He couldn't breathe. He tried to scream, but only an anguished noise escaped his mouth. He tried to look around, focus his gaze on something else, or even listen to the terrified voices that spoke to him, but he couldn't.

He tried to breathe, but the weight on his chest stopped him. He struggled to stay awake. He knew he would die as soon as he closed his eyes.

a few moments before

Detective Danny Williams was having an excellent day. It was the weekend, so he wouldn't have to work. As if that wasn't good enough, his ex-wife, Rachel, had gone on a trip and left his kids, Grace and Charlie, with him.

They had decided to have a snack in a park and then go to the beach. Seventeen-year-old Grace and seven-year-old Charlie were, however, worried about their honorary uncle Steve.

Steve McGarrett was a SEAL, Navy Lieutenant Commander, and Head of the Hawaii Government Task Force. Also, Steve was Danny's best friend and the second closest person to a father for Grace and Charlie.

Two days earlier, Steve was in his office when a naval officer walked into Task Force Headquarters and asked to speak with him. Being in his office, the conversation between the two was kept under wraps, but Danny knew the news wasn't good. Steve had spent the rest of the afternoon locked in his office, refusing to talk to anyone.

The day before, however, Steve was acting as if nothing had happened. Danny didn't want to force his friend to talk about something that was clearly bothering him, but he knew his friend needed to talk to someone.

That night, when Rachel dropped Charlie and Grace off at her house, Danny shared his concerns with her. Rachel said that he should have a quiet talk with Steve, letting the man know that his support was assured.

Danny tried talking to Steve before he left for the park with his kids, but the SEAL seemed to have his cell phone turned off. Danny left several messages for Steve, letting him know where he was and inviting the SEAL to join him. Unfortunately, none of the messages were even received.

- Uncle Steve must be sleeping, Charlie. - Danny said, trying to calm the little boy. - Don't worry, he'll come later.

So when his cell phone rang just a few minutes later, Danny saw Charlie's face light up.

- Sorry, kid, it's not Uncle Steve. - Danny said, frowning as he saw Grover's name flashing on the display.

- Lou? - He called as soon as he answered the call.

- Danny! - Grover said. His voice was choked, and Danny could hear Chin and Kono's frightened voices, as well as Tani and Junior's, in addition to the sounds of ambulance sirens. - Listen, you need to come to Headquarters right away!

- Lou, what happened? Danny asked apprehensively.

- Someone detonated a bomb in there, Danny. - Lou sighed, his voice trembling.

- On a weekend?! - Danny joked. - What kind of terrorist puts a bomb in an empty place?

There was silence.

Do not. Please do not...

- Lou? - Danny called again. - It was empty, right?

- No, Danny. - Lou replied. - Steve's inside.

Danny couldn't answer. - I'm... I'm going to drop Grace and Charlie at home... I won't be long.

•••

As Danny fastened Charlie's seat belt, Grace watched him closely. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew it was bad. Too bad, since her father was crying.

- Danno? - Charlie called, as Danny started towards the house. - What happened?

Grace studied her father intently. He was gripping the handlebars too tightly, his fingers turning white, and several tears were streaming down his face. He took several deep breaths before speaking.

- Uncle Steve is in trouble. - He said. - And I'm going to help.

- What kind of problems? Charlie asked, worried. - Danno, I may only be seven years old, but Uncle Steve is important to me!

- There was an explosion, Charlie. - Said Danny. - Some bad men wanted to hurt Uncle Steve and detonated a bomb at Headquarters while Uncle Steve was there.

Charlie didn't respond. He didn't really know the implications of the situation, he just knew it wasn't cool.

Grace, however, knew full well that the situation was terribly serious, and that it would be a miracle if her uncle Steve survived.

- Do you know if they already warned Mary? - Grace asked her father.

- I do not think so. - Said Danny. - Could you do that, Grace? I'm driving and Mary still needs to catch a flight here.

Grace picked up her cell phone and looked up Mary's number. Her uncle's sister had often been a better counselor than her own mother, and Grace sometimes texted Mary about boys and female insecurities.

Mary answered immediately.

