Note: Thank you to all those that are still reading and especially those who have left a review.

Now it's time for the long awaited Matt/Danny talk. One more chapter to go after this.

Chapter Thirteen.

Steve had already updated the FBI, Danny's parents, and was just finishing updating the team when Amber arrived. He filled her in on Danny's wakening and they both returned to sit by his bed. They chatted quietly, so not to wake Danny. An hour later, Danny woke again, and was able to join in on some of the conversation. Dr. Pearce later returned to review Danny, during which he had argued passionately that he was feeling much better, and didn't need the feeding tube. Unfortunately, it had set him off coughing again, and when he finally caught his breath, Dr. Pearce ended the discussion by informing Danny that the tube would be staying at least a few more days, until he was able to eat enough for it to be removed. His body still requiring lots of calories to fight off the last of the pneumonia and heal his wounds.

Danny then sulked, much to Steve's amusement, until the team arrived for a visit.

Acknowledging Steve and Amber, Kono headed straight for Danny and kissed him on the forehead, "hey brah, good to have you back in the land of the living."

"Hey guys." Danny said giving a small wave with the hand that was free from the arterial line and stats probe.

"How are you feeling Danny?" Chin asked, relieved to see his friend sat up in bed and looking so bright compared to the past few days.

"Better, my chest doesn't hurt so much. It's not as hard to breathe now. I'll be back at work before you know it."

"That's good." Grover said, "we already have a pile of paperwork waiting for you. You're the only one that knows how to fill in half the requisitions."

"That's 'cos I'm the only one that bothers to do them." Danny replied causing the team to smile.

"There is that." Grover said placing two bags down on a table at the back of the room. "We brought you lunch." He said to Steve and Amber.

"Thanks Lou, "Steve replied, then seeing Danny scowl added, "we'll eat it later, would be mean to eat it in front of Danny when all he has to look forward to this evening is soup and Jello."

Danny gave a small smile. In truth, while he was desperate to get rid of the irritating tube, he wasn't all that hungry and soup and Jello was probably all he could manage right now, even if whatever was in the bag did smell good.

The team pulled up chairs and sat talking, Danny drifting off to sleep 30 minutes in. He roused forty minutes later to find the whole team, and Amber still there. "Hey sleepy head." Amber smiled sweetly.

Danny rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then sheepishly replied, "Sorry, didn't mean to fall asleep."

"In case you haven't noticed, Danny, you're still in the ICU. I think it's perfectly normal to sleep a lot." Chin reassured. "We don't mind, we're just glad to have you back safe and getting better."

Danny smiled. "I didn't get a chance to thank you guys for finding me."

"Don't thank us. Thank Kamekona for the lead, and the boss for scaring the crap out of him and getting him to give up your location." Kono replied, an evil smile ghosting her lips as she remembered the guy hanging upside down.

"What did you do?" Danny asked raising an eyebrow, "Do I even want to know what you did to torture the information out of the guy?"

"Let's just say it would have sent you into a rant about proper police procedure, and leave it at that." Grover said not wanting to excite Danny. But Kono was very proud of her bosses tactics so added, "It involved a rope, fire escape and a lighter though."

Looking at his partner, who was showing no remorse for his interrogation technique, Danny smiled and said, "Neanderthal," while shaking his head. He knew his partner well enough to realise what he had done.

A knock at the door had them all turning their heads to see Matt standing, once again accompanied by two FBI agents.

"I think it's time we headed back to the office." Chin stated as he rose from his seat. "Take it easy brah," he said fist bumping Danny's waiting hand.

"Don't misbehave for the nurses." Grover ordered as he followed Chin out of the room.

Kono moved closer to Danny and kissed him on the cheek, "I'll sneak in some coco puffs next time." She whispered then moved over to Matt. "You behave yourself and keep your head down. Cause him anymore upset, and I will personally introduce you to my roundhouse kick." She said before leaving.

"I think Steve and I will take our food out to the waiting room." Amber declared while giving Steve a shove to get him to his feet. "Give you two some privacy." Steve reluctantly rose and left the room, looking over his shoulder and making eye contact with his partner who nodded to let him know he was ok.

Left alone, Matt moved a few more steps into the room. "What's a roundhouse kick?" He asked.

"Kono's speciality. Trust me you don't want to personally find out. You'll be seeing stars for weeks." Danny said thumbing the bed control so he could sit up more. The movement caused the stitches in his stomach to pull, so he scrunched his eyes up for a second and waited for it to pass. When he opened his eyes he found Matt right by his side, nervously watching his big brother.

"Are you ok? Do you need a nurse?"

"I'm fine, it just hurt a little. Sit down you moron." Danny said indicating the chair beside his bed.

"Are you sure? I'd understand if you wanted me to leave." Matt said unsure if his brother could forgive him after all he had been through.

"Sit." Danny ordered. "Do you know how many times I imagined seeing you again? What I'd say to you? How much I wanted to punch you in the face for leaving that night?"

"I'd deserve it too. I'm so sorry Danny, for messing up, for running, for dragging you into all of this. You almost died and it's all, my fault." Matt said tears clearly evident in the corner of each eye.

"Do you know how many times I imagined hugging you? Having you back in my life?" Danny continued as Matt looked him in the eye. "Way more times than the yelling, or punching. You're my kid brother. It's my job to protect you, even if you are a Class A Moron."

Matt gave a small smile and rested his hand on Danny's bed, he was desperate for the contact but was unsure if his brother was ready for that yet.

"You hurt us Matt, the whole family, not trusting us to help you. You need to put that right. But you do not have to feel responsible for what happened to me. You didn't beat me. You didn't leave me out in the sun to bake. It was my choice to try and help you. My choice to protect you from that vile man; and I would go through all of that again, in a heart beat, if it meant it kept you alive." Danny said taking hold of his brother's hand.

"I'm so lucky to have you as a big brother." Matt said.

"I know. I'm awesome aren't I?" Danny joked to lighten the mood.

"I wish I could stay longer, but they're moving me to the mainland in the morning. I wish I could have seen Grace, I bet she is so grown up now."

"She is." Danny smiled. "I'll bring her over to visit once I'm up to it."

"You sure Rachel will let you have her for that long?" Matt asked unaware of the custody changes.

"We have joint custody now. Rachel lives in Las Vegas with Stan and their son. Gracie mainly lives with me now." Danny explained.

"Really, that's amazing. I'm happy for you Danny. Amber seems nice too." Matt replied.

"She is, maybe I'll bring her too. It might be time to introduce her to the family." Danny smiled then turning the conversation back serious he said, "Matty, promise me you'll keep your nose clean. Keep your head down, do your time, so you can start a fresh. I can't go through losing you again."

"I will, I promise." Matt said squeezing his brother's hand to reassure him.

"Good, now get over here and give your big bro a hug, just carefully 'cos I hurt still. I told you when I moved here this god damn rock, and the baking heat, would be the death of me."

Matt stood and carefully hugged his brother. Danny finally felt at peace. Since Matt had left Danny had got on with his life. But not a day had gone by without Danny having a moment where he wondered where his brother was, how he was doing. Now that worry was over. He had his brother back, and eventually he would heal and the memories of what he went through would fade. Finally Danny felt happy.

TBC