I was waiting to see if I would get 100 reviews before I posted this chapter. I really like this one. I hope that you guys enjoy it as much as I did. This story is wrapping up soon. So enjoy and let me know what you think. I'm curious to see who else enjoys it...

Danny knew that Steve had overdone it and didn't know what shape he would be in, He didn't want to embarrass him in front of Grace if he needed some help. Danny waited while Steve paddled to the shore. He grabbed the crutches while sitting on his surfboard. He made the switch and then got up onto his crutches. It was very labored and Danny could now see the pain in his eyes had returned. But that wasn't all that was there. Happiness and peace were also there now. Danny was right beside him should his partner need him. Steve was able to crutch from the rock to the step. It was labored, but he made it. On the step, he teetered once, but grabbed the rope rail once to keep his balance. He made it up to the chair in one piece and sat there to rest. He was panting and shaking from all the exertion. Danny moved in closer. "You OK Babe?"

"Yeah, I need a minute. It's hard to breathe. Steve really hadn't given much thought to his ribs in all this. He was remembering how much of a toll swimming was on them."

Danny stood there and rubbed his back while he caught his breath. Then he took one of the towels and carefully dried Steve's foot and ankle so that he could replace the brace trying to hold back his dismay at the look of Steve's overworked swollen ankle.

Grace appeared on the upstairs deck.

"Is Uncle Steve OK?" she called the worry evident in her voice.

"Yeah, monkey, he's fine. We'll be right in. Get your teeth brushed then we'll watch a movie...OK?" Danny yelled up.

"OK Danno" the little girl said as she bounded back inside.

"Alright, let's go. Danny...Thanks. I love you, you know that right?" Steve said.

"Yeah, I know and I love you too." Danny said back with a smile and a sigh.

"Will you stand by me? I'm not feeling all that steady." Steve admitted which surprised both of them.

"Always." Danny said as he put his hand on Steve's back. He didn't want to throw the other man off balance, but wanted him to know that his support was there if he needed it.

They made it inside slowly just as Steve was about to collapse, but he was still soaking wet. Danny laid a few towels on one of the wooden chairs, pulled up another chair for his leg with a pillow and told him he'd be right back.

He ran to get Steve a pair of sleep pants and a shirt and went to check on Grace.

Grace was in her PJ's with her teeth brushed when he got up there. He grabbed stuff for Steve and himself and followed Grace downstairs. Steve was clearly in pain, but he tried his best to hide it from Grace.

"Grace honey, why don't you pick a movie while I get ready for bed and help Uncle Steve. OK monkey?"

Grace nodded her head and went to look for a movie while Danny moved to his partner's side. He helped him up and then helped him to the bathroom. Steve was less and less steady on his feet as the pain was starting to overtake him and the fatigue was setting in. He got him in the bathroom and quickly helped him change as he got changed himself. They emerged from the bathroom to find Grace in the other room on the sofa happily watching TV.

As soon as they entered the room, she lept up and said "Danno, let Uncle Steve lie down on the couch. He needs to rest. You told him to take it easy, but he didn't, did he Danno?"

Danny just smirked. His daughter was so observant.

"Uncle Steve, are you in pain?" she asked him with those big brown eyes full of love and concern.

Steve couldn't lie to her. Her eyes although a different color were her father's eyes. They looked right to your soul. "Yeah Gracie. I am in a little pain now, but after I watch a movie with you, I bet I will feel better." he said trying his best to come up with a smile.

"Danno will help you feel better too, won't he? That's what partners do, right?" she asked.

Steve knew the little girl didn't know what she was asking, but he answered her honestly anyway.

"Yes, Danno always helps me feel better and yes, Grace that is what partners do." It had taken him a long time to realize that and here was this little 8 year old girl who had it all figured out.

"Hey Grace come in the kitchen and help me." Danny said.

He gave her two bottles of water and a beer and asked her to bring them to the other room. He grabbed Steve's pills and some ice packs and extra pillows and headed into the other room.

Steve reached for the beer.

"No Uncle Steve. You have to take your medicine. You and I are having water. The beer is for Daddy." she explained.

"You are right Grace. Thank you." he said.

Danny came in and handed Steve his medicine. Steve gave him the look that he didn't want to take it. He hadn' t used the heavy stuff in a few days and knew it meant that he was going to doze off soon. Danny's look told him it wasn't up for negotiation. Steve took the pills and put them in his shirt pocket. He was in pain, but didn't want to take the pills until Gracie was asleep. Steve looked over at Gracie and said "in a little while, OK?"

Danny took one look at his very tired daughter and knew that it wouldn't be long before she was sound asleep, so he relented. He put the bottle of water to the table near Steve for later.

