Disclaimer: Hawaii Five-0 and its characters do not belong to me.
A/N: Hi everyone, hank you for reading and reviewing on this story. Here's the next chapter for you guys, enjoy!
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It was 6 months ago that he had packed a duffel bag of some essentials and made his way to Steve's place to stay the week. He had no idea how one week had turned into 6 months of stay.
He stared at his luggage, almost bursting at its seams. When had he moved his entire life into Steve's house? How had that happened? He had no idea. Just that it did. Like a natural progression.
It had happened gradually. They had both needed each other. The scars that the battle of life had inflicted on them could only be healed together. And so… his stay in Steve's house had turned into months.
And they had been comfortable. As much as they spent half their time together arguing about mundane things, they needed each other. They were each other's support system. And no matter how difficult life seemed to be, no matter what rotten lemons were thrown at them, they could always handle it. Together.
He just.. just never thought that one day it would all end. Now he was left all alone... Steve… who knew where he even was?
He had no reason to stay here any longer. He had only stayed because of his friend. Because Steve had needed him although the guy would never admit it. Now that Steve was no longer around, he had absolutely no reason to continue staying in this house where memories of time that had gone by never to return assaulted him mercilessly every single day. He couldn't do it any longer.
"You all set, buddy?" He forced a smile on his face as he looked at his dog moping around on the ground next to the bed. "You don't have to look so miserable. We're gonna be okay." He said softly as he crouched down to scratch the dog behind his ear.
"Ugh.." He groaned, regretting the movement immediately.
A sharp pain shot through his chest, knocking the breath out of him. He keeled over onto the ground as the ache stretched over his upper abdomen all the way to his back. He gasped for breath, one hand clutching the area above his gunshot wound while the other was desperately hanging on to the edge of the bed to prop himself up.
Eddie barked anxiously, circling around him.
"M..alr..ight." He breathed. Another pained groan escaped his lips as he hoisted himself up onto the bed. He hunched forward, praying for the agony to stop.
"Sir? Danny?" Junior called out from outside as he knocked on the door. "Everything okay?"
He swallowed the ache, taking a slow breath. "Yeah.." He managed. "Gi..give me a s..sec." He attempted to keep his voice level through his laboured breathing.
"You alright?" Junior asked, concerned with Eddie's intense barking.
"Yeah." He breathed again, the ache hardly dissipating. "Be out.. in a bit.." He said as he took out the last of his pain meds and swallowed them.
He breathed slowly, allowing his starved lungs to fill with air. The shockwaves of pain radiating from his gunshot wound gradually reduced in intensity as his meds took effect.
"M'fine.. buddy.. It's al..right." He looked down at Eddie whose barking had reduced to a soft whimper as the dog rested at his feet, eyes still anxiously eyeing him.
He slowly heaved himself up, ensuring the ache was completely gone before he opened the door. As he expected, Junior was standing right outside the door.
"Everything alright? Eddie seemed anxious." Junior asked.
"Yeah. Everything's fine. I dropped something and scared him." Danny lied.
"I didn't hear anything." Junior probed. "You look a little pale. You sure you're okay?"
"Junior, I'm fine." Danny sighed. Junior eyed him suspiciously, making him feel like a suspect being interrogated.
"Now, can you help me out with the bags?" Danny asked, pointing to his luggage and duffel.
"Danny, are you sure about this?" Junior asked again for probably the fifth time since Danny had informed the team of his decision to move back to his house. "I don't like this...you're still healing up. If you're here, it would be easier for me to.."
"For you to babysit me?" Danny finished.
"For me to make sure you're taking your meds on time and following doctor's orders." Junior persisted firmly.
"You forgot I'm not Steve." Danny smiled. "I'm a model patient."
"Sir, I am serious. I.."
"Buddy, I appreciate it. You.. you've done a great deal for me. I don't want to put you out anymore. Besides, my mind's made up now. Steve's no longer here… I have no business staying here." Danny said matter-of-factly.
Junior looked at him with that same sympathetic look he hated. "I really don't like this." Junior said again.
"I'll be fine. I can take care of myself now. And don't worry, you're the first person I'll call if I need anything." Danny said.
"Anything at all." Junior said.
He nodded. "Alright, buddy, come on let's go now." Danny called out to Eddie.
...
He stood next to his new red Camaro that had arrived a week ago, wondering if he had made the right choice. Maybe it was a little too flashy. He should have stuck with a black one. He unlocked the car, wishing that Steve was there to snatch the keys away from his hands and hijack the driver's seat. Strange, wasn't it? If his best friend were here to do it, Danny would have spent all his energy berating Steve, but right now, that was what he longed for. It was as if time stood still as he relived the moment from a few years back where he stood outside the palace, admiring his new car, then came his partner who claimed the driver's seat like it was his own.
His eyes clouded with tears that wouldn't fall.
The boot slammed shut as Junior closed it after loading the bags. "All done, sir." Junior's voice was drowned out by his memories. "Danny? Danny..sir?"
Eddie's barking brought him out of the moment and Junior's concerned face came into his view. He swallowed the lump in his throat.
