Catherine Rollins understood what it meant when orders came down that there was to be no outside contact until further notice, but it didn't make this any easier. The last she'd heard from Kono was that there was still nothing new on McGarrett's location. She had taken some downtime, but sleep was a rare commodity right now. It would stay that way until she had news of her lover.
"Lieutenant Rollins, may I join you?"
Catherine looked up from the food as her friend sat across from her. Brenda Donner was a lower rank than her and refused to call her by her first name while on duty. It had been hard to make her stop being so formal when they were off the boat. They'd been friends for a long time and she was the one person Catherine could talk to about her personal life. "Please, sit down."
"I wanted to let you know that the no contact order is being lifted this afternoon."
"Thank God."
"I know you're worried about Commander McGarrett, but you told me he's strong."
"Yes, he is, but Wo Fat is a dangerous man and even worse enemy. I don't know much about him, but Steve has been researching him for some time."
"Is it true that they are brothers?"
"Half brothers...they share the same father. At least that's what Wo Fat claims. I wish I knew what was happening."
"I know," Brenda said and wished there was something she could do to ease her friend's mind, but until they had word from the outside world there was nothing she could do. "Do you have any leave coming?"
"I put in an emergency leave request, but I haven't heard whether it's been approved yet," Catherine explained.
"I'm sure it will be...you rarely ask for time for yourself."
"I just wish I knew if he...if they found him."
"They'll find him," Brenda told her. "I have to report to my station."
"Go...I'll let you know as soon as I find out anything about Steve," Catherine vowed. She watched the other woman leave and closed her eyes until she had her emotions in check. She knew it was time to report for duty and placed the tray of untouched food on the rack before heading for her station.
5050505050
Wo Fat replayed the fight with his brother and felt the power he'd had over him in the cage. There was no doubt in his mind that he could have beaten him if McGarrett's friends had not interfered. He cursed Joe White for his words and vowed the man would die a slow and painful death.
"Do you want something for pain?"
"I want to be left alone!" Wo Fat told the prison doctor.
"That's not going to happen...unless you prefer solitary confinement to the prison infirmary," Claude Marceau told him and adjusted the flow of the IV. He knew who this man was and feared him more than he let on.
"I told you I want to be left alone."
"And I told you that's not going to happen. Don't give me that look, Wo Fat, it doesn't scare me," the doctor lied. "I'll take the IV out tomorrow and you'll be sent to a cell the day after."
Wo Fat did not say anything, but tested the cuffs linking his right wrist to the bed rail, silently cursing the wounds and medications that made him weak. Given time, he knew he could get out of this, but time was something he did not think he had much of if Joe White decided it was time to pay someone to take him down.
Wo Fat had his own contacts in the prison system, contacts that had made it easy for him to get to Victor Hesse. Jenna Kaye had helped him, and by doing so she'd fallen into his trap. She'd managed to bring McGarrett to him, but she'd sent word to his friends before he'd killed her. That's how he stayed alive, by killing those who messed with his plans.
Wo Fat thought about his 'brother' and how many times he'd cursed their father since finding out who he was. His mother would tell him stories of John McGarrett but she would leave out one important detail, his name. It had taken years for her to let it slip, years he'd been oblivious to the fact that his father was alive and had a family he loved. It was unfair that Steve grew up in a happy home, while he had to fight for every scrap of food he could find. The hatred had started long ago and had festered through the years, and would continue to invade his mind and body until Steve McGarrett paid for his father's transgressions.
Wo Fat knew what he had to do, all it would take was a single phone call and money transferred to the right account. Once that was done it was only a matter of time before he was home and he could tell his mother about his 'brother' and the plans he had for him. A hint of a smile formed as he closed his eyes and allowed his body and mind the rest it needed to heal.
5050505050
The sounds of the SICU were reduced to nothing but clicks and beeps and the soft-soled shoes as the nurses quietly made their rounds. Johanna Corleone stepped into the until where Steve McGarrett slept and carefully checked the IV lines and hung a new bag of antibiotics before realizing the patient was awake and watching her. "Hello, Commander, my name is Johanna and I'm one of the nurses looking after you tonight. Do you need anything?"
"Water," the SEAL answered.
"Just let me finish this and I'll bring you some," the woman said and smiled at the man.
"Okay," McGarrett told her and took a deep breath, wincing as the move reminded him of just why he was here. He closed his eyes as she straightened the blankets and plumped his pillow. He heard her leave the room and opened his eyes when she returned with the water he requested.
"Here you go, Commander."
"Thanks...what time is it?"
"A little after two," she answered. "Are you in any pain?"
"No, guess you guys are still giving me the good stuff."
"Yes, well, doctor's orders you know," Johanna told him with a smile. "I'll come back to check on you in a little while, but if you need anything before then just press the button."
Steve relaxed against the pillows and closed his eyes. He thought about Wo Fat and the revelation that they shared the same father went far beyond the scope of anything he'd ever imagined. Sure, he'd thought about what it would be like to have a brother, but he'd never imagined he would be a cold blooded murderer with delusions of grandeur.
