Author note:
Hello, everyone. English is not my first language, so be easy on me. Please review if you have time, all feedback are appreciated.
Have a nice day.
Danny was ranting and although Steve was more than happy to hear, he couldn't process what Danny was saying. Now that he was safe, he was drifting in and out of consciousness. Everything around him seemed blur, like an old movie and suddenly blur images of people was floating in his vision. A squeeze on his shoulder and Danny's rather calm voice brought him back to the present moment.
"Hey, buddy. You with us?"
Steve was staring at Danny, but he couldn't keep his focus in place. "D'anny?" He stuttered painfully.
"Yes, babe it's me." Danny smiled, hoping to mask his concern. "How hurt are you?"
"I don't…feel so good." Steve gasped, the pain was evident in his voice. Hearing Steve admitting that was enough to throw Danny over the edge.
"He needs medical help like right now!" Danny yelled at Tani, stressing every word.
"Junior is calling for air support. We have a clear area nearby, we will fly him out. Keep him company. We will be right back." Tani tapped Danny's shoulder and hurried over to Junior to make necessary arrangements.
Danny turned his attention back to his friend. "No, don't!" Danny warned when Steve tried to sit up. Danny pushed Steve gently back to the ground. He knelt and leaned closer to Steve to examine him. "Steve?" Danny called and gently tapped Steve's cheek when Steve was still.
"Un-huh." Steve groaned but kept his eyes closed.
"It is going to be okay," Danny reassured his friend but he was worried.
"Dan-no?" Steve slurred.
"Yes, babe?" Danny placed his hand over Steve's forehead, hoping his close contact could keep Steve conscious while waiting for the help to arrive.
"B-boys?" Steve mumbled, hoping Danny to understand what he was asking.
"We found them. They are the ones who called and let us know where to find you."
Steve's lips slightly curved into a smile. "-you will l-like -hem"
"I have no doubts."
-H50-H50-H50-
One hour later, sitting in the waiting room, Danny focused on his breathing in hope to soothe his spiking anxiousness as he stared blankly at the white walls in front of him.
"Hey," The familiar voice snapped Danny out of his thoughts.
Danny exhaled harshly before he returned the greeting. "Hey, Lou."
Grover sat beside Danny on the couch. "Any words on Steve yet?"
"No." Danny shook his head. "Still waiting."
Grover nodded. "I found out what happened and I thought you would want to know."
Danny turned slightly towards Grover. "What do you mean?"
"We all know the progress we were making with cartel case, don't we? I mean with the arrest and proceeding on Monday and all?"
Danny just nodded allowing Grover to continue without any interruption.
"What we don't know is that there is a witness who will be testifying on Monday against the cartel, bringing them down once for all."
"What?" Danny was surprised. That information was something new.
"Oh yeah." Grover nodded. "We don't but Steve knew, he was the only one knew in our team."
Danny raised his eyebrows. Everything seemed to make a little sense. "So, they were after Steve to find out who the witness is?"
"You, my friend are absolutely correct."
"But why wait until today to go after Steve?"
"Good question. That's because only today Miller found about the witness."
"Miller who?" Danny questioned.
"Miller Dawson. The DA's assistant. All these while, wonder why we can't seem to make any case against the cartels? This moron has been feeding them with all the information and evidence we have been sending to the DA's office in exchange for money. This time, to be ahead of the cartel, Steve, the Governor, and the DA decided to keep the whole idea of having a witness as a secret and Steve was the only person in contact with US Marshals who was keeping the witness in protection."
"Then how did Miller found about the witness?"
"The moron was in the office when Steve was meeting the DA earlier today. He found out and you know about the rest."
"You got him right?"
"Oh yeah." Grover nodded, smirking. "Gave him a piece of my mind as well."
Danny smiled a little. "Too bad I missed it."
"Don't you worry, my friend." Grover smiled. "After what he put Steve through I think we can go for round two."
"It's a date then."
There were a few minutes of silence before Adam walked in. "Hey, guys."
Danny looked up and waved his hand.
"Danny, you got a minute?" Adam asked. "I wanted to send the boys home, but they want to see you first."
"Of course." Danny got up of the couch almost instantly. He waited and smiled when three exhausted-looking boys walked in. One of them was limping with the help of crunches.
Adam introduced them. "This is Detective Danny Williams and Danny," Adam pointing to the boys. "Matthew, Ethan, and Chris."
Danny smiled as he shook the boys' hand. "What happened?" He directed to Chris.
"Nothing serious." Chris unconsciously looked at his bandaged ankle as he answered. "I tripped and fell."
Danny shoved his hands in his pocket. "Well, first of all, I want to thank you, boys, for helping Steve. That's a very brave and noble thing to do." Danny said and Lou nodded, acknowledging the boys' intention to help.
