Another little ditty from my files. It's a great mix of hurt/comfort and McDanno with a cheesy, playful vibe. I hope you enjoy.
"Why would they play this song at a dance? It's depressing." Danny propped himself against the bar with an elbow. He'd been eyeing the bartender, making sure no alcohol made its way into the drinks. "I mean, I like Bonnie Raitt, but this song..."
"I don't know. It's a 90s theme." Steve pointed at the banner running across the middle of the room. "Dance with me."
"What? I just said this song was depressing." Danny frowned and glared at the barkeep. "Did you slip something in his drink?"
The guy shrugged as he filled a tray of flutes with a bubbly pink concoction.
"You heard me." Steve held out his arms. "Come on. Embarrass Grace."
Danny smiled and laughed, never taking his eyes off his partner. "Since you asked nicely."
"That's right, buddy. You and me. We make a good couple."
"You're a jerk." Danny grumbled as he let Steve pull him across the room.
Steve held back a grin for as long as he could. Didn't take long for his face to explode with a smile. "You know you love me."
"I do." Danny picked at Steve's tie with one hand while the other remained securely at his partner's waist, keeping a gulf between them. "Love you."
"Even though I'm a big jerk."
"You added the big part."
"Just come here."
Danny leaned into his best friend and closed his eyes. Steve rested his chin on Danny's head and got lost in the music for a few moments.
"I don't wanna give up." Steve whispered near Danny's ear. The song had changed to something faster by C+C Music Factory, and the room was suddenly louder with more kids on the dance floor.
"What, babe?" Danny had been hypnotized by their gentle swaying. Didn't matter they were now the only ones slow dancing.
"On us."
Danny pulled back and studied Steve's face. "Give up? You okay?"
"No." Steve ran his hand through his hair. "We haven't been okay."
"Hey, it's just the song. Told you it was depressing." He gave his partner a shake. "Let's get some air, huh?"
"Okay, yea, that would be good." Steve followed Danny through the door that led out to the balcony.
It was raining, but that wasn't unusual. The chill in the air was though.
Danny threw his arm around his friend and pulled him closer. When Steve chuckled, Danny blurted. "I'm cold."
"Sure, okay." Steve smiled and tilted his head so it touched Danny.
"I won't give up, Steve. I'm still here, right?"
"It's been a rough year."
"True." Danny touched a sensitive spot on his chest. The wounds had healed but the scars would remain.
"I would understand." Steve took a breath. "If you left."
"You're messed up, you know that?" Danny tightened his grip. "Why would I leave? What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Chin is making a life with Abby and Sarah. Kono - well, she's found her calling. Change is the one constant we can count on."
Danny wrinkled his nose. "That's deep, babe."
"No, I'm serious. I knew this would run its course."
"What? The team? Us?" Danny frowned. "You still have me, Lou, Jerry. And now the kids. Junior and Tani aren't going anywhere. I don't think this ever ends."
"Things always end, Danny."
"What about the restaurant? You wanna quit?"
"No." Steve frowned. "I never said that."
"Then what's with this leaving talk?" Danny stepped back, annoyance creeping into his voice. "I'd never leave you holding the bag. Why would you think that?"
Steve doubled down. "We haven't done much yet. You could still back out. That property would sell in a hot minute."
"Sure it would, and that's why we aren't letting it go."
"So it's the location? Not working together?" Raising an eyebrow, Steve fought to keep a straight face.
Danny rolled his eyes and punched Steve's bicep. Hard. With extra knuckle.
"Ow, what?"
"Don't what me." Danny closed his eyes and shook his head. "You're gonna make me do this here, huh?"
Steve tried to hold back a smile, but didn't answer his friend. He needed Danny to talk.
"I love you. I love our work. I'm gonna love the restaurant."
The last sentiment surprised Steve. "Wait. You don't love it now?"
"Hell no, it's a money pit that's driving me crazy. It's the star of my nightmares. But it will get better."
"Wow, optimism."
"That's right." Danny kicked Steve's shoe. "Change can be good."
"I like it."
They couldn't take their eyes off each other. Kids came and went through the door. The last pair, propped it open complaining it was getting stuffy in the ballroom. Steve and Danny barely noticed. There were other chaperones guarding the exits. They were really only there as window dressing anyway. Extra security to make the other parents feel better after the previous year's dance-hostage situation.
Music filtered through the open door. The song switched to Hall and Oates.
Danny blushed. "Jeez, now this one's pretty sappy."
"So close, yet..." Steve softly sang the words and goose bumps popped up on Danny's arm. Steve didn't finish the song line. Instead he took Danny by the hand and led him back inside.
"I'd ask you to dance again, but I think I need to sit down."
Danny chuckled as Steve pulled him to a table in a dark corner, still holding his hand. He understood.
After a few minutes of not thinking about the way Steve slouched in the chair with his legs spread wide, Danny started to fidget.
"Want me to get us some of those fizzy pink things? Maybe something to eat?"
"Sssh, let's just stay right here for awhile. Enjoy the moment." Steve motioned toward Grace. "She won't be a kid forever."
