CHAPTER 25

Sunday afternoon, TAMC:

It had been sixteen hours since Steve was rescued. Sixteen long hours. Danny had been sitting at his friend's bedside since the nurses brought the team back to see Steve. With the toxin still in Steve's system, Doctor Palamo had decided to keep Steve under sedation until it had left his body. Although Steve was resting under the influence of the sedative, it was far from peaceful. Steve was sweating and constantly moving, muttering under his breath. Danny had spent the last few hours talking to his friend and wiping the sweat from his face with a damp cloth.

Danny had sent Chin and Kono home to get some rest. He had promised he would inform them as soon as anything changed with Steve. He could see they were reluctant to leave their boss, but Danny insisted. If Danny was honest with himself, he really just wanted to spend some time with Steve. It was his brother's fault he was in this mess to begin with. Danny would make sure Steve got through it. He also knew Steve wouldn't appreciate so many witnesses in his current vulnerable state.

Danny had called Catherine early in the morning. She had answered just after the first ring, eager for information. He told her they had found him and he would be fine, given time. He tried to get her to wait before coming to see him, but she refused to listen, insisting she would be there in a couple of hours. Danny sighed; they really were like two peas in a pod.

An hour later, Catherine walked into Steve's hospital room. She walked straight over to where Danny was sitting and hugged him.

"Thank you for finding him," she said, her voice quivering slightly.

"I'm sorry I told you not to come. I just didn't think he'd want you to see him this way," Danny explained.

Catherine snorted. "Trust me, I've seen him in worse shape."

Danny rose his eyebrows at that. "Really?"

Catherine's eyes grew sad. "Unfortunately, yes."

Catherine took the other chair and sat next to the bed, opposite Danny. "How is he?"

"He's beat up and in pain. The doctor is going to keep him sedated until the drugs clear his system. After that, they will check to see if he still has all his marbles, or those that are left, anyway," Danny quipped.

That brought a smile to Catherine's face.

"He told me you always tell him he's brain damaged," she said.

Danny chuckled. "Well, given the way he behaves sometimes, I often have to question it."

The smile on Catherine's face faded after a while. "Danny…I have to go back to duty. I've already taken my emergency leave to even get here and help you. I don't have any more. But I don't want to leave him…"

Danny smiled. "I understand. I will call you as soon as he wakes up. I promise."

Catherine stayed for another few hours before she really had to leave. She gave Steve a kiss on the forehead before she left, tears welling in her eyes as she whispered something in his ear. Danny turned to look out the window to give them some privacy. Throughout all of it, Steve remained unconscious.

Chin and Kono returned just as Catherine was leaving. If Danny had to guess, they hadn't rested at all. In fact, they looked worse than when they had left.

"Hey guys," Catherine said, greeting the cousins.

"Hey Cath. How's the big guy?" Kono asked, hugging Catherine.

"You know, he's okay. Nothing's changed," Catherine answered.

Catherine turned to Chin to give him a hug, but stopped short when she saw the vivid bruising around his neck. She quirked her eyebrows questioningly.

"He wasn't in his right mind," Chin croaked.

Catherine's eyes widened. "Steve did that?"

"Yeah. He was drugged up and we don't think he knew he was doing it," Kono answered, trying to sugar coat it.

Catherine nodded solemnly. "Look after him for me, please?"

"Of course," Kono said, wrapping an arm around Catherine and leading her away from the room.

Chin sat down in the seat Catherine had just recently vacated.

"How is he really?" Chin asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Danny sighed. "All in all, not too bad. He's still hallucinating and in pain, but it's not as severe as before. The doc is going to take him off the sedation tomorrow morning."

"That's good," Chin said in relief.

"What about you? How's the neck?" Danny asked, pointing to the bruising on Chin's neck.

"It's fine. It doesn't hurt. I just sound like I've smoked twenty packs a day for my entire life," Chin remarked.

Danny chuckled before settling back into the silent vigil, watching over his friend. Kono walked back in the room ten minutes later, having seen Catherine off.

"How's Catherine doing?" Danny asked.

