Hey there! Here you have the second chapter.

It has minor spoilers for episode 6x04, I tried to include something coda in every chapter and I skipped the ones who could not be used for this plot. Please note that this fic is going to get more explicit as they continue to explore this new side of their relationship, but I also try to focus on their feelings and their deep bond.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

Steve woke up slowly, feeling a little confused about where he was and whose arms were around him. It didn't last long though, after all these years he could recognize Danny's presence anywhere and he knew it was his partner's breath tickling at the back of his neck, his arm around Steve's waist.

Apparently they had moved at some point so they were lying sideways on the couch, Danny with his back to the couch and holding Steve against his chest, and judging by the light filtering through the curtains they had been sleeping for hours now, which actually amazed Steve. He certainly hadn't expected to sleep soundly just hours after Cath had left, but here he was, relaxed in Danny's embrace.

Danny, who had come to make sure he was okay, like he always did. He had made Steve feel better just by assuring him he would never leave, because deep in his soul, Steve knew it was true and it was enough to dissipate a little the dark cloud that had been surrounding him since hearing Cath's words.

Then he had…kissed Danny. Oh god, he kissed Danny! Steve tensed immediately at the memory. What on earth had he done? And how was even possible that Danny stayed with him after that?

Berating himself for probably having fucked up the best friendship in his life, Steve slowly disentangled from Danny's arm, carefully laying it back on the couch and making sure he hadn't awakened before moving further. Danny just stirred a little before settling back down, a peaceful expression on his face. Steve wondered if that expression would change once he woke up and remembered the previous night's events.

Holding the deep sigh that threatened to escape his lips, Steve went silently to the kitchen and leaned on the counter, cradling his head with his hands. He didn't think a few hours ago that his life could be more fucked up, but apparently he had managed it.

Thinking about it, Steve still didn't know why he had done it, didn't even remember making the decision of kissing Danny, it just had felt…natural and the right thing to do. Oh and it had felt good, it had felt warm and safe, just like Danny…Danny who was still here, so maybe he was okay with it? But Steve remembered Danny breaking the kiss and telling him they would talk about it today, so he was probably just trying to be nice with him after his rough evening so he didn't have to feel like he was being rejected again.

Steve let the sigh out this time. What a mess. He should probably just act like nothing had happened and spare his friend that conversation since it was going to be a very awkward one to say the least.

"Hey, you okay babe?"

Steve turned around so fast he heard a cracking sound from his neck. Danny was there, standing in the doorframe, looking sleepy and adorable with his disheveled hair and half-open eyes.

"Yeah I uh…just didn't want to wake you up. Although your back must be complaining about the night on the couch, huh?"

"I'm fine, in fact I slept more than most nights. So…what about the meditation trance you were in just now? You sure you're okay?"

"Yes Danny, I'm fine okay? Want some coffee?"

Steve knew he was getting defensive and that wasn't the direction he wanted this to take, so he tried to change the subject by moving to start the coffee machine, but a hand on his bicep stopped him. He tried to shake himself free but the grip just got tighter and Steve turned to face Danny with a resigned sound. He looked like he was debating with himself whether to be angry or concerned.

"What the hell is your problem, huh?" Danny was looking him straight in the eye and Steve couldn't maintain his intense gaze right now. The hand around his arm loosened and Steve freed himself, still not looking at Danny.

"Is this about…what happened last night?" Danny's tone was much gentler now, but for some reason it just made Steve's insides turn into a tighter knot.

"Look, we don't have to talk about it Danny. I'm sorry and…you can just forget it, okay?"

There was a three-second pause that felt like an entire lifetime.

"Forget it? Why would I want to forget it, Steve?"

That wasn't the answer Steve was expecting and it actually made him look up. Danny's expression was honest and calm.

"I thought…"

Danny pushed him gently until Steve's back was pressed against the counter and put both his hands on Steve's face, speaking practically against his lips. "Maybe I should do the thinking around here, babe." And then he was kissing him. A sweet, gentle kiss just like last night, but it felt much more real.

Danny broke the kiss to look at Steve's astonished expression, still holding his face, and gave him a blinding smile. "Oh you big lug."

His lips were again onto Steve's, and this time he got with the program. The kiss became more demanding, both seeking for access as their hands began to roam each other's back.

