Hey guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the alerts, reviews, and support for this story. You guys are awesome, beyond awesome, incredible. Incredisome? Yeah, incredisome (Webster's dictionary here I come :D)
Please enjoy this new chapter, let me know if it's okay (especially Doctor Wesley theroy. I was iffy on it, and I want to know your guys'/gals' reaction to it), and I will see you in the next chapter.
I OWN NOTHING,
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Steve
2001…
I didn't run into Catherin Rollins until a year later, during another mission. She was, once again, the guide. Giving us coordinates and informing us of the quickest way to avoid mercenaries. It was after the mission, another notch in my belt of successes, and I was packing up my weapon when I heard her approach.
"I remember you," she said slowly, I could hear the smirk in her voice.
"I remember you, too," I responded snapping the latches on my case.
"I'm Cat," she stated when I turned to face her, her hand sticking out.
"Yeah, I know," I replied not missing how stunningly beautiful she was. I accepted her handshake and said, "I'm Steve…"
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Present Day…
I woke to an irritating buzzing. For a second I actually thought a bee had flown into my room, until I remembered the window wasn't open. I sat up, blurry eyed, my muddled brain taking a second to pinpoint what the hell was buzzing.
"Shit," I whispered when it came to me. I scooped my phone off the end table next to my bed, squinted at the picture flashing back at me, and answered, "What's wrong Kono?"
"Danny spiked a fever," she said slowly. I was out of bed before the words were fully out of her mouth, grabbing a shirt off the floor.
"I'm on my way." I hung up on her, stashing my phone in my jeans pocket before pulling them on. I grabbed my boots off the floor and started toward the door, pulling it open to reveal Grace, her fist raised as if she were about to knock.
"What's wrong?" she asked quietly (perceptive little girl).
"Why are you out of bed?"
"Is it Danno?" she ignored my question (too damn perceptive). Before I could reply she was already running toward her room. "Let me get my shoes." it wasn't like I wasn't going to wake her or anything, but the fact that she was already up made me a little flabbergasted. It was almost like she knew something was wrong…
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We made it to the hospital in a little under fifteen minutes. Grace was the first out of my truck, waiting impatiently on the sidewalk for me to join her. We hurried toward the entrance and headed for the elevators.
It was a quiet ride up to Danny's room; Gracie grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I squeezed back, hoping to reassure her, then let go as the doors opened. Grace headed toward Kono the moment she saw her and demanded, "What's wrong with Danno?"
"Um, Gracie," Kono said kneeling down to her height. "I will tell you, I promise, but right now I need to talk to Steve, okay."
"Is he okay?" Grace pushed jutting her chin out stubbornly in such a Danny-ish way.
"Hey, Grace," Chin said coming up behind Kono, "how's about we go get something from the cafeteria?"
"But Danno…"
"…is really, really sick," Chin responded quietly. "And I know you are worried about him, but there's nothing we can do right now. So, let's head down to the cafeteria, let Auntie Kono talk to Uncle Steve, and then he'll explain what's going on, later. Okay?"
She was silent for a second, a whirlwind of emotions playing across her face, but finally she nodded. Chin gave her a weak smile and led her toward the elevators. Kono waited until they were gone before she stood up.
"How bad is he?" I asked.
"Wesley thinks an infection is setting in, but he's not sure."
"Where is Wesley?" I questioned letting my eyes scan the immediate area for the familiar doctor.
"He's in Danny's room," Kono responded her eyes settling on the closed door. "He said to wait out here until he was finished examining him.
I moved toward the room, Wesley opening the door seconds before I could touch the knob. He gave me a weary look, and I opened my mouth to speak, but he quickly said, "It's a mild infection. I've started him on antibiotics, and am cautiously hopeful he'll be okay."
"Can we see him?" Kono asked before I could say anything.
"Of course," Wesley said quickly, "but he's still unconscious." she nodded and headed toward Danny's room.
"Cautiously hopeful?" I spoke slowly the moment Kono shut the door. I raised my eyebrows in question. I didn't like that phrase 'cautiously hopeful.' It sounded like there was a chance Danny might not be okay
"Like all infections there is a chance it could get worse before it gets better," Wesley replied meeting my eyes. "But I can assure you Detective Williams' condition hasn't deteriorated since yesterday."
