I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: muse off and running from original story ... sorry for the delay.

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O

Chapter Ten

Danny literally crawled into his hospital bed after seeing Steve and he snorted wryly at his mental use of the word. Seeing? In reality, he hardly actually saw Steve, but that visit had been enough. Somewhere along the way, the nurse had slightly altered his course for the promised chest x-ray, too. He was so exhausted after that side trip and his head was pounding so badly, he didn't dare even try to think anymore. He even happily accepted the strong pain medication, eyes closed and already dozing as his nasal cannula was switched out to an oxygen mask, the nurse tutting in a valid annoyance over his low oxygen saturation levels. He never knew that Doctor Ramirez had arrived in the interim, poking his head round into his room before silently entering. The retired doctor smiled winningly at the nurse, compelled to check on each of his friends' conditions. Already having fallen into a deep sleep, Danny missed the entire conversation of which he was the center of attention.

"Prognosis?" Ponch asked, an eyebrow raised questioningly as he heard the soft whistle and wheeze on each of Danny's exhales. To his ear, Danny's chest sounded tight, strained - potentially something which indicated the advent of a potential issue.

"He just had a follow-up chest x-ray," the nurse confirmed. "Results are pending; some of his coughing spasms have been severe and his 02 levels are lower than they should be right now. He finally admitted to not feeling very well and I've advised his doctor."

"He's also exhausted," Ponch commented with a bland raising of an eyebrow. "I daresay, they both are." The rest of his internal recitation he kept private, because as he'd been told by Chin Ho Kelly, the individuals responsible still had yet to be apprehended. He'd also been brought up-to-date on both Steve and Danny's recent schedule related to a case which had kept them both on the go for days on end. In fact, their meet that night had purportedly been related to said case and so, they'd gone out of a sense of duty. Yet, these very circumstances only contributed to their medical challenges - what they hadn't needed either, was little Rebecca Ramirez as an added stressor. The Ramirez family was at wits end themselves; confused, torn and walking on eggshells. Though everyone agreed that Becca's inadvertent participation had been serendipity for the two Five-0 partners, her actions did little to settle the family's nerves. And Ponch didn't need to remind himself that his niece's actions were directly the result of his brother's decision to relocate for a much better job opportunity. On paper, the decision was wise and the job a compliment. It was indeed, very good and Mike would be a fool not to pursue the offer. It would be the career boost he so sorely needed to truly get back on his own two feet after losing so very much. But Seattle? The round robin thought process instantly prodded Ponch into an ill humor.

"How's Rebecca, Doctor Ramirez?" The nurse asked, a pleasant smile on her face. He chuffed a conciliatory sound and nodded in reply at first, easily reading that the woman was being overly inquisitive. News had traveled far and wide and the woman did have a valid concern, as had the police when they'd all been questioned. After all, why ever would his beloved eleven year old niece have been where she was that night?

"A few superficial cuts and bumps," he finally offered. "She's at home ... with her father."

"It's a good thing she showed up when she did," the nurse coyly noted, her intent to find out more now perfectly clear. "A bit ... lucky."

"Quite," Ramirez said, his eyes narrowing in annoyance and his face hardening in anger. The subject was decidedly touchy and off limits to anyone but whom he considered family. He turned on his heel after a final glance towards Danny, his demeanor curt and tenable in his opinion. He ignored the stammered apology as he stalked away, his mood now foul at best. His next stop would be the surgical intensive care unit to check in on Steve because Becca had admitted one key thing. Her escapade to see Steve in the first place was because she felt he would listen to her and understand. The retired doctor didn't know what he wanted to say to the Five-0 Commander and he doubted that Steve would even be up to having a discussion, nonetheless he'd been drawn there.

Walking briskly, the aging doctor found his way to the ICU. He bristled slightly when his presence was questioned, his rebuttal that he was there as friend and not physician. But too many habits were ingrained and Ramirez required answers based in sound medical facts. After getting most of what he wanted, he soon found himself bouncing inanely at the foot of Steve's hospital bed, perturbed by the pale complexion and somewhat displeased. The operation had been delicate and taken time. Opinion had been clarified that a ricochet had caused the damage, but the projectile had traveled deep enough to embed within bone. Steve would be on a regimen of intravenous antibiotics for a number of days. He wouldn't be permitted to put any weight on that injured leg either, eventually needing both physio and occupational therapies to regain proper use of the limb. In short, recovery would be long and painful; a definite trial for the normally active and ambitious younger man.

"Steve?" Ramirez softly called, unsure if Steve was awake or asleep. He smiled warmly when Steve's eyes opened, his awareness obvious. "I'm not going to ask you to talk ... I was just checking in to see how you were doing ... and to apologize."

"Hey," Steve replied in a whisper. He blinked in surprise at the doctor's comments, but then shook his head for an entirely different reason. He had his own questions to ask now that the man had arrived. "Becca?"

Ponch smiled, a confusingly sad and yet pleased expression on his face. "She's good, Steve. Home with Mikey and resting; just a few scrapes and bumps."

"Good," Steve breathed out on a soft whisper of sound. His voice was faint as he intentionally worked at not stressing his throat or lungs. "Saw D?" He asked carefully, correctly assuming that Ponch would have asked or even seen his partner.

"I stopped in to see him on the way up, but he was sleeping quietly," Ponch soothed him. "His eye-sight's steadily improving and results are pending on follow-up chest x-rays. I'll see if I can find anything out before I leave tonight."