Danny turned them and started to guide Steve backwards to the living room, not breaking contact in any moment and just opening his eyes between kisses long enough to make sure he didn't run Steve into a wall.

When they reached the couch again Danny gave him a gentle shove and took a moment to enjoy the gorgeous sight of Steve, shirtless and sprawled there with his lips red and a bit swollen from all the kissing.

Danny grinned and climbed on top of him, knees framing his hips and hands caressing those taut abs and up to his neck and cheek before leaning for another soft kiss. He somehow knew that Steve needed this, needed reassurance that Danny wanted it and it wasn't just a bout of lust for any of them. Steve put his hand over Danny's where it laid on his cheek and returned the kiss with matching softness.

They continued like this for a few minutes until Steve snuck a hand between their chests and started to wrestle with Danny's shirt buttons, apparently not happy with their unequal state of nakedness. Danny had taken off his shoes last night but apart from that he was still fully dressed, so he sat back on Steve's thighs and got rid of his shirt in record time before getting back to explore the body offered in front of him.

Running his hands along Steve's sides while laying kisses on his chest drew low moans from his partner so when he found a nipple on his way, Danny gently licked it until the nub was firm against his tongue and Steve was arching his back off the couch, bucking his hips against Danny's at the same time and letting him notice how much he was enjoying the attention.

Danny smiled against Steve's chest and dove back to give the other nipple the same treatment, reveling on the sounds that were escaping Steve's mouth. He continued kissing his way south until he found the waistband on Steve's sweatpants, hooking his fingers underneath it but waiting for Steve's reaction before pulling on them. Steve just planted his feet on the couch and pushed his hips up to help, and Danny smiled and tugged both his pants and boxers down, releasing his erection from its confines before getting off the couch so he could roll them off completely and also to be able to step off his own clothes.

Steve grabbed Danny by the belt and motioned for him to stand in front of his face so he could unbuckle it without having to get up. Once the belt and zipper were out of the way, Steve put his hands on Danny's sides, rubbing gently with his thumbs on his hips for a few seconds and then tugging the fabric and letting it fall to the floor around Danny's ankles without breaking eye contact while doing so.

Danny saw such intensity on those beautiful eyes that he quickly resumed his position on top of Steve, carefully lining their cocks so they would glide against each other every time they moved.

"Oh fuck Danny!"

Danny smiled at him while moving provocatively his hips against Steve's, more than glad with his reaction. Steve arched his back again before forcing Danny to lie flat against him with a hand on the back of his neck, taking advantage of the new position to start kissing and nipping at Danny's pulse point, eliciting moans of approval with his action. Both of them were moving rhythmically, Danny's lips on Steve's shoulder where he could reach him with his head still being held by Steve's grip and his neck being deliciously attacked.

Danny knew neither of them would last long, not this time, so he reached with his hand between them and put it around both their cocks, starting to pump slowly in synchrony with their movements. Steve reached out too with his free hand and put it around Danny's, increasing the sensation and making them both fall over the edge after just a few more thrusts of their hips. Steve nipped gently on Danny's neck while they were pulsing between their abdomens and they continued to massage through the last aftershocks until Danny collapsed limply on Steve's chest.

They stayed like that, ragged breaths trying to return to normal and Danny on top of Steve with his head crooked on his partner's neck, enjoying their company and the silent atmosphere of intimacy.

Steve moved his hand to caress Danny's back in a soothing motion, not looking bothered at all by the extra pressure on his chest. It took him a few minutes to finally speak.

"Are you okay, Danno? I think this is the longest you've gone without talking since I've known you." He hadn't stop the caress on his back, still going up and down leaving a warm trail on Danny's skin.

Danny snorted and the vibration traveled through Steve's neck.

"I'm more than okay, babe. I'm great. I just…thought you couldn't handle me talking a lot right now, didn't want to scare you. But don't worry, I can assure you I'm much more vocal normally."

"Scare me? What am I now, a leopard cub?" Steve was trying to sound affronted, but Danny could hear the glint of amusement in his voice.

Danny laid a small kiss on his neck before answering. "Mm, I was thinking more like kinda a baby seal, you know? I'm sure they get scared too."

Steve did sound affronted now. "A seal? You mean the kind with fins? What do we even have in common?"

"Well for starters the name you like so much and also…they're adorable, and so are you." Another kiss on his neck for emphasis.

