Just a one-shot I wrote the other night. Didn't have a plan, just sat in front of the computer and started writing.
Steve woke up in a cold sweat. His arm was throbbing and his stomach ached. The pain medication he took a few hours before was really doing a number on his insides and had no effect on any of the pain from his injuries. Hoping to settle the queasiness in his stomach, he slowly sat up the best he could, wincing with every small movement. Sitting upright had the opposite effect though, and before he could do anything about it, his body convulsed and he was covered in what had moments ago been in his stomach. He was humiliated and angry, but knew in his condition there was nothing else he could have done.
Eight hours earlier.
The hospital was the last place he wanted to spend his weekend, but in pure McGarrett fashion that is exactly where he was. Danny had hoped by this time Steve would be discharged, but they had wanted to keep him for a few days longer than expected. He had already been there for 2 weeks with part of that time being spent in the ICU to give his lungs a change to heal. And even after all that time, Steve still looked like a ghostly version of himself. His face haunted by dark circles around his eyes and permanent wrinkles on his forehead from grimacing in pain.
It was Sunday afternoon and Steve was finally going to be released from the hospital. Of course there were conditions after being released and one of those being that Danny would have to stay at Steve's for the time being. For once Steve didn't put up a fight about having a temporary roommate because this time he knew just how bad of shape he was in.
The drive home to Steve's house was short, but knowing the Camaro was too small to fit the injured man, Danny went and picked up Steve's truck earlier that day. It had been a bit of a struggle to get Steve up into the truck, but they eventually did and started their way to Steve's house. Not much had been said between the two men in the past 2 weeks and the drive home was no different. Danny was pissed at Steve for his decision to go in the building by himself and Steve was too stubborn to admit Danny was right. The result of Steve's actions had almost killed him and caused his best friend a lot of grief.
The ex-SEAL needed help getting out of the truck and into the house. He would not be able to make it up the stairs to his bedroom so for the next few weeks he would have to sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs while Danny stayed in Steve's room upstairs. Typically Danny would sleep on the couch but he wanted to give Steve space downstairs. He would be further away from Steve if he needed him, but he thought the added distance would take away some of the feeling Steve had of being smothered by his friend's help.
Steve got settled on the couch for the rest of the evening. Unable to stifle the painful groans as he would adjust his body trying to find a comfortable position while watching TV. The two friends still sat in silence, only talking when necessary. Danny ordered dinner from the nearby diner and after picking at his food, Steve was ready for bed. He took a pain pill to help numb some of his body and with Danny's help he was in bed for the night.
Steve just sat there for a few minutes while anger, frustration and humiliation bubbled to the surface. He was now covered in puke and his whole body was screaming in pain. His wheelchair was out of reach and as much as he despised it, he knew the only way to get cleaned up was to get Danny's help. Setting his pride aside, he yelped out a painful yell to Danny, hoping he wouldn't have to do it again, his torso still extremely sore from his fall.
A few moments later he heard footsteps quickly coming down the stairs and his blonde friend came through the bedroom door. Danny stood there for a second before concern spread over his face. Speaking quickly and walking over to Steve he asked, "Are you ok? What happened?"
Steve looked up at his friend, "Pain medication. It never sits well in my stomach and I didn't have time get you or make it to the bathroom." He looked away again, trying to hide the embarrassment he was feeling.
Without hesitating Danny replied, "Ok come on, let's get you to the bathroom and get you cleaned up. You can't get in the shower, but we can use soap and a washcloth instead."
Before Danny had kids, this kind of thing would have made Danny hurl himself, but now he was used to it and knew his friend just wanted this to all be over. He knew how Steve would feel about being taken care of so he did his best to not say anything more than what needed to be said. Something Danny worked very hard to do instead of just speaking everything that came to his mind. For example, he thought this would be the perfect time to lecture his friend that this only happened because he wouldn't eat any dinner, but he used restraint and only thought it in his head. There would be plenty of time for lectures when Steve was up for it. This was not one of those times.
