The HPD Security team was standing guard in the hallway and Chin was in the room when Steve was wheeled in.
He was still unconscious as he was transferred onto the bed. Chin watched on as the orderlies left the room and the Nurses worked efficiently hooking him up to the numerous machines monitoring his vitals. They draped bags to the side of the bed that were connected to tubing carrying his waste, urine and fluids from his spine from his body. IV's carrying saline, antibiotics and the dexamethasone for the swelling were flowing into his veins through needles inserted into the top of his uninjured right hand. A bandaged covered the left side of his head and Chin watched as they lifted his gown to check his wounds. His skin glistened with sweat and the bruising that was severe enough to scare him hours ago was now much worse. It covered Steve's entire chest and abdomen and the bruising from his shoulder wound radiated across his clavicle and neck. His broken shoulder was heavily bandaged and strapped tightly against his side and abdomen, the arm in a cast from the elbow to his fingertips.

Once they had finished, a Nurse named Sara looked at Chin and smiled, "He's doing very well"
"Good….." Chin smiled adding, "How long before you figure he'll wake up?"
"It will be at least an hour. Are you planning on spending the night?"
"Yes, I'll be here"
"My name is Sara and I'll be Commander McGarrett's Nurse through the night"
"Call him Steve, and my name is Chin"
"It's nice to meet you Chin. I'll be checking on him every twenty to thirty minutes. If you notice any distress or need me for anything, please just ring"

"I will Sara, thank you" As Chin moved to Steve's side, Sara was wiping his sweat-drenched face with a wet cloth. A nasal cannula was in place and blankets were pulled up to his chest with his right arm resting on top of the blanket. Chin said to her, "I can take over"
She handed him the cloth saying, "Just ring if you need me"
Chin nodded and as she left the room he turned his attention to Steve. Reaching down and grasping his fingers he said softly, "You're doing great Steve. Danny's doing well too…you just need to rest buddy, I'm right here"

50505050505050505050505050

Sara came in every fifteen minutes to check on him, assuring Chin that all was well.
Almost two hours after arriving in the room, Steve moaned softly and his eyes began to flutter open.

"Steve…Steve, it's Chin. Lay still brah"
Steve's voice was hoarse as he replied, "Chin…where am I?"
"You're in the hospital, you fell. Do you remember?"
The pain was evident in his eyes as he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Danny?"
Chin squeezed his hand, "Danny's doing fine. You have to stay calm Steve. I'll tell you everything but you have to stay calm"

Steve's eyes closed and he swallowed heavily, "Yeah…..I'm thirsty"
"Let me call Sara?" Chin reached up and pushed the call button.
"Sara? Who's Sara?"
"She's your Nurse"
Chin turned as she entered the room and approached the bed, "Well you're awake. I'm Sara, how are you feeling Steve?"

"I'm thirsty"
"Due to your surgery, you can't have any water yet" She poured a glass of water and dipping a mouth sponge into it she then placed it against Steve's parched lips. "I can dampen your lips and mouth, but you can't have a drink yet"

A few moments later she pulled it away asking, "Do you want more?"
"No…I'm good. Thank you"
She then asked, "Are you cold? Do you need any more blankets?"
Steve grinned weakly at the young lady, "No…I'm good"
"Okay, you ring if you need anything"

As she left, Steve looked at Chin and again asked, "So Danny's okay?"
Chin gave him all the details on Danny's injuries and Steve asked, "Have you seen him yet?"
"No, they're keeping him in the ICU until morning to monitor him. The Governor had them put you in this family room here and they'll be bringing Danny in tomorrow. Once he's settled, Kono and Gracie can come up to stay as well"

"Good, that's good. So you've talked to the Governor?"
"Yes. He wants you both to take whatever time you need to heal and 5-0 is temporarily on hold"
"Thank you Chin…." He then closed his eyes and said softly, "I'm paralyzed"
Trying carefully to avoid the IV lines, Chin gently took hold of his hand, "Steve, listen to me brother. There's a very good chance that the paralysis is temporary. You have NO tears or cuts in your spinal cord, NOTHING is severed and there are no breaks"

