I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Notes: and here we are. Unending thanks for reading and reviewing! I hope it's not disappointing to end here; seemed about right to the muse. Thank you to CinderH for keeping this firmly on track!
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Chapter Ten
Gritting his teeth in annoyance when he felt the lurking presence behind him, Danny slammed the lid of his laptop closed. Steve had spent a long night and then the majority of Sunday hospitalized. With much cajoling and the true stabilization of his vitals, he'd been released late in the afternoon into his partner's care. However, the vagueness of said release had ruined any sketched out plans Danny and Kono might have been percolating.
Home for scarcely two hours and with the grill just heating for dinner, Steve was already bored. Slightly hunched as he walked room to room after a light nap, he'd finally located his errant partner in the corner of the lanai.
"What are you working on?" Steve asked around a yawn.
"My chess game." The sardonic reply halted the yawn mid-gape as Steve chuffed an tentative sound deep in his throat. Danny had his arm snug across the laptop's lid while simultaneously, his fingers drilled a tattoo on the table.
"Chess?"
"Hmm." Ignoring Steve's rising interest, Danny shrugged as if also very bored before only repeating the one syllable and offering nothing else. "Chess."
Steve rubbed idly around the bandages before slowly easing down into a vacant chair. Unable to hide a pained inhale as the healing wound pulled, Steve felt Danny's eyes boring into him. Forbidden to swim and to do any exercise beyond more than that of a short walk was going to be the most difficult of penances. It included even working on the Marquis because of the bending, lifting and stretching motions required to tinker on the classic car. Even bound to desk duty for seven full days would be part of the ultimate punishment.
His partner's presumed wrath would be the proverbial icing on the cake.
Shielding his eyes while looking at the sparkling waters on the horizon, Steve made a careful observation. "We've got a nice stretch of weather for the next few days."
"Hmm." Still acting entirely bored, Danny rested his chin on the palm of his hand to manage the sound once more. It irritated Steve no end as he adjusted himself in the chair and sighed heavily. With one hand camped out to rest near his bandaged side, he fidgeted again as the silence continued between them.
"Tomorrow, especially." Steve muttered under his breath.
Trying not to smile at his partner's discomfort, Danny had been diligently doing his homework for the next morning. With Steve now safely home, Danny knew that Kono would believe he'd forgotten to research Waimea. He had been doing just that when Steve arrived on the lanai. From what he'd learned, the weather would be more than nice ... it would be perfect. And on their last day of a long weekend, he and Kono would be able to revisit the North Shore.
Using the palm of his hand as a prop, Danny rotated his head to look at Steve directly. His eyes held a hint of amusement as his partner mentally flailed for the right words. After starting and stopping a few more times, Steve groaned under his breath and gave up. Gazing at the ocean, he pursed his lips stubbornly to keep his own private counsel. Nearly silent, Danny chuffed out a short breath of air at his partner's predicament and wondered if he should give the man a break.
After a long moment of silence, Danny leaned back in the chair with a large overly dramatic stretch. His voice continued to maintain a monotone, yet it held a sight note of amusement. "Yes, Steven. But you'll have an easier time getting in and out of your truck."
The first two words caused an instantaneous reaction, the first of which was disbelief followed by a slow smile. "Yes? Really?" Steve asked, as he met Danny's eyes to judge the sincerity of the blithe comment.
"You need a permanent keeper it seems." Rolling his eyes and lifting both hands high over his head, Danny had to laugh. "How else can I keep an eye on you?"
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With Kono still in possession of all the surf boards, Danny confirmed after dinner that he'd meet his coach at dawn. The early hour shocked Steve until Danny explained the hectic over-crowding anticipated not only because of near perfect conditions, but also due to the holiday weekend. Smartly not answering the dry comment, Steve merely packed a bag for the next day, promising to be up and ready in time to leave.
Sneaking to the kitchen that next morning from the spare bedroom well before Steve stepped foot from his own, Danny opened his laptop one more time to verify his prior day's findings. Punching keys and memorizing what he saw, Danny soon had the laptop stowed with a self-satisfied smile. Things were right on track and he was well-prepared to manage any pending tests.
His return to the spare bedroom was to select particular beachwear as defined by what he'd just confirmed. Grinning happily to himself, Danny folded and packed other things that he'd need for the day.
