Way 75
Tell her you love her often.
Contrary to what some might believe, Danny Williams actually didn't raise his voice that often.
So when he did, it meant something.
And if you were to be a fly on the wall of the partnership between him and one Steve McGarrett, you might start to see patterns in the volume and tone of Danny's voice, which more often than not, spoke to Danny's state of mind than his words themselves.
Fear.
Fear was one reason Danny raised his voice.
Like the first time he saw Steve do something a little more…severe…with regards to a suspect, in that he hung the guy off the side of a roof. Danny was afraid – of Steve, a little, maybe, but moreso that Steve would actually kill the guy. Not on purpose, maybe, but still.
Or like the first time Danny had seen Steve since he'd gotten stabbed and escaped from custody. Danny was way loud, and really didn't need Max to point that out to everyone, but it was because he'd been scared shitless about Steve, Steve's health, Steve's status as a fugitive from the law. Just Steve.
Frustration.
Frustration was another reason Danny raised his voice.
After all, how many times did he have to tell Steve they needed to wait for backup? Which would be the last time, that would result in one of them not coming home that night?
Or how many times did he have to remind Steve that they had to follow procedure if they wanted charges to stick? If they actually wanted the bad guys to stay off the streets once Five-0 caught them? It was hell to do as much work as they did, only to see a murderer, a drug dealer, a rapist, an arms dealer, a money launderer, a smuggler, a kidnapper…walk free.
Love.
Love was probably the biggest reason Danny raised his voice.
Sometimes he yelled at Steve because he was afraid. For Steve, or for himself, given whatever Steve's antics were at the time.
Sometimes he yelled at Steve because he was thoroughly frustrated with his partner's unwillingness to take it down a couple notches and just wait, even a few minutes.
But sometimes Danny yelled at Steve because while he did have the whole of Five-0 as his ohana, it wasn't any secret that Steve McGarrett was the primary reason Danny no longer felt alone in Hawaii. That Steve McGarrett was the primary reason Danny was trying in his own bass ackwards way to fit in a little better with the island's people, though there were terrible hiccups to that process along the way, à la the heiau.
That Steve McGarrett was the primary reason Danny had been able to move, however tentatively, past the awful fuckup with Rachel. To the point where he was actually dating again, and allowing himself to try and be open to someone other than the ex-wife he never really had quite gotten over.
Steve was Steve. He'd always be Steve, no matter how much Danny ranted and raved at him for this, that or the other thing. But that was the whole point, really. If Steve hadn't been the way he was, both on his own and in the push-you/pull-me thing he had going on with Danny, the Jersey transplant may never have survived this new life of his in Hawaii.
Sure, he would've been living and breathing, but emotionally, there would only have been Grace. And truly, no man can survive on only a few hours a week of love.
So the next time you hear Danny raise his voice at Steve a little louder than is strictly necessary, consider that he may simply be afraid. He may simply be frustrated. But it may just be the way he expresses affection to a former Navy SEAL who became an anchor all his own, in the topsy-turvy ocean of Danny's life.
Way 76
Remember anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think maybe your Lieutenant was on her way over. Should I go?"
"No. Cat's still in the Baltic."
"Oh. So…the table set for two, the bottle of wine, the heavenly smells from the kitchen…you have someone coming over?"
"Sure do."
"Are you going to tell me who?"
"You already know who."
"I do."
"Yep."
"Why are you being so cryptic?"
"Danny, what's today?"
"Thursday."
"Date."
"Uh…twentieth of September. So what?"
"So what? You don't know the significance of that date?"
"It's less than a month after our birthdays?"
"Danny…"
"What? September twentieth, huh? I'm…really at a loss here, partner. What's with that smile?"
"It's the day we met two years ago."
"Oh. Really? You can't remember to read a suspect his Miranda rights before you start kicking the shit out of him, but you remember the day we met?"
"Some things you never forget. Come on. Dinner is served."
"Wow. Just…thanks, man."
"Happy Anniversary, Danny."