Danny had just fallen asleep after finally settling down John-John. He'd had a nightmare – at least that was Danny's best guess. Since John was still non-verbal at 8 months old, it was a little difficult to determine exactly why he had woken up screaming. A warm bottle of milk and all the songs Danny could remember seemed to sooth John's fears and he finally, finally went back to sleep.

Danny's sleep was all too brief before being disrupted by the ringing of Steve's cell phone. It wasn't a ring tone he recognized which made him both very awake and very nervous. He frowned at Steve as he reached blindly for the phone, sitting straight up after glancing at the screen.

"Yes sir," Steve said in his best Commander voice. "Right away, sir." He listened for a minute before responding one last time and hanging up. If Danny hadn't already known the content of the phone call, the look on Steve's face told him everything he needed to know but didn't want to.

Steve was already getting out of bed, not even trying to explain. Danny understood. He didn't like it. In fact, he hated it. But he understood. That did not stop him from needing to rush over to their bathroom and lose everything in his stomach. He was glad now he had missed dinner because the vomiting could have been a lot worse.

"Hey, hey," Steve said soothingly, caressing the back of Danny's sweaty head. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"How long?" Danny asked, squinting up at him, not sure he wanted the answer.

"Three weeks?" Steve said, hoping Danny wasn't going to be sick again at the news. His hopes were in vain and Danny returned to hugging the toilet. "So much for your streak, huh?"

"Do NOT make jokes right now, Steven. You are going God knows where to do God knows what and I may never see you again. This is not the time for jokes."

"I'm sorry, Danno," Steve said when he was on his knees next to Danny. "I'm really sorry."

"I know, babe. You have to go. I get that. It doesn't mean I have to be happy about it," Danny said, unable to meet Steve's worried eyes.

"I understand," Steve said, kissing the top of Danny's head.

"Will you be able to call me?" Danny asked, hoping he didn't sound as pathetic as he felt. He was a big boy. He could survive without Steve for three weeks that would no doubt turn into a month. Only a month if he was lucky.

"I don't know. You know I will if I have the chance. If there's an emergency and you have to reach me, call the base CO. He'll know how to contact me."

Danny nodded, sitting heavily on the floor. "I'll call the governor first thing in the morning. And I'll find someone to watch John full time."

"It might be better if you stayed part time, Danno. I've never left him before. I don't want him to be without both of us," Steve said reasonably.

"Yeah," Danny agreed, not sure that's what he wanted. But he did think Steve had a point as much as he didn't like it.

"Do you want me to call Chin to come over?" Steve offered.

Danny shook his head, reaching for Steve's arm and squinting at his watch. "It's 2:30 in the morning. No need in waking Chin too."

"All right," Steve agreed reluctantly. "I have to go. I love you, Danno. Remember that, okay?"

"I will. I love you too. Now go kick ass, take names, and come home safe."

"I promise," Steve said, kissing him on the nose. "Remind John-John and Gracie that I love them."

"You can count on it," Danny said, staying where he was and watching Steve leave him. If he stood up, he knew he would chase his goof-ball of a husband and beg him not to go.

~o0o~

Danny didn't bother going back to bed. When he heard Steve's truck leave the driveway, he went downstairs, too awake and too keyed up to go back to sleep. He had the baby monitor in his pocket as he went into the laundry room and put in another load. Even with a neat-freak of a husband, there were always more clothes to wash – the baby's, Steve's, fewer of Danny's. Getting the blood out of Steve's shirts was a seemingly futile goal but it kept his hands busy and his mind off all the things that could put blood on Steve's shirts while he was away.

"Governor Jameson, please," Danny requested. He managed to wait until 8 a.m. when he was certain she would be in her office. John was settled on his hip as he warmed the formula, the baby chatting happily to Danny's hair. Danny wondered if John knew what he was saying or if in true Williams fashion was in love with the sound of his own voice, not that he'd ever admit to Steve that that particular fact had any truth to it. "Yes, this is Detective Danny Williams-McGarrett."

