dann_0 | PSL: Sentinel AU

Sort of continued from this

Danny can feel Eliot relax and it makes him just as proud as when Steve does it. Proof that he is doing something right, that he is helping. And he is proud of Eliot for trusting him. It had been work getting Steve to trust him and since then he'd gotten some vague hints that there had been bad experiences in Steve's past. The way Eliot had come at him earlier, heck might still come at him, spoke of him having had some bad experiences as well.

"There you go, you're doing great. I got you. You're safe. It is safe here. Easy now, a few more breaths." He stays in the embrace long enough for Eliot to calm down, to be able to breathe and think and focus without hyper focus. The signs are different than with Steve, so he is taking a bit of a guess when he steps back and putting some distance between them.

"Sorry. Feeling better?" He gives Eliot a smile, trying his best to get a read on his emotions.

Danny had called Steve after Catherine had left and Steve hadn't picked up. That worries Danny. A lot of things worries Danny but a lot of them are connected to Steve. So he drives over quickly, probably a little too quickly.

"Steve!" He calls and then heads towards the house. He calls Steve's names a few more times before he spots the other out the back of the house. He nearly runs over to him. When Steve doesn't move he comes closer, moving so he can see Steve. Then he freezes. What the fuck is going on?

"Steve, buddy. You in there? What is going on? What are you doing?" He waves his hand in front of Steve's face and then reaches to touch his forearm. "Steve, buddy, babe. Talk to me. What is going on?"

[It is late, later than he normally calls when Danny finally dials Steve's number. He's been wandering, having lost all appetite. He had even lied to Grace. Said stuff is going on with the case and he wouldn't really be able to talk.

He waits nervously for Steve to pick up. ]

Hi Steve. How are you doing? You busy?

When Thursday night rolled around and Danny had told him he'd be staying the weekend to keep working on the case, Steve made the executive decision to visit Portland for the weekend. As the boss and not currently swamped with a case himself, he was able to make such decisions. Besides, he told himself he had lots of good reasons for going to Portland. First he'd get to see his guide and best friend. Second if he wasn't in Hawaii it meant that Catherine wouldn't be either. He had no idea if Danny's new sentinel friend had done a search on him, but if he had, Catherine would know and that would be enough to perk her interests. And lastly, if he had the chance he wouldn't mind stopping by this pub just to check things out. He trusted Danny and his judgment but Danny had no idea what he was dealing with.

Making a call to the base, Steve found out when the next military flight was heading out to that general area and then texted Chin and Kono, making sure to tell them he was surprising Danny. No need to let the cat out of the bag too soon.

Steve had gotten lucky. There had been a military transport heading from Pearl to the base in Portland that morning. It had him arriving early afternoon with plenty of time to kill before meeting up with Danny at the end of the day. The opportunity was too good to pass up. He found out where the pub was that Danny had mentioned and made his way there.

He had no intention of causing any problems. In fact he had no intention of drawing any attention to himself what so ever. Lunch was his cover and he intended only to observe.

Finding a booth that had a clear view of the main door and the door to the kitchen he made himself comfortable. After looking over the menu he ordered a beer and burger and tried to make it look like he wasn't observing anything particular, just waiting for his lunch to arrive. In truth Steve had upped his hearing to see if he could pick up anything of interest.

After talking with Eliot, Steve headed over to Danny's hotel and made himself comfortable in the lobby. He still hadn't told Danny that he was in Portland but he hoped it would be a pleasant surprise. As for him running into Eliot... Initially Steve had no intention of mentioning he stopped off at the pub for lunch. Now though he didn't think he had that option. Danny was going to find out sooner or later, and it was best it came from him.

Browsing through the available magazines in the lobby, and texting back and forth with Kono and Chin for updates on their day, Steve keeps a solid eye on the door, waiting for his best friend.

It had been good having Steve visit for the weekend and after he'd dropped Steve off at the airport Danny found himself missing Hawaii even more. He didn't even think that was possible. At least he is heading back next weekend to see Grace. He is looking forward to that since he came here. Seeing Steve and the rest of the team will be good too, but Grace is the main focus.

Sunday evening he'd looked over the leads again, the calls and something had stood out. It might be nothing but he was pretty sure there was a meeting going down early the next morning. So early you could argue that it was still night. He made a few calls, checking up how legit it was and it all pointed towards a solid lead.

So here he is, waiting outside the warehouse in question. The docs were quiet. In the distance he could hear the sound of a ship unloading cargo, but this part of the docks seemed mostly populated by seagulls. He'd hoped he would be getting some good surveilance, maybe some idea of who the other major players were, but when he sees a hooded and bound person being dragged out of a car all the plans change.

