A/N: Thank you for review, alerts, favourites and reading! Not long till the new series and to top it off I've ordered Season 2 to be delivered to my door on Monday! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. To Guest who commented on Chin and Kono not being there... they weren't forgotten.

A little side note! I started a forum called DWOCD Support Group. Please come and join it then hopefully we can get some good conversations going there!

Chapter 3

Mak once again ducked under the water to assess the situation with Steve following him after placing the medical back pack and IV bag up on a ledge out of reach of the water. It wasn't long before the pair emerged.

"Danny, have you moved?" asked Mak.

"Er, yeah, my ass was going numb so I tried to shift a little," he shrugged sheepishly.

"Don't do it again," ordered Mak sternly.

"Would someone like to tell me what's going on?"

Steve silently sat down in the water behind Danny and pushed up against his friend's back with his legs either side of Danny's then encouraged the man to lean back against his chest so that he could take the weight for the time being, "I know Mak has already told you that your leg is completely stuck. We're going to need to move some of the smaller rocks before we can get to the one that's actually trapping your leg."

"OK."

"I just want to give you a break from supporting yourself for a bit so Mak is going to start removing some now but he'll have to do it slowly so no getting impatient."

"Got it, patient is my middle name."

Steve huffed at that and dearly wished that there was someone else that could be in here with them right now, but the Ensign had to stay on shore to coordinate requests from Mak via the radio that was in the medical back pack. Someone must have heard his wish though because a familiar voice sounded behind them.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join in?"

"Chin am I glad to see you," Steve told the older man, "Can you come and support Danny so that I can help Mak move some of the rocks?"

"Mak? Sure," replied Chin as he moved to where Steve and Danny were sat. The two men swapped places just as Mak broke the surface.

The Coast Guard Lieutenant looked curiously at the new face but said nothing as Steve introduced them. He nodded a greeting and then both he and Steve returned to the laborious task of moving the smaller rocks so that they could gain access to the large one on Danny's leg.

"You're getting as bad as Steve for finding trouble," Chin told Danny as he leaned against his chest.

"Hey, I was helping someone. Steve looks for trouble, trouble finds me!"

"Yeah yeah, sure brah. You keep telling yourself that."

"Hang on a minute, how did you know we were here?"

"Grace gave Cath your phone and she called us."

"Us?"

"Kono's here too."

"Of course she is. Don't you people have anything better to do with your time than come to my rescue?"

"Nope. Hey, you're saving me from a long list of chores Malia gave me before she left for work this morning!"

"Glad I could be of service," he winced as the large rock dug further into his leg.

Mak and Steve surfaced several times as Danny and Chin kept talking about nothing much. Chin was just trying to keep Danny's mind occupied and away from thoughts of the rising tide.

"Alright," said Mak after twenty minutes, "That's got rid of the smaller rocks."

Steve stood next to him and glanced around as if making sure that nothing had changed. Of course it had, the tide was still coming in so the level of the water was getting higher with every passing minute. The tide had probably been coming in for hours, but it was only when it reached the level of the lowest wall of the rock pool that it began to affect their rescue. Steve could tell from the tide mark on the rocks that if they didn't get Danny out before high tide was reached then his brother would be completely submerged. Looking at Mak he could tell the man knew it too and it didn't look like they had that long before the ocean pushed its way over the rock walls and completely flooded the pool.

"What's next?" Danny wanted to know as he leaned against Chin looking at the two standing men.

Mak crouched down next to him and started to check Danny's vitals as he spoke, "Steve and I are going to figure out the best way to get that rock off your leg, but I need to finish checking you over first."

"OK," Danny looked a little concerned but let the man do his job.

"Danny you've been trapped here for around an hour now, this puts you at risk of something called Crush Syndrome when we move that rock off your leg," Mak told him once he'd finished.

"Do I even want to know what Crush Syndrome is and what it means for me?"

"It's when you experience a crush injury, which is the compression of an area, such as a leg, that causes your muscles to swell this in turn can lead to shock and renal failure."

"OK, but what does that mean in terms of my situation?"

"Before we remove the rock and extract you I'm going to increase your fluid intake via IV by putting one in your other hand as well then I'm going to open them both wide which will basically overload you on fluid, I'll also give you IV sodium bicarbonate. That should hopefully prevent hypovolemia, which will leave you with low blood pressure and tachycardia if we don't stop it."