"Danny?" Governor Jameson said in greeting. "Is everything okay?"

"I hope so. Steve was deployed last night," Danny said, trying hard to not choke on the words.

"Oh dear. I'm so sorry."

"Me too, Governor. But we know it can happen at any time," Danny said regretfully.

"Do you know how long he'll be gone?"

"He said three weeks, ma'am. But that could mean a month or two months or…." Danny sighed.

"I understand, Danny. Do you want me to make some phone calls? See what I can find out?" she offered kindly.

"To be perfectly honest, ma'am, I think I prefer not knowing. If I don't know he's been sent to the middle east, I can worry less," Danny admitted.

"I can understand that," she agreed. "If you need anything, anything while Steve's gone, you know you only have to call."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you," Danny said. After the necessary pleasantries, Danny hung up with her. He didn't bother to call Chin, Kono, or Jenna. They would be by any minute for breakfast. He couldn't remember exactly when it became their custom to stop by their house on the way to work which was really out of the way for them all but stop by they did. Once they had eaten, they would all leave for work, Danny most days staying behind with the baby.

"Mnnmmnn…" John was telling Danny's hair.

"I agree," Danny said, testing the temperature of the formula before giving the bottle to his son. "It does suck."

"Watch that language, brah," Chin warned with his ever present smile as he strolled into the kitchen. "Or the baby's first word will be the four-letter kind."

"Don't I know it," Danny agreed.

"Where's boss-man?" Kono asked, taking John when he held his arms out to his favorite Auntie.

"I have no idea," Danny admitted, sitting heavily in one of the kitchen chairs. He told them about Steve being recalled, their unhappiness palatable.

"No, no," Jenna said, shaking her head.

"Do you know something?" Danny asked, studying her closely.

"I don't, Danny. I just hate that he had to go."

"Me too. But…." Danny shrugged, smiling up at John as he happily sucked from the bottle Kono was holding from him.

"I'll bunk with you while he's gone," Chin decided, the women nodding in agreement.

"I can't ask you to do that," Danny protested.

"You aren't asking, brah. I'm telling. First, Steve's gone and that's enough of a load on your mind. You don't need to try to take care of John alone while pretending you aren't worrying sick about Steve."

"Well. When you put it that way," Danny said wearily. He looked up at Kono and Jenna who were exchanging glances. "What? You want to stay too?"

They shrugged innocently, Kono kissing the baby on the head.

"Fine. Good thing we have extra bedrooms," Danny said. "I have Grace this weekend so you'll have to sleep together while she's here."

"That's no problem, brah," Kono assured him a little too happily.

"I don't need to know anything else," he said, holding up one hand.

"What'd the Governor say?" Chin asked as he started preparing the pancake batter.

"She offered to make some calls. Find out where he was sent. I asked her not to. I'd rather live in ignorance, frankly," he admitted, rubbing his hand over his face and ideally scratching his stubble.

"You look beat," Kono said. "And I mean that in the nicest way possible. Go up and take a nap. We'll watch the baby."

"You need to get to HQ," Danny said, shaking his head.

"There's nothing going on right now," Jenna said, reaching down for his hand and pulling him up. "And if they need us, they'll call our cell phones."

"All right," Danny agreed reluctantly. "But only for an hour. And if John needs me, promise me you'll wake me up."

"Of course," Kono promised. "He has his Auntie Kono. What more could he need?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Danny said, allowing Jenna to pull him upstairs. Now that they had offered, all he could do was think about going to sleep for three days. He wasn't sure he'd be able to actually sleep without Steve's overly hot, overly large body taking up too much room in their bed but the idea of trying was very appealing to his tired body.

~o0o~

He squinted at the clock when his eyes finally decided they would stay open, surprised to see that it was 11:30. So much for sleeping for only an hour. Well, he needed it and he knew John was fine with the gang amusing him.

Danny took a shower, lingering under the hot water and enjoying the fact that he felt no need to rush through it. He finally made himself leave, needing to see John, to hold him tight, to feel his squirming baby in his arms.

