Chapter 2

Hey guys, thanks for the reviews. I shall not respond to any of you personally because again, you guys are a curious lot.I think if i did i might give away the secret. Some are already on to me. Phew!

Anyhoo, lets see what's behind the curtain shall we?

...

Danny couldn't stomach it. He couldn't stand lying to Steve. Well technically it wasn't really lying; it was holding something back from him. Because frankly it wasn't his place and he wished to God he could unsee what he saw. He wished he could unknown it. But he did and now it was eating him up slowly because he was keeping it from Steve. It had suddenly become too much he found himself in a bar that evening. After declining to go hang out with Steve after work he had gone straight to a bar. Now he sat there getting wasted because he couldn't get rid of the weight in his stomach. He could have gone to Rachel's tonight but she was starting to pick that something was wrong, and he couldn't tell her. Not just yet. And the hot looking girl pouring him drinks was picking up on it too. Especially when he ordered a double scotch next.

"Hey sugar, why are you getting wasted all by yourself? Got your little heartbroken? Love life or job? Two quick doubles, its gotta something." The bar tender asked as she moved suggestively for his attention.

On a good day he would have paid attention but not today. He just nodded just to get rid of her.

But she wasn't going anywhere, "Want to talk about it?" She asked

Why the hell not, He looked at her considering it then decided that what the hell. She was perfect. She didn't know him, she wouldn't judge. He started talking, letting it all out like a flood. But not the details, no. He could not stand telling the details before Steve knew, no matter who he was talking to.

"Have you ever felt like you where betraying someone by maybe keeping something from them. Something very important but at the same time feel that It was not your place to say anything?" He asked, looking at her seriously..

She nodded and just listened, that's what he needed.

"I wish I could, you know just feel indifferent about it, you know. The thing about me is that I am such a...I don't know what to do? You see if i talk i am the bad guy, if i don't talk i'm still the bad guy." He lamented in despair, taking another swig of his scotch. "I mean...and its not like i went out looking for trouble or anything ...in fact that day i was in a very happy place, not suspicious of anybody or paranoid, or any such thing.I wasn't...God i wasn't even looking for anything. I just wish...i wish i didn't have this choice to make you know? I'm so unfortunate. This Island hates me. I tell you this Island really really hates me." He murmured forlornly.

"Hey, if its not your place to tell then its not your place. Trust me you might do more damage otherwise. Just have your friend's back after this whole thing comes out. Whatever it is." She said and Danny readily agreed. Not sure if she was being wise about this but wanting so much to believe that he was in the right. He was doing the right thing. God, he wished he had not seen that. He wished he had better options than these. He wished to God he didn't have to carry this burden. It was unbearably. It was squeezing the life out of him.

He drank himself to a stupor but still had the sense to call Rachel to pick him up instead of Steve. Steve would know right away that this was not just about Grace. He would prob and nag until he got answers.

Ten minutes later Rachel came and was shocked to find him in that drunken state. He could not tell her what was wrong with him. Because the worst thing about keeping this from Steve was telling other people before he knew. That would be unforgivable. So he kept his mouth shut, Rachel would have to wait a while for answers.

...

Joe was obviously playing the coward here and Danny wondered if he should give the older man anymore time to come forward. He sighed as he stared out the window of his Camaro.

"Ok, what is it?"

"Huh?" he jumped with a start, turning to look at Steve.

"Is this about what you saw?" Steve asked

Danny held his breath wondering how Steve knew. For a moment he could not catch a breath as he stared at Steve, wondering in fear if he had found out. He just froze.

"I've been talking to you for some time now but you just either nod absent minded or sigh staring blankly out the window. Danny what did you see?" Steve asked, only managing to glance at Danny as he was driving, as usual.

Danny just stared at him, like a rabbit caught in a trap. Now the moment had come to talk and he couldn't even breathe. He just stared at Steve blankly. He cleared his throat, making up his mind to talk. If Steve already knew then he might as well.

"Steve I..."

"Look Danno stuff like that happens..."

What? Danny's eyes had never been bigger. Ok, Steve was a very generous forgiving guy but he was taking this a little too well. He visibly swallowed, staring at him like he had just sprouted another pair of ears.

Steve looked at him then back at the road, sighing. "Danny, she is growing up. In fact she is a grownup ..."

"Sorry, who now?" Danny drew a blank. What the hell was he talking about? She who?

