"Lou, we're already a man down." Danny paused. "Two really."

"Cole is fitting in nicely." Lou shrugged him off. "You don't like him out of principle. Like high school."

"Seriously, Lou? Like high school?" Danny rolled his eyes and frowned. "No, he's not fitting in. He's not really here here."

"What?" Lou replied with a slight raise of his eyebrow. Only a slight tremor revealed his amusement.

"He's here, but he's not here."

"Man, I think you took too many meds this morning or you need to eat something. You're not making sense."

Danny cradled his left arm. He couldn't cross his arms over his chest yet. It hurt too much. But he was pissed and defensive. "I'm making perfect sense."

"Says every high person on the planet."

Taking a deep breath, Danny rambled. "You're short on help. Sure, Cole is a great asset. But he won't stay, Lou, and you know it. I give him a month. I'd put money on it."

Lou considered Danny's words and chewed his bottom lip for a second. "Ok, I'll take that bet. What are the stakes?"

"No stakes."

"There have to be stakes, man."

"How about actual steaks? I cook." Danny was pleased with his idea.

Lou wrinkled his nose.

"Hey, I can cook."

"You make heavenly Italian delicacies, but run a grill? Nope. If I want charcoal, I'll buy my own bag."

"Funny. Then, I'll get my minions to grill the steaks."

"Minions?" Lou chuckled.

"Junior. Tani."

"I bet they'll want in on this action."

"No, huh uh. This is between you and me. Too many cooks spoil the –"

"Wait, scratch that. Don't you find it – I don't know – bad form to bet against a colleague?" Lou's phone buzzed before he could wax poetic, and he took a quick glance at the screen. "Shit, I gotta go. You ok here by yourself?"

Danny glared. "Don't need a babysitter. For the 1000th time."

Hands up, Lou explained. "Hey, Steve will have my hide if-"

"If what? Someone breaks in here and kidnaps me? That ship already sailed. And if he was so worried about my safety, he shouldn't have ditched me when I can't defend myself."

They stared at one another. Then Danny looked away, unable to meet Lou's sympathetic gaze. He shook his head and sighed.

"I'm fine, Lou. Really. Me and Eddie have big plans."

"Plans? Don't go taking him for a walk in this heat. Doctor's orders. I saw the paperwork. You're still supposed to rest."

"Walks are Adam's gig. No, me and Eddie have a date with Steve's bed."

"That's all kinds of wrong, and you know it. Steve finds out Eddie's been in his bed?" Lou was serious, no trace of humor in his voice. Eddie was not allowed on the bed.

"Who's gonna tell him, huh, Lou?"

"Not me." Lou knew none of the team was crazy enough to accept that dare. Guilt by association was a serious thing. "I'll make a deal with you."

"Okay." Danny waved his hand at Lou. "Let's hear it."

"Give it another week, and we'll talk about you coming back. Desk duty only."

"I could do that now, Lou." Danny didn't hide his annoyance. "In my sleep."

"No you can't. You're still taking those pain pills, so you're not thinking straight."

"What's that supposed to mean, huh?"

Lou ignored the clenched fist. "It means what it means. You're not yourself."

Anger welled up in Danny's chest, and he wanted to punch something. He didn't like the implication.

"Look, I'm sorry. That came out wrong." Lou paused, exhausted with this conversation. "I'm not saying you have a problem."

Danny sighed. "Don't. I get it. I'm not ready. I may never be."

"Danny, come on. I didn't mean it that way. You need to follow doctor's orders."

Snickering, Danny shook his head. "That's so funny. You never say that to Steve. But me? You all watch me like I'm gonna break. Like I'm a child."

"Hey, we just want you to-"

Danny threw his bottle of pills at Lou. "Take these. I don't need them."

"Danny…"

"Come on, Eddie. It's naptime."

Eddie perked up and headed for the stairs, waiting for Danny and wagging his tail.

"Good boy." Danny smiled. "At least one person – oh wait, he's not a person. Great, my best friend is now a dog."

"I'll leave these in the cupboard with the others." Lou's voice was measured, calm. "Junior and Tani should stop by with dinner later."

"I appreciate what you're doing. All of you." Danny limped to the steps. His knee hadn't required surgery but it still hadn't forgiven him for the drop from the rafters during his escape. "Rachel's bringing Charlie over. I'm making dinner."

"Dinner?" Lou looked hopeful.

"Pasta, garlic rolls. A thank you." Danny stopped. "What? You don't think I can do it?"

"No, it's not that. I just – it's been awhile." Lou didn't finish his thought and Danny knew it. Was he ready to work that hard in the kitchen? "I love your garlic rolls."

"Everyone does."

"You sure you can do all that?"

Danny glared and then rolled his eyes with a sigh. "Why do you think I'm taking a nap?"

"Beauty sleep?"

"Anyone ever tell you you're a funny guy?"

"Can we at least bring something?"

"Nope."

"Dessert?"

"Already have someone on that."

"Well, alrightie then." Lou rubbed his hands together. "You go take your power nap, and I'll see you later."

Danny started up the steps. "Could you lock up?"

