Author's note: Answer to the guest review. I've never said that Steve staying would cause more problems for him than leaving. I've even written my first fanfic ever about Steve leaving and that didn't go very well for him either. I am a great Danny and Steve fan (as well as Catherine/Steve - yes, that works :) )and I wasn't satisfied with the ending of the show either. I know that Danny is aware of Steve's problems and I don't want to make him the bad guy here. But sometimes life doesn't work the way it should and you do things you usually wouldn't or don't do things you usually would and seeking help is not that easy with psychological issues - unfortunately, not even as an adult. This is supposed to be a story about a great and real friendship and not about denunciating Danny (or anyone else). Sorry if you got that impression. If you want to answer to this and have an account please PM me. I don't want to make the "review area" a discussion thread. Thank you.

Chapter 6

'Damn, looks like his swim or maybe his run took a little longer than usual.'

Danny went into the kitchen and set a pot of coffee going, prepared some eggs to scramble them later and sliced some fruits. No sign of his partner. He was on the way to the lanai to see if his friend was already in sight when he noticed that both the towel he was using after the swim as well as his shoes were still in place.

'Weird,' he thought. But then a different feeling took over 'something's not right.' He went to the living room and glanced upstairs. Steve's door was open. He listened, but couldn't hear anything. He went upstairs and while knocking on the doorframe, he already saw that Steve was still in his bed. Not reacting to the knock though. While Danny was thinking 'probably still asleep' his mind registered something else: The SEAL was lying on his left side, wrapped up tight into his blanket, his knees pulled up almost reaching his chest and one hand covering his face. Danny rounded the bed.

"Hey, babe. You good?"

'Why do you ask such a question? Nobody who is lying like this is good,' he thought afterwards.

"Steve, can you hear me?"

A groan was the answer.

"You good?"

'Williams, that was the second time in ten seconds you asked the same stupid question,' Danny scolded himself.

"No," came the reply.

"What's wrong? Danny asked concerned after Steve's short but quick admission.

"Head hurts – bad."

"You already took something?"

"Tylenol – two...Not helping."

"When did you take them?"

"'on't know."

"Okay. Anything else that hurts?"

"'verything. But heads the worst."

"Can you look at me?…Steve, please. Take your hand away, just for moment."

Steve did.

'No glassy eyes – that's good. Pain – that's not good.'

Danny put his hand on Steve's forehead to check for a fever, but it felt fine.

"Okay, babe. That's it. You can put your hand back over your eyes if that makes you feel better."

Steve did.

"Did the light hurt your eyes? Did it worsen the headache?"

"No."

"Okay. I'll be right back. Don't move."

'What's wrong with you Williams? Does he look like he wanted to move?'

"Hey, babe. Here is one of the pills I've got for my injuries. They are a lot stronger than Tylenol."

Steve took it and put it in his mouth.

"And here is some water."

But Steve had already swallowed it dry.

"Don't need."

"Drink something anyway."

"No. Don't wanna move my head."

"Okay, I'll get you a straw."

When Danny returned, Steve took two sips.

"Come on. Just a few more."

"No. Hurts...worse."

"Okay, let's wait till the meds work."

He squeezed his friend's shoulder for support knowing that it must be really bad if Steve couldn't even drink something without spiking the headache.

Half an hour later Steve relaxed a bit, but although he had stretched his legs again, his hand remained on his face. Danny coaxed him into taking a few more sips, but he still didn't even finish the glass.

"Okay, try to sleep a bit. I put the glass on the nightstand – the bottle too. I will bring a sandwich as well in a few minutes."

"N't 'ungry."

"I know. But I have to leave for work and I want you to eat something when you feel better. I'll be back in a few hours to check on you though."

Danny brought the sandwich a few minutes later. Steve hadn't moved, but was still awake.

"Hey, buddy. Just brought the sandwich, another bottle of water and your cell. It was still in the kitchen. Please eat and above all drink something when you feel better and call me if you don't okay?"

"'kay."

