The sneeze snuck up on both of them and it was a spectacular one. "Ah, jeez, way to go SuperSEAL! Now I have your germs all over me in addition to being stuck in this damned elevator with you."

Steve rolled his eyes at his best friend, even though the dead elevator was pitch black. "Don't worry, Danny, I'm not gonna give you some sort of Barfalonous Bug or something. We're both strong, reasonably healthy individuals. We're fine.

"Are you nuts? We are so far from fine it's not even funny! In fact, we…" And Danny was off and running his mouth.

Cue another rant, and it was a beaut! Steve grinned to himself as Danny began yelling all over again. So far, his plan was working. As long as he could keep Danny mad and yelling at him, Steve hoped to keep the crippling claustrophobia that haunted his partner at least somewhat under control until either they got the elevator fixed, or he could figure out a way to convince Danny to follow him up and out into the pitch-black elevator shaft… not too likely, unless it became a genuine emergency situation.

Steve would never tell anyone this, but he kind of enjoyed Danny's rants and the arguments they inevitably led to. He loved the volatile New Jersey native's feisty nature and depended on Danny's ferocious yet cautious nature to balance his own impulsive one. They really did make an excellent team. His thoughts had wandered to the point that he had missed most of the current rant that was now reaching the wind-down point. This wasn't good, because he hadn't included Steve in any of it… no argument at all. Steve dragged his attention back to his partner, whom he could hear was now breathing hard, and was obviously trying to pull himself together.

"Hey, D, you doin' okay?" His voice was softer, gentle.

There was a long pause, and then finally an answer. "Yeah, 'm'okay. Just hate this. Where's the damned repair guy?"

Steve heard the shake in Danny's voice and knew he needed to do something quickly as Danny's claustrophobia was getting the better of him.

"Hey, let's play a game, D."

"A game? What kind of game do you have in mind. Steven? I ain't playin' spin the bottle with you, babe."

Steve snorted back a laugh. "No, I was thinkin' Never Have I Ever. We take turns comin' up with scenarios. You can go first. No limits, no rules, except nothing dirty or perverted."

Danny scoffed, "Well, that lets you off the hook."

Steve feigned hurt feelings. "Gee thanks a lot! Just for that, I'm going first. Never have I ever parasailed."

Danny was genuinely surprised. "Really? I thought that would be right up your alley."

"Nope. Too dangerous and no point to it. You jump out of a plane with a parachute to accomplish a goal. Not splash around on the water with it. Your turn."

"Never have I ever climbed the Eiffel Tower."

"Really, Danny? That is something that is so cool. You should do it sometime."

Danny shrugged. "I dunno, maybe. Kind of tourist trappy, if you ask me."

Steve rolled his eyes. "My turn. Never have I ever eaten escargot."

Danny laughed outright on that one. "That does not surprise me one little bit. I have, and it's pretty good, actually. Would you ever, if you had the opportunity?"

Steve shook his head vehemently. "No way. Slimy buggers." He shuddered. "Blech."

Danny sighed. The heebie-jeebies were closing in despite their best efforts. He decided to kick the game up a notch and get Steve going a little. "Never have I ever made out in an elevator."

There was dead silence for a full thirty seconds before Steve answered indignantly. "Well don't look at me, brah. I am not kissing you in this elevator!"

His answer caused Danny to dissolve into a fit of giggles that proved to be completely contagious. As soon as they were able to catch their breath, Danny managed, "Ahh, you disappoint me, Steven!"

Steve opened his mouth to reply, but whatever he was going to say was lost as the lights suddenly came on and the elevator gave a small jerk and hummed to life. Their two-hour stay in the elevator came to an end, and they both sighed with relief when the doors opened, and they stepped out into fresh Hawaiian air and sunshine. They fervently thanked the technician who had freed them and headed for the Camaro… eager to get away from elevators for a while.

Steve jumped into the driver's seat and as Danny climbed in, he started the car… or tried to. Because the car refused to start. At all. He tried five times. And Danny sat and gaped at him. And as they piled out to wait for the tow truck, and Steve listened to a brand-new rant, he began to wish he was back in the elevator. At least there it was reasonably cool, and he didn't have to see Danny's accusatory glares and pointing finger. What a day!

The End

#sicktember2022