A/N: Thank you everyone for your support with this story! I appreciate each and every review. Thank you to all the guests who also reviewed, who I couldn't respond to. :)
Seven days.
It had been seven very long days since Danny had first woken up in the hospital. And he was counting down the hours until he would finally be released. Having been confined to a hospital room was taking its toll on him… and on those around him.
He knew he was cranky. He didn't try to hide his displeasure over… well, pretty much everything. He was still remarkably sore from the life-saving CPR that had been performed on him ten days ago. He'd never imagined having that as the worst of his problems. He'd already started respiratory therapy, and all of the deep breathing and practiced coughing wasn't doing much to improve the discomfort.
His team members had been constant companions during his stay. Chin had kept him up to date on the case when Steve was stubbornly insistent that Danny stay focused on healing. Kono was always a breath of fresh air, leaving behind small gifts in her wake to cheer him up. Grace visited every day after school, and would happily babble on about her day, her homework and her friends until Danny would tire, and he'd wake up to find that she'd slipped out quietly. Steve hovered… always hovered… being both supportive and annoying… which is exactly what Danny needed in this difficult week.
Unsurprisingly, Rachel and Stan had avoided him this past week, both having been discharged six days prior. However, Grace had let slip a few days before that Rachel was planning on coming to visit Danny after her next physical therapy appointment, which he discovered, via Steve, was scheduled for today.
He knew that he'd have to face her eventually, but he couldn't stop the nervous fidgeting as he waited for the inevitable. His nerves immediately ceased to be a problem when the door opened and Rachel came through. She was seated in a wheelchair; her left leg casted and elevated. At first Danny thought she was alone, but Stan followed her in, quietly shutting the door behind him. Danny arched an eyebrow at Rachel, who didn't say anything, before taking in the other man's appearance.
He looked terrible.
And Danny had thought he'd already seen him at his worst.
The bruises had faded, though there was an odd hue to Stan's face and hands that showed he was still not yet completely healed from his ordeal. He was stiff as he walked into the room and sat down next to Danny's bed, and Danny could practically feel the tension radiating off of him. After a few awkward moments of Stan avoiding eye contact, he finally cleared his throat.
"Danny… I asked Rachel if I could speak to you first. I felt as though we should talk about… well, about what happened. And how… sorry I am. For everything."
"You think?"
It came out a bit harsher than he wanted, but Danny found that he didn't care. He had been prepared (well, mostly prepared) to talk with Rachel, and was completely taken by surprise to see Stan here… in his room. And now that one angry slip came out of his mouth, he found that he couldn't turn it off. Everything came pouring out of him at once.
"But what do you want to talk about, Stan? Huh? What part are you sorry for, exactly? The affair that almost cost me my career? Or how Rachel was almost killed over your stupid life decision? Or are you sorry about the fact that I was hit by a freaking car and kidnapped by a raving lunatic bent on some delusional urge for revenge? Or are you sorry for what happened after all of that? For what you did to me… is that what you're sorry for, Stan?"
The rant left him breathless, and though he'd never admit it to his therapist, or anyone for that matter, he tried to calm himself down using the techniques he'd been taught the past few days. After a few moments, it worked and he fixed Stan again with an angry glare.
Stan didn't look away.
"You hit me, Stan. Kicked me. Beat me! With your bare hands!" From the corner of his eye, Danny could see Rachel flinch, but he couldn't stop now. "Though some things are still fuzzy, that part I remember clearly."
"He forced me…"
"You could have refused!"
"Oh really?" For the first time, Stan raised his voice at Danny. "Just like you could have refused when you were forced to shoot me?"
If Danny was surprised at the outburst, he didn't show it.
"That was different."
"Different how?"
"Grace's life was on the line!" Danny fired back. "And you told me to do it! You stood there and gave me permission to shoot you! I don't remember giving you permission to beat me into unconsciousness, Stanley."
"I know!" Stan stood and shouted. He stepped away from the chair and started pacing at the end of the bed, running shaking hands through his hair. After a few moments, he stopped and glanced at Rachel once before looking back again at Danny. "I know, and I'm sorry."
"You're sorry," Danny repeated.
"Yes."
"Well sorry isn't enough!" He started coughing, and Stan instinctively moved toward Danny, but stopped midway… uncertain of what to do. The fit passed, but it still left Danny panting. "It's not enough," he repeated as a whisper.
"I know," he responded.
"What do you want from me, Stan? Forgiveness?"
Stan shook his head. "No. I don't expect you to forgive me, Danny. Just like I never forgave you for sleeping with Rachel." It was a dig, but Danny let it pass. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry… and thank you… for looking for me."
Danny didn't respond… was unsure how to respond… but was saved from having to say anything as Stan abruptly left, leaving Rachel behind in his wake.
"Well, that could have gone better," Rachel said quietly as she nudged the wheelchair closer to the end of Danny's bed.
"Sorry to disappoint you, babe, but that was as good as it was going to get," Danny huffed out as the anger was still making its way out of his system.
"He's just trying to make amends," she continued tentatively. "This hasn't been easy on any of us."
