One of the EMT's named Jason knelt next to the men asking, "Can you tell me what happened?"
"His name is Danny and we're members of 5-0. Earlier today we were shot at and a bullet grazed his head. His skull chipped and the Doctors at King's Hospital cauterized and stitched several vessels"

Jason said softly, "And they released him?"
Steve nodded, "He left against their wishes...we were working a case to find a couple of kidnapped kids"
Hearing the guilt in the man's voice Jason smiled softly and responded, "It doesn't matter now, let's just take care of him. What's your name?"

"Steve"
"Okay Steve, I'm going to check him out"
Keeping Danny in Steve's lap, Jason checked the injured man's vitals while his partner inserted an IV into Danny's hand. As the cool saline began to flow through his veins, Danny began to moan softly, mumbling "Hurts...heaadd hhurts..."

Steve spoke and caressed Danny's cheek, "Sssshhhhhhhh, it's okay Danno. Relax..."
As Jason pealed back the soaked bandage from his head, the blood flowed freely from the wound.
Danny's eyes suddenly opened and he cried out frantically, "Kkids Sstteve, wwe gotta ffind the kids"
"Danno, the kids are safe. LOOK AT ME BABE, the kids are safe...it's over"
The confusion on his face was evident as he asked, "Saffe...they'rre safe?"
Steve smiled down at him, "Yeah, they're safe. This is Jason and he and his buddy are going to take care of you now okay?"

His eyes closed as he muttered softly, "K...'k..."
The EMT's worked efficiently and in minutes they were ready to transfer Danny. With Steve's help they lifted him onto a backboard and as his body tensed in pain Steve clutched his hand tightly and leaning close to his ear he encouraged him, "Hold on partner. Squeeze my hand, I've got you"

Danny's eyes remained closed and his face contorted in pain, "Steeve...ooh ffuck"
"I've got you Danno" Looking over at Jason he asked, "Can you give him something for the pain?"
"Yes" A few seconds later, Jason was injecting Demerol through the inserted IV line and as Steve whispered to him softly the drug took him under.

Steve rode along in the ambulance and after Danny was wheeled into the ER he sat down heavily into a chair in the waiting room. His hands were bloodied and shaking as he dialed Chin.

Across town Chin answered his phone groggily, "Steve?"
"Hey brother, sorry to wake you"
"It's no problem, what's wrong?"
"Danny collapsed. We're at King's"
Without asking any questions Chin replied, "I'll get Kono and we'll be right there"
Looking down at his bloodied t-shirt and sweatpants Steve said emotionally, "I need a change of clothes"
"I'll grab your go-bag"
"Thanks Chin"

About twenty minutes later an ER Doctor entered the room, "Commander McGarrett?"
Steve was pacing nervously and as the Doctor approached they shook hands, "Yes, how's Danny?"
"He's critical Commander"
"Call me Steve please"
"Okay Steve. He has bleeding on his brain and we need to operate right away. I understand that you're his medical power of attorney"
"Yes...do whatever you have to do Doc...don't let him die"
"We'll do every thing possible, I promise"

As the Doctor exited the room Steve sat back down and a few minutes later Chin and Kono arrived.
Steve was sitting in the chair with his elbows on his knees, his head bowed and in his hands.
The cousins approached him and Chin placed a hand on his shoulder, "Steve"
Startled, the SEAL looked up, "Hey guys" He stood and they all embraced.
Kono was scared as she felt this strong man shake in her arms and her mind raced, 'Oh God what's happened?'

As they separated, Chin asked "What have you heard Steve?"
His voice shook as he said, "He's bleeding on his brain and they've taken him into surgery"
Kono closed her eyes and said softly, "Oh my God"
Steve then said, "I should never have let him leave the hospital...what in the hell was I thinking?"
Chin reached out and touched his arm, "Steve you can't do this to yourself. There's NO WAY you could have kept him here and you know that"

Tears were falling from Kono's eyes as she said, "Steve, this isn't your fault..."
As Steve placed a hand over his eyes Kono put her arms around him and as he fell into her embrace all the emotions of the day crashed in on him and he cried. She held him and rubbed his back in small circular motions for several minutes.

