Chapter 12:

Darkness consumed them. It smelled musky and damp.

Steve's chest heaved in his bulletproof vest as he signaled his team forward. He creeped behind tall stacks of wooden pallets.

His eyes adjusted as he saw streams of light flow from the high windows near the ceiling to the cool, cemented ground.

He peeped around the stack of wooden pallets and saw a man standing looking at something in his hands and talking to another man.

Steve looked back to his team and signaled them to wait. He looked around the warehouse. His eyes landed to Danny's.

Steve could feel himself smile. He shook himself back to focus. He signaled Kono, Chin and Danny to circle the man.

Steve emerged from his place. "Five 0! Hands up!" His voice sounded through the building.

The men looked startled as they turned to Steve. One of the men reached swiftly into his coat and pulled out a handgun, aiming it at Steve.

Danny's stomach dropped as he saw Steve in immediate danger. He aimed, took in a breath and held it as he pulled the trigger. The shot was deafening and Danny kept his gaze on the scene as he watched the man crumble to the floor and Steve advanced in. Danny advanced in, full of fury and anger as Kono and Chin grabbed the other man and took him outside. Danny made it to the man's side as blood oozed out of his bicep.

"Wanna tell me why you think it's a good idea to pull a gun on my partner?" Danny asked aggressively as he grasped the man's bad arm, intentionally planning on drawing pain out of every source of this man's body. "Come on, you ass."

The man groaned in pain as Danny pulled him to sit up and handcuff him. "I want a lawyer."

Danny squeezed his hand over the man's wound on his arm. The man let out a yelp of pain. "You're gonna need one." Danny threatened as he pulled him up and pushed him to the doors.

Steve held on to the neck of his vest as he took in deep breaths. Every time something like this happened, he couldn't help but feel just a little shaky afterwards. Being the team's leader though made it harder to express that. He would stay strong as the adrenaline and nerves waned away.

However, this time felt different.

Steve was trembling. He could feel his chest tighten as he watched Danny walk out of the building struggling with the man a bit. He swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat. He shook it off and took in a deep breath. Why am I freaking out?

Danny forced the man outside and over to sit next to the other man. He left them with Chin and a pair of cops.

Steve emerged from the building, glancing at Chin, who was writing on some papers, giving it to a nearby cop, and walking over to Kono. They turned to walk to Chin's car. Steve looked at his watch. He looked around and saw Danny talking to one of the cops. His shoulders slumped slightly. He was hoping to talk to Danny before he had to pick up Grace. Steve walked over to Chin and Kono.

"Hey. Can I get a ride with you guys back to HQ? Danny has to get Grace."

"Yeah, sure. Hop in." Chin smiled at him. Kono made her way to the back seat.

"Oh, Kono, you can sit up front-"

"It's fine. Honestly. Sit up front!" Kono said lightly as she sat in the back seat and rolled down the window.

Steve smiled at her. Steve pulled open the passenger car door.

"Steve!"

Steve stopped before crouching down to sit in the car. He turned at the sound of his name. He saw Danny running up to him.

"Hey, babe, I need to go pick up Grace." Danny said, slightly breathless, to Steve as he strode up to him, stopping in front of him. Steve placed a hand on the top of the opened car door.

"I know. Go, you're gonna be late picking her up, so go now. I'll be home about 5 or 5:30." Steve replied with a weak smile.

"Okay, sounds good." Danny stepped closer to Steve. "Um, hey. Are you okay?" He looked concerned.

Steve bit his lower lip as he looked behind Danny. The cops were loading the two men into their car. He nodded eventually, still looking behind Danny. "I will be." He chuckled trying to brush it off. He looked down at the ground, brushing a few pebbles with the toe of his boot.

"Hey." Danny looked into Steve's eyes as Steve looked up and drew his gaze to Danny's. I've never seen him this spooked over a close call. "We can talk. . .tonight?"

Steve could feel his chest tighten again as a small fear enveloped him. He nodded. "That would be good." He whispered.

Danny smiled at him. "Okay. We will when you get home. Okay?"

Steve nodded, not knowing what else to say.

Danny paused. He grabbed the top of Steve's bulletproof vest and placed an innocent kiss on his lips.

A shock ran through Steve as he realized what was happening. As soon as he realized it, his body softened and he grasped onto Danny's biceps, kissing him back gently. His fears over the situation lessened as he felt Danny's lips against his own.

It was a quick kiss. Danny pulled away and looked slightly embarrassed and shocked with himself. It had been so easy. To just pull Steve in close and give him a goodbye kiss. "Um. . .I'll see you at home then." He said with a smile and bat of his eyelashes as he turned and walked to his car.

Steve breathed through parted lips, which curved into a small smile, still shocked at what happened. All thoughts of the man, the gun, and the close encounter with death simmered to the back of his mind. Danny and all of Danny was the only thing that fluttered about in his mind. He grasped his bulletproof vest at the neck area. "I love you." He called after Danny.

Danny looked over his shoulder and grinned, looking completely flattered at his words. "Love you, too."

Steve stood in his place, watching Danny as he sat in his car and took off quickly. He smiled and bit his lower lip.

"Hey, Boss, you okay?"

Steve turned at Kono's voice and looked at her. "He's never done that before."

"What, kissed you? You guys are married, I find that hard to believe." Chin answered with a smile.

"No. . .kissed me at work. . .in front of you guys. . .we just. . .decided to not display affection at work when we first got together."

"We don't mind." Chin said.

"I know, but. . .I don't know. . .I guess we were both afraid of changing team dynamics." Steve looked back to the horizon, distantly seeing Danny's Camaro drive down a main road.

"Things are finally getting better between you two?" Chin said softly.

Steve grinned. "Yeah. Things are definitely getting better." He stood taking it all in.

"Well, come on, lover boy. Let's get back to HQ so you can finish your work and get home to that handsome detective of yours." Kono grinned.

Steve shook himself and sat next to Chin and pulled his seatbelt across his body, still grinning at the kiss he just shared with Danny.