**OK...first of all let me apologize for taking soooo long to post a new chapter! I have been without a computer for almost an entire week! I have only been able to read other fics and comment through my phone! It has been driving me crazy! But I now have a computer that works, and works well! Yay!
Anyway! I decided not to give Grace some kind of awful incurrable disease, but instead something that is very treatable. I know from personal experience. In the next few chapters I am going to be introducing Steve to Danny's family. I also have some surprises for the both of them! I am very excited about where tis story is leading! Hope you all feel the same! I know this one is also kind if short, but the next one will be longer, I promise! Thanks for all the reviews and adds and follows! I really appreciate them all! Love to you all! ~SD :)**
When Danny and Steve arrived at the hospital, Rachel was in the room with Grace and the doctor. Stan was standing outside the door. He put a hand up to stop Danny from going in, but Danny shoved past him and burst into the room. Grace was sitting up on the bed looking a little pale, but otherwise fine. She had an IV in her small left hand. When she saw him, she smiled and held out her arms for a hug. "Danno" she said, her voice shaking. Danny leaned over and gave his daughter a hug. He looked at the doctor and then at Rachel.
"Well?" he asked.
"Well, what Daniel?" Rachel replied to her ex-husband, her voice coated with annoyance.
"Well, what is wrong with our daughter?" he asked through gritted teeth.
The doctor cleared his throat and looked at Danny.
"We aren't for sure yet" the doctor began, "we are still running some tests, but I think she has iron deficient anemia."
Danny looked at the doctor like he had spoken Greek.
"What is that?" he asked barely able to contain the urge to take the clip board from the doctor and hit him over the head with it.
"Basically it is where your body doesn't produce enough iron. It can cause people to feel weak, light headed, and even pass out." The doctor explained calmly. "It is something that can be controlled by medication or diet or both." The doctor continued. "I think Miss Grace is going to be just fine" he said gently looking at the frightened little girl and smiling.
Danny let out the breath he had been holding in one noisy puff. Grace giggled at her father. Danny grinned and kissed the top of her head.
"Daniel, can I talk to you for a moment?" Rachel asked.
"Sure. I'll be right back Monkey." Danny told Grace.
Rachel and Danny walked out of the room and into the hallway.
"How could you have let this happen, Daniel?" Rachel exploded at her ex-husband.
Danny just looked at her.
"Daniel? I am talking to you. Answer me." Rachel's voice was getting louder.
"How is this MY fault?" Danny hollered.
"It just is" Rachel told him very loudly.
Danny took a deep breath and counted to 5. He reached and took hold of Rachel's upper arms.
"Rachel, get ahold of yourself." Danny told her firmly with a little shake.
That seemed to make Rachel snap out of the hysteria she had been heading towards.
"Danny, I'm sorry" Rachel said quietly. The tears in her big brown eyes threatened to spill over at any moment.
Danny put his arms around her and gave her hug. When he did this Rachel finally let the tears flow freely.
"Sshh." Danny said soothingly. "She's going to be ok."
"I know" Rachel said, her breath ragged. "I was just so scared."
Stan and Steve had been in the waiting room when they had heard Rachel and Danny shouting. They both walked around the corner and saw Danny and Rachel in an embrace. Stan looked ready to clock Danny right in the face. He started towards them but Steve put an arm out and stopped him. Steve glared at Stan with a "touch him and I'll kill you" look in his eyes.
When Danny released Rachel from the embrace Stan pushed past Steve and went directly to Rachel.
"Is she ok?" he asked with genuine concern.
"The doctor thinks she will be" Rachel answered while trying to dry her eyes.
Steve walked up and produced a box of tissues one of the nurses had handed him.
"Thank you" she said gratefully.
Steve looked at Danny and realized he was standing slumped against the wall with his head in his hand. Steve walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey babe, you ok?" he asked quietly.
