A/N: Another Christmas has come and gone, I hope yours was merry and nice. Try to have a safe and happy new year, and don't drink and drive please. The life you kill may not be your own!

***********Five-0*************

Danny's Story

Chapter 10

Steve and Catherine have eaten their dinner and enjoyed talking about their life, about the children, and about their dreams for the future. They talked about his plan for Matt's rescue, about what could go wrong and about what they can do to put safeguards in place every step of the way. Catherine has her father and uncle in their corner as well as many of her Naval Intelligence friends. Steve has the plane, Seal Teams 6 and 9, and several of his former CO's as backup and look outs. He knows that he is jeopardizing his job with Five-0 and the Navy but Danny and his family are too important to put his career before them. He knows if they are caught by the SEC or FBI they can be tried and face possible prison time, but he and Catherine know he is the most prepared when the chips are down and they both have faith in his ability.

The waitress arrives to clear their table and give them dessert menus. "Would you like a few minutes to look over the menu before you order dessert, Commander?" she asked.

"Cath, do you have any room left for dessert?"

"No thank you, Darling, I'm just fine the way I am. Maybe we could get the check and continue our celebration on the dance floor next door." She whispers just for Steve's ears.

"No thank you on the dessert; can we just have the check, please?" Steve asks his waitress.

"I'm sorry Commander, but your meal has been taken care of all ready, so please, go enjoy the rest of your evening." She tells Steve with a big smile on her face.

"What, by whom?" he asked and looked at Catherine to see if she is trying to hide something.

"I am not at liberty to say. The gentlemen who arranged it said I was under strict orders to not say a word, or else I would be thrown in the Brig." She smiled at Steve while explaining this.

"Your/My Uncle." They both said at the same time. He was the only one except Kono who knew where they would be going and Kono wouldn't do anything like this, or at least not threatening to use the Brig as punishment, something else, maybe.

"Well, ok, then, thank you for the great service. Here, take this from us, please." Steve tried to hand her a $50.00 bill.

"Sorry Commander, I can't accept, I was told that you would try that and I was to decline. Enjoy your evening, Mrs. McGarrett, Commander. Hope to see you back soon." She leaves and they just laugh at the thought that her uncle covered everything.

"Well it appears that we have a naval fairy godfather. Let's go and get on with our night. Shall we, Mrs. McGarrett?" Steve asks as he helps her out of her seat.

"Yes, let's, Mr. Commander McGarrett." She chuckles at addressing him as Mr. McGarrett. She hardly ever uses that name for Steve, but she always has liked the sound of Mr. and Mrs. McGarrett. He takes her wrap and puts it on her shoulders, takes her hand and they leave the restaurant. Off they go the Bar/Night Club, Waikiki Nights. This place is one of their favorites as it caters to the locals and an older clientele….not all the spring breakers that come to the islands to drink and party.

Steve leads them to the front of the line and greets the Bouncer, Anakoni, Anthony to his parents from the mainland. Steve and Anakoni have known each other for a few years since he and Catherine go there a couple of times a year.

"Commander, Lt. I have been expecting you. I have your favorite table reserved, let me have Koli take you to it." Anakoni says as he greets his friends. He speaks into his Bluetooth and summons the hostess to come and take the McGarretts to their table. "Have a great evening. I took the liberty and sent over your favorite wine, Shiraz as well as a bottle of our best champagne, Cristal, circa 2002. It's on me, enjoy your evening."

"Thank you Anakoni, by the way, how's the new arrival? Getting any rest yet?" Steve asks.

"He's is great, and thank you for the books and outfits, Mrs. McGarrett. Kami loves the way he looks in his sailor pajamas." Anakoni says to Catherine.

"It was our pleasure, please ask Kami to give me a call when she's up for visitors, I'll love to stop by and see them." She says to him.

"I sure will, she would like that. She has been cooped up for three weeks, and she is ready to see some of her friends again." Just then Koli arrives and they follow her to their table in the back of the nightclub, near the dance floor.

Steve immediately leads Catherine to the dance floor and they slow dance to three songs in a row. Catherine nestles her head on his chest as he slowly caresses her back and places kisses on her neck and behind her ear. When the music changes to a fast song, he takes her hand and they go to their table. Steve pours the champagne and they sit through the next several songs, drinking and cuddling in their booth. "You look more beautiful with a little pink in your cheeks, Cath. I didn't believe that was even possible, but you surprise me at every turn."

Catherine blushes and Steve pulls her to him and gives her a passionate loving kiss. They spend the next 90 minutes cuddling, dancing, kissing, and enjoying the night life that the club has to offer. It's close to midnight when they decided to leave for the Hilton.

Back at Danny's House

Rachel and I spend the next two hours, talking, kissing, and making love again. I am over the moon. 24 hours earlier, I was worrying about telling her about my plan to bring Matt home. I had never expected this turn of events. I was prepared for a fight and when that didn't happen, I was thrown off my game. I know that each minute I have with her is precious and I won't take them for granted.

"Rachel, what are we doing about Gracie? Telling her will be hard and I don't want her to be scared that I won't come home, but she needs to know that it is a possibility. Do you think we should talk to your counselor first and get her advice on this?"

"That would be a great idea Danny. I am shocked and pleasantly surprised that you would even consider that. You have been so Anti-Therapy all these years, and for you to want to turn to someone, makes me see how far we both have come since we were last together. I will call first think in the morning and see when we can make an appointment for the three of us." Rachel starts to get dressed and Danny lies in his bed just watching her.

"You know how beautiful you are, don't you Rachel? I think that you are more beautiful every day I see you. I see so much of you in Gracie and that makes me so happy. The last thing that girl needs is to have the Williams nose and height." Rachel walks around to my side of the bed and sits down next to me. I put his arms around her, pulls her to him and passionately kisses her. They can't bring themselves to part but when they hear Rachel's phone alarm go off, they break away and she sits up next to him.

"That's my signal that the movie I went to is letting out. I have taken a page out of your playbook so that my cover isn't blown. I'll talk to you tomorrow, or send you an email with the times we can see Dr. Kealoha, okay? Gracie has play practice after school, so you don't have to pick her up until 4:30 pm for your night with her. Depending on how things go with Stan, we can all come over here for dinner, I will have Carmen make something and bring it when I bring Charlie over. Would 5:30 work for you?"

"Oh no, I forgot I had to pick up Grace. I made dinner plans with Gabby to tell her what we have decided. Will you be able to pick her up or should I ask Steve to?" Danny asks.

"No, I'll be fine to do it; my nail appointment is at 2:30 so I will be done by the time she is done with her play practice." We both get up and I put on my boxers and sleep shorts and walk her to the door. "I love you, Danny, please believe me."

"I do, Rach, I believe you, but know we have a long road ahead of us, and I hope you know what you are going to be going through." I take her in my arms and kiss her passionately once more.

"I know that, and I am prepared for the work, the pain, and the joy that is coming. Bye."

"Bye, Rach. We'll talk tomorrow." I walk her to her car and open the door for her. I watch her drive away before I go inside, lie back on the couch and turn on the news.

TBC