Alright, so it gets kinda tricky here. I hope it makes sense. Enjoy this chapter!
A/N: This story is un-beta'ed... so all mistakes are mine. Though I proofread before posting; I am a mere mortal and sometimes I overlook things.
505050505050505050505050505050
The team was still standing in Joey's room. Grace was really out for the count and they thought the same about Joey. They were just about the leave when Joey stirred again.
Joey slowly opened his eyes again. Damn headache. But he couldn't dwell on his injuries. He needed to find his boys. He tried to get up again. This time it was Kono who tried to stop him.
"Brah, you've got a concussion. You need to rest." Kono said. He ripped out the IV and yanked the nasal cannula from his face. He had one foot on the floor when the doctor came in.
"Detective, where do you think you're going?" The doctor asked.
"I'm leaving. I have to find my kids." He gripped the bed tight when another wave of vertigo hit him. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.
"You're in no condition to leave. You got shot. You took a bullet to the head. Not many people live to tell that tale. Luckily it merely grazed you but you do have a moderate concussion. You took another bullet to the arm. We had to remove the bullet since it was still in your arm when you were brought in. You are extremely lucky. A few more inches to the right and we would not be having this conversation."
"I'll sign out of here AMA if that's what it takes. I can't stay here. I have to go and find my kids." Joey said. He was dizzy but he couldn't think about that right now.
"Your blood pressure is still a bit low. I'd like to run a few more tests." The doctor said.
"Not going to happen so why don't you go and get the necessary papers for me to sign." Joey said angrily.
"Very well, I'll go and get the papers." The doctor said in a clipped tone. The doctor walked away and Joey looked around, looking for his clothes.
"Where are my clothes?" He finally asked. Danny handed him the bag from the ground. This earned them and angry glare from Steve.
"He's leaving, Steven. No matter what we say or do." And Danny understood. He would've done the same.
"Did you guys find anything?" At first Kono was reluctant but she finally answered even though Chin and Steve kept their mouths shut.
"Tire tracks and blood. I've sent them to Fong. He said he'd call as soon as he had something." Joey tried to put on his pants which proved to be very difficult using just one arm. He finally took the sling of and winced at the pain but he did manage to put his pants on. There was no t-shirt in the bag.
"No t-shirt?" Joey asked. Danny shook his head.
"They had to cut it off. I'll go and get you one from the gift shop downstairs." Kono said
"Not necessary. I brought a scrub shirt." The doctor said as he came in with papers and a green scrub shirt. He handed the shirt to Joey. Joey carefully put the shirt on.
"Again, let me say that I really think you should reconsider leaving the hospital."
"I can't. Once they're back I'll come back and you can poke and prod all you want." Joey said.
"Alright but please keep your arm in the sling. If you start to feel nauseous, or feverish come back immediately. That concussion is no joke and neither is the amount of blood you lost. I will prescribe you painkillers and antibiotics. Take them. Now please if you could sign here." The doctor handed him a pen and paper. Joey took the pen. He looked at the paper but he was seeing double so he just guessed and signed the paper. He handed it back to the doctor. The doctor shook his head. His patient or ex-patient was just as pale as the bandage he had around his head and slightly trembling. Already sweating from the exertion.
"Are you sure, detective?" But Joey was sure.
"Yes doctor. Mahalo." His voice tight from the pain. He managed to walk out of the hospital but before he reached the car, he stumbled and nearly tripped. Steve reached out the steady him. Joey was trembling, badly. He guided Joey to the car, mindful of the injured arm. Danny was carrying a sleeping Grace and Chin helped Steve with Joey.
They all rode back to Steve's. Joey had closed his eyes somewhere between getting in the car and leaving the parking lot. He opened his eyes when the car stopped. He opened them, expected to see his house but saw Steve's instead.
"What." Was all he could when a paralyzing pain ripped through his head. He gripped his head and groaned.
"Joey, are you okay?" Steve asked.
"Joey, talk to us." Danny said.
"Maybe we should take him back to the hospital." Steve said.
"No, I'm good." Joey forced out. Steve helped Joey into the house. Danny brought Grace upstairs. She was still sleeping and Danny kind of hoped that she would sleep through the night. It was a little after 1 am. He removed her shoes and socks and covered her with a blanket.
