Steve jumped up and in seconds he was standing and looking over Danny.
With one hand still holding his partners, Steve stroked his forehead with his other as he urged him back to consciousness, "Danny, Danny can you open your eyes for me partner?" Danny's head dropped towards him and he moaned softly and Steve continued to prompt him, "Danny, open your eyes babe"

The injured man's eyes slowly began to flutter open and Steve said quickly, "Don't try to talk Danno, you've got a tube in your throat but it's just to help you breathe"

Erin had run out to get Doctor Jackson and Steve could see the fear in his friends eyes. "Danny, you're going to be okay, I promise you. I need you trust me and relax. Now blink twice if you understand me"

Danny's eyes blinked twice.
"Good. Now blink twice if you're in pain"
Two blinks.
"The Doctor will be here in a minute so you squeeze my hand and ride it out buddy. Do you remember what happened to you Danny?"
Two blinks.
"You were kidnapped by the serial killer we were tracking. It ended up being Senator Mark Tomlinson" Seeing the look of confusion in Danny's eyes he continued, "Yeah buddy, State Senator Mark Tomlinson was Derek Eaton's partner and our killer. He's dead now Danny and you're safe"

Danny tried to pull his injured left arm off the bed and a moan of pain escaped his throat and his eyes filled with tears. Steve quickly reached across his body and grabbed his arm, easing it back onto the bed, "Whoa buddy, lay still for me. That bastard busted up your hand pretty good" Danny's arm was twitching in pain and Steve held his arm firmly, squeezing tightly just above his wrist. Dropping Danny's right hand back onto the bed he brushed the tears sliding from his clenched eyes. "Relax Danno, relax...I've got you, ride it out"

Doctor Jackson and Erin returned and Steve looked up, "He's in a lot of pain Doc"
Jackson nodded and standing across the bed from Steve he placed a hand on Danny's shoulder, "Danny, I'm going to increase your medication drip. It's very important that you stay as calm as possible and just sleep now young man"

As Danny closed his eyes Steve leaned close and whispered, "I'm here Danno, sleep now buddy" Seconds after the morphine drip was opened up his hand relaxed in Steve's grasp and he slipped back under. Doctor Jackson then said, "He's doing well Steve. His body temperature is starting to rise and his heart rate is stable, but still a bit fast. He's doing well though"
"Thank you Doc"
After Jackson left, Erin again tucked the warming blankets around Danny and looking at Steve she said, "You look exhausted Steve. Why don't you try to get a little sleep, I'll be right here with him"

"No, I need to stay awake for him"
"Steve, when did you sleep last?"
Looking at his watch, he replied "Twenty eight and a half hours ago"
"And you've been through a lot in those twenty-eight an a half hours...he's going to sleep for at least three to four hours. You're not going to be any help to him if you're exhausted. Trust me Steve, I can handle him"

Steve grinned, "You don't know him Erin"
She smiled back, "Alright, you've got a point"
"You're right though, I am tired. I need to use the bathroom and then I'll try to catch a few winks...thank you Erin"
"You're welcome Commander"
"What did I tell you about that?"
She grinned, "You're welcome Steve"

When he returned a few minutes later, Erin was adjusting one of Danny's intravenous meds and Steve asked, "What are you doing?"
"We're increasing his antibiotics, he has a low grade fever"
"Oh no, infection?"
"It's too soon to tell. His body has gone though a lot of trauma over the last few hours so a fever is not unusual"
"Okay"
He looked up to see two young orderlies bringing in a high-backed leather chair.
Erin smiled, "I thought this would be more comfortable for you"
"Thank you again"
"You're welcome again. Now do me a favor and get some sleep"
"Promise you'll wake me if he needs me"
"I promise"

Minutes later while holding his partners hand, exhaustion overtook Steve and he slept.
Nurse Erin Campbell then covered Commander Steve McGarrett with a blanket as he snored softly.

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Steve's words played over in Danny's mind and as he felt the cold liquid enter his veins, his brain became even foggier and he cursed his partner.

'Damn it Steven, you're not the only one who hates drugs you know...
So I was kidnapped and tortured by Senator Mark Tomlinson huh? One more reason to hate politicians I guess. Shit my hand hurts but now I remember that bastard breaking my fingers one by one. You know Steve, I have to tell you that your methods of blocking out the pain has come in handy today. I'm not too proud to admit that I'm not as tough as you though Superman. I mean how many times were you tortured as a SEAL? You've told me about three times, but how many don't I know about, huh? I guess you could say this was my second time and I hope to God it's my last... I'll have to tell you about that sometime... about her. My other Grace...

The drugs are working... God I'm so tired...'

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Things were quiet in ICU room number 4 for almost four hours. Erin kept a close eye on Danny as Steve slept. Danny continued to warm and his color was improving but his heart rate still remained slightly elevated.

