"What?" she was shocked to say the least.

"Remember I told you about the hypnosis and how Gabriel had them rigged to react to a code word?"

"Chin you know as well as I do that no one can be conditioned to hurt someone close to them, and Danny and Steve couldn't be closer than if they were blood brothers."

"I know but the situation is different," he tried to reason.

"How so?"

"They're hurt and pumped up full of drugs. That could affect their judgement, in this case Danny's. No, we can't take any chances."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Well we certainly can't keep Danny in restraint, that's for sure."

Chin's phone rang. He pulled it up and read the caller ID. He glanced up at Kono with a worried expression. "It's Rachel." Quickly he answered, "Yes Rachel (…) What? (…) When? (…) Ok me and Kono'll be right down." He ended the call and stared at Kono.

"What is it?" Kono asked expectantly.

"It's Steve. He's waking up."

Kono's face lit up. "My God! Let's go!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~H50~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They made it to the hospital in record time and headed straight for their friends' room where they found Doctor Quinlan leaning over Steve, trying hard to keep him awake by snapping his fingers and tapping his cheeks.

"What's happening?" Kono asked.

"He keeps nodding on and off. Doctor Quinlan is trying to keep him awake," Rachel said.

"Stubborn Neanderthal animal," Danny was heard mumbling from his bed. "Let me talk to him. I'll get him to stay awake," he said resolutely. "Get me that wheelchair over there, please," he asked to anyone willing to comply.

Chin looked to the doctor for approval. "Can he?" Upon Quinlan's hesitation, Chin insisted, "If anyone can get through to Commander McGarrett it's him," he said, nodding over to Danny.

"Alright, but just for a few minutes." He turned to Danny who was already sitting in his bed. "But if I see you turning color, that's it; back to bed. You understand?"

"Yes Doctor," Danny replied sheepishly. He wrapped his arms around Kono and Chin's shoulders who assisted him down in the wheelchair, heedful of the cast on his leg. Once settled they wheeled him over to the next bed, where the doctor vacated his spot to allow Danny to get close to Steve. He grabbed hold of his hand and squeezed tight. "Hey Steve! It's time to wake up. You slept long enough. Don't keep us waiting here. Come on, open those eyes." When Steve remained unresponsive, Danny tapped him on the arm. "Hey, I'm here and waiting, soldier."

Steve's nose crinkled.

"What? You don't like me calling you that?" Danny taunted. "Come on, say it!"

"Keep going, Detective. It's working," Quinlan encouraged as he checked the heart monitor for vital sign fluctuations.

"Come on, Superman. We're all here waiting for you to wake up." Danny squeezed Steve's hand when eyes began fluttering and twitching. "Come on, come on, open those eyes."

Following a gruelling minute, Steve finally pried open his eyes at a slit. Danny cheered inwardly but didn't cry victory just yet. "All the way up, buddy. I know it's hard but you can do it, soldier."

Steve groaned, making Danny laugh as he knew exactly how the word 'soldier' annoyed Steve; however it made him react, which was the result he was aiming for. "Look at me, Steve," Danny ordered and waited for his friend to acknowledge. "Welcome back. You gonna be alright."

Steve stared at Danny and frowned. "What's the matter? Steve? Do you know who I am?" Danny's heart thumped against his ribcage at his friend's silence. "Steve? Answer me, buddy. Nod if you recognize me."

All present in the room waited with bathed breath for Steve's response that never came. Doctor Quinlan leaned over the patient and checked the pupillary reflexes before taking over the questioning. "Commander McGarrett, look at me." Steve slowly turned his head toward the commanding voice and squinted. "I'm Doctor Quinlan. Do you know who you are?"

Steve blinked heavily as though the question didn't register.

"Oh God," Kono whispered to herself.

"Give him some time, folks. He just rose from a deep coma," Quinlan assured.

"So there's brain damage," Chin surmised from Steve's reaction.

"Let's not be hasty to jump to conclusions. We'll take him down for a CT scan to check for hemorrhages or lesions and we'll test his cognitive functions thoroughly before determining the extent of the damage."

"Steve," Danny made one last plea. Steve turned to him with a puzzled look. "It's me, Danny. Say you recognize me, please?" When the answer never came, Danny hung his head in despair. "No please, don't let it be so," he grieved. When he looked up, Steve was staring at him quizzically. "Why did you complain when I called you soldier, huh?" Again, a grunt. "Steve, talk to me! I'm Danno."

"I think that's enough for now," Quinlan said but Danny was adamant. He squeezed Steve's hand harder and leaned closer. "Come on say it…Danno. Hey Dog Face, say my name," he insulted on a commanding tone and an unyielding jaw. "Come on, Steve. SAY IT!"

"That's enough, Detective. I must insist you go back into your bed." The doctor motioned to Chin and Kono to wheel Danny back to his bed. The blond first griped but ultimately complied. Rachel tucked Danny in while Chin pulled the doctor aside.

"Seriously doctor, what's wrong with Steve?"

"I cannot pronounce myself until all test results are in but offhand I'd say it's amnesia."

"That's all," Chin said with some relief.

"As I said we need to wait for the test results."

"Can we stay with them?"

"Ok but try not to tire them. They may be off the critical list but they're still recovering and we want to keep them on that path."

"We understand."

"I'll be back shortly to take Commander McGarrett to MRI."

Once the doctor out of the room, Danny called out to Steve from his bed, "Hey babe, look at me." Steve responded to the request and turned toward Danny with a puzzled look. "Sorry I insulted you then but I just wanted to spur you on. Say something, anything."

"Ma…Malia," Steve murmured.

All look at each other, befuddled.

"What did you say?" Danny asked.

"Malia," Steve repeated without consciously understanding why he was uttering that name.

Chin approached him and said emotionally, "Steve, Malia's dead." He received a blank look. "Why are you saying her name and not Danny's?" Steve squished his eyes together as though the question troubled him. "Hey, you ok? Steve, what's wrong?"