Hi everyone,
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy.
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Chapter 31
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Steve, Danny and Grace spent another few days in New Jersey before it was time to head back home to Hawaii. Danny and Steve had sat down with Stella and spoke to her about Eric and what they would look at doing when he was there and hoped that they could set him straight. Stella still tried to suggest sending him another time when Steve was actually back on his feet and well, but they wouldn't hear it.
It was now 5am on the day they were leaving, their flight scheduled for 6am and they were arrive in San Francisco for a layover at 9:30. They would be in San Francisco for about 4.5hrs before getting on their last flight at 2pm to head home. Chin was going to pick them all up from the airport in Steve's truck, he had been looking after the place for them since Danny left for New Jersey.
They were standing in the airport with Stella, Eric and Danny's parents getting ready to leave. They had just checked in their luggage and were saying goodbye before heading through security.
"You boys call us when you land ok?" Clara said.
"We will ma." Danny said as he gave her a hug.
"You will need to come visit some time soon Clara." Steve said as he stepped forward to give her a hug.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I have already started looking into that."
"You are welcome to stay with us for however long you like."
"Oh no dear we couldn't do that. We would stay in a hotel or holiday house."
"Nonsense you would stay with us. You would have the house all to yourselves during the week anyway. I won't hear anything against it."
"Don't try and argue with him, ma. You will lose." Danny said.
"Well, we should head on through. We will be boarding soon." Steve said.
They said their last goodbyes and headed to security. Stella, Clara and Eddie stood off to the side watching as they headed through security and disappeared into the airport. Clara wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
"Come on dear let's get out of here."
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Danny led Steve, Grace and Eric through the airport towards the gate that they would be leaving through. Grace was holding Danny's hand, so she didn't get lost in the crowds. Eric was walking on Danny's other side so Steve could keep an eye on him. Steve was following behind them so that he could also manoeuvre easily through the crowds. He had declined the use of a wheelchair at check in as it was just as easy to use crutches to get around.
When they had booked their seats before coming they had gotten front row seats for the extra leg room as Steve was tall and needed the extra space. They were thankful that they had chosen those as he now needed the space more than ever. The seats that they had chosen were at the front of the plane which meant it wasn't too far for Steve to walk to get to the bathroom if he needed it along with his crutches which the hostess would have up front.
They finally reached the gate and Steve sat down at some seats closest to the gate with Grace and Eric. Danny walked up to the desk and spoke to the ladies there to sort out when they would want them to approach to board the plane.
"Uncle Steve?"
"Yes Gracie?"
"Can we go get something to drink?"
"Sure. Once Danno is back he can take you to get something. I will wait here with the bags."
"Would you like something?"
"Do you want to get me a bottle of water while you are there."
"Sure."
"Hey, can I get something?" Eric asked.
"You will need to ask your uncle for that. He is the one with your money." Steve said as Danny walked back over.
"Alright. Just before boarding they will take us down and get seated so there is no rush. We have about 20mins till they start boarding."
"Sounds good. Why don't you take Grace to get something to drink before we leave?"
"Sure babe. You want anything?"
"Grace has my order." Steve smirked, looking to the little girl beside him.
"Alright monkey let's go."
"Hey Uncle D, can I have some money?"
"Call me Uncle D again and see how that works for you."
"Uncle Danny."
"Come on."
Danny led the two over towards the nearby food court. Steve relaxed back in his seat with all their gear around them. Steve sighed as his phone buzzed in his pocket and pulled it out to see a farewell message from Danny's other siblings that didn't come to the airport. Steve smiled and wrote a reply and slid his phone back into his pocket.
Steve looked outside the window by the gate to see their plane was already there and watched as bags were loaded onto the plane. Steve jumped slightly when someone sat down and looked over to see a young woman sitting beside him.
"Hi, where are you off too today?"
"Hi. Just heading home."
"Where's home?"
"Hawaii."
"Nice. I am heading that way myself. I hear it is paradise."
"It most certainly is." Steve said with a small smile.
"Uncle Steve!" Grace said as she ran back over. "Here's your water."
"Thanks Gracie."
"Hey babe, grabbed a couple of snacks while I was there."
"Thanks Danny." Steve smiled as Danny sat down beside him.
Steve went to look at his other side to see the woman was gone. She obviously got the hint that Steve was taken and left. Steve let out a small chuckle and looked at Danny who was smirking.
"You knew."
"Oh yeah I did. The instant I saw her sitting next to you. Don't worry babe I could see you were just being polite."
"Most definitely, I have all I need right here." Steve said as he wrapped his arm around Danny's shoulder as Danny leaned into him.
They sat in silence for a while before a flight attendant came over.
"We are almost ready to start boarding. Did you need a wheelchair to get to the plane?"
"No, I should be fine. But I may need one when we arrive."
"Of course, I will organise to have one waiting for when we arrive. Would you like to come with me, and you can board now?"
Steve stood with Danny, Grace and Eric and followed them to the gate. Danny had all the tickets and handed them over to the flight attendant before taking them back and they headed on down to the plane. When they arrived, they were shown to their seats. Danny, Grace and Eric were in the first row, with Eric at the window and Danny in the isle, and Steve was seated behind them. Steve sat down and handed the flight attendant the crutches who went and stowed them away safely.
Danny put their luggage into the overhead compartment and sat down beside Grace, who was reading a book. Steve had hit phone and a set of headphones in his pocket so he could watch something on his phone for the trip. Was going to be hard to have a conversation with Danny since they were sitting apart.
