A/N: Thank you for reading and especial thanks for those who take the time to post a review, I appreciate them a lot. Thank you!

Friendship knows.

Pulling a chair towards the bedside, Steve sat. Reaching back, he pulled a rolling small table and placed it next to him. Glancing briefly at his partner, he focused on the bag he held on his lap. Rummaging in it, he took out a spoon and placed it on the table.

"Mashed apples or vanilla pudding?" Trying to lighten up the mood by asking a simple question, Steve broke the awkward silence that lingered in the room since he returned from the cafeteria, about an hour ago.

He had been asked to leave when the nurse entered carrying towels and the necessary elements for the routinary bed bath. It had been the first time Danny was completely awake and aware during the procedure. He hadn´t neither complained nor gave difficulties, he tried to help when asked to cooperate and not a single grumble passed his lips. But internally, it was another matter. Danny´s crumpled pride received another low blow, not being given a respite, not being allowed to raise a single bit.

Steve totally understood that his friend wasn't to blame for his current foul mood. Danny was completely entitled to feel the way he did. Useless newly bandaged hands were lying on his lap as Steve had pocked through the curtain when he was allowed entry. The nurse had propped him up on his sore back, the head of the bed fully raised, so he was almost sitting up straight. She was carefully drying his hair with a towel and then started combing it to the side. She had asked him politely if he was comfortable and if he needed something else. A negative shake of his head was all the answer she received. She had smiled to him then, smiled to Steve, drew the curtain back, picked up her stuff and wordlessly left the room.

In the same silent way, Steve had approached his friend´s side, picked up the comb and remade his friend´s hairstyle, combing it completely backwards as usual. Danny had sighed deeply, frustrated, and had deliberately avoided eye contact. Steve had given him space, understanding the need of privacy and time for oneself. Danny wasn´t able to decide when to be alone. There was always someone attending his needs, someone watching him closely to make sure he was ok. Consequently, Steve had partially closed the privacy curtain again, giving his partner his own private space, and then had sat on an armchair near the door, quietly remaining there, away from Danny´s sight but near in case he called him.

The doctor had given strict orders to make Danny start eating orally. When he said it would be good if a familiar face assisted his patient doing it, due to his present lack of use of his hands, Steve had agreed and, of course, he volunteered. The task had made him nervous since the start. Danny´s pride was crumbled and buried ten feet under the ground. The fact of being fed by someone else, especially his friend, will bury him deeper.

After the hour he gave Danny to be by himself, Steve stood and slowly drew back the curtain. Pulling a chair towards the bedside, Steve sat. Reaching back, he pulled a rolling small table and placed it next to him. Glancing briefly at his partner, he focused on the bag he held on his lap. Rummaging in it, he took out a spoon and placed it on the table.

"Mashed apples or vanilla pudding?" He looked up and gave his friend a sincere smile.

Danny has calmed down, but he looked tired and listless. The still present dark shadows below his eyes remarked his pallor. His lowered sight fixed on his damaged hands, still avoiding eye contact. He appeared to not have listened, or better say not want to listen.

Steve placed the pudding pots and the bag on the table. Getting up, he abandoned all theory of giving his friend space, and sat on the edge of the mattress. His control freak attitude and impatient nature surfaced and he forced his weak friend to face him, grabbing his bicep and gently placing a palm on his check to turn his face towards him. Danny closed his eyes.

"I´m tired, Steve". A dejected and flat voice warned his friend about his mood. Without escape, Danny opened his eyes again when the determined presence at his side not only didn´t go away but instead perched closer and firmly grabbed both his forearms, demanding attention. Steve´s hold loosened its force when his eyes locked with the pained expression of his friend. The pain reflecting through the blue orbs was physical but also emotional, and was accompanied by a low hiss.

"Sorry buddy, did I hurt you?" He should have known better than to grab Danny so near his wrists.

"No, ..t´s ok" As clear as Steve could see the pain on his friend´s eyes, Danny could see the weariness on Steve´s. Maintaining their eyes fixed steady on each other´s for the first time since Danny was more coherent and lucid, they were able to communicate their feelings through their brotherly and strong bond.

