Author's note: This is it. The last chapter. Thank you for staying with me, thank you for every favorite, follower and PM. And a special thanks to all the people who left a review. I appreciate them very much. Thanks for your support. Hope to see you next time. And again a special thanks to SteveFan81 for leaving a comment for every chapter. You know how to encourage people and what the writers need to keep their spirits up.

Chapter 50

Steve's hope had come true. Both men had a good night, slept long and felt well rested when they finally got up. They took it slow and easy the whole day, recharging their batteries and gathering strength for the new week, when their new schedule was going to start.

It was kind of exhausting for the first two months, driving to the hospital four times a week for occupational therapy, PT and two sessions with Dr. Braddock, because the appointments weren't either on the same day or too far apart to wait for the second one.

On top came the four appointments at home.

Steve's new occupational therapist by the name of George was 52 years old, had been in the navy for twenty years and both men connected at once.

He concentrated on Steve's left hand for the first six weeks, but always took care of his right too in the last few minutes of their appointment.

After that Steve's right hand was back to full use.

The left made progress too. Steve's arm was practically "as good as new" as George had said the day before and the SEAL could also move his fingers pretty well now. They were just lacking the strength of holding things like for example a glass – even if it was empty – and the skill to pick up little things like a cube.

George as well as Aaron were very confident that he would achieve that goal too in six to eight weeks – at least good enough to cancel therapy. The rest of the strength and skills would return "on their own" - through the daily tasks and some exercises Steve could do on his own both therapists had told him.

Steve's new physical therapist was a 31 years old woman with light brown hair.

The first three session she had been "nice", checking out his abilities and attitude. After that she had been hard on him, pushing him to his limits, but was always mindful of not putting him in danger of falling or hurting himself otherwise or to overdo.

Steve's whole body ached for an hour or two after these sessions.

He was exhausted and needed to lay down after the therapy for at least an hour to relax his muscles again, but he saw it as a "positive pain" and was determined to show her that he was willing and able to do what she had set as the next goal.

His stamina, his walking distance and even the walking itself had improved significantly over the last two months.

The monthly check up with Dr. Lexington showed that he was stable and confident enough to be on his own during daytime. The still occurring nightmares were an issue they hadn't under control yet. They weren't as regular anymore, sometimes even gone for almost a week, but there were other times when they hit out of the blue and were as severe and terrifying as in the beginning.

Steve was putting the cream on his front by himself now, but Danny took still care of his back. It was much better now than in the beginning, but Steve still felt uncomfortable when Danny touched the scars. That had nothing to do with Danny of course. Steve wouldn't even want it to do someone else again, but the feeling that took hold of his whole body when he got touched on these scars was just beyond words.

But Steve's back got creamed every evening, so that wasn't a trigger for the nightmares anymore. It seemed like they occurred randomly and Dr. Braddock confirmed it. They tried to work out strategies, but everyone knew that after everything Steve had endured in his life and especially in the hands of the siblings that it would take a long long time for the nightmares to vanish – if ever. But still, both Dr. Braddock and Dr. Lexington thought it would be better if Steve wasn't alone at nights. Even if his "caregivers" were advised to not wake him every time, the two docs considered it as necessary to have someone near the SEAL for the aftermath. And that had been a good advice, because there where times Steve wasn't just tossing and turning and nobody noticed he had a nightmare – except Steve of course - but there where other times when he screamed with pain and out of desperation, when he woke up disoriented and confused or when he couldn't get his breathing under control again and his clothes were soaked with sweat.

Steve always appreciated having Danny by his side when he came out of this, but he felt also guilty, knowing that Danny felt and suffered with him.

He knew Danny would cope with it by talking to Samantha in addition to Dr. Braddock.

She was more or less living in the house as well now, but that wouldn't erase the experience at all for Danny. Steve didn't know what to do. He had - again – tried to convince Danny to go back to his own house, but Danny had refused and after everything his friend had done for him Steve didn't want to kick him out and/or pick up a quarrel with him.

Steve thought that having Samantha here was a good thing – on the one hand – because Danny had someone to talk to after those heavy nightmares and she supported him during the day as well.

On the other hand, he wasn't comfortable having her this close. He didn't know how much she had seen, how much it affected her and how much it affected her to see Danny so troubled and disturbed every time.