Danny certainly wasn't going to argue with her on that point. He just looked at her, and waited for her to say what she needed to say. He knew that she didn't come here just to check on him. Like Stan, she was itching to get something off her chest, and eventually she would stop beating around the bush and get to it. Rachel looked tired. But more than that, she looked sad. Worn down. Her body language screamed comfort me!, but recent events had finally opened Danny's eyes to the life he wanted to have. And remarkably, the only role that Rachel played in that life was as the mother of his child.
"What do you want, Rachel?"
"I wanted to see how you were doing." A small pause. "And to tell you that Stanley told me everything about his… his affair. We've talked it over, and I've decided to stay with him. For the time being. See if we can work it out."
Rachel looked expectantly over to Danny, but he made no move to respond. She must have been expecting some sort of reaction, however, as a disappointed look crossed her face for a moment before the calm, exhausted façade took its place.
"Okay."
Rachel looked shocked.
"Okay? That's all you have to say about the matter?"
"Yes, Rachel, that's all I have to say. What you do with your life is your decision. As long as this doesn't negatively impact Grace, then stay with Stanley. Or don't stay with him. I just really don't care anymore."
Danny nearly smiled at the revelation, because he wasn't saying these things to hurt Rachel. He was saying them because they were true. The kiss they had shared while at the gala had sparked something within Danny… he felt a door close during that intimate exchange, and he realized something that he should have realized ages before…
He was finally over Rachel.
"Look, Rach, I'm really tired. Do you mind…?"
The dismissal was crystal clear, and Rachel awkwardly wheeled herself toward the open door. She was nearly out before Danny called her back.
"Are you going to take Grace away from me again?"
"What?"
"Before the case," Danny tapered off, not sure of how much Rachel was aware of Danny's investigation into Stan. Figuring it didn't much matter anymore, he continued. "I noticed that Stan's company is looking to expand operations. Austin… New Orleans… Las Vegas…"
"That's ridiculous, Daniel. We are not leaving Hawaii."
Danny nodded, taking the answer at face value. But the uncertainty still gnawed at him.
"Maybe you just don't know about it."
Rachel narrowed her eyes. "Stanley would have told me."
"Would he, Rachel? Really? After everything we just went through… After finding out that Stan had an affair… You can sit there and tell me that Stan wouldn't keep something from you?"
Rachel remained stubbornly silent, and Danny sighed.
"We've been living in an illusion of truth for too long, Rachel. It's time to wake up."
"You're right," Rachel said quietly before she set her chin and pierced him with a fierce gaze. "You're right, Daniel, you do look awfully tired. Have a good evening."
Danny shook his head as she finally exited the room. He rubbed his temples, and worked on his breathing exercises for a few minutes, but nothing seemed to completely calm him. If there was one thing Rachel knew how to do well, it was rattle his cage, and the uncertainty of what could happen next made him nervous.
Sighing again, he glanced at the clock. Knowing this would be a good time, he reached over and grabbed his cell, which Steve had happily returned to him the previous day. Hitting the speed dial, he couldn't help but smile when it was answered after one ring.
"Danny?"
His smile grew at the sound of her voice.
"Hey, Gabby, it's me…"
"You'll have to come back for one final chest radiograph in a week to confirm that there are no further intrathoracic abnormalities. I see you already have your therapy appointments set up. That's good. Keep practicing your breathing techniques, especially if you find that you are suffering from any shortness of breath."
The discharge nurse continued spouting off the final information Danny would need before he could be officially released from the hospital, and Steve smiled at his partner's increased agitation. His desire to leave had been increased exponentially over the past few days, and only Gabby's presence seemed to calm his agitated nerves.
Steve had been thrilled to see how close the two of them had gotten over this entire ordeal. While other couples would have split, theirs only tightened. Steve smiled at Gabby's loyalty to Danny during his disappearance and subsequent hospital stay. He knew it had been difficult for Danny to explain what had happened to him, but Gabby's fierce love for him stayed strong… and that, in turn, made Danny strong.
"…ready for you to pick up at the pharmacy. Do you have any question, Detective?"
"No," Danny replied with a forced smile. He looked at Steve, who was standing at the ready with a wheelchair, with a look of exasperation. "I can walk out with my own two feet, Steven."
"SOP, Danny. Ready to get out of here?"
Danny gave him a look that clearly said yes, and he settled himself into the wheelchair. The nurse handed over his small duffel bag with his personal effects, and she exited the room, wishing him a speedy recovery.
"Let's go," Danny said, practically bouncing in his seat.
"One more thing, Danny."
"Steve, so help me, if you do not push this wheelchair out that door in the next few seconds… What is this?" Danny asked as a small box was dropped into his lap. Danny held the small package in his hands warily, the hasty wrapping job indicative that it was from his partner.
"It's a present."
"Why?"
"Just open it, Danno."
Danny ripped the paper and opened the box, smirking as he pulled out a porcelain mug. He smirked. "You found my mug."
"No, your old mug is currently locked up in the evidence locker at HPD. I got you a new one."
Danny shook his head slightly, but smiled up at Steve in appreciation. Steve gave Danny's shoulder a small squeeze before pushing the wheelchair toward the elevator. Once inside, Steve hit the button for the lobby and turned back to Danny.
"There's still one thing about this case that I don't get," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as the elevator doors slid shut behind him.
"What's that, Steven?"
"Where did you learn how to hack?"
END.