N/b My beta has a lot going on in her life at the moment. Once she has time I will update this with the beta'd version.
Chapter Two
"It seems that a case I was dealing with back home has had some problems. They want me to go through it and see if I can help. That kind of thing, you know." Danny explained. He did feel as if there were something off about NJPD asking him to come back. This was the perfect time for him. A little time away from Steve was what he needed.
"Why can't they send the info here?" Steve crossed his arms across his chest and glared.
Danny tried desperately not to stare at Steve's bulging biceps, the arms of the t-shirt stretching tightly across those hard muscles. "Well, Steven it will help me chatting to the other officers involved, going to the scenes and catching up with the new evidence that had come in. Most of that will be a lot easier to do there, like the scene visiting thing."
"Fine, Daniel. When are you going?"
"As soon as I can get the tickets, explain to Rachel and talk to Grace." Danny paused for a moment. "You will keep an eye on her for me, won't you?" As much as his partner wound him up he knew that Grace would always be safe with Steve around.
Steve grinned his eyes crinkled around the edges and made him look years younger. "We'll make sure that she is perfectly fine for when her Danno comes back."
"Of course we will Danny, we're ohana." Kono wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big squeeze. At times it still amazed how close they had all become over such a short period of time. Kono couldn't imagine working with anyone else now.
"Need to breathe." Danny choked out and laughed as she hit him. "Also Chin, make sure…." He nods to Steve, knowing how much trouble his partner could get up to in such a short period of time.
"We'll do our best to keep him under control and Ohau in one piece for your return." Chin gave him a manly hug and slapped him on the back.
"I'd like all of islands Hawaii to be standing actually, but you can only do so much with Steve around. I know you are but one man Chin Ho Kelly."
"You're, not funny Danno, you know that right?" Steve shook his head at his friends, still smiling at the people who had changed his life. They had stood by him through what had happened to him with the arrest.
Danny laughed. "I am, in fact, hilarious thank you very much and how many times do I have to tell you. Don't call me Danno."
"Give it up brah." Kono nudged Danny, the smile suddenly vanished. "Come back safe to us, you hear. Don't love it too much in Jersey and stay there"
"I hear you Kono. Just checking files, nothing dangerous and with Steve being here, I actually mean that. You know my monkey is here. Where she goes, I go." Danny said quickly to lighten the mood again. The knot in the hollow of his stomach was growing bigger. Something about this felt wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on what. He was an expert on the case, so it did make sense for him to go, but he trusted his instincts. What he wanted to was told his team so they could come with him and watch his back. Danny had no evidence that anything would happen.
"How are you getting to the airport?" Steve wanted to know.
"Well I was hoping that someone would drive me." Danny gave them all a huge smile.
"I'll do it." Steve replied fast so that no one else could.
"Thanks, we'll head to see Rachel and Grace first and then to my place so I can pack. Is that alright with you?"
"Whatever you need Danno, whatever you need." Steve meant every word he always did with Danny. He had never had a best friend like the shorty mouth blonde, and now it was one of the most valuable relationships in his life. There were things that had started to change between them, but Steve had no idea why. He noticed Danny a lot more like how his bright blue eyes flashed in anger, the tightness of his shirts that stressed across his muscular chest. The way the slacks curved around his ass.
Danny walked into his office to make sure the computer was turned off. "Whatever I need right? I need so many things from you McGarratt; more nudity is one of them." He muttered to himself afraid that one day Steve was going to push him so far that he was going to slam the navy SEAL against the wall and took what he desperately wanted. Everything. Body, heart and soul.
"Are you ok Danny?" Steve called from the door hearing his friend talk, but the words were not clear enough to hear clearly.
Danny looked at him, pasted a smile on his face and blushed scarlet. "Fine, everything is fine."
"Ok, let's go." Steve watched as how more attractive that made Danny. He shook his, he would not allow sex interfere with what he had going with his partner. It was far too valuable to lose over and quick fuck.
"Yeah, let's do that."
XXXXX
Danny stared at the large gates that protected the mansion that his daughter now lived in. He was glad that he had an exceptionally close relationship with Grace, but even that couldn't stop those feelings of jealousy that he wouldn't be able to give her any of things that Stan was able to. He wished that he could pay for incredible trips, ponies and tennis lessons. Danny would give the world to his daughter if he could, loving her unconditionally was the only thing he had, that and Uncle Steve's beach.
"Danny?" Steve reached over and laid a hand on his shoulder and watched as the sadness covered the radiance of those blue orbs. "What's wrong?"
"I can't give her any of this." He waved his hand around at the large house and sprawling gardens.
"This doesn't make her happy. Spending time with you is what does."
"Spending time with all of us is what she loves Steve, the swimming lessons on the ocean with you and learning how to surf with Kono."
"We all love her Danny."
"I know you do." Danny looked towards the house. "I'd better go and let Rachel know what is going on."
"Take as long as you need. You have time and I'll be waiting." Steve watched as Danny nodded and climbed out of the car.
XXXXX
Rachel opened her front door as soon as she saw her ex-husband walking up.