- Grace! How are you? - He greeted the woman.

- Mary... - Grace began. - Something bad happened...

- Something with my brother?

- Yea. - Grace replied, trying not to cry. - A bomb was detonated at Headquarters, and Steve was inside. Danny just found out. He's dropping Charlie and me at home before he leaves.

- Oh God… - Mary sighed, her voice shaking. - Tell your father I'm coming. I'm catching a flight to Hawaii as soon as possible. Could you take care of Joan when we arrive?

- Of course yes!

Joan McGarrett was Mary's (adopted) daughter. Steve, although at first he didn't like the idea of Mary adopting a child, became a drooling uncle in Joan's early years. Now the girl was Charlie's age, and Grace knew that Joan didn't see her uncle Steve as an uncle, but as a father. Not that she reproached him; it was perfectly normal.

••

Danny parked his car in the Headquarters parking lot and was startled by what he saw. The entire place was destroyed, especially the floor where Steve's office was.

Danny ran to join his team, who were standing by the entrance, probably waiting for news.

- Danny! - Said Kono, hugging the detective.

Kono had left the team to stop girl trafficking on the mainland, but had decided to return after he realized that he had done his best and that he was alienating everyone he loved because of it. She certainly wouldn't stop helping, but she could do it while in Hawaii, with her ohana.

After Kono, Chin also hugged Danny. Chin had also left the team, traveling to San Francisco with his girlfriend Abby and niece Sara to command his own police force. But none of them were happy on the mainland, and they ended up moving back to Hawaii.

Tani had her head on Junior's shoulder, crying silently. She had become very close to Steve, given that he had believed in her when no one else had. He'd given her one more chance, and he would give her as many more as it took, because that's who Steve McGarrett was. A kind heart.

Junior was also shaken. His fascination and admiration for Steve, who was the Navy's greatest living legend, seemed to have waned with the passage of time, but the truth is that he still admired him immensely. All the time they worked together, Steve had shown him that he was truly worthy of all the praise that his superiors in the Navy had bestowed on the rookies. Steve was, in fact, a Super SEAL.

Grover also walked over to hug Danny. He knew his relationship with Steve hadn't started off the best, but he knew he would now give his life for the man. After that damn plane crash a few years ago, when Steve was badly injured and needed a liver transplant, Grover really knew how much that man meant to him. He wasn't just his boss or his friend; was your brother.

- Any news? Danny asked, his eyes scanning the place.

- Anything. - Junior replied. - The explosives were too powerful and, even though the upper floor was in worse condition, the entrance was blocked and it was only now that the search team managed to break through.

- They are checking that the structure is stable, and only then can they go check on Steve. - Added Chin.

- Did you talk to Mary? - Lou asked Danny, who nodded.

- Grace did. She's coming on the next flight.

- And Catherine? - Tani asked. - I honestly don't know how is your relationship with Steve but they are still friends. She deserves to know.

- There is no need to inform Lieutenant Rollings. - Said a voice behind them.

Junior stiffened and greeted the man reverently.

- There is no need for such formality, Officer Reigns. - Said the man.

The team looked at him curiously.

- I'm Lieutenant Aaron Jacks. - Said the man. - I served in the Navy alongside Lieutenant Commander McGarrett. We're big friends; like brothers, actually.

- What are you doing here, sir? - Grover asked.

- My superior was informed and told me what happened. - Said Aaron. - Steve is my best friend, I needed to be here.

- Catherine is therefore aware of what happened? - Asked Kono.

- Lieutenant Rollings was on a mission in Iran when his base learned what had happened. - Answered Aaron. - She is being withdrawn from the mission and as soon as she is ready, she will be coming.

••

Half an hour later, the search team, who had now entered the building, exited the building, moving toward Danny, the rest of the team, and Aaron Jacks.

- We tried to establish contact with the Commander. - Said one of the search team members. - He's alive, but not for much longer

Danny sighed in relief.

- My team is coming in again, along with some paramedics. - The man continued.

- I'm going too. - Aaron intervened, his voice showing that he didn't accept a negative answer.

- Sir, I don't think it's a good idea...

