Hi everyone,

Here's the next chapter.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 29

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Danny woke the next morning to hear Steve and Grace whispering to each other. Danny let out a groan making them stop talking for a minute to see if he was awake. Danny kept his eyes closed and they started talking again. Dany realised that Grace and Steve were reading a book together. The same book that Danny and Grace were reading together, before Steve's surprise arrival. Danny laid there pretending to be asleep as he listened to the two of them take turns reading.

After a little while of listening to the two of them readying Danny opened his eyes to see Grace sitting beside Steve with the book in her lap. Steve's arms was wrapped around behind her, holding her to his side as he read over her shoulder. Danny smiled as he watched the two of them wishing he had his phone so he could photograph this scene. Steve's eyes shifted to him and a smile inched across his face, indicating he knew Danny was awake and that he had been for a while. Steve reached out and grasped Danny's hand.

"Morning Danny." Steve said without whispering making Grace stop her reading and looked over.

"Morning Danno."

"Morning Monkey, Steve. What's this?"

"Well, since we were waiting for you to wake we thought we would do some reading." Steve said.

"That's nice." Danny said. "Monkey, why don't you see if breakfast is ready. Steve and I will be down shortly."

"Ok."

Grace climbed off the bed and raced out of the room. Steve looked at Danny who was laying down staring at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing."

"Can you be any more prefect with her." Danny said as he sat up. "When you are interacting with her your focus is always on her. You are amazing."

"I don't know about that Danny."

"No, you are. My parents mentioned it yesterday on the way to the car. You are much better with her than Stan is. You actually listen to her."

"Danny, I'm sure Stan cares for her just as much as I do. And I'm sure he listens when he is interacting with her."

"No, Grace says she doesn't feel like Stan listens to her or wants to. Grace has said how she wants to be with us more."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well you know I don't mind how much time she spends at our place."

"So, if I could get shared custody of 50/50 that wouldn't bother you?"

"Danny it wouldn't bother me if you get 50/50 or full custody. Grace is your daughter and you guys are my family, have been for a long time now. Whatever time you have Grace with us is precious and I love whatever time that is."

Danny leaned in and drew Steve in for a kiss. When they pulled away Danny smiled at Steve.

"If you want I'll help with funds for a lawyer so you can fight for more time with Grace." Steve said.

"Thanks babe." Danny said as Steve smiled.

"We should get ready for the day." Steve said before groaning when he slid his legs off the bed.

"Yeah about that. My parents are taking all the grandkids to the movies for the day. So, you and I will be resting for the day."

"We don't have to stay in. We can go do something."

"Babe, I know you and because I know you, I know you will hide the pain that you are feeling."

"I didn't just then."

"Oh, I am sure you are in more pain than you just let on. Especially around others." Danny said with a smile as Steve gave him a sheepish look. "I thought so. So today, you and I will be doing nothing but relaxing."

"Fine."

Steve and Danny spent the next half hour getting dressed and ready for the day once the shower became free. Steve changed all his bandages before they headed downstairs. Grace was sitting at the dining table when they entered. Steve walked over and leaned down giving her a kiss on the forehead, before taking a seat beside her.

"Uncle Steve, nana and pop are taking all of my cousins and I to a movie today."

"I heard, what are you going to see?"

"I don't know."

"Well I'm sure it will be fun."

"What are you and Danno going to do?"

"Not much. Your Danno's making me rest."

"You are still hurt, Uncle Steve. You need rest."

"Don't worry I will."

"I wanted to stay here with you and Danno. But Danno won't let me."

"You know if Danno didn't say for you to go, I would have." Steve said, making Grace gasp. "We are only here for a few more days. You should spend that time with your cousins and grandparents, before we go back to Hawaii. We don't want you to miss out on this time with them."

"Ok."

"Good."

"Uncle Steve?"

"Yes?"

"When we get home are you going to go straight back to work like Danno?"

"What do you mean, Grace?"

"Well you are still hurt. Are you going straight to work? Danno did."

Danny was just coming in from the kitchen when he heard Grace's question and stopped in his tracks.

"What do you mean 'Danno did'?"

"Danno was hurt and went back to work the next day."

Steve looked to Danny who was still staring at Grace. Steve looked back at Grace.

"When was this?"

"Just after…"

"Ok, Grace. Why don't you go get your shoes on? Nana is almost ready to go." Danny said stopping Grace's answer.

"Danno…"

"Now."

Grace pouted and hopped off the chair and went upstairs. Danny moved over and put the plates on the tables and sat beside Steve.

"Danny what is she talking about? You never told me you were hurt. Were you?"

"Steve listen…"

"Were you hurt when I was deployed?"

"Yes."

"Damn it, Danny!"

"Steve, I didn't tell you because it wasn't that bad. I had a couple of stitches that's it."

"Danny when was this?"

"A couple of weeks after you left."

"I spoke to you after that. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you didn't need the distraction."

"Damn it, Danny!"

