A/N: Thank you for reading/reviewing/alerting. I didn't drown in alcohol, so here is the next chapter as promised. Be warned I am now out of pre-written chapters so it may be a little bit longer before the next one is up. Work has been kicking my butt this week!

Chapter 12

Steve had taken over from Kono wiping Danny's sweat soaked face. His temperature had seemed to spike at 40 (104) degrees and had thankfully not seemed to get passed that, though it also hadn't dropped either.

Chin and Kono were both sitting silently on the other side of the bed, refusing to leave. Danny's condition was too serious for any of them to want to be anywhere other than right by his side. The silence was only broken by the beeping, clicking and whirring sounds of the machines that surrounded them. That is until Steve's cell rang, the ringtone was Grace's. Naturally it was Amazing Grace but it was a version sung by a young singer called Rhema. Danny had found it on YouTube and they had both immediately downloaded it to use as their ringtone for their favourite little girl. Steve hurried out of the ICU knowing he'd get his ass chewed off by Akela for having the phone on if he caught him.

"Grace?"

"Uncle Steve, I need you," the voice on the other end was quiet and seemed smaller than normal somehow.

"On my way Grace," he replied.

"Thanks," she hung up the phone.

Steve walked back into the ICU and was glared at by Akela, the SEAL just gave him a sheepish look and said "Grace," at which point the glare lessened, well a little anyway.

"I'm heading over to see Grace, call if there's any change," Steve told Chin and Kono before leaving the unit again. On the way to the Edwards house he called Rachel and requested that Stan smooth the way for him with his brother.

Pulling up to the mansion the gates were already open and by the time Steve got out of his truck, it didn't feel right driving the Camaro without Danny, Seb was standing at the front door.

"She's in her room waiting for you."

Steve merely nodded at the other man before taking the stairs two at a time and then knocking on the appropriate door.

"Come in," this time there was no delay in Grace's response to his knock.

Opening the door and stepping through Steve was engulfed by a nine year old whirlwind as she threw herself at him.

"Hey! Come on," Steve said softly as he guided her to sit on the bed.

"I'm sorry Uncle Steve."

"Alright, but what are you actually sorry for Grace?"

She pulled away from him to look him in the eye, brave just like her father, even in the face of a very unhappy SEAL, "For being mean. I'm… I…"

"It's alright Grace, you can talk to me, I'm always here for you," he tried to reassure her.

"I'm so confused!" she cried, "Mom and Stan are so excited about the baby, always talking about it but they won't talk to me about the baby and then Mr Hoppy died," her voice hitched at the thought of her beloved rabbit, "but then, as horrible as that was, Mom and Stan were doing things with me again. I mean, I was angry at Danno for leaving the cage door open, but I knew, know," she corrected, "It was an accident. I shouted at him, told him I hated him, then couldn't take it back," Grace buried her face in her hands.

Steve could see in her eyes that she was still confused by all the feelings she was experiencing, not to mention the fact that the words were spilling out of her in no particular order.

"You're right Grace, you can't take it back, but Danno loves you and he'll forgive you," Steve assured her as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest, "I know your Mom and Stan are excited about the new baby, but that doesn't mean they love you any less. You know that right?"

"I guess."

"They do, but even grown-ups make mistakes sometimes and they probably didn't realise you were feeling left out. It's easy to forget that you're only nine because you're normally such a good girl. I know you're hurting, Gracie but this isn't the way to deal with it."

"I don't understand why I feel this way."

"Let me tell you something, I know what it's like to be the eldest. When my Mom was pregnant with Mary I really wanted a little brother. When she went into hospital to have Mary I had to go and stay with a family friend. My Dad came to get me from there to take me home to meet my sister."

"What did you do?" Grace was enthralled by this story, a tiny piece of her Uncle's life before he lost both his parents.

"I told him that I didn't want a baby sister and told him I wasn't going home!" Steve chuckled.

"What happened?"

"He just picked me up, threw me over his shoulder and tickled me until I laughed. Dad told me that I was a big brother now and that they needed my help to look after my baby sister. I went home with him that night and stood by her crib. She was so tiny and helpless; I fell in love with her right there and then. Don't you ever tell her I said that, 'cos I'll deny it!"

