Chapter 2:
Flashes of green were seen out of the corners of his eyes. Wind caught his hair and his lungs expanded as he found a good pace. He glided over a fence.
I can get this guy.
Blood coursed through his veins as he dashed quickly after a tall man. He jumped over a garbage can that the man pulled down after he passed it. He breathed hard and ran fast.
I'm so close.
Steve watched as the man jumped over a line of hedges. Steve followed. He lifted off the ground and cleared the hedge with inches to spare. He landed and pursued the man getting closer and closer.
The man headed for another fence. Steve watched as the man leapt at the fence and pulled himself over it.
Steve did the same, tossing his legs over the 5 foot fence. He landed poorly, stumbling slightly before recovering and continuing his chase.
As I fuck up the landing on that fence and loose the perp. Come on.
It felt as though Steve's senses opened up and he pursued the man. He had fallen several lengths behind the man due to his last stumble, but could still see him run through an open gate and around the front of a house.
Steve continued running after him, through the gate and went to around to the front of the house to see Danny and the perp in a brawl with the perp's arm around Danny's neck and Danny's arm around the perp's waist.
Steve's heart dropped into the stomach and he sprinted to the perp.
At full speed, Steve tackled the man. All three of them hit the grass and rolled onto the cemented sidewalk. The perp had let go of Danny, who was gasping for air a few feet away. Steve grabbed the perp by wrapping his arms underneath the man's arms and interlocking his fingers behind the man's head right at the base of his neck. Steve squeezed his legs around the perp's legs. The perp moved and struggled in the hold.
"Let go of me, man!" He shouted.
"Give me a reason, punk!" Steve gritted through his teeth as he tightened his hold. "Why you running?!"
Danny got up off the ground and crossed over to the pair. He was shaking slightly but handcuffed one of the perp's hands.
Steve managed to keep hold of him as he let go of one arm and Danny brought it down behind his back to handcuff it to the other wrist.
Danny looked to Steve who glanced at him. Steve nodded at him.
Danny lifted the man off the ground and held him as Steve stood up and brushed off his pants.
Steve advanced to the man and grabbed his wrist, twisting it a little. A groan erupted out of the man.
"What the hell man?!" The perp exclaimed in surprise.
"I should be saying that to you. Come on." Steve pulled him to walk down the street, back to the cop cars.
Steve looked back at Danny.
Danny was shocked at what he saw in his husband's eyes.
Terror. Panic. An actual fear had risen into those hazel eyes.
Steve dropped his gaze and focused back on the man before him. He was still breathing heavily and he felt shaky. He hadn't felt this way in a long time.
Danny watched as Steve walked away from him with the perp. Danny swallowed hard, his throat hurting from being head locked. He felt dizzy as he walked behind Steve and they made it back to the cars.
Steve shoved the man into the back of one of the cop cars and walked away with two officers standing nearby.
Danny stopped in front of him.
"Hey, you okay?" Steve asked as he touched Danny's arm.
Danny looked at Steve's hand and back to Steve. He nodded slowly. "Um. . .yeah." He said hoarsely.
Steve stepped closer to Danny. "Danny, I-" Steve stopped. He looked into Danny's eyes that stared back at him.
Yes. Steve had been terrified over the whole situation. Seeing Danny in a chokehold like that, with his face losing color, his eyes popping slightly, his lips slightly cyanotic.
I should've been faster. I should've been able to catch him way before he got to Danny. His thoughts raced as he stared into Danny's eyes. This is my fault.
"Steve, you're bleeding." Danny tried to speak, but only rasps came out as he looked at Steve's upper bicep.
Steve looked at the wound. "No big deal. You sound awful." He paused and swallowed. He lifted a shaky hand to Danny's chin, tilting it away from him for a moment to look at the man's neck. Danny could feel the trembling through Steve's fingertips. "You're throat looks like it's going to bruise. Let's get you to the hospital, it's just down the street."
"Steve, I'm fine-" Danny began.
"Danny." Steve spoke firmly. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Please."
Danny looked at him. The man looked guilty, worried and very upset. His tone was serious.
He knew he needed to give into Steve's pleas.
Just this once.
Danny finally nodded. "O-okay." He whispered.
Even though they'd been arguing and had been having intense fights, Steve stopped to wrap his arms around Danny. He was so glad Danny was okay. He would never have forgiven himself if something worse had happened to Danny.
Danny stood there, slightly shocked at Steve's embrace. He looked around them. No one was really looking at them. Everyone was wrapped up in the case. He focused back to Steve, who still held him tightly. Danny was about to object, push Steve away, brush it off as a slip up and move on. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and hugged back tightly.
Danny could feel Steve's chest tighten and the man trembled against him slightly. Danny could barely breathe as Steve held him close.
"Okay. Let's go." Steve whispered as he sniffed and turned from Danny, leading him to their car by holding his hand.
Was he crying? Danny's chest tightened at the feelings between them.
Steve reached up and wiped a tear from his eye. He sniffed quietly again. I need to do better. This was unacceptable.
Danny sat down in the passenger seat. Steve closed his door and went around to the driver's side. The trip to the hospital was made in silence. Danny's thoughts raced at Steve's actions. Thank god he was there. And thank god he got a hold of that man. I thought for sure I was a goner.
