Disclaimer – I don't own Hawaii Five-O. If I did, Steve McGarrett would be shirtless all the time. And they wouldn't be covering up any of AOL's tattoos. I'm just toying with the characters for a while.

Present Day

The men took up posts at alternate sides of the porch. Danny flexed his fingers and stretched his hand while Steve massaged his jaw back into place. The silence between the partners was bordering on deafening.

"I'm gonna get a beer," Steve said softly, finally making eye contact with Danny. "You want one?"

Danny bent over at the waist and laughed. "Do I want a beer? You kissed Claire, I punched you in the jaw and you ask if I want a beer? No, Steven, I do not want a beer."

Steve nodded. "Danny, we need to talk. And I don't know about you, but this is not a conversation I want to have any more sober than I already am."

"Sober?" Danny scoffed. "What are you talking about, sober? You frikkin' stumbled out of the cab that dropped your ass here. You gave the cab driver a $50 bill for a ride that was, at most, 10 bucks. You, my friend, are not even remotely sober."

Steve laughed bitterly and ran a hand over his face. "Yeah, well, trust me, there's no level of drunk that's gonna make this easier, so…you want a beer?"

Danny regarded the taller man with disdain before scratching his beard. "No," he answered finally; "I want a very tall glass of the strongest liquor you've got."

"Coming right up," Steve answered, making his way into his home. Danny followed several paces behind. "You're brave, I'll give you that," he said brusquely, making a sweeping motion with his hand in reference to the various weapons Steve had along the walls, "keeping your back to me when I've got damn near every weapon known to man at my disposal right now."

Steve snorted. "Not like I wouldn't deserve it," he said under his breath.

He flipped on the light in the kitchen and procured two tall glasses out of the cupboard before filling them halfway with Booker's whiskey. He handed Danny one of the glasses and made his way out to the lanai and down to the chairs he left situated on the beach.

Steve flopped down in one and sat his glass on the table before resting the mostly full bottle on his knee. Danny paced in front of the second chair, then turned to Steve, said "Salut" and downed the contents in one gulp. Steve laughed and refilled Danny's glass.

Danny loosened his tie and undid the top button on his shirt before sagging into his chair and leaning back. He twirled the whiskey in his glass, watching as the thick, dark liquid coated the sides. He could already feel the effects of downing the first glass. "You said you had no good reason to kiss Claire."

"No," Steve answered.

"So, I'm guessing you have a not so good reason, then?"

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment before shaking his head and turning to Danny with tears in his eyes. "There is no reason good enough to hurt you the way I have," he answered honestly. "You're my partner, my best friend, my chosen brother, and I betrayed you the minute I let myself feel anything except friendship for Claire."

Danny sighed. "Well, at least we agree on that."

TBC…

Please don't worry – Danny is NOT letting Steve off easy, I promise.