Guardian

A/N: For the review that asked, for the sake of simplicity Charlie doesn't exist in this story. I'd debating writing him in and having Rachel's mother take him, but you might understand why I opted against that plan after you read this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.

Chapter 23

Danny entered the kitchen with Grace to find that the pair had been busy. There were plates with hot omelets already on the table along with juice. Turning, she handed him a cup of coffee already fixed just the way he liked it.

By the time Steve made it downstairs, his coffee was already waiting by his plate. Beth and Danny both noticed the look in his eyes at the small gesture.

Before he could sit, Beth reached out and pulled him into a hug, squeezing as tightly as she could. Though she hated that the affection always seemed to surprise him; it warmed her heart to see that he was willing to accept it now.

She still remembered the first time they'd met. Knowing how much the Seal meant to her son, even then, she'd given him a hug. It had thrown her when he'd completely frozen at her touch as if something so simple was foreign to him. Danny had explained later that only with Grace did simple affection seem too even come close to natural for him; even the other members of the task force treaded carefully in those days.

Once they all sat down to eat, the four dug into their food. They all enjoyed the chance to have breakfast as a family and discuss the day's plans. Today the adults had agreed to forego any specific plans for the afternoon until they knew how Grace faired at her appointment.

"Are you ready to meet Dr. James today?" Steve asked between bites.

Finishing the bite in mouth, Grace looked up at him as she considered the question. "I think so. You guys will be with me, right?"

The Seal looked to Danny before answering, making sure he didn't want to take over. "I haven't met Dr. James, but from what I know she will probably want to talk to the three of us together, Danno and I together, and just you while we're there."

The detective had made it abundantly clear that Steve would not be excluded from the sessions in any way. If the doctor wanted to speak to her father, she was going to get both of them.

He could see the hint of trepidation in her eyes. "It's okay to be nervous, Gracie. I was the first time I met Dr. Thompson, but they are there to help us. You can tell Dr. James anything and she'll be able to help you work through it; even things that you might not want to share with Danno and me."

Everyone ate in silence for a stretch as she thought through what he'd said.

"I'm actually going to call Dr. Thompson after breakfast. I had a nightmare last night before you did. I know he'll be able to me deal with what I was feeling and the bad memories. Talking to him always helps make them go away faster."

The Seal was so focused on Grace that he didn't see the expressions of pure love and pride from the Williams adults. The pair were well aware that he typically wouldn't admit things like that over breakfast, but was trying to put the little girl at ease by setting a good example. That he was almost taking steps to take care of his own well-being made them equally happy.

Her fears around the impending doctor's visit dealt with, the rest of breakfast was spent with Grace and Beth rehashing their view of the sparring matches from the day before. Though he hated the idea of either of them ever being attacked, Danny was thrilled to see they were both looking forward to more lessons.

Glancing up at the clock, Steve decided it was about time for him to get ready for the trip to Dr. James so he wouldn't have to rush at the last minute. Standing up, he started to clear his dishes.

"Just leave them, Steven. Chin and his cousin won't be here for almost two hours, so I have plenty of time to clean up before I go." They'd scheduled things so she would easily still be gone with Grace and the boys returned home.

"But…" He started to argue.

"No buts, Steven. You boys need to go get ready." She shooed him away from the table.

"I'll help as soon as I brush my teeth." Grace offered up. She'd already dressed for the appointment.

Conceding that he wasn't going to win against Mom, the Seal turned to head upstairs. He needed to rinse the saltwater off and put on something better than cargo shorts and an old Navy t-shirt.

Danny gave his mother a quick hug before following his partner up the stairs. By the time he shut the door to the bedroom, Steve was holding his phone to his ear already speaking Dr. Thompson.

"Hey, doc. No, she's doing okay. We're headed to go see Dr. James this morning. Really appreciate you helping with that."

Danny headed into the closet, trying to give him some semblance of privacy for the conversation.

"I just wanted to see if I could get on your schedule soon. Had another nightmare last night and I don't want to fall apart on them."

The detective hated to hear the frustration in the Seal's voice. He didn't know all the details of the nightmares, couldn't know thanks to security clearances, but he knew they were an unwelcome to reminder to Steve that he wasn't really Super Seal.

"Thanks doc. I'll see you tomorrow." Danny breathed a sigh of relief that the good doctor was clearing giving up part of his weekend to expedite the appointment. Of course, given that Danny hadn't known about the appointments until two days ago, he suspected that the doctor often kept odd office hours for his partner.

Grabbing a pair of slacks and a shirt, the detective came back out of the closet just in time to hear the water start in the shower. Checking the clock, Danny decided he had time to distract the Seal for a bit before they had to get dressed.

Emerging from the bathroom a while later, both men appeared considerably calmer as they started getting dressed.

"Dr. Thompson said he could see me tomorrow at 11:30. We'll eat lunch at his office, so you guys won't need to wait on me." Steve updated Danny on the details of the conversation he hadn't heard.

