Hey everyone,
Working on getting more chapters up for all my stories, especially Werewolves and The Snake King's Temple. Please be patient with me on these stories, I do work full time now.
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy.
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Chapter 25
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Grace sat back down and carefully opened the box and pulled out the doll. As she did two envelopes fell out. Grace placed the doll carefully beside her and picked them up. Each had a number on it, 1 or 2. Grace looked at Steve and Danny who were watching with smiles on their faces. Grace opened the first and pulled out a picture of a surf board. Grace looked at Steve who smiled and explained.
"That is a picture of my first surf board from when I was around your age. You'll need one of your own. You can paint it however you like. It's yours."
"Really?"
"Yes. Your father took some convincing but he agreed. I striped it back before I left so its ready for you to paint."
"Thankyou Uncle Steve."
"Your welcome. Open the other."
Grace placed the picture back in the envelope and opened the other. It was a picture of the room back at Steve's that she used. Grace was just as confused by this one as she was by the one of the surf board.
"It's a picture of the room at your house."
"Yes it is. It's your room Gracie and you can paint and decorate it however you want. New bed set too."
"Really Uncle Steve?"
Grace was really confused because she knew her father would have refused on that one. She looked to Danny who smiled and nodded at her.
"Yes Grace. It's your room now so it should be done up how you like. Its always going to be yours."
Grace could only stare at Steve in shock. Steve and Danny shared a look with each other as the rest of the family watched in silence.
"Grace what do you say to Steve?" Danny said, trying to get her to respond.
Grace leapt at Steve and wrapped her arms around him. Steve winced but smiled, wrapping his arms around her as she started crying.
"Grace?"
"Thankyou. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou." She said crying.
Steve chuckled and kissed her on the head as he held her. Danny smiled and sat down beside them both and wrapped his arm over Steve's shoulder. Grace calmed down and looked up at Steve.
"You haven't opened up your present Steve."
Steve smiled and let go of her so he could open his gift. Grace sat back a little as Steve opened the wrapping paper and pulled out two items. Steve turned over the first and it was a picture frame with a picture of Danny, Steve and Grace building a sandcastle on the beach a few months earlier. Steve smiled and looked to Grace who was watching him. Steve looked at the second gift and saw it was an album. Steve flipped through the album finding photos of the three of them throughout. At the back half were empty pages that Steve figured were waiting to be filled.
"Thankyou Gracie. I love it." Steve said as he wrapped his arms around her.
Grace hugged Steve back before jumping off the couch and hurrying over to the tree and grabbing one of the last presents under there and coming back to give it to Danny.
"Thanks Monkey." Danny said with a smile before turning to Steve. "Here babe, Merry Christmas."
Steve took the gift from Danny and started to open it. It was a long box with nothing giving away what it was. Steve opened it and pulled out a knife and holder. Steve smiled as he looked at it and carefully took the knife out half way checking the quality. Steve slid the knife back into the holder and looked the holder over before noticing an engraving on the handle.
To My Crazy SuperSEAL,
Merry Christmas,
Love Danno
Steve smiled with a laugh before sliding them both back into the box so no young fingers got a hold of it.
"Thankyou Danny."
"I noticed your other one was wearing out before you went on away. Figured you were going to replace it when you got back."
"You are right about that. Thankyou." Steve said giving Danny a quick kiss. "I do love the engraving." Steve whispered.
Steve pulled back and wrapped his arm around Danny's shoulder and other around Grace pulling her in close beside him. Steve kissed her on the top of her head as she hugged him back carefully. Steve looked up when Danny's mother stood from her seat.
"I had best get lunch started. Danny why don't you take Steve upstairs so he can change. I'm sure he would like to get out of his uniform and into something more comfortable."
Danny stood and helped Steve to his feet, taking the gifts from him and giving him the crutches instead then picking up his jacket.
"Come on SuperSEAL. Let's get you upstairs."
Danny led Steve out of the living room as they heard Danny's nephews asking about Steve's nickname as Grace responded he was a SEAL as the adults laughed. Danny picked up Steve's duffle that was by the stairs and turned to Steve.
"You need a hand."
"No. If you can take one of these it would help."
Danny took one of the crutches and let Steve start up the stairs. Danny winced remembering the joys when he busted his knee and had to make his way up stairs with crutches. Once Steve reached the top he took the crutch back and followed Danny down the hall. In the room was a double bed and two suitcases, one Steve recognised as his, but he remembered putting his clothes in a duffle bag not a suitcase.
