I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: I told Phoebe that it's been so long since I posted here, that I forgot how to thank/reply to reviews. LOL - it's the truth! But I'm on it and will catch up to thank each of you!

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O

"This isn't an automatic fix," Steve said. He was puttering by the spare dresser, mindlessly opening and closing drawers. Second-guessing decisions as the nature of this latest move signaled so much more between them. Apparently they were about to make some kind of long-standing rumor which everyone knew about, quite true.

Danny gave out with a short rueful puff of air. "To your twisted head? How could it be?" Danny answered from the bed behind him. "But it's a start in the right direction and as of now? I'm closing the book on this stupid discussion about you running off on your own. Closed, Steven." Sarcasm aside, Danny was right.

"Yeah, I guess it is," Steve conceded after a drawn-out pause. He sighed. Eddie's tail thumped softly where he lay on the bed near Danny's feet. It was both comforting and weird to be back so fast.

"Don't sound so happy," Danny groused.

"I am, Danny," Steve replied. "I am." He went to the bed and sat down on the side, adjacent to his partner's hip. Danny's personal recon had wiped him out. Tucked into bed on the first floor, he looked just as bad as he had on the way home from the airport. Steve failed at soothing himself that it was the fault of the lousy overhead lights. Only 3-hours apart and 1-hour packed with pain killers, Danny seemed lighter, thinner. Weaker. He could barely track Steve in the room. Eddie was Danny's constant protector. The dog was even worried about his second master. Steve felt the fool. He never should have tried to leave.

"Why Danno? I'm a disaster," Steve said, referring to Danny's insistence that he come home. Stay. That they simply give in and deal with the truth of their relationship. He wiped a hand down his face. God he was exhausted. An exhausted disaster at just about everything.

"And I'm not?" A finger poked into his hip and Steve found a small smile. "Let it go, Steven. The only disaster would have been you leaving."

"Actually? No, no you're not," Steve replied. "But as of this very minute, I'm going to let it go. I'm going to focus on us" He picked up Danny's hand, mindful of bruises which lingered, seemingly refusing to heal. He sighed again but wound up chuckling when Danny rolled his eyes. "What now?"

"Focus on us," Danny repeated incredulously. "Who knew? Maybe we always did ... I dunno. Maybe." Then he paused, his eyes startlingly clear in that moment. "Apparently even though this story is about us? We're the only two oblivious to the plot. Until now … and so? And in case you still haven't noticed … I'd like to try it out, you know?"

Cheeks warm, Steve ducked his head. They'd been through so much together and yet, the nuts and bolts of this particular truth had never been broached. Not this directly.

"So, you think all of this." Assuming Steve's silence was an issue, Danny made a face. He could barely raise his hand as he gestured between them. "Us? It's a joke? It's funny?"

"No! No, I don't think this is funny at all. It's just … a new idea," Steve admitted. "One that honestly, I'm happy with. I'm just still … digesting it. Plus with you looking the way you do and on the drugs I practically spoon-fed into you, it's not the time to get into all of this. So for tonight, why don't you just shut up and get some rest, Danno? You look like shit and it's after midnight."

"Your red-eye would have put you somewhere over the Pacific … ," Danny yawned the words out, ending on a messy slur of syllables. "Do you regret it … I mean, you know … with … uh ?"

"No. I don't." Steve shook his head. He meant that too; he didn't regret getting off the flight or not being with Cath. Or being home with Danny now; not one bit.

"Y'sure?" Danny pressed and Steve had to smile when he got poked again.

"Yes! Positive. Stop dwelling," Steve admonished. "I'm right here aren't I?"

"For now." The words were said softly and their eyes met. He'd been burned before and Danny was afraid that Steve might pull something. Some kind of switch and bait which had Steve very quickly shaking his head to deny his worries. He stood, then leaned over to check Danny's forehead, displeased over its warmth and his partner's still too pale complexion.

"More than for now, buddy," Steve replied quietly as he smoothed the top blanket over Danny's chest. "And before you ask? She's gone … Cole did mean well, but what a fucking mess that would've been."

"Yeah … I do know," Danny agreed. "It would've been a complete and total disaster ." He squinted up at Steve as he slowly crab-walked his fingers across the blanket to Steve's hand. When he tugged, Steve sat back down.

"But …you could … I mean …you've done it before."

"But nothing! I swear I'm not going to sneak out on you in the middle of the night!" Steve insisted. "Now please … please … get some sleep!"

Danny blinked owlishly and then gave up on whatever he might have said, letting his eyes finally slide shut. His next words were hardly decipherable. " kay 'cause this? … s'better …n' you better b' ere when I wake up."

"Now who needs to let it go? I'm not going anywhere. I promise that I will be here, Danno. I'm happy to be here with you and I'm ready … tomorrow maybe when you're feeling better … to talk about us ," Steve vowed softly. "Sleep." Eyes closed, Danny smiled as he squeezed Steve's fingers. A moment later, his hand fell lax inside Steve's. But that smile remained and Steve allowed himself to fully relax in the quiet of their home. After all, that's what this place was: their home. Hell, they even had a dog.

The team had left hours earlier, their combined joy at his return left unsaid but the feeling had had a life of its own. The feeling stayed and made the house feel warm and alive. Steve's decision had impacted them all and his return? Well, even if only hours later, his return had almost warranted a joyous celebration. Steve knuckled his eyes with his free hand. He was exhausted but loathe to get up. So he sat there, much like he had that first horrific night at the hospital. Quietly holding Danny's hand. Waiting. Feeling guilty and wondering if they were both going to be alright. Remembering every little thing that had happened in the past. This time though, Steve realized those feelings of guilt and responsibility might be okay because this time, the horror was gone. Danny not only needed him, he wanted him … regardless of all the shit. And they'd both been through a lot of that. So yeah, the universe had thrust them together so why not stay together? What the hell had Steve been fighting for so long? Why had it taken this disaster of an idea for Steve to understand that he needed and wanted Danny just as much?

"So? Us, huh?" Steve said quietly. He chuckled to himself. As he sat there in the calm without doctors, nurses and the abysmal sounds of mechanical hospital equipment, he thought they might really be okay. Together, they could tackle healing their lives "You're always here for me, aren't you Danno?" Steve murmured softly. "Shit I don't deserve you … not sure I ever have and for some stupid reason … you've always … always … hung on to me. And now … to us." He could easily pile on more guilt for himself. He wasn't going to wallow though. Instead, he was going to make it right and be here for Danny. He was going to get on board and commit to this idea of 'us' .

He closed his eyes feeling Danny breathe and the way Eddie repositioned himself at the foot of the bed. The lab's tail thumped again, ever happy that they were all together. Steve finally smiled. A real smile that seemed to have evaded him for months on end, soaking in the simple peace of the moment. Just maybe … this time .. daring to admit that he didn't feel as lost anymore.

~ to be continued ~