- Steve and I are like brothers, and I was trained for situations like this. - Answered Aaron. - Even if you don't want to, I'm entering anyway.

••

Aaron, the paramedic team and the search team walked slowly towards the stairs leading to the upper floor.

He was worried, terribly worried. A man, SEAL or not, was not made to survive such a situation. The search party commander had said that the roof had collapsed on McGarrett, which would make extraction more difficult.

Finally they arrived at Steve's office. The sun was shining through the windows and a huge hole in the ceiling.

- Steve! - Aaron shouted. - Can you hear me?

The search team began by removing the huge stone blocks that covered Steve's office. Aaron approached and held his best friend's hand, which was uncovered.

- Steven, hold my hand if you can hear me.

To Aaron's dismay, Steve didn't move. Checking his pulse, Aaron yelled at the paramedics, because that he didn't feel a heartbeat.

The paramedics pulled him away, and he grabbed his intercom, trying to reach Danny.

- Aaron, how are things going? - Danny asked through the intercom.

- It's bad, Danny. - Aaron said, his voice finally shaking, revealing his emotions. - The ceiling collapsed over your office. I'm not feeling a pulse.

••

Grace pulled out her cell phone after putting Charlie watching cartoons in her room, and saw that Catherine's name flashed on the display.

- Cath? - Grace greeted.

- Grace! Are you with your father?

The woman's voice was choked and trembling. Grace didn't condemn her; if her boyfriend, or maybe ex (she didn't know), was dying after a bomb detonated in her workplace, she'd be the same way.

- Danny went to Headquarters. - Answered Grace. - I'm with Charlie at home; Mary and Joan should be here in a few hours, and then I'll be staying with Joan too.

- I'm leaving Iran right now. It will be practically a day before I get to Hawaii.

Grace felt sorry for the woman. A lot could happen in a day.

- Could you please let me know whenever you find out something? I am using a disposable cell phone, which is allowed during the flight.

- I think Danny is trying to keep me in the dark, but I can ask Danny to get in touch with you… - Grace suggested, ending the call without even saying good-bye.

It wasn't that she didn't like Catherine; she was a very nice and polite woman. However, Catherine had broken her uncle Steve's heart twice. Grace would never reveal it to anyone, but the worst moment of her life, contrary to what everyone thought, wasn't when she was kidnapped. It was the night she showed up at her uncle Steve's house, at the request of Danny, who was at home watching a game and in need of beer. That night, when she entered Steve's house with the key he'd given her, Grace didn't find her uncle on the living room couch, as usual. She searched her room, but he wasn't there either. When she looked in the bathroom and saw an alarming amount of blood in the sink, she seriously considered calling Danny. It was then that she saw him, through the bathroom window. He was on the porch, his body thrown on the sand as he sobbed desperately, holding a red velvet box, which Grace realized was the box that held the ring for Catherine.

That night, Grace joined her uncle, holding two glasses of juice. She dropped onto the sand beside him and spread out her juice. He smiled at her, though his smile was anything but genuine, and in his eyes there was nothing but pain.

None of them spoke for a few minutes. Grace wrote Danny a quick message, letting him know that she would be staying at Steve's that night. He didn't question it, and she assumed he knew his friend needed her.

It was then that Steve approached her and hugged her. She held him as he sobbed and muttered in anguish "She's gone... I'm not good enough and she's gone...".

She never knew how Catherine and Steve had gotten back together. Danny didn't know either. But the truth is that Steve and Catherine seemed to be returning, for the third time, to a romantic relationship. Grace prayed that her uncle wouldn't have his heart broken for the third time, because she knew it would be too much for him.

•••

Danny was scared, worried, terrified and any other word imaginable. He had dropped the intercom in shock.

Aaron couldn't feel Steve's pulse.

Was Steve dead?

- Hey, brah. - Chin's voice brought him out of his thoughts. - They've got Steve, and he's alive.

Danny looked confused. Wasn't Steve dead?

His heartbeat was too weak for Aaron to feel. - Explained Chin. - They're bringing him.