"I pulled out my old suitcase and it was falling apart so I thought I'd borrow yours and buy a new one here since its cheaper. I repacked your clothes with mine so there was only one bag."
"That's fine Danny."
"So, is there a reason you are wearing your service uniform? I know you packed civvies."
"I just got off a carrier that was heading over and got straight into a car that was organised to bring me here. I didn't get a chance to change."
"Ok. Well let's get you changed into something more comfortable. You need a hand?" Danny asked.
"If you could get out some clothes for me that would be great."
Danny nodded as Steve stood next to the bed and rested the crutches there before he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off. He had a white singlet shirt on underneath that he struggled to get on in the first place. Danny turned back to see Steve trying to get the shirt off.
"Careful Steve. Let me help."
Danny made his way over to him and helped to remove the singlet. Steve smiled at him and unbuttoned his pants and slid them down. Steve sat on the bed and carefully moved the pants off over the top of the boot. Steve's pants were wide enough to go over the boot on his leg, but it was gathered up the top of it. Danny helped Steve to get into his sweat pants before he stepped aside to let Steve move around to the side of the bed.
Danny looked at the white bandages wrapped around Steve's chest now that he was changed. Danny knew from the injuries he had seen that Steve was lucky but seeing the bandages around his torso and chest Danny realised that it was bad. Danny paused realising how long Steve had been in hospital for as he looked at Steve with narrowed eyes. Danny stepped in front of Steve and looked down at him, the shirt for Steve to put on abandoned in his hand. Steve reached out and grabbed Danny's hand in his.
"Why are you glaring at me?" Steve asked.
"You have some explaining to do." Danny said making Steve's face drop.
"Danny you know I can't tell you what happened while I was over there."
"I know I can't know details. You were in a hospital for over a week. I'm sure you were injured before we left Hawaii. Steve why did you not have me notified? I mean, that's why you updated your file."
"I was awake after the explosion when I was getting medevacked back to base. I knew I was going to be alright. I told my team to not tell you. You were about to leave. I knew Gracie was excited for this trip, so were you. I couldn't do that to you both."
"Steve…"
"I was still in the infirmary at the base I was stationed at for a week before being flown to Germany. You would have spent so much trying to get there before I was released."
"Steve…"
"Danny I was fine. You would have lost the money for the flights and spent more trying to get to where I was then more to get here. Grace would have been disappointed in not coming." Steve finished as Danny sat beside him on the bed, elbows resting on his knees.
"God Steve. How can I trust you if you get reactivated again, if you won't tell me you are injured?"
"Danny I'm sorry. I just didn't want to worry you or Grace or cancel this trip."
"Next time you tell me Steve or you won't like the consequences. By the way, how did you get here?"
"Called Chin before I boarded the plane and asked him to text your parents address to me. The military organised a driver."
"So Chin and Kono knew you were injured before me?" Danny asked, hurt at the thought.
"No. I just told Chin I wanted to surprise you and Grace, neither of them know I'm hurt."
Steve pulled Danny towards him, kissing him firmly. Danny pulled away and helped Steve into the loose fitting shift before he moved to the other side of the bed and laid down, gently tugging Steve so he laid on the bed. Danny leaned up and over Steve to kiss him, while Steve wrapped his arm around Danny's neck.
"You owe me."
"Okay."
"When we get home and you are healed."
"Okay."
"Good. Now tell me what happened, not details of where or against who, just what happened for you to end up like this."
Steve sighed and Danny laid down and pulled Steve gently into his arms. He could tell it bothered him, just like when he first met Steve and finally got Steve to talk about as much as he could so it helped him. Steve told Danny what he could as he lay in his arms. He knew Danny would never tell even if he told him what he wasn't supposed to. He just didn't like the idea of burdening Danny with any of it. By the time Steve finished telling Danny it had been an hour and he was starting to doze off. Danny ran his hand through Steve's hair, which he had been doing for the last hour.
"Go to sleep Steve. You'll feel better when you wake."
Steve looked up at Danny before leaning up and kissing him, before resting back in Danny's arms. Danny watched as Steve drifted off to sleep and saw he was really tired given how quickly he did so. Danny brushed a strand of hair from Steve's face revealing a gash to his forehead. Danny hated Steve was injured and worse he was hurt protecting his team, meaning something didn't go according-to plan. Danny slowly drifted off to sleep, alongside Steve.
