Chapter Text
Steve Takes Care Of Danny
- Revelation (Sick)
“Danny! Hey! You home?”
Danny groaned and pressed his face harder into the pillow that he had held over his face as he wished Steve would be quiet.
“Danno?” Steve’s voice was significantly quieter but filled with a lot more concern than it had been just moments ago as he poked his head into Danny’s darkened bedroom seeing the man was in the middle of the bed suffocating himself with one of the pillows and the sheets were twisted up around his legs while the comforter was haphazardly discarded over the edge of the bed. “You okay?” He asked as it was the middle of the day and Danny had failed to meet him for lunch as they had previously planned, and he had not answered his phone. The mere fact that Danny had not answered his phone had sent Steve into a panic although he certainly would not admit that aloud.
Danny turned his head to the side and shifted the pillow just enough that he was able to talk and be heard easily rather than be muffled by the pillow. “Stay where you are Steve.” Danny ignored his hoarse voice as he warned Steve to stay away from him as the man could not afford to get sick especially not with his health the way it was.
“Danno?” The concern was still in Steve’s voice but now it was also coloured with confusion. “What? Why?” He asked itching to step closer but Danny had told him to stay where he was and it was making him fidget.
Danny would have rolled his eyes if he did not have a thumping headache because of course Steve would not think to put himself first however he couldn’t be mad at the man because it was the heart he had. He tossed the pillow to the side then rolled his aching body onto its side before he forcefully made his eyelids open albeit just enough to make slits so that he could see Steve hovering and fidgeting at the bedroom door. “I’m sick and I don’t want you catching it babe.” He pushed through the soreness in his throat to get the words out in the hope that it would calm his wayward and anxiety filled partner down.
Steve frowned for a few seconds before his brain shifted gears and although the worry lingered at least the panic was simmering down. “Sick? How sick? Do I need to get you to the doctor or the hospital?” Okay maybe the panic was not going away just yet, he thought idly once the words were already out of his mouth as his eyes wondered around seeing the balled up and used tissues that were tossed around Danny.
Danny waved his hand in the air lazily as a shiver ran through his body. “It’s just a cold babe, a few days and I’ll be good to go.” He stretched his arm out as his hand searched blindly for the discarded comforter as he had been too hot before and had kicked it off. “But I don’t want you getting it.” He reiterated hoping that it would stop whatever plan Steve had forming in his head as he had that face that said he was thinking up something.
Steve ignored Danny’s words as he inched forward until he was close enough to grab the discarded comforter, lift it up and shake it out before he laid it out over top of Danny figuring that the sheet could be sorted later once Danny found the energy to untangle himself from it. “I’ll get you a glass of water. Have you had any medication?” He asked ignoring Danny’s huffs and grunts as he clearly was not pleased with his decision to step further into the room and help him out.
“Steven.” Danny grumped before he coughed then groaned and pressed his face into the pillow for a few seconds then he did his best to glare at Steve again. “Steven, you need to stay away.”
“Daniel, yes or no to the medication?” Steve ignored Danny for the time being as he still had not answered his question and he needed to know so he knew how best to proceed.
Danny sighed heavily as he was congested before he lifted his hand up and dropped it down on the top of his head scrunching his fingers through the wax filled and dampened strands of hair. “No.” He grumbled as he had not had the energy to move out of his bed even though he could have used a shower to get rid of the sweat that had built up on his skin.
“Okay, I’m going to get you a glass of water and some of those cold and flu tablets that I know you keep stocked, and then I will go to the grocery store and the pharmacy.” Steve told Danny already moving into the bathroom knowing he kept a glass by the bathroom sink.
Danny snuggled under the comforter as he listened to the tap turn on then off a few seconds later before the door to the medicine cabinet opened, things were shuffled around, then the door closed again. A few seconds later Steve appeared with the glass filled to the brim with cold water and two tablets which he unceremoniously shoved into Danny’s hands. Steve waited until he had swallowed down the tablets with a few large gulps of water before Steve took the glass back then set it on the bedside table so it was still within his reach. “Babe, you can’t get sick.” He tried again although he knew he was wasting his breath as he could see the determination in Steve.
