Disclaimer: see chapter one.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for those that reviewed and those that have subscribed to this story, your support of this story is so amazing and I can't thank you enough. This chapter was kinda hard to write but it also has a *hopefully* good McDanno slash moment for you guys, so enjoy!

"Hey Danno, I'm gonna go talk to Joe." Steve leaned against the doorframe into Danny's office.

"You sure you want to go by yourself?" Danny asked knowing full well just what Joe was capable of doing with Steve. His lying always threw Steve for a loop and Danny would like to avoid that if he could. Plus Danny just wanted to make sure that Steve actually wanted to go talk to Joe. They had had a long talk one night as to why Steve feels that he needs to constantly defend Joe and go to Joe after discovering all the lies that Joe has told him.

"Yeah, I just want to try one more time. So I'll see you at home, alright?"

"Yeah I'll just be waiting at home like the good little wife that I am." Danny joked looking around the office to see that both Chin and Kono weren't around. Steve only chuckled and looked around as well before pushing off the doorframe and meeting Danny in the middle of his office. "Be careful okay? I really don't feel like going to the hospital or even jail today."

"No hospitals or jail I promise." Steve leans down giving Danny a quick kiss. They try to avoid any PDA at the office, but sometimes Steve feels that it's necessary. "I'll text you if I'm going to be late okay?" Danny nodded turning to go back to his computer; he was two reports away from being done.

Danny sat in his office an hour after Steve had left and pushed away from his desk as he hit print on his last report. He was beyond glad to finally be done with the mountain of paperwork that had accumulated over some time, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before it piled back up and he would spend two days going through it all. But still as he signed the report and walked over to Steve's office, where all he'd have to do is sign it, Danny felt that he deserved to knock off early for the day.

"Hey Danny, I have a letter for you." Danny stopped on his journey from Steve's office back to his and turned towards Mililani. He smiled and walked over towards her.

"Thank you." She smiled in return and left the office leaving Danny to wonder why he would get, what looks like a personal letter, at the Palace. He tore into the envelope as he walked back into his office and stopped cold at the familiar handwriting on the letter. As he pulled the letter completely out of the envelope his heart stopped, he could feel his hands tighten on the letter and knew that he couldn't read this here. He couldn't deal with the questions that both Chin and Kono were going to have when they returned. So firing off a quick text to the cousins, Danny quickly left the office, the letter still clutched in his hand.

He didn't loosen his death grip on the letter until he was safely at the house. He stared at the piece of paper for a few minutes wondering why the hell he was getting this now. As he sat there all the feelings of betrayal and heartbreak came rushing back and his head fell into his hands, as the tears pooled in his eyes.

Finally after giving himself a few moments to get himself under control Danny lifted his head and pulled the letter towards him with shaky hands.

Hey Danny,

I know you're probably wondering why I'm sending you this now, especially after I've been gone for so long. But I couldn't just let things end the way they had, I know that you still probably blame yourself for not being able to help me. But Danny it wasn't your fault. I'm the one that decided that running was the best option and I'm the one that then caused so much pain and heartbreak for the family that I love more than life itself.

You have every right to hate me for the pain that I've caused you and the family. I know that I've hurt you guys so much with my abrupt leaving and I know that apologizing will get me nowhere. You deserve more than an apology, but I wanted to let you know that I'm safe. I thought that at least knowing that I was alive and safe would help ease some of the pain I've caused. I won't tell you where am I on the off chance the FBI and SEC are still looking for me. Just know that I'm safe.

I hope that things have settled down by now and that the pain I've caused is a dull ache right now. I couldn't live with myself if I knew that my loving family was still suffering from my selfish actions. And yes I understand that my actions were incredibly selfish, when I decided to board that plane it was out of my fear that if I stayed and faced the music, I wouldn't have lasted 3 days in jail. At least this way my family doesn't have to live with the fact that I had died in prison, but know that I am alive somewhere in the world.

That's the whole point of this letter Danny; I wanted to let you know that I am alive and safe. And I also wanted to let you know how sorry I am about what happened. I'm sorry that I brought you into this whole mess and I'm sorry that you had to be the one to break the news to ma and pop. I hope that one day I can see you guys again because I miss you guys so much.

I don't know if you'll even want to ever hear from me again, so who knows when the next letter will come. But yet again I'm sorry that I caused so much pain and suffering but I hope that this letter helps to ease the pain instead of cause more.

Love always,

Matty

Danny set the paper back down on the table and ran a hand through his hair. As much as hearing from Matt eased the ache hidden deep in his chest, it also made it even worse. He couldn't believe that Matt would write him and tried to apologize. There was no apology that could ever erase the deep hurt and betrayal that Danny still felt when he thought about Matt. Plus Matt wasn't the one that had to hear the pain in his mother's voice when they accidentally broached the subject. Matt wasn't the one that was racked with guilt on Matt's birthday or any holiday for that matter. Or deal with the occasional question from Grace about her beloved uncle. No Danny was the one that had to deal with everything, like always.

