Chapter 3

Steve was way too pale for the team's liking, but it looked like he was resting comfortably for now.
Several bags were hanging from a pole providing necessary medication and fluids for their leader and a urine bag at the side of the bed had already collected fluids that were coming out of the sick men's body again.
As promised the team had made it a quick visit, leaving only Danny to keep their still sleeping friend company.
It had almost been an hour that Danny was alone with Steve when the SEAL suddenly started to cough violently.
He was already positioned in a 45 degree angle, but he tried to sit up even more. It was clear to Danny that his friend tried to bring out the mucus that was blocking his airways, but he didn't know what to do to help him. In between the coughs Steve tried to pull in air which sounded awful and even without a stethoscope Danny could hear the wheezing.
The SEAL's face already started to turn red with the effort when Danny pressed the call button. Almost immediately a nurse entered the room, but to Danny it felt like minutes.
Thankfully, the moment the nurse entered the room, Steve brought the mucus up, retched until it came out and landed on his blanket. Then he lay back – exhausted and breathing heavily again.
The nurse talked to him in a reassuring voice while exchanging the cannula for a mask, placing it over Steve's mouth and nose.
Danny just stood and stared while his friend was still trying to get enough air in until the nurse said "He's going to be fine, detective."
"He…he doesn't look fine," was all Danny could say.
"No, because he is still struggling a bit. Give him another minute and he is going to be okay. That was a thick piece of mucus, but it is out now. We'll leave the mask on to make it a little easier for him."
She changed the duvet cover, then checked her patient again who was breathing much easier now, wiped his sweaty face with a wet wash cloth and said to Danny "I'll check again in about ten minutes. If there are any problems before that, please press the call button again."

Danny had nothing but sympathy for his friend. He took one of Steve's hands in his and squeezed.

Steve turned his head and asked "dad"?
Another arrow pierced Danny's heart. Not because he wasn't recognized, but because Steve still thought his father was alive and was by his side. But by the way the SEAL's eyes were glazed over, Danny tried to convince himself that Steve wasn't really aware what was going on anyway. He just hoped he wouldn't have to tell him another time that his dad was gone.
For now he decided to not tell him.
"No, it's me. Danny," he said in a soft voice.
"Danny? Don't…feel…good." The words were muffled and barely audible, but Danny understood nonetheless.
"I know, buddy. But the docs and nurses are working on that. And you shouldn't talk too much. Concentrate on your breathing for now. Doc also said you need rest. Try to sleep a bit. I promise I'll be here when you wake up again."
Steve tried to smile under the mask.
"No…need…go…tell…father…needs…careful…Wo Fat…after…him."
Air was getting less again. Steve coughed a few times then he closed his eyes and after a few breaths he said "promise".
"Wo Fat can't hurt anyone anymore. You family is safe."
"Promise," Steve said without opening his eyes.
"I do," Danny answered.
With that being said, Steve let go.

When the nurse entered, he was asleep once more. She checked him over and wrote everything down.
"How is he doing?" Danny asked.
"His fever is a little higher than before, but that is neither surprising nor abnormal with everything that is going on in his body. But Dr. Keki will be in soon anyway to have another look. I can imagine that you had gotten a lot of information in the ER and no time to think about it. So, if you have any questions now just ask her."
"I will. Thanks," Danny answered giving her a small smile.

Dr. Keki came in about thirty minutes later and did another check. Seeing Danny's look she said "He's going to be fine, detective. I am sure the attending ER doctor already told you that none of the commander's injuries are life threatening. Being healthy and in good shape before is going to help him overcome this too. The antibiotics are doing their work – fighting the chest infection – and he will start to feel better in two or three days. The worst of his injuries is the concussion. It will give him the most problems and it will also last the longest for sure. But it isn't his first, so I think he can handle that.
His heartbeat is strong and steady, his blood pressure within a normal range and he is responding to the meds. The O2 saturation is coming up and the fever will go down again soon. We'll leave the mask on as long as he doesn't fight it or need to bring some mucus up.
He is in good hands, detective. You'll see. He is going to look much better tomorrow when you come back."
"I am not leaving," Danny just stated.
"I am sorry. But visiting hours are long over. We've already let you stay here three hours longer. You can't stay overnight. We have rules. I am sorry," she said gently.
"I said I am not leaving!"
"I've already heard about that behavior of your whole team and I can understand you, but your friend is going to be fine, I promise. He is not even in ICU. And we wil call you IF something happens. Please leave. I really don't want to call security."
"If you call security, I'll call the governor!" Danny said angrily. Then he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, calming himself.
"Look," he started again. "I don't want any trouble. Neither for you and nor for me. I mean yes, I'd call the governor, if necessary, but I hope it is not.
I…I just want to stay here. Not because I don't trust you or you staff, but because of Steve. He has been given drugs which have made him confused. He thought his father – who had died years ago – was still alive. He had actually asked for him, thought he was by his side. The ER-doc said the concussion would add to that confusion. I…"
"Detective. I understand but we have regulations and…"
"No," Danny interrupted. "I think you don't understand. Steve got tortured and drugged. He doesn't really think right and I just promised him to be there when he wakes up again. If I am not here when he does, he will think he is still a captive and his rescue has been an illusion.
And concussion and all the other injuries or not, he is going to fight for his life and I don't want to do that to him nor the hospital personnel. Believe me you don't want to see that either."
Dr. Keki stood and stared at Danny, deliberating about whether this was an attempt to get what he wanted or if he meant what he had said.
She came to the conclusion that the blond detective was dead serious about it and if he was right it would be the best for her patient to have his friend nearby.
"Okay. You can stay – tonight. We'll talk again tomorrow."
"Thank you." Danny had spoken with so much relief and thankfulness that the doctor knew she had decided correctly.