A few minutes later the other passengers were boarding and by the time they had finished boarding there was no one sitting beside him. Steve sighed in relief that he wouldn't have to get up or have someone climb over him when they wanted to get up.
Soon they were in the air and Danny checked with Grace before he got up and moved towards Steve. Steve looked up from his phone and gave Danny a frown before realising that he was coming to sit beside him. Steve unbuckled his belt and slid across the other seats and sat beside the window and Danny sat down beside him in the middle seat.
"Hey Danno."
"Hey. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Glad the flights not too crowded."
"Yeah."
"So how long roughly till you are fully healed?"
"Probably another 6weeks. Depends on how quickly my leg heals and everything. Should be ok in a week or so to go back to work."
Steve knew Danny knew that he would heal a little quicker than Danny would and held up 4 fingers when he gave him how many weeks to say that it was more than likely 4weeks rather than 6.
"Well that is good. Hopefully it won't take you long to get back to 100%. Then you can do your mini marathons again."
"I can probably do my swim much earlier than anything else."
"Nah-uh you are not doing anything like that till the doctors say you can. I will make sure of it."
Steve glared at him before wrapping his arm around Danny's shoulder and pulled him closer. Both relaxed in their seats, the two kids in front of them distracted by books or games.
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Steve sat in the wheel chair as Danny pushed him through Honolulu airport. Grace was holding Steve's hand, so they didn't get separated and Eric was carrying Steve's crutches much to his annoyance, but one glare from Danny and he did so without any extra hassle. Steve only agreed to the wheelchair till they were at baggage claim.
They finally made it down to baggage claim and Danny got everyone to a quiet spot and helped Steve to his feet. Eric handed over the crutches and Steve stepped back and leaned against the wall behind him.
"You all stay here. I am going to go return this and then Eric and I can go get our bags."
"Why me?"
"Because I said so."
Eric grumbled as Danny walked over to the oversized baggage counter and handed in the wheelchair. As he was walking back he saw someone familiar walking through the crowds.
"Chin!"
Chin stopped and looked around and smiled seeing Danny and walked over.
"Danny, how are you?" Chin said as they gave each other a hug.
"I'm good Chin. Yourself?"
"Good, good. Where are the rest of them? You leave them in New Jersey?"
"Ha, I don't think Steve would last long there. Everyone's over here."
Danny led Chin back over to the others and Grace smiled and ran over when she saw Chin.
"Uncle Chin!"
"Hey Gracie, did you have a good Christmas." Chin said as he bent down to give her a hug.
"It was the best!"
"I'm sure it was."
"Uncle Steve arrived Christmas morning."
"That's good. I was hoping he would." Chin said as he looked to Steve who smiled and stepped forward and grabbed Chin's hand.
"Thanks for picking us up." Steve said as they gave each other a hug.
"Of course, Steve. I would not have let you guys take a taxi home. Don't be silly."
"Mahalo."
"Chin, think you can keep these two out of trouble for me. Eric and I are just going to go grab our bags now."
"Sure, no promises though."
Danny chuckled and looked at Eric who sighed and walked towards the carousels. Danny and Eric stood next to the carousel as bags went passed.
"So, Uncle D." Eric started to say as Danny gave him a look. "Sorry, sorry Uncle Danny. When are we going to hit the beach?"
"We are not going to be hitting the beach. We are going home, order in since there is no food and get some sleep. Tomorrow we will look at getting food and doing some washing and chores around the house."
"Seriously. When are we going to have some fun?"
"You are not here to have fun. This is not a holiday for you. This is time for you to learn some responsibility and hopefully have some idea what you want to do with your life."
"You are no fun."
Danny ignored him as they got all their bags and headed back over to Steve, Grace and Chin. Chin grabbed a couple of the bags and led the way back to the cars. Kono was also picking them up as they wouldn't likely have room for all of them and bags in Chin's classic car. She would be taking the bags and maybe a passenger and Chin would take the rest of them.
"Auntie Kono!" Grace called, as soon as the walked out of the terminal and saw Kono standing beside both cars and quickly ran over to her.
"Hey Grace!" Kono said as she leaned down to give Grace a hug. "How are you?"
"Good."
Kono stood up and looked at Steve and Danny once they got closer.
"Hey guys, welcome home."
"Thanks Kono." Danny said as he gave her a hug.
"Thanks for picking us up." Steve said when it was his turn to say hello and give her a hug.
"Of course. Let's get these bags loaded and get you lot home. I'm sure you are looking forward to relaxing at home."
"That sounds wonderful." Danny said.
Danny, Chin and Kono loaded the bags into the back of her cruise and Steve moved over to the passenger side of the car. It was decided that Steve would ride with Kono since he still needed to stretch his leg out a bit and the Chin's car with passengers wouldn't give him that option. Danny quickly moved the seat back for him before organising Eric and Grace in Chin's car. Kono pulled out first and Chin followed as they left the busy airport. Kono looked at Steve who was relaxed comfortably in the seat next to her.
"So how are you feeling boss?"
"I'm ok. Getting better."
"You had us all worried boss."
"I know. Don't worry I know. Danny has already told me, in length."
"Yeah well you can't blame him for that."
"No I can't. Especially when I found out about him going to hospital." Steve said and glanced at Kono making Kono gave a little flinch at that.
"Yeah about that."
"Don't worry about it. I understand why Danny didn't tell me. It's the same reason I didn't tell him about mine. But if it happens again."
"We will tell you."
"Good." Steve said. "So how was your Christmas?"
~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 31 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~
Hope you all liked it. Please review.
