A/N Wow, it took me a little over two months to update? Sorry, been a bit busy and the old brain was hitting some road blocks on where this one should go...anyway on with the story.
Crash
Rain pelted Steve's truck windshield with torrential proportions. It was turning out to be quite the storm, heavy winds and all. It being dark out didn't help matters ether and he debated on wether or not to turn back.
No, Cornell needed to be questioned. The older man could be a key witness in a double homicide, and Steve wasn't about to let the chance to speak to him slip away.
Danny had had to pick up Gracie at a slumber party after she had gotten sick, Chin was speaking to another suspect and Kono was checking on the analysis on some blood that had been found at the crime scene. All and all they were stretched pretty thin without Danny.
But Steve wouldn't hold Danny's going to get Gracie against him, after all family came first, it always did.
He frowned slowing down a little when he came upon a small downed tree, clutching the steering wheel. Not only were down trees a hazard in this kind of weather, but mud slides too especially out this way-
Suddenly a loud crack ripped through the air and a huge tree came crashing down in front of him so suddenly that when he hit the brakes his truck hydroplaned sharply.
Cursing he jerked the wheel on instinct which he knew instantly was a bad idea as he swerved towards a steep embankment.
This was going to hurt.
*5-0*
Andrea drove slowly her eyes scanning the road in front of her keenly. Living out this way had always been a hazard in storms like this. But her grandparents place ment to much to her for her to sell and plus they'd left it to her. They had been fairly well off, her grandfather having been a renowned surgeon and her grandmother a ER nurse. It was them who had inspired her to be a doctor, joining the Army was a whole other ballgame.
She frowned as she slowly went around a small downed tree. Part of her wondered if she should have taken Maria's offer to stay at her place till the storm passed but-
"What the hell?" She came to a slow stop upon seeing the larger downed tree in front of her. It took up most of the road. That wasn't what had caught her attention though. No, it was the man standing in front of it, hunched over a little holding up a hand for her to stop.
She stared at him for a long moment, then she recognized him.
"McGarrett?" She said in disbelief before quickly getting out of her car, practically leaping from the vehicle.
*5-0*
Steve groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. For a moment disorientation ruled as he tried to figure out where the hell he was. A sharp pain jolted through his skull when he moved and he swallowed thickly to keep back bile that threatened to rise.
He winced as other parts of his anatomy screamed their protest to the rough treatment they had just sustained. He blinked recognizing the dark interior of a car, but not just any car, his truck.
In that moment Steve remembered what had happened. There was a tree, he'd hydroplaned...his injures seemed to hurt all the more at the revelation of their origin and he cursed.
Pain laced out across his chest from the left side, and the trucks interior spun sickeningly around him for a moment. For a second he thought he might pass out again but just as quickly things seemed to come back into focus.
Ok, first things first, call for help. He slowly reached into his pocket trying not to aggravate his injures and managed to do so pulling out his cell. His heart sank when he noticed he wasn't getting a signal.
Well he could ether wait for his team to notice his lack of checking in, or he could try getting a better signal from the road...
Steve never was one for waiting.
*5-0*
Getting out of his mangled truck was a feet in of itself. He was drenched in seconds from the still pouring rain and he'd discovered another injury. His left leg throbbed endlessly though he couldn't make out exactly what was wrong with it in the dark. He didn't think it was broken, doubting he'd be able to put any weight on it if it was.
The tale lights of his truck were the only source of light, and he realized looking back at it that the vehicle had definitely rolled once or twice before smacking into a tree. His eyes adjusted enough for him to see the slight incline leading up to the road.
Grimacing he glanced back at the truck before starting up the hill. It took him longer then he would have liked, nearly falling flat on his face to many times to count.
By the time he'd reached level paved road, he'd broken out in a cold sweat and his head swam horrible as his injuries pounded all in time with his heart. Rain washed away the sweat leaving him strangely chilled.
He stood there for a long moment trying to catch his breath though each intake of air sent a jolt of pain across his chest. Finally he regained some form of normalcy and he started towards the center of the road reaching for his cell.
Suddenly his foot caught on something and he found himself kissing the asphalt. For a moment everything went dark, well darker then it already was, as his body screamed in agony.
Finally after what felt like hours the pain lessened, and he was able to make out the sound of an approaching vehicel through the howling of the wind and heavy rain.
