Note: Time for some sick Danny.
Chapter Nine.
Steve sat in the surgical waiting room, his leg freshly stitches and dressed. Kelly had kindly found him some scrub pants to wear. Danny had been in surgery for two hours already, and Dr. Pearce has just sent word to him that Danny was stable, and they had located the bleed. He'd managed to call Danny's parents and inform them of Danny's condition, and had also contacted the FBI so they could get word to Matt. He'd finally called Kamekona to fill him, and Amber, in and they were on their way to join him.
Four hours after Danny was taken to surgery, the rest of the team arrived. They had remained behind to process the scene and make sure the bodies for Vargas, and his men, were dealt with. They then had to return by boat.
"Have you heard anything?" Kono asked.
"Not since I last updated you." Steve replied.
"I spoke with the FBI on the way over. They said they'll bring Matt to visit, once Danny is up to it. Even though Vargas is dead, the FBI are very interested in the information he has on the rest of the cartel. They are putting together an operation to bring down the remaining members. Once they are sent down, Matt's safety shouldn't be an issue." Chin explained.
"That's good." Steve replied, he didn't particularly care for Matt, but he knew Danny would want a good outcome for his kid brother.
"The FBI is really happy to be taking down this particular cartel. They've offered Matt 2 year's minimal security. If he keeps his head down he could be out in just over a year." Kono added.
"Danny will be glad to hear that." Steve commented.
"Should we call his family?" Grover asked.
"I already did. I promised to let his mom know as soon as he's out of surgery." Steve informed them.
Chin and Kono went on a coffee run for everyone then they all sat in silence. Each lost in their own thoughts and worry for Danny.
It was approaching midnight when Dr. Pearce entered the room. They all immediately jumped to their feet.
"Doc, how's he doing?" Steve asked.
"He's holding his own for now." She said sitting so the others would follow her lead. "Surgery went well, we found a small tear to his spleen which was easily repaired and shouldn't cause him any problems."
"That's good, so he'll be ok." Amber asked.
"From the spleen yes, but Danny has a lot more going on that concerns us." She explained.
"I'm sorry Amber, I should have told you a bit more about what they put Danny through." Steve apologised, knowing this was going to be hard for Amber and Kamekona to hear.
"Danny's main issues now are the heat stroke, burns and pneumonia." Dr. Pearce explained.
"Burns?" Amber questioned.
"Danny was left out in the sun for several hours; he has second degree burns to his back, chest and arms. His face is also burnt, but only first degree." Dr. Pearce explained causing Amber to gasp. "The burn team has reviewed Danny and prescribed special dressings. The burns are going to be extremely painful for a few days, but they will heal and won't scar."
"That's good." Kono said. "Those blisters looked nasty."
Dr. Pearce nodded, "his temperature was also extremely elevated when he came in, but we have been able to bring it down during the surgery. We will need to push fluids for a day or so to help with the dehydration and the burns. We also debrided the gunshot wound to his arm and stitched it up. It was looking infected, but the antibiotics we have him on for the pneumonia should take care of that."
"Pneumonia? How did he get pneumonia if he was left out in the sun?" Amber questioned again.
"Danny managed to inhale some bad water, which has led to something called aspiration pneumonia." Dr. Pearce explained.
"No way brah, those guys water board Jersey?" Kamekona asked picking up on Steve's anger. Seeing Steve nod he added. "That's lolo."
"Water board?" Amber repeated looking confused.
"Trust me you don't want to know?" Kono said taking hold of Amber's hand as she saw tears forming.
"We are aggressively treating the pneumonia, but with the broken, cracked and bruised ribs, Danny is struggling and needs a lot of support with his breathing. At the moment he is breathing for himself, conscious, and his oxygen levels are holding. But I need to warn you all that it is possible that the pneumonia will get worse before the antibiotics kick in, and we may need to step in and help him out."
"You mean a ventilator?" Steve asked.
"Yes." Dr. Pearce confirmed. "I'm afraid Danny is in a serious condition right now. We've moved him to the ICU where he can be closely monitored. We also have him on a high dose of morphine to help with the pain, so he is very sleepy. Don't expect much of a conversation from him. In fact, I'd prefer he didn't really talk to help his breathing."
"You do remember this is Danny we are talking about, right doc?" Steve said, his best friend may be seriously ill, but Steve was pretty sure he would find a way to rant some how.
"I do, which is why I need your help on that one." Seeing the team smile she continued. "I know you're all keen to see him so I'm willing to let you all in for 30 minutes, but then I'm afraid only Steve can stay the night. The nurses will be busy keeping Danny's fluids replaced and controlling his pain, so they need room to move. You all look like you need some rest too. I'll allow you all back during normal visiting hours."
"Thanks doc." They all said.
"I'll send the nurse for you when he's settled." Dr. Pearce informed them then left.
"I better update his parents." Steve said moving off to one side.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Thirty minutes later the team and Amber were led into the ICU. Kamekona had opted to head home, knowing the team would keep him informed of Danny's condition.
The nurse showed them into Danny's room and they all stood circling the bed. Danny was sat almost straight up, and his face was lobster red. Most of it was hidden behind an oxygen mask which had a much thicker than normal oxygen tubing running to it. "He's on high flow oxygen at the moment." The nurse explained. "His oxygen levels are holding steady."
The team listened to the hiss of the oxygen, and the horrible wheeze and gurgling that came from Danny with every breath he took. Now they all understood why Dr. Pearce didn't want him talking.
He was wearing a tubigrip bodysuit to cover the burns on his chest, arms and back, and to keep the special dressings in place. Wires poked out from the top and bottom, and connected to a monitor. Instead on a blood pressure cuff around his arm, an arterial line had been sited in his left wrist, constantly giving a reading and also allowing frequent blood gasses to be taken.
A central line protruded from the right side of his neck, connected to several IV bags containing fluids, antibiotics and pain killers.
Two bags hung down below the bed, one containing a bloody fluid from the drain placed in his abdomen, and the other collecting his urine. The nurses were keeping a close eye on his fluid balance as they replaced the fluids lost to the heat stroke.
Amber was the first to step closer to Danny and gently took a hold of his hand, careful not to dislodge the bulky grey clip attached to one of his fingers, monitoring his oxygen levels. Steve followed her lead and took hold of the other hand. The others moved closer to the bed, watching their friend's chest struggle to rise.
"He's just had a top up of painkillers as he was rather uncomfortable with his back. He's sleeping comfortably now." The nurse explained.
Tears rolled down both Amber and Kono's cheeks as they unsuccessfully held back from crying. It was obvious that Danny had been through hell, and only his tough, stubborn personality had got him through it. However it was obvious to everyone that Danny's fight had only just begun.
TBC