I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Notes: sorry for the delay. I have a crazy, busy job and couldn't get this chapter to feel right! Many thanks to Phoebe for all the awesome help!
H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O
Lou was intercepting Danny's collapse before Steve could even reach his side. Saved from a bad fall, Danny was barely conscious as the bigger man propped him up in his arms. With the weapon now spent, Steve let Travers' gun slip from his fingers. He stumbled over, his left arm hanging uselessly, trying to wrap his head around Danny's blood-soaked appearance.
"Danny?" Gasping his partner's name and sick with bfoth fear and his own pain, Steve sank to his knees. Up close, Danny looked terrifyingly bad. Eyes closed and complexion ashen except for the glistening red texture of his hair, each of Danny's breaths seemed a struggle.
"What the hell happened? No, I didn't mean that. I know what happened. Steve, I'm sorry ... things went to shit way too fast." For that short moment, Lou babbled. "We get both of you out of here and we do it now."
He looked as helpless as Steve felt as Danny's head lolled on his shoulder. Ever so gently, he readjusted Danny's upper body against his chest, his hand splayed wide over Danny's neck offering support. Grim-faced, he gave Steve a stern once-over and shook his head when he saw the extent of Steve's injuries, too. He glanced over towards the burning shed which the Fire Department thankfully had under control.
"Mother of God. What a damned mess."
"I don't know what happened ... he came out of nowhere," Steve said. He winced as pain shot through his arm and shoulder. Blood was seeping down his back and he could barely move his arm, but he was much more concerned about Danny. "Where's that ambulance?"
"Damn straight." Lou said as he looked down towards the road. People were milling about but HPD hadn't allowed the medical team access yet. His eyes searched the crowd and then he was tapping his comm link.
"The scene's secure. Get those EMTs up here! We have two officers down - both with GSW's."
"Shit," Steve whispered under his breath. He closed his eyes as the earth seemed to move right out from under him. His knee-jerk reaction had been to argue Lou's evaluation. His body was having other ideas though as he let his head hang low. Weather adrenalin dump or residual affects from the flash bang, Steve very nearly face-planted right then and there from a nauseating bout of vertigo.
"They're coming. Steve? Hey? You okay, man?" Lou asked and Steve jerked a nod that was far from convincing.
"The shed was supposed to be a distraction," Steve managed to say. "But Danny had only been taking the garbage out when you called; he never came back inside. Then ... the flash bang got tossed into the house."
"Flash bang?" Lou questioned. "Travers used a flash bang?" His tone was at first incredulous before it turned dark and menacing.
"That bastard discharged something like a grenade with those little boys in the house?"
Lou was right. What might have happened to the boys if Steve hadn't insisted they hide right away? Steve's head swam as he churned through all the 'what ifs'. At the mere thought of what C.J. and Charlie might have gone through if he hadn't acted so quickly to hide them, made Steve sick to his stomach.
"Yeah, but I'd already hid them," Steve explained. "They're good, Lou."
"Where? Where are the boys, Steve? Where's Charlie and C.J.?"
"S-steve?" Danny's voice interrupted them unexpectedly and Steve automatically leaned forward.
"Hey," Steve said, utterly relieved when Danny opened his eyes. "You're going to be fine, Danno." He smiled when their eyes met, pushing down that ribbon of fear which grabbed at his heart when he noticed how glazed Danny's eyes were.
"The boys?" Danny virtually mouthed the question and Steve huffed a knowing sound. If Danny might hear one thing in a barely conscious state, it would be that one thing related to Charlie and C.J.
Steve moved closer to cup his hand dotingly to the curve of Danny's neck. His thumb traced a warm pattern on a cheek that was far too cold for a beautiful Hawaiian evening. The connection was slim and yet, it was enough for them. Just enough to settle Steve's heart and to clear Danny's eyes. For just that brief second or two, Steve forgot about everyone and everything else. It was just him - Danny - and the boys.
"Camping," Steve offered quietly. "The boys are camping. You know what I mean, right?"
"C-camping," Danny repeated and then sketched a tired smile. "Sure. Good." His head bobbled on his neck and Steve braced him, hand firm.
"Danno?" Steve came back to the present in a rush, feeling ice cold in a highly charged atmosphere as activity increased in its urgency around them, and rightly so. But then Danny blinked just once. He seemed to have trouble opening his eyes to focus on Steve's face. But the EMT's were there now, too, and Steve was gently moved to the side.
Steve lost sight of Danny as an EMT crouched down to cater to Danny even as he still lay in Lou's arms while another focused on him. The pain in his arm flared as one wound was wrapped and then his entire arm was stabilized against his chest. Steve nodded to whatever was being asked of him as things finally shifted again. He was surprised to see that Danny had already been moved to a stretcher, his head wrapped in layers of gauze.
"Sir? That's it ... we're going. We have to go."
The medics were ready. Lou was on his feet and Steve was being guided to stand so he could be moved to a second stretcher but Steve ignored him. Instead, he went to Danny and put his hand on Danny's arm. He glanced worriedly to Lou. Danny's eyes were open but refusing to track. Nevertheless, he seemed to find Steve's face.
