I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Notes: thank you for being so patient - RL got briefly in the way but in a bad fashion as it stifled the muse a bit. A 14-hour work day would do that to anyone I guess. I am extremely behind in thanking each of you for the kind reviews. I will try and correct that over the weekend.
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Chapter Six
Chin's stoic presence was gone from the corner of the trauma room where he had taken up a sentry-like post. After all that time, it was strange to feel so alone even though one nurse was still present. Out of a newly learned habit, Danny looked again at what was now an empty chair. To be fair, Chin had wandered between rooms and gone outside at least three times to help Kono by phone in coordinating work with the FBI as they processed the three men that they now had in custody. The FBI was involved because fingerprints yielded an alarming identity and depth of criminal activity for every single man - including the one who was deceased. Cobbled together, their learnings would set the stage for how they defined an organized interrogation, as well as by or with whom. It additionally elevated the importance of Joanna Pearce's missing person's case and increased the communal concern for her young daughter.
With Sargent Duke Lukela's assistance, Chin cordoned off Joanna Pearce's ransacked apartment as a viable crime scene. The HPD Crime Scene Unit had already been on site for hours now scouring every nook and cranny of the place for clues. They all knew they were looking for something of value and anything suspicious would be immediately bagged and tagged.
But with Kono drawing the proverbial short straw, Chin had stayed long enough to ensure that both Danny and Steve would be fine. Of course Steve was cleared first. Danny couldn't help the silent sarcasm in his mind because now Chin was waiting with Steve somewhere outside Danny's trauma room for his official discharge papers. Chin would chauffeur him home and then join Kono at their offices or visit HPD or even the local FBI officials to gain ground on what might be in play. However, Danny's own tests had - and were taking - much longer to assess. So although he was clearly unhappy, he understood and obviously insisted there was no need for anyone to needlessly wait around to possibly only find that he would be admitted for observation.
After the doctors had removed his cold, wet and filthy clothing and replaced it with a hospital issued light blue gown, Danny had been subjected to a battery of tests. The tests included a sequence of x-rays that thankfully ruled out a broken rib or cracked sternum. The ER doctor had hemmed and hawed at what he thought he faintly saw in the film on Danny's left lung. He had unofficially diagnosed the white smudge as a dangerous pulmonary contusion and was currently seeking more expert opinion. Because his oxygen levels were initially low, an oxygen mask was firmly placed across his face and he had orders not to touch it unless told otherwise. He was annoyed but resigned and calmer than usual due to the strong pain medication he'd been given. And at that very minute, Danny was also almost content with no immediate inclination to move as a kind nurse toweled the remaining debris and mud from his hair, face and neck.
Every so often a sharp pain would flit stubbornly not across his chest, but deeper into his back and he would unconsciously flinch or grimace. For the most part though, he felt exceedingly better than he had just a few hours earlier. Danny lazily kept his eyes closed as the nurse completed her task and finger-combed stray bits of hair away from his face.
"You'll feel better after a proper shower." He had dozed from her gentle touch combined with the world's best mind-numbing medications. He mumbled something that sounded like an agreeable word of thanks as he felt a warm pat on his shoulder. He heard her chair slide away from him and then opened an eye to sigh in relief as she removed the oxygen mask and replaced it with a nasal cannula.
"Don't move. Just rest and the doctor will be back shortly." Again he managed a nonsensical simple sound on an exhale. Danny was alone and he reveled in the silence and privacy as he waited to be released. He was stubborn in that mental thought. Unyielding to expect any other medical decision regardless of the former pain he had experienced or what the ER doctor was considering. However, now he rested after an overwhelming flurry of activity which had finally eased caused by his precipitous arrival.
There had been too much noise and too many people perched near or around him with individual tasks meant to offer solace. During those first few minutes, Danny had been adamant about his demand to the ER staff that he expected to be discharged because nothing was broken. Nothing could be broken because he'd been wearing his bullet proof vest. At first, the attending physician was highly amused by his patient's gasped out and very pained words.
X-rays had been done and he was currently hooked up to a heart monitor, a blood pressure cuff that had a mind of its own, and pulse oximeter on his left fore-finger. Blood had been taken for some reason or another and inexplicably, he was on IV fluids. Danny was literally stuck exactly where he was and unable to prevent his body from an insistent urge to sleep in the stillness of the room. His doze eventually deepened into a real sleep and he missed the nurse who re-checked his vitals and lay a second blanket across his legs.
