Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.
Danny walks through the first floor of the McGarrett home expecting to find Steve on the lanai with a beer. Instead, Steve is in the kitchen packing lunches for the next day. He started with the leftover salad from dinner and was adding other veggies, fruits, and nuts. There was some diced chicken to be added at lunchtime. There was also something wonderful baking in the oven.
For the umpteenth time in three days, Danny wondered who this person was and what had happened to the real Steven McGarrett. Danny was the one who brown-bagged, not Steve. "Hey Steven. What's all this?"
"Well Danny, I think it's called packing a lunch for tomorrow." Steve had done a lot of second-guessing while Danny was gone. Things had gone unbelievably well the whole weekend. Steve was afraid that Grace been a buffer while she was here. He wondered if it would go downhill now. "If I'm going to splurge on the weekends, I'll need to be more careful about my diet during the week. I figured I might as well pack one for you. That okay?"
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea for both of us. What can I do? And what are you baking? Did you have a Suzie Homemaker Easy-Bake Oven as a kid or something?" Danny was happy to pack a lunch. Lord knows he wouldn't have the cash to buy lunch out every day for a couple of weeks. And it was much cheaper to bring something from home. It was just out of character for Steve to pack a lunch.
"Those are granola bars in the oven. It's an easy recipe and I can add whatever I want. There's some fruit in the bowl over there we can carry with us in the car. Pick out whatever suits you and put them in that bag." Steve had finished the salad and transferred the contents into two containers. The buzzer went off so he pulled the pan of granola from the oven. "These need to cool and then go into the freezer. It makes them easier to cut."
The men quickly finished the lunch preparations. Danny knew the next item on tonight's agenda would be a very serious conversation. "So, I guess it's time we talked." Danny was tense now, wondering how Steve would feel about the recent turn of events. What started out as a short-term living arrangement was turning into a potentially long-term something else he couldn't put a name to.
Steve turned to Danny and could see that his friend was anxious now. "Hey babe, there's nothing to be upset about. We had a great weekend, didn't we? And I know being short of cash is embarrassing. But we're friends here. You'll be getting a full paycheck in a couple of weeks. I can loan you money if you need some to tide you over. Or I'll cover groceries for now and you cover them next payday." Steve ran his hand up and down Danny's back as he spoke.
It had been so great to see Danny unwind the last few days. He seemed more like his old self, not the shuttered Danny who refused to talk about losing Rachel again. Steve didn't ever want to see that Danny again.
Danny moved away to look out at the ocean. It was calming to watch how the waves rolled onto the shore, then withdrew only to roll a little further ashore the next time. The advance-retreat pattern repeated several times. It was like two steps forward, one step back. Or was it the other way?
Finally Danny spoke. "It's not the money issue that's got me worried at the moment. I mean, thanks and all, I'll let you know if I need a loan. Your idea on groceries sounds great. I'd like to pay half the utilities and help with the chores. Is that okay? You need any more than that?"
Steve was afraid that Danny had changed his mind or maybe that Rachel didn't want Grace around him with everything that had happened. He was relieved when Danny agreed with the financial basics. "No, that will be more than enough. You can even wash my truck once a week if it will make you feel any better."
Danny laughed, "No I don't feel the need to wash your truck. Knowing you, we'd both end up soaking wet which would only give you another excuse to take your shirt off. Not that you seem to need an excuse." Well, maybe it was a good idea after all. Danny always teased Steve about his penchant for stripping off his shirt. Honestly, Danny had a hard time not staring at Steve when that happened.
"There's another complication that I hadn't anticipated." Danny turned to look at Steve so he could gauge his reaction. Steve might think he's an inscrutable Navy SEAL but Danny has always been able to read Steve's emotions.
"Rachel and I talked to Grace about shared custody this evening. She's thrilled with the new arrangements. She made a comment about having two families now: Rachel and Step-Stan, and Danno and Uncle Steve." Danny paused now to wait for Steve's reaction.
