Disclaimer: see chapter one

Author's Note: Like always thank you so much for reviewing and reading this story. I do have to warn you that this chapter yet again has some tension and slight angst because it always be sunshine and roses for our boys. But I hope you guys like this chapter, so enjoy!

In the days that followed Steve could tell that Danny was still dealing with the emotional roller coaster ride of Matt's letter. On the outside Danny seemed like his normal loud self, but Steve could see in rare moments that Danny's eyes would dim a little bit and Danny would get very quiet, almost as if he was being assaulted by a memory or thought about Matt. And Steve's heart ached for him, he's already dealing with the whole Rachel situation and now he's has to actually deal with Matt's abrupt departure last year all over again. It wasn't fair for someone as loving, compassionate, and kind to have to deal with such horrible things.

It made Steve do things so that he wouldn't worry Danny anymore. So when they go to bust the latest drug dealers Steve makes sure that he does everything by the book and as safe as he can. Danny knows what he's doing and he's extremely thankful that Steve's actually trying to make him feel better and he'll get there as soon as he sorts through all the emotions going through his head.

So that night after their successful bust Danny sat alone in their beach chairs, letting the crashing of the waves soothe his racing mind. He's content to just sit there and come to terms with Matt and everything that happened with him, all of which was out of his control, and even the Rachel situation. He can't control how she feels about him; he can't waste even more time thinking about her and how she could potentially ruin his life. He can only prepare to fight her with everything he has and have faith that things will work out in the way they should. What's meant to be will be is his new mantra.

Steve watches Danny sit quietly by himself for a few minutes before he stands from his chair on the lanai and walks down the beach.

"Hey babe. I wondered when you were going to join me." Danny joked looking up at Steve with a small smile on his face.

"Do you want me to join you?" Steve couldn't help but ask. He knew how important it was to have some time alone, to gather his thoughts and come to peace with himself. Danny nodded and waited until Steve was sitting before extending his hand to Steve.

"I'm sorry that I ever made fun of the beach. You were right it does have a calming effect and I do feel better about what happened."

"I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so. It's about time you began to realize that there are going to be times when I am right."

"Yeah babe, I know."

"I know asking if you're okay with everything is sort of a dumb question. So how do you feel?"

"I'm not over it; I still have feelings of guilt. But it's not all consuming anymore, I can think about it and realize that I couldn't change the way he felt. I'll never be able to change how he feels about it. He was the only one that could decide what he wanted to do, ya know? So I mean yeah I still feel shitty about it, but I'm handling it." Steve nodded knowing exactly how Danny felt because it's the same way that he feels about his father's death. He knows that he probably couldn't have prevented what happened with his dad, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel guilty about the whole thing. So yeah Steve knew exactly where Danny was coming from.

"I'm glad you feel better. I'll be honest that I don't like seeing you like that. This was the first time that I've actually felt helpless since my father's death. I had no idea how I could even begin to help you and that cuts me to the core Danno. I don't like seeing you in so much pain knowing that I can't really fix it."

"I know babe. I feel the same way when you get that crazy look in your eye right before you do something stupid, like jumping to catch a guy adamant on killing himself." Steve sighed, squeezing Danny's hand. He knew that he should promise Danny that he wouldn't do stupid things anymore, now that he knows how Danny feels when he does things like that. But he can't, he can't change something that seems to come as second nature to him. It's like his love for Danny, he just doesn't think about it. He does it and promising to change that would just lead to further hurt feelings when Steve broke that promise. "Stop thinking so hard, I know that you're going to do stupid things. It's ingrained in you, so I have just learned to remind myself that you're going to do it, but you know what you're doing."

"Can you read my mind? Because honestly it's scary that you said what I was thinking."

"You didn't know? I have a masters degree in mind reading, especially that of Navy SEALs that I share a bed with."

"Ha ha Danno. You're hilarious, don't quit your day job okay?" Danny chuckled lightly and reached out lightly smacking Steve across his arm. "That's spousal abuse Daniel and you should know it's not a good idea to provoke a trained Navy SEAL." Had Danny not known Steve as well as he did or be looking at his face, he would've thought that Steve was being serious.

"If you consider that abuse then you aren't as super as I thought you were." Danny shot back smiling in satisfaction at the shock spread across Steve's face.

