Steve had never been comfortable in a hospital, even worse when he was a patient. Dr. Hong had been in and explained to him about the illegal drugs in his system and what they were doing to help him. He had no idea where the drugs had come from, but he knew there'd be questions from hire up no matter how much immunity the governor gave him.
Steve had no idea how long he'd been in the ICU, but he knew it must be late because the staff had implemented night lighting so patients could sleep. He knew he should try to do just that, but there were too many questions on his mind. He could see Kono sitting in a chair near the door, but didn't want to disturb her so he kept his body still in spite of the pain that was still present.
Steve thought about the information contained in the CD the governor had given him, and wondered how he could convince Danny that O'Brien could be bad. He needed to investigate the man, but to do so would also mean investigating Danny Williams. That just seemed wrong on so many levels and now there'd probably be an investigation into why he had street level drugs in his system.
He knew procedure and understood IA would be involved, but Chin, Kono, and Danny would know he had not taken the drugs, that they'd been forced on him. He just didn't know where, when, or how it had happened, but his first choice would be the damn pain meds. Once he was rid of this damn tube and sent home, he'd be better able to figure out what the hell was going on.
Steve opened his eyes as the nurse moved closer to the bed and began checking the equipment connected to his body. He felt weak, but he wanted the damn tube out, yet Hong had explained that he would not remove it until he was sure Steve was strong enough to breath on his.
"Steve, Danny's here so I'm going to go home. I'll see you tomorrow," Kono said and saw a simple nod that told her McGarrett understood what she said.
Steve looked at Williams when he stepped into the room and was frustrated by his inability to communicate. He smiled inwardly when Danny produced a notepad and a pen and helped raise the head of his bed.
"How are you feeling?" Williams asked.
"Feel like crap, but better than I was...Danny, I didn't take the drugs." McGarrett wrote and turned it toward his partner.
"I know you didn't, Steve, but we're going to have to figure out who did it and why."
"Someone could have switched the pills...did they test the ones in the bottle?" McGarrett wrote.
"They're doing tests on it, but you know how backed up they are," Williams said and pulled the chair closer to the bed. "Steve, do you have any idea who could be behind this?"
"I'm a cop, Danny, and I was a SEAL. Lots of ideas, but we need to narrow it down." McGarrett showed him the paper.
"I know, but what you need to do is let them take care of you. Chin, Kono and I will find out who's behind it."
Steve noticed that Williams had left out his friends name, but didn't know if it was a simple mistake, or if Danny was starting to suspect the man. God, he hoped it was the latter because he really didn't want to tell his partner that the man he trusted could be dirty.
"Where's David?" McGarrett wrote and waited for Williams to answer him.
"I'm not sure. He left at the same time I did and said he was going to check on a couple of things," Williams answered and studied his friend's pale face. "Steve, IA was at your place."
McGarrett nodded that he figured as much, but he wasn't ready for the next part and fought the ventilator when Danny revealed that they'd found drugs in a hidden recess of Steve's kitchen.
"Commander, you need to relax and let it do what it's supposed to do," the nurse warned as McGarrett quickly wrote something and shoved it toward her. She read it and quickly shook her head. "I can't take it out without Dr. Hong's permission and he's already gone home for the day."
"Steve, stop, and think for a minute. There's not a damn thing you can do about it right now even if you could get them to take that tube out. Trust us to take care of things until you're back on your feet. I'm going to meet with the governor tomorrow morning and find out exactly what's going on and why our so called means and immunity seems to have been revoked in this case."
"Danny, I can't sta..."
"Really, Steve, that sounds just as stupid written down as it does when you say it out loud. Don't make me regret giving you a way to communicate because I can simply take it away again. Now why don't you close your eyes and get some sleep."
Steve knew the other man was right, but it didn't make this any easier. He dropped the pen on the table and closed his eyes, but he knew sleep would be a rare commodity right now as he thought about everything that had happened in the last few days. He opened his eyes and picked up the pen, ignoring Danny's rant about his stubborn streak getting bigger each day.
"The McMillan case?" Steve wrote.
"You're not going to rest are you?" Williams asked and could picture the smug smile his partner would wear if it wasn't for the tube. "Kevin McMillan is still upstairs, but his memory is unclear. Chin and Kono had an interview with a hotel employee who had a picture of the man the Coopers descried. McMillan recognized him. We know he's using the name Jerry, but so far we don't know if that's real or an alias. We're going to get them, Steve, but right now you're out of this one so go to sleep."
"Listen to your friend, Commander, you need to rest or I'm going to make Detective Williams leave," the nurse told him and injected something into his IV before turning her attention to the other equipment.