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"Sit. Stay." Kono admonished Steve before she left him rather indefinitely next to towels, chairs, and fully stocked cooler. Hands on hips, she handed him the thermos filled with coffee more as a demand than a kindly offer. "Danny and I will be .. well, you know!"
"Uh, he's gone already." Grinning happily, Steve dug his heels comfortably into the sand. Leaving Kono to play nursemaid, Danny had literally dumped Steve in her lap to take his new board. By the time she followed Steve's hand, she only caught a glimpse of a long-sleeved black rasher duck diving through the waves.
"You better catch up!" Steve laughed as he got settled. "You've created a monster."
"Not nearly as bad as you!" Her retort laughed out, Kono took off on a sprint across the sands and into the water. "And you better stay out of trouble, boss!"
Danny was waiting patiently for Kono though when she did join him just beyond the breakers. They weren't the only ones there, but conditions would change drastically throughout the day with any number of kooks showing up to spoil everyone else's fun. Danny had no intention of falling into that particular category.
"The only reason I'm letting you surf today, brah, is because you were smart enough to wear the right rash guard." Her attempt at reprimand only made Danny smile broadly. Crossing his arms over his chest, he recited everything he'd looked up on the top surfing sites.
"The water temperature right now is between 72 and 74 degrees. It might not warm up the entire day despite the prevailing good to excellent conditions." Keeping his arms folded, he kept his smile. "The long-sleeved rash guard was recommended for anyone intending to surf this early in the day."
"Uh huh." Kono failed completely at being able to hide her smile. "What else?" She asked, now duly impressed that he might have worked a bit harder on homework than she gave him credit for.
"Winds are going to stay light and variable as a weak front goes through today. The best and cleanest surf will be now through the morning hours. But the sea breeze is going to increase in the afternoon. That will impact the swells and peaks." He hesitated on purpose and then grinned even more with unabashed glee as Kono could only nod her approval.
Comfortably sitting on his board, he had one more tidbit to offer though.
"So, coach, we have all morning but should probably call it a day around Noon or so?" Knowing that the change in winds would likely result in surf too challenging for him, Danny ended his recitation there. "I mean for me anyway ... I'd be happy to keep our spy occupied while you take advantage of the afternoon."
Danny laughed when Kono's eyebrows nearly disappeared in shock. Then she was laughing and giving him a high-five for a job well done. His recognition that she'd be in her glory during the afternoon sealed the deal on everything.
"I'd say that's a perfect plan." Pleased beyond words, Kono was thrilled that he'd put the effort into the research. "Let's see what we feel like around lunch because I might even want a break by that point. Plus, it's going to be busy and anything can happen. We don't need to set ourselves up for trouble."
Steve contentedly watched them take wave time and again. What he had seen from a distance, lacked the excitement of seeing it more up close and personal. His issue eventually became a physical discomfort. Needing to stretch, he carefully got to his feet where he stood slightly hunched for a few minutes before deciding to take a short amble to the water's edge. Movement worked for just so long and with an aggrieved sigh, he wound up ruffling through the cooler for a bite to eat in order to take the pain medication he'd been prescribed. Having refused it earlier, he definitely needed to take something now as the morning wore on and the beach became more crowded.
Danny stretched sore muscles as he watched his partner slowly pace the beach near their small encampment. Even from the water, he could see that Steve was becoming uncomfortable. When he saw him purposefully dig through the cooler, he frowned around a loud exhale.
"What's wrong?" Kono asked. "Is your knee bothering you?" Other than the odd lull between sets, they'd taken nearly every opportunity for a wave and she could easily understand if her student was indeed fatigued. His last attempt had been a spectacular fail and he had a new series of scratches along the outside of his left leg to prove how deeply he'd been driven down.
Danny grimaced as he traced the area near his thigh which was already red and beginning to purple. "You really timed that one wrong, brah." Kono chastised him while drifting closer to take another look. "Do you know what you did?" Ever the coach, she insisted that he dissect every bit of a run whether it be good or bad.
