Malia and Karen watched as the four Five-O teammates carried Danny's stretcher in and placed him gently on the hospital bed in the corner. Kono and Lori leaned down and kissed him on the cheek earning them each a small smile and nod of thanks before they left the room. Chin squeezed his shoulder and went to stand out of the way but stayed just inside the doorway in case he was needed. Steve stood at the head of the bed with his hand resting lightly on his friend's shoulder so he knew he was still there.

"Hey, Danny," Malia leaned over so he could see her. "We're gonna get you out of these wet clothes and then assess your injuries, okay?"

Danny smiled weakly, "I'm too tired to put up a fight."

Steve smirked and winked at Malia and Karen as they began to cut off his clothes, "Don't worry, Partner, I'll make sure they keep their hands to themselves."

As careful as Malia and Karen were, Danny still moaned as they removed his clothes and partially covered him with warm blankets. His hands gripped the side of the bed so hard his knuckles turned white. Steve reached down and grabbed his right hand, "Hang on, Buddy. Just hang on. They'll be able to give you something in a little bit. You're doing great."

"Here," Karen took Danny's free hand and looked at his wrist. "Let me take care of your wrists." She looked up at Steve. "It's going to hurt when I take the handcuff off the rest of the way."

Steve nodded and gripped Danny's hand a little tighter and placed his other hand on the man's shoulder. "Looks like the Jersey slip didn't work this time either, huh, Babe?"

Danny grimaced and tried to pull his hand away from Karen. Malia had to come and help hold his arm still for Karen to work. Steve continued to murmur reassurances to Danny while Danny moaned and squirmed as the cuff finally came off.

"That's it, Buddy, they got it." Steve leaned over his partner and noted the sheen of sweat on his friend's forehead. "Hang on, Danny, I know it hurts, but they'll get you taken care of, okay?'

Danny's eyes slitted open and he managed a weak smile before closing his eyes again. He couldn't suppress another groan as Karen cleaned and wrapped his wrists and Malia began checking for other injuries.

"You're doing great, Danny," Malia encouraged him. "Your knee is a bit banged up but it can wait for now." She began examining Danny's torso eliciting more groans as she tenderly probed his abdomen and began to check his ribs.

Danny's eyes flew open as she hit a particularly painful spot. His body jerked and tried to twist away from her, "Oh, God, that hurts," he moaned. He couldn't stop the tears that sprang to his eyes. He clamped his mouth shut, lips in a hard line, and concentrated on breathing.

"That's it, Danny, just keep breathing. You're okay, Buddy. Just hang on. She's almost done. Hang on," Steve wasn't even sure what he was saying as he tried to soothe his injured friend. His partner's groans were tearing him apart.

"Sorry, Danny," Malia whispered as she continued to probe. "Almost done and we'll see about getting you something for the pain. Okay, Danny, can you open your eyes for me? I'm almost done here."

Steve moved out of her way so she could check Danny's head. She lightly ran her fingers through his hair and didn't notice anything to be concerned about. She checked his eyes and quickly made sure he had no facial injuries other than the bruising and superficial cuts.

"Good, Danny," Malia encouraged. "We're going to get an IV hooked up and we'll be able to give you a painkiller, okay?"

"Thanks, Malia," Danny tried to smile at her. "I appreciate it. Really."

Malia glanced over at Chin, "You're welcome, Danny. You've had all of us worried for a few days. I wanted to do something to help. Try to get some rest." She patted his shoulder gently and then stepped over to where Chin was keeping watch.

"Danny, you gonna be okay a minute?" Steve glanced over at Chin and Malia. "Karen's right here getting you set up with the good drugs. I'll be right back."

Danny nodded, "Yeah, yeah, I don't need a babysitter... wait, who's Karen again?"

Karen finished setting the drip on his IV and came over to stand next to Danny as Steve went to talk to Chin and Malia. "Hey, Detective. I'm Karen. I've been keeping an eye on Commander McGarrett the last couple of days and wanted to come help you as well. I'm a nurse."

