Here we are...the end of this lovely story. I hope you enjoy.

"I'm fine, Steven."

"You're not supposed to put weight on your leg, Daniel."

"Just shut it. And if you say the word delicate one more time." Danny would have raised a clenched fist to show his annoyance, but he was concentrating too much on taking one step at a time, using his trusty cane for support.

"You had surgery, Danny. To repair that artery. Of course it's delicate."

"I know, I've heard this a million times."

"Then stay off your feet. Please."

The please made Danny pause and take a deep breath. He cleared his throat and continued the argument. It was what they did. Especially when avoidance was on the menu.

"Are you planning on being here my entire recovery?"

Steve moved out of his partner's way, arms crossed over his chest. "As long as it takes."

Danny frowned and lowered himself onto the couch. Walking was tough. Sitting was worse. About the only thing he could do without pinching or pulling something was lying in bed. But his ass was sick of it. He needed to move. To do something productive. He couldn't drive, and the office was out of the question.

Hobbling up and down the hallway was the extent of his exercise until physical therapy was approved. And he wasn't about to admit everything still tired him out. The raw pain in his leg burned sharper now that he'd backed off the pain meds. He hated how they made him feel and he swore he didn't need them anyway.

But man did reality make him a liar.

He'd barely begun to heal from the transplant. The residual discomfort from that surgery was no piece of cake. If he twisted the wrong way, he still had to grit his teeth and remember why he'd been sliced down the middle.

Steve. Always Steve.

But right now, he wanted to smack his best friend.

Because he was right. And Danny would never admit how much he dwelled on his leg.

He was worried about tearing open the arterial repair. He had nightmares about blood pumping through a leaky pipe. Swimming in it. And this was on top of dreaming about landing the goddamn plane with Steve dying beside him. Sometimes recent events combined, and he passed out before getting them to safety. His heart pounded just thinking about falling asleep. He knew he'd be back in hell.

"Hey." A warm hand on his knee startled him. Danny winced and opened his eyes. Steve crouched in front of him, face open and eyes kind. "Can I get you something?"

"Sit a minute?"

"Sure." Steve eased himself beside Danny, careful of his friend's bandaged leg.

"Tell me something I don't know."

No way did he expect what came out of Steve's mouth next.

"I'm scared, Danny."

The admission jolted Danny, but he kept his cool. He nodded, his eyes soft, expression blank.

There was more to this and he wanted to hear it. Needed to hear it. Because he knew what Steve was feeling ran deep. It was the same for him.

"Isn't that what you want to hear?"

Still Danny said nothing. He waited. He wasn't gonna let Steve goad him into an argument because he was uncomfortable. The fact that they rarely talked about anything serious these days drove him mad. And he wasn't wasting the opportunity.

"I can't stand it when you're quiet."

Danny chuckled. "Well maybe if you'd spit it out, we could get on with the conversation."

"Spit it out? I just told you I was scared."

"Okay." Danny motioned for him to continue. Maybe he felt a little bad about playing this game, but he needed Steve to keep talking.

"What more do you want?"

Danny closed his eyes. The dance could be frustrating. "What are you scared of, Steven? The dark? The closet monster?"

"I'd hit you if you weren't injured." Steve frowned and sighed before answering the question. "I never really thanked you for what you did. I'm sorry."

"Okay? Why does that scare you?"

"I might not have another chance."

"What? You're scared that if I die there'll be no one to give you their organs?"

"Not funny, Danny."

"Maybe I think it is."

"No you don't."

The anger in Steve's words cut a hole through Danny's chest, sucking the air out of his lungs. He had to stop the pain.

"Of course I don't, you idiot." Danny punched Steve's leg.

For a second, Danny thought he'd get hit back. Instead Steve rubbed the spot and then slid forward, head in his hands.

"I can't lose you, Danny."

The words were choked out with a hint of desperation and an aggravated octave that made Danny uncomfortable. He wasn't used to seeing Steve this vulnerable. He wasn't ready for it and had to close his watering eyes.

Steve straightened and reached out, first squeezing his shoulder and then wrapping himself around Danny, careful of his leg. Danny flinched at the intensity of his friend's reaction. Steve normally tucked his emotions deep inside. Seeing them and experiencing them on the outside now was disorienting.

"I love you, buddy." Steve whispered into Danny's hair.

"I love you too." Danny replied, face pressed into the crook of Steve's neck and shoulder. His automatic response was to press a kiss there like he would with Grace. But this was a different kind of comforting. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, leaning into his partner. He didn't know what this was.

Steve stroked Danny's back and held him close. "You are my best friend, and -"

Danny reached up and cupped the back of Steve's head. Afraid to look up at that moment. The rush of emotion could easily be mistaken for something else.

"Ssssshhhh... It's okay, Steve. I'm right here."

Danny continued to murmur soft reassurances, feeling Steve nodding against him. They stayed like that for a few breaths.

"Hate to break this up, babe." Danny shifted a little, wincing. "But my leg."

"Shit." Steve pushed him gently away and positioned Danny carefully on the sofa, moving the pillows so he could prop his leg. "Don't let me do that again."

"What? Show your emotions?" There was a tinge of annoyance in Danny's voice.

Steve frowned. "No, Danny. Don't let me forget about your leg."

