Ma Ke Kahakai-'ino
"So, I can go home, Doc," McGarrett said when the nurse finished disconnecting the IV line.
"Yes, I'm going to sign your discharge papers," Onakea said and sat on the bed next to his patient. "That doesn't mean you're miraculously cured and that you can go chasing down the people who take the law into their own hands. You need to stay off the leg as much as possible and I've already read you the riot act regarding your arm. Make sure you keep every appointment and I want to see you in my office in a week. Make sure you use the cane they gave you!"
"Sure, Doc," the head of Five-O answered.
"If you have any problems like numbness in your fingers or start running a fever then come straight back here," Onakea ordered.
"I will," McGarrett said and looked up to see Williams standing in the doorway. "Hey, Danno."
"Still with the Danno, Steve," Williams shook his head and turned to the surgeon. "Doc, is there any chance you can write me a prescription?"
"I guess it depends what you want...I'd need to examine you first," Onakea answered seriously. "What was it you needed."
"A bottle of Valium...a big bottle because it's going to be a long couple of weeks," Williams answered.
"Funny," McGarrett said as Onakea stood up.
"Well, Commander, you need to take it easy and you should go easy on Detective Williams since he'll be the one preparing your meals," Onakea said and smiled as he looked at Williams. "You don't need a prescription for Jack Daniels and it just might help you get through this. My father swore it's how he got through Christmas with his in-laws."
"Jack Daniels...wonder what time the liquor store opens," Williams said as he dropped the bag with McGarrett's clothes on the bed.
"Commander, take your meds and I'll see you in a week...oh, that Jack Daniels is off limits where you're concerned," the surgeon said and left the two men alone.
"Danny, you don't need to do this. Just drop me home..."
"No way in hell, now shut up and get dressed unless you want to stay here."
"Your bedside manner sucks," McGarrett griped.
"You haven't seen anything yet, Steve," Williams warned and took the clothes out of the bag. He'd brought a button shirt and cargo pants, underwear, and sandals. It took nearly 15 minutes to get McGarrett dressed in street clothes and Danny could tell the other man was in a lot of pain once he stood up and reached for the cane.
"Let's go," McGarrett told him.
"Maybe we should have the doc come back and take a look at you before you pass out," Williams said as a nurse came in pushing a wheelchair.
"Now, Commander, surely you didn't think you were going to walk out of here did you?" the woman said.
"I was kind of hoping," McGarrett said and reluctantly sat down. It wasn't long before he was seated in Williams' Camaro and they were driving along the street toward Danny's home. Steve closed his eyes and sighed ass the soft breeze caressed his face.
"I bet you're glad to be out of there," Williams said.
"What was your first clue?" McGarrett asked with a grin.
"Are you hungry?"
"I've been in the hospital over a week, Danny, my belly is about to take a bite out of my backbone," McGarrett quoted an old friend of his.
"We could stop and pick up a sub," Williams said.
"Sounds good...you buying?"
"I don't think there's a choice since you don't have your wallet."
"Thanks, Danny, I owe you."
"Yes, you do," Williams said and pulled into the parking spot in front of a small deli. "You stay put."
"I'm not going anywhere," McGarrett said and leaned his head back as the sun bathed his still pale features. He listened to the sounds around him, enjoying the freedom of being outside after so much time cooped up in the hospital. He must have drifted off because when he opened his eyes Williams was looking at something on the windshield. The familiar shape and color told Steve what it was and he wasn't surprised to see his name written in the same handwriting as the ones he'd already received.
"Did you see who put it there," Williams asked as McGarrett opened the envelope.
"No, damn it, Danny, how the hell did they know we were here? Wo Fat must have someone watching me," McGarrett snapped and looked at the button he'd taken from the envelope. It looked old, possibly from a jacket, unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
"That's why I wish you'd reconsider about the guard," Williams said and looked around. There was a couple leaning against a car, but they were so involved in each other that he didn't think they knew anyone else was around. An elderly man using a walker moved slowly along the sidewalk, while a woman pushed a stroller and talked to a small child who tried to keep pace with her. It was just another day in Hawaii, with people going on with their daily lives, unaware of the ugly truth they knew nothing about.
"Danny, I'm not going to let Wo Fat make me a prisoner," McGarrett told him as Williams drove out of the parking spot. "I'm not going to back down either."
"No one's asking you to, Steve, but you're in no shape to go after him," the Jersey native warned.
"I'm not going after him, Danny, but..."
"No, buts, Steve, or I'll haul you sorry butt back to the hospital and take Onakea up on the offer to heavily sedate you while I use the cuffs to make damn sure you can't get out of bed!"
"I'm trained to fight sedatives and unlock cuffs, Danno...remember Super-SEAL here."
"Don't even joke about that. I swear you're going to give me gray hair..."
"Too late," McGarrett interrupted and smiled when Williams pulled to a stop at a red light and unconsciously checked his reflection in the rear view mirror.
