I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Steve finds out that Danny likes deep sea fishing and used to go yearly off Long Island, NY with his father. For Danny's birthday, Steve charters a local sport fishing boat off Kona which is attacked by drug traffickers. Whump and fun ensues!
NOTES: I'm so appreciative of your feedback. As always THANK YOU. This is such a great community and I enjoy to "talking" to all of you.
I wound up in an odd place in this chapter since I wasn't sure how to incorporate Rachel. And then poor Danny got more sick. So I hope you like it – let me know please. I re-did it a million times and think it's ok – though it may be a little weak. UGH I JUST DON'T KNOW – this is not where I thought it would wind up. But it seems to make sense in the grand scheme of things. Comments please?
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CHAPTER TWELVE – A Birthday to Remember
Hardly having moved after making it back to his room, Steve slept soundly until mid morning. He missed Kono and Chin's initial return, as well as another change of fresh, cold ice packs and then of all things, his breakfast. When he finally opened his eyes, he almost felt well rested and was relieved to find that he was headache-free.
Smiling as she noticed, Kono untangled herself from the chair where she had been curled up and reading a paperback. She spoke around a plastic spoon that was in her mouth and was holding what looked like a near empty cup of applesauce. "Hey you! I hear you got to see Danny last night."
Using the controls to raise the head of the bed, he filled Kono in on the brief visit. "Yeah, he was pretty messed up. He did a good job of scaring everyone. Including me." Steve admitted quietly. "Ramirez is a great guy though." A slight grimace crossed his face as he shifted in bed and accidentally pulled on his shoulder muscles. "Where's Chin?"
But before she could answer, Steve noticed the raised tray of covered food between his bed and Kono's chair and he raised both eyebrows in consideration. "Is that my applesauce?" He asked, pointing to the cup in her hand.
"Hmmm, maybe. Could be!" Kono grinned as she brandished the plastic spoon at him. "There's some still left if you wanna share." Showing him that some was indeed left, he glared at her in mock anger. "No you go right ahead. Feel free to finish a sick man's meal, Kono. I can wait for lunch."
Still smiling, she got up and casually tossed her book to the chair and explained that Chin had left a message for Rachel the evening before. Stan's company had some sort of family-work dinner thing and Rachel didn't get to her voicemails until that morning.
"She called him back just before you woke up. So right now, Chin's out in the hall filling her in on what's happened."
Sobering and making a regretful face, Steve shook his head and idly plucked at the bed sheet. "That's not going to be an easy conversation." Thinking back about the evening's scare, Steve hoped that Danny had a good night and that things were steadily improving downstairs. He was lost in his thoughts and replaying the scene in his mind as Chin entered the room and strode over to the bed while pocketing his cell phone.
"Stan's going to stay home with Grace. But Rachel is on her way over now and plans to go straight to the ICU. I told her that one of us would meet her down there. She's not going to bring Grace here or tell her anything yet about Danny until she knows more."
"Makes sense." Steve agreed. "There's no reason to frighten Grace and none of us knows enough yet. And they aren't necessarily going to let a child into the ICU either." Looking to Kono, he knew she had already made a trip down to the ICU that morning. "So? Any news?"
Steve was right and Kono smirked in reply. As she had done every few hours since the incident, Kono had swung by the ICU and made her presence well known. During that morning's trip, she had first learned about Steve's impromptu over-night visit and that Ramirez had already left for the day.
But then scowling, Kono's mood changed completely and she wasn't entirely happy about sharing Danny's latest status as she grew quiet. "Sounds like he had a decent night and all of his tests are showing improvements. But he's still listed as critical because his blood pressure is still on the low side and they can't seem to get a handle on the infection. The doctor covering for Ramirez said that they may start a new regimen of antibiotics if he doesn't respond soon. Maybe x-rays too."
"Oh man." Steve sighed dejectedly and leaned back in bed to stare at the ceiling. Feeling helpless he wasn't sure how long this could go on without a real improvement. Danny's body had been stressed to the extreme and now a lousy infection could undo everything.
"Yeah." Kono whispered. "I know."
And the three sat silently together feeling utterly powerless until Steve's doctor showed up to examine him and to discuss the strong possibility of discharge the next morning.
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Kono immediately went downstairs to meet Rachel when Steve's doctor arrived. And it didn't take long for her to come rushing through the doors. Internally shaking her head in bewilderment, Kono again wondered about the relationship. Regardless of having Grace, she didn't fully understand the odd bond between Danny and his ex-wife. "Such craziness." Kono said under her breath as she took in Rachel's truly concerned face.
