Steve quickly called the airport and booked a 5AM flight to Tokyo using an alias, finishing just as Danny was calling out that dinner was ready.
"Who were you talking to?"
Thinking quckly, Steve lied, "MaryAnn called to check on me"
"Oh that's nice, is she doing okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. Those steaks look awesome bro"
"Well of course they do! Sit now my friend"
As he and Danny ate their steaks and salads Steve fought to keep a normal facade. His adrenaline was coursing through his body as the reality of the mission before him sunk in. He could not wait to get Wo-Fats scrawny little neck in his hands as he choked the life out of him.
"Whoa Steven, slow down babe. Chew the steak, don't inhale it! It's clear you've got your appetite back brother that's great to see!"
"It's cooked perfectly buddy, nice and bloody"
"Yeah, I just don't get that 'rare' meat thing. God it's not even warm is it?"
"It's perfect Danno, thank you"
Steve had to try to get Danny to leave the house for the night so he could get to the airport.
"So the game starts in half an hour"
"What game?"
"The Lakers and Cavalier's?"
"Basketball? Oh man can't we just watch a movie tonight?"
Steve looked at his patner and again lied, "Danno, I've got fifty bucks riding on the Lakers tonight"
"Who are you betting with on a basketball game for God's sake?"
"Max"
"Max? Max likes basketball?
"Everybody likes basketball Danny"
"Not me my friend, I do not enjoy watching giant men plod up and down a court slamming a little ball into a net. It's a stupid sport!"
"You're just jealous because you can't play?"
"Are you making fun of my size, huh...is that it...because I tell you my dear friend I was the starting point guard for my championship basketball team in high school"
"You! You played basketball?"
"Yes, and I was damn good at it. If I hadn't of blown my knee out in my senior year I could have played college ball and who knows...I could have been as big as LeBron James!"
Steve was laughing hysterically as Danny became more and more animated.
"Laugh my friend, but know that you are not the only athlete on this team of ours"
"Well I knew about Kono, but Danno…..man are you full of s….."
Danny interrupted him, "Full of WHAT partner? Come on…"
"Surprises…you are full of surprises!"
"Okay now seriously brother, are you really going to make me sit through a boring basketball game"
"Hey Danny, you really don't need to stay anymore. I'm doing a lot better. I'm fine, I promise man"
"Well let me be the judge of that my friend. It's great to see you eating and smiling, but humor me brother….I need to stay a bit longer"
"Alright man. Thank you Danny. I couldn't ask for a better friend"
"Or a more talented one I may add. Master Chef, superb athlete, comic...…"
"Jesus Christ" Steve couldn't help but laugh at his partner and best friend. He was very lucky to have Danno Williams in his life and he hated to have to deceive him but he had no choice. He had to do this. To save his friends lives, he had to do this.
The game began at nine o'clock. At halftime Steve went up to the bathroom and took a sleeping pill from the bottle that the Doctor had prescribed for him.
At the bottom of the stairs he called out to Danny, "Do you need a beer Danno?"
"Sure buddy, thanks" After slipping the sleeping pill into Danny's beer he headed back to the living room.
Early in the fourth quarter Danny began to yawn, "Tired Danno?"
"This game is boring Steven"
"Hey Danny….thank you for everything buddy. I love you"
"I love you too babe…." Minutes later Danny was snoring softly on the couch.
Wanting to make sure Danny was soundly sleeping he watched the end of the game and then shutting off the television he covered Danny with a blanket, leaned over and kissing his partner on the head, he whispered, "Sorry partner"
It was almost midnight. Steve took a shower and packed a duffle bag including a fake ID and passport under the alias, Jack Reagan. He then wrote a letter to Danny which he taped to bathroom door. Ten months earlier, Danny had been shot during a drug raid and he had almost died. As he sat maintaining a vigil at his hospital bed he had written letters to his team and to Catherine. If anything ever happened to him, he didn't want to die without knowing that those he loved knew how he truly felt about them. Steve then called a cab and after a final glance at his sleeping partner, Steve went outside to wait for his ride.