Author's note: I've used the dialog from the episode at the BEGINNING of the story to let you know what scene this is about. I own nothing and hope the writers and the holder of rights don't mind.

Steve pulled Chin out of the way – of the dog's and the bad woman's. That way he also turned his back to the threat and got hit by four bullets.

When the last bullet had hit, he and Chin had reached the next room and both tumbled into it.

"Is he alright," Danny shouted and ran into the room as well. Steve was on the ground and groaned. Chin was checking him out when Danny came in.

"It didn't go through," Chin said while turning Steve on his back.

Danny looked at their leader and asked "You alright?"

A similar question came from Kono who was covering the entrance.

"Yeah, body amor works," the SEAL replied.

Danny looked critically at Steve who had a weird look on his face – annoyed or more kind of pissed.

"What is that look? Please don't do anything stupid, please?" Danny asked his friend.

Steve shot up and grabbed an office chair while Danny said "Nobody likes to get shot. Please don't do anything…" He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed that his words were useless.

Steve pushed the chair into the hallway and the perp shot at it. As soon as the shots were fired, Steve dived into the corridor and killed her with three shots into her chest.

"Is there something the matter with you, huh?" Danny asked annoyed.

"That was for Fryer," Steve answered.

Chin helped him up and let go of Steve's hand again when their leader was on his feet.

They were on their way back to the entrance when they heard a loud groan and a gasp for air. When they turned around, they saw Steve's hand shooting up and holding onto the wall for support to keep himself on his feet. He looked a little pale and was breathing heavily.

"Hey, brah. What's up? You got hit after all?" Chin asked.

"Dunno. Can't straighten up…hurts…to…breath…need…need…"

"Stop talking you moron." Danny called out with concern.

He and Chin helped Steve to sit down on the floor while Kono called an ambulance.

"Let's get his vest off," Chin said.

They loosened the snap fastener and removed the protective gear.

"Don't see any blood," Chin said. "Steve, I am going to pull up your shirt to have a look at your back, okay?"

Steve just nodded. He still couldn't breathe right. If anything, it just got even worse than better and he felt like even the nodding was too much.

"Ambulance needs five minutes," Kono announced. "How is he?"

The cry of pain that erupted from her boss's throat when Chin moved him answered the question. The oldest member of the team stopped his examination immediately.

"Stop." Steve panted out. "Please," he begged.

"Steve! Hey buddy. Look at me. Try to take shallow breaths and to breathe more even," Danny said.

"C…c…can't. H…hurts…breathe...I…"

"Stop. Hey, stop talking. You need your breath to get air in, babe. You are not alone. We are here for you. But you really need to regulate your breathing. Come on, try with me." Danny sat down, took one of Steve's hands and put it on his own chest. "Come on, that's the rhythm. Can you feel it? Go in synch with your hand."

But Steve either didn't seem to listen or just couldn't follow the command. He got paler by the minute, sweat was beading on his forehead, he was wheezing even louder than before and the pain he was in was clearly visible for everyone.

Their friend and boss looked like he was ready to pass out any second.

"Just hold on, babe. EMT's are here any second. You hear me?"

It was another long minute during which Steve had to change his position several times to get more comfortable but each tiny movement caused even more pain.

As soon as the paramedics arrived, they put Steve on oxygen.

A quick but still very painful examination showed that the leader of Five-0 had most likely broken two of his posterior ribs.

Although they had left him in an upright position, the transfer to the stretcher was pure agony.

They brought him to the ER for further examination.

Sitting in a hospital waiting room wasn't exactly one of Danny's strong points and the longer it took the more impatient he got. He started pacing the room and when he was about to go to the nurse's desk for the third time a doctor finally came out.

"Detective Williams. I've told you I would come out when we know what is going on. No need to bug the nurses."

"Yeah. Then tell what is going on – how is my partner?"

"Your partner has indeed broken two of his posterior ribs and the left side of his back is one big bruise. The breaks had led to a strain of the muscles between those ribs. It had also made his inner organs - which are usually protected by the rib cage - vulnerable for injuries. And because he had received two hits to almost the same place, the impact of the following two bullets have bruised his left lung.