She was a little concerned about his fever though, as it had risen to 102.2 and she had sent for Doctor Jackson. She stood at Danny's side tenderly wiping his forehead and face with a cool, damp cloth. How ironic was this? They had been battling for hours to warm his body core due to his horrific injuries and blood loss and now those injuries are making him feverish. Who are you Danny Williams? What kind of special man are you that you can earn love and admiration of a man like Commander McGarrett? She then glanced at the sleeping SEAL. Steve McGarrett had quite a reputation among the staff here at Kings Memorial Hospital. He had been treated several times here before, and the rumors were that he was one of the toughest SOB's there was. Her friend Natalie had been his Nurse when he was brought in several months ago for a gunshot wound to the arm. Nat had told her how she had treated him and how his body was covered with scars from old wounds. He had scars from bullet wounds, stab wounds, and burns but he also had been whipped in the past and his back showed scarring from those lashes. She looked at the man sleeping peacefully in the chair, his hand still holding onto his partners...who are you Steve McGarrett?

Her thoughts were interrupted as Danny moaned louder and as he did he also squeezed Steve's hand waking him.
In seconds he had thrown the blanket to the ground and he was standing at Danny's side across from Erin.
Seeing Erin wiping his fevered brow he asked nervously, "Is he okay?"
"His temperature is rising"
Looking at his partners flushed face he asked, "How high is it?"
"102.2"
"So infection has set in?"
"I'm not sure Steve, Doctor Jackson is on the way" As Steve glanced at the heart monitor she added, "His heart is still beating fast, but it's stable"

As Erin re-wet the cloth and placed it back onto Danny's forehead, Steve leaned and whispered into his ear, "It's okay Danno, I'm here. You keep fighting for Gracie buddy, you hear me...you keep fighting"

'Steve? Steve...God it hurts babe...my belly hurts... Jason? You're back buddy? Where'd you go?...Jason wait! Don't run buddy, talk to me!...Jason wait, I'm coming...' Suddenly Danny's back arched up off the table and he began to choke on the ventilation tube.

Steve cried out frantically, "DANNY, DANNY, STAY WITH ME. COME ON 'D YOU DON'T QUIT ON ME!"
As the monitors attached to Danny blared their alerts, numerous Doctors and Nurses raced into the room pushing Steve off to the side. He stood a few feet from the bed with his arms folded across his chest and his hand over his mouth. He watched on in terror as the Doctors ripped the ventilator tubing from Danny's throat and the gagging and gasping sounds coming from Danny terrified him and tears welled in his eyes. He muttered softly, "Come on Danno, fight baby, oh God please fight"

As they pulled the blankets from Danny's body, Steve gasped at the sight before him.
He was shaking and he felt like he was in a daze. He had seen many of his brothers fighting for their lives before, but this was different...this was Danno, "Stay with me Danno..."

Wires and tubes covered his body and the large incision down the length of his chest though painful and swollen, was a healthy pink. It was obvious that the problem was with the three inch stab wound to his lower abdomen that was flaming red and clearly infected.

Doctor Jackson came to Steve's side, "Steve, we need to take him into surgery right away. It appears that an infection has set in to his intestinal tract"
"What can you do for him?"
"I don't know Steve. I won't know until I get in there and take a look. We cleaned him up the best we could earlier but obviously we missed something"
"Doc, I know you're doing everything you can...thank you"
"You can have a few minutes alone with him, then we need to prep him"
"Okay"

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Danny was running but he couldn't catch Jason, the little shit was always faster than him.
'Jason STOP! Come on brother talk to me, where are you going?
Suddenly the young boy stopped running and he turned to face his friend. As Danny drew near the child spoke, "Danny stop, you can't come with me"

"What are you talking about Jason? Buddy this is amazing, you're alive!"
"NO DANNY I'M NOT ALIVE!"
"What? What are you talking about? You're right here, come on buddy"
"Danny, I was sent to tell you it's not you're time yet. Gracie needs you. Steve and the others need you. You need to fight, you need to live. Do you remember what you told me? You told me that you, Joey and Alex were the Three Musketeers but that once I joined and we became Four, we were unstoppable and could do anything? Well buddy, now you're a team of four again and you're doing great things. Danny you're time is not up yet. Go back buddy, go back"

Danny dropped to his knees and he held out his hand as he watched Jason turn, walk away and disappear into the fog'

Steve moved back to the bedside and looking down he saw Danny's lips moving but no sound was coming from him. Stroking Danny's sweat drenched forehead he spoke to him softly, "I love you Danno, please keep fighting..." His voice cracked with emotion as he added, "I can't lose you partner"

From behind him, Erin said "Steve, they're ready to take him now"
Steve kissed his partners forehead and as tears fell he said quietly, "I'll see you soon buddy" He then turned and left the ICU.

******* So, emotional enough for you yet? Again I thank you all for the kind reviews and there is more to come! *******