And it didn't take that long. About fifteen minutes later, the paramedic team arrived carrying a terribly injured Steve on a portable stretcher. Aaron followed behind them, his face streaked with tears.

- Steven! - Danny shouted, running to his best friend. - Open your eyes for me, you stubborn idiot!

Steve's eyelids fluttered, but he didn't open his eyes.

One of the paramedics came over and frowned as he checked on his latest patient.

- He needs to go to the hospital right away. - He said, more to the rest of the paramedics than to the Task Force. - How long until the ambulance arrives?

- Less than five minutes. - Another paramedic replied. - We need to get him down.

They laid him on the floor, his tense and horribly bruised body still on the gurney. Aaron walked over and gripped Steve's hand tightly.

- Aaron? - Steve muttered, his eyes still closed.

- Yes, Steve, it's me. - Aaron said, smiling through his tears. - I won't leave you, friend.

- Thank you… - Said the Super SEAL, in a weak and anguished voice.

Then his once tense body went limp and Steve was given over to the realm of inconsistency.

••

Aaron went in the ambulance with Steve and Danny. It was obvious that Danny wasn't going to leave his best friend and partner, but neither was Aaron. Not again.

Aaron had met Steve when he'd been assigned to his SEAL team several years earlier. Aaron's entire family had ties to the Navy, and he grew up hearing stories of talented SEALs.

But none were like Steve McGarrett.

When Aaron showed interest in enlisting, his parents told him about Steve McGarrett, a SEAL who had risen to Lieutenant Commander faster than any other SEAL in history. He was a legend.

Throughout Aaron's training, he heard about Steve McGarrett's accomplishments and he dreamed of being like the man. So when, after graduation, he was assigned to Steve McGarrett's new SEAL team, he thought he was living a dream.

The team consisted of six men. He, Steve McGarrett, Freddie Hart, Vincent Brick, John Hillman, Jack Roberts. A team that was feared around the world.

Their first joint mission, however, was a failure. Maybe not the mission itself, but the way it ended. They entered Afghan territory by helicopter with the aim of rescuing a group of US Army soldiers who had been captured by the Taliban.

They managed to enter the warehouse where the soldiers were and managed to escape to safety. When they reached the helicopter, after all the soldiers were inside, however, the sound of gunfire startled them.

The entire SEAL team got on board except Aaron and Steve. One of the Taliban approached and pinned Aaron's head, a sharp blade against his neck.

Steve was terrified. He muttered a few words in Afghan, and the Taliban finally freed Aaron. Steve helped his companion into the helicopter and smiled sadly at him.

Aaron just said: - I don't know what the hell you told them, Steven, but I owe you my life.

Then Steve looked at him with sadness and pain and signaled the pilot to leave.

It was then that Aaron realized what had happened.

Steve had offered to switch places with him.

The team was forced back to base, and it wasn't until a week later that they received information about Steve's location.

When they arrived, Aaron thought the sight would haunt him forever.

Steve was lying on the floor, his body covered in blood, cuts, bruises...

It had been tortured.

Steve was admitted to one of the Navy's hospitals for more than two months, the first month of which was in a coma.

During the two years following that tragic accident, Aaron never left McGarrett's team. He met an amazing woman, married her, and had their first child, whom Aaron named Steve Anthony Jacks after Steve.

The little boy was now six years old, and his deep adoration for Steve McGarrett was even greater than the adoration Aaron had had before joining the Navy.

Aaron knew he couldn't let Steve die. Not just because he was her teammate, her friend, or her brother. He was his son's hero.

•••

Danny pondered several times, as the ambulance drove them to the hospital, talking to Aaron about his relationship with Steve.

Steve never talked about his missions with the SEALs, but he never talked about his teammates either. Danny only knew about Freddie Hart, whose death affected Steve as painfully as the death of his own father. During the nights Danny slept on Steve's couch, he listened to his best friend's anguished wails. He knew Steve had nightmares about Freddie and his father dying every night.

Danny looked away from Aaron as it became clear to him that the SEAL wasn't even paying attention. Pulling out his cell phone, Danny looked up his daughter's number.

- Grace? - Danny called, as soon as the girl answered the call.