"Remember what I said about the word delicate."

"You are nowhere near delicate, so don't worry. Your surgery on the other hand..."

"Then you stop worrying too. I'm fine. And you're one to talk about surgeries."

"We're not talking about me right now." Steve smacked Danny's shoulder, narrowing his eyes.

Danny grinned and giggled. "That's more like it, babe. Physical abuse and avoidance."

"Abuse?" Steve crossed his arms over his chest. "So you want me to hit you more often? Because that can be arranged."

Danny laughed and resettled himself amongst the throw pillows. His couch was not the most comfortable place but he refused to go back to bed just yet. He scanned the area for the remote control. There had to be a game on somewhere.

Steve wasn't finished with their conversation. He snagged the remote. "And I don't avoid anything, Danny."

"No, you're right about that. You take control and steamroll over whatever gets in your way. Like me."

"You?"

"You came and plucked me -"

"Did you just say plucked?" Steve laughed.

"Yea, you came and plucked me outta my perfectly good life."

"Now, you know that's a lie."

"No, I'm right. You practically kidnapped me."

"Your life wasn't perfect. You hated Hawaii."

"Who says I still don't?"

Steve rolled his eyes. "Here we go."

"Wait - hold up - did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"If the shoe fits, partner."

Now Danny rolled his eyes. "If I had a shoe, I'd throw it at you right about now."

"You're gonna give yourself a headache making faces at me like that."

"What? Really? That's what I'd say to Grace."

"Well, it's true."

"Says who?"

"I bet you have a headache right now."

Danny frowned.

"See, I'm right." Steve nodded and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Of course I have a headache. I'm on so many drugs, I don't know which way is up. And I've been listening to you nag me about everything and -" Danny sighed and closed his eyes. "I give up. Watch whatever you want. Just leave me alone."

"You don't mean that. You'd miss me."

Danny groaned.

"Go to bed, Danny. Please. You need your rest."

"Yea, you're right."

"I'm right?" Steve sat up straight and grabbed Danny's wrist, checking his pulse.

Danny yanked his arm away, banging his leg in the process. He yelped and grabbed his bandaged thigh.

"Shit, Danny. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Just a little tender. I'm sure the graft is fine. Relax." Danny studied Steve for a few seconds, feeling like he'd said something wrong. "Are you okay, babe?"

"Yea, I just need a minute." Steve pushed off the couch and disappeared into the kitchen.

Danny didn't follow, giving his partner some space. Plus, he was too exhausted to move. He closed his eyes and dozed a little.

"Buddy...hey, you asleep?"

"Yes." Danny mumbled.

"You should be."

"Stop bothering me then."

The couch dipped and Danny opened his eyes. What he saw strangled his heart just a little. Steve had been crying.

"How long was I out?"

"Just a few minutes."

"You gonna make me ask you?"

"What?"

"Might help if we talk about it."

"I'm good, Danny."

"Have you been cutting onions then?"

Steve looked at him like he'd spoken gibberish.

"Don't give me that. I'm not blind. Talk to me. Please."

"Alright..." Steve stopped, swallowing hard. "What happened it was-"

"Intense."

"Yea."

"Seems to be a theme with us."

"I wasn't sure you'd make it. You lost a lotta blood."

Danny nodded, chewing on his bottom lip. He knew this story well. From both points of view.

"I'm supposed to have your back, Danny."

"You did, but shit happens."

"Yea, it does."

"And I wouldn't want it to happen with anyone else, babe."

Steve smiled. "Wow, that's quite a compliment."

"It is, right?" Danny grinned.

They were quiet for a beat or two. Then Steve cleared his throat and continued.

"I've been talking to someone. The past couple days."

"That's good, Steve."

"You should, too."

"Okay. I will. As soon as-"

"I mean it, Danny. No excuses. And not our couples therapist."

They both chuckled.

"I'll do it as long as you keep it up too."

Steve held out his hand.

Danny shook it. "Now, please go home. I can't sleep with you lurking in my house."

"I don't lurk."

"Yes, you do. You rearrange my cupboards, change my passwords, delete things from my DVR."

"I never..." Steve didn't finish the sentence because Danny stuck a hand in his face.

"Stop right there. I'm going to bed." Danny eased himself off the couch. "Make sure you get some sleep, too."

Steve got up, hovering just close enough to his friend without getting in his space. "I will."

Danny just stared, studying him.

"I will, alright?"

"Not on my sofa. Go home." Danny sighed. "I'm fine. You can resume your nursemaid duties in the morning."

Steve frowned. "Nursemaid?"

"Would you like mother hen better?"

"How about partner who cares about you? Or better yet...best friend."

"Okay, that's good too."

"I love you, you know that."

Danny nodded and looked away. "I love you, too. Good night."

"Good night, Danno. See you in the morning."

Watching from the door, Danny gave his partner a wave and didn't turn away til the Silverado disappeared down the street. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hand on his heart. It wasn't just his kids who walked around with a part of him.

Man, was he a corny son of a bitch.

Danny smiled, locking up the house before crawling back into bed. He didn't even think about the nightmares that might be waiting for him.

I won't even apologize for this cheese ball chapter. I hope you all find your happy endings. Thanks for reading. Until next time...