Fic: Bedtime Story, Chapter 5
Title: Bedtime Story
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Steve/Danny, pre-slash
Warnings, spoilers, etc.: This fic is finale-free and does not have spoilers for any specific episodes. Some chapters have references to flashbacks and nightmares, as well as moderate Steve!whumping and angst.
Disclaimer: Hawaii 5-0 does not belong to me, and no infringement is intended.
Summary: What happens when a Navy SEAL needs a bedtime story?
Author's note: This is a multi-part story, but it is completely written, not a wip. I'll try to post a chapter every day or two until it's done. Comments and constructive criticism are always welcome!
Go back to Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
CHAPTER 5
In time, Steve started to get around better, although he knew he would be on desk work and restricted duty even after he went back to the office. He weaned himself off of the painkillers as quickly as possible -- having his friends by him helped, but he still hated the things. He was down to half a pill at night and planning to stop even that soon. His leg was strong enough now that he could do pretty well in the house, although navigating the stairs left him pale and shaking sometimes. Danny, Chin, and Kono still made sure that someone was always around, however, partly out of habit and partly to make sure Steve didn't try to do too much. Then they hit a point where all three of them had to go out together. It was a big bust, coordinated with HPD, and they needed everyone they could get. Steve waved them off, reassuring Danny that he would be fine without them for a while; he'd probably just skip that night's dose, so Danny didn't even need to worry about coming back until the next day.
Finally, the house was empty, and Steve settled in to wait. He moved around slowly, cleaning and doing all of the odd jobs that no one else had gotten to yet. It was good to be able to start getting everything back the way he wanted it, even if the work took five times as long as it should have. He left some of the changes that his friends had made -- little things like the way chairs were arranged on one side of the living room, and where the mustard Kono liked was kept in the refrigerator door -- in the hope that everyone would continue to spend time at the house while he got better. Steve had gotten used to having his team around him, and it made the quiet rooms seem even more empty than they had before he was hurt.
After several hours, he had done all of the chores he could manage twice over, and his leg was aching from the unaccustomed use. Steve was trying everything he could think of to distract himself from thoughts of his team -- where they were, what they were doing, and what might have gone wrong. He was debating having a beer since he wasn't going to be taking a painkiller that night when the phone rang. He answered it and slumped with relief at the familiar voice.
"We're all fine, Steve. I'm just calling to let you know that we're finally done. A few of these idiots decided to do things the hard way, and it took a little while to get them to see reason. On the bright side, they ended up in an area with security cameras, so you'll be able to see how Kono is progressing in Advanced Mayhem and Destruction. I'm sure you'll appreciate that and have lots of suggestions for how you could have done it better."
Steve relaxed as Danny's voice washed over him. His partner sounded fine -- tired, but pleased with a job well done. "That's great, Danny. I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Do you need anything? I could stop by tonight."
"Nah, I'm fine. I'll probably go to bed early. We finished the book last night anyway."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. You go book 'em, Danno." Steve chuckled and hung up as Danny started sputtering at him. Then he sighed and headed into the kitchen for a beer. He didn't want to think about how empty the house was without his partner here. Danny needed his own space though; he shouldn't have to watch over Steve all the time. The SEAL would be fine by himself, anyway. He'd spent most of his life on his own, and he liked it that way, usually. It was just the last few months, when Danny and then the rest of their team had started working their ways into his life, and then since he got injured and they'd really been spending a lot of time together.... Well, maybe he just needed some time to himself to get used to it again. Steve looked at his beer, then headed upstairs to drink it. That way, he wouldn't be tempted to have more than one.
Danny glared at his phone for a minute after he hung up. "Everything ok?" Chin asked.
"Yeah, I think so. I offered to go over to Steve's place when we were done here, and he said he was going to go to bed early. He probably just needs some space."
"Hmmm." Chin looked at Danny.
"What? He's a big boy. If he wants some time to himself, he can have it. All the time he usually spends alone, he's probably been going crazy with people around him day and night." Danny couldn't make that sound convincing even to himself, and he was sure it didn't fool Chin for a second.
