PD – Chapter 13
Queens Medical Center
Danny watches his partner being transferred into bed after spending three hours in recovery. His friend's blood pressure was a little lower than the doctors like it to be after surgery, so he remained in recovery longer than the usual hour. But now he seems to be doing fine and is being settled into the private room for at least the next four hours he has to spend lying in bed.
The nurse places electrodes on Steve's chest to monitor his heartbeat, and after checking the IV she leaves them alone.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Danny sits down next to his partner's bed.
"Okay, I guess. Can't feel much of anything right now. There's some pressure in my belly, but it doesn't really hurt." Steve moves a little on the bed to get into a more comfortable position.
"Hey, don't move, you have to stay still on your back. They said everything went fine. The damage was repaired without any problem and you can leave in a few hours," Danny repeats what Steve's surgeon, Dr. Kelly, told him.
"Uh huh. He said no running or lifting anything for a few days, told me I could go to work, but only on light duty for two days. He wants to see me again on Friday." Steve closes his eyes as he talks to Danny. His back started hurting a minute ago. The anesthetist told him that it is likely that he might develop some mild pain in his lower back. It's one side effect from the nerve blockage he received for his surgery.
"Steve, you should go to sleep. It's past midnight; they will release you in the morning."
"Hmm." Steve is struggling to stay awake, but he knows that he wanted to ask Danny something. Something important that had been bugging him during his time in the OR.
"What's with the face? What are you thinking about? Steve, relax, go to sleep." Danny is amused, but also a bit worried by the animated face he sees.
Steve looks at his friend, still trying to figure out what he was missing. And then it finally comes to him, what's been missing all day, or rather who was. Catherine! "Danny, have you heard from Cath?"
"Didn't Mark tell you where she is?"
"Marine Base, but he said she would be back. And she isn't. Have you talked to her?" Steve asks his friend with worry in his voice; it's not like her to stay out of touch for so long.
"No. You want me to call her?" Danny asks his friend, but has his phone out already.
"Yeah. I just wanna know she's okay." Steve settles back against the pillows, listening to Danny make the phone call and closes his eyes again. "She'll be worried when she sees your number," Steve mumbles while fighting against the pull sleep has on him.
"Yeah, well, your phone is pretty much useless after your little swim. You can request a new one yourself. I'm not going to explain why you need one so soon after you lost the last phone," Danny tells his soon-to-be-sleeping friend.
"Hmm, Chin will do it for me," Steve smiles sleepily, thinking about his friend still owing him for the new computer he procured for Chin from a Navy buddy of his.
"Ha, good luck with that." Danny looks at Steve who is more asleep than awake at this point. "Cath's phone's busy. I'll try again in a few minutes. Go to sleep, Steven. Stop fighting."
"Wanna talk to Cath first," Steve mumbles as he turns a little onto his side and snuggles down into the bed. He winces slightly when the movement pulls on the stitches and aggravates the pain in his lower back. The movement doesn't go unnoticed by Danny.
"Are you okay? Shouldn't you stay on your back?" Danny asks his partner after Steve stops wiggling in bed.
"Hmm, fine. Try Cath again, please?" Steve doesn't open his eyes; it would just be too much of an effort. Without even realizing it, he drifts off to sleep before Danny can reach Catherine.
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Catherine Rollins is miffed to say the least. She spent all day at the Marine Base in some musty room with no windows and what she is sure the most annoying AC that ever existed. It was either blasting frosty air into the room or when it was turned off, made a high screeching sound that grated on everyone's nerves.
It is past midnight when they finally leave the meeting so it's no wonder no one is in a good mood. Cath looks at her phone and is a bit worried when she only reaches Steve's voicemail. She has been on lock down all day, unable to call out. She received a note in the early afternoon that someone had tried contacting her, but she wasn't given a name. Cath is sure it was Steve. She couldn't know that she had received a few calls from various people trying to contact her about her friend. First the base hospital tried to reach her, then Mark Hope called, and later Danny tried his luck twice.
She finally gave up on Steve's phone and is now calling Danny. "Danny, hi. I'm trying to reach Steve, but I'm only getting his voicemail. Is he with you?"
"Yeah, he's here, Cath. We have been trying to reach you all day. Are you okay?" Danny speaks in a low voice, so as not to wake his sleeping friend.
