It was a horribly long day for Danny. Steve drifted in and out of consciousness, his fever continuing to rise. Danny was able to keep fluids in him but Steve didn't talk much as his body was weakening by the hour. Danny chatted endlessly recanting case after case but more importantly recanting the personal moments of levity, the moments of love and friendship that had bonded them as brothers over these last three years.

What was Danny going to tell Gracie….God she loves her Uncle Steve. Gracie had never lost anyone she cared for….'oh God please don't let Steve die….please don't make me have to tell my baby that this man she adores is dead….please God give him the strength to fight'

There were no signs of any aircraft or ships getting close enough to see them all day. As dusk began to set on the second night Danny put more logs and branches on the fire and resumed his vigil sleeping through the night with his arm draped across his fallen friend.

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It was seven o'clock Monday morning when Rachel's phone rang.

"Hello"
"Good Morning Rachel, this is Chin Kelly"
"Chin? Is anything wrong?" Gracie looked up from the table setting her spoon down into her bowl of cereal.
"No…..well, we're not sure. Do you know where Danny is?"
"No, I haven't talked to Danny since last Thursday. Is he not at work?"
"We were supposed to be in at six o'clock and neither Danny or Steve are here and we can't reach them"
"Have you been to their homes?"
"Yes…...nothing... and their phones are both rolling directly to voice mail. I'm sure they'll turn up soon. If you hear from him would you make sure he calls us?"
"Of course….and please have him call me once you talk to him"
"I will, thank you"

Gracie looked intently at her mother as she hung up the phone. "Mommy, is Danno okay?"
"Certainly sweetheart, he's just late getting into work and Chin is looking for him"
"Maybe they were having so much fun they didn't come back yet"
"Come back from where Gracie? Do you know where your Daddy is?" Rachel moved to sit next to her daughter.

"They went camping. Daddy said that crazy Uncle Steve was taking him on an airplane to go camping in the caves"
"Do you know when they were leaving sweetheart?"
"Danno said Saturday morning"
"Okay dear. You finish your cereal and I need to call Chin back"
Gracie nodded and Rachel went out onto the deck and dialed Chin.

"Chin, Danny told Gracie that he and Steve were going camping"
"Did she say where?"
"No, just that they were taking a plane and going to the caves"
"The caves…I might know where they were headed. Steve told me about a place his Dad took him to as a kid"
"Chin, she said they were flying out on Saturday morning. We had those horrible storms"
"Rachel, try not to worry. I'll keep you posted"
"Thank You Chin"

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Steve had grown very still and quiet since Danny had taken him from the water and lanced the wound. He was ghostly white. Even with two sleeping bags wrapped tightly around him Danny watched the man's chest move rapidly up and down. He was panting, his entire body was shivering and he was sweating profusely. The rattling had worsened and the fever was still raging. Danny prayed that he hadn't caused more damage to his partner by putting him into the water. They had run out of drinking water in the middle of the night and now that posed the new concern of dehydration. Danny remained at his friends' side, talking soothingly to him and wiping his head, face and body attempting to cool him. Steve had also developed a rash that had spread over most of his body.

Danny was replaying the conversation he had with Gracie on Friday night over and over in his head. How many of the details would the eight year old remember? Chin and Kono would now know they were missing and he prayed they would find them in time.