A/N: Again, thank you for all the reviews. I have been trying to respond to each of them, but if I've missed you, I apologize. And for my guests - thank you for taking the time to review. I appreciate them all!


True to his word, Steve arrived back at the hospital early the next morning. He found Danny sleeping and after an hour of sitting next to the hospital bed reviewing the case, Steve decided he should head into the office. He left a quick note on the nurse's white board on the wall so Danny would know he'd been there.

A little while later Danny woke feeling much more human. He still hurt a great deal, but he could tell he'd slept well and for a long time. His gaze traveled to the clock on the wall and then smiled as he saw the white board underneath the clock. Steve's message read:

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,

I was here at what I'm sure you'll call the ungodly hour of 6:00 a.m.

You're still sleeping so I'm going to head to the office. We'll stop by

around lunch. Don't give the nurses a hard time.

-Steve"

"Good morning," Karen glanced at the board when she saw him looking and then smiled as she also read the message. "The night nurses said you slept well so how are you feeling?"

Danny moved the oxygen mask and shifted a little in the bed, "Better, thanks."

"Good. Doctor Lee will be by soon to check you out, but if all goes well, we'd like to get you up and moving today. We'll take it slow and easy at first."

Danny nodded, "Good."

"We're going to do a breathing treatment and I'm going to change your bandages again. If the burns look good, I'll leave the dressing off for a while. Then after the doc gets here, we'll get you up to walk around a little. It won't be much, but maybe you can sit in the chair for a bit as well."

When the team arrived after lunch, Danny was dozing after a busy morning. The oxygen mask had been replaced by a nasal cannula, and he looked comfortable for the first time since he arrived at the hospital. Kono snorted when she went to take a seat by the wall which happened to be next to the white board. "Hey, Boss, I think that's for you."

Steve read the message scrawled in Danny's handwriting on the board and smiled,

"Dear Evil Stepmother,

Yes, I'm sleeping again. Deal with it. Wake me when

Grace gets here.

6:00 IS ungodly... bite me, Steven.

-Danny"

"I guess he's feeling better," Chin smiled.

The team quietly discussed the case and the results of various interviews conducted that morning. After about an hour, Kono left to pick Grace up from school while Danny continued to sleep.

"Hey, Steve," Chin pointed at something in a file he was looking through. "Did you see this? HPD is doing another round of interviews with some of the people involved but concentrating on the employees. They haven't been able to get in touch with the doorman."

"When did someone talk to him last?" Steve wondered.

Chin flipped through a few pages, "Looks like the only statement he gave was the initial one on scene. HPD and the arson investigator have both tried to call with no response and HPD reports an attempt to visit his last known address, also with no luck."

"That's a little suspicious."

"More than a little. Duke's report states that Jeff Burnhart has been able to contact all other employees to follow up with them, but he hasn't been able to get a hold of George Davila, the doorman."

"I told you he was good for this," Danny smiled at them.

"Hey, Danno," Steve smiled.

"How're you feeling?" Chin wondered.

"Better. Tired, but better."

"He's doing very well," Karen informed them as she entered. "Doctor Lee is quite pleased with his progress. The breathing treatments are doing their job, and the burns are looking very good."

"That's great," Steve couldn't help his grin.

"Danno!" Grace's excited voice interrupted their conversation as she came into the room with Kono. She quickly put her backpack down and went to stand next to Danny's bed.

"Monkey!" Danny's smile could have lit up Oahu. He reached out for a hug which she happily provided. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you, too, Danno."

"Here, Grace, you can sit next to your dad," Steve lifted her up and carefully settled her next to Danny. "But be careful not to bump him."

"I'm not that fragile," Danny groused. He nodded towards a bag Kono was holding, "What's that?"

"Grace and I thought you might need a few things so we stopped by your place and picked up some clothes for you. I grabbed your robe so when they get you up to walk, you can cover more than that hospital gown does."

"Thanks, this thing is a bit drafty when up and about," Danny gave Karen a look.

