A/n: wow you guys. I'm truly grateful for the response to the last chapter because I honestly almost didn't post it. I thought maybe I'd gone a little too far but you guys are awesome. Which is why you now get something that's a little bit lighter…I think?

"There are very few certainties that touch us all in this mortal experience, but one of the absolutes is that we will experience hardship and stress at some point." Dr. James C. Dobson

"Casey, this is the third order tonight that you've screwed up. Get your head out of your ass." Elliot snapped as he slammed his tray down on the counter.

"I'm sorry, alright? Just give me a minute to fix it." She apologized as she rubbed her forehead roughly in a futile attempt to ward off the impending tears.

Danny had called just before she had left for her shift and her head had been in Hawaii ever since. Makayla was seriously ill. She had been hospitalized for over a week now and her condition was steadily worsening. She had asked her big brother what she should do and he either didn't know or was unwilling to give her an honest answer. A part of her (the small maternal part) wanted to jump on the first plane out of Chicago to Honolulu but the other part (the one she'd been battling since the day Makayla was born) was too scared to face the situation. So she remained in Chicago, conflicted and confused.

"Here." She said, as she set the new drinks down on the tray.

"Screw it up again and you can forget sharing my tips tonight." Elliot warned as he walked away.

"Like you ever do anyways." She muttered under her breath. "You're just jealous that I make more anyways because I'm not an asshole." She continued. Two tears dripped down her cheeks and she cursed herself. "Come on Williams, pull yourself together. Damn meds are turning you into a weepy mess."

Between the hormone therapy that the doctors had insisted she start after the hysterectomy and the anti-depressants she had been prescribed for her post partum depression, her emotions were all over the place and were time to control at times. Add to that the added emotions regarding Makayla and Casey knew that she was going to have to have a good cry out back before the night was over.

Out of the corner of her eyes she could see a customer approach the bar so she took a deep breath and wiped her face quickly before turning to him with the best smile she could fake.

"What can I get you?" She asked, trying to sound upbeat.

"Two pitchers of whatever you've got on tap." He replied. "Are you alright?" He added, voice filled with concern.

"I'm doing just fine." She smiled sweetly. "How about yourself?"

"Well I'd be doing better if I thought that smile was real." He flirted and Casey had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. She was not in the mood. He seemed to notice less because he took his smile down a notch. "I don't mean to be forward. I just don't like to see women cry."

"Well that's very chivalrous of you, but my problems are not of your concern." She stated, trying to remain polite as she placed the two pitchers on the bar. "Besides, you're a complete stranger to me." She added.

"Well…Casey," He said, reading her name off her badge. "I'm Kris. Now we're not strangers anymore." He said with a smile.

"Look," Casey sighed. "I'm sure that you're a really nice guy who really does have good intentions but my problems are a long and complicated story that I don't even know where to start with…and you've got a group of buddies waiting for you to come back with their beer." She explained as she nodded towards the group of guys in the corner. Kris looked back over his shoulder at this buddies and then back at Casey.

"Can I borrow your pen?" He asked. She gave it to him and he proceeded to write something on a napkin before sliding it towards her. "My number. In case you ever figure out how to tell that story."

"I wreck everything I touch." Steve whispered to himself as he watched the steady mechanical rise and fall of his daughter's chest with every assisted breath.

"What?" Danny asked, rubbing his eyes roughing.

Both men were exhausted. They had been at the hospital for almost three straight days with only limited breaks. The decision was made to put Makayla on the steroids to try to keep from causing any permanent brain damage. Now it was a waiting game to see whether they would work or whether they would cause more harm than good.

"That movie we were watching with Grace a few weekends ago, in it the little girl tells the blue alien dog thing that he wrecks everything he touches…that's me. I ruin everything touch, it's like a curse." Steve explained.

"That is not true, Steven. You are not cursed, and you don't wreck everything you touch. Look at me, you haven't ruined me." Danny pointed out.

"Not yet. But how many times have you gotten hurt because of me?"

"It's not because of you. It's the job babe. I know I tend to bitch about it a lot but in reality, I am in no more danger being with you than I am with any other cop. Hell, I'm probably better off having you around than not."

"I just can't help but feel like this is just one more thing that I'm being punished for. That this sweet little baby has to suffer just because she's carries the McGarrett name."

"Okay stop, just stop alright? Yes Makayla is a McGarrett but she's also a Williams. And we have our own brand of suffering, alright? So don't think you've cornered the market on problems. But if our daughter is anything like you, which she's certainly shown signs of it, she's going to fight this and be fine. She'll be back to driving us both crazy in a few weeks." Danny explained, running his hands through his hair.

"You really think you're better off with me around?" Steve asked and Danny could see the doubt in his partner's eyes.

"Babe, if I didn't, I wouldn't have married you." Danny replied honestly. "I promise that we'll get through this. Just like we always do."