"But we brought him back," the surgeon finished quickly and reached out to touch Kono's arm. "He is strong and he's fighting, but I need you all to know he's suffered some serious injuries and dangerous blood loss. We've given him several bags of blood and he's getting fluids intravenously. We're doing everything we can, but he's going to need to draw on that stubborn streak you say he has."
"Stubborn streak is right," White told him with a hint of a smile. "Steve comes by it honestly."
"That's good. The knife did cause some internal damage, but I won't go into details, just that he'll need to be on IV antibiotics because of the danger of infection," Lewis said.
"Can we see him?" Kono asked.
"He's being settled in SICU, so give them an hour and check with the desk. Just remember her's heavily sedated and intubated."
"For how long?" Kono asked.
"Hopefully, if that stubborn streak holds up we'll be able to take him off the ventilator by late tomorrow afternoon. Right now I want him resting and that means sleep," Lewis told them and stood up. "I'll let the nurses know you can see him, but he probably won't know you're there."
"We'll know," Kono said.
"Come on, Kono, why don't we go update Chin and Danny," White said once Lewis left them alone.
"It's going to be hard keeping Danny in his room," Kono said. They walked side by side until they reached the desk and asked what room Williams was in. It didn't surprise them to find Danny was on this floor because his injury could still require surgery. Once they reached his room, Kono eased it open to find Chin sitting in the chair by the window.
Chin motioned for them to be quiet and shook his head when Williams opened his eyes and reached for the glass of ice water on the table. The man looked like hell, but they all knew he wouldn't rest until he had word on McGarrett.
"Spill it," Williams ordered softly and listened as they told him about Steve's injuries. He ran his fingers through his sweat soaked hair and sighed heavily. "What about Wo Fat?"
"He's stable, and should be able to be moved to the prison infirmary in a day," Kono explained
"Tell me he's under guard?" Williams spat.
"He's cuffed to the bed, with a guard inside and two outside the door. According to the doctor he's heavily sedated and no threat to anyone," White answered.
"He doesn't know the sonofabitch like we do," Chin snapped.
"That's why I plan to spend the night in the room with him. I'll stay close until he's secured in the prison infirmary," White vowed.
"When can we see Steve?" Williams asked.
"Danny, you need to rest..."
"No, Chin, I need to see Steve. He nearly gave up his life for me and I need to tell him...hell, I don't know what to tell him..."
"Good, because right now he won't even know you're there. He's sedated and intubated until tomorrow so that gives you just enough time to sleep," Kono interrupted.
"Kono..."
"She's right, Danny, you're in no shape to be doing anything, but sleeping. The nurse said she'd be in with your antibiotics and pain medication in a few minutes," Chin reminded him. "Steve won't know you're there, but he'll be glad to see you when he wakes up and finds that damn tube down his throat."
"Chin..."
"Would you rather not be there tomorrow because you didn't take care of yourself?" Kono said.
"No," Williams said and leaned back against the pillow. "When can you see him?"
"Dr. Lewis told us to give the staff a chance to get him settled...we should be able to see him in about 40 minutes," Kono answered and wished she could wipe away the last few weeks before Wo Fat got his hands on Danny Williams and Steve McGarrett.
"Damn...where's my phone?" Williams snapped and winced when he tried to sit up.
"What's wrong, Brah?" Chin asked.
"I need to call Rachel."
"I already called her. She was going to come over, but I convinced her you were okay and she should wait until visiting hours open," Chin assured him.
"Thanks, Chin," Williams said and closed his eyes. He heard the nurse come in, but drifted toward exhausted sleep while Chin and Kono talked softly.
5050505050
Joe White strode toward the room where Wo Fat was a prisoner and vowed that this was one time the sonofabitch wouldn't escape. He nodded to the guards outside the door, showed his credentials and wasn't surprised to find his name on the list of those who could enter. Once inside he moved to the bed and looked down at the man who had caused so much pain for so many people. It was time the bastard paid for what he did.
"Is he giving you any trouble?" White asked.
"No, Sir, he hasn't moved since they put him in here," the guard answered.
"Don't let him fool you into thinking he's helpless. He's awake and listening to everything we say. Isn't that right, Wo Fat?" White said and moved so that he was nose to nose with the prisoner whose eyes moved behind closed lids. He smiled, a chilling look that held no warmth, as he pressed against the man's wound. His touch got the response he wanted, but it was quickly muffled as Wo Fat tried to pull clear of the cuffs securing him to the bed.
Wo Fat glared at the man beside the bed, but refused to say anything, even when White pressed his fingers against the bullet wound. His nostrils flared an his eyes flashed dangerously in spite of the medications he'd been given.
"You're not going to escape this time so get used to this view. Get used to wearing bracelets...it suits you," White said.
"I have friends..."
"No, you don't, not this time. Even The Yakuza has turned its back on you. You're finished," White told him.