He struggled to his feet. After being in an accident getting hit by a car was not something he was looking forward to. His vision swam as he straightened.
Looking towards the open road-he could just make up the large downed tree to his right-he spotted headlights heading towards him. Hoping that this wasn't the concussion talking he raised his hand in a gesture for them to stop. They did so slowly, headlights locked on him.
There was a pause, and Steve wondered if they would even get out of their car. Finally the driver side door opened and someone got out quickly.
"Commander?!" Even over the howling wind and rain he recognized that voice, and it left him surprised.
"Ross?" He rasped wincing at the sound of his own voicing doubting even she could hear it over the storm, if it was in fact her.
The figure drew closer, and he immediately recognized the shock of red hair and intense green gaze, further confirming that it was Ross, and he wasn't imagining things, hopefully.
"McGarrett?...what happened?" She asked eyes assessing him with obvious worry.
"Car went off the road." He muttered, hoping that was explanation enough. Relief come over him like a tidal wave, his muddled brain could only focus on the fact that she was here, she was here...
Ross stepped up to him quickly gently but firmly grabbing his right arm."All right come on let's get out of this rain." She instructed, leading him towards the passenger side of her car. He struggled not to stumble to not lean on her, but Ross was surprisingly strong, and when he did stumble she kept him from falling.
"Easy, I've got you." She muttered so softly, Steve wasn't sure he'd heard the words.
She opened the passenger door, easing him inside and shutting the door. Not a few seconds later she was in the car beside him, looking at him worriedly. "My place is not to far from here, there's no way in hell we'll get reception enough out here to call for an ambulance." She said. "Anything feel broken?" She asked already driving slowly around the large downed tree.
"Commander?" She pressed when he didn't answer. Honestly, the moment she'd gotten him into his car, he'd began to fight unconsciousness, and it took him a moment to register the question.
"Uh, couple broken ribs maybe." The answer came unbidden to his lips.
"Did you lose consciousness?" He really wished she'd focus on driving so that he could sleep.
"No." He muttered. Why was he bothering to answer?
"Any dizziness, nausea?" She continued to pelt him with questions.
"A little." He admitted. Damn his head hurt.
A short pause, then she spoke again."We're almost there."
Steve failed to suppress the sense of relief he felt upon hearing that. She turned down a short paved road before coming upon the beach house.
The houses garage door opened and she eased her car inside. Cutting the engine, she immediately got out.
Steve winced as he moved to unbuckle his seat belt, and then Ross was there helping him out before he could protest. She lead him towards a door opening it to reveal a dark kitchen.
"Hold on." She muttered as she lead him to a counter to lean on before switching on a light. Steve winced biting back a curse as the light pierced through his retinas seeming to slam into his concussed brain like a semi.
"Sorry." She said looking at him worriedly as she returned to his side. "I'll call for an ambulance once we get settled." She said leading him out of the kitchen and into a spacious living room.
She helped him sit down on a comfortable brown couch before switching on another light.
He winced again, watching as she pulled out her phone, looking more worried then before, if that were possible.
Steve felt the sudden urge to reassure her, to tell her he was going to be fine, but not for his usual reasons-mainly to get out of going to the hospital-no. He knew it was because he didn't like seeing her worry, over him, truly worry. He kept silent though as she relayed the situation to the 911 operator, paying little attention to what she was saying, feeling suddenly bone tired.
"Commander?" The touch on his shoulder had him jerking, not realizing he had closed his eyes. He cursed softly at the pain it caused.
"Easy," Ross said."Ambulance won't be here for at least thirty minutes due to the weather."
Steve looked up to see her eyeing his leg worriedly. She crouched down gently pulling at the fabric of his cargo pants.
Ross grimaced. "That looks nasty." She muttered.
Steve moved to get a look at the damage but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Don't move," She said firmly but gently. "I'll be right back." That said she stood abruptly heading towards some stairs. Soon it was quite, and Steve was left to fight off unconsciousness alone.
Suddenly something jumped onto the back of the couch and he turned to look at whatever it was. It was large, for a cat, with long brown fur and black markings. It's paws and chest were white.
They stared at each other as if having some sort of stand off. After a pause, the feline jumped onto the cushion next to him settling up against his right thigh and beginning to purr.
Steve continued to stare at it. Though not much of an animal person, this cat had an oddly calming effect to it. It didn't seem to care whether or not he pet it, just that it enjoyed his company, un-demanding.
