Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

A/N.: Once again I was overwhelmed by all the reviews. Thank you! And also a big thank you to JazzieG for betaing. Therefore all the mistakes you might find are my own! Because I felt like adding a few small things….

Chapter 7

True to his word the Doc sent a Nurse to fetch them.

Malia was still with Steve and smiled at her husband and his friends when they walked or wheeled in. Danny gaped, when he saw the ventilator breathing for his friend.

"Malia, Doc Kamea didn't tell us that Steve needed to be on a ventilator." His voice was reproachful. He was not expecting that and Malia immediately realized that, she stood and laid her hand on his arm.

"Don't worry, Danny, it's just an aid. Steve doesn't really need it. It's to help him – his lungs - to recover and heal more easily. As soon as he is about to wake, we will remove it."

He looked at her and nodded. "Good! He would hate that thing!"

After almost 20 min. Nurse Ellen looked into the room. "Detective, it's time for you to go back to your room and your little girl out here is about to fall asleep on the spot.." She walked in, nodded to Malia and the friends took Danny's wheelchair and without giving the blonde time to protest, she wheeled him out.

"Bye Danny, see you…" He scowled at his friends and turned in his chair.

"Keep me updated!" he said between the door posts. He picked up Grace, who was at the Nurse station and was wheeled back to his room.

***HFO***

Next morning, Grace was home with her Mom and Danny was already back in Steve's room, this time without the annoying wheelchair.

He was checked out early and was now free to stay with his friend! Luckily the ventilator was gone, as promised and Steve was about to wake.

Expectant, Chin, Kono and Danny were sitting around Steve's bed.

Danny was holding his hand in his and squeezed it slightly when he started to stir.

Finally, he was waking up!

"Welcome back Steve!" Danny said with a low voice, but not a bit less happy.

Steve not completely awake recognized his friend's voice and felt him holding his right hand.

What was Danny doing here? Holding his hand?

Steve instincts told him to pull away and Danny felt the slight pull. "Hey, it's me, Danny!"

Steve opened his eyes just a little bit and met Danny's smiling ones, then he turned his head away, ignoring Danny completely and tried to make eye contact with Chin.

Danny was a bit astonished and looked also to Chin.

"I think he is getting shy, he want's you!" Danny joked. Chin just smiled back and shook his head.

"No chance, there!"

Chin leaned down to Steve's mouth, his friend obviously wanted to tell him something.

"Chin!" Steve's voice was weak and almost not audible.

"What is it, brah?"

"Danny…. Go!"

Chin still smiled. "What? Steve… say it again. I didn't understand, sorry"

"Danny….has…to.. go!" Now Chin understood him clearly and a deep crease appeared on his forehead.

"… don't ..want.. him.. here…. Please!"

"You don't mean that, Steve!" Chin stared at Steve then at Danny. The best friends' one could imagine. What was happening here? Chin had no idea!

Chin looked down again and saw Steve's mouth clearly form a please.

"Okay, my friend but you … you owe me an explanation, later and a good one, I tell you!" he just shook his head. "Danny come on brah, I need to talk to you – outside!" Danny stared at Chin, looked at Steve, who still didn't look at him and then back at Chin again.

Danny raised his eyebrows but Chin just indicated with his head for Danny to leave.

As soon as they were in the empty corridor, Danny turned on Chin.

"What the hell is the matter?!" Danny waved his hands, not understanding.

"Honestly, I don't' know!" Chin shook his head in resignation. "Steve…. Steve wanted you out…"

"What?" Danny's voice rose dangerously.

"Pssst, we are in a hospital!"

"I don't give a damn, you know." He pointed at the closed door of Steve's room." My best friend just wanted me kicked out of his room, Chin! And you tell me to stay calm? You know what." Danny turned towards the door. "I'll just go back in and tell that imbecile, what I think of being kicked out of anywhere!"

He turned fuming and was immediately held back by Chin.

"Danny!" he said as calm as possible.

"Don't Danny me!" The blonde Detective just wanted to shake his friend off when a female voice stopped him. Malia came down the corridor.

"Danny, I couldn't help but overhear. Please accept Steve's wishes in this case….at least…."

Danny stubbornly shook his head. "..at least for now! Please."

"Malia… He is my friend…I don't understand!" He looked desperately at Chin's wife.

"We were good….. no arguments… nothing! Why? What did I do?" Malia squeezed his arm.

