AN: Yikes! SOOO nervous right now! This is my first ever published Fanfic, and I'm so nervous about how it will go. Bear with me I'm new. Just a fair warning there is some swearing involved and the story contains content that some readers may not like. If amputation bothers you, you might want to find another story to read. Also looking for a Beta reader so any suggestions would be welcomed. Also if I make a mistake please let me know. This site is a great way for me to improve my grammar etc. Suggestions on what you want is also very welcome.
On with my very first story. (excited face)
An3
Ikaika
1 Day
Flashing white lights. That was the first thing he recognised. It took him a second longer to realise he was passing under a row of lights, and that it was the interval between the lights that caused the flashing effect. Another second until he realized that to see the lights at that angle he had to be lying on his back staring at a ceiling. Add to that the fact that the bed was moving and he figured he was in a hospital. Obviously unconscious until know, because he can't recall getting here. The sudden flare of pain in his leg causes him to gasp and signals the medical professionals around him that he is awake.
"Relax Commander Mcgarrett. You're at Tripler Medical Centre. You're going to be fine" A young nurse leans over him and injects something into an IV inserted in his right hand.
He wants to argue but then there's something weighing down his mind and everything fades to black again.
************H50*********************H50******************H50*************
The next time he comes around he's surrounded by stark white walls and ceiling that make the room appear even brighter than it already is. He snaps his eyes shut and groans. He feels rather that sees a person walking closer to him.
"Commander, can you hear me? I need you to open your eyes for me." He hears a familiar female voice next to him. He can't identify the person without opening his eyes so decides to leave that little detail alone.
When he fails to comply she asks him to squeeze her hand. She seems satisfied when he does and walks away. Steve feels oddly alone when she lets go of his hand, but forgets about it when he feels a sudden relief in his headache.
"Commander the lights are off now, can you try and open your eyes again?"
At first the shapes are blurry, but after a few blinks he brings into focus the familiar face of Dr Alexis Wright who had treated him for his broken arm when he had fallen off the cliff while hiking with Danny. Before that it had been for the countless times he came back home with one or more broken bones. Needless to say they became good friends.
"Good, can you tell me where you are?"
"Tripler Medical Centre." All of a sudden memories come flooding back.
Truck coming head on, the crash that left him pinned under the dash, being dragged out of the car, fire burning its way up his leg, team mates radioing for a chopper, and someone tying a belt around his tie. Jones tried to block his view, but not before he caught a glimpse of the mutilated flesh that was his right foot.
Dr Wright immediately noticed the change and prepared herself for Steve's reaction
"Doc, my leg?" He says in a heart wrenching way, almost like he knows what the answer is, but trying his luck anyway, because maybe, just maybe there's still a chance.
She just looks down and shakes her head, unable to look the distraught man in front of her in the eyes.
"I'm sorry Steve, we had to amputate. About 5 inches below the knee.
*********H50*********H50*********H50*********
The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. Doctors were running tests, superiors wanted debriefs on how a training exercise went so wrong, teammates were sneaking in to see him , trying to avoid the army of nurses that seemed to always be in his room.
Just when he thought they were done, a new Doctor, official, or nurse was there to ask him another flurry of questions. He was really getting fed up and desperate to get rid of all the attention. His saving grace came in the form of Detective Danny Williams.
"What do you mean I can't see him? I just got told that my partner has been injured on what is supposed to be a training exercise, and that I could come and see him anytime I wanted, now that I'm here all of a sudden I can't see him anymore. Make up your mind people!" Danny ranted as another nurse paged Steve's doctor.
"Detective Williams I assume? My name is Alex Wright. I'm Commander Mcgarrett's doctor. We spoke on the phone." Dr Wright introduces herself.
"Yes of course! How's Steve? What happened, can I please see him?" Danny shakes the Doctors hand.
"Let's talk first and then I'll take you to see your friend." Alex says taking Danny by the arm and escorting him to a private corner of the ICU.
*********H50*********H50*********H50*********
When Danny finally enters his friend's room he forgets everything the doctor has told him and only has eyes for Steve's face. He looks frazzled, overwhelmed and desperate, a look Danny hopes he never has to see again. Seeing all the activity around his friend's bed and remembering all the tests the doctor had told him about, he could only guess what the cause of Steve's desperation is.
Immediately coming to his friend's aid he tell all the nurses as kindly as possible to get the fuck out, and to not come back until tomorrow morning. When it looks like they want to argue he tells them to take it up with Dr Wright who he sees heading towards Steve's room as well. He stops her before she can enter. After telling her the problem she agrees to keep the nurses out of Steve's room unless absolutely necessary until the next morning and even then it will be limited to one per visit.
Happy that Steve's dilemma will now be solved he finally goes to see his friend.
Steve is lying on his back with his eyes closed taking deep breaths. The lines of pain in his face tells Danny that Steves still awake.
Suddenly unsure about what to say to the friend he was so eager to see Danny just stands in the doorway.
"Thanks Danny." Steve finally speaks up after about 5 minutes.
"No problem, I guess it's a good thing I can read your faces." The joke falls flat and they both go silent.
Danny grabs the chair next to his friend's bed. The silence is oddly comfortable and neither one of them feels the need to say something. After a while Danny speaks up.
"How are you really Steve?" The question sounds odd, but the two partners know exactly what it means. It's Danny telling Steve that he's heard everything the doctor has to say, but wants to hear it from Steve, because in what world does the doctor know how his partner is feeling.
"I don't know Danny. I mean I've seen it happen plenty of times and seen men go back to their units, but it's different when it's your own body. It makes the words I said to team mates that have gone through the same thing sound kind of hollow. I mean, it's half of my leg that's just not there anymore. The doctors say I'm lucky that it was below my knee and that I stand a good chance of regaining full function, but you know what? I'm not feeling all that lucky right now. With all the activity today I haven't had time to process any of it. I just need a few hours of peace and quiet to work through it on my own." Steve is open to his friend, because he's tired and down and really needs to just let it all go. He's sick and tired of keeping everything bottled up and he knows whatever he says in front of his Ohana will stay in confidence.
"Well that's suprising! Here I was expecting to force the truth out of my socially stunted Neanderthal partner. It's kinda disappointing having to waste a perfectly good argument." Danny waves his hands around his head.
Steve smiles at his friend, he's so glad to hear a Danny rant, even if it is kind of mellowed down and not as aggressive as usual.
"So can I let Chin and Kono know or do you want us to leave you alone for the night?" Danny asked relieved to see Steve smiling.
"No, of course not! Phone them, and let them know what's going on. You can let Dr Wright explain if you want to. I know it's awkward." Steve said eager to see his friends. He saw them three days ago before leaving for training, but it's still nice to have family around when something like this happens. At the moment he can't imagine not having them close by. He could tell Danny to leave (not that he wanted to), but they both know that won't happen. The man would probably sleep in the hall just to be close and lend support.
It was good to have family who support you, and he was glad that he had such a great one. The next few months would be hard, but he knew that with his family standing by he would get as close to normal as he could.