Steve rubbed his eyes as he glared at the clock on his phone. It was morning, and normally at this time he'd be getting ready for his daily swim. But not today. Today, he didn't have any desire to move from his current position.

That spot being under his bed covers, Danny faintly snoring next to him with a hand placed on his chest, directly over his heart. Steve lightly covered the hand with his own as he placed his phone back on the bedside table. His inbox was full of messages from his concerned friends, but he didn't want to read or reply to any of them. He didn't know what to say.

Steve sighed as he sunk back into the pillow. He'd barely slept, waking up every couple of hours imagining that he was back in that hellhole being torn apart all over again. His face screwed up in frustration as he told himself that he was home, he was free.

Steve knew this. But he didn't believe it.

Movement to the side of him caused him to sharply turn his head and he let out a sigh of relief as he saw Danny moan and rub his eyes.

"Morning, babe."

"Hey." Steve whispered in reply before catching his bottom lip between his teeth. Danny wrinkled his brow as he raised himself up on one elbow to look at Steve properly, pursing his lips as he chose his next words.

"Did you sleep okay?" Danny asked.

Steve shook his head. "No. Everything still hurts, didn't want to move much."

"Any dreams?" Steve's pained look as he averted his gaze away and nodded was all the answer Danny needed. His hand rubbed slow circles where it was still on Steve's chest.

"I'm sorry, babe." He muttered before pressing a kiss to the side of Steve's face that wasn't bruised. Then he had an idea. "Hey, have you got any spare pillows and duvets?"

"They're in the wardrobe I think?" Steve answered, puzzled as he watched Danny slide off the bed and rummage through the wardrobe. He came back with his arms full and set about laying the thick duvet (Hawaii was so hot Danny wondered why Steve even had one) on top of the bed sheet. Steve refused to leave the bed, instead lifting his hips so Danny could work around him.

Danny then placed the spare pillows behind Steve's shoulders, so he was almost propped up.

"How's that?" He said, standing back to admire his handy work.

"Yeah, Danny," Steve sank back into his makeshift nest, the relief visible on his face. "Much better, thanks."

"Good." Danny said as he made his way to the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Steve sat up slightly, wincing as it hurt his shoulders.

"Shower, babe. Then I'm gonna make us some breakfast, you coming?" He replied with a smile. Steve didn't think he could handle any food, no matter how much his stomach was gurgling at him in protest.

"No, it's alright." He shook his head before slowly curling onto his side to face the bathroom, offering Danny a small smile. "Just wanna sleep."

Danny nodded, figuring it was probably the best thing for Steve right now. He crossed the space between him and the bed and knelt by Steve's head. "Okay. I'll be back in a bit, buddy."

Steve closed his eyes and nodded, hand coming up to pull Danny's pillow closer to him so he could hug it tight. Danny stood up and gave Steve one last glance before walking over to the bathroom and shutting the door.

After showering and throwing on more of Steve's clothes Danny made his way down to the kitchen. Not long afterward he ascended the stairs, balancing two steaming cups of coffee and a giant plate of slices of toast, with Steve's special extra-full-of-fibre bread. Danny preferred 'normal' bread, but his hunger won the battle.

"Hey, babe it's only me." Danny whispered as he nudged the door open with his elbow. He was pleased to see that Steve was in the same position that he'd left him in an hour previous, still hugging Danny's pillow to his chest. But surprisingly, Danny realised as he slid back under the covers, coffee on the side and the plate of toast in his lap, Steve was blissfully asleep.

He remained that way for a few hours while Danny played one of the games that Charlie had put on his iPad, until he shifted and rubbed his face against Danny's hip.

"What time is it?" Steve mumbled. Danny set his iPad aside and ran a hand through Steve's hair.

"Just after lunchtime." Danny replied. "Feel any better now?"

Steve slowly pushed himself into an upright position, wincing as the sitting motion sent a flare of pain up his back from his ass. "A little bit. I think."

Danny started massaging the aching muscles in Steve's back, being sure not to press too hard on the areas he knew were bruised. "It'll come in time, babe, don't worry. Remember, I'll be here with you."

Steve turned his face to look at Danny and smiled, the first real smile since they were rescued. "Thanks, Danno." He then shuffled until his head was nestled in the crook of Danny's neck. "I love you." He whispered.

Danny slid his arms over Steve's broad shoulders, noting that he didn't flinch at the touch. "Danno loves you too, babe."

Before Danny knew what was happening Rachel was dropping Grace and Charlie off at Steve's for his weekend visit.

"Where's Uncle Steve, Danno?" Charlie asked as they stepped into the house.

"He's still in bed, buddy." Danny said with a hint of sadness. Grace raised her eyebrows.

