Here's another chapter. Thanks to everyone for reading.

The room was lit by a small light at the side of the bed which was turned down too low to read. Danny had given up staring at the ceiling and watched his partner instead. Steve had drifted into sleep about fifteen minutes ago. Danny hated to wake him, but he needed some company.

"Hey. Steve. Turn the TV on, please."

Steve rubbed his eyes and squinted at Danny. He must have dozed off. Shit. "It's the middle of the night, buddy."

Danny ruffled his covers, and with a shrug, replied. "I can't sleep."

Steve shook off his exhaustion, switching gears. Looking for the remote, he amused himself by verbally poking his friend. "You can't hear the ocean here. You should be fine. Sleep like a baby."

"Gee, that never gets old." Danny rolled his eyes. "It's not that."

"Then what?"

"Nothing. Not tired."

"Come on. Gotta be more to it."

Danny pushed himself up a little, punching the pillow. "Seriously? Do you even know me? Insomnia is my thing. And this damn bed sucks."

"This isn't that. And stop moving around so much. Let me help." Steve moved in and changed the level on the bed. "There, how's that?"

"Good, thank you. And I wouldn't call this moving around too much. More like flailing and wiggling." Danny sighed. "I can't believe I'm paralyzed because of my mother-in-law."

"Don't say that. You're not paralyzed and she's your ex mother-in-law." Steve spied the remote stuffed half under the cushion of his chair. He switched on the television.

"It's true. I can't move my legs. Weirdest thing." Danny peered under the covers at his frustrating limbs. "And like it or not, Amanda will always be my mother-in-law. At least in spirit. Divorce means nothing to her."

"She's a pain in the ass no matter what you call her." Steve frowned. "The swelling will go down. Right now, I bet you're not feeling much of anything anyway, partner. They've got you drugged to the gills."

"We both know how this goes, Steve."

"No we don't. Look on the bright side."

Danny groaned. "It's not looking at all bright."

"Why do you always jump to the worst case scenario? I saw your leg move. I wouldn't lie about that."

"You aren't funny."

"I'm serious. You twitched. Stop moping." Steve whacked Danny lightly with a magazine.

"Ow, the abuse I take."

"You love it, and you know it."

"Glad you're here, partner. Now can we just shut up?"

Danny turned back to the TV, hitting mute, but still watching the screen. Steve stole a few sideways glances before pushing his luck. He was only pretending to read about the latest in scuba gear. He knew exactly how to make his best friend stop sulking.

"You and Rachel -"

The bed creaked as Danny looked at Steve again. His expression said he'd been waiting for this conversation. He was ready for a fight. "You know, you don't have to make it so obvious."

"Make what so obvious?" Steve couldn't play dumb since he started the conversation but he almost backed down.

"How you feel -" Danny waved his hand "- about me and Rachel."

"You and Rachel?" Steve lowered his magazine. "Didn't know there was a you and Rachel."

"There isn't. Wait - why did you bring it up?"

"So, what are you talking about? What is it that I feel? Since you're the expert on emotions."

"I cannot do this." Danny rubbed his eyes and massaged his temples.

Suddenly emboldened, Steve cut to the quick. "Then let's end this. Is there a you and Rachel?"

"There could be." Danny shrugged and smiled, whole face going soft.

"Seriously?"

"Amanda asked me to do right by her."

"So she thinks -" Steve wrinkled his nose, pausing to control himself.

Danny finished the sentence Steve couldn't. "- that something's going on, yea."

"Isn't it?" Steve practically spat the words.

"No." Danny's response was flat, surprising Steve. "I just said there could be, so that means there isn't, alright?"

"Really? You've been spending a lot of time together. You just said there could be."

"We have 2 kids."

They didn't say anything for a commercial and a half. And they were the long, infomercial type.

Steve finished what he'd been thinking. "The kids are why you shouldn't be with her."

"What? Why?"

"Charlie."

Hurt flashed in Danny's eyes. Charlie still wasn't an easy subject. Deep, deep down that wound never really healed. "Don't use my son against me like that."

"I'm not using him." What Steve really meant to say was - I'm sorry, buddy.

They came to a stand off again. Danny was the first to swerve with a slight change of the subject.

"Ever since Grace's accident. Things have been different."

Steve gave him a nod, just a flutter.

"It feels like it used to -" Danny sank back against his pillows, mind lost in the past. "When things were good."

"But -"

"But -" Danny shook his head to clear the clouds. "There's so much water under the bridge between me and Rachel. Name a cliche. My picture is there."

"You aren't getting back together?"

"No. I mean, I don't think so."

"Then -" Steve leaned closer.

Danny moved away. "What? Stop eyeing me like a bug."

"Why are you seeing her so much?"

"I don't know. Comfort maybe?"

"Comfort?"

"She knows me. It's easy and...it's nice to have someone." Danny seemed surprised by his admission. He'd never tell anyone he was lonely.

"I know you, Danny." Steve blushed at the slip.

Danny gave him a lopsided grin. "Yea, you do, babe."

The two men stared at one another. They'd hit a familiar roadblock - their unspoken feelings for one another.

"Why is that television on?" The night nurse breezed into the room. He took the remote control from Danny. "You should be resting. The last thing your brain needs is over stimulation. Consider this a concussion check. I'll be back in an hour."

The young man waved at them before pointing at Steve. "And I better not see you here when I come back."

"I'm his protection." Steve straightened, his tone fierce.

The nurse laughed. "Protection? I think I've heard it all now."

"Someone tried to kill him today."

Danny came to Steve's defense. "It's been all over the news."

"I sleep all day, guys. I never know what's going on."

Steve stood up, forming a wall at Danny's side. "Well, he needs protecting, and I'm not leaving."

With an eye roll worthy of Grace, the nurse sighed. "Fine, you both should get some rest. It's late. Don't make me come back here."

"Yes, dad." Danny and Steve said at once.

"Really guys?"

They mumbled their apologies as the nurse left the room in an exaggerated huff.

Danny watched, waiting for his moment while Steve settled in, sipping his drink and munching on his protein bar.

"Alright, Steven, stop stalling. Tell me about the case."

"Stalling?" Steve reclined his chair, making himself comfortable.

"Come on. I know you got me riled up about Rachel on purpose. What aren't you telling me?"

Jaw tense, Steve snagged the remote and switched the TV channel.

"Watching those boring old soaps isn't gonna get you outta this."

"You need to rest."

"Details, Steven. Do we have any leads?"

"We?"

"Don't start. Answer the question."

Deflating, Steve stretched. "Junior and HPD are sitting on the car rental place."

"Why haven't they - wait, let me guess - someone important owns it?"

Steve nodded.

"I know that look. Aneurysm Face and Constipated Face wrapped in one. How close is the governor to this person?"

"Cousin."

Danny giggled. "You are ridiculously calm about this."

"The team's on this, Danny, and I'm here with you." Steve grinned. "And Amanda has Pua for company."

"Poor kid."

"Lou says he almost put her in cuffs."

"Jeez, really? Wish I'd thought of that." Danny shook his head. "Wait! I did."

Steve tried to keep a straight face.

Big smile, Danny reached for his friend. "See. You finally know what I mean about her. And I was right!"

Isn't Danny always right though?