- Dad, how's Uncle Steve? - She asked.

- He's alive for now, we're going to the hospital. - Said Danny. - Did you hear anything from Mary?

- She told me it wouldn't take much longer. - Said Grace.

- Right...

- Oh, Danno... - Grace said suddenly. - Catherine called.

Danny was confused. - Catherine?

- Yea. I was leaving Iran, said it takes a day to get here. - The girl explained. - She asked you to inform her.

- It's ok, do not worry; I will talk to her later. - Danny replied, and he could almost swear that his daughter replied in a whisper "I'm not worried about her". - Grace, I need to hang up; talk to you later.

- Please, Dad, take care of Uncle Steve. - Asked the girl.

- I will.

When Danny ended the call, he saw Aaron looking at him, a smile on his face.

- What's it? Danny asked, putting his cell phone in his pocket.

- You are an amazing father. - Aaron commented.

- It's not easy.

- I know, friend, believe me. - Aaron replied with a laugh. - My son is a restless little boy.

- I didn't know you were a father. - Said Danny. In fact, he thought, he didn't know anything about the man in front of him, only that he was his best friend's best friend.

- My son is six years old. - Answered Aaron. Picking up his cell phone, he opened the image gallery and selected a photograph to show Danny.

Danny smiled involuntarily. The photograph showed Aaron on a beach, hugging a woman who appeared to be his wife, while a little boy was laughing in Steve's lap. The woman was kissing Steve's cheek, who was smiling just like he was with Joan, Grace and Charlie.

- He seems to be an adorable little boy. - Commented Danny.

- He is. - Aaron smiled. - This photograph was taken on his 5th birthday.

- What is your name? - Danny asked.

Aaron glanced sideways at Steve, who remained motionless as several paramedics surrounded him. - Steve Anthony Jacks. But we call him Stevie.

For a moment Danny was speechless. - In honor of...

- Yea.

A silence settled between them.

- When the Governor contacted me talking about what had happened with Steve, I was just thinking about how I would tell Jane and Stevie. - Said Aaron. - We live in Los Angeles, but I came to Hawaii to look for a house big enough for the three of us. Well, four. Jane is pregnant again.

Danny smiled.

- I arrived two days ago. - Aaron continued. - I stayed in a hotel and, during the night, I talked to my son. The first thing he asked me was if I had already spoken to Steve.

At that moment, his cell phone rang. Aaron paled slightly, and Danny could see that it was his wife, Jane, who was making the call.

Aaron picked up right away, not wanting Jane to think anything bad had happened to him.

- Aaron? - Jane called.

- Yes, honey, how are you? Aaron asked, forcing a smile as he looked at his best friend's limp body.

- A little tired, but my sister came here to help me with Stevie. - Answered the woman. - By the way, did you go to see Steve?

Aaron couldn't answer, but he didn't have to either. At that moment, the paramedic driving the ambulance decided to turn on the sirens, to ward off cars.

- Aaron? - Jane asked, apprehensive. - Is that the sound of sirens?

When he didn't respond, Jane's concern grew. - What happened? Are you okay?

- I'm fine, love, don't worry. - Aaron replied hastily, covering his face with his available hand.

The connection was muted for a few seconds.

- It's Steve, isn't it? - Murmured Jane.

Aaron sighed. - Jane...

- What happened to him, Aaron? - She asked. - Tell me!

- They detonated a bomb near your office. - Answered Aaron. - The Governor of Hawaii called me as soon as he found out and I ran to help.

- Oh God... - Jane sighed, tears already streaming down her face. - He's not well, is he?

- No, honey, he's not.

Again, the call was silent for a few seconds, until a sob from Jane broke the silence.

- I'm going to Hawaii. - She said, her voice breaking. - I'm taking Stevie with me, and I don't care if you want me to stay here or not. Steve is also my friend, my brother, and I'm not leaving him alone.

Aaron didn't respond.

- When I arrive, I'll let you know. - Said Jane. - I love you, Aaron.

- Me too, honey, me too.

•••

Jane felt her legs quivering and leaned against the couch to keep from falling. His cell phone was lying on the couch; she had simply left him there after her conversation with Aaron.

