A/N: So who figured out how Steve would get on the plane? I did give you a hint, and really it was the only other way on board.

Chapter Three

Danny lay on the floor of the plane in agony. He had no idea what had hurt his arm, just knew that he didn't want to meet, whatever it was, again.

The short sleeved shirt he wore allowed Danny to see the bite on his forearm, but on looking at it, he realised it wasn't a bite. There was one round hole in his arm, the surrounding area now red, and slightly swollen.

Phillips was still over by the door talking on his phone, and Danny realised the man was too scared to come to his assistance. Definitely a rookie Danny thought. The poor man was in over his head, and maybe he was, too.

Slowly Danny managed to roll onto his left side and used his left arm to pull himself back towards the door and away from the cargo. There was no way he could get to his feet this close to the cargo without touching it, at least that's what he told himself. Truth was he didn't have the strength to push himself up, and he couldn't use the cargo for leverage, not with some creature lurking there. His right arm was useless. It hurt so much he couldn't bear to move his fingers at all. His heart was beating fast, he could feel it racing in his chest, and he wasn't sure if it was from the adrenalin spike, or caused by whatever had stung him.

Once Danny was halfway to the door, Phillips found the courage to come forward and pulled him the rest of the way, helping him sit against the bulkhead to the cockpit.

"I have Myers on the phone." Phillips said as he slid down next to Danny. "He says a Deathstalker is a scorpion. The manifest says there were two in that cage."

"Good to know." Danny intoned, not really caring at this point, he hurt too much.

"Also, the rest of your team is here." Phillips continued.

Danny raised his eyes and muttered. "Oh great, now Steve can go all Rambo on the plane trying to get to me. But he better not open that door, or I'll kick his butt."

Phillips looked at Danny with a raised eyebrow.

"You have to know my partner to understand. Can you get my phone out of my pant pocket, I can't move my arm?" Danny leaned slightly to his left to give Phillips access to his right rear pant pocket.

"Sure." Phillips retrieved Danny's phone and handed it to him. Using his left-hand Danny took the phone off silent and then hit the speed dial for his partner.

"Don't yell. I'm in enough pain without you adding to it by giving me a headache." He listened for a few seconds. "So you actually listened and are not coming in through the door, right? Because, you know, I don't have the strength to kick your ass right now, but I will later, when I feel better."

"Ha, remind me to thank Chin and Lou when I see them. Be careful please with whatever plan you are hatching to get on board this plane." Danny knew that not being able to open the main cabin door would not stop his partner for long.

I'll see you in a few minutes." Danny snorted as he hung up and put the phone on the floor beside him. His partner was such a comedian, like he's always careful. Ha.

"He's going to get us out of here, so relax for a few minutes. Oh, and keep an eye out for this." Danny held up his phone with the picture Kono had just sent him of a Deathstalker Scorpion.

Steve had been at the back of the ambulance getting a bag of medical supplies when his phone rang. On seeing that it was Danny, the first words out of his mouth were, "What the hell, Danny."

He listened then continued, "Sorry. Chin and Lou wouldn't let me board the plane anyway, because you said no-one was to open the door." Steve ran his free hand through his hair as he looked towards the plane's door wishing he had x-ray vision so he could see his partner.

"I'm getting in through the cockpit window, Danny. TSA are positioning a stairway there now." Steve picked up the medical bag and headed towards the plane, listening as he went. "Yes, I'll be careful. I'm always careful, Danny. See you soon." With a smile as Danny replied, Steve hung up.

"That was Danny. He didn't sound too bad." Steve told Chin and Kono. Lou was just returning from the terminal, Steve had no idea he'd left until he pulled up and exited the vehicle.

Lou approached Steve with a pair of leather gauntlets. "Here, you may need these. I don't think a stinger can get through, they're pretty thick."

"Thanks, Lou." Steve removed his vest before he started up the steps to the cockpit, Kono made to follow him. "No, Kono, I'm going alone. No-one else is to enter that plane. I'll get the pilot out, then Officer Phillips."

Chin put a hand on Kono's arm as she opened her mouth to argue with Steve. "He's right Kono. Danny wouldn't want anyone else in there if it means they're in danger."

Kono nodded and stepped back, obviously not happy, but willing to let Steve be the one to save his partner.

Steve smiled at her and then ran up the steps to where the pilot had the cockpit window already open. Once he'd helped the pilot out, Steve entered the cockpit through the window. As he disengaged the door lock he called out. "Is it safe to open this door?"

Phillips stood and went to the door to the cockpit. "Yes, the scorpions are in the cargo."

Steve opened the door, just enough to exit the cockpit. He immediately looked over to where Danny sat, trying to assess if he was really as okay as he'd sounded on the phone. Once he'd satisfied himself that Danny was indeed okay, for now, he turned to the TSA officer. "Phillips, right?"

"Yes, sir." The young officer replied.

"Okay, Phillips. Go into the cockpit and climb out the window. I can take it from here."

"Thank you," Phillips said as he rushed into the cockpit wanting to exit the plane as fast as he could.

Steve closed the door behind the spooked TSA officer. He lifted the medical bag and walked over to Danny crouching down beside him.

"I'm glad to see you, Steve." Danny smiled at his partner, but his eyes told Steve just how much pain Danny was in.

"You should have called me for backup, Danny." Steve was still annoyed that Danny had gone in with only a TSA officer for backup, and a pretty inexperienced one by the looks of it.

"Steve, you really want to do this right now?" Danny sighed "Because I have to tell you that I'm not feeling up to our usual repartee."

"Repartee? Did you study a dictionary again Danny?" While they talked, Steve opened the bag and pulled out a stethoscope. "I need to listen to you heart, and check your blood pressure."

"I can tell you my heart is racing, so you don't need to listen to it. What you should be doing is helping the co-pilot." Danny nodded towards where the co-pilot lay. "He had a pulse when I first checked him, before this happened." Danny indicated his right arm now resting on his lap.

"You first, Danny. I'll check the co-pilot once I've check you." Steve placed the stethoscope against Danny's chest.

But Danny pushed Steve's hand away. "No! You will go check the more seriously hurt man first, Steven. Isn't that what protocol dictates?"

"Damn protocol, Danny. You are my partner." Concern, worry, and fear all flashed in Steve's eyes as he looked at Danny.

Danny caught each emotion as it flashed by, and realised that Steve was scared of losing him. "I'm not going anywhere, Steve." Danny spoke softly as he placed his left arm on Steve right forearm. "But, please, check the co-pilot and pull him over here, away from the cargo."

Their eyes held for a few seconds, and then Steve turned to do as Danny asked.

Steve cautiously approached the man looking for any sign of a scorpion. Seeing none, Steve reached forward to pull the co-pilot away from the cargo, but as he put his hands under the man's shoulders he spotted one of the scorpions hidden in the shadows under the left arm, and really close to where he'd placed his hand.

TBC