Monday morning came around quickly, and before Danny knew it he was helping Steve to get ready for his first day at the day centre. He could tell that the other man was nervous as he barely said a word while he got dressed, his leg brace hidden underneath his trousers, so Danny pretty much was talking to himself. He expected Steve to want to bring his toy cat with him, but to Danny's surprise he placed it on his bed with his other toys before they left to wait outside for the bus. He didn't say anything to Steve about it in case it made his change his mind.
"You excited, babe?" Danny asked as they stood at the end of the drive. Steve grabbed his hand and nodded, his other hand holding a small rucksack with his medication, lunch, plastic bib and a change of clothes just in case.
"Will miss Danno." Steve bit his lip, as he always seemed to do now when he's worried about something.
"Aw babe, Danno will miss you too. It's your first time away from me for a little while." Danny squeezed his hand. "But it'll do you good to be around other people, and the staff there have my number if anything happens. And when you come home I'll be here and you can tell me all about it." Steve smiled. The bus then pulled up in front of them, and Danny pulled him into a hug before saying goodbye and helping him up the steps. Steve waved to him through the window as it drove off, and Danny had to stop himself from welling up as he waved back. If someone had said to him when he'd been told that Steve was permanently brain damaged and may not function again, that he'd be waving him off as he went to a learning centre almost eight months later, he'd have laughed in their face at the idea of it. Danny shook his head and smiled as he went back inside to get ready for work.
Danny was welcomed back to the Palace with open arms by everyone, and instantly dived into a mountain of paperwork to keep himself busy and to take his mind off of Steve. It worked for the first few hours as he got back into the swing of signing and filing forms, chatting to Kono who popped in every so often to see how he was doing, until the team got a call saying that a woman's body has been found in her house and dashed off to the crime scene.
On his own with no distractions, his mind drifted and he wondered what Steve was doing now and if he was okay. Several times he reached for his cell to phone the centre and ask himself, but resisted. You'll see him in three hours, Williams. Chill out! If something had happened they'd have called you. He's fine. The rational part of his brain told him, and he nodded to himself and carried on furiously filling in forms, until the next thing he knew it was 15:00 and he was heading off home, pleasantly surprised at how quick his first day went.
He stayed outside and watched Steve as he climbed down the steps of the bus after it pulled to a stop and made his way up the path to where Danny was waiting on the porch.
"Danno!" Steve exclaimed as he walked into Danny's open arms. The blonde hugged him tightly before letting go and ushering him inside.
"Hey buddy! How was your first day?" Danny asked as they sat on the couch.
"Hmm. Did painting, then lunch, then practiced numbers."
"Sounds like fun, did you enjoy it?"
Steve frowned. "Not numbers. Hard."
Danny squeezed his knee. "Aw, babe. It'll get easier, don't worry about it. What did you paint?" Danny asked. That brought a small smile to Steve's face as he began rummaging through his rucksack before bringing out two A4 pieces of paper and handing them to Danny. One had two handprints in blue paint and a wobbly outline drawn on in pen, the other was of what Danny can guess is meant to be a cat.
"Cat." Steve continued to smile at the picture, then realised that he didn't have his own and made his way down the hall to his room to get it before coming back to sit next to Danny.
"Did you draw around your hands?" Danny asked.
Steve nodded. "Help with being neat." He then flipped the paper over and Danny saw that someone had written the aim of the activity on the back: 'To practice keeping control and not going over lines.'
"Do they write on all of them, buddy?" Another nod. "That's good, so I can see what you've been practising if you can't say it. But did you like it there?"
"Yeah..." Steve said quietly. At a look from Danny, Steve carried on. "No like new people. They loud. Gave Steve headache." He mumbled. Danny sighed, figuring he must mean the other people who go there. He knew that not everyone would be at the same level as Steve and that some people would be more severely disabled.
"As long as nobody was mean to you?" Steve shook his head. "That's alright then, you let me or one of the staff know if anyone upsets you, okay?"
"Okay, Danno." Steve tried to muffle a yawn but failed, and Danny pulled him to his feet.
