His dad really is dead.

So is his mother.

So is Joe.

He almost died.

Danny is fighting for his life in the hospital.

Wo Fat is dead.

Victor Hesse too. And his brother Anton.

So is Wo Fat's wife. Finally.

At least that. Some wins, to counteract the losses.

Steve feels tired to his bones. It's been 10 years of fighting for Hawai'i, but finally, he managed to end a cycle. With heavy personal losses, but he had no way of knowing that, when he started on this path. He has no regrets. Well, maybe one. That he's finally ready to fix.

He leaves the hospital, after making sure Danny has made it through another day and heads home. He has a very important phone call to make. Afterwards, he falls asleep on the leather chair, in the middle of his living room, sated.

Early next morning, he receives a call from the hospital. It's Danny, wanting to know when he'll grace him with his visit. Steve can't help but laugh, but this time, it's a very happy laugh. A relieved laugh. A laugh laced with hope for the future.

By mid afternoon, Rachel and Grace arrive and while Rachel leaves momentarily to pick Charlie up from school, Steve and Grace stay behind, happy to be able to entertain Danny. After his ex-wife leaves with the children, Steve broaches the subject of Rachel with Danny, since it's become clear that they are giving it another go and even Grace is hopeful that they'll make it work, this time. Danny is happy. To be alive and to have the chance of giving it another go. He only wishes Steve had his 'Rachel', by his side. Suddenly, Catherine comes to his mind and he hates himself for the way he treated her, last time they met, in Montana. Despite still being angry at her, he would give anything to have her here, right now. Steve's sad, but Danny makes no mention of having understood why, given his recent change in "no woman" status.

A week later, Danny leaves the hospital to a home filled with friends and well-wishers. Rachel is also there, ready to take charge of his recovery. Life goes back to normal, Grace leaves for Uni on the mainland, again.

One afternoon, Danny is alone, lounging on the sofa and the doorbell rings. As he slowly opens it, he is greeted by a vision that he never thought he'd see again: Steve holding a baby. The look on his face is priceless and Steve can't help but laugh wholeheartedly at the situation, as he walks past Danny, into the house. There is also a pram and a diaper bag on his shoulder, and Danny thinks that Steve looks way too comfortable, and at ease, with both the baby and the bag.

Steve sits, slightly uncomfortable and asks Danny to sit, as well. Danny braces for some surprising story, but what comes out of his friend's mouth blows him away.

- "Danny, meet my son – John R. McGarrett, after my father."

- "Wait a minute, did you do something crazy and adopt a baby while I was away? How long was I away, anyway?" he asks, wondering if this is somehow the twilight zone and he's dreaming, lying on the couch. Rachel will be alarmed if she hears him.

- "No, I didn't adopt a baby and, before you ask, it's not my sister's either. Remember when Joe died?" Steve asks, looking at him sheepishly.

- "You mean… "R"... Montana?" Danny says, suspicious about where the conversation has veered to.

- "Yeah. Montana." Steve says nothing more, and instead looks at the baby, hoping he won't have to say any more.

- "Wait, you mean…" Danny says, and Steve can see the wheels in his brain turning. "You mean you and…"

- "Yeah."

- "Say it, Steve. Once and for all, man up! It's no wonder the woman left you, damn it!" Danny explodes, visibly annoyed.

Steve is surprised at his words, but once he thinks about it, maybe not so much. But his friend is right. Enough.

- "Catherine got pregnant."

- "YOU both got pregnant, you mean. Nowadays, that's how you should word it. It's a joint effort. Or wasn't it?"

At Steve's downcast eyes, he knows he's right. And somehow, that makes him infinitely happier than if his friend had just found out. At least some channels of communication were left open between the two stubborn, functional mutes. He gets up, slowly, carefully, beaming and gives Steve the most heartfelt hug he's ever given anyone.

- "Brother, congratulations. I never thought I'd see this day. I am truly, truly happy for you and I'm sure your mother and father are looking down on you from heaven, carrying the next generation of McGarretts." Suppressing a tear with difficulty, Danny grabs the baby from Steve and says:

- "Let me have a look at my godson." He smiles at the baby. "So, talk," he says, never breaking eye contact with John, hoping this will make it less difficult for Steve to open up. The baby just stares at him and coos, nestled in his arms.

- "Catherine called me about three months later. Said she would never dream of not telling me, but that she wanted to go through with it. The usual, you know, if I didn't want to be involved, I was off the hook."

- "Pffft! It's like she doesn't know you!"

- "Don't forget she thought I was dating Lynn, Danny. First thing she told me was that the last thing she wanted, was to ruin my relationship."

- "Oh, yeah, I forgot you never told her, you idiot. So… this was on the phone?"

- "No – as soon as I found out, I went out to her. She was in Washington."

- "And?"

- "I told her I wanted the baby, naturally."

- "How long before you told her you also wanted her?"

- "Not right then and there…"

- "That's why I am asking how long. Any other guy wouldn't have left that day without a YES."

- "I didn't."

- "Atta boy", Danny smiles at John again.

- "After a few hours, I realized that I didn't care about being rejected once again, I realized that what I had ever wanted was staring me right in the face. So I told her everything I had ever wanted to tell her, but hadn't, because of my pride. Told her I loved her and always had. That Lynn had been a desperate attempt at moving on, finding someone, since she had left without explanation."

- "…And?" Danny asks, on tenterhooks and even the baby stops cooing and looks attentively at him, quieting in his lap, sensing the importance of the moment.

- "She just smiled and kissed me. It was the most magical moment of my life, Danny."

- "I bet," Danny says, smiling openly at the baby, dancing with him. "Your daddy is nuts about your mummy. Always has been. Good to know they finally managed to get their groove on, hey, baby?"

- "Meaning?" Steve says, crossing his arms, in mock anger.

- "Meaning the two of you finally got it on long enough to make this lovely baby! It's a miracle, Steve, a miracle!"

- "Funny."

- "I mean it! Just make sure you don't ruin it, OK? And thank you. Now you'll really know what it's like to love such a tiny thing so unconditionally."

- "I already do, Danny. I was at his birth. I've been with them every chance I got."

- "So… that's where your mysterious trips were to!" Danny says, still smiling. Steve is waiting for the penny to drop and Danny to get angry. But he never does. Then again, Danny's on pain meds. "Of all the possibilities running around in my head, I have to say this is, by far, the best I never imagined. Bar none. What now?"

- "Now, Catherine can come home. Wo Fat's wife knew about her and the baby. She had to hide under the CIA's cover. And keep running."

- "Wow…" Danny says, thinking how angry and rude he had been to her.

- "Yeah. I was really unfair to her, too. And if she found it in her heart to forgive me, don't worry, she'll forgive you, too."

- "Very funny."

- "I know."

- "So, when is she coming?"

- "She's at home, she needed a good night's sleep. Jetlag."

- "You know what? We deserve a beer, today."

- "Buddy, you can't drink."

- "Babe, today, after these news, I don't care. I get to see my brother finally happy with the woman he loves, and not only that, she also gave him a son, my godson. I think these islands have finally grown into me."

- "Good to know, buddy. Because we intend to stay."

- "Oh, God, why did I open my huge mouth? Now I'll never leave!" Danny waves, in an exaggerated, mafia-like manner. Then, he turns to his brother, smiling. "Love you, Steve."

- "Love you, too, Danno."

- "Love you, baby John. And your mummy, though it'll take her a while to believe it."

Steve laughs again, truly happy at last.

THE END.