Chapter 2

Steve woke slowly, surrounded by warmth. The first thing that caught his attention as his brain slowly came back online was the lack of sunlight in his eyes, swiftly followed the realization the bed he was laying on wasn't his own. Steve rubbed his face against the pillow and stretched out his lower back, moaning softly at the ache that spread along his spine, his ass clenched as the ache intensive causing his breath to hitch. That was when the memories of the previous night came back to him.

Twisting around in the bed, with a wince, Steve looking across the small expanse of mattress at Danny, sleeping peacefully, his hair a tangled mess. He looked so much younger without the stress and worries of their lives. Steve swallowed thickly, still bemused.

This hadn't been what he'd planned when he'd arrived, he'd just wanted company, wanted to forget about his fight and subsequent break-up with Catherine. He'd wanted to drink beer and watch a game and pretend she hadn't dragged his deepest darkest secret into the light in a moment of hurt and frustration. He hadn't planned on kissing Danny. He never planned to ever kiss Danny, and yet he had. - And Danny, much to his surprise his partner had kissed him back. Steve's body warmed at the memory of Danny's kiss, the taste of his mouth. He could feel himself growing hard and had to fight the desire to shift closer to his partner and try to awaken a similar response from him. But it was dawn, the magic was dead and now reality and consequences lay ahead of them, Danny may have been willing last night but that was a lifetime ago now. Now Danny would do what Steve had expected him to do last night, get angry and reject him.

So instead of moving closer to his partner's enticing body, Steve shifted away, slipping out of the covers. He wasn't sure what exactly he was planning to do, he didn't think Danny would appreciate him skipped out, whether he regretted their encounter or not. Steve decided his best option was to get dressed, making coffee and wait for the inevitable.

Steve scanned the floor for his underwear and cargo pants, his boots and socks, gathering them to his chest he turned to leave the room.

"You sneaking out on me?" Danny asked suddenly, his voice lazy and rough.

Steve turned to look at his partner, his breath catching at the sight of Danny lounging in the bed, a satisfied smirk pulling at the corners of his eyes and mouth, his arm behind his head, against the pillow. Steve's dick gave another interested twitch and his own lips curved naturally. "No, Danny, I was going to use the head."

Danny's brow raised as he eyed the pile in his partner's arms. "With your clothes?"

Steve looked down at the bundle of leather and fabric. "I was going to get dressed and make breakfast." he shrugged nonchalantly.

Danny grinned. "Breakfast in bed?"

"No." Steve scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Breakfast can wait." he murmured seductively, that smile still on his face as his eyes darkened, meeting Steve's.

Steve's heart leapt into his throat, just as it had the previous night when Danny had kissed him. He hadn't expected this. He'd prepared himself for nuclear fallout, not even imagining Danny wanting...more. He stared at the blonde's expectant face and let the clothes fall from his arms as he headed back to the bed, crawling up from the end to hover over his partner, their lips brushing in a closed mouth kiss. Danny's tongue playing over Steve's lips until he pulled away reluctantly. "Head." Steve informed him.

"I'm not going to complain." Danny chuckled.

Steve rolled his eyes. "I meant, I need the head. I wasn't lying." he pulled away swearing silently to himself for the need to empty his bladder. Danny grumbled pretty much the something as he grouchily let Steve go. "Don't move." he ordered, aiming a finger at the man.

Danny narrowed his eyes. "Hurry the hell up."

Steve grinned, strolled casually into the en-suite.

He relieved himself as quickly as he could, his mind still struggling to take in everything that had and would happen. Danny's reaction the most surprising of all, making him re-evaluated everything he thought he knew about his partner.

Washing his hands Steve let his gaze skim the counter, taking in the array of Danny's toiletries. He reached for the toothpaste and squeezed a pea sized blob on his finger then ran it around the inside of his mouth, rinsing and spitting. He wiped his mouth on the towel and headed back out into the bedroom, Danny was stretched out, watching him, his eyes heavy and dark. Steve inhaled sharply, his gaze moving to take in every inch of his partner's naked sun-kissed flesh, his throat going dry at the anticipation of what was to come.