Oddly he was tempted to scratch it behind the ears, but restrained from doing so when he heard Ross coming back down the stairs.
She seemed to pause at the sight, then smiled setting down the duffel bag she had on her shoulder next to the couch.
"Sorry, Koa's not usually this friendly with strangers." She said smirking at the cat.
Steve cocked an eyebrow at the name."Koa?" She had to know what the name meant.
She snorted."Don't ask." That said, she kneeled down. "This'll need to be cleaned before it becomes septic."
Steve frowned. "What?"
"You've got a pretty nasty laceration on your leg here, it'll definitely need stitches once you get to the hospital." She explained."Now hold still, this isn't going to be much fun."
Elevating his leg on the coffee table in front of him, she used scissors to cut up his pant leg revealing the wound.
Steve winced at the sight of it. Blood soaked with rain stained his pants and the laceration itself still wept blood. She took out a few things from her pack, bandages, antiseptic.
"This, is going to hurt." She said softly. Steve nodded and she set to work.
*5-0*
Andrea did her best to be gentle but cleaning a wound as deep as the one McGarrett had on his leg was never pretty. Espsually without a local to numb the pain.
Her heart hitched at every wince and grimace the Commander made. Finally after what seemed like hours, she had it cleaned to her satisfaction. With equal gentleness she dressed the wound only looking up at him when she'd finished.
McGarrett had his head leaned back against the couch eyes closed brow furrowed. Beside him (Koa) continued to purr softly. For a moment Andrea just stared at him. His hair was still wet, sticking to his forehead. A nasty cut along his left brow sent blood trickling down his face. He looked, miserable.
He shivered ever so slightly breath hitching oddly, and she frowned. Reaching up she touched his arm.
"Commander...Commander." She urged and he opened his eyes meeting her gaze.
"How's your chest? Your breathing?" For a moment she saw only pain swirling in their depths then comprehension seemed to fall and he blinked.
"Hurts a little." The soft admission had her heartbeat quickening.
"Ok," She pulled out a dry shirt, one of her brothers."We'll change your shirt, and I'll take a look."
He eyed the shirt she held up and she was about to say who it belonged to when he nodded sitting up a little. With effort he tried to remove his shirt.
"Here." She reached up to help him. Grabbing part of the shirt she helped ease it over his head. It was harder to remove due to its dampness but finally after a few curses it came off.
Andrea winced at the dark bruising that marred the left side of his chest. She did her best to ignore the old scars.
"I've gotta check for-"
"I know." He watched her through half closed eyes, looking worn.
"Ok, just, try to relax." She muttered then with reluctance reached up and palpated his rib cage.
He cursed jerking a little away from her touch when one of his ribs shifted under her touch.
"Sorry, sorry!" She said, doing her best to finish quickly. The slight rigidity towards that lower half of his abdomen made her frown. That could mean-
The shrill sound of her phone ringing made her jump cursing she stood abruptly pulling her phone from her pocket.
She didn't recognize the number but she felt compelled to answer.
"Hello?"
'Dr. Ross? It's Alex Timmons.'
"Hey Alex." She knew the young EMT in passing.
'We should be there within the next twenty-five minutes.'How's our patient?'
She glanced at McGarrett who was watching her with obvious curiosity, though his jaw was clenched in obvious pain.
"Could be better."
'We'll get there as fast as we can but this storm isn't exactly helping us.'
"I'll do what I can in the mean time, but-"
'Yeah, I know, just do the best you can.'
Andrea hung up with reluctance.
"Right, they said they should be here in twenty-five minutes." She said. McGarrett gave her a curt nod, before settling his head back against the couch. Eyes closed.
His placidness worried her. "Commander?"
"Hmmm."
She frowned."McGarrett, can you open your eyes for me?" Her heart started to race when he didn't answer, or open his eyes.
"Hey." She hesitated before reaching out and touching the side of his face. To her surprise he actually leaned into the touch. Finally his eyes opened and for a moment they just stared at each other, though his were only half open.
He seemed confused at first, and the name that he muttered had her quickly pulling her hand away, straightening."Catherine?"
Something in her tore just a little, and she found herself standing there awkwardly, feeling suddenly out of place. Catherine? Yes, he'd said Catherine.
Pull yourself together An, you knew it was possible that he was with someone. She told herself sternly, still it didn't make the knowledge hurt any less.
