Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.
Family Life, Chapter 10
February 2022
Steve and Danny paced the baggage claim area at the Honolulu airport waiting for Danny's parents to arrive. Ed and Clara Williams were regular visitors to the island but this would be an extended stay for them. Danny was scheduled for knee replacement surgery in a few days and they were staying on to help Danny and his family through the recovery period.
Jack and Jesse were really upset that they couldn't skip school to go to the airport to meet their grandparents, but Steve and Danny thought that their sons had missed enough days due to their extended holiday in Europe. Steve had another ulterior motive. He knew that his husband was really wound up about his surgery and he hoped that Mom and Dad would help him stage some sort of intervention and talk Danny down.
Steve could see the pain etched into Danny's face. Danny refused to take his pain medication until he was finished with work for the day, and that included household chores. Steve, Jack, and Jesse did everything they could to keep Danny's involvement in work around the house at a minimum. Steve increased the frequency that the cousins came in to clean and do laundry. Another cousin did the shopping. Leah often started a simple meal while watching the boys after school and Rachel started bringing casseroles over once or twice a week. Whole Foods and Nino's also provided some prepared foods. Lastly, Kamekona brought shrimp by once a week.
Danny realized that his family and friends were conspiring to lessen his load and his first instinct was to protest. He wanted to rant about it, but a really good rant necessitated pacing and waving his hands. It just hurt too damn much to pace or just walk anymore. Now that Danny admitted that the pain was so bad that it was time for surgery, the pain ruled most of his day.
Danny let it ride for a few weeks and then couldn't let it go on any longer. He asked Rachel if she could keep the boys over for dinner and had it out with Steve one day after work. It was their first non-work related fight in years.
When Steve and Danny came in that afternoon after work, Danny pointed to the couch and directed Steve to sit. He paced the room a couple of times before taking a seat in the recliner. He took a deep breath before he started.
"Steven, don't think that I haven't figured out what you are doing. My surgery isn't until next month and I won't be treated like an invalid any longer. I'm not some delicate flower. My knee hurts but that doesn't mean that I can't make the bed or fix supper. And if that isn't bad enough, you've involved our sons and our friends."
"Danny, just stop talking and let me explain. I was there when you saw the surgeon. I saw your x-rays. Your knee is a train wreck. Those were his exact words. He gave you a stronger dose of pain medication. Okay, I arranged for some additional help so you wouldn't be on your feet so much. So what? All of that is just physical. That's the easy stuff. There's all the other stuff that isn't so easy."
"Danny, you are the heart and soul of this family. You keep us all on track. We both know that on bad days I'm the third child. You remember the school conferences and PTA meetings. You remember everyone's dentist appointments and annual physicals. You remember the deadlines to sign the boys up for baseball and soccer. I'd be an okay dad without you but you help me be the kind of dad I want for Jack and Jesse. You can do all that sitting down with some ice on your knee as easily as standing up."
"Steven, you would not take this sitting down. How many times have you been hurt and all I get from you is 'I'm fine'. It's like you're saying that I'm not as tough as you and I resent that."
Steve sat forward and braced his forearms on his legs. He was surprised that Danny waited as long as he did before complaining. He knew that Danny would resent him for lightening his load but he refused to watch Danny in so much pain without doing something.
"Danny, I want you to think back a few years ago when I was down with a severe concussion. I was on desk duty for almost six months and I suffered from migraines for almost a year. How many times did you have to help me clean up when the nausea hit me too fast? I couldn't drive. I couldn't take my daily run or swim. There were days when I couldn't even bend over without losing my balance. I still remember what the pain was like. I hated to get up in the morning."
"Do you want to know the worst part? It was trying to keep my cool when the boys made too much noise or didn't pick up their stuff. My first instinct was to dress them down the way the drill sergeant does in boot camp. I wanted to yell at everyone to keep quiet and leave me alone. What I remember the most is that you would get me horizontal with a cool cloth on my forehead. You had my meds and a bottle of water waiting for me. You never lost your cool."
"Well this is different Steven."
"How is it different Danno?"
"You had a brain injury Steven. You could have suffered permanent damage if you didn't take care of yourself."
"Okay, that's true. My point is that I know what that kind of pain does to you. You can't sleep and the pain meds tear up your stomach. Pretty soon the rest of your body is sore from inactivity. It kills us to see you like this. Jack and Jesse are really stressed about it. Since they seem to enjoy helping me plan our little war games with Andy and Charlie and the gang, I asked them to help me come up with ideas to help you."
This seemed to deflate some of Danny's anger. Jack was pretty young when Steve was so badly injured but he remembered how upset Jack was then. He also remembered when Grace helped him take care of Steve during their years together when Steve returned from North Korea. His injuries and his subsequent infection kept Steve sidelined for several days.
"The boys are worried about me?"
"It's not just Jack and Jesse. Rachel, Stan, and their kids are worried. Chin and Malia and Kekoa are worried. Finn and Kono and Fiona +are worried. Kamekona offered to bring shrimp over every day. Even our rookies on the team ask about you. Everyone has offered suggestions to make it easier both pre-op and post-op. And while we're on the subject, there's something else you should know."
