A/N I was supposed to upload this chapter tomorrow but I figured you guys waited long enough for me to upload the previous chapter, so you got this one too earlier than planned :) Also, there's a very important backstory that'll be revealed in this chapter which explains the whole cervical degenerative disc disease. Thank you all for the kind reviews, they all make my day! Okay enough talking, enjoy!
CHAPTER TWELVE
Danny had been sleeping for almost an hour now, and Steve was still sitting by his bed, in his own thoughts. He had also asked one of the nurses if Grace could visit her father, and she said that it would be totally fine and that the doctor doesn't mind, as long as she wouldn't be sick. He was happy because seeing Grace would help Danny so much. He hoped that Danny wouldn't have to suffer in his recovery, but he wasn't so sure about that because it's a very important but critical matter that he's going through, and getting out of it wasn't going to be easy at all. In all cases, he promised Danny that he would never leave his side, and surely, he wasn't about to break that promise.
As Steve was about to settle in a hopefully comfortable position to get some sleep, the doctor entered the room. He was holding what seemed to be X-RAY results. He didn't look so happy, but rather confused and surprised, in a way, from what he had found in those X-RAYS. The doctor looked at Steve and spoke. "Commander, do you mind if we can talk outside for a second? I think I found something pretty interesting in Detective Williams' X-RAYS."
Steve couldn't help but feel worried and concerned. He really didn't want Danny to stumble upon another complication. He had gone through so much already, and will have to go through so much too. With that, he got up and made his way to the waiting area right outside the room with the doctor, worry and concern already pretty visible on his face and his eyes.
"Doc, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" asked Steve, with a soft but very worried voice.
"I believe I discovered something while going through Detective Williams' previous X-RAYS" responded the doctor. He paused and looked at Steve worriedly. He then continued. "I was looking at the X-RAYS performed on your partner when he was first brought in. We rushed him immediately to the OR because of the critical state he was in, but after the surgery we took him for an X-RAY. Now, when the results came in, I guess I didn't properly go over them, and I really don't know how I missed such an important detail, but I think you already know."
Steve was very confused. What was the doctor talking about? "I'm sorry, but know what? What are you talking about?" questioned Steve, very confused and lost.
The surgeon then realized that Danny had kept his condition a secret from his teammates and friends. So, he was about to deliver yet again, some more fresh and new sad news to the team. "His neck disc… he never told you about it?" he asked, just to make sure if they have any idea or not.
Steve furrowed his brows and was in a world of confusion. Was Danny hiding something from him, from his ohana? "What neck disc? I thought you told us about it, the cervical degenerative neck disease, no?"
The doctor slightly nodded and gave Steve a soft smile. "Commander, I just found out that your partner has been diagnosed previously, way before the accident occurred, with a herniated neck disc. I was going through the X-RAYS and discovered it. I studied the matter deeply, and it's not possible to get diagnosed with a cervical degenerative neck disease unless you previously had some problems in your neck or your back, or were diagnosed with a disc before, which is the case of your friend. I have no idea how I've missed such an important detail, and I truly apologize for that. Now you should know that the crash severely aggravated his herniated disc which led to your partner getting diagnosed with his current condition. I contacted several specialists, and I can assure you that it's the truth. I'm very sorry Commander."
Steve was yet again shocked. He couldn't believe that Danny, his closest friend, kept something that important away from him. He didn't know if what he felt was anger or confusion or sadness, but he was feeling many different things right this moment. He sighed and licked his lips to start talking. "So you're telling me that Danny had a neck disc way before the crash, and it just got aggravated because of the accident, which led to him getting this cervical degenerative neck disease?" He was taken aback by what he had just heard. He was going to have a very long talk with Danny.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying, Commander. I'm very sorry" retorted the doctor, with slight sorrow.
"Do you have any idea on how long he had this disc?" asked Steve.
"I can't be precise and I don't have that much information, but based on the X-RAY results and his current condition and what the specialist told me, I would say 8 or 9 months" returned the doctor
Steve nodded and sighed again. His eyes were starting to fill up with tears but he managed to fight them back. He had one more question on his mind. "One more thing, does that affect the way his treatment will go and change everything, or is still under control?"
"As I told you, with Physical Therapy, medication and some treatments like TENS units and pins, the pain will ease from time to time. But as you know, it'll accompany Danny for life. Now considering the fact that he was already diagnosed with a disc and it got aggravated, think he'll go through some tough pain for a long time, but it's bound to happen in all cases, because this is one of the consequences of the cervical degenerative neck disease. Now, with age, the pain could become less frequent, because of the various treatments, but will deteriorate. Basically, your partner will have to face pain attacks less frequently, but whenever they happen, they can become more painful. I'm sorry" replied the doctor. He had to tell Steve the truth.