He grimaced as a tightness settled in the middle of his chest and a dull ache throbbed towards his back. At first he thought that the pain had woken him, but then he sensed it. Someone was back in the room and since it was likely another nurse to check the machines he was hooked up, Danny was slow to become fully aware. He did wake though as the corner of the blanket was coyly lifted from the left side of his shoulder. The action allowed colder air to hit his bare skin and he shivered reflexively.
"Danny?" There was a light touch on his shoulder and he started awake now as he heard a barely stifled intake of breath. He sighed in disgust as he peeled his reluctant eyes open. Before leaving, Steve had snuck in and was now staring at the bruise which graced his clavicle. When he saw Danny open his eyes, that worried stare didn't improve too much as he moved the blanket even more to view the second mark on his chest.
"Nosy, Steven." He complained dismally as more cold air hit exposed skin. "Or rude .. take your .. pick." His voice was rough and he had to stop to catch his breath every so often, but he was generally finding it easier to talk.
"Damn." Steve breathed out all of his concern in the one word and then smoothed the blanket carefully back where it had been. The bruising was frighteningly even more visible as time passed and brighter overhead lighting illuminated every vibrant color. Danny didn't have the energy to say more as Steve sat on the edge of the bed. His partner was tired, haggard and feeling his own pain that was both physical and emotional.
"Doc says nothings broken ... it looks bad though. How do you feel?" Steve continued speaking almost too softly and Danny narrowed his eyes suspiciously. His own right arm was in a sling and his eyes reflected the stresses of that morning. Kasey was a large part and parcel of his concern. Now, both men were extremely limited in getting involved personally with any aspect of the ongoing search. They were skirting the issue of the child for a few minutes and Danny accepted the momentary evasion with a short, easy reply.
"Better. You?"
In an effort to keep his eyes open, Danny raised the head of the bed. Their care had virtually paralleled each other down to the very minute. But where one was released, the other needed more time under the threat of additional tests in order to be sure nothing critical was missed. It was obvious to Steve that Danny was clock-watching and trying to estimate when all of it could be completely figured out. Preferably in his favor. However based on the scary prospects of a pulmonary contusion, Danny was actually more compliant than Steve had anticipated.
"Bullet went clean through but it nicked the bone on the way out." It was the reason Steve had been in so much pain. He'd been poked and prodded enough himself but needed to check on Danny again before leaving.
"We'll borrow your car and then get it back to your place." The current plan was for Chin to drive him home in the Camaro and then one of the cousins would return for Danny ... or worst case, check in on him if he were in fact admitted. Danny nodded his approval and then carefully exhaled to pose the one word as a question.
"Kasey?"
"We need to find her, Danny." Steve's eyes darkened as he continued to sit on the edge of the bed. "Kono's contacted the FBI on the men we have in custody. One is on their watch list for a variety of reasons - armed robbery, illegal gambling, money laundering. I don't know what Joanna Pearce did or has done .. but it's clear now that whatever it was may have cost her life."
He hesitated to rub his elbow inside the sling just shy of where the bandages began. "Kasey's in real danger."
Danny could only nod in agreement. The more they found out about her mother's possible dealings and relations, the more they needed to find the little girl. "I know. This storm isn't helping one bit either." But the conversation stalled as Chin came into the room smiling from ear to ear as if he had good news.
"The doctor says they'll know for sure in another couple of hours. Sounds like you're being scheduled for a CAT scan because the x-ray wasn't conclusive. If it's clean and shows nothing on your lung, then you'll be clear for release."
Chin's encouraging update immediately caused a stir and an overly dramatic sigh. It was nearing four o'clock and calls had already been made to Rachel to inform her of the strong possibility of canceling Danny's evening plans with Grace.
"It's good news, Danny. So we'll get your car to your place because either way you can't drive." Rather than allowing the man to wallow, Chin smiled and shrugged as he chose an optimistic route. The bruising across Danny's chest was indeed startling, but the doctors were working actively together to make sure their patient was indeed going to be fine.
"Hey, either I or Kono will be back for you later. Besides, the weather is terrible ... things will work out."
The prospect of postponing Grace's evening had also been met with a great level of timely, stormy annoyance by his daughter. She fully understood that he had a work-related accident and would of course accept the final verdict. She was home now anxiously waiting for an update that was continually delayed hour upon hour. Their plan was to have another inside camping event as a type of tropical storm party. His apartment was already well-stocked with food, snacks and battery run lanterns. The tent had been assembled the evening before and Danny had stuffed it with cozy blankets and pillows .. including a few new books he'd been suddenly motivated to buy for Grace.