"Maybe Rachel will think it makes you look distinguished," McGarrett offered.
"There's no gray..."
"There's a syndrome for the condition you have," the head of Five-O observed.
"Oh, really, and that would be?"
"The Egyptian river syndrome."
"The what?"
"You know...denial."
"You're so full of crap," Williams said as the light turned green. Danny saw the smile on his partner's face and hid the worry he felt because of the danger Wo Fat represented. Somehow he'd have to help McGarrett even if the man didn't want his help. He reached his apartment complex and pulled into his parking spot before exiting the car and grabbing the supplies from the back seat. He watched McGarrett get out and close the door before heading toward the apartment. "Are you forgetting something?"
"No, I'm good," McGarrett answered.
"Get the cane, Steven, before I'm forced to hit you over the head with it," Williams warned, glad when the other man reached into the back seat and retrieved the hated item. "Good, Boy."
"Shut up, Danny," McGarrett snapped, but he used the cane and was glad he had it to lean on as they made it into a building and finally made it to Williams' apartment. He stepped through the door once Williams opened it and made a beeline for the sofa and sank gratefully onto it while rubbing his right thigh.
Danny watched the man fro a few seconds before moving into the kitchen and putting away the things he'd brought from the hospital. He grabbed two bottles of water and the sandwiches and joined McGarrett in the living room. "You want to watch a movie?"
"Not really, but you go ahead," McGarrett answered and rubbed at his throbbing skull.
"That's okay...peace and quiet sounds just right about now," Williams said and opened the sandwich he'd bought for his partner. "Steve, eat and then you're going to take your pills and go to bed."
"Sounds like a plan, Danny," the injured man said. He ate half the sandwich, accepted the two pills Williams handed him and swallowed them with the water. He grabbed the cane, leaned heavily on it as he made his way to the guest bedroom to find the blankets already pulled back. He wanted to crack a joke about it, but when he looked at his partner the words just didn't come out, instead he said two simple words. "Thanks, Danny."
"Anytime," Williams said and helped the injured man out of his clothes. "You go ahead and sleep, Steve, I got you covered."
"Always do," McGarrett mumbled tiredly, grateful when Williams turned out the lights, closed the blinds and the door so the room was nearly dark. Sleep came quickly and with it came the nightmares that often plagued him, but he never spoke of and hoped never to face in his lifetime.
5050505050
"How is he, Danny?" Chin Ho Kelly asked when Williams opened the door and motioned for him and Kono to be quiet.
"He's sleeping for now. I got him to eat a little and take his pills before he went to lie down," the Jersey native answered.
"He must be feeling pretty bad if he took the pills without a fuss," Kono observed.
"Yeah, he was...he got another one of those damn envelopes while we were at the deli," Williams told them once they were seated at the table.
"How the hell did they know you'd be there?" Chin asked.
"That's just it, they wouldn't and that means Wo Fat has a bigger reach than we know," Danny answered and slid the envelope across to Kono. "I know it's a long shot, but check it and the button for prints."
"I will, Danny," Kono said. "Danny, you look like you should be in bed."
"I'm okay, Kono, or I will be when we figure this shit out," Williams snapped.
"We'll figure it out," Chin vowed.
"Preferably before Wo Fat decides to go after Steve again," Kono told them.
"Steve seems to think Wo Fat is a man of honor and that he'll wait until Steve can face him on equal ground," Williams observed.
"He could be right, but I have a feeling Wo Fat's definition of honor is not the same as Steve's," Chin said.
"I'd lay bets on that one, Chin, so how do we keep Steve from doing something stupid and underestimating Wo Fat?" Danny asked.
"Steve knows his limits, Danny, he won't go after Wo Fat alone unless..."
"Unless he feels like he doesn't have a choice," Kono finished her cousin's thoughts.
"Exactly," Chin said. "Look, Danny, we need to let Steve move when he's ready and we need to be ready if he falls, but we also need to back him up if he thinks he's right because the one thing I know about McGarrett...father and son...is that they can work things out in their heads long before most people can do it with a calculator."
"This is not mathematics, Chin," Williams snapped.
"Maybe not, but you know what I mean...maybe i should have used chess instead of math,but it means that same. Steve is thinking three or four moves ahead of his opponent and he'll be ready when Wo Fat decides to come after him," Kelly told them.
"We'll back him up," Kono vowed. She stood up and without a word made her way toward the bedroom where McGarrett was sleeping. She pushed the door open slightly and stared at the man in the bed. Steve McGarrett had given her the chance to be part of Five-O and she knew there were plenty of officers who were angered by his choice. She just hoped she could be as good as Steve thought she could be.
Author's Note—- Thanks for reading and the reviews...I think maybe one more chapter...I will be going away from Friday until Monday so hopefully it will all be posted before I leave...Winnie