Blame the delay in this chapter on mice. That's right. You read that correctly. Mice. I found out I've been driving around in a mobile mouse condo for lord knows how long. The disturbing part is they chewed through one of the side airbags in addition to crapping just about everywhere in the vehicle. Darn litter critters are dangerous as well as expensive. The muse was not pleased and decided to take a break for a few days.
"Shit, what happened? Did I dream we were released?" Danny groaned and rubbed his eyes, his voice rough with sleep. "Worst hangover. Ever."
"Danny, hey." Steve stretched, the recliner creaking as he pushed in the footrest. The smile on his face was like Christmas morning. "How are you feeling? Man am I happy to see you. Can I get you anything?"
Lost in his trial of waking up and reorienting himself with the conscious world, Danny plowed right through his friend's hopeful overtures and continued with his own complaints.
"What hit me? My head...fuck. Hurts to breathe." He ran his hand over the bandage on his abdomen, and Steve nudged him with a cup of ice. "Thanks, babe."
Danny sucked on a couple ice chips, and as he did, memories flashed through his mind. They had indeed been released from the hospital. He'd won a wheel chair race, which made him grin for a few seconds. But there was something else.
A case. They'd already started on a new case. The serial killer. Steve had overexerted himself as usual too. Danny was sure his current predicament had something to do with all of it.
"Wait." He sat up a little straighter, one hand bracing his chest, and scratched his head. "I stopped by your place."
With those simple words it felt like they'd dropped off a cliff. All the color left Steve's face, and he couldn't hide the shift even by ducking his head. Danny caught the change and reached for his partner, but Steve pulled his arm away, jostling the cup of ice so much some of the pieces hit the floor and skittered under the bed.
"Hey, babe, this isn't your fault. Steve, look at me."
"I'm just - I could have -" Face in his hands, Steve shook as words tumbled out in a semi-coherent jumble. "S'sorry, Danny. God, never meant - this was - you have to - I didn't- Fuck I can't believe I- please forgive-"
Steve was close enough for Danny to smack his leg, and he did so with relish. "Stop it, you idiot, before you hurt something. I surprised you."
"That's no excuse."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I will be." Danny grunted with pain as he adjusted his bed. Steve grabbed some pillows and began rearranging everything. "Stop it, Steven. I can't relax if you don't."
They stared at one another for a few seconds and then nodded like something fell back into place.
"You never knock." Steve returned to his seat. "Why were you there anyway?"
"Checking on you." Danny smiled.
"No wings with the team?"
"Nah, you're more important."
Steve's voice lost some of it's playful tone. "And you weren't hungry, were you?"
"No." Danny didn't meet his eyes.
"You're running a fever. Probably were all day. The nurse told me. Why didn't you say anything?"
"It was nothing. Thought I was just tired. That's been my normal lately."
Steve sighed. "I get it, I do. You seemed fine enough."
"With you as a partner? I had to make sure you're okay. Protect my investment."
"Will they ever end?" Steve rolled his eyes.
Danny played dumb. "What?"
"The liver jokes."
"No way. You're stuck with me."
Steve chuckled before adding. "Thank you, Danny. I don't say it enough."
"We're partners. It's what we do, babe."
"And now I'm gonna take care of you." Steve grinned his most evil grin.
"Funny."
"What? Why would you say that?"
"You taking care of me." Danny giggled, wincing as he did so. "You practically broke every post op rule."
"Now you're funny. You were behind on your meds. Dehydrated. Low blood sugar."
Danny looked away again.
"See, I'm right. You weren't taking care of yourself, buddy. And you nag me all the time." Steve raised his voice.
"Someone has to." Danny's voice was soft and drowning in resignation.
Steve exhaled loudly. "We're gonna keep going round and round. I'm tired."
"Me too." Danny settled himself amidst the pile of pillows, tossing one at his partner.
Steve caught the pillow and grabbed a blanket from the closet, making himself comfortable again on the recliner.
"Go home, Steven."
"I am."
"You're crazy. This is nowhere close to home." Danny waved his arm.
"You buddy. You're here."
Danny laughed. "Alright then. And don't think you're off the hook. There's something you're not telling me."
"It can wait."
They were quiet for a minute and then Danny asked. "You take your meds?"
Steve opened one eye. "Yea, mother hen. I did."
"Good." Danny closed his eyes.
In minutes, both men were asleep.
/././
Early the next day, Steve, Chin and Lou sat at a table in the corner of the hospital cafeteria. The breakfast crowd had consisted mostly of staff and a few visitors. Now only a few stragglers remained, and the guys had the place practically to themselves.
Lou was the first to speak about anything other than the food no one was eating or how wonderful the weather was. "So, how's Danny this morning?"
"How do you think? It's morning." Steve eyed his colleagues, crossing his arms over his chest.
His impatient stare dared them to push him. Lou took the challenge quite willingly.
"Not much better than you by the looks of things. How long has it been since you stood close to a faucet?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh I don't know. Maybe your clothes'll stand up by themselves?"
Steve didn't respond, and Lou didn't continue. Chin jumped into the conversation, focusing on a different angle.
"Did you tell him about the chess piece?" Chin sipped his coffee.
"Not yet. Please don't mention it."
"Yea you both need your rest." Lou nagged him again.
