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

Notes: time to get the boys together. Officially together - many many thanks to CinderH! And to everyone's fantastic support and the great reviews! The only reason 10 is up - is because 9 originally held much of this content. But the muses HATED the first version. Hence 9 became what it now is and this chapter was rehashed between business travel, dinner and setting up the expo. Phew! I hope you like it. Off to my event!

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Chapter 10

Steve arrived at Tripler over an hour after Danny had been placed safely in his new room. He was pleasantly surprised when his gurney was wheeled directly into the same semi private hospital room as his partner's where a spare bed was already waiting. Kono's things were sitting on a chair to prove she was still there, though she had obviously stepped out of the room for something.

"What's this?" He blurted out to the EMT's who helped him move to the permanent hospital bed. Chin had followed separately in his own car and was currently handling a few calls outside before coming into the building.

"Tripler's over run with storm victims and regular patients. Space is at a premium and you're not a critical care patient so are doubled-up. Doctor Ramirez wanted you settled in here overnight to get you back on track."

The one medic wasn't sure if Steve was complaining about having a semi-private room so he added, "If this isn't going to work, I can ask ...there may be another room?"

But Steve interrupted with a hand quickly held up in the air. "No, no this is fine. That's not exactly what I meant." The medic was confused but didn't push the odd remark. He had more to do and it had already been a long morning for the EMT crews too. With a final look at Steve's IV line and a quick recheck of his vitals, the two medics left and Steve raised the head of his bed in an attempt to get a better look at Danny.

The room was filled with a natural dim light. The blinds were closed from the afternoon sun and the room lights were off. The only artificial light came from the hallway and Steve automatically knew it was because of Danny's migraine. He was obviously light sensitive and not much better. Danny was also farthest from the door and he appeared to be sleeping peacefully. But Steve couldn't see his face for the oxygen mask and equipment that partially hid him from view. He was about to get out of his own bed to see for himself and reeled from the dizzy spell that struck as he inched to the edge. With undisguised relief, Steve stopped when he heard Kono's voice in the hallway as she passed the departing EMT's.

She sounded happy and her voice was louder as she approached the doorway. "He's here then?"

Seconds later she was striding into the room with a very relieved smile. "That didn't take too long. He'll be glad to see you." But she barely looked at Steve as she hurried to Danny's bedside table. She was holding a basin and a washcloth and she put them down while she continued to talk.

"He wanted to know where you were. If Ramirez was having you moved too." With a sad sigh, Kono wrung out the cloth to first wipe Danny's face.

"I told him that you would be here at some point. But he's a bit feverish and his eyes are bothering him from the migraine. He's not following any conversation too well right now."

With another rinse, she folded it carefully and placed it over his forehead. Steve watched as Danny put one hand on the cool rag to press it down harder but over his eyes instead. "I'm glad Tripler is over-booked ... I think Doc would have taken every patient out of that place if he could have."

She was upset and distracted while she talked to Steve and watched Danny as he uncomfortably moved under her hands. By the agitated activity, Steve could now tell that he was most definitely not sleeping and clearly very uncomfortable. "And I'm glad Ramirez got you both in this semi-private room. Though it does seem out of necessity." And she was about to say something else when Steve interrupted her worried tirade.

"Kono help me up." Steve's words were loud, very demanding and he was already stripping off more blankets and lurching forward. He was unsteady and had to sit on the side of his bed for a few seconds taking deep breaths to clear his head. But Kono didn't argue as she helped Steve gain his balance and grabbed up the IV pole.

"I should have been there. He's been through the mill the last few hours .. hospitalized or not."

She made a disagreeable face at the words. "Listen, there was no way you could have been there. Steve, you collapsed from exhaustion. Hathaway just showed up. No one expected it .. not this, not at all … to happen."

Quietly she added, "Chin and I are just as upset about this. One lousy hour .. and look." Her eyes were still sad as she helped Steve over to Danny and he silently lowered the side rail to sit on the bed.

