Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.

On Wednesday morning, Steve woke up at his usual time. He was determined to do his full workout this morning. The problem was that Steve was so tired he could hardly move. He lay in bed for a few minutes trying to muster the energy to move.

"Babe, are you okay? You usually pop out of bed when the alarm goes off." Danny leaned over to check Steve for a fever.

Steve swatted Danny's hand away. "I'm not sick. I'm just so tired. I don't understand; we had last week off, but I'm more tired than ever."

"Steven, you were able to sleep in and you usually had some downtime. Yesterday, you were on the go from early morning until bedtime. Didn't you say the doctors found something nasty in your blood tests? You're probably fighting an infection. Go back to sleep. My alarm will wake us. The team can hit the gym if we don't get in the field. You can do some time for physical therapy on your shoulder, and you'll have time for a swim tonight. You need to take care of yourself. It's a busy time of year, and it's easy to overdo it."

Danny was raking his fingers through Steve's hair as he spoke. He saw that Steve had drifted back to sleep. Danny curled around Steve and went back to sleep. That's how Grace found them. She was up to use the bathroom and thought she might sneak in some extra cuddle time with Danno. Daddy was always swimming this early.

It was dark, and Grace was halfway up the bed before she realized that there were two bodies sleeping instead of just one. Danny and Steve woke up when Grace came in. "Grace, is everything okay? What time is it?" Steve was a little disoriented; for a minute, he wasn't sure what day it was.

"It's still early. I didn't mean to wake you and Danno up. I thought that you would be swimming. I'll go back to my bed." Grace started to leave the bed.

Steve was already scooting to the side to make room for Grace. "No, don't go. Here, I moved over. I could use a hug."

Grace took her usual spot between Steve and Danny. All three dozed off until Danny's alarm clock woke them. Grace gave both of her dads a hug and happily went to her room to get dressed. Steve sat on the side of the bed for a while before he made it to the bathroom.

Danny was already shaved and getting dressed. He was worried about Steve. Danny made the bed and went to the kitchen to make coffee. He decided that coffee and eggs might perk Steve up a little. He thought that some orange juice might be a good idea. The vitamin C wouldn't hurt either.

For a change, Grace made it downstairs before Steve. Danny quickly braided her hair and gave her another hug. "There you go. You're all nice and tidy for school. How was your day yesterday? Did you have a good time shopping last night? We're going to talk about the Hawaiian Santa I saw you sneak in the cart last night. I know you thought that I didn't see it."

"But Danno, I got it for Daddy Steve. I knew that he would like it. Is Daddy okay?" Even Grace had noticed that Steve wasn't quite himself.

Danny picked Grace up and put her on the counter. He wanted to ease some of her concern. "Daddy Steve is still recuperating from his injuries. Do you remember when you came to visit us when we got back from our trip? Even though his bruises are mostly gone and his cuts are healed, he's still not completely recovered. We had a very busy week with Nana and Poppa, and we did all that cooking and baking for Thanksgiving. Then yesterday we went shopping. Daddy Steve is mostly tired. We just need to give him a little extra care, and he'll be okay."

Steve was walking into the kitchen when he heard Danny talking to Grace. He must look as bad as he feels if Grace was worried about him. "Danno, is the coffee ready? I could use a gallon of the stuff."

"Maybe that's part of the problem. You were way too caffeinated yesterday. It has a nasty way of sneaking up on you. Sit and I'll make us some eggs. And before you can ask, I'm using the egg yolks too. You could use the protein. Grace, why don't you get the orange juice out of the fridge?" Danny learned to feed and nurture from the master, his mother.

Steve wanted to protest that he could help with breakfast, but he decided that now was not the time to protest. If Danny and Grace were that worried about him, then he needed to let them take care of him. It was still a strange feeling to have someone worry about him much less to have someone take care of him. He was always the one to take care of everyone else.

