H50 fic: 'Mamo's Books and Music', 5/6
Masterpost
***
Chapter 5
As usual, Mom spends much of Sunday in her office, grading papers and planning classes. And, as usual, Steve washes the dishes and does some laundry before tackling his own paperwork: accounts, taxes, and the other boring but essential stuff that keeps Mamo's in business.
Just like teaching high school, the hard slog of running a store doesn't end when the doors get locked each night. Even on his only day off, Steve works. But being a SEAL prepared him well for the concept of duty first and any private life second.
Steve thinks about Danny all day; how could he not? He replays last night in his head, like he's reviewing an op, but there's actually not too much he'd have done differently. He couldn't have secured the bedroom door to assure their privacy, because it has no lock - if he fell and hurt himself, Mom would be unable to get in and help him. They could have gone to Danny's instead, maybe, but Grace would still have been nearby. And would Steve have felt so bold away from his home turf?
Anyway, getting tested and going on a proper date first adds a sense of anticipation. Steve is certain that Danny will be worth the wait.
Steve also considers what he could tell Danny about life in the SEALs. Mission details are all classified, of course, but there are plenty of other things Steve just can't say out loud. How he looked people in the face - up close or through a rifle's sights - as he killed them. How he watched comrades and friends die, some in an instant, some slowly and in terrible pain.
How he himself almost bled to death on a frozen, windswept mountainside.
Some of his more positive memories might be okay to share, though. Steve could describe the full moon rising over the South Atlantic, or the sun setting over the Andes. He could talk about how desert dunes look like giant golden waves from the air, or about how the green and purple aurora borealis ripples across northern skies.
There are more prosaic things, too, like the locals Steve met, the food he ate, and the wildlife he saw. To Danny, who's never left the US, those experiences could seem interesting and exotic. And some of Steve's sanitized stories might even be suitable for Grace to hear.
***
Come Monday morning, Steve has to cope once more with his employees' prurient interest in his love life.
A few minutes before the doors open, he tells them, "Okay, guys, listen up: my date went well, Danny's great, and I'll be seeing him again. Now shut the hell up and leave me alone."
Kono grins unrepentantly and claps him on the shoulder, Kamekona gives one of his deep belly laughs, and Toast nods sagely before wandering upstairs. Chin, who (like Cath) has already heard a slightly more detailed account from Steve, just shakes his head at them all.
And then Rachel comes into the store at lunch.
Steve has never warmed to Rachel during her previous visits with Grace...she's seemed distant and reserved, despite obviously being a loving mother. So it's odd to think about her now as the ex-wife of his potential partner. Steve knows almost nothing about her, really - she's British, she's polite, and she likes classical music. He isn't even sure what she does, but judging from her clothes it's something corporate and well-paid.
While Rachel browses, Steve realizes that Danny's given him a new way to relate to her: homesickness. He missed Hawaii so badly during his eight years away, firstly training on the mainland and then serving as a SEAL. Even leaving by choice can be a wrench, Steve knows, and Rachel is now further from her home and family than ever before.
"Hello, Mr. McGarrett," Rachel says as she stops by his desk.
"Aloha, Mrs. Edwards. How are you?" If she wants to keep this formal, Steve will follow suit.
"Fine, thanks." She hesitates, and then adds, "I just wanted to say that I wish you and Danny well. Grace's happiness is my primary concern, of course, but I hope he can find contentment here too."
"Thank you; I appreciate that," he manages after a moment. It's more of a blessing than Steve expected.
"Also, I gather your mother suggested I try the choir at St. Andrew's Cathedral. I spoke to the very nice choirmaster yesterday, and he kindly invited me to join their ranks. So please thank Mrs. McGarrett for me."
"I will," Steve says, genuinely glad that Rachel is rekindling that connection with home. She gives him a nod and a quick smile, then moves across to Chin's desk to order a Byrd album by The Sixteen.
Steve leans back, blowing out his breath. He's relieved to hear that there's still some goodwill and openness between Danny and Rachel, and not only for Grace's sake.
Chin comes over once Rachel's gone, and says, "Did you suggest Max Bergman as a possible piano teacher for Grace?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Mrs. Edwards just asked my advice, and I told her Max was the best around. So she's going to give him a call."
"Good," Steve says. "Hey, how are Kai's lessons going?"
"Really well," Chin says with a proud grin. "Just started to learn another Bach fugue - one of those ones with four voices."
Steve gives a low whistle. "Damn, that's challenging stuff for an eight-year-old. He really is gifted."
"Yeah, but we try not to use that word," Chin says, "or not when he's around, anyway. Malia and I want him to have fun with his music, and have a normal childhood."
Chin's told Steve how much pressure his family put on him as a talented young violinist, and how high their expectations were, so Steve's not surprised that he wants something better for his son.
"Kai's been asked to play at his school's Thanksgiving recital again this year," Chin adds. "He's going to start with some Chopin to impress the parents and teachers, and finish with some tween pop hit to please the kids."
Steve laughs. "Covering all his demographics, huh? He's a born performer."
Then Miss Lawson approaches the music desk to ask a question, and Steve's day rolls on.
The rest of the afternoon is busy - it's Halloween tonight, so some kids in costume show up. Mrs. Keawe brings her two eldest grandchildren in; they choose some books for themselves, and then she sits down to read them a ghost story. A few other children linger nearby, listening. By the time she starts the next story, doing all the different voices with practiced ease, she has quite an audience.
On his way home, Steve visits the sexual health clinic and undergoes the usual array of tests and exams. Most of the results should be back within a week; the finger-prick test for HIV takes just 20 minutes to come up negative. He's always practiced safe sex, but it's still a great relief.
