"Steve, I think we should wait for the Doctor. He should b…."
Steve cut him off, his voice pained and shaky, "Danny….no….I need to know and I ….I need you to tell me….please Danno...tell me"
The SEAL lifted his arms desperately grasping the front of Danny's shirt.
"Okay, okay Steve calm down babe…calm down"
Danny grabbed his partners' arms easily pushing them back onto his chest. He laid his right arm on top of Steve's grasping his forearm tightly. He then placed his left hand on Steve's forehead, rubbing it gently.
"Steve listen carefully to me now, your spinal cord is swollen. It is NOT cut, do you hear me? It is NOT cut! The paralysis could be temporary buddy, just temporary"
Danny watched Steve's reaction carefully knowing how important it was to keep him calm. Steve swallowed hard as he choked back the pain and his emotions. He was sweating profusely and his breathing was rapid.
"Temporary ….Danno….really?"
"Yeah partner. There's a lot of swelling around your nerves but the Doc is optimistic that when the swelling goes down your feeling will come back"
"Serious…..Danny really?"
"Yeah, I promise man. The Doc will tell you when he gets here so you have to relax and close your eyes okay, just sleep buddy"
"Temporary…..oh thank God…." Steve's body was shaking as he closed his eyes and Danny ran his hand through his hair.
"Sleep Steve, relax now. I've got you" After several minutes Danny felt Steve's body relax and he hoped he hadn't said too much. He knew Steve, he knew him well and more than anything right now the man simply needed hope.
Once he was certain Steve was sleeping, Danny reached over to the bedside table and re-wetting the cool cloth he patted his partner's flush head, face and neck until Doctor Seiler arrived a little over an hour later.
He shook Danny's hand, "Good Morning Danny. I hear you arrived quite early"
Danny grinned, "Couldn't sleep"
"I understand. Five-0 has quite a reputation in the hospital. We know you'll want to be staying with him so I've got him set up to be in a private room. There will be an extra bed in there along with a couch and a table and chairs for you and your team"
"I'm sorry, it sounds like we're causing quite a ruckus"
"No, not at all. Your devotion for each other is admirable. It's common for families to want to stay with their loved ones during times like these. That's why we have the rooms"
"Thank you Doctor"
"So I'm told he had a good night. His fever is not rising dramatically which is good, it will take a couple of days before the antibiotics really kick in. When he was awake this morning did he seem coherent to you?"
"Oh yes. He remembered everything. He asked about his legs"
"What did you tell him?"
"I didn't lie to him. I told him there was severe swelling but that you were optimistic that it could be temporary"
"That's good. I am optimistic. He's young and very strong and he needs to maintain a positive attitude about this. So you did just fine Danny. Let's take a look at him now"
He leaned over his patient placing a hand on his shoulder, "Steve...Steve can you open your eyes for me?"
After a couple minutes of prompting his eyes opened. Doctor Seiler continued, "Good Morning young man. I'm not sure if you remember me from yesterday. I'm Doctor Blaine Seiler and I led the team of surgeons that operated on you" He went over with Steve everything that had been done during the surgery and how they were battling the fever and inflammation with the IV Infusions. He then sat on the edge of the bed and broached the topic of the spinal injury.
"I understand Danny told you a bit about your spinal injury and he was correct in telling you that I am very optimistic that once the swelling goes down you should regain the feeling in your torso and legs. I need you to understand though Steve that I cannot make any promises on this. The spinal cord and surrounding nerves are extremely fragile and even the slightest injury can cause extensive damage. You need to remain positive and allow your body time to heal but you also must prepare yourself for the possibility that there could be permanent damage. We are doing everything we can for you medically but only time will tell"
"I understand Doctor Seiler and I appreciate you honesty...thank you"
"Let's check you out then and work on getting you moved to a room that's more comfortable"
After he examined Steve thoroughly he left with the understanding that he would be back to check on him again late afternoon.
Danny moved closer to the bed, "You okay buddy?"
Steve looked up and smiled, "Yeah Danno...I'm going to beat this...I'm going to walk again"
Danny smiled back at him, "I know you will Steve, I know you will"
505050505050505050505050
A couple of hours later Steve was settled in his room and resting in a drug induced sleep.
As his Nurse, Ricki wiped him with a cool cloth, Danny moved to the window overlooking the hospital courtyard and he called Gabby, MaryAnn, Catherine and Rachel to inform them of the events of the last twenty four hours. He then called Chin.
"Hey Danny, how's he doing"
"Good, really good. He's in his own room now and they've taken him off the respirator. He's very coherent and he had a good talk with the Doctor. His pain elevated a bit when they moved him and his fevers up to 103.3 so we're working on getting that down"
"How's he doing with the paralysis?"
"The Doc was totally honest with him Chin about being optimistic but also making no guarantees. McGarrett's tough man. He said he's going to walk again and I sure as hell believe him"
"My monies on him as well buddy. I feel you in on everything when we get there. They just called us in to Denning's office"
"Let him know I'll call him tomorrow and that Steve's doing well. He's in room 363"
"Okay bro, we'll see you in a couple of hours"
Danny moved back to the bedside and turning the TV on low he watched Steve sleep and wiped his sweat-drenched face.
He was still sleeping when Chin and Kono arrived bearing a lunch of lasagna and salads. Nurse Ricki took over tending to Steve as the detectives moved to the table to eat.
Chin filled him in on HPD's processing of the robbers. They had separated McKnight from the others for his own safety. Kaneko and the Hillman cousins had pieced things together and realized that McKnight had led 5-0 to the Marina.
Kaneko was still threatening to sue the government for Danny's attack on him as well.
Chin grinned, "Don't worry though brother. I told the Governor what happened and he'll back you up. He may have to suspend you with pay for a short time but that should be the worst of it"
"I shouldn't be suspended at all? We all know that he and Hillman are the damned ringleaders of that bunch and his fucking brother put a spear through Steve and they terrorized Gabby"
"Calm down Danny, we'll deal with all that later. Speaking of Gabby, how's she doing?"
Danny smiled, "She's fine. She had to finish up an inventory report and get it over to HPD. I expect her up a little later"
They were interrupted by a soft voice coming from the bed, "What smells so good?"
The three all moved over to the bed and Ricki stepped aside and left the room. Kono stroked his cheek as Chin stood on the other side of the bed taking hold of his hand.
Kono smiled at him, "Hey boss you're looking good"
"Yeah, I bet. So what smells so good?"
"We brought in some lasagna from Macaluso's, but sorry….none for you"
"Oh sweetheart…."
"I tell you what. As soon as they put you on solids I'll make you some homemade lasagna"
"Oh Kono, I love you!"
She chuckled and leaned in kissing his forehead, "I love you too Steve. How are you feeling?"
"I'm a little sore…..I feel kind of cold….."
Danny pulled another blanket from the foot of the bed up over his legs and Kono and Chin brought it up and tucking it around his chest.
Danny then asked, "Hey buddy, do you need some pain meds?"
"No…no drugs Danno 'k…...no drugs"
"I hear you partner..." he handed Kono the dampened cloth and she wiped the SEAL's head, face and neck.
Chin felt Steve's hand tighten in his as his pain intensified. "Squeeze tight Steve, I got you"
Kono continued to wipe his face as she talked to him soothingly, "Relax boss. Everything's going to be alright"
The three talked softly around his bedside consoling him until he fell asleep about half an hour later.
They then all pulled up chairs and taking turns trying to cool his fever ravaged body, they began their long vigil.