"We have our own medical staff now?" Danny muttered. "Why were you keeping an eye on Steve? Oh," understanding dawned, "I remember now. He was shot, wasn't he?"

Karen nodded, but didn't say anything as Danny continued.

"He was shot... he was shot in the head!" Danny practically launched himself off the bed as he looked over at his partner, then collapsed back on the bed groaning and clutching his midsection.

Steve and Chin rushed over at the commotion from Danny. Steve leaned over his partner but wasn't sure what to do with his hands. "Danny? Danny? You okay? What's the matter? What're you doing?"

Danny sucked in a few painful breaths before he opened his eyes and looked at his friend, "I thought... I saw you... there was a lot of blood... I thought you were dead."

Karen looked at Steve, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's okay, he was going to remember eventually." Steve put a hand on Danny's shoulder, "It was just a graze, Danno. I'm okay."

Danny glanced between Chin and Steve and back to Karen again, "You sure? Why do you have a nurse keeping an eye on you then?"

"Governor's orders." Steve shrugged.

Danny narrowed his eyes and this time it wasn't in pain. "Why did the governor order you to have a nurse hanging around?"

Steve shrugged and smirked but didn't say anything.

"Probably because he was trying to walk out of the hospital after getting shot in the head so he could go look for his missing partner rather than staying put for observation." Chin told him softly.

Danny settled back down on the bed again, still staring at his partner. "You know you're an animal, right?"

Steve's smirk got bigger, "So I've been told."

Danny allowed his eyes to close as the pain medication started to take hold of him. He could still feel his partner's eyes on him. "And you have a hard head."

Malia urged Steve and Chin away from the bed and nodded towards the hallway, "He should really rest. Karen will keep an eye on him."

Kono and Lori practically pounced on the trio as they emerged, "How's Danny? He didn't sound so good." Kono wondered.

All eyes turned to Malia, "I've only been able to do a cursory examination at this point, but he really needs to get to the hospital as soon as possible. He's got at least three broken ribs, multiple contusions, a fairly serious knife wound to his left shoulder, his right knee is pretty banged up, his wrists are a mess, and I'm all but certain he has some internal damage. I'm also very concerned about infection."

"I'll go check with the captain and see how long he thinks it will be until we dock." Chin offered.

Steve glanced through the doorway at his partner before looking back at Malia, "Can I sit with him until we dock?"

Before Malia could respond, Lori spoke. "You should change clothes first. You're still soaked."

Steve looked down at his still-wet clothes. He had been so focused on his injured friend that he had forgotten all about his little swim in the ocean to get to Danny.

Kono handed him a bundle of clothes, "Here, one of the crew thought these might fit. Don't worry, we'll go stay with him until you get changed."

"Thanks," Steve nodded and quickly went to find a spot to change.

Kono and Lori quietly approached Danny's bed. Karen smiled and moved out of their way.

"Hey, Danny," Kono touched his shoulder and smiled, "How ya doin'?"

"Been better," Danny managed a small smile. "Thanks for finding me."

Kono shrugged, "It was a team effort."

"Yeah," Lori agreed. "I think you're also going to want to thank Officer Robertson. He figured out who the suspect was."

Danny moved his gaze to look at Lori, "Hey, weren't you on vacation? What are you doing here?"

"Like I could stay gone when I knew you were in trouble." She smiled.

Danny returned her smile, "Well, thanks." Danny's eyes drifted closed.

"The pain meds have kicked in," Karen informed them, checking Danny's pulse. "It's best if he can get some rest."

As Karen finished speaking, Steve hustled into the room with Chin close behind. "We're about fifteen minutes out, and the ambulance is already standing by." Chin informed the group.

"Let's let him rest for a few minutes and then we'll get him ready to transport," Malia instructed. "I want to have him ready to go the second we're docked."