After dinner, Cath calls. "Hey, I've got good news: Laura unearthed a spare copy of our Hawaiian mythology book. Are you willing to pay a 25% mark-up on the retail price, though?"
"Yeah, sure," Steve says, and she laughs.
"Not even attempting to bargain? Damn, you weren't kidding about how well things went on Saturday. I can drop it by tonight, if you like?"
"That'd be great."
When Cath arrives, Steve and Mom are in the living room. He's making notes on a publisher's catalogue before the rep comes tomorrow, circling items he definitely want to order and scribbling queries beside others. Mom, still incensed about that Shakespeare movie, is enjoying Shapiro's masterful debunking of the authorship question.
Each of them occasionally mutters something under their breath as they read, but they've long since learned to ignore one another.
Mom gets up to answer the door, and greets Cath with a warm 'Hi, honey' and a hug. She's always had a soft spot for Cath, still treating her like an honorary daughter even now, and the affection is mutual. Cath's own mother died years ago, so she seems to appreciate having another maternal presence in her life.
"Hey, Cynthia," Cath says, kissing her cheek. "Wow, you're really rocking this chestnut brown look. Last time I was here, you were a redhead."
Mom laughs. "Being able to experiment with color is the one advantage of going gray. I think I'll dye my hair black, next."
"I'm starting to go gray," Steve comments from his armchair. "Should I hit the bottle too?"
"Don't dye it," Cath says. "The salt-and-pepper look is totally working for you."
"Men can get away with graying hair," Mom adds. "Anyway, Cath, you want a snack or a drink?"
"No, thanks - I won't stay long. I'm just dropping off this book as a pretext for hearing more about Danny."
"Some things I really don't need to know," Mom says, "so I think that's my cue to say goodnight." She kisses them both, and goes upstairs.
Cath sits beside Steve, and hands over the book. Steve pays her what Laura asked, plus another 20% - "for gas, and for making a home delivery," he explains.
She grins. "I'm an impoverished artist, so I won't say no, but I was driving Diamond Head bound anyway. I just dropped my painting off at Danny's."
"Oh, great. Grace will be so thrilled."
"He's got a nice apartment, by the way: big comfy-looking bed, and totally flat access."
"Danny mentioned both those things as attractions of his place, for after our next date," Steve admits.
"Did he, now," Cath says, eyebrows raised. "All right, spill."
Since Steve is a gentleman, he doesn't give her all the juicy details. But he reveals enough that she squeezes his hand and says, "I'm so glad you're letting your guard down a little, and giving Danny a chance. I've got a real good feeling about this one, Steve."
"Me, too," he says, squeezing back.
Cath breaks the sappy mood by adding, "And you'll be relieved to hear I didn't share any of your embarrassing secrets tonight."
Steve rolls his eyes. "Such heroic forbearance, on your part."
"Oh, I'm saving the good stuff for later, once he's well and truly hooked on you," Cath assures him.
"Gee, thanks," Steve says. "But seriously, thanks for the book - and the moral support."
"Hey, what else is a queer guy's queer ex-girlfriend for?"
Cath gets up to leave, and Steve walks her to the door. She says, "Listen, just so you know: Danny's been assigned to that double murder case."
"Wait, what case? I haven't been following the news."
"Two tourists were found dead at 'Ewa Beach Park early this morning, and I'm guessing there's major political pressure to get it solved quickly. Danny looked tired and stressed out tonight. But his face lit up when I mentioned you, so...whatever you've been doing, keep it up."
She hugs him goodbye and heads out, leaving Steve to contemplate the grim reality of detective work. It sounds like Danny's quiet adjustment period at HPD is over.
***
With the 'Ewa stabbings all over the news, Steve's not expecting to see Danny for a while. So it's a very pleasant surprise when Danny and Grace walk into Mamo's Wednesday evening, 20 minutes before closing.
Grace is wearing a pink dress, with a sparkly plastic tiara on her head and a shiny wand in one hand. "Hi, Steve," she says, bouncing on the spot. "It's my birthday, and Uncle Matt sent me this outfit!"
"Wow, Gracie, it looks neat. And hau'oli la hanau to you - that means 'happy birthday' in Hawaiian." Steve grins at Danny over her head. "Hey. It's good you could get time off from your big case."
"Are you kidding? They'd have to cuff me to my desk to keep me away. Anyway, we caught the guy this morning and I got him to confess by lunch." Danny looks worn out, but satisfied.
"Congratulations - that's real fast work," Steve says. "So are you having a nice day so far, Grace?"
"Uh-huh. Mommy and Stan got me a new pink bike, and then after school we went to a giant maze shaped like a pineapple, and we ate pineapple ice-cream."
Danny makes a face, and Steve laughs.
"And Mommy took me to meet Max the piano teacher yesterday," Grace continues. "He showed me how to play 'Happy Birthday', and then he made up a bunch of different versions on the spot. He's really funny."
"I'm glad you like Max," Steve tells her. "And I got you a present too, but it's at home; I didn't expect to see you guys today. So I'll give it to you next time, okay?"
"Actually," Danny says, "we stopped by to invite you to dinner, if you're free tonight. So we could maybe pick up your gift on the way."
"Oh, are you sure? I wouldn't want to intrude on your celebration."
"I want you to," Grace says. "Please, Steve?"
Steve glances at Danny, who grins. "You heard the lady, bookman."
Knowing when he's beaten, Steve smiles at them both. "Okay, then."
