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Chapter Nine: Letters U through W

"Steve … just try … Danny .. Steve… wake up."

It startled him when he finally understood and Danny threw all his remaining energy into making something happen. But now he felt trapped and he couldn't do more than earnestly grip at Steve's hand like a life-line because he no longer wanted the darkness. He definitely didn't understand what had happened to him or why he felt like he was swimming in mud. Awake but not quite awake at the same time, he had no control over his body.

It took him an inhumane amount of effort and the flashes of pain in his head nearly pulled him back under on his first attempt, but he managed to make a tiny sound. He knew he'd been heard when he could hear more of Steve's pleading tone. With intense relief, individual words were beginning to come together and make more and more sense. But what didn't make sense was why he was struggling in the first place.

"Danny, talk to me. Try."

He had to fight so very hard and the second attempt was equally pitiful and it used him up and then spit him out entirely. Losing in the end to the murky blackness, he won only for a brief moment as he forced his mouth to work. On a too short and troubled exhale he gained significant ground by getting two desperate words out and hoped he was heard again.

"Hey. Steve."

And now Danny genuinely became afraid again of not being able to get away from the darkness. As he became more aware, he also realized that he couldn't move and could only now barely communicate.

"I don't understand. I need help. Steve … what?"

Another sharp pain flared briefly in his temple, he winced and then his spasmodic grip tightened once before it loosened uncontrollably and totally against his will. Completely exhausted and utterly confused, he was unable to stop the fall and was swallowed whole by the quiet and silent blackness.

Steve felt the fingers spasm once and then completely drop off his own fingers. He watched as Danny's face and breathing once more altered to the same deep state. Swallowing hard, he gave the lax hand a final squeeze; he took a few steps back from the bed and rubbed shaking hands across his own sweaty face. Gripping his hair tightly for a moment, he spun in place and huffed out an almost happy sound of his own.

"You are coming back, damn it." He said out loud. But he was worried and unsure about the flickers of pain and confusion across Danny's face. He easily read the extreme effort and it was overwhelming to witness. He was impatient now waiting for Kono to get back with Doctor Adler.

"It'll be okay. You'll do more later." He said with conviction and just as Doctor Adler arrived with Kono breathlessly traveling on his heels.

Adler glanced once at Steve's hesitant smile and then paused to look him up and down. Frowning for what seemed like no reason at Steve's appearance, he made his way to the bed and the various monitors.

"Did he respond again?" the doctor asked distractedly, as his eyes slowly widened on their own and he saw by the equipment that the answer was undeniably 'yes'.

"The EEG is .. is very good." He stammered for a moment and immediately turned to check Danny's vitals. Kono and Steve relaxed as they saw Adler's pleasure grow at the results.

"Yeah. You might say that." Smiling wider, Steve looked to Kono and pulled her all the way into the room. She made no attempt at stifling her relieved laugh at his unexpected and victorious announcement.

"He spoke, doc. Danny quite clearly said my name."

Adler chuffed and looked quizzically at Steve to make sure he heard him correctly and went back to checking and rechecking various readings.

"It's a shorter amount of time, too." Adler remarked pensively as he compared results and checked his watch. "Between his levels of awareness, I mean. This is definitely .. progress. Good progress."

Steve waited a few minutes as Adler ran through his evaluations and made notes on various charts. Making a face, he was nervous as he finally asked.

"Can he be in any pain though?"

Kono was surprised by the question as she looked from Steve and then to Danny. She also noticed for the first time, more of the worry lurking behind Steve's eyes and a new batch of stress lines that deepened across his forehead. He looked exhausted all over again and Chin had commented during their last conversation about his recent lack of sleep.

"He falls right back into old habits and seems to just forget to take care of himself ..we're going to have an argument on our hands..."

Looking at Steve now, Kono agreed with her cousin's observations. He was still speaking though and Kono bit her tongue. Once Adler was finished, she'd be insisting that Steve take a break. And a very long one. She could count on it being a problem.

"This wasn't easy for him and he looked off … maybe afraid .. maybe even as if his head .. his injury .. was actually hurting."

The doctor didn't say anything as he took in Steve's words. "He is progressing. He's definitely more aware of his environment. I'd expect confusion as well."

And he explained more of the reasoning. "I haven't administered aggressive drugs or pain-killers due to his state. It could affect our ability to properly assess his awareness levels and we'd of course like to see him awaken. Drugs will depress some of the readings. But yes, possible as he approaches consciousness he may feel pain."

Adler smiled quickly as he held up his hand to forestall Steve's next obvious question.

"And yes again, I will prescribe a mild pain relief medicine as soon as I leave here."

But pointing at Steve now and then to the spare cot, he cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. The challenge was clear and Steve was very resentful.

"I have not seen you .. there .. in some time. And frankly, you look terrible Commander. I don't need another patient."

Kono poked him roughly in the shoulder to chime in and take advantage of the doctor's demands. "You look more than tired again. When did you sleep last?"

But he batted her hand away and glared at Adler. "Just .. stop for a second. Both of you. I need to be here if he wakes again."

"Really?" Kono drawled in annoyance. "First of all, that cot is what? Two feet away?"

