Chapter nine

A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews and PMs about the last chapter. I knew you guys would like the story once it got to the action/whump part. Can't reply to all the guests but I have read and appreciated your words…well, most of them. And to the one who asked how Steve manages to stay the Head of Five-0 with all the injuries he sustains well, I sure don't need to remind you that every story is a standalone that fits into the show's timeline where he's barely taken a day off from work. I'm sure the Governor of Hawaii wouldn't fire him because of health issues but that's just me. ;)

Let me remind you I don't own anything, and this is a work of fiction so reality can be bent accordingly. Happy reading!


"What's wrong, Danny?"

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong."

"Liar. I can see it in your face. You're hiding something."

"My face isn't saying anything, Steven, other than you should really get some rest and let one of the nice nurses give you something for the pain I know you're in."

As if to further prove his partner's point Steve shifted slightly, wincing as he did so and grabbing hold of his sore ribs. The ones not damaged by the weight of the concrete slab had been broken by the paramedics during CPR, leaving him in a world of hurt every time he attempted to draw in air or change position. It was either letting the painkillers mess with his brain or enduring the constant pain and right now, he wasn't sure he was up to it.

"I hate being stuck here…" he admitted in a soft, strained voice.

Danny sat down on the bed next to him and laid a comforting hand on his friend's thigh. "I know you do, babe. But you almost died and I don't know about you but it is not something I want to go through ever again in life." His gaze shifted for a moment as he reigned the painful memories in before continuing. "Besides, it's only been three days so be a good sailor and follow the doctor's orders so we can all put this behind us soon, alright?"

The haunted look that crossed the blond detective's features wasn't lost on Steve who cast his own eyes downward and swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'm sorry I scared you..."

"Not your fault. Well, the injury part at least. Jury's still out on the going after the Yakuza alone in the middle of the night."

There was a long pause as the two stared at each other. Steve saw worry etched on his best friend's face, an affection that after all these years still amazed him, and something else that looked suspiciously like guilt.

Danny was hiding something from him.

"You still haven't answered my question."

Danny stilled, debating for a moment if he should shrug it off again or share the information he'd been given. The determination in the other man's eyes gave him the resolve he needed. With a heavy sigh, he ran his hands through his hair and stood up. "Gaynes is in the wind."

"What? How did that happen?" Steve's whole body tensed at the news, and he jerked upright without even realizing it until the stabbing pain he'd carefully tried to avoid stole his breath, leaving him unable to move for a few, agonizing moments and spurring his friend into action.

"Hey, hey, lay down!" Danny urged, immediately reaching for the controls to raise the upper half of the bed and lower his stubborn partner down where he belonged. "I don't know, Steve, I don't have the details. I've been a little preoccupied with trying to convince your stubborn self to join us back into the land of the living. That son of a bitch hasn't exactly been my top priority lately."

Steve closed his eyes, breathing through the discomfort as he let his friend guide him back against the pillows. Halfway through it he reached out and grabbed a fistful of the other man's shirt, hoping to get his full attention and convey the urgency that the situation deserved.

"He's dangerous, Danny... You need to… go to the office, pull up security footage… coordinate with HPD—"

"Whoa whoa whoa, hey! Stop!" The Jersey detective's hand shot up in the air in a halting gesture while the other one rested firmly on Steve's shoulder to keep him in place. "See, this is exactly why I didn't want to say anything to you," he continued once reassured he wouldn't try to sit up again, gently adjusting the pillows behind him and pulling the sheets up higher over his chest. "Team work, Steven. You put together a team of people, a very nice group of people, who are handling the situation as we speak. No need to get all worked up. They'll call if anything comes up, and I'll check on them later. Now get some rest. Please?"

Steve finally relented, his exhausted body winning the battle over his workaholic brain. He hated it, but there was nothing he could do. Memories of the long hours he'd spent under the rubble flashed through his brain. The one constant, the thought that had kept him focused other than the will to bring the young woman to safety, was the hope to hear his partner's voice. To revel in the reassurance that his touch provided. And now that he had it, he was unwilling to let go.

Hopeful, and a little bit ashamed by the sudden clinginess he was experiencing, he searched the other man's gaze and tried to voice his desire.