Danny finally sat back in the recliner and let out a sigh. "Okay, let me have it."
"Danny, Mom and Dad called me last week at work. They're flying in next month for their winter vacation and they want to stay until you're back on your feet. Grace's room is vacant so we have the room. We love them so it wouldn't be a hardship to have them here. The winter in Jersey has been brutal so far so they would love to get out of the cold and snow for a while."
"What did you tell them?"
"You know how your mother is. She always tells me that I'm her favorite in-law. I told her that I would love to have them here. Danny, I think that she needs to be here as much as we need her. It kills her to know we're going through a tough time and she's too far away to do anything. So I say let her come. We'll still have the cousins come in to do the cleaning and yard work. Your mom and dad will be here in the morning to help you get downstairs. They can take you to physical therapy, change your ice packs, and spend some quality time with their grandsons."
"I guess you're right."
"What did you say? I'm not sure that I heard you correctly?"
"Don't push it. I'm still upset with you but I have to think about what you said."
"That's fair enough. Are you hungry? When are the boys due back?"
"Rachel and Stan are feeding them. They will be back in time to get their showers and have story time before bedtime. I could eat."
"What sounds good, and please be honest?"
Danny thought about it and decided to be completely honest. "My knee is hurting like a bitch, and my hips are sore from sitting too much. I would love to have ten minutes today when I'm not in so much pain."
Steve already had a plan to Danny. "How about if I help you shower quickly and massage your hips and back. Then we can come downstairs and I can set you up in the recliner with an ice pack. I'll heat up some chicken soup from the freezer and make us some grilled cheese sandwiches. Then you can take a pain pill and get comfortable."
Steve's plan sounded heavenly and Danny almost wept at the idea of shutting down the pain if only for a few hours. "That would be perfect. Thank you. I know that I haven't been a good patient and I'm sure that it's going to get much worse before it gets better."
Steve went over to Danny and gave him a much needed hug. "That's okay Danno. I'm not such a great patient either. Are you ready for that shower?"
Steve helped Danny to stand and make it upstairs. He quickly undressed both of them and got them in the shower. Steve massaged the knots in Danny's back as he lathered him up. Then after Danny dried off, Steve used some massage lotion on his hips and back. Danny was feeling much better by the time that Steve brought a tray of soup and sandwiches out for supper. When the boys came home, Danny was very mellow from his pain medication.
Rachel came in long enough to see that Danny's anger had dissipated. She pulled Steve aside to quiz him. "How did you do that?"
Steve was puzzled. "Do what?"
"Steve, Danny was furious when I talked to him earlier. I thought the he would be in a snit for days."
"Rachel, I don't think Danny would appreciate it if he knew that you used his name and 'snit' in the same sentence. Danny's just frustrated with his limitations and the pain is wearing him down. I reminded him that he took care of me when I had my concussion and told him that the boys were worried about him. He's a little high right now from his pain pill. Thanks for helping out."
"Steve, you know that Stan and I are always willing to help you and Danny. Did you tell him that his parents were staying for his surgery?"
"Yes I did. I told him that Mom was worried. You know Danny; nothing worries him like knowing that someone else is worried about him. We'll be okay Rachel. You and Stan have been great helping us with the boys. I know it's going to be rough right after surgery, but it will be so great when he completes his physical therapy. He can get through his day without worrying about how much pain he will be in at the end of the day."
"Well don't hesitate to call when you need us." Rachel said her goodbye's to Danny and the boys.
Jack and Jesse were a little hyper from spending extra time with their other brothers so Steve let them regale Danny with details of their day while he cleaned the kitchen. Then he sent them up for their showers and checked on Danny.
"Danny, do you want to move upstairs or should we read with the boys down here?"
"I think I'm ready to go upstairs. We can read in our room so I can stretch out. I think that I'll let you and the boys read to me. I'm not sure that I can focus right now."
Steve stuck the ice pack back in the freezer and carefully helped Danny up the stairs. He pulled the bed down while Danny was in the bathroom. Danny came out and got as comfortable as possible. Steve brought the bottle of Biofreeze out and carefully applied the soothing gel to Danny's knee.
The boys brought their book in and joined Danny on the bed, taking care not to jostle his bad knee. Each took a turn reading before Steve read the last chapter. Danny was dozing off when the boys tucked him in for the night. It was so reminiscent of the time when Grace took care of Steve that it put a lump in his throat.
The ensuing weeks were a little easier but Danny was growing nervous as the time drew near for his surgery. He diligently did the exercises recommended by the hospital, but the pre-op class freaked him out. Steve already spoke to the surgeon's office about medicating Danny the night before surgery. He'd love to 'tranq' Danny now but he knew that was out of the question.
His only hope was that Danny's parents would be able to help him. He could see them entering the baggage claim area now. "Mom and Dad, we're so happy you're here." Thank God his backup had arrived.