"Your words hurt Danno." Danny smiled at their banter, happy that they could still act like this with the drama currently surrounding them. It was a nice reminder that they could leave everything behind them and actually have moments like this. "I love you." Steve whispered having an idea of what Danny was thinking.

"I love you too, you big goof. I'm ready for some cuddling, you down?" Danny asked after a few moments of silence passed between them.

"You never have to ask Danny, you never have to ask." Steve replied getting up without letting go of Danny's hand and leading them into the house.

For a few days Danny was lulled into a false sense of calm. He thought that after dealing with the letter, that was still sitting in Steve's nightstand that they were going to have some time without drama. Ever since they had hired Chris as their attorney they didn't even have to worry about Rachel, he seemed to take care of everything for them. So Danny thought that they might just make it out of this in one piece.

He didn't account for the registered letter, the dreaded registered letter that would throw both Steve and Danny for a loop and possibly set Danny's worry and feelings of helplessness back. Steve knew the moment he saw the mailman with the envelope that he wasn't going to like what the letter said. Sighing Steve pushed out of his chair and past Kono, Chin, and Danny walking straight up to the Mililani. "Thanks." Steve said signing for the letter. The rest of the team watched him wondering how in the hell he knew that the letter was for him, but Danny knew the moment he saw Steve's face that he wasn't going to like what that letter had to say. He fought every fiber of his being that told him to follow Steve into his office demanding to know what the hell that letter said, but he didn't move an inch. He watched Steve transfixed on his every movement for ten long minutes until Steve looked up with such worry and dare Danny say sadness in his eyes and motion for Danny.

"I swear I'm done with letters Steven, they bring nothing but bad news and heartbreak." Danny joked hoping to lighten up the mood, but Steve didn't respond his face staying stoic causing Danny to begin to panic. "Steve." Danny sank into the chair his heart dropping into the pit of his stomach.

"I have to report the base on Monday for training." Steve whispered unable to look at Danny. He didn't want to see Danny's heart break in front of his eyes.

"What do you mean? I thought you just did training."

"That's what they call it when they have a situation to take care of." Steve replied carefully trying not to go too in depth while also trying to explain it so Danny would understand.

"Oh." Danny whispered yet again feeling like the room was spinning and he couldn't breathe. Of course his mind immediately going to the worst case scenario that would happen, it's the natural reaction to hearing that someone you love is being sent away for 'training' and you're not allowed to know anything specific just that you hope that they'll come back in one piece.

Steve just sits there letting Danny absorb what he's saying to him, because he can't really say anything to make Danny feel better. He can't tell him that everything's going to be okay or that he'll even come home, because he doesn't know what's going on. He doesn't know why he's being called back now, why they could possibly need him. But it's his job, the job he signed up for all those years ago and relationship or not Steve has to go. He hopes that Danny will understand, he doesn't have to like it but he could accept it and not make Steve feel so utterly fucking guilty about it. Danny looks up from his hands and sees the look on Steve's face, the look that says he wants to make him feel better but he has to be honest. Danny can't take that look right now, so he quickly stands and flees from the office ignoring Chin and Kono and even Steve's voice calling out to him. He can't be around them right now, he needs to wrap his head around this whole fucked up situation.

Steve falls back into his chair his heart pounding in his chest. He just knew that Danny wasn't going to react well. And he knows that this is possibly the worst time for Steve to be leaving, not when Rachel could potentially use Steve's sudden mysterious departure against Danny. Feeling the frustration built, Steve slams his fist down hard on the desk making his phone jump and crash on the desk. Eyeing his phone he knows he should probably call Deb and let her know what's going on, maybe she'll have a suggestion on how to help Danny through this.

For the first time in his life as Steve picks up the phone he actually curses the Navy and their horrible timing. "Hey mom, I need to talk to you." Steve greeted letting the warmth of her voice comfort him as he explained the situation to her and they brainstormed for a solution. But Steve agrees with Danny letters for them are not a good thing to receive.

A/N 2: Sort of a cliffhanger there, but have no fears you'll find out exactly what their solution is and you'll see how Danny decides to handle Steve's training with some Grace moments as well. So let me know what you guys thought and until next time ~thatredheadgirl~