I do NOT own anything, but the plot.

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As always, thank you and I hope you continue to enjoy what's to come!

Nalo a loaʻa

-loosely translate to "lost and found"-

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

"Are you nervous?"

"No."

That was his first lie of the day, Steve was trembling with nervous energy, practically vibrating with it.

The team were coming by, bringing Grace and Charlie with them. They were having their first family meal since Steve was admitted to the hospital. Earlier that morning, Steve had asked Danny to make the call, get the team gathered with Danny's kids so they could tell them about Cath and the baby. It seemed like a good idea, but now he could feel his blood pressure raising while he waited.

"You are nervous!"

"I am not nervous, Danny!" Steve yelled back and sunk in defeat. What was the point in hiding anything from Danny? "Okay, just a little."

"Talk to me," Danny coerced, his voice gentle.

Steve pondered his words - his thoughts were racing a million miles a minute and he was struggling to calm them enough to rationalise thought.

"What are the team going to say?" Steve dared to ask, offering Danny the same sonogram he'd kept hold off since Catherine had given him it. "I've known about the baby for two days now and not said anything. You've known longer."

"Knowing by like five minutes does not constitute knowing longer, you dope," Danny rebuked, rolling his eyes. "Plus, you had a rough couple of days between drugs, therapy and concussion. The doc said to cut yourself some slack so when are you going to do that, huh?"

"I just felt like I came home with a load of lies, and here I am keeping more."

"This right here…" he said, waving the image in of Steve. "… is different."

"How is it?"

"Because it means we can look to the future," Danny told him, he would sit passionately behind that honesty. "I missed out on these with Charlie, you know?" Danny asked and gave a sad smile. "Rachel took that from me, so I'm really happy Cath isn't going to put you through that."

"Danno," Steve started, memories flooded his tone. "I can't even imagine how hard that was for you and I feel like I never apologised for my hand in that."

Danny's head snapped up, eyes wide, filling with immediate fury.

"Don't you dare!"

Danny knew exactly where Steve's head was going, and he wouldn't have it. Steve was framed for a double murder he hadn't committed. Sure, Steve had gone off all guns blazing and thrown their future into question, but he had reason.

"C'mon, Danny, if I hadn't gone to the governor's house that night, played right into Wo Fat's plan, you would've got on that plane, kissed goodbye to the one place you hate more than hell itself and been happy."

"Would I have been, though?" Danny queried, snorting. "I would have missed out on knowing how important you were to me, how important the team are, too. Would've missed out on Ohana," Danny admitted, giving a small, firm but sad smile. "You can call me sentimental and whatever, but you would have stuck around longer than Rachel would've. You have stuck around longer." Rubbing a hand over his face as he sat back, Danny wasn't about to have this conversation end badly. "Sure, we're good now. We're better than amicable. But we aren't meant to make it in a relationship. Our first round of marriage is testament to that." He then fixed Steve with a pointed look, one judging him thoroughly. "And plus, if I had gotten on that plane for Jersey, who would have gotten you out of prison?"

"Wasn't that bad," Steve downplayed, shrugging but avoiding eye contact.

"Wasn't that bad? One of your archnemeses stuck you like a pig with a screwdriver. Still not sure how you avoided sepsis."

"Luck?" Steve asked, grinning sheepishly.

"Your death wish is surrounded by luck," Danny muttered unhappily. "But cat's only have nine lives."

"Er, I'll take this as a compliment?" Steve asked, squinting at Danny.

"You know how you can make it all up to me?" the blond asked and held the sonogram up. "You're looking at Daniel Junior right here."

"Isn't the junior part only if he's named after the father?" Steve batted back, kinking his eyebrow. "I'm not going to make the kid suffer all of his life when he gets called Danno."

"You're a piece of shit," Danny replied, but he caught sight of the grin Steve was offering him, the one still loose from drugs and just started laughing. "I reckon that kid is going to be swimming miles with you before he's a week old."

The way Steve's eyes lit up, obviously Steve being able to teach his son's all of the things he knew was enough to make him excited.

"I'm kidding! Jesus, Steven! You can't put a new-born in the sea!" Danny exclaimed, resisting the urge to facepalm. "I have so much to teach you."

"I am not that stupid," Steve corrected and rolled his eyes, thankful it didn't stir his nausea. "But I am fucking terrified of being a dad."

"You? Scared? I didn't think that existed."

"Yeah, well it happens from time to time," Steve recognised and tried not to let the fear overtake him. "For what it's worth, I am sorry you gave up an opportunity to go home, Danno," Steve commented, his apology wrapped right with mounting emotions.

"Oh, stop it. I'm not having you put another guilt trip on your shoulders. You're barely able to cope with what you've already given yourself. It was like five years ago. Step down for once, Soldier."

"Sailor," Steve corrected.

"Whatever," Danny scoffed. "Can you get off this guilt train and focus on the day ahead. We have a family meal with the greatest bombshell ever."

Breathing heavily, Steve started to laugh. It wasn't a little chuckle. Steve began to full on belly laugh, only calming when his side clearly flared up with pain and he pushed his hand to his injured side.

"Oh God," Danny started, sitting up a bit. "What the hell's wrong now?"

"I'm gonna be a dad, Danno."

Danny did find that comment amusing, he couldn't deny it.

"Finally starting to allow yourself to believe that, eh, Babe?"

"Yeah," Steve said, trying to sober up. "I think I am."

"All things are looking up!" Danny exclaimed, clapping his hands together excitedly. "And plus, Kim's coming back to get you out of this bed and onto crutches so we can hazard getting you home … you can't wait to tell the team about the baby until you're back home. They'll know Cath isn't smuggling a soccer ball when she appears in your living room."

"You really think it will all go that smoothly?"

"What Catherine bare foot, pregnant and in your kitchen?" Danny joked, sniggering at himself. "It's going to go more than smoothly. Want to know why?" he asked, and Steve nodded silently. "Because that woman loves you with her entire being. There isn't anything that would make her walk away now."

"You seem so sure," Steve doubted, diverting his eye contact.

"We had a talk," he shrugged. "Catherine and I that is…"

"So, I should be grateful she even showed her face again?"

Danny waved him off as if not to worry.

"We said some things. Shared some things, too." His admittance was light, but his seriousness wasn't. "I vetted her. Did my best cop impression."

Steve chuckled at that.

"She's making all the moves to be here in Hawaii for a long, long time, Babe," Danny told his friend. "Also, hopes I love your kid as much you love mine."

A few seconds lapsed as Steve let that though settle and cement, and slowly he felt a wave of ease descend over him at the idea of Danny loving his kid as much as he did Grace and Charlie.

"Man, I really hope so, too," Steve replied, the most honest grin possible growing on his lips. "That would be one hell of a bonus for me."

"What? Why? Because the kid then stands a chance?" Danny asked and laughed at the death glare Steve shot his way. "Okay, dagger eyes, settle down."

"I…" Steve started and abruptly stopped himself. "You don't know how much I appreciate you trusting me with Grace and Charlie, Danny. I'd lay my life on the line for those two … I just really hope I can repay that debt to you with my own kid."

"Uncle Danno, right?" Danny asked, sitting back with his arms open.

"I swear, if Danno's his first word you can take him," Steve disputed "I cannot deal with the idea that he favours you over me."

"Oh, like you mean how my kids favour you over me?" Danny asked, flashing his hands around.

"Should get yourself a beach as a backyard, Buddy, and learn to be a bit more fun."

Steve was surprised he wasn't hit for that comment.