Steve knew the bastard was behind bars, but that would not be a deterrent, it would simply make things a little harder for him. Wo Fat had killed Victor Hesse and Jenna Kaye and had probably ordered the deaths of dozens of others. He needed to see Wo Fat, but right now he knew that was out of the question.
"What's got you thinking so hard?"
Steve turned his head to see Danny Williams standing in the doorway. He pressed the button to raise his head a little more and studied his partner. Although pale, his friend appeared to be healing. "Sorry, was just thinking..."
"About Wo Fat?" Williams finished.
"Am I that easy to read?"
"Not usually, but I know how hard this has been on you. Finding out that Wo Fat could be your brother has to be rough."
"Rough, Danny, that's one way to put it...more like something out of my worst nightmare," McGarrett said as Williams moved to the chair beside the bed.
"I know how hard it must be to even think you're related to Wo Fat, but even if you are you need to realize you're nothing alike. You're a far better man than he is and you chose how to live your life just as he chose how to live his," Williams said.
"Maybe, but I can't help thinking if things had been different...if Dad had known about him...if he'd..."
"There's nothing we can do to change his past or ours, Steve, but Wo Fat chose to become the man he is. He could have sought your father out instead of letting his anger grow until he hated everything that reminded him of the McGarrett name."
Steve pressed his lips together in a thin line as he looked at his partner. Danny was everything he could want in a brother. Well, maybe a little less argumentative would have been good, but Steve knew there were times when he enticed that little flaw in Williams.
"He chose his path, Steve, don't go feeling sorry for him."
"I don't, Danny, but what if the roles were revered and I was the one who grew up without my father?"
"Somehow I don't see it as changing who you are," Williams told him. "I think you would have had it rough, but you would have chosen your path. There's no way in hell you could have lived with yourself if you went the way Wo Fat did."
"How do you know that, Danny?"
"Because I know you and I know what makes you tick. A man chooses his path and if it's not the right one it'll tear him apart until he changes direction. You chose your path and I don't think anything could have made you go the other direction. You are who you are because you made the choices you made, not because you grew up with John McGarrett."
"Thanks, Danno..."
"Hell, we're back to that again," Williams said with a grin and heard the pump as it injected whatever medication Lewis had prescribed into his partner's arm. "Look, I'd better let you get some sleep. I'll come back in the morning."
"You sure you're okay?"
"I'm alive...thanks to you and we will have words about that when you're better able to defend yourself," Williams said and patted McGarrett's shoulder before leaving the room.
Steve lowered the head of his bed and felt the drugs taking effect. Sleep beckoned to him and there was no choice, but to give into it.
5050505050
"Lieutenant Rollins, I've read your request for emergency leave and will take it under consideration, but right now I need you to concentrate on your job."
"Yes, Sir," Rollins said and remained at attention.
"At ease, Lieutenant," the man behind the desk ordered.
Catherine relaxed visibly as she stood before her commanding officer. She knew this man was the driving force behind the USS Enterprise and would make the final decision about whether she went Stateside or not.
"How well do you know Commander McGarrett?"
"We've known each other for a few years, Sir."
"Lieutenant, I've known you since you were a child watching your father as he put on his insignia and readied himself for his assignment. I think I understand where you're coming from. I know how hard it was on you when the order came down for radio silence. It's been lifted and you have permission to check on Commander McGarrett and Wo Fat."
"Thank you, Sir." Catherine said, showing no visible sign of how anxious she was to do just that.
"Dismissed, Lieutenant...let me know what you find out."
"Yes, Sir," Catherine said and exited the man's office. She headed for her station, and relieved the man sitting there before making her call. She knew Williams was injured and decided her best chance of getting through to anyone was through Chin Ho Kelly.
5050505050
Chin looked at the clock as his cell phone began to ring and sat up when he saw who the caller was. He'd been trying to contact Catherine, but The Enterprise was on maneuvers in the Persian gulf and on radio silence. He placed the phone to his ear and slid his legs over the edge of his bed while Malia turned over and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Who is it?" Malia asked.
"Catherine," Chin said and held up his hand while he took the call. "Catherine, I've been trying to call you."
"Chin, thank God...did you find Steve?"
"We fund him..."
"Is he all right?"
"Not really, but he will be. He's in Queens."
"How bad?"
"Bad enough. He's in SICU, but he should be moved to a regular room tomorrow...later today," Chin corrected.
"I've out in for emergency leave, but it hasn't been cleared yet. Will you...will you call me if anything changes?"
"I will, Catherine," Chin vowed. "Look, I know there's no point in telling you not to worry..."
"You're right...there's not."
"I'll tell Steve you called."
"Thanks, Chin, tell him I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I will."
"Look, I have to go, but I'll check in when I can."
"Try not to worry too much Catherine...Steve's strong."
"I know...goodbye, Chin."
"Bye, Catherine," Kelly said and turned to find his wife watching him. "She's worried."
