Set after 1x15 "Kai e' e"

THE TRUST FACTOR

Their day was exhausting. Just when you think criminals can't get any smarter they go and prove you wrong. To fake, of all the things in the world, a tsunami and sending part of an island into evacuation is something that Danny never wants to see again. Before going their seperate ways - the blonde Detective had to pick up his daughter Grace from Kamekona - Steve asked Danny if he would spend the night with him. Thinking that they would die today was not something Danny could shake off and he quickly agreed.

The Jersey native to a deep and nervous breath, sitting in his silver Camaro infront of Steve's house. It was time. Tonight was the night he would tell Steve that he's in love with him. It was scary to think that he was going to lay all of his cards on the table, but it was a good scary. The best, really.

Danny smiled, shaking his head to try and shake off the nerve that he was feeling as he walked around back - Steve told him that he would grill them some burgers for dinner.

He was about to open his mouth and announce his presence in his usual loud and boisterous manner, when he stopped dead in his tracks. Because there stood Steve on his lanai, wrapped up around one Catherine Rollins.

It was like a sledgehammer to the chest. The wind was knocked out of him and his legs felt shakey and his eyes got blurry as his chest ached. He should have known. Blinking past the tears, Danny turned around and walked away.

He was right, nothing lasts forever and he was nothing more than a stand in for Steve until Catherine came back. Even with all of the curses he could think of swirling around in his head and defenitely aimed at Steve and trying to be strong, Danny couldn't stop the burning hot tears from rolling down his cheeks.

Hawaii Five-0

"You're avoiding me." Steve said as manner of greeting as he entered his lover's office the next monday morning. Danny tenses ever so slightly, but it was enough to catch Steve's attention and confirm the SEAL's suspision.

"I'm not avoiding you." Danny defended immediately, not even meeting his eyes. The blonde kept his eyes cast downwards and glued to the paperwork he was busy doing before his partner burst into his office.

"Then why didn't you come over last night?" Steve countered, the concern in his voice almost made Danny cave. Then he remembered how tightly Steve and Catherine were wrapped up in each other. And that angry fire burned through him again.

"I was busy." Danny replied shortly, still not looking up from his paperwork.

"Oh, you were busy." Steve repeated, not believing it for even a second. Something was going on with Danny, something was bothering his lover and Steve wouldn't stop until he figured out what it is, or until Danny told him. It is kind of ironic, the one time he actually wants Danny to talk, the blonde isn't sayimg much of anything.

"Yeah." Danny nodded.

"Why didn't you at least text me?"

Danny's patience ran out. "Why don't you go bother Catherine because unlike some people, I actually do my paper work.

"Why would you even-" Hurt flashed in Steve's eyes at the words Danny slung at him but just as soon, he figured it out. "You were there last night."

Danny pushed himself up from his desk, eyes glaring at his partner as he rounded his desk. "Yes, Steven, I was there. And I saw everything."

"What exactly is it you think you saw?" Steve raised his eyebrows, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I saw you and Catherine wrapped up in each other." Danny relayed what he saw, arms flailing in every direction as he tried to disguise the hurt he was feeling. Steve stayed quiet as Danny waited for an answer and the SEAL hung his head. "Are you not even going to deny it?"

"Is that really what you think of me? After everything we've been through, you really think that little of me?" Steve lifted his head, eyes shining and Danny felt like a very shitty person in that moment.

"I- I don't know what to think. All I know is what I saw."

"And you just assumed that I am back with Catherine because you saw us hugging?" Steve asked, and fucking hell, the hurt in his eyes was making Danny feel like crying and begging for his forgiveness. "Did it ever occur to you that I was saying goodbye to her because I told her about us?"

Flashback:

A grinning Steve McGarrett walked out onto his lanai with burger patties in one hand and Longboards in his other hand. Danny was coming over and he couldn't be happier. Danny. His Danno. No matter how much the blonde objected to him calling him by his daughter's nickname, Steve knew he secretly liked it. Especially since Danny gave him permission to call him Danno today on the boat.

The SEAL was so caught up in his thoughts about his lover that he didn't even notice the small woman sneak up behind him. It was only when she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind that Steve realised he was not alone. Knowing that it was not Danny touching him - he knows his lover's touch and the way the short blonde's body feels against his - Steve went into SEAL mode and quickly put the person touching him in a headlock.

Then he recognised the voice when the woman mutter a choked, "What the hell?"

With wide eyes let go of the girl he put in a headlock. "Cath, I'm so sorry. I had no idea it was you."

"Clearly." She coughed, rubbing at her throat. Steve watched her with sorrow filled eyes as she got back her breath. After a while she looked up at him, eyes twinkling while she asked, "How about a kiss to make it better?"

And when Steve immediately took a step back from her when she reached out to him, Catherine knew there was something wrong.

