Disclaimer – I don't own Hawaii Five-O. If I did, Steve McGarrett would be shirtless all the time. And they wouldn't be covering up any of AOL's tattoos. I'm just toying with the characters for a while.

Summary - Steve & Danny's friendship is tested by an unwelcome addition to the 5-0 team.

Prologue

A yellow cab stopped just shy of Steve McGarrett's front door. He exited the cab, stumbling just slightly. One hand steadied himself on the roof of the cab while the other dug in his back pocket for his wallet. He handed the driver a $50 bill with a sigh and a weary "keep the change."

As the driver peeled away, the Commander stumbled toward the front stoop. He ran a hand through his hair and down his face. As he approached the door, a blurry form caught his attention. He blinked several times and forced himself to focus. Danny. Steve sighed again and looked up to the sky before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Hey," he said hesitantly, watching as Danny fingered a small dark velvet box as he sat on the small step in front of the door.

"You know what's in here?" Danny asked by way of a greeting.

Steve watched as the fire in his partner's eyes alternately flared from murderous anger to embers of utter despair. "I can guess."

"A ring," Danny stated plainly, ignoring Steve's reply. "A ring for Claire. Yeah, I asked her to marry me. Did the whole thing, ya know?" he said as his hands gestured wildly, "Rose petals, romantic music, candles, me down on one knee. And Claire, she's crying and I'm thinking 'wow, this is the best day of my life because the woman I love is gonna say yes'…"

"Danny," Steve interrupted. Danny held up his finger to silence his partner.

"They weren't happy… Claire's tears. They weren't happy, she wasn't…happy. And do you know why they weren't happy tears, Steven?" Danny asked; the sadness behind his eyes blazing to anger again as his voice grew tight.

"Yes," Steve said; his voice barely a whisper.

Danny rose from the step and crossed the small porch to Steve. One hand gripped the box furiously while the other balled into a fist. He shook his head. "Say it, Steven," he demanded thinly. "Say it. I need for you to say it."

Tears stung the Commander's eyes as the full realization of his betrayal played out in his best friend's eyes. "I'm sorry, Danny, I…"

"No!" Danny thundered, his fists pushing at Steve's chest, slamming him into a wood column on the porch. "You don't get to be sorry. Say it."

"Danny," Steve tried again, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Say it!" Danny's voice broke with the weight of his demand.

Steve closed his eyes and took a long, steading breath as any benefit of his night of binge drinking suddenly disintegrated into a spinning universe that seemed to be rapidly gaining speed. He opened his eyes to the full fury of Danny Williams' anger.

"I kissed Claire."