"Alright, let's go and have a nap. Bet you didn't have one earlier?" Steve shook his head as he walked with Danny to his room, and sat on the bed as Danny took his shoes and brace off before laying back on the bed.
"Danno?"
"Yeah, babe?" He perched on the side of the bed and looked down at Steve.
"When Gracie back?"
"Ah, she's staying with her mom for another week or so I'm afraid buddy. Something to do with her little brother." Danny rubbed his shoulder as his face fell. "But she says to tell you that she misses and loves you." Steve smiled into his pillow and let his eyes close. Danny stayed with him for a few minutes, stroking his hair before quietly leaving to prepare dinner. He stopped in the lounge first and collected Steve's paintings, deciding to pin them on the fridge door.
The rest of the week passed with Steve beginning to enjoy going to the 'special school' as he called it, much to Danny's relief. When they signed the application form the owner asked if Danny would like to receive bi-weekly updates and he agreed. The first one was as he expected – that Steve was a shy person the first few days and didn't really speak to anyone, but after a few days he was beginning to socialise. He clearly enjoyed the art sessions, and Danny said he'd help him at home when it came to anything to do with numbers.
Friday rolled around and Danny frowned when Steve was reluctant to get out of bed, saying that he felt tired still. Danny thought he felt warmer than normal, but managed to persuade Steve to get up and off to the day centre, albeit in his wheelchair, reminding him to tell someone if he felt unwell.
Danny was about halfway through an order form for what Kono described as her 'dream sniper rifle' when his phone rang.
"Hi, is this Danny?" He frowned, before confirming.
"Ah, my name is Alani, I'm a helper at the day centre where your friend Steve is. I'm afraid I'll need you to come and collect him."
"Why? Has something happened?" Danny started to wrap up what he was writing, ignoring the panic rising in him.
"Not exactly. Steve has been very quiet, almost silent. I know he's normally quiet but he still engages with the group sessions. But this morning he's not wanted to take part in anything, just wanted to sit on his own. We managed to convince him to have some lunch and his meds but he was sick not long afterwards, and he's now really warm and feverish. Our on site doctor is here as well but Steve's asking for you." Alani said.
"Shit… okay, I'll be there as soon as I can." Danny said before hanging up and practically sprinting out of the office, shouting out an explanation to Kono as he went. Because Steve was in his wheelchair Danny had to detour home first to swap his Camaro for Steve's truck so he could put the chair in the back. He was sure that he ran a couple of red lights on his way there but Danny didn't care as he pulled up outside the centre.
As soon as he walked in he spotted Steve. He was slumped in his chair and Danny couldn't tell if he was shaking from the fever or having a spasm. Probably both if he threw his meds up. He realised.
"Hey, babe." Danny said as he pulled up a chair and sat next to him, squeezing Steve's hand when he reached for him. "Alani says you've not been well." Steve shook his head before blearily gazing at Danny.
"Been sick." Steve screwed his face up before trying to lean into Danny, but the padded straps over his shoulders and chest prevented him from reaching him. Frustrated, he gave up and fell back into his chair. "Want hug, Danno." Steve sniffed, tear tracks drying on his face.
"Hey, Danno's right here, baby. Those straps have to stay on while you're in the chair if you're shaking about, don't want you to hurt yourself." Danny soothed, stroking his hair away from his face. "I'm gonna take you home, okay?"
"Hi Danny, I'm the doctor. It seems like Steve's got a touch of the flu that's been going around, he's got a temperature and says that everything hurts. While antibiotics don't generally do anything for the flu, I've got some for him anyway - I noticed that his head and in particular his scar from the surgery was a bit red and warm. Best to catch any infection that's brewing early as that won't help him. If he gets any worse take him straight to the emergency room." Danny thanked him and the staff around him and took the bottle of liquid from him, placing it in Steve's bag.
"Right, shall we go, buddy?" Steve nodded, eyes closed and head bent forward, so Danny wheeled him out and wrestled him into the truck and the chair in the back before driving home.
Once they got back home, Danny helped Steve to have a lukewarm bath and then got him into a clean pair of pyjamas and into bed with just a thin sheet covering him. He was very clingy when Danny slid in next to him after getting his medication, and it took a lot of persuasion to get him to take it.
