Danny hesitated before answering. Steve's hold on his wrist was loose enough that he could slip free but he didn't think he could handle the look on Steve's face if he did "Uhmm..ok, I'll stay, I'll just go sleep on the couch. See you in the morning" Danny goes to walk away and he feels Steve's hand slip from his wrist, he walks out and downstairs to the living room.
Danny settled himself on the couch and lied down, grabbing the blanket that Steve keeps on the chair and throwing it over himself. Danny doesn't know if Steve will be ok in the morning but at least he can stay here and make sure he's ok for now.
Steve watched as Danny walked out of the room and downstairs and he wished for the millionth time he would have just told Danny how he feels. Why Danny is the only person Steve can go to and be comfortable with, why he's the only one Steve would ever tell any his problems too. Why Danny is the only one Steve would ever let see him like this, broken and crumbling. He tosses and turns for an couple hours and finally employing all his stealth skills, grabs his blanket and slowly creeps downstairs. He sees Danny asleep on the couch, his breathing even but in sleep, Steve can see he's worried and a sad little smile creeps onto Steve's face. Danny's worries about him and Steve just wants to tell him it will be ok, that he will be ok, but the truth is Steve doesn't know if he will be ok.
Danny drifts off to sleep, letting the roll and crash of the waves lull him. He wakes up in the morning and looks around and almost falls off the couch in surprise as he sees Steve's huddled form asleep in the recliner next to the couch. When did Steve come downstairs? He had to uncomfortable in the chair because his long legs were pulled up to his chest and his head was resting at odd angle on his shoulder. Danny could see the bruising on his jaw now, purple and bluish black, his lip was kind of swollen and his knuckles were still red. Anger surged through Danny as he though about what had caused all this. Joe. If Joe would just help Steve find the answers he needed then none of this would have happened, Steve wouldn't have been tortured, Joe wouldn't have been kidnapped and Steve wouldn't have been beaten to hell trying to rescue him. Steve as loyal to Joe and after everything he had done, Joe refused to answer his questions or even help Steve find the answers. He tamped down on the anger bubbling inside of him and looked at Steve's sleeping form again, he hated to wake him but he needed to eat and take more pain medicine.
Danny slowly got up and gently shook Steve's shoulder "Steve...Steve...wake up" Danny stepped back as Steve's head snapped up and Danny saw a fierce look flash across his face before he recognized his living room and glanced at Danny.
Danny watched as Steve uncurled his legs and moved his neck from side to side, wincing "When did you come down here last night?"
"Um.." Steve rubbed his neck as he thought "Around 3, I guess"
"Why?" Danny asked, settling back on the couch.
Steve looked at Danny then at the floor and whispered "I...uh...I wanted to be near you. I didn't want to be by myself last night"
Danny felt like pulling Steve into a hug and holding him forever. Danny wanted to tell him that he would always be here whenever Steve needed him but chickened out "Well we better get you something to eat and clean your knuckles and lip again. Unless you want to go swimming..."
Steve shook his head and spoke again "No. Food sounds good"
"Alright then, let's get you to the kitchen and I'll see what I can make for us" Danny said and got up, he stood beside the chair unsure if he should help him, but Steve slowly got up and followed him to the kitchen. He sat at the island and stared off into space as Danny started the coffee and pulled the aspirin out of the cabinet and setting two pills in front of Steve.
"Take those, your jaw looks like it hurts" Danny said and filled a glass with water before setting it in front of him and beginning to rummage through the cabinets and fridge to see what Steve had for breakfast. In the end, he made eggs and bacon, and the smell was making Steve's mouth water as Danny set a plate in front of him and then took a seat beside him. They ate in silence until Danny finished and began cleaning up.
"Danny you don't have to clean. You've done enough already. I can clean it up later" Steve said as he got up and rinsed his plate.
Danny finished putting the eggs and bacon away before he turned to Steve and sighed "Ok. Well I'm going home to shower and I'll be back later. Call me if you need anything while I'm gone, ok?"
Steve nodded and stiffened a bit when Danny gave him small hug. He relaxed into it and wrapped his arms around Danny, before he said "Thank You"
Danny turned and left and Steve suddenly felt alone. He didn't know how many times he had been alone and he was always fine but now, now that Danny was gone, he felt lonely and he wanted to curl up and shut out the world.
Steve couldn't drag Danny into this mess any further than he already had. Steve was dark and lonely and people died around him, Danny was bright and full of life, Steve couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Danny because of him. Steve would solve his own problems and things would go back to normal. He would always love Danny, and nothing would ever change that.
Danny didn't know why Steve was shutting him out. Danny had wanted to stay and just be there with Steve, so he didn't feel alone anymore but Steve had wanted to do it by himself. Danny wanted to tell Steve that he wasn't alone anymore, that Danny would always come running no matter what the problem was. The problem now was getting Steve to believe that and Danny confessing his feelings. He sighed as he pulled up in front of his apartment, and leaned his head against the steering wheel "Fuck" he whispered. Fuck was right, Danny was screwed if he couldn't make tell Steve about his feelings and help Steve get the answers he so desperately needed.