"Sorry Danny! But what I know is that Steve needs all the rest he can get. He is very weak and the infection is taking a heavy toll on his already weak body! Don't worry too much Danny, we will find out in time, but now please leave him be and give him time to heal."

Malia almost pleaded and Danny gave in.

"Okay. But I'm not happy about this and I will camp out here. So you better prepare to see me a lot around here!"

Malia laughed and Chin smiled knowing his friend.

"Didn't think anything less!" She gave him a quick affectionate kiss on the cheek. "Feel at home on my ward."

***HFO***

And indeed, Danny took up a post in front of Steve's room!

Not surprisingly the Nurses liked him and brought coffee and organized blankets for the blonde Detective. They even invited him to nap now and then on the sofa in the Nurse's room.

A few days later Danny raised the lid on Steve's plate that a Nurse Ellen brought out of his room.

"Didn't eat again, did he?" Malia, who just appeared from another room, came to stand next to Danny.

"Not one bit! Damn!" and with a look at the beautiful Doctor and a sheepish grin. "Sorry Malia."

She just patted his shoulder.

"I'm afraid I'll have to put the NG-tube back in this evening. This can't go on, Danny. He's getting weaker and weaker. And after what his body went through he cannot last without food for much longer."

"God, I feel so helpless, banished out here!" Suddenly a hand was laid on Danny's shoulder.

"How is our stubborn leader doing?" Chin pointed with his head to Steve's door and gave Malia a kiss. He looked down on the untouched plate. "Still not eating I see."

"Yeah!" Danny said annoyed. "I will go in there now, and set that stubborn SEAL's ass straight!"

"NO!" Malia stood between the hospital door and Danny. "You will absolutely not!"

"Sure will!"

"NO, you won't because I will!" Her hands at her hip, she said determined.

"Wow, Malia." Chin smiled thrilled and to Danny "That's my girl!"

"You two wait down in the cafeteria! I don't want you out here eavesdropping! Go!" And with a finger pointing to the elevator she vanished in to Steve's room.

***HF0***

Steve lay listless in his bed. He hardly acknowledged Malia walking to his side and checking his vitals.

"You know Steve, you could at least say, Hi!"

"Hi." Came a tired voice. Malia shook her head. Stubborn my ass!

Malia realized that she would have to take a more direct approach.

"You know Steve; because you stopped eating, I have to put the NG-tube back in this evening!"

No reaction, but after a few moments of silence, where Malia already thought about preparing the 'feeding-tube', Steve asked.

"Is he still out there?"

Malia got in his view and wanted to set him straight as promised, when she saw the telltale wetness in those usually beautiful eyes. This was pure desperation! God, she so wanted to help him! She pulled a chair next to his bed and sat down.

"Yes! He is! He does not want to leave his best friend alone. He wants to be there when needed!"

"Why?" Steve's voice had a desperate confused tone.

"He's your friend, your Ohana." Immediately she got closer and stroked one hand once over his arm. "And so is Kono, Chin and me!"

Steve was silent again and tried to turn his head away. He obviously wanted to end this, but Malia couldn't and wouldn't let him do that!

"Steve, please…..What.. what did Danny do?" Immediately Steve's head snapped back and he stared at her.

"What…Danny did?" His eyes were now shiny and bloodshot. "Nothing! Malia! Nothing at all!"

He almost shouted and suddenly he couldn't control it any longer.

"It's me…. Don't you see… ME!" His body stared to get restless and he was nervously jerking his hand.

"I feel so ashamed! So damn ashamed… I cannot look in his eyes. I… That's why I don't want him in here, because I cannot look in the eyes of my best friend!"

"Steve please, calm down!" Malia took her distressed friend's nervously moving hand.

"Can't!" Steve was now getting really agitated "I can … can still feel her small neck below my hands! Just one tiny move and she would have been dead!"

Desperation filled in the ex-Navy SEAL's eyes.

"DEAD! Malia…..dead!" He needed to make her understand. "I ..I almost killed Danny's daughter! Killed Gracie!"

"Oh God, Steve!" Malia didn't care what hospital policy said. She sat down on Steve's bed and took him into her arms.

Finally, the tough Navy-Seal broke down in her arms and did something he never did – not once - he cried.

Malia could only hold him, stroke his back and talk to him soothingly.

Malia did see the door open and Chin looking in. He raised an eyebrow in question, but Malia just shook her head. Chin understood, closed the door and left them alone.

