Well dear readers…I decided I wouldn't make you wait. You can thank praemonitus praemunitos for this timely update.
"Steven!" Doris was at his side in seconds, shaking her son. His head lolled to his chest. "Steven, look at me!"
He opened his eyes slightly but did not lift his head.
"What did you do to him?" Doris practically spat the words at Danny.
"Me?" Danny shouted, very close to the end of his rope. "What did I do to him? Seriously? You…"
Danny stopped mid-sentence as Steve grabbed his mother's arm, his grip strong. She let out just the top note of a scream, more like a screech. Steve raised his head and growled, words garbled. "Leave me alone."
"What, honey?" She leaned in close. A tactical error on her part.
He lashed forward, head-butting her. As she let go of his arm and fell back just a bit, he kicked at her legs. Doris lost her balance and tumbled backwards, hitting her back on the coffee table and falling on her ass.
"Steve!" Danny shrugged off Chin and Lou who were still acting as sentries. They were bewildered by this turn of events, frozen in place.
Danny's voice made Steve change focus. Now his steely glare was aimed his partner's direction. "You should be in bed, Danny."
"Hey, I'll go to bed, buddy. Just need to-"
"Just need to what, Danny?"
The way Steve said his name made Danny's skin crawl. He knew he needed to be careful with his response. If he made one at all. Because Steve was now getting to his feet, eyes roaming the room.
Lou stood at the front door and Chin blocked the doorway to the kitchen. Max cowered against the far wall, watching the whole situation with wide, frightened eyes. Doris still sat where she'd fallen, shaking the cobwebs from her head.
"What is this?" Steve was clearly disoriented. "Why are you all staring at me? I'm fine."
Danny tried in vain to stifle his snort. No one dared tell Steve he was nowhere near fine.
He straightened his T-shirt, smoothed his pants and ran a hand through his hair. "See, I'm fine."
Doris scrambled to the couch, watching her son. Concern etched her face. Danny felt the briefest, slightest pang of compassion for her. She was to blame for this. All of it. Now her son was paying the price – and she knew it.
"Come on, babe. Why don't we go upstairs together?"
Steve furrowed his brow, tongue flicking over his lips. "Upstairs, Danny?"
Danny was really beginning to hate his name.
"Really? You wanna go upstairs?"
Steve advanced on his best friend. Danny took a step back and ran into the wall, the crooked picture digging into his shoulder.
"Let me help you with that, Danno. I bet I can throw you over my shoulder."
Danny, cringing at Steve's tone, barely had time to react as Steve grabbed his arm and yanked. Not thinking, Danny pulled away, throwing a hand up to push Steve. Big mistake. Taking the move as a threat, Steve blocked the arm with his forearm and swung his other fist, striking his friend.
Danny's head snapped back, cracking the glass in the picture frame. He slid to the floor, stunned.
Steve froze. He shook out his hand, flexing and unflexing his fingers. Danny scooted away from him, out of breath, blood beading at the corner of his mouth, his eyes half mast, clearly dazed.
The rest of the team sprang into action. Chin grabbed one side of Steve and Lou the other. Steve violently shook them off, backing away. Hand in his hair, he stumbled to the nearest chair.
/././
"Just everybody stop for a second." Danny was slowly getting to his feet.
Approaching like he would a wild, injured animal – no sudden movements, hands outstretched in an open gesture, he knelt down by the chair, close to Steve, as everyone else backed up. Afraid to touch him. Danny could feel a fat lip coming on, tasted blood.
"Steve? Babe, hey?" Danny kept his voice low.
Steve shifted but stayed where he'd sunk into the chair. Didn't speak, just kept flexing and unflexing his fist.
"I bet that hurt." Danny touched his own face. Steve sighed, shivered the beginning of a sob that tore Danny's heart open. "Hey, hey. I'm okay. And I deserved it. I went too far. I asked for it."
Steve sprang up, pushing Danny out of his way, mumbling. "No, no no…"
Danny launched himself toward his best friend. Mind lost. Inhibitions gone. Caution – hell, what was that?
"Steve!" He yelled, grabbing the back of his friend's shirt.
And Steve froze, muscles hardened under Danny's touch. Danny felt a frightening ripple, a change. Then Steve spoke. "Danny."
Danny didn't know what to do. Words didn't exist. He was a caveman, an animal. Truly a Neanderthal at that moment. Sweat, pheromones, movement, subtle cues – these were the things that mattered, all he had. Interpreting your opponent's reaction could equal life or death.
He didn't let go – held firm to the cool fabric.
Until he felt a terrifying wave of exhaustion, grief, anger and fear come through the connection he held with his partner. A sickening jolt of electricity that almost made him barf up his cold soup.
"Steve, hey." Danny dropped his hand, hoping the softness of his voice would reach his friend. "Babe."
Steve turned. Everyone sucked in an audible breath, all of them ready to scramble to Danny's aid if necessary. Steve's hands flexed again – a quiver, then a jerk. His body poised to strike. Fierce. Deadly. His eyes were dark and unreadable. And that look made Danny stagger a little, right into Steve. And Steve caught him, wrapping him in long arms.
"Danny." He whispered into his best friend's wild hair. "I'm so sorry."
"Let's go upstairs, babe. Okay? We both could use some sleep. Huh?" Danny pleaded into Steve's chest. Words muffled but understood by everyone in the room.
Steve nodded. "Okay. You're right."
With that, everyone swooped in but kept a conservative distance. Lou and Chin made sure their friends remained upright, ultimately playing spotters to Danny as he led Steve up the steps.
Max grabbed Doris by the arm. "Stay here. They'll be fine now."
Her frown was met with a kind smile, though a very naïve one. Aware, yet unprepared for the monster before him, Max only wanted to give the guys a chance to decompress. A mother wasn't needed there. Espeecially not her kind.
Doris turned to her new friend. "Why don't I make us some tea? We can chat for a bit."
Gee…should we be worried about poor Max? ;-)