Summary: While trying to make plans for the weekend, Danny realize Steve isn't coping with things as well as he pretends.

Spoilers: Up to 2x10 Ki'ilua

Disclaimer: As nothing has changed I still don't own 5-0, or the characters.

A/N: I really want to thank everyone who read and reviewed my first 5-0 fic! I am so glad people enjoyed it! The positive response prompted a few other little scenes to pop into my head, and rather than post multiple short pieces, I figured I would just make this a series of one-shots. So each chapter is unrelated to the last, but will focus on conversations between Steve and Danny. As such, each piece is complete on its own. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this second little scene.


"So I've got Grace this weekend," Danny said casually from the passenger side of his own Camaro as Steve drives them back to the palace.

"Yeah?" Steve replied, focus still on the road. Danny can't help but notice it's a little more on the road than his usual driving style. "Big plans?" he asks, though it seems almost like he is asking more because he feels he should than he is really interested.

"Well, not as such," Danny said slowly, still watching Steve closely. "But you know, she's been pretty set on that overnight camp-out you put in her mind weeks ago."

If he hadn't been watching, he was sure he would have missed Steve tense. "Ah… this weekend isn't great for me Danny," Steve replied evasively.

Danny sighed, "Look, if you didn't want to take her, why did you even say anything? Kids latch on to things like this!" He had been trying for calm yet firm, but even he could hear the frustration creeping into his voice. Steve might not be a parent, but damn him, how could he not know how excited Grace would be about the prospect of going camping with her 'Uncle Steve'?

This time Steve finally did look over at him, a weird expression on his face. For a second he almost thought Steve looked ashamed. But that couldn't be right, as he was pretty sure that emotion didn't exist in Rambo's limited repertoire.

"Danny, it's not that I don't want to…" Steve protested.

"Well you certainly haven't been available much lately. And I know for a fact Catherine isn't even in port. So what is it? You avoiding my daughter now?" He asked, then paused, "Or me?" he added not because he really thought his partner was avoiding him off-duty, but hell, something was not right between them lately.

"What! No," Steve denied with another glance to Danny. They drove in silence for a long moment, until with a sigh Steve continued, "Look, Danny, I'm sorry I haven't been able to take you guys camping like I said. But if you and Grace want to come by and spend the day on the beach or something I would be happy to have you. I just… I can't do a camping trip right now."

Danny stared at him, barely even noticing as they pulled into his usual parking spot at the palace. "You can't?" Danny repeated confused, making no move to get out of the car.

With the road no longer an excuse, the way Steve's gaze fell anywhere but Danny told him loud and clear just how badly his partner did not want to be having this conversation. But at least he hadn't bolted from the car yet, so maybe they were actually making some progress. Still, something about Steve's tone and tense posture was telling Danny this really was not about a camping trip.

"Steve?" Danny asked, hoping to get his partner to at least look at him. "What's wrong babe?"

"It's just not a good time for me Danny," Steve replied, his tone begging Danny to just drop it.

"You just said you'd be happy to have us for the day, so what gives?" he asked, still studying his partner. He frowned as a worrying thought occurred to him, "You're not still nursing any injuries from uh…" he asked trailing off, not really able to bring himself to say the words. Looking at his partner most days it was hard to fathom that it had only been just over a month since they had rescued him from the back of that truck in North Korea. "You told me weeks ago that you were fit for duty," he added lamely.

"I am," Steve replied quickly, and Danny couldn't really argue, given that Steve certainly seemed to be up to his usual standards of extreme super-SEAL stunts.

"Okay," Danny conceded. "Just," Danny sighed not sure how to continue, none of them had really broached the subject of North Korea. Mostly because Steve was absolutely unapproachable on the matter, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized Steve had been off since they had brought him back. Not that he should have expected otherwise, but Danny could not help but feel guilty for not calling the man on it earlier.

Hell, he was mad at himself for not accepting that something was even off. It was easy to try and come up with excuses as to why he hadn't truly noticed earlier. Between cases, Chin's wedding and watching as Rachel neared the due date of the baby he had once though was his, Danny had been working hard to pretend he wasn't struggling with his own life.

But he supposed deep down he had just been hoping that Steve 'who-needs-emotions' McGarrett really had just bounced back from what had happened to him.

"Are you doing okay Steve?" He asked gently, knowing full well the answer was a resounding no. Still when Steve didn't immediately brush him off, or simply leave the car, Danny started to really worry.

Steve sighed heavily, and with his gaze firmly fixed on something utterly fascinating on the dashboard he shrugged, "I've been having a bit of trouble sleeping lately," he admitted quietly, sounding almost ashamed.

Danny blinked at him blankly for a moment, using his hard won year of experience to try and understand what Steve was actually saying. "Nightmares?" he finally asked softly.

"Yeah some, but it's been getting better," Steve explained bluntly, his tone shifting now, more like that of when he was briefing Danny on a new case. As though, he was talking about someone other than himself. "It's just sometimes it takes me a couple minutes after I wake up to," he waved his hand in the air vaguely, "figure things out, you know. So uh… I just can't have Gracie around for the night right now."

Oh Steven. Danny's heart ached for his partner's pain.

As rare as it was, Danny found himself at a loss for words at Steve's sad admission. Instinctively he wanted to offer comfort, say something, anything, supportive to his friend. But at the same time, he could not help but feel any sort of sympathetic understanding he tried to offer would not only be ineffectual words, but also have the undesirable effect of making Steve never share his feelings again. And damn-it it had taken him a year to get this far.

So maybe he didn't have the words to help his friend. After all, just what did you say to someone who had been betrayed by someone they trusted and then… He swallowed reflexively, barely even willing to think the word in his own head. But there was no dancing around the truth that had been blatantly clear when they had found Steve, injured and bloodied from being held and tortured. But maybe, he could at least offer the one thing that helped him get through his darkest times, and he may never have been through what Steve had, but he had certainly had his share of darkness.

"Well, no hurry," Danny said backtracking the conversation and trying his best to keep his voice steady, "I mean it is summer year-round on this pineapple invested chunk of volcanic rock. We can go camping anytime." He punctuated his comment with a wave around at the sunny day outside the car, "In the meantime, I know Grace would love to hang out on her favourite private beach and go swimming with her Uncle Steve." He said, offering up the one ray of light in his life, hoping her sweet innocent smile could bring some healing to Steve too.

At any rate, maybe an afternoon of Grace would chase the nightmares away, if only for a night.

~Fin~