Fic: Bedtime Story, Chapter 9
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 the final chapter of "Bedtime Story." Thank you very much to everyone who has commented! Your kind words and encouragement have meant a lot to me.
Go back to Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8
CHAPTER 9
It was a little weird going through their nightly routine without the painkillers, but they both relaxed once Danny started reading. Steve enjoyed being able to stay sitting up, concentrating on the words more and watching Danny while he read. Finally, Danny hit the end of a chapter and closed the book. "I know it seems like I can talk forever, babe, but I'm starting to get a little hoarse. We'll have to call it a night."
"Ok," Steve replied. He gathered his courage as Danny got up and started to walk to the door. "Don't I get a kiss good night?" Steve tried to keep his voice light, but he couldn't completely hide his disappointment.
Danny froze. He slowly turned and walked back towards the bed, keeping his eyes on Steve's face. He leaned down to kiss his partner's forehead, only to have the SEAL shift at the last moment so their lips touched instead. The kiss was incredibly gentle, as if each thought the other was fragile and in danger of shattering. Danny put one hand lightly on Steve's shoulder, and Steve reached up to touch his hip, just barely grounding and balancing one another.
Danny finally leaned back a little. "How long have you known?"
"I've suspected since the beginning, with 'Guns & Ammo.' At first I wasn't sure if I was dreaming because I was always right on the edge of sleep. After a couple of days, I realized that it was only when you read to me, and I started thinking it might be real. I wasn't completely positive until just now though. Is it," he paused for a moment, almost afraid to ask. "Is this just comfort and habit, like you would kiss Grace after reading her to sleep, or is it more than that?"
Danny sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "The first night was half habit and half wanting to kiss you for so long. I just.... It tears me up to see you hurting, babe. I want to protect you, keep you safe all the time. Whether it's bruises or bullet holes or nightmares from your past, I wish I could make sure you were never hurt again. But the only way to do that would be to change who you are, and you're too important to me to do that. The best I can do is be your backup, and nag you about procedures, and take care of you as much as you'll let me."
"I want to take care of you, too. I know I'm not easy to get along with, Danno. That's why I wanted to give you space, once I had time to myself to start thinking about all of this."
Danny stared at his partner. "Wait, do you mean that you being an asshole the last couple of days was some sort of 'If you love something, set it free,' shit?" Steve nodded. "Of course you're emotionally stunted enough that you get relationship advice from motivational posters and Sting songs!" Danny was in full rant mode, but he sounded fond rather than angry. "First of all, shoving someone away with both hands and a pointy stick is not 'setting them free'! (Don't give me that look, you know what I mean.) You can give people space without putting up barbed wire between you! Second, the whole point of that stupid saying is that you're supposed to let them come back if they want. Then if they do come back, you're allowed to hold onto them! And this," Danny’s voice got softer suddenly, as he cupped Steve's face in his hands and looked into the taller man's eyes, "this is me coming back to you." He kissed Steve like he was starving and Steve was coffee and malasadas and the perfect pizza. The SEAL returned the kiss as his arms wrapped around Danny's back, holding him close like he would never let him go again.
On writing "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 the final chapter of "Bedtime Story." Thank you very much to everyone who has commented! Your kind words and encouragement have meant a lot to me.
Go back to Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8
CHAPTER 9
It was a little weird going through their nightly routine without the painkillers, but they both relaxed once Danny started reading. Steve enjoyed being able to stay sitting up, concentrating on the words more and watching Danny while he read. Finally, Danny hit the end of a chapter and closed the book. "I know it seems like I can talk forever, babe, but I'm starting to get a little hoarse. We'll have to call it a night."
"Ok," Steve replied. He gathered his courage as Danny got up and started to walk to the door. "Don't I get a kiss good night?" Steve tried to keep his voice light, but he couldn't completely hide his disappointment.
Danny froze. He slowly turned and walked back towards the bed, keeping his eyes on Steve's face. He leaned down to kiss his partner's forehead, only to have the SEAL shift at the last moment so their lips touched instead. The kiss was incredibly gentle, as if each thought the other was fragile and in danger of shattering. Danny put one hand lightly on Steve's shoulder, and Steve reached up to touch his hip, just barely grounding and balancing one another.
Danny finally leaned back a little. "How long have you known?"
"I've suspected since the beginning, with 'Guns & Ammo.' At first I wasn't sure if I was dreaming because I was always right on the edge of sleep. After a couple of days, I realized that it was only when you read to me, and I started thinking it might be real. I wasn't completely positive until just now though. Is it," he paused for a moment, almost afraid to ask. "Is this just comfort and habit, like you would kiss Grace after reading her to sleep, or is it more than that?"
Danny sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "The first night was half habit and half wanting to kiss you for so long. I just.... It tears me up to see you hurting, babe. I want to protect you, keep you safe all the time. Whether it's bruises or bullet holes or nightmares from your past, I wish I could make sure you were never hurt again. But the only way to do that would be to change who you are, and you're too important to me to do that. The best I can do is be your backup, and nag you about procedures, and take care of you as much as you'll let me."
"I want to take care of you, too. I know I'm not easy to get along with, Danno. That's why I wanted to give you space, once I had time to myself to start thinking about all of this."
Danny stared at his partner. "Wait, do you mean that you being an asshole the last couple of days was some sort of 'If you love something, set it free,' shit?" Steve nodded. "Of course you're emotionally stunted enough that you get relationship advice from motivational posters and Sting songs!" Danny was in full rant mode, but he sounded fond rather than angry. "First of all, shoving someone away with both hands and a pointy stick is not 'setting them free'! (Don't give me that look, you know what I mean.) You can give people space without putting up barbed wire between you! Second, the whole point of that stupid saying is that you're supposed to let them come back if they want. Then if they do come back, you're allowed to hold onto them! And this," Danny’s voice got softer suddenly, as he cupped Steve's face in his hands and looked into the taller man's eyes, "this is me coming back to you." He kissed Steve like he was starving and Steve was coffee and malasadas and the perfect pizza. The SEAL returned the kiss as his arms wrapped around Danny's back, holding him close like he would never let him go again.
On writing "Bedtime Story"