Chapter Text
Chapter One: I'm sorry, Danno.
Danny remembered the first time her tiny fingers wrapped around his like it was yesterday and every time she slid her hand into his over the years was etched clearly in his memory. His daughter's hands were precious, always speaking volumes with just a touch and usually when he needed it most. Now he watched as her fingers gingerly pulled the rings apart before she exclaimed "Ta-daa!" and taking a bow as he clapped excitedly. Grace stood there beaming for a moment before putting the trick rings aside.
"Wait for me," Steve called from the kitchen as he came in with a pitcher of water, setting it on her makeshift stage of the coffee table.
"What's taking you so long?" Danny asked turning to Steve, "It's just some water!"
"I thought that our star would appreciate some class and so I got out a good pitcher,"Steve gave a little bow to Grace as she began to set up her next trick. "And if you're going to give me lip, you're not getting the beer I brought you." Steve looked down at Danny with his eyebrow raised, "So?"
"I'm sorry, Steven," Danny apologized with a slight wave of his hands, "You were doing something nice for my daughter, I did not realize. I'm sorry."
"That's better," Steve smirked as he took the seat next to Danny the couch.
"Hey, where's my beer?"
"What beer?" Steve asked feigning innocence. As Danny looked about ready to start a little rant he laughed and stood up, opening one of the pockets of his tan cargos and pulling out a longboard, "Here ya go, Danno."
Danny inhaled deeply and quickly stretched out his fingers that had formed momentarily into a fist before he relaxed again, beer in hand and looking back at his daughter, "Okay, Monkey, what's next?"
"Um . . . I can do the water cone trick, but I need Auntie Kono for my big finale," Grace said looking at her audience on the couch.
"I don't understand why you need Kono, baby," Danny started.
"Every great magician needs a beautiful assistant," Steve butted in.
"Excuse me, my daughter is beautiful!"
"I didn't say she wasn't, Danno, but that's part of a magician's act."
"And you know this from all of the magicians you've met in SEAL school?"
"Danno," Grace started exasperated, "Uncle Steve is right, I need an assistant."
"Well why can't I be your assistant? Or Uncle Steve?" Danny offered.
"You're not the beautiful assistant type," Steve said quietly taking a drink of beer.
"Excuse me? What did you say?" Danny started, "I'll have you know I am very good looking . . . "
"Kono's here!" Grace squealed jumping down from the coffee table and running to the door as Steve did his best not to break out laughing as Danny ran a hand through his hair for effect. "Auntie Kono, you made it!" Gracie said meeting her just outside the front door.
"I didn't miss it, did I?" Kono asked leaning down to hug Grace.
"No, but did you get it?" Grace looked at the bag in Kono's hand.
"I did, it's a very special one too," she opened the bag for Grace to see and they both started laughing.
"Kono are you going to help Grace with the big finale or is Danny going to have to sequin up?" Steve called as he nimbly jumped from the couch before Danny could smack his arm.
"Yeah, I'm here, Boss," she smiled walking into the house followed by the little girl, "Sorry I'm late, I had to get something special for Gracie's act."
"And we're going to go shopping right afterwards, right?" Grace asked climbing back up on the coffee table.
"Of course," Kono smiled.
"Wait, you're going shopping with Kono?" Danny looked at his daughter, a bit upset with the sudden development.
"Kono said we could have a girls' day, Danno."
"You know, to get her something special to wear for her act," Kono nodded from Grace to her father.
"Oh, I thought you and me were . . . "
"We still can," Grace smiled, "If you're good that is."
"If I'm good?" Danny smiled to contain the laugh, "Well then I will have to be on my best behavior until you and Auntie Kono get back from your girls' day."
"Who decides if he's been good?" Steve asked sitting next to Danny again, pure delight edging his smile.
"That goes for you too, Uncle Steve," Grace said giving her best exasperated parent face.
"You two better watch it, seems like we have a new boss," Kono laughed as Grace started to hand her a bundle of silky fabric. After a moment of whispers Kona gave a quick wink to Grace, "Okay, let's do the big finale."
"Ladies and gentlemen, for my final trick of the evening, I will need two volunteers," she announced and then waved Danny and Steve towards her.
"It's a good thing you've got a packed house tonight," Danny laughed making his way to stand beside Grace.
"You're supposed to be on your best behavior, Danno," Steve commented moving where Kono directed him, facing Danny across the coffee table where Grace was standing.
