"They have an... interesting relationship," he said diplomatically. You know, which was rich coming from the serial monogamist who wanted stability and commitment like a lifeblood. "She's also Naval Intelligence. Former, at least. I didn't get too many details, but she needed help with a former contact over there."

Have some wine, Annie. He was gonna have some too.

"Her contact's kid got kidnapped by the local Taliban. And apparently that's their recruitment methods, so..."

It was indeed dangerous and bad.

"Me? No, I'm the opposite of okay," Danny said, because repression was for suckers. "But I haven't been able to get back to Hawaii to check on anything with his contacts. Tried to go with him and got separated."

"No." And he made it sound like that wasn't exactly new. "I tried again this morning and nothing."

The angry voicemails that Portalocity was getting...

"Last time we got back home, a weekend here was about a month there." So there was that. "He didn't take off without word this time. Which is progress."

"He's an idiot," Danny replied, taking a sip of wine and looking at the untouched cookie dough for a moment longer. "And he gets in over his head trusting people."

Jenna Kaye being a depressing example of it.

"I'm not--it's just venting. I know."

"Cath? She's--" Driven. Currently lost in what she wanted to do with herself now that she was out of the Navy. "They've known each other for a long time."

He settled on that one.

"She's not a bad person, but this..."

"That's just Steve," he said with a sigh. "He's the sort to drop everything to help a friend. Which is admirable, it really is."

Danny made a face because, well, Steve's parents. Ugh.

"He'll tell everyone that he's done missions worse than this before, but he had actual back up then. Not this--off the books whatever this is."

Also, he had his team coming to rescue his ass in Korea.

"Well, you'll get your cookies today, I guess." Because Danny needed a goddamn distraction.

Which was sweet of her to offer, really, judging by the relieved expression he was trying to hide. And he was used to a pre-teen, so it couldn't be worse than that level of skill, right?

"We got anginetti or rugelach." Which both probably sounded fancy, though the Jersey accent brought it down to normal. "I promised mice cookies and I'm worried what'll happen if I renege on that."

Danny snorted quietly at that and shook his head as he defaulted to grabbing the rugelach as his 'taking care of other people' comfort food of choice.

Steve was going to get so much goddamn matzo ball soup shoved at him.

"I didn't have a kitchen for a couple years there. Between the divorce and the housing market in Hawaii--its kind of a luxury I'm not about to take for granted again. And I like baking for other people."

"Anything she can grab," he replied dryly. "Honestly, she shares her dad's love of these pastries on the islands, coco puffs? Amazing. Would sell my soul to make as good as them."