A/N Thanks for the reviews.
A/N The order of the chapters may or may not be chronologically perfect for the story, each one narrates glimpses of different situations that happen while helping Danny. Please do not try to read looking for continuity.
Abruptly waking up, jerking his head up and slightly disoriented, Steve instantly knew something was different. Something definitely felt different. The anguish that had wrapped his soul the last few months was gone. The desperation of not being able to find his partner, it was gone too. They had found him alive. He was safe now. He was protected. He was here. But although those terrifying feelings were washing away, new ones began to deeply claim space. Dread of helplessness but also a firm determination to be there for Danny and support him through it all.
Finally realizing that something had woken him, Steve sat straight on the chair on which he was awkwardly slumped. He hadn´t intended to fall asleep, but this days were being long and extremely emotional. Getting up, he approached the bed for what seemed the hundredth time since Danny was settled there. Able to see his friend only because of the dim lights of the corridor, his worried eyes focused on the open, lost and glassy blue ones. Grabbing his friend´s forearm, Steve leaned on and tried to make him calm down. Danny was restless, feverish and trashing on the mattress as much as his weakened body allowed him.
As Danny began to breathe harshly and try to free his arm, Steve released him and instead placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, trying to anchor him in some way and help him calm down.
"Relax buddy, ok? Are you uncomfortable?"
"N..gh" A frustrated shake of the head and a kick of the good leg accompanied the distressful whimper.
"I know buddy, I know" Steve soothed, as he pressed the call button. Grabbing the cloth from the basin at the side of the bed, he drained and placed it on the hot forehead, maintaining it there with his hand. Unconsciously leaning on and pressing his head to the comforting coldness, Danny sighed loudly as his friend removed the now warm fabric to refresh it on the cold water and then proceeded to refresh his face and neck.
Shifting his gaze momentary as the doctor entered the room and placed himself at the other side of the bed and the nurse turn on the lights, he quietly folded the cloth, placed it on Danny´s forehead and leaned heavily on the bed rails, absently rubbing his face. "He just woke up. It´s the same, Doc. Feverish, lost and uncomfortable". The explanation was unnecessary. They had been dealing with this for long hours now, or had it been days?
Taking over, the doctor placed two fingers on the carotid artery while he checked his watch. The pulse was racing. "Danny, calm down for me, ok?" Nodding to the nurse to replace the bag of fluids and pulling out the stethoscope, he then peeled back the sheet and reaching inside the top side of the gown, he listened to his patient's heart.
"No… g..way" The weak and whimpered request was accompanied by two heavily bandaged hands trying to stop the unwanted and cold intrusion.
"Danny, let them treat you buddy". Steve´s tired voice lacked the strength he had intended, but the doctor took over for him again.
"Danny, if you let us, I can assure you that once we are done you´ll be comfortable and can go back to sleep again soon, ok? How does that sound, uh?" The physician encouragingly spoke, trying put himself on Danny´s line of sight to reach his patient´s feverish and avoiding ayes with his own while patting his forearm. "We are going to give you the medicine to make you feel better, refresh you and work on bringing that fever down, apply some soothing cream, ok? It will feel good" He continued, trying to break the weak fight his patient had put on.
And he succeeded. The doctor´s strong, kind and full of experience voice made its way through the confused brain and Danny ceased the struggle, lying uneasily but quietly, breathing heavily but waiting for the ministrations to start. It wasn´t so complicate, his burning brain let him know that if he let them do as they wanted, maybe they will leave him alone sooner, as he had been told, and maybe he will feel better too.
Exchanging a quick and relieved look with Steve, the doctor went to prepare the medical supplies and medicine, while the nurse closed the curtain to preserve their patient´s dignity.
"I´m going to have to expose him now, Commander.." The implicit request was immediately understood. Giving his partner´s shoulder a last and firm squeeze, Steve silently left the room.