Chapter 2 – Silence before the storm
This chapter was nothing like you read it now. I had some hard time and was feeling down when I was writing it, and well I was talking with Praemonitus Praemunitus at the time, and sent her the chapter for a review. And since we are honest with each other, she told me it looked like the boys were very aggressive.
When I re-read it, I realized that there was a scene where Steve practically threw the laptop at Danny, and there was a snarky/snappy convo. Right now, that convo has been re-written and changed and it's in one of the next chapters, and of course no aggressive boys. Thank you Prae for pulling my plug, once again. I appreciate that.
Steve was still thinking and going over the findings when he heard a rustle coming from Danny's direction.
"Good morning, Sunshine." Steve quipped.
"Hey." Danny rasped out.
"Hey yourself. Did you sleep well?"
"Mhm. You can say that."
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"I don't know... Better I think?"
"It's normal if you experience pain, Danno."
"Nah, it's not that bad."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
Danny smiled weakly at that worrywart of his partner, and Steve couldn't help, but smile too.
Dr. Cornett chose that moment to interrupt them to make his morning visit.
"How is my favorite patient today?"
"I'm okay. And ready to go home."
"Eager, aren't we?" Dr. Cornett said as he checked Danny's vitals.
"Nothing against you Doc, it's just I miss my home." Danny joked.
Dr. Cornett smiled and continued reading the chart. He asked couple of questions and wrote something on his pad, saying he'll have to monitor him for another 24 hours before he signs the release form.
Danny growled loudly, but he was greeted with a stern glare from both Steve and Cornett so he relented under the pressure.
Danny observed Steve for a few moments after the doctor left. He couldn't fathom at what could possibly make Steve look like he ate a bunch of nails for breakfast. He had on his aneurysm face again.
"You giant I-will-carry-the-world's-guilt-on-my-shoulders goof, would ya' relax already?"
"I have no idea what are you talking about."
"You worry too much."
"Says the resident worrywart."
"I'm allowed to, since you are on the receiving end of those worries, but I thought we cleared this out last night, babe. It was not your fault. I'm fine, I'm alive. And don't you dare doubting yourself!"
"Danno…"
"What? Are you gonna tell me you are not worried, and did not chew on your lower lip while Cornett was asking me questions just few minutes ago?"
"Okay, I admit. Guilty as charged."
Danny smirked at how stubborn and relentless was his goof of a partner.
"Well, now that we settled that and you promised not to dwell on it-"
"I didn't promise anything!"
"Yep, you did. Now quit pouting."
Steve wasn't even aware that his lower lip was sticking into a pout, but he decided to give Danny a free pass. Just because he was right, nothing to do with the fact that he was stabbed, and Steve's heart almost popped out of his chest cavity at the thought of it.
"Okay, okay." Steve chuckled, and saw the frown vanish from Danny's face, replaced by that radiant smile that could fill your cloudy days with sunshine.
"So, my idea was, to ease your mind up further, after I get out of here, and I'm healthy enough to move around, maybe we can go and do something, for example fishing. We haven't hung out in ages, and I think it will be the best if we took some time off, to let all of this behind us. A small vacay. Nothing fancy or pre-planned, just you and me, fishing gear, straw hats, and selfie is a must, because we have to report to the Drill Sergeant. What do you say, babe?"
"Drill Sergeant? Really? You call your daughter a drill Sergeant? Wait till Grace hears this."
"Steve!"
"Yeah, okay, I say yes. You have a nice idea. But, Danno, fishing? Last time you said you'll never go fishing with me, like ever again."
"I changed my mind. But, don't get your hopes up, since we are going to a place that's close to the shore. That way if someone wants to cross us over, we'll be able to call for back-up."
"Done deal."
"Besides, sharks eat SEALs, and I'll have to keep you safe. Can't risk a shark eating this SEAL."
Steve laughed at that, and that in turn made Danny smile.
Steve was amazed. Danny was the one who was stabbed, and stuck in a hospital for at least one more day, but he was still taking care for those around him. That made Steve almost tear up, but he had to keep his emotions in check. Danny needed to calm and rest, not worry about him and set his healing back. So, Steve put on a smile on his face, tried not to think of the findings on Frank Simpson's death, and decided to act on it when Danny was ready for it.
Just then, Danny's phone rang, and as Danny struggled to get it, Steve reached for it to give it to him, accidentally looking at the caller ID and frowning.
"What? Who is it?"
"It's Amber."
Danny knew instantly something was very wrong, the way Steve's face fell when he saw who the caller was, but he decided not to dwell too much on it, and let it go.
"Hey." Danny said, but it wasn't entirely the happiest of exclaims, still eyeing Steve that retreated in the chair.