"I'm so… so sorry!.." Steve was getting more and more agitated, which was not good in his weakened condition.

"So Sorry!" Steve repeated again and again.

When he started to get so riled up, his breathing got labored and he obviously was having a hard time getting enough air, Malia decided this had to end, now.

"Steve, please you have to let go of me!" Malia very carefully pealed the SEALs hand from her Doctor's coat and helped him to lay back.

"I'll give you something so you can sleep for a few hours."

Steve just nodded, what was a miracle per se, as she knew from her husband's stories about the ex-Navy man.

She stood and injected a mild sedative into the IV.

"You know, when you wake up I'm afraid I have to put the NG-tube back in. Your body is too weak even if you start eating now."

"I know, Malia. But I just can't tolerate any food at the moment."

Chin's wife sat down again. "I know, Steve." She laid her hand on his arm. "But please try tomorrow. We don't want to lose you!"

Steve chuckles humorlessly.

"Stop it! I know you hurt! Emotionally! But let me tell you one thing. When that incident with Grace happened you had a high grade fever and were hallucinating! You did see things that were just in your head – you had no control over it whatsoever!"

She paused and made sure he was looking at her. "But you know what? You got back the control! And let me tell you one more thing! For someone to get back in control while hallucinating with a high grade fever borders on a miracle! And you Steve did it! You managed to snap out of it and recognized Grace and Danny in time!"

"But…"

"NO buts! Your love for the ones you care is immense and… did prevail!" She stood up and touched her stunned friend's cheek. "It did!" She said softly. "Now sleep and we will see each other later." She watched Steve fall asleep. Dosed by the meds she gave him, then smiled and left silently.

Now they finally knew what they were fighting!

***HFO***

Outside she was cornered immediately by her husband and Danny.

"And do you know what's wrong with him." Danny wanted to know. "Chin said he was …was.. crying?" he was desperately fishing for an explanation. Malia looked at him and then nodded at her husband and Danny. "Come to my office!"
When they were seated she confirmed it.

"Yes, he broke down." Danny breathed a sigh of pure wonder and relief.

"Finally!" he leaned forward. "And did…did he tell you … do you know, why he doesn't want me in his room? What's wrong with him?"

"Yes.." Malia said slowly. "And you know, if I tell you I will break all the rules of Doctor/patient confidentiality!"

"Malia!" Chin and Danny almost shouted, but Malia dared to smile. "But, I can already tell you, it's not Danny's fault, because he didn't do anything!" She paused. "It's because of Grace!"

Chin's wife stared at her friend. And Danny caught on immediately.

"Oh, no no no! How can he even think something like that!" the blonde Detective jumped to his feet and paced, head shaking, the floor of Malia's office.

"Yeah, I'm sure he feels ashamed and not worth anything most of all not safe to be around..blah..blah..blah, because he almost killed Grace!" He stopped pacing and looked at Malia and Chin. "Did you tell him that he was hallucinating, because he was burning up with a very high fever and he had that fever - because he was injured very badly and that - BECAUSE he turned the last moment to take the full impact of a damn flying log heading for Grace, and BECAUSE OF THIS he saved my little girl's life!" He palmed his face.

"That selfless, caring idiot! NO, let me correct that; imbecile stupid, selfless, caring idiot! And I love him, BUT… I will have to set that head of his straight! And if needs be – kick his ass in the process!" Chin just stared speechless at his friend. Not understanding at first but only a few moments later caught on to what was wrong with their leader.

"Guilt!" he smiled and shook his head unbelieving.

***HF0***

The next morning Steve sat in his bed feeling listless and alone.

Malia had made true her word and put that NG-tube back in, which didn't help his mood either.

He knew, Kono and Chin would show up shortly and try to cheer him up, but the only person he wanted to see, was unreachable. At least to him!

He missed his best friend! But he had no idea how he could fix what wasn't fixable!

This made him anxious and Steve felt itchy. He suddenly realized that his breathing was coming fast and then the heart monitor suddenly picked up pace!

Something was wrong!

Not willing to push the call button just yet, Steve took a few deep breaths, but instead of getting more air into his lungs he seemed to be getting even less and getting more out of breath!

Suddenly someone came in with his back pushing the door open to his room, holding a tray with his breakfast on it. The man finally looked up with a huge smile on his face.

Danny!

Steve stared at his friend or ex friend whatever and gasped for air.

And just in this moment the heart monitor started to shrill wildly.

