Disclaimer: you guys know the deal by now, but still see chapter one.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews of last chapter. I will warn you that I actually got a little teary eyed while writing this and I hope enjoy this.

Steve hung up with Danny's mom and felt a little bit better; they had worked out a plan to help Danny through probably the worst time of his life, even worse than his divorce. As much as Steve wanted to go chasing after Danny, he knew it would only make it worse. So with a heavy heart Steve stood and decided to face the rest of his team, telling them would be the warm up before he had to break the news to Grace.

"Hey boss, what's up with Danny?" Kono asked looking up from the smart board as Steve walked out of his office.

"Sit down, I need to tell you guys something."

"Is there something wrong with Grace? Mary? Danny? Hell even you?" Kono fired off concern and worry flooding both her voice and eyes. Steve sighed and took a deep breath he's never really had a family to break this news too. And for the first time in his naval career he knows what some of his SEAL buddies deal with right before they leave and it's not a pleasant feeling.

"Everybody's fine Kono, well as fine as they can be given this situation. I've been called back to the SEALs and I don't know anything specific like how long I'll be gone or if I can have contact with you guys. So I need you guys to promise to look after Danny and Grace, make sure that he's doing relatively well. Also I want to try and make sure that Rachel doesn't get wind of this, if she does find out we need to play it off like this is normal."

"Of course we'll look out for Danny and Grace, Steve. I'll make sure that he doesn't go completely crazy while you're gone." Chin finally spoke resting his hand on Steve's shoulder. "But you have to promise to at least be safe; we need you back here in one piece." Steve hung his head and nodded. He knew that this time he really did need to do everything he could to come home in one piece because if something were to happen to him it would devastate his family.

"Yeah Steve, no matter what just try to come home safely. We'll hold down the fort for the rest of the day, you go take care of your family." Kono reassured giving in and hugging Steve tightly as the worst case scenarios ran through her head. It was hard to picture their lives without Steve and it brought tears to her eyes to think of it.

"Thanks Kono. I'll see you guys as soon as possible." The cousins nodded and watched Steve walk out of the office before turning to each other. They seemed to have the same thought running through their heads; Danny had the worst possible luck ever.

"I'm worried about Danny." Kono admitted looking into Chin's reassuring eyes. "I'm afraid that this is going to break him completely. I mean fighting his ex for custody is bad enough with Steve actually here. What's going to happen once Steve's gone and things get even worse? What are we going to do?" Kono fired off her eyes pricking with tears, Danny was best friend and surrogate older brother and seeing him in pain immediately made her hurt.

"We're going to be there for him no matter what that's what we're going to do. We need to be strong for both of them because they're both going to have to live without the other for awhile. At least Danny's going to have us to lean on and even Grace, but Steve? He's going to be who knows where with no one to lean on, so we just need to keep everything here as smooth as possible to give him a piece of mind." Kono nodded leaning into Chin's open arms.

Steve leaned against the truck outside of Grace's school, thankful for once that Danny had an appointment with his therapist so that he could break the news to Gracie by himself. He knew that watching Grace possibly break down over his leaving would only make things worse for Danny. Steve smiled when he saw Grace's smiling face looking for him on the stairs. "Steve!" She exclaimed pushing through the crowd of kids on the stairs and rushing into Steve's arms.

"Hey Gracie." Steve greeted wrapping his arms around the young girl and inhaling her sweet coconut shampoo and letting her warmth wash over him. Besides Danny, saying goodbye to Gracie would be the hardest.

"What's wrong?" Grace pulled away her forehead wrinkled in concern. She's become a pro in knowing when something was wrong with her Danno and Uncle Steve. Steve couldn't help but chuckle at how perceptive she was.

"Let's go home, okay?" Grace thought about it for a moment before nodding and grabbing Steve's hand as they walked the short distance back to the truck. As Steve shut the door he took a dep breath trying to prepare for her reaction.

"Is Danno okay?" Gracie finally asked once Steve had the front door open and the alarm disarmed. He turned and reached down picking Grace up and walking over to the couch, he needed her as close as possible to break the news.

"Danno's fine baby, but I do have something to tell you. You know that I'm a Navy SEAL right?"

"Yeah you're in the reserves." Grace recited remembering when Steve sat her down to explain what his job so that she was prepared for moments like this.

