Back at the Palace, Steve was gratified to be told that Michelle Patterson had been on the news to show the footage of Mrs Shem attacking Steve. She had informed the viewers that Mrs Shem's earlier accusations should not be taken seriously. Michelle admitted that she had been taken in by her pity for Mrs Shem and the distraught mother had taken advantage of Michelle's soft heart to spread lies about Danny Williams.

"Soft heart indeed!" scoffed Jenny as she finished relating this to the detectives. "As soft as Diamond Head!"

"Bet everyone believes her," Kono mused.

"How did I know she would come out of this smelling of roses?" Steve asked rhetorically. He shook his head. "They say cats always land on their feet. Let's just hope that Ms Patterson has learned a lesson here." He collected nods from the others, but it was clear they didn't think it was very likely either. He pushed the reporter from his thoughts. "Did anyone check on the younger Mrs Shem?" he asked.

"Yeah, boss, she was at her work," Chin replied.

"Good," Steve nodded. "I can take the security off Danny's door once I've spoken to him." He glanced at his watch and saw that he still had a few hours before Danny was likely to awaken. "I'm sure we've all got work to do," he hinted and the others scattered as he went into his office.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X

Visiting hours would be coming to an end soon, but that didn't bother Steve. He would stay until he was satisfied that Danny was not going to do anything stupid, like leave the hospital against Bergman's wishes. While Steve wanted his detective back, he knew that Danny was not yet ready to leave the hospital, no matter what he thought. The word on the coconut wireless was that Danny was now the object of sympathy again in the media and just for a change, Steve was also a sympathetic figure, thanks to the attack on him and the way he had handled Mrs Shem.

Many small movements indicated to Steve that Danny was on the way to wakening up. He was completely unprepared for Danny's eyes to suddenly pop open and the younger man sit up abruptly. "Ugh!" Danny groaned as the movement sent sharp spears of pain lancing through his shoulder.

"Easy, Danno, easy," Steve soothed. He helped the disoriented man lie back, offering some water to help Danny come to full consciousness. "How're you feeling, aikane?" he asked.

"Hung over," Danny complained hoarsely. He blinked sleepily and glanced around and his memory returned with a rush. He sat up again. "Steve, I've got to get out of here! Mrs Shem…"

"Is upstairs under sedation right now," Steve interrupted. "Relax, Danno. Your reputation is safe."

"Safe?" Danny allowed himself to be pushed gently down onto the pillows. His shoulder was really not ready for the abrupt movements he had made. "But how? That Michelle Patterson…"

"Just listen," Steve urged. He explained to Danny all that had happened while his second in command had been slumbering the day away. Danny was chagrined at his rash attempt to get out of hospital earlier, but he still felt he had needed to do something.

"So the public don't think I'm a murderer anymore?" he clarified.

"No. Well, some might, but there are always some who see us in a bad light," Steve reminded him. "What did you think you could do?" he asked.

"I don't know," Danny admitted. "But first the phone call and then the media…" He started to shrug and then remembered that was unwise. "I had to do something." He laid his head back on the pillow. While he would never admit it, holding his head up was still a painful procedure. "So Mrs Shem made the phone call?"

It was only at that moment that Steve realised he didn't know the answer to that question. "I think so," he hedged, but that one wasn't going to fly. Danny, hung over though he might be, was still one of the sharpest people Steve knew.

"You think so?" Despite himself, Danny felt a twinge of fear.

"She wasn't exactly in a fit condition to be questioned," Steve reminded his second. "If the doc says I can, I'll question her tomorrow morning. But who else could it be?"

"I agree she's the most likely suspect," Danny allowed slowly. "I don't suppose it was the mousey wife?"

"She was at work at the time," Steve replied. "I would guess that for her, this is not a new tragedy. The tragedy happened when he walked out on her on the first day of their honeymoon."

"I suppose," Danny agreed. "I wonder why she didn't get the marriage annulled."

"She loves him," Steve replied. "She's young and lonely and vulnerable and he might have seemed like the answer to her prayers. He was good looking and seems to have been personable enough when he wasn't shooting everyone in sight." Steve sighed. "I suspect she hoped he would come back to her in time."

"That's a sad story," Danny commented. He was sorry for the young woman. She had barely seemed old enough to be married.

"So, have I convinced you to do as Doc says?" Steve asked after a moment, his eyes twinkling.

"I guess so," Danny sighed. "He plays mean, though."

"Can't argue with his methods, though," Steve laughed.

"He threatened to restrain me!" Danny complained.

"If you really resist, he might put you in the next room to Mrs Shem," teased Steve. "You'd like that."

"Is your face all right?" Danny asked. "Did you need stitches?"

"No, no stitches and it'll be fine." Steve didn't mention that his face felt stiff. He would remove the protective bandage that night and let the air get at it. He was convinced it would heal just as quickly that way and if it looked unsightly – well, the bandage was hardly high fashion. "I'm going to let you rest now, Danno," he said, rising.

"I've been resting all day," Danny complained, but there was an undercurrent of humour in his voice. "I'm starved though. Could you ask the nurse to get me some food? Or – better yet – get some Chinese sent in?"

"Here's your dinner, Mr Williams," the nurse chirped, entering the room just at that moment.

"Thanks," Danny replied, looking at the unidentifiable food on the plate. He was glad it was already cut into small pieces, because cutting anything was beyond his capabilities at that moment. "Um – what is it?" he enquired as Steve smirked.

"Healthy," the nurse answered and left him to it.

"There you have it, Danno," Steve commented. "It's healthy. That's better than Chinese any day." He made a swift exit before any of Danny's food could head in his direction.