Steve had been standing there with a worried look, the crease between his brows making its appearance. With Danny's explanation, the crease disappeared. Steve now sported the biggest, goofiest grin Danny had ever seen. "That's what she thinks? That's just…" Steve couldn't even put words to what he was feeling.
Danny was floored at Steve's reaction. He expected Steve to be flattered and then come up with a plan to let Grace down gently. It's obvious that Steve is overwhelmed and apparently thrilled with the idea. Danny thought about it for a minute, then realized that he hadn't given Steve much credit. After all, Steve had been very attentive and loving to Grace all weekend. Why wouldn't he want to be an important person to Grace?
Danny crossed to Steve and stood in front of him to make sure he had his full intention. "Think about it for a minute. The way she put it, you'll be like Step-Steve now, although she will probably still call you Uncle Steve." Danny didn't think he was getting through to Steve. He still had a look of wonder on his face, like a kid who just saw Santa put a new puppy under his tree.
Danny ran his hands over his face and tried again. "Steven, she expects us to stay here."
"Well Danno, I thought that was the plan." Steve couldn't believe his ears. Grace thought of him as another parent. He never expected to have this kind of gift.
"Steven, she expects us to stay like forever." Danny's voice was getting higher now. The last part made him sound like a girl.
"Danny, I don't mind. This house has so many shadows; they've all been gone since you and Grace came over on Friday. I'd love to have you both here, and not just for a couple of months. This is great!"
"What about your friend Catherine? What happens if she gets shore leave when Grace is here? I don't think it would be a great idea to expose Grace to that at her age."
Steve nodded in agreement. "You're right Danny, that wouldn't be appropriate. I don't think I'll be seeing Catherine again, except as friends. I can assure you that I won't bring anyone here while Grace is in the house."
"I believe you Steve. But won't that cramp your lifestyle? I don't imagine that you have a steady stream of women coming into Casa McGarrett every night, but a man has needs." Danny knew Steve was trying to reassure him but he didn't want Steve to make a commitment now and have buyer's remorse later.
Steve laid his hand on Danny's shoulder. The contact is second-nature now, 'Operation Danno' going by the wayside. Steve knew that this could no longer be a contrived plan on his part. Danny and Grace mean everything to him. And Grace is just a child. It was happening now, a family was in his reach. If it was never more than this, it would be enough. "Danny, what I need the most is you and Grace here with me. What about you? I know you relish your time with Grace. This will mean sharing her with me."
It was just like Steve to worry about him now. "Steve, I'm not worried about sharing Grace with you. She loves you and wants to spend time with you. One thing I've learned is that being a single parent, even a part-time single parent, is scary. And kids can never have enough people who love them."
"Then I guess we're a family now. Wait, are you going to be the mom because in our family, the dad is always the tall one." Steve knew it was time to downshift the emotions. He knew the tide patterns too, advance, retreat. It was time to retreat.
"No I am not the mom. And if you start with me, you won't get to be one of the dads. You'll be goofy Uncle Steve who plays with his GI Joe's by himself on the weekends. And you've got all those guys, which one is Joe anyway?" Danny was on a two-handed rant now.
Steve was chuckling now. He stilled Danny's hands and explained, "They're all Joe, Danny. Come on, Other Dad, let's see if we can find a place to put your things. You don't need to keep the pictures in just your rooms. I can make room in the living room for you. Does this mean we don't need to worry about moving the rest of your stuff out of your apartment?"
There would be another silver lining in this; they wouldn't have to drag all Danny's belongings over. Danny considered this for half a second. "Yeah, I guess so. There are a few other things I'd like to get, and we could use the towels and other linens. The TV could go upstairs. But I want to send the foldout to couch hell somewhere, maybe in a frat house. After all it's done to me, I want something really hideous done to it."
The men went upstairs to settle Danny in. Both men offered other options for the hated couch. Steve had some scary ones, including pushing it out of a plane or planting explosive charges in it. Danny's ideas dealt more with food and body functions. It was the perfect way to end the weekend.
Tomorrow would be their first day back with 5-0. It was a good thing that Steve and Danny were in a good mood tonight. 5-0 would have a major shift in the morning.