"She's putting on a brave face. She's worried about him. She really doesn't want to go back, but she has to. She won't be able to get leave again for three months. She made me promise to call her as soon as we knew anything," Kono answered.

Danny sighed and leant back in his chair, surveying the cousins.

"Did you guys get any rest at all?" Danny asked, eyeing the dark circles under their eyes and disheveled clothing.

Chin and Kono looked down at their clothes, then back up at Danny sheepishly. Danny smiled.

"Let me rephrase my question; any word on Fuentes?" he said.

The cousins looked relieved when they realised Danny wasn't angry. They were all feeling it. They all wanted Fuentes for what he did to Steve, but also to Grace.

"Nothing yet. HPD finished processing the house. There were no other explosives. They are in the process of searching the other house. So far, there have been no signs of anyone occupying the houses recently. Fuentes will slip up. He knows the entire island is looking for him. It's just a matter of time before we find him," Kono said.

Danny nodded appreciatively. "What do you think his play is now?"

"I think he's going to lay low for a while, hole up somewhere until the heat dies down. All of his plans have failed. He's got nowhere to go," Chin said.

"Or that's what he wants us to think…" Danny mused.

Chin and Kono looked at Danny, before understanding came over them.

"You don't think he's going to…" Kono started.

"Come after Steve again?" Danny finished Kono's question. "Maybe. Fuentes will be wanting revenge, pure and simple. It's no longer about the money Matt stole. Steve killed Fuentes' brother. Fuentes will want payback. It's just a question of when."

"Do you think Steve needs a protection detail?" Chin croaked.

"Do you seriously think Fuentes would be so bold as to try and off Steve in a hospital full of military personnel?" Kono asked incredulously.

"Crazier things have happened, Kono," Chin countered.

"I think we should hold off for now. One of us will stay with him at all times. At least, until he's better and tells us otherwise. I don't think Steve would appreciate having a detail on him. Besides, he'd probably slip them anyway," Danny said.

"True," Kono said, contemplating Danny's words. Chin nodded in agreement.

"Speaking of Steve, when did you become his POA?" Chin asked.

Danny sighed as he leant back in his chair. "It was after the General Pak Incident. He realised that he didn't have any family on the island and his father was still listed as his POA. He didn't think Mary could cope with having to make a decision, if it ever came to that. So he asked me while we were getting his arm stitched up."

The group was silent as they digested that information. They all stared at the man in the bed, deciding they would make sure he always had a family. They would protect him as fiercely as he would them.

"You're not leaving, are you Danny?" Kono asked quietly.

Danny shook his head. "No, I don't want to leave him. Not now."

"We could take shifts. You don't have to do this by yourself," Chin said.

"I know…but I feel like… I don't know. I feel like I at least owe him this," Danny said.

Chin and Kono understood. The bond Steve and Danny had was amazing. The two had become fast friends and knew everything about each other. It was the kind of friendship everyone wished they had. The fact that Steve had protected Grace probably added to Danny's need to stay by his best friend's side.

"Okay. In that case, we will bring you some clothes and toiletries tomorrow. Is there anything else you need before we go?" Kono said.

"No. Thanks guys. I'm sorry, I just…"

"We get it, Danny. Look after him, okay?" Chin said as he and Kono left.

Then Danny was alone again in the hospital room with his unconscious and delirious partner. At any other time, it would be funny. But Danny knew something darker lurked beneath, something Steve was trapped in. He swore he would do everything he could to help his friend come out the other side of this, not unscathed, but at least whole.

Monday morning, TAMC:

It was seven o'clock in the morning when Doctor Palamo walked into Steve's dully lit room. The sound of the doctor entering the room stirred Danny from his uncomfortable position in the chair by Steve's bedside. Danny opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as Doctor Palamo turned on the bright fluorescent lights. Danny looked over to the bed, just to make sure his partner was still there and nothing had happened in the time he had been asleep.

"Good morning Doc," Danny said as he stood and stretched the kinks out of his back.

"Good morning Danny. Did you sleep well?" the doctor asked, although he already knew the answer.