Karen returned his look with a sweet smile, "The other nurses will be so disappointed."

The team looked expectantly at Karen as it was clear that there was something she wasn't telling. Steve finally broke the silence, "All right, spill it."

"We did get Danny up for a walk earlier today," Karen explained.

"And apparently I flashed the nurses desk on my way back," Danny growled.

"I don't think the nurses were complaining," Karen pointed out.

Kono gave him a pat on the shoulder and a wicked smile, "I'm sorry I missed it."

"Et tu, Kono?" Danny frowned, but his eyes were smiling. And then, turning his attention back to Grace, his smile returned full force, "How was school, Monkey?"

That set Grace off on a long explanation of her day. They all listened, glad to have something cheerful to listen to and think about. Grace's laugh and smile were contagious and looked to be the best medicine for Danny.

However, after two hours, Danny was starting to doze again. As soon as his head would droop, he would jerk himself awake and pain would flash across his features. Steve noticed and after the second time, he looked meaningfully at Danny and nodded at the button for the pain medicine. Danny shook his head and smiled at his daughter to encourage her current story.

Two more times of pointedly ignoring his partner's silent pleas and Danny was thinking that maybe it was time for a rest soon. He was saved from having to admit it out loud when Karen entered.

"Looks like you're having a good visit and I hate to break it up, but we really should get you up for a short walk and then a breathing treatment."

Danny nodded and smiled at Grace, "Sorry, Monkey, the boss has spoken. You should get back to your mom before supper anyway."

"Can I come back tomorrow, Danno?" Grace pleaded with the puppy dog eyes that never failed to melt his heart.

"Of course, just check with your mom and then let Uncle Steve or Auntie Kono know, so one of them can pick you up, okay?"

Grace threw her arms around him and whispered, "Love you, Danno."

"Love you, too, Monkey."

"C'mon, Gracie," Steve held out his hand for her to take. "Why don't we wait out at the nurse's station and maybe Danno can walk us to the elevator."

Danny nodded as his daughter looked his way, "I'll be right there. Go on wait with Uncle Steve."

"Don't forget your robe, Danno," Steve threw out as they exited.

"Animal," Danny muttered as Karen helped him swing his legs over the side of the bed.

"Here, Brah," Chin held the robe out for Danny to put on. "Don't worry, I sent my peeping cousin out with Steve. I'll give you a hand."

"Thanks, Buddy."

Danny shuffled out holding the IV pole with his right hand while Chin held onto his left elbow for a little support. Karen followed closely behind in case more support was needed.

Grace looked a little worried as she saw her dad walking so slowly and not entirely on his own. Steve squeezed her hand and smiled at her, "It's okay, Gracie. Danno is still really sore and has some bad bruises that make it hard for him to walk, and his lungs still need to get better before he can go much faster."

At the elevator, Grace gave her dad another hug, "Love you, Danno."

"Love you, too, Monkey."

"I'll take her back and then I'll be back. Take it easy, Partner." Steve told him.

"Thanks," Danny watched the elevator doors close before allowing himself to sag and accept more of Chin's support.

"You okay, Danny?" Chin tightened his grip on his friend.

"Yeah, just really tired."

"Here, Danny," No one had noticed Karen slip away while Danny was saying his goodbyes. She was back now with a wheelchair.

Danny briefly thought of refusing, but the thought of walking back to his room exhausted him even more. He allowed Chin to help ease him into the chair. "I hate this so much," he whispered.

Chin patted his shoulder in sympathy, "You're doing great, Brah."

"Yeah, Danny," Kono chimed in. "You'll be good as new in no time."

Once back in his room, Danny sank wearily into the bed and allowed Karen and Kono to get him settled, too tired to even help.

"I think we'll skip the breathing treatment until later," Karen told him as she slipped the nasal cannula back into place. She pushed the button for the pain medication for him as Kono adjusted the blanket over him. "Just get some rest."

Chin and Kono made themselves comfortable in the chairs, and by the time Karen was out the door, Danny was sound asleep.