Happy thanksgiving to all who celebrate it!

Thank you again for the lovely reviews.

This chapter is rated M - after all, Kara and Danny are married...

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Admiral Halsey

Since that night, Danny went back to work with the intention of retiring and negotiating a training role at the Naval Academy - physical stuff of course.

The initial attack on Mayport and subsequent war with Gustavo had cost a lot of lives and talent to the just reviving US military. So he felt the role of training would be crucial and they were unlikely to turn him down.

He had visited Wolf in hospital regularly since their return from South America. Wolf had a long road ahead to recovery. And although he was still his dry Australian self, Danny could tell he was scared he would never fully recover physically. Danny thought maybe a visit from Miller would help Wolf at least mentally.

Wolf was not surprised when Danny told him he was getting out. "It's about time, mate! You're getting too old for this shit."

Danny sniggered. "And you're not?"

Wolf replied seriously, "I'm thinking about it." Then changed the subject. "Don't you owe your missus a honeymoon?"

Danny: "Hmmm..."

Danny spent all his spare time at the house, but he still wasn't living there.

He'd loved to, but didn't want to push Kara since they were only just getting closer.

But then, an opportunity presented itself.

As his missions in the past few years hadn't allowed him to take Admiral Halsey with him, he had loaned him to another team since Halsey was a working dog.

It wasn't easy to let him go at the time. He was a piece of Benzo, and had become family. Kara spoiled the dog and Frankie adored him.

So when Danny heard that he'd been injured in action, he was very worried. He'd used all his connections to get all the intel he could and for Halsey to be on the first flight available back.

But he had a dilemma. Halsey would need to be looked after as he recovers but his apartment is too small and he's spending much of his time at the house...

When he told Kara and Frankie that evening, the little guy had burst into tears. "Will he be okay?" He sniffled.

Danny tried to reassure him, "He is a tough operator. He'll bounce back in no time."

"How bad is he hurt?" Kara got straight to the point after Frankie was out of earshot.

"He got hit by a big piece of shrapnel in the abdomen. It's gonna take him a few months to heal. I don't know if he can go back to active service." He responded.

He was trying to work out logistics in his head about how to care for Halsey when he gets back. "I've got him transpo home and his ETA is 20:00 tomorrow."

"I'll go check on Frankie." He said, not seeing Kara's internal debate.

He found Frankie in his room bustling around. He'd cleared a space in his toy corner and in place of his toys was Halsey's bed from before. "Daddy, Halsey can come home and I'll look after him. He can sleep with me and I'll even share my toys."

Suddenly Danny had a light bulb moment, thinking back to Mike's advice. "How about this, buddy..." and laid out the master plan for him.

A while later, Kara called the boys for dinner. They went to wash their hands before rushing to the dining table. "Have you washed your hands?" Father and son exchanged a grin and extended their palms collectively for Kara to inspect. She played along, inspecting each hand closely. "Hmm... passed." The boys responded with an exaggerated high five.

Kara was loving the more animated Frankie, but found it odd that he'd recovered so quickly from his upset earlier. And throughout dinner he was on his best behaviour, even going so far as eating all his vegetables without prompting or arguing.

Then the reason became clear.

As soon as they finished dinner Danny gave him their secret signal and he said, "Mama, can we have Halsey home since he's hurt? I promise I'll look after him!"

Ignoring the finer details Kara pointed out the most obvious flaw in his plan. "What about when you're at school and when you're sleeping?"

"Daddy will look after him."

Danny piped in. "I will take up the slack of course."

Kara gave the pair a suspicious glare and got two identical pleading puppy-dog looks in return.

"Pwetty please, Mama."

She would not cave quite so easily. "I'll think about it. Now who's going to do the dishes?"

"We will!" They shouted in unison and Frankie let out a happy squeal as Danny picked him up, set him on his shoulders and zoomed into the kitchen with a "Vroom vroom!"

When Frankie was finally tucked into bed Kara found Danny sitting on the porch with a beer.

She picked up the bottle and took a swig.

"Dog got your tongue?" She teased, giving him the 'I see right through your ploy' look.

"What do you say, commander? Are we allowed home?" Giving his signature smile, the one that never fails to reduce her into a puddle at his feet.

"You don't play fair, do you?"

"All is fair in love and war." Repeating the phrase from long ago.

She wasn't about to tell him that she'd already reached the decision before their little scheme. "Halsey can come home, but you're on probation still."

"Yes, ma'am!" He gave her his best salute then eased her closer for a playful kiss, making her giggle.

The sound made was music to his ears. Hungry for more, he put his hands on her waist and proceeded to attack her ticklish spot, causing her to squeal in laughter. "So when can I move back in?" She tried to keep a straight face whilst squirming and laughing. "Well... ahahaha... stop it..." It only served to egg him on.

In between fits of giggles, she breathed, "Alright, alright...!"

