Nano Pono 11 of 11
Disclaimer: Hawaii 5-0 and characters belong to CBS, I just wish I owned them. And if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Thank you my beta Traw for helping me keep on track. Any mistakes are all mine. *pout*
Epilogue
Friday had finally arrived. Danny stopped in Steve’s office before he was to pick up Grace. “Do you need me to bring anything for this weekend?”
Steve looked up at Danny’s question and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think so. Unless you and Grace have something special in mind that you might want to eat.” He paused. “You may want to pick up cereal if you want that for breakfast. I think I ate the last of it yesterday. I did pick up eggs, bacon and stuff to make pancakes last night.”
“No that sounds good. I’ll pick up some stuff that Grace likes to drink. Do you want me to get some beer?”
“Nah. Kamekona was able to get me a bargain on it. Didn’t ask where he got it either, didn’t want to know.” Danny chuckled. “Are you ready to head out?”
“Yeah, I just finished up my paperwork. Are you almost done?” Danny waved at the pile of paperwork on Steve’s desk.
“Maybe in the next century I’ll get this done.” Both men laughed quietly. “I’ll be done in about half an hour. If I’m not at the house let yourselves in.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.” Danny turned to walk out of the office but stopped when he saw who was standing in the door.
Looking uncomfortable, Governor Stevens was standing in Steve’s doorway. He cleared his throat. “I owe both of you an apology.” He fiddled with his tie. “I went into our meeting without having all of the facts. I knew that Jackson was having difficulty with his team; I hadn't realized what the difficulty was. I believed that if he could observe another such team he would be able to go back to Maryland and make a success of the task force.”
Steve waved him into the office. “I can understand that Governor Stevens.”
Stevens sighed. “After leaving Pat’s office I thought about what you'd told me. I wanted to know if what you said about Jackson was the truth. So I pulled Detective Harris aside and asked him to tell me what really happened here and how Jackson handled the responsibility of team leader. He told it to me straight. He said exactly what you had said about Jackson, that he was not prepared to lead such a task force. He also had a different view of you, your team, and how you conducted yourself. I will be removing Jackson from the task force and finding a replacement that has more leadership experience.”
“Please believe me when I say that I thought he could do the job when I chose him. It was not because he's my nephew. Well, I didn’t think so at the time. I believe that if I can find the right leader, I might do what Pat did and give them immunity.” He smiled slightly. “It would have to be the right person though; I wouldn’t want the privilege abused. Good luck gentlemen.” With that, he turned and walked out of the office, not giving Steve or Danny a chance to respond. It was debatable if they could have said anything at that moment, even Danny was rendered temporarily speechless.
Danny slowly blinked a few times before he found his voice. “That was unexpected.”
“It was. Maybe there's hope for the Maryland task force yet.”
“Maybe.” Danny looked at Steve. “Now I’m leaving to pick up my daughter and hope I’m not late or Rachel will bitch.”
Steve snorted as he waved Danny towards the door. “Get going already.” Danny smiled before heading out.
*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*H50*
When Steve got home he found Danny’s Camaro parked in the driveway. Steve smiled to himself glad to see that Danny had used the key. He parked next to the Camaro. Before he could grab the grocery bags out of the truck his front door opened and a Gracie shaped missile was headed right for him. He smiled widely as he bent down to catch her, before picking her up and twirling her around eliciting high pitched squeals of delight. He stopped and propped her against his hip. “Hello there Gracie. Did you see the missile that hit me?”
She giggled. “You’re silly Uncle Steve. I’m not a missile; I’m a little girl.”
He feigned shock. “Are you sure? I thought something came out of the door and right at me really, really fast.” He tickled her lightly, producing more giggles and a squirmy Grace. He stopped and smiled at her. “Maybe you’re right; you’re a little too wiggly to be a missile. Hey Danny.” He turned to his partner as Danny walked up to them. “Did you have any trouble with the code?”
“Nope. Need any help with the bags?” He indicated the neglected grocery bags.
“I won’t turn it down. Thanks.” He put Grace down and held out a small bag to her. “Could you take that into the kitchen Gracie?”
“I’d love to Uncle Steve.” She took the bag and headed inside.
“Thanks Gracie.” Was said to her retreating form. Steve smiled.
