Danny sat next to Steve, leaning up against the side of the plane "How you doing?"
"I'm okay Danno. How are you?"
"Me? I don't have a bullet in my gut….I'm fine"
Steve grinned, "I talked to JJ and he told me about what happened after I was hit. Are you alright?"
"I have to admit that I hesitated when I saw those boys Steve. Shit man, they were babies"
"I know….it's a horrible reality of the drug wars and the damn poverty of these countries. You did what you had to do Danny"
Danny hesitated before responding, "Well actually no I didn't. I winged them both intentionally…I just couldn't shoot to kill. JJ saved my life Steve"
Steve replied softly, "I told you that SEAL missions are different, but in this aspect they're no different than our cases. JJ covered you, he saved your ass…..and you saved my ass. We love each other and we've got each other's backs, we're family brother….just like 5-0. Danny…...I'm so glad you're here"
"I'm glad too Steve. These guys are all amazing, Super SEAL's multiplied!"
Steve smiled, "They're great men, each one of them and so are you Danno"
JJ and Aaron woke and came over to check on the men.
Danny asked, "How are they doing Aaron?"
"Javier and Owen are both running fevers. We're going to keep them on morphine and ice them until we get them to a hospital. Sam's doing well and Ty's resting. How about you Steve?"
"I had a great talk with Ty so I'm much better. I'm tired…."
Danny said, "You need to sleep then partner"
With Aaron's help they hooked up another bag of blood to his IV and they had Steve back down and covered with blankets in a few minutes. Danny then moved with the others to visit and every twenty minutes or so they would check on their injured friends.
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When they were about three hours out from Hawaii, Aaron said, "Looks like Smooth Dog is waking"
Danny turned to see Steve moving his legs. "I'll go check on him"
As he grew near he knew there was trouble. Steve was clutching his abdomen, his breathing was very rapid and he was sweating profusely. Kneeling at his partners side he grabbed his hand and was startled at the heat emanating from the SEAL's body….infection had definitely set in.
He called out, "We've got trouble boys"
In moments the three Commanders were also at his side. Stripping back the blankets they noted Steve's skin was red, hot and moist from sweat. Peeling the bandaging from the wound provided confirmation that it was infected. His abdomen was swollen and the wound was red and seeping. Steve was still out, but as Aaron inspected the bullet wound he began to moan and move restlessly.
As the others held him, Danny took his face into his hands, "STEVE, STEVE OPEN YOUR EYES FOR ME BUDDY"
Not getting a response, Danny tapped on his cheeks, STEVEN…HEY OPEN YOUR EYES"
Steve's eyes darted open as he looked at Danny dazed and very confused "Daanno….…wwhat's wrong? I don't ffeel too good"
"Listen to me partner. You were shot and we're on the plane flying home from Bogota. Do you remember?"
Steve was quiet for several seconds before saying, "Yeeah…..wwhere's Tyler?"
"Tyler's fine babe. We gotta take care of you now. You've got an infection and Aaron and JJ are going to take care of you alright?"
"Yeah….'k…"
Danny nodded to JJ and as he whispered softly to Steve to relax, JJ gave him an injection of morphine.
"Daannyy….I ddon't ffeel ….tt..tttoo good"
"Ssshhhhh relax buddy…sleep now. I've got you"
Once he was under the men discussed their options.
Danny said softly, "We've got to get that bullet out Aaron"
JJ responded, "Danny we can't get to it safely, it's too damn deep"
Danny ran a hand through his hair, "He's infected man…we've GOT to get it out"
Aaron turned to Danny, "Danny…..we love him too, but we've got to be smart about this. If we start digging for that bullet it's going to open up the vessels again. We got lucky in stopping that bleeding…..we may not be lucky next time"
JJ replied, "Danny we're almost there…."
"SHIT JJ, WE'RE THREE FUCKING HOURS OUT! Damn, I know you're right….but we're three hours out"
Aaron said softly, "Why don't you help me here Danny and we'll drain the wound. Let's get as much crap out of there as we can"
Jak and JJ moved to check on the others while Aaron pulled out the medical bag.
Aaron then called Pete and John over to help them while explaining "I'm going to lance the wound and he's going to wake up. This is going to be excruciatingly painful. You have to keep him totally still boys…are you ready?"