He made his way to the back of the house, sitting in one of the beach chairs and gazing out at the ocean. Kono, Chin and Jenna had John in the water, the three of them forming a protective circle around him. He was gleefully splashing the water and Danny thought it looked a little like he was actually propelling himself through it.

Kono spotted Danny and waved up at him, John squealing in delight. Danny knew that sound was solely for him and went into the water to reach down for his happy, naked little boy. "Hey baby. Are you swimming?"

John babbled up at Danny, his hands holding tight to the front of Danny's tee shirt. That John was so happy loosened something tight inside Danny's chest.

"He's a natural, brah," Chin told Danny. "He'll be surfing as soon as he can stand up."

"Great," Danny said trying to sound put-upon. "Just what I need. Another aquaman in the family."

"He'll be an aquababy for a little while," Jenna pointed out with a smile.

"Yeah," Danny said, smiling at them. "Thank you guys."

They shrugged off his thanks, Kono and Jenna going inside after saying something about finding some lunch for their men. Danny and Chin exchanged a look at that, deciding silently not to question it.

"How are you really, Danny?" Chin asked when they were settled in the chairs, the umbrella protecting John from the sun as he lay against Danny's chest.

Danny stared out over the ocean, considering the question, one he had avoided thinking about until Chin went and asked it out loud. "I don't know," Danny finally decided. "I think I'm pissed. That they had to deploy Steve. How many SEALs are there? He's the only one who could handle whatever this is he's having to handle? By the same token, I get it. They spent a lot of time and money training him. They still own him. I don't really have the right to be mad that they are asking him to fulfill a commitment he made before he knew I ever existed."

"Doesn't make it any easier," Chin said.

"No. We …or I hoped they'd forgotten about him. Which was stupid, I know. But it's been almost three years. Why now? Why this time?" Danny asked, knowing neither he nor Chin had the answer.

"He must be able to handle the situation when no one else can," Chin suggested.

"That hardly seems likely does it?" Danny asked. "Don't SEALs get the same training?"

"Yeah but some have specialties. Like Steve's languages. His love of explosives. You know."

"Yeah," Danny had to concede. "Maybe I should ask the Governor to make some calls. Maybe knowing would be easier."

"I wouldn't do it, brah," Chin said, sounding all too wise and knowledgeable for Danny's comfort. "Not knowing is way easier."

"Yeah," Danny sighs, wishing it was all just a little easier.

~o0o~

Danny managed to survive the first week with the giant Steve-shaped hole in his life. He would never say it was easy but he could say it got a little less hard. The worst was the rewiring he had to do to make his brain cooperate. He didn't bother keeping track of the ridiculous number of times he automatically turned to tell Steve something before he remembered there was no Steve to tell. How John had said what just might have been Daddy or Danno or maybe they were only random syllables but he was so cute doing it. Or how Grace was going to finally take ballet lessons, with a tutu and everything. Or that the refrigerator stopped working and who could blame it since he was pretty sure it was purchased well before Steve was even a gleam in his parents' eyes. Buying the refrigerator was almost more than Danny could handle by himself, not because it was an overwhelming task but simply because it was something you did with your husband.

Bless Chin Ho's kindness for going with Danny to the giant box store and asking all the right questions. The saleswoman cooed over John while Chin compared the display models, making sure the one Danny thought might be the best choice was the correct dimensions for the space allocated to it in the kitchen. Assured it would fit, the saleswoman promised it would be delivered that afternoon because no one with a nine-month old baby could be without a working refrigerator longer than 24 hours.

The second week was harder and easier. John was anxious and fidgety and barely ate or slept. His pediatrician said it was a common response to the anxiety he felt being projected by his father and that when Danny was feeling more centered John would as well. Danny made a conscious effort to project calm. When he felt his grip on the forced tranquility slipping, he went for overly-long runs on the beach with John in his all-terrain stroller that Danny suspect Steve had ordered from Guns and Ammo-Family Edition but never asked. He did periodically check the suspiciously numerous pockets on the stroller, making absolutely certain that Steve had not stashed any grenades, knives, or heavy artillery in any of them.

