Chapter Text
A week later finally found Steve released from hospital and at home, recuperating. Danny had collected him from the hospital that morning, even going so far as to bring Steve’s truck so that Steve did not have to bend down and possibly hurt his incision site climbing into the low Camaro. Danny had moved in "temporarily", so he said, in order to ensure that 'Neanderthal Army Man' behaved and made a full recovery.
Steve was settled on the couch while Danny was making a fuss and doing nearly everything he could for him, but as he sat there he noticed how tired Danny looked. He had initially thought it due to the long hours Danny had spent in the hospital, only going home to get a few hours sleep, before early every morning appearing in the chair beside his bed. But as Steve looked closer at Danny now, he was starting to have his doubts. “Danno?” He called from the couch, “Come and sit for a bit, you look absolutely exhausted."
“What is it, Steve?” Danny came hurrying out from the kitchen where he was busy starting dinner. “Do you need something? What can I do?”
“Danny, just stop a minute! You look tired, come and sit.”
“Babe, I’ll sit as soon as I am done, in fact, I promise to join you right there on the couch very shortly.” Danny smiled and walked back into the kitchen shaking his head slightly. He knew he looked tired, the truth of the matter was he was beyond tired. He had been going at full speed with little sleep since he had found Steve on the bathroom floor, but what was worse was that every time he did sleep, he was woken after an hour or two with horrific nightmares of being too late. He would wake up in a sweat, with the image of Steve’s blank, lifeless eyes staring at him burned into his brain. He had long since given up on trying to get back to sleep after the nightmares, he would rather get up and work. He had taken to going to the office in the middle of the night and doing any paperwork he could find, before heading off to Steve’s hospital room so he could be there when he woke up in the morning.
"Danny!" The shout jolted Danny out of his thoughts and got him moving.
"Coming, Babe," he yelled back as he threw some sandwiches onto a plate and made his way out to the couch.
They ate the sandwiches while watching tv and exchanging small talk, enjoying being able to sit next to each other and touch without fear of interruption. Eventually both of them were battling to keep their eyes open. “Come on, Babe,” Danny knocked Steve’s leg. “Lets get you to bed.”
They walked upstairs together and Danny hovered around while Steve got ready for bed. Steve lay down on one side and patted the spot next to him. “Get in, Danno, I’m tired and I want sleep!”
“Ummm,” Danny hesitated, “I was planning on sleeping in the guest room, I don’t want to disturb you.”
“Why would you disturb me, Danny? And what if I need you in the night? Come on, just get in,” Steve was getting impatient.
“Okay, Okay,” Danny grumbled and climbed in, he was surprised with how quickly he could feel his eyes closing.
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Steve woke up, and glanced at the clock. They had been asleep for nearly two hours. He was more comfortable than he had ever felt in his life, spooned in his arms was Danny. So if he was so comfortable what had woken him? Then he felt the twitch, and heard a murmur.
Danny’s mind whirled, he raced through the bedroom into the bathroom to find Steve on the floor. He was too late, “No, no, no, no, Steve, please no, you can’t be dead!” He fell to his knees crying.
Steve froze as he heard the mumbling and pieced together what Danny was dreaming. Then, as smoothly and quickly as he could he gathered Danny into his arms and pulled him tight into his body, pinning him down to stop the restless movements, “Shhh, Danno, it’s ok, I’m right here.”
Danny’s body went limp and pliable, and within seconds he was back in a deep sleep, curled up in Steve’s protective arms, and like that, they slept...
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Danny blinked his eyes open, it was morning and he had slept the whole night through. He felt almost human again. In fact he felt happier than he had in years, even if he was currently firmly pinned down by a sleeping SEAL. He tried to move, but Steve gripped him tighter so he gave up and enjoyed some cuddle time. He eventually dozed back off into a light slumber.
Catherine crept into the house, it was early morning, and she had driven past Steve’s house on a whim. Noticing only his truck in the driveway, she decided to risk going in and trying to work things out with him. She was happy to see that Danny was not on the couch, and double checked the spare room as she snuck past. All was quiet, and she started to feel like this was indeed her lucky day.
Hearing a vague noise, Danny opened one of his eyes slightly to see the bedroom door swing open quietly. Catherine stood there, mouth open, eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. She turned suddenly and fled out the house as fast as she could.
“What was that, Danno?” Steve mumbled as the front door slammed shut.
“Nothing to worry about right now, Babe,” Danny said pulling Steve’s arms tight around himself again. “Rest a little longer then I’ll make us some breakfast in bed.”