dann_0 | PSL: Sentinel AU

Eliot grins at the pair of them as they come back in, letting Danny's scent wash over him drain some of the tension from his shoulders. It eases even more palpably as Danny's hand settles on his back, and disappears almost entirely at the press of lips against his shoulder.

"I suppose I could give it a shot," he concedes easily, smiling warmly at Grace. "If you don't mind dealin' with a beginner, anyhow."

He follows Danny's glance to the living room, even though he knows Steve's already left the room. He can hear him in the garage, the beat of his heart and what sounds like changing clothes and... putting on shoes. He's not going to say anything about how their conversation had ended or how it had triggered him, especially not with Grace right there. Not that he really wants to explain it to Danny either, it had been hard enough already telling him why he can't let himself actually sleep next to him.

"Yeah, we're good," he answers, which he thinks is true enough he's not lying to Danny. "Maybe he's headed out t'work up an appetite for dinner?" He looks back to Grace. "Figure we've gonna be makin' a whole mess of pizza, so he'd better be ready t'do a lot of eating, right darlin'?"

"That's alright," she says happily and with a little bit of a tease in her voice she looks up at her father. "Danno's a beginner too."

Grace bops her head up and down at Eliot's question with a big grin on her face. She's excited to make her own pizza. Since she was told she could put whatever she wants on it, she has some ideas she's curious to see if she can get by her father, or his new boyfriend.

Looking off to the living room, she frowns slightly, "Isn't Uncle Steve going to make one too?"

Danny glances at the text, frowning a little but when Grace asks him he smiles back at her. "He is going out for a run. He said you could make his pizza." He shakes his head, he has a feeling that is a bad idea. But he is also pretty sure Steve's eaten worse.

He grabs a couple of aprons, one kid sized for Grace and one each for the two men. "I am learning, young lady. Just because I am not as good as Aunt Kono yet..." He glances up at Eliot. "Kono used to be a professional until she blew out her knee and went into the family buisness of being cops."

"Well good, then I'll have comp'ny trying t'get the hang of it." And he lets the warm smile he gives Grace slide to something warmer still as he shifts it to Danny. Christ, he can't believe he's letting him be a part of this, and it's enough to drive the last of the lingering fear away for the moment.

"Guess you're just gonna have t'make Uncle Steve the best pizza ever, darlin'," Eliot informs her, and reaches to take on the apron Danny hands him. "Bet you know all the things he likes best, so you can be his personal pizza chef."

He slips his apron on and ties his hair back again, then leans to press a kiss to Danny's cheek in thanks. "That's a he-" He catches himself just in time and finishes- "ckuva career change. Sounds like you've got yourself the best teacher, though."

And then he's shifting his attention to the dough, showing Grace how to punch it down and then separate it into the right size balls for everyone to have their own personal pizza, their own dessert pizza, and some extras for experimenting. And then it's about how to stretch the dough and toss it, a process that only fails to become a disaster because Eliot watches like a hawk and steps in to catch the errant crust every time it goes sailing off towards the sink or the floor or Grace or Danny's hair. He's remarkably patient about it, including when it comes to dressing the crusts, and while he makes comments or suggestions, he doesn't criticize or outright forbid any of Grace's attempts to experiment... he just gently suggests she make at least one bulletproof pizza with ingredients she knows she'll like as a backup, just in case.

Grace nods enthusiastically, happy at both now being able to make someone else a pizza and being a personal pizza chef. With a huge grin at Eliot she accepts Danno's help in getting her apron on and pulls over the stool she uses when helping to cook.

Paying a great amount of detail to Eliot's instructions she follows them as best as she's able. In the beginning she's very serious about her work but she can't help but giggle after the first time the tossed dough goes a bit wild but Eliot manages to save it each and every time. When it comes time to making them she starts off conservatively but quickly shifts to perhaps being a bit too liberally before toning it down again. There's a pizza for her that's a guaranteed like, and there's an wild one with things she just wanted to try. There's also a pizza for Uncle Steve that as far as she's concerned he will love. It's got his favorite meats and a healthy portion of veggies because she knows that's important to him too. Dressing the desert pizza's though she definitely attempted to, and likely still did, go overboard on.