Steve nodded, "Let us know what we need to do when it's time."

"Just keep him calm until then. The pain meds have kicked in but it's likely going to be rough on him to be moved, and there's still going to be some pain."

"We'll go get our gear together and be back in a few to help transfer him," Chin led the rest of the team away so Danny had quiet with just Steve sitting by his side and Karen and Malia conferring quietly across the room.

Steve studied his partner and noticed the pain etched into his face even though he was seemingly asleep. A clenched fist and low moan made Steve lean in and take his partner's hand, "Hold on, Danny. You're doing good. Just hold on."

Despite his weakened condition, Danny's hold on Steve's hand was strong as ever. His eyes remained clenched closed and as much as he tried to stifle the moans, he wasn't able to and the sound alerted Malia and Karen from the other side of the room.

"Danny?" Malia leaned over the injured man. "Where does it hurt?"

Steve's left hand rested on Danny's forehead while his right hand remained gripped firmly by Danny. His worried eyes darted to Malia and then back to Danny as the man didn't answer but continued to moan and squeeze for all he was worth. "Danny? C'mon, man, where does it hurt?"

Danny cracked his eyes open, his pain-filled gaze meeting the worry-filled eyes of his best friend and managed to gasp out, "Abdomen."

"All right, Danny, let me check." Malia gently removed the blanket covering his torso and began to palpate his abdomen.

Danny's scream sent shivers down Steve's spine and stilled Malia's hands. Steve whispered what he hoped were comforting words to his partner though if asked, he would have no idea what he was saying as his mind was consumed with worry for his partner.

"Okay, Danny," Malia replaced the blanket. "Steve, can I have a minute?"

"No," Danny stopped her from taking Steve aside. "I need to know what's going on. Please." He ground out through clenched teeth and shaking breath as he tried to control the waves of pain assaulting him.

"You have internal bleeding, Danny. It looks like it's pretty serious."

"We're gonna get you taken care of, Danno," Steve assured him. "The ambulance is waiting for when we dock. We'll get you right to the hospital."

"There's a surgeon and operating room standing by," Malia told them. "I called and filled them in as best I could. They're already waiting."

"So you have to hang on, Danny," Steve made sure Danny was looking at him. "You got that? You just have to hold on a little longer."

"We'll be docking soon so let's get you ready." Malia started strapping him to the stretcher with Karen's help.

Steve held his partner's gaze and squeezed his hand, "This is probably going to hurt, Buddy."

Danny nodded, "Can't be helped."

Just as Malia finished readying Danny, Chin and the others walked in, "We ready to go?"

"Yes," Malia nodded. "We need to do this nice and steady."

As Steve started to let go of Danny's hand and take a side at the front of the stretcher, Chin stopped him, "Don't worry about it, Brah. I got this. Kono and Lori have the other end. You're needed right there."

Steve leaned over Danny, "We're ready to go, Danno. Just hold on, and we'll get you out of here and fixed up before you know it."

A squeeze of Steve's hand was Danny's only acknowledgement.

Steve had withstood SEAL training, torture, and any number of painful injuries but the act of watching his injured partner as he was carried topside was almost more than the man could take. Danny's pain filled moans tore at his heart.

The ambulance was backed up as close as it could get to the small group as it exited the Coast Guard cutter. Malia and Steve quickly jumped in as they loaded Danny and the paramedics began to work as the ambulance quickly take off.

Steve felt totally useless as he watched the paramedics work and tried to hold back panic when Danny's hand went slack in his own. He glanced up at Malia to see her watching him.

"It's okay," she assured him. "I'm surprised he didn't pass out sooner with all the pain he was in. The trauma team that's waiting is one of the best."

"He's tough. He'll make it," Steve wasn't sure if he was reassuring Malia or himself. His eyes never left his partner's still form until they wheeled Danny into the OR and the doors closed behind him, leaving him alone in the corridor.

Well, are we all hanging in there okay? Only one more chapter to go.