CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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 17, 2012

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to my physician friend for providing me with the medical information used in this chapter and for explaining some of the more complex details to me. I'd also like to thank you all for your wonderful reviews and private messages; I love seeing new reviews or p/ms in my inbox and your suggestions are awesome. I promise that I will do my best to incorporate them into the storyline at every opportunity! Thank you for reading and reviewing! Michelle

(Libby disappears into the guestroom and Mike strolls out onto the back deck where Steve and Danny have squared off and are glaring at one another. Walking between them and casually dropping down onto one of the outdoor loveseats, Mike leans back and studies his sons-in-laws.)

"Your mother-in-law is going to be dressed and ready to leave for the hospital in about five minutes so I suggest you boys kiss and make up or she's going to drop both of you when she comes out here. Be kind of hard to explain why the two of you are limping."

"Is Libby okay?"

"She's good, Danny, but she won't be if she finds you two glaring at each other so get squared away; now."

(And about that time, Libby steps out onto the deck with her purse slung over her shoulder and an expectant expression on her face.)

"Are we ready to go?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Steve?"

"Yeah, I'm going to head over to the M.E.'s office and see if Max has an update for us. I'll meet you at the hospital. Maybe we can pry Sam away from Flight Ops long enough for lunch."

"Sounds like a plan. Michael, Danny, let's go."

(Lana has been steadily talking to Caroline every time she's been in her room and has been cheerful and upbeat, but Caroline doesn't respond in any way and Lana is just short of tears. Seeing the beautiful, vibrant young woman with a wicked sense of humor that she has become close to in such a state is breaking Lana's heart and she's also frustrated that she doesn't know how to help Caroline. Lana has read Caroline's chart thoroughly and all of her test results are within normal limits and, physically, she is recovering well from the accident, but psychologically . . . Lana's heart aches for Caroline's entire family. When Danny walks into the unit, Lana's heart twists painfully at the worry and stress on his face even though he's smiling when he walks over to the desk. Putting a smile on her own face, Lana walks around the desk and gives him a quick hug of encouragement.)

"Hey, Lana, how's she doing this morning?"

"She ate all her breakfast, she's had her bath, and she's ready for visitors. How are you doing, Sweetie?"

"I'm hanging in there. Libby and I are picking Grace up after school this afternoon and she's spending the night with us, so I'm sure that will make us all feel better."

"That little girl can make anyone smile, Danny. I think a good dose of Gracie is exactly what you need right now. Is there anything Chin or I can do to help?"

"You're doing it right now, Lana. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I found out you were going to be Caroline's nurse today. When did you start working here at the base hospital?"

"Actually, my hospital and the one here at the base have a reciprocal agreement. When one of the two hospitals is short-staffed, the other one sends over a staff member to fill in. I got a call early this morning from my supervisor asking me if I minded working here today instead of at my usual hospital and, when she told me I'd be working in S.I.C.U., I jumped at the chance and asked to be Caroline's nurse as soon as I got here."

"Well, I'm glad you're here. Having someone she knows taking care of her may trigger a reaction in Caroline; it certainly can't hurt. Just wish you were able to be here until she recovers."

"Actually, Danny, Cmdr. Shelton was in the unit when I got here and overheard me requesting to be assigned to Caroline. She and I started talking and she, too, thought it would be helpful to have me be Caroline's nurse because we're friends. She's going to call my supervisor and ask that I be allowed to remain here at the base until Caroline is discharged from S.I.C.U."

"Well, that certainly makes me feel a lot better; not only for Caroline's sake, but mine, too. Thank you, Lana."

"Hey, we're family, Danny, and family takes care of one another. I hope you know that Chin and I are here for you anytime, day or night."

"Yeah, Lana, I do know and I appreciate it. Don't be surprised if I take you up on that offer before this is all over. I have a feeling I've got some long, sleepless nights ahead of me."

"Then call, Danny; doesn't matter what time."

"Deal."

(Steve strides into the M.E.'s office with a fierce scowl on his face and finds Max just closing one of the body drawers in the morgue. Steve stops before the smaller man and assumes an alpha male stance that screams he's all business and not in the mood for small talk.)

"Talk to me, Max."

"I conducted a more thorough autopsy, did both an MRI and CT or the brain and opened the skull and examined the brain directly. I believe I have the answer as to why the deceased was driving erratically although there were no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. The deceased was suffering from a disorder commonly associated with alcoholism known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Mental confusion, paralysis of the nerves that control eye movement, and difficulty with muscle coordination are some of the symptoms, and this, I believe, is what caused the deceased to be driving erratically."

"So, the accident was caused by Powell's alcoholism."

"Yes. Although there was no alcohol present in his system at the precise moment of the accident, the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome was caused by years of heavy and constant alcohol consumption."

(Sam is sitting at her desk staring at the paperwork in front of her without really seeing it when there is a knock on the doorframe of her office. Looking up, she sees Tony standing in the doorway and invites him in.)

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

"No. As a matter of fact, I'm glad you stopped by; all I've done is sit here and stare at my desk for the past half hour. I haven't gotten one, single thing done today, and I've got three, different reports due by 1600. Unfortunately, I can't seem to focus on anything but my sister. I've almost reached the point where I'm ready to march myself into Adm. Henderson's office and asked to be relieved of duty because I'm not fit to do my job right now."

"I'm so sorry, Sam, I know this is so hard for all of you. Anything I can do to help?"

"You're doing it, Tony. Thank you for being my friend."

"Right back at 'ya and you're welcome. For what it's worth, I don't think you should ask the Admiral to relieve you of duty, but it might not hurt to take a few days' of leave; especially with the baby's funeral tomorrow."

"You know what? You're absolutely right, Tony. God, but I love SEALs! You guys are the best at thinking on your feet!"

"You're not so bad at it yourself, Commander. Now, I'm gonna get out of here so you can go request your leave. . . . Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"It only takes forty-seven seconds to get from the SEALs' building to Flight Ops and that's if I walk. I can be here a lot quicker if you, you know, need me. Just pick up the phone."

"Thank you, Tony. I'll keep that in mind."