By the end she's grinning and happy. Looking at Eliot, she likes the new man and has enjoyed spending time with him and her father. With a tilt of the head, she asks, "Are you an 'Uncle' or a 'Step' or something else? As you're Danno's boyfriend you're not really an 'Uncle' but Step-Stan doesn't do stuff like this so you don't really fit there either. Do I call you Mister Eliot?" She curled her nose, she didn't like that either but she was raised that the adults in her life had titles, (Auntie Kono and Uncle Chin) and it didn't seem right to just call him by his first name, and she didn't know his last name - although that seemed too formal too.

Danny ties the apron on Grace before he gets his own on. He doesn't get too involved in that actual dressing of the pizzas, letting Grace and Eliot handle that but instead helps with fetching things, carrying and tidying.

He pauses at Grace's question and looks at Eliot. 'Step' sounds awefully formal and he is worried it will be too much for Eliot. He glances Grace and then smiles. "I think in the kitchen the correct term is Chef. Isn't that right, Eliot?" Trying to bring some lightness into a rather heavy question.

They end up with almost as much sauce and cheese on the counters as on the pizzas, but Eliot just wipes it up as they go without complaint. It's easy enough and there's no reason to ruin a little kid's fun with excessive rules or a shitty attitude when she's being creative. He likes that it's apparently a perspective Danny shares.

And if some of her creations end up being basically inedible... well, live and learn. He makes sure that there's a basic fruit tart and a cinnamon sugar pizza to go with her wilder dessert creation, though he figures the odds of her liking that, at least, are a bit higher than where she's combined chocolate and cheese and red sauce. And it's clear she's made an effort to actually make something Steve will like, not just something she wants to inflict on him. She's a good kid, and it's almost surreal that Danny's letting him share this.

He can't help leaning his shoulder into Danny's from time to time, or passing a hand across his back or his neck. It's almost as much to reassure himself this is real as it is for the simple warmth of the contact. Jesus, he's so screwed, and he looks at Danny a bit helplessly when Grace asks what she should call him. This is not a situation he's ever encountered, and while he can bull his way through most things with casual confidence this... it's different. More important. More frightening.

He laughs quietly at Danny's suggestion, relief flooding him. "Yeah, sweetheart," he answers, grinning at Danny and barely resisting the urge to lean in and brush a kiss to his cheek. "Chef'd be about right." He turns back to Grace and bends down a little to wipe a smudge of red sauce off her chin. "How's that sound t'you, darlin'?"

Grace's eyebrows go up in delight at the idea of calling Eliot, 'Chef'. Turning from her father to Eliot, she grins and bounces when he says that he likes it too.

Appreciating that he bends down to look her in the eye, her grin is huge and she can't resist the squeal of happiness begging to be released. "Eeeeee!!! I think it sounds perfect, Chef!"

In the background she hears a door open and then feet on the stairs. The kitchen's in the back of the house, under the bedrooms upstairs, so she can't see who it is, but she recognizes the footfalls to be her Uncle Steve's. A moment later the shower starts up and she expects he'll be down to see them soon. Uncle Steve is never long in the shower. She can't wait to show him the pizza she made for him.

It's been a great day for Grace and she does a little butt-wiggle dance while standing on her stool. Looking over their dressed pizzas, she really couldn't be much happier. "What's the next step, Chef? Is it time to cook them now?"

"Glad you like it, pipsqueak." He manages to at least appear to keep all his attention focused on her while listening to Steve's return. He'd gone far enough to be out of Eliot's hearing range briefly, but he's been marking his progress back towards the house since he came back within his hearing range and he's relieved at the other Sentinel's return.

"Yep, darlin'. The next step is puttin' 'em on the grill, and that part you're prob'ly gonna have to let me an your daddy handle this time 'round, okay?" He smiles at Danny over her head and goes about making sure the pizzas are properly arranged so he can slip them from their cookie sheets onto the pizza stone without casualties. "We'll hafta do just two at a time, but they'll cook up pretty fast on the grill."