After Stevie was born, she was officially introduced to Steve McGarrett. Of course, she already knew him from the thousands of stories Aaron, fascinated, told her every night through his cell phone. She was also one of the people who visited Steve while he was in a coma, after trading his life for Aaron's.

But other than that, she had never been introduced to Steve. When she and Aaron arrived from the hospital with Stevie a week after he was born, they welcomed Steve to their house for a friendly dinner.

After that night, Steve was constantly at his house. Even after he returned to Hawaii, he continued to visit them once a month.

He was Stevie's second father.

- Jane? - Her sister Emma's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Seeing her sister looking so pale, Emma, who had just walked into the living room after leaving Stevie watching cartoons in her room, ran over to her and sat her down on the couch.

- Jane, what happened? - Emma asked.

- It's Steve, Emma.

Of course, Emma knew Steve too. Whenever Steve visited, Emma was at Aaron and Jane's house, much of the time taking care of Stevie.

- What happened?

Jane explained everything as quickly as she could, before getting up from the couch again. - Could you go pack a suitcase for me and Stevie? I will talk to him.

- Are you sure it's a good idea for him to go along?

- He and Steve are like father and son. - Jane replied. - I would never do that to him.

Emma nodded and ran to Jane's room to pack a bag of her clothes. Meanwhile, Jane went to her son's room.

- Mommy! - Stevie yelled happily, turning off the TV and hugging Jane's legs.

- Hey dear.

- Did you talk to Dad? - The little boy asked excitedly.

- Yes, my love, I did. - Jane replied. - Maybe we should sit down for a while, okay?

The little boy nodded and sat on his bed. Jane sat beside him.

- Stevie, you know what your uncle Steve does, right?

- He's a super cop! - Stevie exclaimed excitedly. - Why are you asking? Is he coming to see us?

Jane sighed. - Stevie, dear...

The little boy frowned, suddenly scared: - Did something bad happen to Uncle Steve?

- Stevie, your uncle Steve had a pretty bad accident. - Jane said, seeing her son's eyes immediately get teary. - Dad is with Uncle Steve and his friends, they are taking him to a hospital. I talked to Dad for us to go to Hawaii right now. I know you want to be close to your uncle.

•••

Chin, Lou, Kono, Tani and Junior rushed into the hospital. Seeing Danny and Aaron in the waiting room, they rushed over.

- Any news? - Asked Kono.

Danny denied it.

It was half past twelve, three hours since the bomb had been detonated. It had been an hour and a half since they'd arrived at the hospital. Steve had gone into cardiac arrest in the ambulance, and the doctors had taken him into emergency surgery, but none of them knew anything else.

Before they could add anything, Mary rushed into the hospital and ran over to them, Joan sleeping on her lap. The six-year-old wasn't very heavy, but Mary wasn't very strong either. At least, not long enough to hold her daughter for a long time.

- Mary? - Kono asked, stunned. - How did you get here so fast?

- The Governor arranged a private jet for me to get here faster. - Mary explained, wiping her tears. - Joan has been crying the entire flight, and doesn't want to be away from Steve.

Tani sat in one of the chairs and gently picked Joan up so Mary could stand more comfortably, especially after a tiring flight.

The woman smiled and then her gaze landed on the SEAL.

- Aaron? - Mary exclaimed, stunned. - What are you doing here?

Mary didn't know Aaron very well. They had met vaguely, perhaps once or twice in their entire lives.

- The same as you. - Aaron replied, with some annoyance in his voice.

Did no one understand that this man who was at risk of life was his brother, his best friend? Did no one understand that he wouldn't leave him alone?

Danny turned to Aaron, pulling away from Mary and the rest of the team.

- Did you hear anything else from Jane? he asked, knowing that some of the man's bad mood was due to the fact that his pregnant wife was on a flight that would take about two hours, an hour and a half ago.

- She must be coming. - Aaron replied, with a small smile, which quickly faded. - I'm afraid of how Stevie will react.

- If you want, my daughter can take care of him too. - Offered Danny.