That is not good. Not good at all. He pulls out his phone and calls it in. But he knows he can't wait. The moment the bad guys hears the sirens that person is as good as dead. He needs to get in and get them out, now.

He studies the building for a second, what would Steve do? That is a stupid question, go in guns blazing. He is on his own, he can't do that. Instead he circles around the wearhouse hoping for a back door. As it happens, today is Danny's lucky day and he finds one, unlocked even, and he makes his way quietly inside.

Danny frowns when he gets a look at the group inside. They seemed to be closing up a crate, but there were only tree bad guys and no hooded figure. He had counted four bad guys going in.

That is when the cold metal of a gun presses against the back of Danny's neck and he curses silently. His gun is taken from him and the last bad guy pushes Danny into the clearing with the other three.

"'Ey, found a cop." The guy informs the others, gun still aimed at Danny.
"Better get rid of him. Can't have him squealing." One of the others grabs Danny's gun and aims it straight at Danny's head.

Danny glances over at Eliot as he dials Steve's number. It is a little earlier than he normally calls but not so much that it should eat into Steve's work day. He's settled on the couch, and he wants to be snuggled up against Eliot but he figures this call would be best if he wasn't.

"Hi Steve. You doing alright?"

Edited 2017-05-08 19:05 (UTC)

Danny had gotten some free time while Eliot is working and he stops by the hotel room before he plans to head to the restaurant. But before then he needs to talk to Steve and this might be as private as he is going to get.

"Hey buddy. How are you doing?"

Thursday afternoon finds Steve at the airport. He's nervous, pacing around with his hands in his pockets watching people come out of the arrivals gate. It's not that he needs to see Danny to know that he's home, his sense of smell is dialed up as high as he's comfortable doing without a guide present.

The instant Danny disembarks from his plane, Steve can smell him. The scent that is distinctly Danny, along with sweat and stale air from being on the plane so long, the scent of Eliot in his cloths mixed in with the scent of detergent and the smell of sex. It surprises him even as he knows it shouldn't, it's scent that sticks to people regardless of showering. Dialing back his sense of smell so that he's not smelling anything, Steve's thankful that Danny had the foresight to give him a head's up, and he reminds himself that everything will be okay. That he's not fully losing Danny. Too bad his subconscious keeps screaming that he's just lying to himself.

Pasting on a grin the moment he sees Danny, Steve goes over to meet him. "Hey partner. Aloha. Welcome home."

After talking to Steve Danny's feelings are a bit of a mess. He knows Eliot's going to be able to tell, but he also promised to come over to the restaurant after he'd packed his clothes. And he doesn't want to break a promise. At least not this soon. So he heads over there, trying to sort out his feelings on the way.

By the time he walks in, he has them mostly down to worry and trepidation that he can't shake. He knows he has to deal with it when he gets home and he doesn't exactly want to. Steve's had plenty of guides in the past and Danny wants to offer him some stability. He's worried he's gone and fucked that up now.

Once he makes it into the restaurant he orders lunch and then a beer as well. He settles into one of the booths, expecting Eliot to be there in minutes.

There had been a mix-up, apparently, with picking Grace up Friday after school. Rachel called it a mix-up, saying that Danny was over-reacting and being paranoid that she'd done in on purpose. How Rachel couldn't have told Danny that it was a half day at school and that Grace would be home all afternoon was beyond him. Right now Steve was in the living room at Rachel and Stan's as Danny and Rachel argued in the kitchen. Grace was upstairs getting ready - apparently that was a mix-up as well.

The baby, Charlie, was sleeping in a playpen set up in the room. At first Steve thought the smell he picked up in the room was from Grace, he hadn't been around the baby much since the little tyke was born, but the smell remained as strong even though she'd left the room. With a quick look into the kitchen he moved over to the playpen and took another deep whiff, increasing his sense of smell to distinguish scents, and frowned. It still smelled like Danny. Maybe the toys, bedding or even clothes had been Grace's... Now absorbed in this mystery, he reached down to touch the sleeping boy.

Rachel had first told Danny the baby was his and then later said she'd gotten her dates wrong... What if she'd lied. Angry that Danny had stayed in Hawaii with Steve instead of heading back to Jersey to be with her. That seemed cruel for even Rachel. Listening to the hushed-yelling match in the other room, he realizes that really it's not all that far fetched. Deciding to go with it, he stroked the baby again until the little guy stretched and opened his eyes. Perfect excuse to pick up the now fussing child.

Careful to make sure he was properly supported, Steve lifted him and brought him up to his chest, and then dropped his own head so his nose was under the little boy's chin - where he liked to smell Danny, and took in a deep breath... Danny!

