"Mr. Williams? It's your turn to speak."

"Oh, right… sorry, I've never done this before." Danny wiped a sweaty hand on his pant leg, avoiding the looks from the people sat around him. He cleared his throat before continuing.

"Well as you know, my name's Danny and I work with the Five-0 task force. I look after my former partner Steve, after he suffered a traumatic brain injury after being ambushed as he chased a suspect." He finally looked up, not sure how to feel at the sympathetic looks pointed at him. "It happened just over a year ago, and he's been at home with me for a few months now."

"And how come it's taken you so long to come to a support group?"

"Because I was told to by a doctor when I took Steve for his routine scans and stuff. He thought I could use some… help."

"Do you not think that's the case?" The woman sitting opposite him asked.

Danny sighed as he thought about what to say. "I used to think that I was doing okay. But then, I, uh… I lost my cool a little bit during his scan and at home."

"And how did you feel afterwards?"

"Awful." He said with no hesitation. "Steve saw me punch the worktop and was scared when I shouted. I felt disgusting, and promised him that I'd get myself sorted."

The man next to him nodded. "It took me a while to admit I needed help, but my family insisted that I speak to people who know what it's like. What about your family?"

"Most of my family are back in New Jersey but they wanted me to come here. Same with my friends in the task force who have known us for about 6 years, pestering me for a while. But my daughter found your leaflet in my coat pocket that the doctor gave me and asked me to come." Danny smiled at the mention of Grace. He didn't think they needed to know that she once found him crying in the kitchen one afternoon and promptly thrust the leaflet in his face, begging him to go.

"That's good, Danny. It sounds like you have a good support network around you." The man clapped him on the shoulder. "It's important. But so is this - we're all doing the same thing, so we know perfectly well what you're going through and how tough it is."

"Yeah, this is why I didn't bother with police therapists."

"So, how is your partner like now - what was his name, Steve?"

Danny nodded. "He's got the mindset and capacity of a child, about the same as my 4 year old son I guess. Spent a while in hospital before going to a specialist rehab centre for military men and women while I was renovating his home - adding a bedroom and wetroom downstairs for him, and widening doors for his wheelchair." His tongue darted out to wet his lips. "Loves animals and nature stuff, and colourful lights. Him and my son could spend hours in toy shops or watching cartoons."

A woman, whose name was Nani, shook her head and chuckled. "Oh dear, I know how that feels all too well."

"I'm sorry?"

"My husband is the same - he loves all of David Attenborough's documentaries. When he comes home they're all he watches."

Danny frowned. "I'm confused… when he comes home?"

"He lives in a nursing home most of the time, he's wheelchair-bound and I'm not able to look after him at home." Nani smiled sadly at Danny. "He comes home on day-visits sometimes."

"Oh… I'm sorry, I had no idea. When I heard you talking about your husband earlier, I just assumed he lived at home with you." Danny blushed, and looked to the group leader on his right. "Can I ask a question?"

"Of course!"

Danny looked around at everyone. "Out of everyone here, who's spouse or loved one lives with them at home?"

He looked around and felt the blood rush from his face. Of the the ten other people in the circle, only three of them put their hands up.

"Oh…" Danny rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I'm sorry."

"No need to apologise, Danny!" Nani said.

"I had no idea… I thought it would be, y'know, the other way around."

"Sadly not. More often than not, those that suffer a brain injury tend to be unable to go back home, at least on a permanent basis. They most likely need full time care that is unavailable at home, or specialist care for medical reasons. For example, David over there?" Nani pointed to her left. "His wife has a tracheostomy. That requires specialist care that you just simply can't do at home - suctioning and what have you."

Danny cringed at the thought, but nodded in understanding. As he listened to the other members of the group tell their stories he began to realise how lucky Steve was to be healthy enough to stay in his own home, that in terms of complications following his brain injury, he got off rather lightly.

Steve could mobilise pretty much independently - Nani's husband Paul could not. He could communicate by himself - David's wife had to rely on alphabet and picture charts due to her tracheostomy. Aside from some assistance from Danny when needed, Steve could independently perform daily tasks such as washing and feeding himself - the group leader, Jenna, explained her son required 24 hour care as he suffered from severe learning disabilities following complications with his birth.

And Danny realised that he was lucky too. He had Steve at home with him all the time, and while there were frustrating moments that made him want to pull his hair out, he'd bet his next paycheck that any one of the people here would do anything to have their loved one at home for even one day. Danny instantly wished that he was with Steve now so that he could give him a massive hug.

He expressed these thoughts when he had a chance to speak, and had to battle past the lump in his throat from talking about his situation. The topic then moved onto what everyone's loved one's favourite pastimes were currently, and Danny was in his element telling everyone about Steve.

Before he knew what was going on, everyone was stacking chairs away. Danny added his to the pile and grabbed his coat from where it was hanging on the wall hook, when an arm on his forearm got his attention.

"Danny?"

He frowned. "Nani, isn't it?"

Nani smiled. "Yeah. I just want to say that I think you're doing a great job with looking after Steve. From what you were saying earlier, it's clear that he still loves and trusts you. I'm sure he's happy."

Danny was sure his face was bright red. "Thank you," He mumbled. "I couldn't imagine what it must be like for you, to not have Paul around."

"It was hard at first, but after a while I got used to it. Having our kids around was a big help." Nani said.

"Yeah, my daughter Grace has been great. And Steve loves playing with her and his toys." Danny smiled.

Nani nodded. "I hope I'm not being too forward… but if you ever fancy a coffee, or anything, just give me a call, yeah?" She handed Danny a piece of paper with her number on it. "That's my cell. If you have any questions about anything, or need to vent to someone who understands - because believe me, that's important - just call."

Danny tucked the paper in his pants pocket and smiled. "I, uh, I really appreciate it. Mahalo, Nani."

Nani drew him into a hug, her slightly large frame enveloping Danny. "No problem, Danny."