"STEVE!" Danny's voice was full of panic and urgency. "STEVE!"

Steve was vaguely aware of someone calling him, screaming his name. But he was still buoyed by sleep, the medication in his bloodstream making his sleep deeper than usual. He was half conscious. He could hear Danny calling him, but it must be a dream. Why else would Danny be screaming his name in the middle of the night.

"STEVE.. NO!"

He was beginning to get annoyed and that was what finally woke him. He opened his eyes. It was silent, convincing him that it had indeed been his mind playing tricks on him. He looked at the time. It was 3 a.m and Steve was annoyed by the pointless dream that had awaken him. Then suddenly, the silence was quickly shattered by Danny's piercing scream. It was no dream after all. Steve quickly shot up, ignoring the rush of blood to his brain. Something was obviously wrong. He threw his sheets aside and staggered to the room Danny was sleeping in. His heart gripped with worry as he could sense the pain and terror in Danny's voice. After what happened 2 days ago with Danny's breakdown, his worry for his partner had escalated. Danny obviously tried to pretend he was alright. But Steve knew that wasn't the case. Aside from the persistent low-grade fever he was having, Danny was barely eating, barely speaking and judging from his eyes, barely sleeping. If this went on for any longer, he knew it was a matter of time before his friend collapsed and that was something he didn't want to witness.

He knocked on the door once but when there was no response, he pushed it open. "Danny!" He called out, seeing his friend breathing heavily as he writhed in agony in his bed. Beads of perspiration decorated his forehead. "Danny!" He tried to wake Danny up but he was so lost in his nightmare. His partner was murmuring incoherently and there were unmistakeable tear tracks staining his face. It hurt Steve to see his friend struggling. "Buddy, I'm right here. Wake up! Danny!" Steve tried again, nudging his shoulders.

Danny finally gained some awareness as his eyes peeked open. "Steve? Steve!" Danny said, sitting up.

"You with me?" Steve asked, concern colouring his eyes.

Danny panted heavily, bringing up a hand to his head and brushing through his hair which was sleek with sweat. "Yeah..yeah." He said. "Yo..you're okay. You're okay.." He panted heavily.

"I'm alright." Steve assured. "You okay?"

"I.." Danny swallowed. "I thought..." He shook his head to erase the thought. It had felt all too real. He could almost sense the metallic taste of blood. He looked at his hands, relieved to find that it was clean, no trace of blood on it like it had been in the nightmare. "You..you're alright." Danny repeated. "Grace? Is Grace okay?" He asked.

"You had a nightmare, buddy. It was just a nightmare. Everything's fine." Steve said. "I'm sure Grace is alright too. She's coming over tomorrow, remember?"

"Yeah." Danny breathed. "Yeah.." He grimaced as his chest tightened. "D..Did I wake you?" Danny asked.

"It's alright, Danno. Don't worry about it." Steve grasped Danny's shoulder. "Look at me. You sure you okay?" Danny nodded. Steve hesitated for a moment before asking. "You want to talk about it?"

Danny shook his head. No, he did not want to talk about it. He did not want to tell Steve that he had just seen Steve and Grace die. Again. Like all the other nightmares that plagued his mind recently.

"Okay." Steve said.

"You sh..should go back to sleep." Danny said. "I'm okay."

Steve looked at his friend's face. Even dimly illuminated by the night lamp next to his bed, Steve could tell that Danny's skin was pale. "You sure?" Steve asked. "Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm good." Danny said, chiding himself silently. This was ridiculous. After what he had done, he should be the one taking care of Steve, ensuring he was fine. But the past few days had been the direct opposite with Steve constantly fussing over him. He tried his best to assure Steve he was fine but it was hard when his body wasn't cooperating. He felt tired all the time and all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep. Yet sleep still eluded him and the few hours of sleep he managed to get were far from restful. It was like his body was protesting against him.

"Alright then. You go to sleep, too. I'll be right next door." Steve said.