He couldn't tell Danny. There'd be no way he could explain how he knew and not having evidence would only drive Danny insane. He needed help, a specific kind of help from someone who understood what Steve was and had the resources to look into things further without anyone suspecting. Making the excuse that he'd forgotten to pick up something at the store, he dropped Danny and Grace off at the house and drove off.

Parked at the local market, he debated a moment then dialed Eliot's number - already programmed into his phone and waited for the other man to answer.

Danny frowns at Steve's comment to Eliot but he doesn't say anything right then. But he does stop for Eliot on his way out. "If you need anything at all, just yell."

Then he places a hand on Steve's back and guides him over to his office. He shakes his head a little at the two of them but he waits until Steve's on the couch. "You want some more water? Or coffee or something?" He certainly feels like he needs it. Once he is sure that Steve's comfortable he quickly heads out to grab some coffee from the machine and clear his head for just a minute. Then he comes back.

"Steve. What's going on? Why is he here? Why are you doing this? I... I don't even fucking know what to say. It would make more sense if you were fighting over which one of you I should stay with but you're not. You say you've let this go too far. You mean you don't want this?"

Meeting Grace had gone smoother than Eliot expected, she's a sweet kid, bright and curious and enthusiastic, and not particularly taken aback by her dad introducing a surprise boyfriend. It settles something in Eliot, being trusted with this, and he pulls out the charm for her, promising her a pizza with anything she wants on it. Even offering to let her help make it, and the fruit tarts for dessert.

He's gotten past the need to pretend he's gruff and uninterested with kids the last few years, and it's just... nice. Feeling like this is a place he could be welcome, surrounded by Danny's scent and trusted to be close to his kid. Even Steve's scent, worked deep into everything and mingled with Danny's own, isn't off-putting.

It just feels... lived in. Comfortable. Homey. And he settles into the kitchen to get all the meat and vegetables and fruit prepped, then get the dough mixed and set to rise, while Danny takes Grace down to the beach and Steve settles in on the couch. He's been doing a good job of not letting on how exhausted and worn he is with Grace around, but Eliot's pretty sure Danny's been as aware of it as he is, and it's why he's taken Grace out and left the house peacefully quiet.

By the time Eliot's put all his other ingredients back in the--somewhat barren--fridge and set the dough to rise in a warm spot Steve's been quiet for a while, his heart rate and breathing slowing and steadying like he's either close to sleep or there already, and his scent much more settled though he's still restless. Eliot considers his options, and nearly heads out to the beach to find Danny and his girl, or maybe just sit in the yard and look out out the beach, but he's pretty damn tired and worn too, and the sun's bright and the air a bit humid. The cool dimness of the house and the comfort of the couch, with Danny's scent soaked deep into it and a football game playing quietly, are infinitely more appealing right now. Besides, this is supposed to be Danny's time with Grace.

He doesn't try to be too quiet when he wanders over and settles down; he knows how that can come off as trying to sneak up to their kind. He can tell from the scent that Steve's settled into the comfort of Danny's usual spot, using the scent to settle him, but he's not particularly bothered by taking what must usually be Steve's corner of the couch.

He glances over as he gets comfortable, confirming that Steve is, as he suspected, already asleep though a little restless, and considers just turning off the game. But the quiet drone of it is soothing, as is the steady beat of Steve's heart and the warmth of Danny's scent, and he leans his head back against the couch and settles in to watch the game.

It isn't long between Eliot coming to Hawaii and Danny being back in Portland for his next long weekend with Eliot. He'd arrived yesterday and taken a cab directly to the restaurant. Once there Eliot had made sure he was fed before taking him home.

Now the evening after they are lounging on the couch, not really having left the house all day. Danny's in a pair of briefs and one of Eliot's t-shirts. He is halfway draped over Eliot's side, having wrapped his arm around him as they've watched a show. During a commercial, he mutes the tv and looks up at Eliot.

"Eliot. I got a question for you." He pauses for just a second, it is always hard to breach this subject the first time. "How bossy do you like to be in bed?"

The guys stay up for quite a while after Grace goes to bed and over all it seems to be a very nice evening. At least Danny thinks it is and as far as he can tell from his boys they think so too. Finally, he yawns and stretches.

"We should go to bed if we want to get up in time to make pancakes." Then he pauses and looks between them. "How do we want to do this? I am sleeping in the spare room when Grace is here, the bed is big enough for two if you want Eliot."

Danny and Eliot meeting, Portland

Steve and Danny, Backstory: first time.

Phone after meeting Eliot: Steve and Danny

Steve and Eliot Meeting, Portland - Friday

Danny and Steve: Surprise, I'm in Portland

Danny and Eliot: Save my ass