I ALWAYS COME FOR YOU
Steve was never going to make it. Danny felt a brief and furious grief that they were not going to have a chance for a happy ending. The blonde dropped down beside his partner whose face was blanched of color, his breathing rapid and swallow. Danny was working fast to stem what looked like a gushing artery from his thigh. Steve's eyes opened. They looked blurred. He tried to smile.
"Don't you dare fucking die on me, Steve."
Steve asked faintly. "How come you came for me, Danny?"
The blonde had to work to get the words out. "I always come for you."
"He's asking for you," the nurse in intensive care unit said. "Five minutes. Don't tire him."
Danny rose. "Is he-" The blonde abruptly ran out of air, but the nurse followed him easily enough - it was a question she was familiar with by now.
"He's still critical but… that's one though SEAL."
Danny stepped into the room. Steve lay in a bed that was hooked up to a confusing web of monitors, an IV and oxygen. The blonde leaned over the railing and said softly, "Hey."
Steve's lashes flicked and rose. His pupils were huge with whatever drugs they were pumping into him. "Hey…"
"You okay?" Danny asked anxiously.
Steve's face twisted a little and he bit his lip. "Please don't… make me laugh."
"I just mean…"
"Yeah." Steve's eyes closed again, his mouth formed the word. "Danny…"
"I'm right here," the blonde said, leaning still closer.
"Thanks." It was so soft Danny barely hear it. "For coming. I mean… you know." Steve's eyes opened, starred with emotion. "I love you."
"I love you too," Danny said steadily and he didn't give a damn who else heard it so long as Steve believed it.