"Doin' rounds, Doc," Steve chuffed cautiously around threat of a cough, his eyes briefly twinkling for the doctor's benefit. "Careful ... there." He waved a demonstrative finger at the older man's nose as if reprimanding him for overstepping his bounds inside the hospital where he no longer worked. Regardless, Steve was thankful for the added reassurances, his intentional antics making Ramirez laugh and the doctor briefly lost the seriousness in his eyes.

"Tell me," he rasped out questioningly. "Apologize?" Steve frowned to further his import, one hand waving once though the air to indicate his confusion about needing or wanting apologies. He stared at the big doctor, a bit perplexed by the obvious state of agitation which returned so quickly. Based on the doctor's ongoing fidget, there was a problem and to avoid speaking, Steve's expression clearly demanded clarification.

"For Becca," Ponch began there as he heaved in a big breath of air in a vain attempt to settle his nerves. "I owe you a bit of an explanation for why she did what she did." He didn't know what he was going to say though and for a moment his brain refused to provide any words at all. He'd rehearsed nothing in fact. Yet, this seemed as good a place as any to start; it was just what to say first that momentarily baffled his tongue.

"She's ... the reason ... we're ... here," Steve ground out around the rough cough which finally broke free. His decision to speak which resulted in the spasm earned him an accusatory glare from Ramirez and Steve had to grin despite his discomfort. As he regained his composure, Steve's steadier breaths under the specialized oxygen mask eventually served to appease the big doctor and he continued his explanation.

"Be that as it may, there are reasons as to why she was looking for you last night," Ponch continued on, each word gaining momentum and feeling as his own personal sense of distress increased. In a futile attempt to remain on an even keel, he wrung his hands together before forcing them behind his back where he clasped them tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Mike's talking about getting a new job. A new job ... in Seattle ... it's a significant promotion for him. He'd be able to save up for the future and get himself back on his feet. He'd be able to make a solid investment in Rebecca's future. But Rebecca's taken the news rather hard. We've all taken it very hard and she ran away ... she ran away to see you and I guess it all makes sense since you're the first person she trusted ... here ... when you found her ... and brought her back to us. She's admitted to sneaking out of her bedroom last night ... that same night we all argued ... she made her way to you and got into the truck where she hid there. I swear, that child is too canny and too fearless for her own good sometimes."

Steve carefully breathed in the warm oxygen circulating over his nose and mouth. Though he was incredibly surprised about Mike's decision, Steve's eyes crinkled from a soft smile as he listened to Ponch talk about his niece. Truth be told, though the circumstances and her impulse to run away were definitely issues up for discussion, her trust in him made him feel good. She could have gone anywhere and she'd chosen a friendly face. He chuffed another noise under his breath for the latter half of what her distraught uncle was sharing. A sound that was somewhat amused and somewhat admiring of her ability to keep her head under pressure. Canny? Definitely. And as for fearless ... Becca had been petrified that night, yet she'd kept her cool when it mattered and he was duly impressed with the resourceful eleven year old.

"Good ... kid," Steve rasped out. He held out his hand towards Ponch, suddenly aware that the older man also needed to vent to someone who'd understood. Another part of the man's speech revealed how upset they all were with the news. Ellen and Ponch had money; they were established in the community and could help care for Rebecca, too. They held no qualms for being there for Mike either and the extended family unit was indeed a happy whole. But Mike wanted to stand on his own two feet and though it pained him terribly, Ponch was desperately trying to respect his brother's wishes.

Unlikely tears glistened in the retired doctor's eyes as Steve warmly grasped the strong fingers. He'd never assumed that the doctor might need him one day and Steve was truly touched again by the trust. In fact, Ponch seemed to realize that at the same moment and he bit back a wry watery chuckle at what suddenly seemed to be the true reason behind his visit.

"Thank you," Ponch muttered gruffly. There were tears in his voice that he didn't even try to hide as he cleared his throat. "Now wasn't really the time I guess to say all of this. But when is it really? Besides, I wanted to see you and Danny; I needed to make sure you were both all right."

"Yeah," Steve pushed out hoarsely, a few soft coughs sounding on the heels of the raspy sound. He nodded once to communicate his understanding and to express even more. That he'd certainly speak to Rebecca when the time was right and help where he could. He was tired, but inordinately pleased. There was also a great deal of peace knowing that the older man was there, too, checking in on both him and Danny. Someone astute enough to ask the right questions and act as advocate should they need it; unlikely as that role of advocate might be within the walls of the fine hospital. But as the doctor left him to get badly needed rest, Steve found himself mentally comparing Rebecca's circumstances to his own.

So many years ago, his father had needed to make significant changes for his children's sakes. While the reasons were entirely different, the desire to keep his children safe and to offer them a better future were driving factors. Mike merely wanted the same for Rebecca. But Steve clearly remembered the feelings of betrayal, anger and loss fobbed upon both him and his sister when they were forced into new living arrangements. At the time, they felt that the changes were unfair, completely uncalled for and ... in short ... ridiculous methods to keep them from the ones they loved. They hadn't understood their father much like Rebecca didn't understand Mike's motivations now. With a careful sigh as a wheeze in his chest threatened to worsen, Steve closed his eyes to sleep. When the time was right and if Becca were still wiling to talk, he'd do his best to help.

~ to be continued ~