Fic: Bedtime Story, Chapter 7
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 | Chapter 6
CHAPTER 7
Steve tried to sleep late, but without the painkillers to hold him under, his regular training was kicking in again. He had managed to spend one day on "island time" -- lounging around, dozing in the hammock, and watching television -- but it looked like one day was all he could take. He couldn't do his usual swim or jog to distract himself, although he did some exercises to work on his upper-body strength. He re-read the book that Danny had just finished reading to him, filling in a few bits that he missed from zoning out before his partner realized it. He cleaned all of his weapons and sharpened everything with an edge or a point.
Chin had sent him the footage from the security cameras, and Steve enjoyed watching it. He liked seeing his team in action and thinking about how he would have done things differently if he'd been there, wondering whether his tactics would have worked better than theirs. He tried to plan out training programs they could use, ways to optimize their strengths and cover one another's weaknesses.
Mostly, though, he was bored. And that was dangerous, because when he got bored, his mind started picking at things. Had Danny really been kissing him good night every night, or was that just a series of dreams? He'd certainly been dreaming about his partner often enough, but the kisses in those dreams usually involved teeth and tongues, progressing downward from mouth to chest to abs to thoughts that left him frustrated and longing even after he'd jacked off. Steve told himself firmly -- for only the 114th time -- that it wasn't worth risking their friendship and partnership. Even if Danny was kissing him good night, could he be sure that it meant his partner was interested in men, or at least in Steve? Or was Danny just used to giving a good-night kiss after reading someone a bedtime story, a habit he had picked up from having a daughter?
Steve had been working himself up for several hours when Danny called again. He tried to sound normal on the phone, but when his partner asked if he wanted company, there was so much that Steve wanted to say and couldn't, that the first words out of his mouth were, "I don't need a fucking babysitter, Danny!"
"Did I ask if you needed to be babysat, Steven? No, I did not. I asked if you wanted company. You know, where people come and spend time with you for the simple joy of being with you."
"Danny--" Steve tried to interject. Danny didn't sound like he was just going into a normal rant. He sounded hurt, like he'd really been looking forward to seeing Steve.
"Shut up, Steven. Here we've wrapped up a long case and even finished all of the paperwork. And we're thinking about what we usually do in situations like this. Usually, our boss invites us over to his place for steaks and beers to celebrate. Unfortunately, he can't do that this time because some jackass tried to carve up his leg. But, hey, he's a pretty good guy -- the boss, Steve, not the guy with the knife -- so maybe he'd like us to come over anyway."
It sounded like Danny might be taking a breath, so Steve tried again, "Danny...."
"Still talking here, McGarrett! So Kono volunteers to get the beer, and Chin volunteers to get the steaks, and I volunteer to get you to let us invade your house some more. I think I've got the easy job. You've been pretty happy to hang out with us in the past. You seemed to enjoy having us there lately. But no! Apparently we're just some sort of babysitting service! Apparently--"
Steve finally gives up and shouts over Danny, "I'm trying to say that I'm sorry!!"
"What? And ow -- you can really get some volume going when you work at it." Fortunately, Danny sounded more impressed than angry. It figured that he'd appreciate someone yelling louder than he was ranting.
"I'm sorry, Danny. Frankly, I'm going stir crazy by myself here. I didn't mean to say it that way, but I thought you guys might be sick of spending all of your time here and be ready to get back to your own lives."
"Steve, in case you haven't noticed, you are a big part of my, of our lives. We could go somewhere else to celebrate wrapping up the case, but it wouldn't be right without you there. If you're done being cranky, put on a shirt. We'll be there soon." Danny hung up before Steve could reply.
Steve was just getting his shirt on when he heard the door open. Despite what Danny implied, he had been dressed but decided to change into something he hadn't been sweating in all day. The stairs still took him a while, but far less time had passed than it took to drive to the house from HQ, much less stop along the way. Steve was starting to reach for his gun when he heard Kono calling his name. "I'm upstairs, be down in a minute."
When he got to the kitchen, she'd already put the beers in the fridge. "What would you guys have done if I hadn't agreed to this little party?" Steve asked.
Kono didn't bother trying to deny that she had been on her way before Danny called and just grinned. "We would have come over anyway. If you're turning down steaks and beer with the team, either you've been taken over by pod-people, or else someone has a gun on you and you're trying to keep us away for our own good. Either way, we wouldn't want to miss the fun!"
Steve grinned back. "Good point."
"Anyway," she continued with a sly look, "Danny was the one asking."
Fortunately for Steve, Chin came in with the steaks before he had to think up a response.
