand on her shoulder.
Grace looked up at him. "Uncle Steve-I'm trying to be brave, but-" She turned away to face the window.
"Gracie."
Grace sniffed in through her nose and breathed out before turning to Steve.
Steve gazed at her face, especially at the tear lines that cut at him. He hated seeing Grace like this. "I will do everything I can. . .to help Danno get back. . .to being Danno." He paused. "Okay?"
Grace nodded.
Steve smiled at her as he ran a thumb underneath her eye to catch another final tear from falling down her cheek. "Okay. I will see you tomorrow?"
Grace nodded with a weak smile.
"Good."
Danny mewed at Grace.
"Danny wants to see you, too." Steve grinned.
Danny purred and stepped on her chest. He gazed into her eyes and let out a small meow. He sniffed her nose, booping it lightly before he let out his rough tongue and licked Grace gently on her nose.
Grace grinned and petted his shoulders. "Thanks, Danno."
"I'll walk you in." Steve said as he opened his door, stepped out, and wandered over to Grace's side. He opened the door and let Grace step out. He grabbed Grace's backpack before closing the car door.
Grace held onto Danny as she had stepped out and shifted him to better hold him in her arms.
Steve grinned as he walked her to the door and knocked on the door.
Rachel answered, opening the door, and, surprisingly, having a wide smile on her face. "Hey guys!"
"Hey mom."
"How was Steve's?"
"Good."
"Good. Did you finish your homework?"
"Yeah. I would've been lost in my history assignment without Uncle Steve. He's so smart."
Rachel smiled at her daughter. "That he is." She paused. "Why don't you go get ready for bed?"
"Okay." Grace hugged Danny gently. "Bye Danno. See you tomorrow."
Danny did his best to reciprocate some form of hug by holding onto her shoulder and purring loudly.
Steve knelt down next to Grace, shrugging off her back pack and setting it down on the ground. He took Danny as Grace passed him to Steve. "Thank you, Uncle Steve." She said as she hugged him.
Steve hugged her with one arm, holding Danny with the other. "Anytime, hun. I'll see you tomorrow."
Grace pulled and smiled. She picked up her backpack. "Goodnight." She said as she stepped into the house.
"Night Gracie."
Steve watched Grace scuttle away to get ready for bed. Steve held onto Danny and rubbed his cheek.
"How was she?" Rachel asked with a worried look on her face.
Steve nodded. "She was good. Excellent, in fact. She finished all of her homework and. . .had dinner. . .and she spent a lot of time with Danny." He smiled softly.
Rachel smiled back weakly.
"Um. . .you may want to take it easy on her for a while. She, uh. . ." He paused. "She's really worried about Danny."
Rachel nodded. "Is he. . ." She paused, seeming to hesitate greatly and think about her next sentence. "Is he. . .adjusting okay?"
Steve nodded as he looked down at Danny and petted him. "He seems to be. Of course. . .I can imagine how hard it is. . .figuring things out as a different species." He chuckled lightly.
Rachel chuckled weakly. She paused again. "Can I. . .can I pet him?"
Steve gazed at her with raised eyebrows. He then looked down at Danny. "It's ultimately up to him. Huh Danno? What do you say?" Steve stepped closer.
Danny looked over at Rachel. He could see the worry in her eyes. Alright, Rachel, come here. He meowed at her.
Rachel gazed at the light tabby colored cat in Steve's arms. She put out a hand.
Steve smiled as Danny met Rachel's hand with a purr and a head tilt into her outstretched hand. Steve glanced up at Rachel.
"Hey Danny. How's it going?"
Danny purred and nudged her hand as she ran her hand over his head and down his back.
Rachel grinned. "You make a good cat, Danny."
Steve chuckled as did Rachel as Danny stopped purring for a moment. "He didn't like that, Rachel."
Rachel continued to chuckle for a bit and then she went back to staring at Danny. "Have they found anything?"
Steve shook his head. "Still too early."
Rachel nodded, clearly troubled by the news.
"Hey."
Rachel looked up at him.
"They'll find something. Danny's not going to be like this forever." Steve reassured her.
Rachel nodded.
"Grace needs you to believe that." Steve said.
Rachel nodded again.
"Besides. . ." Steve paused. "The team may have use for a feline member."
Rachel smiled as she petted Danny's shoulders. "He's much quieter as a cat, isn't he?"
"Oh, no." Steve shook his head with a smile. "If anything, he's just as loud, if not louder, as a cat."
Rachel grinned again.
Steve smiled. "Well. . .we best be getting home. Work tomorrow, you know?"
Rachel nodded. "Of course. Um. . .thank you. For. . .Grace and. . ." She paused. "For taking care of him."
Steve tilted his head.
"You mean a lot to him." She paused. "I know. . .that's weird coming from his ex, but. . ." She paused again with a small shake of her head. ". . .you can tell."
Steve had kept his gaze on Rachel and gave her a small smile. "He. . .he means a lot to me."
Rachel smiled gently at him. "I can tell. . ." She paused. "Many can tell."
Steve smiled at her and nodded. "I'll. . .see you tomorrow then."
Rachel nodded. "See you tomorrow. Take it easy."
"Yeah, you too." He said as he stepped away from the door and walked to the Camaro, carrying Danny in his arms.
"Well. . ." Steve paused as he sat in the driver's seat with Danny on his lap. "That was. . ." He pulled his seatbelt across his body and buckled himself in. ". . .surprisingly pleasant."
Danny purred as he sat in Steve's lap. Yeah, no kidding, babe.
Steve placed the keys in the ignition and turned the vehicle on. "Well, I hope that tomorrow, we wake up to good news. Huh?" Steve asked as he quickly scratched Danny's neck.
Yeah, me too. Danny thought, feeling slightly depressed. He hoped with every fiber of his being that there would be something at the lab for him tomorrow.