However, the boys looked dispirited and that caught Danny's attention.
"What's up with the face?"
Ethan shrugged before he answered. "Well, we are just not sure how much we helped. We left him here and …"
"Uh-huh, let me stop you right there." Danny held up his hand. "I know things were tough tonight, but you guys did what some wouldn't do in the first place." Lou and Adam nodded, agreeing to Danny's statement. "You boys could have left him when you first found him, but you guys decided to do the right thing despite knowing the risk. That's pretty much exemplary heroism in my book."
The boys exchanged glances with each other.. "How is Commander?" Ethan asked.
Danny forced a smile. "The doctor is checking him but I'm sure he's going to be alright." He waved a hand to ease the boys' worries. "Go back home, take some rest."
"Do you think it is okay if we stop by tomorrow to see him?"
"Of course. I'm sure he would want to see you guys as well."
-H50-H50-H50-
It was the smell that woke him up. The uncomfortable smell was drying his nose. He was slowly getting more aware of nasal cannula, his hand in a sling and the pain medication that was dulling the pain he was supposed to feel. Steve focused on his eyes and cracked it open. Danny was in the chair close to Steve's hospital bed, sound asleep. Danny's arm outstretched to his bed. That was when Steve realized that Danny was holding his hand. Steve's mouth curved into a smile as he squeezed Danny's hand.
Almost instantly Danny woke up and hovered over Steve. "Hey you." Danny's sleepy eyes lit up.
"Hey," Steve croaked and Danny helped him to take few sips of water.
"How are you feeling?" Danny narrowed his eyes as he asked, daring Steve to say that he was fine.
Taking the hint, Steve corrected his answer. "Okay, I guess. The pain medication is helping."
A knock on the door diverted their attention. "Can we come in?"
Danny smiled when he saw the boys standing by the door. "Hey, perfect timing, come in." Automatically without Steve asking, Danny helped him to sit up. Danny knew Steve would want to sit up and talk to the boys.
"Hello, Commander." Matthew pressed his lips together and waved his hands awkwardly. "You look worse."
"Geez, thanks. It may look worse, but I'm okay." Steve whispered and Chris who was standing with the help of crunches caught his eyes. "What happened to you?"
"No big deal." Chris smiled. "Just sprained ankle."
Danny pushed the chair he was sitting towards Chris. "Here, sit down." Ethan took the chair and helped Chris to sit down.
"How you guys are holding up?" Steve inquired, concerned with the boys' well-being.
Chris's eyes widened. "You were the one almost died last night and you are concerned about us?"
Steve exhaled. "Like I said last night, I was trained for those kinds of situations. I know what to expect but that's not the case you boys. You can't just erase what happened last night and I'm sorry you guys have to go through that and at the same time, thank you, you guys saved my life."
Danny stood a little back, admiring the exchange between the boys and Steve.
Matthew shrugged as he sighed. "Last night was tough especially after I found out I shot two HPD officers."
"You what?" Steve was taken aback.
"Well," Danny stepped to the front. "After they left you and was running to find for help, they saw some shadows approaching. Not knowing who it was and to be on the safe side, Matthew shot the shadows with a tranquilizer firearm. Later, they found it was HPD officers. Lucky for them, the HPD officer was having two-way radio. That's how they reached out to me."
Steve looked from Danny to the boys then back to Danny.
"The HPD officers are fine," Danny informed Steve.
Steve held up his unharmed hand. "Wait, you had a tranquilizer firearm and you didn't tell me?"
"You didn't ask and in our defense, it was pretty much intense situation. I didn't remember I had it until I had to use it."
Steve scoffed. "Can you believe this boy?"
Danny laughed, knowing Steve was trying to lighten the boys' mood and he decided to play decided. "So I guess, no more camping activities?"
The three boys quickly shook their heads. "Not anytime soon." Ethan answered.
"Think it like this." Steve voiced out and winked. "You guys have a thrilling story to tell your girlfriends."
"Oh please..." Danny rolled his eyes.
The three boys eased a little and cracked a smile.
"How about this?" Steve asked. "Since I spoiled your camping weekend, I would like to make it up to you guys. Once I'm cleared, maybe we can go camping together? What you guys say?"
The boys exchanged glances and quickly smiled widely.
"Camping with a Navy Seal?" Ethan's face lit up. "I will say yes anytime." Matthew and Chris nodded.
"What you say, Danny?" Steve smirking at Danny. "Want to join us?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"You have known me for ten years now, what do you think?"
"Well, I guess we are going camping then."
The End.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all those who took time to read, follow and review the story. I would not have come so far without you guys enjoying the story. So, a big fat thanks to everyone.
Until the next time...