The breathing exercises the doctor recommend for Danny and the additional fresh air from their runs seemed to work for them both and John began to sleep more soundly. Or Danny never heard him being restless because Kono, Chin, or Jenna got to him before he woke up his father. Danny didn't have the heart to ask and they would never admit that they took turns getting up so Danny could have a few hours respite from the ache they could see in his eyes which only Steve could relieve.

The third week passed in a blur. Danny couldn't sleep more than three hours, prowling around the house as though he was trying to remember where he had stashed Steve. He tried warm milk, cold milk, cold beer, hot cider, no coffee, extra coffee. Nothing helped. He finally asked Rachel if she could take John for a night so that Chin, Jenna, and Kono could have the night off and Danny could have the house to himself. Rachel's worried eyes told Kono all she needed to know when she dropped off John, none of them wanting to leave Danny alone but when he kept insisting it's what he wanted, they could no longer argue.

If Danny's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen behind his sunglasses the next morning when he picked up John, Rachel would never admit she noticed. And maybe Grace shouldn't have been allowed to skip school but one day out to spend with her father as a special holiday was not going to ruin her future or her ability to get into any college she wanted.

The beginning of the fourth week, Danny was sure he was going to go out of his mind. He had been out of touch with Steve three times longer than he had since they had threatened each other in the garage across the Marquis. Where was he? Why couldn't he call? Danny would know already if he was dead, right? Super SEAL or not, his next of kin would be notified. Danny even called Mary with the pretense of catching her up on how big John was getting, comforted by the normality of her tone. She missed Steve too but she hadn't lived with him most of her life so distance was her norm with her brother.

The beginning of the fifth week, Danny could no longer stand not knowing and called the base commander.

"I know I shouldn't be calling," Danny said, John on his hip, one hand fisted in Danny's shirt. "But it's been over a month. Can you at least tell me if Steve is okay?"

There was a heart-wrenchingly long pause on the other end and Danny was pretty sure he stopped breathing. "That information is classified, Detective Williams-McGarrett."

"Classified," Danny said. "You can't tell me if my husband, father of my child, is alive or dead?"

"No," the commander said, not even a hint of sympathy in his voice.

"Then you can rot in hell," Danny said, slamming down the phone. He carefully put John in his swing and took several deep breaths before dialing the Governor.

"Danny?" Governor Jameson said, her anxiety coming through. That she could hear John crying in the background only worried her more.

"I just talked to the base CO," Danny said, his words clipped. "He won't tell me if Steve is alive. Said it's classified. I'm his fucking husband. How can it be classified?"

"All right, Danny. I'll find out. I'll call you back just as quickly as I can," the Governor promised.

Danny called Chin, knowing he could not be by himself with John right now. The fear and anxiety he was feeling was transmitting to his sobbing son. If Danny picked him up, it would only make matters worse.

Chin was arriving as the phone rang. He watched Danny take a breath before answering, Chin gathering up John and cooing at him in comforting sounds.

"Governor," Danny said sounding remarkably more calm than he felt.

"He's fine, Danny. He's been deep undercover. They lost track of him this morning. The CO wasn't lying. They didn't know if he was okay. But they found him," the Governor told Danny.

"Thank God," Danny said, sitting down, his knees weak in relief. "Any chance they told you when he'd be back?"

"No, I'm sorry. They didn't. I tried."

"I know, ma'am. And I appreciate it," Danny said.

"Are you all right? Is John all right?"

"Chin is here. We're fine," Danny said.

"All right," she said. "I'll call again if I find out anything else."

"I appreciate it," Danny said, hanging up and looking at Chin, tears he was not trying to hide shimmering in his eyes. "I can't do this much longer."

"I know, brah. I have the baby. Go for a run. Or go get Grace. Whatever you want."