"What do you wanna do, Steve? Story? Or something to drink? Or just sleep?" Steve made a frustrated noise and was still shaking so Danny wrapped his arms and the covers around him and pulled him closer.
"Want Danno..." Steve moaned into his shoulder, his voice quiet and raspy.
"I know baby, Danno's here." He played with the curls of hair at the back of Steve's neck, who had his head on his shoulder and was taking deep breaths. "Do you still feel sick?" Steve slowly shook his head. "That's good. Just try and sleep for a bit, I'll stay with you." Danny held his still-warm body close and traced random patterns on his back, feeling his breathing even out as he quickly fell asleep.
Danny let him sleep for the rest of the day, only waking him up to have his evening medication and to drink some juice, before he slept fitfully for the rest of the night by Danny's side. He woke up Saturday morning to see Steve blearily staring at him, lips parted in a small smile.
"Hmm, good morning babe." Danny said, voice rough from sleep.
"Morning Danno." Steve whispered. "Feel little better." Danny smiled and brushed his sweaty hair from his forehead, feeling the scar on the side of his head that was still warm.
"That's great, babe! Come on, let's get up and freshened up." Danny helped Steve into another bath to wash away the sweat from during the night while he changed the sheets, before getting him dressed and into the wheelchair and bringing him outside for some fresh air and a light breakfast. Steve was still randomly having spasms, so Danny figured the wheelchair was the safest option for him.
"Danno no work?" Steve asked.
"No babe, no work today. Mary is coming to visit today! She'll be here soon." This brought a smile from Steve. "It's a shame that you're still sick, but at least the worst seems to be over."
They sat out and enjoyed the morning sunshine together. Danny tipped the back of his wheelchair back so that Steve could have a quick afternoon nap in the shade, then his phone buzzed with a text message from Mary saying that she'd just arrived. Danny fired one back telling her to come straight round the back, and waved her over when she did. Mary couldn't take her eyes off of Steve as she got closer, holding her daughter.
"Hi Danny." She broke her gaze to look at him.
"Hey," Danny offered her a smile before standing up to pull her into a hug, dropping a kiss on the top of Joan's head. "How was your flight?"
"Yeah it was alright thanks, as much fun as it can be with a baby." She smirked, hoisting her daughter up on her hip before looking back at her brother. "Is he…"
"He's alright, he's sleeping at the moment. He's got a touch of the flu and it really took it out of him yesterday." Danny smiled fondly at the man lightly snoring in his chair. "Anyway, sit down and tell me what's been happening with you." He gestured to the empty chair next to him.
Danny enjoyed catching up with Mary, bouncing her daughter on his lap. They spent the next hour talking about Steve's progress, and Mary told Danny how Aunt Deb was slowly getting worse. They both agreed not to tell Steve anything unless he asked, but Danny explained that his long-term memory was very faded and he may not even remember her.
Danny was about to say something to Mary but a soft noise from his other side caught his attention. He turned his head and smiled when saw Steve groggily open his eyes. "Hey babe, enjoy your nap?"
"Yeah, Danno." He rubbed his eyes before his noticed Mary, who was also staring at him.
"Do you know who this is, buddy? Danny asked him, noticing Steve's eye slightly twitch as he frowned at her, deep in thought. Danny began to worry that he'd forgotten, but fortunately Steve broke into a smile.
"Mary!" He exclaimed, and Danny sat his wheelchair upright so that he and Mary could hug properly. She clung to her brother, and quickly wiped her tears before moving to sit back her chair and talk to both men. Eventually she carefully re-introduced Joan to her uncle before gently placing her on his lap for a brief cuddle. Steve had been drowsy all day, but perked up slightly and smiled down at her, and Danny had a flashback to when she spent the day with them last year in the palace, the expression of pure joy on Steve's face was the same then as it is now.
Lunchtime soon rolled around, and Danny brought out some soup and rolls for Steve and sandwiches for himself, Mary and Joan. He put his aside and instantly set about helping Steve to eat, dipping the rolls in soup and handing them to him.
"Aren't you going to eat yours, Danny?" Mary asked as she broke small bits of Joan's sandwich off and gave them to her.
