Chapter 26

Steve had slept well, but he still felt groggy and stayed "in bed", didn't want to do anything.
Danny called Dr. Andrews asking for advice. After explaining what had happened the evening before the psychologist told Danny that he would excuse Steve for the day.
"Make sure he takes his meds and don't put any pressure on him. He had worked very well these past weeks. If he needs a day to regain some energy it is no drama.
We just have to make sure it is just one or two. Call me again tomorrow morning if he doesn't feel any better."

Steve took his meds, drank a bottle of water and one and a half of the "hospital drinks" how Danny had called them the night before.
He cuddled with Eddie for a few minutes before his energy was gone again.
He was out seconds later.

When Danny approached him about two hours later to coax him into eating a snack, Steve still wasn't awake. And Danny didn't have the heart to wake him. Steve was sound asleep, his face totally relaxed, no sign of a nightmare or any other reason that might disturb his sleep.
Eddie was curled up beside his master – keeping watch – and he was relaxed as well. He just squinted shortly, but noticing Danny he just sighed and was as dead to the world as his master seconds later.

The call of nature finally woke Steve up.
He also felt like taking a shower.
When he returned to the living room Eddie came towards him – tail wagging.
"Hey. Where is Danno?" he asked softly, cuddling the dog.
Eddie turned and ran outside. Steve followed.
Danny was on his way inside having interpreted Eddie's behavior right.
"Hey," both men said at the same time.
"You good?" Danny asked.
"Better."
"You look better too."
"Good enough for letting me hug you?" Steve asked shyly.
"Can't imagine how you have to look to not letting that happen." Danny smiled and spread his arms.
Steve smiled back and the two friends embraced each other in a tight hug.
They stood for several minutes then Steve said "Thanks, Danno. For saving me again and again."
"Don't mention it."
"No, I mean it. If you hadn't come out yesterday to get me, I would probably still stand there."
"You're welcome. But you need to thank Eddie for that too. He woke me up and made it possible to find you."
"He is a good dog. Think he deserves a big piece of that steak we want to eat today"
"Yes, he is and I think that is a good idea – if that piece is from your steak of course," Danny smiled again. "How about we have a snack before that? It's already prepared."
"I'd love that."

The two friend had chatted and laughed during their snack, but when Danny returned from the kitchen after clearing the table, Steve was serious again. Danny noticed immediately.
"What's on your mind? Still thinking about the job?"
"No…I mean yes, can't stop that in such a short time, but there is something else I'd like to talk about."
"Shoot."
"I know you don't want me to apologize, but I need and want to do that. Hopefully, for the last time," Steve had a small smile on his face to enlighten the mood.
"We've talked about the transplant a few weeks ago. Do you remember that?"
"Of course, I do." Danny answered wondering where this was going.
"I told you about my feelings. But I know that this day had been very bad for you too. You had to fly and land a plane which you had never done before. Your best friend got shot and passed out on you. The landing was a crash and you got bruised all over. You needed to make a life and death decision – twice - about me and you had a major surgery too."
"That is all true, but I don't see why you need or want or both to apologize. Nothing of this was your fault."
"No, it wasn't But I lamented about how difficult it was to understand what had happened. But I had been unconscious the whole time. You on the other hand had to go through that in full awareness. But you've never complained once. And I want to apologize, because I had been so unappreciative and selfish and felt sorry for myself, but had never been there for you."
"It's okay, Steve."
"No, it is not!"
"It is. I knew you were struggling, but I didn't try to talk to you. I had Dr. Monroe to talk to. It got much easier for me after a few sessions."
"Yeah, maybe. But like I said you had saved my life twice that day. The least I could have done was to be there for you."
"We are good, Steve. But since we are talking about what we hadn't done and are sorry for, we should see for the future that we are going to talk to each other right away. We are calling us brothers, there shouldn't be any regrets or any kind of awkwardness between us."
"It sounds so easy when you say this and I know you are right, because even if I feel awkward, telling you all this and…and knowing that you know about all my fears and anxieties, I still feel much better after I've talked to you. You…you always find the right words...And I am still trying to get used to have someone around…who cares. It is something I have to learn to remember."
"I think you are on a good way." Danny reassured. "And just because you've said you feel better after talking to me, I'd like to ask you something."
"Okay."
"That day on the beach, when…when you had wanted to leave...why didn't you?"
"Why is that important? I…I thought you wanted me to stay…"
"Was that the reason? Because I wanted you to stay?" Danny asked sighing.
"No," Steve blushed.
"You sure?" Danny wanted to make sure.
"Yes, I am." Steve confirmed.
"Okay, that's good," Danny smiled. "Then you stayed for the right reason(s) after all."
"I thought, but…I wasn't successful," Steve said in a sad voice.
"What do you mean?"
"I…I stayed because…because I wanted to be a good friend - as good as you are to me, but I will never reach that level."
"What do you mean by that? You did everything to keep me comfortable and to get me better. That isn't about the transplant again, is it? I did more for you than you for me...?"
"No, it is not."
"Then what?"
"I had been there for you, but after that I had been nothing but trouble for you again. And…and the worst thing is that it was self-inflicted."
"You are not trouble for me, Steve. You…"
"You were and are worried about me. I had scared you when I had hurt myself in the hospital and – although I don't remember any of that – I bet you were too when I had that migraine or whatever it was when you had found me on the floor in our house and when I had passed out in the hospital later that day. And I never wanted to put you through that. I know from experience that it is even harder to watch loved ones suffer than being sick or injured yourself. A lot of that was self-inflicted too…and stupid – like yesterday. " He chuckled. "But that's just the way I am. Like I said, I have a lot to learn."
"Yes, you have. But I know that you hadn't done any of that on purpose. And you are doing a lot to never let that happen again. And that is all I can ask for."
Steve smiled at Danny.
"What?" his friend asked.
"You are just amazing. You just had the right words once more."