But it had been his own idea to let her stay here too. About three weeks after the BBQ Steve had asked Danny "Why don't you let Samantha sleep here? She doesn't need to drive home every other day."

"I…I wasn't sure if you'd approve and I am using your bedroom. I can't guarantee anything if she stays here," Danny answered a little embarrassed but with a twinkle in his eyes.

"She is your girlfriend, right?"

"Yes, she is."

"I think I can live with that. Just be quiet." Steve smiled.

Two weeks ago, they had exchanged the bedrooms, because Steve could walk the stairs now without any problems. He took it easy though, walked slowly and took either the handrail or the wall for support, but that was more because he was overcautious at the moment.

Steve had been released from the hospital four and a half months ago. He had completely healed – physically – except the scars of course. Mentally would still take time and a full recovery would most likely never happen, but he was as good as it was possible for someone who had been through an ordeal like this.

He was free of PT and occupational therapy. Only the psychological therapy remained and he was still doing it together with Danny.

All in all, he felt quite comfortable, but he felt the need to talk to Danny for the last four days now and the urgency to do that increased almost by the minute.

But Danny was out – shopping with Samantha.

He needed to wait, but he wanted to do it today.

When his two "roommates" returned, he opened the door, helped them to bring the groceries in and to stow them away. When they wanted a coffee, he brewed a pot. When they drank it slowly, enjoying it – laughing about a joke they had heard and a funny scene they had witnessed, he laughed with them, but he was just impatiently waiting for the right moment to come, which was about two hours after their return.

"I am going to finish my book, if you don't mind," Samantha said. Both men didn't mind, so she left the kitchen to get it.

Danny looked at Steve and wanted to ask what he had planned when he noticed Steve was looking at him too. It wasn't exactly a stare but it came close. Danny was irritated for a second and when he recovered Steve asked "Can I talk to you?"

The sincerity this question had been asked with made Danny swallow.

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just need to talk to you – if you have time."

"Sure, anytime." Danny answered still a little bewildered.

"Beer?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, sure."

They went down to the Adirondacks, sat down, clinked glasses and drank.

Steve starred at the ocean for a while before he started to talk.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but I am sorry Danny – extremely sorry."

"Steve…"

"Don't please. Just let me talk."

"...Okay."

"I know it is not my fault what had happened, but I am still sorry that you had to go through all of this. I know it had left scars on your soul as well.

But the point is we made it through alive.

And I am not sure if I could have done it without you. You were at the hospital the whole time and I know you only left my side in the first two weeks, because the nurses forced you to. And I am glad they did, because in times like that people don't think rationally. It was important that they took care of you, so that you could take care of yourself.

I am thankful Danny. Thankful and blessed to have you in my life. Someone I can rely on, who always has my back – through thick and thin, who never lied to me or betrayed me, who has been my support through every bad time I've had since we know each other. I know you don't want me to repay anything and I will never be able to do that anyway, but I am…I am just so…so incredible grateful for…for everything Danny. Thank you."

Both men stood up with tears in their eyes and hugged each other tight and long.

"Always, Steve always.

I know I've said this wasn't about repay, but actually there is something you can do."

"Sure. Name it. I'll do it."

"You'll let me drive my car."

Steve looked like Danny had just slapped him in the face. He thought he hadn't heard right.

"What?...I mean sure but..."

"That was a joke. But you should have seen your face. That was repay enough. Thank you."

After Steve had recovered a bit, he smiled at Danny and said "That was a good one. Mean, but good."

"But seriously: There is something you can do."

Steve looked expectandly at his friend.

"You can be my best man at my wedding."

"Wow - seriously?"

"Yeah, seriuosly...I know it is a little early, but after everything that had happened I think we should use the time we have for the good things in life. That is why I want to do this now...You think this is stupid?"

"No, Danny. I am happy for and you should do it. I mean you love her Danny. She loves you. Grace loves her. What else do you need?"

After 25 day of captivity, 82 days in the hospital and four and a half months at home, after hallucinations and agony, after confusion and disorientation, after long and painful physical and psychological therapies and daily struggles to just keep himself going, Steve finally had the feeling that life could go back to normal, that he would be able to keep his sanity and overcome his ordeal one day and he was happy that at least one good thing had come out of it and Danny finally got what he deserved - happiness and love.