Danny grins and then leans over to kiss Eliot quickly. "Chef suits you." Then he loads up with pizzas, even letting Grace carry one so they can get them all out to the grill. This is good. He is happy and his little family is all together. Yeah it's taken about five seconds to adopt Eliot into it, all it really took was for Grace to like him. "They look really good, babe. I am looking forward to this."

Once everything is outside and Eliot's started cooking he convinces Grace to help him set the outdoors table. He even lets her decide where everyone should sit. He makes up a big pitcher of lemonade and also fetches a beer for each of the grownups.

A bit of time on his own to process his thoughts while getting in some exercise had been exactly what Steve needed. Coming out of the shower his head was clear and he didn't feel as run down, although the nap with Eliot certainly had helped with that as well. He waited until then to dial up his hearing, prior only sensitive enough for heartbeats, and he's happy to find everyone in seemingly good spirits.

Coming down he's in a pair of comfortable shorts and an old US Navy T-Shirt. His hair is still wet and spiky from the shower. Coming out on the lanai, he peeks in over Eliot's shoulder on the grill and smiles at the other man. "They look good!"

Going over to Grace he gives her a big hug and kisses her head. "Thank you for making mine, Gracie. I had too many ants in my pants after having a nap and needed to run them out."

Eyes moving to Danny, he takes in the other man's demeanor and smiles. "Anything I can do to help?"

That deep ache in his chest goes tight and hot at the casual endearment, at the way Danny leans in to kiss him. This isn't something he's supposed to be able to have, but Danny's laying it out in front of him like it's the simplest thing in the universe for him to just... pick it up and keep it. And it's so damn hard to not just let himself believe it can be his.

He drags a thumb lightly along Danny's jaw as he pulls away, catching at the stubble, and ruffles Grace's hair. "My sous-chef did good work," he answers, and smiles after them as they head in to get plates and flatware and start setting the table.

After that his focus is mostly on the pizzas--it definitely takes a bit of finesse to get them on and off the stone--but he doesn't even have to think to keep track of all of the rest of them as he does it. Breathing and heart rate, each distinctive step, Grace's lilting little girl voice and Danny's, deeper and rougher but still soft and gentle with her as they work. And Steve, making his way almost silently down there stairs.

Eliot doesn't so much as twitch at his approach, and it's still a surprise that he doesn't mind letting the other Sentinel come up behind him this way. Hell, he has to remind himself not to lean into him when he comes close enough to peek over his shoulder. "Yeah, well, I had a pretty creative sous-chef helpin' me put them together," he answers, and grins as Steve peels away to greet Grace and Danny.

"Yeah, grab the salad outa the fridge, the first four are up!" he calls to Steve, sliding the next two onto the grill and closing the lid before padding over with the first selection. It's got Steve and Danny's 'bomb proof' pizzas she'd made them, as well as two of her more... creative attempts. "

Danny opens a couple of beers, offering one to each of his sentinels before he gets his own. "You should see what she does to pancakes." he chuckles. She was creative yes, but at least most of the time it was good if overly sweet. He leans down to kiss her hair before getting her set at the table and moving to cut her pizza into slices that would be easier for her to handle. He also makes sure she gets a bit of salad with her pizza.

Once Grace's pizza is set and he is ready to handle his own he smiles at Steve. "Had a good run?" It feels like an oxymoron to say, in Danny's world no run is a good run. Then he glances over at Eliot. "I hope you packed swimwear, Steve might drag you out for a morning swim tomorrow." He nods towards the little private beach. "He tried with me a few times but..."

Getting a big hug from Gracie, she very quickly fills him in on everything he's missed. Including how the pizza's were made and that according to 'Chef' she makes a very good 'Sue's Chef'. It's not difficult for him to figure out who Chef is and he instantly knows that's something he'll be using himself for the older man. At Danny's encouragement she starts to set the table while he ducks into the kitchen to grab the salad.

When he comes back out the table is set - Danny and Eliot on one side, Gracie and him on the other, with him and Eliot facing each other. Accepting his beer from Danny, he nods in thanks and sits in his designated seat. "These look and smell amazing, Gracie. Thank you." The words are directed to the little girl beside him but looks up to smile at Eliot.