“I’ve been getting IV therapy to help with boosting my immune system.” Steve murmured shyly as it had been something he had kept to himself.
“What?” Danny cringed as the soreness in his throat made itself known as his voice cracked painfully. “What are you taking about? IV therapy?” He pushed himself up until he was sitting although he wavered a bit because this was certainly the first time he was hearing about IV therapy, and he wondered how he had not known. Steve tugged on his earlobe before he scrubbed at the side of the neck which meant he was nervous and/or uncomfortable. “Babe, hey, what’s going on?” He never stopped worrying about Steve and his health especially since the whole plane shooting, liver transplant and subsequent radiation poisoning that happened all in a relatively short space of time.
“Doctor Kohashi recommended IV therapy after I admitted to struggling with the amount of pills that I have to take every day, and that I was hesitate to add any more vitamins in pill form even though I need to do everything I can to help boost my immune system.” Steve tugged at his earlobe again as he shifted on his feet as he still hated that he had such a reliance on pills but he also knew he had to take them in order to live. “I’ve been getting it weekly, it takes a little under an hour and I have it done before work.” He admitted avoiding looking at Danny.
Danny gasped then coughed sharply which made him cringe as he should have realised given how Steve had suddenly stopped wearing t-shirts all together unless they were long sleeved, and even if he rolled the sleeves of his button up shirts up it was only half way up his forearms rather than above his elbows. “That’s why you’ve changed your wardrobe.” It seemed inane to say but at the same time it didn’t as he had noticed it but had not bothered to call Steve out on it although now he wished he had. “It leaves you bruised, doesn’t it?” It was phrased as a question although it seemed far more like a statement.
Steve frowned and ducked his head as he found the carpet in Danny’s bedroom suddenly very interesting whilst his hand scrubbed a little harder at his neck. “I bruise a lot easier now than I did before…” The transplant and the radiation was what Steve left off as he knew that Danny already knew that. Before it all he would bruise but it would take a lot more force than it did these days, and he never once bruised with an intravenous cannula like he did now. The sound of Danny coughing made him look up and his frown deepened as it seemed that Danny was paler than he had been just moments before. He stepped forward halting only when Danny managed to glare at him although it was not the usual Danny Williams’ glare however it was enough.
Danny had seen the way Steve’s skin was left marred now even with the lightest of contact, hell even Charlie had accidently bruised him when he had clambered into Steve’s arms with all of the exuberance of an excited little boy, and he was acutely aware of how different it was because before it took a hell of a lot more for Steve to bruise. “I know. I know babe.” The end of his sentence was punctuated with a bout of coughing that had him cringing as it made his ribs ache even more than the rest of his body already was.
“Here.” Steve offered Danny the glass of water as soon as he stopped coughing having stepped closer again as he stoically ignored Danny’s glare again and pushed the glass into his hand. “You need to stay hydrated. I’ll get you some Pedialyte while I am at the store.” He made a mental note to grab a couple of bottles along with some of the foods that he knew Danny liked to eat when he was sick – ones that he did not have to cook. “And some more tissues but the really good soft ones.” He had not missed how red and raw Danny’s nose and the area around it looked which could only have come from blowing and rubbing at his nose a lot which made sense given how congested and snotty he sounded.
Danny sighed heavily once he put the glass back down and then let himself shimmy down the mattress and his head sink into the pillows. He had to admit the thought of Steve going to the store to pick him up the essentials would be helpful, and it meant he did not have to drag his aching body out of his bed to do the exact same thing, but he could not help but worry about the possibility of Steve catching the cold he had even with the intravenous therapy for his immune system. He forced his eyelids to open although he had not realised he had shut them and could see the steely determination on Steve’s face to help. “That sounds good, thanks babe.” His hoarse voice did not help in voicing his gratitude but he hoped it was conveyed anyway.