"I want Steve to come home. Right now," Danny said, his tears spilling over. Maybe he should have been embarrassed but he was past caring, completely overwhelmed with fear and anxiety and loneliness for Steve. He needed Steve. He wasn't ashamed to admit it.

"Try calling him. Hesse called when Steve had his brother," Chin reminded him.

Danny took a deep breath and pressed Steve's speed-dial. It only took two rings for it to go to voicemail but at least he got to hear Steve's voice. He didn't leave a message. What would he say? Hey. It's me. On the verge of a cataclysmic meltdown not that you can do anything about it. Yeah, talk to you later.

Certain that John was all right with Chin, Danny changed into shorts and running shoes, hitting the beach. He ran until he couldn't breathe and then he ran some more. His lungs were bursting, his knee was starting to swell, and his feet were screaming for mercy. He finally, finally stopped, looking around to realize he had no idea where he was. At some point, he had left the beach and was in the middle of downtown. He guessed he was approximately ten miles from home.

"Hey," he said when Kono answered, his breathing still heavy.

"What's wrong?" Kono demanded, her fear coming through.

"I ran too far. I need you to take me home," he admitted.

"Of course. I'll be there in three minutes," Kono said, already leaving the office, her cell phone tracking Danny's. "Don't move. I'll be right there."

"I can't move," he told her. "You may have to take me to the hospital on the way home."

"Your knee?"

"Yeah. I was stupid," Danny admitted, laying down on a convenient park bench.

"Do not beat yourself up, brah," she ordered. "Wait right there. I won't be long."

"Yeah," Danny said, watching the trees above him do a weird kind of dance. Why were they moving when there was no wind? How did that make any sense?

"Danny," Kono was saying, her hand resting warmly on his shoulder, making him wonder how she had gotten there while he was still talking to her on the phone. "You passed out."

"I did not pass out," Danny said a little too loudly. "I was…resting my eyes."

"Okay, brah. But I've been here almost twenty minutes and this is the first time you've answered me."

"Twenty minutes?" Danny asked, very slowly sitting up and frowning at the EMTs watching him. "Who's hurt? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I called them when I couldn't wake you up," Kono explained.

"Oh dear God," Danny said, his face behind his hands. "This is so embarrassing."

"It's fine, Danny," Sara assured him. She had been first on the scene too many times when Steve or Danny or both needed medical assistance. By this time, there was nothing he could do or say or feel that would surprise her.

"Thanks," Danny said with barely a nod. "I'm fine. I ran too far and didn't hydrate properly. Promise me you will not tell Steve when he gets back."

"I promise," Kono agreed, winking at Sara. "You want to go to the hospital or home?"

"You have to ask?" he replied, letting Kono help him up. Good thing she was much stronger than she looked or she'd never be able to lug his body over to her car.

"Drink plenty of water," Sara said, leaning in the window on Danny's side. "Ice your knee. If it's still swollen tomorrow, call your doctor."

"Right, right," Danny agreed, closing his eyes and wishing the ground would just open up and swallow him. Except that would leave John and Gracie behind and he could never do that. "Thanks for your help."

Sara nodding, patting the door to give Kono the 'all clear' before she pulled into the street.

"I'm really sorry," Danny said, his eyes still closed.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Except I lost the pool," Kono joked.

"Oh dear God. Please tell me you did not wager on when I'd finally break down," Danny said.

"I'm kidding, Danny. We'd never do that. We understand how hard this is. It's hard on all of us," Kono said.

"I know, kid. I know," Danny said softly, looking out his window. He was startled out of his reverie when his phone rang. Even though it sounded like 'Sexy Eyes' he dismissed that possibility out of hand and answered. "Detective Williams."

"Did you divorce me while I've been gone?" Steve's voice asked him.

"Steve? Oh my God. Are you okay? Please tell me you are okay. Oh God," Danny said, certain he was hyperventilating.

"I'm okay, Danno. Calm down. Deep breaths, babe. Breathe in and out," Steve soothed.

