A/N I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any of the characters.

A/N Anybody else wonder why, with all the thousands of names available, H50 keeps using the name Billy? Meka's son is Billy. Danny's best friend who drowned in front of him was Billy. Catherine's ex-boyfriend who she then worked for before he was killed was named Billy. Seriously? A total lack of creativity or something.

H50 H50 H50

After his emotional meltdown outside the medical office, Danny had no choice but to pull himself together and move on. Pull himself up by the bootstraps as his father would say. It was either that or plunge inexorably into that pit of despair he had momentarily found himself in that day. An anxious man by nature, he had to battle his way out of that crater to regain the optimism he had held onto so fiercely since he was so brutally stabbed.

He knew by now who he could lean on for the emotional strength he needed. While there were many people who loved him and cared for him, not all were able to provide the support he truly needed in this prolonged battle. There was the team, of course, his ohana, especially Chin and, even more so, Steve. There was his father and an old friend from Newark, available for limited hours by phone call thousands of miles away, and now there was Mindy. God bless her. She was a balm for Danny's soul and he had no idea how he had gotten so lucky to find her as a friend, but in the midst of this entire trauma, their budding friendship was blossoming.

He was now standing in the backyard of his deceased former partner Meka's home. Meka's widow, Amy, had invited Danny and the kids over for an evening dinner, transportation included since Danny wasn't allowed to drive. Danny had protested that it was too much but she insisted that it was not only not a problem it was actually a joy for her to do this.

They had stayed in touch over the years since Meka's death and Grace and young Billy enjoyed each other's company. Danny had been there for her through everything and Amy appreciated his continued and loyal friendship. Meka had many friends, most he had known much longer than the short time he had known Danny but Danny had been the most steadfast by Amy's side since his murder. When Lou reached out to Amy about helping out with healthy meals when Danny had the kids she jumped at the chance, even more so because this was the first time that Amy and Billy would meet Charlie.

After they spoke a short while, Amy went inside to get them some cold drinks and Grace sat in an old tree house talking with Meka's son Billy.

Charlie had been a bit shy at first but when it was only him and his Danno he relaxed. Holding a tennis ball in one hand he tugged on his father's left hand with his other. "Play catch with me, please Danno," he begged.

"Okay Tiger." Though fatigued, Danny couldn't deny him so he hauled himself out of the chair and onto the grass.

Playing catch with a four year old is always an adventure but Charlie was every bit Danny's son and his inherited baseball skills were already showing. The boy had a good arm and Danny had already begun to teach him the basics of throwing but the boy was young and had no idea of his own strength or that his Danno's injury would affect his ability to catch.

When yet another throw sailed out of Danny's reach, Danny again instinctively reached for it. He gasped and drew his hand back as the ball sailed past him. Taking a moment to collect himself and hold the shoulder closest to his aching back wound, Danny was relieved when Grace and Billy came and began playing with the active preschooler.

Danny settled back into the chair with a groan just as Amy returned from the house with the drinks.

"You know you're supposed to be taking it easy," Amy scolded with a smile. She had watched the action from the kitchen window.

"Of course I know, but I lost three years with him, I don't want to lose more. The kids came to my rescue, though." He smiled as he looked at the three of them playing and laughing.

"You look exhausted Danny. You need to rest." Amy made her point again.

"All I do is rest," Danny sighed defensively. So much had happened in Danny's life in the past month and he had tried to deal with it, tried to cope, tried not to let it get him down, but the bottom line was that Danny was tired and there was nothing he could do about it. The infection and meds made him tired, but the pain and anxiety kept him awake, wearing him down further. Even home all day with nothing to do but rest, sleep was elusive, leaving him physically and emotionally drained. He turned the attention away from his health. "So, how are you doing?"

Amy smiled. "We're doing well. Thinking about high school now."

They spoke cordially for a while about the kids and their futures before Amy asked, "So, how is Melissa?"

Danny sighed and adjusted his arm in the sling, trying to alleviate some of the pain in his back. "It's complicated."

"I guess that means mind my own business," Amy replied.

"No, not at all," Danny countered. He paused a moment and then spoke again. "Do you mind if I ask you a question? If it's out of line or too much…"

"Ask," Amy said.

Danny glanced at the kids, happy that Grace and Billy were taking care of Charlie and allowing him some time with Amy. "How did you do it? How did you get through each day never knowing if that phone call would come?"

"This is about Melissa?" Amy asked in reply. Danny had asked a difficult and personal question and she knew he wouldn't ask it without good reason.

"Yeah. She uh, she's having a hard time dealing with everything. She was married once; he put her in the hospital a couple times."

Amy nodded. "The man who stabbed you. I remember."

"Yeah, well, she kind of came unglued while I was in the hospital this time. Says she can't live like that – terrified every time the phone rings."

"Sounds like she really cares about you."

Danny blew out a heavy sigh. "She hasn't even been over to see me."

"Not at all?"

"Not since I left the hospital. Lots of texts, a bunch of phone calls, but I haven't seen her. I'm so worried about her. I don't know how to help."

"Seems to me that she needs more help than you can provide."

"I've told her that. She doesn't want to hear it. But the thing is, her problems aside, how do you do it? Rachel couldn't handle it, Melissa can't handle it." He sighed again. "Maybe it's me."