Steve nodded his head then hesitated as his eyes scanned over Danny again. “I could get Jerry to pick up everything so I can stay here.” He ducked his head then made his way around the bed to the window cracking it open as the room needed to be aerated avoiding the look that he was sure Danny would be sending his way.
“Babe, hey, come back here.” Danny did not have the energy to move from the cocoon he had made with the comforter around himself or turn himself over so that he could see what Steve was doing. And yes he was aware of the fact that he was contradicting himself given that minutes earlier he had been telling Steve to stay away from him. But he knew that Steve worried, not on the level that he did at times, and the man did not need any more stress in his life. He waited until Steve appeared back in front of him with the puppy dog eyes that got him everytime. He buried his face into the comforter as another bout of coughing racked through his aching body before he blindly reached for another tissue to blow his snotty nose on. It took him a minute or so to get the coughing under control and then to blow his nose until it was not so blocked up before he pulled his head back so that he could see Steve nervously hovering near him. “Really I am okay, it is just a cold. You can go to the store but if you would prefer Jerry does so you can stay here then that is okay too.”
“I’ll send Jerry a list. I am going to make you some tea.” Steve told Danny as he headed out of the bedroom with his phone already in his hand typing away a list of everything that he felt Danny needed. Jerry would understand Steve’s requirements about soft tissues and any other notes that he added, and it meant that he could stay close by to make sure that Danny rested and had everything he needed.
Danny grumbled under his breath although it was with a fondness that seemed to be reserved for Steve only because he already knew that Steve would be staying as he had no doubt that Jerry would also be instructed to swing by Steve’s house and pack him a bag along with Eddie and the things that Eddie required. Admittedly he did not begrudge the company of Steve or the cuddle buddy that Eddie would happily become but he still could not stop himself from worrying about what could happen to Steve if he did catch this cold. He let his heavy eyelids close with a flutter and let himself drift off to sleep as his body was demanding he sleep.
Steve puttered the afternoon away around Danny’s house tidying up, cleaning, washing, drying and folding every bit of laundry that had been waiting, as Danny slept fitfully in between bouts of coughing and needing to blow his nose to breathe. Jerry had dropped off everything that Steve had requested including his laptop and some old case files that he had been meaning to review, and Eddie had immediately searched out Danny before curling up at the bottom of the bed and becoming his official feet warmer. Steve knew that Eddie would bark or come and get him if he deemed something was wrong with Danny so he had stopped looking in on Danny every fifteen or so minutes but he still looked in on him every half hour to forty five minutes or so.
The aroma of chicken and vegetable soup hung in the air as the pot simmered lowly on the element as Steve had decided that chicken and vegetable soup was what Danny needed, admittedly he knew it was not Matzo ball soup which Danny made (and it was heavenly) but this was Steve’s version of ‘get well’ soup which Aunt Deb had made him once or twice before she had died. He swirled the wooden spoon through the soup making sure that the chicken and the vegetables were cooked perfectly before he registered the sound of the shower starting up which meant that Danny was up. He moved around the kitchen pulling two bowls out followed by two spoons and a large ladle then lined them all up on the counter top near the stove top before he grabbed two fresh glasses and lined them up. He lowered the temperature on the stovetop and covered the pot with the lid before he headed for the linen closet to get a fresh set of sheets and a blanket as he had no doubt that the bedding would be damp with sweat.
Danny had let the shower fill with steam as he had not bothered to turn on the extraction fan, and he let it work as it helped ease the congestion and allowed him to cough up phlegm and blow the snot out of his nose while the hot water ran over him soothing the ache he felt deep in his bones. It was a delicate balance though and by the time he had managed to thoroughly wash all of the sweat from his hair and off of his skin then extract himself from the shower and get himself dried and dressed he was thoroughly and utterly exhausted, and he was panting. He opened the bathroom door and stopped to lean against the doorframe to find his bed freshly made, and he sighed again because of course Steve had not listened to him about being careful of his germs although he had to admit the thought of climbing into a freshly made bed was even more enticing than it already was.