Danny gave Steve's shoulder a final squeeze and drove to the palace. He had called on the way the he was en route. When he arrived, he explained what had happened and that he wanted to leave in two to three hours – if possible.

"And don't you dare to come back today," Lou said. "Take care of our boy. I think he needs that right now – even if he'd never admit to that."

They were standing at the smart table, discussing there next move, but Danny wasn't exactly attentive.

'Get a grip Williams,' he thought. 'Steve is a grown man – a Super SEAL – and it is just a headache.

Yes, a bad one. Looked like migraine material.

But it wasn't.

No, but you'll never know.'

"Hello! Danny!" Adam said. "Why don't you give him a call? See how he is doing?"

"Because he might be asleep and I don't want to wake him. Secondly, I disconnected the landline to prevent this from happening and thirdly I silenced his phone – same reason."

"Smart," Tani commented.

"Hey, I don't know you that long. But I know you two are very close. And I know it was your turn to take this spot not mine. But I hope you take my orders anyway. Go home Danny. Take care of Steve. Keep us in the loop. We are more or less just waiting for the suspect to turn his phone back on, so we can locate him. We are still six good people here. I think we will be able to do that," Cole smiled sympathetically at Danny.

"Yeah, thanks."

Danny drove home and found Steve out of bed - on the floor. He had obviously vomited a few times until only bile had come out. Some of it was on his shirt, the rest on the floor and Steve's left hand partly in it.

"Aw, babe. What happened?" Danny knelt beside his friend only to notice that he was cold as ice and not reacting.

"Okay, let's get you away from this mess and in bed again. He pulled Steve away from the bile, but the movement woke Steve up. He groaned loudly and was clearly in pain, tried to get away from the offending hands and mumbled "don't. Please don't."

"Steve buddy. It's me. Danno. I need to get you of the floor and under blankets to warm you up."

"Don't" came the word again.

"Why not?" Danny asked. "Does the movement hurt?"

"Bad." Steve was barely audible.

"Okay, I'll cover you with your blanket before you get even colder. I am not moving you. You hear me?"

"Hmm," was the only noise Steve made.

Danny did as he had said and even put a woolen blanket on top of the other. The he sat down beside his friend.

"Hey, you hurt your head while falling?"

"No."

"So, it is still as bad as in the morning? Or did the meds help and it got bad again later?"

No answer.

"Steve talk to me."

"'on't…underst'nd."

"You don't understand my question?"

"No."

"Okay. That's it. I am calling an ambulance. I want to get you checked out."

"'kay."

'Wow. That is a first. No fight about going to the hospital. Hope he will remember that later.'

The EMT's told Danny that he did the right thing and took Steve to the hospital. Danny followed in the Camaro.

Danny hated waiting – in every aspect of his life, but especially when it was related to a hospital.

When finally – after what felt like an eternity to him – the doctor came out, he introduced himself to Danny and continued "the good news is that we have the pain under control. The bad news is Commander McGarrett is uncooperative now and wants to go home. I strongly advice against that at the moment and I hope you will support me in that when you know all the facts. Before I am going to "let you in", I hope you can fill in some blanks for me. Would you mind coming with me? I'd like to talk to you in private."

When Danny didn't answer, the doctor asked "Detective?"

"Sorry. You are scaring me doc. What is going on?"

"That was not my intention, detective. Commander McGarrett is not in any life-threatening condition, if that was your fear, but I am still concerned and if you or somebody else who might be closer to him answers my questions the way I think you will and confirm my suspicion then it is serious. But still early enough to fix it."

The doctor had meant well, but all that Danny had heard were the words "concerned, confirm suspicion and serious". He just hoped it was not what he suspected. The doctor must have sensed something and said "Detective, don't worry too much. It is something very common these days and absolutely treatable – if the patient works with us. I'd tell you what it is, but I want you to tell me what you know, what you have observed not to choose your answers because of my diagnose. So, relax. It is no cancer or any other horrible disease that just crossed your mind. Does that help you in any way?"

"Yes, doc. Very. Thank you."