"Well being in the reserves means that I could be called back at any time and they've called me back."

"You're leaving?" Grace asked the tears already pooling in her wide eyes. Steve took a shaky breath her reaction making him feel short of breath. He never thought it would be this hard.

"Yes I have to report on Monday. But I promise that I'll come back as soon as I can and I'll call or email if I can. But I need you to do something for me, okay?" Grace nodded the tears already falling silently down her cheeks. "I need you to help Danno, he's having a hard time dealing with this on top of things with your mom and I think that you are the only one that can help him. Can you do that for me?" She nodded yet again reaching forward and tightly hugging Steve. "It'll be okay Gracie; I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone." Steve tried to soothe his mind flashing to Danny, wondering how he was doing with the news.

"You're awfully quiet today Danny." Danny moved from looking out the window to Don, his therapist. "Which is abnormal for you if I'm being honest. Why don't you tell me what's wrong?" Danny took a deep breath and wrung his hands together, nervous that if he talked about what was going on it would make it real.

"Steve got a letter from the Navy today. He's been called back to active duty."

"And that worries you." Don supplied not even moving to write anything down, he knew that Danny needed his undivided attention right now.

"It scares the hell out of me. I mean he's been my rock throughout this whole mess with Rachel and now he's not going to be there. I'm going to face a life without him and I never thought I would do that, we promised that we would always be there and he's leaving me. Let's not even think about what Rachel's going to do with this information once she finds out, she'll have a field day with this."

"Thinking about Rachel is the last thing you need right now. Let's focus on Steve and his leaving, okay?"

"Okay. I'm scared that he's not going to come back. I'm scared that I'm going to lose the best damn thing that ever happened to me, besides Grace. I'm scared that his team won't protect him."

"Protect him like you would?"

"Yeah. I'm his partner and I always have his back. How can I know that they'll have his back? Especially if they found out that he was with a man. I know DADT was repealed and all, but still it's been such a part of the armed forces who's to say that one of the guys won't have a problem with it?"

"You need to have a little faith that they will have his back, granted not in the same way that you do. But still they won't let something happen to him if they can't help it. Steve is also a highly trained guy that knows what he's doing. I think that he would do everything that it took to come back to you and Grace, don't you?"

"Of course, I know that he'd do whatever it took to come home. And I can see that now, but when I'm there by myself I don't think it'll be that easy to always remember that, because he won't be there to tell me that. He won't be there to make sure to take care of me and I won't be there to take care of him. I don't want to lose him." Danny sagged letting all of his insecurities out and he wasn't surprised that a few tears slipped from his blue eyes. It was a scary thing to face without his partner. "He's the love of my life and he might not come back."

"I think you need to tell Steve this. You need to tell him how much you love him and want him to come back. He probably knows you're scared, but telling him might help him. Remind him that he has something to fight for, someone to fight for. Love can be a powerful motivator." Danny nodded and turned his head back towards the window letting Don's words soak in.

When Danny got home he was ready to tell Steve everything that was going through his head, but when he saw Grace with tear streaks down her cheeks and Steve's defeated form (even in the relaxed state of sleep) cuddling on the couch, he knew that he had to wait. He couldn't add even more onto Steve. He just sat down on the couch and wrapped his arms around the two most important people in his life and enjoyed the moment for what it was. For now he needs to know that Steve is still here and save this moment for the dark times while Steve's gone.

Danny didn't tell Steve about his conversation with Don until a couple of days later. Danny couldn't stop thinking about what Don said and he really needed Steve to know what was going on in his head. He needed Steve to know just how much he loved him, so while Steve was out running errands before he left Danny sat down in his beach chair and wrote everything down while Grace and Jack collected seashells for Steve. Danny poured everything into his letter, purging his mind of everything but Steve and their life together. This letter wasn't to make Steve feel bad for things that were out of his control but remind me of everything that would be waiting for him when he returned. He finished just as Grace and Jack raced up the beach and past Danny and toward Steve who had returned minutes beforehand.

"Hey babe, get everything done?" Danny asked slipping the folded paper into his back pocket. Steve saw the movement out of the corner of his eye and nodded, curious as to what Danny was doing while he was out. "I want to talk to you after Grace goes to bed, okay?" Danny asked hesitantly looking up at Steve nervous about how Steve would react.

