A/N: A collection of one-shots in answer to this prompt I came across online (by kristen999): "After the adrenaline rush is over, even willpower can't keep Steve from crashing."

This prompt pings my story brain for multiple reasons. For one, H5-0 is not the type of show to explore aftermaths yet is constantly placing characters in situations that would create extreme physical or emotional fallout. Especially for Steve, whose warrior soul is my favorite, and who brings me to my second reason: his ability to suppress physical damage and keep on doing what needs to be done intrigues me to no end. I searched for responses to this prompt because there is so much to explore in it and found almost nothing. I guess I'll have to write what I wanted only to read. Oh—and I don't consider this a true h/c fic, but since the prompt was categorized that way, that's how I'm going to tag it.

I have no idea how many of these I'll write. Each piece will be self-contained, no cliffhangers (if I do a two-parter, which I don't anticipate, I won't post part 1 until part 2 is finished). Episode tags might happen. Mission details will be minimum: post-adrenaline equals post-mission. Ultimately this is a piece of writing for myself, to explore the fascinating relationship between Steve McGarrett and adrenaline (as well as the way his ohana responds), but I decided to toss my scribbling into the void in case there's someone else out there who wishes a fic like this existed. :)

Crashes

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1. Kevlar

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"I think he got hit." Kono's voice is one shade paler than nonchalant.

Chin swivels toward their boss. McGarrett stands a hundred yards off, gesturing as he talks to two HPD officers, giving them instructions as the suspect is pushed into a squad car. The psycho has finally stopped trying to kick his way to freedom. The car door shuts, and McGarrett nods and ambles off toward Danny, who's speaking with another officer.

"What makes you say that?" Chin says.

"I had line of sight when he ran out of the warehouse. He didn't fall, but he stumbled pretty bad, looked like impact to me."

Chin nods. "You're probably right. No blood, though, that I can see."

"So … now?" Kono hooks a thumb in the back pocket of her jeans.

"Not yet."

She rolls her eyes.

"You can try it, cuz, but you know he'll shrug you off until the scene is processed."

Now a sigh. "I know."

"Stick to the routine."

They keep one eye on the boss while they work the scene of the shooting. An hour later, forensics is taking over and the EMTs are long gone. The crackling energy is dissipating; they can all feel it. Kono crosses the weedy field and enters the warehouse, where McGarrett is pacing in a corner, barking into his phone at—well, could be anyone from the governor on down. He shoves it back into his pocket and keeps pacing, his face a field of thoughtful furrows.

Okay, Kono thinks, not yet.

She fakes busyness for a few minutes, while his legs slow, then seem to grow invisible weights. Then stop. He stands for a few seconds. Checks his surroundings, and Kono ducks her head, looking busier than ever. Then he shuffles to a wall and braces his hand against it, head drooping between his shoulders. His chest heaves once, a breath that hurts, a sudden awareness in his body that things aren't quite right.

There it is. Kono walks over to him.

"Hey, boss."

He lifts his head, eyebrows raised, asking what she needs.

"Would you mind looking at something for me?"

"What've you got?" He's walking beside her already, strides firm again, and for a second she thinks this isn't going to work, she's made her move too soon, he's going to discover the bluff…

After four long strides, his next falters.

"Oh." The word is startled rather than pained.

One leg buckles, and he goes down on a knee, looking surprised and then livid, that his body would dare disobey orders like this. His left arm enwraps his right ribs.

"You okay?" Kono says, because they have to start here. Every time.

"Yeah, fine." Maybe his response will change if he ever loses a limb or something, but she doubts it. He's on his feet in a moment, willpower digging in between his brows. Then he's down on the knee again.

"What's wrong?"

"I think maybe I …"

Got hit? She doesn't say it. She doesn't roll her eyes. This is what she and Chin do for him, balancing the outraged whirlwind of words that is Danny Williams.

Because whether it's the legacy of SEAL training or the physical injuries he's already endured in his lifetime or simply the essence of the man, they have all (except Danny) learned McGarrett doesn't do this out of stubbornness. He's not lying when he says he's okay. He simply defines the word differently than most people (normal people, Danny would say) define it.

"I'm good." He grins up at her. "Kevlar."

"Uh-huh." Kono offers him a hand up.

He moves to take it, then slumps to both knees. Paling. Feeling it now, the full day of foot chases and punches to the face and a bullet caught in his vest that nonetheless must have cracked a rib or two. Fading adrenaline sends tremors down his arms, into his hands, which he clenches to hide the shaking. Kono kneels beside him, sets her hand on his back, and he leans into it. She wonders if he knows he's doing that.

"You need to get checked out," Kono says. "Just in case."

"It's only a rib, Kono. I'm fine."

"If it punctures a vital organ and you end up in the hospital for a week, you'll have Danny to deal with."

He huffs. "Not worth it."

"Really not."

"Okay, yeah, I'll get checked out. To spare Danny's feelings."

At the humor in his voice, she lets her smile surface. "Like considerate partners do."

"Will you pass that along to him please?" He matches her grin.

Across the warehouse, Chin is watching. His eyes meet his cousin's, and he smiles too.

Kono walks with her boss toward the one remaining paramedic on the scene and wonders if he saw Chin's smile. If he knows about this unspoken thing they do for him, without questions letting him ride the adrenaline as far as it will carry him. Given his people-reading skills, he's probably noticed. What he likely hasn't noticed (or he'd fight them on it) is the net they've made of their presence, to catch him when he finally crashes to the ground.

Stick to the routine. It works every time.

"Wait, Kono, what did you want me to see?"