"Love you." Danny's voice was growing more faint. He was doing his damndest now to keep his eyes open and Steve felt the tell-tale sting of tears.
"I love you, too, Danno," he whispered back. "I'll be right behind you, okay? After I take care of the boys."
"Yeah. After ...they're p'bly scared," Danny replied in a weak tone that still managed to convey he'd not tolerate an argument and Steve managed a lopsided grin. "But ….you" His hand twitched and Steve leaned forward even more to press his lips to Danny's forehead.
"After I go to them." Steve promised. "I will ... they're good. Safe ... and they both love you, too."
Danny smiled as he closed his eyes. "I know," he mouthed almost silently.
"Sir, we have to move. Now."
"Take him ... take him," Steve whispered as Danny's eyes slid shut. His face smoothed out as he fell into unconsciousness. Danny wasn't going to open his eyes again; not this time. Not until he received the medical care he needed. Steve's heart clenched at the thought as he looked to Lou for help because Steve couldn't bear to have Danny alone until he got to the hospital.
"Lou? Junior ...I want him with Danny."
"Consider it done," Lou said as he waved for Junior to go with Danny in the ambulance. But then he was all about Steve's welfare. Hands on his hips, Lou tried to stare him down.
"Steve, camping or not, this is nothing that their Uncle Lou can't handle," Lou said in vain because Steve still had his own agenda even if he swayed unsteadily on his feet. He shook his head and then pointed at Lou.
"Need your jacket," Steve demanded. "Hand it over." Completely disgusted with the situation at hand, Lou muttered something under his breath but he took his jacket off.
"You shouldn't be doing this," the EMT said as he watched Lou drape his over-sized jacket over Steve's shoulders, effectively covering the worst of the blood and bandages.
"Trust me," Lou said to the medic. "It's faster to just do what he wants." He literally threw his hands up in the air when Steve glared at him for the betrayal.
"It's been too long and they're going to be scared," Steve defended himself as he leaned heavily into his friend. "Help me to the house ... I need to talk to the boys. You can step in and then I'll go. After though like I promised Danny."
"We really need to get you out of here," the medic said as he hovered closely not knowing what to do as his patient walked away. "Hey! I really need to get him out of here!" The man helplessly appealed his case to Lou's broad back, failing as Lou only held up his hand.
"He's right you know," Lou said as he helped Steve to the house. Steve didn't say a word. The medic and Lou were both right.
They did need to get him out of there and to the hospital. Steve knew it. He could feel himself fading as a painful muscle spasm rocked his body. He was nauseous and weak. Still, Steve shook his head, inhaling sharply as the world spun him off its axis. He stumbled against Lou and the man caught his elbow, cursing under his breath non-stop.
"Thick-headed son of a bitch," Lou complained. "You're insulting me, too. I can take care of those boys just fine."
"I know you can. But this is my fault," Steve said as they entered the house, ignoring Travers' sheet covered body.
"Now how do you figure that?" Lou argued back. "We were all involved in trying to figure out where this guy could be; figure out what the hell was going on. That warden state-side? He's in a heap-load of trouble."
"Yeah," Steve murmured. They'd talk it out later. They would probably even have more intel later. Right then though, he was anxious to get to both Charlie and C.J. He knew they were safe where he'd left them. But the longer either he or Danny didn't show, the more afraid they would become.
Five minutes or five hours. The passage of time was an eternity to a scared child.
"Steve. Don't start to do this to yourself," Lou was saying. "This is not on you."
He couldn't help taking the blame though. C.J. was terrified. Ellen had been attacked state-side. They'd been careful and had been in the process of tightening their net. But they'd been too slow. Lou had been all over it. Junior had been full in on the assist.
What had he missed? Steve was having a hard time fathoming how this situation had gone south so fast. It was a known fact that Billy Travers simply wasn't this smart. But could he simply have been this stupidly lucky?
"Damn it," he whispered under his breath. Here it was again. A crime scene - his home - was already cordoned off. Yellow tape. Too much police activity. Steve had seen this before, in this very same place, and witnessing it again now, made him feel even more sick at heart. It was mentally exhausting to know that there was more to come even if it meant a future state of official closure.
"Steve, let their Uncle Lou step in," Lou tried to insist when Steve stumbled yet again in the living room. The television was still blaring loudly to another kids' commercial. Lou kept talking and Steve had only one objective on his mind.
"I can handle this."
"I know. You didn't see them though. You don't know," Steve stated bluntly as they made their way to the small door at the rear of the staircase. "Move the bookshelf." Steve sank to his knees. Lou followed him down, supporting him the entire way. Steve softened his tone of voice when he saw the look on Lou's face.
"I'm fine. Listen, Lou, I have to do this and then you take them home to your place. Okay?"
"Yeah, fine," Lou replied, somewhat unconvinced even as Steve gave him a friendly tap on the shoulder. "But you are going to get your ass on that bus ASAP, you understand me?"
"Thanks, Lou," Steve said much to the big man's chagrin.
