CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: July 13, 2012
(Caroline, Danny, and Rachel are all still sleeping, although passed out from sheer emotional exhaustion would be more accurate, the next morning when Grace finally wakes up. At first, she is confused and frightened at the strange surroundings, but, as the memory of what happened the day before returns, she realizes that she's in the hospital. Looking around, she sees her mother and Caroline sleeping on uncomfortable-looking cots and Danny sprawled on the loveseat near her bed. Grace is a sore and her head hurts a little and she's just plain scared.)
"Danno? . . Danno!"
"Grace! . . Hello, Sweetheart, how are you feeling?"
"Not good. My head hurts, Daddy."
"I bet it does, Monkey. Hang on, I'll get the nurse to bring you something to make you feel better, okay?"
"Okay. Have you and Mommy and Mom been here the whole time?"
"Yes, Baby, the whole time. You didn't think we'd leave you alone, did you?"
"No, Daddy. Were Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Sam and Uncle Steve here, too?"
"They were, and Kono and Tony and Aunt Lana and Uncle Chin, too."
"Why didn't they stay?"
"Because, Monkey, there's only so much room for cots in this room and they knew that your Mommy, and Mom and I wanted to stay with you."
"Oh."
(Both Caroline and Rachel, awakened by the sound of muted voices, join Danny at Grace's bedside and both are wearing smiles. Caroline moves to stand by her husband while Rachel walks to the other side of the bed and leans over to kiss her daughter's cheek.)
"Good morning, Grace, how are you feeling?"
"I'm sore all over and my head hurts."
"Oh, Grace, I'm so sorry, darling! You know, you're a very brave girl; you pushed me out of the way of that car."
"It was an SUV, Mommy."
(And it's then that all three adults know that Grace is going to be just fine. Danny had pushed the call button on the bed when Grace first told him her head hurt and the door opens to admit not only a nurse, but Dr. Moody, as well. The doctor makes short work of examining Grace and tells them that the little girl seems to be just fine. She also tells them that she wants to keep Grace in the hospital until the next day and run the scans again in the morning. If everything looks okay, she will allow Grace to go home the following afternoon. After assuring Grace that she may have whatever she wants to eat, meaning lots and lots or ice cream, at least, to Grace's way of thinking, the doctor bids them all a good day and heads out the door. The nurse gives Grace something for pain and she, too, leaves the family alone. Danny makes quick work of folding up both cots and pushing them into a corner of the room while Caroline and Rachel entertain Grace. Just as another nurse brings in Graces' breakfast tray, Libby and Mike, bearing a small vase of pink carnations, enter the room and manage to move Caroline, Rachel, and Danny away from the bed so they can dote on their granddaughter. Of course, Libby and Mike have an ulterior motive, and it soon becomes apparent when Libby glances over to the other three adults.)
"I know that none of you could have slept very well last night, and I'm sure you're all probably dying for a shower and change of clothes. Why don't you three run on home and take care of yourselves while Mike and I take care of Grace?"
"That sounds like a fine idea, Libby. I know I could use a shower. Caroline? Rachel?"
"Are you sure you don't mind, Libby?"
"Mind? Shame on you, Rachel; you know better than that!"
"Yes, I do, and please forgive me. I know you and Mike love Grace very much. . . Is it all right with you if we all run home and clean up a little, darling?"
"Sure, Mommy. I'll be just fine with Grandma and Grandpa."
"All right, then. We won't be gone long."
(And after they have all hugged and kissed Grace, the three adults leave. Libby and Mike exchange a worried glance because the only time Caroline said anything it was to Grace. They don't dwell on their concerns, however, as Grace immediately engages her grandfather in a discussion about scuba diving. . . .
The three part company in the parking lot with promises to meet back at the hospital in an hour and Caroline and Danny head home. They are both quiet on the drive; neither of them in any mood to talk at the moment. Caroline is still angry, and hurt, over the way Danny treated Rachel the night before. She is half-way convinced that Danny is still in love with his ex-wife, and what she witnessed the previous evening feeds her anger and doubt. Still, although the doctor assured them that Grace should be fine, Caroline doesn't want to say or do anything that might upset Danny any more than he is already. . .
Relieved that his daughter seems to be all right, Danny realizes that his thoughts of the night before regarding his relationship with Caroline were, most likely, the product of stress and anxiety, and should probably be forgotten. Looking over at the beautiful woman in the passenger's seat, his heart fills with love and he reaches over and takes her hand. The small smile she sends his way gives him hope that they can work out their differences and smooth out the rough spots in their marriage. . .
When they get home, Caroline heads straight for the shower and Danny joins her minutes later. Pulling her into his arms, he kisses her deeply, trying to infuse the kiss with all the love he has in his heart. Caroline returns his kiss and, within moments, they are lost in one another. By the time they are on their way back to the hospital, they are both laughing and flirting like teenagers, and Danny is most definitely having a great morning.)