As they separated Steve said quietly, "Thank you both"
Chin smiled, "He's going to be okay Steve...he's awfully tough"
Steve nodded and Chin handed him a bag, "Here, go change"

As Steve entered the nearby bathroom Chin embraced his younger cousin and then after grabbing coffee's they sat, prepared for a long wait.

505050505050505050505050505050505050505050

They visited quietly, and a little more than three hours later Doctor Phillip Bourdean entered the room and joined them at the table.
"He's alive. A small chip from his skull broke off and caused additional vascular bleeding. We were able to stop the bleeding but there have been complications. We lost him twice on the table and although we were able to revive him this gives us great concern. As the vessels leaked and his body responded, intracranial pressure built up inside his brain. We're doing numerous things to treat this. We performed a venticulostomy, which means we drilled a small hole in his skull and inserted a drainage tube. We're also treating him with IV fluids and medication that will help keep his blood pressure stable and help him fight off infection. We'll also be keeping him on a respirator for the time being to insure proper oxidization of his blood"

Steve was nervously moving his hands as he asked shakily, "His heart Doc..."
"As I said we are concerned. The second time his heart stopped we had a hard time getting him back"
"How long Doc?"
Kono reached over and took hold of his hand as the Doctor replied, "Almost five minutes. He needed to inject him with epinephrin to re-start his heart"

Kono then asked, "Can he breathe on his own?
"Yes he can. The respirator is just to aid in his breathing and help insure his blood is properly oxidized"
"Can we see him?"
"He'll be in ICU for at least the next forty eight hours. One of you can stay with him"
Chin said, "You call us with updates Steve"
"I will"
After final hugs from his Ohana, Steve followed Doctor Bourdean to the Intensive Care Unit.

As he entered the room his senses were immediately assaulted.
There were the smells of the hospital and the sounds of the machinery that aided his partner. Knowing that the ventilator was only assisting Danny brought some comfort, but the whooshing and beeping sounds of the equipment always gave him a sense of unease. As they moved to the side of the bed the Nurse nodded to the men and then stepped aside.

Doctor Bourdean said softly, "His vitals are good. He should wake within the hour and the Nurse will call me when he does. He will be in pain but we need to let him come around. We'll ask him a few basic questions to check his brain functions and then we'll put him back under. A Nurse will stay in the room monitoring him so just talk to him...help pull him back"

"I will, thank you Doc" After the Doctor left, Steve looked down at his best friend noting all the tubes and bags that were hooked up to him. There was the heart monitor with the numerous wires and probes attached to Danny's chest. His left pectoral region was very bruised, obviously from the resuscitation efforts. Bags hung from the side of the bed holding his urine and waste. There were numerous IV lines flowing into him through the front of his left hand, and then there was his head. Initially they had only shaved a small patch of his blonde hair in accessing the wound, but now the entire side of his scalp was shaved and seeing the reddish-grey fluid that was draining through the plastic tubing nauseated him.

He placed a hand on this partner's forehead and with his other hand he grasped Danny's unmoving hand. "Hey Danno, you're scaring me you know that? The Doc is taking really good care of you though and you're going to be fine. You're so strong Danny...God, I'm so sorry this is happening to you" He sighed for a moment as he struggled to regain his composure, "We never would have found those kids today without you partner. You were the one who put it all together Danny...you saved those kids. You're a great partner and detective but even more importantly, you're a great man and you're the best friend I've ever had and I love you" Tears welled in his eyes as he continued, "I need you to keep fighting. You need to fight for Gracie...please buddy, fight for Gracie"

Steve could no longer talk, his heart was in his throat and as the tears slid down his cheeks he couldn't help but think about Gracie. How could he tell her about this? ...'Oh God Danno, please fight'

****** MORE TO FOLLOW – I HOPE YOU'RE STILL ENJOYING AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK! *******