"Hey! You didn't tell me you were injured so you did the same thing."

"It's not that Danny. I felt like something was wrong. I was distracted anyway. I knew it and when I asked you, you told me everything was fine. How can I trust you to tell me next time?" Steve said with some anger in his voice. "Excuse me." He said as he stood up and grabbed his crutches.

"Steve, wait." Danny said as he stood.

"Danny please, I need some air." Steve said softly and went to the backyard.

Danny sighed softly as his mother and father came into the room having heard the argument.

"Daniel."

"I know, I know. You don't have to say it. Look you guys go out. I'll sort this all out by the time you get back."

"There is more you both aren't saying."

"Ma."

"I'm not going to ask but you both need to talk about it."

"We will."

"You can't have a relationship if it's full of secrets."

"We'll talk. I'll go get Grace so you can go."

Danny left and went upstairs first going into his room and getting Steve's jacket and his own. Danny found Grace sitting on her bed, shoes on but looking upset.

"Monkey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Grace, if my argument with Steve has you concerned please don't worry, it will be fine."

"You're not breaking up, are you?"

"No babe, it's just a disagreement. All will be fine."

"Ok."

"Why don't you go say goodbye to Steve and give him his jacket. Silly SEAL went outside without it."

Grave gave her father a hug and took the jacket and hurried downstairs. Danny stood and turned off the light and headed downstairs to the front door where his parents were waiting.

Grace reached the backdoor and couldn't see Steve anywhere. Grace opened the door and walked outside. She found Steve down the far end of the porch leaning on the railing watching the snow fall. Grace slowly walked over since she didn't want to startle him as he didn't seem to have heard her. Grace stopped a couple of meters from him holding his jacked to her chest.

"Uncle Steve?" She said quietly.

Steve blinked and looked over to his left to see Grace standing there looking at him worried.

"Hey Gracie, what are you doing out here?"

Grace just darted at him and threw her arms around him, carefully so she didn't knock him off balance. Steve was startled at her sudden move and wrapped an arm around her.

"Gracie, what's wrong?" Steve asked and Grace mumbled something not even his advanced hearing can make out. "Come over here. Let's sit."

Grace let go and they both moved over and sat on the chairs. Steve sat facing Grace.

"What's going on?"

"Are you and Danno going to break up?"

"What makes you think that? Our disagreement just before?" Steve asked surprised making Grace nod. "No Gracie, we won't be breaking up. We just haven't really sat down and talk since I got back. Everything will be fine. Go enjoy your day with your grandparents and cousins. Danno and I will both be here when you get back."

"Ok. Oh, Danno asked me to bring you this." Grace said handing Steve his jacket.

"Did he? What did he say?" Steve asked with a smile and Grace paused.

"He said, 'Silly SEAL went outside without it.'" Grace said knowing it would be ok to say it.

"Well he is right your Danno. I am silly to come out here without a jacket. Why don't you go say goodbye to Danno and tell him Silly SEAL says thankyou."

Grace smiled and nodded before giving him a hug. Grace stood from the chair and went to go but noticed Steve wasn't moving. Grace turned to him and crossed her arms making Steve surprised.

"Something wrong?" Steve asked and Grace just looked at the jacket. "Ah ok."

Steve carefully slid one arm in and was just able to get his other arm in today without it hurting and pulling as much. Steve saw Grace nod her head, happy that he had put his jacket on before turning and heading inside. Steve chuckled and shook his head; Grace was so much like her father. Steve leaned back in his chair and looked out over the garden. He hoped what he said to Grace was true; he didn't know how well he would cope if he and Danny split.

Steve heard a few minutes later the car pulling out of the driveway and a few seconds later the door shut and lock. Steve sighed, figuring Danny would come straight out to talk to him but to his surprise he didn't. Steve was glad as it gave him time sort everything out and try to calm down. It was hard being here with Danny's family because they didn't know what he was and why he was so upset with what happened. He also didn't want to tell them as it could put them in danger.

Steve sighed and sat outside staring off into the garden for another hour as he could hear Danny puttering around the house, cleaning dishes and organising food for dinner that needed to defrost. This gave them both time to calm down.

Steve jumped slightly when Danny was suddenly beside him, standing there with a couple of glasses of water. Steve smiled at Danny who handed the water to him. Steve took the glass and then saw his meds also in Danny's hands and took them from him too and nodded his head to Danny to sit beside him as he shoved the meds in his mouth and swallowed them with a mouth full of water.

Danny sat beside him and placed his glass on the table beside him and leaned back and looked out over the garden. Danny watched out the corner of his eye as Steve put his glass on the table beside him as well and turn slightly more towards Danny. Danny looked over at Steve before facing him a little better as well.

"I'm sorry." They both said at the same time making them both blink and chuckle.

"Steve…" "Danny…" They both said again.

"You go." Steve said.

"Steve I am sorry for not telling you. I really am. But I seriously thought it was the right thing at the time and I really wasn't that injured. I had a couple of stitches as it was a little big to leave to heal without. I was discharged within the hour."