Danny stopped him before he could grab any more bags. “You used Grace’s name for your security code.” It was not a question. Steve nodded looking a little embarrassed. “Thank you.”
Steve flushed a little. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I only realized after I set the code that it could spell Grace. I decided not to change it. It's something we both can remember easily.” He shrugged and grabbed to bags. “So let’s get this show on the road. I have some nice steaks we can grill.”
Danny shook his head as he watched Steve head for the house. He smiled fondly at his partner’s back before he grabbed the other bags, and followed Steve into the house.
Steve had one more surprise for the Williams duo that night.
“Time to get ready for bed Monkey.” Danny started.
Steve stopped him. “Hang on Danny. I have a surprise for you and Grace.” They look at him expectantly. He motioned for them to follow him. “Come with me and I’ll show you.” He said as he led them upstairs and stopped at the first room on the right. He squatted down so he could speak to Grace. “This room used to be used for storage. I went through everything and was able to get rid of quite a bit of stuff.”
She looked at him puzzled.
He smiled. “I fixed it up so that you would have a room here whenever you and your Dad stayed over.” He stood and opened the door and turned on the light. She looked at Steve’s smiling face and then at the door before she squealed in delight and ran into the room. He walked in behind her leaving a stunned Danny in the hall.
The room had a bed, nightstand, a small dresser and a desk. The walls were bare. “I thought you would like to choose the colors for the walls. The set used to be Mary’s before she decided she didn’t like the style anymore. I guess Dad never got rid of it.”
Grace finished her perusal of the room and headed for an anxious Steve to give him a hug. “Thank you Uncle Steve. I love it! This way Danno doesn’t have to sleep on the couch.”
He hugged her back tightly. “You’re welcome Grace. And that was another reason I wanted to give you your own room.” He was looking at Danny who had finally walked into the room. “I know your Danno didn’t mind sleeping on the couch, it’s rather comfortable. But since I have the room, I didn’t see a need for it. Now Danny can sleep in my old room.”
Danny looked around the room amazed at his partner’s, no, his friend’s generosity. Steve was a man of action and this spoke of ohana, better than any words could. He looked at Steve who had picked up Grace while hugging her. Must be easier on his back, Danny mused. “Well, I guess I know what we'll be doing the next weekend I have you.” He touched his daughter’s cheek. He smiled at Steve who looked relieved. “Does that mean I can paint your old room?”
Steve laughed. “If you want. Dad never changed Mary’s or my rooms after he sent us to the mainland. It could do with a change.” Steve put Grace down. “Alright Grace, now it’s time for you to get ready for bed. Your bag is on the other side of the bed. I moved it earlier when I used the bathroom.” She went for her bag and started pulling out what she needed and headed for the bathroom. Steve looked at Danny closely. “Are you really okay with what I did?” He indicated the room.
Danny came over and put his hand on Steve’s shoulder. “I’m still a little shocked by this. However, I’m more than okay with it.” He smiled. “This is what you do for ohana right?”
Steve nodded looking happy and relieved. “It is.”
Steve paused looking like he wanted to say something else. Danny looked closely, Steve didn’t have aneurysm face but it wasn’t his normal face either. “What?”
Steve looked at the floor than looked back up at Danny and took a deep breath. “If you wanted you could move in here, Danny.” Steve held up his hand. “You know I have plenty of room and you could make my old room yours without a problem. Since Mary won’t be living here, we could make her old room an office for you, with a day bed for guests, or a playroom for Grace and you can share my office.” Steve shrugged his shoulders. “You can pay me rent and split the other bills.”
Danny looked at Steve shocked. He really had not expected an offer like this. “Why now? You’ve complained about my apartment since the day we met.”
Before Steve could answer Grace walked in the room. “I’m ready for bed Danno.”
“I see that Monkey. Why don’t you get in bed so I can tuck you in?”
She looked up at him earnestly. “Would it be okay if Uncle Steve tucked me in tonight? He gave me this room and I think he should do it the first time I sleep here. You can tuck me in tomorrow night.”
Danny smiled, he was proud of his Grace. “Of course Uncle Steve can tuck you in if you want.” He leaned over and whispered loudly in her ear. “You’ll have to tell Uncle Steve what to do though. I don’t think that he's tucked in a little girl before.” He gave her a hug and a kiss before he left the room.