"Would you…"

Danny, ever the perceptive one and always attuned to his best friend's needs, was already smiling at him while moving the chair closer to the bed.

"I'm not going anywhere."


Steve was on edge.

Despite the tranquilizers coursing through his body and his partner's continued reassurances he felt antsy and vulnerable, and the dialysis catheter tethering him to the hospital bed was doing nothing to appease the sense of uneasiness that had taken over his thoughts.

The doctor had said it was his last treatment. His kidney function had improved enough that the machine was no longer necessary. In a few hours, he would be able to put this unpleasant experience behind him once and for all, hopefully along with the cramps, the headaches and the dizziness associated with it.

Danny had gone to the office to get an update on the hunt for Andrew Gaynes, promising to be back in a couple of hours. Steve had insisted that he went home after that, feeling guilty that his friend was neglecting his kids to spend time with him, but the Jersey native had immediately shrugged off his concerns and stated that he had no intention of leaving him alone until he was better.

"Grace and Charlie know you're hurt, and they're pretty worried themselves. My very smart and loving daughter was the one who actually suggested I stay with you for as long as you needed it,"

he said, shaking his head at the bewildered look in his best friend's eyes. "They love you like you're their blood, which shouldn't really come as a surprise to you after all this time."

Steve sheepishly ducked his head. Eight years into their partnership, and it still amazed him how he had lucked out when he'd chosen Danny as his partner. What had he ever done to deserve those special people in his life he didn't know, but he would willingly walk through fire before disappointing or hurting any of them.

"They're your family, Danny. I don't want to take you away from the-"

Danny didn't give him a chance to finish his thought. "You are my family, Steve. You're important to me too. My kids understand that I need to be here with you right now and they're okay with that." The initial frown of disapproval on his face quickly crumpled into grief as he witnessed the battle between his partner's brain, keen on proving that it could function without human emotions, and his heart, desperate for love and affection.

"When is it going to sink in that there are people who actually care about you, huh?" he said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching for Steve's arm. "Me. Charlie. Grace. We do. We care. And I know at least a dozen more people to add to the list so stop thinking that you're not worth it, alright? I am here because I want to be here, not out of some sense of duty or obligation of any kind."

Steve nodded, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. "I know. I'm sorry."

"And while you're at it, stop apologizing too. It taints your reputation of big, badass Navy guy."

Rising to his feet, Danny smiled as he squeezed his friend's hand reassuringly. "You know what I think? I think SEAL school really messed up with your head, babe. Although I personally blame your mother for screwing you over. Either that or all those blows you took over the years."

The eye roll that followed the statement put Steve's mind at ease faster than any medicine. The familiar levity of the banter. This was how they showed they cared.

Giving him an amused snort, he let his head fall back against the pillows and watched his partner take a few steps before turning around to meet his gaze again.

"Thanks, Danny," he whispered, trying to convey all the gratitude he felt.

Danny shrugged it off. He had done nothing special, just looked out for his family. "Try to get some rest. Be back in a few."

Three hours later, the calmness he'd experienced in those moments was long gone and Steve stared at the tubes connected to the catheter in his neck as if one look could just annihilate them and give him the freedom he craved.

Insomnia was one of the side effects of dialysis, in addition to fatigue and low blood pressure. He was exhausted but couldn't manage to fall asleep, which only added to his frustration. Being on the sidelines during an active investigation didn't sit well with him; being sidelined and basically unable to do anything but lay down in bed while machines did what his body couldn't was even worse.

He couldn't wait to get out of there.

A gentle knock on the glass pulled him from his dark thoughts, followed by a familiar face poking her head in. "Commander? Can I come in?"

"Hey, Sara…" Steve greeted her, genuinely happy to see her. He tried to sit a little straighter as he waved her in, mindful of his aching ribs and all the equipment connected to his body. "Sure, come on in. And please call me Steve."

Because of his injuries he hadn't had a chance to check on her and was pleased to noticed she looked a lot better than the last time he'd seen her.