Steve stands up and shoots a look at Chin, who's just finished up with Mr. Anderson. Chin's supreme patience has paid off; after spending two hours at the listening station, and asking many too-loud questions, the indecisive old man wound up buying four operas.
Chin comes over to Steve's desk and says, "Getting a head start on pau hana, huh?"
"Sorry, Chin. These people are bad influences on me," Steve says.
"Luckily, I'm all in favor of you being happy," Chin tells him, and then grins at Danny. "Hi, I'm Chin Ho Kelly."
They shake hands. "Danny Williams. Good to meet you."
"And you're a familiar face around here, Miss Grace," Chin continues. "I don't have a birthday present for you, but I'll let you take Steve away early tonight."
"Mahalo, brah," Steve says.
Out on the sidewalk, Grace tells Steve about dressing up as Hermione Granger for Halloween. "I like her because she's smart and she reads all the time, and she knows lots of awesome magic."
"Cool. So does your wand let you cast spells on people, too?"
Grace grins, and taps it twice against Steve's forearm. "Abracadabra, come to our place for dinner!"
Steve crosses his eyes, raises his hands like a zombie, and intones, "I must eat dinner with Gracie and Danno." He takes only a few steps like that before leaning heavily on his cane again, but it's enough to send Grace into a fit of giggles.
Danny watches them both with a tired but fond grin, eyes crinkling at the corners. He doesn't even tell Steve off for using Grace's nickname for him.
When they reach Steve's house, he offers Danny coffee and Grace a glass of milk. She chugs it down, giving herself a milk mustache, then heads for the bathroom.
Steve leans back against the kitchen counter as he sips his coffee; Danny does the same as he gulps his, pressed close to Steve's left side. Steve feels warm, inside and out.
"That's the best cup of joe I've had on this island so far," Danny says. "I'd have thought a Hawaiian precinct's break room would serve decent coffee, what with beans actually being grown here, but it's just as bad as the swill back home."
"Oh, you should come into Mamo's sometime when the café is open," Steve tells him. "Our barista is a goddamn genius. You'll just have to ignore his, uh, lingering aroma of a certain illegal herb."
"Luckily I work homicide, not narcotics. And trust me...I'm a caffeine addict first, and a cop second," Danny assures him.
Steve grins. It's good to know he won't be judged for his own habit.
His cup drained, Danny rests his head on Steve's shoulder. "God, I'm wiped."
"You did great, catching that killer in just two days."
"Yeah, it was a nice way to kick off my HPD career." Danny laughs a little. "You remember those cops who called me a haole last week? One of them clapped me on the back and said 'Good job' after I got that confession. It's a start, anyway."
"And how are things with Meka?"
Danny rolls his eyes. "He bugs me for wearing a tie. Otherwise, we're doing just fine."
"Well, the tie does make you look out of place." Steve lowers his voice. "But mostly I want to yank it off so I can lick that hollow at the base of your throat. Or maybe suck a bruise into that soft smooth skin, low down on your neck, where it'll be hidden by your collar."
"Goddamn, Steve," Danny breathes, biting his lip as he looks up at Steve. "You trying to make me forget my plan?"
"No, no," Steve says. "I agree with the plan. But didn't you tell me it was important to have things to look forward to?"
Danny groans, and Steve smiles.
"I already got started on step one, by the way," he tells Danny. "My HIV test was clear. I'll show you the paperwork once my other results come back."
"Okay, great," Danny says. "I've been crazy busy with this case, but I'll go tomorrow. Where's the place you use?"
Steve pulls out his wallet, and hands him the clinic's card.
Grace comes back from the bathroom, then, and Steve says, "Oh, hey...I promised you a birthday present, didn't I? It's on that shelf there."
She picks up the neatly wrapped parcel (Steve has worked enough holiday seasons that he could gift-wrap books in his sleep) and glances at Danny. He says, "Go ahead, sweetheart."
Her eyes widen as the mythology book's colorful cover is revealed, depicting a group of sea turtles guiding the Polynesian explorers' canoes to Hawaii.
"These are some of the stories that local kids grow up knowing," Steve explains, "so I thought you might like to know them too. And my friend Cath did the illustrations."
"Thank you, Steve - it's awesome," Grace says.
"Looks real neat, monkey," Danny agrees, then smiles at Steve. "Great choice, babe."
On the way to Danny's place, Steve notices Grace sneaking glances at her new book, then gazing fixedly out the window. "Reading makes you carsick, huh?"
She nods, sadly, and he says, "Yeah, me too...it really sucks."
"I can read in the car," Danny says, "though I'm usually the one driving, so it's not that useful. But there was this road trip, years ago, just after I graduated from the academy. Me and some buddies -"
(Steve thinks, but does not say, Some buddies and I.)
"- we drove to Florida. Marco's girlfriend was at school down in Miami, and he was going to propose to her; the rest of us just wanted a break from the Jersey winter. So we piled into Kevin's old car, and I got to be the navigator. And that was fine; great actually, since I got to control the radio too. But Jimmy had picked up this cheesy 1950s guidebook at a yard sale, and wanted me to share every description of every podunk place we passed."
"I bet that got real boring," Steve says, fascinated by the whole concept of road tripping for fun. Oahu isn't exactly suited for anything except going in circles. And long drives on SEAL missions were usually to be endured, not enjoyed, especially since Steve couldn't distract himself with a book.
"Worse, actually: it got depressing. I'd be reading out all this cheerful guff about some bustling factory town, or some idyllic farming community surrounded by fields. And then I'd look up to see ghost towns and derelict barns and outlet malls. We left the book at a thrift store, in the end, and just kept driving."
