Danny Williams had never been known for his patience and right now anyone who knew him understood his need for motion. He strode back and forth along the same path, never deviating from his determined step until he spotted Chin and Kono hurrying toward him.

"Danny, are you all right?" Kono asked once they reached him.

"I'm fine, Kono," Williams assured her.

"What happened? I thought you and Steve went to Tiki's?" Chin asked.

"We did," Williams answered and looked toward the room where Steve had been whisked nearly half an hour ago. "We met two ladies there and Steve was more relaxed than he's been since the Thompson case. You know Steve blames himself for not catching that sonofabitch."

"That the way he is, brah," Chin offered as the door opened and a woman strode toward them.

"Family of Steve McGarrett?" she asked.

"About as close as family can be," Williams told her. "How is he?"

"He'll be fine, but he did lose quite a bit of blood and I'm going to keep him in for now. I've got him started on IV antibiotics and gave him something for pain so he's going to be groggy. It took a dozen stitches to close up the wound, but he's lucky because although it is deep it didn't cut anything vital. If things look good then I'll sign his release tomorrow, but he'll need to rest take it easy for a few days and I'll need to see him in a week to take out the stitches," Dr. Keanna Wahine told them.

"Can we see him?" Kono asked.

"Yes, but like I said he'll be groggy and should be resting. The nurse will come let you know as soon as they have a room ready for him," Wahine answered.

Danny ran his fingers through his hair and walked slowly toward the door, anxious to see for himself that 'Super Seal' was a fitting name for Steve McGarrett. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, his eyes fixed on the man in the bed. Steve's eyes were closed, his right hand resting on top of the blanket that covered him to just above the waist. A white bandage protruded slightly above the edge of the blanket, a thin line of blood evidence of the wound McGarrett had suffered.

"I'm not going to die here, Danny," the SEAL told him.

"Good, I'm not partial to black," Williams said. "How do you feel?"

"Not feeling much of anything right now," McGarrett said once he got his eyes open. "You look worse than I feel, Danny...you okay?"

"I'm fine...I'm not the one with a new version of nip and tuck."

"It's just a flesh..."

"Oh no...don't you dare say it's a flesh wound, Steve! That cut took a dozen stitches and Dr Wahine wants to keep you until she's sure the antibiotics are working..."

"I don't need to stay..."

"Too bad...you are! I'll sit on you if I have to!" Williams warned.

"Come on, Danny, I'm fine..."

"Like hell you are..."

"Is everything all right in here?" Kono asked as she and Chin entered the small room.

"I'm fine, but Mr. Super SEAL here thinks he know better than the doctor what's good for him. Maybe you two can talk some sense into him," Williams snapped.

"Steve, Dr. Wahine said you lost a lot of blood and she wants to make sure you're okay before she'll release you. It's just one night," Kono told him.

"One night," Steve muttered tiredly and saw relief in his partner's eyes. "One night," he repeated.

"Good," Williams said simply.

"Melina and Toni?" McGarrett said.

"They're fine. I had a couple of officers escort them home. It seems Melina has a history with Liko Silva and his buddy Makani Pahia," Williams answered.

"Where are they?" McGarrett asked.

"Cooling their heels in jail," Chin answered. "Silva and Pahia have arrest warrants not just here but in Detroit and New York as well."

"Excuse me, Commander McGarrett's room is ready so would you mind waiting outside while I get him ready," a young nurse told them.

"What room will he be in?" Williams asked.

"310," the woman answered and reached for the IV bag and placed it on the pole attached to the end of his bed. "All right, Mr. McGarrett, just relax and we'll soon have you settled in a comfortable bed."

"You're kidding right? I mean this is a hospital and the beds were never made for comfort," McGarrett griped and heard her chuckle softy as an orderly joined them.

"You're right...they're not made for comfort," the nurse said and turned to the young male orderly. "Third floor...room 310."

"All right, Commander, just lie back and enjoy the ride," the orderly said.

Steve closed his eyes and felt himself drifting toward sleep, but opened his eyes when the gurney was pushed through a door into a private room. He smiled at the nurse who helped him move onto the bed and hung his IV before running it through a machine that regulated the flow.

"Now, Commander, I'm Jenna and I'll be one of the nurses looking after you today so I'll just going to get a set of vitals on you and let you get some rest," Jenna Madison explained and smiled at the handsome man.

"Sounds good," McGarrett said and glanced at the clock over the door, amazed to see that it was only a little after two in the morning.

