So, you know how on the last chapter I said "Maybe I can finish it this weekend" and here we are on Thursday…? I'm sorry guys! I really meant to finish it! But then I had back to back doctor's appointments and then I got the flu, which we all know is so fun. I promise it'll get done soon! This could be the last chapter, but I'll just have to see where it takes me.
Waiting had never been Steve's strong suit. He was a man of action used to quick fixes and finding ways around every obstacle he couldn't simply blow up. The next two days of just waiting were hell for him. Every time a nurse would come in to check Danny's progress, Steve would bombard the women with questions. Every little minute improvement gave him more and more reason to get his hopes up, but he was still cautious. He still needed to know. On the third day, Ling rapped gently on the window before entering Danny's room.
"You can stop harassing my poor staff now, Commander. Daniel's latest blood tests came back much better. He's responding well to the antibiotics and the infection is going away, albeit slowly. We also believe that he's strong enough to breathe on his own again, so a respiratory specialist will be in shortly to remove the ventilator. His latest scans show that the swelling in his brain has gone down significantly. In short, he's got a long road ahead of him, but it is my professional opinion that he will make a full recovery." They gaped at him for a moment, then one by one, wide grins split their faces. Steve was halfway between laughing and crying at this point. All of Five-0 had had just about enough near death experiences and were ready for some well-deserved down time that Denning had promised them.
"Thank you, doctor." Steve said, shaking the man's hand.
"The miracles of modern medicine will only get you so far. A lot of this was Daniel." Ling said humbly. "Just one thing, Steve. I was wondering if you'd be able to tell me if any progress has been made in taking down that cult or whatever it was that attacked the hospital. Myself and much of the staff here would like to know." Steve sighed.
"Well, the fight here wiped out at least half of them and effectively cut the head off of the thing, but there are still members out there. It seems most of the major players in the Order had flown in after hearing Nemesi was killed. Unfortunately, we'll probably never get them all, but whatever they'll do from now on will be small scale. They've lost their leader. It had always been pre-arranged who would be the next Father Nemesi, but this time, he died unexpectedly. With no clear successor, undercover agents in the Black Order say that there's a massive power struggle that's basically like their own civil war. They're killing each other and no one is really wanting to step in there and stop them. Right now, it looks like the Order is self-destructing. However, the CIA and it's counterparts around the world have started an active campaign to take down any known members. Beyond that, there's not much more we can do. It is safe to say that the Black Order is basically finished. All the children of the politicians who were poisoned are being treated. They have no power anymore."
"Well, it is a relief to hear that. I never really expected it to be wrapped up nicely with a bow on top, but this is close enough." Ling nodded to them, then left the room. Twenty minutes later, Danny was breathing on his own again. Ling had also started to allow Danny to come out of sedation and he was expected to wake within about four hours. Danny only needed two.
"Mmmmph…" Instantly, three heads who had been asleep shot up. Steve was the first to reach Danny's side.
"Danno? You with us buddy?"
"Don' call me 'anno." Steve laughed.
"Figures that would be the first thing out of your mouth."
"It's good to have you back, brah." Chin said, lightly clapping his friend on the shoulder.
"Where'd I go?" Danny asked groggily. Steve could see the wheel's in Danny's head start to turn again as he struggled to recall the events that had landed him in the ICU. Steve could also see the exact moment when Danny remembered. Easily reading the panic in his partner's eyes, Steve stepped in.
"Hey hey, everything's okay now. Nemesi and Turner are dead. Chin and Kono killed them themselves. I'm fine. We're all okay. We've just been worried about you." Steve soothed.
"But, isn't…aren't they…"
"Danny, you were out of it for a while, but there was kind of a major fight here. Half of the Order showed up." Kono said gently.
"I'm guessin' we won?"
"Yeah, buddy. We won. Parts of the Black Order are still around, but the organization is crumbling. It's over, Danny." They gave him a moment to process this.
"For a while there I didn't think it would ever be over. Week from hell, right?" Danny joked feebly.
"You can say that again." Steve said with feeling.
"Amen to that." Kono agreed.
Ok, super short. Probably one more chapter, then I shall devote my full attention to Nalowale Kane…and all of the other little inevitable one shots that will happen as a result of my overactive imagination.