Steve kept himself from breaking down as he turned into the hospital parking lot. I should've been able to catch the guy after those hedges.
Steve gritted his teeth and he walked into the hospital with Danny.
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After a few days of rest, medication and treatment, and the all clear from a doctor, Steve was finally convinced that Danny could go back to work. But only on desk duty.
As much as Danny hated desk duty, he did appreciate Steve's worrying over him. He didn't like Steve worrying, but since he was, Danny could admit to feeling reassured about. . .them. Steve still cared about him. He still worried about Danny. Danny just wished Steve didn't torment himself about what had happened.
Steve had been right about the bruising. Only a few days ago, when he had woken up and looked in the mirror did he notice dark purple and bluish spots formed around his neck. They had faded considerably, but it still shocked Danny at how terribly he had bruised from the chokehold.
Danny was writing on some documents when his cell phone rang loud. He pulled it out. "Detective Williams."
"Hey. It's me."
Danny smiled weakly at Steve's voice. "Hey. What's up?"
"I need some information on a woman."
Danny stood up and quickly walked out to the tech table. "Okay. You got a name?"
"Her name is Bethany Morgan."
Danny typed her name into the computer and waited. "Nope. Looks like nothing's here on a Bethany Morgan."
"That's what I thought. I'm sending you a picture."
Danny waited as he heard his phone buzz against his ear and he looked at it. It was a picture of some fingerprints.
"Get it?"
"Yeah, fingerprints. Run them, see what shows up?"
Danny heard Steve smile over the phone. "Smart man, detective."
Danny grinned at his teasing. "I'll call you with results."
"Okay. Love ya."
Danny was shocked at the words and heard the click before he even had a chance to say anything. Steve hadn't said anything like that over the phone in a long time.
Danny shook the 'love ya' off and looked to his phone. He took the photo, sent it to the computer and went back to work in search of the prints.
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After work a couple days later, the team went to their homes to get ready for the party in their honor. Chin and Kono were picked up from their houses first. They sat near each other in the limo and the conversation had turned to their co-workers after a few moments of silence.
"I honestly don't know what's happened to them. I'm worried about them." Kono spoke to Chin as they sat in a limousine, driving along streets to get to Steve and Danny's home.
"Yeah, me too. What do you think happened?" Chin asked as he looked at her.
Kono shrugged. "I don't know. They seem to keep a pretty professional tone at work. I mean, you know. . ." She paused as she thought of what to say. "They keep it to just being work partners. They don't really show any type of marital affection at work. . .even when they were first dating. . .all those years ago. . .they didn't really show affection, which I always found odd, but if it worked for them, then what else matters, right?"
"Right."
"But it makes trying to figure out when the tension and problems started harder, too."
"Yeah. The tension has become very apparent. . .it actually seems worse. The question I have is what is going on at home?"
"Yeah. Do you think it's finally time we say something."
"Yes. We need to say something. What do you think, you take Steve, I take Danny?"
"Nah, I think it'd work better if you take Steve and I take Danny. Steve and I are good, but I think your guy's relationship is a bit stronger than my own with Steve."
Chin laughed. "I always thought you two clicked more. But I guess we better keep the stubborn people separate."
Kono laughed. "I guess that would be wise!" She paused smoothing her dress as she crossed her legs. "So, how do you want to do it?"
"After introductions and a while with meeting people the Governor wants us to meet, we can pull them aside. You remember the lay out of the Governor's home, right?"
"For the most part. We haven't been in a while, but I'm sure once we get there, everything will come flooding back"
"Okay, good. So, remember on the second floor, there is this. . .um, gathering area. . .like a second living room."
"Mmm-hmmm. . ." Kono thought of the house and its layout, remembering the second floor's living area in front of the top of the staircase.
"I'll take Steve up there. It's usually quite and not a lot of people go up there. It also leads out to a balcony, so if a lot of people are up, I can always talk to Steve outside."
"Right."
"Now for you and Danny, I'd say the Northwest wing of the lanai is the best place or somewhere in the backyard area. Walking might help Danny share what's on his mind."
"Good thinking. Okay. I'll keep to the down stairs and outside. How do you think we should bring it up or start the conversion?"
Chin pressed his lips together in thought. "I'm not sure. I was just thinking along the lines of 'hey, you can I talk to you about something?' But I don't know."
"Yeah, Danny and Steve are the type of people where it's easier to just. . .get everything out in the open and talk about it instead of tiptoeing around the subject."
"Just remember that this is a very delicate topic. As much as I know we'd both like for them to. . ." Chin struggled with trying to find the right words.
"Stop with the hostility?"
"Yeah. . .as much as we want them to stop with the hostility, it's still delicate and very sensitive. Remember cousin Akoni and his wife?"
"Oh, yeah. They were having marital problems awhile back, weren't they?" Kono said softly remembering their family members.
"Yeah. They weren't communicating. I'm not saying every couple has the same problems, but. . .communication is key to any successful relationship. . .the more I think about it. . .the more I think that Steve and Danny aren't communicating."