"I'm fine. I have been stuck in a meeting since around 1100. Can I talk to Steve?"
"Not right now. Steve's asleep. He just had surgery." Danny can hear her gasp and makes sure to continue quickly, "he is fine, don't worry. He will be released in the morning."
"Danny, what happened? Where are you?"
"He was attacked this morning at Pearl. He suffered a concussion and spent a few hours in the hospital there. He was released and instead of taking it easy, he engaged in a foot chase across Honolulu, and ended up swimming in the harbor. But on the bright side he caught his suspect. I was taking him home but he developed intense pain in his belly, so instead, I brought him to the ER at Queens."
"What was wrong?" Catherine asks as she starts her car, parked on the Marine Base.
"This morning he received some kicks to his lower belly and there was some muscle tearing that worsened while he was running after the suspect. They had to repair that, but really, Cath, it's no big deal. His surgeon assured me that he will be completely fine. He has to stay on light duty for a couple of days but after that, he should be back to pretty much normal." Danny hopes that he can assure Catherine because he doesn't want her rushing to the hospital. It's the last thing they need, Catherine involved in an accident because she was preoccupied with worry.
"Okay. You guys are at Queens? I'll be there as soon as I can." Cath is just leaving the base when she tells Danny that she's on her way.
"Drive carefully, no need to run any lights," Danny feels the need to remind her. But it's obvious that she has already ended the call.
*~* *~* *~* Hawaii Five-0 *~* *~* *~*
Hawaiian Hilton Hotel bar
Special Agent Niles Levin is sitting on his stool in the hotel bar, lost in thought and maybe also a little in his drink. He has already downed five shots of tequila, not to mention the six beers. He feels kind of sorry for himself and tries to drown his sorrow in alcohol. Never a good idea, but lately he just can't help it.
"Agent Levin? Do you mind?" Chin Ho Kelly motions to the stool next to him and settles down after Levin nods to him.
"What're you doin' here?" It's obvious that the alcohol already has some effect on the man.
"I was out for dinner with my wife, but she was called to the hospital for an emergency. When I saw you here, I thought you might like some company. You're far from home," Chin tells the agent.
Levin makes a snorting noise and downs another shot of tequila, "Not much home at home."
"What do you mean?"
"My wife threw me out. Here's to my wife," he raises his beer bottle and takes a long swig. All evening he's been alternating between tequila and beer. Not such a good mix.
"How long you've been married?" Chin Ho takes a pull from his own bottle.
"Twenty-one years. And suddenly she decides to start a new life with a twenty-two year old idiot from Indiana. He is thirty years younger for Christ sakes. What the heck does he see in her?" Levin looks at Chin and just shakes his head.
"Sorry, man." Chin knows that there really isn't much to say to that.
"Yeah. Guess it was my fault. I was always buried in work and she just got bored or something." Levin looks at Chin. "Are you even allowed to talk to me?"
"What?" Chin has no idea what he's talking about.
"Your boss hates my guts. Didn't he tell you not to spend time with me?"
"We are working together on this case and McGarrett will give you a fair chance because he believes that solving the case is more important than his personal feelings. What he thinks about you personally I have no idea, and frankly that is none of my business. If he doesn't want joint field work, I'm sure he has his reasons." Chin has no real idea what went on between these two, but he knows that Steve wouldn't jeopardize an investigation.
"He didn't tell you, did he?"
"Tell me what?"
Agent Levin looks at Kelly and sobers up rather quickly. "About what happened during the op. He is right, you know?"
"He is right about what?" Chin hopes that Levin will stop with the cryptic messages and get to the point.
"I screwed up. Got his friend killed. Botched the op and put McGarrett into a wheelchair. It's a miracle that he's even walking, let alone able to do what he's doing," Levin tells Chin while still nursing his beer.
"What happened?" Chin has the feeling that Levin needs to tell his story.
"Dan Geese and McGarrett, Mac and cheese they were called, were in the installation we were to take down. I was their CO; both of them were just out of training. But they were already really good at what they were doing. I was supposed to stay behind and cover the back entrance they had just entered. No one was in sight at all. I swear I didn't think there was any way anyone would slip by me and enter the building behind them. I was absolutely sure of that. I had a good view over the area. I moved a bit from my post so that I could also see the side of the building. I couldn't see the back door anymore, but was watching the area leading to it. I gave them the all clear. As I was moving, two guys entered through the back door, and I missed them. It was my fault that my men got shot. At the time, I thought I did the right thing and the board cleared me of all wrong doing. But one of my men died and the other was seriously injured. Later, I knew I should have stayed at my post or at least told them that I had moved. Geese and McGarrett trusted me with their lives and got shot in the back for it."
