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PS. For any of you who don't know, TARFUN is sometimes just TARFU, and it's pronounced with a long u sound. So TARFUN rhymes with harpoon.
TARFUN
Things Are Really Fucked Up Now
Danny considered his options one more time. I can't believe I'm going to do this.
Then he pinched Steve's butt. Hard.
"Danno? What the hell was that for?"
"Talking wasn't waking you up and I wasn't keen on banging my already sore head into your thick, unconscious skull to wake you up. That only left one option."
"Well, fine," Steve spat with bad grace. "But did you have to do it so hard? I ought to make you rub it to make it feel better."
"In your dreams, McGarrett." Danny's voice took on a more serious tone as he continued. "But I did need you to wake up, because I just heard a whole bunch of motorcycles go tearing out of here. I couldn't overhear enough of the conversation to understand why, but I'm pretty sure there's only one or two of them left here guarding us. If we're gonna try again to make a break for it, now is probably the time."
"You try. Think I'll go back to sleep." Steve's voice started to slur towards the end of the sentence, and Danny's worry level ramped up even higher. I didn't even know I could be more worried. After he started convulsing... please let it be shock, and not some sort of epilepsy caused by TBI. And whatever it was, the seizures didn't start until he passed out. So I've got to keep him awake. At all costs.
"Oh, no you don't, partner. I'm not going anywhere without you. And don't you dare fall asleep again, either. Not unless you want me to pinch you again."
"But, Danno..." Steve whined piteously. It was only because he was so worried for the SEAL that Danny didn't correct him on the use of his nickname.
"No buts!" Danny put on his firmest, laying-down-the-law father voice (which usually lasted exactly two seconds with Gracie). "Now, grab on and let's move on the count of three!"
He felt a light brush against his backside. Geez, please, please, please! tell me that isn't the best grip you can muster, Steve! "Harder, Steve! If you don't use those SuperSEAL muscles, there's a very real chance that we won't move together, we'll dislocate our shoulders, and we'll fall down in a very painful heap. And my shoulder's already killing me. Now GET a grip!"
The fingers tightened slightly. Please, oh please, oh please have enough strength to get us to the table, Danny silently begged. All I'm asking for is just a little bit of help here, just a little bit of luck...
"Alright, we're gonna head for that table over there. One of the guys set down a toolbox; we might be able to tip it enough for stuff to fall out. If I can get my hands on a small enough nail, I might be able to pick the cuffs. On three. One, two, three." Danny stood on his toes, lifting his chair by where his legs were tied to it. He felt Steve sluggishly follow his lead, so he pivoted his feet to move his chair. Steve seemed barely able to follow. The second the chairs hit the floor again (in less than a controlled manner, on Steve's side), Danny heard him wheeze again. At this rate, it's going to take us ten years to cross the seven feet to the table. Either that, or it's going to kill Steve trying.
Unacceptable.
But what other choice is there? I can't just sit here and waste our chance at escape. Steve needs help now!
But it won't help him if you kill him trying to escape! Danno ranted back at himself.
I have to try. I can't tell Gracie that I gave up, that I let her Uncle Steve give up... Danny didn't realize there were tears in his eyes as he thought of Grace. His vision hadn't improved since he'd woken again; it was still blurry and sometimes doubled.
Besides, he told himself, they're going to kill us anyway, at this rate. Whether it's part of "the plan" or not.
Just as Danny was about to rally Steve to try for another six inches, he heard the most welcome sound in the world:
"Five-O! Drop your weapons!"
Of course, because they had Five-0's wonderful luck too, Chin and Kono's shouts were immediately followed by a bunch of gunfire. Danny closed his eyes in relief. "We're saved," he whispered to Steve.
Danny couldn't help wondering if he'd blacked out again when he opened his eyes and two Konos were suddenly in front of him, gently touching his neck- feeling for a pulse? My pulse?- and chattering quickly into a phone. She must be really upset with whoever she's talking to, he thought as her volume increased exponentially.
"NO, an ambulance is not good enough! There's no time for that! I need a medivac chopper with room for two and I need it fifteen minutes ago! What part of two officers unconscious and unresponsive do you have trouble understanding?"
" 'M awake," Danny murmured. Kono looked down and met his eyes, a look of almost beatific relief coming over her face. It died a swift death as she went back to berating the dispatcher.
"Tell that pilot to put pedal to the metal to get here. I can't wake Steve, he's barely breathing, and his pulse is rapid and thready." Hearing Chin behind him was almost a happy moment for Danny- until what he was saying sank in. Danny took a big gulp of air and swallowed hard, his heart in his stomach, bile rising in his throat. Can't wake Steve? Barely breathing? Pulse rapid and thready?
"Dammit, Steve, I told you to stay awake!" Danny griped. But I'll be perfectly fine with you taking your little nap if you just wake up and get better! Danny barely noticed as Chin came around in front of him, leaned him as far forward as he could in the chair, set Danny's head against his own shoulder, and started working on Steve's cuffs.
"Don't make me pinch you again." Unfortunately for Danny, Chin was the only one who heard the muttered threat. And before he could question it, Danny had conked out again.
.
.
.
Author's Note:
Thanks to last night's all-nighter, I have most of this story already written and it only needs a little more proofreading before it's finalized. The only chapter NOT even close to being close to finished is Chapter 6, Recovery. This chapter is going to cover most of the comforting of the story; it already has three scenes: one Chin/Kono, one Kono/Grace, and one Danno/Chin. It still feels unfinished, though, which is why I'm taking requests and suggestions for who you'd like to see comforting who. I would like to get someone with Steve, but I'm not sure who yet. Anyhow, now is the time for you to vote on who gets to comfort Steve (but Danno is not really an option).