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Danny woke an hour later to hear a small giggle from the door. Danny looked over his shoulder to see Grace and his mother peaking in, Grace had a glass of water in her hands. Grace crept in, as his mother shut the door behind her, her footsteps quiet.
"Hey Monkey." Danny greeted quietly.
"Uncle Steve still sleeping?"
"Yeah."
"This is so he can take his medicine when he wakes up. Nana suggested it."
"Good idea. He will need them. Did Nana tell you when lunch would be ready?"
"In an hour. She said to not wake Uncle Steve and she would put some aside for him."
Grace put the glass on the bedside table before climbing up beside Danny at his nod. Her novel was on his bedside table as she had trouble sleeping with Steve away so she had been sleeping with Danny after falling asleep reading.
Danny carefully moved onto his back and sat up, shifting Steve who curled up with his head on Danny's lap. Grace giggled slightly at the sight before opening the book and began reading it to Danny quietly. After about half an hour Steve shifted, stopping Grace in her reading to see he was awake, and when Danny looked at him he looked like he had been for a while.
"Did we wake you Uncle Steve?"
"No Gracie, not really. I've be awake for a while listening to you reading."
"I brought you up water so you can take you medicine."
"Thankyou Gracie. I'll take them just before lunch."
"Monkey why don't you go see how lunch is going and we'll be down shortly."
"Ok Danno."
Grace put the bookmark in the book and sat it on the bedside table before she climbed off the bed, leaving the room. Danny turned to look at Steve who was still laying in his lap. Danny brushed some hair from his face making Steve look at him.
"How are you really feeling?" Danny asked, not believing him at all.
"I'm alright Danny. Really." Steve added at look Danny was giving him. "Stop looking at me like that. I'm ok."
"Pain on a scale of 1 to 10?" Danny asked.
"3."
"So really a 7." Danny sighed at him. "Where is your pain medication?"
"Danny I'm alright."
"You will be getting up shortly, you will want them."
"I will take them just before lunch. They do need to be taken with food."
"Steven…"
"Danny it's fine. Please don't worry so much."
"In case you haven't noticed Steven. I am very much a worrier."
"Oh, I've noticed Daniel." Steve said with a smirk.
"Well sit up, lunch should be ready shortly. You happy with what you are wearing or do you want to change?" Danny said.
"This is fine Danny."
Steve slowly sat up, his muscles protesting after such a long time being stationary. Danny grabbed his arm and put a hand on his back helping him to sit up slowly. Steve put his feet on the floor before grabbing the crutches and pushing himself to his feet. Danny heard him groan as he pushed himself up and shook his head, muttering to himself about stubborn Navy SEALs. Danny stood up and walked around the side of the bed to Steve.
"Steve why won't you take the pain meds?"
"I've come from a different time zone Danny. If I take them now they'll wear off before dinner and if I take more at before dinner they'll wear off early in the morning before sunrise. If I wait till lunch they'll last through to dinner and then when I take more before bed, I'll be covered for the night and not wake in pain."
"I see your point but doesn't mean I like it."
"I know and neither do I."
"I'm just going to use the bathroom and then we can head downstairs."
Danny left the room, shutting the door behind him. Steve sighed and walked over to the dresser and looked into the mirror sitting on top. Steve set the crutches against the dresser and peeled off the bandage on his face. There was five stitches on his forehead up by his hairline and it was healing nicely. Steve looked over at the door as it opened and Danny was walking back through. Danny shut the door quietly behind him and walked Danny walked over and reached out and gently pulled at the last bandage on Steve's face. Underneath was another couple of stitches which were once again healing nicely. Danny watched as Steve flinched when he peeled off the bandage and knew that regardless of what Steve said everything still hurt. Danny cupped Steve's face rubbing his thumb over Steve's cheek gently.
"God Steve, you need to be more careful."
"I really did try Danny. It was this or lose a team member or two."
"I know that Steve really I do but…"
"You worry."
"Don't be a smart- ass Steven it's not a good look." Danny said and kissed Steve.
Steve wrapped his arms around Danny, pulling him flush against him and taking control of the kiss. Danny let him control the kiss for a minute before battling for dominance. Danny's hands buried in Steve's hair holding him close as Steve's were wondering over Danny's back holding him close. Danny eventually pulled back for air and rested his head on Steve's chest as they both gasped for air. Steve smiled and laid his cheek on the top of Danny's head enjoying the moment.