Steve twitched and frowned at his colleagues, both men a rather formidable wall across the table from him. One he would not get through this morning without effort. They wouldn't let him bulldoze his way through like normal.
"Steve, come on. We only want what's best for you. And Danny." Chin tried the sensible route.
Lou just couldn't help picking. "Don't give me that look, McGarrett. You look like shit. And you're still recovering-"
"I showered, Lou. Get off my back. All I've been doing lately is resting. And I slept for a bit earlier."
"That damn recliner in Danny's room doesn't count. It's practically a torture device." Lou scowled.
"I've slept in worse."
"I know - you're a big bad ass Navy SEAL, and you could sleep standing up in the middle of a hurricane while red ants crawled all over you with a stray dog pissin on your leg."
"Really Lou? You finished?" Steve glared.
The big guy ignored Steve's foul mood. "That last part was added for emphasis because no dog would be caught dead out in a hurricane. You on the other hand..."
Chin just shook his head, fighting off a laugh. "Stop, you two. This isn't helping."
Lou didn't stop. "You're pissed off. I get it."
"That bastard was in my house." Steve growled.
"I know, and we're dealing with that. But you need to calm down, McGarrett."
Steve pushed his chair away from the table. "Don't tell me what to do."
"Hey. That's enough." Chin raised his voice. "We've got things covered with HPD, Steve. Stay with Danny. Fill him in."
"Yea we already have some extra eyes on Rachel and the kids."
Mention of the kids completely derailed Steve's anger. "Yea, thanks for thinking of them. Good idea."
"That's right. We've got a crazy killer out there leaving dead bodies and chess pieces all over the island. Not taking any chances with our families, man." Lou leaned back in his chair. "You keep track of Danny, and we'll take care of the rest for now."
/././
Steve took the longest route possible back to Danny's room. Things had been easy between the pair, but neither had delved too deeply into what happened.
The conversation he dreaded started with a simple show and tell.
"I found this." Steve held up the chess piece. "Right before..."
Danny's face changed slightly as his eyes moved from Steve to the piece and then back to Steve.
"I heard someone. I followed the sounds out back, but no one was there. The house was dark. I'm sorry, Danny, I didn't hear you knock or say my name. I didn't - all I knew was someone had been there. This piece. The case. It all just -" He shook his head and swallowed. "I came back inside. I was beyond wired."
"And exhausted."
"Danny, please, let me-"
"Okay, babe. I'm sorry."
"God, don't ever say that to me again. Don't ever apologize."
They locked eyes. It took Steve a breath or two to continue.
"I heard someone in my house and - thank god I didn't have my weapon - because you'd be here with -" Steve closed his eyes and a tear slid down his cheek.
"You don't have to do this."
"Stop Danny. Don't try to make me feel better, goddammit." Steve raised his voice.
"No, I won't stop, Steven. Enough torturing yourself." He grabbed his friend's hand. "It's over. And I'm fine. I mean it. Enough. It's done. Please."
Steve took a deep, shaky breath and nodded.
"Good." Danny rubbed Steve's arm before letting go. "We're good, and that's it."
"That's everything, Danny."
They didn't speak for a while. Canned laughter from the sitcom on the TV was the only sound besides the usual hospital background noise. Danny closed his eyes, head pounding. When he opened them again, the room was darker and Steve was still beside him, now sound asleep. He must have dozed off because a dinner tray sat on the table next to him. Pudding cup already gone.
Chuckling, he picked at the pile of what was supposed to be mashed potatoes. The stuff was cold and already congealing into a pasty mass of tasteless goop. The roll appeared edible but the butter packet was hard as a rock, and the fruit cocktail looked like it had come out of a twenty year old time capsule. The cherries were a sad grey-purple shade of pink. A small brick of what might have been meatloaf sat in the middle of the plate with a smear of ketchup. He peeled the plastic wrap back and gave it all a sniff, regretting his decision when his stomach turned.
Steve heard his groan and opened his eyes. "You okay?"
"Man, where's Kamekona when you need him? I could use some chicken or a shrimp plate."
"That could be arranged, ya know?" Steve looked hopeful for the first time all day.
Danny sighed. "Maybe tomorrow. My eyes are bigger than my stomach or what ever."
"You have to eat something, Danny."
"I'll find something later. This has done nothing for my gut." He pushed the tray away, sliding the side table just out of reach. "Get outta here, please. Go home. Get a good night's sleep. Eat something besides my pudding cup."
Steve wrinkled his nose.
"I know you did it. I close my eyes for a few minutes and you -" He waved at the food tray. "You eat the best part of this thing they call dinner."
"I'll leave if you promise to rest too."
"That's rich coming from you. And what exactly do you think I'm gonna do here? Run laps?"
"Danny, please." Steve pushed the recliner to the corner. "You've got two HPD guys out in the hall."
"I don't think that's necessary, but I'll take it." Danny shifted in his bed, stretching his legs. "They're releasing me in the morning."
"I'll be here. Bright and early." Steve squeezed Danny's shoulder before backing away. "
"Thank you, babe." Danny's smile faded. "We're gonna need help with this one. Maybe Jerry knows some expert in serial killers or something."
"Already on it."
"Good. Because we can't do this alone, Steve."
"I love you, buddy."
"Love you too babe. Get outta here."
Thanks, as always, for reading. There should be one more chapter to wrap up this story.