The rest of the day flew by too quickly for Danny's liking. Not that he didn't want to go home with Steve - because of course he did - but because he couldn't stop thinking about the worst case scenario. The revamp on the house was only happening because Grace and their friends were worried about how he was coping with Steve's increased needs, and Danny couldn't help but worry that even after all this he still couldn't manage to look after Steve at home on his own.

Of course Danny had complete faith that Chin had got the best people in to provide what he and Steve so desperately needed. But right now he just couldn't let his old habit go, even as he sat by Steve's side and helped him with his dinner.

"Danno?"

Danny blinked out of his daydream at the sound of Steve's voice and he shook his head. "Sorry, buddy," Danny said as he gave him another spoonful of food. "Just thinking about stuff."

Steve yawned and stretched all four of his limbs, not noticing that Danny had to lean back to avoid a flailing arm. "Good stuff?"

"Yeah," Danny caught his wayward hand and kissed each knuckle before bringing it back to Steve's chest with a well-rehearsed smile that masked his worries. "Yeah babe, just thinking about tomorrow. You excited to go home and see your new room?"

Steve accepted another spoonful of food before mulling over his answer as he gazed around at their packed bags. "Wanna go home, Danno. Miss home." He mumbled, shaking his head when Danny offered more food. "No more, please."

"You sure? C'mon, you've got loads of mac n' cheese left, and I know you love it," Danny frowned when Steve still shied away from the offered spoonful of creamy pasta. "Alright, buddy. I'll keep it in case you get the munchies later."

With a sigh, Danny got up and poured the remainder of the bowl into a plastic tub. He pinched the bridge of his nose and mentally kicked himself for the change in conversation topic, and just when Danny thought he couldn't feel any more guilty he turned and saw a dejected looking Steve staring back at him.

"Did I put you off, babe? Was it talking about going home?" Danny said as he returned to his chair beside Steve and removed the tray-table from his wheelchair. "I'm really sorry if it was."

"Miss home. This not…" Steve glanced at Danny, and his sheer look of frustration made Danny reach over and tangle their fingers together. "Not mine, or Danno's."

Danny nodded. He knew that Steve just missed home and everything that was in their house, and what it all meant for him. "I know, buddy. But soon, okay? One more night." Danny smiled reassuringly at him and winked. "Okay?"

Steve hesitantly smiled back at Danny, but when he saw who was waiting in the doorway to their room he positively beamed. "Gracie!"

Danny's head whipped over in disbelief and sure enough Grace was walking towards them. She didn't seem to mind when Steve pulled her into a fierce hug, even when she almost ended up in his lap, before reluctantly letting her go to she could hug her father.

"Not that, uh, I don't want to see you because God knows I do, monkey, but-"

"It's alright Dad," Grace pulled up a chair. "Cheer practice ended early, so I asked Mom if we could call in here before going back."

"How's she doing?" Danny asked as he helped Steve with his beaker of drink. "Still can't believe you even got your mom in on your little coup."

Grace tucked her hair behind her ear and giggled. "Sorry, Danno… but all the building work is done now! It all looks awesome, even Mom said so! I can't wait for you to come home tomorrow and see it."

"Yeah, Danno! Go home 'morrow!" Steve chirped, arching his back in his wheelchair as he beamed at Danny. "Steve, Danno, Gracie… home."

"That's right, buddy." Danny nodded at him before looking back at Grace. "So what's new in the house? I assume I'll recognise it..."

"Nope, sorry Dad. It's a secret…" Grace continued, unphased by Danny's groan of disappointment. "And don't think about asking Charlie, we've all sworn him to secrecy too."

"But-" Grace shook her head again, her face displaying the famous Williams smirk that had been passed on from her father. Danny opened his mouth to protest but one look from her and he snapped it shut. "Fine. But just promise me one thing."

"Okay."

Danny cast a glance at Steve, who was turning his stuffed cat over in his hands and mumbling to himself, paying no attention to their conversation. "Does his room look… y'know, mostly the same? You know he doesn't cope well with change, and I think - well, I know - that if it's too different Steve'll have to adjust all over again."

"Yeah I know. Uncle Chin took a photo of his room before we started, where all of his things were, so that we knew how to arrange stuff when we finished." Grace said, and Danny breathed a sigh of relief. "Please don't worry, Danno. Everything'll be fine!"

Danny pulled his daughter into another hug and hid his face in her long, brown hair. He was sure the house did indeed look awesome, and it all had to be done. Danny just hoped that Grace was right, that everything will be fine and work out.

Because if it didn't, he didn't know how much more he could take.

Sleep didn't come easy for Danny.

Once he'd finished a story and Steve was sound asleep in bed, he took the opportunity to have a long, hot shower. The powerful jets of water relaxed the tense muscles in Danny's back, and he found himself wishing that the shower back home was like this. Not that Steve's 'old' bathroom ensuite to the master bedroom wasn't nice, but Danny wouldn't say no to a new shower head and heated towel rails.

Once he'd finished towelling his hair dry Danny quietly peeled back the covers. Steve, who'd managed to semi-sprawl himself out from his position by the wall, showed no signs of stirring when Danny settled into bed for which the blonde was very grateful, and once he'd set an alarm on his phone and left it charging on the floor by the bed, Danny closed his eyes and waited.

And waited… and waited, until finally Danny gave up and reached over the side of the bed to fumble for his phone and groaned when he saw that two hours had passed since he'd closed his eyes.

This is stupid, Danny thought as his head fell back onto the pillow and he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes, I just wanna fucking sleep, but I can't help but worry about tomorrow… If this doesn't work, if we're still struggling even with the new changes, then that's it.