"Now where you going?" Danny demanded as Steve made for the bedroom door rather than the bed.

"To grab some water, I think we'll be needing it." He grinned over his shoulder. "Brush your teeth." He ordered, vanishing from Danny's sight.

He could hear Danny grumbling behind him as slipped from the room, buck naked and made his way through the house to the kitchen, smiling happily to himself. He pushed through the door and marched over to the fridge, yanking it open and sighing as the cool air brushed his warm flesh while he reached for the large bottle of orange juice, opening it and lifting it to his lips, his eyes closing as he chugged the sweetness. He heard a door open and smiled against the plastic rim, lowering it and letting the door fall closed as he turned and practically jumped out of his skin, the bottle dropping out of his hand to crash into the floor tiles as he dropped his hands quickly to over his manhood. His eyes wide with horror, he cleared his throat. "Huh...hey Gracie" he smiled awkwardly.

Grace looked up at him, her brows high and her eyes almost as big as Steve's. She didn't return the greeting. Steve opened his mouth again to speak only to have himself cut off by Danny busting into the kitchen with his weapon drawn, a towel thankfully wrapped around his waist.

"Grace?" Danny frowned, as if uncertain he was seeing his daughter. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with your mom."

Grace tore her large brown eyes from Steve, of which he was very grateful, to look at her father. "Her flight changed, she had to leave early."

Danny bit his lips for a second, holding back the curse. "You should have called me. You've got to let me know if something changes."

"I tried to last night, it kept going to voicemail." Grace insisted softly, her eyes flickering back to Steve who'd strategically placed himself behind the kitchen island.

Steve looked at Danny, who looked back at him, the both of them awkward and uncertain as to what exactly they were meant to say.

"Huh..." Danny stammered, ripping is gaze from the naked SEAL to look at his confused twelve year old, her knowing eyes making him want to sink into the ground. "Steve dropped by to..." he glanced back at Steve desperately.

"Crash on the couch." Steve quickly finished. "Uh...cockroaches. Had to clear out for the exterminator." he forced a smile.

"Yeah, Uncle Steve has cockroaches so...he slept on the couch. Naked." Danny repeated, nodding overzealously. "Like the anima he is. So...uh...school. We need to get you to school."

Grace remained blank faced as she looked between them, silent. Clearing his throat, again, Steve spoke in a low grumble. "I should...get dressed and head back to my place. - Check on those...cockroaches."

Danny didn't even look at him, his eyes fixed on his daughter, his hand tightening around the towel at his waist. "Yeah. Good idea." he nodded.

"Uh, Danno?" he nodded to Grace meaningfully when his partner looked at him.

"Right. Right!" Danny rushed forward, slamming his hand gently over his daughter's innocent young eyes.

As Steve headed out of the kitchen door he looked back at Danny apologetically before sprinting back to the bedroom. He dressed quickly, his heart still racing and that ball of tension back in his gut as he perched on the end of the bed pulling on his socks and boots. He was tying the knot when Danny appeared in the doorway clutching his shirt.

"You'll be needing this."

Steve looked up, flushed, his fingers continuing to work his laces. "Thanks."

Danny tossed it at him before folding his arms over his own bare chest.

"Where's Gracie?" Steve asked, dragging the shirt down his torso, getting to his feet.

"Watching TV."

Steve let his hands fall away from his shirt to hang pointlessly at his side. "So..." he trailed off, unclear what to say.

"You going to be okay? Going home?" Danny asked quietly, his eyes never leaving Steve's face, his shoulder pressed to the door jam. "With the cockroaches." he smirked sadly.

Steve sighed, rubbing at his neck. "Yeah. I have to face them sometime, right?"

Danny licked at his lips, glancing almost cautiously over his shoulder. "Do you...want me to pick you up? When I've dropped Grace off."

"Yeah." Steve said breathlessly. "That would be...good." that tension in his chest easing.

Danny nodded. "Okay."