Even with the medication that Ramirez had coursing through Danny's system, the short move to Tripler had almost been unbearable. The only thing under control was the nausea and Danny was very thankful for that enormous blessing. Any type of movement proved to be problematic; causing a sharp pain to stab through his head. The smallest of bumps in the road, a stop sign, traffic light or even the gentle left or right hand turns made him sway involuntarily and he couldn't help the occasional moan that escaped his mouth. Doctor Ramirez had to be cautious with the type and amount of pain medication due to his head injury. His report of a ten, had made Nurse Ellen very unhappy ... what the doctor had prescribed had helped, but the stabbing pains were obstinate and the doctor was fearful of over-medicating.

And Danny also knew that there were questions about his blood pressure and he'd begun to tremble again from the painful stress. Kono had ridden with him in the ambulance and had alternated between rubbing his arm and holding his hand. But nothing had helped and now Danny felt miserable as he lay in what he'd been promised would be his final hospital bed until he recovered. He'd also given up trying to watch what the nurses or Doctor Ramirez had been saying to totally rely on Kono's help. Doctor Hathaway's misguided techniques had simply left Danny used up and wrung out.

Unwilling now to open his eyes for the black aura that dimmed his vision, he knew that Kono had returned when he felt his hot face being bathed gently with a cool wet cloth. She was light and careful not to jar his head as she cooled his face. He was both hot and cold but he couldn't help covering his eyes more with it when she re-wet and placed the cloth over his forehead. The cold water gave him an odd chill, but he felt worse without it and it did seem to soothe some of the pain. So now, unable to hear, too tired to speak, and unwilling to open his eyes, he lay in a mute misery.

Ramirez had said to sleep, so he tried to focus only on the soothing feeling from the damp washcloth. But Hathaway had also left him startlingly depressed by presenting him with a pad, pencil and even an iPad. The tools made sense but Danny had been offended and then had become more upset with the writing, tapping motions, circling … if he'd had the energy, Danny would have screamed at the doctor if stick figures might be next. Every part of the interrogation had seemed more like a test than a true consultation. And now he couldn't stop himself from thinking about that experience and it settled in the back of his brain to gnaw at him.

He had groaned when Doc Ramirez said that the other doctor was coming tomorrow. He just couldn't do it again .. he couldn't go through that type of nasty grilling for a second time. But Ramirez had shaken his head and gently placed his hand on Danny's arm when Danny shook his head no.

"No. Not the same. Not like today. Just rest.. try to sleep."

As he dwelled, Danny was startled when a larger hand covered the one holding the cloth over his eyes. The hand insisted on moving his own and the cloth disappeared. But before he could complain, it was back again and gently wiping his face around the oxygen mask and then down to his neck. He furrowed his brow in confusion as the bed dipped and he realized that neither the touch nor the presence was Kono's. The hand was heavier, but just as careful as it tried to wipe the warmth off his face and then his neck where Danny hadn't even realized it might also offer some comfort.

Without a word, Steve gently tugged the cloth out from Danny's hand and gave it to Kono to rinse. Eyes tightly closed, Danny was once again pale, tense and clearly distressed. When she handed it back, Steve sat on the edge of the bed and wiped Danny's face and then his neck. With a sigh, he placed his hand on Danny's arm and gave it a squeeze as he studied the drawn, weary expression.

"Hey Danno." Steve scrubbed unhappily at his own face. Danny didn't look any better than he had on the small island; in fact, maybe even worse. But out of habit Steve said his name again as he moved his hand to Danny's chest. "Danno."

The strong settling feeling of Steve's hand on his chest was the trigger that made Danny finally open his eyes. Steve had done the same thing back before they'd been rescued to get his attention. He could almost feel the steady rumble of Steve's voice into his body as he squinted up through the hazy pain.

"Okay." Steve simply said their eyes met. It was neither a question nor a statement. Just one easy word. And Danny didn't know who or what he expected if not Kono. Certainly not Steve even though Kono had said he was being moved. Because Chin had said he'd collapsed earlier that day; he was sick and would be sleeping. Actually, should be sleeping. And because he just didn't expect to see Steve sitting in front of him, Danny didn't know what to say. So he studied the scruffy exhaustion of his partner, the darkly smudged eyes, and he wearily registered the fact that Steve's arm was bandaged as the same hand once again wiped down his face.

