Chapter 8:
Steve and Danny had arrived home after a frustrating day. They didn't get as much paperwork done as they thought they would have and they were nowhere near close to solving the case, despite what Danny thought.
Steve had been trying all afternoon to convince Danny of his thoughts about the case. Danny wasn't having any of it. It had resulted in raised voices, frustration over not being heard, and a hint of anger.
"Danny, would you please just listen to me?!" Steve voice sounded through the house as he and Danny stood in the kitchen.
"I am listening! That's what the problem is!" Danny retorted back heatedly as he placed a bowl on the counter.
Steve gritted his teeth as he grabbed a tangerine, leaned against the counter, and began to peel it forcefully, throwing the peels into the trash. He rolled his injured ankle in circles. It was still sore, but it was doing better. He kept his weight off it. "How is that the problem? And you aren't listening!" They had been arguing since lunch. Their debate mainly because they disagreed with each other's thoughts on who the killer to the case was.
"It's a problem because your reasoning doesn't make sense. The killer couldn't have been just some random person. He would've had to have been an employee. Only employees have access to the places where the body could've been dumped at that harbor."
"That's not true. A lot of people have access to northern side of the harbor." Steve glared at Danny as he watched the man open a can of clam chowder and pour it into a bowl.
"Yeah. And we both know that the body was found on the South side. Plus-hey-there's a huge, no, two huge platforms in between the North and South side of the harbor. The area on the North side of the dock is open to the public, but the body was found in the South side of the harbor. The South side is not open to the public!" They had been through this thousands of times. Danny didn't understand why Steve wasn't getting it. "God, did you even read the report? Were you paying attention when we briefed?"
Steve glared at him again as he watched the man place the bowl in the microwave. "I did and you know it! Why don't you take a second to listen to the reasoning behind it?! God, why do I even try with you sometimes? You're never going to listen!"
Danny angrily punched in the buttons to their newly purchased microwaved. "Any reasoning you'd come up with wouldn't make sense! How could a body be dumped on the North side and end up in the South side? By magic?" Danny asked as he stepped away to pick up the can and throw it away in the trash bin near where Steve stood.
"No! Not by magic, by-"
There was a deafening pop and a loud buzzing noise as the microwave exploded with thunderous bang.
Everything in his body was instantly thrown to the edge. Steve transformed into SEAL mode and tackled Danny to the floor, covering his body with his own.
Danny groaned at the harsh way his back landed against the floor. The clam chowder has been flown across the room and the contents of the bowl were everywhere. Danny felt some streaks on his face and neck. "Steve!" His breath was sucked out of his chest and he gasped out at the man who lay on top of him.
"Shhh-we're under attack! Stay down!" He whispered fiercely, looking around them. The area had altered into the familiar shack he had once stayed in during his time across seas. Things became hot, dry, and sandy. Anxiety gripped Steve's being as he looked around inside the shack.
"Nah, Steve-Steve! Listen to me." Danny grabbed his shirt gently. "It was the microwave. It must be faulty. Now, can you get off me please?"
Steve looked around. "They might come back for a second hit. Stay down!" Then he looked down at the man that was pinned to the ground. His face turned into one of extreme confusion. "Danny?" Fear struck down on him. Why was Danny in the shack? Danny couldn't be there. He was in danger. "What are you doing here?"
"Steve, where are you?" Danny asked him. He had worked with Steve's PTSD before. It had been such a horrible experience the previous time that he had read up on what to do for next time.
"I'm-I'm-" Steve looked around again. Things slowly began to change back. The walls of the shack disappeared and were replaced by the walls of his house. The flooring was tiled, not wooden. He saw the curtains and the windows in his kitchen. He was in Hawaii. . .he was at home. . .he was with Danny. Everything was telling him he was home. He looked to the new microwave and the substance that splattered everywhere. Faulty microwave. . .not IEDs or the Taliban. Steve took a deep breath and looked to the substance that's all over Danny's face and hair. He settled, finally realizing where he was and what was real.
"Steve?"
Steve turned to look at Danny. He swallowed. "I'm in Hawaii." He answered, towering over him.
"Okay, good. Now. . .can you get off me now, please?" Danny asked, finding annoyance picking at him as he wiggled underneath Steve's hold.
Bad move. They both took in sharp breath over the movement against their sensitive nether regions. Danny stopped, looking over their bodies and then back up to Steve's face.
Steve smiled at the white substance, reminding him of few times he would get carried away in bed room activities. He hesitated as he stared into Danny's eyes. He couldn't help himself as he leaned down and licked some of the substance from Danny's face.
"Steve, what are you doing?" Danny said, sounding vexed and pulling away from his tongue. His heart melted a little as he felt Steve's tongue against his skin. He hoped Steve would do it again.
Steve licked his lips as he looked at Danny. "Tasting." He said sheepishly.
Danny looked at him with raised eyebrows and knew he couldn't be mad at the man that laid on top of him. "How does it taste?" His voice dripped with sarcasm and a small smile found it's way to his lips.
Steve smiled with his lips parted. He leaned down to lick some more off his chin and a little down his neck, lingering slightly as Danny grinned at the feel of his tongue against his neck. Steve pulled to look at him with his eyebrows furrowed and ran his tongue across his bottom lip, seeming to be contemplating.
"It tastes okay. Maybe a little cold. Could use a few more minutes."
Danny chuckled as he gazed into Steve's eyes. He didn't want to argue anymore. Fighting was pointless. "Babe. . ." He sighed. "I'm sorry. And as you know, I hate saying that I'm wrong but. . ." Danny sighed again. Steve kept his gaze on him. "I know I can do better. I think work has just been getting the best of me."
Steve smiled. He knew they were both wrapped up in case at work and that it was taking a toll on them. We need to stop and just. . .
Steve leaned down to placed a soft kiss to Danny's lips.
Danny's hands found their way around Steve's back, grasping the man closer. He loved Steve. He couldn't keep fighting with the man he loved.
"Steve, I have an idea." Danny said breaking from the kiss with a gasp.
"Tell me." Steve breathed as his lips danced their way to Danny's neck, latching on and embracing the spot on Danny's neck with his lips.
"With work and stuff, every time we are fighting or arguing with each other. . .let's just kiss."
Steve chuckled against his neck. "What?"
"Just kiss. It seems to fix everything. Every time. Whenever we fight, everything seems to just. . .disappear when we. . ." Danny faded off and grasped Steve's hair to keep him at his neck, his arousal heightening.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Steve answered pulling from his neck smiling. "Let's forget about work right now, though. Kay?"
Danny grinned and nodded as he pulled Steve to his lips once more. Minutes passed as they kiss each other and Danny's hips met Steve's as Steve ground his pelvis into Danny's. The need for friction was strong and rising with every movement.
"Do you want to do this now or after dinner?" Steve asked, his lips brushing against Danny's as he asked the question.
"How about now, and after dinner?" Danny asked with a powerful lustful look lingering in his eyes.
Steve felt his muscles tense in anticipation of the idea and he smiled. "As much as I like that idea, I am hungry." Steve whispered to him.
Danny chuckled. "Okay. Let's get some dinner and then. . ." Danny ran his hands up and down his clothed chest. "Oh, god." He murmured looking into Steve's eyes.
Steve laughed as he leaned closer and placed his lips against Danny's.