If Danny wanted him out, he could say that, himself. Danny didn't.
"Hey." The voice on the other line greeted. "How are you Danny?"
"I'm fine, thanks. And you?"
"I'm okay. Listen, Danny, I wanted to call you before I left, but it came all of a sudden and I…"
"Left? What do you mean by that?" there was an edge in Danny's voice that Steve immediately rose from the chair and came closer.
"I left for New York last night. I… had to clear my mind a little bit, and now with Frank gone, I just wanted to go and see my family. Sorry, Danny. It wasn't planned."
Danny visibly paled, and Steve was now alarmed at how his friend reacted to whatever Amber had said on the other line. The grip he had on the sheet was strong, his knuckles were white, blending with it. Steve gently took that arm in his and squeezed.
Danny closed his eyes for a second, and took a deep breath. Somehow, the oxygen was lacking and he found it was hard to breathe.
"How long?"
"I don't know. I am trying to sort things out, the legal documents, gonna get my identity back, see my family. I'm sorry once again. I'll call you when I get back. I love you."
Danny didn't reply, just closed his eyes, and squeezed them hard, disconnecting the call. He all but threw the phone on the wall, trying to block Melissa's cold voice.
"Danny…"
Danny suddenly jumped from where he was lying down on the bed, intent to get on his feet, and as far away from the hospital, as he could, but the movement pulled at the stitches and it sent a sharp pain in his abdomen. He screamed, painful guttural scream that tore Steve's insides, as he tried to gently lower Danny down.
"Hey, Danno, take it easy, take it easy, okay?" He was all but whispering, simultaneously carding through Danny's hair, praying his touch and words will be enough.
Danny's stomach was hurting, full blown pain now, and he instinctively reached for it, clutching tightly around the wound, suddenly out of breath completely.
Steve was still by his side.
"Danny, what's wrong? Buddy, talk to me? What happened?"
"It's... It's nothing. Just... Oh, God, the pain... That fucker got me right. Hurts... A lot."
Steve reached the pump and sent some of the painkillers to run through Danny's IV.
"Try to calm down and even your breathing, okay?"
"Well… I intend… to… I'm trying… it won't work... Ow!"
"That's it. Just breathe through the pain. I know it hurts, but it will be better. I promise. Can you breathe with me?"
Danny closed his eyes and nodded. Steve was here, next to Danny, and he was grounding him. Danny felt the panic ease out of his body, bit by bit. But, he was still restless and scaring the crap out of Steve.
Steve pressed the button to call a nurse as he guided his partner through the breathing process. Soon enough, Danny calmed down, but his breathing was still erratic, with a heartbeat too high for Steve's liking.
The nurse followed by Dr. Cornett entered the room. They asked Steve to step out of the room, but Danny opened his eyes, and practically broke Steve's hand in an attempt to haul him closer.
"Stay… He… stays…"
They had no other choice, than to work around Steve, all the while Steve kept close. Danny needed him, and he'd move hell and high waters to help him through whatever it was that Amber said to him over the phone.
The nurse checked the IV and made a change in the painkillers adding stronger ones, that took the edge off the pain immediately. Dr. Cornett revised his earlier decision to keep Danny for one more day, to a longer extent of time. He also prescribed a mild sedative.
Danny felt like he was floating, trying hard not to fall asleep with the help of the sedative. He needed to tell Steve not to worry.
"Sleep, Danny, don't fight it off. You need to rest and let your body heal."
"'S 'kay. 'M 'kay… Stay?" Danny was slurring the words now, not fighting the meds.
"You don't even have to ask."
Danny sighed.
"I promise you, we'll get through this together. Whatever it is." Steve was whispering in Danny's ear, trying to reassure his partner, the edge in his voice evident, as he tried to keep his emotions in check for the hundredth time that day.
His hand went to Danny's hair again, smoothing over flying strands of hair and touching his temple that was warm on the touch. Silently Steve communicated that to the nurse, as she checked Danny's temperature. As it turned out, Danny's temperature was higher normal. That added to the fear Steve felt for Danny.
Danny sunk into oblivion as Steve sighed, trying to compose himself.
He left the room while the nurse was checking on Danny's vitals, using the moment because his partner was asleep, and called Duke.
"Hey, Duke. Yeah, I talked to Danny. No, he... Right now, he is not feeling very well, his memory is fuzzy, he couldn't tell me what happened exactly." God, forgive me for lying to Duke. "Yeah, I'll tell him. I think he should rest and recuperate for a few days before he gives an official statement, if he actually remembers something. His fever just spiked. Thanks Duke."
Steve disconnected the call, casting a longing look to the closed door of the room his partner was in. Hoping he made the right decision.
It was always silent before the storm.
…