Danny moved the wheelchair alongside the bed. He helped Steve into the chair, supporting his upper body as he stood and then sat down slowly. Eventually he would be able to use crutches, but his shoulder would have to heal more before that happened. Danny grabbed his injured friend a new pair of boxers and a clean t-shirt and wheeled him to the bathroom.
Once there, Danny started to help Steve undress. Starting with this shirt, Steve was able to get one arm out and then needed assistance from Danny to get the rest over his shoulder and out from his arm sling. His sling would need to be washed as well but for now Danny wiped it down with the clean washcloth. Danny stared at his partner for a moment, horrified at what he saw. He hadn't seen under Steve's shirt since the day of the fall and his whole midsection was one giant bruise. There were cuts from the broken window and rocks down below what were now sewn together with stitches. He looked up and made eye contact with Steve. Seeing the pain in his eyes, Danny immediately felt regret in being angry at his partner over the past weeks. His best friend had needed him and he had looked the other way, ignoring his friends silent plea for forgiveness all while he was dealing with a bruised and broken body. In that moment, they each let down some of their defenses as Danny continued to help clean Steve.
They both knew the next part would be awkward for both of them, but with Steve's lack of mobility it was going to happen eventually. He had been able to use the restroom on his own, only needing assistance to stand, but now to change his boxers he would need help taking them completely off. Steve stood and slowly shimmied the boxers down, stopping about a third of the way and only going as far as his bruised abdomen and elbow cast would let him go. It was enough for his front side to be completely exposed to his partner, but before he could think much of it, Danny helped him sit back down and gave him a towel to cover himself. Danny maneuvered the boxers off Steve's legs and over the two leg casts before throwing the vomit covered boxers aside.
Steve wiped himself down, only needing help from Danny to get his lower legs and back. Considering he couldn't get his shoulder wet for 3 weeks they both realized this process was going to happen every day until then and being forced to do it like this was a good ice breaker for them both. Danny helped get Steve's clean shirt and boxers on then they made their way back to the bed.
The bedding need to be stripped and while Danny did that, Steve had asked to be pushed out to the Lana'i to listen to the waves crash against the shore. After putting fresh sheets and comforter on the bed, Danny made his way to the back deck. It was the middle of the night so he half expected his partner to ask to be brought back into the bedroom, but when Danny got out there he noticed something on Steve's face that he had never seen before. Tears.
He put his hand on his partners shoulder and stood next to him. "You know just because I'm pissed at you doesn't mean I don't want to be here to help you. You are still my best friend and I love you, you know?"
A short silence followed until Steve finally spoke, "Danno I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being me… again, and not listening to you about waiting for the rest of the team to get there. I'm sorry for putting you in that position and for having to see me like that laying on the ground, thinking I was dead. I'm so sorry Danno." Another tear streaming down Steve's face.
Danny was taken aback by what his injured partner had said. Typically it would take time for him to apologize and admit he was wrong. He always eventually did, but not this quickly.
They kept talking. Letting out all their feelings and emotions out from that day 2 weeks ago. That day when Steve was pushed out a window and fell 3 stories to the ground. The only thing saving him was the suspect he landed on. The same suspect who he was trying to apprehend and eventually crashed through the window with. The impact was still very hard and the whiplash and concussion were what kept him in the hospital for so long. Danny remembered seeing his friend laying on his back, the other man partially underneath Steve. Steve's leg and arm were twisted in odd directions and he could see a pool of blood starting to form beneath them. At the time, he thought the worst. That it was coming from his partner, but he would eventually learn it was from the dead suspect. Along with the broken leg, broken arm and concussion, Steve had multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung, severe bruising along his torso, a bruised pelvis, a broken shoulder blade and a fractured ankle. He was broken physically and mentally.
Eventually it was silent again. A peaceful silence this time. The weight of a ton of bricks lifted off their shoulders. They both knew how lucky Steve was to be alive. How grateful he was to have a friend sit by his side every day and be there for him through thick and thin. And Danny knew, that no matter how much Steve pissed him off, he would always be there for his best friend...for his brother.
~The End~