Steve waited with his good hand on Lou's shoulder as Lou slid the bookcase out of the way. He closed his eyes, forcing how he was beginning to feel off to that internal lockbox inside his mind because he needed to prove to Charlie and C.J. that he was all right. Convince them that their Danno was fine even if they couldn't yet see that for themselves. Make them understand that they'd have to spend a night or two with their Uncle Lou and Aunt Renee.
It would all be a very hard sell so Steve needed to be there for them now. He'd promised Danny the same before he allowed himself to be carted to the hospital so his own injuries could be treated.
"Hey kids!" Lou said brightly as he opened the door. A pleasant flood of warm light leaked out from inside the small space. "Isn't this a nice place to camp! Say hi to your Uncle Lou and next time you go camping, I expect a personal invitation!"
Steve heard Charlie giggle and a soft breathy exhale from his son. C.J. had tried to laugh, too, and that relaxed Steve tenfold. That warm smile in Lou's voice had Steve peeling his eyes back open.
"There's my boys," Steve said. "So? Are you both going to really let this big old man play in your secret hide-out?"
"Who you calling old?" Lou puffed his chest out while rolling his eyes dramatically. He tapped his chest. "How dare he call me old! I can out-camp anybody in this place!"
"Hi Uncle Lou!" Charlie said with a giggle. In fact, Both kids were smiling even if C.J. was still a bit uncertain about things. He was looking from Lou to Steve and Steve could almost see the wheels turning in his head. But Charlie's stance was … interesting.
"Charlie?" Steve cocked his head. "What are you doing?"
The two boys were side by side. Maybe Charlie was a bit more in front of his brother. At first Steve wasn't sure until he really looked. No, he certainly was standing more squarely in front of C.J. He was also brandishing an HPD branded flashlight ... as if it were a club.
"What were you going to do?" Steve asked him again and this time, Charlie's hand dropped quickly enough. He let the flashlight fall to a pillow.
"Well," Charlie said. He gestured towards C.J. as an excuse. "He was scared," Charlie tried to explain.
But then C.J.'s face darkened. He slapped Charlie's arm. Hard.
"Owe! Hey!" Charlie complained loudly. "You were too scared!" He rubbed at his arm as he stared at his brother.
'Was not!' C.J. quickly signed. 'I am not scared!'
"Are too!" Charlie objected as he gave C.J. a little shove. The angry look in C.J.'s eyes surprised Steve as the boy balled his fists tightly. It was scary, endearing and funny all at once.
"Whoa! Hey, hey, hey!" Steve said as he tried not to laugh as the six-year olds glared at each other.
'Not scared!' C.J. signed again even if his lip was daring to tremble. He looked at Steve and took a deep breath.
"Daddy," he said out loud. "Daddy ...," C.J. switched back to using finger-signs to better pound his point home. He tapped his chest emphatically.
'Not scared.'
"I know buddy," Steve said with a smile. It was easy to table his own pain and woes when he could focus on the children. Steve was so proud of them and he wished that Danny was there to see them.
"You two are so, so brave and Danno and I are very proud of both of you."
"Uh?" Lou's mouth fell wide open in shock. He gave out with a little gasp and then wide-eyed looked at C.J. and then Steve. "He can talk?" Lou asked, uncaring that he was being completely ignored. "Since when?"
"But he was scared, Uncle Steve," Charlie said petulantly as he went to Steve for a one-sided hug. "Where's Danno?"
Steve tucked Charlie awkwardly to his chest before giving him a kiss on his cheek. "Danno got a bump on his head, Charlie. He had to go to the hospital. So can you and C.J. do me and Uncle Lou a big favor?"
Charlie looked at his fingers and then looked at C.J. His eyes were sad. The brotherly spat was already over because neither boy liked what Steve had said. Each of them was smart enough to know what was coming next, too.
"Yes. You want me and C.J. to go to Uncle Lou and Auntie Renee's house," Charlie whispered sadly as C.J. came forward to stand next to Charlie. He took his brother's hand. Best friends again, the two stood side by side taking comfort in the other.
"I do. Just for a day or two," Steve admitted. "I need you guys to be brave for just a little while longer, alright?"
"Uncle Steve? Is Danno going to be okay?" Charlie asked. His chin trembled and then he took a deep breath. "Is he?"
'Danno?' C.J. signed worriedly. He was picking up now on Charlie's fears and his eyes were darkening with tears. "Daddy?" He asked out loud.
"There it is again!" Lou muttered incredulously. "Well I never ... that's just a beautiful thing." He scrubbed at his face, flummoxed by the whole situation.
"Danno's going to be fine," Steve softly reassured both boys. "He just has a bump and needs to see the doctor. I'm going to go to the hospital to check on him so he's not alone, okay?"
He prayed for all of that to be true as he ran his fingers through C.J.'s hair and then gently pulled him forward for a quick cuddle. Then he spoke very slowly and specifically to make one thing very, very clear.
"You don't have to be afraid of that bad man anymore. Never - ever - again."
~ to be continued ~
