I do NOT own anything, but the plot.
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As always, thank you!
Nalo a loaʻa
-loosely translate to "lost and found"-
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
"Yeah, not so smug, now, huh?" Danny asked, looking over the top of the car. "Sure, you should've declined those nice pain meds before they let you loose in the wild?"
"I'm fine," Steve panted, his fingers pulsing on the car frame as he steadied himself. "Didn't think about the steps though."
Steve nodded to the door, the same step he flew down after Franklin Wright shot him and helped propel his fight, now looked like a trip up The Haiku Stairs nestled in the Hawaiian mountains.
"Don't worry, Super SEAL," Danny encouraged, slamming his door shut. "Slow and steady."
He'd already done this day at Steve's pace; he'd continue to do so until he had his friend sat and comfortable on the couch.
"Hey Danny?" Steve asked, fixing his partner with a sad look across the roof of the car. "Can you lay off the Super SEAL nickname, please?" he requested, his voice small. "It just still stings a bit."
"Shit," Danny groaned, resting his forehead to the car, before he looked back up. "You've got it, Babe. Whatever you need."
"Just for now … while I get to grips with this all," Steve asked, twisting to face the house. "Think I'm gonna need your help, though."
"You've got it!" Danny quickly replied, rushing round the car, he grabbed the crutches from the back of the car and was by Steve's side in seconds. "How do you want to do this? You can do all the work if need be, and I'll be here as and when you need me. Or vice versa."
"Let's try the first option," Steve replied, taking the crutches from Danny. "Gotta learn somehow."
He moved forward, the jolt smarting his healing wounds, but not enough to deter him until he got to the porch steps.
"Hand on the rail, big boy," Danny coached having observed Steve go from being short footed to reticent. "Let me take the crutches and pop them by the door, and you can use me to push up on. I'll be sturdier than the crutches for now."
"Thanks, Danno," Steve murmured letting Danny take the lead. "Think I'd be lost without you."
"Yeah, yeah," Danny admonished, not taking too much notice of Steve's sentimental moments, but would definitely use them later as leverage. "Well, we've both tried life without the other and our co-dependency has just skyrocketed."
Steve laughed as they moved in sync, both working together to get Steve up the steps safely and into the house. Danny muttered as he unlocked the door about grabbing bags when Steve was sat and allowed his bed friend to go ahead.
The smell of fresh coffee hit his senses first and he bristled but recovered. He wondered if Kono had come ahead of them and decided to make the house seem more like home for them, but when movement caught his eyes, his looked out of the back doors and slowed his breathing.
"Joanie?" Steve questioned, confusion growing the moment he noticed the blonde child out on the backyard. "Danny, Joanie," he stated, and look to his best friend with a wild gaze. "Where's Mary?"
"C'mon, couch," Danny motioned, catching the tension yet again chording Steve's muscles. "We'll get you answers as soon as you're resting."
"I want to find my sister," Steve argued, refusing to move even if he wasn't steady.
"I'm here, big brother," Mary answered, coming to stand in the space between the kitchen and the living room. "Surprise!" she exclaimed, almost cautiously, but her expression changed. "And this is worse than you even said it was, Danny."
"I'm fine," Steve argued.
"He's fine," Danny agreed, grinning. "Sit," Danny replied, pushing him a little to get him moving. "I promised the good doctor I'd bring you home if you were resting … we're already breaking that rule, but why am I surprised? It's you after all."
Ignoring his partner, Steve felt himself sink into the couch cushions and sighed in instant relief. His aching body thanked him for the familiarity, but also didn't like the angle his leg found itself at.
"Steven, you need that leg up."
Opening his eyes as Danny helped lift his left leg, Steve noticed the photo frames all back where they were.
"The photos," he pointed out, his gaze flicking between them still frames. "They were in a box…"
"Catherine and I took the liberty to put the house back to how it should be," Danny proudly announced. "Your medals, too."
"Danny," Steve started, his tone nothing short of warning.
"Ah-ah-ah," Danny stopped him. "Regardless of where you are in life, you still earned them and you deserve to be proud of them," Danny argued, putting his hands on his hips. "I've allowed you time to wallow, but it's time we brought you out of denial and hiding and accept that life might be different, but it's not a bad thing."
"Danny…"
"You don't want to be Super SEAL right now, and I get that … hate it, but I understand it. However, I will not allow you to diminish every little achievement you have ever done to get to this point in your life."
"I just feel lost," Steve admitted, rubbing his hand over his face. "That was everything I am, Danny."
