Disclaimer: I still don't own Hawaii Five-0 and I'm still keep on dreaming.
A/N: Thanks for reading and your nice reviews. They made my day.
Chapter 2
They stood at the railing and looked over the bay to the small atoll with the few palm trees sticking out like toothpicks on it.
The water was turquoise and so clear one could see the reef with its residents.
"Steve, I hate to admit it, but this is just breathtaking!" Steve just grinned satisfied and nodded.
"Uncle Steve can we go snorkeling now?" the small girl between them tugged at his arm.
"What do you think Danno? Ready for some snorkeling?"
"Sure!" Danny said uncertain but with one look at his daughter's happy face he suddenly liked the idea, too.
"Perfect! I'll fetch the gear and show you how to handle it." Danny grinned and shook his head as Grace wanted to tell her Uncle Steve that she was a big girl and could snorkel.
Steve came back from below with flippers and diving goggles for all.
"Here… " He handed them all their sizes and nodded to the footbridge, which he let down to get easy access in and out of the water.
When they all stood on it he said "Now, it's best when you sit down and wet …"
"and wet your feet! So you get better into the flipper and spit into your diving goggles so they won't mist up!" Danny finished with a cocky smile.
"Come on…..You know how to snorkel after all?" Steve stared at his Jersey native friend with curiosity.
"Sure do! ….You might not know, but we have an ocean with a sandy beach in Jersey, too!"
"But not as beautiful, Danno!" Grace piped up and Steve nodded with glee.
"Yeah maybe!" Danny agreed slowly and turned to Steve. "And another thing… what with," Danno whispered only meant for Steve's ears. "Sharks?"
"Danno… we have them in Jersey, too!" again Grace!
Danny sighed, at least one thing he mustn't worry about – Grace's hearing! It was definitely okay!
"Yeah Danno," Steve said mockingly. "Even the great white!"
Danny flipped him the bird, careful that Grace couldn't see.
"Come on Danno!" Grace squealed getting tired of all the talking and jumped into the clear ocean.
"Yeah come on Danno!" Steve too was immediately in the water with Grace. "And Danno… only small sharks here! ... I think!"
"You think? …You think, seriously Steven?" With that Danny joined them.
Steve smiled and handed Grace and Danny a towel when they came up on board again after a wonderful afternoon in the water.
"And how was it?" Grace hugged Steve around his waist. "Thank you Uncle Steve that was soooo
cool!"
Danny dried his hair and nodded. "Yeah, it was okay." Danny murmured from under the towel and received a slap on the arm from his monkey. "Danno!" her voice sounded outraged.
"No no, I must admit - although reluctantly - that was just breathtakingly beautiful, Steve!"
Steve just smiled satisfied. "Finally, Detective Williams admits – although reluctantly – that there is something beautiful in Hawaii! WOW!"
Danny deliberately ignored his partner and changed the subject. "What do we have for dinner by the way…" Steve just chuckled shaking his head.
"We could go spear fishing and catch ourselves some big nice fish." Grace scowled and made a face at Steve.
"No way!" Danny shook his head and proclaimed loudly. "Grace would hate if we actually bring in one of these nice colorful fishies, maybe even… Nemo…" At that Grace beamed nodding at her Father and scowled even more at Steve.
Steve passed the glare on to Danny who smirked triumphantly and said "Okay, how old are you?" Danny just grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Dinner, Steve?"
"Okay, I have some …fish…, from the super market, Grace, or steak, salads and lots of fruits for dessert, pineapples, too"
"Okay, fish…. But only from the super market! And I love fruits." Now Steve finally got a huge smile from Grace, too.
"Luckily, I brought my own dessert!" Danny let them know.
"Let me guess? – Malasadas!" Danny just sighed happily and Steve shook his head, but was the one who smirked this time when Grace said: "Danno, what did I tell you about cholesterol?"
Danny actually looked embarrassed. "Cholesterol is haz… hazardous to your health!"
"You know, she is right, Danno!"
After they had eaten and the washing up was done, Steve explained to Grace the star constellations in a cloudless sky as Danny watched the two most precious people in his life.
He took another swig from his beer and leaned back crossing his bare feet at the ankles.
Yeah, here finally life seems to be okay.
When Grace came over from her stargazing, she sat on her father's lap, leaning her head against his chest and pointed to the stars.
"Danno, Uncle Steve told me all about the stars and how the ancient Hawaiians could navigate with their help."
Steve took a beer from the cooler and made himself comfortable next to his friend, while listening to Gracie's excited explanations.
A little bit later Grace was fast asleep in her father's lap.
"Is she sleeping?" Steve whispered.
"Yeah, out like a light!" Danny smiled down at his little girl.
"You're a luck guy, Danny!" Steve stroked a hand over Grace's hair.
"I know!"
"I feel lucky too; especially when I'm able to conjure a happy smile and glowing eyes on that sweet little face!" Danny nodded and smiled. Yes he knew exactly what Steve meant.
Steve nodded at the little girl, who was draped all over her father. "This looks a bit uncomfortable. I can help to bring her down?"
"No, its okay, she doesn't weigh much. Let's sit here for a little while longer."
After a few moments of companionable silence, Danny said. "You made Gracie really happy today and … me too! Thank you for taking us, babe!"
"Any time, my friend." Steve smiled content. "Any time!"
"Ehm.. and I assume that we are going in that shark infested water again, tomorrow?" He grinned.
"Yeah Danno, I suppose we will!"
Next morning after breakfast – fruits for Steve and Grace and a left over Malasada for Danny, they went snorkeling again.
This time, Grace even saw Nemo, at least she was absolutely sure it was the clown fish and Danny, Danny finally saw, to his utter horror, a huge, teeth baring deadly shark!
As fast as he could he swam to Steve's side, seeing that Grace was with his friend and slapped him on the back, but when Steve turned around the lone shark was already gone!
Danny gestured wildly and his head surfaced only seconds before Steve's.
"There was a freaking shark, Steven! And my daughter is still snorkeling in the vicinity of this .. this killer!" He yelled nervously.
"Calm down Danny! Grace is perfectly safe and you too, by the way!" Steve laughed and shook his head at Danny, who was looking wildly around him.
"Okay, did this man-eater have black tips on its fins?" Steve finally asked.
"Yes exactly! And it was huge!"
"Oh" Steve looked at Danny, and said, "around 6 feet, then?"
Danny stared a moment open mouthed at his friend. "You Idiot! I hate you!" Then pushed himself up and attacked Steve.
Both man engaged in a little water fight and came up a little later spitting water and laughing like little boys.
"Come on let's take a break, I'm thirsty!" Steve said still laughing.
They told Grace to stay in sight and close to the boat and climbed aboard.
"Seriously Steve, I saw a shark!" Danny insisted when they sat down with a beer never letting Grace out of sight.
"I never doubted you, Danno! We're in the Pacific Ocean and there are sharks!
Especially around islands like Hawaii, but .. I'm sure you know that I never ever would endanger Grace or you willingly by going snorkeling where it's known to be shark infested water! And by the way," Steve assured him, "I'm sure, this was a blacktip reef shark and they are said to be rather harmless and even shy. One has to be very lucky to see one while snorkeling!"
"Lucky? Lucky my ass! I almost pissed my pants!" Danny raised both hands and shook his head theatrically.
Still laughing, they were interrupted, by static noise coming from the funk radio and Kono's voice could be heard.
TBC….