***** Please note, I have no medical background but I try to be as accurate as possible with my clinical facts. I hope you are enjoying and THANK YOU for all the reviews, they keep me going! ******
The Doctor looked at the group saying, "I'm sorry but Javier Gomez didn't make it. We couldn't stop the internal bleeding and he went into full cardiac arrest. We did everything we could but we were unable to revive him"
They were all shaken by the news and Aaron stood and shook the Doctor's hand, "Thank you for your efforts Doctor, I will contact his family and make arrangements for him to be sent home. Is there any word on McGarrett?"
"He's out of surgery and in recovery. He's in critical condition and we are treating him for sepsis shock. He suffered a severe bacterial infection in the bullet wound and we had to remove a quarter of his liver as well as his gallbladder. We also removed a large amount of infected and abscessed tissue in his abdominal cavity. Right now we're working on raising his body temperature and increasing his oxygen levels in hopes of avoiding organ failure"
Danny inquired, "He was running a fever, now his body temp is low?"
"Yes, this happens with severe sepsis. His system is in shock"
"How low is his body temp?"
"He's at 91.5 right now"
"That's so low…..what are you doing for him?"
"At this point he's lost most of his ability to generate heat on his own. He's being given warmed, humidified oxygen and heated intravenous saline. We're keeping him covered with warmed blankets and we have him under heat lamps. Warming him up is our number one priority at this point. We're also giving him intravenous drugs and antibiotics to treat his low blood pressure and the infection" The Doctor looked at them all before continuing, "I know this is a lot to take in…"
Danny shook his head, "No please Doc, we need to know everything"
The Doctor continued, "Sepsis causes swelling. We need to increase the blood flow to his vital organs and we're giving him medications that will cause his blood vessels to narrow, thus increasing his blood pressure and the flow of blood through his body. This will allow his vital organs to again start functioning properly"
Aaron asked, "What are you giving him?"
"Dobutamine, which is an inotropic medicine used to stimulate his heart. We're also giving him Vasopressors, dopamine and adrenaline. These drugs will increase the strength of his heartbeat and will help get oxygen-rich blood to his tissues and organs. We're giving him Imipenem-Cilastatin to treat the infection and he's on a ventilator to aid his breathing and he's also receiving medication for his pain"
Danny asked, "You got all the infected tissue out though?"
"It's hard to say, we certainly hope so. We'll be watching him very carefully"
"When can we see him?"
"He's going to be in ICU until we get him stabilized and that could be several days. One of you can stay with him. Once he's settled in, I'll send a Nurse to bring you to him"
Danny shook his hand, "Thank you Doctor for everything you've done"
After the Doctor left, Danny turned from the others, putting his hands over his face. This was bad….very bad.
They all remained quiet for several minutes before Kono said softly, "He's going to be alright, he has to be…"
Danny turned to face her, "Yes, yes he will be"
They decided that Danny would see Steve for a few minutes and then he would go sit with Tyler, and Chin would remain with Steve.
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A little more than an hour later Danny entered the ICU and his heart stuck in his throat as his eyes fell on his partner. He moved to Steve's side, his eyes never leaving Steve's face. The tone of his skin and lips terrified him. They were tinged blue, a result of the low level of oxygen in his blood. He listened to the whirring of the respirator and the beeping of the numerous monitors he was hooked up to. An endotracheal tube was inserted into his throat to aid in his breathing and he could see the SEAL's eyes moving wildly behind his closed eyelids. He knew what that movement meant…..Steve was dreaming….his mind taking him back to a mission. This always happened when he had drugs coursing through his veins, hell he didn't even need drugs to have these damn nightmares. He had them every few days but he rarely talked about them. Danny always knew when he'd had a nightmare though because the next morning he would stay quietly behind his closed office door for a couple of hours.
Danny reached out and stroked Steve's cheek with his finger…..'God he felt so cold'…he spoke softly, "I'm here partner, you fight Steve….your hear me? You fight buddy"
There were two heat lamps beating down on him and the warming blankets covered him. The only part of his body visible was his head. Danny placed a hand on top of Steve's chest and even through the thick blankets he felt him shivering.
He leaned close to Steve, "You're doing great babe and we're all here. I'm going to go watch over Ty and Chin's going to stay with you. You don't quit on me partner…..I love you" He stood quietly watching his partner for several minutes before turning and leaving the ICU, wiping a tear from his eye.