As the two women greeted each other, Kono quickly ushered her to the nurse's station. Standing back, she listened as Rachel introduced herself and asked to see Danny. Turning away assuming she'd wait outside, she was surprised when Rachel took her by the hand and addressing the nurse, insisted that Kono also be permitted into the room.
As the nurse tried to explain that only one visitor was typically permitted at a time, Rachel was firm and continued to insist that they both be able to see Danny. "Yes I understand that this is the ICU. But you're telling me that I can't stay longer than five minutes anyway. So what does it matter if the two of us go in and sit quietly? It's only five minutes."
Too astonished to say a word, Kono listened to the quiet argument and she soon found herself trying to keep up as Rachel tugged her through the doors and down the short hallway to Danny's room. "How did you do that?" Kono whispered and Rachel grinned conspiratorially. "Ex-cop's wife? Kono, I did learn some things married to Danny." And she almost, but not quite, laughed.
After a short discussion with the attending physician, Kono was disappointed at the nearly unchanged condition in Danny's status. While most if not all tests were consistent, stabilizing his blood pressure and combating the infection were still problematic. And there was a fear that the two were related. Confirming the five minute maximum, the doctor was resolute about not allowing Danny to speak for too long. "His temperature is still elevated and he's slightly congested. We want him to remain as quiet as possible."
Upon entering the subdued room, both practically tip-toed to the bed and looked at the confusing jumble of machines, wires and tubes that were dedicated to making Danny well. Gently leaning down to kiss Danny's forehead, Rachel could feel the feverish heat. "Daniel?' she whispered. "Are you awake?"
Almost grumbling at the disturbance and thinking yet another nurse had shown up to poke and prod, Daniel slowly opened his eyes and was startled to see Rachel leaning over him. Weakly, he raised his eyebrows and muttered "Oh!" And reaching up, he tugged the mask off his face. "Rachel. Thought you were somebody else." He was happily surprised, but barely speaking above a whisper. Rachel could hear the wheeze and beginnings of a harsh cough. His face was lined with fatigue.
Insisting on replacing the mask, Rachel reprimanded him. "Yes. But I don't think you should take this off. We can only stay for a few minutes." And kindly, she smiled down at and teased him. "Got into trouble again I see. How are you feeling?"
"It's fine. I'm fine." He was irritable as his hand met hers in complaint. "Daniel, really. And you most certainly are not." And Rachel blithely replaced the mask. "Now leave it there or else we'll get kicked out faster."
Grinning, Kono moved out from behind Rachel and then nudged her in the shoulder. "I'd listen to her Danny. She's pretty determined!"
His smile deepening, Danny looked at both. "Two gorgeous visitors. How'd I get so lucky?" He wheezed and then winced as he coughed harshly. Worried, Rachel held his hand through the brief jag. Blinking back tears from not being able to catch his breath and the painful pull on his wounded shoulder, he closed his eyes and panted into the mask. As he calmed, he tried to ask about Grace but Rachel intervened quickly.
"No, now stop and just listen. Please. We've been told that you really shouldn't talk. And we can't stay much longer." And Rachel looked over her shoulder to see the attending physician looming and tapping his watch in warning. "Grace is great Daniel. As soon as you get out of the ICU, I promise she'll be visiting. So you'd better do your part and kick this infection." Almost teary-eyed, Rachel had to stop to gather herself. "She got an A on her spelling test this week. She can't wait to tell you about herself." Stroking his too warm face, she gave him another soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll be back." She whispered.
Reaching forward, Kono quickly snagged his hand. "We gotta go. Steve and Chin are upstairs. I'm sure they'll finagle a way in here too. But it would be much easier if you got out of here, brah." Squeezing his hand, she gave a quick wave as the doctor shoo'd them out.
Exhausted by the brief visit, Danny watched them leave the room and walk down the hallway until he couldn't see them anymore. Wheezing, he recognized the nurse who had last taken his vitals return to check on him yet again.
Lifting his hand in greeting, the nurse smiled back. "Hello Detective." She said quietly, as she evaluated the various monitors and made notes. After checking his temperature, she pulled out her stethoscope, silently listening to his lungs. "Still congested? Coughing?" And he nodded once.