"I really did miss you Steve. Please don't ever do that again. If you are hurt, I want to know about it."
"I promise Danny. I missed you too."
Steve and Danny jumped at a flash that came from the door to the room followed by giggling. Steve released Danny a little and looked over to see Grace there with her camera. She snapped another photo before running down the hall giggling to herself. Steve laughed as he pulled Danny back in again.
"Do you think we can get that photo off her?"
"I have a feeling it's for your photo album."
Steve smiled and kissed Danny again as Danny squeezed Steve's waist as he kissed him back. Danny pulled away shortly after making Steve whine.
"We should stop babe or this will go further than it should."
"I don't mind."
"Three things: one you are injured; two my daughter is in the house; and three my parents and sister are here too. I'm not doing anything with them in the house."
"Fine." Steve said sadly.
Danny knew that Steve agreed as he seems to remember where they were once he mentioned Grace and his parents. Danny smiled and kissed Steve again before turning to the door. Steve followed Danny out of the room and down the stairs to where the rest of Danny's family were starting to settle around the table. Steve followed Danny over to the table, Danny pulled out a chair for Steve and held out his hand for the crutches to let Steve sit down. Steve carefully sat down before he was joined by Grace who sat beside him on another chair.
A couple of seats down was one of Danny's older sister's husband, Ted, who had his hands full with a one year old baby who was fussing around. After a few minutes, the baby calmed and the father sighed and looked to Steve, just as Grace jumped off her chair and raced out of the room claiming she wanted to get something to show Steve.
"So Steve how long have you lived in Hawaii?"
"I was born there. Joined the Navy when I finished high school and have been with them since. I transferred to the reserves just over two years ago when I met Danny."
"Yes how did you two meet? Danny has been very elusive about that." Danny's oldest sister, Bridget asked, joining her husband with a bottle of warm milk.
"I was back in Hawaii doing some survival training when someone got the drop on me. No one was meant to be out there so I wasn't prepared for it. I was taken someone where and they wanted information. Danny, Chin and Kono were the ones that found me and got me out." Steve said giving as little information as possible. "I transferred after that to the reserves as the Governor wanted to create a task force that she wanted me to run and have since then. I was able to convince Danny to join though it wasn't easy."
"You stole me from HPD without even consulting me. Told the Governor who you wanted and she made us work for you. You didn't convince me at all!" Danny shouted from the kitchen causing Steve, Bridget and Ted to laugh at that.
"I imagine it wasn't easy to convince him."
"No not at all. I did eventually but it took a while."
"And the relationship? How did that come about? I would have thought being in the Navy you would be straight?" Eric asked, having listened as he walked un the room and sat down.
"Eric! You can't ask that." Bridget said in shock to her nephew. "That's very rude and none of our business."
"It's alright."
"No it's not and you don't need to answer that. Eric come with me." Bridget said as she stood and led her nephew into the kitchen.
"Really it's not a problem."
"Leave it be Steve. Eric is a problem child. Stella is always have trouble with him, from skipping school to drugs to stealing cars and ending up in cuffs. Danny got him off with a warning on that one. We are trying to get him some help. We had considered asking Danny to take him with you guys back to Hawaii for a few weeks so Danny could knock some sense into him but with your injuries we have decided not to."
"If you think sending him back to Hawaii with us would help I don't see why my injuries would stop you. Seriously if Danny is ok with this than I am too."
"We'll talk to Stella if you are sure. Having him around won't be easy especially if you are hurt."
"Think of it as a lesson for him. What can happen if he's not careful. Besides there are going to be things that need to get done when we get home anyway, household chores and what not since we will have been away for a while."
"Yes that's an idea babe. Eric won't have done very much gardening before since they live in a unit and he doesn't come here much anymore to help his grandparents." Danny said as he walked in with a casserole dish filled with food. "As long as you are sure about having him? Could be difficult for a while."
"Danny I have just been in a war zone I doubt anything is worse than that." Steve said quietly as the children were starting to come in. "It will be fine. I won't heal that quickly either." Steve whispered to Danny.
"If you are sure babe." Danny said and Steve nodded his head.
Everyone started gathering around the table, taking seats where they could. Grace was back next to Steve with Danny on the other side. Danny's father carried out a large turkey and Clara was carrying a large ham. Both were placed on the table and Danny's father carved the turkey and ham before they all started piling food on their plates.