"Danny I am sorry too. I should have made you aware that I was finished on the mission and recovering but I also wanted to surprise you as I knew when I would be discharged and what day I would get here. I thought it would be a nice surprise for you."

"Oh, I loved the surprise. I still wish you had told me though."

"I do need to explain to you why I blew up before, but that is a conversation best left for indoors away from any possible prying ears."

"Let's go get warm, shall we?"

Steve scooted closer to the edge of the chair and grabbed the crutches and stood. Danny collected both glasses and followed Steve inside. Danny refilled both glasses and found Steve slowly working his way upstairs with both crutches. Steve felt the need to keep this very much between them. Danny followed Steve into his room where he put a glass on Steve's bedside table and set the other on his before looking to Steve who was now relaxing on the bed, back against the headboard. Danny climbed on and sat facing him but close so he could reach out and touch him if he needed.

"What is it you need to explain, babe?"

"Danny, it's my wolf side. That is the side that showed itself downstairs. That was why I had to go get some air. I needed to calm down or your parents might have gotten a scare. Danny, my senses are more heightened than a humans and so are my emotions, especially when it involves my mate or in our case mate-to-be."

"I see. I'm sorry Steve. Had I known that it would be like this I would have told you the first night you got here. I didn't realise. I can't promise that I would have told you when it happened because I really don't know. But I can promise now that I will next time." Danny said as he reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Danny, I need you to understand that I didn't want to lie to you and say that I wish I had called you the moment I woke in that hospital bed but I knew that you would be on the first flight there. I didn't want to ruin your holiday, especially when you were looking forward to it." Steve said looking at their joined hands.

"Oh babe, I wish you had because while I have enjoyed this break, I would have enjoy spending the time in the hospital with you more. I would have taken Grace straight here to her grandparents and then flown to wherever you were till you were released."

"It would have been a waste of money."

"Oh believe me it wouldn't have been." Danny said and he moved forward and rested his arm over the other side of Steve's hips and leaned up to kiss him. "Definitely not." Danny said as they parted for a moment.

Steve grabbed the back of his head and pulled him closer, kissing him firmly. Danny pulled away and moved around till he was laying beside Steve who moved so he was laying down and then pulled Danny back in. Danny moaned as he allowed Steve to dominate the kiss and run his hand under his shirt. Steve pulled back and looked at Danny.

"Show me where you were hurt?"

Danny sat up and removed his shirt and turned slightly to show Steve the light scar that was left on his side. Danny laid down as Steve ran his hand over the scar feeling the slight firmness of the scar tissue there.

"Babe, it was just a graze. I was fine. As I said before the only reason, I had stitches was because it was just a little big to actually allow it to heal on its own." Danny said making Steve sighed and pulled Danny back in for another kiss.

"You need to be more careful Danny. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I could say the same thing about you, Steve."

"I am sorry about how I acted downstairs. I was trying to keep it all in, so no one saw."

"It's alright. You just got back from overseas and we haven't really had all that much time to talk."

"Since we have the whole house to ourselves for the next few hours, why don't we have that talk now."

"That sounds good to me." Danny said.

"Well why don't you tell me what happened on the island while I was away." Steve suggested.

"Well there was a lot less people shooting at us." Danny said with a smirk.

"Funny. Real funny."

"But really it was quieter than normal. I did also notice a few people following me around every so often. Chin told me it was the pack checking on me."

"Really?" Steve said surprised.

"Yeah. Chin explained that with you away the ones that didn't approve of our relationship in the pack might try to attack me. So some were keeping an eye out when they could."

"Well I am glad for that."

"It was a little unnerving to start with. I am sure there were more watching that I didn't see."

"I can imagine. So, tell me how you actually got hurt."

Danny went into a lengthy tale of the murder investigation that they were involved in, hands and all. Steve laid beside him listening intently to the narrative that Danny told. Now that he was laying down he felt more tired than he did before. The combination of med and long day yesterday catching up on him. Danny was now telling him about all the shit he taught Kono which she used while he was away. He was building up to a rant. Steve chuckled lightly as he was now struggling to stay awake. Danny paused his story/rant and looked at Steve closely to see him looking sleepy.

"Babe, why don't you have a nap. I'll go down and start on lunch and dinner."

"Sounds good but I'll come downstairs and help out."

"How about this. You can come downstairs, but your ass is parked on the couch and there it will stay.

"Alright." Steve said giving up as he knew it wouldn't work.

Danny sat up and pulled his shirt back on and then followed Steve downstairs and made sure Steve sat down on the couch and handed him the remote before going and getting him a glass of water and setting it down beside the couch. Steve found an old Western movie on and had it turned down low.

"I'll come back with lunch shortly."

"Alright. If you need a hand I can help." Steve said trying to get out of doing absolutely nothing.

"No, it's all good babe. You stay there." Danny said making Steve grumble to himself and Danny laughed and walked back into the kitchen.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 29 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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