"As much as anyone can on these chairs. I mean, who designed these and thought a great place for them would be a hospital? They should be sent to CIA black sites and used as torture tools," Danny ranted.

The doctor chuckled. He had heard stories about the partners given they were often at the hospital for one reason or another. Doctor Palamo actually found the small detective quite amusing, albeit very protective of his partner.

"Well, hopefully there won't be much more need for that. Let's see about waking up our patient, shall we?" Doctor Palamo said enthusiastically. "His latest blood work shows an extreme reduction in the hallucinogen. Although the toxin is still present, it is slowly dissipating, so the painful side effects should start deteriorating with it. I am going to reduce the sedative and allow him to wake up slowly."

Danny nodded in understanding. "Do you have any idea how long it will take him to wake up?"

"Every patient is different. I would expect anywhere between the next hour and later tonight. If he is still out by tomorrow morning, we will need to assess him again. His recovery should be pretty fast now that the toxin is leaving his system," Doctor Palamo explained.

With that, the doctor left the room, leaving instructions for the nurses to contact him when Steve woke up. Danny settled back into the chair to wait for his friend to regain consciousness. He was pleased to note that Steve no longer seemed to be dreaming, or hallucinating. If anything, he looked peaceful. For that, Danny was thankful.

Danny didn't know what he was expecting. He had hoped his partner would be awake almost instantly, jumping up like nothing had happened. Danny knew, logically, that no one could just bounce back from being tortured. After an hour, Danny realised he could be in for a long wait. An hour later, Chin and Kono arrived with a bag of clothes for Danny. Danny filled them in on what the doctor had said. They each brought up a chair and settled in to wait.

Four hours later, Danny needed to attend to some dire matters. He went to the en-suite bathroom in Steve's room and did his business. He washed his hands in the sink, splashing a few handfuls on his face before looking up into the mirror. Danny sighed. His face was gaunt and pale, his eyes had dark circles underneath and his hair was mussed up at the back. He looked no better than some of the corpses on Max's autopsy tables. But then, who on the team didn't look like death warmed over at this point?

Danny made his way back to his chair and sat down quietly. He looked around and felt a deep-seated appreciation for the Five-0 Ohana around him. Chin was reading a book in the chair opposite Danny. Danny could tell he wasn't actually reading because he kept glancing at the man in the bed every few minutes. Kono was sitting cross-legged on her chair at the foot of the bed, her face resting on her fist, staring at Steve. Danny yawned and scratched his chin. As he put his hand back into his lap, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He quickly realised it was Steve's hand. Danny stood up quickly and grabbed Steve's hand, talking to him.

"Hey Steve. Are you waking up, buddy?" Danny said softly.

Steve scrunched up his face, his eyes moving under his eyelids. Chin went outside to get a nurse while Kono approached the bed and took hold of Steve's other hand. Danny squeezed Steve's hand and after a beat, Steve squeezed back.

"That's it buddy. You're doing great. Open your eyes. Let's see those baby blues," Danny said, coaxing Steve towards consciousness.

After what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, Steve slowly blinked his eyes open. It looked like it took all of his energy to achieve that menial task. Steve's eyes roamed around the room, taking in his surroundings. His eyes settled on Danny's face.

"D…" Steve managed before a coughing fit began. Steve grimaced at the pain in his ribs and shoulder.

Kono brought a cup of water up to Steve's mouth and Steve took a careful sip.

"Danny?" Steve tried again, his voice much clearer now.

Danny smiled, relieved. "Yeah man. It's me. Kono's over there too."

Steve nodded slowly as he looked over and saw Kono. He managed a weak smile before his eyes began to droop. At that moment, Chin entered with the nurse.

"Good afternoon, Commander McGarrett. My name is Kalia. I am one of the nurses looking after you today. How are you feeling?" the brunette nurse asked.

"Um…I feel fine, just t-tired," Steve said, unable to keep his eyes from drifting shut.

Kalia smiled at that, which reassured the team. She puttered around, checking his vitals and noting them on his chart.

"His reaction is completely normal. The doctor will be back in about an hour to assess him," she addressed the people in the room.