"Yeah Danno." Steve whispered and Danny flashed him a smile before grabbing his hand and joining Grace and Jack, who were splashing in the water. Danny smiled as Grace and Steve played in the water as if their world wasn't about to completely be turned upside down in less than forty-eight hours.

Later that night as Gracie and Jack slept soundly in her bed Steve found Danny back in his beach chair watching the tide. Danny told Steve yesterday that he should tuck Gracie in so that they could have a few moments alone, this way Grace would have something to think about during the dark times while Steve was away and not able to tuck her in.

"I love you so much." Danny started hearing Steve approach behind him. He didn't turn but continued to look out at the waves. "You're leaving and that doesn't change the fact that I love you."

"I know." Steve replied falling into the chair next to his and immediately reaching over grabbing Danny's hand.

"I will admit that I'm scared. I'm scared that things will fall apart while you're gone and I won't be able to keep it together. I rely on you so much to help me get through some of this stuff that knowing that you won't be here scares me. I wish that I could be there to have your back and keep you as safe as I can, and it's hard giving up that control."

"I promise I'll try my hardest to be safe. I won't risk doing anything stupid; I need to come back to you and Gracie. You guys are my everything." Danny finally turned and smiled rubbing his thumb on the back of Steve's hand.

"I know babe, I know. I'm still scared out of my mind and I will be until you come home."

"We need to talk about what would happen if by some off chance that I didn't come home."

"I know, I don't want to but I know."

"I met with Chris about my will today. In case something happens to me, the house goes to you. I already talked to Mary and even though I bought her shares out, she agrees. I've also set aside some of my money and assets to go to Grace when she turns 18."

"Seriously?" Danny asked turning in his seat shocked at what Steve was saying to him.

"Yes Danny, I want to know that you and Grace are taken care of. It's more for my piece of mind then anything and I even changed my paperwork with the Navy so that you'll be the first one notified."

"Okay that's a relief to know that I'll hear it from the Navy instead of through someone else." Steve nodded caressing Danny's hand before standing up.

"I think we're done talking for right now Danno." Steve replied pulling Danny out of his chair and flush against him. "I want to spend the night with you, showing you how much I'm going to miss you and love you." Danny nodded desire and heat pooling in his stomach letting Steve gently pull him up the beach and towards the house.

The morning that Steve was supposed to report to base was hard on everyone. Danny was quiet his mind replaying the past couple of days with his family and wishing that they could've stayed there. Steve was trying to get back into his SEAL mode, where emotions had no place in his life and all he had been the clothes on his back and his weapons. Grace was trying to keep it together for her dads; she could tell that they were going through enough. Plus she had promised that she would be there to help Danno through it and she kept every promise she had ever made.

"Do you have everything?" Danny asked once Steve had come down the stairs with his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Yeah." Steve murmured throwing the bag on the floor by the door and pulling Danny into his arms. Grace fell from her spot at the kitchen table and jumped into Steve's arms. Steve cataloged every smell of his family and feeling of this hug. When a knock sounded on the door Steve pulled away with a small smile on his face.

"Chin's here already? I thought you didn't need to be at the base until 8, it's only 7." It had been agreed when they found out that Chin would take Steve to the base so Danny didn't have to prolong the goodbye and could be open in his affections with Steve. Steve didn't reply just went and opened the door. "Mom? What are you doing here?" Danny asked as Grace squealed and ran to her grandma.

"Steve called me and told me about his training and I thought I would come spend some time with you. Plus it's so cold at home I was in need of some sunshine." Danny turned to Steve, who looked a little more at ease and shrugged. Danny crashed into him as he threw his body against Steve's.

"Thank you babe." Danny whispered giving Steve a hard kiss. Steve smiled and hugged Danny tightly.

"I thought it would make some of the time a bit easier to get through." Danny kissed him again as Chin walked in the door.

"Hi Uncle Chin, this is my grandma Deb." Grace introduced while Steve and Danny pulled away sheepish smiles spread across their faces. Chin smiled and shook Deb's hand while Grace jumped into his arms for a hug.