Grace went to use the bathroom.

Steve laid on the couch and went to take his normal position with his foot on Danny's lap when he realized that was where Grace would sit. Danny put an ice pack on Steve's wrist, on his ribs and on his ankle like he had done so many times right after Steve had hurt himself. He knew that Steve wasn't hurt, just really sore from the overuse and he wanted to help with the swelling that had already started in some of Steve's joints. He pulled a light blanket over Steve so that the ice packs wouldn't be visible to Grace when she came back. He didn't want her to worry too much about Steve. He sat down near the edge of the couch. He gently lifted Steve's foot onto his lap resting it on the knee that was closest to Steve. Steve pulled it back quickly causing a jolt of pain to rush through his leg and make him take a quick breath. Danny looked at him questioningly. "What's wrong. I thought you liked your leg on my lap. You told me that it helped with your pain when I massaged it...What gives McGarrett?"

"I do, it does, but Grace is here. She sits in your lap when you watch movies..." he said.

"Steve, I am only going to say this once. I will always have room in my life for BOTH of you."

With that Grace walked back in. Like her and Danny shared a plan, she hopped up and settled into Danny's lap resting on his other knee and leaning against the couch with her head on his shoulder. They laid like that while they watched the movie. The little girl was asleep shortly. Danny gently woke Steve and got off the sofa being careful not to jar Steve's ankle. He carried Grace upstairs. He tucked her into her new bed. She stirred as he laid her in her new bed and asked if Uncle Steve could tuck her in.

"Uncle Steve is really tired and his ankle is hurting him. I will tuck you in, but I will ask him to come and give you a kiss goodnight when he gets up here, OK?

"OK Danno. I love my new room and I really like staying with Uncle Steve. I wish we could do it all the time." she said.

"We can talk about it another time monkey. Go to sleep."

"Don't forget to tell Uncle Steve about my goodnight kiss Danno."

"I won't sweetheart." he said as he turned and walked toward the door.

She was already drifting off as Danny stood at her door.

He went downstairs to check on his partner. Steve had sat up at the side of the couch. The bottle of water was opened with the cap off and a few sips missing. He had his eyes closed and was rocking gently. He was taking deep breaths trying to calm himself. Danny knew what that meant. He looked at Steve from the doorway.

"I took them." Steve said without even looking at Danny he knew what the other man was thinking.

"Steve, Grace wanted you to come in and kiss her goodnight. Do you think you are up to it babe?" Danny asked although he was pretty sure of the answer.

"Not sure, but if she asked, I'm sure as hell going to try." Steve said with a shaking voice.

The pain was pretty bad and he wouldn't get the full effects of the medicine for a little while. Steve tried to ready himself to move. Danny went over and helped him up. He stayed right by his side the whole way. Half way to the stairs, Steve's good knee buckled and he started to fall. Danny was right there. Danny's strong arms pulled him close and held him until he was steadier. They got to the stairs and Danny grabbed his crutches and put himself under Steve's right arm. He shouldered as much of Steve's weight as he could so that Steve didn't have to do too much work. They made it up the stairs. Steve turned for his bedroom when he remembered Grace.

He made it to her room. He collected himself before he went in. He sat on the edge of her bed. He leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. She woke and looked at him. "Uncle Steve... My room is perfect. Thank you for doing this. I really like being here with you and Danno. I wish I could stay here all the time when I have time with Danno."

"Me too Grace. Me too. And you are welcome. I am glad that you like it." Steve said.

"Good night Uncle Steve."

"Good night Grace."

"Uncle Steve..." she said

"Yes Grace?" Steve asked.

"Uncle Steve. I love you." she said with a big smile.

Steve didn't know what to say. He hard enough time saying those words when in a relationship. What did he do when this beautiful, wonderful little girl who wanted nothing from him said those words to him.

"Is it OK that I said that?" Grace asked nervously when she didn't get an answer.

Steve knew what he had to do. "Yes, Grace, it's definitely OK that you said that...and Grace I love you too. Now it's late though, you need to go to sleep if we are going to paint in the morning." he said through the lump that had taken up residence in his throat.

"OK Uncle Steve. Good night."

"Good night Grace."

He sat there for a minute rubbing her back and waited for her breathing to even out. He was wasted. His legs were jello. Danny knew and was there again without needing to be asked. Danny did not have wet eyes, but had tears flowing down his face. He helped his partner to his feet and they made it back to their bedroom without saying a word. When they got there Steve sat at the edge of the bed and brushed away Danny's tears and then was surprised when Danny did the same to him since he didn't know that he had even shed them.

They laid down in bed gave each other a kiss goodnight and fell asleep in each other's arms.