Steve felt, rather than saw, his partner shift next to him as the leaned against the side of the Silverado. He'd been partnered with Danny long enough to pick up on the cues. The man was about to start ranting.
"You know, Steve." Steve wisely refrained from saying 'there he blows'. "This is all your fault. I mean just look at this!" Danny made a sweeping ark with both arms. "This whole thing is your fault."
"Exactly how am I to blame for this?" Steve asked hesitantly, yet slightly defensive.
Danny's eyes widen in disbelief. He looked from Steve to his partners in crime standing several feet away. "How could this not be your responsibility? You, who rushed in without forethought, without backup."
"Back up, Danny? Really? I think the four of us are handling this just fine. Besides, who would I have called for backup?"
"The four of us?" Danny scoffed. "Need I remind you, there was an actual battle plan drawn up with contingency plans for the contingency plans. It's a full out assault."
Smiling at the other pair, Steve stated with pride, "Yeah, they're becoming quite the strategists, aren't they."
"Becoming? They are! We're not going to be able to ever let them out on their own. They'll take over the world!"
"You say that like it's a bad thing, Danno. Everyone needs to be able to strategized."
"I don't disagree, but this is an invasion."
"This hardly qualifies as an invasion, a small landing party maybe."
"Steve, you do realize that we are just getting started."
Steve shook his head in resignation. He had no argument for that. "I still don't see how this is my fault though."
The incredulity in Danny's eyes could have leveled a four story building. "You don't see. You don't," he sputtered. "Steven, you created this! You and all of your crazy are completely responsible!" Pointing to their companions again, he declared, "That, that right there is all on you and to make matters worse, it's spreading. The crazy is spreading."
"You know what your problem is, partner? You don't know how to step outside the box, experience new things." Steve countered.
Danny looked affronted. "I step out of the box plenty, babe. Just being around you on a daily basis ensures that. This though, this, is a whole different playing field. One I could have done without."
"Danny, we're just." The return of their excited companions interrupted him.
"Danno, look at what Arianna found! She says with a little work, we can turn this into a planter for Mom's garden and I can give it to her for her birthday. You and Uncle Steve will help us right?" Grace practically squealed.
Danny raised a sardonic eyebrow at Steve. Steve for his part, slung his arm around Arianna's shoulders and laughed. "It's only yard sales, Danno."
"Says the man who was involved in a hit and run the last time he went to a yard sale. A hit and run that involved bodily injury." Danny kept muttering all the way to the truck, as they got back in and most of the way to their next stop. Grace interpreted for Arianna as the two girls indulged in a giggle session over Danny's righteous indignation.