Danny jumped sideways, propelling his body at an angle back towards the river bank, he came up short slipping on the wet rocks and landing hard.

The truck hit with a sickening thud, exploding the airbags as the momentum sent it into a forward motion. The back wheels spun to gain purchase in mid-air as the engine continued to roar. The truck tittered precariously on end before gravity took over and the back end dropped sending dirt and underbrush flying from the spinning wheels, it lurched towards Danny, then stalled, sending a cloud of smoke out the engine compartment.

Danny sat wide eyed inches from the front wheels as blood trickled down the side of his face. He leaned back covering his eyes as he let the magnitude of just what happened sink in. His thoughts were interrupted by voices on the ridge, he sat forward, too quickly as a wave of dizziness passed over him. He grabbed the bumper of the truck and peered around it to get a better look at the ridge without being seen.

The two gunmen were arguing, apparently the truck was supposed to make it into the river.

"See you idiot told you it wouldn't make it, should have sent it off the cliff by the house were those two cops fell in"

"we couldn't, that was too close to the house….come on let's get down there and see if we can get it in, looks like it almost made it"

Danny needed to make it back to Steve, he slowly worked his way around the truck, he needed to keep low so he wasn't seen. He stood to move down the bank closer to the river's edge, when dizziness hit him again, he sagged landing on his hands and knees. He tried to breathe through it as the light-headedness clouded his mind threatening to send him into unconsciousness. He struggled but it was a losing battle, he slumped onto the bank.

Steve had dozed off against the tree, he was startled awake by a noise he couldn't quite figure out as the ground beneath him vibrated. He looked beyond the trees where he noticed smoke...he blinked straining to see "my truck?" it took him a moment before he realized "Danny!"

Steve worked his way up onto his feet, using the tree for support til he was able to keep his balance. His first step exploded pain through his side that radiated from his back, he stumbled trying to catch his breath. He focussed on his truck and beyond that Danny. He staggered into the open, his mind fixated on one thing, finding Danny. He didn't notice the gunmen come from the other side of the tree line, the pair noticed McGarrett long before he noticed them.

"So look what we have here brah" as both raised their guns

Steve had stopped barely staying on his feet, taking in his fatal mistake. The one gunman grabbed him twisting him around pointing the gun to his head

"Where's your friend?"

The searing pain from the movement left him breathless "Go to hell!"

The gunman tightened his hold, effectively choking him as they both laughed at Steve's futile attempt to free himself.

The pain was over whelming and Steve was losing his hold on consciousness as his vision blurred. He blinked to clear it as he noticed the movement beyond the truck. A slight smirk let his partner know he saw him, then he collapsed to the ground.

Two shots rang out simultaneously, the two gunmen fell, the one landing on top of Steve.

"Steve!" Danny scrambled up the bank, made his way over to the one gunman checking him then moved to the second, both were dead. He eased the second one off of Steve, he place his fingers on his pulse point "Come on partner you with me?" Danny maneuverer him further away from the body, rolling him onto his side, with all the movement he had pulled the wound open and it was bleeding.

Danny ran to the truck, inside he knew Steve kept a well-stocked first aid kit. He came back and carefully undid the belt, the bandage and both his shirts were soaked with fresh blood. He carefully pulled everything away from the wound and started the task of cleaning and repacking it to stop the bleeding.

Steve shifted as Danny carefully wound the fresh gauze around his waist "hey you with me McGarrett?" His breathe hitched as consciousness returned, he went to move but was held in place "Don't move I'm almost done….relax …ok?"

Steve nodded and whispered "Danno?

"Yeah just hold on ok?….need to tie this off"

"Ok this might sting a bit but I need to clean it" Danny shifted Steve's soiled shirts higher exposing the crease higher on his back. He managed to get it cleaned and dressed with only a hiss of pain from his partner. He pulled both shirts back into place and felt him shiver under his touch.

"Hey you cold?...Danny ran his hand up Steve's arm "You're warm "he then ran his hand across his forehead holding it in place "hey you're getting hot"

"Steve?" Danny moved his hand to his shoulder and lightly jostled him "Hey?"

Exhausted eyes opened trying to focus in the dimming light.

"How are you doing?" as Danny checked his pulse.

"Ter terrific" he slurred and then frowned

"What's wrong?"

"Blo…blood on you" Steve weakly pointed to Danny's head

"Yeah well that's your fault"

"mine?" Steve looked confused

"Yeah, commander leave my keys in the ignition McGarrett, you're truck tried to eat me"

"mmmm….sorry"

"Yeah well you will be…. making it up to me in so many ways"

"Those guys?"

"Dead, don't worry about that….we need to get you comfortable here"

Danny went to shift Steve into a more comfortable position when he heard thunder "Oh no don't tell me" the first drops hit him "shit…..what happened to sunshine and paradise?" Danny squeezed Steve's shoulder "be right back"

Danny went to the truck, it was starting to get dark and they were both going to need shelter, he opened the back door and arranged the blankets that Steve kept in it. He then headed back to get him.

"Steve? Steve?"

Weary eyes blinked open "tired"

"Yeah I know….I need to get you up….we're going to the truck…Steve you with me?"

"Yeah"he tiredly replied

"You ready….cause I can't carry your ass"

He breathlessly laughed "Ok"

It took some time but Danny managed to get Steve to the truck and got him sitting on the back seat. "How're you doing?"

Steve was having more trouble focussing as the fever started to take hold "thirsty"

"Ok let me grab our supplies before they get rained on and I'll grab you water….hey?"Danny caught his arm to get his attention "Don't fall out!"

"K…won't"

Danny ran gathering up all the supplies and came back, he managed to get the front door open and slid them in. He grabbed Steve a water and cracked the lid passing it to him. He was able to to take it but sat holding it on his lap, Danny reached with his hand and without a word lifted his arm so he could drink. A thankful expression crossed his partners face.

"Now let's get you settled, you need to help me out so we don't start you bleeding again….on the count of three ok"

"You mean two right?" Steve whispered

"Always have to be a smart ass don't you McGarrett?"

Danny got him settled on his good side, a pillow under his head and covered with a couple of blankets. The wound started to seep a bit from all the movement but stopped when Danny applied more pressure. Steve groaned from the pressure, but Danny quietly settled him as he fell asleep.

Danny slid out of the backseat, closing the door and moved into the front of the truck. He managed to get the front door to stay closed just in time,as a torrential Hawaiian rain pounded the exterior of the truck.

Danny rolled his eyes "So much for paradise….."as he hoped Chin and Kono would be looking for them soon.