Work Text:
Operation Payback (2x03)
Kama'e (The Hero)
The atmosphere was subdued as Steve, Danny and Chin sat in Steve’s backyard all with a Longboard in hand as they had ended up there after being at the military base and watching ‘Operation Payback’ take place. Joe had chosen to stay on base and catch up with some old friends while Lori had given some vague excuse before she disappeared (most likely to fill the Governor in). It had been an interesting day, and Steve was sure both men had questions (well we knew Danny definitely did).
Danny let his thumbnail scratch at the corner of the label on the beer bottle he held in his hand as his eyes flicked between Steve and the ocean repeatedly as he tried to reconcile what he had seen with the man in front of him, with Steve. “So that is what you used to do?” He voiced just one of the questions in his head as it broke the silence that had enveloped them. “Before you moved to the Reserves, I mean?”
Steve swallowed the mouthful of beer he had just taken. “It was one of the things I used to do.” He answered seeing Danny’s surprise that he actually answered.
“Huh, you’re slipping, I thought you would have answered with ‘it’s classified’ babe.” Danny said with the surprise evident in his voice before he took a sip of his beer.
Chin chuckled although in all fairness he was surprised by the confirmation too as they had all heard Steve say things were classified more than once. “It’s nice to have some confirmation brah.” He tipped his own beer bottle towards Danny trying and failing to keep the amusement out of his voice but he quickly sobered as he turned his attention to Steve. “How do you feel about watching that Operation taking place?” He figured that asking would not be seen as offensive given the events from the case with fellow SEALS murdered and saved especially with the connection between all of them.
Steve turned his head towards the ocean as he rolled the beer bottle around in his hands as the question was not a simple one to answer. “As proud as I am to see a successful mission, it doesn’t change that some great and honourable men died, were murdered, and an entire team have been affected.” He tipped the neck of the beer bottle out towards the ocean as he understood the type of bond that was forged in fire, in war, between brothers and in teams. “It will take a lot of work to mend what has been broken.”
Danny shared a look at Chin before he gently knocked his foot against Steve’s before he got to deep in his thoughts. “You were instrumental today babe.” Jumping out of a plane to save a life was insane but it was honourable even if it was heart attack inducing. “You did good babe.” He knocked his foot against Steve’s again.
Chin nodded his head in agreeance with Danny. “The team will heal and no one else will know what happened today... It seems like an injustice even though I know it is a matter of national security.” It was not about credit, none of them cared about it, but it was truly a shame that the brave service men and women’s sacrifices would never truly be known and recognised.
“But we will know and that matters.” Danny was quick to assert for his partner’s sake as he could sense there was a lot bouncing around in Steve’s head.
“To those that served.” Steve figured it was an apt toast.
“To those that served.” Chin and Danny toasted in unison as all three clinked the necks of their beer bottles together.
The subdued atmosphere remained and the silence settled over the three men as they sat quietly sipping on their beers as the events of the case replayed in Danny and Chin’s minds while Steve thought of his team, of his old missions and of Freddie.