Hearing from Matt brought all the pain rushing back and it felt like a roundhouse kick to the stomach. His chest felt tight and his vision was blurred by the tears now streaming down his face. In the back of his head, he knew he should've waited until Steve was here. He would be here to comfort Danny and make him feel better, and he could easily call Steve or even text him. But he knew that Steve was trying to get answers from Joe and he needed to do it. So taking a shaky breath Danny stood and made his way into the house and up the stairs, the letter still clutched in his hands.

When Steve pulled up to the house hours later, he was immediately worried. Kono and Chin had both called him to let him know that they thought something was up with Danny. The way his text sounded to the cousins didn't sound like Danny. Add to that pulling up to a dark house, Steve's worry was off the charts. He could just tell by the quiet of the house that something was wrong. So quickly and quietly he entered the house, turned on the alarm and made his way up the stairs.

Opening the door to the bedroom and seeing Danny curled into a ball with evidence of tears on his face, Steve felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He should've left the moment that Chin had called him; he should've listened to the man and came home immediately. But he had thought that if something was really wrong Danny would've called him. But still Steve should've listened to his gut and come home, because seeing Danny in this much pain was almost too much for Steve to bear.

Danny woke when he felt the bed dip beside him. He didn't have to turn to know that Steve was finally home, he could feel the concern and worry radiating from his body. "Danny." Steve whispered reaching forward and resting his hand on Danny's arm, hoping that he would turn to face him. Danny took a deep breath and turned locking eyes with Steve. Steve had no idea what could possibly do this to his Danno or any idea how to even ask what was wrong.

Danny sensed the battle that Steve seemed to be having in his head and reached over grabbing the letter from the nightstand. Steve looked at the piece of paper confused but Danny just pushed into his hand and laid his head back on the pillow, as Steve unfolded the letter carefully. Steve skipped down to the bottom of the letter and when he saw Matt's name, he knew the hell that Danny was going through right now. "Danno." He whispered looking up from the paper and into Danny's slightly bloodshot blue eyes. "Why didn't you call me? I would've been here. I'm so sorry that you had to go through this by yourself. Babe…" He trailed off reaching over to pull Danny to him. The last wall that Danny had fell the moment he felt Steve's body heat and he let go, sobbing into Steve's chest. Steve took a shaky breath; it's unbelievably hard seeing the person he loved in so much pain. Steve also had no way of ever being able to fix the damage that Matt's departure had caused. "I'm here Danno. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere I promise." Steve whispered rubbing his hand slowly up and down Danny's back hoping to comfort him.

Danny pulled away some time later and shifted so he could rest his forehead against Steve's. Steve tightened his hold on Danny and gently kissed him. Danny pressed back harder taking the kiss deeper and moved again so Steve was hovering over him. "Danny." Steve whispered pulling back; he wasn't about to do anything Danny couldn't handle. He was incredibly fragile and he wasn't going to possibly make Danny feel even worse.

"Steve, love me." Danny whispered in reply his grip on Steve's hips tightening. "I don't want to think about that right now. I need you." Steve nodded pushing his hips down onto Danny's. He knew that Danny just needed a distraction from the pain coursing through his mind and heart right now. Danny moaned and arched applying even more pressure.

"Danny." Steve moaned his head buried into Danny's neck. Danny turned capturing Steve's lips in a hard kiss as he grabbed the hem of Steve's t-shirt pulling it up and only pulling back from the kiss long enough to pull the shirt off.

"I love you." Danny moaned as Steve's lips nipped and sucked at his neck. His goal was to make Danny forget everything and moan his name as loudly as possible. He was rewarded with a sharp buck of Danny's hips that had Steve's eyes almost rolling into the back of his head. Growling the time for gentle was over and Steve set out to complete his mission.

The next morning Danny woke up and glanced over at Steve, who seemed to know that Danny was up and turned towards him a satisfied and content smile spread across his face. "Come here." Steve whispered his voice rough from sleep. Danny moved over so his head was resting on Steve's shoulder.

"Thank you for last night." Danny murmured his fingers tracing random patterns on Steve's chest. Steve tightened his hold on Danny and kissed his unkempt hair.

"Anytime Danno, I'll always be here for you." Danny smiled softly lifting his head so he could lightly kiss Steve. He couldn't tell express with words how amazing it was to know that Steve would always be there for him.

A/N 2: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, especially the slash moment between my two favorite boys. I apologize for any mistakes, I always proofread before I post but sometimes the mistakes still happen. So like always let me know what you guys think and if there's anything you think I should put in this story I'm always open to ideas on how to make this story even better ~thatredheadgirl~