Shaking his head, Steve says, "I hope you had more fun in Miami."
Danny flashes him a grin. "Oh, definitely, but not the kind Grace is allowed to hear about."
"I'm nine now," Grace argues. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Nope, sorry. You can hear those stories when you're 29...or maybe 39."
"So are you still friends with those guys?" Steve asks.
"Marco moved to Florida, but the others - yeah, we stayed close."
Steve envies Danny for that. He had trouble reconnecting with his old friends when he got back after eight years in the Navy. Steve couldn't reveal where he'd been or what he'd seen, couldn't relate to their normal safe lives...and they seemed to find him too much changed from how he'd been before. Cath's one of the few who stuck with him.
"Kev was my roommate for a few years, between me getting out of Ma's house and moving in with Rachel," Danny continues. "He organized my bachelor party; would've been my best man, too, except my brother would never have forgiven me if I didn't pick him. And Jimmy was a beat cop in Newark, working the district next to mine. We even made detective together. But then he lost control during a car chase, and wound up in a wheelchair."
"Damn, that's rough." Paralysis could so easily have been Steve's own fate, if that shrapnel had hit his back and not his chest.
"Yeah. He was so determined to stay on as a cop, though, even if he could only do desk work. We cleared a lot of cases between us, Jimmy making calls and digging through records and me pounding the pavement and knocking on doors."
"Sounds like a great guy," Steve says.
"Uncle Jimmy is cool," Grace says. "Uncle Kevin, too. I miss them."
"So do I, monkey. But maybe they'll be able to visit us out here sometime."
***
When they arrive at Danny's apartment, Grace goes to her room to put her backpack away.
From their vantage point in the doorway, Danny and Steve witness Grace's mouth falling open as she sees what's propped up on her desk: Cath's painting of the mermaid and the princess. Steve whips out his phone and snaps a photo of her stunned, delighted expression, so that Danny can have a permanent record of this moment.
Grace turns to her father with shining eyes, and throws her arms around him. "You really got me that picture? Thank you, Danno, it's the best present ever!"
Danny holds her tight, eyes closed, a blissful smile on his face.
Steve gets a little choked-up, watching the two of them; he also feels like he's intruding on something private. But Danny glances over and tells Grace, "And maybe you should thank Steve, too, for taking us to Cath's exhibition last week."
She looks at Steve. "Can I hug you?"
He gets himself braced, cane acting as a stabilizer, and says, "Go for it."
Grace puts her arms around his waist, more gently than she'd done with Danny, and presses her cheek to his shirt. "Thank you," she whispers.
"You're welcome, Gracie."
"Can I call Mommy, and tell her about my presents?" she asks Danny as she lets Steve go.
"Sure thing, monkey. We'll be in the living room." Danny brings up Rachel's number on his phone, hands it to Grace, and closes the door behind him.
Steve sinks onto the couch beside Danny, looking around the decent-sized apartment. Through another doorway he can see a big comfy-looking bed, just as advertised. Steve's looking forward to trying it out, someday soon.
"Wow, this place is pretty nice."
Danny sighs. "I hate to admit it, but it's thanks to Rachel and her husband. Stan's a big property tycoon, right, so he has all kinds of connections. The guy who owns the building owed Stan a major favor from way back, so Rach pulled some strings and got the guy to offer me this apartment with the rent knocked down. Otherwise, I could only have afforded some shitty little one-bedroom place."
Steve nods. "Rental prices on this island are scarily high, yeah."
"If it was just for me, I would've said no. My pride is all I've got left, you know? But for Gracie's sake, I took the deal."
"I think you've got more than just pride, Danny...so much more," Steve says, and presses a kiss to his cheek.
Danny turns towards Steve and kisses his mouth, fingertips caressing his face. Even this soft kiss makes Steve's lips tingle; even this gentle touch sends warmth radiating through him. Steve doesn't understand how Danny can make him feel so much by doing such little things. But God, he loves it.
They break apart when Grace comes back out; she just beams at them, though. Danny asks, "Hey, are you hungry yet?"
She nods, and he says, "Okay, you know the drill: as the birthday girl, you get to pick tonight's menu."
Grace wanders into the kitchen, where a variety of take-out flyers are stuck to the refrigerator.
"Chinese," she declares, and brings the menu back to Danny.
Steve glances at it, and says, "Oh, yeah, that's a great place. And you get extra food if you order in Cantonese. Which I can," he adds, at Danny's baffled look.
Danny grins. "Well, aren't you full of useful surprises."
"You pick up bits of various languages, growing up here," Steve explains. "And then I picked up more in the Navy."
Mrs. Lau answers the phone, as always, and kindly doesn't mock Steve's pronunciation as he places their order. He's got his usual down pat, sure, but Grace's spring rolls and Danny's sweet and sour pork present a new challenge.
Once Steve's done, Grace holds out her new book to Steve. "Can you please read me the story about the turtles leading the explorers here?"
Steve looks at Danny, who shrugs and says, "Hey, read it to both of us. If I'm gonna live in Hawaii, I guess I should know some of this stuff too."
So, with Danny and Grace sitting either side of him, Steve clears his throat and begins:
"Long ago, before our ancestors came to Hawai'i, the gods and the animals owned these islands - the land, the sky above, and the ocean that stretched to the horizon. And Honu the green turtle swam through the blue waters, roaming far and wide, but always able to find its way back to the shore where it was born..."
***
Please note: the epilogue is quite a lot darker in tone, although it has an upbeat ending. So you can think of this chapter as the end, if you'd prefer.