"Why, Grace of course. Don't tell me she's not the one you're running yourself dry thinking about right now. The whole week actually. Did you see...? Was it...?" Steve asked hesitantly, afraid to ask.

Danny reading his mind snorted in derision, "A kiss. It was just a kiss Steven. Don't go thinking all kinds of stuff about my daughter." Danny snapped, all the other stuff forgotten.

"See, you said it yourself. Just a kiss. Now let it go Danno. If you want me to talk to her I'll talk to her..."

"No thanks Steven but I really do appreciate you wanting to give my daughter motherly advice. I did however talk to her mother about it, she'll talk to her." Danny said, in the same annoyed tone.

"Ok then. Now stop pouting and engage in some conversation with me for once. You've been acting up all week. Now stop it and just be you. Kids grow up."

Danny snorted, "Easy for you to say." He said in something resembling his usual banter. He looked at Steve, he still had no clue and now the courage to tell him had suddenly vanished. Steve had a content look on his face. Everything was right in his world so far. Until it wasn't. And Danny would loath to be the one to break the news that would shatter his best friend's world. He didn't want to be the one.

...

Danny woke up with a purpose that day. He had given Joe 48 hrs and his time will be up in another hour. He could not carry on doing this anymore. It has been so hard he hadn't been sleeping. Steve had noticed his weird behavior of course and he was just being uncharacteristically polite to not nag him about it since the day he had lied to him and told him a sob story about Grace having a boyfriend, like that was news. But today, no today he was going to tell the truth. He couldn't do this anymore.

...

Steve sat across from Joe studying him. The guy looked fidgety; he was sprouting all sorts of nonsense, inane things. He'd been sitting there for a good thirty minutes now, making small talk. And if that wasn't enough, he had 'dropped in' at 8 am sharp. Steve kept waiting for Joe to state the purpose of his visit but the guy was clearly not ready yet. That was not like Joe at all. Because if Steve didn't know any better he'd say Joe was pretty damned nervous. He'd never seen Joe nervous. Not even when he had been hounding him about Shelborn. And what was with the impromptu visit?

Danny walked in at that moment, walking like he had the hounds of hell chasing after him. He had a purpose alright. And if he knew Danny at all, it was important. Code black important. He looked on in alarm as Danny stormed in.

"Steve I need to tell you something..." He had started talking when he was barely through the door. He had not even noticed Joe sitting in that chair across from him.

He positively skidded on his feet as he came to a full stop noticing Joe. But that was not the thing that got Steve all disturbed. Granted, the whole thing had been disturbing as hell. This whole start to his day had been disturbing come to think of it. Danny's behavior this whole week had been disturbing but no, that's not what disturbed Steve at that moment. It was the look that Joe and Danny shared at that moment. A mini second. Danny was too good, if he really had his mind to it he could give you one hell of a poker face. You could not read him if he didn't want you to read him. And Joe was an expert at the poker face thing. With them though, it was different. Steve could always read Danny, and vice versa. It was just who they were and maybe because they had never really had anything to hide from each other anyway. He hoped that hadn't changed. Although the look that passed between Danny and Joe had him in doubt for a minute. Danny's had registered first shock at seeing Joe then something like a threat. A fierce threatening look that he almost always reserved for the perps. And Joe's had registered resignation. All in a split second this happened and Steve had noticed.

"Hey. What is it Danno." Steve asked.

Danny faltered, "Uh...uh, never mind, it can wait. I notice you have a guest. I'll give you two all the time you need. It's good to see you here Joe" Danny said, the last part was almost delivered with a hidden message before exiting. And Joe had just nodded at that one.

Ok so maybe he was seeing things but what the shit was happening?

He turned his attention to Joe who had scooted a bit in his chair to give him his full attention.

"Something you wanna tell me Joe?" Steve asked hesitantly. Did something happen to his mom? Or Marry? Or even Cath? He was starting to feel nervous himself.

"Uh son, there's something I...uh... I need to tell you."

At that moment Chin knocked on his door before sticking his head in. "Sorry to disturb Steve but Duke just called, we got a case."

Ok, so this had to wait for a few more hours but certainly to be revisited.

Steve excused himself to Joe, "Joe, you mind revisiting this a bit later? Seems I have to go to work."

"Yeah sure son. I'll just come back later; I have an errand or two in the meantime anyway." Joe said, getting up as if he was actually relieved to have this postponed.

And what else was strange? Joe didn't ask to tag along on the case.

...

Ok then. See you in a bit.