"If you don't increase my fluid intake?"

"When the rock putting pressure on your leg is lifted it will cause toxins to enter your bloodstream, which will likely lead to complete kidney failure and possibly death. If I overload your system with fluid it should help flush the toxins out of your system quickly therefore preventing damage."

"You know I really like the idea of having another needle inserted and more fluids running, here you go." Danny quickly held out his right hand to allow Mak to insert another IV.

Steve watched as Mak quickly inserted the needle and hung another bag of saline, swapping the other bag out for a fresh one as well. The two men then started discussing the best way to extract Danny from his predicament.

"Do you think we could just lift it off him, between us I mean?"

"The danger of us dropping it back down on him and causing more damage is too high," responded Mak, "I think we need to get something under the rock to lever it up and then pull Danny out."

"Guys, whatever you're going to do, make it quick," Chin told them. They both turned round and saw that the water was splashing into Danny's face more regularly now.

Mak pulled out the radio from the medical bag, "Kalena, get me a length of pipe from the truck."

"Copy that Mak, Jeff and Dom just arrived; do you want me to send them in to help?"

"Yes please, we need to be quick."

"Jeff and Dom are coming your way with some gear."

"Thanks Kalena."

Two men appeared over the rim of the rock pool and brief introductions were made. Then Mak, Jeff, Dom and Steve all ducked under the water with a long length of pipe in Mak's hand. There was just about enough room for all of them. A few minutes later they all resurfaced.

Danny's eyes were closed; his body tense pressed up against Chin's who was also starting to get a face full of water every time a fresh wave rolled in.

"Danny?" Steve scrunched down in order to speak to his friend, a look of worry passed between him and Chin.

"You've got constipated face, babe," Danny huffed out when he opened his eyes and looked at his friend.

"Well you have a tone that tells me you're in pain," responded Steve.

"I have a rock on my leg, Steven," he paused to take a deep breath, inhaling the now much appreciated additional oxygen, "It moved ergo, pain!"

"Shit, sorry man," Steve ran a hand through his hair. None of the four men had thought the rock had budged when they put the pipe under it to haul on it.

"I'm going to give you some morphine Danny, it'll have to be a low dose given we can't have you falling asleep on us in the water, but it should take the edge off," Mak told him as he waded to the medical kit, pulled out what he needed and reached down for Danny's hand. He thoroughly cleaned the IV port then inserted the syringe and administered the dose.

A particularly large wave rolled in and washed over Danny, soaking his head and causing him to splutter under the mask.

"Alright we need a better plan. We're going to need to dig trenches under the rock at either end and insert pipes further underneath so that we can get the leverage we need," stated Jeff.

"That's going to take time we don't have," replied Dom.

"What about bringing in lifting gear?" suggested Chin as he turned away to prevent getting another mouthful of ocean.

"That'll take even longer," Mak informed him, looking at his patient with concern, the struggle for Danny now was more keeping his head above water and the oxygen mask only provided a modicum of protection.

"Do you have scuba gear?" asked Steve.

"Of course," Jeff answered, almost affronted at the question.

"Get two sets and bring them back here," Steve ordered, apparently in full on SEAL mode, "If you have the full face masks that would be better."

Jeff and Dom both looked to Mak, who was in fact their boss after all. They received a nod and they scrambled over the edge of the rock pool to go back to their vehicle for the requested equipment.

Steve squatted back by Danny, trying to block the now consistent splashing of the water in his friend's face, "Danno, we can't move the rock without digging trenches to allow the pipes in far enough to give us more leverage, we've run out of time bud."
"Knew this island hated me. Been trying to kill me since I got here," responded Danny bleakly.

"The island isn't trying to kill you Danny," Steve rolled his eyes, not really having time for this but seeing that it was somehow helping his brother he let it slide.

"First you with your Rambo insanity, not to mention the criminals who take great delight in using me for target practice and now the damn island's dropped a rock on me and is trying to drown me!"

"Danno, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I have a plan."

"You? You have a plan? That's gotta be a first. Isn't it normally shoot first and ask questions later? Not sure how that helps here."

"Really Danny, now is not the time for this!" admonished Chin.