Chapter 8
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 | Chapter 6
CHAPTER 7
Steve tried to sleep late, but without the painkillers to hold him under, his regular training was kicking in again. He had managed to spend one day on "island time" -- lounging around, dozing in the hammock, and watching television -- but it looked like one day was all he could take. He couldn't do his usual swim or jog to distract himself, although he did some exercises to work on his upper-body strength. He re-read the book that Danny had just finished reading to him, filling in a few bits that he missed from zoning out before his partner realized it. He cleaned all of his weapons and sharpened everything with an edge or a point.
Chin had sent him the footage from the security cameras, and Steve enjoyed watching it. He liked seeing his team in action and thinking about how he would have done things differently if he'd been there, wondering whether his tactics would have worked better than theirs. He tried to plan out training programs they could use, ways to optimize their strengths and cover one another's weaknesses.
Mostly, though, he was bored. And that was dangerous, because when he got bored, his mind started picking at things. Had Danny really been kissing him good night every night, or was that just a series of dreams? He'd certainly been dreaming about his partner often enough, but the kisses in those dreams usually involved teeth and tongues, progressing downward from mouth to chest to abs to thoughts that left him frustrated and longing even after he'd jacked off. Steve told himself firmly -- for only the 114th time -- that it wasn't worth risking their friendship and partnership. Even if Danny was kissing him good night, could he be sure that it meant his partner was interested in men, or at least in Steve? Or was Danny just used to giving a good-night kiss after reading someone a bedtime story, a habit he had picked up from having a daughter?
Steve had been working himself up for several hours when Danny called again. He tried to sound normal on the phone, but when his partner asked if he wanted company, there was so much that Steve wanted to say and couldn't, that the first words out of his mouth were, "I don't need a fucking babysitter, Danny!"
"Did I ask if you needed to be babysat, Steven? No, I did not. I asked if you wanted company. You know, where people come and spend time with you for the simple joy of being with you."
"Danny--" Steve tried to interject. Danny didn't sound like he was just going into a normal rant. He sounded hurt, like he'd really been looking forward to seeing Steve.
"Shut up, Steven. Here we've wrapped up a long case and even finished all of the paperwork. And we're thinking about what we usually do in situations like this. Usually, our boss invites us over to his place for steaks and beers to celebrate. Unfortunately, he can't do that this time because some jackass tried to carve up his leg. But, hey, he's a pretty good guy -- the boss, Steve, not the guy with the knife -- so maybe he'd like us to come over anyway."
It sounded like Danny might be taking a breath, so Steve tried again, "Danny...."
"Still talking here, McGarrett! So Kono volunteers to get the beer, and Chin volunteers to get the steaks, and I volunteer to get you to let us invade your house some more. I think I've got the easy job. You've been pretty happy to hang out with us in the past. You seemed to enjoy having us there lately. But no! Apparently we're just some sort of babysitting service! Apparently--"
Steve finally gives up and shouts over Danny, "I'm trying to say that I'm sorry!!"
"What? And ow -- you can really get some volume going when you work at it." Fortunately, Danny sounded more impressed than angry. It figured that he'd appreciate someone yelling louder than he was ranting.
"I'm sorry, Danny. Frankly, I'm going stir crazy by myself here. I didn't mean to say it that way, but I thought you guys might be sick of spending all of your time here and be ready to get back to your own lives."
"Steve, in case you haven't noticed, you are a big part of my, of our lives. We could go somewhere else to celebrate wrapping up the case, but it wouldn't be right without you there. If you're done being cranky, put on a shirt. We'll be there soon." Danny hung up before Steve could reply.
Steve was just getting his shirt on when he heard the door open. Despite what Danny implied, he had been dressed but decided to change into something he hadn't been sweating in all day. The stairs still took him a while, but far less time had passed than it took to drive to the house from HQ, much less stop along the way. Steve was starting to reach for his gun when he heard Kono calling his name. "I'm upstairs, be down in a minute."
When he got to the kitchen, she'd already put the beers in the fridge. "What would you guys have done if I hadn't agreed to this little party?" Steve asked.
Kono didn't bother trying to deny that she had been on her way before Danny called and just grinned. "We would have come over anyway. If you're turning down steaks and beer with the team, either you've been taken over by pod-people, or else someone has a gun on you and you're trying to keep us away for our own good. Either way, we wouldn't want to miss the fun!"
Steve grinned back. "Good point."
"Anyway," she continued with a sly look, "Danny was the one asking."
Fortunately for Steve, Chin came in with the steaks before he had to think up a response.
Chapter 8