50505050505050505050505050505050505050505050505050505050505050
present time
Joey opened his eyes and looked around. He was feeling woozy, floaty, his mouth was dry and his eyes heavy. Yet he knew he couldn't sleep. There was something nagging him. This feeling that he couldn't place. He tried to move but was stopped by a sharp pain in his belly.
"You were bleeding internally. They had to perform emergency surgery on you. On top of that you have an infection." The nurse said. He wanted to ask her a few things but he couldn't make his mouth cooperate.
"Sleep detective, we're going to move you to another room." And Joey gave in to the drug induced sleep.
505050505050505050505050505050
Chin and Steve were waiting for Joey to wake up. According to the doctor the surgery went well and they managed to repair the tear in his spleen. He did pick up an infection but the doctor said that they probably caught it in time. But Joey had yet to wake up. It was two hours ago that he was brought into the room.
A sudden movement from the bed caught their eyes.
"Joey, Joey, wake up man." Steve tried. Joey's eyes fluttered and slowly opened. He frowned and looked at Steve and Chin.
"W'happ'ed?" Joey asked. His mouth was too dry to produce any other kind of speech. Chin handed him a cup of water with a straw.
"What do you remember?" Steve asked. Joey took a few sips. Joey thought long and hard. His memory was a big gap. Thinking only hurt more. He closed his eyes maybe that would jog his memory. And before he knew it he was asleep again. Steve looked at Chin. He pressed the call button. One of the nurses came.
"He was just awake but now he's asleep again." Steve said. It couldn't be right for someone to fall asleep that soon after waking.
"It's not uncommon for concussed patients to fall asleep. Besides he's also on heavy pain medication. If you want, I could page the doctor?" Steve nodded
"Yes, if you could do that." A minute later Joey started to stir again. Steve looked at Chin.
"Jamie and Jared." Joey said.
"What?" Steve asked.
"You asked me if I could remember anything. I remember Jamie and Jared. And Grace." Joey looked around.
"Anything else?" Chin asked. The gears in Joey's brain were spinning but it wouldn't come to him. He had to remember.
"Kidnapping." He tried to get up.
"No. You are staying here." Steve said.
"But..."
"No, buts. You were shot. You signed out AMA only to pass out at my place. You were bleeding internally. You had emergency surgery to repair a tear in your spleen. You're running a slight fever. You are not going anywhere." Steve said.
"But." Joey tried again.
"I know you want to find them but what good are you going to do them if you die?" Steve asked Joey. Joey wanted to say something but Steve was right. He sighed.
"Fine. How long was I out?" Joey asked Steve.
"Three hours." Chin told him.
"Did they contact us?" Joey asked. Steve had no intention of telling the injured man about the emotional conversation Danny had with the boy. So he shook his head. But Joey could see right through it.
"Please Steve I need to know. I'll stay in the hospital but please don't shut me out. They're my kids. I deserve to know." Joey pleaded.
"Yeah, they contacted Danny. He spoke to Jared and to the people who have them. They want Jaime Ortega, the drugs and money." Steve told him.
"Jaime Ortega? He's the DB we found, right?" Joey asked.
"Yeah."
"What did the governor say?" Joey asked, but he already knew the answer. Steve shook his head.
"I haven't spoken to the governor yet. It's the middle of the night. The drugs and money were seized and I don't think the governor is planning on giving it back." Steve told him.
"I've got money." Joey said. And it was true. Joey was a wealthy man. The Ryan family fortune was a lot.
"We'll think of something Joey. We'll get them back." Joey yawned. He closed his eyes and was asleep within minutes.
"Alright, so Joey can provide the 9.3 million dollars but what about the drugs." Chin asked.
"We'll think of something Chin. We still have time." Steve said. Steve looked at the injured man and prayed he was right.
50505050505050505050505050505050505050505050505050505050505050
Danny and Kono were sitting on the lanai. Grace was asleep with her head in Danny's lap. She woke up from a nightmare and refused to go back to sleep. Danny thought back to the phone call he received.
Three hours earlier
Kono and Danny were talking about this whole fucked up situation. Joey had passed out and was taken to the hospital. They were still waiting for an update on Joey's condition. They had Joey's phone in case they would call but it had been close to seven hours since the boys were taken. Danny was a cop long enough to know that most calls were made between one and three hours after a kidnapping. Longer usually meant that it went south and that they only had to discover the bodies. So when Danny's phone rang he figured it was either Chin or Steve to give him an update on Joey's condition.