"I have heard that before. How is my brother?" Wo Fat asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously as the other man released his hold.
"Steve's too strong to let you win. After all, he's the one his father chose!"
"No!" the former Yakuza head snarled and tried to come off to bed as White stood over him, grinning like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. "Our father...my father..."
"Would be disgusted at what you've become..."
"His actions made me who I am!"
"No, your own actions made you what you are and John McGarrett would roll over in his grave if he knew about you," White snarled, pleased with the reaction he was getting from the hated man in the bed.
"You have no idea who you're messing with!"
"Yes, I do, and from where I stand you won't be a problem for a long time...if ever," White told him.
"Get out!"
"Sorry,, but it looks like I got the short end of the straw, but in this case that means I'm a winner because I get to make your life miserable."
"I'm supposed to be resting...doctor's orders," Wo Fat spat, but he knew Joe White didn't give a damn what the doctor said. He could see it in his eyes and the hint of a smile that formed as he checked the handcuffs.
"I'm sure the doctor wouldn't mind if he knew what you've done...what you're capable of doing."
"I do what must be done to make sure..."
"You do what you do because you're a selfish sonofabitch who wants...covets another man's life. What would your mother think if she knew the truth about you?"
"Leave my mother out of this."
"I don't think so. You see I know all about Shelburne and why John McGarrett was there. I know how many people he helped and I know he loved your mother, but she would not tell him that she was pregnant. You looked surprised, Wo Fat, but I don't understand why. Your mother is filled with love, and I guess you're just a bad seed that never should have been fertilized," White told him and watched as is enemies hand sought out the button that would summon the nurse. "What's the matter, Wo Fat? Does the truth hurt?"
"No, but a bullet does," the man spat and pressed the button.
"Can I help you?" a nurse asked.
"No, we're fine in here," White answered and made sure the injured man could not reach it. "You might as well relax and use those zen powers to control the pain."
Wo Fat breathed through tightly clenched teeth, but refused to show this man any sign of weakness. He held his arms tight against his body and closed his eyes, pointedly ignoring the man standing beside his bed.
5050505050
Chin and Kono reached McGarrett's room and waited for the nurse to signal that they could come in. There was so much equipment in use it seemed to spill over into the hall, but they knew most of it would be gone once he was allowed to wake up. The tube sunning down his throat was attached to the machine that would breathe for him over the next 24 hours.
"He looks like hell," Kono said.
"That's because you're not used to seeing him like this. When we think about Steve we see him as invincible because he's got this penchant for ignoring injuries and makes it a point to say he good or..."
"Okay..."
"Or all right," Chin finished with a grin. "He's not super, even thought The TEAMs trained him to think that way. Remember how fast he was out of the hospital after he shattered his forearm?"
"A couple of hours, but he ended up paying for it. The doctor wasn't very happy about it," Kono observed as the nurse came toward them.
"You can come in now, but remember he's heavily sedated and he won't know you're here," the woman said and moved aside so they could enter the room.
Kono moved closer to the bed and reached out to place her hand on his bare shoulder. There was still a trace of blood in his hair from a cut above his left eye, and several bandages covering wounds to his chest and arms. Lewis had told them the main injuries, but he hadn't gone into details of the minor ones. Steve looked like he'd gone one on one with a wild boar, and that was closer to the truth than she wanted to admit. She glanced at the monitors, wishing she understood what the numbers meant.
"How is he?" Chin asked the nurse who seemed intent on her patient.
"He's stable..."
"Don't give me the hospital version...tell me what you think," Chin said.
"Believe me when I tell you he's doing much better than you might think at this point. Dr. Lewis is pleased with his numbers," the woman answered and glanced from one to the other. "You both look tired so why don't you go home and get some rest. He'll need you more once he's awake."
"Come on, Kono, let's go fill Danny in before we head home," Chin ordered.
"Maybe we should check on Wo Fat," Kono said as they left the room.
"Joe's with him," Chin said.
"Can we trust him?"
"Right now we don't have a choice, Kono, but there will be three officers on Wo Fat at all times. He's not going to escape this time."
Kono nodded and followed her cousin to Williams' room to find his nurse taking care of him. They quickly updated him on McGarrett before leaving the hospital.
5050505050
Danny wasn't sure what woke him, but he opened his eyes to find Rachel sitting in the chair beside the window. She was as beautiful now, as she was the day he'd first met her, but there were lines carved into her face that could easily be blamed on him. He knew it took a special kind of woman to stay married to a cop, and although she'd given up, he knew she was special. The years they'd been together had been some of the best years of his life and Grace was a wonderful reminder of those years. He wasn't sure how he felt about the possibility that Charles could be his, but he knew if the DNA test proved he was the father, he would damn well be there for him.
