The Doctor opened Steve's eyes. They were responsive but the whites of the eyes were now reddened, caused by burst blood vessels. They were also very swollen.

"Danny, Chin...can you help me lay him down please"
As gently as possible the men maneuvered Steve onto his back.
The fear was evident in Danny's voice, "Doc...how is he?"
Doctor Gallegos held up his hand halting the questions as he ripped open Steve shirt. The walk from the tent had resulted in more bleeding and Kono turned from him, shaking uncontrollably at the sight of his chest and torso which were covered with spotted bruising.

Seeing her distress Chin moved to her gripping her shoulders and pulling her to his chest.
He spoke quietly, "He'll be alright honey. We have to stay strong now"
She pulled away from her cousin, "I know...I know. I'm sorry Chin..."
"There's nothing to be sorry for kid. Let's just help him now okay? Are you alright?"
"Yes...yes I'm fine"

The Doctor began to talk as they listened intently, "The fact that the internal bleeding is already this advanced is alarming. His blood pressure is very low and his pulse is thready."

Danny jumped in, "What's that mean, thready?"

"His pulse is very fast or thready, that along with the low blood pressure indicates dehydration. I need to start getting fluids into him right away"

The detectives watched as in minutes the Doctor had an IV inserted into Steve's left arm. Danny continued to hold tightly to the unconscious man's right hand and with his free hand he held up the bag of electrolytes and saline as the fluid began to flow through his partners' veins.

Kono knelt at Steve's head running her gloved hand through his hair. He was no longer even moaning as they all willed him to hang on.

The Doctor asked Chin to help him with Steve's finger, giving him a bottle of water. As the Doctor cut away the blood soaked tee-shirt the gash split open and blood and pus flowed freely. Chin did as instructed, flushing the cut with water as the Doctor placed temporary butterfly bandages across it to staunch the bleeding.

As he was finishing up the Medivac chopper came into view and the Doctor hollered to Chin, "Please make sure the EMT's put on protective gear! While they're getting ready please bring me a bag of blood. I have to start the IV ASAP!"

Chin nodded, "Got it!"

Once the Doctor had the transfusion started Danny held the bag of blood as well. The EMT's and the Doctor gracefully transferred Steve onto a backboard and they all moved towards the chopper. Chin hollered out to Danny, "Take care of him! Kono and I will meet you at the hospital"
Danny hollered back over the loud whirring of the propellers, "Alright...see you there!"

Not having Steve's keys, Chin made sure the truck was locked and as the chopper was lifting off the ground he and Kono were back on the road heading towards the hospital.

505050505050505050505050

In the chopper, Danny sat at Steve's side watching in stunned silence as the Doctor's and EMT's worked at a frantic pace on his injured partner. Six months...he'd been McGarrett's partner for six months and yet it felt like he'd known the man forever. Looking at the horrible coloring of his skin terrified him. The skin that wasn't covered in red/purple bruising was deathly pale. The bad-ass Navy SEAL whom he had grown so close to had an amazingly soft side to him as well, a gentleness that Gracie had pulled from him the second his blue eyes met her gorgeous brown ones for the first time. And now he lay dying on a hard steel table. Because of this man's love for his little girl he could very well die. A fucking monkey…... He remembered Gracie's joy, all of their joy. That morning at the zoo was a highlight of Gracie's young life and thus it was a highlight of his as well. But Steve never would have even been in contact with that damn animal if he hadn't of been doing something special for his baby girl. Guilt overwhelmed Danny and tears welled in his eyes.

Danny was jolted back to reality as he felt his hand being squeezed lightly. Squeezing back he leaned close to Steve's ear, "Hey buddy it's Danno. I'm right here babe. The Doc's taking real good care of you so just hold on and squeeze my hand partner"

Steve talked so softly, his voice filled with pain and exhaustion "D...D...Grraccie...Dannnyy"
"Hey buddy, Gracie's fine. I promise you...she's fine, she's not sick"
"Yeeah...sshe's ggood?" A pained smile crossed his face.
"Yeah Steve, she's good. Now you just hang on 'cause she needs you partner"
"Tell hh...hher that...I llovve her D...okkay?"
"None of this talk babe...you're gonna tell her yourself Steven. She loves you too...I love you partner"
"I lllove yyou too...hhurrts sso bbad Danno...wwhat is it?"
"That little monkey that bit you was sick, but you're gonna be fine buddy"
Steve's grip tightened in Danny's and his back arched in pain..."OOOHHHH GGOD..." Steve coughed and blood slid from the corner of his mouth. With his gloved finger, Danny wiped the blood away.
"Squeeze Steve, the pain will pass...you hold on partner!"

Several seconds passed before his body settled back onto the table and his grip loosened in Danny's hand.
"That a boy...relax...you're doing great Steve"
"My...bbbelly hhurts Daanny"
"I know partner. Zeus gave you a virus"
"That llittle sshit. I lliked hhim too" Danny couldn't help but grin at his friend.

The pilot hollered back, "We're here! Prepare for landing!"
Danny ran a hand through Steve's wet hair, "Hear that buddy, we're here. The Doc's gonna fix you up good as new"
"Okkayy D...'k" Steve's eyes closed as the chopper landed on the roof of the hospital.

505050505050505050505050

He stood outside the swinging doors to the emergency room as two nurses in protective gear stopped him from entering.
"He's my partner, please...I need to be in there"
"Mr. Williams, it's safer for you to stay out, you can wait..."
Danny cut her off, "I don't care…please, he needs me. I have to be in there"
Seeing the distress in the man's eyes, one of the nurse's spoke "Stay here, I'll check with the Doctor"
"Thank You"

He had removed his mask and gloves and was running his hand across his face when the Doctor came out.
"Doc how is he?"
"Danny, I know you're scared for your friend but I can't have you in there right now. I have to get back to him. I'll come to the waiting room and talk to you as soon as I finish examining him"

"Is he going to make it?"
"I don't know Danny...I just don't know. Now give me your gown and gear here and go to the bathroom and wash up, lather up really good and make sure your friends do the same. I'll come talk to you shortly"

"Please take good care of him Doc"
"I'll do everything I can, I promise"
Danny lingered in the hallway for several minutes, watching his partner through the small window of the door. They had stripped his clothes off and Danny's stomach turned as he looked at the amount of bruising that covered him literally from head to toe. Even the soles of his feet bruised. The Doctors were working frantically on him, hooking him up to machines...tubing and wires covering his chest and arms. He watched as Doctor Gallegos attached a nasal cannula and a nurse with a gloved hand wiped Steve's sweat drenched head and face. He stayed until tears streamed down his cheeks and he simply could take no more. Danny turned and walked dejectedly towards the waiting room, mumbling under his breath, 'a God damn monkey….'