Grace gave a watery sounding chuckle as she pressed closer into him, "I'm scared of what being a big sister means."

"After that first night I apparently refused to go to bed without giving my sister a goodnight kiss. Of course eventually she started to grow up, follow me round and annoy me! That's just what brothers and sisters do, but the great thing about it is that no matter what happens or where you go when you're older, you will always be there for each other, even if your parents can't be. You'll be a great big sister," Steve realised that he really should call to check on his sister as he understood the truth of what he was saying. They may have been separated for ten years but if she had called him needing his help he would have dropped everything and he had no doubt she would do the same.

"Do you think so?"

"I know so," replied Steve without hesitation.

"Thanks Uncle Steve."

"Do you feel a bit better now?"

"Yeah, I'm not so confused, though still a little scared about having to be a big sister."

"Hey, nothing wrong with that, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you meet the baby and all that fear will vanish. Any way if things get too much you can always call Danno, or me."

Grace's big brown eyes became like saucers as she remembered that her father was in hospital, "Is Danno going to be alright Uncle Steve?"

"I don't know Gracie. He's very sick but the doctors are doing everything they can."

"I want to see him!"

"That's a great idea, why don't we go now?" he suggested pushing to his feet and pulling her with him. He directed her to the bathroom again to wash her face and then, taking her hand, led her downstairs letting Seb know they were leaving.

Seb looked from Grace to Steve and nodded before letting the SEAL know he'd call Stan to tell him they were on their way.

-5-0-

When Steve arrived at the hospital Rachel and Stan were waiting for them. Grace dropped his hand and ran into her mother's outstretched arms and broke down.

"I'm sorry Mommy."

"It's OK Gracie, it's OK," she ran her hand over her daughter's head, her eyes filling with tears again. Rachel felt like she'd spent the last few days doing nothing but crying and it was exhausting.

"Grace, I'm very sorry about what happened to Mr Hoppy," Stan knelt down beside her.

"I'm still sad about Mr Hoppy, but I know it was an accident," she reached out and put an arm round his neck and he pulled her into his arms, "I was scared that you wouldn't love me when the baby comes and about being a big sister, but Uncle Steve told me I'd be a great big sister and talked to me about being a big brother. I'm still scared but I'll try to be brave."

"Oh Gracie, we aren't going to love you any less and I'm sorry if we've been too wrapped up in the baby to see what was happening," Rachel looked down at her daughter and cupped her face in her hands, "Uncle Steve is right, you will be the best big sister," she looked at the large man hovering and shifting uncomfortably in the background and mouthed 'Thank you' to him, he nodded in response giving her a tentative smile, "Steve why don't you go on up and see Daniel and we'll be along in a minute."

"I want to see Danno too!"

"I know you do sweetheart but we need to talk about it first, I don't want you to be scared when you see him so I think it would be best if we sit down and explain to you what's happening."

"Alright," Grace replied, reluctantly. Turning to Steve, "Can you tell Danno that I'm coming?" she asked.

"Of course Grace," he placed a kiss on her head and left the three of them alone to discuss Danny's condition.

-5-0-

Entering the ICU room which held Danny was the same as before, although there seemed to be a little less tension in the air.

"His temperature has dropped a degree," Kono told him, catching sight of him out of the corner of her eye.

"That's good," he stepped up to the bed and put his hand on Danny's, "Hey Danno, glad that you're temperature is dropping man. There's someone coming to visit shortly. Grace's downstairs with Rachel, but she'll be in soon."

"She came?" asked Chin, a little surprised.

"Yeah. Poor kid was really confused, jealous of an unborn baby and scared about what would happen when the baby is born too."

"Well I'm glad she's here," stated Kono, feeling a little like a weight had been lifted. Although Danny was doing a little better she hoped that if Grace was here it would help him just that bit more.

"Yeah, me too," replied Steve. Talking about his own childhood had been stressful but had also helped him to realise how much his sister really meant to him and though he wouldn't have wished things to happen this way, part of him was glad something had caused him to acknowledge it.