The haunted eyes that had cut deep into Steve's heart were now warm and lively, glistening with a sparkle every time she smiled. Brown strands cascaded down her back and around her face, framing her delicate features. He knew it would take her time to get over what had happened, but she already seemed to be on the right track.

"Alright… Steve," she said as she nodded and hesitantly approached the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I've had better days," he admitted, feeling the weariness from his own ordeal settle around him like a blanket.

Sara tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault…"

"Hey, hey, no. Don't say that. None of this is your fault, you understand?"

She stared at the dialysis machine, studying the numbers on the digital monitor and the tubes circulating blood into his system. "Does it hurt?"

The former SEAL shrugged. "Not really. I'm pretty numb right now. How about you, you alright?"

"I'm good. My brother's not letting me out if his sight but I'm not complaining. He's in the cafeteria right now, but I know that he really wants to thank you and tell you how grateful he is so… you know, maybe when you're up for it he could…stop by?" She turned sideways and lifted the back of her t-shirt up to reveal a small handgun tucked in the waistband of her jeans. "Even gave me a piece for protection, in case I get into trouble again. Anyway, I, uh… I wanted you to know I applied to the police academy. Feels like a long time coming, you know?"

Steve looked at the Kel Tec 9mm, a smile curving his lips as he realized it was the weapon he had given Kono the day she'd graduated. Sara had the same determination and resourcefulness that had shaped his former team member into an excellent officer of the law, and he had no doubt the young woman would reach the same results.

"Wow, that's… you sure?"

"More than I've ever been."

"That's great. I guess I'll see you around, then."

Sara nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, you will. Assuming I graduate," she added with a smile.

Steve shifted higher in his bed. "Listen to me, I'm very proud of what you did and how you handled this whole situation," he said, patting her thigh lightly with the back of his fingers. "You've already shown all the qualities that make a good cop, I'm sure they'll see it too."

Hearing those words of praise and encouragement meant the world to Sara. Everyone on the island knew who Steve McGarrett was, and having the Five-0 leader express belief in your capabilities was an honor very few people got to experience in their lifetime. "Thank you," she replied, grateful beyond words that Fate had put them, albeit briefly, on the same path. "For everything you did. I'll never forget it."

If he had stayed home that night instead of roaming the streets in a quest to find her, she was positive they wouldn't be having this conversation right now.

A shadow crossed her features as she thought back to those long hours of fear and uncertainty, to the nightmare she'd foolishly believed was over.

Steve saw the fear in her eyes and cursed for the umpteenth time the machines tying him to the bed. "They told you, didn't they? About Gaynes?"

"Not really," she admitted, taking a seat on the chair next to the bed. "I overheard Josh talking to Sergeant Lukela and asked him about it. That's why there's an officer outside the unit, isn't it? They think he's gonna come after us?"

"I'm not sure. He might be long gone, but you can never be too careful, right?"

"Right."

The thought had crossed his mind a few times since he'd learned the news from Danny. The now former lawyer would be looking at life without parole, so there was a chance he'd choose to go down with a bang through suicide by cop instead of surrendering to decades in a 6x8 cell in Halawa.

Steve wasn't worried about himself. Even in his weakened state he would be able to overpower an enemy, especially one with no hand-to-hand combat skills like himself. What he feared was not being in control, and the possibility that someone else – like Sara or worse, Danny – might get hurt while he was stuck here and couldn't protect them.

"You should go someplace safe until we catch him," he said, a serious expression on his face. "Have your brother take you away for a few days."

Sara shook her head. "I'm not leaving. And you don't know that it will be just a few days. What if he disappears for months, or years? I can't hide and live my life in fear."

"Then be careful," he sighed, wearily dragging a hand through his short hair. "You know better than I do how dangerous he is and how far he's willing to go to protect his business."

"Will do," she smiled, rising to her feet and giving Steve's arm a squeeze. She could see that he was extremely tired, and that their short conversation had sapped his meager energy reserves. "I'll leave you alone now so you can rest. Thanks again for saving my life and—"

Her heartfelt thanks were suddenly interrupted by a voice coming from the doorway.

"Well well well… if it isn't the two people I wanted to see…"

Steve's head shot up, what little color he'd regained draining from his cheeks.

Gaynes.

TBC