Guardian
A/N: First, please don't die of shock that I just posted two chapters in one day. I didn't mean to, but it just happened.
Second, as an FYI, I'm reposting both of the Guardian stories over on AO3. While nothing substantial has changed, I have made a few minor tweaks and edits to clean some stuff up. I'd love to say I'll post the cleaned up chapters here, but quite frankly the process to edit chapters is a pain. In the time it would take me to do that, I can have another chapter or two written.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.
Chapter 56
Eyes flying open, Steve felt the solid weight of his soundly sleeping partner's arm across his stomach. Focusing on calming his breath from the nightmare, he heard what sounded like a muffled cry from across the hall. Carefully lifting Danny's arm, he slipped out of bed and toward the door. Out in the hall, he saw mom and Mary both at their doors.
"Go back to bed. I've got her." They nodded sleepily as he headed toward Grace's door. Pushing it open, he saw her curled around the HPD bear, soft cries escaping as tears ran down her cheeks. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled the little girl into his lap.
"Gracie, wake up sweetheart. I've got you." He held her close, rubbing her back as he tried to rouse her from the dream.
"Daddy?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her head against his warm skin.
"Sshhh. I've got you, Gracie." Making sure he had her securely, Steve stood from the bed. "Come on, let's go snuggle with Danno."
"I'm sorry, Daddy." She whispered against his neck before he'd taken two steps from the bed.
Backing up, he sat back down on the bed with her. "Gracie, look at me." He helped her shift so she could see his face. "You don't ever have to apologize for having a bad dream or needing Danno or me. We will always do our very best to be here for you when you need us, whether it's a bad dream or anything else. We love you."
Steve heard the door pushing further open, and looked up to see Danny leaning against the frame. "Everything okay?"
Grace nodded at him.
"You know, Steve is right. No matter how old you are, no matter where you are, you never, ever have to apologize for needing us. Trust me, we prefer to feel needed." When Grace finally cracked a small smile, Danny beamed back at her. "Now why don't we move this party back to our room."
"I can stay here." Gracie offered, not wanting to be in the way.
"Nope. I'm pretty sure I heard Super SEAL here say something about snuggling with Danno. No way are you getting out of that." He gave a slightly guilty grin to Steve as the taller man rose from the bed, their daughter wrapped safely in his arms.
"Just how long were you standing out there?" Steve asked as they made their way back to their room.
"I was just a few seconds behind you." Steve's arched brow prompted him to continue. "You had it covered. I knew you'd bring her back with you, so I was just enjoying listening."
Carefully setting Grace in the bed between them, Steve yanked the sheet up so it made it all the way up to her chin. Gracie shifted so she was curled against Danny's chest, with both her arms wrapped around Steve's arm. It was less than five minutes before the three of them drifted back to sleep.
When Steve woke up a few hours later, Grace's head was resting on his shoulder, her back curled against his side. Danny's arm was draped over her shoulder, his hand resting over Steve's heart. Judging by the light from the window, it was around 6:30 and time for him to get his butt out of bed and go for a run and swim. Trying to carefully extricate himself without waking them, he realized he failed when Grace promptly rolled over, big brown eyes staring up at him.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you." He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Can I come with you?" She whispered before he straightened back up. Something about the look in her eyes said she needed to expunge the memories of her nightmare before she could let go and enjoy her day. He would have said yes anyway, but there was no way he would deny her the chance to find some peace.
"Of course. Just throw your running clothes on over your bathing suit." She scrambled out of bed and bolted for the door, leaving him smiling after her.
"I'll never understand how she is turning out so much like you already." Danny mumbled as he peered out from the rumpled sheet.
"I promise it isn't an intentional effort on my part." Steve grinned at him.
"I didn't say I was complaining. All things considered, if given the option of having her use a workout to help cope is what works, I'll gladly take that option. I've seen far too many people opt for far more detrimental coping mechanisms." He rubbed his eyes before sitting up in the bed.
"That is very true. Where are you going?" Steve asked as Danny started to slide out of the bed.
"With the two of you. I told you I needed to start running more often. Can't think of a better way to do it than with my two favorite people." Danny stopped for a quick kiss before heading to the closet for his clothes. "Come on Super Seal. We can't leave our daughter waiting for us."
A few minutes later, the men opened the door to the hall to find Grace ready to go in one of her new running outfits.
"Danno?" The look of pure shock on his daughter's face made him laugh.
"What? I'm not allowed to decide I want to go for a run too?" He leaned down as she threw her arms around him in an excited hug. Letting go, she grabbed their hands and tugged them toward the stairs.
Hearing a door behind them, Steve turned and caught sight of Beth's head sticking out of her door, a warm smile on her face as she watched them go.
