Trooper Station, Thursday afternoon

[grenadesandohana]

Steve, cradling his arm against his waist and looking like he'd just done ten rounds with some kind of martial arts expert (surprise, he had!), collapsed into his desk chair with a heavy sigh, then kicked open his bottom drawer with his boot to find the ibuprofen and the gauze.

After stemming the worst of the bleeding above his eye, he glanced at the phone, took a deep breath, and called Danny.

Then he'd file a police report. He wasn't sure how to list "assault from a GUY WHO WAS DEAD A YEAR AGO" but it was Fandom. That might even be an option on the form.

The station was open. Maybe others had reports to file?

Comments

[hatesparadise]

"I'm not finishing your reports again," Danny said immediately upon picking up the phone.

So loving, this man.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve didn't laugh. "You're okay?" he checked. "He didn't come after you?"

[hatesparadise]

"What?" Danny demanded. "Who?"

Because Wo Fat? Super dead.

[grenadesandohana]

You'd think so, huh?

"Wo Fat," Steve said.

It was like it was sweeps week.

[hatesparadise]

"...he's dead." Unless this was the guy from that cooking show?

[grenadesandohana]

"I know that," Steve said, "and yet, here I am, ass kicked."

[hatesparadise]

"Just. Hold on. I'll be right there." Don't do anything stupid, said Danny's tone.

[grenadesandohana]

"I'll be here," Steve said. "Well. I'll be getting an ice pack, then I'll be here."

[hatesparadise]

Danny made a frustrated noise and was there in record time for him. And yes, he'd made sure to put his sidearm on for it. "Jesus, babe!"

[grenadesandohana]

"I really hate that guy," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"You and me both," Danny grumbled, already closing the distance to check him over.

[grenadesandohana]

Well, he hadn't been shot across the head this time, so things were looking up?

But his face was very banged up, his arm was being held in a funny way, and he'd be a walking bruise in the morning.

"I'm good."

Of course.

[hatesparadise]

"Babe" He was already checking out that arm.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve hissed in a breath. "He wrenched it pretty good when I was distracted by his stupid football jersey."

[hatesparadise]

"His what?" Danny asked, making sure nothing was broken at least. "We need to wrap it."

[grenadesandohana]

"He was wearing a '95 Pro Bowl jersey over his suit," Steve said. "It was weird."

[hatesparadise]

Yeeeah, Danny was checking him for a concussion now. "You sure about that?"

[grenadesandohana]

Oh, he definitely had one.

"I haven't seen that shirt since high school," he said.

[hatesparadise]

"Okay, you need to sit down while I find the first aid kit," Danny said, guiding him to his desk.

[grenadesandohana]

"Bottom desk drawer," Steve said, sitting down.

[hatesparadise]

"Thank you." It was massive. Because Steve.

[grenadesandohana]

Well, he knew his life.

"I already took three ibuprofen."

[hatesparadise]

"Explain what exactly happened, " Danny ordered, getting the stuff to wrap Steve's arm into a sling.

Because he needed to know how much to overreact to it.

[grenadesandohana]

"I was out for my run and got jumped by Wo Fat in the forest," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"In a jersey," Danny added. "This place is so freakin' weird."

[grenadesandohana]

"I don't understand it at all," Steve admitted. "All we got yesterday were weird stuffed animals. Now it's face punching?"

[hatesparadise]

"Well, now we figure this out and maybe shoot Wo Fat again." For real this time.

[grenadesandohana]

"I'm tired of shooting Wo Fat," Steve complained, closing his eyes.

[hatesparadise]

Danny sighed loudly and tilted Steve forward for a hug. "You and me both, babe."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve rested his head against Danny's chest and tried to breathe.

[hatesparadise]

"I've got you here," Danny promised him. "I've got your back."

[grenadesandohana]

"Thanks, Danno."

The nightmares would be back when Steve had a second to process.

[hatesparadise]

What a fun holiday season for him!

"Let's get that arm in a sling, okay? Then we can get a plan together." Even if he hated it.

[grenadesandohana]

"I don't think I need a sling," Steve protested.

He did.

[hatesparadise]

"Sling," Danny said firmly.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve pouted at him.

[hatesparadise]

Danny flicked at the least injured part of Steve's face for that. "Don't even."

[grenadesandohana]

"Ow," Steve said. "I'm already injured."