Danny dabbed the corners of his eyes with his free hand. One of his least favorite things was thinking about his baby girl all grown up.
Steve tugged him closer. "Isn't this great, buddy?"
"Super." Danny pressed against Steve, intertwining their fingers and squeezing hard.
Steve watched his partner. Light danced across his face. The swirling cascade of colors and the pounding bass of the music was disorienting and hypnotizing.
"Stop it." Danny fought to break the spell.
"Stop what?"
"Watching me."
"What if I like to watch you?" Steve wasn't playing anymore.
Danny shivered and turned to get a better look at his best friend. They were already so close that their noses bumped.
"Sorry." Danny was suddenly really warm all over.
"Don't be sorry." Steve's voice was low and rough.
Danny moved their hands to his knee. "Stay with me. At my place tonight."
Steve's face was impossible to read in the shadows, so Danny didn't wait for an answer. He babbled.
"Grace is spending the night with her friends. I can't believe I agreed to a co-ed slumber party. The moms guaranteed there would be no-" Danny shook his head and sighed. "Well, you know."
"I do know." Steve nodded and moved closer.
The adjustment pushed their hands between Danny's legs and he coughed to cover a groan.
"Hey Mr. Williams!" One of Grace's friends passed by the table, laughing.
Startled, Danny let go of Steve's hand as he called back to the girl, returning her greeting. He recognized her from Grace's cheer squad.
"Kids." Steve chuckled.
"What?"
"They don't even blink."
Danny sat up straight, trying to catch his breath. "Blink? What?"
"About us."
"What about us?"
Steve raised an eyebrow.
"Steve, look, I uh - "
"Hey, we don't have to define this."
"No, no, it's not that I don't want to. I just..." Danny cleared his throat. "I'm afraid alright."
"Yea I get that. Me too."
They were so close now, thighs touching. The music blasting the Electric Slide. They were totally oblivious to the giggling and the chaos going on feet from them.
"You were just talking about everybody leaving."
Steve nodded.
"That makes me wonder where your mind's at. If you think I'm gonna leave you."
"Danny, I -"
"No let me finish." He paused to make sure Steve was done. "I need you to be solid."
Hurt flashed in Steve's eyes.
"See? Things get serious and you-"
Steve cut him off by pressing his lips against Danny's half open mouth.
He gave Danny a little nudge, nose to nose. Gauging his interest. Weighing his chances of getting punched. Danny's response was to tug on his bottom lip before pulling away ever so much. Both seeing cross-eyed.
Watching his partner, Steve held his breath. On the edge of diving back in but eager for approval. "I - uh - yea. Was that okay?"
"You goof." Danny kissed Steve's lips lightly, sucking ever so much. "We'll talk about this later. Okay?"
Both of them flushed and overheated, they laughed and agreed.
"I feel like a kid." Steve undid his tie and a few buttons with one hand. "This is the longest song ever. Let's dance."
"Seriously? I am not doing the Electric Slide with an erection, Steven." To illustrate his predicament, Danny thrust up into their joined hands.
"Point taken." Steve chuckled, very much aware of his own condition.
/././
"I promise, Danno." Grace called over her shoulder as she followed her friends. "I'll call you in the morning."
Danny waved, bristling a little when she didn't tell him she loved him. But he knew, she was with friends and no longer nine years old.
"Have fun, Gracie." Steve called.
"Don't tell her to have fun." Danny poked his best friend.
"Come on, chill out. Let her have some fun."
"Yea, alright." Sighing Danny relaxed a little. "I can do that."
"And I will help." Steve bumped Danny with his hip. "I'd say the evening was a success."
Oblivious, Danny watched Grace disappear into the night.
When Steve didn't get a response he added. "And you're supposed to say - of course it was a success...it didn't end with gunfire and explosions."
"I still can't get used to her friends driving."
Steve tried to lighten the moment. "Wait til Grace asks to borrow the Camaro."
Danny punched his arm. "What? No way. Never."
"Then I'll let her use my truck." Arms crossed over his chest, Steve didn't let up. He wouldn't let his partner sink into melancholy. Not tonight.
Danny narrowed his eyes, studying Steve. "You wouldn't."
Steve shrugged, eyes dancing with mischief. "Why not? I just might offer to give her some driving lessons."
"That's not gonna get you lucky, my friend."
"Lucky? Really?"
Danny ran his hand through his hair. "Maybe."
"Never thought of you as a first date kinda guy."
"Babe, this is like our 7000th date."
Steve nodded. "True."
"I'm beat. Let's go home."
"My place or yours?"
"You're the control freak. You pick."
"Your place it is." Steve dug into Danny's pocket for the keys. "Junior's crashing at mine while his place gets fumigated."
"He's having problems already? You warned him about that rat hole."
"Hey, you know how far a cop's salary goes around here." Steve shrugged. "He wanted his own place. And it wasn't rats. It was roaches. Lots of them."
"Better him than me." Danny straightened his shirt, undoing another button. "So he's on Eddie duty? I've got you all night?"
Steve blushed at the hint, but he added to the game as he ducked his head, nipping Danny's neck. "You've got me all the time, partner."
More to come...