"All right, Commander, I'm finished. If you need anything just push this button and I'll be right in," the nurse explained.

"Thanks, Jenna," McGarrett said and watched her leave, not at all surprised when Williams entered. "Danny, go home."

"That's gratitude for you...a man gives up his sleep..."

"Danny, I appreciate you being here, but I'd rather not put up with who you become when you don't get your eight hours. Besides, don't you have to pick up Grace tomorrow morning?"

"Yes, I do, but...I..."

"This is not your fault, Danno, so don't go there," McGarrett said of the look on his friend's face. He knew Williams enjoyed the time he spent with his daughter and didn't want to be the cause on him or Grace missing out on their time together.

"You wouldn't have been there if I hadn't asked you to go," Williams said.

"No, and I wouldn't have met Melina and forgotten about the job we do for a little while. I needed this, Danny...not the knife wound or the stitches, but everything else was good. Now I need you to go home so I can get some sleep without worrying about you getting a kink in your neck and back from sleeping in an uncomfortable chair," McGarrett said seriously.

"Steve..."

"Tell me you got her number for me, Danno," McGarrett said.

"It's in the report," Williams told him.

"Good...go home," McGarrett ordered.

"Steve..."

"Say goodnight, Danno."

"Goodnight, Danno," Williams said and nodded. "Call if you need anything."

"I'll need a ride in the morning."

"Depends on what Dr. Wahine says," Williams said, leaving before McGarrett could say anything else.

Steve lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes. He'd been injured many times before and knew what his body could take and when it was time to take advantage of a few hours rest. Wahine had said he'd lost a lot of blood and he'd needed a transfusion, and if the bone deep weariness was nay indication, he just might sleep through the day.

5050505050

Kale Aneko blinked his eyes and reached for the phone on the nightstand even as his wife of eight years grumbled about the time. He threw back the blankets when he recognized the number, and hurried into the living room.

"Is something wrong, Sir?"

"Aneko, what were my exact orders?"

"You wanted me to make sure McGarrett and Williams met the girls and were given the cover story," Aneko answered with a hint of fear.

"So where in that simple order was anything said about hurting McGarrett?"

"No where, but that was Liko...he took it too far."

"You hired him...a man is held to the company he keeps. Liko and Makani are your problems and you had better take care of them or I will take care of you. Do I make myself clear or should I send someone to make my point?"

"No, Sir, I'll see that it's taken care of," Aneko said.

"Good, I will be in contact once I return to the Island."

The phone went dead and for the first time in his life he felt the cold fingers of fear encircling his heart. How had he let himself get involved with this man? How many times in the last five years had he cursed the man's name?

"Kale, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Meka, go on back to bed," Aneko said and looked up when his pregnant wife placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Was that him?"

"Yes."

"I wish you would cut all ties with him, Kale."

"You know I can't, Meka, he owns me now and there's nothing I can do about it."

"You could go to the police," she said and heard the dry laugh that spoke of her husband's frustrations.

"And go to jail for the rest of my life...never see you or our baby again. No, Meka, that's not an option," Kale said and reached for his wife's hand. "I'm sorry, Meka, this is not how I pictured our life."

"Me either, Kale, but I love you and I'll stand by you," Meka told him, tears glistening in her eyes as her husband held her close.

5050505050

Steve McGarrett opened his eyes and sought out the source of the sound that had wakened him. The door stood open and light spilled from the hallway into his room, but he wasn't sure what time it was as the heavy drapes were drawn across the window. He glanced at the clock, surprised to note that it was after ten AM and that his breakfast tray had been moved after he'd dozed off.

Steve looked at the half empty bag of IV solution hanging from the pole beside his bed and sighed heavily as memories of the night before came back and along with it the throbbing pain in his right side. He heard voices outside the door and slid his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, surprised when a wave of dizziness washed over him.

"Steve..."

McGarrett looked up at the woman who stood on his right side and smiled at her. "Hi, Melina, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Steve, thanks to you," Melina told him and helped him sit back on the bed. She winced in sympathy as she looked at the bandage covering the wound on his side. "I'm sorry, Steve."

"For what?" McGarrett asked.

"It's my fault you were hurt."

"This is nothing, Melina, I've cut myself worse shaving," he told her with a hint of a smile as he reached out and placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. "this is not your fault, Melina."

"Yes, it is, Steve, I should have known Liko would never give up."

"Toni said he was stalking you...is that true?"

