A/N: So Danny back in this chapter, did you miss him in the last two, because I did.
Chapter Ten
There were a myriad of machines hooked up to his friend, but thankfully no ventilator just an oxygen mask. Leads and lines were attached everywhere, including places Danny would hate. A rapid transfusion of blood and saline was being delivered through a central line in Danny's neck. But even with that when Steve gently picked up Danny's right hand it was cold.
Steve had snagged a stool and sat, still holding Danny's hand when Dr. Price came in a few minutes later to check on Danny. "He's doing well, Commander. Why don't you go back to your room? If anything changes you'll be informed immediately."
"I'm staying," Steve said.
"Yeah, I thought you'd say that." Dr. Price said as he waved at someone outside the cubicle.
Steve's first thought, as the two orderlies entered, was that he would be forcibly removed. Then he realised that they were manoeuvring a reclining chair through the door.
"This chair will be move comfortable than that stool." Dr. Price stood to the right of Danny's bed. "Now, come around here while they get the chair situated."
Steve stood and moved to the other side of the bed. "Thank you Dr. Price," he said. "I thought I was going to have to convince you to let me stay."
"No. I already received a call from Governor Denning. Lieutenant Kelly called and filled him in on what happened today. He called me to check on Detective Williams and also suggested that it would be better if I allowed you to stay with him." Dr. Price put his hand on Steve's left arm. "But you must stay out of the way of the nurses, and if we ask you to leave, for any reason, you will. Clear?"
"Yes," Was Steve's simple answer as he moved back around Danny's bed. The orderlies had left and the recliner was positioned next to the bed so that Steve could reach Danny, but not be in the way.
"I expect you to get some sleep, Commander." The doctor headed towards the door. "I'll be back later to check on you both."
Somehow Steve did manage to sleep. The chair was right next to the bed, close enough for Steve to use his left hand to hold Danny's right hand even when he reclined the chair. This left the other side of the bed open for the nurses whenever they came in to check Danny's vitals.
It was early morning when Steve was jolted awake by Danny's hand moving within his own. He looked up to see a pair of sleepy blue eyes looking back at him. Sometime during the night the oxygen mask had been changed for a nasal cannula. Steve glanced at the readouts on the machines behind the bed and realised that they all looked so much better than when he'd entered the ICU hours earlier.
Steve stood and looked down at Danny. "Hey," he said. "You are looking so much better. How do you feel?"
Danny swallowed a few times before he found his voice. "I'm good."
"Hey, that's my line." Steve protested. "Besides, I know that's not true."
"Yeah, well now you know how it feels when you say it." Danny replied. "Did HPD get the rest of the poachers?"
"No. They're still out there somewhere."
Dr. Price entered the cubicle followed by a nurse. "Ah, I see you've decided to join us, Detective." He turned and looked at Steve. "Can you give us a few minutes, Commander? I'd like to check my patient and you need to go freshen up. Sarah here will show you to the staff lounge where you can shower and change."
Steve nodded. He'd agreed to leave when asked, so he squeezed Danny's hand, "I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere."
"Don't intend to." Danny said as he watched Steve follow Sarah from the cubicle.
"You had us worried there for a while, Detective. But the Commander never doubted that you would make it through." Dr. Price said as he lifted the bandage to check Danny's shoulder.
"How long was he sitting here?" Danny asked.
"All night. He didn't want to leave you alone, and the Governor asked he be allowed to stay."
"How is he? I know his arm was infected." Danny's asked with concern.
"He's fine. I debrided the wound myself and he had IV antibiotics. Let's worry about you, shall we?" Dr. Price applied a new dressing, and checked Danny's IVs. "I think we can get rid of some of this equipment soon. Your infection has gone down considerably and the wound has started to heal. We had to do extensive repairs to your scapula, but with PT you should regain full motion in your shoulder."
"That's good to hear." Danny said. "So when can I get out of here?"
"I'll move you to a room in a few hours, but you'll be staying with us for a couple of days." At the look on Danny's face he continued, "It's not up for discussion, Detective. You almost died on the table just a few hours ago." Danny looked a little sheepish at that. "I think for your sake, and Commander McGarrett's, you need to stay here until I say you can leave."
"Okay, if you provide a cot in my room for my constant companion. Super SEAL will not leave with more poachers out there and he needs to sleep too. Not in a chair but in a bed."
"It's a deal then Detective. I'll put you in a double room and Commander McGarrett can use the second bed. Now get some sleep and I'll come back in a couple of hours and check on you then, with a view to moving you."
Steve returned a few minutes after Dr. Price left to find Danny asleep. He felt better after his shower and was now dressed in clean scrubs. He'd just settled down in the recliner when Sarah came in with a dressing tray. "Dr Price told me to change your dressing Commander. I also have your antibiotics and a breakfast tray will be brought for you when I'm done."
"Thank you, Sarah." Steve said. "How's Danny? I missed Dr. Price."
"He's doing very well Commander. We'll be moving him to a room in a couple of hours." Sarah had set up what she needed while talking. "Here, sit on this stool so I can work."
Once his dressing was changed and he'd taken the antibiotics, Steve moved back to the chair to eat the breakfast provided. He suddenly realised that he hadn't eaten since the previous day, and he was starving.
Chin and Kono arrived two hours later just as Dr. Price finished examining Danny again. "How is he, Steve?" Kono asked.
"He's good, Kono. They'll be moving him to a room soon." Steve was once again outside Danny's cubicle. "Has there been any progress in finding the other two poachers?"
"Nothing," Chin replied.
Dr. Price exited Danny's cubicle before Chin could say more. "Why don't the three of you go up to room 212? Danny will be moved up there shortly. He's improving remarkably well for being so ill yesterday."
"I told you he was a fighter." Steve stated.
The doctor smiled as he shepherded the three teammates out of the ICU.
"Have you called Rachel?" Kono asked as they made their way to room 212.
"Yes. I called her earlier and she'll bring Grace by after lunch. Dr. Price said she's too young to be allowed into the ICU."
When Danny was settled in his new room he greeted Chin and Kono with a smile. "Thanks guys for saving me, us." He said as he indicated Steve.
"Hey. I didn't need saving Danny." Steve said indignantly.
"Yeah you did, Boss." Kono sided with Danny. "How come you have a room with two beds Danny?" she asked.
"Well, because Super SEAL over there has refused to leave. The doc and I agreed that he needs to sleep in a bed, so we compromised. I'll stay for two more days, without arguing, and Steve gets to sleep in the other bed."
"What! I don't get a say in this?" Steve asked. "Who says I want to stay here for two more days?"
"Are you planning on leaving me here?" Danny asked quietly.
"No." The reply came just as quietly from Steve.
"Then you need a bed to sleep in, babe."
"I'll have HPD assign an officer outside the room." Chin said as he pulled out his phone.
Chin and Kono were back at Five-0 headquarters a few hours later when Kamekona burst into the room.
"You need to get to the hospital fast. I just got word the two remaining poachers are going after Steve and Danny."
Chin immediately headed for the door. "Call HPD, Kono. Have them send back-up."
Kono was also on her way to the door her cell phone already in her hand. She called HPD as she flew down the stairs. By the time she reached her car, Chin was already leaving the parking lot on his motorcycle. Kono wrenched open the door of her car as she spoke to Kamekona who had followed her out, moving fairly quickly for a man of his size. "Grace is there with Danny and Steve."
TBC.
A/N: Oh no another of those darn cliffhangers.