Author's note: Since the first chapter was very short and the next two are already written, I thought I'd post the second now instead of next week. Thanks for your reviews.
Chapter 2
Chin and Kono had stayed at the scene to wait for HPD and the crime lab while the two friends left in the ambulance.
"How is he? Any news?" they asked at the same time when they arrived at the hospital as well.
"No. Doctor said they needed to do some tests so they can determine certain things or rule them out. They are still examining him – or so the nurses are saying."
"He's gonna be fine. He's got a hard head," Kono tried to comfort her friend and herself.
"Not sure this time. The bruise at the side of his head had worsened during the drive, he hadn't regained consciousness and…"
"And what?" Chin asked.
"It…it was a baseball bat after all. Even if the perp hadn't hit the mark completely…"
The friends fell silent. They all knew what that kind of a "weapon" could do to a human being – especially the head, especially when said head was unprotected and its owner didn't expect an attack.
It was a waiting game about the health of one of their own once more.
They hoped for the best and tried not to think about the worst which was easier said than done and got more and more difficult the longer they had to wait for an update.
It happened about an hour and a half after the cousin's arrival.
"How is he?" they asked in unison when they noticed the doctor was heading their way.
"I am sorry it took so long, but I've told you we needed to do some test."
"He's gonna be okay, right?" Kono asked with hope in her voice.
"Barring any complications, yes.
But he has a severe cranial bruise and a third-degree concussion. Absolutely nothing to take lightly.
The scans showed neither swelling nor bleeding, but unfortunately, that can still occur later.
Therefore and because of his general condition we are going to keep him here for at least 72 hours. We have to see if and how much progress he will make during that time. And we can definitely only discharge him if someone can stay with him for at least another 48."
"What…what do you mean by "his general condition?"
"I didn't want to worry you or better even more, but the injury is still fresh and your friend is suffering from all kinds of symptoms. A severe headache, nausea – he even vomited two times – he can't see right, he doesn't know what happened, he is slurring his words and needs too much time to even find them as well as processing the question at all and it takes way too long before he can answer and sometimes the answer doesn't even make sense."
What the doctor had just told them wasn't exactly surprising, but they were still shocked.
"Can we see him?"
"Transfer to a regular ward is happening now. You can wait in the common room until a nurse will come to get you.
The threesome was about to leave when the ER doctor said "And please, listen to the rules the nurses and the doctor is going to tell you. It is important that you follow the rules to the detail – in your friend's best interest."
They all nodded and said they would.
It didn't take long for a nurse to enter the room they were waiting in.
"Are you commander McGarrett's family?" she asked and after getting a confirmation she continued "he is settled in now, please follow me."