"Okay." Steve smiled awkwardly, walking towards the door. He paused beside Danny, looking down at his partner, torn. He wanted to kiss him, every natural primal instinct he had wanted to kiss him and by the heady look in Danny's gaze he wanted it too, but something stopped him, held him at bay. Instead he smiled goofily and squeezed Danny's naked shoulder. "Okay."

He left Danny unkissed standing on the bedroom threshold and rushed through the house. He'd never felt quite so light headed before nor so free. He paused when he reached the couch, leaning casually over the back to press a kiss to Grace's head. "See ya later, Gracie."

She tilted her head back to look up at him with a beaming smile. "Bye Uncle Steve."

_McDanno_

Steve wasn't sure what he'd expected when he arrived back at the house, in all honesty he hadn't really been thinking about it, he'd had more...entertaining things on his mind on the drive back. It really wasn't until he climbed out of his truck and found himself face to face with Catherine's classic sports car that she'd entered his thought process.

He paused on the front porch for a long few seconds preparing to face his ex-girlfriend, then taking a deep breath he pushed the door open. The living room was empty but there was sound coming from the back of the house which told him that someone was in the kitchen, so he made his way back. Catherine was sat at the kitchen table, coffee in her hand and a half eaten bowl of fruit in front of her. She looked better than Steve expected, better than she'd look in weeks if he were honest. She looked up, meeting his gaze. She didn't smile warmly like he was used to, but she didn't scowl at him either, she was just kinda blank.

"You're back." she said flatly.

Steve rolled his shoulders and walked casually over to pour himself a coffee. "Yeah."

"You were at Danny's." Catherine stated matter-of-factly, her eyes burning into his back.

"Yes." he replied with equal calm, his eyes never leaving the view out the window. He heard Catherine inhale behind him and winced at the sadness of it. He sipped at the coffee not really tasting it as they both fell into an uncomfortable silence that felt like it lasted forever.

The scrap of the kitchen chair against the floor had Steve turning to watch Catherine gather her dish and carry it to the sink beside him. He kept his eyes half on her as she leant heavily on the side, her gaze locked on the ocean. Usually they'd be out there by now, swimming, together.

"So that's it?" she whispered. "We're done."

Steve sighed sadly, frowning down into his coffee mug. "I think last night was..." he took a breath. "Yeah." he looked up, catching her watery brown eyes. "I tried, I just...I'm sorry Cath, I can't give you what you want from me, I tried but it's not in me - I never meant to hurt you, I swear." he pressed insistently, the thought of Catherine thinking he'd done it all on purpose painful. "I can't help who I am, Cath. - Or who I..." he swallowed, pushing the words back, she didn't need to hear them, she already knew. She didn't need him rubbing salt into the wound.

"I know." she murmured begrudgingly.

They were silent for a few minutes, the only sound their breathing. Steve stared down at his hand, his long fingers curled around the mug. His mind couldn't help but conjure up the memory of where they'd been not twelve hours ago. He could almost feel the silken slide of Danny's dick on the pads of his fingers as his hand had curled around him. He shook his head, forcing the memory away. He couldn't think about that with Catherine stood silently beside him. "Where do we go from here?" Steve asked softly.

"I don't know." Cath sighed. "I guess I could make some calls, see if anyone's hiring. Maybe restart Billy's..." she trailed off at the mention of her dead ex. He'd been another weapon used last night, one Steve wasn't proud of.

"You don't have to leave, Cath. Five-O still needs you."

Catherine looked up at him with wide disbelieving eyes, burning with a mix of anger and misery. "You can't honestly expect me to keep working with you?"

Steve straightened his shoulders. "Why not? We're both adults and it's not like you haven't worked with an ex before." he winced as the words left his mouth, so much for not bringing up Billy.

Catherine glare furiously at him. "That was different Steve, we hadn't been together for years, and we were both over one another."

Steve couldn't stop the scoffed laugh escaping his lips. "Yeah." he grumbled. They both knew that wasn't true, even if Catherine didn't want to voice it.

