Note: A big thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review this story and to wenwalke for all her help.

Time to bring this one to a close.

Chapter Ten

Steve had been right. Dr. Pearce arrived and poked and prodded Danny as expected. She examined all his wounds and drew blood to check his infection levels. Finally she declared Danny to be over the worst of it, and had him moved from the ICU to a standard room.

Danny was exhausted by the time he was settled into his new room. He had fresh bedding, and was helped into some scrubs, instead of the horrible hospital gown. He needed another dose of pain relief, and then promptly fell fast asleep.

Steve took the opportunity, while his friend was peacefully sleeping, to call the rest of the team and fill them in on Danny's improvements. Then he made the best call of all, to Grace and Rachel.

An hour later Steve was flipping through the newspaper he'd bought along with a coffee from the cafeteria. Danny was sleeping peacefully, when he returned, so he took the seat at the side of the bed and began to read. Their case was splashed all over the headlines, but the Governor had done a good job keeping Danny's name out of the press.

Steve looked up as Chin, Kono and Lou entered the room. Keeping their voices low they greeted Steve and smiled, seeing Danny looking much better. Most of the monitoring equipment was now gone, and despite the bruised, purple jaw, and swollen lip, Danny's colour now looked much better.

"We finished closing the case." Chin informed Steve. "CSU found evidence linking Kahale to each of the victims."

"You should have seen the refrigerator. We were right about the cannibalising." Lou said screwing up his face.

"Jesus." Steve sighed and wondered if Danny knew about that bit.

"Did you speak with Grace?" Kono tried to brighten the conversation.

"Yeah, she and Rachel are booked on a flight back to the island the day after tomorrow. Grace wanted to come back sooner, but I told Rachel to give Danny a bit more time."

Steve quickly jumped to his feet as Danny suddenly became restless and flailed his right arm around. He gently took hold of the arm, making sure Danny didn't dislodge his IV, still needed for vital medication.

"Is his fever up again?" Kono asked worried. "Shall I get a nurse?"

"No, he's having a nightmare." Steve replied seeing Danny's rapid eye movement. "Danny, wake up. You're safe. Come one Danny wake up."

Danny still slept on, locked in his nightmare, so Steve gently shook his good shoulder, finally jostling him awake. Danny's eyes darted around the room. Seeing his friends he realised he had been dreaming and dropped his head into the pillows. He took a deep breath, shakily blowing it out.

"Sorry.. dream," He tried to explain.

"No need to apologise." Steve reluctantly releasing his friends arm.

"I'd expect those to continue for a while after what you went through." Lou said trying to be supportive.

Danny grabbed the bed remote and sat himself up. "What this? This is nothing. I just took a bit of a beating. That's like a normal weekend to you, right?" He smiled at Steve.

"Not funny, Danny," Steve scolded. "You were kidnapped, stabbed and beaten by a serial killer."

"Don't forget almost eaten. That one has to be a first for the team." Danny added.

"And last, I hope." Chin answered.

"Yeah," Danny agreed shifting his weight and wincing.

"Are you ok, Danny?" Kono asked immediately.

"Yeah, Babe. Just pulled the stitches. I'm ok guys, really. Thanks for getting me out of there though. I just need some time to heal."

"And a few hours in mandatory psychotherapy," Steve added.

"What? No." Danny whined.

"You should be used to counselling by now, Danny. You and Steve spend enough time in marriage counselling." Chin joked.

"Another marriage joke, you think I could shoot them and get away with it as trauma induced insanity?" Danny asked Steve.

"Totally, I'd back you up." Steve agreed crossing his arms across his chest and sending the rest of his team death stares.

"Ignore them, guys. It's just good to have you back, Danny." Kono said. "But you went through a lot. You should talk to somebody."

"I'll consider it if the dreams continue." Danny agreed which seemed to appease his friends. They all knew that Danny would speak to Steve about what he had been through, and if Steve felt Danny needed further help he would make him see a councillor.

"So how did you find me?" Danny wondered.

"Mamo came through. He identified Lokepa Kahale from the profile, and the info about him having an original Leiomano." Steve explained.

"If you hadn't identified the weapons we may never have found you." Kono said as she cautiously sat on the end of Danny's bed.

"He was a real nut job, huh?" Danny replied sadly.

"Oh yeah, but he was out for revenge too." Lou explained.

"Never a good combination," Chin shook his head.

"Revenge?" Danny questioned.

"We found the link between the other victims. Kahale had been forced to sell his land to a development company. They were all linked to the sale in someway." Kono filled him in.

"Oh, ok." Danny fell silent again while absorbing the information he'd just been told.

"So," Lou said breaking the silence, "how long before we can spring you from here?"

"Err." Danny tried to think if Dr. Pearce had said anything about him being released. He'd been so tired by the end of her examination he may have missed that bit entirely.

"A few more days yet," Steve answered for him. "He still needs the antibiotics, and he needs to build some strength. You're gonna be sore for a while buddy, and the stitches will need to come out in a weeks time."

"That sounds like a fun and long job." Danny sighed, unconsciously rubbing his good hand across his stomach and the others smiled sympathetically.

They continued their conversation for another hour before Danny's eyes started to slip closed again. Dr. Pearce had warned Steve that Danny would most likely sleep a lot. He was still anaemic from the blood he had lost, and weak from the infection. Steve had already made up his mind that Danny was coming to stay with him, no arguments, once he was released.

As Danny let out a gentle snore, the team all smiled at each other. Steve took hold of the bed control and lowered Danny into a better sleeping position. Each of them was so relieved to have Danny back safe. Reassured that he was healing physically, they were still worried about how he would recover mentally from the ordeal. But knowing Danny, and his stubborn loudmouthed New Jersey self, he would bounce back with the love and support of his Ohana.

The End