The week after the paddle-out, Danny looked up from his desk and saw Steve hurrying out of his office, cell phone to his ear, and looking more frazzled than normal, even lately. Danny scampered out to see what was going on.

"We get a case, babe?"

"No, that was Wee Care Day Care. I have a budget meeting with the Governor tonight, they have a rule that you have to pick the children up by 6:30, I was trying to see if they could stay later if I paid extra, but they won't and they reminded me that I have been late four times in the last four weeks, and that if that continues I will have to 'find an alternative child care service.'" With Steve's hands flapping around making air quotes, he looked a little like Danny in one of his rants.

"Don't worry about it big guy, I was just heading out to take Grace and Charlie to dinner. I'll just pick up Joan first and take the three of them. Let's switch cars, that way I'll have Joan's car seat and Charlie's fits in the back of the truck too."

"Danny, you're a lifesaver! I honestly don't know how single parents do all of this. We do great at night, of course she's asleep for most of that, but from the time the alarm goes off in the morning, it's just an absolute zoo getting her out the door to the day care and then working all day, picking her up and getting dinner. I do enjoy our time at night though."

"Yeah, they're so fun at this age." Danny smiled softly. Then he narrowed his eyes at Steve.

"Listen buddy, at that meeting with the Governor, you just remind him that you are a single parent now, so he can just juggle his schedule so that he can have these meetings during the day. Unless you're on a case, you don't need to be having night meetings. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it."

Danny took a closer look at his friend. Steve looked exhausted. Danny knew Steve could handle being a parent to Joan, but he also knew that Steve needed more help than he was getting. He had the day care Monday through Friday, but he was pretty much on his own at night and on the weekends. Danny and Grace spent as much time as they could with Steve and Joan, but they had their own home. Steve definitely needed more of a break than he was getting.

Since the day at the aquarium they had taken the three children on another outing together, and had several more planned. The two men had also taken all three children out for dinner a couple times. Grace loved being the "chief babysitter" as Danny had dubbed her on these outings and the two toddlers got along extraordinarily well.

Luckily, since Steve had been back there hadn't been a case that had required any overnight work, but it was only a matter of time until that happened and then what would they do? Danny couldn't actually believe the solution he was considering, but the only way to find out if it would work would be to ask.

Danny took Steve's truck and headed over to Wee Care Day Care. Steve had put him down on the approved pick-up list the first day he took Joan there. As he entered the main room, the little blond haired girl saw him and came running, with her little arms raised and calling out "Danno, Danno!" He gave a big grin as he knelt down, opened his arms and scooped her up. He began to pepper her cheeks with kisses as he greeted her.

"Hello, Kitten! Did you have fun at Day Care today?"

"Fun, Danno! Lossa fun! Where Unca S'eve?"

"Uncle Steve had to work late Kitten. How would you like to get Grace and Charlie and go have some dinner?

"Gwacie! Chawie! Yay!" She stopped for a minute and wrinkled her little nose at Danny. "Kame?" she said hopefully.

Danny burst out laughing. The little girl's instant love for Kamekona had surprised all of them, mostly the big man himself. "Sure, Kitty-cat. If the other kids want that too, we can go to Kamekona's. His shrimp's probably healthier for you then the burgers around here anyway, but don't tell him I said so, okay?"

Danny and Joan headed out to pick up Grace and Charlie and then they went to Kamekona's. He started out from the shrimp truck when he saw them getting out of the truck, and Joanie's little legs double timed it over to him. He leaned over and swung her up into a big hug. Charlie was a little more reticent, but he was also hugged heartily by the big man, as was Grace. Danny put his hands up in a warding gesture as he backed away from Kamekona.

"That's all the hugs you're getting buddy. I'm going to just insist you stay out of my personal space. 'Kay?"

"Okay, Jersey. I'd rather hug your keiki's anyway. You want the usual?"

"Yeah, that would be perfect. We'll just grab a table. Kitten, you go with Grace and she'll get you all set up."

The two girls headed for the picnic table and began to settle in. Danny felt a tug on his hand and looked down at his side to see Charlie standing right next to him and looking up at him with a question in his eyes.

"What's up, buddy?"

The little boy's cheeks turned bright red, but he seemed pretty determined to get to what was on his mind. "Umm. Danno? How come you call Grace Monkey and you call Joan Kitten, but I um, well..." The little boy ran out of steam and started to turn away, but Danny put a quick hand on his shoulder and turned him back.

"You know what, you're right Charlie. I just didn't realize it. I have been calling Grace Monkey for so long, and Kitten just kind of happened with Joan, but you need a special Danno nickname of your very own, and buddy just doesn't do the trick, does it?"

The little boy looked up at him with such hopeful, trusting eyes that were so much like Grace's that Danny suddenly felt his throat tighten with all the love he felt for Charlie.

"Hmmmmm. Lemme think for a minute. Hey!" He snapped his fingers and grinned his patented Danno grin at the little guy. "How about Tiger? That's perfect for you! Brave and powerful and strong! It's just right."

Danny thought he would melt right there on the sand from the sheer wattage of the beaming smile that Charlie directed at him.

"Tiger! I'm a Tiger, Danno! I hafta tell Grace and Joan." And he ran off to the picnic table with all the speed a three year old could muster.

Danny was almost knocked over by the force of the pat on the back Kamekona delivered to him.

"I'll tell ya, bruddah! You are one special kind of Haole, and that's no kidding!"

"Thanks a bunch, Shamu. Now, where's our shrimp?"