Note: So sorry that it has taken me so long to update and that the original version i posted today was corrupt. I am hoping now it is fixed. Thanks again for the messages and support!

Chapter 5

The wheels of a thinly ladened plane touched down at HNL airport, it was just after midnight and the lights of the city and surrounds seemed accentuated by the water from a heavy downpour that had just swept over.

Danny peered through the small window, by his seat, of the aircraft as the loud rumble of the engines kicked in and slowed them down. He sighed, relieved to have made it back but anxious to find out what was going on.

The rest of the passengers were ushered through to a hanger, where they would stay for an hour or so while the aircraft was refueled before heading on to the mainland. As Danny stepped down he scanned the surroundings in answer to a familiar voice calling from the side. He smiled when he found the face that belonged to it.

"Danny…" Lou said with subtle concern as he walked over.

Danny exhaled a deep breath of relief.

"It's good to have you back, man."

Danny grinned. "Never, have I ever been so happy to see this island."

Lou nodded. "Let's get you out of here…" he said as he guided Danny to his vehicle.

"How's Steve?" Danny asked as he made it to the passenger door.

Lou looked over the top of the vehicle to his colleague, his expression hardening. "About that…"

Danny slumped down into the car and looked at Lou while he fussed around finding his keys. "Lou?"

Grover sighed. "I didn't want to tell you when you were over there… but we're not getting any direct information, what we do get has been from Mary."

"What do you mean? You were supposed to meet him when they landed. Catherine and I both made that very clear to the hospital."

"And we were there… but they wouldn't let us anywhere near him, then EMT's took off as soon as they got him off the plane." He growled. "We went to Tripler… and we've been back and forth for the past five days… nothing."

"Okay, you need to take me there now."

"Danny…" Lou replied cautiously.

"I am also listed as a next of kin, they have to give me something."

"I don't think they do." Lou shook his head. "The last update that Mary had was that he was isolated for now, that they were still treating him with antibiotics and monitoring his injuries." He whispered softly. "But when Catherine called, she explained that it might be more than just physical. She said that Steve is likely being assessed, and until they're done, they wouldn't be allowing visitors.

Danny lowered his head.

"Look, man… I know that this is your boy. And I know how you two protect each other… but I got to tell you… I'm worried sick. The call you made the night this all happened… when you said Steve was different… and now he's back here in Hawaii, isolated in a military hospital… the thoughts going through my mind are extreme.

Danny closed his eyes. He hadn't divulged too much information because he hated the thought of betraying Steve's confidence. Especially with something like this. But, this was Lou. If there was anyone, he could trust with sensitive information, it would be him. He also knew that Grover's concern was genuine. "I've been telling myself that it's just shock. That the state he was found in… it was just a reaction to what he'd been through."

Lou looked over towards the detective as he drove down the H1.

"But, I got to tell you… I think I was just trying to convince myself. I know it's much more than that."

Grover inhaled and then released a deep sigh, nodding.

"He said that he had been running from everything, thinking that leaving here would stop him reliving his past… but he realized it didn't matter where he went, everything was in his mind… and there was no running from that." He said with defeat as he glared out the passenger window. "I've never seen him so terrified, Lou… and when we were in that Evac Centre, I promised him that I would not leave him. And now he's on his own, going through something he's never been through before… with no control… now I'm terrified for him."

"Okay… Imma take you to Tripler then. If that's what you think you should do?" Lou said softly, accepting that maybe Danny had a point.

Danny rubbed his eyes with frustration. "I just want to know that he is okay. And I need him to know that I still have his back."

"You got it…" Lou nodded before taking the next exit to turn around.

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"Any change with Commander McGarrett?" A woman in her late thirties asked as she walked into the ICU and over to the nurses station.

The young nurse glanced over to a bed and shook her head. "Not in the way you're interested in."

The woman nodded softly, before heading over to the side of the bed and sitting down.

Steve's head was again up on a 40 degree angle, his arms stretched down beside him over the blanket. His eyes were open but not fixed on anything specific and his expression was empty.

"Hey Steve…" she whispered. "Remember me?"

He didn't offer a single thing. Nothing but the involuntary and intermittent blinking of his eyes.

"My name is Doctor Kaylah Mendez, I've been treating you over the past few days."

Steve remained motionless and unresponsive.

As the young nurse walked over to take his obs the doctor looked up to her. "I was hoping the treatment would have yielded some results by now."

"I've never seen someone like this before." The nurse replied.

