Wo Fat wanted to finish things with his half-brother, but there came a time when retreat was the best option. Some would say he was taking the coward's way out, but if they knew Steve McGarrett they would understand why he was leaving. The yacht was well out of the harbor now, and there was no sign of pursuit.

"Where are we going?" Sang Min asked the dangerous man standing at the front of the boat.

"That is for me to know. You will be released when we reach port."

"You told me you would give me money and safe passage. I need to send for my wife and son and make sure they are safe."

"Your money has already been deposited into the account you provided me with. Once we arrive at the next stop you will be free to do as you wish and our debt will be considered paid in full," Wo Fat told him.

"I could be of good use to you, Wo Fat. I have connections…"

"Your kinds of connections are not what I am looking for, Sang Min. You have nothing more to offer me," Wo Fat said and turned away. He placed his arms behind his back and clasped his hands as he watched the lights of Oahu disappear behind them. It was not how he had planned it, but at least he was free and someday he would exact his revenge for the wrongdoings of their father.

5050505050

Catherine woke when the nurse came into the room and quietly extracted herself from Steve's arms. She knew the medications he'd been given would help him rest and hoped his unplanned excursion to the prison didn't have detrimental effects on his recovery.

"Visiting hours ended a long time ago, Lieutenant Rollins," the woman told her as she checked McGarrett's vitals.

"I know," she said and allowed a hint of a smile to form as she gently placed the blanket over the sleeping man. "I won't disturb him."

"Just make sure no one sees you," the nurse said and leaned closer conspiratorially. "Just make sure no one sees you and I'll bring you a cup of coffee and a muffin after my break."

"Thank you, Janet," Catherine said and sat in the bed beside the window until the woman left. Once she was alone with the sleeping man, she gently ran her fingers through his hair. They'd allowed him to shower after they returned from the prison and his hair was as soft as she remembered. God, there was so much more to this man than just his looks and she wondered if some day they would take their relationship a little further.

"What are you thinking about?" McGarrett asked and smiled as he pulled her down to him.

"You…me… us…where this is going," she answered.

"I hope it's going wherever we want it to go," the SEAL said and reached for her hand. "We just have to let it happen."

"Are you sure?"

"Very," McGarrett told her. "What time is it?"

"A little after midnight," Catherine answered and kissed his forehead.

"You should go home and get some sleep."

"I thought you wanted me to stay?"

"I do…believe me I do, but it can't be comfortable sleeping on this bed with me. Not with the nurse coming in at all hours and me moving around"

"Oh, I don't know, there's something to be said for single beds being shared by two people," Catherine said and smiled when he pulled her down to him.

"Very true…maybe I should think about getting a single bed…wasn't there a song about sleeping double in a single bed?"

"No, I think it was sleeping single in a double bed, but I like yours better," Catherine said and looked into his eyes. "If I go home do I have to worry about you making any nocturnal visits?"

"No, I promise to stay put," McGarrett promised. The truth was that little excursion he'd taken with Danny was a rude awakening to just how much healing he still had ahead of him. Oh, he was trained to move past the pain, but at times like this when there was no one to rescue or no mission to complete he tended to let his control slip a little.

"Do you need anything before I go?"

"No…well…"

"Tell me," Catherine ordered.

"A kiss," McGarrett said and smiled when she pressed her lips against his.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning."

"I'll be here," McGarrett told her and watched her leave. He sat up and bit his bottom lip when he felt pain in his left side. He held his arm tight against it as he stood up and made his way toward the bathroom. Once inside he took care of the more pressing matters before washing his hands and looking into the mirror. He shook his head at the image staring back at him and wondered how much longer he'd look like he was ready for the grim reaper.

Steve exited the bathroom and slowly made his way back to his bed as the nurse came into the room.

"Hello, Commander, how do you feel?"

"I'm okay, Janet," McGarrett answered as she placed a cup and muffin on the bedside table.

"Did Lieutenant Rollins leave?"

"I told her to go home and get some sleep," Steve told her.

"That's good…is there anything you need before I go on break?"

"I don't think so…What kind of muffin is that?"

"Carrot, would you like me to leave it for you?"

"I am a little hungry," McGarrett told her.

"The coffee's strong and black."

"Just the way I take it," Steve told her.

"Perfect, just hit the call button if you need anything and I'll check on you when I get back," Janet said and left the room.

Steve looked at the muffin and opened it. He was hungry, but he wasn't sure his stomach would handle anything right now. For some reason he was nauseas, and the pain in his side seemed to be getting worse. He pushed the table away, leaving the muffin and coffee untouched before pulling the blankets up over him. He shivered and wished he'd thought to ask the nurse for a warmed blanket, but didn't want to disturb them when they had other patients to take care of.

When the nurse opened the door an hour later she listened for any sign that her patient was awake, but there was no movement from the bed and she closed the door before returning to the desk and updating the charts.

5050505050

Carl Lewis looked at the last chart and knew it was time to check on Steve McGarrett. He'd left him until last because he wanted to tear him a new one for yesterday's little escapade. Janet smiled as she exited a room down the hall and joined the man at the desk.

"Good morning, Dr. Lewis."

"Good morning, Janet. Is Commander McGarrett still in his room or did he go AWOL again?"