Epilogue
***
Chapter 5
As usual, Mom spends much of Sunday in her office, grading papers and planning classes. And, as usual, Steve washes the dishes and does some laundry before tackling his own paperwork: accounts, taxes, and the other boring but essential stuff that keeps Mamo's in business.
Just like teaching high school, the hard slog of running a store doesn't end when the doors get locked each night. Even on his only day off, Steve works. But being a SEAL prepared him well for the concept of duty first and any private life second.
Steve thinks about Danny all day; how could he not? He replays last night in his head, like he's reviewing an op, but there's actually not too much he'd have done differently. He couldn't have secured the bedroom door to assure their privacy, because it has no lock - if he fell and hurt himself, Mom would be unable to get in and help him. They could have gone to Danny's instead, maybe, but Grace would still have been nearby. And would Steve have felt so bold away from his home turf?
Anyway, getting tested and going on a proper date first adds a sense of anticipation. Steve is certain that Danny will be worth the wait.
Steve also considers what he could tell Danny about life in the SEALs. Mission details are all classified, of course, but there are plenty of other things Steve just can't say out loud. How he looked people in the face - up close or through a rifle's sights - as he killed them. How he watched comrades and friends die, some in an instant, some slowly and in terrible pain.
How he himself almost bled to death on a frozen, windswept mountainside.
Some of his more positive memories might be okay to share, though. Steve could describe the full moon rising over the South Atlantic, or the sun setting over the Andes. He could talk about how desert dunes look like giant golden waves from the air, or about how the green and purple aurora borealis ripples across northern skies.
There are more prosaic things, too, like the locals Steve met, the food he ate, and the wildlife he saw. To Danny, who's never left the US, those experiences could seem interesting and exotic. And some of Steve's sanitized stories might even be suitable for Grace to hear.
***
Come Monday morning, Steve has to cope once more with his employees' prurient interest in his love life.
A few minutes before the doors open, he tells them, "Okay, guys, listen up: my date went well, Danny's great, and I'll be seeing him again. Now shut the hell up and leave me alone."
Kono grins unrepentantly and claps him on the shoulder, Kamekona gives one of his deep belly laughs, and Toast nods sagely before wandering upstairs. Chin, who (like Cath) has already heard a slightly more detailed account from Steve, just shakes his head at them all.
And then Rachel comes into the store at lunch.
Steve has never warmed to Rachel during her previous visits with Grace...she's seemed distant and reserved, despite obviously being a loving mother. So it's odd to think about her now as the ex-wife of his potential partner. Steve knows almost nothing about her, really - she's British, she's polite, and she likes classical music. He isn't even sure what she does, but judging from her clothes it's something corporate and well-paid.
While Rachel browses, Steve realizes that Danny's given him a new way to relate to her: homesickness. He missed Hawaii so badly during his eight years away, firstly training on the mainland and then serving as a SEAL. Even leaving by choice can be a wrench, Steve knows, and Rachel is now further from her home and family than ever before.
"Hello, Mr. McGarrett," Rachel says as she stops by his desk.
"Aloha, Mrs. Edwards. How are you?" If she wants to keep this formal, Steve will follow suit.
"Fine, thanks." She hesitates, and then adds, "I just wanted to say that I wish you and Danny well. Grace's happiness is my primary concern, of course, but I hope he can find contentment here too."
"Thank you; I appreciate that," he manages after a moment. It's more of a blessing than Steve expected.
"Also, I gather your mother suggested I try the choir at St. Andrew's Cathedral. I spoke to the very nice choirmaster yesterday, and he kindly invited me to join their ranks. So please thank Mrs. McGarrett for me."
"I will," Steve says, genuinely glad that Rachel is rekindling that connection with home. She gives him a nod and a quick smile, then moves across to Chin's desk to order a Byrd album by The Sixteen.
Steve leans back, blowing out his breath. He's relieved to hear that there's still some goodwill and openness between Danny and Rachel, and not only for Grace's sake.
Chin comes over once Rachel's gone, and says, "Did you suggest Max Bergman as a possible piano teacher for Grace?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Mrs. Edwards just asked my advice, and I told her Max was the best around. So she's going to give him a call."
"Good," Steve says. "Hey, how are Kai's lessons going?"
"Really well," Chin says with a proud grin. "Just started to learn another Bach fugue - one of those ones with four voices."
Steve gives a low whistle. "Damn, that's challenging stuff for an eight-year-old. He really is gifted."
"Yeah, but we try not to use that word," Chin says, "or not when he's around, anyway. Malia and I want him to have fun with his music, and have a normal childhood."
Chin's told Steve how much pressure his family put on him as a talented young violinist, and how high their expectations were, so Steve's not surprised that he wants something better for his son.
"Kai's been asked to play at his school's Thanksgiving recital again this year," Chin adds. "He's going to start with some Chopin to impress the parents and teachers, and finish with some tween pop hit to please the kids."
Steve laughs. "Covering all his demographics, huh? He's a born performer."
Then Miss Lawson approaches the music desk to ask a question, and Steve's day rolls on.
The rest of the afternoon is busy - it's Halloween tonight, so some kids in costume show up. Mrs. Keawe brings her two eldest grandchildren in; they choose some books for themselves, and then she sits down to read them a ghost story. A few other children linger nearby, listening. By the time she starts the next story, doing all the different voices with practiced ease, she has quite an audience.
On his way home, Steve visits the sexual health clinic and undergoes the usual array of tests and exams. Most of the results should be back within a week; the finger-prick test for HIV takes just 20 minutes to come up negative. He's always practiced safe sex, but it's still a great relief.