"Hey Chin, thanks for taking me to the base." Steve greeted taking Grace from his arms to give her one last hug. "I love you Gracie, remember what I asked you to do?" She nodded inhaling Steve's comforting scent. "I'll see you soon." Grace kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly one last time before jumping down and going over to Deb. Danny looked at Steve for a moment before hugging him. "I love you Danno, I'll be back before you know it."

"Be safe super SEAL; don't make me have to hunt you down again." Steve chuckled and nodded giving Danny one last sweet kiss. He turned to Deb and smiled giving her a quick hug.

"Thank you for coming to help them." Deb nodded giving Steve a quick kiss on the cheek before he reached down to grab his bag.

"You ready to go?" Chin asked and Steve nodded. "Alright Danny, Kono and I will hold down the fort today. Why don't you spend some time with your mom? I'll call if you absolutely have to come in."

"That's very sweet of you, Chin. Why don't you and Kono come for dinner? It would be nice to finally meet Daniel's coworkers."

"Yeah Chin, I have Grace for a few more days and it would be nice. Bring Malia and tell Kono she can bring a guest I'll call Mary and Chris." Steve knew he should feel left out since he wouldn't be there for dinner, but he knew that being surrounded by those that loved them would help Danny through the first night. Chin nodded and followed Steve out to the car. It was going to be a rough time until Steve was home safe and sound.

Steve found Danny's letter later on after they had been briefed on their mission and he was going through his bag. He smiled when he saw Danny's handwriting and his heart felt lighter.

Steve,

I never thought I would be writing you a letter like this. I know that I swore off letters after the last two we've received, but I needed to tell you some things.

I love you; I love you so much that the thought of waking up without you hurts to the core. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, well besides Grace. But still you're more important to me than I think you know. I don't want to lose you, so please stay safe and come home soon.

Grace and I will be here waiting for you, it doesn't matter how long you're gone. I'll always be here waiting for you. You're my end game babe; you're the one that I want to spend forever with. I'm talking the kind of forever that has kids and even grandkids in it.

I don't think I've ever told you how much I appreciate what you do for me, but I do. I appreciate every single thing you do. Even when you do something so stupid that makes me so angry I appreciate that you do so much to protect the island my daughter and I call home. But that doesn't mean that I'm giving you free reign to do any stupid now, just come home soon. Go be the big bad SEAL you are and get your job done so you can come home.

I may not like you having to go fight someone else's battle, but I understand that being a SEAL is who you are. And since I love everything about you, I can't blame you for having to do your job. I also understand that things like this are out of your control and yeah that timing may suck, but I know that if you could you would've stayed. So stop feeling guilty and know that you're there because you're the best and the only one that can get the job done quickly and as painlessly as possible. So focus and like I said be that big bad SEAL that I find so gorgeous.

I love you and miss you already.

Yours forever and always,

Danno

P.S. Grace also wrote you a little something that I've included with this.

Steve smiled and ran his finger across the words spread across the page. He could hear Danny speaking through the paper at him and his words made Steve feel better. He was here for a reason and knowing that Danny understood that made Steve even more determined to get this over quickly. He looked down at the little note with Grace's messy handwriting attached to another paper and Steve smiled. He was so blessed to have such an amazing man and his equally amazing and sweet daughter love him so much. He decided to open the paper first and smiled at the hand drawn picture of him, Danny, and Grace. The picture looked nothing like them, but Steve knew that it was about them. The words at the bottom of the page knocked all the air out of his lungs. I love my Danno and my Daddy. Steve traced Grace's messy handwriting and smiled with tears in his eyes. He had no idea that Grace felt that way about him. He quickly grabbed the small note to see what Grace had said.

Daddy,

I hope you like my picture. I thought it would help you get through training and not get too homesick. You're the best daddy in the world, like Danno and I'm happy that you're with Danno. I love you so much and can't wait until you're home.

Love always,

Gracie

As he looked at the picture again, he wondered if Danny knew about her picture and how he felt about it. He knew that he had thrown a fit when Grace had called Stan Step Stan. But Danny had to have known and approved since he included the picture. Slipping the letters and pictures back in his bag, Steve felt more protected than he had with any weapon; he had the unconditional love of his family to protect him out here.

A/N 2: First off all mistakes are mine and I apologize for them since I only ever want to give you guys the best work possible. So how was it? Let me know what you guys thought and until next time ~thatredheadgirl~