Two days later, and they've all fallen into a more familiar arrangement. After refusing to speak for a whole day after arriving, Grace has finally started to talk some more. Getting over the funeral hysterics wasn't half as bad as getting over the initial hysterics, and though she's still sad for most of the time, Steve catches the occasional smile.
Danny seems to be holding it together. Mostly, Steve has made the effort not to get in his way too much, giving both he and Grace the space and privacy they need. The father and daughter are sharing the double in his spare room, and Steve is glad that, so far, his offer of co-habitation has not been met with a desire for termination.
But despite all of that, Steve is a little worried. Not because they don't seem to be coping as well as can be expected on their own, but because Danny has withdrawn a little, and though he suspects he's doing it to help Grace, he can see it's not. Danny and Grace are going through a similar sense of grief, and Steve knows from experience that the only way they'll ever be able to move on is together. He had felt the same when it had been his father. Sure, Danny had helped - probably more than he'll ever know - but he'd never truly been able to let it go until a visit from Mary.
Steve does most of the cooking, and he's in the kitchen when Grace joins him there, eyes bloodshot from tears as she carries a piece of paper. She lifts an arm to Steve, extending the white sheet. "Can we put this on the fridge, Uncle Steve?"
Steve looks down at the paper, and almost tears up himself when he reads the names under the artful drawings. Mommy. Stan. Danno. Me. Steve. Steve doesn't even have it in him to feel pleased that he's been included, and with a nod, he silently uses a magnet to attach the picture to the fridge.
Then, turning around and seeing that Grace is still watching him, he pauses from making the dinner, and leans down to lift Grace onto the counter. She doesn't protest, but she also doesn't let go. Once seated, she tightens her hold on Steve's neck, pulling him closer and holding back the tears as she buries her face in his shoulders. Steve had never been good with kids. Not until he'd met Grace.
"Shhh…shhh…Grace, it's okay." He pulls away and looks into her eyes, trying to convey that it really is. That though it hurts like hell right now, things will get better.
Grace lets out one short sob before biting it back. "Steve, I don't want Danno to be sad any more. I don't want to be sad anymore. I want Mommy."
Steve nods, clamping her head between his two hands. "Grace, Danno will be sad for a bit. You just gotta help each other. Keep giving him lots of hugs and kisses, make sure he's okay." And yes, even he's surprised at how sensible that sounded.
It's then that Danny chooses to make his entrance, and at the signal of Grace's gestures, Steve helps her down and watches with a shadow of a smile as she moves towards her father.
She launches into him, arms encircling his legs until Danny finally picks her up and wraps his arms around her. With Grace in his embrace, he walks back towards the couch and disappears out of view as Steve turns his attentions back to the meal.
This past week and a bit has been the first time in their entire friendship that he hasn't had to suppress his feelings for Danny, and he hates that life since Rachel died has kind of been easier for him in a twisted, selfish kind of a way. Because the death of his ex-wife has brought out the vulnerability in Danny, and all Steve has been able to think about is looking after him and Grace, about helping them to get to a point that the memory of Rachel is just a dull ache.
Stan has been relatively forgotten in all of this, but he knows that Danny possesses some kind of sadness for the passing of the man. Not so much because he liked him, but more for Grace's sake. Because although the girl had never formed the same attachment as she had with either of her parents - or Steve for that matter - she'd still lived with the man for the best part of six years.
So with Grace and Danny in need of Steve for support, the ex-SEAL's feelings haven't even surfaced. He's known for at least six months that he's in love with the man, but never would Steve even dream of taking advantage of Danny's weakness, so his focus is an intent on being exactly what they both need. And thankfully, mercifully, Danny hasn't denied him of the ability to carry out that duty.