I've seriously been overwhelmed by you guys! You're the best!

I thought i'd better post this chapter before i settle down to watch this weeks ep (it takes a while for it to make its way over to England but thanks to the wonder of the net i don't have to wait too long!) Only one more chapter to go after this, the story is winding down (hence the shorter chapter) , but i've loved every second of it!

Enjoy x

Steve glared at Danny. Not your usual, disdainful disapproving look, but an out and out, put you six foot under type of glare. The kind that bored into your soul and stole your breath away and beat you to death with it.

Danny counted the seconds. His partner hadn't blinked in almost two minutes. He was actually impressed at the intensity of the glare he'd elicited from the former SEAL. Chin sat back, arms folded, smiling. He watched the exchange in morbid fascination. He was sure the Detective had a screw lose for challenging the Lt Commander the way he had. In all honesty Chin knew he should walk away and leave the two idiots to it, but he was too intrigued as to the outcome. It was like a sickness that he had nurse, an itch he had to scratch.

Damn, he should have made a bet with Kono and earned himself a little cash.

"You're gonna have to give in, Steve." Danny said firmly.

"Who says?"

"Me, the Doctor, Chin." Danny motioned to the other man who's smirk dropped from his face as he was pulled into the battle of wills.

"No." Said the Lt Commander in his strongest tone.

"Man, that's the same argument you used ten minutes ago."

"No way then."

"You have no choice."

"There's always a choice, Danno."

"Not in this instance, Steve."

"Not gonna happen. So drop it."

"Steve!" Danny raised his arms in frustration.

"Drop it, Danny."

"STEVE!"

"DANNO!"

"LADIES!" Interjected Chin. He swallowed as two sets of very intense eyes turned on him. "This is not getting us anywhere."

"Tell him that." Pouted Steve.

"Shut up." Danny shot back.

"Listen!" Chin stood and folded his arms over his chest. "You both have points, you've made your points. But the fact still stands that you, Steve, will not be released today unless someone is at home to help you with whatever you might need. Danny, you're not making this any easier. You wouldn't be opened armed to accept the help either so don't try and make out you're the better man here."

Danny and Steve exchanged a look. Neither spoke as Chin continued.

"So here's how it is. Danny, you know eventually the answer will be yes so be patient and wait. Steve, I know this is hard Brah, but we want to help and you want out of the hospital. It is what it is. So you need to just accept." Chin sat back down. "And gracefully deal with the situation." With that he folded his arms back over his chest and looked at the two men expectantly.

Steve had the decency to look humbled as he exhaled and nodded. Danny kept his gaze on his partner. He wanted to lecture him, wanted to make him understand this was for his own good. But Chin was right. He knew Steve would give in eventually, but Danny wasn't the patient type. He watched as Steve averted his eyes. The sombre way he nodded, resigned to his fate. He still looked way too tired for Danny's liking, he was stronger than he had been five days ago but any movement still took its toll. Just showering that morning had drained the former SEAL to the point where he actually crawled back into bed and slept for an hour. They'd been told to expect this, reassured that he was making a good recovery, warned that any over exertion could bring him right back into the hospital. If he wanted to be released early, Doctor Yablonksi was only happy to do so providing there was someone at home to keep an eye on the Lt Commander, someone who would make sure he rested for at least another week, and slowly built up his activities thereafter. Danny had volunteered before the Doctor had finished speaking.

Hence the argument that had then ensued.

SEALS didn't need babysitting.

The Detective disagreed. According to Danny SEALS were just the types who would try to overdo it and end up right back where they started. He leant forward, resting his arms on his knee's as he focused on Steve.

"I'm sorry. I just want to help."

"Yeah, I'm sorry too. Not used to needing any help."

"Well that much was obvious." Smiled Danny. Chin relaxed as Steve returned the smile.

Sometimes dealing with these two was worse than dealing with children.

Once the Doctor had gone through everything with Steve, given warning signs to look out for to Danny, and wished Chin good luck, they were ready to leave. Unbeknown to Steve, Kono was at his house, stocking up his almost empty cupboards and making sure that both he and Danny had some ready cooked food to re-heat for the next day or so. She was pretty sure Danny wouldn't be going too far from his partner's side, and as she'd been told by more than one person that her cooking was sublime, she decided it would be her welcoming home present to them.

The past few days had been hard on them all. Steve had slept 23 out of 24 hours for the first two days. Once the chest tube had been removed the inevitable had started to happen. He started to bitch about getting out of the hospital. They'd managed to keep him put for another three days but once the night Nurses told the Doctor about his patient's lack of sleep, he agreed he could be released into Danny's care.

Steve slowly made his way along the path toward his house, Kono had the door open, smiling widely as her Boss made his way back home. Danny and Chin flanked him, keeping careful eyes on his progress. Just the short walk from the hospital to the car had exhausted him. He worried he'd been too quick to leave the hospital, but as Kono gave him a gentle hug hello he realised he needed to be home. Needed to be within the peace and quiet of his own environment.

Even if that did mean the annoying Jersey Detective had to be with him.

"Welcome home. You look good." Said Kono as she led the injured man toward his couch.

"Hear that Danny? I look good."

"It's all relative partner." Danny said as he dropped his bag by the stairs. "Relative to someone who looks worse."

"He's just jealous I'm getting all the attention." Steve whispered to Kono as he settled into his couch. The feel of the cool leather against his body, and the comforting sounds of home and friends lulled him to sleep despite himself. When the Lt Commander finally awoke it was night . The soft glows of the living room lamps helped to ease his throbbing head. He squinted up at Danny, who stood over him with a glass of water and two pink pills.

Steve slowly pulled his body up into a sitting position and took the offered pills. He nodded his thanks as he drained the glass of water. Danny put the glass down, picked up a plate and placed it in Steve's lap. He handed him a fork and sat down in the arm chair across from the couch. The injured man looked up in shock.

"You make this?"

"You wish. No it was Kono. Once that's gone you get to have the Danny special."

"Let me guess, pizza?"

"The good kind. Not your crappy, fruity kind."

"This is good." Steve said around a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, seems our rookie has a hidden talent. How you feeling?"

"Much better now I'm home. Thanks for, you know, staying and everything." Steve made quick eye contact with his partner then focused on his food. It was hard for him to admit he needed help, but Danny was willing to offer it without hesitation, as awkward as Steve found that he was forever thankful. "Where's Chin and Kono?" He asked, quickly changing the subject.

"They left an hour ago. Think they got bored watching you sleep."

"Or your company bored them."

"So either way, basically we're boring to be around." Laughed Danny. He fought the urge to jump as Steve's laugh turned into a pained grimace.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just don't make me laugh!"

So, would you suffer being stuck with a boring Steve and Danno?