Danny's heart rate increased to a level Kailo deemed alarming. The patient scrunching up his face was indication that he was at the grip of a splitting headache. He adjusted the dose of medication in the IV drip. "Okay I think that's enough for now. We'll let him rest a bit. That alone took most of his energy," he said, satisfied that his patient was drifting off and that the vitals were stabilizing.
He beckoned the ladies out of the room to join the group on tenterhooks outside in the hallway.
Beverly fell into Kono's arms. "He spoke Gracie's name. He recognized us. And he moved. Oh Dear Lord, he's going to be okay."
Frances glanced up at the doctor. "Is that true, Doctor?"
"He is making remarkable progress, that I can't deny. But he still has a long way to go."
"Doctor, I noticed that it took a few seconds to respond to the questions. Is that normal?" Karen asked.
"Normal in his current condition. The concussion was located in the parietal lobe, the part of the brain that controls motor and sensory perception. He has the inability to attend to more than one object at a time. There's a time lap between the two, like question and answer. That will eventually correct itself and with therapy, he'll learn how to process more rapidly."
"Is that all?" Kono asked.
"Unfortunately no. As he gains some strength, we'll test for an array of disorders as a result of the lesion to the brain. He might pass the tests with flying colors and then again, he might not. Be prepared that's all I can say at the moment."
"We'll help Jersey get through this, won't we gang?" Kamekona egged on.
All gave the Big Bear a pat on the back in response.
"The good news is that he's moving his thumbs and there's some reflex in his other fingers, which means the conduit between the brain and the rest of his body is still intact. No nerve damage and I expect he'll be moving his hands and arms very soon."
"Can I see him?" Rachel asked in eager expectation.
"You can but don't disturb him. I put him under so he can rest a bit after the efforts he did."
"I'll go with you." Frances said.
"Where's Mary?" Karen asked.
"She's with Steve," Chin informed.
"I think I'll join her. I want some much for him to be okay after what he did for me."
"Come on, pretty girl," Kamekona said, wrapping an arm around Karen's shoulders, "We'll go together."
"In the meantime, Gracie and I will go downstairs to get some nourishment," Chin said, clasping the little girl's hand. "Mrs. Williams, you want to join us?" The emotionally-spent woman gave a curt nod.
"But I want to give Uncle Steve my seal?" Gracie whined, pulling on Chin's hand.
"Do you want me to bring it to him?" Kono offered but Gracie was adamant. She wanted to be the one to give it to him.
"Okay, you two go. Mrs. Williams and I will wait here till she's finished," Chin suggested.
Somewhere in Honolulu, a shady-looking man surveyed the area carefully to spot any possible spies loitering about before sneaking into a public phone booth to make a call.
"Chan. It's McFadden. I did what you wanted. Now where's my money?"
"What money?"
"We had a deal," McFadden snarled. "McGarrett's dead."
"No he's not. Didn't you read the papers? He's in critical condition but still alive."
"He's in a coma with a cracked skull. He's brain dead for God's sake!"
"You'll get you money once he's confirmed dead and then buried," the irate Asian tabled the discussion and hung up.
"Dammit it!" McFadden slammed his fist in the phone box, revenge mirroring in his eyes.
He got into his car and sped away, screeching his tires. Unbeknownst to him that he'd picked up a tail.
Two weeks passed and although Danny was making progress, Steve still remained in a coma.
Doctor Carson was making his rounds, saving his last stop for his comatose patient. He picked up the patient's chart and perused through the latest results. After glancing up at the monitor to note that the vitals were stable, Carson proceeded to check the patched up hole in Steve's chest through which was once inserted the chest tube, as well as the brain drain that was recently removed. He clasped his left arm and began flexing his elbow gently to restore some muscle tone in the flabby limb.
"You do know you have great friends that are worried sick about you. They are eager for you to wake up, to let them know you're still with them. They don't want to lose you and I have a hunch you don't want to lose them either." He continued the exercise by bending Steve's hand and fingers. "There's one sweet adorable young lady who brought you a cute seal and a beautiful loving woman, both waiting for you to open your eyes. Would be a shame to let them all down, especially your fiancée," he cajoled, unaware that Frances was at the door listening in on the one-way conversation.
He settled the hand back on the bed and walked to the opposite side to repeat the motions with the right hand with a cast. "If you don't come back there's a swarm of eligible young men who will line up to steal her away from you and you wouldn't want that now, would you? You might lose her if you choose to remain hidden in this dark hole. I know it's a safe haven, son, but it's not healthy. She tries to pull you out but you keep hauling back. You're engaged in a tug-of-war but word of advice," he leaned in close to Steve's ear, "let her win this fight and you'll both come out winners in the long run."
