CHAPTER TWENTY
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams – PART II"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: October 14, 2012
(Libby and Danny return to the others once Danny has collected himself and, after making sure they're both as well as they can be, Mike heads to his and Libby's house to do as she asked. Afternoon visiting hours come around and Danny and Libby head into the unit to see Caroline. Cmdr. Shelton happens to be at the desk and is looking over Caroline's chart so Danny stops for just a moment.)
"Cmdr. Shelton, some of our very close friends are out in the waiting room and I was wondering if it would be all right if they came back to see Caroline? I know you said you wanted to start her therapy sessions in a week or so and start with Libby and Mike, but. . ."
"Of course, it's all right, Mr. Williams. For all we know, Caroline might respond to one of these other people. Their presence certainly can't do her any harm."
"Thanks, Doc, I'll tell them when Libby has been in to see Caroline."
"You're welcome, Mr. Williams. Is there anything else I can do for you right now?"
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, there is. Looks like we're going to get to know each other pretty well before all this is over, so I think you can stop calling me 'Mr. Williams.' Danny will be just fine with me."
"All right, Danny it is. If you ever need, or want, to talk with me, my door is always open. This isn't going to be easy on any of you, but it's going to be the most difficult for you."
"I appreciate that, Doc. There is one other thing. . ."
"Yes?"
"I've talked with Lt. Cmdr. Denning and he thinks Caroline will be physically able to attend little Gabe's funeral in two or three days provided she goes in a wheelchair. I know you said we shouldn't mention anything about the baby or the accident or children at all, but . . . Doc, I'm having a real hard time wrapping my mind around Caroline not being at our son's funeral. If . . . When she comes back from wherever she's gone to right now, she's going to be really upset with me because she wasn't there; because she didn't get the chance to . . say 'goodbye' to our son."
"Danny, I understand where you're coming from; I really do, but, at this point, I don't think it would be a very good idea for Caroline to attend your son's funeral. Catatonic states are unstable conditions and, to be perfectly honest, there's no telling what might cause a reaction in Caroline. Losing your child is what put Caroline into this state. Attending your child's funeral service could cause a more negative reaction; it might push Caroline further into the catatonia and we might never be able to reach her."
"Yeah. . . Okay, Doc, I won't push it. I'm just praying she'll be able to forgive me."
"I believe she will, Danny. It's obvious that you're head over heels in love with your wife and you both have the full support of a loving family and friends. Once Caroline is back with us and fully understands everything that happened, I'm sure she'll realize that you were only doing what was best for her at the time."
"I sure hope so, Doc. I've lost my son; I don't think I can stand losing my wife, too."
(Libby spends some time in Caroline's room and continues to try and get a response from her daughter. Unfortunately, there is no change in Caroline's status and Libby and Danny head back to the waiting room so Sam and Steve can go in to see Caroline. Again, they get no response from Caroline, and neither do Kono and Tony or Lana and Chin. Mike arrives back at the hospital just as Lana and Chin are leaving the unit and he goes in to see his daughter. Sitting in the chair next to Caroline's bed and holding her hand, memories of the day Caroline was born, the day she took her first steps, got her first tooth, said, "Daddy" for the first time all run through his mind as clearly as if they had happened yesterday. In his mind's eye, he clearly sees Caroline running to meet him at the door when he returned from a long and dangerous op, remembers her proudly presenting him with a paper she had written about him for a sixth grade project entitled My Father, My Hero for which she had received an "A", the beautiful smile of gratitude on her face when he didn't give her date to the Prom the usual "SEAL interrogation" her Senior year of high school, the way she stood so strong by Sam's side at the Murdocks' funeral, the joy on her face when he and Libby sought her approval to adopt Sam and make them true sisters, Caroline and Sam proudly standing at attention at their graduation from the U. S. Naval Academy and again the day they received their wings, the sisterly love on her face when she was Sam's maid of honor and smirk when she caught Sam's bouquet, the pure love shining on her face when she and Danny exchanged their wedding vows, the sweet smile when she held little Emily for the first time, and the pure, unadulterated joy when she and Danny told them they were finally going to have a baby of their own. Bits and pieces of Caroline's life race through her father's mind and he bows his head, closes his eyes, and asks God to please bring his little girl back to him.)