Within a couple of minutes after the doctor walked away Chin and Kono returned with Grace and Charlie. Noticing their return Steve knelt down to the children's level.
"Hey you two. Would you guys sit over there" Steve pointed "while I go and speak with Auntie Kono and Uncle Chin?"
Steve was received with two nods of the head. Taking her brother's hand Grace led Charlie over to the chairs while Steve indicating with his head stepped aside out of range so the children couldn't hear the conversation. Following Steve, the two cousins stood in front of him waiting for him to speak.
"Steve, what's going on?" Chin asked, concern in his voice.
"Has something happened to Danny?" Kono wondered.
"Um, not really." Steve replied running a hand through his hair. "There was a complication with the surgery."
"Complication?" Chin repeated. "What sort of complication?"
"The amount of blood Danny had lost when he'd arrived at the hospital was too much that it caused his heart to stop during the surgery." Steve explained.
"Oh my god" Kono said shocked at what Steve had just told them. "Danny's not dead is he?" Her voice cracking a bit.
Chin wrapped his arm around his cousin's neck bracing both of them for what Steve had tot tell them next.
Steve quickly shook his his head.
"No, no. Danny's not dead. But because his heart stopped during the surgery he was put on a ventilator to help his breathing."
Altnough there was a sigh of relief hearing that Danny was currently on the ventilator was just as bad.
"What's his prognosis, Steve?" Chin asked.
"Not good. The doc said the next 48 hours are crucial."
"Okay, so what do we do?" Kono asked.
"You two can go in and see him first. Then I want you to take Grace and Charlie back to Rachel's. I don't want them seeing Danny hooked up to a machine. Then you two call it a day. I'll stay here with Danny." Steve told them.
The three of them walked over to where Charlie and Grace sat. The two children saw them come over. Steve knelt down in front of them.
"Grace, Charlie Auntie Kono and Uncle Chin will take you back to your mum's." Steve told them.
The look on both their faces made Steve's chest tight. Charlie looked at him with those blue eyes.
"But, I want to see Danno." He said as his lips trembled.
Steve opened his arms out and Charlie threw himself into Steve's chest.
"I know you do, Charlie. But Danno's sleeping. You can see him when he wakes up." Steve whispered in Charlie's ear.
Charlie tightened his grip around Steve's neck. He sobbed iinto his shoulder making Steve's shirt damp with tears.
"Don't worry, Charlie." Grace said to her brother. "Uncle Steve will call us when Danno wakes up. Won't you, Uncle Steve?"
"I sure will." Steve replied.
"Promise?" Charlie said into his shoulder.
"Promise." Steve replied.
Charlie gave Steve one last tight hug before whispering in his ear,
"I love you, Uncle Steve."
"I love you too, buddy." Steve smiled.
Charlie let go of Steve's neck before taking Chin's hand. Steve stood up and silently nodded his thanks to the cousins before watching the four of them walk down the corridor. Running both his hands through his hair Steve sighed.
"Please Danny. You've got to pull through." Steve said to himself.
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As Steve stepped into the dimly lit room an uneasy feeling crept over him. Although there was a silence that filled the air every so often the sound of the ventilator beeping or the pump swooshing cut through the silence. Steve hesitated by the door before regaining his composure and quietly closed the door behind him. He remained by the door for a few more seconds before walking over to where Danny lay. Stepping closer to the bed, Steve felt his breath hitch in his throat. Danny looked so small and pale comapred to his normal self. There was a tube sticking out of his mouth. The mouth that would rant and rave at Steve. And Danny's hands lay on either side of his body. Seeing Danny so still, not moving a muscle Steve wished Danny was lecturing him right now. He missed hearing Danny's voice as he ranted and waved his hands about. Steve would do anything to hear Danny have a go at him. Pulling a white plastic chair closer to the bed, Steve dropped down beside Danny. Steve took hold of Danny's hand in his. At the touch of skin contact and how cold Danny felt, Steve could feel a few tears prick the corner of his eyes. Steve hastily rubbed them away.
"Hey Danny, " Steve whsipered. "God, I miss your rants. I know you can hear me so I want you to listen very carefully."
Steve gripped his hand tighter around Danny's.
"We're going to get McFarlen. We're going to bring him to justice and find out what happened to Tommy. You, on the other hand, are going to get better. Do you hear me? You, Danny Williams are going to pull through. And when you do we're all going to be here. Not just me, Chin and Kono but, everyone. Duke, Kamekona, Lou, Jerry, Grace, Charlie. Everyone, you hear? We're all going to be there for you because you're Ohana. We're Ohana. And when you get better you and I are going to take Grace and Charlie to the beach. Understand?"
Just then Steve felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He put his phone to his ear.
"McGarrett."