"And you think I want to work with..." she swallowed hard. "Him. It was bad enough when I thought it was just some silly...crush." she glared. "You expect me to just sit back and watch you two be..." shaking her head vigorously and moved away from the counter and Steve.

"What? I..." he wanted to lie to her, wanted to say there was nothing going on but...

"It's written all over your face." Catherine snapped. "And your neck." she hissed.

Steve's hand flew to his neck, cringing at the memory of Danny's mouth bruising his throat as they'd... "Cath..."

"I don't want..." she shook her head, her hand up silencing him. "Just don't Steve."

Steve moved his hand and dragged his fingers through his hair instead.

"It's not like I didn't know where you'd go." Catherine murmured after a few minutes silence. "I'm moving into a hotel, I've already booked a room."

Steve wanted to say she could stay until she found somewhere more permanent but he knew it would only make things harder for both of them, so he just nodded, leaning back against the counter, setting his untouched coffee aside.

Silence settled between them again, neither speaking nor moving, then finally Catherine took a deep breath and walked out. Steve didn't follow, nor did he try to stop her. He listened to her move around the house, gathering her belongs together. It wasn't long till he heard the front door open and reluctantly he pushed himself away from the kitchen counter and went to see her off.

He entered the living room to watch Catherine standing almost uncertainly in the doorway with her duffle bag and a suitcase. She looked over at him and his gut tightened at the pain he saw in her eyes, but it was too late now, he couldn't change things, he didn't want to.

"So...I'll be..."

Steve nodded, his lips a pale line.

She swallowed thickly, the sunlight highlighting the tear tracks on her cheeks and with another deep breath she turned taking that first step over the threshold.

"Cath?"

"I know Steve." she sighed warily, her fingers white knuckling the bag strap. "Bye."

"Bye Catherine." he whispered brokenly as he watched her pull the door closed behind her.

Alone, Steve swiveled on his heels and headed out onto the beach, suddenly desperately needing the ocean. He needed to get lost in the enormity and the silence. He didn't think about what he was going to tell the team or what Catherine was going to do now. He didn't even think about Danny, he just let the cool ocean wash over his skin, his mind pleasantly blank.

_McDanno_

Steve was met by the wonderful sight of Danny as he made his way out of the water. He shook off the lingering ocean and smiled brightly at his partner. "Hey. How's Grace?" he chuckled, feeling the weighted he'd gone into the water with slip away.

Danny narrowed his gaze at him. "My daughter's been scarred for life and you think it's funny?" he accused.

Steve dragged his hand through his wet hair. "No. Which is why I'm asking if she's alright."

"She seems fine enough." Danny shrugged. "She didn't say anything at all on the way to school, she just kept shooting me looks."

"She's probably just in shock Danno, she'll be fine. Gracie's a smart and open minded kid."

"I'm aware of that, which is why I'm concerned. She didn't by that cockroach excuse for a second and now I'm going to have to talk to her about stuff I never planned on talking about."

"It's the twenty first century babe, I'm pretty sure she already know about..."

Danny glared, his finger raising to point at Steve's face. "No, Steve she does not. My little girl is innocent to the ways of the world."

Steve couldn't help but scoff, strolling past the shorter man on his way back to the house. "She had a baby brother, I'm pretty sure Rachel has already explained the ways of the world." he snorted.

"Maybe when it comes to where babies come from." Danny snapped, quickly following his partner. "In general family friendly ways, but not..."

Steve looked down at his friend, brow raised expectantly as they paused on the threshold of the house. "Not what?"

"Not...her father and Uncle Steve ways."

Steve smiled softly, chuckling as he continued on into the house, his discarded clothes in his arms for the second time that morning. He headed for the kitchen, then through to the laundry room, tossing the clothes on the washer and grabbing a towel to dry off.

"This isn't funny Steve." Danny said, following him all the way through the house. "What am I meant to tell her? Huh?" he snapped, his hands flying about anxiously.

"I guess it depends." he murmured, dragging the towel over his hair.

"On?" Danny pressed.