"Okay doc, thank you" said Steve. They shook hands and the doctor left, after informing Steve that he'd be taking Danny for a CAT scan in an hour and a half. Steve was now left alone, and he was starting to lose control of his emotions again, so he decided to go to the bathroom right down the hall. He was walking and his eyes were already teary, whereas a lump was forming in his throat. He reached it and entered one of the stalls, closed the door and locked it, and started crying, the tears running down his cheeks uncontrollably. He felt angry, sad, shocked, but most of all betrayed. It was like Danny didn't trust him and didn't want him to know what he was going through, and that hurt his feelings. He would've helped him so much. Does Danny not trust him? Does Danny not trust his ohana? Why would he want to go through this alone? Did Danny think that we'd stop being friends if he told me what he was going through? Why did he keep this away from me for such a long time… from our ohana? Does Danny think we won't help him? These were all questions that ran through Steve's mind, as he was crying in the bathroom stall, breaking down for what was the third time at least.
H50 H50 H50
Steve has been in the bathroom for almost 15 minutes. He decided to stay strong and keep fighting, so he got up, unlocked the bathroom stall and made his way out of it. He approached the left sink, which was the closest one to the door of the bathroom, and laid his arms on it its edge, and looked at himself in the mirror. His grip was very strong which caused his knuckles to turn white. He stared at the mirror for a minute, composing himself and trying to control his emotions. With that, he left the bathroom and made his way to Danny's room.
As he entered the room, he saw Danny awake, staring at the ceiling right above him. "Hey, you're awake" he said, as he sat down on the chair next to Danny's side.
"Yeah, couldn't sleep anymore" responded Danny as he removed the oxygen mask, glancing at his partner.
Steve didn't know if he should talk to Danny about the fact that he kept his neck disc a secret, or leave it for another day. After all, Danny was still in the ICU and was in a fragile state, he didn't want to risk opening such a sensitive and deep topic. He decided to leave it for now and focus on Danny. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"My head's throbbing, my neck hurts like hell, and I feel like a huge truck ran me over, I feel great" answered Danny. Even though he was feeling all those things, there was still a little hint of sarcasm.
Steve shot back a small and soft smile and went on, "Tell me about it. The doctor said that they're taking you for a CAT scan in an hour."
Danny slightly nodded. Just as he was about to open his mouth and speak, Denise, the nurse who would take care of Danny most of the time entered the room. "Good evening, Detective Williams. How are you feeling today? And why did you take off your oxygen mask?" she asked, in a gently voice, smiling softly.
"So that you can hear me properly. And I'm doing great, besides… the fact that… my head and neck are hurting like hell.. I'm good" replied Danny in between breathes. He was already getting tired and figured that he should place the mask back on.
"Hmmm, let me place the mask back on, you seem to be really tired" said Denise, as she gently did so. She then continued talking, "Detective, we're going to take you for a CAT scan in an hour or so, and I'm going to do a quick check up on you, alright? And if everything seems fine, we might transfer you to a regular room and allow you to have more visitors. But we'll have to wait for the doctor's approval."
That was good news for both Danny and Steve. They both smiled at what the nurse just said. Steve was very satisfied, if they were thinking of moving Danny to a regular room, it means that he's going to be okay, and it means that he most probably won't be facing an infection on his thigh wound, and that was something that bothered Steve, and he could finally get it out of the way.
With that, Denise started doing the check-up on Danny. It took her about 5 minutes to do so. When she finished it, she left the room and told them that everything seemed fine, the doctor would just have to do a final check-up on his thigh wound before hopefully giving the greenlight on moving Danny to a regular room. Steve was extremely happy, it's like God had listened to all his prayers all along.
"Danny, you heard that? They might move you to a regular room!" he said, with a smile on his face.
Danny nodded, but didn't say a word, as he was wearing the oxygen mask. But Steve could see the small smile formed on his partner's face. Hopefully this would be the beginning of the end of this nightmare that Five-0 was going through, and most importantly Danny. Both partners stayed silent, waiting for Danny's CAT scan. Steve was updating Rachel and the team on Danny's condition, whereas Danny himself was trying to rest before he would go for a scan.
An hour had gone by and neither men spoke, until the doctor entered the room and decided that it was time to take Danny for his CAT scan. Right before they made their way out of the room, Steve stopped the doctor and went by Danny's side. "Good luck, Danno. I'll be waiting for you, alright?"
Danny nodded at his partner and smiled back at him. With that, the doctor and Danny left the room, disappearing from Steve's sight. He sighed and went outside, to the waiting area.