It's the first time that Levin has admitted any kind of fault on his part. He still thinks that his decision was the right one because he did save three men, but it was the biggest mistake of his life to not have informed his men about his move. It was his biggest mistake and his biggest regret. A regret that, until now, he has never been able to voice.
"You left the Navy after that?" Chin can only imagine how hard it must be for Steve to work with this man. But sees also how hard it seems to be on Levin.
"There was an opening at NCIS and I took it. I don't think anyone was sad to see me go. McGarrett was right; I was not a good officer, I didn't lead by example. But I'm a damn good agent, and with your help we will catch that son of a bitch who is killing all those women."
"Yes, we will. You know… you should talk to McGarrett about this." Chin tells the half drunken agent.
"No, he wouldn't listen. Besides, I think it's easier for him to hate me. As long as we can work together, there is no need to open up old wounds."
"You're going to be okay on your own here? I should head home; we have an early day tomorrow." For a moment Chin thinks about telling him what they found out about the man they arrested at the harbor, but decides against it. Levin is too far gone for any kind of business tonight. He'll learn about it in the morning.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm heading up to my room soon. See you tomorrow, Chin. Thanks for listening." Levin stands up and reaches out to shake hands with his temporary colleague.
"Anytime. See you in the morning." Chin leaves the agent and makes his way out of the Hilton to head home.
*~* *~* *~* Hawaii Five-0 *~* *~* *~*
Queens Medical Center
Dim light is filtering through the window, illuminating the two figures sleeping peacefully in the one bed in the hospital room. Dorothy, the night nurse, who is checking in one more time before her shift ends, smiles fondly down at her favorite patient. She was genuinely worried when she heard that Steve McGarrett had been admitted to her floor again. She still remembers him from his stay all those months back, when he was seriously injured. Dorothy is happy that he will be released in a couple of hours and that he seems to be doing well.
She had removed the IV two hours ago, and Steve never even stirred for it. She smiles when he mumbles something in his sleep and snuggles deeper into his girlfriend who is half draped over him. She was a bit worried at first that Catherine might hurt her patient, lying on him, but Steve didn't seem to mind, so Dorothy let them be. They are a perfect fit, Steve under the covers with his girlfriend lying on his left side with her head resting over his heart.
Lt. Rollins had refused to leave last night and Dorothy looked the other way when she made her first round, smiling at the nice young woman who had looked up rather guiltily from her position next to Steve. And later, when she made her second round, Dorothy simply didn't have the heart to wake her and tell her to leave. But now she needs to wake them, because the day shift will be here soon and they won't be as tolerant about the sleeping arrangements.
"Lieutenant. Catherine, you have to wake up," the nurse speaks in a low voice near Catherine's ear, hoping not to wake McGarrett. Of course he is the first to stir.
He blinks up at her, smiling at the sight of Cath lying in bed with him, but Dorothy can see the smile morphs into a painful frown a second later. It's time to take some action.
"Catherine," Dorothy speaks up louder now, provoking the lieutenant to finally show signs of waking. "Come on, you have to move off your friend."
"What?" Two bleary eyes are looking up at the nurse.
"You have to move off Steve, you're hurting him." Dorothy gently tells her.
"Oh!" Cath is almost instantly awake now and can see that her bent leg has found its way onto Steve's belly, obviously putting some pressure on it. She quickly removes it. "Steve, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Good morning. When did you get here?" Steve pulls Cath down for a kiss, not caring that Dorothy is still standing next to his bed. "I missed you."
"After midnight, I didn't want to wake you. How do you feel?" Cath asks as she climbs out of the bed.
"Not bad." Steve hasn't had time to think about how he feels this morning. There is an almost painful pressure in his belly, but he's pretty sure it is more the call of nature than anything else. His head is mildly throbbing, and his back aches a little.
"Dr. Hope will come by in about an hour and Dr. Kelly will take a look at you before you're discharged," Dorothy informs him.
"Mark is still here?"
