****** OKAY – Here are the FINAL 2 CHAPTERS – I hope you enjoy ******

Steve returned a little more than an hour later refreshed after showering and changing.
He called Rachel with the update on Danny and then she put Gracie on the phone.

"Hello baby, how are you?"
"I'm scared Uncle Steve, is Danno okay?"
"Hey, there's nothing to be scared about sweetheart"
"Are you sure? Mommy said Danno was hurt bad and now I can't see him"
"Gracie do I sound scared?"
"No"
"And you shouldn't be scared either. Danno is so tough, you know that don't you?"
"Uh huh, but why can't I see him then?"
Thinking quickly, the SEAL told the frightened eight-year old, "His hair's messy"
The child chuckled, "What?"
"His hair's messy Gracie and you know how much your Danno worries about his hair!"
"You're so silly Uncle Steve"
"No baby, you're the silly one for worrying. You can see Danno after school tomorrow okay?"
He smiled as he heard the relief in the child's voice, "Okay. I love you Uncle Steve"
"I love you too and Gracie don't you ever forget that your Danno loves you"
"I love him more! I'll see you tomorrow"
"Okay sweetie, good night"

Kono was sitting at the table working on her laptop when he entered.
She looked up and smiled broadly at him, "You look like a new man boss!"
Smiling back he replied, "I feel like a new man Kono. Any news?"
"No"
"Well, no news is good news I guess huh?"
"Yeah it sure is"
"Any more matches on the rapes?"
"Three more"
"Keep at it Kono, you're doing a great job"

A Nurse named Rose arrived a short time later and after saying goodbye to Kono, Steve was led back to Danny's room.
As he looked down at his friend, Rose let him know that Danny's heart rate was continuing to drop as was his fever.
"He's doing very well Steve"
Steve's eyes landed on a cot that had been set up in the corner of the small room.
Rose grinned, "Doctor Jackson said you'd be staying the night"
Steve nodded, "Thank you"

Steve was sitting in the leather chair holding Danny's hand when he began to stir.
Standing up, he stroked Danny's forehead pushing back his hair.
Danny's head moved slightly as Steve prodded him softly, "Hey buddy, can you open your eyes for me?"
As Steve ran his hand through his partner's hair the Jersey detective's eyes remained closed and he mumbled through his oxygen mask, "Don't mmess with mmy hhair Steven"
Steve grinned, "Welcome back partner. You lay still for me now okay?"

Slowly Danny's eyes fluttered open and with a lopsided grin he said, "My thrroat hh...hurtts"
"That's from the vent tube, but they took that out"
"Need wwaterr Stteve"
Rose stepped to up to the other side of the bed, "Danny, my name is Rose. Can you tell me if you're in pain?"
"Not too bbad...'m thirstty"
"You've had abdominal surgery and it's too soon for you to drink. I can wet your lips with a cloth and you can suck on it a bit, but just enough to moisten your mouth"

"Uh...huh...'k"
Removing his oxygen mask she placed the cloth to his lips and Danny's eyes closed as he softly sucked the moisture.
As she pulled it from him Steve asked, "There you go Danno, is that better?"
"Yeah...Steve?..."
"Yeah, I'm right here"
"She said I hhad surgery?"
"You had a little problem partner. You had a bit of an infection in your intestines from where you were stabbed but the Doc took good care of you and you're going to be fine now"

"Steve...Jason wouldn't let mme ggo with him..."
His eyes closed again and Steve reached down and took hold of his hand as he thought, 'Who is Jason?' Doctor Jackson did say he would be confused so he replied, "That's good Danny, you needed to stay here"

"I'm so cold Steve"
Rose went to grab another blanket from a nearby cupboard as Danny said, "Jason saidd tto stay, but I'm sso ttired Supermman...sshit I'm tired"

"Sleep then buddy. I'll be right here, you just sleep"
Rose tucked the extra blanket around Danny and placed the oxygen mask back over his face and in only moments he was back under. Without releasing his grasp on Danny's hand, Steve said back down and continued his vigil.

They kept Danny highly medicated and he slept most of the night.
Steve slept as well but he refused to lie on the cot, instead sleeping on the chair while holding his partners hand.

