Chapter 12:
Danny slammed the door and locked it. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his hand that he used to punch with. Steve had some nerve.
Danny turned and saw Grace standing at the archway. Crap. How much did she see? "Hey! Back so soon?"
Grace crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Who was that?"
"Oh, that was-" Danny turned to look at the door and back to Grace. "No one. It was no one."
"It was Uncle Steve, Danno."
Danny shrugged. "Okay, so, yeah. It was Uncle Steve."
"Uncle Steve is not a no one. Why were you yelling at him?" Grace asked, a hint of upset and heat on her voice.
Danny sighed. "Come here. Let's sit."
Grace followed him to the dining area and sat across from him at the table.
Danny sat down and took Grace's hand. "Grace, babe. 6 months ago, I thought my life ended. When Uncle Steve told me that you were gone. . ." He looked into her eyes. "I didn't know how to go on with life. My life stopped at that moment, sweetheart. For Steve to lie, and say that you were dead and that I would never see you again. . .that's something I can't forgive someone for."
"He never told you I was dead. He made sure to tell you that I was gone. . .which I was, Danno. I was gone. Gone from home, gone from Hawaii. So. . .really, he didn't lie to you."
"But he didn't tell the whole truth either."
"He couldn't, Danno!" Grace yelled. "He had to keep things from you and from me while I was in hiding. He was protecting me! He was protecting you!" Grace's voice was furious. Danny could see the fire in her eyes and the frustration set on her face.
"Grace." Danny spoke firmly to her. "He did a bad thing. He didn't tell me where you were. He didn't tell me you were alright and safe. He led me to believe that you were dead. Friends don't do that."
"Uncle Steve isn't a 'friend' though." Grace said enraged, her flaring eyes burning into his. "He's family." Grace fiercely.
It felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs. Steve had been family. A tiny voice rose in Danny's mind. No, he is family.
Danny swallowed and took a deep breath. "Then families don't do that to each other, Grace. He did something to me, to us, that I will not be able to get past."
Grace shoved his hands away. "You won't be able to get past this?! Think of what this did to Steve!"
Danny shook his head. "Grace, all he did was keep things from me, things that I had a right to know as a parent. As your parent."
Grace gritted her teeth. "Do you not see what he did, Dad?! He saved me. . .he kept harm away from me! That is what you do. . .all the time! Everyday! You've said it yourself before! It's your whole life protecting me!" She paused, glaring at him. "This was hard on him, too, Dad. He had to keep this a secret."
Danny shook his head. "Keeping secrets is not a hard thing, Grace, and I'm done talking about this."
"NO, DAD! You say sorry to Uncle Steve! He did nothing wrong!"
"Grace!" Danny's voice was firm. He sighed and tried to get his emotions in check before speaking.
Grace shook her head, biting her lower lip. She stood up and stormed out of the room.
"Grace. . .Grace!"
All Danny heard was a SLAM as it echoed through the house. Danny sighed again, running his hand through his hair and looking out the window as he sat back in his chair. It still rained and the world looked dreary. Danny folded his arms and thought about Grace's words. Everything that she said. . .made sense.
Danny didn't want to be wrong. He hated being wrong. But he couldn't deny the fact that Grace was right. . .
She was right.
Steve had been there. Even when Danny thought Grace was dead, Steve was there. Cooking, cleaning, comforting. . .even reassuring at times.
Danny stood up and walked about his house, continuing to think.
Had it been hard for Steve? Danny thought to himself.
What did he go through during the 6 months? Let's see. On a completely, unbiased level, Steve had not being able to tell me, his co-worker and friend, about my daughter as I was, basically, on a path to self destruction. That must've been hard. . .to watch me deteriorate when he knew that Grace was alive. Not only did he save Grace, but he saved me. . .if he hadn't been there, constantly watching my back, caring for me, and looking out for me, I know I would've made the biggest mistake of my life. . .especially since Grace wasn't really dead.
Danny's chest clenched and he took in a sharp breath. He placed a hand on the archway to steady himself as realization after realization hit him over and over again. A memory was hurled into his mind, back to that day in the warehouse with Seth, when he had spoke of those who offer protection and those who are always there for you. . .and those people being your true love.
Danny sucked in air as the scene flashed in his mind.
"I know what true love is. True love is. . .it's a lot of things! It's when someone protects you. . .and those you love. It's someone that never forgets you, even when you are going through your most difficult times. . .It's someone who is always there for you."
Danny couldn't breathe as he thought about what he had said.
True love is when someone protects you. . .and those you love.
True love is when someone never forgets you, even in your darkest times.
True love is when someone is always there for you.
Steve had done all of the above. . .and more. He was caring, compassionate, and had done everything Danny could have ask for.