Adler chuckled at the remark and was surprised at the disgusted look thrown his way. He stood in amazement as her voice rose and her anger grew.

"Secondly, what the hell am I doing here then if I can't be here for Danny myself? Why is Chin coming? It's certainly not to just bring you coffee." Kono's eyes were flashing as she clearly made her point. "This is not all on you Steve. Not even close."

Kono stalked over to him and in one motion grabbed Steve's shoulders to physically turn and push him towards the cot. It was such a determined shove and he was so unprepared that Steve stumbled forward and wound up sitting on it to catch himself. The stunned expression never left his face as she slammed a finger once more into his shoulder.

"You are going to sleep. Here and now. And you will shut up for a change."

Refusing to look at either man, Kono walked purposefully past the doctor and moved the chair right up against Danny's bedside to sit in a quiet huff. Bending down, she retrieved Chin's worn magazine from where it had fallen under the bed and opened it blindly to any page.

"Well now." Adler said quietly to Steve. The satisfied smile grew across his face as he took in Steve's amazed expression and saw that he was still totally speechless.

"There we have it. Good night Commander."

The letter U. Steve only tried once more to speak to Kono, but she put her hands over both ears and started to hum loudly as she rested Chin's magazine on her lap.

"Really, Kono? Isn't that a bit childish?" But it worked and Steve finally did lie back on the cot. He was practically vibrating from what had happened and his hands were still shaking.

"This is ridiculous. I can't sleep." Steve muttered unhappily. But it was either rest or be entirely banished from the room. And he knew Kono would have no issues using that as a second option. She'd probably go and get reinforcements to do it ... but no, he corrected himself, Kono most certainly would not need the help.

Both looked up in tandem as a nurse came in with a syringe to dispense the requested mild pain killer into Danny's IV port.

"If he's in any pain, this will take the edge off." She explained quietly. And Steve nodded his thanks as she left and he rolled over onto his side.

"You UNDERESTIMATE yourself, D." He softly mouthed towards the hospital bed. He couldn't help adding under his breath. "HPD underestimated you when you got here. I sure did when I first met you. But you've easily proven all of those stupid assumptions quite wrong."

Sighing loudly, Steve closed his eyes as he worriedly thought about Danny's pained facial expressions.

"But please don't underestimate yourself. Not know. Not with this. Not ever."

Fidgeting badly Steve heaved himself onto his back and bunched up the pillow to again stare at the ceiling. He then couldn't help grinning as he caught Kono rolling her eyes about the noises coming from the incessantly creaking cot.

"Sleep!" She hissed in his general direction.

The letter V. Still grinning, Steve tried to close his eyes and relax. Positive that he'd not be able to actually sleep, he thought about the next letter and what he'd choose. He wound up making a list of sorts, all of which sobered him again and he had to bite his lip from an over-tired and emotional reaction.

VITAL.

One: It was an absolute vital requirement that Danny get better from this devastating accident. "Failure's not an option, D." Steve thought to himself as he ran one hand over his face.

Two: Danny himself was a vital member of their team and tight-knit Ohana. Steve grimaced and stole a peek at the back of Kono's head.

"Yeah. No kidding." He thought wryly after having his head quite unexpectedly handed to him by the angry young woman. Sighing loudly, he knew Kono was right and he'd have to be careful with how he leveraged his well-meant but sometimes selfish tendencies when it came to running his benevolent dictatorship.

Three: The word defined Danny's very own sense of vitality … those crazy and animated characteristics that made him bigger than life.

Four: His family and friends simply needed Danny as a vital part of their own lives. He was most importantly an essential part of Grace's life.

His brain faltered on the fourth and final definition. Steve wound up mentally adding himself after Grace and wondered when it had happened. When had Detective Daniel Williams inserted himself so very strongly and resolutely into his own life?

"God". He exhaled heavily and then had to cough lightly a bit to cover up for a tightening throat and subtle hitch that affected his breathing.

The letter W. Another big fidget earned him a battle-weary sigh from Kono and she ruffled the magazine as she shifted with annoyance in her chair. But his hands had finally stopped their not so subtle tremble and he managed to find a comfortable position. The latest adrenalin rush was abating and Steve was coming down from it with a vengeance. A dull headache had begun to settle between his eyes and his entire body felt like a leaden weight.

WISE. No doubt Danny was definitely a smart guy. Nothing got past him and he was meticulous about details. But unbidden the word expanded in his mind and he had to stifle an automatic chuckle.

WISECRACK. He could literally drip with sarcasm at the drop of a hat. Steve grinned widely now with his eyes still closed and now admittedly over-tired, couldn't hold back that first chuckle. He himself often lost to the near constant verbal sparring. And with too many memories to count, he chuckled again a bit more loudly than he wanted to and heard Kono's chair move. Without looking, Steve tried to school his features and sham sleeping. But he could feel her eyes on him and not only couldn't he help peeking, but he was wholly unable to wipe the silly grin that spread across his face.

Kono was still mad and now she stood over him holding the magazine threateningly in one hand. Rolled up tightly, it acted like a baton and she smacked him hard in the chest not once but twice.

"Boss! Sleep!"

And he did …

~ to be continued ~