"Are you kidding, right now?" Danny asked, his voice raising considerable. "You are so much more than a SEAL, Steve." Danny was grateful when Mary excused herself to go check on Joan. "You are the best damn partner I ever had, you're my best friend, the best uncle my kids could have, the best leader Five-0 could have hoped for. And soon, you're going to be the best father to best kid ever to join this Ohana."
"But the navy…"
"Lost a good soldier," Danny said, deliberately misnaming Steve. "They lost a fine sailor the day they had to decide to medically discharge, but you keep your standing, Steve. That doesn't change. But maybe you just need to see that everything happens for a reason."
"And this reason?"
"Daniel Junior not having to see his father run off to war," Danny pointed out, keeping his face straight. "Like his Uncle Danny has had to."
"I am not calling my son Daniel Junior!"
"We'll see," he replied grinning as he heard Mary. "Now, comfortable?"
Steve nodded, watching his sister's movements. She was scatty at the best of times, but right now, she was nervous, trying to keep herself busy.
"Mare, come here," Steve called out, hating to see her like this.
Mary listened just like she would have back when they were younger, and sat on the coffee table opposite her brother, her eyes so full with worry and concern.
"I am so sorry, Steve."
"Don't be," Steve replied, waving her off. "It's all good."
"No, it's not," she retorted, frowning.
"It is … you're here, now," Steve replied, flexing a little as he realised every pain in his body was coming alive.
"Are you going to listen to me and take a pill or two?" Danny asked, standing behind Mary with his hands on his hips.
"Yes, he is," Mary spoke for her brother.
"Least one of you McGarrett kids listens," Danny muttered, strutting off toward the kitchen to grab a glass of water. He came back, putting the water down before heading to the car to grab their bags and the medication they'd picked up on the way home. "The cavalry will be here soon!"
"The cavalry?" Mary laughed.
"Grace and Charlie," Steve managed, pressing a hand to his side. "They're moving in … so guess it's going to be a houseful now." He watched Mary's expression and immediately felt the need to change that. "If you don't want them to stay, I can tell them."
"No, this is your house," Mary replied and put her hand up as Steve clearly went to argue the fact. "I don't care if we grew up here, Dad left it to you. You've lived here for the last six years … it's not my house, Steve."
"Mare…"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "We'll make it work … if you don't mind me and Joanie being here?"
"Mind you being here?" Steve barked incredulously, turning onto his side. "Mary, I've wanted you to be here every day since they let me come home."
The weight of that comment came down on Mary so heavily she couldn't cope.
"God Steve, I am so sorry," she managed before her tears took over. "I regretted that call ever since I put the phone down, but I didn't know what to do," she spoke with tears thick in her voice. "And then I get the call the you're hurt again."
Putting his hand out, Steve hoped his sister would take it. They may have been estranged since they are kids, but something in the wake of their father's death brought them closer together. Steve wanted that back, forge a stronger bond.
"You're here now," he said, and grunted as he moved. "I don't have much energy for anything but loving having you here." Shifting, Steve knew he couldn't say no to pills any longer, so he was glad Danny was taking control. "Danny called you, huh?"
"Yeah, to tell me you were in hospital, but were on the road to recovery." She squeezed his hand, but managed to smile. "He also explained the situation … sorry about the Navy, Steve. I know how hard you worked."
"Hey … some things just aren't meant to last," Steve replied, honestly. "I lost it, but I did so saving Danny … I can't argue with that. Plus, he's right, things are going to be different but that's not necessarily a bad thing."
There was a blissful moment just after attending Cath's appointment with her and seeing his son moving for them on screen that Steve realised the blessing he had been handed. Sure, he had fought his entire life for his country and every person in it, but now his focus shifted - as Danny said it would. Steve was looking at the milestones Danny got to experience and being a cop and a dad didn't seem like a bad deal. As long as he was in the reserves, his reactivation was merely a piece of paper away, but now he didn't have to worry about running off to war and potentially leaving his son without a father. He had already done that, and he refused to do it again.
"How do you know that?"
Mary was cautious with asking, but she kept her tone even, trying not to worry about her brother.
"Think you'll be able to cope with being Aunt Mary?" he asked, handing her newest scan photo. "Because it's going to happen a lot sooner than you think."
Mary didn't say a woman, instead took the small photo, blinked at it before looking at her brother and then slowly started to squeal.
Danny, having left the house to grab their bags heard Mary from outside. He laughed at how loud she was getting and as he walked in, looked at Steve with a grin on his lips.
"I'm guessing you told her?"
The shit-eating grin Steve threw back at Danny, told him everything was going to be okay.