Steve was a little shell-shocked. He did not expect this but was not going to let Grace down. He squatted so that he could look her in the eye. “Your Dad’s right, I have never tucked in a little girl before, not even Mary. Thank you for being the first.”
She hugged him tightly. “You’re welcome.” She pulled back so that she could look at him. “First you pull the covers back for me.” He stood up with Grace giggling in his arms and did as he was told. “You were supposed to pick me up after pulling the sheets down Uncle Steve.” She giggled again.
“Oh. I just thought this was easier.” He looked a little sad.
She kissed his cheek, surprising him into a smile. “That’s okay Uncle Steve. I liked it.” His smile grew. “Now you place me on the bed so that I can lie down.” He did that gently. “You pull the covers over me. You don’t actually have to tuck them under the mattress.” She said this right before he did that. “I always have to get up during the night and it’s easier if the sheets are loose.” He nodded and straightened the covers over her. She looked in his eyes. “Then you give me a kiss on the forehead, say good night and wish me sweet dreams.”
Steve leaned over Grace, placing his hand on the bed for balance, and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Good night Nani. I hope you have the best dreams tonight.”
She pulled her hand out from under the covers and gave his hand a squeeze while smiling at him. “Good night Uncle Steve. I hope you have the best dreams too.” She whispered. “You did a good job tucking me in Uncle Steve. What does Nani mean?”
He smiled goofily at her. “Thanks Nani. Nani means beautiful.”
Grace smiled. “How do you say uncle in Hawaiian?”
“`Anakala.”
She squeezed his hand. “Good night ‘Anakala.”
“Good night Nani. Now go to sleep.” He turned his hand so he could squeeze her back, smiling gently, before gently tucking her arm back under the covers, silently leaving the room and pulling the door almost shut behind him.
Danny was waiting for him with a smile. “You did a good job. Thank you.”
Steve shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable. “I just followed directions.”
Danny shook his head. “You did more than that and you know it.” He turned towards the stairs as he continued. “You made your own routine and gave her your own nick-name, which I like by the way. You’ll be tucking her in more since I'll be moving in with you.” He stopped turning to face Steve.
He had that goofy smile again. “You’ll let me tuck her in again? It won’t interfere with your special time? You’re moving in?”
Danny rolled his eyes. “Of course I will. And we have plenty of special time. Besides, I bet Gracie will ask you to do it again. And yes I--we'll move in.” He turned back towards the kitchen. “I need a beer.”
“I’ll meet you on the lanai. It’s a nice night out.” Danny rolled his eyes and Steve snickered. Steve joined Danny with two open Longboards handing Danny one. “You asked me why I waited until now.” Danny nodded. Steve looked down before looking Danny in the eye. “I didn’t think you would say yes before now. You would have thought it was charity instead of what you do for ohana.”
Danny was stunned. Steve was right. Until recently, he would have thought that Steve was offering out of a sense of duty or something. Now he understood that Steve, Chin and Kono saw him as part of their family just as he saw them. “I hate to admit it and stroke your ego anymore but your right. Thank you. I look forward to getting out of that rat infested hellhole.” He clink his beer bottle with Steve’s as they sat down to watch the moon reflected on the ocean talking quietly.
The three had a great weekend. Steve gave Grace another surfing lesson. Once they had cleaned up, he claimed that he had some errands to run leaving father and daughter alone to have some special time. Danny knew that Steve didn’t have any errands to run but appreciated Steve’s thoughtfulness.
The barbeque with the team was a success. Kono took Grace out swimming giving her an extra lesson while the men chatted.
Sunday was spent at the zoo before dropping Grace off at Rachel’s. Danny informed her that he would be moving into one of Steve’s spare rooms as soon as he could. She tried to appear indifferent, but he could tell she was not happy. She wouldn’t be able to use his horrible living conditions against him.
Danny arrived at his apartment to find Steve, Chin and Kono waiting for him. They were going to help him move that night! He wanted to balk but decided it wasn’t worth it knowing how stubburn Steve could be when he made up his mind. Besides all he really had to move were boxes and clothes. The room had come furnished, if you could really call the stuff furniture.
That night Danny slept in his new bed and felt as close to contentment as he could on this pineapple infested hellhole.
PAU
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed.