Hi Everyone,
I have no excuses for how late this is. I got caught up with exam period and updating completely slipped my mind. I'm so sorry and this is so short. I hope you like it anyway. Please let me know.
Driving to the hospital, Steve began to think he should have told someone how he was feeling. Danny's constant yammering was doing nothing to distract him from the cold sweat dripping down his neck and pooling around his collarbone. Reaching for the water bottle he didn't remember leaving in the driver's door, he cracked the cap and chugged the contents.
The traffic was light considering the late hour, and they made good time to the now familiar hospital. Bypassing the secured ICU they'd that had been the scene of most of their visits, they made their way to the fourth floor, home to the hospital's research staff. Knocking on the door, they were greeted by a woman whose nametag revealed her to be the woman they were in search of. Steve pulled out his badge.
"Susan Li?" The woman, short, Japanese and in her late forties, nodded. "My name is Steve, and this is m partner Danny. We're with the 5-0 taskforce and we are after some information on a research project you were involved in."
"Of course, come in." Li lead them through to a small, dimly lit room, decked out with machines that likely cost more than Steve's yearly salary. "What can I help you with?"
"We're looking into the illness of a few children of Politian's and we'd like to know about the Batten research Grant that fell through. We're wondering what you can tell us." Pulling a nearby desk chair, Steve sat down, trying to hide the dizzy spell that came across him without drawing too much attention.
"Oh, yes. That was terrible. It took us so long to get ay attention for that cause and then it was just dropped off the priority list." She sighed. "It just killed some of the families. And poor little Jemima, her father was shattered. But, that's the way medical research works. You win some, you lose some."
"I'm sorry," Danny interjected, and Steve hoped he was asking the same question that was o his own mind. "Who was Jemima?"
"Oh, beautiful Jemima. Jemima Johnson. She was eleven when the grant got cancelled. She had been diagnosed at seven and she didn't have long. Her poor father just wanted something to give her some life quality. We were hoping to manufacture a drug that would help with the seizures that was more specific to Battens rather than just run of the mill anti-convulsant meds. That was a big thing for Jemima, she had very severe seizures. She died three weeks ago actually. It was a seizure, actually. They just couldn't stop it. That poor girl. But it was for the best really. She'd been very sick for a long time, I'm glad she didn't have to keep going, she was tired." The woman wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you aren't here to hear my sob story."
"Actually, can you tell us more about Jemima, who was her father?"
"Well, Stephan was a good man, but he was lost in grief. His wife died shortly after Jemima was born in a car accident. She was diagnosed when she was five and a half. Losing her, I'm not sure what he's going to do with himself. Fierce temper."
"Have you seen him recently? Since she died?"
"I was at the funeral, that was two weeks ago. But no, I don't see him socially."
"Do you ever recall him being violent at all?"
"No, he was very gentle, especially with Jemima. But his grief, that scared me sometimes. It was…intense."
Steve had already pulled out his phone. "Thank you very much, Dr Li. You've been very helpful. I'll leave my number here if you remember anything you think is significant give me a call alright?"
"Significant? Like what?"
"Anything Mr Johnson said that made you uncomfortable, anything that didn't feel right. Really, anything of significance. Even if you don't think it's important, if it comes to you, it might well be, so call us."
"I can do that."
Steve tried to give a relaxing smile, stood and was glad when the room stayed where it was meant to. The two members of 5-0 shook hands with the Doctor and headed back to the palace.
"You good?"
Steve flicked his eyes off the road and towards his partner. "Of course I am Danny."
"Woah, man, just askin'. By the way, you free this weekend? I have Gracie and we're planning a trip to the marine park."
"Depends."
"Depends? Depends on what you shmuck? You're always free for Grace."
"It depends on whether we have three dead kids of three alive kids!" Steve slammed his hand on the wheel, breathing hard.
"Calm down Steve. we'll be fine, we're getting closer and come the weekend, those three kids will be at home playing x-box and annoying their parents."
"Yeah. Sorry Danno, just tired."
Steve and Danny strode into the office. "What have the two of you got?"
"Not much. Jacob Bell has no record, was active in his community. Seriously, this guy is clean as a whistle. One daughter who died ten years ago.
"Wait a second." Danny held up a hand. "A daughter, what was her name?"
"Ah, hold on a second." Kono swiped along the interactive table. "Got it. Hannah Bell. Wait, scratch that. She got married about twelve years ago and changed her name to Hannah Johnson."
It took half an hour for a warrant to search Jonson's house and arrest him. In that time, Steve had coordinated a plan with his team and HPD, called in an update to the governor and the three families and geared up for the raid. Steve strapped on his vest, tightening each strap, holstered three guns on various spaces around his person and prepared to move out. He headed towards the door when the second dizzy spell of the day hit. Stumbling towards the desk, he slumped into the chair, elbows on the hardwood, head in his hands. Deep breaths did nothing to clear his vision and his head had begun to pound. Reaching for the straps on his vest to release some of the pressure that was slowly building in his chest, he could barely find the air to glance up when the door crashed open.
"Steve, what the hell is taking so long?" Danny's voice sounded like it was coming from underwater. "We have three kids dying, we finally have a lead and we've had to wait for an hour because no one's been able o find you. Steve was really beginning to regret not saying anything to Danny earlier because he suddenly couldn't get his mouth to form a response. His office winking out, the small gaps in the black spots being completely enveloped and Danny should probably know that too. Maybe, he thought, he'd tell him after he'd gone to sleep. Maybe then things would make sense. Unable to draw another breath, his eyes closed.
Danny was still yelling at Steve, anger coming from days of tension. He paused for breath, getting ready to begin a new tirade when Steve slumped forward, head slipping off its rest on his hand. Startled, he moved to the desk and reached to shake the SEAL's shoulder. His head lolled sideways, and for the first time in days, Danny took a good look at his friend. Steve's face was paper white; dark circles under his eyes and sweat beading on his brow.
"Chin!" Danny was yelling even as he felt for a pulse at Steve's neck. Terrified, he could feel a rapid yet uneven fluttering at his fingers.
The older man hurried towards his colleagues, Kono close behind having followed the worried shout.
"Help me get him on the floor." Without waiting for an answer, Danny hauled Steve's upper body back, and Chin grabbed his legs. Working in tandem, the two men laid their boss on the floor.
"What happened?" Chin himself felt Steve's pulse, the worry in Danny's eye matched in his own at what he felt.
"No idea. He collapsed. Have you called an ambulance?"
"Done," Kono called.
"Steve, wake up buddy. Come on, wake up." Danny shook Steve's shoulder, wrapped his knuckles across Steve's sternum with no reaction.
"Danny!" The blonde looked up at Chin's panic.
"Pulse is dropping." Seconds later, the once moving chest stilled. Off in the distance, sirens shrilled. But as the conscious members of 5-0 began CPR, it seemed as if it would not come fast enough.
So? Did I make it up at all for being so late? Next update Tuesday ( I promise this time). Please review!