Buttoning his shirt, the detective crossed to where Steve stood, busy fastening his black cargo pants. He hoped this conversation wasn't going to bring all the tension back into those beautifully sculpted shoulders.

Danny covered the Seal's hand with his own. "I'm glad you called him, babe. I'm here to listen anytime you want to talk, but I know he knows details that you can't tell me. Just remember there are people here that care. Just because we're all worried about Grace doesn't mean we don't see that you're hurting too."

Steve forced himself to meet Danny's eyes. "I know, Danno. I know I don't always act like it, but I do know."

Danny's cell phone ringing from the pocket of his shorts startled them both. "Rachel's mother." He knew it from the ringtone and wasn't particularly enthused about this conversation. He and Rachel had their difference, but he and his ex-mother-in-law had never gotten along. Danny was never good enough in her eyes and she loved to remind him of that.

"Detective Williams." He answered the phone somewhat formally as he began pacing.

"Daniel." She sounded irritated.

"Mrs. Bradley, I'm sorry for your loss. HPD mentioned you were handling the funeral arrangements, will you be arriving soon."

"My flight lands in Honolulu at 1:50 this afternoon. Services will be at the Immaculate Conception Church Tuesday at three before I bring her back to England. I want you to bring Grace and her things to the Halekulani at four so she can stay with me."

Steve was standing close enough to hear both ends of the conversation and placed a restraining hand on his partner's shoulder. "Stay calm, Danny. We have to deal with her while she's here and she's going to want to see Grace." He whispered.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded at Steve. Fighting the urge to tell Rachel's mother to fuck off, he attempted civility. "I appreciate that you want to see Grace while you are here and you are more than welcome to visit as much as you'd like, but I am not going to drop her off at a hotel with you. No offense, but you've only seen her once in the last two years. Right now, she needs as much stability as possible."

He could hear her indignant huff through the phone. Mrs. Dianne Bradley was not used to being denied. "We'll see about that."

"There isn't much to see about it." Danny tried to keep his voice level. "I am her father. It is my job to look out for her best interests and that is exactly what I'm doing. Now, if you don't mind, we have an appointment to keep."

"This conversation is not over, Daniel. We will discuss this further when I arrive."

Disconnecting the call, Danny sagged into Steve's waiting arms. "Why do I feel like that was about more than Grace staying at the hotel with her?"

The Seal held him tighter. "Whatever it is she's up to, we'll figure it out together." He shared the suspicion that Rachel's mother meant more than just her daughter's body when she said she was bringing her back to England. Could the woman really be delusional enough to think that Danny would let her waltz off with his only daughter?

Finishing getting ready, Danny managed to calm himself down. Steve was right. They would figure things out. Rachel's mom had no right to take Grace away.

"You ready?" The detective watched his partner where he stared out the window.

"You head down. I'm gonna make a quick call to Governor Denning and I'll be right behind you."

"Really think we need to involve him?" Danny was surprised that Steve was ready to bring Denning in before trouble actually landed on their laps.

"Not taking any chances, Danno. He said to call if we needed anything at all from him and I'm going to hope he meant it."

Danny reached up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you downstairs." He started toward the door. "Think we should tell Grace about the impending visit?"

"Yeah, the doctor might be helpful in navigating this one." The detective nodded as he disappeared out the door.

Pulling his phone out, Steve punched the buttons to call the governor and waited for him to answer.

"Commander McGarrett, how is Grace?" The politician sounded genuinely concerned.

"She's hanging in there. She's got Danny's fight, so she'll make it through. We're actually about to head out for the first session with a therapist." He wanted Denning to know that they were taking her welfare seriously.

"I'm glad to hear it. Now, assuming you didn't just call to say hello, what can I do for you today? The press aren't hounding you are they?" He sounded irritated at that idea.

"No sir, we haven't seen them yet. Although we've been lying low. It's not the press I'm worried about. We just received a call from Rachel's mother, Dianne Bradley. She'll be arriving this afternoon and staying at the Halekulani. She wasn't pleased with Danny's refusal to drop Grace off to stay at the hotel with her."

"Tough shit for her. The last thing that little girl is to be jerked around less than a week after watching her mother get killed." Steve's eyebrows shot up at the unexpected outburst.

"Well sir, I'm afraid that may be exactly what she's planning. She didn't come out and say it, but I suspect she may try to take Grace back to England with her." The Seal waited for Denning's reaction.

"Like hell she will. You keep me posted on everything that happens with her. I'll make a few phone calls and make sure the appropriate parties are prepared to intercede if needed. No Hawaiian judge in their right mind will take that little girl away from her father and send her to a foreign country."

Steve let out the breath he'd been holding. "Thank you, Governor. We appreciate your assistance."

"Call me after you speak to her again and let me where things stand."

"Will do, sir." McGarrett disconnected the call. That had actually gone better than he'd hoped. If Rachel's mother thought she was going to come whisk her granddaughter away to England without a fight she would be sorely disappointed.

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A/N: Reviews are greatly appreciated.

You know the drill, if you want to know just what Danny did to distract Steve go check out chapter 4 of Guardian: Love Explored.