"Seriously? You think I'd leave you here alone without making sure the place was tighter than Fort Knox?"

"Right. Our benevolent dictator's edict."

"That's right." Lou smiled. "Call if you need anything."

Instead of arguing, Danny simply agreed. "I will."

"You make sure he does, Eddie."

Eddie barked and bounded ahead of Danny.

"He's not Lassie, Lou. He'd probably hide under the bed if something happened." Danny paused. "What? He's a drug sniffer not a guard dog."

"Lover not a fighter." Lou laughed.

"Quit while you're ahead, Lou."

/././

Steve dried his hair and hung the towel around his neck.

Catherine sat on the end of the bed, watching him, swinging her feet. "So what are you going to do with your life?"

Her question came out of nowhere. Steve didn't have an answer. He had other things on his mind.

"I honestly don't know, Cath."

"You, Steve McGarrett, don't know what you're doing with your life?" She leaned forward on her elbow, wobbling a little.

"Nope." He grinned before taking a long drink from his leftover beer on the dresser, pulling on a loose shirt, leaving it unbuttoned.

She straightened. "Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what?"

Catherine waved her finger at him, giggling. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"The day that what?" Steve did not like fingers being waved anywhere near his face. No matter who it was. He was not seeing the humor in this conversation.

"That you'd hang it all up." She sighed and shook her head. "It's sad."

"I needed a break, Cath." Defensiveness crept over him. He wanted to believe it was just heartburn but he caught himself thinking she thought less of him. Did he care about her opinion?

"I get the needing a vacation part. Who doesn't need to get away once in a while?"

He frowned and waited. Clearly, she had an agenda. This was why she met him on the plane. He'd known this was coming.

"You're too talented to quit now."

"Quit?"

"That's what you're doing."

"Seriously?"

"You left Five-0. You have no plans. Looks to me like you're quitting." She shrugged, wrinkling her nose. She was toying with him. This used to be a turn on.

"So, what? You're offering me a job."

Her mouth fell open.

"See, I've been on to you the whole time."

"On to me?" She quirked her eyebrow and gave him half of a frown.

Crossing his arms, Steve widened his stance. "This is some kind of recruitment."

She laughed. "Recruitment? For what?"

"The CIA."

"Really, Steve? You think I'd do that?"

"If the shoe fits."

"Wow, if I didn't know you better that would hurt."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Their dance continued, as always. Back and forth. Hurt and be hurt. He felt something building and it wasn't love. Call it lust mixed with anger and frustration.

"You're hurting. You're lashing out." She leaned in and traced her finger from his chin down to the open hollow of his shirt. "God, you've become so much like Danny.

There it was again. A less than positive mention of Danny. The jealous push and pull of their relationship.

"Danny's the best man I know."

"Yea, you're right. And that's the problem."

"Not following."

"Danny has limits. Lines he won't cross, Steve. You know that."

He sat beside her, sliding back to lean on the pillows. "And you think I don't have limits?"

"I know you." She crawled closer to him. "I've seen what you're capable of."

He recoiled when she touched his hand. She didn't hesitate to snag his fingers, linking them together.

"See that's not a bad thing. I love that side of you." She slid into his lap.

"You do?" Steve studied her for a second. Catherine knew just what to say…and do.

"Oh yea." She kissed him. "You're so –"

Pushing her onto her back, he pulled off her tank top and sucked her nipples.

"See this is you, Steve." She purred in his ear. "You're an animal."

Steve growled and kissed down to her navel. "I'll show you animal."

/././

"They're always Steve and Danny! Danny and Steve!" Tani grew louder and more frantic. Her breath hitched and tears streaming. She slammed the car door.

"Hey. Look at me." Junior put his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him.

"No." She pouted.

He smiled. "Come on. It'll be ok."

"How do you know?" She frowned. "Are Navy SEALS psychic?"

Shrugging, Junior smoothed a strand of hair out of her face. Tani continued to glare, but he didn't break for a few more seconds.

"I don't know. Maybe? Super powers weren't part of my training." He quirked a half smile at her.

Tani wasn't buying his attempt to cheer her. "Then what? Star-eyed optimism? Or grade A bullshit?"

"The power of positive thinking." Junior made a big gesture. Tani ducked, nose wrinkled in amusement.

"You sound like Steve and look like Danny." She mimicked his gesture just missing his head with her exaggerated hand motion.

With a chuckle, he replied. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"You would."

"Hey." He gave her a light shake. "Stop."

"I'm mad, ok. Pissed. Why did he leave?"

"We've been over this."

Tani pulled away, sulking. She kicked a couple rocks.

"Come on." Junior kissed her neck as he pulled her closer. "Let's eat dinner. Danny hasn't cooked since…"

He didn't finish the sentence. Tani puffed up a little, emboldened.

"See, I'm right, Junes Things are fucked up."

"Yes, you're right. And I'm hungry."

Rolling her eyes, she took his hand and led him toward the house. "Men. You're all the same."

"What now?" Junior laughed.

The door flew open before Tani could answer, and Charlie ran out. "Danno made bagetti!"


Might not feel like it yet, but the tide is sloooooowly turning.