"Can I see his obs?" She said softly before getting up and reaching out for the paperwork the nurse was holding. She thinned her lips. "Captain Anderson said that if there were no signs of improvement by the morning, we would change the treatment."

"Ma'am?" Another nurse said as she peered around the door. "There's someone out front who is here about Commander McGarrett… he said he's family."

"Okay…" she whispered as she passed the paperwork back. "Thanks Abby."

Kaylah pushed through the security doors; a nurse motioned for her to head down the corridor to the waiting room. Danny and Lou stood nervously waiting for her. "You're here about Commander McGarrett?" she said softly. "Doctor Kaylah Menendez, from the psychology unit here at Tripler, I'm one of the three doctors treating Steve." She reached out to shake hands.

Danny returned the gesture and nodded. "Detective Danny Williams and this is Captain Lou Grover, we're with the Five-0 Task Force. Steve is… was my partner on the team and I was with him in Thailand when this happened."

She frowned. "Danny?"

He creased his brow with confusion. "That's right."

She smiled with relief. "It's so good to meet you. You had us worried."

He shook his head, glancing at Lou before looking back to the doctor. "I'm sorry… I don't understand?"

Kaylah extended her arm out to the chairs, offering them to take a seat then taking one herself. "The notes, taken by the medics on the transport, said that Commander McGarrett was repeating your name over and over. They had no information on where you were."

Danny fought the urge to bite her head off about Steve being moved without any consultation. It was by no means her fault after all. "Ma'am… I've just arrived back to the island… and I would really appreciate seeing Steve right now."

"I understand…" she nodded. "But that's just not possible at the moment."

"No, see… I don't think you can quite appreciate what's happened or the urgency behind this. It's really important that he knows I'm here. Check his file… you'll see I'm his next of kin with his sister, Mary."

"Actually, it's not about that." She replied.

Danny could feel the frustration and anger bubbling inside of him, rising up as he thinned his lips. "Yeah… I get it… he's an asset… you're worried he'll drop classified information. But you see, that's really not a concern of mine."

"That's not the case either, Detective." She said softly. "We are currently treating Commander McGarrett for a range of issues, but the main condition… is Catatonia."

Lou frowned. "Catatonia?"

"It's a neuropsychiatric behavioral syndrome. In his case it has presented by absolute withdrawal from his surroundings, complete inability to communicate and decreased response to all stimuli." She explained.

"I don't understand… you said that he was communicating on the flight home." Danny shook his head, still fighting the anger brewing inside.

"He was… but at some point he slipped into a catatonic state."

Nope, he couldn't do it any longer. He couldn't quell his rage. "This is exactly why he should have never been separated from me." He growled. "He was okay when I saw him at the field hospital. He was confused, and he was scared, but he was talking and responsive." Danny stood up and stormed to the other side of the room.

"Ma'am…" Lou said as he tried to give Danny a moment. "You have to understand that these two have an incredibly formidable relationship, the likes of which I have never seen. They are closer than brothers. Danny is the only one, on god's green earth, that Steve trusts 100%." He explained. "Steve's mental state was in decline before this happened, which was the reason why Danny was there in the first place. He was responsive to Danny at the hospital because he knew he would take care of him. Then your colleagues, despite being warned, saw it fit to move him and take him away from the one person he could count on." He shook his head. "It's no wonder that Steve shut down."

Danny pinched the bridge of his nose before dropping his hands to his side. "What are you doing about his condition?"

"We have been treating him with Benzodiazepines to try and stimulate the brain… but he's been on this medication for three days now, and he still isn't showing any response."

"What happens next?" Lou frowned.

"Electroconvulsive Therapy, shocks causing a seizure with the hopes of resetting the brain…"

"What?" Danny hissed.

"It's done while he is under anesthetic, so he won't feel pain, and it's actually incredibly safe in a medical setting." She explained.

"This can't be happening." Danny snarled.

"Captain Grover, you said that Steve's mental health was declining before the events in Thailand?"

"That's right." He nodded. "But Danny knows more than I do."

She turned to Williams. "Then what I do need from you, is everything you can tell me about Steve's mindset and what led up to this prior to this traumatic event." She said softly. "Treating the Catatonia is one thing, but he clearly needs extensive and intensive treatment afterwards to address the clear distress he has been storing away in his mind."

"What I know about Steve… is that you are going to have a hard time getting him to discuss anything. He doesn't know you. He won't trust you." Danny replied.

"And that's why I will need you backing me up every step of the way." She responded.

Danny coughed a laugh.