"Okay, you both need to hold this scarf," Grace said pulling it from her pocket and handing it to them. "Then Kono will put the big cloth over your hands while I do my magic," she explained quite seriously.
"Alright," Steve said nodding at Danny, "You good?"
"Yes," Danny quipped, "Can't you see I've got the scarf in my hand too?"
"Ahem," Grace announced giving them both a look, "Now if my beautiful assistant would cover their hands with the cloth," Kono made a production of waving the cloth around before she placed it. Danny smiled as he felt the familiar touch of Grace's fingers around his wrist while she muttered her newest string of magic words before pausing, "Um, Kono, can you help me? They're bigger than the kids in my class."
"Sure, Grace," Kono smiled as she slid her hands underneath the cloth.
"I'm sorry, Danno," Grace said with a little pout.
"It's okay, Monkey. Me and Uncle Steve are bigger than your classmates."
"Not for that," Grace smiled once Kono stepped back and gave her a nod, "For this!" She whipped away the cloth that was covering their hands and ran off towards Kono who was running towards the door. Steve and Danny looked down at their hands only to find they had been handcuffed together with bright pink furry handcuffs.
They looked at the cuffs and then at each other momentarily before turning where the girls were headed, but they were out the door already. "Grace!" Danny called as Steve yelled for Kono, but only faint giggles were heard from outside. The guys started to make for the door, nearly tripping on the coffee table not noticing how their right hands were now connected. By the time they reached the front door, Kono's car was heading down the street with Grace's hand waving from the passenger side window. "What the . . . come on, Gracie!" was all that Danny managed to get out.
"Your daughter handcuffed us together, Danny."
"Yes, I see that, Steven!" Danny argued lifting his hand and staring at the bright pink fur, "Where the hell did she get these?"
"That's what you're concerned about?" Steve began when his cell phone started to ring. He pulled Danny back into the house, "This better not be a case," he muttered seeing Chin's number on the display, "Yeah, Chin, what you got?"
"Hey, Brah," Chin said cheerily, "Kono asked me to call you to say that she and Gracie will be off having their girls' time and you and Danny should be good for the weekend. So you two have plans?"
"No!" Steve snapped, "I mean, no. When did Kono talk to you?"
"She just sent a text . . . oh wait, another one. She's asking if you and Danny found the envelope yet. Do I want to know what's going on?"
"There's nothing to worry about, Chin. Thanks for the message. Enjoy your weekend," Steve didn't wait for Chin to respond, he just disconnected the call and turned to Danny, "There's an envelope?"
"What?" Danny asked looking around the room, "What kind of envelope?"
"I don't know, Danny. Do you want me to call Chin back and ask him?"
"Just shut up, let's check Grace's bag of tricks." As they went to move again they were suddenly more aware of their positions with the cuffs, instead of being side by side, they were mirror images. "Oh, this . . . this is great, what are we supposed to do, just sit and stare at each other all weekend?"
"Let's just find the envelope, Danny. Maybe the key is inside and we can get a little space between us," Steve let his left hand run over his face as he exhaled. It wasn't really the space that was an issue, it was the lack of freedom . . . being able to move away if he started to feel the pull again. There was something about his partner, his best friend, that just lured him in like a siren call. He took deliberate steps so that he and Danny could navigate the living room without too much trouble...without too much proximity until they got to the coffee table where Grace had just minutes ago been putting on her magic act, "So, is Grace really putting on a magic act at school?"
"Of course she is," Danny answered as he started rifling through her pink backpack. He stopped and looked at Steve who was going through a matching duffle, "What, you think she did all of this deliberately? Why? Just to handcuff us together? What on Earth for?"
Steve shrugged without looking up, "Just a thought. Maybe we've been around bad guys too much," he tried to let out a little laugh but the idea wouldn't go.
"No, this is just some little prank she and Kono are up to," Danny resumed talking as he began pulling out books and folders and laying them on the table. "When this is all done . . . I'm going to . . . going to . . . "
"What, Danno? What are you going to do?"
"Hell if I know," Danny just blinked and smiled a bit, "I just want to know what this is all about." He paused and watched as Steve looked through the bag. He'd be lost without Steve. Stuck on his God forsaken island, only seeing Grace whenever Rachel would allow . . . he'd be miserable. His little girl and his insane partner were what made life livable. "Hey, why don't you just dump it all on the floor?"
"Yeah, good idea," Steve said as he turned the duffle bag over and everything came tumbling out, including one manila envelope labeled 'Danno and Uncle Steve', "Found it!"