an. Just a little piece written after an amusing discussion with tmtcltb-kals.
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Stank
Canon between Seasons 4 and 5
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The thud that came after his second boot bounced against the hardwood, and then drywall made Danny cringe. So too the black scuff left across the freshly painted baseboards. His sigh of frustration at first was internal. That project had been a 'honey-do' Danny wished he'd been smart enough to sucker Wolf into. Or Carlton. Maybe even Eric. Next, he slid the oversized ruck from his shoulder, grimacing when its weight made the weariness of his muscles known. His house was incredibly still. That was… unusual. Kara's car was in the garage. It was mid-afternoon on a Saturday, and Halsey hadn't appeared to inspect the disturbance caused by his arrival. He guessed they could be at the park, or over at Debbie's, but his cell was hiding somewhere in the catch-all kitchen drawer, and when he'd left almost a month ago, Danny remembered that he'd forgotten to power it off.
In the process of searching the lower floor, he cursed after stepping on a wayward Lego that blended perfectly into the grayish-toned rug. As he picked the offending item from the sole of his sock-clad foot, he heard the first signs of life, a bark. Tossing the Lego brick onto the coffee table, Danny shuffled toward the rear slider and felt the last tendrils of post-deployment tension melt from his shoulders.
Now he was home.
Frankie was playing with Halsey in the splash pool at the far end of the yard, Kara a few feet removed and recording the scene on her cell phone.
"I'm glad I get to see this one in person," he said after approaching them unnoticed from the rear.
Kara gasped, startled enough to jump, and almost dropped the phone.
"Daddy!" "Jesus, you scared the crap out of me," they said simultaneously. Danny grinned and scooped Kara into an embrace, and moments later, Frankie's wet body was flung against his calf, and Halsey was sitting with the hose in his mouth.
Releasing Kara, Danny lifted Frankie high, exaggerating his effort. "Hey big man, did you miss me?"
Frankie nodded enthusiastically, flinging his short, chubby arms around Danny's neck.
"How long have you been back?" Kara asked, beaming at Frankie, and standing a curious distance from them.
"An hour. Came straight from the airfield."
"Everyone's fine?"
"All made it back in one piece. Mission was a bust, though." He tickled Frankie's belly. "And I missed you guys so much. Yes, I did. You're having too much fun without me."
Frankie giggled and squirmed. "Daddy smells like poo."
Kara snorted, "He does, doesn't he?"
"So that's why you're keeping your distance?" he teased, setting Frankie down and approaching while Kara backed away. "What do you think, big man? Does mommy want to smell like poo too?"
"Danny."
Kara yelped and ran when he made to chase her, much to the delight of Frankie. For several minutes Kara evaded, and he was already half soaked from Halsey darting chaotically around with the hose before he slipped on a slick of mud, which ended with Frankie heaped on top of him, triumphant in his declaration that 'Daddy needs a bath' before snatching the hose from Halsey and dousing him directly in the face.
X X X
Chaos over, Danny accepted the beach towel Kara produced.
"It's good to have you home," she murmured, leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek. "And it will be even better after you take a shower." Her hand lingered on his chest, the invitation in his wife's eyes clear.
Boyish, he grinned, stepping out of his squelching muddy socks, intending to deal with the sodden mess of them, and his BDU's later. "I'm not gonna argue with that."