"But has it gotten any better?" I questioned cocking my head. I mean, Danny had an infection. In my book, it sounded worse despite what Wesley said.
"He has brain functions, meaning he's not in a coma," Wesley said patiently, something flickered across his eyes that got my attention.
"But…"
Wesley sighed and continued, "There's no but, exactly. It's just… It's just I thought Danny would be awake by now. Or, at the very least, responding to familiar voices." Wesley was quiet for a second, tucking his bottom lip between his teeth. He then took a breath and said, "It's almost as if he doesn't want to wake up…"
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Danny
2007…
The reception was held in a ball room, a few miles down the road from where the wedding was held. I sat in the corner, periodically checking my watch, waiting until Gracie was done greeting guests so I could say good-bye. I wanted to get out of there so bad; I knew I didn't belong at that reception. Hell, I didn't belong at the wedding either. And I can guarantee, if not for Grace, I wouldn't have shown up at all.
"Danny," a voice said and Stan sat across from me. "Nice of you to show up."
"Gracie invited me," I said. "Of course I showed up." I wanted to add a snarky 'expecting me to say thank you for inviting me to hell?' But thought better of it. I wasn't against wrecking Rachel's wedding, but I'm pretty sure Grace wouldn't exactly appreciate me being an ass to her new step-dad. That and I was trying to teach her to keep mean comments to herself.
"I'll take care of her, you know?" Stan said quietly.
"Rachel or Grace?" I muttered meeting his eyes.
"Both, I guess," he replied matter-of-factly.
"Thanks for the offer, Stanly," I said slowly getting to my feet. "But Grace is my daughter, and I'll be taking care of her…"
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2007…
"What do you mean I can't have her this weekend?" I hissed into the phone, pacing back and forth across the grimy bathroom floor of the precinct.
"Stan's mother is coming to town. She wants to see Grace," Rachel argued, her voice about as quiet as mine.
"Why is it," I started glaring at my reflection, "that every time one of Stan's relatives comes to town I am forced to give up my weekend with Grace. But when my sister, who happens to be her actual relative, by the way, invites us to her place for a week, in the summer, that isn't mine you say no."
"Danny don't…"
"'Don't' what Rachel? Don't tell you the truth. I mean, it is the truth, isn't it? Step-Granny Edwards gets to see our daughter, our daughter Rachel, whenever she comes to town but my sister has to wait until my time with her niece. Tell me, how is that fair?" she didn't respond, but I did hear her soft sigh.
"You know what, fine," I snapped running a hand through my hair. "Take my weekend, again. Just for Stan's mother. You obviously rather have Stan be her father than me anyway." And I hung up before she could say anything else…
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2007…
I followed Grace up the walkway, my anger boiling just below the surface. I couldn't believe the gall Stanly had, couldn't believe he'd even offer Gracie the choice. I mean, it was bad enough she called his sister Auntie, but this… This was taking it too far.
"Daniel," Rachel said drily when she opened the door. "Hello, sweetie," she warmly greeted Grace, glancing down at her and giving her a smile.
I waited until Grace was out of earshot and hissed, "Grandma and Grandpa Edwards?"
"Stan only asked her, she doesn't have to say yes," Rachel sighed. "Besides, they are her grandparents now."
"No, her grandmothers are Beverley Williams and Matilda Parker and her grandfather is Allan Williams." Rachel father had died when she was six, even I never met him. "Not Patrick and Nancy Edwards."
"Stan is my husband, Grace's step-father…"
"Yeah, I was at the wedding," I said under my breath.
"…she has every right to call them Grandmother and Grandfather if she wants to," Rachel pushed on as if I hadn't said anything. "And you can throw a tantrum until you are blue in the face, but you can't influence her choice." and she slammed the door before I could open my mouth to argue…
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Steve…
Present Day…
I found Grace and Chin sitting at the furtherest table from the door, untouched orange juice sitting in front of her, a half a cup of coffee held between Chin Ho's hands. He gave me a small smile when I approached, getting to his feet.
"I'm going to get more coffee," he said and wandered over to the lady behind the counter. I took his unoccupied chair, resting my arms on the table.
"How's Danno?" Grace asked meeting my eyes.
I hesitated not sure how much to tell her. She was eight. What would she understand and what wouldn't she? What could she handle? Danny would know what to tell her, Danny would know how to handle this situation. God, I wish Danny were here right now.