His eyes had closed again, and she quickly set aside her own pain and switched on the pen light.
"Commander." She said a little sterner then she'd intended. It seemed to get the message across though and he opened his eyes once more. They were clearer this time and a frown furrowed his brow.
"Ross?"
She swallowed."Yes," She said softly, once again thrown."I-I need to check," She held up the penlight. He grimaced at it but gave a curt nod."Hold still."
Nasty concussion confirmed, she managed to somehow continue speaking, and told him he shouldn't sleep and that the ambulance would be there soon.
Hopefully.
Now sitting in the arm chair next to him she felt oddly, lost. Granted this wasn't exactly the best time to be dwelling on her feelings over what she'd just learned, but now that things had slowed down, it was practically inevitable.
She tried not to stare at him settling with an occasional glance and listing to his breathing in case it grew worse. He was bleeding internally, and she was afraid he'd punctured a lung...
Maybe it was better that he was dating someone else, the worry alone would probably drive her insane.
She bit back a heavy sigh, checking her watch. Twenty-five minutes had come and gone, she resisted the urge to tap her fingers on the armrest. Glancing at McGarrett again, she contemplated wiping the blood off his face, but maybe that was over stepping a bit.
What the hell? She was a doctor if someone was wounded she was practically obligated to clean them up, she'd already done his leg-
Suddenly McGarrett coughed and to her alarm she spotted flecks of blood on his lips.
"McGarrett?" She got to her feet quickly, approaching him.
"Hmmm." His eyes were closed again.
"Your breathing, how is it right now?" She asked straining to hear his breaths.
His response was to cough again harder, spraying more flecks of blood, and then he was gasping and her heart started to race. She'd wanted to avoid any, procedures, she didn't have the right equipment and-
He gasped so harshly that she cursed.
"Commander, you need to try to calm down." She urged. Koa scrambled off the couch and she reached out gripping McGarrett's shoulder.
His eyes flew open locking in on her and for a split second she was caught, the desperation, the fear."Breath with me, ok, in and out." Their gazes were still locked as she tried to convey calmness. His breaths were still hitching but he was no longer panicking.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, like they already weren't doing that enough. Her heart suddenly went into her throat, and she desperately wanted to speak her mind about how she felt-
Someone pounded on the door and she jumped braking the contact.
She glanced at him before going to answer it, quickly leading the EMT's to him telling them about his condition. After that it was out of her hands, well not entirely.
"You wanna come?" Alex asked. They were outside the rain having finally abated and he stood in the ambulance, doors still open.
She hesitated but only for a moment. If anything she was gonna see this through, it was probably going to be the last time she would treat McGarrett.
*5-0*
He was gonna be fine.
Stable, they had repaired his punctured lung and stopped the internal bleeding. He was still sedated and she stood in the doorway to his room, hoping it wasn't to weird that she was just standing there, watching.
Her heart ached, a weird pinching sensation under her ribs.
"How is he?" She looked over to see Maria. The woman smiled at her tentatively joining her in the doorway.
"Fine, he's stable no complications." She looked back at him and Andrea felt Maria's gaze on her.
"What about you? Something else happen?"
Andrea bit back a sigh, the sudden urge to shed a few tears unwanted, because damn it all...
"He's got a girlfriend." She muttered softly.
Silence.
"Wanna go get a beer?"
The bluntness of the question had her laughing, more of a sort of sobbing laugh, though tears weren't falling.
"Yeah, yeah I could."
"We'll come on, my shift just ended." She urged touching her arm before starting away.
Andrea stood there for a moment longer, just watching.
Her heart would ache for, well she didn't know how, long and she just needed another moment.
Deep down though, she knew she wanted longer, she wanted to be the one to hold his hand. To be there when he woke, but...
She quickly tore herself away.
Life, was often times-more then she liked actually-unfair.
This unfairness however, would hurt for far to long.
Damn, she really could use that drink.
A/N I'm evil aren't I? Will Steve and Andrea ever end up together? Stick around and find out, I've got a few ideas in mind. I still don't think this was my best work though, I found it hard to write. Your thoughts?
~Fire
A/N When I'd started writing this, or got the idea really, I wasn't sure where the show was going to take Steve and Cathrines relationship, so yes now in the show, he and Cathrine are together, so this is obviously going to turn out to be an AU.