Danny grinned to himself at the thought. It was made even better because Stan's offer for a substitute 'party' with him and Rachel had been met with utter silence. According to his exasperated ex-wife, Grace's expression couldn't be properly described. He huffed a small pleased sound and then winced at the flitting pain it caused as he agreed with Chin.
"You're right. It will work out." His voice was soft but even Steve finally smiled at the agreeable tone. It was almost good enough to know that Stan Edwards himself wasn't exactly 'good enough' when it came to doing just anything with his daughter. With or without electricity and despite the impressive size of such a rambling house or endless cash, the idea of putting up a tent in his small living room apartment still trumped the consolation offer. Truthfully, Danny didn't doubt the genuine good intent behind Stan's suggestion because he did love Grace, too. But Danny couldn't quite hide his personal fatherly satisfaction.
Chin's attitude lightened the mood and Danny managed to keep the grin as he and Steve left the hospital. He was still in the ER so that was also a plus .. he had not yet been officially admitted ... yet. And a simple CAT scan would be a piece of cake. So with a half-hearted wave, Danny resigned himself to the results of the pending consultation with whatever expert his ER doctor was seeking advice from.
Closing his eyes, he set his jaw against an earlier internal prayer of sorts. He frowned and opened his eyes quickly as the sound of distant thunder rumbled through the thick walls of the hospital. His mumble was barely audible as the thunder echoed even more loudly. "Damned island cannibal."
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It had taken some serious work on her part, but Kasey finally found her way to the Five-0 headquarters where she crouched shivering under the bushes until the sky tried to brighten and then failed. Exhausted and soaked through to the skin, she waited and watched for the silver Camaro for what seemed like hours. When it never came, Kasey rubbed her reddened eyes and coughed heavily. She was feverish and had trouble making up her mind as her throat became more sore and her cold fingers began to hurt. Tears welled in her eyes as it started to rain heavier again and the wind picked up to roughly bend the trees near the building.
The Camaro was no where to be seen and she began to doubt that either Steve or Danny would still even be working. She could even be at the wrong place and that terrible seed took root to make her nervous and fidgety. She was about to leave when the silver car finally pulled in and Kasey stood up in surprise. But just as quickly, she crumpled back down to her knees when an Asian man got out the driver's side. She stared in confusion when an HPD cruiser with two officers pulled up next to the Camaro and parked. Kasey sunk down even lower behind the leafy bush she was hiding under. It was nearing dinner time and she was cold and feeling much more sick. Many people had left for the day because of the bad weather and the parking lot was near to being empty.
Kasey didn't understand why a stranger was driving Steve's car so she made herself wait as the Asian man walked to a big pickup truck that was parked near her hiding place. Over his shoulder, she clearly heard him call back to the HPD officers who were now standing by the Camaro in the rain.
"I'll take Steve's truck to his house after I get the files he wanted to see. Thanks for the help with Danny's car." She watched him unlock the truck and lean in to get what looked like a large black leather binder. He then ran off through the rain towards the office building's main entrance.
Truck? Danny's car? Kasey was bewildered as she watched the men convene briefly on the sidewalk. They were making their own plans about the vehicles and deciding who would do what with each one. The mention of Steve's and then Danny's names were just the right information she needed though as she struggled back to her feet in the deepening mud. She edged closer to the truck and tried to see more of what the men were doing.
From her hiding place, she watched one officer get into Steve's silver car and then drive off. A few moments later, the second officer left in the police car without the Asian man. Kasey realized that he had gone into the office building and if she heard him correctly, he'd be back soon to leave in the pickup truck. To Steve's house. Kasey was positive that he had said exactly those words. Eyes wide with fear as she dared to make what could be a very dangerous move, at first Kasey rocked on her feet and bit her lip. She hugged her now bedraggled Lord Ted to her chest and coughed into his head as a chill settled in her bones.
Completely unsure of what to do, Kasey finally screwed up her courage and ran the short distance to the dark blue truck. At this point, she had nothing to lose and with the Camaro absolutely gone, she needed to at least try. Her fingers were ice cold now and the handle was high up, but she managed to get the rear passenger door open. She shoved Lord Ted onto the floor boards because she needed two hands to slam the heavy door shut. In her haste, she forgot to say low and completely exposed, looked plainly through the windshield and gasped out loud. The Asian man was already returning on a run through the rain with his head down as he jumped over ponding water in the parking lot. He had the black leather binder in his hands again but it seemed thicker and he was intent on trying to keep it dry.
