Disclaimer: see chapter 1, although I still don't own anything relating to Five-0.
Finishing off the final piece of pizza, Danny leans back against the couch turning his head slightly to stare at Steven. Even though they had successfully brought him home, Danny still felt as if he was a million miles away. The weight of his feelings was resting heavily on him and seeing Steve alive had only reaffirmed what Danny had suspected, he was completely and utterly head over heels in love with Steven J. McGarrett. He knew from their many conversations that not only was Steve 100% completely straight but he was also a little bit in love with Catherine, who was not only a woman but also in the service. They were a better match than he and Danny could ever be and that thought only served to break his heart even more. It always hurt to know that you didn't have any inkling of a chance at being with the person that you loved with your entire being.
Steve glanced over and noticed the hurt expression that flashed across Danny's face. Seeing that look spread across the face of someone he loved was hard to handle, he wanted to know what had caused the pain and fix it. He only ever wanted his partner to be happy, he loved a happy Danny. Sure he loved every emotion Danny sported, but happy Danno had a way of making even emotionally stunted SEALS happy. "Danno what's wrong?" Steve asks turning his body carefully to fully take in his partner, who was sitting stiffly next to him.
"I'm just tired." Danny replies his voice slightly strained like he's trying not to cry. He didn't think it would hit him this hard, he hasn't really felt like crying since Rachel announced she wanted a divorce. Steve's heart immediately clenched when he heard Danno's voice, it kills him to hear his partner so sad and defeated.
"Danny." Steve whispers deciding that the moment is now. He has to finally find out if there's a chance for them. "Can I ask something?" Danny nods not lifting his head from his intense staring contest with the floor. "Besides just being my partner, why did you risk everything to rescue me from North Korea?" Steve asked softly, his voice sounding almost desperate to his ears. Hearing his question and the desperate tone to his voice Danny lifts his head his eyes locking with Steve's. A silence falls between them, both of them not willing to pull away from their intense eye lock. "Danny." Steve begs the look in his eyes making Danny sigh and rub a hand over his tired face, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
"You really don't know?" Danny asks taking a bold step and shifting down the couch towards him. Steve shakes his head needing to hear it from Danny. Danny smiles softly reaching his other hand to hold Steve's face in his hands. "I'm in love with you. From the moment I heard you were in trouble I knew I had to bring you home. I couldn't let you go before I even had you." He paused taking a deep breath. Steve closed his eyes letting the warmth of Danny's hands wash over him. "I would risk everything all over again without a second thought. There really isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. Even if you don't feel anything like this for me; I'm always going to be there for you." Danny continued his eyes shiny with tears, his emotions finally catching up with him. Steve reached up brushing a stray tear away from Danny's face.
"Danny, how could I not love you? You are such a loud and intense powerful force that has managed to rant his way into my life. You are the only thing that got me through the whole ordeal. Every time I felt like I was going to die I heard you ranting at me about how selfish I was being." Danny chucked a watery smile spread across his face. Steve leaned forward resting his forehead against Danny's. "I can't even begin to think of how to thank you for risking your life to come get me. I should have listened to you when you told me to be careful, this is the one time I'll admit that I should've brought back up with me."
"Oh now he admits that maybe police procedure actually works, 'bout time you jumped on this band wagon Steven." Steve chuckled, his lips now a mere centimeter away from Danny's. They stayed like this for a few moments before Danny finally closed the short distance and pressed his lips against Steve's.
Steve blames his exhausted mental state for the two second delay in kissing back. Once his slow motion brain caught up Steve pressed his upper body fully against Danny's forcing the shorter detective to lean back.
What started out as an innocent and exploratory kiss soon grew into a passionate kiss expressing all the love and relief felt between them. Pulling away Danny cursed the need for oxygen.
"As much as I love making out on the couch like teenagers, I'm exhausted." Danny whispered his fingers toying with the hair at Steve's neck. Steve agreed sitting up slowly and pulling Danny along with him. Danny stood up yawning and stretching his whole body before extending his hand towards Steve.
"Do you think there's enough room in your big bed for me?" Danny asked his smirk just oozing sex. Steve just shook his head as Danny helped to pull him up, careful not to cause any further injury.
"You sure you only want to sleep in my big bed?" Steve flirted pressing his entire body against Danny, letting him know just how much he enjoyed their "teenage make out session". Danny shook his head smiling softly.
"No, there's a lot more that I plan to do in that bed, but the doctor said no strenuous activity for at least a week. So for the sake of your health and you're body," He paused running his fingers lightly down Steve's arms and abs resulting in a delightful shiver from Steve. "Yes sleep is all I want to do in your big bed tonight." Steve nodded and grabbed Danny's hand leading them up the stairs. It took mere seconds for both to fall asleep wrapped in each other.
Waking up the next morning Steve immediately felt the stiffness in his body with very pleasant warmth spread against the length of his side. He tensed for a moment trying to recall where he was before the events of last night flashed through his mind. He relaxed immediately pulling Danny even closer against him, his body warmth doing wonders for the soreness of his muscles.
"Are you really using me as your own personal heating pad?" Danny asked his voice rough from sleep. Opening his eyes slightly Steve glanced at Danny and chuckled low in his chest at Danny's bed head. "Yeah laugh it up Super SEAL, you don't look much better." Danny tried pulling away but Steve only pulled him closer to him.
"You're not going anywhere." Steve almost growled shifting so he and Danny were laying side-by-side.
"I wouldn't dream of it babe." Danny replied leaning up and gently kissing him. Sighing into the kiss Steve presses his hands hotly against Danny's lower back. Danny moaned at the pressure molding his body to Steve's. "Mhm can't think of a better way to wake up." Steve agreed pressing his lips against Danny's for a sweet gentle kiss much like their first one. "I could definitely get used to this." He added hugging Steve to him.
"Then move in with me." Steve whispers lightly kissing below Danny's ear. Danny pulled away sharply a look of faux anger spread across his face.
"Do I strike you as the easy type Steven J. McGarrett? You can't just ask in your own goofy self for me to move with you without even taking me on a proper date! What kind of man do you take me for?" Steve shook his head; of course Danny was going to have something to say about his proposal of sorts.
"So all its going to take is a proper date huh?" Steve asked sitting up and rubbing his chin. "How proper are we talking here Danno? Are you talking about picking you up with flowers and take you to a fancy restaurant where I have to dress up like James Bond and shell out a ton of money in order to woo you kind of date?" Steve joked as Danny sat up frowning at Steve.
"You make me sound like such a girl, Steven and I am not the girl in this relationship!" Steve chuckled again leaning forward and kissing the frown from Danny's face.
"Of course you're not the girl Danno, I'm just trying to figure out what your definition of a proper date is that's all." Steve grabbed Danny's hand lacing their fingers together. "I want to be able to show you just how thankful I am for everything you've done for me." He added softly, he wasn't used to being this vulnerable. He was trained to be confident in everything he did and emotions were not something he did very often, if at all. Danny sighed knowing how hard it was for Steve to be this open with him and squeezed his hand.
"I know babe, I know. I trust that you'll come up with the best proper date I've ever had." Steve's heart swelled at the trust shining in Danny's eyes. "Now come on, since you've been such a good boy I'm going to make you my famous pancakes." Steve shook his head at Danny's ego but stood up and followed his partner out of the room, his mind already working overtime planning the perfect date for Danny.
A/N: This is it, the last chapter before the end. I hope that you've enjoyed this chapter as much as I did while writing it. Stay tuned for the final chapter and fair warning the rating's most likely going to go up. Let me know what you think! ~thatredheadgirl~