Danny knew it would be next to impossible to fall asleep after that ordeal. He watched Steve leave and the door close behind him before he finally allowed his emotions to run wild. He leaned against the headrest, covering his face with his palms as he tried to muffle the sobs escaping his lips. He couldn't do this any longer. He was too tired and in too much pain. He just wished he knew what to do to lessen his misery because right now, he felt trapped with nowhere to turn to.

...

"Morning, Danno." Steve called from the kitchen as he heard his partner's footsteps down the stairs.

"Morning, Steve." Danny said, accepting the glass of juice that Steve handed him as soon as he entered the kitchen. Coffee was apparently out of bounds until Steve was satisfied with Danny's recovery.

"Managed to get some sleep last night?" Steve asked. It was at least a relief that Danny hadn't awakened to any other nightmares last night. But from the looks of his face, it didn't seem that he managed to get back to sleep after the first one anyway. Steve definitely didn't miss his red-rimmed and puffy eyes either.

"Yeah.." Danny lied. "You? Sorry I woke you up."

"Yeah I did. Don't worry about it. I'm glad I heard you. Wouldn't want you to go through that alone." Steve said.

"Uh.. thanks, buddy."

"You've been having this often?" Steve asked. "Was it about.. about what happened?"

"Yeah. I..I don't really want to talk about it." Danny confessed. "Sorry."

"I get it. But hey, you know when you're ready to talk, I'll be listening." Steve said.

Danny nodded tiredly, resting his arms on the counter.

"Danny.. You look really tired. Should I cancel our plans for today?" Steve asked.

The whole team had planned to come over in the afternoon to inject some sort of normalcy to their lives. It was mainly Steve's idea to bring Danny out of his recent recluse. He hoped that with the team and Grace around, it would at least take the load of Danny's mind and allow him to relax. But looking at his friend right now, he wasn't sure it would help much.

"No.. no.. I'm okay." Danny said, attempting what he hoped appeared as a comforting smile.

"You sure about that?" Steve asked.

Danny nodded. "Umm..Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"I..I.." Danny hesitated. It was time he brought up his resignation to Steve. But each time he tried, he just didn't know how to do it. He was almost sure Steve would force him to change his mind but this was no longer just about him or what he wanted. There was no place for him on the team.

"What is it?"

"No, it's nothing. What time are they coming?."

...

It was noon when the team slowly strolled in to Steve's house, bringing food and a lot of positive banter along with them. Chin and Kono came together while Lou had come with Jerry and Kamekona. Rachel had dropped Grace and after a brief chat to see how Danny was doing, she had left with Charlie. Everyone was scattered around Steve's lanai, talking and laughing amongst themselves. Danny looked distantly at them from where he was standing near the house. He was surrounded by his ohana, yet he had never felt so alone in his life. Everything felt perfect. Too perfect. He knew this moment would be the last he had to cherish with his family. Family. He didn't miss the irony. Five years ago, all he wanted to do was get his daughter off the island so he could leave this pineapple-infested hellhole. Now though, the narrative was way different. He didn't want to leave. He had not only gotten used to the island, but maybe he had grown to love it, but he would die before admitting it to anyone. Especially Steve. As he looked at his ohana from afar, his eyes filled with tears, the pain of losing them was immense. It was almost as painful as when he had to say goodbye to his family in Jersey five years ago. Which is why this time, he wasn't planning on saying goodbye.

His eyes travelled from one face to another, finally resting on Grace who was animatedly saying something to an attentive Steve. His heart swelled with so much love for the two of them and he just hoped that they would always be there for one another, even if he wouldn't be around to see it. He was lost in his thought, not realising when Grace had broken off from the group and walked towards him.

"Danno!" She called when she was a few metres away from him.

He quickly wiped the tears forming in his eyes and looked at his daughter, carving a contrived smile on his lips, hoping she hadn't seen him tearing. "Hey monkey."