After dinner, Cath calls. "Hey, I've got good news: Laura unearthed a spare copy of our Hawaiian mythology book. Are you willing to pay a 25% mark-up on the retail price, though?"
"Yeah, sure," Steve says, and she laughs.
"Not even attempting to bargain? Damn, you weren't kidding about how well things went on Saturday. I can drop it by tonight, if you like?"
"That'd be great."
When Cath arrives, Steve and Mom are in the living room. He's making notes on a publisher's catalogue before the rep comes tomorrow, circling items he definitely want to order and scribbling queries beside others. Mom, still incensed about that Shakespeare movie, is enjoying Shapiro's masterful debunking of the authorship question.
Each of them occasionally mutters something under their breath as they read, but they've long since learned to ignore one another.
Mom gets up to answer the door, and greets Cath with a warm 'Hi, honey' and a hug. She's always had a soft spot for Cath, still treating her like an honorary daughter even now, and the affection is mutual. Cath's own mother died years ago, so she seems to appreciate having another maternal presence in her life.
"Hey, Cynthia," Cath says, kissing her cheek. "Wow, you're really rocking this chestnut brown look. Last time I was here, you were a redhead."
Mom laughs. "Being able to experiment with color is the one advantage of going gray. I think I'll dye my hair black, next."
"I'm starting to go gray," Steve comments from his armchair. "Should I hit the bottle too?"
"Don't dye it," Cath says. "The salt-and-pepper look is totally working for you."
"Men can get away with graying hair," Mom adds. "Anyway, Cath, you want a snack or a drink?"
"No, thanks - I won't stay long. I'm just dropping off this book as a pretext for hearing more about Danny."
"Some things I really don't need to know," Mom says, "so I think that's my cue to say goodnight." She kisses them both, and goes upstairs.
Cath sits beside Steve, and hands over the book. Steve pays her what Laura asked, plus another 20% - "for gas, and for making a home delivery," he explains.
She grins. "I'm an impoverished artist, so I won't say no, but I was driving Diamond Head bound anyway. I just dropped my painting off at Danny's."
"Oh, great. Grace will be so thrilled."
"He's got a nice apartment, by the way: big comfy-looking bed, and totally flat access."
"Danny mentioned both those things as attractions of his place, for after our next date," Steve admits.
"Did he, now," Cath says, eyebrows raised. "All right, spill."
Since Steve is a gentleman, he doesn't give her all the juicy details. But he reveals enough that she squeezes his hand and says, "I'm so glad you're letting your guard down a little, and giving Danny a chance. I've got a real good feeling about this one, Steve."
"Me, too," he says, squeezing back.
Cath breaks the sappy mood by adding, "And you'll be relieved to hear I didn't share any of your embarrassing secrets tonight."
Steve rolls his eyes. "Such heroic forbearance, on your part."
"Oh, I'm saving the good stuff for later, once he's well and truly hooked on you," Cath assures him.
"Gee, thanks," Steve says. "But seriously, thanks for the book - and the moral support."
"Hey, what else is a queer guy's queer ex-girlfriend for?"
Cath gets up to leave, and Steve walks her to the door. She says, "Listen, just so you know: Danny's been assigned to that double murder case."
"Wait, what case? I haven't been following the news."
"Two tourists were found dead at 'Ewa Beach Park early this morning, and I'm guessing there's major political pressure to get it solved quickly. Danny looked tired and stressed out tonight. But his face lit up when I mentioned you, so...whatever you've been doing, keep it up."
She hugs him goodbye and heads out, leaving Steve to contemplate the grim reality of detective work. It sounds like Danny's quiet adjustment period at HPD is over.
***
With the 'Ewa stabbings all over the news, Steve's not expecting to see Danny for a while. So it's a very pleasant surprise when Danny and Grace walk into Mamo's Wednesday evening, 20 minutes before closing.
Grace is wearing a pink dress, with a sparkly plastic tiara on her head and a shiny wand in one hand. "Hi, Steve," she says, bouncing on the spot. "It's my birthday, and Uncle Matt sent me this outfit!"
"Wow, Gracie, it looks neat. And hau'oli la hanau to you - that means 'happy birthday' in Hawaiian." Steve grins at Danny over her head. "Hey. It's good you could get time off from your big case."
"Are you kidding? They'd have to cuff me to my desk to keep me away. Anyway, we caught the guy this morning and I got him to confess by lunch." Danny looks worn out, but satisfied.
"Congratulations - that's real fast work," Steve says. "So are you having a nice day so far, Grace?"
"Uh-huh. Mommy and Stan got me a new pink bike, and then after school we went to a giant maze shaped like a pineapple, and we ate pineapple ice-cream."
Danny makes a face, and Steve laughs.
"And Mommy took me to meet Max the piano teacher yesterday," Grace continues. "He showed me how to play 'Happy Birthday', and then he made up a bunch of different versions on the spot. He's really funny."
"I'm glad you like Max," Steve tells her. "And I got you a present too, but it's at home; I didn't expect to see you guys today. So I'll give it to you next time, okay?"
"Actually," Danny says, "we stopped by to invite you to dinner, if you're free tonight. So we could maybe pick up your gift on the way."
"Oh, are you sure? I wouldn't want to intrude on your celebration."
"I want you to," Grace says. "Please, Steve?"
Steve glances at Danny, who grins. "You heard the lady, bookman."
Knowing when he's beaten, Steve smiles at them both. "Okay, then."