"Chin's right, you keep taking nice easy breaths of that oxygen and listen to me. We're going to set you up with scuba gear, Chin too. That way when the water comes up higher you'll still be able to breathe. It won't be pure oxygen like you are on now, but it's better than the alternative."
Danny's eyes widened, "Are you nuts? Honestly you expect me to just sit here and let the water cover my head, really?"

"Danny we've got no choice, we're out of options!" Steve was practically growling in frustration. He knew that what was happening was scary for Danny but they didn't have any more time left to argue. Jeff and Dom were coming back with the gear.

"You'll be able to breathe without any problem Danny," assured Chin, "I'll be right here with you."

The New Jersey native knew this was going to be a bad experience, but a bad experience was better than dying, "Alright, you win."

"I always do Danno," grinned Steve as he took one of the sets of gear off Jeff and started getting it ready. "So, they've got full face masks which will be better for you, I'm just going to take off your oxygen mask, slide this one over your head," he showed Danny the mask in his hand, "then turn the tank on. Simple."

"Simple he says," mumbled Danny. He was sure having the face mask on was going to feel almost claustrophobic but he had no choice, "Go ahead."

"It'll be alright Danny," Steve looked at him, "Trust me, I'm a SEAL," he grinned as he took off the oxygen mask and handed it to Mak, watching Danny roll his eyes, "OK, here we go," he pulled the scuba mask over Danny's head, holding it in place with one hand and using his other to adjust the straps at the back making sure they were tight and secure and the mask was properly sealed against Danny's skin, "Alright?" he asked.

Danny just nodded his head and closed his eyes, trying not to panic at his new narrowed view of the world. It was an uncomfortable feeling for him with the snug fit of it. He knew, logically, that this was a good thing, no water was getting in, but it just made him feel so closed in. The water had now covered his chin and waves were more regularly coming into the pool high enough to cover his head, filling his ears with the sound of nothing but water. It didn't seem to take long before he was completely submerged. Trying to push the panic back he thought about anything other than where he was, which meant he zoned out unable to hear the conversation going on above him anymore.

"Steve, I think you should be the one to sit with him," Chin told his boss and friend as he shifted behind Danny so that he was on his knees allowing him to still have this conversation but maintain contact and support of the submerged member of their ohana.

"What? No, you're doing fine and you've used the scuba gear before."

"I have but he's starting to panic and you're more likely to be able to calm him than me."

"If that happens then we'll swap," Steve just wanted to be, needed to be, part of the team working to release Danny.

"There will be no time for that; you know that as well as I do. If he panics he's going to thrash around and try pulling his leg out and all that will do is open the wounds on his leg and make them deeper, possibly even cause another rock fall."

"He trusts you, it'll be fine."

"I know he trusts me, but you have a better chance of keeping him calm than I do. Besides I have experience in these kinds of situations, do you?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Underwater rescue? Of course I've got experience, I'm a SEAL!"

"No, I mean of working around a rock fall like this."

Steve hesitated. Yes, he had experience of underwater rescue, had been involved in more than one op that had led to men sustaining injuries whilst in the water, but not because of a rock fall, "No."

"I do. Please, let me help the Coast Guard team while you look after Danny. I can feel the tension radiating off him and it's likely to get worse before it gets better."

"Alright, OK, you win," Steve held out his hand for the gear, which Chin gave him with a sigh of relief. He knew this was going to be difficult for Steve, but they needed to do what was best for Danny right now.

"Once you've got the mask on you'll be able to talk to him," Mak told him, "there's a radio built in and Kalena's radio will be linked in to you both and you'll be able to keep updated on our progress."

"Thanks," Steve nodded and then quickly placed the mask over his head and secured it, "Hey Danno," he spoke to try and get his brother's attention, it didn't seem to work. Kneeling next to Chin the support of Danny's weight was shifted easily between the two men. Steve gradually adjusted his position so he once again had his legs either side of Danny and had him pressed against his chest. The two scuba tanks were lying on the sand at the bottom of the rock pool next to them with the conveniently longer hoses there was no need of the extra weight and restrictions of having them on their backs.

"Danny, come on man, talk to me," Steve rubbed his hands up and down Danny's arms trying to ground him. He felt the shudders running through the other's man's body and if possible pulled him closer against his chest, "It's alright Danno; I'm here, just talk to me!"