"Hmmm." Kono voiced as she listened to Chin and thought.
"Something to add?" Chin asked.
"It's just. . .wasn't there something cousin Akoni and Myndi did to help with communicating?"
Chin thought about what it was Kono was thinking of. "Are you talking about their technique. . .twenty seconds. . .or something-"
"Yes! That's what I was thinking of. Do you think that would be good in this case?"
"Only if things come up as they aren't communicating well. Remember, it could be a number of things as to why they aren't communicating. Or even a number of reasons why they are so tense. . .we could be off. . .it could be something else. Money troubles. . .conflicts. . .priorities. . ." Chin trailed off. "Incompetence. . ."
"Incompetence?!" Kono asked incredulously.
Chin shrugged. "I don't know! It can be anything! But if we are right with the communication thing, I think we can help them out. Right?"
"Right." Kono said nodding.
A silence settled between them for several moments before Kono spoke again. "For the record. . .I don't think either of them are."
"You don't think either of them are what?" Chin asked.
Kono looked to her left and back at Chin. "Incompetent."
Chin snorted loudly as Kono began to giggle. "Oh, my god, Kono. Leave it be, please!" He laughed as she began to laugh as well. They continued to laugh for a few blocks before turning down Steve and Danny's street.
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Danny straightened his tie, peering into the mirror in the bathroom. He sighed as he looked at himself, all ready for the Governor's ball. This is as good as it's gonna get. He sighed again, running flat hands over his hair to smooth it.
He turned and opened the bathroom door to see Steve sitting on the bed, tying his shoes. Danny looked on at Steve, slightly feeling sorrowful at their relationship. He looks so good in that suit. Damn. . .he looks good.
Steve pulled his pant leg over his tied shoe and stood up. He turned and looked at Danny, dressed in his best suit. He always looks amazing dressed up in suits. So professional yet handsome. Steve smiled weakly at him. "Hey. Ready?" Steve asked him as his eyes drifted up and down his formally dressed attire.
"Yep." Danny did the same and his eyes went to Steve's tie. He grinned internally. "Come here real quick."
Steve stood where he was. "Why?"
Danny walked up to him. "Just come here, your tie is all screwed up."
Steve let out a small sigh and looked up as he stood before Danny and let Danny fix his tie. Always so particular with ties. . .what is with the obsession with ties? Steve bit his tongue to prevent him from retorting and pulling away from Danny. He felt a pang in his heart at the tension between them. This whole thing is so frustrating.
Danny's hands lingered on the tie, knowing that he needed to pull away, but something kept him from doing so.
Steve noticed Danny's lingering fingers. His heart begged for a more intimate touch than that of Danny just touching and fiddling with the fabric he wore. Even just a friendly touch to his hand. . .to hold it, caress it, squeeze it lightly.
They heard the doorbell ring and Danny dropped his hands and looked away. Steve did the same, smoothing his tie over.
"That's Kono and Chin. We should go." Steve said grabbing his phone from the bed and placing it in his pocket.
Steve followed after Danny and they trudged downstairs. Danny opened the door and he and Steve were greeted by a man who ushered them to the limo.
They scooted into the car and were instantly bombarded with pleasant greetings from Kono and Chin.
"Hey, guys! Ready for tonight?" Kono asked with a smile and looking absolutely stunning in her darker turquoise gown and style up hair as she sat with crossed legs next to Chin, who looked equally stunning in his tux.
Danny forced a smile as did Steve and they nodded. "Yep, I'm ready." Danny said.
Steve glanced at him and back to the cousins. "Me as well."
"Awesome! It's going to be great!" Chin added.
Steve and Danny didn't look all too excited. In fact, they looked completely miserable. Tension gripped the air between them as the sat inches from each other, not touching, not smiling, not talking or even looking at each other.
"So, how's Grace?" Kono asked with a smile.
"Good." Steve and Danny answered together perking up a bit. They looked at each other and back to Kono and Chin.
"She got a letter to attend a horseback riding camp this summer. She's very excited about it." Danny said with a small smile.
"She got the letter because of an essay she wrote about animals, specifically animals that have helped people, and how they have an affect on people, disabled and abled. She did a fantastic job on it." Steve added with a grin.
Chin and Kono's hearts leapt at the responses. If anything could bring a smile to those men's faces, it was talking about their daughter.
"She must have reread the letter, like, a hundred times. She's so excited." Danny chuckled again.
"Yeah, she keeps asking me when we are going to go shopping for supplies. It's months away." Steve laughed as he glanced to Danny.
They all shared the laugh with the thought of overzealous Grace.
"Ah, you guys remember that age. Excited over everything that you could be a part of." Chin grinned at them.
"Oh, definitely." Danny started before rambling off on a story of his childhood.
Chin and Kono listened, smiled and watched Steve's reaction to Danny's story. A lightness resided in their boss's eyes. They sparkled and shown brightly as Danny spoke with fervor and humor.
There was something still there. Kono and Chin exchanged glances and grinned when Steve and Danny caught each other's gazes as Danny continued his story. Steve hung onto every word Danny was saying. That's how it's always been.
Something was definitely still there, and the cousins planned on helping it show.