Danny just stood there. Steve gently took hold of Danny's chin and lifted his face so he could see his eyes. What Steve saw shocked him. Tears were running down Danny's face. Steve stood there for a moment in shock. He hadn't expected to see Danny crying. He pulled Danny into his arms and hugged him tight. He didn't care that Rachel and Stan were there, or anyone else for that matter. Danny didn't care either. He clung to Steve as sobs wracked the smaller man's frame. Rachel had only seen Danny cry twice in the entire time they had been together. The first time had been the day Grace was born and the other was the day that she told him she was leaving him. It broke her heart both of those times, and it broke her heart this time too. She left Stan's arms and went over to the other 2 men. She put her arms around them both and whispered soothing words to Danny just as he had done to her a few minutes before.
Danny began to get himself under control, and it was Stan who produced the tissues this time.
"Thanks" Danny said into a tissue as he blew his nose.
"We should probably get back in there with Grace" Danny suggested.
"Right" Rachel agreed.
The four adults all began to go into Grace's room. Rachel hung back and placed a delicate hand on Steve's arm.
Steve looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked quietly.
"Sure" Steve said. They waited until the door was closed to Grace's room and then walked a few yards away from it.
Rachel turned and looked at Steve.
"So…you and Daniel…? She asked haltingly.
Steve looked at her with a shocked expression.
"Oh, please Steve." Rachel laughed. "I'm not blind."
Steve gave her his adorable half grin and answered "Yeah".
"Do you love him?" she asked seriously.
"Very much" Steve told her honestly.
"Does he love you?"
"Yes, I do" Danny answered from behind them.
Rachel and Steve both swung around and looked at him.
Danny walked up to Steve and put an arm around him.
"Yes, Rachel, I love this man very much." He told her. "Is that a problem?"
Rachel tried to hide a smile as she answered, "No, Daniel, it's not"
Danny looked at her with a shocked expression. He had expected her to be angry and threaten to take Grace away.
"I'm very happy for you, both of you" she told them.
"How did you know?" Steve had to ask, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"There were a few signs." She said smiling.
"Such as…?" Danny prompted.
"Well, for one thing, Grace would come home from her weekend with you and talk nonstop about all the things the two of you and Uncle Steve did" she explained. "Also, I can see it in the way the two of you look at each other. And then just now in the hallway…"
Danny and Steve looked at each other. They both smiled.
Rachel knew it was time for her exit and give the men some privacy.
"I'm going to go see Grace. I'll see you in there" she said as she walked towards the room. Once she had disappeared inside, Danny looked up at Steve. He pulled Steve's head down and captured his lips in a gentle kiss.
"Thanks babe" he whispered as the kiss broke.
"Anytime" Steve whispered back.
The two men walked hand in hand back to Grace's room.
A little while later, the doctor confirmed that Grace did have iron deficient Anemia. He sent her home with strict directions to rest for the remainder of the day along with a list of foods that were rich in iron. He also told her parents that if changing her diet didn't work, then she would have to start taking iron pills. He told them to be sure and call her pediatrician first thing Monday morning.
Danny and Steve walked her out to Stan's car. They both gave her a hug and a kiss. Danny told Rachel to call if Grace needed anything. Rachel said she would. As Grace settled in the car, Danny leaned in and told her "Danno loves you". Grace put her arms around her father's neck and squeezed him tight. "I love you too Danno" she told him.
When Steve and Danny got home, Danny collapsed on the couch. Steve came and sat down beside him and held out his hand, palm up. Danny took Steve's hand. They just sat for a few minutes. Steve broke the silence.
"You hungry?" he asked.
"Yeah, I am" Danny answered.
"Why don't you go take a hot shower and I'll fix dinner?" he suggested.
"Ok, sounds good" Danny agreed.
Danny trudged upstairs while Steve went to the kitchen. He began to fix dinner. He was also working on a plan in his head. He just hoped it all went according to plan.
**So...what do you think Steve's plan is? Any ideas? I wold love to hear them! Hehe! Until the next chapter! ~SD :)**