Chapter 9
Chin sat next to Steve's bed watching for any signs of life, a flicker of an eyelid, anything, but nothing, Steve just continued to sleep peacefully. Steve looked like he was on death's door, he had two black eyes among his pale face from the beating he sustained before being mercilessly thrown off the edge of a cliff into the unforgiving sea beneath. Chin was thinking Steve actually was strong not only did he survive the beating, which earned him two black eyes and two broken ribs, he also survived up to four hours in the rough sea, something he was trained to endure. But even the best crash sometimes and this was Steve's time.
Chin looked over to Kono who was sleeping in a rather awkward position in the hospital chair next to Steve's bed, all the worry and concern caught up with her and eventually she gave in and fell into deep sleep. Chin wanted to know how Danny and Catherine were doing, thanks to them Steve was fighting in front of them, they gave him another chance at life and Chin certainly didn't want to loose them after all they went through.
Chin's thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his smartphone and he jogged out of the room careful not to wake his cousin from her quiet and peaceful sleep.
"Hello?" he whispered lowly, as his surroundings in the ICU were also quiet and he didn't want to disturb the atmosphere.
"Chin, its Rachel, where are you i'm at Emergency reception" Rachel said at the other end of the phone line.
"okay I'll be down in a few minutes" he said before hanging up.
Chin gave one more glance into the hot, almost clammy room to see nothing has changed with Steve, obviously, and decided on leaving Kono sleep, she would feel better when she wakes up. As he slowly closed the door he headed for the lift and went down to the reception to meet Rachel.
It was clear to Chin that Rachel was crying, the tears stains running down her cheek were clearly seen, red puffy eyes and mascara running, it was obvious.
"Rachel,.." Chin said and she gave him a hug, to comfort more herself than Chin.
"W...where is he? Is he alright?" Rachel asked in a rush to find out, she needed to know. Even though they separated over three years ago, Rachel still deeply cared about Danny and maybe even deep down still had feelings for him, but she wasn't going to admit that to anyone but herself.
"Rachel, I wish i knew, nobody has told us anything yet" Chin said still upset and in shock at how bad Steve was.
"What do you mean nobody has told you anything yet?" Rachel clearly was frustrated.
Just then a nurse behind them shouts into the waiting room "Family of Daniel Williams?" Expecting the family to be in the waiting room he was suprised when he heard "Thats us, how is he is he ok" coming from a concerned ladies voice behind him.
"I'm his ex wife Rachel, this is his work-mate Chin" Rachel said pointing to Chin.
"My name is doctor Harrington, when Danny came into us this morning he had a core temperature of 31 degrees which is classifies as being severely hypothermic, we needed to get his body temperature up gradually we gave him hot fluids and also used special warming pads, so his temperature would go up to a stable level, his temperature has gone up now to 34 degrees which is good but still not out of the woods, we will be happy when his temperature comes up to around 36 degrees as the temperature needed for the body the function successfully is approximately 36.6 degrees."
"He is going to be okay?" Rachel asked very interested in what the professional has to say.
"His blood level is still very low at 80/60 but He is going to be fine once his temperature reaches a manageable level"
"oh thank god! I was soo worried, can we see him?" Rachel asked relief in her voice, however she would not relax until she physically saw Danny awake and alert.
"He is still very groggy and we have him on a light sedative to give him time for his temperature to go up, but yes you can see him follow me please" Chin found himself going straight back to ICU to see Danny with Rachel.
Chin and Rachel walked into the dark, hot room a lot like Steve's, Danny had an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, heart monitors on his chest, IV stuck in his arm and three or four warming pads placed around him. He looked tired, worn out and pale but Chin had to admit Steve looked a lot worse!
Rachel stood next to the metal bed containing Danny and put a hand on his shoulder, she got a small response from the injured man.
"Hey, Danny its me Rachel, Chin is here too, open your eyes" Rachel asked quietly, not forcing him to do anything.
"mmmm Rach,..." Danny mumbled to himself, Rachel tried to make out what he was saying but she couldn't make out one word.
Eventually with help from his ex wife and friend Chin they managed to get his big blue eyes open, not fully only to half mast but it was good enough for them.
"Gr...Graa..Graaacce?" Danny asked concerned for some reason.
"Grace is fine Danny dropped her off to school an hour ago" Rachel said smiling, Danny really loved Grace and Rachel knew that.
Danny let out a sigh hardly able to keep his exhausted eyes open. Then he remembered, everything came back to him in flashbacks. Being beaten, tied up, being thrown off the edge of a cliff, water, underwater, Catherine!, Steve!
"SSSteeeevee?" Danny asked almost jumping out of the warm, comfy bed.
"He is fine Danny how about you concentrate on getting better yourself ok then you can go check on Steve" Rachel said, she didn't know how Steve was but she didn't want Danny worrying over something right now he wasn't able, he was too weak.
"Caath'rine?" Danny asked he just wanted to know if his friends were alright.
"She is fine Danny, rest" Chin said with a smile on his face, he was relieved and thankful that Danny was alive, he was grateful to Danny for all he tried to do for Steve, he just wanted Steve to pull through, Danny to get better and Catherine he didn't hear from Catherine's doctor yet he wondered why.
Thats when a young doctor who looked like she just graduated from medical school, she was full of energy and happy to be doing her job, a bounce in her stride and a smile on her lips came into the room.
"I'm sorry to disturb ye, Dr Harrington said ye would be here, Im Dr Foster, are ye Family of Catherine Rollins, she came in with Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams?"
"Yeah thats me!" Chin said happy that he is eventually going to find out how their last friend is.
"Do you want to come outside the door for me and i will update you of her condition" She asked a smile still on her face as Chin thought she is a pleasant nurse, one that would almost brighten up your day.
Chin went outside and the nurse told him everything he needed to know about Catherine's condition. Same story with Danny really; she is severly cold, hypothermic and also developed the same respiratory distress syndrome as Steve so they have her on a ventilator for the time being. The kind, rather small nurse led Chin down to Catherine who was only a few doors down from Danny's. She looked good considering she was on a ventilator, if that makes any sense, she wasn't pale in fact she had a nice colour to her, but Chin could hear her respiratory distress was very severe as he could hear Catherine trying so very hard to take in a breath, he could hear the wheezing in every breath she took, he felt sorry for her.
The ventilator was assisting her in her breathing which was very badly needed.
Chin could now confirm that Steve was definately the one who suffered the worst, he just hoped Steve would be strong enough to come out the best.
Lots more to come, keep reading! Thank you to all who favorite, followed and reviewed this story, really appreciate every one of them.
See ye soon! :)