"I guess so. He followed me here and he seems to show up every time I go out. Toni said she saw him outside our apartment building and I know he's been to my studio several times."

"Did he ever hurt you?" McGarrett asked, and saw the truth in her eyes as tears formed and slipped silently down her face. "Melina, did you press charges against him?"

"No, I was afraid to. I had a friend who pressed charges against her ex and his lawyer got him off. The next time he saw her he beat her so badly she was in the hospital for a month and lost everything she had because she could no longer function. Oh, they convicted him the last time, but it was too late for Kayla...she committed suicide a week after he was sentenced to prison. The bastard is still there and I wish...I wish he was dead. It's not fair," Melina said and soon found herself held by strong arms.

"Sometimes life isn't fair," McGarrett told her and let her sob against his shoulder, ignoring the pain that shot through his side s he continued to hold her until she reached for the tissues and wiped away the evidence of her tears.

Melina looked into his eyes and smiled as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Steve, I came here to help you and you end up helping me...did anyone ever tell you you're a knight in shining armor?"

"No, and my armor was tarnished a long time ago."

"I doubt that very much, Steve McGarrett. You rescued a damsel in distress and now my tears have touched you and that means I owe you my life," Melina said and kissed him. "Don't worry, Steve, I'm not a fool, but I do love the old King Arthur movies and perhaps I could interest you in checking out my collection of the classics."

"I love classic movies," Steve told her.

"Am I interrupting something?" Danny Williams asked. He'd arrived in time to hear the last of the conversation and a smug smile formed on his face as he saw the look on McGarrett's face.

"I thought you were spending the day with Grace?" McGarrett said.

"Just the morning. She's going to a birthday party and Rachel wanted to drop her off," Danny explained. "I figured you might be in need of rescuing, but I guess..."

"Steve, I should be going. I'll call you later," Melina said and smiled before she left the two men alone.

"Thanks, Danny," McGarrett said sarcastically.

"Hey, what did I do?" Williams asked.

"If I have to explain it to you then no wonder you didn't get to first base with Toni," McGarrett teased.

"What makes you say that...maybe i hit a home run..."

"And she's still running."

"Hell, and here I thought losing a little blood would make you a little sensitive."

"I am sensitive, Danny, but I tend to save my sensitive side for the ladies," McGarrett said and stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Well, since you asked I need to go take care of a sensitive matter. Go see if Dr. Wahine is in...I want this out," McGarrett motioned to the IV before making his way toward the washroom.

Danny shook his head and made his way out to the nurse's desk. He smiled at the woman seated there and waited for her to finish what she was doing before speaking. "Is Dr. Wahine in yet, Maya?"

"She's doing her morning rounds...is there something I can help you with?"

"McGrumpy in 310 wants to leave," Williams answered.

"McGrumpy?" Maya Cardinal asked and suddenly realized he was talking about the good looking man in room 310. "Oh, you mean Mr. McGarrett?"

"That's what I said...Mr. McGrumpy," Williams said.

"I'll let her know he's impatient," Maya told him.

"Very impatient," Williams said and made his way back to the room to find McGarrett searching through the closet. "Did you lose something?"

"My clothes," McGarrett answered.

"The shirt was ruined," Williams said and pointed to the overnight bag he'd dropped by the door when he first arrived. He picked it up and placed it on the chair away from McGarrett. "Why don't we wait until Dr. Wahine gets here before you put these on?"

"Danny, I'm leaving whether she signs the papers or not."

"Is that right, Commander!"

Steve and Danny both turned to find Governor Pat Jameson standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest. Steve was the first to find his voice and sat on the edge of the bed. "Sorry, governor, I didn't know you were there."

"So I see, but you do realize you're not a SEAL anymore and you're not in some undisclosed country doing some undisclosed assignment? I mean there's nothing so pressing that you have to put your life on the line when you should be recovering from a stabbing," Jameson said.

"It's not as bad as..."

"Oh really, Commander? From the report on my desk that not so bad wound of your took a dozen stitches and you needed a transfusion. That in itself is very telling and I am ordering you to take a few days off...I'd like to make it a week, but somehow I doubt you'd be able to stand down for that long. Now Dr. Wahine is a good friend of mine and she is not given to flights of fancy so if she says you need more time in here then you should heed her warning," the governor said.

McGarrett could see Williams' face out of the corner of his eyes and wanted nothing more than to wipe the smug look off his face, but he didn't think he had the energy.