Danny walked through the hall, next to the kitchen and into the family room. Danny looked up at the T.V., surprised that it wasn't making noises. It was buzzing forward through the entire movie on fast forward. The remote was on the ground. Grace must have knocked it over at some point. He went to stop the movie, but it played instead and the noises made Danny looked to the screen.
"Nemo?"
"Daddy!"
"Nemo?"
"Dad!"
"Nemo's alive!"
"Dory? Nemo!"
"Daddy!"
Danny watched the reunion of the fish. It reminded him of his own reunion with Grace. That moment of pure unbelievable bliss as he had held onto Grace. . .just like Marlin and Nemo's reunion.
And just like Dory had been there for Marlin, Steve had been there for me. . .during my darkest hour, he was there. He had been the one to save me from myself. . .without him, I know I would've done it. He was there for me. . .He saved me. And Grace.
Danny felt his eyes start to well up at the movie.
Steve had saved his baby girl, and himself. And I repaid him by slamming my fist in his face? Danny sucked in a breath at all of the understandings.
Steve had saved Grace and had been his saving grace.
How do I fix this?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steve woke up the next morning in his recliner. He opened his eyes a little, wincing as he tried to open his right eye. It was swollen and throbbing.
Ice. . .now. Steve groaned as he heaved himself out of his chair. Throbbing heat spread to his temples, causing an ache in his head. He walked slowly to the kitchen, stumbling slightly and making his way to his freezer. He grabbed an ice bag he made the previous night and brought it to his face. He then walked to a cabinet and pulled out some pain pills, swallowing them down with a glass of water before setting the ice to his face again. Why is this pain amplified so much? Is it possible one could feel more pain if they were emotionally hurt as well?
He walked back to his recliner and sat in it. The bruise throbbed with hurt. Steve swallowed as he turned on his T.V. He couldn't focus on anything the T.V. was saying. All he could think about was Danny and their now desolate relationship.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Danny placed his car in park in front of Rachel's and Stan's home. He watched as Grace unbuckled her seat belt. They hadn't really spoken at all. The angry words from last night hung thickly in the air between them.
"I'll see you later." Grace said stiffly to Danny as she reached for her door.
"Grace." Danny spoke firmly. She stopped. "You were right."
Grace turned to look at her father as he shifted in his seat.
"Look, monkey, I'm sorry I got mad last night. I was angry with Steve and I took it out on you."
Grace stared at him as he continued.
"Also I. . .I was angry with Steve when I don't think I shouldn't have been. I lashed out when I shouldn't have. I didn't see things the way you did. After you went to your room last night, I thought about everything that has happened and what Steve has done for us and you are right. He's family. What he did. . .was done for the both of us. And I guess. . .I owe him a lot. . .for keeping you safe and for keeping me safe."
Grace displayed a soft smile. Anger seemed to dissipate between them.
"He did everything for us. He did exactly what I would have done. Thank you for helping me see that."
Grace fiddled with her bracelet before speaking. "Are you going to talk to Uncle Steve?"
Danny smiled at her. "I probably should, huh?"
Grace nodded. "Yeah, and I'll be calling him tonight to make sure you do."
"Oooo, a deadline." Danny chuckled at his daughter's urging.
Grace laughed. Danny's heart tugged as he watched her smile and tilt her head back in laughter. He had missed that about her over the months of her being away.
"Are we okay?" Danny asked her.
Grace nodded. "Yep. And I'm sorry for yelling last night."
"It's okay. I think I would've yelled too."
Grace smiled at Danny. "Walk me to the door?"
"But, of course, my lady!" He stepped out of his car and quickly jogged to her door, opening it and taking her hand as she stepped out.
"Why, thank you, kind Sir." Grace smiled at her father. She linked their arms and walked next to him. He grabbed her bag and slung it over his shoulder.
They walked to the door and Danny turned to Grace, grabbing her hands. "Grace, monkey, I love you so much. I had a lot of fun together these past couple weeks."
"I had fun, too. I love you, too, Danno."
"We'll talk tonight, okay?"
"After you talk to Uncle Steve, right?"
Danny chuckled. "Yes, after I talk to him."
Grace grinned and hugged her father tightly, enveloping Danny with a wave of love. Danny pulled her in close and tight, enjoying the moment of being close to her and having her near him.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
After saying goodbye to Grace, stopping by the store, and driving to Steve's, Danny sat in his car in Steve's driveway. He tried to think about what he was going to say when Steve would open the door. It was possible Steve would just shut the door on him, like he had done to Steve the night before. He shook the thought from his mind. No, this is good. We'll talk and everything will be fixed. Hopefully.
He got out of his car and walked up to Steve's front door. He had no idea what he was going to say. He felt nervous and anxious. Telling Steve what was going through his head wouldn't be easy, but it needed to happen. He stepped up to the door with more confidence and knocked twice on the door.
It felt like minutes passed when he knocked again, this time 3 times. He could feel his heart pound in his chest.