"Detective… if Steve needed urgent medical attention to fix a physical trauma, I am certain that you would be right there pushing him to understand." She paused. "Mental trauma is no different… and it is just as serious… because if this is not addressed… there will be a steady, and almost certainly rapid, decline. But I need you to trust me. He needs you to trust me."

Danny slumped into a chair, defeated and surrendering. "What do you need me to do?"

"Well, if you are as influential with Steve as Captain Grover says… I think you seeing him might be the first thing that will start this process."

"You said…"

"I'm aware of what I said… and believe me when I say that I could get into serious trouble by authorizing this… but if there is any chance that you can reach him… I'm willing to take that risk." She nodded. "And I hope that this show of good faith you can see how important Commander McGarrett's welfare is to me."

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Dr Menendez led Danny through the hallways and secure doors, finally reaching the dimly lit and windowless room where 3 beds were lined on either side. She noted the nurses concerned look, their instructions were clear not to let any visitors in. "It's okay Abby… I've signed off on this."

The nurse nodded with reluctance, glancing at Danny as they walked past.

"I'm going to be just over by the nurse's station…" she whispered as she lightly swept her hand down Danny's arm.

He didn't reply, his full attention was drawn to Steve. He neared his friend's bed. Steve's eyes were now closed, and he appeared peaceful, but Danny was acutely aware that the pain behind them was the real issue. He felt an immense amount of responsibility crash into him, like a truck unable to engage it's breaks on an icy road. The balance between protecting and shielding his best friend, coupled with making the best choices for his prognosis, was exactly like walking a tightrope between two Manhattan skyscrapers. On tiny and seemingly inconsequential move could have everything tumble down, causing irreversible damage. His stomach churned and his body trembled slightly, prompting him to rest down in the seat beside the bed. "Hey buddy…" he whispered.

Steve remained motionless and unresponsive.

"Steve… it's me… it's Danny…" he continued. "I'm sorry it's taken me so long… things were out of my control." He paused, looking over to the doctor and nurse. He was expecting Steve to just wake up immediately and start scolding him for his tardiness. The pair nodded back to him with encouragement. He sighed as he looked back to Steve. "Cath and Aiden are okay… Catherine is continuing work with the embassy and Aiden has been drafted to help with the Australian evacuations." He paused, lowering his head and closing his eyes. "I know you're trying to fight this Steve… and I'm going to help you… every single step of the way… but buddy… I need you to come back."

The doctors eyes floated down. Perhaps it had been wishful thinking on her behalf.

"Steve…" Danny said sternly as he grabbed hold of his friends' hand, clutching it firmly. "I need you to let me know you can hear me. I need you to come around babe. Because if you don't… they're going to separate us again and I don't know how long it will be before they will let me back in." He gave it a few moments of silence, willing Steve to open his eyes and show a response, but there was absolutely no change. "Do you hear me? You understand?" he growled with desperation.

Menendez neared the pair, concerned that Danny's own anguish would transfer to Steve and cause more problems. "It was a longshot, but it was worth a try.

"Just give me some more time… I can do this." Danny replied anxiously.

"We might try again at a later time." She whispered.

"Steve… please… give me something." He sniped urgently.

"Detective Williams… why don't you come back in the morning… we can meet and talk." Menendez said softly as she placed her hand on Danny's shoulder.

Danny's eyes floated down; pure disappointment washed over him. He closed his eyes, allowing the welled tears in his eyes to fall down his cheeks. He nodded as he sniffed back his sadness. "Okay…" he whispered, starting to pull his hand away from Steve's. Suddenly he felt a tight grip around his fingers, it was so unexpected that even he took a few moments to understand the significance. "Wait…" he squeezed Steve's hand. "Wait… he's gripping my hand."

Menendez frowned as she stepped closer.

"Steve…" he called out. "Steve… come on buddy…"

"Danny…?" Steve whispered so softly that it was barely heard.

"Yeah, babe I'm here." He desperately replied. "Come on Steve, look at me."

"Danny?" he whispered again, only this time with more volume. His eyes flickered before remaining open, though not focusing on anything. "Danny… don't leave."

"I'm not going anywhere. Look at me…" he said as he leaned over his best friend. "Look at me Steve… I'm right here."

Steve's eyes locked on to Danny's and the relief in McGarrett's expression was palpable.

"You hear me? I'm not going anywhere…" Danny reiterated.

Kaylah shuffled nervously on her feet.

Danny glared at her. "I'm staying right here." He said for Steve's benefit but more so for the doctors.