Chapter 4

Steve didn't have to tell the nurse that he was in pain. It was clearly evident on his face.
She maxed out his pain medication level, but his head still felt like it was about to explode. He tried different positions, but that didn't work either and even the tiniest of movements caused more pain.

About an hour before change of shift the doctor on duty decided to make another CT.
It didn't show any more damage than before and thankfully, still no bleeding.
Yet his headache didn't get any better and in a somewhat clear moment he was able to tell the doctor that he was nauseous as well. The responsible ward physician who was now on shift changed the anti-nausea medication immediately.
The medication did its work and with it the pain seemed to reduce itself too.
And Steve really felt some relief, but it was still far from being good.
Thankfully, he could sleep a lot. It was only when he woke up that the pain was almost unbearable. The confusion and disorientation and especially his trouble to express himself with words didn't make it any better.
When Danny came back the doctor told him that the 72 hour stay had at least just doubled itself.
"We didn't find any kind of new damage and what is happening at the moment is not unusual with injuries like that, but brain injuries are tricky and I want him to be monitored. If something occurs, I want him to get treatment right away."
"I want that too," Danny said. "How are the chances that something is coming up and how is this going to affect him?" The concern in Danny's voice was unmistakable.
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you about chances. We had patients where we had thought nothing would come up, then they had complications and took a turn for the worse. Other patients were evaluated as at great risk and nothing came up. As I said the brain is a tricky organ and most complicated to deal with.
The effect depends on the complication. And I am not going to tell you any of it…"
Danny wanted to interrupt, but the doctor held his hands up and continued. "I don't know you, but please don't be offended when I say you are a guy who always suspects the worst. Your whole body language just tells me that you would expect everything that can happen to actually happen to your friend.
So, commander McGarrett "is fine" at the moment and I want it to stay that way, that is why we are keeping him here. To catch anything right away.
If and I emphasize if something is going to happen you and I are going to have a talk right away and you can ask me every question you have then. And please, don't search the internet for answers. Just take the situation like it is. Your friend has a severe head injury, he is in the hospital, people are taking good care of him, he needs sleep and rest and at the moment it is assumed that he will make a full recovery.
Can you live with that?"
"I am not sure," Danny answered honestly. "You know, Steve, he always takes up the worst things when it comes something like this. I…I just want to be prepared."
"I understand, detective. But really, don't worry too much…do you need someone you can talk to?"
"No, no thanks. I've already called my psychologist and he practically told me the same thing you did. But…it is just not that easy."

When Danny entered Steve's room his friend was awake but had his eyes closed. The curtains were almost closed, just a little light came in to orient oneself but Danny could see how pale his friend still looked nonetheless. The bruising was shining in all colors now and still stood out even from the door.
When he had reached the bed, he could also see that the swelling had gone worse on his forehead and around the eye.
"Hey," he said softly.
"...Hey," Steve answered in a low voice.
"How's the headache? Better than yesterday?"
"…'s okay. 'f I 'on't move or t'lk or think."
"Sorry buddy. You don't need to talk. I won't ask more questions. Just try to relax and stay as comfortable as possible."
"…nowhere."
Danny was happy that Steve was responding even it if took him some time to process what had been said and to answer and he really hadn't wanted to ask more questions to let his friend rest, but he needed to know what Steve had just meant, so he asked "What do you mean nowhere?"
"…comf't'ble."
Danny felt sorry for his friend.
"I can't imagine that. Must hurt like crazy."
"…not pain. 's numb…'nd…"
"What's numb? Your head?"
"…face."
"Did you tell them?"
"…no."
Danny got a little angry, but remembered to keep his voice down.
"Why not? It's important. They need to know."
"…'ords. Difficult…find'em...Think'n…makes head worse."
"Okay. That…that is okay. I am going to press the call button. Have them have a look."
"…can't see…"
"You can't see?!" Danny yelled and regretted it right away.
Steve scrunched his face, tried to get away from the offending sound and turned his head in a reflex. He felt like arrows were piercing his head from all different angles and directions and groaning loudly he pressed a hand on his ear.
Danny was in shock. 'What have I done?' he asked himself.
"I am sorry, babe," he whispered. "I am so sorry."
He put his hand on his friend's shoulder, massaging it gently.
Steve's breathing became erratic and the groaning slowly changed into something that sounded like whimpering.
"What's going on here?" a nurse said entering the room.
"I am sorry. It's my fault. I…I yelled at him."
"You did what?" she asked trying to keep her anger in and speaking in a low voice, but giving Danny a death glare.
"Commander, try to breathe more evenly, try to breathe through the pain. It will be better soon. I'll just have to push some medication."

Steve tried his best, but the spikes of pain seemed to come and go with every other heartbeat.
With every stab he groaned and the hand that had covered his ear earlier now also had a death grip on his pillow.
But finally, what had felt like an eternity to Steve but had been only a few minutes, the meds worked.
He relaxed and exhaustion took him.
The nurse pointed a finger at Danny who was still rubbing or squeezing his friend's shoulder and said "you, out of here."
Danny wanted to say something, but the nurse said "No. Outside."

"What were you thinking?" she asked him when they were outside the room.
"I am sorry, I…" Danny started.
"I deeply hope so."
"I didn't want to do that. But he had just told me that his face feels numb and…"
"What? He didn't tell us." The nurse was surprised by that information.
"I know. He said he couldn't find the words and thinking about them worsened his headache. I was about to call you when he also told me he can't see,"
"What?!" the nurse yelled.
Despite the circumstances Danny had to smile at that "Exactly," he said.

PS: Tell me what you think.