Steve had heard the shower shut off as he returned to the kitchen after he had put the sweat soaked bedding into the washer and began the cycle. It was only a few minutes later when the sound of shuffling had him turning to look over his shoulder to see Danny shuffling into the kitchen with his arms wrapped around himself and visibly shivering while Eddie followed behind at a sedate pace. “Sit down Danno, I made soup.” He turned back to the stovetop as he grabbed one of the bowls and began ladling the soup into it as he had already poured a glass of grape flavoured Pedialyte for him.
Danny huffed in amusement at the role reversal as Steve had made him soup, and from the little he could smell, it smelt good. “Thanks babe.” He murmured before he turned his head into his shoulder and covered his mouth with his hand as he coughed. “Ughhh… sorry.” He waved his hand around once he had stopped coughing as he could see how worried Steve was before he continued his shuffling over to where the kitchen stools were.
“How are you feeling?” Steve asked as he slid the bowl of soup in front of Danny then pointed towards the glass of Pedialyte and the two cold and flu tablets that were sitting waiting for him as he had laid them out for him.
Danny hauled himself up on the stool and smiled wearily at Steve before he reached his shaking hands out and picked up both the tablets and the glass then swallowed the tablets and washed them down with the grape Pedialyte feeling as Eddie managed to settle himself in the small gap between his feet and the counter. “I’ve felt better.” There were a number of times that he had said that before although this time he punctuated his sentence by shrugging his shoulders as he swapped his freshly emptied glass out for the spoon that was sitting beside the bowl of steaming soup.
Steve finished filling his own bowl and put it down on the counter opposite to where Danny was sitting before he moved to refill his glass with more grape Pedialyte as the last thing Danny needed was to get dehydrated. “I’m going to crash on the couch tonight.” He said as he began to eat his soup as Danny was already several spoonful’s into his own bowlful.
“Take one of the kid’s rooms, you will be more comfortable.” Danny insisted even though he knew his couch was comfortable but Steve needed a proper bed which in all fairness discounted Charlie’s bed but it was still an option.
Steve shook his head as the last thing he was going to do was impose on Grace or Charlie’s bedrooms as they were their rooms.
Danny was not surprised by Steve shaking his head at the suggestion as he really valued both Grace and Charlie’s privacy, he always had. “They won’t mind, you know.” He said before he hummed softly in enjoyment as the soup that Steve had made really was fantastic, filling and flavoursome, and making his throat feel a lot less scratchy. “This is great.” He pulled his spoon through the bowl of soup gathering another spoonful up as he had not realised how hungry he had been.
Steve smiled widely at the compliment and he had to admit silently to himself that he was glad that Danny had willingly eaten the soup. “I made a big batch of it so there is plenty more of it.” It wasn’t that he thought Danny would not want something else, it was just that Aunt Deb’s recipe was oddly specific about quantities which meant it made a lot and he did not want to reduce it in-case it changed the taste. “Aunt Deb’s recipe doesn’t exactly call for being reduced.”
Danny tilted his head to the side as he had not realised the significance of the soup that he had been served, and he certainly had not realised that the recipe had been Aunt Deb’s nor had he realised that she had passed a recipe onto Steve. “Aunt Deb’s huh?” He asked with cautiousness as the loved ones that Steve had lost were always a touchy subject admittedly as the whole conversation could go one of two ways – either Steve would share or Steve would shut down faster than an emergency stop button being pressed. And Danny had only really begun to understand that once Matt had died because he ended up being the exact way at times – sometimes he could talk about Matt and sometimes he couldn’t.