Steve's eyes were damp and his voice shook with emotion as he said, "Really?"
Chin smiled down at him, "Really. You had some bleeding which caused swelling and pressure on your spinal cord. They drained fluids from your spine and they're giving you steroids through an IV to decrease the swelling. It's going to take some time brother but like I said, this could be temporary"

Steve looked up at him, stating firmly, "Chin, this WILL be temporary" Chin smiled broadly and Steve asked, "Tell me about my other injuries"

Chin explained his injuries to him and then stated, "You're doing great buddy, you just need rest"
"I guess that explains why my chest hurts so fucking bad"
"Yes it does...…do you need more meds?"
"No, no…..not yet. What about Wo Fat?"
Chin shook his head, "He got away" He explained the villain's get-away on the speedboat and that Duke had the HPD looking for him. He then added, "Steve, we'll find him"

Steve said nothing, he closed his eyes as he tried to come to grips with the realization that Wo Fat had eluded him…..the man who had been responsible for the deaths of his Mother and Father had now made this even more personal….he had tortured Danny and he had terrified little Gracie…Wo Fat had to pay. Tears of pain, relief, frustration but more than anything guilt, slid down Steve's cheeks as his eyes remained closed and in moments his body gave in to its pain and exhaustion and he slept.

Chin pulled up a chair and sitting at Steve's side, he too fell asleep.

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Chin woke a little before two in the morning to Steve moaning in pain.
He jumped to his feet and noted that Steve's breathing had turned rapid and he was sweating even more. Wetting the cloth he dabbed at Steve's bruised face. "Steve, are you awake?"

"Chin…hhurts brother…it hhurts to breathe"
Chin reached over and pushed the Nurse's call button and Sara was in the room in moments.
"Sara, he's in a lot of pain. He says it hurts him to breathe"
"Remember Chin, his lung and heart are bruised, this pain is normal" She then talked to Steve, "Steve I'm going to give you some more pain medication okay?"

"No morphine…." He became agitated as he repeated, "CChin….nno morphine"
"Steve, you need pain meds brah. Your body has to rest"
"Dilaudid….I ccan handle dilaudid….nno mmorpphine"
Chin looked at Sara and the Nurse nodded and left the room.

Chin spoke soothingly to Steve and squeezed his hand, "Okay brother, she heard you… I need you to relax for me okay…..try to slow down your breathing"

"CChin…I ccan't ffeel mmy legs"
Chin knew Steve's mind was hazy and he needed reassurance, "Steve remember, the paralysis is temporary. Your spinal cord is swollen and the paralysis is just temporary"

"Temporary? Arre you ss…ssurre?"
Chin smiled down at him, "Yeah, I promise buddy…close your eyes now Steve, relax"
"Nno morphine Chhin...dreams...bbad ddreamms...no mmorpphine"
Chin tried to reassure him, "I got it buddy, no morphine"
Tears were streaming down Steve's cheeks "Grracie…..it's all mmy ffault Chhin…..."
"Ssssshhhhhhh, Gracie is fine buddy…..none of this is your fault"
Steve cried out as the pain intensified, "OOHHHHH SSHHIT…..…" Pains shot across his chest and down his arm as he instinctively pushed up on his shoulders.

Chin pushed down on his uninjured right shoulder, "STEVE, STOP…..LIE STILL"
"OH MMY GOD….." Steve's body was shaking with pain as Chin continued to soothe him until Sara and the physician on duty arrived.

Chin held his shoulder and spoke to him softly while the physician inserted another IV line into his hand.
"CHIN…..CCHIN…..NO MMORPPHINE"
Chin leaned close to his ear, "No morphine buddy, I promise no morphine….relax Steve"
In just moments Steve's eyes closed and he mumbled incoherently for several seconds as the drugs took him under.

***** Next up – Danno, Gracie and Kono arrive – Hope you're enjoying the WHUMP and much more to come *****