"Thanks Kalia," Chin said as she left the room.

The team looked at each other and smiled. Steve was going to be okay. They knew it.

Monday afternoon, TAMC:

Doctor Palamo entered the room an hour later, by which time Steve was again conscious and already voicing his frustration at being laid up in a hospital bed.

"Good afternoon, Commander McGarrett. My name is Doctor Eric Palamo. I am your primary physician. How are you feeling?" the doctor asked his patient.

"Hi Doc…I feel fine, nothing a few days rest won't cure. I'm ready to get out of here," came Steve's swift response.

The team chuckled at their boss' antics. He looked far from fine, with one arm in a sling and vivd bruising over most of his body.

"I'm sure you do, Commander. However, I would strongly advise against that. Do you remember what happened to you?" the doctor asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he evaluated Steve.

There was a brief paused before Steve answered. "Yeah, I remember. It's not exactly something I plan to relive anytime soon…I don't need to be here. I can rest just as well at home, in my own bed," he argued.

"Commander…you have been injured. You cannot go home until this course of IV antibiotics has been finished…"

"Okay, once that's done, then I can go?" Steve interrupted.

The doctor pinned Steve with a stern look. "Commander. You might feel fine right now, but that is only because you have some pretty heavy duty pain medication one board. You were brought in with a bullet wound, a dislocated shoulder, two cracked ribs, a moderate concussion and severe bruising. Not to mention potential side effects from the waterboarding. Additionally, you were injected with a severe hallucinogen, mixed with a toxin that caused incredible pain. Those have only just left you system. You need to stay here, under observation, for at least another two days, just to be sure of no adverse effects from your ordeal."

Steve sighed. "Look, Doctor Palamo. I appreciate everything you have done for me, I really do. But there is a ruthless drug lord out there that needs to be put behind bars as soon as possible…" Steve began.

"Which is something I am sure your team can accomplish with you, Commander. I am sure they are very competent at their jobs," Doctor Palamo interrupted.

"Come on, boss. Let us do some of the work," Kono said with a small smile.

"Yeah, I think you definitely pulled your weight. Just rest, get better and then you can go back to work," Chin said.

"I'd listen to your friends, Commander. I wouldn't keep you here if I didn't think you needed the care. Your health is worth that much, isn't it?" the doctor said.

"Yeah, I guess…Okay. One day and then I'm out of here," Steve said, agreeing.

"At least two," the doctor argued.

"A day and a half," Steve bargained.

The doctor nodded and smiled, turning to Danny. "Well, that was easier than you said it would be."

Danny just shrugged. "It's the drugs. Normally, he's even more stubborn."

"Wait, you guys have been talking about me?" Steve said indignantly.

"Well yeah…We had a lot of time to talk while you were sleeping, princess," Danny said, smirking at Steve's glare.

"Well, if you will excuse me, I have other patients to see," Doctor Palamo said as he excused himself.

Steve leaned back into the pillows, suddenly exhausted. Chin and Kono could see his eyes drooping and quickly excused themselves.

"Hey Chin?" Steve's voice startled everyone.

"Yeah, brah?" Chin replied, walking back into the room.

"Sorry about the neck…I don't know what I…" Steve apologised.

"Don't worry about it. It's in the past," Chin assured Steve.

Everyone was surprised Steve even remembered that. He was so out of it due to the drugs, they thought he wouldn't recall anything that had happened. Steve closed his eyes as soon as the cousins left. Within minutes, he was fast asleep.

Danny sat in the chair beside Steve's bed, sighing as his muscles protested. He leant back and closed his eyes, the beeping of Steve's monitors sending him into a light doze. The vibration of his phone woke him up a few minutes later. Danny stood and retrieved his phone from his pocket. Gracie.

Danny smiled and answered the phone. "Hey Gracie."

"Danno?" was Grace's timid answer.

The sound of her scared voice made Danny's stomach clench with fear. She wasn't supposed to call him, at least until they found Fuentes.

"Gracie? Are you okay?" Danny asked, afraid to know the answer.

"That's up to you, Detective Williams," said a frighteningly familiar voice on the other end.