It was Steve's turn to snort indignantly. "I'm not adorable." He pinched Danny on the side to make his point more clear, making him jump and sit back on his heels.

"Yeah, you are. But don't worry, I'll keep your secret." Danny grinned at him and leaned forward to give Steve another sweet kiss.

"How about a shower? Wanna join me?"

"Navy shower? Because then the answer is no, I'll just wait until you fall asleep and then take a long and restorative shower like normal human beings do."

Steve gave him one of his scarce genuine smiles, the ones Danny loved so much.

"I think I can make an exception. C'mon."

They got off the couch and Steve took hold of Danny's hand and led them to the bathroom and into the shower. They kissed lazily under the steaming water, with no heat or urgency, just sweet kisses and gentle touches. It wasn't sexual anymore, they just seemed to need the connection.

When they finished Danny dried Steve in an almost exact replay of last night on the beach, both of them smiling at the memory that now felt further away than it really was. Danny thought with amusement that he hadn't stopped smiling since he woke up earlier, that he didn't remember smiling so much for a long time. But just a look to the peaceful face of Steve in front of him while Danny ruffled playfully his hair with the towel and he knew he couldn't stop smiling even if he wanted.

Almost unconsciously they ended lying on Steve's bed, after all they had only slept a few hours on the couch and they were both still exhausted from the day before and its emotionally draining events.

They were having trouble keeping their lips off each other – not that they were trying that hard – but after a while sleep was beckoning them and this time they settled in a reversal of the position on the couch, Steve spooning Danny with an arm around his waist, his other arm stretched under Danny's head.

Steve's eyes were already closing on their own accord when he felt Danny reach that outstretched hand, rubbing circles on his palm. It felt great and was pushing Steve deeper into slumber but he could tell Danny was deep in thought. Concern started to creep up his chest until Danny spoke, barely a whisper.

"You know I mean it, right babe? I won't leave you."

The knot behind Steve's ribs disappeared and a warm feeling blossomed, tears threatening to slip from the corners of his eyes. Because he knew it, he believed Danny. And it was an amazing feeling.

Not trusting his voice not to crack if he answered, Steve just tightened his embrace on Danny and pressed a long kiss to the back of his neck, the firmer grip on his hand he received in response telling him nothing else was needed.

Steve increased his pace as he strode to Danny's hospital room. Even if he felt a little guilty for letting Lou go handle the case while he went to visit Danny – with the eggplant parm Lou had gotten for him – he was also grateful for having the opportunity of seeing Danny alone for a little bit.

They hadn't had time to spend with each other over the past few days. They had fallen asleep the other day but Danny's phone rang not long after and he had had to go to the hospital for a meeting with Rachel and Charlie's doctor. Then the next days passed in a blurry of appointments Danny needed to take before the bone marrow extraction was done and lots of work for Steve, letting them just a few minutes to catch here and there and always surrounded by the team, so Steve was eager to be able to hug Danny without having to worry about making it look too…intimate.

He could hear the TV was on through the half closed door, imagining Danny would be bored out of his mind by now.

"Hey Danno, look what– "

Steve shut up immediately once he opened the door and was greeted by the sight of his asleep partner.

Danny looked a bit pale against the hospital sheet, but his face was relaxed and he didn't seem like he was in pain. Steve turned off the TV and laid the eggplant parm on the bedside table before hovering a little over Danny, searching for any indication of distress. There was none. Danny was sleeping soundly and even if Steve couldn't tell if it was due to sheer exhaustion or something the doctors gave him after the procedure, he still looked like he could use the extra sleep.

Steve looked at the steady rise and fall of Danny's chest for a while and then gently put back in place a wayward lock of hair crossing his forehead, stroking his temple carefully to avoid disturbing Danny's sleep.

The sight of Danny in bed and looking calm reminded Steve of the other day, even with the obvious differences, and made him think about Danny's words, the ones he couldn't answer at the moment but made him feel so warm and safe inside.

He felt the overwhelming urge of making Danny feel safe too, so he leaned forward and kissed Danny's forehead before whispering there "I won't leave you either, Danno. Ever."

Danny just stirred a little against Steve's lips, but it was enough.

Thanks for reading!

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C'mon guys, let me know if there's interest in the rest of the chapters! :)