A/N: So this bunny bit me this morning and I just had to write it. So far there are no spoilers for anything in the show, but it's set after the end of season 5, so there may be some spoilers, probably in the second and final chapter.

Enjoy!

A Battle they couldn't win.

"I-I can't do this, Steve" Danny said in a tremulous voice, knowing that all the odds were against them.

Steve turned his exhausted eyes to look at his partner. "You can't say that, Danny. I've never known you to be a quitter! And you shouldn't start now!" He said with a shake of his head, even if he knew they were in a no-win situation.

"I'm sorry… I tried, you know I tried! It's just… I don't think I can anymore…" Danny muttered weakly.

Steve took a minute to look at the room they were in, noticing the carnage all around them and for once he had to admit that this may be one battle they just couldn't win. "What about Grace, Danno?" He asked, hoping to get his partner to fight a bit harder.

Danny had to look away, blinking a couple of times to clear his vision. "You… Could you tell her I'm sorry? That I tried?"

Steve frowned, shaking his head in denial. "No Danny. You're the one giving up the fight, so you'll have to tell her yourself…" He growled, not wanting to accept defeat so easily.

Danny whimpered in distress, but was forced to pull himself together when they heard a noise from the doorway.

"Danno? Is everything ok?" Was Grace's tentative question when she entered the room. She was shocked by all the machines scattered around and the state of her father and her uncle.

Steve moved away to allow her a clear view of her father, and once she could see him she moved to his side with a shocked gasp.

"Grace, Monkey… I'm sorry…" He said weakly, gently taking her hand in his.

Grace was a bit disgusted at the state of her father's hand, but at the time she didn't want to let go of it. "What happened, Daddy?"

Danny had to look away for a second, finally gathering the courage to look back at his little girl. "Monkey, I'm sorry. I really, really tried! But I'm afraid we're just going to have to get some cupcakes at the store, because out of all of the batches we've made, not one of them is edible…" He said sadly.

Grace looked forlornly at the flat, clunky cupcakes strewn all over the kitchen counters. "But the teacher said that we're supposed to bring home made cupcakes for the school fair!" She said in disappointment.

Danny just sighed tiredly. I'm sorry Monkey…" He said sadly. Finding a stool to sit and resting his elbows in one of the few spots on the table not covered in flour, cupcake batter or cupcake remains. He drew an exhausted sigh, exhausted and discouraged after his ordeal.

Grace took a minute to look at her father, feeling bad that she had caused him and Uncle Steve so much pain and suffering. Finally accepting that they'd have to get some cupcakes from the store, she just patted her Dad in the head in comfort. "It's alright Danno. At least your tried."

TBC

A/N: Hehehe... I hope you don't hate me too much for the non existent whump!

This story was greatly inspired by Irene Claire's story "Birthday Wishes", go check it out, it's great!

The following chapter shoud be ready tomorrow, I was planning on doing everything in just one chapter, but you'll see that it would have seemed strange.

Anyways, thank you for reading, and I'd love to hear what you think of it!