"I would be too if it was you in SICU," Malia said and reached for her husband. She loved hims so much and God help her, but she hoped she never had to see him so badly hurt. She'd returned from her trip early to be there for her husband and knew he would do the same thing for her.
"It's not," Chin said and held his wife. He loved her more than life itself and prayed he would never put her in that position. He lay back on the bed and felt her hair tickle his chest and knew he would die a happy man as long as he could spend the rest of his life in her arms.
5050505050
Danny looked up as Adamson came into his room with a nurse who looked like she could be a real bear. He wondered if the man had brought her with him on purpose because of Danny's nocturnal visits to Steve's room. He smiled as they neared the bed, but there was no softening of the features of the stern woman holding the bag of IV antibiotics.
"Good morning, Detective," Adamson said as the nurse hung the bag from the pole and connected it to the hep-lock in his left hand.
"Morning, doc, when do I get out of here?"
"It'll be at least a couple of days yet. The antibiotics are clearing up the infection, and I could conceivably switch you too the oral ones, but I'd rather not take that chance. So, for now, you're under Nurse Wilson's care and I know she'll put a stop to those late night visits to Commander McGarrett's room."
"You bet I will," the big woman answered with a grin that held no humor as she finished checking the infusion rate on his IV.
"I thought they were moving Steve in here today," Williams observed.
"That's up to his surgeon," Adamson said. "Now, why don't we talk about you and what you need to do to get out of here."
"You just said I can leave as soon as I'm through with the antibiotics."
"No, I said it would be at least a couple of days," Adamson corrected. You need to realize that you're not infallible, Detective. You're just like the rest of us and that means you're made of flesh and blood and when you're hurt you need to take the time to heal."
"Think I said the same thing to Steve," Williams said. "Look, doc, I know you're right, but Steve Saved my life and I..."
"You should have trusted your team," the nurse finished for him. "I know all about Five-O, Detective. I understand how hard you work to bring down people like Victor Hesse and Sang Min, but as Dr. Adamson said, you are human."
"Well, I think I can go home and not worry about whether you're behaving yourself," Adamson said and smiled at Williams. "Nurse Wilson certainly has everything under control."
"Thanks, Doc," Williams said and saw the humor in the man's eyes before he left the room.
"Now, Detective, how would you feel about a sponge..."
"Rather have a shower," Williams interrupted.
"That could be arranged, but it'll have to wait until you've had breakfast and I want your word that you'll stay put."
"I..."
"Detective, you're here because you're not super-human...you'll be able to see Commander McGarrett after you've taken care of yourself...or else I bring in the basin and we do a sponge bath."
"I'll stay put," Williams said quickly.
"Good choice," the nurse said and left the room.
Danny wondered whether the woman was as tough as she let on, but he wasn't sure whether he should test her yet. He relaxed back on the bed and thought about the DNA tests and wondered how things would change when the results finally came in.
5050505050
Steve watched as Lewis went through his chart after doing a complete check on his injuries and waited for the man to speak. He wanted out of the SICU, but he knew it depended on what the surgeon saw in the test results. The nurse smiled at him as she touched the line running into his neck and he briefly thought she made a wonderful Florence Nightingale.
"Well, Commandeer, I see no reason why we shouldn't get rid of a few of your accessories and move you in with Detective Williams. I'm just not sure if that will get rid of the headaches you two cause the nursing staff or add to them," Lewis told him.
"I'll make sure Danny behaves," McGarrett said with a hint of a smile.
"And who should we get to make sure you do the same?" Lewis asked.
"Hell, Doc..."
"Hell is right if you make me regret my decision," Lewis vowed and quickly finished the notations on his patient's chart. "All right, Sylvia, as soon as you get rid of the IV in his neck and the Foley you can have him moved in with Detective Williams."
"Yes, Doctor," the woman said.
Steve closed his eyes and waited for the nurse to take out the IV lines, catheter, and leads that monitored his vitals. When she was done he heard her speaking to someone else, but didn't open his eyes until he felt the bed moving. It wasn't long before they reached Williams room and pushed his bed inside. The other bed had been freshly made and pushed aside to make it easier for the orderly and nurse to maneuver his bed to the place closest to the window.
"Now, Commander, my name is Lisa and I'm one of the nurses looking after you today. Just relax and I'll adjust the PCA pump so you can take the medication when you need it. Dr. Lewis said to warn you how he feels about SEALs who ride it out when they don't need to and that he'll rethink his decision if you make him," Lisa Partington explained.
"I won't. Thanks, Lisa," McGarrett said and motioned to the other bed. "Where's Danny?"
"He's taking a shower," the nurse answered.
"Any chance..."
"Not today, Commander, but if you wish I'm sure I can arrange a sponge bath," Partington offered.
"Sounds like a plan," the injured man said as the nurse finished the adjustments on the IV. He closed his eyes and waited for his room mate to return and soon drifted toward sleep where his dreams were filled with memories of his fight with Wo Fat and the reality of them being half siblings.
TBC!