A/N: Sorry, once again, for keeping you all waiting. RL just got super busy. Thank you for the wonderful reviews.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any of the characters.
Chapter Eight
Danny looked around the room, frantically trying to find the source of the noise. Something had ripped him from sleep. For a second, he couldn't remember where he was. Then, it hit him. The boy! He needed to find him, get him to safety.
Before he could get his bearings, the sound came again. Shrill screams punctuated by heart wrenching sobs filled his head and he wanted nothing more than to cover his ears. To add a scream of his own. But he couldn't do that.
He attempted to get up from the bed, but his movements were impeded by a debilitating pain slicing through his arm. The metallic taste of iron tinged his tongue as he bit down, hard. His heart beat much too fast in his chest, and his breaths came in short, sharp pants as he continued to raise himself into a sitting position, desperate to find Joe.
"Stop, you'll get yourself killed." A hand pushed against his shoulder trying to keep him in place. Danny resisted. Time was running out. He sensed the monster getting closer. Could even smell it, all fetid and foul. Choking back vomit, he tried to obey the desperate pleas that were urging him to be still.
"Danny, lie back down. Try to relax." Now he recognized the voice.
Jess. She was there right by his side. How could she be there? He smiled up at her as he allowed himself to be eased back against the soft pillows. She reached out her hand to wipe away the tear sliding down his cheek. Only the moment was fleeting. The figure before him morphed into the reason for Joe's cries for help.
The large chimpanzee leapt onto the bed, causing it to dip. Danny was trapped, unable to move. Gripped by fear, he couldn't breathe. His vision tunneled, and his head pounded with a nauseating intensity. The animal moved in close, bearing his blood stained teeth, salivating in preparation for the kill. Within inches of his face the image dissolved, replaced by his doctor.
Doctor Freeman's brow creased in concern as he scrutinized his patient. "Swap the nasal cannula out for a mask. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation are dropping. Danny, you need to take deep breaths."
"Joe, Jess...where'd they go?" Danny mumbled the words as he tracked the movements of the nurse following his doctor's instructions. He looked from the young man's face to his name badge. Noel Finney.
Noel gave him a kindly smile as he placed the mask over his nose and mouth. "You're doing great."
"Are you back with us now?" Doctor Freeman studied his patient, awaiting a response before continuing.
Danny gave an almost imperceptible nod. His head felt unnaturally heavy. The constant pounding from moments earlier dissipated to a dull thrum, but something just wasn't right and it scared him.
"Good man." Doctor Freeman picked up a tablet from the table next to the bed and started tapping the screen. "You're running a fever, and your arm is giving me cause for concern."
"Hands and feet are cold." Danny could feel beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. His stomach twisted into a tight knot, as the fire raged within, sending shivers through his body.
The doctor lifted the lightweight blanket and squeezed his foot. "I believe something else is at play here. I'm going to get you transferred to the ICU."
Danny tried to keep up, his reactions dulled by the meds. The previously discussed amputation came back to the forefront of his mind, and he immediately looked down at his arm. He shifted uncomfortably in his bed, a sense of dread threatened to send his emotions spiraling out of control once again.
Doctor Freeman held a syringe up for Danny to see. "I'm going to administer you a sedative."
It was as if the doctor was reading his mind. Danny watched as he dispensed the drug into his IV line.
"We'll do some tests to find out what we're dealing with. A full set of blood work now and I'll organize a lumbar puncture."
"Should I contact Commander McGarrett?" Noel asked as the two men moved towards the door.
Doctor Freeman checked his watch. "Two A.M. No, not just yet. The man needs to rest. Call him when we know more."
Danny tried to focus on their conversation, only catching snippets as the drug finally got to work, slowly pulling him under. His last thoughts hooked on his doctor's final words. He wanted his best friend by his side, but at the same time felt relieved they weren't going to make that call. Jess' death had hit his partner hard, so he took comfort in knowing he wasn't adding to his friend's already heavy burden.
H50 H50 H50 H50 H50
Steve jolted awake as soon as he heard his cell phone come to life. It's ring tone resonating loudly in his bedroom. He rolled onto his side and reached out blindly. His fingers closing around the offending item as it vibrated across his bedside table. He squinted at the display, before thumbing the answer icon.
"What happened? Danny OK?" Steve answered without preamble. He'd had a rough night, tossing and turning, half anticipating a call, and after finally drifting off to sleep it had happened.
"Commander McGarrett?" The voice questioned hesitantly.
"Yeah, sorry." Steve scrubbed his face with one hand.
"I'm Detective Williams' nurse, Noel Finney. We spoke yesterday evening."
"Noel, is Danny okay?" Steve threw back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed.
"He's in surgery."
"I'm putting you on speaker." Steve placed his cell back down on the side unit and grabbed his pants off the back of a chair. "Surgery? Why wasn't I told?"
Noel cleared his throat before continuing. "I'm just following Doctor Freeman's instructions."
"Of course you are." Steve blew out a disapproving sigh. "What type of surgery?"
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say. Doctor Freemen will explain more when you arrive."
Steve checked the time. Five fifty a.m. "You're not at liberty to say? At this hour? Come on, man."
"Sorry, sir. Doctor patient confidentiality."
"To hell with that. I'm his medical proxy?" Steve yanked a T-shirt over his head.
"I really can't give you any more information."
"Steve picked up the phone. "To hell with this, I'm on my way."
Steve ended the call, launching the device across the room, an angry scowl crossing his features.
H50 H50 H50 H50
Steve climbed out of his Silverado. He barely registered the trip from his house. Streetlights and traffic had gone by in a blur, as his mind was focused on one thing. Danny.
Then he shifted gears, remembering his conversation with Lou. A harried walk across the parking lot turned into a jog. He needed to know what was going on - had to stop them from making a huge mistake. His mistake.
By the time he arrived on Danny's floor his impatience was off the scale and there was no sign of Doctor Freeman. Steve strummed his fingers on the reception counter as he waited for a nurse to locate them.
"Detective Williams is in the ICU and Doctor Freeman is on a break."
"You're sure? I was told he was in surgery less than an hour ago." Steve looked around trying to find the tall skinny figure of Noel Finney.
"I can only tell you what's on my screen." The nurse looked up from her terminal with a look of exasperation. "Sorry, sir."
"Fine. Where can I find his nurse then? Noel Finney." Steve's aggravation starting to show.
"Noel must have called you at the end of his shift. He's no longer here. Why don't you head down to the waiting area outside the ICU. I'll call the nurse's station there and tell them you're on your way." She smiled sympathetically at him.
Steve closed his eyes and sucked in a deep calming breath. "I appreciate your help, thank you."
Walking away, Steve cursed under his breath. He reluctantly decided to do what was suggested, stopping at a vending machine on the way. He needed something to calm him down. A beer would have been good, but for now he'd have to make do with coffee. The guilt and worry he'd been carrying had somehow been surpassed by anger. It was taking all his inner strength to not rip the hospital apart to find Danny and his doctor.
~ to be continued ~
