I'm having waaaay too much fun writing Amanda...and please pardon my weird sense of humor. Enjoy!

"You can have five minutes, and that's it. He's resting and probably won't even know you're there." The young man looked like he wasn't sure Steve was listening to him. "Commander McGarrett?"

Steve nodded but didn't protest the orders. This wasn't his first time or fourth or ... well, you get the point. He knew the protocol. Whether he followed it, depended on what his best friend needed.

"Danny's scheduled for more tests soon. I know you want to make sure he's alright. He's in good hands."

"Thank you." Steve smiled. He'd seen this tech before and appreciated the guy's help.

Standing in the doorway, Steve paused before entering. Danny's eyes were closed, his breath even. He wasn't sleeping though because when Steve stepped closer those baby blue eyes blinked open and the recognition was immediate.

"Hey." The word stretched out like taffy on a warm day. And Danny was obviously on something good.

"Hey."

"See'okay?"

"Yes, Amanda's fine." Steve worked very hard to stem his anger at the woman.

"Nah'me." Danny slurred. His left hand brushed his hip.

Steve didn't break eye contact. He wouldn't shy away from this moment. He would be there for Danny no matter what happened.

"I'm here partner. No matter what." He pulled a chair close to the bed, taking Danny's hand gently in his own. "We'll figure this out. You rest."

Danny flashed a smile and closed his eyes, drifting. Steve noticed a twitch in Danny's right leg and his heart skipped a beat.

"You moved." He murmured, watching in disbelief. Maybe he'd imagined it. "Do it again. You moved!"

He didn't get a response from Danny, so he jumped out of the chair and raced into the hall, grabbing the first staffer he could find. "He moved his-"

The woman was confused and cut him off. "Who had a movement?"

"My partner." He pointed toward the room. Obviously too excited to hear her right.

"Mr. Williams?"

"Yes, he moved!"

Still a little puzzled, the housekeeping staffer nodded. "I'll tell someone. Did he make a mess?"

"What? No, not that kind of movement." Steve laughed. "He moved his leg. Well it was more of a twitch but he-"

"Sir -" The woman tapped Steve's arm. "Let me get someone."

/././

After about twenty minutes and a good laugh, Steve stood before an unfamiliar physician who didn't seem impressed with Steve's outburst. This guy was all business.

"Sometimes, you can get locked in. Have you ever had back pain, Commander?"

"Sure, like most people."

"Did it have you flat on your back?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Has Danny?"

Steve thought for a moment. "Yea, maybe once."

"Sometimes, the mind protects us from pain. Our brain knows if we move a certain way, it will hurt. So we don't make that motion. This sometimes happens with back pain. The muscles freeze."

"But this is more than just his back."

"Yes, and this was a rather traumatic event."

Opening his mouth to speak, Steve found all he could do was take a deep breath. His head swam a little and he felt a headache descend.

"I know it's a lot. The fact that Danny has sensation in his legs gives us hope. And you say you saw him twitch?"

"Yes, he moved his leg."

"Involuntary movements are common with this type of injury. It could be his muscles waking up, so to speak. So, please, stay positive. This just happened. He needs time to heal."

Steve nodded, trying to look around the doctor to his best friend. Danny hadn't stirred again.

"Now, if you'd give us a moment to check Danny's vitals? Then you can tell him goodbye for now. I want to send him for one more test before everyone closes up shop for the night." The doctor gave him a weak smile.

"Sure, whatever you need. I'll get out of your way." A wave of desperation crashed over Steve. He felt like a kid nobody believed. "He did move. I know he did. Just a twitch but I saw it."

But that's all it was. A twitch and nothing more. Steve stood in the doorway again, watching the doctor and nurse confer by Danny's bed. He knew better than to get his hopes up about anything.

Maybe he'd imagined it. They looked at him like that's all it was.

He knew better about that, too. He'd seen Danny's leg move.

Hope could be a bitch.

/././

"You've got it all wrong, mum."

"What dear?"

"Danny is a good man."

Amanda rubbed Rachel's arm. "Oh, I know that, dear."

"No, I don't think you do."

"Rachel, please."

"He saved your life."

