I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: Goin' home time! Thank you for sticking with me on this one!

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*

Chapter Thirteen

Abiding by Doctor Strauss' orders as much as he could – and likely unable to escape Chin's combined wrath – Danny was careful and would eventually be discharged just three days later. But those same days were much rougher for Steve as he continued to fight the infection and remained stubbornly feverish.

The first change of bandages after debridement was almost brutal. Ramirez did it in Steve's own hospital room and allowed Danny to stay. Tipped once more onto his stomach, the process was relatively painless since Ramirez judiciously localized the painful area. But the dressings were blood soaked and messy and Danny had winced each time, Ramirez removed one and dropped it into the basin.

Still very much tired and lacking stamina, the ordeal had taken a lot of Steve and Danny found himself clenching his hand in sympathy. Steve's eyes had remained closed and sweat beaded on his upper lip. Inches from his face, Danny softly muttered words of encouragement and his droning litany was the only thing anchoring Steve in his miserable, fevered state.

"Almost done, babe." Danny heaved a sigh of relief when the final clean bandages were fastened with surgical tape. But he stifled a groan when Ramirez and two attendants began the painstaking task of situating Steve on his right side.

Waiting for Steve to focus on him, Danny nodded. "Ready? They're going to turn you." Screwing his eyes shut again, Steve made a face and then breathed out hard. "Yeah. Do it."

Once again pale and sweating, Steve's weakened body resented every physical movement. He was biting his lower lip and breathing hard for a few good minutes after Ramirez had left. Not speaking and only concentrating on breathing, Steve had briefly tossed his head miserably on the pillows. And Danny had felt completely useless being unable to do anything more than ride it out and offer sips of cold water.

Recovery was slow but eventually his temperature had grudgingly returned to normal and he was taking very short walks that left him incredibly tired. Unexpectedly, the team found themselves taking turns at cajoling, threatening and pleading with him to eat or drink at every opportunity. Unused to being poked, prodded, persistently ailing and mostly bedridden, Steve fluctuated between being apathetic and just plain mad.

So when Doctor Adler had visited Steve to introduce himself, he just hadn't been in the mood to discuss what he could or couldn't recall over the prior weeks. With his patient both ill tempered and uncooperative, it took extreme patience for him to form an initial assessment. Completing a manual physical exam of Steve's head, neck and upper back, Adler had only found very old cuts and scrapes and finally made a decision.

"It's admittedly been quite a while at this point and you're not exhibiting any lasting signs of brain trauma. We may not see or find anything of import with a CAT scan or MRI."

"I'm fine." Steve had grumbled and was cross as Adler pushed for just a little more information. "Haven't had a headache since that time. No nose bleeds, blackouts or double vision. Just can't remember a few days."

Adler had eventually closed his notebook. "Those symptoms would be critical to defining a larger issue like a skull fracture. I agree with you that we'll likely find limited to absolutely no proof of contusions through an MRI or CAT scan. But your memory may or may not return. It's not something you should dwell on; let things happen naturally."

The words had actually done more to soothe Steve than any other conversation up to that point in time. "So, you actually do agree?" Steve asked hesitantly. "No more tests?"

"I do agree." Adler had then made a request. "But if you do experience anything odd like vertigo for example… or even if an old memory resurfaces, please let me or someone else here know."

Relieved at the honesty, Steve had finally relaxed about the neurologist's role in his recovery. Admitting to Danny that it wasn't so bad, some of the heavy lines at eased around his face.

Though it wasn't what Danny had expected to hear – he actually had thought Adler would pull some rabbit out of hat to magically restore Steve's lost twenty-eight days – he was thankful that the news had reduced much of the tension in Steve's face.

"Good. That's good." Danny agreed reluctantly from the wheel cheer as he struggled to physically pull Steve's lunch tray over from his awkward position. Ignoring Steve's disapproving face, he lurched up to balance on his one good foot as he removed the covers from the food and then made a grand show of opening the paper napkin to shove it down the neck of Steve's flimsy hospital gown. Handing him a fork, he waved his hands wildly over the tray and thumped back down into his seat.

"Now eat so we can get you the hell out of here!"

But two days after Danny had been released … another fact that Steve found quite aggravating .. Ramirez announced that he'd need to do a second medical irrigation focusing on the six-inch swath across Steve's back. The large majority of the wound was healing well, but the deepest portion warranted additional cleaning.

Danny had been asked to leave the room this time as Ramirez changed the dressings on Steve's back. 'Released' from the hospital had only meant a move to the recliner in Steve's room. Not cleared for driving or active duty, and while both Chin and Kono attended to actual Five-0 business, Danny saw no reason to do anything else. Using a cane, he was slowly gaining back muscle tone as he made laps around the floor or visited the cafeteria.

But the two were beginning to snark at each other as frustrations grew out of control. Danny's near constant henning about food and Steve's frustrating indifference warred often in the small space.

As Steve picked disinterestedly at his breakfast one morning, Danny had lost his temper. "You're not going to get better unless you put some meat on that skinny frame of yours!" Danny griped as he hobbled around the room.

"Steven, you're in a vicious cycle. Get out of it." He hissed angrily. But moody and indifferent, Steve hadn't even answered and Danny had finally limped out of the room in a worried fury.

Currently, Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed as the doctor removed the dressings and evaluated the wound. He made a dissatisfied sound deep in his throat and then prodded a section near the shoulder blade. Flinching away from the touch, Steve hissed and then deflated entirely when the doctor scheduled him for irrigation that same afternoon.

"Again?" Sitting on the edge of the bed for the exam and quick re-bandaging, Steve's temperature was now normal going on more than twelve hours. Expecting to hear when he'd be released, a second round with Ramirez and his surgical instruments was unwelcome news.

Seeing the shoulders slump dejectedly, the doctor was quick to explain. "Irrigation. It's completely non-invasive and you won't even need a local anesthetic. I want to clean this section out with a syringe and encourage the healing process."

Briefly hesitating after redressing the wound, Ramirez tood in front of Steve and shoved his hands deeply into his pockets. He considered Steve's attitude against his overall progress and current vital results. Steve looked up at the doctor's inquiring face but with no real expression on his own. Evenutally Ramirez made another sound deep in his throat – one that was more like a thoughtful and a kindly huff of sorts.

"What?" Steve stated blandly in a sad monotone. "What have you come up with now? Or should I ask … what else is wrong?"

"Yes." And Ramirez paused again as he judged Steve's face. "You'd need to come back in two to three days for a checkup. But tomorrow …."

Letting the words hang, Steve slowly stood up from the bed where he'd been sitting. "I'd appreciate that." And a genuinely relieved smile slowly lightened his brooding features and worry lines eased.

"No work, mind you. Home. Resting. And someone will have to help you change those bandages until I see you again."

Pushing his hands deeply into his coat pockets, Ramirez virtually bounced on his toes. "Yes, definitely time."

Equally satisfied with the very fast and welcome change in Steve's expression and demeanor, the doctor nodded agreeably and then warned the newly eager face.

"You'll be released tomorrow morning. But you'd better mind my orders or the offer will be just as quickly revoked."

~ to be continued ~