Hi Everyone,
So a big thank you to Jenny who pointed out this chapter hadn't been uploaded... *facepalm*. I went away Tuesday and just assumed it had gone up. Sorry bout' that. This isn't a super long one but I'm hoping to get another one out Monday. Anyway, enjoy this. We're getting closer to the end now...
Please let me know what you thought! Rose xxx
Upon returning to Steve's room, the older man thought his own heart might stop in tandem with his teammates. The tough-as-nails ex-Navy SEAL was prone on the bed, a sea of doctors around him. Each doctor is calm, but there is an air of urgency as one methodically pumps air into the tube that used to be connected to Steve's ventilator.
"Still no pulse. Beginning compressions." A large African American man Chin didn't recognise began thumping up and down upon Steve's chest, a young woman at the bedside counted aloud to the room.
"One, two, three…" Steve's face was grey, tiny beads of sweat around his hairline.
"Eleven, twelve, thirteen…" The doctor pumped rhythmically, and for the first time in all the years he'd known him, Steve looked small.
"Twenty-one, twenty-two…" People were getting a defibrillator ready, the whine of the heart monitor still reporting inaction.
"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine…" In time with the second last compression of the rotation, Chin heard the loud crack of at least one of Steve's ribs.
"Thirty…I've got a pulse!" The doctor administering the CPR slumped back as the rest of the nurses swarmed, hooking the ventilator back up, recording vitals and generally beginning the process of recovering from near disaster. Chin kept his legs from buckling, knowing it would be hours until he was once again allowed in the room, if at all.
Danny moved with stealth from years of taking apartments in Jersey during the dead of night. His gun was drawn in front of him, left arm bracing it with his torch. Kono moved with him, a handpicked team of the best HPD officers with him. There would be no knocking today. No warning calls, just a boot in the door and heavy pressure as they moved in. Approaching number seventeen, Danny looked around, gesturing for on half of the strike team to move to the other side of the door. Clark, a burly Englishman who'd moved to Hawaii around the same time as Danny, moved forwards, kicking back and shattering the door off its' hinges with a powerful blow.
"Five-O!" The shouts came, finally and as one, the team moved forward into the house, each man and woman covering the other's back. A sound from the room closest to where the floor plans placed the balcony caught Danny's attention, and as rooms were cleared he caught Kono's attention and together they jogged to follow it. Danny could instantly see the fluttering curtains of an open window. They were only on the second story, backing onto grass, and with thoughts of his friend in a hospital bed, Danny sprinted towards the balcony, taking a second to evaluate the landing and the body pelting towards the busy road.
"I'm following!" He shouted, backing up before vaulting over the rail. Channelling pure Steven McGarrett, he tucked and rolled at the last minute, coming up onto his feet with speed already built.
Danny knew his height was deceptive; years as a high school athlete and then a city cop had made him fast and agile. Following the carnage left as early morning pedestrians were thrown out the way, Danny quickly tackled the man, careful to roll them both down to avoid any injuries. He placed a knee in the suspect's back, leaning down, satisfied when he was met with a face matching that of the photo's he'd used in the briefing earlier that morning.
Stephen Johnson. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand each of these rights I have explained to you?" There was no response. Shaking Johnson more roughly than he knew he should have, he repeated himself.
Do you understand each of these rights I have explained to you?!"
"Yes goddamn it." At that moment, light footsteps approached, and an olive hand dangled a pair of cuffs in front of him.
"Thanks, Kono." Snapping the silver locks into place with satisfaction, Danny allowed himself a breath.
Danny and Kono arrived at the station and led a silent Johnson to interrogation, handing him off to the officer standing at the door. Heading back to the bullpen to formulate their next move, it was Danny that first noticed another presence in the room.
"Chin. The hell are you doing here?"
The older man looked haggard, circles under his eyes showed he'd gotten about as much sleep as Danny.
"Steve's worse. I can't be there right now."
For a second, Danny couldn't talk. He didn't have to.
"What happened Chin?"
"He had another heart attack. They got him back, but he's busted a rib or two. Doc'll call me when they have any other information, or we can see him but…" he broke off, uncharacteristically not straight up. "They're, ah, they're saying he won't last another night at this rate. Neither will Hani or Declan."
The three remaining members of the governor's task force stood. For once, there was no plan.
It took twenty minutes for the pity party to come, pack up and leave again. Teddy, their security guard, dropped off coffee and condolences and there was work to be done. Kono and Chin spent an hour each with Johnson with no results, and then together for another two. As two o'clock approached with no updates from the hospital, Danny could feel himself slipping. He looked over the files one more time, looking for the one detail that would help them, help Steve and the kids. As the ticking of the hall clock announced three o'clock approaching, Danny was ready to give up. His phone rang. Fearing the worst, he was relieved to see the ID. Grace.
"Monkey." He forced as smile into his voice.
"Danno. I haven't seen you in ages. You and Uncle Steve were meant to see me this weekend."
"I know baby. I'm sorry, Danno's been really busy."
"Too busy for me?" He could hear the insecurity, the hurt. And he hated that he was the one that had caused it.
"Never Grace. But there are some kids, just like you, and someone is hurting them. And Danno needs to keep them safe, just like he keeps you safe okay?"
"Okay, Danno. That's okay then. You should go and keep them safe, okay?"
Nodding even though he knew she could not see, Danny sniffed back tears. "Yeah, baby. Danno loves you okay."
"Love you too Danno."
She hung up. In the hallway, with tears in his eyes and the sound of his daughter's voice ringing in his ears, Danny knew what had to be done.
Danny sat opposite Johnson, silent. He pulled out a photo and slid it across the table.
"Stephan? This is my daughter, Gracie. I call her my monkey." The first response since he'd been there, Johnson picked the picture up, delicately holding it between two fingers. The ghost of a smile crossed his face.
"She's beautiful," a pause, "Jemima used to smile like that."
"Grace smiles like that all the time, but whenever she's with Steve, it's glued across her face." Danny let the smile drop off his own face. "You know Steve. He's my partner. You gave him the same poison you gave those three children. Gracie doesn't know yet, but today Steve died. The got him back, but he did die. I'll have to tell her, tomorrow, that Steve's dying." He took a second to hold back the emotion in his voice. "I have to give her a chance to say goodbye to her Uncle Steve."
Johnson looked up, and in another first, met Danny's eyes.
"I Don't think she'll smile like that for a long time if Steve dies. I know what happened to you wasn't fair. I know it hurts. But hurting these people can't change that. It won't bring Jemima back and you, you'll hurt this little girl right here."
Johnson looked up, tears sliding down his face. "I miss her so much."
Danny sighed. "I can't say I know how you feel because I don't. But please, make this right. Don't take my friend away. Don't take her Uncle away. And don't do to those families what happened to yours."
As always let me know.
Rose xx