He pulled her close, still laughing but she could feel his arousal. "So when is a good time?" He askedly huskily.

She stood on her tip toes and gave him a thorough kiss, wiggling against his hardness. He responded by prying her lips open and swept his tongue into her mouth.

Kara pulled her lips away from him by a nano-meter. "How about now?"

Danny gave her another hard kiss, picked her up princess style and hurried towards 'their' bedroom and tumbled them both into bed, passionately kissing again and again, hands roaming.

She'd pulled his shirt over his head. He quickly returned to her lips, nimble fingers undoing the buttons on her blouse.

Then he let out a sudden groan and pulled away in frustration. "No condoms!" Although he would like nothing more than have another baby with Kara, this was not the right time. And he'll be damned if he got it back to front again this time. Not that he regrets Frankie for a second.

He struggled to resist as she tried to drag him back to her. She chuckled and gave him another smoldering kiss whilst running a hand over the evidence of his arousal. "Well, lucky for you I had the foresight to go back on the birth control after our last... encounter."

She barely finished the sentence when he dived back onto her...

Neither of them got much sleep that night.

Danny didn't waste any time moving back in, gathering the few belongings from the apartment he shared with Carlton.

He knew he'd have to discuss the apartment with the elder Burk brother soon. Something he was dreading, still eaten up with guilt for not saving Carlton.

One thing at a time, Danny-boy. Isn't that what Tex would've said to him? He missed the older man.

It was way past Frankie's bedtime, but he insisted on waiting up for Halsey to get home. By the time Danny finished all the paperwork for Halsey's release it was gone 22:00.

As soon as Danny's car turned into the driveway Frankie was out the front door and standing by the car door, Kara a few steps behind. "Hey Frankie, look who's home?"

"Halsey! You still ouchie? I'll kiss it better like mama!"

"Come on, let's get him inside." Frankie moved out the way without further prompting and Danny carried the Admiral towards the door.

Kara locked the car and held the front door open for them to pass through.

They had decided that Halsey would stay in the master bedroom for now in case he needed care during the night. Danny set Halsey on the doggie bed Frankie had brought in for him.

Halsey let out a little whine of pain, causing both Kara and Danny to stroke and try sooth him.

Frankie appeared out of nowhere with a bowl of water and a huge mound of kibble.

"What else do you need, Halsey? Here, Ben will keep you company." He gently pushed his teddy seal in between the German Shepherd's paws.

Kara and Danny shared a glance, pride shining in their eyes. Their baby boy was so caring and kind. Ben the teddy seal was a gift from Alisha when they first got back from Asia after Frankie arrived prematurely and has not left his side since. Every time Kara or Debbie gave Ben a bath, he would watch every step until he was dry and he could hold him again.

"Buddy, you sure? Mama and I will keep Halsey company."

"It's okay, Daddy. It's just one night." His parents let out a burst of laughter. So Frankie wasn't quite ready to give Ben up just yet.

"Right, young man. Let's get you off to bed. You have school tomorrow." Kara dragged a very reluctant Frankie off, leaving Danny with the dog.

Halsey was a bit restless but obedient as ever, settling down as Danny commands. Danny sat there scratching between Halsey's ears to lull him to sleep.

"It's alright, boy. I've got ya."

When Kara finally settled a rambunctious Frankie in bed, she found Danny with Halsey staring into space. She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and came to sit next to him, leaning into him and reaching a hand to smooth over Halsey's fur. "What's on your mind?"

"Benzo. Did you know that we both trained with Halsey? But this mutt? He preferred Frankie over me. Always listened to him over me." He let out a low chuckle.

"So there's someone in this world immune to your charm?" Teased Kara.

Danny wrapped an arm around her waist and turned to give her his signature grin. "To be fair I only turn that charm on for a certain KFC." Making her think of those early days and giggled at her 'codename' from Tex.

"Unlike KFC my smile wouldn't work on Halsey, and no matter how much bacon I gave him while Frankie was alive could I turn his loyalty." He said with a feign pout.

"I got my own back though. I used to give him beans so he'd stink out Benzo's room." That made Kara roar with laughter which woke up Halsey. She gave the German Shepherd a hug and said, "Halsey, you know who's boss now, right?" The admiral gave a bark in response and sent the two humans doubling over.

It felt good to laugh together. Although the loss and grief never leave them, these moments remind them how lucky they were. What they still had. And it was something Danny vowed never to lose sight of again.

"What are your plans for Halsey tomorrow?" She asked after regaining the ability to talk.

"I'll take him to the vets first thing and probably go to work from there. You've got work tomorrow as well so head to bed. I have to give him his pain meds and check on him through the night." As he spoke, he dragged her up and steered her towards the bed.

Kara wanted him to get some sleep too so negotiated. "How about I relieve you halfway through the night?" He was about to answer in the negative but saw 'the don't argue with me' look and capitulated. "Thank you."