Here is the next chapter.
Enjoy.
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Chapter 18
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Steve sighed as he got back to the office after his meeting with the Governor lasted three hours. He really just wanted to go home and relax but he had paperwork he had to read and sign so instead of going home he headed to the office. He found that the entrance to the Five-0 offices was locked and the lights were turned off. Steve was glad that the team had taken the time off that he gave them and were gone. It was already four thirty so he knew Danny would be taking Grace home soon and Chin and Kono were more than likely taking this time to go surfing.
Steve entered his office and started going through the files that were on his desk. He was already tired since his body was still trying to heal itself and his leg was starting to hurt but he was glad that he was sitting down and not chasing after some thug or drug dealer right now.
Steve spent the next hour going through reports and files and signing paperwork when his office phone rang. Frowning Steve answered, hoping it wasn't a call about a case.
"McGarrett."
"What the hell is the matter with you? Huh?"
"Danny?"
"Yes. Where the hell are you? I've been waiting for you for an hour and a half with Grace and you're at work. How long have you been there and what happened to everyone taking the afternoon off huh? You send all of us home when you go see the Governor yet you go back to the office after the meeting and continue to work. Huh? When do you get to take some time off?"
"Danny I have lots to do."
"So do the rest of us yet we listen to our boss and take the time off that he has given us yet he won't take time off himself. So how long you been there?"
"About an hour."
"Why aren't you answering your phone huh?"
"I didn't hear it. Must have left it on silent."
" 'Must have left it on silent' he says. Seriously McGarrett you get your butt down here right now. Hold on Grace wants to talk to you."
"Uh Danny hold on..."
"Uncle Steve?"
"Yes Grace."
"When are you coming over?"
"I have a lot to do Gracie."
"But we have a surprise for you." Grace's voice was sad and it made Steve wince knowing he did it and Danny would hurt him if he let it continue.
"What is it?"
"Can't tell you. You have to come and see."
"Alright put me on to Danno, I'm on my way." Steve said as he saved the files he was working on and shut down the computer.
"Steven."
"Daniel."
"You coming?"
"Yes I've shut down the computer and leaving the office now. You at your place?"
"No yours. See you soon."
"Wait Danny..." Steve said but was too late Danny had already hung up.
Steve sighed as he got down to his truck and headed on home. He knew he was in trouble now but he wasn't sure why Danny was at his place for since he had Grace. Not that he minded at all but he figured Danny would take Grace out and then at five back to her mothers. Better yet why wasn't she back at her mother's.
After a ten minute drive Steve pulled up in his driveway next to Danny's camaro and climbed out. Grace was already outside when he pulled up and running down the steps to greet him. Steve bent down to greet her and picked her up.
"Hey Grace so you going to tell me why you both are here?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"Secret."
"Well that's just disappointing. I'm here now."
"But you have to come inside."
"Well why are we still out here than?"
Grace pouted before squirming out of Steve's hold and grabbing his hand and dragging him inside. Grace smiled when he stopped to close the door and looked around. He could smell something really nice coming from the kitchen.
"It's about time Steve."
"Well had I known you were making something nice for dinner I wouldn't have gone to the office after work."
"It was meant to be a surprise for when you got home. But you went straight back to work. Why would you do that and send us all home?"
"I had a lot to do Danny. I didn't want to make you all stay there while I wasn't and besides most of your work is all done. Whereas I have pile of work to do."
"Steve you're a Neanderthal you know that right?"
"Yeah you tell me that all the time."
"Good. Go put your stuff away. Dinner is almost ready. Grace go wash up." Making Grace nod and run to the bathroom.
"Danny wait."
"Yeah?"
"Why is Grace still with you? I thought she had to be back at Rachel's by five."
"Oh Grace rang Rachel begging to stay and make dinner for you. You made her happy that she wasn't going to be taken from me. Rachel caved and said that she could stay till eight and then she had to be home. This was all Grace's idea. Now go put your things away."
Steve smiled and headed up the stairs as Grace came running down the stairs quickly. Steve turned and watched her hurry into the kitchen where Danny was. Smiling Steve headed into his room and put his gun and badge into the draw and headed back downstairs to the kitchen.
The food was put on plates and Grace was bringing one out of the kitchen into the dining room. Steve stepped aside and followed her into the dining room and sat down as Grace placed the plate down on the table before climbing into a seat. Danny came in and sat one down in front of Steve and placed the other down before sitting down in front of it. Steve started to eat and was surprised at what he was eating.
"Good?" Danny asked and Steve turned looked to him. "What?"
"Wow. Danny I didn't know you could cook like this."
"Oh well I don't cook all that often. But Ma made sure I knew how to cook. I was always in the kitchen when she was cooking."
"Well Danny it's very good."
"Daddy is always a good cook."
"That's only because I have a wonderful assistant." Danny said making Grace smile.
"But Daddy doesn't cook much here."
"That's because my apartment doesn't have a lot of room and the kitchen isn't very good." Danny told her before muttering under his breath. "Not like I can afford to eat like this here. Stupid over priced island."
"Well you're more than welcome to cook here Danno." Steve said.
"Thanks but it's fine."
"So what did you two do when you left the office?"
"We went to get shave ice." Grace said with a smile. "Kamekona is funny."
"He is isn't he."
"I don't know what you two are talking about." Danny said as he continued eating.
"Come on Danny he have to agree that he is a little funny."
"Nope I don't because he isn't."
Steve looked at Grace as he shook his head before continuing to eat dinner. Grace quickly finished and her and Steve cleaned up the dishes and put them away while Danny put the leftovers in a container and into the fridge. Once finished it was seven o'clock so that forty five minutes till Grace had to be taken home.
