Standing at the sink, Steve stared at the basin as his wife's life blood washed down the drain. Danny stood outside the door waiting. Chin arrived a few minutes later with a clean tee shirt and their eyes met. "What are we going to do Danny?"
"The only thing we can do brother, just be there for him"
Steve came from the bathroom holding the soiled shirt in his hands. Chin took it, handed him the clean shirt and they made their back to the waiting room.
About twenty minutes later the Doctor entered the room. Steve was sitting with his head in his hands, staring at the ground. Spotting the Doctor, Danny placed a hand on Steve's forearm.
Steve looked up, and standing, he moved quickly to the Doctor followed by his team.
"Doc….how is she?"
"Mr. McGarrett, I'm sorry…..I'm very sorry"
The words staggered Steve and if Danny and Chin had not been there to hold him up he would have collapsed in a heap.
"Mr. McGarrett I need you to listen to me very carefully. We were able to revive your wife but there is no brain activity. We have her on life support and we need your approval to do a cesarean section to try and save your baby. We have to move quickly"
"He can…survive?"
"We'll do everything we can for him, I promise you"
"Yes….oh yes…do whatever…..you need to do….Doc, don't remove…..her from life…..support…don't do it"
"I'll be back soon" The men shook hands and the Doctor turned and left the room.
Kono was shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. Chin pulled her into an embrace as Danny tightened his grip on his partner, "Steve…we're so sorry…so very sorry"
Steve continued to stare straight ahead as if not hearing as Danny continued, "They'll do everything they can for the baby Steve"
"John….." Steve spoke so softly, his voice cracking as he spoke the name.
"What Steve?"
Still staring straight ahead Steve repeated, "John….our son's…. name… is John…John Daniel McGarrett….oh God….Danno why?" Steve began to shake as the news sunk in that his beloved wife, his soul mate was gone. Suddenly he collapsed to his knees and Danny dropped, pulling the sobbing man to his chest.
After several minutes Chin handed Steve a bottle of water and the men helped him to his feet, Chin spoke softly as he embraced Steve, "I'm sorry brother"
Steve turned and embraced Kono and then looking at his team, he struggled to speak, "Thank you….Catherine…she loved you all….very much"
They all made their way over to a nearby table and sat to wait.
The Doctor joined them a short time later sitting across from Steve. Kono took hold of Steve's hand as he spoke, "How's my son Doc"
"He's alive. He's been transferred to the NICU. At this stage of development our biggest concern is his lung development. We have him in an incubator and on a respirator. He's tiny, very tiny…..one pound, one ounce, and eight inches long"
"That's so small…"
"It is. I need to be totally honest with you. Your son's chance of survival is only about 20% due to his small size. A preemies struggle to breathe can cause great stress to the heart"
"Can I see him?"
"Of course, you'll be able to see him and touch him"
"Thank you….Doc, Catherine…..she's on life support…..can she…..can she recover?"
"I'm sorry Mr. McGarrett, but no…she has no brain activity at all…we kept her on life support in order to give the baby a chance for survival…I'm sorry but there is no hope for recovery"
"I need to see her…before….before you take her…off…"
"Of course, I'll send a nurse in to bring you to her soon and you can take all the time you need"
Steve stood and shook hands with the Doctor, "Thank you Doctor"
Danny looked to the others, "I'll stay here with Steve. Can you two head back and start tracking the whereabouts of Nori and Daiki and keep in touch with us"
"Danno, I'm alright….you can go back to the office…."
"Don't even go there brother, I'm not leaving you alone"
Chin added, "We'll call you with any updates boss. We'll find these bastards" Chin and Kono stood and after embracing Steve they left him with Danny.
The nurse came and led them to Catherine. Danny stood outside the room as Steve entered. He watched through the window as his partner moved to his wife's bedside leaning down to gently kiss her.
Steve softly caressed his wife's cheek, "I love you baby..." His voice caught in his throat as his emotions overwhelmed him. It took several minutes before he could go on, "You did it sweetheart, you delivered John...the Doctors are taking very good care of him..." Tears were streaming down Commander McGarrett's face as the reality hit him, the love of his life was gone.
Danny watched his partner from the window and his heart ached for his friend. He would have to be strong and stand by Steve through this but for now Danny Williams also wept, for Catherine, for little John and for Steve. He knew that today's events would forever change Steve McGarrett.
About twenty minutes passed before the the Doctor arrived and he and Danny entered the room.
Steve looked up, his face pale and puffy from crying and from the beating he had endured. He simply nodded to the Doctor and stated quietly, "It's time"
With that acknowledgement the Doctor moved to the bedside and shut off the life support. The only sound that remained was the beeping of the heart monitor as Steve cradled Catherine in his arms talking to her softly, "I'll take good care of John baby...he'll always know you, I promise...I love you Cath"
It took less than two minutes and she was gone. The Doctor quickly shut of the heart monitor and he and Danny left the room as Steve held his wife to his chest and sobbed.
Danny waited, pacing the floor outside the room. Steve came out about half an hour later and Danny moved to his side pulling him into a strong embrace.
"I'm sorry buddy...oh God I'm so sorry"
After several seconds Steve pulled away, "I need to see John"
"The nurse told me we just need to go up to the NICU, let's go"