~~~For those of you who think my portrayal of Catherine is uncharacteristic; we don't really know Catherine and Steve on a very emotional, intimate level. Like they weren't emotionally intimate when they were together, but Steve was really, really hurt when she left. I wish the show would have shed more light on Steve's private thoughts and struggles with being apart. And it's not like Steve is super loving and open about being with Lynn on the show.

Also, sorry it's taken me so long to post – work and life have been hectic, but I'm back! ~~~

Just to recap: Steve and Catherine have sort of reconciled, but Steve needs to talk to Danny. How will things go? ~~~

Daniel Williams couldn't sleep in; his ex-wife had riddled his thoughts the entire night. He went to sleep thinking about Rachel, dreamt of her, and woke up wondering about her. The idea that they both had someone and would never reconcile sickened him. He knew she'd never last with Stan, he knew they'd get back together, but something about the last few weeks made him feel like this was final.

Danny had internalized some of the comments Steve had made. Danny didn't want to acknowledge that he knew he'd hurt his daughter and his ex by coming around and being a 'family' just to pull the rug out from under them. He knew he'd hurt Rachel to her core and hurting her, hurt him. As Melissa slept beside him, he couldn't help, but feel like he'd fucked up. He loved Melissa, but not like he loved Rachel. It had taken weeks of Rachel icing him out and Steve's harsh words before he acknowledged Melissa was the safe option and he could finally admit it to himself.

He crept out of bed and aimlessly watched television. He was sick of it all; sick of himself, his love life, fighting with Rachel, disappointing Grace, and being estranged from Steve. He'd never felt less grounded, and Danny did not do uncertainty well. When his son climbed into his lap, looking so innocent and like his ex-wife, he knew this couldn't go on. He was still hopelessly in love with his ex-wife, but this time he'd fucked up bad, and he didn't know how many rounds of hurting he could exchange with Rachel.

Steve's number blinked on his phone and against his better judgment he declined the call. If it were a case, Lou would call him shortly. Lou had been the intermediary between Danny and Steve during this fight. Danny missed Steve sure, but being estranged from Steve gave him the time to process their friendship and realize certain aspects needed to change. He loved his brother, but he resented him at the moment and very much didn't like him. After four declined calls, Danny finally took a deep breath and answered.

"Is there a case?"

"No Danny. I was—"

"Then why are you calling?"

"Danny…"

"What?! Get it through your thick skull that I do not want to talk to you, Steven."

"Danny…"

"Don't Danny me Steve. I'm fucking pissed at you."

"Danno I'm trying to apologize! If you'd just let me get a word in, you'd know I am incredibly sorry, and I want to make amends."

"I don't want your apology. I just want you to leave me alone. I need time because I still hate you."

"I know Danny. I just want you to know how sorry I am and I am ready to talk when you are. I miss you, you're my best friend, I can't lose you, Danno."

"Funny. Best friends don't say things like what you said. You had no right, especially in front of Lou."

"Danny you're right. I crossed the line. I want to make things right with you, are you home, I need to speak to you face to face."

"Melissa and the kids are here. I'll be there in thirty minutes, but you've got a lot of explaining and apologizing to do. You hurt my feelings, Steven."

"I know, man and I can never apologize enough."

Once Steve and Danny hung up, Steve raced to the store to buy a couple six packs of beer and a pizza. The house was quiet and tidy; Junior appeared to be out for the day. Steve puttered about nervously waiting for his partner, unsure of what was to come.

When Danny arrived, he was cold and silent. They sat on the lanai both collecting their thoughts; drinking beers and waiting on the pizza. Steve wasn't as forthcoming with his apology now that the two men were face to face. It had been easier on the phone, Steve didn't have to look at Danny as he tried to say his piece.

"Danny, I am so sorry for what I said. I should have never brought up Rachel's feelings, your private business or your kids; I know family is off limits. I fucked up, and I pushed my best friend away because I was upset. I was angry that with what Catherine told you, jealous you had been the one to comfort her when I fucked up, mad at myself for pissing off the people closest to me, and I lost it. I was hurt that you didn't call me about Cath and so I wanted to hurt you more. It was immature and unacceptable. Look you know I am not good at this talking thing, but you have to know how sorry I am. You're my best friend, I need you in my life, and I miss you. I understand if you need time, but I promise that something like this will never happen again. I love you, you're my brother you know."