Thinking quickly, she squirreled herself away on the floor behind the passenger seat where she found an over-sized beach towel. Her fingers fought against themselves as she tried to open the balled up material wide enough so that she could wrap herself securely under it. She sobbed in frustration just once as the towel refused to cooperate and she needed to kick the bottom of it with her wet feet to cover her legs. It was enough though and she was just sinking down with Lord Ted when the man's hand opened the driver's side door.
Kasey made herself as small as possible and hid her face in her teddy bear to muffle any more coughing sounds. She felt very pleased with herself as the rain pounded loudly on the metal roof of the pickup truck and the big engine roared to life. Through her stuffy nose she vaguely realized that the towel smelled like suntan lotion and salt water. It also had bits of gritty sand stuck in it but she was already much happier to at least be out of the heavy, cold downpour.
Moments later, the Asian man was driving out of the parking lot and then placing a call on his cell phone. "Kono, I dropped Steve off at his house. He's in pain but relatively fine. Duke agreed to take the Camaro to Danny's place."
He stopped talking as he listened to whoever this Kono was before replying. "No, no word on if Danny's going to be released yet; he's having another test. But I'm taking Steve's truck to his place now. When you're ready, pick me up there and hopefully we'll know more about Danny's test results by then."
Kasey's hopes soared since the man knew Danny too, and they were definitely going to Steve's house. She dove down deeper into Lord Ted's clammy nubby fur-coated body as she forcibly muffled a ragged cough.
Thunder boomed overhead as she trembled from a combination of fear, excitement and a bad chill. She didn't know what Steve would say or do once he discovered her. The thoughts faded though as she rocked gently in time to the movement of the truck. She didn't feel very well and soon Kasey fell into a restless feverish sleep in a place that was finally warm and felt just a bit safer than the last.
Losing track of time, she slept until waking in a confused daze as a loud door slammed somewhere near her head. It took her a few seconds to realize that the truck had stopped moving and even longer to remember where she was and why. With a jolt, she pulled the towel off her face before untangling herself a bit reluctantly from her warm hiding place.
Cautiously, Kasey poked her head up to peek over the corner of the back seat. The Asian man was just jogging to the open door of a pretty house and in the doorway was Steve. His arm was in a sling and he was holding the door open to welcome the man so they were friends after all. Kasey smiled in triumph as the door slowly closed against the elements. But it didn't matter because she was finally where she wanted .. and needed .. to be.
Kasey felt stiff and sore as she quietly climbed out of the truck and back into the wind and rain. After being so warm, the cold temperature whipped through her still very damp clothes and she immediately began to shake. Her head hurt and a miserable ache flared in her stomach but she was now determined to keep going. Carefully, she and Lord Ted approached the front door and slowly turned the knob. When the door opened under her hand and she didn't hear anything, Kasey quickly slid boldly through an opening just big enough for her slim body before silently closing it behind her back.
Only then could she hear Steve talking in the kitchen, but she wasn't quite ready to announce herself with the stranger in the house. He might do anything and could easily take her away before she was ready or wanted to leave. Kasey buried her fingers spasmodically in Lord Ted's matted fur and looked around the living room. The black binder that the Asian man had brought was on the coffee table and a wet jacket was tossed over the back of a chair.
In just a few short steps, she was by the door to a closet and easing inside where she had to push aside a few hanging coats and shirts, plus some boots and other soft things that took up space on the floor. Once she had enough room, she hunkered down. Her eyes were glassy with fever as she stifled a sneeze that came on the heels of a raspy cough. Lord Ted came to the rescue again as she buried her face to muffle the sound she was making. The closet was small but just big enough for her to get comfortable with a neatly folded blanket she'd found in the corner under another pair of boots.
Kasey wrapped herself in the blanket and curled up on her side with Lord Ted as a pillow. Sickly and exhausted, she rubbed her face sloppily as she started to feel both hot and cold at the same time. But before she could worry too much about that, the men moved into the living room to sit down and talk. Her worry about being discovered dissipated quickly as Steve softly laughed about something and the Asian man joined in. Eventually, Kasey relaxed and her softly congested breaths evened out as she fell asleep to the drone of the television and the sound of their comforting voices.
~ to be continued ~