The cabin was clean and well kept. At least there's that bit of good news. Steve made a note to have CSU check it later.
If there was a later. He closed his mind to that thought. There would be a later for all of them. Including Danny.
He had a feeling the stranger on the trail had used this place to hide, though there were no traces of human occupation. It was all too neat. No food wrappers or sleeping bags. Nothing stashed there. No cobwebs either. Just the surprisingly clean, and thankfully dry, space.
Turning his attention back to his best friend, Steve had to take a deep breath to quell his anxiety. Danny was being stubborn, claiming he was fine – which was insane. Pushing his daughter and best friend away, saying he just needed a minute.
Though now was not the time for their usual dance.
Danny was gut shot. And it was tough to tell what that meant. Out there on their own. Steve agreed to give his friend a minute, but just a minute. He'd seen men die from less. But he didn't want to make a scene in front of Grace. Things could get ugly fast and he didn't want that.
Steve closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them, Grace was inches away, staring at him. He held out his arms, letting her step into his warm embrace.
He wanted to tell her they would be fine. But he really wasn't certain of anything.
Danny kept his face as straight as possible, hopefully giving up little of what he was feeling. He needed a moment to collect himself before the onslaught of Medic Seal Steve took place. Not sure of what was coming or if he could take anymore pain. And he did not want to scare his daughter. She'd already been through enough.
Steve was right there, holding on to a crying, trembling little girl, his arms wrapped around her. He wouldn't let her look at her father.
"Keep her away, Steve. Don't let her see." Danny paused, trying to catch his breath. "Ah god, shit."
He was panting now. His cover not working. But he couldn't hide it anymore. The pain had become a constant almost unbearable burn that had all the nerves in his body on edge. Sensory overload of the worst kind.
"Danny, I need to look at the wound." Steve brushed the hair out of Grace's eyes, keeping his gaze focused on her. "Grace is stronger than you think, buddy. Right, Grace?"
She shook her head and wiggled around so she could see her dad. "I'm okay, Danno. I promise."
"Ah Gracie, no. I don't want." A breath between each of the words. He didn't finish his sentence. His eyes flit to Steve. "Ah god, babe."
Steve let Grace go, kneeling down so he was eye level with her. "You stay right here for now, okay?"
"Okay, Uncle Steve." She was so innocent, her voice out of place in this moment. Little girls should not see their father get shot. Yet he knew she could do this.
"Good. I'll let you see Danno in a minute. I need to check him, okay? And it might be scary."
She nodded her understanding again. Danny's eyes were drifting closed.
"Danny, hey look at me, buddy." Steve squeezed his partner's arm. "No napping on the job."
Danny nodded, mumbling something. He winced, arching his back a little, body wracked with another wave of nausea and pain. And then he stilled again, in an obvious struggle to get control of himself.
"What's that, D? Come on, I need you to talk to me." Steve knelt beside his friend, finally getting a better look. He cringed when he noticed the location of the wound.
"It's bad." Danny's whisper unnerved his best friend. It was calm and so utterly without feeling it gave him a chill. He knew Danny didn't want to frighten his daughter but there wasn't much time for worry.
"Yea, man. It's bad." Steve couldn't lie to his best friend. And he couldn't let himself get choked up.
"Is that man out there dead?" Grace startled both of them. "Did you kill him, Uncle Steve?"
Steve did his best to keep his face clear of what he was feeling. He did kill that man, and this sweet little girl had watched. He blinked and dropped his eyes from Grace to Danny and then back to Grace.
"Yes, Gracie. That man is dead." She knew the answer to both of her questions. The little girl had grown up a lot in the last half an hour or so.
"Steve." Danny grabbed his ankle.
"Hold on, buddy. Okay?" He shot his partner a smile. "I'm right here."
Danny closed his eyes and cleared his throat sounding like a growl snagged in his chest. "Don't. Treat. Me. Like. A. Victim."
"What do you want me to say, Danny?" Here in front of Grace, Danny. The unspoken words passed between them.
"Okay, I get it." Danny nodded. "I'm okay."
Grace edged closer to her father, shaking ever so much. She wasn't crying anymore. Dirt streaked her face and there was blood on her clothes.
"Gracie, honey." Danny smiled at his daughter. God, he wanted to cry. But he didn't. "Please don't be scared, baby. Okay?"
She nodded and reached for him. He let go of Steve and grabbed her hand.
"I have a first aid badge, Danno. I can help."
Those words just about broke his heart. "Yea Monkey, I know you do. Danno's hurt bad, honey."
He didn't know what she could do to help. And he wasn't going to lie about his being hurt. He watched her eyes traveling over him. She stopped at his belly, eyes wide. He held a hand there with Steve's long sleeved shirt balled up, putting pressure on the wound. He just about lost it when she placed her little hand over his.
"Steve." His whole body shook and now tears came. "Steve, please."
His friend was right there, voice soft in his ear. "What do you need?"
"Grace." Danny could feel her warmth as he shivered, her little fingers interlaced with his own, applying pressure the best she could. Steve reached out and squeezed his shoulder. They were linked now in this odd sort of circle. Father Daughter Best Friend.