Chapter 6
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Steve/Danny, pre-slash
Warnings, spoilers, etc.: This fic is finale-free and does not have spoilers for any specific episodes. Some chapters have references to flashbacks and nightmares, as well as moderate Steve!whumping and angst.
Disclaimer: Hawaii 5-0 does not belong to me, and no infringement is intended.
Summary: What happens when a Navy SEAL needs a bedtime story?
Author's note: This is a multi-part story, but it is completely written, not a wip. I'll try to post a chapter every day or two until it's done. Comments and constructive criticism are always welcome!
Go back to Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
CHAPTER 5
In time, Steve started to get around better, although he knew he would be on desk work and restricted duty even after he went back to the office. He weaned himself off of the painkillers as quickly as possible -- having his friends by him helped, but he still hated the things. He was down to half a pill at night and planning to stop even that soon. His leg was strong enough now that he could do pretty well in the house, although navigating the stairs left him pale and shaking sometimes. Danny, Chin, and Kono still made sure that someone was always around, however, partly out of habit and partly to make sure Steve didn't try to do too much. Then they hit a point where all three of them had to go out together. It was a big bust, coordinated with HPD, and they needed everyone they could get. Steve waved them off, reassuring Danny that he would be fine without them for a while; he'd probably just skip that night's dose, so Danny didn't even need to worry about coming back until the next day.
Finally, the house was empty, and Steve settled in to wait. He moved around slowly, cleaning and doing all of the odd jobs that no one else had gotten to yet. It was good to be able to start getting everything back the way he wanted it, even if the work took five times as long as it should have. He left some of the changes that his friends had made -- little things like the way chairs were arranged on one side of the living room, and where the mustard Kono liked was kept in the refrigerator door -- in the hope that everyone would continue to spend time at the house while he got better. Steve had gotten used to having his team around him, and it made the quiet rooms seem even more empty than they had before he was hurt.
After several hours, he had done all of the chores he could manage twice over, and his leg was aching from the unaccustomed use. Steve was trying everything he could think of to distract himself from thoughts of his team -- where they were, what they were doing, and what might have gone wrong. He was debating having a beer since he wasn't going to be taking a painkiller that night when the phone rang. He answered it and slumped with relief at the familiar voice.
"We're all fine, Steve. I'm just calling to let you know that we're finally done. A few of these idiots decided to do things the hard way, and it took a little while to get them to see reason. On the bright side, they ended up in an area with security cameras, so you'll be able to see how Kono is progressing in Advanced Mayhem and Destruction. I'm sure you'll appreciate that and have lots of suggestions for how you could have done it better."
Steve relaxed as Danny's voice washed over him. His partner sounded fine -- tired, but pleased with a job well done. "That's great, Danny. I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Do you need anything? I could stop by tonight."
"Nah, I'm fine. I'll probably go to bed early. We finished the book last night anyway."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. You go book 'em, Danno." Steve chuckled and hung up as Danny started sputtering at him. Then he sighed and headed into the kitchen for a beer. He didn't want to think about how empty the house was without his partner here. Danny needed his own space though; he shouldn't have to watch over Steve all the time. The SEAL would be fine by himself, anyway. He'd spent most of his life on his own, and he liked it that way, usually. It was just the last few months, when Danny and then the rest of their team had started working their ways into his life, and then since he got injured and they'd really been spending a lot of time together.... Well, maybe he just needed some time to himself to get used to it again. Steve looked at his beer, then headed upstairs to drink it. That way, he wouldn't be tempted to have more than one.
Danny glared at his phone for a minute after he hung up. "Everything ok?" Chin asked.
"Yeah, I think so. I offered to go over to Steve's place when we were done here, and he said he was going to go to bed early. He probably just needs some space."
"Hmmm." Chin looked at Danny.
"What? He's a big boy. If he wants some time to himself, he can have it. All the time he usually spends alone, he's probably been going crazy with people around him day and night." Danny couldn't make that sound convincing even to himself, and he was sure it didn't fool Chin for a second.
Chapter 6