Chapter Text
She’d been angling for this all month.
Ever since the disastrous Aloha Girls trip—the one where a deranged diamond thief shot Danny in the arm and kidnapped Grace and Steve—Danno had sworn off the wilderness permanently. Steve had nearly lost his life that day too, but in pure McGarrett fashion, he’d treated a near-fatal hostage situation like nothing more than a rough afternoon.
Danny was done with the woods. But Grace was persistent, and she knew exactly which uncle to weaponize.
Every dinner at Steve’s house, every ride home from school, and every phone call had been systematically engineered by Grace to circle back to one question: “So… when are we going hiking, Uncle Steve?”
Faced with Grace’s puppy-dog eyes, Steve never stood a chance, and together, they had worn Danny down. After an impressive amount of arguing, bribery, and explicit guarantees from Steve, Danny had finally, reluctantly, cracked. Steve insisted he’d hiked Kīpapa Trail dozens of times and ensured him there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
“Danny, it’s one night on a marked trail, not a classified SEAL mission,” Steve had argued.
“With you, Steven, those are somehow the exact same thing,” Danny had shot back.
In the end, Danny lost the argument the same way he always did when Steve and Grace teamed up against him.
The plan was simple: hike into Kīpapa Trail, camp overnight under the stars, and head back down the next morning.
The weather forecast was perfect—sunny skies and almost zero chance of storms. It was Hawaii, so a brief, passing shower was practically a given, but otherwise conditions were perfect.
For once, everything was supposed to be easy.
Steve pulled up outside the Williams house just after sunrise on Saturday, the rumble of his Silverado cutting through the quiet morning.
Grace was already waiting on the front steps. The moment she saw the truck, her face lit up, and she jumped to her feet, accidentally knocking her overnight bag over in her excitement.
“About time, Uncle Steve!” she called out, grinning broadly.
Steve hopped out of the truck, taking one look at the massive, bursting bag and raising a skeptical eyebrow. “Grace, are we camping for one night or are you relocating permanently?”
She rolled her eyes, a perfect mini-Danny expression. “I need options.”
“Uh-huh.” Steve didn’t even hesitate. He stepped up, easily tossing the absurdly heavy bag over his shoulder with one hand while using the other to ruffle her hair. “What did you pack in here, bricks?”
“Snacks. And extra shoes. And a real pillow.”
The backpack was stuffed so full Steve was pretty sure she’d packed half her closet. That left him carrying literally everything else—the tent, cooking gear, first aid supplies, and his own necessities.
He didn’t mind it in the slightest. Compared to the gear he’d hauled through enemy territory overseas, this was weightless. Besides, the sheer, unadulterated excitement on Grace’s face made the extra effort entirely worth it.
Danny, stepping out onto the porch with a mug of coffee, looked significantly less enthusiastic.
“You have the satellite phone?” Danny asked, pointing a strict finger at Steve. It was the third time he’d asked since last night.
Steve held it up patiently, giving Grace a subtle, suffering look that made her giggle. “Yes, Mom.”
“I’m serious, Steve. If ‘danger magnet McGarrett’ somehow manages to turn a simple nature walk into an international incident, I want to know about it.”
Honestly, Steve couldn’t even argue with the logic. The mountains around Oʻahu were beautiful, but they were unpredictable. A twisted ankle or a sudden flash flood could turn a minor problem into a life-threatening one fast. But Steve knew this trail like the back of his hand.
“Alright, Monkey,” Danny said, turning his attention to his daughter, though his eyes lingered warningly on Steve. “You listen to everything Uncle Steve tells you to do, okay? He’s gonna keep you safe and hopefully make up for the last camping trip.”
Steve looked genuinely offended. “In my defense, the whole hostage situation was very unexpected.”
Danny stared at him, deadpan. “You got kidnapped.”
“Temporarily.”
“You almost died.”
Steve shrugged, adjusting Grace’s heavy bag on his shoulder. “You were there to save me. It's fine.”
Grace snorted a laugh, burying her face in her hands as Danny pointed an accusing finger at his partner. “See? This is what I’m talking about. You say things like that like they’re normal! You are warping my child!”
“We’re gonna be fine, Danno,” Steve said easily. He dropped a hand onto Grace’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before looking down at her with a wink. “Right, Grace?”
“We’re gonna have fun,” she agreed enthusiastically before looking back at her dad. “Are you sure you don’t wanna come? There's room in the tent.”
Danny made a face as if she’d just suggested he eat glass. “Babe, my idea of fun does not include the words hike, camping, bugs, dirt, sleeping outside, or Steve trying to convince me that powdered eggs taste like real food.”
“They do taste like real food,” Steve interjected.
“They taste like sadness, Steve. Sadness and chalk.” Danny took a sip of his coffee to wash away the thought. “Anyway, I’ve got better plans. I am staying right here in the air conditioning, with running water, and absolutely zero chance of being attacked by wildlife, to watch the Mets beat the Yankees.”
Steve scoffed. “You live on a tropical island, Danny. There is wildlife everywhere.”
“Yes, but inside my house, the deadliest thing I have to deal with is you raiding my fridge.” Danny pointed a finger at him, then looked at Grace. “See? This is why you should want to hang out with me. I provide luxury.”
Grace tilted her head thoughtfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she looked up at Steve, then back to her dad. “I mean… Uncle Steve lets me steer the truck when we’re in the HQ parking lot.”
“He does what?! You don't even have a permit! You are twelve years old!” Danny’s arms flailed violently.
Steve cleared his throat, suddenly very interested in adjusting the straps on Grace's backpack. “It builds spatial awareness, Danny. It’s a safety measure.”
She burst out laughing as Danny stepped forward, pulling her into a tight, exaggerated hug.
“Have fun, Monkey,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “And try not to give this one too hard a time.” He jerked a thumb toward Steve.
Grace looked over at her uncle innocently. “I would never. Right, Uncle Steve?”
The giant, dimpled grin on her face ruined the act completely.
Steve shook his head with a warm laugh huffing out of him. “Oh, I’m already regretting this. She’s got your attitude and my lack of fear, Danny. It’s a terrifying combination.”
“You still have time to back out,” Danny offered immediately.
“Not a chance.” Steve grabbed the rest of the gear, giving Grace a gentle nudge toward the Silverado. “Alright, let’s get moving before Danno wraps you in bubble wrap and locks us both in the garage.”
“Very funny,” Danny muttered, though the banter was melting away, replaced by the familiar, quiet anxiety of a protective father.
Steve paused by the truck door, his demeanor shifting instantly from teasing partner to the deadly serious Navy SEAL. He met Danny’s eyes across the driveway. Beneath all the sarcasm and complaining, Steve knew exactly what Danny’s tense shoulders meant.
Be careful with her.
Always.
“We’ll call tonight once we get camp set up,” Steve promised.
Danny’s expression softened, a small, grateful smile touching his lips. “I’ll see you both tomorrow. And seriously—be careful, okay?”
In perfect, practiced unison, Steve and Grace slammed their truck doors shut and yelled out the windows:
“Yes, Danno!”