"You sure you're okay?" Junior asked again, concern colouring his features. "You know.. I could drive you to your place.."
Danny shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm fine. You know I'm cleared to drive."
Junior smiled though his forehead was still creased in concern. "But, I am free today anyway. I can.."
"Junior, you're a terrible liar. I know the team is short today and you guys just caught a case. I heard you talking on the phone earlier and I know you gotta get back to work asap." Danny said. "Besides, I am really okay."
Junior grimaced. "Well.. alright, alright. But let me know when you've arrived home."
"I will." He nodded, opening the door to allow Eddie in. "Hey umm.. Junior." Danny hesitated.
"Yes, sir?"
Danny shook his head in exasperation but he decided to ignore Junior's inability to go five minutes without addressing him as 'sir'. "Umm.. You know you can drop by my place anytime, right? Edd..Eddie will miss you."
A small sad smile crossed Junior's face as he read between the lines and knew that Danny was the one who needed company. "Of course. I will. I'll be sure to drop by. Maybe bring around some cold beer and your favourite Hawaiian pizza."
"Don't you dare. Don't you dare, Junior. Consider this the only warning you will get."
Junior laughed, and held his hands up in surrender. "Sir, take care. If you need anything, just call."
Danny nodded. "I will, buddy... Alright, then.. I'm off.." Danny said. He paused before nodding towards Junior. "Come here." He spread his arms out, beckoning Junior for a hug. "Thanks, buddy. For everything."
"Danny, you got me, always." Junior said.
"Yeah.." He muttered. Steve used to say that too.
...
The sun was shining brightly, a little too bright (even for Hawaii), he would argue. The roads were clear, making for a smooth drive back to his house. He drove in silence, opting not to switch on the radio. It was a thing of habit. Whenever he used to drive with Steve (or rather when Steve drove), they had never played any music. They could never come to a consensus on which songs to play and would end up arguing about it. At some point, they stopped playing the radio altogether.
Now he could pick any song he wanted to play, yet... he didn't feel like it. The silence was what he needed. He wished, that Steve was next to him.
"Just you and me again, huh, buddy?" Danny said as he turned to his passenger who was snoozing in the passenger seat next to him.
The pulsating ache in his chest was back yet again, gnawing him from the inside. He missed his old life. He wanted it back. In the span of 3 weeks, everything had changed.
Physically, he was nowhere near back to his old self. A few years ago, his recovery had been almost instantaneous. But now, even three weeks later, he was constantly incapacitated with pain.
And emotionally.. well, he didn't even know where to begin. He was at a complete loss. His life had stopped making sense... He had no idea why he was even still alive. What was the point of it all anyway? He really had no idea.
Stopped at a traffic signal, he looked out the window to appreciate the soft mid-morning lull. Almost instantly, he was gripped with panic. His heart skidded to a stop.
He swallowed the lump in his throat as his heart beat violently in his chest. His hands were trembling, sweat breaking out on his forehead and back. He could feel his shirt clinging on uncomfortably onto him.
This was where Daiyu Mei's goons had...
Black dots begin dancing around in his vision as he was transported to the fateful day 3 weeks ago.
No... no... You're alright... This isn't happening...
He tried to breathe but his breath was trapped in his chest as his ribs seemed to cave in on him. He didn't have enough air. And that made everything even worse. His anxiety peaked.
"Steve... Steve... I've got a crazy tail on me."
The traffic signal turned green and he immediately stepped on the accelerator, going way above the speed limit as he tried to evade the goons that were supposedly after him again.
"And the..they're not being discreet at all."
The sounds of gunshots and cars swerving at full speed shattered the silence of the otherwise empty street. He swerved left and right, fear having completely gained control of his mind and he was unable to think rationally.
Not again.. no this wasn't happening again. They were here to get him again... Steve.. he needed Steve!
Working on auto-pilot, his hands reached for his phone, dialling Steve's number. The only person he could always count on to have his back. Steve would get to him. Just like he always did.
"Steve, I need you to hurry up... they're all over me, Steve."
Answer the phone, Steve.. Please.. I need you..
"Danny?"
His partner's voice through the phone brought him out of the deep trenches of his mind. Instantly, the sound of gunshot vanished and he was left careening down the street at full speed. He jammed on his brake, the car coming to a screeching and abrupt stop right in the middle of a traffic junction.
"Ste..ve.." He gulped for air as his chest constricted agonisingly.
You're okay.. you're okay.. His mind supplied belatedly.
He leaned onto the headrest, breathing shallowly as the ache in his chest continued to ravage through him. His head was spinning, and he closed his eyes momentarily to quell the nausea that was beginning to form in his throat. A loud horn that blared forced him to open his eyes against his wishes. As the horn grew louder and more insistent, he turned to his left. He swallowed, his movements frozen as he watched a white trailer barreling towards his side of the car.
"Danny? You there, buddy?" Steve's voice was the last thing he heard before...
BAM! His world switched off.
...
A/N: Oops.. if you have been reading my stories, you know I am a fan of Danny Whump. So, of course, we would have lots of that in this story as well!
Hope you guys enjoyed it. Do let me know what you think in your reviews. Thanks again for reading and see you in the next one!