Steve stands up and shoots a look at Chin, who's just finished up with Mr. Anderson. Chin's supreme patience has paid off; after spending two hours at the listening station, and asking many too-loud questions, the indecisive old man wound up buying four operas.
Chin comes over to Steve's desk and says, "Getting a head start on pau hana, huh?"
"Sorry, Chin. These people are bad influences on me," Steve says.
"Luckily, I'm all in favor of you being happy," Chin tells him, and then grins at Danny. "Hi, I'm Chin Ho Kelly."
They shake hands. "Danny Williams. Good to meet you."
"And you're a familiar face around here, Miss Grace," Chin continues. "I don't have a birthday present for you, but I'll let you take Steve away early tonight."
"Mahalo, brah," Steve says.
Out on the sidewalk, Grace tells Steve about dressing up as Hermione Granger for Halloween. "I like her because she's smart and she reads all the time, and she knows lots of awesome magic."
"Cool. So does your wand let you cast spells on people, too?"
Grace grins, and taps it twice against Steve's forearm. "Abracadabra, come to our place for dinner!"
Steve crosses his eyes, raises his hands like a zombie, and intones, "I must eat dinner with Gracie and Danno." He takes only a few steps like that before leaning heavily on his cane again, but it's enough to send Grace into a fit of giggles.
Danny watches them both with a tired but fond grin, eyes crinkling at the corners. He doesn't even tell Steve off for using Grace's nickname for him.
When they reach Steve's house, he offers Danny coffee and Grace a glass of milk. She chugs it down, giving herself a milk mustache, then heads for the bathroom.
Steve leans back against the kitchen counter as he sips his coffee; Danny does the same as he gulps his, pressed close to Steve's left side. Steve feels warm, inside and out.
"That's the best cup of joe I've had on this island so far," Danny says. "I'd have thought a Hawaiian precinct's break room would serve decent coffee, what with beans actually being grown here, but it's just as bad as the swill back home."
"Oh, you should come into Mamo's sometime when the café is open," Steve tells him. "Our barista is a goddamn genius. You'll just have to ignore his, uh, lingering aroma of a certain illegal herb."
"Luckily I work homicide, not narcotics. And trust me...I'm a caffeine addict first, and a cop second," Danny assures him.
Steve grins. It's good to know he won't be judged for his own habit.
His cup drained, Danny rests his head on Steve's shoulder. "God, I'm wiped."
"You did great, catching that killer in just two days."
"Yeah, it was a nice way to kick off my HPD career." Danny laughs a little. "You remember those cops who called me a haole last week? One of them clapped me on the back and said 'Good job' after I got that confession. It's a start, anyway."
"And how are things with Meka?"
Danny rolls his eyes. "He bugs me for wearing a tie. Otherwise, we're doing just fine."
"Well, the tie does make you look out of place." Steve lowers his voice. "But mostly I want to yank it off so I can lick that hollow at the base of your throat. Or maybe suck a bruise into that soft smooth skin, low down on your neck, where it'll be hidden by your collar."
"Goddamn, Steve," Danny breathes, biting his lip as he looks up at Steve. "You trying to make me forget my plan?"
"No, no," Steve says. "I agree with the plan. But didn't you tell me it was important to have things to look forward to?"
Danny groans, and Steve smiles.
"I already got started on step one, by the way," he tells Danny. "My HIV test was clear. I'll show you the paperwork once my other results come back."
"Okay, great," Danny says. "I've been crazy busy with this case, but I'll go tomorrow. Where's the place you use?"
Steve pulls out his wallet, and hands him the clinic's card.
Grace comes back from the bathroom, then, and Steve says, "Oh, hey...I promised you a birthday present, didn't I? It's on that shelf there."
She picks up the neatly wrapped parcel (Steve has worked enough holiday seasons that he could gift-wrap books in his sleep) and glances at Danny. He says, "Go ahead, sweetheart."
Her eyes widen as the mythology book's colorful cover is revealed, depicting a group of sea turtles guiding the Polynesian explorers' canoes to Hawaii.
"These are some of the stories that local kids grow up knowing," Steve explains, "so I thought you might like to know them too. And my friend Cath did the illustrations."
"Thank you, Steve - it's awesome," Grace says.
"Looks real neat, monkey," Danny agrees, then smiles at Steve. "Great choice, babe."
On the way to Danny's place, Steve notices Grace sneaking glances at her new book, then gazing fixedly out the window. "Reading makes you carsick, huh?"
She nods, sadly, and he says, "Yeah, me too...it really sucks."
"I can read in the car," Danny says, "though I'm usually the one driving, so it's not that useful. But there was this road trip, years ago, just after I graduated from the academy. Me and some buddies -"
(Steve thinks, but does not say, Some buddies and I.)
"- we drove to Florida. Marco's girlfriend was at school down in Miami, and he was going to propose to her; the rest of us just wanted a break from the Jersey winter. So we piled into Kevin's old car, and I got to be the navigator. And that was fine; great actually, since I got to control the radio too. But Jimmy had picked up this cheesy 1950s guidebook at a yard sale, and wanted me to share every description of every podunk place we passed."
"I bet that got real boring," Steve says, fascinated by the whole concept of road tripping for fun. Oahu isn't exactly suited for anything except going in circles. And long drives on SEAL missions were usually to be endured, not enjoyed, especially since Steve couldn't distract himself with a book.
"Worse, actually: it got depressing. I'd be reading out all this cheerful guff about some bustling factory town, or some idyllic farming community surrounded by fields. And then I'd look up to see ghost towns and derelict barns and outlet malls. We left the book at a thrift store, in the end, and just kept driving."
