McGarrett House, Honolulu, HI - Wednesday

[hatesparadise]

Another visit to the hospital and another donation for Charlie. Though this time around, Danny was having a slower go at bouncing right back into the swing of things.

Hence passing out for a nap on the nice, new couch at the McGarrett home rather than the place he still nominally kept. Look, you get over a certain decade and suddenly you're just tired and grumpy.

Or maybe that was just Danny's base state of being.

[mostly for that guy on the slowest of play]

Comments

[hatesparadise]

"You're doin' a good job." He judged on a scale of Steve.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve's entire face lit up. "Thanks."

He knew he wasn't exactly brilliant at this.

[hatesparadise]

"Maybe I should teach you the secret family for matzo ball soup." And give up the power of being the one to make it? Never.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve's eyes went wide. "Really?"

There was no chance he'd get matzo balls right, Danny.

[hatesparadise]

Oh, zero chance.

"Yeah, we can make it a day. See if Grace wants to learn."

She did not want to learn.

[grenadesandohana]

"Might be a good way to get back on her good side."

Everyone laughing at Steve failing at matzo balls.

[hatesparadise]

...that was true.

"I'll ask her about it before he head back to Maryland," Danny suggested

[grenadesandohana]

Steve smiled. "She'll come around."

[hatesparadise]

Danny sighed and leaned against him for that. "I certainly hope so."

[grenadesandohana]

"She loves you," Steve said, kissing his hair. "She's just learning her parents can make huge mistakes, too."

[hatesparadise]

"It's not a great lesson to learn that young," Danny replied quietly.

[grenadesandohana]

"It's really not," Steve murmured. "She and I have talked a little bit about that."

[hatesparadise]

"Sorry to get you put in the middle of this," he said with a sigh.

[grenadesandohana]

"Hey, I'm happy she's talking to me," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"Yeah, but I feel like just keep inlicting my family mess ups on you," Danny replied. "But... I'm also really glad you're there for her."

[grenadesandohana]

"You've dealt with half a decade of my family," Steve said. "We're not close to even. And it's Grace. I'd do anything for her."

[hatesparadise]

"You're stuff isn't caused by you," Danny pointed out

[grenadesandohana]

"Her stuff isn't caused by her, either," Steve said softly.

[hatesparadise]

"It was caused by me," Danny agreed with a sigh.

[grenadesandohana]

"And Rachel," Steve said. "And she exacerbated it."

[hatesparadise]

"I just want to give my kid--kids some stability here."

[grenadesandohana]

"We have," Steve said. "This is their home, too. Grace's been to the beach here a hundred times."

[hatesparadise]

Danny looked at him for a beat too long like he needed to commit this to memory for himself. "I love you."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve looked a little stymied. "What'd I do?"

[hatesparadise]

"You're keeping me afloat right now," Danny replied. "Keepin' my--our family together."