"Dr. Hope is on twenty-four hour duty until noon today. Last night your friend brought you some stuff while you were in surgery. The duffel bag is in the bathroom. Do you feel like getting up?" The nurse looks at her patient, but is sure that he is well enough to manage on his own.
"Yeah, I'm good. Thank you, Dorothy," Steve sits up in bed and is pleasantly surprised not to get dizzy or nauseous. Granted, the throbbing in his head changes to a pounding, but he can live with that. Sitting up puts some more pressure on his belly, but it's not really painful.
"Don't take a shower. Dr. Kelly wants to take a look at the small incisions and I'm sure he will change the patches to band aids." Dorothy always has to laugh about what some surgeons put on such small holes from the endoscope. Steve is taped up like his whole belly has been cut open. "Can you get off the bed? I need to see if you're able to stand on your own."
Steve slowly swings his legs off the bed and just sits for a moment on the edge. He made the mistake of jumping out of bed too quickly once and ended up head first on the floor. He won't make that mistake ever again. He slowly slides down from the bed, all the while trying to keep some dignity while dressed only in a flimsy hospital gown. He hates those things with a passion.
He slowly stands up, but stops when it starts to hurt. He puts his hand protectively on his belly and is still standing slightly bent over.
"Are you in pain?" Dorothy steps closer to him.
"A little, it hurts to stand up," Steve was caught by surprise by the intense pain that began radiating from his belly. But it's already receding and he manages to stand up a little more, still not fully upright, but close enough.
"It shouldn't hurt like that. Steve, lie back down please, and let me call Dr. Kelly. He should take a look before you go anywhere." Dorothy tries to gently push Steve back onto the bed.
"No, it's fine now. Besides I need to go to the bathroom," Steve walks around his nurse and disappears into the small room before she can stop him.
"Don't lock the door," she calls after him but shakes her head at the telltale click of the lock.
Steve follows the urgent call of nature first and after washing up, he takes a good look at all his bruises. PO Thomas hit him pretty good. Although the blow to the head was just a grazing hit, it still did some damage. There is a bruise around the small cut on his temple that put some color on his face. The whole right side of his head is very tender and the headache has picked up a notch in the last couple of minutes. Thankfully he's not dizzy.
He pulls his gown up and looks at the bruises all over his body. The one on his hip looks very nasty and the pain it causes is no fun. He can't see the worst bruises right now because his belly is patched up and not much flesh is peeking out. His upper torso is slightly discolored but his ribs are not hurting too much.
All things considered Steve knows that the confrontation with PO Thomas could have ended a lot worse. He is extremely lucky to have gotten away with just bruises and no internal injuries or fractured ribs. He feels a little stiff already and knows that his movements will be hindered quite a bit in the next few days. His back is still aching from the epidural and his knee sends a twinge out once in a while.
"Steve, are you okay in there?" Cath knocks on the door and calls out to him.
"I'm fine, be out in a minute," Steve calls back. He hadn't realized how long he's been in the bathroom already. He takes the gown completely off and takes his clothes out of the duffel bag Danny retrieved from the trunk of the car. They both keep bags in there, never knowing when they may be needed. It takes him a little longer than usual to get dressed but he manages, only getting slightly dizzy when he stands up too quickly after putting his socks on. But it lasted for only a moment. He leaves his pants unbuttoned and his briefs are riding pretty low on his hips. The bulky patches on his belly are in the way, but as Dorothy said they will be gone soon and he can dress properly then. He takes his boots in his hands and goes to open the door.
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Thank you all for reading, alerting and of course reviewing.
Her is a little preview for the next chapter.
PD – Chapter 14
Tripler Army Medical Center – Cpt. Jordan's office
"Lieutenant, please have a seat," Cpt. Jordan motions for her patient to sit down in front of her desk.
"Thank you, Captain." Lt. Donaldson sits down in one of the armchairs, making an effort not to show how much his leg is hurting him.
"How are you today?" Of course Jordan has seen how stiff the lieutenant was keeping his body and it's obvious to her that something is going on with her patient.
"Not so good. The pills are not doing much for me today, but I'll manage." Donaldson relaxes a little after admitting that he's in pain from his old injuries. The nerve damage in his leg was extensive and even though he has full function back, on some days, the pain is unbearable.
"If you prefer you can walk about the room while we talk," the captain tells her patient, knowing moving helps to alleviate the pain caused by damaged nerves.