Danny thought he was dead. Maybe he was.
He heard someone crying. And then he realized it was him.
So overwhelmed, he shivered, moaning for help. Soft hands found him, smoothed his hair, and squeezed his hand.
Grace?
No, he had the distinct memory of his daughter being pulled away. And the strong feeling she was safe.
Steve.
But he couldn't control the tremors. Scared, Danny thought he might go mad.
Then there were muffled voices, sounds blending together, someone tugging on his arm. Pressure on his belly. More tugging. Then he was lifted. He thought he might never stop falling, but the movement was quick. The new place was soft.
And then things were dark again.
/././
"Detective Williams is doing well. Under the circumstances." The doctor stopped and looked at both men before continuing. "He's lost a fair amount of blood. He's been transfused and his pressure has stabilized. Surgery to remove the bullet was successful. I'm pleased. There was however a tear to his small intestine. Though extensive debridement was required, I repaired the damage with no problems. We should know in 24 to 36 hours if we need to go back in."
Chin spoke for both of them. "Can we see him?"
"Yes. One at a time at first. I'll have a nurse come and get you in a few minutes. Once we get him settled. He's been a little disoriented, and we had to sedate him. It's likely he'll sleep through the night."
Steve nodded. Focused on the words. The doctor was pleased. The damage repaired. They could see Danny in a few minutes. The word disoriented made his chest hurt. He didn't know if he could take his next breath. He wanted to be there with Danny. To calm him. Squeezing his eyes shut, he exhaled loudly. He didn't even notice the physician had left them.
"We'll see him in a few minutes, Steve." Chin tried to get his friend's attention.
Steve couldn't stop shaking, grabbing his colleague for support, and then he melted into the chair again. "A few minutes. Okay. I can do a few minutes."
Chin thought he had things under control. But Steve continued.
"A few minutes. What does that mean? I need to see him now." Steve thought he might puke. Head between his knees, he felt even worse. So he jumped up, pushing Chin out of the way. "A few minutes."
He paced for a minute. Chin was on his feet too, scanning the waiting room. Thankfully they were alone except for the girl at the information desk who now looked a little worried.
"A few minutes, yea. I can do that." Steve spun around and slid back into the chair, staring straight ahead like he wasn't even there. Danny might have called it his Seal Death Stare. Chin simply knew it as the face of fear, concern and helplessness hiding under years of military training. A mask of sorts. Something to hide the fragile man underneath.
It was Danny after all. And Steve without Danny was not really Steve at all.
/././
In hospital time, a few minutes meant basically nothing. There was no real concept of time. No rules. A few minutes could mean roughly anything.
The two waiting men were soon rejoined by Kono, her arms overflowing with snacks and drinks from the vending machines.
"There's news?" She studied their faces.
"Yes. The surgeon was just here." Chin took over for Steve who actually appeared to be dozing in the uncomfortable chair, feet propped on a magazine table. He kept his voice low. "Danny is out of surgery. We can see him soon."
"In a few minutes." Steve mumbled.
So he wasn't asleep after all. Chin closed his eyes and shook his head. Kono tossed her cousin a worried look. Steve was now scaring both of them.
"When was the last time you ate?" Chin had to do something. He wasn't sure how Steve would respond. "You need to stay strong. You can't help Danny if you're on the floor."
Kono handed him something from her snack stash. "Here, boss. Try this."
Steve took her offering, not really paying attention to what she gave him. Making no move to eat it.
"Come on, it's good for you." She tried to encourage him.
The words stuck in his head and dislodged something from earlier in the day. Good for you.
He stared at the granola bar in his hands. That was the last happy thing he remembered. A granola bar for Gracie.
"We were heading back to the truck."
It was all he said for a few minutes. A light buzzed overhead. People came in and out of the room. Steve just sat there, turning the granola bar over and over in his hands, straightening the wrapper. Chin and Kono, a captive, worried audience.
"Grace was hungry. We stopped."
Steve held up the granola bar. Closing his eyes to stop the tears. Breath hitched in his throat. The next words came out a little halted and unclear.
"There was a man on the trail. I had to kill him. But he got off one last shot."
Another long pause. Chin and Kono said nothing. They simply waited.
"He threatened Grace."
"I had my knife."
"He still shot Danny."
"Grace. Saw. Everything."
Each sentence its own chapter in this terrible novel.
Hand over his face, Steve broke down just a little, clearing his throat to cover the choked sound that managed to sneak through his defenses. But no, he wasn't going to crack. He was a Crazy Ninja Navy Seal Animal, if you listened to his partner. He could take this.
Until he couldn't.
Shaking his head and muttering something under his breath, he left the waiting area. Kono moved to follow, worried to death and trembling herself. Chin stopped her.
"No, Kono. Give him some space."