"It's not you," Amy said gently, placing a hand tenderly on Danny's. "I found it helped a lot to become friends with other police wives. They understood. They still help me get through the day sometimes," she added with a sniff. Pulling her hand back, she wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you." He was, after all, asking a woman who had received 'that phone call' how you deal with waiting for 'that phone call'.

"No, it's alright. Really. I hope I can help."

Danny nodded in appreciation. "Rachel never made friends with other wives or girlfriends. Melissa, well, she doesn't even know any except Steve's girlfriend. Maybe I should have tried to bring her around more or something."

"Danny, stop doubting yourself," Amy admonished. "I never wanted Meka to worry about me worrying. I didn't want him to have that kind of distraction. If he went into a dangerous situation worried about me at home, his mind wouldn't be on his job the way it should be. So I made a point of never fretting over his job, over him leaving in the middle of the night or messing up a vacation or anything. He didn't need that pressure."

Danny nodded. He knew the kind of pressure she was talking about. Rachel had laid it on him all the time and it definitely was an unwanted distraction.

"Did you ever talk to Rachel or Melissa about your bad days?" Amy asked.

"Some, yeah."

"And?" Amy prompted when Danny didn't continue.

"And, neither one liked to talk about it so I wouldn't do it anymore."

Amy gave a confused grimace. "I tried to be Meka's safe place when he came home troubled. I didn't want him bottling up his emotions."

Danny shook his head. "I talk to Steve and Chin." Matty had always been there for him, too, but that was years ago.

"That's good. Everybody needs a friend to talk to. But, from my experience, and from what my friends say, a cop's wife has to be able to listen too so they can feel like they understand you. They need to appreciate that the job takes a toll on you rather than thinking that all the bad stuff you see never bothers you at all."

Danny's thoughts suddenly turned unbidden to Mindy. She would listen. She would understand. He shook his head. "There's a lot I can't even talk about. So much of what we do can't be discussed."

"You asked me," Amy pointed out. "I'm just telling you. Meka never shared details but he'd share his feelings. Tell me, if you had a bad day, something that really bothered you, what would you do?"

"Nothing. Man up and deal with it."

"If you spoke with Melissa about a bad day what would she do?"

"Tell me to quit. Tell me I was smart and capable and could do so many other things." In it's own way it seemed supportive of him, yet it wasn't. He was a cop and he was good at it and it's what he wanted to do.

"And…?"

"And I'd tell her I didn't want to do anything else. I was a cop and it was just a bad day."

"End of subject?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, so talking didn't work. Ever ask Rachel or Melissa for a hug, just so you could relish in the comfort of it?"

"No. They'd know something was wrong and get worried. Like I said, they always worry. They'd go about it differently. I mean, Melissa didn't complain about it the way Rachel did, but…" He stopped, not sure how to continue.

"But, now she won't see you, but texts you all the time." Amy prompted.

"Exactly."

"I'll say it again, it sounds like she needs help getting through this."

"Preaching to the choir, Amy. I wish I could convince her of that. She says she's fine, just needs some space."

Amy shook her head sadly. Melissa was using him. He was there for her, giving her everything he could, that's the way Danny was, but she wasn't there for him. She didn't understand how women like Rachel and Melissa could say they love a man and then be so unsupportive.

"Danno!" they heard Charlie cry out, interrupting the conversation.

Danny rose as quickly as he could from his seat and went to his teary eyed son who was sprawled on the ground. "Hey Tiger, let me see," Danny said as he squatted painfully next to him. Charlie had a small scrape on his knee but was apparently mostly upset from the shock of falling. "Oh my, better check you out. Say aah."

"Aah." Charlie sniffed.

"Say ooh."

"Ooh." A small smile crossed Charlie's lips.

"Say eeh."

"Eeh," Charlie laughed.

"All better?"

"Yep." Charlie nodded, smiling. "I'm thirsty."

"Let's go get you a drink then," Danny said. He was grateful that while Grace picked Charlie up and set him on his feet, Billy reached out a hand to Danny to help him move upright from his squatting position. Meka's little boy was growing into a fine young man.

When they moved to the table, Charlie promptly climbed onto Danny's lap and picked up his drink. Grace and Billy returned to the tree house.

"That was amazing, Dr. Danny," Amy said with a soft laugh.

Danny was still slightly distracted by Charlie in his lap. "I'll leave the doctoring to Mindy."

"Mindy?"

Had he really said that? Danny smiled anyway. He couldn't help himself. "She's a coroner. Works with us when Max is otherwise occupied."

"Most people don't smile like that over a sometimes co-worker," Amy teased. "This have something to do with Melissa?"

"What? No. Mindy's just a friend. She's been there for me through this whole mess. Someone to talk to who's not a Neanderthal."

Amy smiled. It looked to her like Danny really meant that, but she had a feeling Danny was also in denial about her. She wouldn't push him. "I wish I had more answers for you, Danny. You're a good guy. Meka always said so, but he also said you tended to bring your work home with you. This is a tough job for a sensitive man." As if to prove her right, Amy watched Danny kiss the head of his newly discovered son. The boy was obviously already as loved as Grace. "You two have bonded quickly."

Danny looked over his son's head to Amy and smiled broadly. "I love my boy, don't I Tiger?"

"Love you more, Danno," was Charlie's sweet reply as he snuggled into the crook of Danny's one working arm.

Amy grinned at the sight. Danny's heart was big enough for many people. "You take everybody's worries on your shoulders, Danny. You deserve somebody who will help you bear yours."