“Yeah, somehow she figured I was the better cook than Mary. She made sure I got her recipe book… uh after…” Steve trailed off as he thought about the large and overstuffed leather bound notebook that he had been given with numerous pieces of spare paper tucked into it with recipes that he remembered from over the years. “There was this time that I went to visit her and Mary, and I was sicker than I’d ever been because it was my first winter on the mainland and there had been a winter storm just the day before I had flown out…” He paused recalling how uncomfortable he had been at the time, and things with Mary were strained because of the whole separation thing and her being angry at everything although he did not blame her because he had been angry too and the only difference was that he had the Navy to keep his focus. “I played in the snow and ice until I was frozen that day… I paid for it the next several though.” He shrugged his shoulder as he clamped his mouth shut so not to say ‘but it was the first time since Mom had faked her death that I actually felt loved’.
Danny smiled fondly as he liked when Steve shared a good memory with him voluntarily but before he could say that his breathing hitched and he began coughing. He could see Steve hovering nervously and managed to hold his hand up palm out to make sure he did not move closer because the big hearted goof would. It took almost a minute and several painful gasps later before he could swallow down a few small sips of the Pedialyte. “Stand down babe.” He waved his hand round before he took another small tentative mouthful of the grape flavoured liquid then put the glass down. His words and hand motions did not help the worried look fall away from Steve’s face like he hoped it would. “So you weren’t used to the snow then? And I bet you didn’t wrap up warm either, huh?” He could just picture a young Steve delighting in the snow and not thinking about wrapping up warm to play in it.
Steve ducked his head and drew his spoon through his half-filled bowl of soup while his other hand rubbed at the side of his neck. “I didn’t even have winter clothes when I left Hawaii.” The most anyone needed during a Hawaiian winter was a hoodie and even then it was made from a light fabric, a pair of jeans or sweatpants, and a sturdy raincoat. “I learned my lesson. Aunt Deb fed me soup and strawberry flavoured Pedialyte for three days straight, and kept me bundled up on the couch under a mountain of blankets while we watched a whole lot of movies, occasionally she would sing or leave me to nap but she was never far away either.” As much as he hated being sick, he loved that time he had spent with Aunt Deb, and it was a memory he had treasured and would continue too.
Danny had eaten another few spoonful’s of soup as he listened to Steve talk, expand on the memory he had chosen to share, and it made sense as to why Steve would bundle himself up on the couch under a blanket or three even in the sweltering Hawaii heat when he was not feeling well. He wished he could thank Aunt Deb for instilling that in the man in front of him but he left it unsaid as he finished off his soup. “It’s good, really good babe.” He let his spoon rest against the side of the bowl as the soup had warmed him from the inside out and left his stomach happily filled.
“You want some more or…?” Steve trailed off with his offer as Danny was already shaking his head.
“I’m full for now. Thank you though.” Danny genuinely was content with the amount he had eaten as the last thing he wanted was to push his stomach to far and have the food end up making a reappearance. “I think I might just take myself back to bed, see if I can’t get more sleep.” A yawn escaped him as he finished talking, and he had to admit that he really was exhausted but he put that down to waking on and off due to being hot then cold and being unable to breathe.
“Okay Danno.” Steve acquiesced quietly as he could see that Danny was still paler than his usual complexion. “I will clean up and do some paperwork but I will be around if you need me.” He had no qualms about making himself comfortable in Danny’s home, and he knew that Eddie would stay close to Danny as well.
Danny did roll his eyes even though it made the headache worse momentarily although it was with a particular fondness reserved for his partner. He knew there was no point in telling Steve to go home, and he had to admit he was grateful for the company and not just because he would not have to cook and clean for himself when he felt the way he did. “Love you babe.” He said as he wiggled his feet out from under Eddie who was lying on top of them then pushed the stool back and stood up but he did not miss the smile that his ‘I love you’ elicited.
“Love you Danno.” Steve smiled as he listened to Danny shuffle out of the kitchen with Eddie at his heels while he began to clean up their dishes. They had plenty more soup and plenty of Ohana who were willing to help but for now they had enough supplies to last them the duration of Danny’s cold (or for how long a cold was supposed to last) otherwise a trip to the doctor’s would be in order whether Danny liked it or not. For now Steve would finish washing and drying the dishes before he checked on Danny then settled down at the dining room table with his laptop and the first case file.