Steve felt marginally better after breakfast. Maybe it was the food and coffee, maybe it was the cheery patter Danny kept up during the meal. The Camaro was still at 5-0 headquarters or Steve would have been happy to let Danny drive this morning. Danny could drive his truck in a pinch, but Steve knew that Grace and Danny would have been more worried if he asked Danny to drive.

They dropped Grace at school and made their way to work. Steve put a call in to the doctor's office. He wanted to make sure that the last set of lab work didn't reveal anything to worry about. It was another routine day. His team was able to help HPD with their little carjacking problem. Chin, Kono, and Lori went with the HPD squads to make the bust. Danny stayed close to Steve.

Around noon, the doctor's office called back with news for Steve. His antibiotic needed to be changed; it wouldn't take care of the latest infection. It was comforting news; at least there was some tangible reason for his general malaise. The doctor called in a new prescription to fight the infection and also advised Steve to take a multi-vitamin for a few weeks. He estimated that it would be a couple of weeks before Steve was back to normal and put Steve back on restricted duty.

Steve asked Danny to take him to the pharmacy for his new medication. Danny found that very worrisome. On the way, Steve made a call to the governor to advise him of his restricted status. It was Steve's way of telling Danny the news. When his call ended, Steve leaned back in the passenger seat of the Camaro.

"So, the doctor thinks that you'll be back to your old ninja ways in a couple of weeks?"

Steve was so weary he could hardly speak. "Yeah, the infection is pretty debilitating. The doctor said that a couple of days on the antibiotics should make a big difference, but I need to take the full course of treatment. I'll go back in a week for more blood work."

Steve was asleep when Danny parked at the Walgreen's. Danny paid for Steve's prescription and vitamins and was back in the car before Steve even knew he was gone. Danny made an executive decision and took Steve home. He walked Steve into the house and settled him on the couch.

"Why are we at home? I need to pick up my medication."

"Babe, I picked it up while you were sleeping. That's when I decided it was time you came home. I'm heating some soup up for you so you can take your first dose. Then you have your choice of the couch or the bed. You need to rest."

Steve wanted to protest but he didn't have the energy. "I'd like to go up and change into something more comfortable and then come back to the couch. I like the tree lights." Steve let Danny help him upstairs to change and then back down to the couch.

Danny sat with Steve and ate a bowl of soup before driving back to work. He wanted to stay and take care of Steve, but he knew that Steve needed to rest more than anything. Danny settled for giving Steve his first dose of antibiotics and covering him up before going back to work. Danny called the governor to let him know that Steve would be at home for the rest of the day.

Steve was still asleep on the couch when Danny and Grace came home. Grace stood by the couch and watched him sleep for a while. Steve would swear that's what woke him up. "Hey Grace, can I have a hug?" Steve was feeling a little better, but he knew it was mostly because of the sleep.

Grace hugged Steve carefully. "Daddy, are you feeling any better? Danno said you have an infection and you'll be okay when the medicine begins to work. Can I bring you anything?" She was stroking Steve's forehead the same way her mommy did when she didn't feel good.

"I'm feeling a lot better since you came home. Do you think you could get me a glass of water? I'm feeling a little thirsty." Steve was feeling achy and he needed to go to the bathroom. He sat up and swung his legs to the floor. He was sitting like that when Grace came back from the kitchen with his water. Grace went upstairs to change her clothes and call her mother.

Steve drank half of the water and decided he really needed to get to the bathroom now. Danny came downstairs dressed in his usual t-shirt and shorts. "What's with the aneurism face? Are you not feeling any better?"

"Danny, do you think you could help me into the bathroom? I'm feeling a little lightheaded, and I really don't want to do any damage to myself." Steve absolutely hated feeling this way. Danny helped Steve to a standing position and walked him to the bathroom near the kitchen. He waited until Steve was finished and took him back to the couch.

"How are you feeling, and please be honest with me?" Danny could see that Steve was a little pale, and his hair was sticking up in several different directions. He looked like a little sick boy.