About an hour later Tyler began to wake. Danny and Sam moved to his side and as Ty's eyes slowly fluttered open Sam took hold of his hand and spoke softly, "Hey buddy"
Ty's eyes focused on his friend and he smiled weakly, "Sammy…..you're looking good"
"So are you"
"You're full of shit"
Sam grinned, "You know me too well. How are you feeling Ty?"
"It hurts man…where are we?"
"Tripler Medical Center in Hawaii"
Ty then said emotionally, "God Sam, they killed David…" Tyler's breathing became more rapid as he recalled his ordeal.
Sam squeezed his hand tightly, "I know buddy. I need you to relax now, you're safe"
Tyler's eyes closed and his nostrils flared as he struggled to compose himself.
A couple of minutes passed quietly before Ty asked, "Is my Dad here?"
Sam responded, "They're treating him babe. Danny's here"
Ty opened his eyes and turned his head towards Danny. The Jersey detective squeezed the boy's shoulder, "Hey Ty"
Ty said softly, "Danno…..is Dad okay?"
"He's going to be fine. He's tough buddy, just like you" A look of confusion crossed the injured man's face and Danny added, "He was shot in the belly, remember?"
After several seconds, Ty replied "Yeah…" He continued to press the issue, "Danny, is he okay? No bullshit now...…"
Danny sighed deeply before responding, "He's critical Ty, but they're taking good care of him. They removed the bullet but he developed a severe infection and sepsis set in"
Ty's eyes again closed and he said softly, "Oh shit…."
He tried to push himself up as both Danny and Sam pushed him back onto the pillow. Danny spoke firmly to him, "Ty you need to relax"
"I need to see him Danno"
"Hey look at me Tyler" The young man's eyes focused on him and Danny continued, "He's in intensive care right now. Chin is with him and he'll let us know if there's any change in his condition. They've got him on lots of meds and they're watching him closely. He needs to rest buddy and so do you. Owen is resting too and Amber and your parents will be here soon" Running his hand tenderly across Tyler's bruised cheek, he added "Sleep now Ty. Sam and I will be right here with you. Everything's going to be okay buddy, I promise…"
As Tyler's eyes closed and he said, "'K….." Danny saw his partner in the boy and he smiled softly, praying that the words he spoke were true, praying that everything would be okay.
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Over the next twenty four hours Danny moved between the three rooms monitoring the men's conditions.
Owen's parent's had arrived and while they stayed with him, JJ spent time with Tyler.
The Doctor's had given them all the good news that Tyler and Owen would both fully recover physically. Mentally was another story…..they were going to have to live with the emotional scars that would forever torment them.
Steve's condition had improved slightly. His body temperature had risen to 95 and Danny was with him when regained consciousness.
"Steve, I'm here babe. Don't try to talk, you have a tube in your throat. Blink twice if you understand me"
Danny squeezed his hand tightly as Steve blinked twice, "Good….that's real good partner. Now I'm going to tell you everything and I need you to blink once for yes, and twice for no…..okay?"
Steve blinked once.
"First, Tyler is doing well. Sam and JJ are with him and the Doctors are saying that both boys are going to be just fine, they just need time to heal. Amber and his parents will be here in a couple of hours"
Steve blinked once and a tear of relief slipped down his cheek. Danny brushed it away with his thumb and continued, "You're going to be okay too partner. They got the bullet out but you developed a severe infection and sepsis set in. They had to remove a small part of your liver and gallbladder, as well as some infected tissue and they've got lots of meds pumping into you. You need to rest and you'll be fine"
Steve blinked once.
Danny then asked, "Are you cold?"
Steve blinked once.
"I'll see if they can increase the heat on your blankets. Are you in pain….and tell the truth Steven"
Steve blinked once.
"I'll get you something more for the pain" Instantly Steve's grip tightened in his hand as he fought against the thought of more pain medication. Danny spoke to him calmly, "I need you to trust me Steve. You need the meds right now. Your body has to rest. I'll be with you and if I'm with Tyler, Chin will be here. You're not alone brother. Trust me and sleep now, close your eyes and sleep...…"
Danny called the Nurse and after she increased the heat output on the blankets and opened up the IV line increasing his pain meds, exhaustion overtook him and Steve slept. Danny stayed at his side, holding his hand for a long time.
Chin came into the ICU to relieve him a couple of hours later, "How's he doing brah?"
"He's in pain…but he's fighting Chin"
"Hey, Tyler's wife and parents just arrived. I'll stay here with him"
"Okay, thanks buddy" With one final squeeze of Steve's hand, Danny left the ICU.
******* I'd love to hear your thoughts. Enough Steve whump yet? *******