Steve had so much more he wanted to say, but the tears were already flowing. Danny meant so much to him; the bond he shared with the blond detective was unlike any other he'd ever experienced. Life would not be the same without his best friend. He would not allow his pride to hide his true feelings and lose out on the best friend he'd ever had. No amount of keep it together, McGarrett; stop crying; stop being vulnerable, swirling around in his head could prevent him from laying it on the line and hoping Danny would be receptive.

Danny gave no indication that he'd heard Steve, but he had. Each word he'd internalized, and he believed Steve. His life was too confusing for him to keep Steve at a distance; his feelings over the way he'd left things with Rachel were consuming him. Steve's words had been inappropriate in the workplace, in front of the team, but Steve wasn't wrong. That's what made being mad at Steve so effortless, he was furious at himself and taking it out on McGarrett. It was the truth in Steve's words that had made Danny avoid Steve for more than a week. He saw a patient Steve eagerly waiting for a response, but Danny had so many that it was like he had nothing to say.

"You were out of line, but you were right. That's why it pissed me off so much, Steve. You have no right to call me on my mess when your bullshit is all over the place. I had time to think this week, and I've realized that you don't value my opinion. Before you interrupt, let me finish. I worry myself sick over your health, you refuse to take your health seriously. I ask you to take fewer risks on the job, you go out of your way to prove you're a super seal. I ask you, beg you to get the psychological help we all know you need, you go to therapy with a woman who is not your girlfriend. I ask you to reconsider Catherine's position in your life, you lash out at me and embarrass me by airing my dirty laundry in front of my team. Your disregard for other people's feelings and requests is normally irritating to me, but at this point in time, I am no longer interested in letting it go for the sake of being friends, partners. I love you like a brother, but I won't let you terrorize me the way my own brother put me through the ringer. You can't lash out like that in the office and expect one apology is going to dismiss what you did when you were upset. You're 41, act like it, Steven."

Neither Steve nor Danny react until Steve gets up to remove their pizza from the oven. He stays in the kitchen longer than necessary, unsure of how much more brutal William's honesty he can handle in one sitting. Danny was so perceptive, intuitive, and he knew how to use his words as weapons. After they eat a portion of the pizza in companionable silence, Steve admits that Danny was entirely correct, Danny nods his head in agreement.

The partners are not back to being McDanno, but they're in a lot better place than when they started talking. Danny painstakingly avoids the topic of Catherine as he inquires how Steve has been in the past week. His talks with Catherine in the past couple weeks had lessened his anger and resentment towards her; he also wasn't sure if he wanted to know if she was back in Steve's life. This past week he'd realized that while Catherine had her share of blame in hurting Steve; Steve's irrationality concerning Catherine was entirely Steve's doing. He didn't want to lose any ground with Steve. Disparaging Catherine in any way was the number one way to cause Steve to shut down and go on the offensive.

By the time the two were good and drunk, Melissa was on the way with the kids for a beach day at Steve's. The Grovers would be by shortly. Soon enough it would become a drop-in day for the entire ohana. Steve texted Catherine letting her know Danny had the kids over and she should stop by; it irritated him that she hadn't responded by the time the kids were in the water playing. He excused himself to the house and called her, it went straight to voicemail. He texted her again asking for her to call him back and just as he went to return to the lanai, there was a knock on the door.

He was surprised to see Lynn on his porch. He knew for as long as Melissa and Danny were together he'd occasionally see Lynn, but he didn't expect to see her so soon, never mind at his home. She smiled and started speaking before he could even register what she was saying. He didn't get a chance to inquire why she was there before Melissa appeared and pushed past Steve to bring Lynn inside. Once he realized Lynn had come for the few things she'd left, Melissa was pulling Lynn towards the lanai; she was a little drunk, and Steve didn't want to cause a scene.

No one knew he'd broken up with Lynn. No one knew he was sort of seeing Catherine. And to top it off, Catherine wasn't answering her phone. He knew if she did show up, seeing Lynn would bother her, but he didn't want to tell Catherine if she wouldn't be coming anyway. He didn't want to pull Lou, Junior, or his partner away to discuss his awkward predicament. Steve reasoned if he saw Scott at an event of Catherine's he wouldn't be too upset, which he knew was a lie, but he just didn't want to rock any boats. Lynn kept her distance from Steve, catching up with Melissa down by the beach, and Steve spent his time by the grill obsessively checking his phone for a message from her, ready to run interference if needed.