"I did. You should really join me at some point. A bit of running would do you good." It's an old joke between them. He knows damn well that Danny will never run with him unless it's on the job and after a suspect - even then, Danny usually will take the car or elevator depending and let Steve do the direct chasing. An intrigued eyebrow is raised towards Eliot. "... Danno don't like the water," he finishes the other man's sentence and then asks, "How about you? If you didn't bring anything we have extra suits. I'm sure something of mine or Danny's would fit." He smiles. "Nothing like an early morning swim in the ocean to start your day."

That warm, pulsing ache in his chest is getting harder to ignore, and Eliot's not sure if he's grateful for the fact Grace put him next to Danny so that he can reach out under the table and curl a hand loosely at his--at his Guide's--wrist, or if he should be resisting the contact. This can't last, he knows it can't last, but it's getting harder to believe that. To believe that Danny would let him in this far if there were any chance he'd decide to just let him fall by the wayside again.

"What, you don't like runnin', you don't like swimmin', just what do you do t'stay in shape?" Eliot asks, giving Danny a cockeyed grin... and sliding his hand down farther to lace their fingers together under the table. "Wasn't really expecting t'be holidaying, but if one'a you wants to loan me trunks I'd be up for a swim."

Danny gives his hand a little squeeze. When Eliot's touching him like that a nice warm feeling spreads inside him, pulling him towards Eliot. "I get plenty of workout working with Steve." He chuckles. "Besides there is a gym at the palace."

He grins over at Steve, the same warm feeling is there, just a little fainter because he is further away. "I should have some that fit you." Or at least some with decent elastic that they can make work. He falls quiet as he bites into his pizza, just having a moment of enjoying it. It was everything he missed right here. Well almost. Good as Eliot is, it's still not quite New York pizza, but close enough that he won't complain. There is a small little content sigh escaping him before he looks at them again. "That is really good dough you have there."

Raising an eyebrow he shakes his head at Danny's comment. "You make it sound like its my fault that we chase criminals around most days. I have no control over the fact that when they see us coming they seem to think running is a good idea." He looks at Gracie at his side and winks at her. "I have no idea where they think they are going to go, we live on an island after all!"

Turning his to Eliot he smiles and nods. "Good. That's settled then. The real question is do you mind being up just before dawn?"

"Thanks, sweetheart." Eliot knows he should let go of Danny's hand--he's nearly forty damn years old, not fourteen--but he can manage pizza well enough one-handed, and the warmth of the contact is settling.

"I haven't slept past dawn in over twenty years unless I was-" He catches himself just short of tacking on the 'hung over or half dead' he'd been about to in deference to Grace's presence, and finishes with just the slightest pause- "Really tired, Sparky. Gettin' up won't be a problem."

He takes a bite of his own pizza--still one handed--and chews with a look of deep consideration on his face. "Definitely ain't bad, but you'll never get anything like a New York crust out here, it's all in the tap water."

"That is true. Maybe we should bring Eliot and Steve with us next time we go to Jersey, Monkey? You think they'd like real new york pizza?" He smiles at the two of them. "Of course you haven't slept late, you don't seem like you would. You're about as damn much of a superman as Steve." He shakes his head. He doesn't mind, not really, but damn could they make a guy feel not as awesome.

He looks at Steve. "Just don't let him cuddle with the sharks, alright? It is bad enough that you do it."

A faux glare is sent in Eliot's direction. "You know he's going to try to get New York tap water delivered out here now, right?" The smile he's fighting twitches at his lips as he turns to Danny. "There's nothing wrong with Hawaii's water. And before you say it, we don't filter it through pineapple or coconut." Steve has to admit that this feels nice. The easy banter and the comfort of them sharing a relaxed meal. He could get used to this. Actually it would be too easy for him to get used to this, but right now he's got no interest in fighting it.

Beside Steve, Grace nods enthusiastically at her father. There's a huge, happy closed-mouth grin on her face. If the chipmunk cheeks and the amount of sauce covering her mouth and fingers are anything to go by she is fully enjoying her meal. Steve can't help but smile down at her. Grace can be a very clean and precise eater, she has to be with her mother, but Steve enjoys the fact that when she's here and eating out on the beach she relaxes and eats more like a kid. He teases her that after dinner he's going to have to take the hose to her or better yet, toss her in the ocean for the fish to clean her up.