"My sentiments exactly, Doctor," Frances smiled as she walked the rest of the way.
"Sorry, I didn't know you there," he apologized, a tad embarrassed.
"That's okay. I liked what you said and it's true, save for the part of any man snatching me away from him. I don't see that happening. He was my first and there hasn't been anyone since. No man could ever hold a candle to him, at least as far as I'm concerned." She approached the bed to gaze at Steve lying deathly still. "He's a very special man. It might have taken me a while to realize it but now, there's no doubt in my mind. A bit stubborn and downright obnoxious at times, but God help me I keep coming back for more."
"Then tell him. Get it through his thick head because believe me from having operated on him, he does have thick skull."
"Might as well know now, we're not engaged. We're just friends. I said that so I wouldn't be forbidden from seeing him considering that I was not family."
"Well you fooled me good, young lady."
"He did propose marriage but," she sighed heavily, "guess I'm not ready to take that step yet. You see, he and I were reunited by sheer luck after we lost touch with each other for eight years. A lot of water has run under the bridge since and...well... I just want to be sure he's my true soul mate and that we're compatible before making any plans for the future."
"I understand. You don't want to rush into anything."
"Especially marriage, which to me is a sacred institution not to be entered into lightly."
"As it should be for everyone. My wife and I have been married for thirty-six years. We meant it when we said for better or for worse, in sickness and in health."
Frances smiled at the doctor's wisdom before turning her attention to the patient. "Is there any change?"
"No, aside from the occasional spikes in the EEG, he hasn't moved a muscle," Carson explained to the prostrate woman who toiled to keep a brave front. "The brain edema has subsided and as you can see, he's starting to look human again."
"He's so thin," she deplored, taking in Steve's emaciated facial features. "Is it all right for me to try to stir his senses? I mean can I try bending his arm or play with his fingers like you're doing now in order to elicit a response?"
"Perhaps you'll have better luck than I did, but go gently."
"What about his right arm and shoulder?"
"The bones are healing nicely. We might take the cast out in two to three weeks."
"That's good. Danny's doing well so I'm hoping he'll follow suit."
"Understand that Steve's injuries were far more severe than Danny's. But then again, I'm not one to issue a grim prognosis prior to conducting exhaustive tests. He might surprise us."
A ghost of a smile brushed on Frances's lips. The neurosurgeon stepped up to her and placed a calming hand on her shoulders. "He's alive after three weeks. He's still hanging on and even showing some encouraging signs of progress. That thought alone should comfort you."
Frances looked up at the doctor with bleary eyes. "It does," she whispered.
Once alone in the room, Frances lowered the side rail and clasped Steve's limp hand, cringing at how bony and flaccid it was. She began rubbing her thumb gently over his knuckles. "Hey you! Time to wake up! Danny is asking for you. Although he might struggle at remembering people for a long spell, he does enquire about you. I think it's my face," she chuckled. "He associates it with you 'cause whenever I walk into his room and he sees me, the first word right out of his mouth is 'Steve'." She took a short respite to keep her emotions at bay before continuing, "He's trying to wade through the murky waters in his own brain."
She leaned closer and with a quaver in her voice, said, "He needs you, Steve. You are each other's strength. And although we care about you a great deal, Karen and I are just accessories. A temporary lifeline if you will, but I take a back seat to Danny. I know your partner holds a special place in your life and you in his." She bit her upper lip to refrain from crying. "You've come a long way, sweetie. Don't you dare give up now."
She began bending his left arm at the elbow. "Mary's gone back to California. Says she'll try to come and visit when the airline assigns her to a flight to Hawaii. She's thinking of moving to the island permanently to be close to her brother." A wistful smile brushed on her lips. "You'd like, wouldn't you?"
She leaned forward to place a feathery kiss on the top of his nose. "Come on, sweetie." She delicately tickled his nose. "I know you can hear me. Come on. Wake up." As she proceeded to rub his fingers, Steve let out a grunt followed by a body spasm. Frances's eyes bulged out and she looked down at her hand holding his. Another spasm had him jerk her hand. She excitedly pressed the call button. Seconds later, Doctor Carson came rushing into the room with a nurse.
"Something wrong?"
"On the contrary, he moved!"
Doctor Carson took a gander at the EEG showing brain activity. "There's definitely something going on but what?" He approached the bed and with his penlight, he studied Steve's pupillary reflex through his puffy eyes, though the swelling had considerably subsided.