"Williams." Danny said into the phone.
"Detective Williams, pleasure to meet you. I have the boys. It should've been your daughter but slight change of plans." The voice on the other end of the line said.
"Who is this? Let me talk to the boys." Danny said. Kono was taping the call and trying to get a lock on the phone.
"All in due time, detective. You've got something I want. I propose a trade. The kids in exchange for Jaime Ortega, the drugs and money."
"Jaime Ortega is dead. He died of a heart attack." Danny said. And it was true. The body of Jaime Ortega was found on the side of a road in Kawala. He crashed the car. The first responders found the drugs and money. Five-0 had investigated the case. Foul play being on the top of the list. Then the autopsy report came and Max explained that Jaime Ortega had a congenital heart condition which led to his untimely dead.
"I know that detective. But I want his body and everything he had with him." The voice said.
"Not going to happen. I can give you the body but the money and drugs are not in our possession." Danny said.
"Then I suggest you do something about it or Five-0 can say goodbye to their mascot."
"Let me talk to them." Danny said.
"Sure, why not. I'm not a bad man."
"Daddy?" Danny could hear the terror in the boy's voice.
"No, it's Danny."
"Uncle Danny, Jamie is hurt." Jared said and he started to cry.
"Jared, it's going to be okay. Where is Jamie hurt?" Danny asked Jared
"His head. It was bleeding and I couldn't wake him." Danny's heart constricted.
"Alright but is he awake now?" Danny asked.
"Yes, but he keeps asking the same questions and he is really tired. I want my dad." Jared said.
"I know buddy. You have to be strong, okay. We are doing everything we can to get you guys home. Try to keep Jamie awake. And if he falls asleep make sure you wake him every now and then, okay?"
"Can I talk to dad?" Jared asked.
"Listen buddy, your dad can't come to the phone right now. But don't you worry okay. We're coming for you." Danny didn't want to tell the kid that his father just passed out and was taken to the hospital.
"Dad is hurt, isn't he?" Jared asked.
"Yeah kiddo but he'll be fine just like you." Danny had so many emotions coursing through his mind. But he had to keep it together for the boys and Joey.
"Okay. Can I..."
"Had a nice conversation?"
"I'll fucking kill you if anything happens to them." Danny spat. The man just laughed.
"Idle threats, detective. Go talk to your team and the governor and I will call back in a few hours." The line went dead and Danny looked at Kono.
"Tell me you got something?" Kono shook her head.
"Untraceable. They're using a burner and the signal is being bounced from several locations."
"Dammit." Danny called Steve.
"McGarrett."
"Yeah, I got the ransom call. They want Jaime Ortega's body, the money and drugs. I spoke to Jared. Jamie's got a head wound. Possible concussion." Steve sighed.
"What else did they say?" Steve asked.
"Not much. They'll call back in a couple of hours."
"Alright, let's dig up everything we can find about Jaime Ortega and all known associates. Maybe we can find out who is behind the kidnapping." Steve said.
"Kono is already working on that. Any word on Joey?"
"No, he's still in surgery. I'll go to the governor while Chin stays in the hospital."
"Alright, keep me posted, okay?" Danny said.
"Yeah, I will."
505050505050505050505050505050
Steve looked at Chin.
"They called?" Chin asked.
"Yeah, they want Ortega's body, the money and drugs. I have to go and talk to the governor."
"Now?" Chin asked. "Brah, it's the middle of the night."
"What choice do I have, Chin?" It was true, the didn't know how much time they have to get everything ready.
"I get it, Steve. I want those kids back just as much as you. But going to the governor at 4 am may not help our cause. Let's hope they'll understand." Chin was right. Steve scrubbed his face. The doctor walked towards them.
"Doc, how's he doing?"
"He was bleeding internally. It was a small tear to the spleen. We managed to fix it but it looks like he's got an infection. His temperature is high. We're administrating antibiotics but we're not sure if they're working. I am moving him to the ICU to keep an eye on his condition." Chin and Steve nodded and went to the ICU.
5050505050505050505050505050505050
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
Read and review, please :D
Mahalo