Fic: In the Middle of the Night (Hawaii 5-0, Danny/Kono)

[helsinkibaby]

Title: In the Middle of the Night
Author: helsinkibaby
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0
Pairing: Danny/Kono
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Spoilers: Vague allusions to events at the start of season two. Since I've not seen the eps, I apologise if it makes no sense!
Word Count: 970
Notes: For the dannykono drabble challenge, responding to the prompt by kaitlia777 Kono lets Danny crash at her place. Things happen ;)

He's awakened by a scream. To be sure, it's a short scream, cut off quickly as if the person has realised what they're doing and stopped as soon as possible. Still, Danny's a dad, has done the monsters under the bed at four in the morning patrol, has lain sleeping poised to wake up at the slightest variation in his daughter's breath. A scream has him sitting up on the couch, instantly awake, looking around to see what the problem is.

He's still getting his bearings when Kono walks by the couch, heads into the kitchen, hands rubbing across her face. She doesn't look at him as she goes by, shows no signs that she knows he's even there, heading into the kitchen where she pours herself a glass of water.

Danny stands, pads after her, saying when he gets into the kitchen, "Hey, you ok?"

If she wasn't before, she definitely isn't now, because she jumps a mile, spinning around as she does so, sloshing water on her top. Her very thin, silky tank top. "Jesus, Danny, you scared me."

Danny's not listening to her though. Instead, his eyes are drawn to the very thin, very silky tank top, to the very thin, very silky, very short shorts that are a match to it. He can see every outline of her body, including rather a lot more than he should be able to, thanks to the spilled water, and he knows he's staring but he can't help himself. Kono stares back at him, eyes narrowing and she's seen that look before, right before she decked a surfer who cut off her wave. Holding up his hands, he turns away, shakes his head as he sputters apologies.

Behind him, Kono laughs. "What are you doing?"

"I should think that would be obvious," he hears himself saying. "I mean, you're standing there practically naked and being as we're partners and we're friends and I'm crashing on your couch, I shouldn't be taking advantage..."

"What planet are you on?" Kono is still laughing as she comes around to stand in front of him, dabbing at her top with a paper towel as she talks. "We've been to the beach together... the first time you saw me I was in a bikini that showed way less than this!"

Danny still can't - won't - look at her, even if she does have a point. "That's completely different; that was the beach, this is your apartment in the middle of the night. And that was also the time, if you remember, that Chin wanted to slug me for spending too long checking out his hot young cousin."

Kono moves around him every time he averts his gaze, her smile only growing wider every time. "Am I embarrassing you, Danny?"

She's teasing him, he knows it, and he finds himself starting to chuckle as his cheeks grow warm. "What can I say?" he parries. "Momma Williams raised a good Catholic boy." Kono throws her head back and laughs, all teeth and dancing eyes and he finds himself thinking that he likes the sound of that, likes the look of her like that. Sure beats that haunted look she had when he first walked into the kitchen, the look she's taken to wearing around 5-0 lately when she thinks no-one's looking. So of course, he ends up doing the one thing he didn't want to do - he wipes that smile right off her face. "You ok?" he asks, and just like that, she closes right up. "Hey, Kono." He touches her elbow gently. "This is me."

She shakes her head, like she's about to deny it but then she looks him in the eyes. Her shoulders rise and fall in the biggest sigh he's ever heard from her before they slump and her head drops. "I have nightmares," she tells him finally, slowly, every word a battle. "Since... everything. Being back. Some nights they're better, some nights they're worse."

"And tonight?"

He thinks he knows what's she's going to say but she surprises him. "Somewhere in between."

"You know, you should talk to someone about this." He means a professional, the department shrink, whoever, but Kono just looks up at him, head tilted, voice quiet.

"I'm talking to you."

He wants to tell her that's not what he means but she is looking better, almost back to his Kono again. "Any time. You know that."

"I do."

There's a long moment where they just stand there, staring at one another and Danny had the distinct notion that he could stay there forever. Then he realises where he is and who they are and he shakes himself at the same time that Kono does. "We should try to get some sleep," he says, a phrase that makes Kono roll her eyes.

"Not gonna happen," she tells him, and he knows the voice of experience when he hears it. "I usually end up channel surfing til I fall asleep on the couch."

"Which is currently my bed," he says and she gives him a knowing nod. "Well," he says, looping an arm around her shoulders, drawing her towards the couch in question, "Since you're sharing your place with me, I guess I can share my bed with you." He leads her to the couch, pulling her down beside him as he grabs the remote control. A few clicks later and he's grinning. "VH1, The Boss... it's like it's meant to be."

Putting his arm back around her again, he pulls her close so that she ends up with her head resting on his shoulder. Two and a half songs later he hears me mumble, "You really thought I was hot?"

He chuckles. "Shut up and go to sleep."

Before the end of the third song, she is.