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

Notes:story is complete. Chapters will go up steadily.

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Danny stared blankly into Lou's face. He knew he had trouble computing certain things. Meds did that sort of thing to you. As did nearly getting the ever-loving crap beaten out of you; not to mention, nearly bleeding to death. Or coding. He'd been told he'd coded twice on the operating table.

Twice.

He was nearly out of lives to live.

What Lou had just said was impossible though. Utterly incomprehensible.

"Why?" He managed to get his mouth to work. Then, he managed to squirrel his way to the edge of the chair. Leaning heavily on his cane, Danny crawled himself up to his feet. He swayed and Lou caught him.

Everyone was catching him. Except …. Danny winced as pain lanced through his head.

"He thought he was doing him a favor," Lou tried to explain Cole's not so helpful gesture of concern. "All of us really. He thought he knew enough that Steve shouldn't be alone. That we … wouldn't want him to be … alone."

Lou dragged in a breath of air. Danny felt the man do it and knew he was upset too.

Catherine. God-damned Catherine Rollins?

Just how in the ever loving fuck did Cole even know her? Why would he even dare to think that this idea … was a good one?

"He is … was … trying to help, Danny," Lou repeated. "After her help with the cypher …"

Of course, the cypher but how and when had their original paths crossed? Danny didn't know and right then, didn't care. They'd crossed enough to cause trouble.

"He's not helping," Danny said. He thought he'd hurl his light breakfast and not because of the depths of his horrifically achy body. Twenty-four hours home and he'd already had enough bullshit to deal with.

First Steve, broaching this idea of a sabbatical, which he'd manage to just barely get Danny to accept. Barely. A thin thread of acceptance easily frayed.

Now this? This bullshit from Cole that he'd asked … no invited … Catherine to shepherd Steve on a so-called sabbatical?

Why? Because they'd once been a thing. Or was it Catherine herself? Had she seen a window of opportunity and grabbed it one last time?

Absolutely. Manipulation. She was a master-manipulator and Steve was emotionally and physically drained. Danny did believe at least that part of the excuses his partner had fobbed his way.

"Danny? What are you doing?" Lou only half- tried to stop him as he took a shaky step forward.

"Airport," Danny replied. That thin thread of accepting a sabbatical frayed fully, breaking somewhere inside his chest. The ache was very real as Danny once again failed at reconciling Steve's decision to leave.

No he wasn't going along with this ridiculous idea.

What had he said about Grace once? It was a long time ago when she'd been a kid. The words had only been about Grace. Now he had so much more and yet the words still might mean something … never good.

Borrowed time.

God how he hated thinking and saying it out loud - that one time mantra still applied though.

Now though, Danny was done with borrowing it. Good ol' Father Time could go and take a nice long jump from a very long pier. Danny was simply going to take it and have it all for himself. Grace. Charlie. And Steve …. He was going to have Steve despite the man's penchant for doing stupid, idiotic …

Danny winced at the headache he was causing himself. He just didn't need this shit-pile of stress.

"Airport. Now or I call a cab," he demanded, suddenly fearing time and how quickly it could steal things from him. "Delay the flight … call and delay that fucking flight. Means? Use it … make it up. Find a reason."

Lou chuckled. It was a deep, warm sound and Danny looked up. Lou might have one arm on his elbow as he helped Danny back to the house, but the man's cell was out and he was already tapping in a number.

"You two fucking love birds are going to be the death of me yet. But at least it will be a happy one," Lou laughed out loud now. Danny felt his face flush hot. His mouth gaped and closed. He blinked into Lou's face and the man raised an eyebrow in mock challenge.

"No," Danny's rebuttal was weak as his head swirled around this reality. "No. We're definitely not …"

"No? Not what? You two assemble an elite task force and then think we're all blind? The only ones blind are you two," Lou guffawed now. Then stopped his laughter cold when his call was answered.

"Grover. Listen up," his eyes rolled dramatically while he spouted demands into the phone. "Yeah, Lou Grover, Five-0 Task Force. Flight 2365 to L.A. Got a report of a … a fugitive … yeah, fugitive on the flight. Keep it grounded at the gate. No one on or off that plane … my team is scrambling now. Make up some kind of mechanical issue. Have the NTA there but stand down. Can't afford to draw attention."

Danny stopped walking just long enough to catch his breath and gain his equilibrium. Love birds?

No. Well, maybe. He blinked back tears as they started their slow amble to the lanai, his emotions surfacing in their turmoil. He wiped his face with the back of his right arm. A tear or two mingled with sweat. He acknowledged just how fucking hurt he really was.

Why hide it now? So, yes. Lou was right. He and Steve did love each other. More than the usual 'gimme a hug' bro-thing. Much more. So there was no damned way this was going to happen. Not a sabbatical. No Catherine. Not in his universe.

Besides, Danny was fucking done with borrowing time.

"Hey!" Tani was suddenly in front of them both. "I'll drive?"

"What?" Danny might have quickly reconciled a few things in his head. But Tani still managed to throw him for a massive loop.

"What what?" Tani faked her innocence before kissing him on the cheek. "Get in the truck Danny. We all love you and Cole meant well but this is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. If you don't bring Steve home, then I will."

~ to be continued ~