"It's gonna be okay man, you know that right?" Steve said as he looked at Danny
The smell of the ocean was strong and sweet. Danny felt the cool breeze on his skin. All the memories of Steve flooded his head. This just didn't feel real. He felt an empty pit in his stomach like he was losing the most important thing in his life.
"You know, it doesn't feel like it's gonna be okay it feels like my main dude is leaving me. That's what's happening."
"It's not goodbye forever."
"Better not be a forever goodbye. Why would you say that?"
Steve looked out at the ocean. "You got a phone right?" He said, not answering Danny's question. He stood up out of his chair. "Come here"
"You're gonna make me get up?" Danny said stalling. It wasn't that he didn't want to hug Steve it was that he knew that when he did it would be that much closer to Steve leaving.
"Yeah get up. Come on"
Danny slowly got up and Steve pulled him in for a hug. He pulled away. "Hey, I love you."
"I love you too." Danny said almost pouting
Steve held a small object out to Danny. Danny reached out, opened his hand and Steve dropped the shiny item into his palm.
"What's this?" Danny said
"It's the key to a safety deposit box with all the money from my mom. Every bit of it. I want you to have it. You and Grace and Charlie. It's for you and I don't want to hear another word about it."
Danny gave him a sour face.
"Steve, I don't want the money." He looked Steve in the eyes. "I want you. I'd rather have you here. With me, right by my side. Partners till the end just like we always said"
Steve continued. "Danny, when you were in the hospital I didn't know if you were gonna make it. I prayed for God to take me instead of you."
"Come on Steve, Why would you do that?"
"Because you have a family to live for. And look at me Danny, I've got nobody"
"Steve, you have me. I'm your family. Grace is your family
Please don't leave us."
"Don't you see, Danny, why I need to go? Daiyu Mei tried to kill you to get to me. I can't be around you when I can't keep you safe anymore. You're not safe if I'm around you."
"That's an excuse."
"Danny, they'll come after you again to get to me. I can't lose you Danny!" Steve said with his whole chest. "I'd rather..not be around you than lose you."
"By leaving me you are losing me!" Danny shouted angrily cutting Steve off. "Steve, I took the risk when I took this job. You know that. We've never been safe, we take all kinds of risks." He flailed one hand around, "I mean I'm not an animal like you, but still there's risk for me. You can't keep anyone completely safe it's impossible. Ten years, Steve." Danny said, more angrily now. "Ten years I'm your partner. And now you're just gonna say, "goodbye and I'm gonna leave"? You're breaking my heart here." His voice cracked
"I'm breaking your heart? When you broke my heart for ten years."
"Come on man, what are you talking about?" Danny flailed his hands and turned to his side.
"Come on, Danny you know what I'm talking about." Steve said calmly. "All the flirting, all the fighting. All the 'I love you's.' And not once did you let me in.
Because the truth is that I don't just love you I'm in love with you. From the moment I met you. Heck, if I'm being honest I took the governor's job on day one just to make you my partner. Because the minute I laid eyes on you I knew that I wanted to be near you.
Danny everyone knows it. The whole island knows it. Except you. You've made me crazy for ten years. You wanna know what Daiyu Mei said to me?" Steve squinted. "She said she took you because you're the most important thing in the world to me. And she was right." Steve looked at the ground "If you felt the same way about me then I would stay. I would stay forever but I can't." Steve looked back up at Danny exasperated. "I can't do this anymore Danny."
Danny started laughing through his tears. "You're such a Neanderthal. Steve don't you see? Why do you think I gripe at you all the time? Or care If you get hurt? Or if you're safe? Why do you think I flew all the way to Afghanistan for you?" His voice cracked and he started to cry. "Why do you think I gave you part of my liver? Because. I. Love. You." Danny said emphasizing each word. "Because I'd rather die than have to live without you. Because the truth is that I've always loved you. From the minute you stepped into my life. There's never been anyone in my life that I could trust like I trust you." Danny started talking fast and angry. "You're the reason I stayed in Hawaii. I hated Hawaii and I hated the water." Danny said, his arms flailing. "But I love you. And if you're not here then there's nothing here for me. Not even 50." Danny's voice got soft and he started speaking slowly. "You say I never let you in? I've been letting you in this whole time. For ten years of my life. You're all that's mattered to me. And you'll always be all that matters to me." Danny looked into Steve's eyes. "And I don't want you to go."
Steve walked up to Danny and closed in fast. He hugged Danny tightly. He started to cry as he kissed the side of Danny's head.
"Danny, Danny, Danny." He said as he hugged him tightly almost rocking him. "I won't leave you. I don't ever wanna leave you."
He pulled back and planted a kiss on Danny's lips. It was the sweetest, softest, most real kiss he'd ever given anyone. It felt like every emotion he ever had exploded in his body all at once. It was authentic and tangible. And Danny returned the kiss willingly like he had wanted this all his life. This was real. Steve slowly broke the kiss and put his hands on the side of Danny's face.
"All I've ever wanted to do is be with you and keep you safe."
Danny smiled. It was the biggest grin Steve had ever seen him smile.
"Look at those eyes," Steve said. "You know it was those damn blue eyes that got me. You know that right?"
"Yeah well next time don't wait ten years to tell me about it." Danny laughed "You know maybe we're onto something. Maybe my eyes have magic powers."
"Only on me" Steve said laughing
Danny smiled and they both realized that this wasn't the end. It was the beginning of the rest of their lives