Danny almost dropped the tray, completely shocked by Steve's reaction.

Steve tried to say something, but only desperate gasps came out of his mouth. His eyes fixing the blond Detective with desperation and fear!

Desperation? Fear?

This made Danny jump into action. In seconds he was at his friend's side.

"Steve? Oh my God, what's wrong?" He took his hand and squeezed it, but only wide eyes met his. "I need help here…. Someone HELP!" Danny yelled and finally found the call button and pushed it again and again.

A second later Nurse Ellen stormed into Steve's room. "Danny, what's wrong?"

"I don't know!" He yelled at the Nurse. "He just started gasping when I came in!" Nurse Ellen didn't hesitate and paged the Doctor on call. Something was rather wrong here!

Dr. Kamea came rushing in a minute later. One look at Steve's monitor and he had a bad feeling.

"What's going on?" Danny stood against the wall, watching the hectic commotion around him.

Steve's headrest was lowered and Dr. Kamea hastily pulled his patient's hospital shirt off.

"What… is it my fault?" Danny's voice rose in panic, while staring at his friend. Steve's eyes locked with his, as if he wanted to keep his friend near and not let go!

"Danny! Please keep quiet!" Dr. Kamea brought his stethoscope to Steve's chest, listening carefully and then looked at the monitor again.

"Low oxygen level, blood pressure is down, a very fast heart rate and on top the respiratory difficulties. All signs point to a pulmonary embolism! Ellen he needs Heparin infused." Ellen immediately administered the Heparin and after some time Steve finally seemed to relax a bit.

"Ellen, he has to be watched closely and I'll order a CT scan within the next hour!" and to the man standing against the wall. "Danny, come on let Ellen work. Steve will be kept sedated for a while."

"Just a moment, Doc!" Danny went straight to Steve and took his limp hand in his.

"I don't know what just happened, but you won't get rid of me that easy! Do you hear me, Steven!?" Steve looked relieved at Danny and closed his eyes.

As soon as he and Dr. Kamea were outside, Danny grabbed the Doc's sleeve.

"Doc, was it my fault?" Dr. Kamea stared at Danny. "Your fault…. ?"
"Yeah, because I entered his room although he expressed, he didn't want me there."

"NO, Danny, most certainly not! Danny, Steve was having a pulmonary embolism!"

"A... what…? ... Is that a blood clot in the lung?"

"Yes exactly!" He laid his hand on Danny's shoulder and squeezed.

"The only thing responsible for this is probably the broken leg. We gave him a low dose of enoxaparin to prevent that, but there is always the risk when a patient is immobilized. I'm sorry!" He looked deep in the eyes of the Detective.

"Don't worry! We caught it in time! And by the way….. Malia… she talked …I'm his Doctor,too…so be there for him, if he wants or not!.. I'll check on him later. See you then Danny." Dr. Kamea smiled, patted his shoulders and went to visit his next patient.

***HF0***

When Chin and Kono came out of the elevator, they found Danny still standing against the wall, bent at the middle and supported by his hands on his knees.

"Danny," they rushed to their friend. "What is it? Is Steve okay?"

"No, not exactly…" Chin leaned down. "Danny, what happened?" They all knew that Danny was about to confront their SEAL friend.

"I…"

"Danny did nothing wrong!" Suddenly Dr. Kamea was standing behind them. "I would say quite the opposite!" At the questioning looks of both the Five-0 members Dr. Kamea said. "Your friend Steve had a pulmonary embolism! Danny went into his room right in time and called for help when he saw Steve was in pain and not getting enough air. Therefore we got it in the beginning and could almost immediately start with the necessary medication! And…"

"And I would say that Danny saved Steve's life! Again!" Malia said who had just joined the group.

Danny looked up. "Really?"

Dr. Kamea patted him on the shoulder. "Yeah, really! So… I have to go and care for the other few patients I have. I leave you in the most capable hands of my colleague!" With a smile at Malia he left.

"Thanks Mek," she called after her colleague, "And let me tell them that there is no further visiting Steve today."

"What?" Danny asked and Kono and Chin stared at Malia.

"Sorry, but Steve has just had a very serious episode, and Mek gave him Heparin and some sedatives to sleep, I mean relaxing, healing sleep. Also he needs to be monitored by a Nurse all the time. So please go home and sleep too and," she looked at her husband, "I mean all of you!"

TBC… with the final part in a week.