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Summary: A "what if" alternate story line loosely related to Season 1 Episode 20 "Ma Ke Kahakai". "What if" Danny had to walk back down alone after the EVAC got Steve off the mountain? This includes an assumption that the victim's body was simultaneously removed when Steve was rescued.

Ps – I had forgotten that Steve actually took his backpack with him into the chopper (it didn't stay below on the ledge). Either way, Danny wouldn't have had it. I also corrected the darn Petroglyphs (versus Hieroglyphics in chapter 1). Thank you for pointing that out! How very "Danny-esque" of me to get confused!

CHAPTER TWO - SOLO

Chin calmly accepted the silent fury of Steve's reaction in the hospital and kept pace as Steve strode out of the building snapping orders in his direction.

"Let's get over to my place. We'll need supplies, food and water, plus a medical kit and the sat-phones. Call Kono, tell her what's up and have her contact the rangers in the area with Danny's description and last known location." Steve was organized and formal, but Chin knew the depths of worry for he felt the same way. Arguing with him about the fact he had a fractured radius would serve no reason. Steve was going to find Danny - end of story.

Chin multi-tasked as he hit the flashing police lights on his car, got Kono on the line, and then made it to Steve's house in record time. Glancing at Steve, Chin wasn't sure he'd ever seen the man this darkly brooding and intense.

Internally, Steve was seething with anger. "I never should have allowed it, Chin. I should have insisted that he be on that EVAC with us."

Nodding, Chin couldn't help but agree and tried to diffuse both of their growing levels of anxiety. "Yeah, I know and I didn't like it either. But we can't second guess this now and it did seem reasonable across the board." Sighing, Chin attempted a brief explanation that even he didn't completely buy as he spoke the words. "Look, maybe he just got a little turned around. For all we know, he just has some cell phone issues and could be at the truck right now."

Provisions and a game plan were assembled in a matter of minutes and they were well on their way to the Park's main lot within thirty minutes of leaving the hospital. Parking next to Steve's truck, which was disappointingly still there and untouched, the two began an aggressive ascent up the trail. Their speed would beat all other times Steve had raced his father up to the summit.

The earlier dark clouds Steve had warned Danny about were gathering again. Steve frowned and nodded up at them. "I don't think it's going to hold off this time, Chin." He stated. Giving a silent prayer for the rain clouds to dissipate, he and Chin ran on.

Deep in the rainforest, Danny knew he had a serious problem when he self-diagnosed the first signs of heat exhaustion. He had continued to walk for another fifteen minutes as he debated turning around or continuing forward on his current path. The constant checks on his cell phone continuously proved that no service was to be had. In fact, his phone was eating up battery as it kept cycling uselessly for a signal. Fearing he'd lose the battery when he needed it most, he had thumbed the piece of technology off to conserve its energy.

"Up it is." He declared out loud, as he batted as mosquitoes and tried to spy the sky through the heavy canopy. It was nearing five thirty and he had to get to higher ground for any hope of a signal. He just hoped it wouldn't require another visit back to the summit. Turning around, he began to retrace his steps slowly back the way he had come.

But he was literally floored when the muscle spasms started in his legs and he bent over grabbing both calves with the sharp persistent pains.

"God," he groaned as the calf muscles in both legs seized again and again, and he sat down hard on the ground. He rubbed his calves and legs with shaking fingers and then harder with the heels of his palms as he tried to massage the contractions and ease the hurt. He was sweating profusely and he couldn't get over the level of agonizing pain which wasn't completely letting up regardless of his best efforts. His toes curled as the spasms continued and he helplessly lay on the ground praying for it to ease.

"Oh god. Oh god, this is bad." Danny was flat on his back with his eyes closed by the time the worst of the spasms had let up. He felt weak and was actually almost frightened that they would reoccur should he try to move. "All this for graffiti" he moaned.

Still on his back, Danny opened his eyes and looked up at the dark green canopy with a growing sense of dread. "I'm in real trouble here, Steve." He whispered.

Carefully rolling over, he sat up and closed his eyes again as a wave of dizziness hit hard. "I don't need this. I so don't need this right now." But when that too lessened, Danny determinedly staggered to his feet and leaned against the trunk of a tree. Panting he resumed his walk which had become significantly slower and much more labored. He was nauseous, approaching severe dehydration, and knew that his body temperature was climbing out of control. He needed water badly and help even more.

Familiar with the trail, Steve kept a brutal pace upwards towards the trail-head and Chin gamely kept up with no objection. Pausing briefly and breathing hard, they shared water and Chin took the opportunity to ask Steve about his arm.

Pointing to the cast, he asked, "And how's that? You okay so far?" Steve hadn't indicated even the slightest level of discomfort and had seemed to forget about his previous injury.

With a curt, "It's fine." Steve capped the canteen and they were off again. Within the hour, they were at the junction where Danny had made his ill-begotten decision. Steve eyed the rain clouds which were looming closer and shook his head in dismay. "Come on, give me a break here!"

Steve counted time on his fingers. "Where did this day go?" He shook his head in denial and worry as he realized that he and Danny had breakfast at least nine hours earlier. While they also had shared water on the initial portion of their trouble-free hike, he didn't remember Danny having anything during or after Steve's own tumble. They had only taken Steve's one backpack and Steve knew that Danny didn't have any resources. In the heat and humidity, it wouldn't take long for dehydration and heat exhaustion to sink in. And then there was Danny's trek to the summit and back down again in order to call for the EVAC. Alarmed more so with that realization, Steve knew that Danny was in a lot more trouble than even he originally had anticipated.

"We need to find him fast, Chin." Steve said, face tight with concern.

"So what do we do?" Chin asked, indicating the primary path up or the secondary option sloping downwards and almost parallel to the one they were on. "Do you think he went that way?" Chin looked around and realized that the path they had used to ascend could easily be confused with the branch leading off elsewhere. Worried, Chin could see how easily the mistake could be made.

"Steve, where does that go?" he asked quietly. Shrugging, Steve didn't know either and the two shared a brief and apprehensive look.

Quickly analyzing and comparing the trails, he made a decision. "But, that's where we're going."

~ to be continued ~