A/N: Thank you all again for the wonderful reviews. Phoebe you are an awesome beta. Thank you for your amazing suggestions.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any of the characters.
Chapter Seven
Every breath sent a wave of burning pain through Steve's body. A fierce headache had taken up residence in his skull. He shifted himself slightly, the side of his face now touching the wall. The cool concrete gave him some relief from the nauseating thrum in his head. As he drifted back to sleep, random images and sounds crowded his mind. A dilapidated house, the creak of a floor board, gun fire, a dog barking. But the dog wouldn't stop, no matter how much he wanted it to shut up. Then the barks were replaced by pitiful moans which grew into anguished cries.
Something hit Steve in the chest, knocking the wind out of him, he gasped for air, and jolted awake. He looked to his side to see Danny thrashing wildly. A string of unintelligible words escaped his partner's lips. Steve struggled to his knees and leaned over Danny, desperately trying to calm his friend. He got as close as he dared, hesitant to touch him for fear of getting struck by a flailing fist again.
Buster sat there seemingly on guard, watching every move. He occasionally bared his teeth, making a low rumbling sound which slowly turned into a growl, testing Steve's resolve. He restrained himself from batting the dog away. Painfully aware of Danny's desire to keep him close. Why Steve still couldn't fathom - to him it was just an animal.
"Danno, stop. Open your eyes."
His shouts had little effect. So, he lowered his voice and soothed Danny like he'd seen him do with Grace more than once.
"Come on, buddy. Calm down. I got you."
Danny quieted, though subtle tremors still ran through his body, his breathing rapid and shallow. Steve's past experiences in the field told him his partner could be going into shock. He reached up to touch his face, but stopped himself at the last moment, his hand wavering over Danny's forehead. He imagined it would be cold and moist. The usually stoic SEAL started to panic as he watched Danny rapidly deteriorating before him. Running out of ideas, Steve picked up the flashlight, shining it directly into his best friend's eyes.
Danny brought his hands up to shield his eyes from the blinding white light, piercing his retinas like shards of glass. His heart hammered against his ribs. When the light dimmed, he opened them and stared wide-eyed into the face of his partner. Steve's lips were moving, but Danny couldn't hear a single word. Unable to stop himself, the lack of oxygen dulling his senses, he vomited what little contents remained in his stomach, narrowly missing his friend. He continued to retch, straining his stomach muscles. Two hands quickly grabbed hold of each of his upper arms. Those strong hands were the only reason he didn't fall face first into his own puke.
He was slowly losing the battle to stay awake, and he was about to give in when Buster howled loudly next to him. He gasped as if he'd been shocked by a bolt of lightning. Reaching out, he twisted the front of Steve's shirt in his hands like a lifeline, and he pulled his best friend toward him, burying his head in his shoulder. Consumed by the overwhelming flood of emotions, he shook uncontrollably, hanging on to his partner for dear life. Steve dropped the flashlight and grabbed hold of Danny, who then crumpled into a sobbing wreck. Steve rubbed Danny's back, at a loss as to what had just happened.
The two stayed that way for a few minutes, Danny's hands strangling Steve's blue t-shirt. Finally his tears stopped, but Danny never moved. With his head still nestled against Steve's shoulder, a muffled sniff could be heard every so often. Steve wasn't sure how much more his ribs could take, or his knees for that matter. He was reluctant to move, wanting and needing the contact just as much as his friend.
Steve sensed a set of eyes boring into the back of his head. He turned in Buster's direction. The dog was close enough that he could feel his hot breath on his face. Steve could just about see Buster in the limited light from the discarded flashlight. He sat panting. Long tongue partially hanging out, with saliva dripping off the end. For a second, Steve thought the dog was actually smiling.
"As annoying as your barking is, it did the trick. You did good, pal."
Buster slavered Steve with his wet tongue. Not wanting to loosen his grip on Danny, he tried to wipe his cheek with the top of his arms, but failed miserably. When he looked back at Buster, he couldn't help the grin that lit up his face.
"I guess I can see why he likes you so much."
"You're both okay?" A barely audible rough voice emanated from against his shoulder.
"Hey buddy, you back with me?" Steve spoke softly.
Steve pushed Danny away to get a look at his face. Red rimmed eyes squinted up at him.
"I thought Buster was dead. I hurt you. I..." Danny's eyes dropped back down as if ashamed.
"You didn't hurt me, and your four legged friend is right here. Very much alive." When he didn't get a response he continued talking. "Honestly we're good, but I need to sit down Danno. My ribs are sore."
Danny let go of the mangled shirt. "They're broken, not bruised, right?"
Steve looked puzzled. "Yea...how did you know?"
"Like I told you earlier. You're a terrible liar, babe."