"No cuddling with the sharks. Got it." Steve says with an easy nod. "We'll swim out to the east instead of the west. The Tiger Sharks I usually snuggle up to in the west won't take no for an answer." Gracie giggles beside him.

"Not a superman, sweetheart, just a light sleeper." He squeezes Danny's hand lightly under the table again, wondering just how pathetic it is that he hasn't let go yet and when Danny's going to want it back. He's acting like a damn teenager with his first crush.

"Hey." Eliot shrugs and lifts both eyebrows, giving Steve an innocent look. "There're worse things to get delivered. Water here sure tastes better for drinking, though."

It's remarkably comfortable, sitting here holding Danny's hand, feeling almost like part of this little family. He can't let himself get used to it, but he's going to enjoy it while he can. "Just lemme know," he finds himself saying, turning back to Danny. "I've got a, uh, a friend who keeps a place in the city if you wanted to catch a show or something."

... and then he's thoroughly derailed from that train of thought by... cuddling with sharks. "Okay, that? That's gotta be... uh, gotta be hokey." Because bullshit is not okay to say in front of Danny's kid. "Punching tiger sharks I get, but I'd rather steer clear, thanks."

Danny smiles at the squeeze and lets his fingers curl tighter around Eliot's. He is more than happy to hold it. He reaches over to offer Grace a napkin before he glances at Steve and then back to Eliot.

"Steve has a whole rant about how you shouldn't punch sharks and that you should respect them and all that." He smiles. "I don't actually think he cuddles with them."

He smiles softer. "I will, just have to work out when with Rachel. And I guess I have to convince my boss to give me time off." He grins over at Steve. Though he really hopes Steve would come too if they did go.

"I don't rant," Steve says with a scrunched up face, "That's completely you."

Swallowing the food in her mouth, Grace accepts the napkin and wipes her mouth. "You shouldn't disrespect animals. The shark is a sacred animal to the islands and deserves our respect and protection. Its best to stay out of their way and give them the space they need. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone."

Steve looks down at Grace and then raises surprised eyes at Danny. "That's not all from me. I mean, she's right, but..." Steve shrugs and bumps his elbow to Grace giving her a grin. She is mostly right after all. Sometimes sharks can attack without provocation but being aware of them and giving them lots of space is better advice to her than anything else.

"A lady from the shark conservation came to talk with us at school." Tilting her head she looks over the pizza's. "Can I have another slice please? These are really good."

With a nod, Steve smiles at Danny. "I doubt that will be a problem. I hear he just generally signs whatever paperwork you put in front of him anyway." Right now, Steve's not including himself in any of that. Eliot will barely see Danny, when they're here he hopes they'll hang around so he can join them for some of the time, but he won't encroach on Danny's time there.

Eliot doesn't even feel left out by the banter between Steve and Danny, not with Danny's hand curled warmly in his, and he smiles at Grace. "That's very true," he agrees. "And I promise that if they don't try an' chew on me, I won't try an' punch them."

Eliot's polished off his own pizza and most of his beer and he's content to just sit back for the moment and enjoy this, mostly ignoring the sweet, tight ache in his chest. It would be so easy to... hell, not even give it a nudge, just let it loose, let the bond snap into place between them. So easy, but he's sure it would ruin everything. "Well, that's up to your daddy, but remember you wanna save room for the dessert pizzas we made." One a relatively basic but delicious fruit tart version, and the other her much more... creative effort. Also much more sugary.

"I usually just need a few days' heads up to be available, so just lemme know if something works out for you, sweetheart."

Danny smiles at her. "Eat as much as you want, Monkey. But Eliot is right, you want to save some room after all that work you did on making them." He smiles at Eliot.

"What do you think Steve, think we can take you to the big city and show you some culture? You'll be alright if there isn't a jungle around? Then again, central park..." He chuckles.

"And I am pretty sure he doesn't even read the paperwork, must be why I get stuck with all of it."

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Steve and Eliot cuddle pile

Re: Steve and Eliot cuddle pile