"Danno can I play on the beach? Please? I won't go in the water."
Danny sighed and nodded making Grace squeal and hurry outside. Steve smiled as he watched her hurry down to the beach. Steve walked up behind Danny who was watching her from the doorway and wrapped his arms around his waist.
"You ok?"
"Yeah I don't know what I would do if I lost custody of her."
"I wouldn't have let that happen."
"What could you have done? I know I heard you in the office saying you would break it off with me. Why would you do that?"
"I'm not going to be the one to make you lose Grace. If breaking it off with you would be the only way you could keep Grace then so be it. But I'm glad it didn't come to that."
"Same. Would you really have done it? Babe would you live like that just so Rachel was happy."
"Yes. Grace is what makes you happy. I wasn't going to let her make you miserable."
"Babe did it ever occur to you that maybe you both make me happy. I would be miserable if either of you were taken away."
"Well it's a good thing everything worked out for now. By the way how is your leg?"
"It's fine babe."
"Let me take a look once Grace is at her mums."
"As long as you let me check over your injuries. I saw you limping just as you left. I know you were forcing yourself to walk like normal." Danny said as he turned around in Steve's arms to look at him.
Steve smiled slightly and nodded. He wasn't use to people caring for him or worried about how his injuries were healing. He knew his doctor had to but other than that it was mostly foreign to him. Danny turned back to look at Grace with Steve's arms still wrapped around him firmly. Steve nudged him gently and they headed outside and down to the chairs set out on the edge of where the beach starts.
Steve laid back against the lounge chair that was still there from the barbeque the other day and Danny stood beside him as Steve made room before pulling Danny down between his legs and pulled him back against his chest. Danny looked up at him from where his head was resting and saw the smirk on his face.
"You are a child."
"Sure Danno."
Danny relaxed and watched as Grace was building a sandcastle half way down the beach. As they spent the evening there as the sunset Danny was drifting off before Steve's watch beeped at them. Steve shook him making Danny sit up and look back at him.
"What?"
"Well it's nineteen thirty."
"Seriously? You can't tell someone the time the normal way." Steve just smirked at him. "Of course you can't." Danny grumbled and turned down to the water. "Come on Grace get cleaned up. I have to take you home shortly."
Grace looked up disappointed before getting up and heading to the back patio where there was a hose. Grace rinsed the sand off her legs and hands before drying them with a towel that was set out there for her and dusting off her clothes. Danny and Steve were heading inside just as Grace finished cleaning up. Grace collected her bag from where it sat beside the door and headed out to Danny's car.
Danny made sure Grace was secure in the car before going to the driver's side where Steve was waiting. Steve had his head stuck in the car window talking to Grace.
"I'll see you later ok Grace?"
"Ok."
"Thank you for the lovely dinner." Steve said making Grace smile, happy that he liked it.
"Thank you for keeping me with Danno."
Steve smiled before standing up when Danny laid a hand on his back. Steve looked at him and turned his back on the car so he was looking at Danny.
"I'll see you shortly."
"Ok. I'll be out the back."
"Ok."
Danny climbed into the car and reversed out of the driveway. Steve waved to them and saw Grace waving back before they disappeared down the street. Steve headed back inside and back out to the chairs, grabbing a couple of beers and an esky filled with some ice as he went. Steve laid back in the chair and watched the ocean, relaxing at the sound of the waves gently crashing on the shore. Steve drifted off slightly as the time went on till he heard someone walking towards him, making him jerk awake and turn in his seat alert.
"Whoa Steve calm down it's just me." Danny said with his hands up having stopped walking.
"Danny?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"I should be. I didn't realise you fell asleep. Just glad our guns are upstairs otherwise I suspect I would have been staring down the barrel of your gun."
Steve smiled and saw Danny collapse into the other chair. Steve grabbed two beers out and handed one too Danny. He took a large drink of the beer before relaxing further into the chair. Steve was slightly worried since Danny hadn't said much since he got back and the way he took the first mouthful of the beer left just about half left in the bottle.
"You ok Danny?"
"Yeah just peachy."
"What's wrong?"
"Rachel wasn't happy that we had Grace for longer that she was happy with."
"But she agreed to let Grace stay so she could make dinner."
"Yeah but doesn't mean she's happy with it."
"Man sorry Danny."
"It's alright. She'll get over it."
"Danny..."
"Steve it's fine."
"I was actually going to say come here."
Danny looked at him before forcing himself out of the chair and over to Steve who had moved slightly giving Danny enough room to sit down before he was pulled back against Steve who wrapped his arms around his waist. Danny sighed and threaded his fingers with one of Steve's and rested his head on his shoulder.
"It will be alright."
"Yeah."
They sat there as the sun had already set and were there for an hour or so as the moon rose behind them and the stars came out. Steve decided that it was time to go and gently shook Danny awake.
"Urg what Steve?"
"Let's go to bed. We're both tired and I think the bed will be more comfortable."
Danny nodded and climbed off the chair to allow Steve to get up. They headed inside and Danny headed up to get changed while Steve locked up and set the alarm before climbing the stairs where Danny came out of the bathroom changed into sweat pants and an old t-shirt.
Steve quickly grabbed some clothes himself and headed in to get changed himself before coming out to find Danny already under the covers and waiting. Steve smiled and shut off the lights and climbed into bed. Steve looked at Danny to see him dozing off and smiled, the last few days were quite stressful and exhausting for Danny especially with all he had learned.
"Get some sleep Danny. I'll get your leg in the morning."
Danny nodded and curled up on his side with his back to Steve. Smiling Steve moved in closer and slid his arm around Danny's waist and pulled him gently back against him and smiled when Danny entwined their fingers before they both fell asleep.
~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 18 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~
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