Their conversation was interrupted by a not too distant rumble. Light trickled through the hole in the ceiling. Giving the basement a dusk-like appearance.
"Generators. See, I told you we'd be out of here soon." Steve looked up into the light emanating down from the damaged ceiling.
Groaning loudly, he eased himself back next to Danny, sitting up against the wall. Buster lay back down and closed his eyes.
They sat in silence for a while listening to the distant hum of machinery. Steve the first to speak. "You wanna to talk about it?"
"No."
"That's it, no? Danno that was some -"
"Some what? Nightmare, panic attack, delusion." Danny held his hand up to the side of his head and winced. "Concussions suck."
"That they do buddy." Steve gently squeezed Danny's thigh. "It won't be long and we'll both be on the good stuff."
"Sure you're not already? I could swear I heard you talking to Buster."
"In your dreams, buddy." Steve snorted in response.
H50 H50 H50 H50 H50
Ford and Nathan travelled back to Honolulu in relative silence, Ford's anger palpable. Nathan decided he best bide his time. He was well aware he was walking a dangerous tight rope, and the last thing he or his brother needed right now was for him to be pushed off, so he held his tongue.
Nathan drove down an alleyway along side a nightclub. It was early evening, and they were too exposed for his liking. Ford exited the car without a word and disappeared through a side entrance. He drummed his fingers anxiously on the steering wheel.
Nathan had always been there for Tommy - in the school playground protecting him from the bullies, offering brotherly advice about girls, and more recently shielding him from the low life scum they encountered on a daily basis. His heart sunk when he imagined his brother alone and unprotected. A light tap on the passenger window pulled him from his thoughts. He lowered the window with the press of a button, not giving the messenger much of a glance. Eye contact was best avoided in some situations. A heavy set guy dropped a cell and an envelope on the passenger seat.
"It's a burner. Ditch the car and lay low. You'll be contacted." Without waiting for a response, the guy headed to the door Ford had gone through not ten minutes earlier.
Nathan stuffed the cell in his pocket before opening the envelope. It contained a wad of twenty dollar bills. He flicked through them, estimating it contained about three hundred dollars. Tossing it back onto the passenger seat, he then slammed the gear shift in reverse, and made his way back out into the heavy Honolulu traffic.
A couple of hours later, Nathan found himself in a seedy motel, off the beaten track. He walked out of the bathroom drying his hair, another towel wrapped around his waist. He grabbed his half empty bottle of beer from the bedside table and took a swig. He flopped down onto the bed and switched on the television. Remote in hand, he proceeded to flick through the offerings, stopping at the news channel. He wasn't expecting their activities at the convalescent home to be uncovered, but if they were, it was sure to make the headlines.
A few hours later, the only light in the room came from the television set. A newscaster stood in front of a number of police vehicles.
"In a joint operation with HPD and SWAT, the Governor's elite task force, Five-0, raided several buildings this week. Including this property here on the North Shore. Initial reports state that all of Emanuel Ford's associates were killed at the scene. It is not yet known if the crime boss is among the dead."
Nathan lay outstretched on the bed, lightly snoring, completely oblivious to the news report.
H50 H50 H50 H50 H50
Steve's coms link crackled back to life. "Hey Steve. You hear me?" Lou's deep voice was a welcome sound.
"Yeah Lou."
"How're you two holding up?"
"Danny's got a serious concussion and badly broken leg."
"What about you, McGarrett?"
"A couple of fractured ribs."
Lou cleared his throat. "I'm sure there's more, but I'll take that."
"How long?"
"About an hour."
"More like two." Danny huffed.
"Honestly Lou? One hour?"
Lou blew loudly down the com link. "Two hours tops. Sherlock work that out?"
"You're forgetting his old man was a fire fighter." Steve smiled fondly at his ailing partner.
"Oh and Steve, don't say anything, but that damn dog's gone missing." Lou spoke in a hushed voice.
"Don't worry. It's here with us."
"You gotta be kidding me." Lou chuckled.
Steve laughed, then regretted it when a pain shot through his chest.
"Don't forget the vet too babe, and his name is Buster." Danny said sleepily.
Steve rolled his eyes at him. "We need a vet, and the dog's name is Buster. Don't ask."
"We'll take care of it. I'll contact you again when we're ready to move in."
"Thanks, Lou."
Steve studied his friend's pale and sweaty face. He felt helpless, unable to do anything to ease what he saw there. Danny's eyes met his. The pain lines in his forehead deepened into furrows.
"Thanks for the concern, babe, but you don't look too hot yourself."
"At least I don't smell like vomit."
Danny crossed his arms over his stomach, trying to look offended. "That was low."
"Well if it keeps you awake." Steve smirked.
"Tell me about Lynn."
"How're Gracie and Charlie?" Steve countered.
The two friends exchanged bemused smiles.
~ to be continued ~