He sat there for 10 minutes until Chin and Kono arrived. They promised that they would come visit Danny after work, and here they are.
"Hey brah, how's it?" enounced Chin as he and his cousin approached Steve.
Steve saw them and got up. "I'm good, everything's fine" answered Steve. He then pulled Kono in a hug and did the same with Chin.
"Where's Danny, is he doing alright?" asked Kono, with concern.
"He's fine. They just took him for a CAT scan and the nurse said that they might transfer him to a regular room if everything's fine" responded Steve.
Chin and Kono were thrilled with what Steve had told them. Danny was already on his way to recovery and is close to being transferred to a regular room. That was good news for them.
The three team members then chatted while waiting for Danny to come back from his CAT scan. While chatting. Steve informed the cousins about what the doctor had told him earlier. They were surprised and at a loss of words. They didn't understand why Danny would keep something this big away from all of them. They decided all together to wait some time before confronting Danny about it, at least until he gets out of the ICU.
Just then, Steve's phone rang. He took his phone out and decided to take the call. He got up and made his way to the end of the hallway.
"Hey Rachel" answered Steve.
"Good evening, Commander, am I bothering you?" said Rachel, in her strong yet classy British accent.
"No, not at all. Is everything alright?" retorted Steve.
"Um, actually I'm calling you to ask if Grace can visit her father tonight. She's been constantly asking about him and she doesn't want to wait until tomorrow, and frankly, I don't think we can keep this thing away from her anymore, it's been too long." Rachel didn't want to lie to her sweet innocent daughter anymore, and she felt like she deserves to visit her father.
"Of course she can, the doctor said it's fine, we'd all love to see her actually" replied Steve.
"Alright, Commander. Thank you, we'll be there in 20 minutes." With that, Rachel hung up and Steve made his way back to his friends and teammates.
H50 H50 H50
Twenty minutes had gone by and the team was still waiting for Rachel and Grace to arrive. But, Danny had finished his CAT scan and the doctor wheeled him back in to the ICU. When he got out, he informed them that Danny can be transferred to a regular room tomorrow morning and that the results of the scan would be out in 24 hours. He decided to keep him in the ICU tonight for precautions. He had also checked his wound and there doesn't seem to be an infection setting in. Danny seemed to be on the right track. Steve, Chin and Kono were happy and relieved. They shared some hugs to celebrate, in a way. But there was still a long road ahead of them, and it was going to be tough. After that, Chin and Kono took each one turn to go see Danny, while Steve waited outside.
Kono had left the room and Chin entered. She was visibly less distraught than the first time, and that made her and Steve happy. Just then, a very familiar creature appeared. Grace was right by her mom's side, and as soon as she spotted Steve, she let go of Rachel's hand and ran towards him.
"Uncle Steve! Uncle Steve!" shouted Grace, running towards him.
Steve turned his head to her direction and got up. Seeing Grace always made him happy and he couldn't help but smile. She then got closer and closer to him, and eventually, he enveloped her in a tight and a heart-felt hug. "Hey, Gracie" said Steve, smiling softly, still hugging her. Meanwhile, Rachel and Kono greeted each other.
"Hi uncle Steve" answered the young girl. She always felt safe in her uncle's arms, just as safe as she'd feel in her dad's arms. They then stopped hugging and Steve was still kneeling down, so that they could be on the same level.
"Uncle Steve? How's Danno?" asked the little girl. She looked concerned.
Steve then held her hands in his, and looked at her, smiling softly. "Danno's doing great. He's just really tired right now and is sleeping. When he wakes up you'll be the first one to see him, alright?"
"Is he gonna be okay?" questioned Grace, still looking straight into Steve's eyes.
Steve then answered her, still looking affectionately at Grace. "Of course he's gonna be okay. He's one of the strongest men I know. He'll be okay. Don't worry about him, and I've been taking good care of him, alright?"
Grace then nodded and smiled softly. She then hugged Steve before greeting Kono. Rachel and Steve then greeted each other as well. He told her that they were moving Danny to a regular room tomorrow morning. She seemed relieved and happy. Chin then made his way out of the room, and got greeted by Grace and Rachel.
Grace always made the team happy and always put a smile on their faces, and they all needed it now. No doubt that she was the most precious thing in Danny's life.
A/N So? What do you guys think? I know I'm terrible at keeping promises. I said that I'd include the deep conversation between Steve and Danny in this chapter but as I was writing it, that's what it turned out to be, and if I did include it, that chapter would be way too long. But this time I promise, you'll get it in the next chapter. And I'm sorry that the scene with Grace is short :( but you'll get more in the next chapter! Anyways. Thanks for reading, and leave a review if you want, means a lot!