His rueful explanation was decidedly more informed after the depth of experiences he'd gone through in just a few days. "I tried too hard. Started early before it crested and then it was big .. fast .. I tried to muscle through it." Kono didn't need to answer because he was right in his breakdown. It had taken him longer to get back out into position and then many minutes to decide he was ready for another attempt.
"But your knee?" Worried for the discreet wince, she folded her arms in warning. He didn't need his confidence shattered. But more so, there was no point in surfing through any kind of pain; it was just another terrible accident waiting to happen.
"Not exactly my knee. Not really." His distracted remark had her instantly attentive towards the land-bound friend. "He's never going to admit defeat and we have been out here quite a long time."
It was all Danny needed to say for Kono to aim her board towards the next incoming set. "I'm good, if you are." Kono announced with a grin. But she was already on the move, leaving Danny to smile appreciatively and with the luxury of timing his own final wave of the day. By the time he arrived by the chairs a few minutes later, Kono was holding one finger to her lips to keep him quiet. Stretched out sloppily in a chair, Steve had fallen asleep with one hand trailing limply into the sand.
"We'll pack up before we wake him." Kono whispered as Danny rolled his eyes in good humor at his partner's obstinate condition. Making a few trips, the only thing left to do was one sleeping man and his lone chair.
"I'll get him." Danny said as he slowly made the trip back across the sands. The decision to call it a day was actually wise now that his scraped up leg was feeing tight and sore. Keeping a bit of a distance, he placed his hand carefully on Steve's shoulder not so surprised when Kono appeared by his side anyway.
"Hey, time to go. Steve?" Combined with his hand, his voice brought Steve awake much more slowly than even Danny expected. "Well one thing's for sure, you've certainly had enough." He snarked softly as Steve only blinked in confusion at the waves and hordes of people now surrounding him both on beach and in the water.
"That's it? We just got here." Steve had fallen asleep with the vengeance of someone needing time to heal and both his friends snorted in amusement. But it was these final words that had both laughing. "it's still early."
"Actually, boss, no it's not so early anymore." Kono supplied. "We've been here for a long time and it's time to call it a day."
"How was surfing, Danno? Kono's right, you are pretty good." His familiar compliment was pleased and genuine as Danny hauled him to his feet with a steadying hand. Still hunched over, the pain had abated but there was no doubt the man needed a real bed after being out for the morning.
"So you've said once before." Danny chuckled. "But now, it's time to go."
"Let's go, boss." Kono seconded as she gathered the last of their gear. Their final trek to the parking lot had them nearly pouring Steve into the passenger seat of the Silverado.
"Sorry, Danno." The apology was uttered around a yawn, but when Steve looked at Danny as he drove back to the house, his partner was smiling from ear to ear. "Ruined your last day ... maybe the whole weekend ... didn't mean to."
Cocking his head happily at Steve, Danny kept a circumspect eye on the road. His own offhand shrug was as genuine as Steve's earlier compliment. "I have to say that this weekend was far from ruined." Danny chuffed through another grinned out laugh. Counting on his fingers, Danny's list was impressive and soon Steve was smiling in kind.
"Let's see. There was a new beach and a new surfboard. Of which, did I tell you that Kono actually gave it to me?" Danny asked, pleased when Steve's mouth fell open in a duly impressed reaction.
"Her pro board?" Steve asked, to be sure he'd understood that comment. His stunned exhale increased the smile now permanently plastered across his partner's face.
"And despite an initially ruined lunch, there was a hostage situation combined with the most exciting use of flash bangs." Leering at Steve, Danny poked him gently in the shoulder. "That was just day two!"
Listening to his partner's very pleased recitation, Steve rested his head contentedly against the truck's door. Danny's last finger aimed directly upwards to nearly touch the roof of the truck. "Last but not least, this morning, I managed to impress one of the best surfers around, and .. I might add ... I've learned never, ever to expect a dull moment on this godforsaken rock."
The huffed sound from the passenger seat expressed Steve's appreciation. Rubbing the edges of the bandages under his t-shirt, Steve used his chin to gesture to the red, surfboard-laden car they were currently following onto the main highway.
"You know, since you're so good now and have your own board, when I get cleared the three of us could make a day of it." Steve suggested. However his partner's half-scolding reply was preceded by the firm wave of a hand between the empty space between them.
"Do not ... not ... push your luck!"
~ END ~