After receiving affirmative nods from each of them, Aaron sat across Steve's upper legs and after slipping his boxers over his hips for easier access he placed a heated scalpel just above the bullet wound, quickly cutting a two inch incision. Instantly the unconscious SEAL woke, screaming out in agony "OOOOHHH MY GOD….SSTOP…..PPLEASE SSTOP!
John pinned his right arm tightly to the ground as he lay across Steve's chest pressing his left shoulder down.
Pete pinned his left arm down and lay across his midsection. Danny was lying flat on his stomach and was cradling his friend's head in his arms as he talked to him firmly, "STEVE….RELAX…..JUST RELAX PARTNER"
Steve was screaming out, "AARON…AAARRON GET TTO JJOHHNNY….WE HHAVE TO GET TO JOHNNYYY"
As Danny turned Steve's head towards John, he responded, "COMMANDER, ITS JOHNNY. I'M OUT…WE'RE ALL OUT SIR. IT'S OVER COMMANDER"
As Steve's eyes focused, he said, "You're okay JJohnny?"
"Yes Sir, everybody's good Sir we're on our way home"
"Where's Aaron ssoldier?"
"You were hit Commander….Marshack is taking care of your wound Sir"
"I'mm hhit? Yeeah hhurts. Where am I hhit Johhnny?"
"You took a round to the gut Sir, but Aaron's taking good care of you and we're almost home…you just hang on"
Danny was watching as a greenish/grey pus flowed freely from the incision soaking a towel Aaron was using. As the fluid slowed Aaron said, "Hold him tight boys"
Danny spoke firmly, "Steve, hold on tight brother"
As Aaron pushed down onto the wound to extract more of the infectious fluids the SEAL instinctively tried to push away, "OOOHHH SHIT…..HHURRTS AARON…..OOOHH SHIT"
Aaron called out, "YOU HOLD ON SMOOTH DOG, I'M ALMOST DONE BROTHER"
"OOOOHH MY GOD"
Danny lowered his voice, "You're doing great Steven…..hang on babe" They entire process took about ten minutes and then as Aaron cleaned and re-bandaged the incision and wound Danny spoke softly to Steve as the drugs took him back under.
They packed his body with ice packs to help bring down his fever and they moved away from the sleeping men with Sam joining them.
Danny asked JJ, "How are the other's doing?"
"Javier's fever is up a bit. His wound isn't as inflamed as Steve's though. We've got him iced up. Ty and Owen are resting comfortably….thanks to the morphine. We should all make it home"
Danny smiled, "That's great. How are you doing Sam?"
"I'm good. The bite's a little tender, but I'm good"
Danny called Governor Denning to let him know when they were arriving and the status of the injured men. Thankfully the rest of the flight passed quietly and as the plane landed at Hickam Air Field it was greeted by two ambulances.
Military Medics boarded the plane and after taking information about the men's injuries they were all set up with IV's of saline and carried on backboards off the plane to waiting stretchers. The ambulances then left for Tripler Army Medical Center while the team unloaded the plane.
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Governor Denning had set up rooms for the men at the Hilton and sent them four loaner cars. Danny drove Steve's truck with Sam as a passenger while the three SEAL Commanders followed him in another vehicle. As they drove to Tripler, the other men took the orders from their Commanders to go check into the Hotel, clean up and relax.
When they arrived at Tripler, Sam checked in to get looked over and the others were all taken to a waiting room where they took turns cleaning up in a nearby bathroom.
As they waited to hear about their men, Danny called Chin.
"Danny? Where are you?"
"We're at Tripler buddy"
"Talk to me"
"We got him out Chin, Tyler's alive"
Chin sighed and said quietly, "Thank God. Is Steve with him?"
"Uh no…Steve is in surgery. He was shot Chin"
Kono put her hand to her mouth as Chin asked, "Where was he hit?"
"In the lower abdomen. I don't think any vital organs were hit but he lost a lot of blood and infection set in"
"How about Tyler?"
"It's hard to say Chin. The kid was tortured. His lung was torn and Steve had to perform an emergency procedure to drain blood from it. He was slashed numerous times, burned and beaten. He has broken ribs, a broken arm, leg and ankle. He was locked in a sweltering shed for days….he's bad Chin"
Chin sighed deeply before saying softly, "We'll be right there brother"
***** Much more to follow….I'd love to hear what you think! *****