Chapter 11:
Steve opened his tired eyes to fading darkness. He heaved in a sigh. His internal alarm clock would never stop. He knew if he turned to look at the clock on the wall, it would read 6:00 a.m. Never a break. . .I could just go back to sleep. . .
But Steve knew better. He would not be able to sleep. He'd tried it before. Several times.
Steve smiled as an ache became present through his body. He thought back to the previous night and grinned even more. Holy crap, last night. . . He turned and was surprised to find the area next to him was empty. Where's Danny? Steve began to feel a slight panic overcome him.
Steve heard footsteps and all worries were washed away as he looked up to see Danny walking into the room. "Ah, you're up!" Danny was wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes.
Steve sat up and rubbed his eye as he stretched. "Yeah. . .what are you doing up this early in the morning?"
"Getting ready to work out with you." He said nonchalantly as he walked to their dresser and pulled out a drawer.
"What?" Steve asked. Maybe he didn't hear Danny correctly.
"You know your work out sessions you do every morning? I thought I'd join." Danny shuffled around in the drawer and then looked up at Steve.
Steve furrowed his eyebrows as he smiled. . .one look of many Danny absolutely adored on Steve. "Not to sound rude, and sorry if I do, but why? You hate running."
Danny smiled and looked back to the drawer. "Because it's good for me. . .good for my career. . .good for my relationship with Grace. She's been harping on me about doing things to better my health. I think that maybe if I can change my mind on running, I'll like it. . .and. . .well. . ." He looked to Steve. "Maybe it'll be good for us."
Steve smiled at him as Danny held his gaze.
"And. . .if it means as much to you as I think it does, then. . .I want to show you my support. I want to help. And if that means waking up at 6 in the morning, every morning, then. . ." He shrugged with a grin. "I'm there."
Steve rose his eyebrows and grinned. "Really?"
"Yeah, of course!" Danny answered him, piercing his soul with his blue eyes. "I don't want to impose or over step boundaries-"
"Danny, I would love to workout with you." Steve answered, flattered by Danny's willingness to do something he didn't like all that much to improve their relationship.
Danny smiled at him. "Can I say that you look amazing?"
Steve grinned and chuckled as he looked down at the jumbled sheets with his cheeks flushing with a ruby red color.
Danny smiled at Steve's sudden bashfulness. "I mean, you always do, but. . .I don't know. . .you just look so wonderful right now."
Steve looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you." He said, his chest fluttering.
Danny nodded. "So. . .come on, then, handsome, let's go. I am following you today." He said with a smile.
Steve stood up and walked over to Danny, naked. He placed his arms around Danny's waist, pulling him closer to his body. "I love you. . .so much" He said with a smile.
Danny smiled back at him. "I love you immensely as well, Mr. McGarrett." He said with a little laugh.
Steve chuckled and pulled him close to place his lips to Danny's, absolutely loving Danny's devotion to him.
And only him.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Danny breathed hard as he powered forward up a hill. Damn, was training for the academy ever this hard?
Steve followed Danny. He grinned as he watched Danny's amazing ass flounce ahead of him. As much as he enjoyed the view, he knew Danny was having a hard time.
He picked up his speed and settled at a pace running next to Danny. "How you doing?" He breathed.
"Good." Danny forced out a smile through parted lips, panting. Truth be told, he was hurting. Badly.
Steve knew this. "So, how you doing?" He asked again as they continued up the hill.
Danny grinned and shook his head. "I'm hurtin'." He smiled as he breathed out.
"Okay. We can take a break at the top of the hill and then head back."
"No, no. It's only been, like, what two miles?"
"Actually three. You're doing great!" Steve smiled.
Danny shook his head and began to slow. "I can't do it."
"No, no. Come on! We're so close!" Steve encouraged as he continued to run slightly in front of Danny on the trail.
Danny powered forward looking at Steve. "You're gonna have to carry me."
Steve braced himself as he felt Danny's arms around his neck and his legs wrap around his waist. He laughed as he struggled a bit at Danny's surprise attack. He found his footing and laughed with Danny as he jogged the last few yards to the top.
Steve stopped at the top and took in a few breaths, looking around at the view before them.
Danny smiled as he looked about, still on Steve's back. Swept up in the moment, with the wind in their hair and the morning air greeting their lungs, and the sun peaking it's way through the trees behind them and caressing the land before them, Danny kissed Steve's ear. "I love you." He whispered with a smile as he placed another kiss on the man's sweaty neck.
Steve grinned and dropped Danny's legs. Danny got the hint and slid off Steve's back. Steve grabbed the man's hand and pulled him in close, placing a hand on Danny's hip. "I love you, too." He said as he placed a simple kiss to Danny's lips. They broke, still holding hands as they looked around again at the amazing view.