Aaron denied. - I appreciate it, Danny. But you don't understand how much Steve means to my son. There was no way Stevie would be okay being away from his uncle.

- Just like Joan, then. - Danny commented, making Aaron nod. - Honestly, I don't know how Grace and Charlie stayed at home. They are also very close to Steve.

•••

It was an hour and a half. All of them were uneasy as they still hadn't received any information about Steve's condition. Junior tried to see this as a positive: if Steve was dead, they would have been warned by now.

Aaron's cell phone shuddered with a new message and he immediately looked toward the hospital entrance, where Jane and Stevie were. Aaron ran over to them and picked up his son while kissing his wife.

Aaron led his wife into the waiting room while Stevie wept on his shoulder.

- Danny, this is Jane, my wife. - Said Aaron. - Jane, this is Danny, one of Steve's best friends and his work partner.

Jane smiled slightly and hugged Danny, who congratulated her on her pregnancy in her ear.

"And this fellow here..." Aaron continued, pointing to his weeping son, whose head was buried in his shoulder. - It's Stevie.

- Hey mate. - Danny greeted, smiling, even though the little boy couldn't see. - Your father told me that you like Steve a lot...

Finally, Stevie looked at Danny, wiping her eyes as a small smile formed on her lips.

- Uncle Steve is amazing! - He muttered.

Danny smiled. - Yes, he is. He extended his hand to the little boy. - I'm Danny, one of your uncle Steve's few best friends.

Stevie smiled and shook the outstretched hand.

Aaron put Stevie down and the little boy sat down in a chair next to Tani. Danny sat beside him and Stevie laid her head on his shoulder.

After introducing Jane to the whole world, Aaron helped her to a seat. However, at that moment, a doctor appeared.

- Steven McGarrett's family and friends?

They all got to their feet except Tani, who was still holding Joan.

- How is he, doctor? - Mary asked.

- He's stable, but still in critical condition, which is nothing we weren't expecting given what happened. - Said the doctor. - He lost a lot of blood, much more than he should have. Also, he had several shards of glass in his chest, probably from when his office exploded, causing some shards of the glass in his office to puncture his skin. He has several very bad concussions and bruises. But what worries me most is the concussion in his head. There is a very high probability of brain damage.

Seeing the expressions of fear and shock on their faces, the doctor added, "But it all depends on the Commander. We need to pray for him to make a full recovery.

- Can we see him? - Jane asked.

- Only two at a time, and only during visiting hours. - Answered the doctor. - We are installing an extra bed in your room, just in case any of you wish to spend the night.

•••

Everything was hurting. Steve wondered where he was, but then he remembered the explosion in his office and it all made sense to him.

He was dead, right?

He remembered someone taking his hand. He remembered calling out to this person, but try as he might, he couldn't remember the name of this person.

But he heard their voices. He knew everything would be okay.

•••

- Steve? Can you hear me?

Danny dropped his shoulders in defeat when, for the thousandth time, his friend didn't respond.

He had been lying in that damn bed for a month.

They were losing hope.

- Danno?

Danny looked at the hospital room door where his partner was and smiled at the sight of Stevie. As usual, the little boy was tearful and holding a plush doll in a SEAL uniform. Danny had discovered that this was Steve's last birthday present for the little boy.

- Hey mate. - Danny smiled, as he sat in the chair next to his friend's bed. Stevie sat on his lap and held Steve's hand.

- Hi, Uncle Steve. - Said the boy. - I think it's time for you to wake up. I miss you... I haven't been to school this month, but Mom says it's okay because now that I've finished my first year of school, we're moving here. Mom and Dad bought a house near yours, and I'm going to the same school where Grace went to when she was younger. Dad is sad every day, and Mom is trying to come visit you every day, but she gets sick every time she sees you like that. Danno says pregnant women get that way.

Danny smiles.

- My birthday is in two weeks, and I don't want to celebrate if you're not with me. - The little boy continued, his voice trembling. - You can't give up on us, because you're a Super SEAL, remember? And I love you, Uncle Steve.

So when Aaron walked into the room to get his son, he saw Steve's eyes widen as he whispered: - I love you too, big boy.