A/N: Surprise, another update! Hope you like it! More to come soon, I promise!

As always, I own nothing.

Enjoy

Chapter 18: Home

Steve and Danny pulled into the drive way of the McGarrett house to fine Kono's Cruze parked on the street in front and Chin's SUV pulled in next to the Marquis. They opened the garage door and walked in that way, closing the garage door behind them and sneaking up to the door that opened to the house. They were silent for a moment, listening against the door for any sound or anymore movement. When they didn't hear anything Steve nodded for his partner to open the door and as silently as he'd been trained Steve moved forward first.

The partner walked through the house quickly, a hand always on the weapon at their hips, until they heard laughter coming from the kitchen and found the whole family happily gathered around the kitchen island.

"Oh Daniel," Veronica cried as she spied her son, "I've been so worried."

"Ma, are you ok?" Danny asked trying to shake the worry from his voice as he rushed forward and hugged her.

"Yes, I'm alright, are you?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm alright now," Danny stated as he instinctively reached out for Grace and held her too, "we're all going to stay here at Uncle Steve's tonight Monkey, like a sleep over party. What do you think about that?" Danny added as Steve nodded and smiled.

"But I didn't bring any Jammies," Grace sighed.

"That's ok," Danny smiled; "neither did I." he laughed.

"I might have some old ones of Mary's up in a trunk. They might have The Little Mermaid on them, but I'm not sure. I can check if you like," Steve smiled.

"Thank you Uncle," Grace smiled.

"So we can all have wine with dinner and not worry," Patrick added in his contemplative way. "No ones driving anywhere tonight," he smiled and motioned toward the gathered group.

"You can have all the wine you want, Mr. Williams," Steve smiled, "I have a couple of vintages in the cellar, I hope you find something you like."

"Are you sure this isn't an intrusion Steven," Veronica asked.

"Not at all Ma," Steve smiled and hugged her tightly, "at least with you here I'll know you'll be safe." He whispered softly into her ear.

"Are you worried dear?" she whispered and looked into his shadowed eyes.

"I am," he answered

"Oh my," she gasped as she saw the darkness of his worries written in his blue eyes, "Here dear, have a cookie," Veronica said as she passed a plate to Steve, "you must be starving after the day you've had."

"We've all had 'feel better' cookies," Jenna smiled.

"And just the right amount of mothering," Kono said as she hugged Veronica, "we all feel better now."

"What can I say, I'm really good at my job," Veronica blushed, but her speech was like Danny.

"Thanks Ma," Steve smiled and gladly took the offering.

5-0

Settling the Five-Os and the Williams' into the McGarrett house took less time then anyone anticipated as Jenna, Chin and Kono set up a command center in Steve's study, while Veronica continued her compulsive cooking and Steve, Danny, Grace and Patrick pulled linens, pillows and blankets out of storage to make everyone comfortable, but the threat was still very real for all of the members of Five-O and even though they had relaxed into the comfortable home setting, they carried their weapons and were on high alert. Before long the dining room was dressed in a way Steve hadn't seen since before his mother died and the light chatter of a happy family filled his house.

"Uncle Steve, can Nonno and I use your chess set?" Grace asked as she pointed at a glass set in the dining room hutch.

"Of course," Steve smiled, "if you promise you'll play me next," he added.

"I promise," She smiled and ran off to play with her grandfather quietly.

"Thanks for all of this Steve," Danny whispered as he folded napkins in the dining room.

"We're safer when we're all together," Steve smiled.

"Do you think I was jumping to conclusion?" Danny asked as he leaned on the table and looked off to the kitchen were Jenna was helping his mother as they stuffed home mad ravioli. "I was sure something was going to happen."

"No," Steve stated, "I'm still not convinced the danger is over."

"Me either," Danny sighed and looked down at the napkin in his hands, "and there is something else I think you should know."

"What is it Danny?" Steve asked.

"The governor is suspicious of both of us," Danny whispered as he turned his back to face his partner.

"How so?" Steve whispered.

"She knows I don't trust her and she's certain that you don't either. She accused me of it just before we went into our interrogation with Doctor Kin. She said some not so trust worthy things about you that really pissed me off."

"What did she say?" he asked.

"Nothing I didn't already know. She just brought up old wounds."

"Like the fact that I got you shot on the first day?" Steve smiled.

"Yeah," Danny sighed sadly, "she asked me why I could trust you. Why I was loyal to you."

"What did you say?" Steve asked hushing his voice again.

"I told her I was loyal because you would do whatever it took to protect my family. I know you would give your life to protect Grace, and so you are deserving of my trust and my loyalty." Danny explained.

"This is my Ohana, Danny, it's all I have," Steve said as he put his hand on his partners shoulder, "you are my brother; I'd give my life for you."

"I'd do the same," Danny stated.

Steve smiled.

"We're going to be ok, aren't we?" Danny asked the worry still in his eyes.

"We'll fight for our family," Steve stated, "and we have the upper hand. Home field advantage."

"Oh my God, you really are my brother; you just used a baseball metaphor!" Danny laughed. "I'm so proud of you!"

"I thought you'd like that!" Steve smiled as he turned to pull wine glasses out of his mother's china cabinet.

"But we can't just stay hauled up here forever," Danny stated, "We need a plan."

"Did you just drop a sailing metaphor?" Steve chuckled as he looked over his shoulder at Danny.

"Sure did!" Danny smiled mischievously.

"We can stay here for now, be safe and enjoy each others company. We'll just take it one day at a time, Danno, and we'll be ok." Steve said over his shoulder. "If anything happens, I've got you back and we have the whole team here."

"Careful Steve, that's your mom's good china!" Danny stated as Steve tipped, but caught, a gravy boat before it fell as he spoke over his shoulder to Danny.

"This is why it stays in the china cabinet!" Steve said his face white as a ghost as he carefully placed the gravy boat on the table.

"It hasn't been out since before she died?" Danny asked.

"I can't be certain if my dad used it or not, but I've never touch this stuff. It seems like the right time to use it now, thought," Steve said and looked at the table as he had seen it for Thanksgiving and Christmases in his childhood. "It should be used."

"Yes, it should," Danny smiled. "I think my mom has this same pattern," he added as he picked up the gravy boat, "I broke this piece when I was seven and I may or may not have been playing ball in the yard with my brother and cousins, and knocked a foul right at the dining room window."

"Oh Danno, did she murder you or what?" Steve asked a child like excitement in his tone.

"Let's just say I don't remember eating that Thanksgiving dinner and it took me two months of allowances to pay for the window and all my paper rout money." Danny laughed and placed the gravy boat down, "it wasn't just the gravy boat that got the brunt of one of my worst plays ever. I managed the boat, the butter dish and a trio of crystal wine glasses, and the window of course. I got in so much trouble, and as usual, my cousins and brother scattered like ants when it happened. So no one else got in trouble for playing ball too close to the house."

"Smooth," Steve laughed.

"Are you boys finished setting the table?" Veronica called from the kitchen.

"Yes Ma," Danny and Steve answered in unison and then laughed at each other as they walked back out into the kitchen.