A/N: Here's the final chapter to wrap things up. I know I could have done points of view for other people, but I wimped out and only did those that I thought were most important. However, if the muse strikes again and decides I need to do others, I can always add more chapters.

Danny hesitated at the foot of the steps leading to the front door of the Edwards' residence. He haltingly made his way up the steps and raised a hand to knock on the door but hesitated again. His hand dropped to his side as he sighed heavily and turned to go back down the stairs. He was reaching for the door handle on the car when he heard the door open behind him.

"Danny?"

Danny turned to find Stan silhouetted in the doorway, right arm in a sling and held protectively against his torso. Danny stepped closer and rested his left foot on the bottom step, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just going to check in on Grace, but it's late. I'll go."

Again, Danny turned to return to the car, but, again, Stan stopped him, "Wait! Come on in, please. Grace fell asleep on the way home from the hospital and when I checked on them a little bit ago, Rachel had fallen asleep with her."

"It's okay," Danny tried to assure him. "I don't want to disturb them. Or you."

"Please," Stan urged, swinging the door open wider in invitation. "Come in. I wanted to talk to you anyway."

Danny bit back a sigh, nodded, and walked into the man's house.

Stan quietly closed the front door and gestured for Danny to go into the sitting room, "Please, have a seat."

Danny walked into the lavish room, but didn't sit, "I'll just stand. I'm still too keyed up to sit." He snuck a glance at Stan, "But you should sit before you fall over."

Stan nodded and sank gratefully into a wingback chair, "These pain meds are awful. They really help the pain, but they make me feel off-balance and a bit woozy."

Danny nodded in understanding, "The good stuff will do that to you."

"Look, Danny," Stan adjusted himself in the chair a little, grimacing as a shot of pain travelled through his injured arm. "I'm glad you came over. I want you to know that I don't hold you responsible for what happened today. I'm still not sure I understand everything that went on today, but I wanted to make sure you know that I love Grace as if she were my own." Stan held up a hand to forestall the protest from Danny that he saw coming. "I know, I know, it'll never be the same as the love you have for her, but the fact is that I do love her, and I will do everything in my power to protect her when she's with me. And if that means taking a bullet for her..." he shrugged and glanced down at his sling, "Well, I'll do that, too."

Danny stopped his nervous pacing and sat on the edge of the couch near Stan's chair. He wearily rubbed both hands over his face before looking at Stan again. He let out a breath and felt a little of the held over anxiety from the day melt away. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for shooting you. Peterson wanted me to kill you to drive Rachel and Grace away from me..."

Stan watched as Danny fought for words and felt he needed to reassure him some more, "Danny, that won't happen. I'll never use this against you to take Grace from you."

Danny nodded though still seemed distant as he fought with his turmoil of emotions, searching for the right words, "I knew killing you wouldn't solve anything, but I had to make it look good so Peterson would think I'd done what he wanted. I knew my team was there so I had to buy time for them to get to Peterson. I'm sorry I had to shoot you. Sergeant Lukela told me that you've declined to press charges so I'm grateful for that as well."

Stan shrugged, "We both did what we had to do. Pressing charges would have solved nothing and hurt Grace even more."

Danny stood as if he couldn't sit any more. He paced in short strides behind the couch he'd recently vacated. "Thank you for being willing to take that bullet for Grace. Don't think for a moment that I didn't notice you were willing to die for her." He paused, searching for the words to express everything he felt about that and then shook his head, "Just... thank you."

Stan nodded, "Any time."

Danny raised an eyebrow and for the first time in hours, a hint of a smile played about his lips, "Really? I'll have to remember that I have your permission to shoot you any time."

Stan opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a wave of Danny's hand.

"Don't get up. I'll see myself out. Go get some rest and take care of that shoulder." Danny paused at the front door again and glanced over his shoulder and softly whispered again, "Thank you," before slipping out the front door.

A/N2: Thank you for reading and reviewing.