Who has NOT been just loving all the BTS stuff out there for the show? So excited for S5!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything here...just borrowing for fun...

Cops have a thing about promises.

They know deep down they should never make them.

Because they knew damn well that most of the time, promises evaporated like fairy tale fluff.

Happily ever after – simple answers even – did not come easily. Not for everyone.

Reality got in the way.

But Steve was not a cop.

He was a Navy Seal.

A Super Ninja Navy Seal Neanderthal Animal if you listened to his partner.

His best friend.

Danny Williams.

And Steve would do anything for the incorrigible, frustrating, incredibly loyal man. Including making promises he wasn't sure he could keep.

He pushed those thoughts away and focused on driving. There'd been far too much coming and going that day. Not enough time to sit down and sift through the events of the last few hours. To process what the fuck was going on. To come up with a plan.

One nagging question kept him on edge. Were they playing right into someone's hand? Steve couldn't chance it, yet he didn't have anything solid to pin down his worry. He felt like he was falling. And his safety net, his backup and best friend was close to spinning out.

Danny didn't seem too phased by it all at the moment. He stared out the window. It was this quiet that worried Steve. No ranting. No ruminating. Nothing but a few painful sighs here and there, and that was a concern. If he let Danny simmer in this stew of uncertainty and pain, there could very well be an eruption down the road.

It bothered Steve that he couldn't see Danny's face. He couldn't help his friend if he didn't know what was going on inside his head. His eyes kept darting from the mirrors to Danny to the cars in front of him and then back to Danny. Shaking it off, he focused on the road. He should be paying more attention to his driving.

More than anything, he just wanted to comfort his best friend. He simply did not know what to say. They'd already said enough, and he also feared Danny might not like what he was thinking.

Steve wasn't so sure HPD would release Eric. There were too many unknowns. Eric's prints were found at the scene of a crime. The kidnapping of his own uncle. And while it seemed insane to even entertain the idea that he could be involved in what happened to Danny, Steve couldn't let it go.

It was the only clue they had at that moment. Eric had been at Danny's house. When exactly he was there was tough to tell. They had the time on the unsent text message, but that could have been set up by somebody else. One thing was for certain. Danny hadn't known his nephew was even on the island. That was troubling. What was the boy doing there? How was he involved? Was he a victim too?

Steve held on to the last thought. Because it was the least distressing. Eric had possibly been held against his will, lured somehow from Jersey. It was so much better than his being directly involved in terrorizing his uncle. No way was that possible. Yet, people could turn on you at any minute. They did unexpected things. Things that made your heart ache.

"I know what you're thinking, and you can just stop. Right now." Danny's voice startled Steve. "Wipe that slate clean."

Slowing to a stop at the light, Steve glanced over at his partner. His face enough of a question mark so words weren't necessary.

"I know what you're thinking, Steve. Because I'm thinking it too." Danny shook his head, hand to his forehead. "Eric. It's all about Eric."

He didn't have to say any more than that. Steve simply nodded and sighed before moving on with the flow of traffic. Danny was right, and they would know more soon enough.

That is, if Eric gave them any answers. Steve feared the young man might not have anything to tell them. And what if he wouldn't talk? It wouldn't be the first time a family member had betrayed Danny. He hoped he was wrong because he wasn't sure his best friend could take it if his nephew was in on this mess.

Shifting gears, Steve changed the subject slightly. They needed to get down to business. "How do you want to play this?"

"By the book. I'm tired. I can barely do this." Danny's voice carried little emotion. "Treat him like everyone else."

Steve noticed Danny trembling.

"So treat him like a suspect?" Steve raised his voice just a little. "Come on, Danny."

Danny wiped sweat from his brow with a shaky hand. Steve gripped the wheel, steeling himself. They should have listened to the doctor.

"Come on, what, Steven? He's my nephew?" Danny shook his head. "Right now, I don't know what he is."

"You don't mean that."

Neither spoke for a moment. The engine roared as Steve sped down the street, anxious to get this over and done with. He knew Danny wouldn't rest until he'd talked to Eric, as painful as it all might turn out to be.

"Now you have a face, D."

"I can have what ever I want. I was buried alive last night."

/././

When they pulled up to headquarters, they just sat there for a few minutes.

"I can't do it."

Steve didn't respond. He turned to Danny and tried to make eye contact, hoping to reassure him somehow. But Danny had his head in his hands, mumbling. "This is impossible, insane even. My own nephew."

"Danny, you've got this."

"Sure." He turned to look at Steve, half assed attempt at a smile on his face. "Sure, I can do this. I can do anything. I promised my sister a long time ago."

"Danny, Eric isn't a kid anymore."

"No, exactly and now's when he needs me the most. I'm the one they all look up to. Back in Jersey. I'm a cop. I-"

"You have super powers, I know."

"I'm the one with all the answers. I do the right thing all the time." Danny looked away again. "Maybe I do deserve this. Maybe I did let him down."

"Danny, what?" His partner was not making sense. And if it hadn't been such a tough day, Steve might have pushed further. Now he chalked this latest odd conversation twist as par for the course. So he didn't say anything.

Danny ran his hand through his hair and cleared his throat. "Let's do this."

Thanks again to everyone who's reading.