"Yeah," He replied, catching Steve's hand as he widely missed his mouth and directed it back to its target. "When Steve's finished. Normally he can mostly feed himself but when he's tired or sick he needs help. He's only got soup because it's better for his sore throat right now, and he'd never manage that on his own now, right babe?" He grinned at Steve, who just nodded.
"Messy. Danno helps Steve." He smiled back at Danny as he started spooning the soup into him. Mary watched out of the corner of her eye as he made small talk while he fed Steve his lunch and medication, before finally eating his own lunch when Steve had finished.
After lunch everyone moved inside. Steve unbuckled his straps and pointed towards the couch, so Danny helped him out of the chair. Mary took Joan upstairs to bath and put her to bed, and Steve curled into Danny's side on the couch.
"Love you, Danno." He mumbled, fingers of one hand twisted in the blonde's t-shirt. Danny held him close, ignoring that Steve was still radiating heat.
"Love you too, Steve." They remained on the couch holding each other until Mary came back downstairs and claimed the recliner chair. Danny could see that Steve was fighting to stay awake, his head rolling on Danny's shoulder as he and Mary talked some more until he finally gave up and slumped in Danny's arms.
"Are you okay?" He asked Mary, whose mouth was slightly open as she stared at the sight in front of her. She shook her head, offering a slight smile.
"Yeah it's just… a lot, y'know? Not seeing him for years when Dad sent us away, then we got closer the last few years… and now this. I can't imagine what it must be like for you though, Danny."
"What do you mean?"
"You guys had a relationship, everything to look forward to before those thugs ruined everything! He was so much happier after you guys got together." Danny nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I know. It took a long time to admit to myself that we'd have to change our relationship. But I couldn't leave him to be looked after by strangers and visit him on weekends." He looked down at Steve and rubbed his back softly when he muttered in his sleep.
"Thank you. Thank you so much Danny, for looking after my big brother." Mary blinked back tears. "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here. You put his needs before your own. You quit your job for him – okay fine you're doing paperwork now but still, you've sacrificed everything for him!"
"Maybe I have… But it's worth it to see Steve happy and content in our home. He's worth it. He can do so much more for himself than he would if he was living in some facility. They wouldn't understand him like I do."
"I totally agree, Danny. Being here with you is the best place for him."
"If only your mother shared your opinion, we could have avoided last weeks drama." Danny said through gritted teeth. He was still bitter about it, and probably would be for some time. Mary gave him a confused look, so he filled her in on Doris's visit, then sat back and let her rant and moan about her mother.
"Do you think she'll do anything to get Steve taken away?" Mary wondered.
"I don't think she's that stupid…" Danny sighed. "I hope not. She has no legal right to, even as his mother. It's in black & white that I'm his full-time carer now." Mary smiled and nodded.
"Danno?" Steve mumbled into Danny's neck before pulling back to rub his eyes.
"Hey, babe." Danny ran a hand down his side. "Did you wanna go to bed or stay up for a bit longer? Mary will still be here tomorrow, she's staying in my bed while I'm in here with you."
"Bedtime." He yawned.
"Yeah I think that's a good idea. See you in the morning guys." Mary bid them both goodnight as Danny supported Steve to walk down the hall. He was practically asleep on his feet as Danny helped him into his pyjamas and under the covers.
"Story, buddy? Or sleep?" Danny whispered as Steve happily curled into his side.
"Hmm… Story, please Danno." Steve rested his head on Danny's chest above his heart as he listened to him read. Feeling the vibrations of his voice lulled him almost asleep, until Danny stopped talking. Steve craned his head up and saw him smiling softly down at him, and beamed back.
"Steve loves you." Steve said quietly, his big green eyes staring at Danny.
"Danno loves you too, Steve." Danny bent his head to press a kiss to the top of his head. "Come on, time for sleep." They settled under the covers and Steve instantly fell asleep. Danny eventually followed suit after Mary's earlier words played on his mind.
"You've sacrificed everything for him!"
And he's worth everything. Danny thought, looking at the man in his arms who was hugging his cat toy to his chest with one hand and gripping Danny's shirt with the other.