The door to the room slid open to reveal Rachel and Stan with Grace standing between them, clinging to both their hands. Both Kono and Chin glared at the man who had failed to admit he'd been at fault when this all started but neither said anything, all that mattered right now was that Grace was here and needed to see Danny.

"Chin, Kono, let's go and grab something to eat," Steve said wanting to give the family some space.

"Actually I bought some food and left it on the table," Stan pointed at the bags.

"Thanks, we'll grab some and take it outside somewhere to eat. Call if you need anything," the look he gave Rachel told her that he actually meant if there was any change.

"Of course," she replied as the three team mates left and then she walked with Grace over to the bed and helped her to sit carefully next to her father on the bed.

"Can I touch him?" Grace whispered.

"Yes, just be gentle," Rachel guided her daughter's hand so that she didn't knock any of the equipment that was helping him.

"Danno, I'm here and I'm sorry. I don't hate you, I love you! Please be alright," tears started to course down her cheeks but she just brushed them away, frustrated at her own emotions, "Stan told me it wasn't you," Rachel watched Stan wince but he didn't move from her side, "but it doesn't matter because it was an accident. When you're better Mommy says I can stay with you for a whole week to make up for the time we missed… if you want to that is."

"Of course he'll want to Grace," Stan assured her.

"I'm also going to help decorate the baby's nursery. Mommy and Step-Stan said I can help choose the colour, but it's not allowed to be pink since I'm having a little brother, though I don't really understand how they know that."

Rachel and Stan exchanged a look that said they hoped she wouldn't think to ask any time soon. After all the drama the last thing either of them wanted was to talk about any of the 'technicalities' of having a baby.

Grace leaned forward and carefully placed a kiss on her father's temple, checking as she did that she wasn't disturbing any of the tubes. She turned her eyes back to her mother, "He feels hot."

Akela stepped into the room at that precise moment, glancing at Rachel and Stan with an apology for disturbing them, "That's because your Daddy has a temperature. You know when you have a bad cold you feel hot then cold?" Grace nodded, "That's because your body's temperature has gone up as a result of your body fighting off the bugs that are in your system."

Grace put her head to one side as she thought about that, "How does your body fight the bugs?"

"Sweetheart I'm sure Akela has things he needs to do…" Rachel tried to intervene because; just like her father, when there was something Grace wanted to know the questions could go on for hours until she was satisfied.

"That's OK Mrs Edwards," he smiled at the woman before turning back to Grace, "You know that your blood is red, right?" Grace nodded, "That's because you have little cells in your body that are red, but you also have some white ones too, they're the knights of the story, they come to the rescue of the red cells when a bad germ gets into the blood."

"So the knights are like Danno and Uncle Steve and they rescue the red cells from the bad germs?"

"That's right," Akela smiled at her understanding and how she compared it to what her father does, "At the moment the knights in your Daddy's blood are fighting very hard, that makes them hot and because they're inside your Daddy's blood they make his temperature go up."

"When will his temperature come down?"

"Once the knights aren't fighting so hard and they can rest."

"Will he wake up then?"

"We hope so Grace but all the fighting going on inside uses a lot of energy and it makes him very tired so even when his temperature goes down it might be a while."

"That's OK, I can wait."

"Well the good news is that his temperature has come down a little bit more," Akela told her after checking the machines, "How would you like to help make him more comfortable?"

"OK."

Akela spent the next ten minutes showing Grace how to wipe Danny's face and arms without disturbing anything and then left the room.

When the rest of 5-0 returned they found Grace still wiping the cloth over Danny's face with Rachel and Stan sitting in chairs nearby watching.

-5-0-

A/N: The part of the story where Steve mentions about not wanting to come home and then having to kiss his little sister every night before bed? Yeah, that baby was me; my two brothers really did react that way, except they were staying with my Aunt and Uncle. Then of course I turned into the annoying little sister that wanted to follow them everywhere... and they drew on my dolls and were mean! Going so far as to sit me on top of a coal bunker when I got in their way as a toddler while they played football (soccer) with their mates... and I fell off! lol (Lost count of the number of times that story has been pulled out as we've grown up!)

Years later and I have two wonderful brothers (most of the time) who I can turn to in a crisis and vice versa. Steve and Mary have that but he just needed to see it!