"Just makes me wonder what else I don't know about you." Steve-centred alternative ending for episode 3x23. Danny makes an appearance, too. Maybe slightly OOC for Steve, hopefully not too much. One-shot.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a vivid imagination and a laptop, and my only profit is the joy I get out of writing.

Things unknown, things unknowable

"It just makes me wonder what else I don't know about you." Danny's nonchalant words hit Steve like a bucket of cold water. A flash of hurt shot through his eyes, and in an uncharacteristically quiet voice he replied: "Is that important?"

Danny frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what you don't know about me, is that important for our friendship?"

Immediately Danny realised his mistake, and he felt ashamed. "I'm sorry, Steve. I didn't mean it like that."

"Then what did you mean?", Steve demanded with a hint of impatience.

"I meant that whenever I think I have figured you out, BAM!, something new pops up." As soon as the words had left his mouth, Danny knew that he had just made matters worse with his non-explanation.

"So it's important to you, for our friendship, that you have me figured out?"

Bending forward, Danny propped his elbows up on his knees and dropped his head into his hands.

Steve rose and approached, coming to stand in front of Danny's desk. "Look here, Danny, I know you never leave out an opportunity to point out my trust issues, but that's just the pot calling the kettle black." He paused, waiting for Danny to make eye contact. "Listen, I know you've been screwed over by Rachel and Matt, and most recently Gabby, as it seems, and you are scared of it happening again. I get that. I also know I have a hard time trusting people because of my parents and Nick and Jenna and a bunch of other stuff. But I've always trusted you implicitly, and I think you know that. I had hoped you knowing me would give you enough reason to trust me as well, despite the things you don't know about me. Apparently that isn't the case. I'm sorry. My bad."

Danny's head shot up. "Steve, I do trust you. You have to know that! This is just a ... I don't know, a knee-jerk reaction. A bad case of foot-meet-mouth."

Shaking his head, Steve dropped his hands. "Danny, do you ever listen to yourself? The thing you said about secrecy? What's next? You mocking the 'classified' thing again? Let me tell you something, buddy: the things I can't talk about because they're classified? They're killing me. But if I didn't keep them to myself? They'd kill all of you." He took a deep breath, trying to contain his hurt and anger. "There are things you'll never know about me, Danny, things you can never know about me. I'm sorry if you regard that as a problem for our friendship. But next time your foot is on its way to your mouth, please remember that it is for your own safety – yours, and Gracie's, and everyone else's."

With that, Steve turned around and left; and the soft click of the closing door was the only sound in the silence that remained in his place.

A/N: I wrote the draft for this long before Season 4 started, but in retrospect I think it might even serve as an explanation for the recent blatant lack of bromance. I'm currently working on a sequel/companion piece, so if you enjoyed this one, you might want to keep your eyes open. Anyway, thanks for reading, and have a lovely weekend!