"What do you mean, 'still'? Hasn't he come out at all?" She asked.

Danny shook his head, running a hand down his tired face. "Not since we got back four days ago, he only gets out to use the bathroom."

"He must be really tired." Charlie said. While Grace knew that her father and Steve had been injured, she didn't know the full extent of Steve's trauma. And Charlie didn't know anything as Danny figured he was too young to know any details of their jobs.

Danny smiled down at his son as he took his little overnight bag from him. "Yeah, I guess he must be, buddy. Come on, let's have some lunch." Danny quickly diverted the conversation as he ushered his kids into the kitchen, sparing a longing glance up the stairs on the way.

Steve closed his eyes as he heard the conversation downstairs. He longed to join them, to go downstairs and be a part of their family activities. But his brain simply refused to let his body move.

Grace's laughter at something echoed up the stairs, and his brain turned against him with another 'what if?'.

What if this had happened to her?

A surge of protectiveness swept through Steve's body and his eyes flew open. He gripped the sheets around him tight.

Then I'd find whoever did it and rip their balls off. Unless Danny beats me too it. He thought to himself. Steve cringed as the thought caused memories of his ordeal to seep into his brain.

Being taken by surprise as he slept in his own cell, a chloroform-covered rag shoved in his face until he fell unconscious. Coming too in a different room with his hands tied behind his back, blearily noticing that he was naked as a man - the leader of the drug cartel they were undercover with, his drug-addled brain reminded him - entered the room with a creepy grin on his face. He realised what was about to happen as he watched Santino unzip his pants as he walked towards him.

Once he was done with him Santino left, and Steve wondered if that was the end of it. He got his answer as two more guys entered the room and came towards him.

Steve sniffed and rubbed his nose on Danny's pillow that had quickly become something akin to a safety blanket when the man himself wasn't around. He wished that he could stop these memories, but with nobody around to distract him they kept coming.

Once the men had their fun they dragged Steve back to his cell, laughing as he stumbled and tripped onto the floor. He didn't move from that spot as the door to his cell was slammed shut and he was locked in. All he could focus on was pain, so much pain, and the sticky mess between his legs.

And on his belly, he realised with a sickening look down. His body, the body he'd worked so long to perfect, had betrayed him in his darkest hour. Those men had taunted and teased him for it, for enjoying what they were doing to him.

A soft knock at the door followed by familiar muffled voices shook Steve out of his thoughts. He hastily wiped his wet face before the door opened.

"Uncle Steve? We brought you some lunch, if you're hungry." Grace entered the room, closely followed by Charlie.

He wasn't hungry. Not really. But there was only three people in the world who could get him to eat something, and two of them were looking at him with hopeful expressions.

"Thanks guys," Steve said as he shifted until he was propped up by the pillows and accepted the tray. "Hey, you made my favourite pancakes!" He was going to fake a 'thank you', but the sight of those blueberry pancakes brought a sudden lump of emotion to his throat.

"Danno said you'd like them, but he said that chocolate is still better." Charlie giggled, and the breath caught in Steve's throat at the sound.

"Well then, Danno needs to try these and then he'll see who's right." Steve winked.

"I would, but it looks like I'd have to make a fresh batch."

Steve looked up, he hadn't even noticed Danny standing in the doorway. He glanced down and, oh - when had he eaten all of the pancakes?

"Guess I was hungry after all." Steve said quietly, smiling at Danny.

"Uncle Steve? Want to come outside with us?" Grace asked.

"Please, Uncle Steve?" Charlie stared up at him with large eyes. "Your sandcastles are the best!"

"Hey, what about mine?" Danny pretended to be insulted.

Steve briefly closed his eyes and let the sounds of Charlie and Danny discuss the finer aspects of sandcastle making wash over him. He thought that he was better off hiding up here in the safety of his bed, so that he wouldn't burden anyone else.

But right now, there was nothing he wanted more than to go outside and prove that his sandcastles were indeed the best.

"Why don't you guys go and get the stuff from the lanai then? Danno and I will be down in a minute." Both kids gently hugged Steve before leaving the room.

"Hey, c'mere." Steve reached out towards Danny, who smiled as he stepped forward to perch on the side of the bed and pull Steve into his arms. "Thanks, Danny." He whispered.

"For what, babe?"

Steve pulled away slightly to press a lingering kiss to Danny's lips. "For this. For your kids, pancakes… for everything. It's just what I need."

Danny cupped the side of Steve's face, the bruises almost faded now. "We're family. All of us, which means that for this weekend I don't expect you to be alone for longer than five minutes." Steve chuckled, as Danny helped him (finally! he thought) out of the bed.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, babe."