I have to apologize for not updating sooner. My husband has had an accident at work and, needless to say, I hadn't had the time nor was I in the mood to read or write anything. He is doing better but will be on sick leave for quite a while. Your overwhelming responses to my last chapter really did cheer me up and I am so grateful.

Anyhow here's the next chapter.

In early afternoon Danny had dozed off by Steve's bed, head on the mattress with his hand resting on his partner's when Doctor Russell shook him awake.

"Detective?"

"What?" Danny jolted awake. His sight quickly rested on Steve.

"I think you'd be more comfortable in your bed."

"I told you I'm not leaving," Danny rebuked as he pinched the bridge of his nose to clear the fog.

"Your back hurts, doesn't it?" the doctor deduced from Danny shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"It's fine," Danny assured, albeit unsuccessfully. "Guess I must have dozed off when I was trying to knock some sense into his head."

"Well whatever you said to him seems to have paid off."

"What do you mean?"

The doctor smiled. "His temperature is coming down. His system now appears to be accepting the kidney."

"So he's gonna be all right?" Danny exulted.

"He's not out of the woods yet. He still has some hurdles to overcome but I say he's on the right path. I assume all he needed was a little nudge and it appears you gave it to him. He may have been down before but he's back in the ring, fighting, and that's a good sign. Now how about I take you back to your room so you can rest?"

Danny nodded and sniffed back a tear as he squeezed his partner's hand. "You keep those boxer's gloves on, you crazy Neanderthal," Danny uttered in the most affectionate way. "I'll be back later."

H50H50H50H50H50H50H50H50H50H50

Two days later, Rachel and Grace came to visit with Danny who, aside from a little tenderness lurking in his back, was feeling in top shape.

"Does it still hurt, Danno?" Grace asked in the gentlest way.

"A bit but it's a good pain."

"Because you saved Uncle Steve's life?"

"That's right, honey. Your Uncle Steve is alive today because of your dad's kidney," Rachel said proudly.

"Does this mean you and Uncle Steve are brothers now?"

Danny glanced up at Rachel. They were both amused by the little girl's remark, which wasn't far from the truth, sentimentally speaking. "Guess you could say we're blood brothers."

Doctor Russell was looming under the doorway dithering as to whether he should interrupt the heart-warming family gathering.

"I'm sorry to disturb you folks, but someone is asking to see Detective Williams."

"Steve?" Danny hoped.

Russell nodded. "He's awake."

"You go, Danny. We'll wait for you here," Rachel told Danny who could hardly contain his elation.

"Can I go too, Danno? I want to see Uncle Steve," Grace beseeched with a doe-eyed gaze that never failed to melt her father's heart.

"I'm sorry little girl. Only one visitor at the time," the doctor said, thus dampening her enthusiasm.

"I'll tell you what, Monkey. I'll ask Uncle Steve if he feels strong enough to have a second visitor." Danny looked up at Russell to shore up support "Really Doctor, once he sees my daughter he'll be up and around in no time flat. She works miracle with him."

"Well okay. I'll allow it if Commander McGarrett feels up to it, but not for long."

"Thank you." Danny teetered to his feet and took a few seconds to steady his balance.

"I think it'd be a good idea to take the wheelchair," Russell suggested.

Danny shook his head. "I need the exercise."

"That might be a bit too soon."

"I'll sit in a chair by Steve's bed if I feel my legs buckle."

Both Rachel and the doctor followed Danny to the door in case he would require assistance. Once he gained a steady gait, Danny waved them off and walked down to Steve's room.

He entered and padded up to the bed where he hovered over his partner, who lay with his eyes closed. It wasn't long before Steve sensed Danny's presence and his eyes fluttered open.

"Hey there, partner," Danny greeted cheerily.

Steve blinked and smiled groggily. "Hey. You okay?"

"Still a bit tender in the back but the pain is well worth it. It's nice to see you awake."

"It was all I could do to stop you from yelling at me."

"Oh you heard that, huh?"

"I wanted to tell you to shut up but I was too damned tired."

"Well it certainly paid off."

"You know, it could have gone the other way," Steve argued playfully.

Danny lowered the bed rail. "No way. You love me too much for that, don't you babe?"

"Let me get rid of that headache first and then I'll tell you what I think."

"Promises, promises!" Danny chuckled at Steve's comment and then turned solemn. "I'm sorry but I freaked out when the doctor told me you were rejecting the kidney. So yes, I yelled at you for taking the coward way out." Steve's sorrowful eyes fastened on Danny's bleary blues. "You sc – you scared the hell out of me," he stuttered, his voice choking with emotions. "You know this kidney is non returnable."

Steve offered a faint smile. "I'm sorry."

"You should be," Danny sniffed back the errant tear.

"For everything."

"Now that's pushing it too far." Danny hung his head to allow a lull in the conversation before broaching the delicate topic still raw on their minds. "So? Have you made a decision?"

Steve sighed and avoided Danny's inquisitive stare.

"I see that you need another powerful incentive."

"What have you got in mind now?"

"Wait here." Danny momentarily stepped out of the room to get Grace.

"Yeah, like I have a choice," Steve scoffed.

"There he is!" Steve felt ill-at-ease at the sight of Grace. He wasn't prepared for her to see him like this.

"Uncle Steve!" she cried gleefully.

Steve threw a glancing scowl at Danny before greeting the little girl. "Hey sweetheart, come here," Steve held out his arms to receive a hug.

Unsure, Grace looked up at her father to get his consent "Go ahead, but gently." Grace stepped on the small stool and snaked her arms around Steve, careful not to tighten the clench for fear of hurting him.

"Does your back hurt like Danno's?"

"It does a bit, but the doctor says it will wear off after a couple of days."

"I'm glad than we can go to the beach and swim in the ocean."

"That might be a while, Monkey," her Danno said. He had hoped that Steve would argue but he felt a twinge in his guts when his partner offered but only a half-hearted smile.

Steve wincing was cue to cut the visit short. "Gracie, I think your Uncle Steve needs his rest now."

"Okay. Hope you feel better, Uncle Steve." Again Steve flashed a listless smile.

Danny jabbed his finger at Grace's disappearing back, "And that, babe, is one good reason why you should drop this foolishness."

"That was devious of you, Danny."

"Yeah but I'm sure it worked?"

"Maybe," Steve mumbled.

Danny snorted. "You do this and it will be the end of your military career and your work at Five-0, among others. Do you really want that?" Steve turned his head sideways and remained silent. "Right, okay I can see you need to mull this over a bit more. So I'm going to leave you alone with your thoughts and – well I'm just down the hall if you need to talk."

"Thanks Danny. I appreciate everything you did, really, I do."

"Think nothing of it, babe."