"Hi Rachel, thanks for seeing me." Danny hated this chasm that had grown between them. It had got worse after he had decided to stay and help get Steve out of jail, he couldn't have left and be able to live with himself. In Rachel's eyes, Danny had picked Steve over her and the baby that he believed at the time was his.
"What's going on Daniel? You made it sound urgent on the telephone." Her English accent clipped as she spoke.
"The Killian case." Danny answered briefly.
Rachel's brow puckered as she tried to remember back. "The family murder, the one that certainly got to you. What about it?" She moved forward to him knowing how hard a case that had been.
"They need me to go back and look at it. New information has been handed in and they think that my memories as well as my files might be of help."
"When are you going?"
"I leave her, pack and Steve is driving me to the airport." Danny explained.
"Ah, yes of course lieutenant Commander McGarratt." Her voice cooled again.
"Rachel, please not now. This is nothing to do with us or him. You know how hard this is going to be for me. I just want to see Grace before I go. Can I do that?"
"Sorry Daniel, of course you can. I'll go and get her. Please come in and wait." She let him into the large hallway and left to go and get their daughter.
"Danno." Grace screamed as she ran to him and jumped into his arms.
"Hey monkey." He hugged her tightly to him, breathing in her scent and memorising every little detail. He lowered her to the ground, went down onto one knee and cringed as a pain short through the knee he had damaged his ACL on.
Grace stared at him and Danny's heart ached as she looked so much like Rachel. "What's wrong Danno?"
"I have to go back to Jersey for a little while. It's to help out on a case that I dealt with."
"You are coming back home aren't you?"
Rachel and Danny stared at each other, knowing how she loved Hawaii but hearing from her own lips calling it home. Danny felt that last bit of hope of ever moving back to Jersey leave him. He would do anything to make his Gracie happy.
"Of course I am sweetheart. I am just going to see if I can help and then I will be right back. You know I would follow you any wear. You are the bright spot in my life. I love you monkey, never forget that."
"I love you to Danno."
Danny hugged her again and stood up to look at Rachel.
"Thank you Rachel." Danny said sincerely.
"Take care Daniel."
"I will Rachel." Danny suddenly froze as Rachel hugged him. "Don't let this case eat you up again."
"I promise." Danny pulled away, looked at Rachel and smiled. Turning around he nearly walked into Stan.
"Danny." He said with a glare. Danny still wasn't far from Rachel's thoughts and he hated being second best. Stan had a successful career, but he still felt second best.
"Stan." Danny nodded and walked out and straight back to his car without looking back. Climbing into the car he took a deep breath trying to calm himself down.
"Are you ok?" Steve asked concern.
"Yeah, it's just hard. Everything between me and Rachel and there is Grace."
"Danny, Grace knows that you love her."
"I know, I just thought it was going to be forever, twice and I failed and I've….." Danny stopped suddenly as he realised that he was going to reveal how he felt for Steve.
"You've what Danny?"
"Nothing, I'm just tired that is all. Ignore me." Danny was glad that they had arrived at his apartment. He got out of the car and heard the other door slam shut as Steve followed him. "I won't be long."
"Danny, I…." Steve stopped as Danny held out his hand.
"Steve, I have to go." Danny had to stop him. There was something different by the look in his eyes. He couldn't handle being rejected now.
Steve watched Danny carefully; he could see that there was something that his friend was not telling him. He would find out when Danny got back to Oahu things has changed between them. His Danno had started to pull away and Steve was afraid he was going to lose him. That was utterly unacceptable.
Danny could feel Steve stare at him. He concentrated on packing what he needed, it didn't take him long to do pack.
XXXXX
Steve stood and watched Danny as he brought his ticket. Danny walked back over to him and smiled.
"Well, I'll see you when I get back."
"Danny, call me when you settle." Steve pulled him into a quick hug.
Danny breathed in the sent that was Steve. "I will." He finally managed to pull himself away.
The stood and watched each other for a moment before Danny heard his flight being called. He nodded, turned and walked away forcing himself not to look back. If he did he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to leave.
Steve had no idea why he hugged Danny; he wanted to stop him from going. He wanted to go with him to make sure he stayed safe. The things that were running around in his head were confusing. He had been attracted to men before, but he couldn't feel like that, not for Danny. It was Danny, the best partner he had ever had and the best friend he didn't want to live without.
"Fuck." Steve muttered he hoped that he was wrong. "I can't have feelings for Danny."
XXXXX
Danny had finally settled in at the hotel. As much as he loved his parents Danny wasn't going to stay with them. He needed the time alone to think about what to do. There was a knock at his hotel room. It hadn't been an hour and yet here someone was already. He tiptoed and looked through the peephole. He was sure that he didn't know the guy, but he did seem familiar.
Danny clicked the lock and pulled the door open.
The gorgeous muscled man who stood there smiled.
"Hi Danny." The stranger said eyeing Danny up and down. "You don't recognise me do you?" He chuckled. "It's me Liam Horseman."
Danny opened and closed his mouth. This was the rookie cop that followed him around like a lost puppy. That crush got to be ridiculous. Danny stared at him and frowned. He knew that look, it seemed that the little doggie had grown up, but his feelings had stayed the same. This was the last thing he needed.
TBC