Conversations started up quickly again. Steve realised quite soon that it wasn't just Danny that was a loud talker, his family was too. His sisters talking to each other and the younger children. Steve was caught up in conversation with Danny's father who was also a loud talker.
They all talked for hours, the children moving to the living room to play together while the adult stayed in the dining room. Food had been cleared away after lunch then brought back out at dinner time.
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It was just after dinner and dishes were pulled from the table and put away and dishes cleaned. Everyone was sitting around talking and having coffee when Steve felt something tugging at his shirt. Steve looked to Grace when she tugged on his sleeve. She was rubbing her eyes so he pushed his chair back and carefully lifted Grace up and sat her on his uninjured leg. He felt his ribs ache at the move but was able to keep from wincing. Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and settled, head resting on his chest. Steve watched her for a minute before he realised everyone was quiet making look up.
Everyone was watching Steve with Grace. Steve looked to Danny who looked between happy and concerned. He had seen Steve cringe when he lifted Grace up. Steve was grateful when Clara started talking again to take everyone attention off Steve and Grace. Danny smiled at what his mother just did for Steve as he knew the man was uncomfortable with that type of attention. He wasn't the type to show emotion easily and certainly not around people he didn't know. It had taken a while for Steve to show certain emotion to him.
"It's getting late now. Want to head up to bed?" Danny asked.
"Sure."
Danny stood as Steve carefully unwound Grace's arms from around him as Danny lifted her up. Grace whined at being moved before she settled down. Steve stood and took the crutches Danny passed him before following him upstairs. They said goodnight to everyone before leaving the room. Danny led Steve to the room Grace was in and they tucked her in. She didn't wake so Danny left the lamp on low before leaving the door ajar and they went into Danny's room next door.
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"We should go clean up." Danny suggested.
"We should."
"Come on Super SEAL."
Danny gathered their clothes and headed out of the room. Steve followed Danny into the bathroom and found items to stop his boot getting wet.
"Where did these come from?"
"Oh I got them from downstairs. I figured we might need them."
"Thanks Danny. I really don't want to take it off yet. Not till I'm more stable on my feet."
"I figured. Let's get you out of those clothes and bag your leg up so we can shower."
Danny stepped forward and helped Steve out of his clothes. It was difficult as it hurt for Steve to lift his arms. They managed to get Steve undressed and covered his leg in a bag and taped it up so it wouldn't fall off. As Danny was bagging up his leg Steve removed the strapping tape from around his ribs so that it didn't get wet as he would need to put it back on again after the shower.
Danny helped Steve into the shower so they could clean up. Steve leaned against the wall and grabbed Danny by the waist and pulled him closer till he was standing between him legs. Danny wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and looked at him. Danny started to remove all the bandages from Steve's body now that they were in the shower and most weren't hidden by the strapping tape. They were going to need to be replaced now anyway. Steve allowed Danny to remove the bandages as he watched him. Danny finally got to see all the bruises and cuts to his body. Steve reached out and lifted Danny's face up so he was looking at him properly.
"I'm going to be fine Danny. I'm here now."
"God Steven, if you ever hide anything like this from me again you will not like what I do."
"I won't Danny. I'm sorry."
"Let's wash up and I'll replace all of these so they don't reopen."
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Danny knelt in front of Steve after the shower now that they were back in the room. They had replaced all the bandages that needed to be replaced in the bathroom along with the strapping tape for his ribs. He carefully took the boot off before working off the padded part to show the bandages underneath. Steve had taken out the bandages needed before the shower and were sitting beside him on the bed. Danny carefully removed all of the bandages, getting hisses from Steve for this. Danny took an alcohol wipe from Steve and carefully wiped over the wounds. Danny knew this was the worst part, all the bruises combined with the sting of the alcohol entering the wounds.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. It's not so bad Danny."
"You're a terrible liar."
Steve chuckled as he handed Danny the bandages. Danny covered the would before he helped Steve back into the boot. Danny cringed as he put the boot on causing Steve to groan and tense. Steve was breathing deeply as Danny tightened everything in place.
Danny helped Steve into his sweet pants and singlet before climbing into bed beside him. Steve was on the right side of the bed, so he didn't knock his leg against Danny during the night. Danny turned the lights off before climbing into bed beside Steve. Danny moved close beside Steve and laid down beside him on his back. Steve moved closer so he was pressed up beside him. Danny held his arm up and Steve moved closer and laid his head on Danny's shoulder.
~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 25 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~
Hope you liked it. Please review.