Tired, ill and upset, he took a deep breath and insisted on pulling off the oxygen mask despite Steve's silent protest. With a huge effort Danny managed to blurt out the first words that came to mind. And even though they came out on a pained stuttered exhale, they still held an undeniable tone which made Steve grin and then chuckle.

"Okay? Is that all … you have … to say? That's ... it?"

With an exaggerated shrug, Steve couldn't stop grinning at the feeble attempt of a very welcome rant. "Yeah. That's all I've got Danno. Just okay."

The disgusted half-glare that measured his own worn face and settled on his bandaged arm was a clear message. Danny would have had much more to say if he had the energy. But Steve didn't give Danny a chance to even try by replacing the oxygen mask on his face and then his hand strayed back to his chest. The touch made Danny's automatically search Steve's face and then fall to his lips to watch what he was saying.

The word was 'look' and Danny followed Steve's pointing finger to the neighboring bed. A soft shake had Danny looking back at him and Steve showed him his own IV line, tapped himself and then put his hand back on Danny's chest. "Doctor's orders, Danno. Sleep."

Steve was still smiling as Danny watched the various antics and then merely nodded in understanding. Ramirez was in charge and had ordered both of them to sleep. No one was going anywhere. With a tired sigh, he finally sank back into the pillows and closed his eyes.

"Relax. Get some sleep." Steve said the words quietly as he folded the wash cloth and laid it across Danny's forehead. There was a poke on Steve's arm as Kono took his elbow and lifted upwards. And he didn't resist as he allowed her to lead him back to the second bed.

"You too boss. Enough is enough for one day."

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Settled in her office at Tripler, Doctor Tara Desai leafed through Detective Danny Williams' files, status and test results. Doctor Ramirez lounged quietly across her desk as he patiently waited for her to comment. It was good to finally have her back from her latest and hopefully last overseas tour. Tall, slender with long black hair that she kept neatly swept up into a tight bun, Tara was as talented as she was beautiful.

If not for medicine, the rumor around the hospital was that she'd easily have been a model. And she'd heard the rumors and laughed until she had cried. "That's quite a compliment for a tom-boy." Her favorite clothes consisted of jeans and t-shirts. Professional events where she had to dress up were the bane of her existence. And for some reason, those events were fast becoming a new norm for her since people liked to hear her speak about her field and her experiences.

But for the naysers that still didn't believe her a doctor or take her seriously, she would roll up her pants leg and show off the scars from a third degree burn she had earned as a result of a horrific car accident when she was twelve years old. Under her blouse, the same scars stretched over her left ribcage. The incident was why she had become a doctor; but an audiologist because her favorite Aunt had been deaf from birth.

"Yes, it's possible." She finally said with a positive nod. After three military tours abroad, she had gain unparalleled blast trauma experience especially from Operation Iraqi Freedom. And blast trauma was now, without a doubt, her specialty.

"I obviously can't say for certain until I see him. But it is possible that his hearing - his auditory system is actually fine - it's very possible that a traumatic brain injury is causing his hearing loss."

Tara once again leafed through the files to pull out the MRI and CAT scan results. While he didn't seem to have a skull fracture, the location of the brain contusion was of interest. There was definitely something about the results that could indicate that Williams could be misdiagnosed as having an auditory injury. And not only from her real life field experience, but from the ongoing collection of military research data, it had been proven time and again.

Doctor Ramirez leaned forward eagerly with his fingers tented in front of him. "And?"

"And, he could also have a tympanic rupture from the concussion, or something even worse that would cause permanent damage." The frown escaped Ramirez's attempt at covering it up and she looked at her peer with an amused grin.

"You like him?"

Ramirez huffed and leaned back in his chair and then grimaced. "No, I don't like anyone." The statement was bland but it said enough for Tara Desai and she certainly knew Doctor Ramirez enough to understand the words' true meaning. Closing Danny's file, she continued to grin at Ramirez.

"After he rests today, I'll swing by in the morning. But yes, there are good options to consider as possibilities based upon what I'm seeing here."

~ to be continued ~