Shaking his head, Steve says, "I hope you had more fun in Miami."
Danny flashes him a grin. "Oh, definitely, but not the kind Grace is allowed to hear about."
"I'm nine now," Grace argues. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Nope, sorry. You can hear those stories when you're 29...or maybe 39."
"So are you still friends with those guys?" Steve asks.
"Marco moved to Florida, but the others - yeah, we stayed close."
Steve envies Danny for that. He had trouble reconnecting with his old friends when he got back after eight years in the Navy. Steve couldn't reveal where he'd been or what he'd seen, couldn't relate to their normal safe lives...and they seemed to find him too much changed from how he'd been before. Cath's one of the few who stuck with him.
"Kev was my roommate for a few years, between me getting out of Ma's house and moving in with Rachel," Danny continues. "He organized my bachelor party; would've been my best man, too, except my brother would never have forgiven me if I didn't pick him. And Jimmy was a beat cop in Newark, working the district next to mine. We even made detective together. But then he lost control during a car chase, and wound up in a wheelchair."
"Damn, that's rough." Paralysis could so easily have been Steve's own fate, if that shrapnel had hit his back and not his chest.
"Yeah. He was so determined to stay on as a cop, though, even if he could only do desk work. We cleared a lot of cases between us, Jimmy making calls and digging through records and me pounding the pavement and knocking on doors."
"Sounds like a great guy," Steve says.
"Uncle Jimmy is cool," Grace says. "Uncle Kevin, too. I miss them."
"So do I, monkey. But maybe they'll be able to visit us out here sometime."
***
When they arrive at Danny's apartment, Grace goes to her room to put her backpack away.
From their vantage point in the doorway, Danny and Steve witness Grace's mouth falling open as she sees what's propped up on her desk: Cath's painting of the mermaid and the princess. Steve whips out his phone and snaps a photo of her stunned, delighted expression, so that Danny can have a permanent record of this moment.
Grace turns to her father with shining eyes, and throws her arms around him. "You really got me that picture? Thank you, Danno, it's the best present ever!"
Danny holds her tight, eyes closed, a blissful smile on his face.
Steve gets a little choked-up, watching the two of them; he also feels like he's intruding on something private. But Danny glances over and tells Grace, "And maybe you should thank Steve, too, for taking us to Cath's exhibition last week."
She looks at Steve. "Can I hug you?"
He gets himself braced, cane acting as a stabilizer, and says, "Go for it."
Grace puts her arms around his waist, more gently than she'd done with Danny, and presses her cheek to his shirt. "Thank you," she whispers.
"You're welcome, Gracie."
"Can I call Mommy, and tell her about my presents?" she asks Danny as she lets Steve go.
"Sure thing, monkey. We'll be in the living room." Danny brings up Rachel's number on his phone, hands it to Grace, and closes the door behind him.
Steve sinks onto the couch beside Danny, looking around the decent-sized apartment. Through another doorway he can see a big comfy-looking bed, just as advertised. Steve's looking forward to trying it out, someday soon.
"Wow, this place is pretty nice."
Danny sighs. "I hate to admit it, but it's thanks to Rachel and her husband. Stan's a big property tycoon, right, so he has all kinds of connections. The guy who owns the building owed Stan a major favor from way back, so Rach pulled some strings and got the guy to offer me this apartment with the rent knocked down. Otherwise, I could only have afforded some shitty little one-bedroom place."
Steve nods. "Rental prices on this island are scarily high, yeah."
"If it was just for me, I would've said no. My pride is all I've got left, you know? But for Gracie's sake, I took the deal."
"I think you've got more than just pride, Danny...so much more," Steve says, and presses a kiss to his cheek.
Danny turns towards Steve and kisses his mouth, fingertips caressing his face. Even this soft kiss makes Steve's lips tingle; even this gentle touch sends warmth radiating through him. Steve doesn't understand how Danny can make him feel so much by doing such little things. But God, he loves it.
They break apart when Grace comes back out; she just beams at them, though. Danny asks, "Hey, are you hungry yet?"
She nods, and he says, "Okay, you know the drill: as the birthday girl, you get to pick tonight's menu."
Grace wanders into the kitchen, where a variety of take-out flyers are stuck to the refrigerator.
"Chinese," she declares, and brings the menu back to Danny.
Steve glances at it, and says, "Oh, yeah, that's a great place. And you get extra food if you order in Cantonese. Which I can," he adds, at Danny's baffled look.
Danny grins. "Well, aren't you full of useful surprises."
"You pick up bits of various languages, growing up here," Steve explains. "And then I picked up more in the Navy."
Mrs. Lau answers the phone, as always, and kindly doesn't mock Steve's pronunciation as he places their order. He's got his usual down pat, sure, but Grace's spring rolls and Danny's sweet and sour pork present a new challenge.
Once Steve's done, Grace holds out her new book to Steve. "Can you please read me the story about the turtles leading the explorers here?"
Steve looks at Danny, who shrugs and says, "Hey, read it to both of us. If I'm gonna live in Hawaii, I guess I should know some of this stuff too."
So, with Danny and Grace sitting either side of him, Steve clears his throat and begins:
"Long ago, before our ancestors came to Hawai'i, the gods and the animals owned these islands - the land, the sky above, and the ocean that stretched to the horizon. And Honu the green turtle swam through the blue waters, roaming far and wide, but always able to find its way back to the shore where it was born..."
***
Please note: the epilogue is quite a lot darker in tone, although it has an upbeat ending. So you can think of this chapter as the end, if you'd prefer.
Epilogue