Knowing she was expecting some answer, I took a breath and opted to say, "Wesley had to give him some medicine."
"Why?" she asked her brown eyes widening.
"Danno's got an infection," I replied slowly. "It's… it's from the injuries he had already gotten. But the medicine is going to help fight it."
"Is he still okay?" she questioned quietly. "I mean, he's not… he's not…?" she couldn't finish her question, couldn't bring herself to ask if her daddy was going to end up like her mommy. And despite what she said Thursday night, I could tell doubts were starting to creep up on her.
"Doctor Wesley says Danno should be fine. As long as he keeps getting the medicine he needs." I dared not touch on Wesley's theory, about how Danny might not want to wake up. It was hard for me to completely understand, I hated to think what Grace would take from that tidbit of information.
"Can I see him?" she asked glancing down at the table.
Before I could open my mouth Chin said, from behind me, "I'll take you to him." Grace nodded, collecting her unopened juice and getting to her feet. She looked down at me and said, "Are you coming?"
"In a few minutes," I responded and she nodded again, following Chin out of the cafeteria. I watched them go, glancing down at the table the moment the doors closed. I tried really hard not to think, but gave up after a few seconds.
Why would Danny not want to wake up? Yeah, Rachel's death tore him to pieces- that wasn't a secret-but would he really abandon Grace at a time like this? She needed him, he had to know that. The whole team needed him. I needed…
Of course, Wesley was just theorizing. It wasn't like he was one-hundred percent sure that's what was going on. I mean, he did say Danny could easily be awake by Sunday. We still had time, he still had time. Getting too far ahead of the situation wasn't exactly the best laid plan. Hell, it usually destroyed the best laid plans.
And I knew Danno, probably better than he wanted me to. He loved Grace irrevocably, so much so that he packed up and moved thousands of miles away from everything he knew to be close to her. He had put up with Stan, Rachel's lawyers, Matilda, me (come on, I know I can be a pain in the ass sometimes) all for Grace.
Besides, I had been hurt worse than Danny, had come back from far worse. Against all odds I came back, and I usually felt I had nothing to come back for. So, if there was one thing Danny was going to do, it was wake up because he had a lot to return to…
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2001…
I was bleeding heavily, on the brink of unconsciousness, but had managed to drag myself into a cave. I had been holed up for almost four hours, listening to make completely sure I wasn't being followed, before I risked using my comm.
I switched it on, using my radio to get the correct frequency, and heard Cat's voice. "McGarrett, answer me!"
"Jeez, no…need to…scream," I said leaning my head against the cave wall.
"Where have you been?" she said relief underlying her professional tone.
"Strategically waiting…for a moment…without the risk of…getting shot at," I replied forcing my eyes open.
"Where are you McGarrett?" a new voice said, my CO.
"A cave," I whispered feeling myself sinking closer to unconsciousness. "I'm bleeding…pretty bad…"
"Stay on the radio. We'll attempt to get your coordinates." I could hear the clacking of keys from Cat's keyboard and she started working.
"McGarrett," my CO said slowly. "Is the target eliminated?"
"He is," I murmured. "But I think…I was being…pursued."
"Hold on, Steve. We're on our way." was the last thing I heard Cat say before I blacked out…
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I woke up slowly, my whole body numb. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness kept me horizontal. So much for that plan, I had thought. Instead I let my head carefully loll across the, what I could only assume, bed. My eyes landed on a familiar figure asleep next to my bed.
"Are you my nurse?" I managed to crock out between my dry, cracked lips.
"What?" Cat jerked awake, her eyes landing on me. She sat up straighter and said, "Oh, thank God. I thought…" she trailed off tucking her lip between her teeth. "How are you feeling?"
"Numb," I replied honestly. "Probably feel more if I wasn't on whatever I'm on."
"Do you remember what happened?"
"Successful mission, stab wound," I murmured after a few seconds of searching my muddled brain. She nodded, her mouth opened to say something, but I cut her off with, "I do recall a voice telling me to hold on." color flooded her cheeks. "I never knew Commander Piers had such a high pitched voice." she snorted, shaking her head.
"Yeah, you're okay," she said getting to her feet. "Just let me tell the doctor you're awake…"