"Good morning, Pat, i didn't know you were here or I'd have come by earlier," Keanna Wahine said as she placed McGarrett's chart on the table.

"Good morning, Keanna, I trust Commander McGarrett isn't giving your staff too much grief," Jameson said.

"Actually, the nurses told me he's been a model patient...probably because he was given some pretty heavy medications last night," Wahine answered and looked at her patient. "Although Maya said someone called him McGrumpy this morning."

Steve turned a silent glare in Williams direction, but the other man simply smiled and diverted his attention.

"Now, Commander, Maya will be in shortly to start the next round of antibiotics, but while we wait why don't I take a look at you and maybe give you some idea when you can go home," Wahine said.

"You said one night," McGarrett griped.

"I did, didn't I, but since this is morning and today started at midnight then officially you haven't spent a full night here now have you?"

"She's right, Steve."

"Danny, I swear..."

"Hey, I'm just trying to help out."

"I don't need your kind of help!" McGarrett snapped.

"Pat, would you take him out of here so he doesn't elevate Commander McGarrett's blood pressure?" Wahine said.

"Let's go, Detective," Jameson ordered and waited for the man to proceed her out of the room.

"All right, Commander, lie down and I'll see what's happening," Wahine said.

Steve lay back on the pillow and closed his eyes, holding his breath for a split second as her cold hands touched the heated flesh near the bandage and peeled it back. He felt her examine her handiwork before reaching for a sterile dressing and covering the wound before helping him sit up.

"It looks better than I thought it would," Wahine said.

"Does that mean I can go?"

"Not yet. Give me the rest of today and I'll let you out of here tomorrow morning," Wahine said and made several notations on his chart. "Look, Commander, I know you're not happy about this, but that wound is deep and although we irrigated it there could still be bacteria that could cause a serious infection. Your life is worth twenty-four hours isn't it?"

"I guess," McGarrett answered solemnly.

"Commander, believe me if I didn't think it was necessary I'd free this bed up for someone else, but I'd rather not take the chance of something developing that we could have nipped in the butt before it had a chance to take hold."

"I guess."

"Does that mean you'll stay?" Wahine asked.

"Do I really have a choice?" McGarrett asked, wondering what would happen if he said no.

"There's always a choice, Commander, I just hope you're smart enough to make the right one."

"Damn, you sound like my sister."

"I take it she's a smart woman?"

"Smarter than she knows," McGarrett said, resigned to the idea of spending another day in this room.

"Good, I'll tell your friend he can come back in."

"Only if you have something that'll take away his smug look," McGarrett said and closed his eyes.

"Sorry, I can't do anything about that, but if you need something for pain just left the nurse know," Wahine told him.

Steve turned his head to look out the window and sighed tiredly. What was it about hospitals that made him cringe? He'd spent some time as a patient on more than one occasion, but he'd never been good at just letting someone else take care of him. He always prided himself on being able to take whatever was given and give it back twice as hard.

"Commander, I've got your antibiotics here and Dr. Wahine ordered pain medication..."

"I don't need anything right now, Maya," McGarrett told her, but kept his eyes averted until she left the room. He sat up and walked around his bed to the window as Williams and Jameson returned.

"Commander, I'm glad i didn't have to make this an order. Now I know you're team can handle the two cases you've been working on so trust in your team and let them do their jobs," Jameson told him.

"I will," McGarrett said and silently cursed when Williams couldn't quite suppress the chuckle that escaped.

"I'll check back with you tomorrow, Commander. Detective, I know you have work to do," Jameson said.

"Yes, Ma'am, I just wanted to drop off a few things for Steve," Williams said and saw a hint of a smile on the governor's face before she left them alone.

"I feel like I've been railroaded," McGarrett snapped.

"You were, but don't look at me. I had no idea Dr. Wahine knew the governor when I called her to let her know you were hurt," Williams said. "Come on, Steve, it's not that bad and just think when you get out I'm sure Melina will want to play Guinevere to you Lancelot."

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough, but your secret is safe with me," Williams told him and placed the bag of clothes in the closet."I need to check in with Chin and Kono, but if you need anything just call."

"I will...thanks, Danno," McGarrett told him and watched the man leave. What was it about Williams that could feel like biting on tinfoil, yet he wouldn't change the man's sometimes abrasive humor for anything. He flipped on the television and settled on an old Rambo movie that brought a smile to his face when he thought of the nickname Williams sometimes called him.

TBC