Steve fisted his hands in frustration, but the truth was he was fighting to keep his eyes open and thinking was making his head hurt. He knew she'd given him the medication Hong had prescribed and that he'd be sleeping very soon. That wasn't such a bad thing when it meant escaping the pain for a while.
"He should sleep until morning, Detective."
"He needs that," Williams said and wished there was some way this could all be over before McGarrett was back on his feet, yet something told him this was only the beginning.
5050505050
Paul Sheffield looked across the desk at his partner and knew they could talk openly here. The evidence they'd found at McGarrett's home could be explained easily, but it was there job to make sure the charges stuck and this time it would be a pleasure to bring the SEAL down.
"We need to find his dealer," Charlie Higgins said.
"Do you honesty believe he has one?" Sheffield asked.
"We found the drugs where he hid them so he had to get them from somewhere," Higgins said.
"Look, Charlie, you and I know he's dirty, but it won't take much for his team to come up with an explanation. If I was a betting man I'd put money on the governor stepping in and saying this was a setup. McGarrett is her golden boy," Sheffield observed and leaned back as he tapped his pencil on his chin. "We need to be careful and make damn sure this sticks."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I'm not suggesting anything, but do you still have Chong's number?"
"Chong doesn't deal any more," Higgins told him.
"And you believe him? Come on, Charlie, you've never been that naive."
"I never said I believed him, but it's been fun letting him think he's got me fooled," Higgins offered. "What do you want me to do?"
"Call Chong and make him an offer he can't refuse."
"What offer?"
"Tell him you'll wipe his slate clean if he agrees to be a witness against McGarrett. We need him to say Steve bought the drugs from him and that he's a regular...and he samples everything he buys," Sheffield said with a grin.
"What about whoever really planted the drugs?"
"We don't really know they were planted do we, but even if they were we can deal with them. After all we're both after the same thing. Call Chong and set up a meeting with him before we go see McGarrett and maybe find a judge who's willing to swear out an arrest warrant."
"Do you really think that's going to happen?"
"Probably not, but it'll be fun watching McGarrett and his team squirm," Sheffield said with a grin as his partner took out his phone and made the call.
5050505050
Lee Hong read the results of McGarrett's morning tests before moving to the ICU where the man seemed to be sleeping. The morning nurse had already completed her ritual and he smiled as he stepped closer to the bed and his patient opened his eyes and looked at him before pushing an open notebook toward him.
"I want this out!"
The words were written in bold letters and Hong couldn't help, but smile at Williams who was leaning against the wall to his right. "I see, and what if I said you still need it?"
Steve reached for the pen and paper, but before he could write anything, Hong took the pen from his hand.
"It's okay, Commander, I've looked at your tests and they actually look better. Your numbers are within the normal parameters and while you were sleeping we did a trial run. So, how would you feel about getting rid of that tube?"
Steve nodded and lay back against the pillows as the nurse moved in to help the doctor. He'd had this tube before and knew what to expect, but tat didn't make it any easier when Hong nodded and pulled the tube out. Steve felt what little was in his stomach come up with the tube and gasped for breath even as the nurse placed nasal canulas over his nose. She also eased a soft, warm cloth over his face, and he sighed gratefully before growing serious.
"Doc, I need to get out of here."
"I hear you, Commander, but the best I can offer you right now is a different room. You don't need to be in ICU any longer, but I want you here for at least 24 hours just to make sure there are no..."
"Oh no, Doc, don't say it..."
"Excuse me, Detective Williams?"
"Don't say that word because if it's one thing Steve McGarrett knows plenty about it's complications..."
"Shut up, Danny," McGarrett said, his voice scratchy from the tube that had been down his throat.
"Look, Commander, just give me another 24 hours to make sure you're all right and then I'll gladly sign the discharge papers for you."
"Give the man 24 hours, Steve, let the rest of us work our butts off while you get to let people like the beautiful Keanna Wahine take care of you," Williams said as the woman walked into the room.
"Good morning, Lee, how is he?" Wahine asked, smiling when she noticed the tube was gone.
"His numbers are good and I've signed the papers to have him moved to a private room. If he continues to improve I'll discharge him tomorrow morning," Hong explained and closed the chart. "I'll see you tomorrow, Commander, unless something new turns up in your tests."
"Thanks, Doc," McGarrett said and smiled at the woman standing next to his bed. "Hi...thanks for coming, Keanna."
"Hey, I told you I'd be in this morning. How are you feeling?"
"Better," McGarrett answered honestly.
"You do look better," Wahine said.
"Dr. Wahine, I need to get him ready to transfer to his new room," the nurse said and was glad to have the other woman's help.