"What is it, doctor?" Frances asked anxiously, baffled by the odd reaction on the doctor's face.
Carson went to the foot of the bed and lifted the sheet off Steve's feet to check for a Babinski sign. He then addressed the nurse. "We'll do a complete Glascow to see where he rates on the scale now."
"Right away doctor."
"What is it?" Frances insisted.
"It might just be involuntary spasms. His pupils are still dilated. I have a Babinski but it's sluggish and it tends to bend the other way, which is a very good sign that the brain damage is not as extensive as originally thought."
"Oh sweet Lord," she sighed out in great relief.
"I will ask you to step out of the room for a few minutes while I conduct some tests."
"Sure. Right away, Doctor. I'll be back later." She turned to leave, but stopped to cast a last look at Steve. "Come back to us, Steve. Please."
Frances made her way to Danny's room where she found Karen perched on the mattress, holding Grace's drawings in front of Danny. His Halo brace had been replaced by a regular neck collar.
"Horse?" Danny inferred.
"That's right. What color?"
Danny squinted as he dug deep into his memory bank to find the right word. "I know, I know," Danny huffed out in frustration.
Karen laid a hand on his shoulder. "S'okay, Danny. Don't force it. It'll come to you."
"May I interrupt the teacher and her student?" Frances asked as she stepped over to the bed.
"Ste...Steve?" Danny stuttered.
"Sure enough, it's my face," she joked to herself. "The doctor's with him now. He's conducting some tests."
"He okay?"
"As well as could be expected." Frances's gleaming eyes shifted back and forth from Karen to Danny. "He moved," she enthused with a large beam on her face.
"What?"
"I was holding his hand and talking to him, mostly about you Danny, and somehow he responded by squeezing my hand and I heard him grunt. Doctor Carson believes it was an involuntary spasm, but I think it was reaction to Danny's name. Nevertheless it's a step in the right direction."
Danny lazily held his hand out to clasp Frances's. "Whe...where he?"
The question baffled Frances at first, but she quickly recalled the doctor's description of Danny's condition; that he was suffering cognitive impairment and spatial disorientation. Also diagnosed was a mild aphasia with the inability to formulate complete sentences, only utter a few words at the time.
"He's resting in the next room. Don't worry. The doctors and nurses are taking good care of him."
"Mom? Where... mom?"
Frances turned to Karen. "Didn't you tell him?"
"I did, three times."
"She had to return to New Jersey to take care of your dad."
"Dad? Where? What... wrong?"
"Danny, think hard now. I told you about his little mishap." Danny paused to attempt to retrieve the information in his muddled memory. "He fell and broke his hip. Your mother has to be with him to help him move around."
Danny suddenly released her hand as his eyes began wandering around. Karen held his face firmly in her hands. "Danny, focus on me now."
"Where...where am I?"
"Danny, you're in a hospital."
"Home?"
"No you're not. This is a hospital."
"Ka...ren?"
"Yes, it's me. Stay with me now and keep focusing on me."
"Can't...can't feel...legs."
"I know. Don't worry about it," she mollified while sandwiching his hand between hers. "The feeling will eventually return. Just focus on me and don't let go." Danny started crying. "Hey, hey, don't cry. It's okay." Karen grabbed a tissue and began dabbing at the corner of his eyes. "Give yourself some time, Danny."
Danny's eyes began to droop. "Tired."
"Okay, go to sleep. We'll do more exercises later." Danny nodded feebly and soon drifted off.
Karen turned to Frances to seek her mental and physical support in this trying time. "God, it's hard to see him like this."
The sight of her baby sister in the throes of emotional agony tore at Frances's heart. Not only was she dealing with her own demons but out of sheer love, she was now willing to bear Danny's plight on her own shoulders, adding to the pressure. Although she was endowed with great resilience, a trait instilled by their father and nourished by their mother, she had her limits and Frances feared that she was reaching the end of her emotional, and more so, her physical tether.
Frances pulled her into a warm-hearted hug. "He's doing fine and so are you, kiddo. Come on, let's go for a walk."
"I don't want to leave him in case he wakes up again."
"Rachel will be here soon and Chin will keep an eye on Steve once Doctor Carson's done with his exams. They can spare us for a few minutes. Besides, the attending nurse will ring us if there's anything. Come on," she egged on.
Karen gave a weak nod and followed her sister outside the room where they met with Kono.
"Frances, Karen, just the two I wanted to see."
"Something wrong?" Frances queried with a creased brow.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet. He has valuable information on McFadden's whereabouts."
"Who?" Frances jumped in like a cat poised ready to pounce on its prey.
"Come outside."