A couple notes before I begin. I now realize that some of these chapters are very short they seem longer when I'm writing them... so after this one, I hope to reconfigure the chapters to get more content per chapter. Some may still be longer than others, but I'm trying. And thanks again for all the wonderful reviews!

Ho'okahi, Chapter 4

Dr. Palakiko shimmied herself into the hot, tight space next to Steve McGarrett. The low ceiling had been shored up with timber by the rescue workers, but she was still hunched over in a sitting position next to the two men removing debris, painstakingly, piece by piece.

Her first glance at her patient was not a positive one. She assessed what damage she could see, knowing what she couldn't see would most likely be the problem. The doctor knew they would make her leave soon so they could remove more of the debris around his head and shoulders, but she managed to wiggle her hand into the narrow space and feel for a pulse, her fingers against the clammy, blood-covered skin on his neck.

She was surprised when he turned his head in the direction of her touch. She moved her hand to his cheek, wiping away some of the sweat-slicked drywall and concrete dust.

"Hey, there, Commander. Are you awake?"

She wasn't surprised that she didn't receive a verbal reply, but she was pleased to see his fingers move. She reached down and held his hand in hers, patting it with her other hand. "Hang in there, McGarrett. We'll have you out of here soon."

"OK, Doctor," one of the workers called to her. "We're ready to shift and dig further in. You need to get out of here for a few minutes."

"Got it," she replied, "but I want my pack first so I can start an IV and get some fluids going." When the pack arrived within reach, she grabbed her supplies and cleansed a spot on his arm before inserting the IV and connecting the Ringers. With a syringe, she inserted meds to ease his pain until they could get him out. She didn't like pushing morphine without a full work up, but it looked as though they might be here a while.

She gave Steve's hand another squeeze. "I'll be back with everything we need to get you out of here, I promise. Just hang tight." She laid his hand back on the floor and scooted backwards out of the space.

A touch.

Coolness against his hot skin.

Soft, feather touches on his cheek.

In the distance, he thought he heard a voice.

But the roar inside his head refused to allow any other sound.

The fingers encircled his hand.

Soft strokes on his fevered, broken skin.

But all too quickly, the touch was gone.

Wait.

Please.

Don't go.

~~H50~~

Danny, Chin and Kono watched as Palakiko took off her helmet and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her sleeve while conferring with the rescue workers. They tried to hear snippets of her conversation before she turned and walked toward them.

"How are they looking, Brad?" she asked the intern who had been treating them.

"Banged up. Bruised. Bloody. This one," he pointed to Danny, "needs the leg debrided, but he refuses transport."

"You know, we are right here," Williams dryly commented.

"Guess asking you to go to the hospital is a waste of my time, isn't it?" Dr. Palakiko asked.

All three nodded. "Only when Boss Man can come with us," Kono replied.

"Enough about us. What's going on?" Danny asked, nodding toward the shredded building. "Could you get to him?"

The doctor shook her head. "They're still working on it. He's pretty banged up, but intact. But unfortunately, we're going to have to cut him out."

"How's that?" Chin asked.

She let out a sigh. "A piece of rebar went through his thigh. It's attached to a big chunk of concrete, so we're going to have to study how best to remove it. I didn't have a chance to assess all of his injuries. Not a lot of room in there and they were moving in to get the debris away from his head and shoulders. Then they have to try and shore up overhead before we begin to get him out. So, to answer the question of what's going on, I don't really know because they made me leave."

"But you're sure he's alive?" Danny asked.

"Yes, Detective," she smiled. "I am sure of that. He even squeezed my hand."

"He's awake?" Kono asked in surprise, her voice rising an octave. "He's stuck in there by himself and he's awake? We need to—"

Palakiko held her hands in front of her in a 'halt' position. "Hang on. He squeezed my hand. He's not awake and coherent, but the good news is that he isn't comatose. Most assuredly he is concussed and I can't begin to assess the other injuries, but we will definitely need to watch for blast lung. Actually, we'll be checking all of you for that symptom."

"What the hell is that?" Danny asked.

"Gases and forced air in an explosion can cause build up in your lungs. It is one of the most dangerous symptoms shown in bomb victims and may not present itself immediately. We'll definitely keep a close watch on his vitals for a couple days."

"Hey, Doc?" One of the rescue workers shouted for her attention and she turned around as he motioned for her.

"You've got space. Do what you need to do and then we'll get the saw in there."

"Roger." She put her helmet back on her head and turned back toward the team. "With luck we'll have him out in no time."

~~H50~~

"No time" was an additional hour during which they heard shouts and several muttered curses… both from Palakiko and the rescue team. The intern who had checked out the team moved closer to see what was going on, and returned, shaking his head.

"What's wrong?" Danny asked.

The young man grinned. "Dr. P gave them a piece of her mind when they told her she needed to leave again. Said she wasn't coming out until her patient did. They've got saws and drills and everything else in there and she's right in the middle of it, making sure they don't do anything stupid. And apparently, that's exactly how she put it to them."

"Glad to know she's on our side," Chin replied.

The doctor nodded. "She's the best. And she is always on the side of her patient."

The continuous, high-pitched whine of the electric saw was causing the roar in all their heads to crescendo. There were a few short bursts of the tool, then more yelling, and another short burst before finally, they heard words that brought some hope.

"OK, let's get the backboard," one of the workers yelled. "And bring that rescue basket closer."

With Chin's help, Danny struggled to his feet and limped closer to the pile of debris that had been pulled out of the hole in the side of the building. He held his breath, waiting to see any sign of his partner through the throng of rescue workers who were all on their knees, peering into the hole, waiting to receive their patient.

"OK, here we go," one said when they grabbed hold of the board on each side, pulling it out. Palakiko crawled out behind her patient and was covered in as much dust as he was. Even after the tense screaming match a few minutes earlier, the rescue team cheered her when she was out of the hole.

"Hey, you guys were the ones who did all the work," she told them, leaning over her patient. The workers dispersed so the team from Tripler could converge on him and assess his situation.

And the task force got their first glimpse of their leader.

"Shit," Danny whispered.

~~~H50~~~