"Danny, you look terrible," Rachel said when she turned to find him studying him like he had in the early days of their marriage. Just looking at him, so hurt and vulnerable drove home just how much she still loved him, but she was not cut out to be a cop's wife.
"It's not as bad as it looks, Rachel," Williams assured her and sat up. "What time is it?"
"A little before noon," Rachel answered.
"Damn, I must have been tired."
"You always did put everyone else before yourself. Why didn't you tell anyone you were hurting?"
"I thought it was just residual effects from the gunshot wound," Williams answered.
"Sure you did. God, Danny, I was so scared when Chin called to tell me you'd been admitted."
"It's just a precaution."
"Then why the antibiotics and pain medication?" Rachel snapped.
"Rachel..."
"No, Danny, don't go there! I'm not going to listen to you tell me why you do what you do again. I came here to make sure you were all right and didn't need anything. Grace wanted to come, but I told her you need to rest. I'll bring her by later after you've had some sleep and after Charles has his nap."
"Thanks," Williams said softly.
"Don't thank me. I'd rather not have her exposed to what happens when you..."
"Do what's right to make the world safer for her and her brother...and her mother. That's why I do this, Rachel, not because I'm looking for excitement or thrills, but because I need to know you...all of you are safe," Williams told her and saw the tears slip from her eyes.
"I know, Danny, and that's one of the things I love...loved about you, but I'm not strong enough to face hat could happen if something happened to you. I wish I was, god, help me I wish that more than anything, but I'm not. Do you understand, Danny? Please tell me you do?"
"I understand, Rachel," Williams answered sadly. He couldn't help how he felt about her and wished he could make her see that there were dangers in life, even Stan's job had nearly cost them.
"Thank you, Danny," Rachel said and wiped at her eyes. "When you're out of here we'll arrange to have the DNA test done, but for now you need to concentrate on getting better."
"I will...and tell Grace Danno loves her," Williams said.
"She knows, but I'll tell her anyway," Rachel said and kissed his cheek before leaving the room.
Danny lay back and closed his eyes, wishing there was some way he could turn back the hands of time and convince Rachel they were meant to be together. It didn't matter any more because Rachel seemed committed to making her marriage work, not matter what it took. She'd proven that when she'd let Stan sign the papers for Charles.
William slid his legs over the side and smiled as a nurse came in and checked his IV. "Can you find out what room Steve McGarrett is in? He's in SICU."
"I will," the woman answered and finished taking his vitals.
"I'll need another gown to put on."
"Were you planning on going somewhere?" the nurse asked.
"I'm going to see Steve," Williams told her and made sure she knew he would not take no for an answer.
"I'll check what room he's in and be back in a couple of minutes with some pajamas and slippers," the woman said and left him alone.
Danny rubbed at his temples and wondered if the headache would ever go away as he waited for the nurse to return. He knew Steve was probably still hooked up to the ventilator, but he still needed to see for himself that he was fighting.
"Detective, your friend is on this floor, but he's in SICU. Are you sure you feel up to going there on your own?"
"I'll be fine," Williams assured her and waited until she left before getting dressed. He winced when he moved a little too fast and it pulled on the wound in his side. By the time he was finished he felt like he'd run a marathon, but he wasn't about to let that deter him from going to see Steve. He stood up, slowly made his way toward the door, and leaned heavily on the IV pole as he started down the hallway toward the SICU.
Danny lost track of time and felt like an old man who had signed up for the marathon of his life The problem was, he wasn't even sure he could finish this one, but damn if he wouldn't give it his all. He reached the SICU desk and asked for McGarrett's room, smiling when the nurse looked at him as if she thought he belonged in bed.
Williams made his way to the glass enclosed room and entered to find a nurse checking McGarrett. He smiled at her and nodded in gratitude when she offered to move a chair closer to the bed. "Thanks," he said and sat down tiredly.
"Would you like some water?"
"No, thanks, I'm good. When are they going to let him wake up?"
"We've eased off on the sedative and he should be showing signs of waking up in an hour or so."
"What about the ventilator?"
"We're also doing a test run to see how he handles breathing on his own. He's doing surprisingly well at this point, Detective," the woman said and smiled when she saw him frown. "Your nurse called to let us know you were on your way. Just let me know when you're ready to go back to your room and I'll have an orderly come help you."
"Thanks," Williams said and took a deep breath as he stared at his partner. Steve looked vulnerable, and that was something Danny wasn't used to. The man rarely showed how he felt, and loomed large as life no matter what was done to him. The problem was, he bled the same as the rest of them, and sometimes he forgot he was human.
"Detective, I'm going on break in a couple of minutes, but Julia will be here if he needs anything. You let her know when you're ready to return to your room," the nurse said.
"I will, thanks," Williams told her. He leaned in close and swallowed painfully as he looked at the equipment surrounding McGarrett. "You need to keep fighting, Babe, 'cause I'm not ready to work in a new partner yet."
TBC!