"The last time I checked he was sleeping, but I was headed there for morning vitals," the woman answered and checked his chart to see what medications he would need.

"Then I guess I'll come with you," Lewis said and followed the woman to the man's room. He entered, and was surprised to see the man still in bed. McGarrett was an early riser and for the last four days he'd been awake and ready to argue about being ready to go home. He walked to the bed as the nurse drew back the curtains that covered the window.

"Rise and shine, Commander," Janet said and frowned when she heard a soft moan from the man on the bed. "Commander McGarrett…"

"Janet, get me a set of vitals on him right now," Lewis ordered.

"Yes, Doctor," the nurse said and pulled over the cart with the instruments she would need.

"Commander, can you hear me?"

"I…morning, Doc," McGarrett managed.

"Did you do something you weren't supposed to last night, Commander?" Lewis asked.

"Not that I remember…why's it so damn cold in here?" Steve asked and tried to pull the blankets back over himself when the nurse tried to wrap the BP cuff around his arm.

"It's not cold, Commander, but there's definitely something going on with you. Did you go anywhere besides the prison yesterday?"

"Wanted to go home…Danny threatened to cuff me if I didn't come back here."

"His temperature is 102," Janet told the doctor and rattled off the other readings before moving the cart out of the way.

"Commander…Steve, we need to find out what's causing the fever. Can you tell me when this started?" Lewis asked.

"Was okay last night…started feeling like crap after Catherine went home," McGarrett answered.

"So around the time visiting hours ended?"| Lewis asked.

"No, Lieutenant Rollins didn't leave until after midnight," Janet explained worriedly. They'd stopped waking this particular patient three nights ago when it looked like he was well on his way to recovery. "I checked on him several times during the night and he was sleeping."

"Commander, I want to know exactly what you're feeling," Lewis ordered and began an extensive examination of his patient.

"Feel cold," McGarrett said.

"Any pain?"

"Left side hurts a bit," the SEAL told him.

"Any nausea?"

"A little."

"Janet, I want blood work done and as soon as we're through here I want you to give him Zofran. Get an IV started and let's see if we can find out exactly what's going on," Lewis ordered. "Commander, we're going to run some tests and find out what's going on."

"…k…" McGarrett said, shivering uncontrollably as the man's cold hands touched his body. He kept his eyes closed and felt Lewis remove the bandage that covered the wound to his abdomen. The nurse told him she was drawing blood and he felt the needle enter his arm near the elbow, and cursed Wo Fat for everything he'd done just before he blacked out.

5050505050

Danny glanced at his watch as he exited the elevator on Steve's floor and knew it was still another 15 minutes before visiting hours started. He smiled at a cleaner who was busily sweeping the floor near the nurse's desk, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Dr. Lewis exit McGarrett's room. The man turned and spoke to whoever was in the room before hurrying toward him.

"Detective, come with me," Lewis ordered.

"What's wrong, Doc?"

"I'll explain it to you as soon as I set up several tests for Commander McGarrett," Lewis said and moved to the main desk.

Danny listened as the man rattled off the names of tests he wanted done and worriedly glanced toward the closed door of his partner's room. Whatever was happening was serious enough that it had Lewis worried. He fought the urge to go to McGarrett's room and waited for Lewis to finish speaking with the nursing staff.

"Detective, did Commander McGarrett do or go anywhere besides the prison yesterday?" Lewis asked.

"No, we went directly there and Catherine brought him back here," Williams answered. "What's wrong with him?"

"We're not sure yet, but his temperature is elevated and the wound to his side is showing signs of infection. I've ordered a battery of tests including a full blood work up."

"How long before you have answers?"

"A couple of hours for some of the results…as long as 24 hours for others," Lewis answered.

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, but no unauthorized field trips," Lewis warned and turned back to the desk.

Danny walked toward McGarrett's room and entered to find a nurse adjusting the flow of the IV fluids. Steve looked like he was sleeping, but on closer inspection he knew the SEAL was awake and aware of what was happening. The nurse nodded to Danny before exiting the room and he made his way to the chair by the bed. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair and silently prayed things were not as bad as it seemed.

"Steven, I swear you're going to be the death of me," Williams whispered.

"Danny…what's wrong?" McGarrett asked and adjusted the head of the bed.

"You're the one in the hospital…shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

"Feel like hell," the SEAL answered honestly.

"You look like it too. What happened?"

"Don't know…started feeling like crap after Catherine left last night," McGarrett told him and knew Williams was feeling guilty about helping him get to the prison. "Danny, this isn't your fault."

"Isn't it? I shouldn't have helped you leave."

"I would have gone on my own if you hadn't," McGarrett told him and sighed tiredly. "Danny, believe me you couldn't have stopped me."

"I could have told the nurse."

"Wouldn't have stopped me…I'm too damn stubborn, remember?"

"I remember," Williams said and could see the weariness in the other man's features. "Go to sleep, Steven."

"Sounds like a plan," McGarrett said and closed his eyes.

Danny watched as the man's features relaxed and he slept. There was no mistaking the signs of illness, the flushed features, the rasping sound of his breathing and the added equipment the nursing staff added to keep them informed of his vital signs. Life had been so much simpler before he'd met this man, yet there was no one else he'd rather be partnered with. He just hoped Lewis could find out what the problem was and fix it.

TBC