The nightlight plugged in on the other side of the room enabled him to gaze over and see how peaceful and relaxed Steve looked in his sleep, a couple of his toys around him and his thumb partly in his mouth as he lay curled on his side, and Danny sighed as he clasped his hands over his torso and stared up at the ceiling.

God? If you're listening… I could use a favour. If you could make sure that the house is what we need, I'd really appreciate it. This is gonna sound so selfish but… I wanna keep Steve with me. And I need some help to do that. Danny drew his bottom lip between his teeth as he looked back at Steve - his Steve - his heart aching at the adorable sight. I need him, okay? And he needs me, too. He needs me so much.

If Steve ended up living in a nursing home because I couldn't look after him after all these changes… I couldn't do that to him. Steve would have to watch his Danno walk away and leave him in a strange place with strange people… No. I can't do it - no, scratch that, I won't do that to him.

So, yeah. If our home could basically be perfect and have everything Steve needs to stay happy, healthy and safe for the foreseeable future, that'd be great. I promise, I'll do anything - go to church on Sundays, volunteer in soup kitchens, whatever you want. Danny brushed away a stray tear with his thumb before clearing a sudden lump in his throat with a quiet cough. After all he's been through, Steve deserves the best. And I can't screw this up.

Steve murmuring in his sleep caught Danny's attention, and he rolled over to prop himself up on an elbow. "You're not worried, are you, baby? You just wanna go back home." Danny whispered, smiling when Steve sighed happily around his thumb as if to answer his question. "Me too, champ. Me too."

Danny reached out and lightly traced the large curved scar that ran from just above Steve's right eyebrow to behind his right ear that was slightly hidden by his hair. The doctors had told him that it would fade over time, and indeed it had a bit over the last two years, but Danny could always find it. It was the only constant reminder that Steve was different and he hated it, hated how it was necessary to remove the broken part of his skull so his brain could heal before the custom titanium plate was fitted in its place. But Danny had given the go-ahead for it on Steve's behalf so that his life would be saved, and definitely had no regrets no matter how much he disliked the scar.

"Hey, babe," Danny said as Steve suddenly opened his eyes and blearily looked up at him. "Sorry if I woke you."

"Danno, still night time?" Steve whispered as he snagged his toys from behind him and hugged them to his chest while letting out a huge yawn.

Danny smiled and nodded as he pulled the covers back over Steve's shoulders from where he'd shucked them off. "Yeah, still night time, buddy. Go back to sleep, got a big day tomorrow."

"Hmm, we go home." Steve burrowed closer to him and sighed happily as Danny's free arm instinctively went over his waist. "Love you, Danno."

"Love you too."

Of course he's asleep again already, Danny smirked as he settled back down when the arm he was leaning on started to go numb. Normally he's the one who won't go to sleep. Oh, how the tides have turned...

The close proximity of Steve's sleep-warm body seemed to have an effect on Danny, as he slowly began to feel less awake. Before he felt the blissful pull of sleep, Danny sent one more prayer in the hopes that someone, somewhere was listening.

I just want us to be happy. We've already had one future taken away from us… we need this one to stick around. It's all we've got. Please.

Morning came round far too quickly, and Danny absolutely, 100 percent was not ready for it after such a poor night's sleep. Steve, on the other hand, was full of energy, and Danny had to take several deep breaths in order to not have a meltdown while he got the other man dressed and ready to go. He knew that Steve couldn't help being excited about going home, and each time Danny bit his tongue (sometimes literally to avoid snapping at him to just calm the fuck down) he felt like an asshole for being impatient, but it really was just a case of not having had enough sleep. Of all the days...

After cramming everything into the Silverado and JC waving Danny's wallet away for the fifth time, reminding him that he's refused to take Danny's money every day for the last week and will continue to do so today, it was time to go. Hugs and thanks were exchanged, and Danny was just about to wheel Steve out the front door when Jake appeared with Eddie. Steve's smile faltered as the dog approached him, and he reached out to scratch behind his ears when Eddie rested his head on his leg.

"I go home now, Eddie," Steve said sadly, "Wish you could come."

JC raised his eyebrows at Danny and the blonde man winked back at him, remembering the agreement they both had yesterday, before he reached down and patted Steve's shoulder. "He can visit us though, can't he?" Steve craned his head back at Danny's voice. Danny nodded reassuringly at him, noticing that the brunette's fingers were loosely wrapped around Eddie's collar as the dog licked at his arm. "Okay, buddy? You'll see him real soon, I promise."

"You double promise, Danno?"

"Hey, Danno's one hundred percent guarantee, babe. Of course."

Danny smiled down at him and was relieved when Steve let go of Eddie's collar, and JC followed them out to the truck and helped him get Steve buckled in and his chair in the back. Once Danny shut the passenger door he beckoned him over, safe in the knowledge that Steve couldn't hear them.

"Swing by in a few hours, is that alright? I'll shoot you a message when we're ready for him." Danny said, briefly glancing back to make sure Steve wasn't fiddling with any of the Silverado's dials, but turned back to the other man when he saw that his friend was occupied with staring out of the window up at the sky. "Thanks so much again for doing this, and for.. y'know." Danny gestured back towards the large building.

"Oh hey, you know us. It's what we're here for - drop us a line if you wanna use the pool or anything, or if you need a break!" JC playfully punched Danny's bicep when the blonde folded his arms and sighed. "I meant it, brah. It's hard work, and it drains you. You're with someone pretty much all day, every day. Make sure you have time to yourself, and the keiki."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'll bear it in mind, I promise."