"You kids have fun. I'll put a couple of extra bottles and towels out on the lanai before you get back." She called quietly, ducking back into her room when Steve gave her a thumbs up.
After just over a half an hour of combined running and walking, the three were making their way around to the back of the house.
"I swear you two are trying to kill me. How is it even close to fair that our nine year old daughter is faster than me?"
Steve took a drink, while Grace stripped down to her bathing suit trying to look innocent.
"It isn't, but that's what you get for not exercising enough." Steve teased. Seeing that Grace was ready to swim, he winked at her. "Plus, if you think she creamed you out there, I'd hate to think what she'll do to you in the water." The last few words were called over his shoulder as he and Gracie both sprinted for the water, leaving Danny sputtering on the lanai.
Kicking his shoes off and pulling his shirt over his head, Danny followed after them. "I can't believe I'm doing this." He yelled at them as the pair dove into the water. He kept grumbling until he noticed that they'd both popped back up and were waiting for him.
"Come on Danno. It's fun." Grace encouraged him as he waded out to where they stood.
"Fun? No. This is not fun. This is insane. I can't believe I let you two talk me into this." He glared at the pair of them.
"Technically Danno, we didn't talk you in to anything. We never uttered a word about you actually coming swimming." Steve splashed him playfully.
"No. You just baited me with trash talk about how much faster our daughter would be than me in the water."
"Well, you're already wet, so here's your chance to prove your skills." Steve gestured out over the water. "Let's see what you've got."
"Fine." Danny stuck his tongue out before diving into the water and taking off.
"I can't believe we did it." Grace looked at Steve, grinning before she took off after her father. Steve followed right behind her.
Danny was actually a stronger swimmer than you would imagine given his propensity for fussing about the water. Steve knew he could have gone faster, at least over a short distance, but could tell his partner was pacing himself to avoid any risk of wearing Grace out. Much to the SEAL's pride, Grace was quite a natural in the water. While she'd taken swimming lessons at the country club at Rachel and Stan's insistence, she'd learned all the important things about open water swimming from him and Kono. While Danny had fussed at them about it, he'd also thanked them both for ensuring she was as safe as she could be in the ocean.
When Danny popped up, treading water, Steve and Grace both paused beside him. Rather than turning into a race, the three had fallen into an easy pace together on the way out.
"Race you back to shore?" Grace challenged Danno.
"You got it."
They both looked to Steve. "On three." Steve announced. "One. Two. Three." He laughed as the two took off for shore. Continuing to tread water for a few seconds, he watched them go. Danny had strength on his side, but Grace had a higher degree of ease in the water. It would be anyone's bet which one made it first.
Deciding they had enough of a jump, Steve took off after them. He caught up with them easily, then surged just beyond them so he could turn and declare the winner. Standing up in waist deep water, he held his hands out as targets for the racers. It looked like it would be neck in neck until the final push when Gracie managed to push herself just ahead of her father, tagging Steve's hand for the win.
As soon as she popped up, he gave her a high five.
"Is this what you two were conspiring about when you sprinted off without me while we were running." Danny started ranting the second he popped out of the water.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Steve gave him an innocent look.
"I swear you two are going to turn all of my hair gray." Danny fussed as he elbowed Steve playfully in the ribs. Grace ran ahead of them, grabbing the towels from the chair and throwing one at each of her dads.
Steve watched her closely, checking for any residual signs of anxiety from the night before. Seeing none, he smiled as he dried his hair. If only everything could be fixed by a run and swim, life would be so much easier.
Heading back toward the house, Mary and Beth popped out of the back door carrying cups of coffee and a glass of juice for Grace.
"Kono called and said they are bringing malasadas for breakfast, but we thought you guys might appreciate your coffee." Beth greeted them all. "Did you three have a good workout?"
"I beat Danno!" Grace was bouncing with excitement as she declared her victory.
"That's right. Rub it in that you're faster than your old man." Danny griped with a huge grin on his face.
"You said it." Steve chuckled at him.
"Said what?"
"Old man." Steve, Beth, and Mary all answered at the same time, everyone laughing as he stuck his tongue out at them.
Lowering himself into one of the chairs, Steve wrapped an arm around Gracie has she slid into his lap. They were both still a bit wet from the ocean water, but it didn't bother either of them. The SEAL realized he would be quite content if more mornings started like this, and with Danny's parents and Mary all moving into a house only a few minutes away, it wasn't unreasonable to think that they just might.
/ GUARDIAN /
A/N: So this was just supposed to be one short scene but you know how this bunch likes to run away with things. Gracie announced she wanted to go running with Steve and I wasn't about to be the one to tell her no. Hope you all enjoyed!