"You're really okay? I called the CO this morning and they didn't know where you were. I was sure you were dead. Oh God. I can't tell you how much I've missed you," Danny said, trying to hold back his tears.

"I miss you too. I'm fine, I promise. I was out of contact this morning your time but nothing was wrong except bad signals."

"Okay, okay," Danny said, a death grip on the phone. "Do you know when you'll be home? God let it be soon."

"Three or four more days. No longer, I promise," Steve said. "I'll be home by the weekend."

"Okay," Danny said, trying unsuccessfully to relax. "This weekend."

"Yeah. The one coming up. I'll see you before Saturday. This Saturday."

"Good," Danny said, some of the anxiety finally seeping out. "I love you, big guy."

"I love you too, babe. I can't wait to get home to you."

"Me too. Like you do not know," Danny said.

"I have some idea," Steve said, a smile finally showing up in his voice. "I have to go. I'll see you soon."

"About damn time," Danny said, enjoying Steve's laugh as they hung up. "He'll be home by the weekend."

Kono nodded, her smile saying all that needed to be said about that news.

~o0o~

The beginning of the sixth week, Danny was sure he'd survive until Steve got home. It wouldn't be much longer. He and John had actually made it through his absence, one that would soon be done, thanks to Jenna, Kono, and Chin. He could breathe. John was sleeping. Danny was almost sleeping, not taking refuge in running as he had been.

The house still had to be cleaned and the laundry still had to be done. It had increased with the arrival of their ohana but he did not mind. Washing, drying, folding, and sorting was the least he could do for all that they were doing for him.

Chin's clean and folded laundry went into the basket lined with hellacious lime green and bright pink Hawaiian print material. Jenna and Kono's was co-mingled in the basked lined with pink gingham, more girly than he would have expected but it suited them somehow. His went into the wicker basket with no lining, and John's went into the baby blue basket Jenna had picked out even before he was born.

As he folded the latest load, he considered whether the blue thongs he'd just pulled from the dryer were Kono or Jenna's. He thought they were Kono's because he was pretty sure he'd hung up the matching bra Kono was wearing earlier in the week. The pink bikini panties were definitely Jenna's although he didn't want to think of why he knew that with such certainty. The black lacy underwear could belong to either of them and he folded them in quarters like he always did, his hands more occupied than his mind.

"Is there something you need to tell me, babe?" a long absent but oh-so-familiar voice asked from the doorway of the laundry room.

Danny stared down at the panties, wondering if the fumes from the Woolite had finally gotten to him. Were they talking to him now?

"If you want to wear thongs, I'm not going to argue," Steve said, stepping close enough to grab Danny.

"Oh God. It is you," Danny said into the front of Steve's shirt. "Oh God."

"It's me, Danno. I promised I'd be home before Saturday. And I am," Steve said, kissing the top of his head and inhaling his fragrance. Too much hair product. The sun and ocean. Baby formula. All of it Danny – all of it home.

"Let me look at you," Danny finally said as he leaned back to stare up at Steve. He was wearing the blue polo that was Danny's favorite shirt, the one that made Steve's eyes more blue than grey, eyes that were beautiful no matter the color. He also wore a pair of charcoal cargo pants which Danny found extremely reassuring. It was all so normal, almost, almost like Steve hadn't been gone. "You big, beautiful goof. What happen here?" Danny asked, carefully touching a new scar along Steve's jaw line. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Steve assured him, taking Danny's hand and kissing the palm. "I'm fine. Especially now."

"Why didn't you call? I would have come to get you. I'd have brought John. We would have driven out. What'd you do? Fly here with your super secret SEAL cape?"

"I got a lift. I was afraid you'd start crying and, well…." Steve shrugged, all innocence and love and understanding.

"You thought I'd start crying?" Danny asked. "What about you? You definitely have some tears in those eyes."

Steve shrugged again, staring into Danny's beautiful eyes until bending down enough to kiss his mouth, tasting all those flavors that were part of his soul but had been missing for way way too longer. "Where's John-John?" Steve whispered into Danny's mouth, barely pausing from kissing him long enough to ask.