Patting his hand, she smiled. "We're going to change up your antibiotics and kick this out of you once and for all. No worries. Get some rest now." Sighing, he found himself unable to keep his eyes open. Though he was thrilled with the unexpected visitors, five minutes had been long enough. It had taken a lot out of him and he soon fell asleep.
Hesitating briefly, the nurse frowned. She'd need to review these results as soon as possible with both the on-duty attending, as well as with Dr. Ramirez. Danny's temperature hadn't budged at one hundred one and his chest was definitely more congested. She could easily hear the crackle and pop in his lungs. Professionally concerned, the nurse left the room to follow up with the attending.
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Kono and Rachel parted ways in the waiting room. Rachel would go home but vowed to come back to the hospital in just two hours for an update and hopefully for another five minutes with Danny. Kono was on her way back to Steve's room, but she found Chin sitting in a chair by the nurse's station.
"Doctor is still checking him out, but before I left the room he said that Steve would probably be released by tomorrow morning with muscle relaxants and an anti-inflammatory for the shoulder issue."
Kono was relieved to finally hear some positive news. "Good. It will be good to get at least one of them out of here."
"How was Rachel? Anything new with Danny?" Filling him in, Kono couldn't help sharing what Rachel had done to get her in to see Danny as well. "She was great, Chin. And it was so good to see Danny finally."
Chin grabbed her arm before she could begin a nervous pacing in the hallway. "Sit!" he demanded with a laugh. And she rolled her eyes at him with a retort of her own. "I think better this way." So refusing to listen, the nervous pace began and she blurted out her disappointing lack of news.
"There's no change with Danny and I don't get it. The attending showed some real concern about the infection and fever." Throwing her hands up in the air, Kono expressed her own worry. "Suppose he doesn't beat this? He looked so tired and he can barely talk." Finally, she did sit. But it was to study the floor. "He's coughing a lot too. Now I know why they kicked us out after five minutes."
Putting his arm around her shoulders, Chin gave a quick hug. "I haven't met him yet, but Ramirez impressed both you and Steve. I have no doubts that he'll get this figured out. Don't forget that it's barely been two days. Danny will be one hundred percent and home in no time."
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The organized activity continued in the ICU as Danny slept. The attending had called Ramirez who agreed to chest x-rays and a potential change in antibiotic. In the brief amount of time since being admitted, the increased chest congestion was a definite complication related to Danny's weakened immune system. There was a possibility of pneumonia and Danny's quick respiration and continually low blood pressure readings were signs that his lungs might not be working properly. A different course of action needed to be worked out by the ICU team.
Coughing now even in his sleep, the team began preparations for Danny's x-rays and a nurse was instructed to ready a change in the antibiotic regimen.
Waking him gently, the attending physician waited for Danny to focus so that he could explain what would be happening within the hour. "We're going to take a few chest x-rays. You don't have to do a thing, alright? We'll have this done in no time."
Scowling, Danny was forced to agree. He was tired of being poked and becoming moody with all the attention. "Fantastic." He muttered, but then wheezed and found himself coughing once again. Feeling cold, he tried to pull the sheet up and grimaced when he wasn't successful. But then sighed, as a perceptive nurse covered him with a warmer blanket.
Taking the doctor up on his offer to literally "do nothing", Danny found himself drifting off and hardly moved during any of the procedures.
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By the time Ramirez joined the ICU team for the afternoon shift and Rachel Edwards had returned to the hospital, Danny's x-rays had been processed and samples taken. The unfortunate signs of bacterial pneumonia were confirmed. The revised and more aggressive antibiotic regimen was approved and another IV line was added to Danny's arm for a disturbing total of three.
Beckoning to Rachel in the waiting room, Dr. Ramirez called her into his office to review the changes in Danny's condition and ICU treatment. Upset with the news, Rachel began to cry and the doctor pushed a box of tissues across his desk. "He didn't seem that bad to me. I just saw him a few hours ago."
"We're giving this everything we've got. But I can't make any promises with his weakened state. If you'd like to see him, you may. But again keep it as brief as possible and he must remain absolutely quiet."
Trying to control her emotions, Rachel stood up and thanked the doctor. "Yes, I'd like to see him. But what about Kono and Steve. Will someone be able to update them as well? They need to know."
Drumming his desk for a moment, Ramirez nodded and pushed away from his desk. "Of course. Yes. I'll go myself now."
~ to be continued ~