Eye roll from Amanda. "For the 100th time, yes...I know."

"Mother -" Rachel raised her voice, sitting up straighter and then relaxing. Sighing, she shook her head, hands sliding from her thighs to her knees. It was tough for her to stand up to her mom. "There's something you don't know."

"Oh darling, please. Don't be so dramatic. It's been a long day." Amanda closed her eyes. "Can't we talk tomorrow? I'd like to go back to the hotel. Take a nice hot bath. Find a decent cup of tea."

Rachel wrinkled her nose, as barely visible tremors gave away the surge of emotions she was tamping down.

Amanda tilted the paper cup she held, eyeing the brownish liquid. "Because this is not tea. I don't know what it is. Sticks and twigs swept off the floor, maybe."

"Stop it right now." The dam broke.

"Rachel - lower your voice."

"No, I will not."

"Now is not the time to be willful." She patted her daughter's leg. "I'm sorry about Daniel. Really."

"This is your fault."

"My fault?"

"That person was after you. They could have been one of your fans."

"That's not my fault."

"No, it isn't."

"See, we agree." She leaned over and put her hand on Rachel's forehead. "I think you're coming down with something. With all this ridiculous talk. My fans love me."

"Stop it."

Well, you're behaving like -"

"Stop it. You always do this."

"Do what?" Amanda smoothed her pantsuit. "I'm not doing anything."

She stood up, brushing away nonexistent dirt. Rachel tried really hard not to cry or scream.

"Can we please leave?"

"Leave? Really, mum, you think I'm leaving?"

"Steven can update you. Let's go." She took Rachel's hand and tugged lightly.

"No, I'm staying."

"He doesn't love you, you know. It's nostalgia. That's all. You're comfortable."

Horrified, Rachel yanked her hand away. "How dare you?"

"Oh darling, I'm sorry. I'm tired and achy. My filter is gone, I'm afraid. I've been through a lot today. As you know, I took quite a tumble thanks to -"

"You're alive thanks to Danny." Steve bellowed.

"Steven, how delightful. Can I trouble you to take me back to the hotel? After the day I've had, I'd hate to ride with a stranger. You just never know."

Steve stared at Amanda for a few seconds, mouth open. Then he let it rip.

"What in the hell is wrong with you?"

"With me?" Shocked, Amanda took a few steps away from him, eyes huge.

"Someone tried to run you down. To kill you." Steve shook his head, face contorted in anger and disbelief. "Danny pushed you out of the way. He could have died."

Arms crossed over her chest, Amanda muttered. "I didn't ask him to do that."

"No, you didn't. That's the kind of guy he is. Willing to sacrifice for others."

"And he's put up with you...with me." Rachel added.

"Put up with you?" Amanda turned back to her daughter. "Darling, after all you've endured with his job and his temper."

"Temper? What the fuck?" Steve looked back and forth between Rachel and Amanda.

"He's a hothead." Amanda dug in. "You saw it. He walked away today. Just like that. He had an obligation and he left you holding the bag quite literally."

"What is wrong with you?" Steve ran his hands through his hair. "I should have left when he did."

"Well, I'd never peg you for-"

Steve cut her off, holding up his hand. "Just stop talking. I'll have someone from HPD take you back to your hotel. They'll stay outside your door."

"I don't need a police escort."

"Stop - Mandy - you can refuse police protection. That's up to you." Steve took a deep breath. "I advise against it. Someone out there wants you dead."

"It's not that serious, is it?"

"Someone tried to run you over with their car!" Rachel screamed before throwing her hands over her face.

Steve remained calm. "Rachel and I will be staying here. After the day he's had, Danny needs to see people he loves when he wakes up. Not you."

Rachel gasped, stifling a laugh. No one ever spoke to her mother this way.

"Steven, how dare you."

"Ms. Savage, would you like police protection during your time on my island?"

Amanda sighed and frowned, giving the barest hint of a nod.

"Good choice. Especially since we don't know why someone tried to kill you. And that person is still out there. We wouldn't want them to try again, would we?"

"Fine. I just want to go back to my room. Forget this day ever happened."

"I wish I could forget." Steve glared at her.