This is a short tag to end this 'episode'. It is a request from many of you McFrances fans. Hope you enjoy!
Again thank you for reading.
"Kono, get Doctor Howland quick!" Frances ordered, afraid that some of the deadly mixture might have gotten into Steve's veins.
"Dan...Dannnnny?" came the raspy whisper from the bed.
"Oh my God, Steve! Are you alright?" Danny lunged at his partner and grabbed his hand.
"Why...why are you yelling?"
Danny burst into a hysterical laugh with tears brimming over in his eyes, as he felt the stress of the last few days ebbing away.
Frances and Chin stowed their weapons and joined in the laughter.
"I said som...something funny?" Steve asked wearily as he lazily glanced around at the faces smiling down at him.
Doctor Howland hurried into the room and gasped at his dead colleague sprawled on the floor. "So it was Mesner. I was so hoping you had the wrong man. It's creepy to think there was a killer amongst us."
Duke carefully handed him the syringe containing remaining droplets of the poison. "My guess is cyanide. He was dead within seconds. He also injected some into Commander McGarrett's IV line, but we ripped it off before any got into his system. In any case you'd better check."
Howland addressed his nurse, "Get a blood sample and tell the lab I want the results STAT!"
"Right away doctor." She momentarily left the room to fetch the equipment.
"I see you're awake, Commander." He glanced up at the heart monitor now showing a fever of a 102. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit stiff and hot." Steve reached down to his stomach. "Feels weird."
"I imagine it will be sore for a few days."
"What happened?" he asked, bemused.
They all look at the doctor expectantly.
"It's normal folks, don't worry. He'll remember soon enough. We'll let him rest now."
Frances leaned down to place a feathery kiss on her husband's lips. "You sleep now, sweetie. We'll be right here."
Before she could leave, he reached out a weak hand to her. "Stay," he begged in a ghostly whisper. He then did the same to Danny. "You too."
Both Danny and Frances glanced at Doctor Howland who smiled his consent before leaving. Duke and the officer, who'd been guarding the door, handled the dead body.
With heavy eyelids, Steve's weary eyes swiveled from one smiling face to the other. "Now, will you tell me what happened?"
"Later, babe. Right now you need your rest. We'll be right here with you. Promise."
With that assurance, Steve nodded weakly and gave each hand a light squeeze before he drifted off.
Frances took the dishtowel in the basin and wrung it of its excess water before applying it to her husband's feverish brow. No longer able to hold it, she broke into tears. Danny extended his arm and touched her shoulder from across the bed. "He's going to be okay."
"Yeah, Super SEAL strikes again!" she sobbed.
H50H50H50H50H50h50H50h50h50H50H50H50
Days elapsed and on a rainy afternoon, Frances found Steve standing with arms akimbo in the middle of the guest room.
Frances stood under the doorway somewhat puzzled by Steve's stillness. "Hey, what are you doing up? The doctor ordered complete bed rest for the next few days."
"I did rest. Four days is my limit. Besides I have work to do."
"What work? You're off duty from Five-0 for the next two weeks."
He turned to face her. "Not that kind of work. This kind," he said motioning to the walls. "I was thinking which color we should paint the nursery."
"Hum."
"What do you say to green and brown? They are nature's colors, very soothing and peaceful. Not to bright."
"That's a good idea," she agreed amusedly.
"It's also neutral since we don't know if we're expecting boys or girls or one of each."
"You still have time, sweetie. The babies aren't coming for another six months," she said as she moved toward him to wrap her arms around his waist.
"I know I'm just getting ahead." He pulled back a bit and rubbed her stomach. "Just think in a few months we won't be able to hold each other like that."
"We'll find other ways I'm sure." She looked up at him and stole a kiss. "What's the matter?"
"I'm a bit nervous about all this. I…I never thought I was father material. Don't get me wrong I'm ecstatic about the babies but," he sighed, "will I do a good job with them?"
She hugged him tighter. "Steve, you'll do fine. I was nervous too when I was pregnant with Aleena. But once she was born, it just came naturally."
"Yeah, that's what Danny said."
"Well he should know. He's a father himself. I wouldn't have let you conceive these babies if I didn't think you'd make a wonderful father and a great provider."
"Thanks, baby." He leaned down and stole a kiss. Instead of pulling back she tightened the clench, much to his concern. "Hey, you ok?"
"Yeah, just hold me and don't let go."
He obliged as he sensed a fear within her passing through him at the notion of coming to a hair's breadth of losing him. "It's over, Frances. He's dead."
"I know," she sniffed. "I was just so..."
"Hey, it's ok. I'm alright," he reassured, holding her tighter still. "You knew when you married me that this was part of the deal."
"I know but it doesn't make it any easier."
He buried his face in her neck for the longest time before he began peppering it with light kisses. He pulled back but they remained enlaced. "You still want to stay at home for our anniversary?"
She looked up into his fetching eyes and stole a loving kiss.
"Ok, I think that's a yes," he mumbled smilingly through the kiss that he resumed with a burning passion.
The rest is already history in 'Project Miranda'
