I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

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CHAPTER 8

"Hot." Danny complained as he tried to feebly climb out of what felt like a mountain of much too heavy blankets. His eyes were half-closed and his dry lips ached for water but he couldn't seem to get past the murky shadows. He sighed in relief as an ice chip was gently spooned into his mouth. There was a soft nonsensical deep murmur of sound and he stilled as a second ice chip followed the first. "Too hot" He murmured again as he swallowed the cooling liquid only to immediately want more.

"Danny." Steve sat on the edge of the hospital bed with the small Styrofoam cup and plastic spoon and he was still trying to rouse his friend from the fevered ramblings. "Let's go buddy. Time to wake up .. just for a few minutes."

Putting the cup down, Steve went back to using the cool cloth to wipe down his face, neck and each of his arms. It was plain to see that the care was appreciated as Danny weakly sighed and ever so slightly relaxed. But he seemed wholly unable to wake up entirely. Doctor Ramirez had recently left the room grumbling about obnoxious patients who refused to behave properly. But Ellen had remained behind.

"We're going to switch out to cold packs." Steve watched Ellen and another nurse arrange the packs at the critical pulse points in attempt to lower Danny's much too high temperature. Heavy blankets were removed for lighter sheets too; and still the heat rolled off him.

A few hours later, it all finally seemed to work as two glassy eyes blinked up at Steve. "How are you feeling?" Steve whispered as he paused in rinsing the cloth for what seemed an endless amount of tedious cycles. When his partner didn't immediately reply, he became worried about the earlier delirious ramblings and automatically put a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Danny?"

"Steve." The obvious reply resulted in a larger than life grin and it made the sick man wearily raise one eyebrow. "What .. happened? Why .. so hot?"

His temperature was still high as he vainly tried to push the one sheet off his body but then grimaced at the painful ache across his chest and stomach. Still grinning, Steve shook his head as he pulled the sheet back up the mere inch Danny had shoved it down.

"You had surgery after the standoff with Carter and now you managed to spike a fever. Doc Ramirez says you're going to be laid up for a few weeks but .. you were damned lucky." Seeing the glimmer of pain in Danny's eyes that challenged exactly how lucky he really might be, Steve used the call button to notify the nurse's station.

"How are you feeling, Danno? Doc Ramirez will be back in a few minutes too. He's going to be happy to see you awake."

The long explanation was almost too fast for Danny as he frowned and tried to follow what Steve was trying so excitedly to say. So he latched on to the last words he heard. "Who's happy? Other than .. you .. why are you so happy?"

The chuffed pleased sound and the genuine smile once again made Danny raise a questioning eyebrow. "Words Steven. Too tired .. for games."

"You've been out for a long time and then this fever .. we've all been worried sick and Grace wants to see you. It's late now though - so, tomorrow. She'll be here tomorrow, Danno." Feverishly hot and a bit achy, Danny vaguely remembered odd dreams and a feeling of unease. So now, the honest sincerity wasn't lost on him as he blearily measured Steve's face and saw the exhausted relief behind the ridiculously goofy grin

"It's good to see you awake. Finally."

"Oh." Blinking as his ill body tried to draw him back into sleep, Danny tried to shrug and then his mouth quirked into his own attempt at a grin. "Sorry."

Seconds later, though still complaining about being much too hot and just a bit restless, Danny was sleeping again and Steve was still smiling.

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The respite was short though as Danny's temperature remained distressingly elevated. And Doctor Ramirez showed up in increasing intervals fussing over the surgical site and then his patient's readings. He was clearly as unhappy as the rest of the team as the big doctor bristled darkly at any question as if they were a personal affront.

Ellen sighed as she looked from Steve to her husband and didn't even attempt to start a conversation. Each man was not handling the situation in completely different manners. Ramirez would sit quietly and stew .. staring almost angrily at Danny as if willing him to be well. Whereas Steve was a whirlwind of motion because now that Danny had awoken once, he clearly expected more and had promised a visit from the detective's daughter. Pacing constantly in the room, Steve moved out to the corridor when the doctor growled a warning against the senseless activity.

Refusing to leave the ICU, Steve glowered back at Ponch when the doctor insisted he leave for the night with the cousins. The argument was silent and very brief with Ramirez throwing his hands up in the air to stalk disgustedly from the room.

"I need to make rounds." Ramirez stated and he was gone before Steve could answer. Heaving a sigh, Steve leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes only to fall asleep after a nurse had come in to check Danny's chart. His jolted awakening from that deep doze was in response to a nearly darkened room that was quiet .. much too quiet .. and a deep fear settled uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach.

He stumbled to his feet and audibly choked when he saw the unmoving body lying in the bed. "Danny?" Steve stammered out hesitantly. Afraid to touch him, Steve was shocked by the lax, expressionless face. Danny's head was slightly turned away from him, his face was pale in the limited night-time light of the room and his hands rested palm up on top of the blankets. Steve's fingers hovered uncertainly over the unmoving chest until he saw the very shallow rise and fall.

"Danny?" He whispered again in a voice laced with undisguised concern. But this time, the subtle breath movement allowed him to rest his shaking hand on the light sheet, shocked when it came away wet.

"Oh." He breathed out as understanding blossomed instantly to replace fear. Quickly, Steve laid the back of his hand on Danny's forehead and then his cheek; only then he dared to smile. Danny's face was cool – almost normal – and the bed sheets were soaked through completely. "Oh. This is good news." Steve whispered as earlier fears turned to joy when he now realized Danny was actually in a natural, healing sleep.

"Fever's broken." Steve managed to wheeze out happily as he hit the nurse's call button and tossed each of the useless ice packs to the floor. He had the wet top sheet stripped down and a dry, warm blanket in its place before the first nurse arrived with Ramirez only a few footsteps behind.

~ to be continued ~