"Steve, I'm going to call Chin and see if anything's turned up," Williams said and moved out of the room.
5050505050
David O'Brien was shocked that no one had discovered Chris Jacobs' body, but he knew it was only a matter of time. He knew Danny was still at the hospital, but he needed to put in an appearance at Five-O headquarters. He stepped into the office to find Chin and Kono running through several pictures and fought to keep the surprise from showing when he recognized the man who was predominant in each one. He also recognized the woman in the photos and knew it was time to do something before they got closer to finding out the truth.
"Good morning," O'Brien greeted the duo and asked. "Is Danny still at the hospital?"
"Would you expect him to be anywhere else with his partner in ICU?" Chin asked and knew his words were harsh, but had no plan to apologize.
"No, guess not, so where are we with the McMillan case?" O'Brien asked.
"Kono is going to check out a lead on this guy while I go see the manager at The Royal Hawaiian," Chin answered.
"What can I do?" O'Brien asked.
"I don't know, David, what can you do?" Chin asked as Kono gathered the information she needed.
"I could go with Kono and..."
"No, thanks for the offer, but I have all the help I need," Kono told him and nodded to both men before leaving the office.
"Did I do something to offend Kono?" O'Brien asked innocently.
"Maybe, but you'll have to ask her that."
"Chin, what the hell did I do wrong here?" O'Brien asked and sat on the edge of the desk before looking at the other man. "I mean I seem to have alienated you and Kono and Commander McGarrett and I don't know how to fix it. I'm not the bad guy in this..."
"Really?"
"Really. I transferred here because I wanted to start fresh..."
"Why'd you need to start fresh?" Chin asked softly.
"My wife and I separated and I couldn't handle all the reminders. I knew Danny was here and from the emails I had from him he seemed to have found a lace here with Five-O. I didn't come here to be part of the governor's task force, but how could I turn down the chance to work with Danny again? Tell me what I have to do to fit in."
"Stop trying so damn hard and don't push things, especially with Steve," Chin answered and picked up the information he needed. He didn't want O'Brien with him, but he didn't want to leave the man alone here or give him something else to take to Danny. "Look, I'm just going to follow up with several hotel employees. Why don't you come with me...maybe you could help figure out where these women are."
"Sounds good," O'Brien said and followed the other man out of the office.
5050505050
Steve lay back on the pillows and adjusted the height of his head as he thought about the events of the last week. First there was Danny's friend, then the case, then the governor's surprise announcement, his fight with Jacobs, and then finding out Jameson had ulterior reasons for putting O'Brien on the task force. Williams would be back shortly and Steve knew it was time to talk to his partner about his friend. It wasn't going to go well, but at least Danny would know he trusted him. The governor would probably be pissed at him, but right now her opinion wasn't worth very much. He needed Williams to understand they were on the same page, although right now Danny was at the top, while Steve was at the bottom.
Steve turned his head toward the door when it opened, anger in his eyes when he recognized the two men who entered his room unannounced. "What do you want?"
"We're here to ask you a couple of questions, Commander," Paul Sheffield advised as his partner took up position near the window.
"About what?" McGarrett snarled.
"About the drugs you used and the ones we found in your home," Higgins answered.
"I don't use drugs," Steve told them.
"That's not what your blood tests show, Commander, so why don't we make this easy on everyone involved and we can take down your confession now," Sheffield suggested.
"I don't think so. Why don't you find someone else to harass today," McGarrett said and sat forward before letting his legs slide over the edge of the bed.
"Where would the fun be in that, Commander?" Sheffield asked. "Now, I'm sure Williams or Kelly already told you what we found in your home."
"It was planted."
"That's what they all say," Higgins said.
"Sometimes it's the truth," McGarrett told him.
"And I suppose this is one of those times?" Sheffield observed.
"I don't have to explain anything to you."
"If you want..."
"I don't want anything from you so get out," McGarrett told them.
"Not until you answer some questions," Sheffield said.
"I already did, get out now!"
"You heard him, Sheffield, get out," Williams snapped angrily from the open doorway.
"We're leaving," Sheffield said and looked from McGarrett to Williams. "You'd be well advised to stay out of our business."
"IA doesn't scare me in spite of their stupidity in hiring you two," Williams said and smiled as the two men stormed out of the room. "You all right, Steve?"
"I'm fine, Danny, but I need to find out what the hell's going on and I can't do that from here."
"No, you can't, but I can so just sit back and enjoy this big cup of coffee and we' figure out what's happening," Williams said, relieved when McGarrett lay back against the pillows and took the coffee.
Author's Note -thanks again for the wonderful reviews and comments on this one. Sorry for the delay...Winnie