"Steve? Is everything okay?" She asked, eyes flashing with hurt because of his non-verbal rejection.

"I'm seeing someone." He said it confidently and clearly, wanting her to understand.

"Oh." He could see the pain in her eyes, but what could he do when his whole heart and soul belongs to Danny?

"I'm really sorry, Cath. I never meant to hurt you." Those words made him feel like a gigantic asshole.

"I know." She gave him a gentle smile, even as her heart broke. "And I know that you've been in love with Danny since the moment you met him. I just wanted you to myself until you figured it out."

"How did you know?" The SEAL was gobsmacked, his jaw hanging open and everything.

"I knew the first time you talked about him. And talked about him some more." She gave him another smile, this one was wistful. "I was hoping that I'm wrong, but deep down I knew you were no longer mine."

This time, Steve reached forward and hugged her. "Thank you for understanding, Cath."

"Always, Steve."

End of flashback.

It was safe to say that Danny was feeling like a very, very crappy person at the end of Steve's explanation. Minus the whole him being in love with Danny, Steve told the blonde everything. Including how Catherine left not long after their hug and Steve spent most of the night waiting and hoping that his lover would show up. But Danny never came and Steve fell into a restless sleep.

"Steve, I'm so sorry. I just, I saw you two and assumed the worst." Danny closed his eyes, refusing to let the tears fall.

"Why don't you just trust me?" Steve asked, voice soft en vulnerable.

"I do trust you." Danny told him firmly, crystal blue eyes locking on Steve's grey blue ones. The Jersey native hesitated and the brunette stayed quiet to give him time to collect his thoughts. "I'm- I'm scared, okay?"

"Of what?" Steve asked gently, taking a hesitant step forward.

"That this isn't going to work out. That I'm going to get hurt, or worse, I'm going to hurt you." Danny's hands were everywhere again, his eyes full of regret. Regret for letting his fear take him over and then jumping to conclusions.

"Danny, I-" And really, Steve didn't know how the hell to respond to that. Feelings is not really his department of expertise. Sighing and closing his eyes briefly, Steve decided to just speak from the heart. "Danny, I'm scared too, man. But I'm not going to let that stop me. I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow and I can't promise that I'll never hurt you again because I do stupid things sometimes that you always yell at me for, you know? So I can't promise you any of that, but I can promise you that I will love you until my last breath."

Danny was stunned and it wasn't over the fact that Steve spoke multipule sentances in the same breath. It was over the only thing in that mini rant that stuck with him. "You love me?"

Steve froze for a second. Then he nodded, almost hesitantly. "Yeah, Danno, I love you. Have since that moment you pulled your gun on me. And you don't have to say it back right now, take your time and be sure when you do say it. Just know, I love you and Gracie more than anything else in this world."

The thing is, Danny is sure that he loves Steve with all of his heart and soul. But it just didn't feel right to tell him right now. Like, it wouldn't be sincere. As if he was saying it because Steve said it. No. Now was not the right time either. So, he settled for the second best option.

"I'm sorry, babe. I trust you, I do, but I should have trusted in you." Danny looked so sincere that Steve's heart ached and he just wanted to wrap Danny up in his embrace and kiss him senseless. The SEAL also knew all that would get him was smack to the back of his head. (Yes, Danny can reach that high.) The blonde detective had a very strict rule about being professional in their work place.

"Hey, can you come with me to the elevator?" Steve asked suddenly, startling the detective, and without waiting for Danny to reply, he walked out of the blonde's office and to the elevator. It didn't take long for Danny to follow him, just like Steve knew he would.

"Yo, SuperSEAL, where are you taking me?" Danny questioned his best friend, stepping into the elevator.

"Nowhere." The brunette deadpanned as the doors shut.

"Then why are we here?" The blonde was confused and pushed his hands into his pockets. Steve leaned forward and pressed on of the elevator buttons, making it come to a grinding halt.

Danny turns to his lover, noticing the dark and heated gaze on Steve's face. His eyes took a predatory glint as Steve took a step towards Danny. The blonde took one back and another and then his back hit the elevator wall. "Steve, what are you doing? This is our place of work."

"No." Steve smiled, that shit eating and turning insides to goo smile of his, as he placed his hands on each side of Danny's head and pressed his body against the blonde's, effectively blocking him in. "This is the elevator, which leads downstairs and outside our working place, so technically, this is neutral ground."

Danny rolled his eyes at Steve's wording. "Real romantic, babe."

Steve shrugged, looking down at Danny's lips and licking his own. "I just told you I love you and now I really want to kiss you."

"Well then," Danny started, putting his hands on Steve's hips and fisting his shirt and pulling the SEAL impossibly closer. "Wait are you waiting for?"

Steve didn't need to be told twice.