Steve was asleep when Danny finally returned, the cousins in tow.
"Aww, he's so cute," Kono cooed, wincing a little when he injured shoulder bumped into the doorframe, "he looks so peaceful."
"See if you still feel that way when he wakes up swinging," Chin commented seriously; he and Danny had had to physically restrain Steve before the paramedics could inject a sedative, when the he was still battle-crazed and not in full possession of his faculties. And needless to say, grappling with a full-trained Navy SEAL when he wasn't in his right mind was not exactly a walk in the park. Chin had the bruises to prove it.
Steve shifted, his head lolling to one side and his fist tightening in the bedclothes, and his eyes cracked open.
"Hey, babe," Danny murmured, more than a little relieved to see that their fearless leader was still clear-eyed and coherent, "how are you feeling?"
Steve grunted something unintelligible, then mumbled, "'m fine."
"Steven," Danny warned, "you said that for the entirety of this week's beginning, and we all know how that turned out. Honesty."
Steve glared, but amended, "I'm tired, I'm sore, and I'm getting a headache from all my partner's talking."
Danny just grinned triumphantly. "Well, lucky for you your skull's so thick."
"Lucky for you—"
"Okay, girls," Chin interrupted, smirking, "stop."
Steve seemed to take notice of the other two presences in the room for the first time. "Chin," he greeted, "Kono."
"Hey, boss-man," Kono grinned, careful to avoid jostling her sling-swathed arm as she leaned forward, "it's good to see you back."
"Agreed," Chin added, "we were really worried about you, brah."
"I'm sorry," Steve apologized, without preamble. Chin and Kono both blinked in surprise.
"Nothing to apologize for, boss-man," Kono reassured him, waving a hand noncommittally, "we forgive you."
Steve's eyes were impossibly wide. "Just like that?" He asked weakly. Kono and Chin nodded the affirmative. "Just like that," she repeated.
Steve continued to stare. "I don't understand," he finally sputtered, "I almost—"
"Steve," Danny groaned, dropping his head onto the bed in frustration, "what did I tell you about that, huh? We're family, babe. This is what families do."
The ex-SEAL just continued to stare, a sort of mystified look on his face and oh, Danny would have to think of a name for that expression later. "In other news," he remarked, trying to fill the silence, "I figured out why those meds weren't working for you, Steve."
That got his attention. "What?" Steve's gaze snapped over to his partner, who held up an orange pill bottle and rattled it slightly, "Why?"
"Because it's not even your name on the bottle, moron." Steve snatched the bottle from Danny—as gingerly and carefully as he could, because Chin may have shot him in a strategic spot, but it still hurt like a bitch when he jostled his shoulder—and squinted at the type.
Sure enough. Hadn't it looked funny to him earlier, too?
Danny shook his head in exasperation. "I talked to the pharmacy, and they said there was a mix-up, but for Christ's sake, Steven: do you not even read the bottles?"
"I just try not to think about them, Danny," Steve answered quietly, and wow, that shut everyone up. Except now the hospital room was soberly, uncomfortably quiet. Damn.
"Anyway," he spoke up, "when can I get out of here?" Danny grinned knowingly. "I knew that was coming," the detective countered, "and no, Steve, it's not today." The Five-0 leader grumbled discontentedly, letting his head fall back to the bed.
"But," Danny held up a finger for emphasis, "if you play nice with the kind nurses, complete a successful psych evaluation—" and Steve cringed at that, "—and don't get your wound infected in the next 24 hours, the doctor says you can leave anytime."
Steve let out a whoosh of relieved air. 24 hours. He could handle that. First, though, he needed to do something about that evaluation.
"Danny, can I borrow your phone?"
His partner eyed him warily. "And just who are you planning on calling?"
"The Governor," Steve answered without hesitation, silently begging Danny to let him do this, but of course—
"Absolutely not," Danny huffed in between Chin and Kono—who'd been sitting in amused silence for the whole time—bidding the two of them goodbye and heading home, "I am familiar with all your sneaky ways, Steven, and you aren't getting out of this one." A pause. "Babe, as much as I tease you about going by the book, I think this time you really need to go through with this. Talking to someone about this will be good for you."
"Danny." Steve's voice was pleading, and far too meek for Danny's liking, "Please. I've been through this before, I know how it goes, and this...it's not going to help. Please, just...if I have to talk to anyone, I'd rather have it be you."
There was a long, meaningful silence, before Danny sighed, slipping his phone out of his pocket and placing it on the covers. "Fine. But no asking for shorter leave, or trying to bargain. You, my friend, are under strict orders for rest, and, as your partner, I will be staying with you to make sure to get it," Steve opened his mouth to argue, but Danny cut him off, "No arguments. I'll give you five minutes."
He turned to leave when Steve spoke again.
"Danny? One last thing."
"What is it now, Steven?
"Can you un-cuff me? I kind need hands...for the phone?"
You guys asked for the rest, don't look at me! It was a unanimous vote!