"Upstairs. Asleep. He'll be up soon. You want to go wake him?" Danny asked, reaching up for another kiss, wanting it to never end.

"In a minute," Steve said, holding Danny tight against him and looking over Danny's head down at the laundry. "Why do you have a pile of panties on the dryer? Did you decide to take in laundry while I was gone?"

"They belong to Jenna and Kono," Danny said before pointing to Chin's basket. "That's Chin's."

"They all have washing machines."

"Yeah. But they are living here. The least I could do is wash their clothes," Danny said.

"They're living here," Steve said, a smile creeping over his face.

"Yeah. Have been since you left," Danny said.

"Wow," Steve said, kissing Danny again. "They are ohana."

"Thankfully, yeah," Danny agreed.

"Why do we have a new refrigerator?"

"The old one died. Chin and I picked out this one. It even has an ice maker which scares John but Gracie loves. I figured it was easier to make ice packs with an automatic maker," Danny said.

"Good thinking. Think John is almost ready to be up from his nap?" Steve asked, kissing Danny one more time before he could answer.

"Absolutely," Danny agreed, taking Steve's hand and pulling him upstairs. He carefully opened the door to John's room, not surprised to find John sitting up, chewing on one of his stuffed animals. "Daddy's home, John-John," Danny told him, lifting the baby out of his crib. John looked over at Steve, a tiny frown creating a crease between his eyebrows until Steve spoke to him.

"Hey John-John. I missed you," Steve said, slowly reaching out to him.

John burst into a rush of sounds that might have been words. Danny thought they soon would be. In the meantime, Danny passed John over to Steve, John's fist tightly wound in Steve's shirt, his blue eyes staring up at his father in happiness.

"He's twice the size he was," Steve said, holding him tight against his body.

"I think that's a little bit of an exaggeration," Danny said, smiling at the two of them. "He weighs five more pounds and is three inches taller."

"That's a lifetime," Steve said, kissing John's head as John continued to babble at Steve.

"I need to call Chin and Kono and Jenna. Oh, and Kamekona. You need to call Mary. Unless you did already. And the Governor."

"Okay," Steve laughed. "Tell them to come to dinner."

"Of course. They'll need to bring dinner. I don't think I have anything here to feed them all, especially if Shamu comes," Danny laughed. Danny called HQ, the three of them promising to be over in 45 minutes with enough pizza for half of Hawaii. Kamekona said he'd be there in ten minutes, Danny not wanting to try and decide where he was that he would arrive so quickly. Not that it mattered. Danny also called Grace, making sure she got Rachel's permission to come to dinner. He then called Chin back to ask that one of them swing by for Grace.

All of the calls made, Steve and Danny took John to the beach, Steve settling in the chair under the umbrella, John content to babble in his lap. Danny pulled a chair closer to Steve's not wanting any distance between them.

"Did you have anything to eat besides bugs and leaves?" Danny asked, studying Steve with a critical eye.

"Some days I had tree bark too," Steve joked. "Why?"

"You've lost weight. A lot of weight," Danny said. "You're okay, right?"

"I'm fine, babe. You've lost weight too," Steve said, his hand on Danny's cheek. Danny shrugged, pressing more firmly into Steve's palm.

"John-John hasn't," Danny said, soothing down the dark hair that always wanted to stand straight up from the baby's head.

"Thankfully," Steve agreed. "Do you think our ohana would be willing to take John to one of their houses tmorrow night?" he asked in a whisper, leaning closer to Danny to whisper it to him, the question a promise.

"I think we could arrange that," Danny said, staring at Steve, afraid he'd blink and Steve would no longer be in the beach chair next to him.

"I'm home, babe. You don't have to worry about me vanishing into thin air."

"I know. I just…"

"Yeah. Me too, Danno. Me too," Steve said, leaning over and kissing him in love and promise and relief.

Steve was home.

Danny had survived.