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Steve was awake and wiping Danny's forehead when he woke at about five in the morning.
"Good Morning. How do you feel Danny?"
"I'm okkay, I don't...don't understtand Steve...what happened?"
"You were kidnapped and tortured by Tomlinson. Do you remember that?"
Steve set the cloth down and grabbed Danny's hand as the man hesitated, a look of confusion evident on his face. Through his mask he muttered, "Mark...his name was Mark"

"Yeah buddy, Senator Mark Tomlinson"
Danny closed his eyes tightly and his voice shook as he said, "He cut me"
As a tear slipped from Danny's clenched eye and Steve brushed it away with his fingertips, "I know partner but it's over now"

Danny's voice shook, "I need this mask off" Steve gently lifted the mask and Danny continued "I thought he was going to kill me... I remembered what you told me about how to block out the pain... how to take your mind to another place. You told me to survive. I knew you'd come for me and I all I had to do was survive"

Steve's voice choked with emotion as he replied, "And you did it Danny. You're safe now and that bastard can't hurt you anymore"
Suddenly Danny's grip tightened in his and his jaw clenched in pain.
Steve squeezed his hand tightly, "Danny, squeeze tight, I've got you"
Danny's breathing became rapid and Steve couldn't help but look at the heart monitor as the pain caused Danny's heart rate to spike. "Danny, relax buddy...relax"

Rose moved to the bedside and Steve said, "He needs more pain meds"
The elderly Nurse spoke firmly, "The Doctor needs to see him first and he's on his way"
"Okay, okay Danny the Doc's on the way. I need you to slow down you breathing for me buddy"
"Steve...no meds...'k? I want to talk"
"Danny, we'll have all the time in the world to talk when you're feeling better"
"Steve..."
"Don't argue with me okay? Gracie's going to be up to see you in a few hours and you need to be rested"
"Gracie..."
Steve smiled down at his partner, "Yeah, I talked to her last night and she can't wait to see you"
Danny said weakly, "My little monkey"
His hand began to relax in Steve's and the SEAL said softly, "Yeah buddy, she'll be here soon so slow down your breathing for me now"

Doctor Jackson arrived and Nurse Rose stepped back to make room for him.
"Hello Danny, can you tell me where you hurt?"
"My chest, my belly and my fucking hand hurts so bad"
Steve again said, "Relax Danno"
Doctor Jackson then asked, "Danny, I need you to rate the pain for me"
"Um...an eight I guess"
"Okay. I'm going to increase your meds so you can sleep. You're doing really well young man, you just need sleep"
As the Doctor opened up the morphine drip and the drug entered Danny's bloodstream, Steve leaned in close whispering, "That's my boy, relax...sleep Danny, I'm right here"

It took only moments for Danny to succumb to the morphine and Steve watched on as Doctor Jackson examined his wounds and set him up on a nasal cannula. Once done he smiled at Steve, "Everything looks good Steve. You're doing a wonderful job keeping him calm. He's going to be in severe pain for a couple of days, but everything looks good"

Danny slept the rest of the day and when Gracie and Rachel arrived at a a little after four, he was still under. Steve moved into the hallway to greet them and Gracie was instantly in his arms.
Hugging him tightly she said, "Hi Uncle Steve, how's Danno?"
"He's doing good but he's very tired honey"
"Is he sleeping?"
"Yes, but he's been waiting to see you so will you stay here with your Mommy for a couple of minutes and I'll wake him up okay?"
She smiled lovingly at him, "Okay"
"Gracie, I need to tell you not to be scared when you see Danno. The Doctors have him hooked up to a lot of beeping machines so they can see how strong his heart is beating"

"Okay, I won't be scared"
"Also Danno's hand was broken and they can't put it in a cast yet because it's too swollen. It's wrapped up and it's really puffy"
"Does it hurt him?"
"Yes it hurts, so we have to make sure he doesn't move his hand and we can't touch it okay?"
"Okay, I promise I won't touch it"
He smiled at her and setting her back onto the ground, he kissed her cheek and walked back into the room.

***** One more chapter to go, I hope you're enjoying *****