He is getting oxygen and pain medication and he is doing pretty good with both of it.

But he has to stay here for at least two days."

"Good luck with that. He is not going to like it. He is going to fight that. To avoid it, I suggest you let him go home and I am going to have an eye on him."

"Not gonna happen. A bruised lung is a serious injury that we have to monitor. And he needs to move around to avoid pneumonia. I need to make sure that he does that. And he actually already agreed to stay here."

"Really? That is surprising. Can I…we…see him?"

"Yes, of course."

All three team members entered Steve's room.

Their leader was still a little pale, but fast asleep and breathing evenly. When he hadn't woken up an hour later Chin and Kono left. Danny stayed, because he didn't want his friend to wake up alone.

Twenty minutes later Steve did wake up. He tried to move and groaned loudly.

"Hey, easy," Danny said.

Steve groaned again before he said "You don't…" He tried to remove his oxygen mask to make it easier for Danny to understand him, but Danny intervened and said "No, leave that on. You need that."

Steve did as he was told and started again. "You don't have to stay. I'm good."

"Of course, you are. Just wanted to make sure that someone is here when you wake up."

"Thanks, Danno. Appreciate that very much, but I am fine now." Steve answered with total conviction.

"Sure, you are." Danny said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Danny was in deep thoughts while Steve was resting his eyes for a few moments before he looked intensely at Danny.

"Hey, buddy. I can hear you thinking. What's up?" Steve asked, knowing that Danny had something on his mind.

"We need to talk, but I think we should do that later. Like tomorrow or the day after it."

"Did something happen?" Steve asked concerned.

"Did something happen?! Yes, Steve! Something happened! You happened! Why do you always have to do that? If you want to die, just tell me!" Danny said with rage in his voice.

"What do you mean? I don't want to die. I just didn't want Chin to get killed." Steve said with confusion, but also with honesty in his voice.

"That was not what I meant. I mean after. You got shot Steve! SHOT! FOUR! times. Why can't you just stay down? Why do you have to be so reckless? You are not invincible you are not immortal. You are a human being! You can get hurt – or worse! And I am sick and tired of worrying about you! Do you think that we are incompetent?! That we aren't able to handle things…?!" Danny raised is voice even more and was yelling now.

"Danny." Steve said softly, wanting to calm his partner.

"Don't Danny me Steven!"

"You are all very competent and I trust you all. It is just that…" Steve suddenly squeezed his eyes shut, groaned and put his right arm across his chest while wheezing loudly.

"Hey, you okay? Do you need help?" Danny asked concerned – the anger gone as fast as it had appeared.

"No, just…give…me…a…minute."

A nurse entered the room.

"What happened here? Commander McGarrett needs rest. You are not supposed to upset him."

"He…didn't…breathin'…just…hurts…It's…" Steve brought out.

"Will you shut up already? Concentrate on your breathing and get some rest."

It took a few minutes until Steve was better. The nurse wanted him to sleep and he actually wanted it too, because he felt groggy and tired and could barely keep his eyes open, but he needed to talk to Danny first.

"No, Steve. You need some sleep. We can talk later."

"No…now," Steve grabbed Danny by his arm – although his friend hadn't shown any sign of leaving – but the sudden movement sent another shot of pain through his body.

"Hey! Take it easy."

"Talk…now."

"Okay. Say what you have to say and then you sleep."

Steve just nodded, then he closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened it again, he said "I am sorry Danno."

"It's fine. You are hurt and…"

"No, earlier. When I did what I did. You are…right. I should…have…stayed…down. I…am sorry…Danno. I…will…try…and…work…on…that. I didn't…want…to…worry…you. I…promise. I…am…sorry…need…sleep…now."

With that he closed his eyes and was asleep a second later.

"Yeah, I hope that. Sleep tight my friend. I am mad at you, but I still love you buddy and I will be here when you wake up."