"I'm not sure. I slept the whole time that you were gone. Grace brought me some water, and I feel better since I peed. I think I'll feel better after I get something to eat. I still ache all over." Steve ran his hand over his hair, realizing that he must be a mess.

"I stopped by the store to pick up some bread and milk. They just brought out the rotisserie chicken so I brought one home. I also got you some chicken and wild rice soup. How does that sound?" Danny wasn't sure what Steve could eat so he went with soothing food.

"It sounds wonderful Danny. Have I told you today how much I love you? Thanks for taking care of me. I seem to be saying that a lot these days."

"You're quite welcome. And I love you too. I appreciate that you are trying to take care of yourself. There was a time not so long ago when you would have stuck it out at the office and then come home to run a marathon. Let me heat up a vegetable to go with the chicken."

When Grace came downstairs, he enlisted her help. "Grace, we're going to eat out here with Daddy Steve. He's a lot more comfortable on the couch. Why don't you set some trays up for us?"

They seldom ate in the living room, so it would be a treat. Steve made an effort to finish the plate Danny fixed for him. The soup was soothing to his stomach, and the chicken was tender. Danny had brewed a pot of tea for him. Steve was feeling almost human.

Grace helped Danny clean up the kitchen. There wasn't much to do beyond loading the dishwasher. Then Danny let Grace unload some of the shopping bags from last night. Together, they hung the new ornaments.

"You're corrupting our daughter again. Did you see what she put in the cart?" Danny held up the offensive Santa ornament.

Steve was sitting back on the couch sipping his tea. He wanted to join in the fun, but this wasn't such a bad deal. Grace brought every ornament over for inspection and then asked his opinion on where she should hang the ornament. He knew that was her way of involving him in their activity.

"Grace, you bought that ornament? I was sure that Danno bought that for me. I thought that he was finally softening up a little." He gave Grace a high five and hugged her. Yeah, this was a pretty good deal.

Danny unboxed most of the remaining items and put them out around the house. He could see that Steve had perked up a little since dinner. The house was looking great. Danny had made a phone call this afternoon and lined up some help for Saturday.

After the decorating was finished, Danny sent Grace up to take her shower. "You want to head up too? You might feel better after you take your shower. We can read to Grace, and maybe we can just read in bed until we're ready to call it a night." Danny was afraid that Steve would be too tired to even go up the stairs if he waited too long.

"I think that's a good idea. I'm feeling better now, but I know it won't last." Steve went upstairs and took a quick shower. The hot water eased some of the achiness, but he knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to stand in the steamy shower too long. Danny and Grace came in just as Steve pulled the bed down.

"We decided to have story time in here. Grace is going to read to you until I finish my shower." Grace climbed in next to Steve and read a short story from her Christmas book. Danny came in just as she finished. He joined Steve and Grace in bed, and they read for almost an hour. Steve was almost asleep by Grace's bedtime.

"Daddy, can I tuck you in before I go to bed?" Grace waited until Steve was settled in bed and pulled the covers up to shoulders. "Good night Daddy. I hope you feel better tomorrow. I love you."

Steve reached up to stroke her cheek. "I'm sure I will. You and Danno have taken such good care of me tonight. I love you too."

Danny gave her an extra special hug as he tucked her in. "Thanks for helping me with Daddy Steve. He'll feel better in a day or two. The doctor said that we just need to give the medicine a chance to work. I love you Monkey."

"Daddy always helps me feel better when I feel bad. I want to help him too. I love you Danno." Grace settled on her side and said a prayer that Daddy would feel better tomorrow.

Steve was sleeping almost in the same position as Grace. Danny turned Steve's lamp off and settled in on his side to read for a while. He kept an eye on Steve as he read. Steve wasn't as pale, and he seemed to be more comfortable.

"Sleep well, super-SEAL. I guess you're not invincible after all. It's a good thing you have Grace and me to take care of you." Danny leaned over to kiss Steve before he turned his lamp off. He prayed that tomorrow would be a better day.