Apart from pain, Danny´s eyes were also filled with anguish, and something like shame. "Sorry about last night, I …" The barely audible apology was accompanied by the breaking of the eye contact and the subsequent lowering of Danny´s gaze again to his useless hands. "I …"

Steve didn´t push him, although he desperately wanted to make his friend talk and open up. Danny´s mouth worked around some silent words but shut again without saying anything else. A sigh left his lips and he rested his head tiredly on the raised pillows.

Steve adjusted his body perched on the bed. Moving closer, he took his friend´s forearms again, lightly but with such demanding insistence that obliged Danny to look up again.

"Listen to me. You don´t have to be sorry about anything, alright? Never, ok? Hear me out here. I know you had been through hell, and that you hurt. But you are not alone. There´s a lot of people who love you and support you. I already told you, I´ll stay with you every step of the way. You are my brother. I love you and I want to help you. Let me help you." Steve´s voice quivered and tears clouded his vision. He has also been through his own personal hell this past three months.

"I´m ok. Just tired and feel weak but I´ll be fine.." Hearing Danny trying to be his strong and supportive self on his behalf was too much. A strangled sob escaped Steve´s throat followed by a few forced breaths to calm himself. He had to be strong, at least in front of Danny. He couldn´t burden him with his feelings too.

"I´m sorry I´m sorry. Listen, you can tell me anything, ok? You don´t have to be strong for me. Don´t worry about last night. I understand. You had been through a lot. It´s normal to feel scared. Believe me, I know. I´m here for you. All your friends are, and your family, buddy." Steve ran his hands up and down his partner´s arms as a shiver made Danny tremble.

"You …"

"Grace and Charlie, how are they?"

The sudden and fast spoken question stopped Steve´s mid-sentence and startled him. He could feel the increasing level of anxiety emanating from his friend. At the same time, he felt relieved that Danny finally asked about his beloved kids.

"They´re great pal. They miss you enormously, you can´t imagine, but they are great". He accompanied his calm spoken words with a fond smile, intended to assure and sooth his nervous friend.

"They… ok..? Last night I was so afraid for them, I couldn´t breathe, I panicked." Steve had to make a lot of effort not to miss anything of the almost whispered words. "Then I was scared because I don´t know if I…" Danny trailed off, breathing harder he started to pant. The matter obviously was so important to him that caused his anxiety to overwhelm him completely. Who knows how many times his mind reached his kids while he was a prisoner on that humid and dirty place. Who knows how many breakdowns his soul had to endure alone. Steve hastened to soothe his friend by trying to clarify this subject a little more so that Danny could step on firmer ground.

"Danno listen, they are fine. Trust me. Relax now, ok? Calm down buddy". Watching Danny trying to regain composure, he continued to fill the blanks about his kids that scared Danny so much. "Dr. Hale said that when you feel ready they could visit… Don´t worry, they are fine. This past few days Dr. Hale had been in contact with them, talked to them and explained everything with care. Apart from that Grace and Charlie had been very well handled all the time buddy, besides family and ohana they had been seeing a specialist, an extraordinary psychologist that specializes in children. So, you see? They are very well cared for and contained, but they only miss their daddy so much." Steve smiled. It was a smile that spoke by itself. It couldn´t lie. The words that he heard were the truth. His kids were ok. Danny felt his chest decompress a little. A tiny and little perceptible smile lighted up his somber face a bit. Steve registered the change and also breathed easier. His smile grew wider and his big hand squeezed affectionately his friend´s shoulder. That was enough talking and emotions for now. The doctors had warned everyone. The steps should be small and carefully measured.

Steve sat back again on the chair and reached for the forgotten bag and spoon from the rolling table. Lifting his gaze to his partner, Danny was dozing off, clearly tired and spent. But the doctor´s instructions were clear.

"Danny, you must eat something buddy". And Danny´s heavy eyelids reluctantly opened.