Steve grinned and looked at Danny. "You okay?"
Danny smiled and nodded, turning to look at him. "Yeah, I'm good."
"Good to go?"
Danny let out an exasperated sigh as he dropped Steve's hand to run his own hands through his hair. "Let's just stay here and. . .call a cab or something."
"Ah, come on. Three miles back to the house. . .with breakfast."
Danny made a groaning noise.
"Loser makes breakfast." Steve grinned. "And gives a blow to the victor."
Danny smiled. "If that's the case, I bet I'll beat you."
"You can definitely try." Steve smiled.
"Alright, but hey, your shoelace is untied." Danny said.
Steve looked down and chuckled as he looked at his shoe that was still tied in a neat bow. Danny fooled him, and fooled him good. He looked up and Danny had already started back down the hill, laughing as he did so.
"You'll pay for that, Danno!" Steve called after him as he took off in a run behind Danny.
"Come and get me!" Danny shouted to him.
A while later, they ran into the back yard. Danny immediately stopped and placed his hands on his hips, breathing hard, his lungs on fire. Sweat dripped down his face and body, soaking his t-shirt and hair.
"Holy. . .shit. . ." He gasped clutching his side, leaning over, placing a hand on his knee.
"Damn, I didn't know you could go that long!" Steve grinned as his chest heaved lightly, like they had not just ran six miles. "Great job, Danny!"
"Thanks. Whoever said. . .that running. . .is good for your health. . .is a filthy liar." Danny gasped out as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Steve laughed. "It is good for your health. You did great! You'll feel good in about ten minutes. Did you ever get that 'feel good' feeling I've talked to you about?"
"Around mile three. . .for about ten-seconds. . .and then I felt like murdering my knee."
Steve grinned again as he stepped closer to the still hunched over Danny. "You did fantastic."
Danny grinned as he continued his heavy breathing. "Thanks."
Steve looked up to the waves in their backyard as Danny stayed in his hunched over, gasping for breath position. Steve grinned. "You know what's great after a workout like that?"
"Going inside, taking a shower, sitting on the couch, not moving for eight hours and eating malasadas until I get every calorie I burned back?"
Steve chuckled. "No. . ." Steve suddenly grabbed Danny at his waist and hoisted him on his shoulder. He began to run to the water.
"Steve! What are you doing?!" Danny laughed as he squirmed in Steve's hold.
Steve didn't say anything as he reached the water.
"Steve, I swear-" Danny started, but was cut short as Steve dove into the waters with Danny still on his shoulder.
Water enveloped the both of them, like a cool blanket, soothing any aches, soreness, and the heat that resided with them.
Danny was the first to pop up. He shook his head and wiped his eyes. Steve then came up and smiled at Danny with mischief in his eyes. "You ass!" Danny laughed as he went to grab Steve. Steve grabbed his hands and they both laughed as water surrounded them. Danny gave up and placed his arms around Steve's neck. He placed a gentle kiss on Steve's lips, his hand resting on Steve's jawline.
Steve grinned into the kiss and grasped Danny's hair. He felt Danny wrap his legs around his waist under the water, drawing their bodies close.
As the sweet kisses continued, waves pushed them closer to shore, until they stood back on the sand beneath them. Waves crashed into them, soaking their bodies as they clung onto each other.
They finally broke, looking into each others eyes, smiling.
Steve let out a little sigh. "God, I love you." He murmured to Danny.
Danny grinned and chuckled. He loved how sincere Steve was in saying that simple phrase. "I love you, too."
Steve smiled as he heard the words. He leaned in closer and met Danny's lips again, their lips colliding into each other like the waves that collided into them. After a short bit, Steve felt Danny begin to tremble. He broke. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just a bit cold." He said wrapping his arms around himself as he continued minimal spasms as his body attempted to become warm.
Steve chuckled as he placed his arms around Danny and hugged him. "I know a great way to warm you up."
Danny grinned. "I know your thinking about us taking a hot shower."
Steve grinned slyly as he turned to walk, his arms still around Danny. "No. . .that's not my idea." Steve dropped a hand and the other stayed at Danny's waist.
"Well, I hope it's not related to the surprise I just received." Danny replied as he ran a hand through his hair.
"No. . .I think you know what it is, you're just playing hard to get." Steve said to him as they walked across their backyard.
"I am. We can take a hot shower together. We have to get to work this morning." Danny replied as ran a hand through his hair.
Steve let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. . ." He dropped his hand and allowed Danny to walk into the house first.
"I never said that couldn't lead to anything tonight. . ." Danny said innocently as he turned his head to look over his shoulder at Steve. Mischief and a hint of arousal flashed in his bright blue eyes.
"I like the sound of that." Steve grinned as he chased after Danny through the house, to the stairs, and in their room.