"Why are you standing here alone? Are you okay?" She asked, holding her father's arm.

"Why would you ask me that? Of course I'm alright." He said.

Grace pursed her lips, eyeing her dad with a frown.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Danny asked.

"No.. It's just..I noticed.. you've been looking sad." Grace said. "I don't like it."

"I.. I'm not sad, Grace. I'm the happiest and luckiest man alive. And you know why?" Danny said. "Because I've got the most beautiful, most precious monkey in the world right here with me."

Grace wasn't buying it. She may be only 13 but she knew her dad way too well. "You know.. you always told me that I should come to you or mom if I had any problems." Grace said. "You can tell me your problems too.."

Danny let out a small chuckle. "Yeah? But you know, I'm really alright. Thank you for being here."

"Where else would I be? I'm your monkey, right?" Grace said.

"Yeah.." Danny said, fighting the pang in his chest. His daughter was growing up way too fast. "Grace.. I.. you know I love you very much."

Grace nodded. "And I love you too, Danno." She said, hugging him at the waist.

Danny stroked her head. "I want you to know that..whatever I do. It's because of that. Even.. even if I'm not with you, you are always the number 1 most important thing in my life. Remember that."

Grace released him from the hug and looked up in confusion. "Wh..what do you mean?" Grace asked. "Where are you going?"

Danny shook his head and planted a kiss on Grace's forehead. "For now, I think we should head over there." Danny said pointing to Chin and Lou who were busy grilling meat on Steve's lanai. "Before all the food gets eaten up. You're hungry right?"

"Danno.."

"Come on, let's go." Danny said, walking ahead of his daughter. He couldn't tell her he was leaving because if he tried, it would make it all that much harder. He knew he was being cowardly. And he just hoped she would grow up to understand why he was doing what he did. That it was to protect her. To keep her safe.

He somehow managed to distract his daughter enough and they joined the team in their lively banter. He had his fill that afternoon, eating and laughing to his heart's content. Because he had the people he loved with him. For that moment, everything felt like it was in place and he knew this would be enough to last him his lifetime. Still he hoped that the day wouldn't end, because as soon as everyone left, his guilt and misery haunted him like an obsessive ex. And he was now forced to do what he intended to in the first place.

...

Danny retrieved the resignation letter that had been safely tucked in the drawer next to the bed, along with his badge and gun. The gun that had put 2 bullets in his partner. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the image out of his head. Holding on to the badge, he traced the words carved on the golden finish of as memories filled every corner of his head. "Thank you for this, Steve. I'll never forget what you did for Grace. Thank you." His bag was packed, sitting next to him and ready to go with him wherever it was. He got up from the bed and tidied it, leaving his gun and badge on it, placing it on top of the resignation letter. Another letter was addressed to Steve which he placed on the dresser along with the keys to his Camaro. A small parting gift if you will. Steve would probably never forgive him for sneaking out in the middle of the night like a rat. But this was much easier for him to do then to explain everything to everyone. Why he was doing this, no one would understand. They would try to convince him he was wrong, that he shouldn't have to distance himself from everyone. But deep down, he knew that nothing would change his mind. His resolve wouldn't break. This was it. How it would end.

...

A/N: Hi everyone! Again, I would like to start by thanking everyone for all the reviews on the previous chapter. Really appreciate them! So.. I will be honest and say that I took longer to post this because writing this chapter was extremely hard. I was really conflicted about where I'm going. Honestly, the scene that got me to write this story hasn't even appeared yet but this story has taken such a turn that I'm not even sure it would make it in the final version. For now, I am letting my muse dictate where it wants the story to go and I have no idea if you guys would like it or not. I've said this before and I'll say it again, please please please don't hate me for what I'm doing here.. One thing I can assure you is that this isn't how it ends. Please continue reading and I hope to see you in the next chapter.. Do drop a review if you can! Yours truly, a very nervous fanfic writer :/