"On, what happens from here." he replied calmly.

Danny fell silent, his gaze instantly falling to Steve's tiled floor, his hands sliding into his pant pockets. "I don't know." he practically whispered.

Steve took a slow steady breath as he watched Danny's forehead crumple. "There's no rush Danny." he said gently, hoping to make it clear that he would wait for whatever decision his partner made. - Praying the whole time that it wouldn't be to walk away.

"I just...need time to get my head around all this."

"Then you take the time." Steve insisted, leaning forward to squeeze Danny's shoulder, the man looking up at him.

"The last thing I need is for Gracie to get attached Steve. When Gaby took off, it really upset her and I don't want to put her through that again."

"I hate to break it to you Danno but we're already attached." he smiled. "And I'm not going anywhere. Whatever you decided happens or doesn't happen between us, I'm not going to take off." he promised intensely. "I love Gracie, I don't want to hurt her any more than you do."

They stood in the small room, eyes fixed on one another, the air crackling around them. Steve wanted to lean forward, he wanted to capture Danny's lips and finish what they'd started that morning. To remind him how good it had been, but he'd just promised the man time to think and breathe and that was what he was going to give him, so instead he smiled warmly and stepped past him. "I'm gonna take a shower, make yourself at home."

"Don't I always." Danny grumbled breathlessly.

Steve smiled at him brightly and exited the laundry room, then the kitchen. He didn't even make it to the stairs when his phone rang, he glanced down at the screen and inwardly groaned as he hit accept and raised it to his ear, kissing goodbye to a peaceful day. "McGarrett." he looked back to see Danny watching him. "Yeah." he nodded, then hung up without some much as a goodbye. "We got to go."

"You gonna dress first or you planning on working in your soggy underwear?" Danny smirked.

"Would you mind?" Steve asked huskily, unable to stop himself. His gaze heavy as he turned to fully face his partner.

"Yes Steven, I'd mind." Danny snapped. "My job is hard enough as it is without the added pressure of keeping you from catching hyperthermia. - Besides, I don't need the distraction."

Steve let out a belly laugh, turning to continue up the stairs. "It's Hawai'i Danno, I'd catch sunstroke first."

"And then I'd have to stop Max from helping you reach all those hard to reach places." Danny countered, his voice low and filled with meaning.

Steve's breath hitched and his dick twitched at the thought of Danny helping him apply lotion, his rough calloused fingers spreading it in all kinds of fun places.

"Earth to McGarrett!" Danny snapped his fingers. "You can get back to whatever dirty thoughts after we've protected the island from stupid criminals. Shower, now."

Steve shook himself out of his stooper and took off up the stairs for his 3 minute shower.

It was almost 7 minutes later when he reappeared fully dressed and ready for action. Danny was sat on the couch watching the news, a mug of coffee in one hand and a slice of toast in the other, he looked up with a smirk. "That was a long 3 minutes."

Steve shrugged, reaching down to snag the keys off the coffee table before heading for the door.

"Where we going?" Danny asked, switching the TV off and following quickly after him.

"Halawa, someone what's to talk."

A/N: Sorry the chapter's so short.

This whole story came from the desire to write Grace walking in on Steve instead of Amber. I love Gracie's face in the episode, for me it's as if she's looking at Amber and thinking, 'Wait, you're not Uncle Steve.' Always makes me smile.

Yeah Steve is a little low on self-esteem in this, mostly out of fear more than anything. Having spent most of his life in a homophobic environment like the Navy, he's never quite been at ease with his own feelings and desires, and he's naturally terrified of the consequence if he gives into them. He doesn't want to lose his friendship with Danny at the cost of a one night stand, and having spent the past three years thinking Danny's 100% straight, that's his biggest fear right now. He kinda just waiting for the other shoe to drop and after re-watching Stakeout, I'm even more convinced that while Steve is Mr.-gung-ho when it comes to shooting a gun and kicking ass, he's still that teenager boy scare of feeling vulnerable, hence his reluctantly to face his feelings for Danny.