Chin and Kono had both been back at the shed about fifteen minutes when the young couple approached from the path Danny had taken.

The young man spoke first, "Excuse me are you Chin and Kono?"
Chin spoke, "Yes, that's us. Who are you?"
"I'm Luke Ramstead and this is my girlfriend, Cheyenne Tatro. Danny Williams needs your help. He's about four miles down this path"
Kono than asked, "Did he find Steve?"
The couple went on to explain everything to the detectives and then as Kono took down their names and phone numbers Chin went into the shed to grab the clean sleeping bag and blankets. After they thanked the young couple they started down the path both praying that Danny had found Steve in time.

505050505050505050505050

Danny slipped on the rocks several times as he moved quickly through the water. His eyes never left Steve and with each step that brought him closer, his fear rose. The wound to the right side of his head appeared to be at the hairline and the blood looked fresh. He spoke quietly as he drew closer, "Hang on Steven, hang on babe"

Reaching the rock, Danny was kneeling at Steve's side in moments. As his fingers touched the side of Steve's neck to feel for a pulse he was startled as the SEAL's eyes bolted open and his arm shot up grabbing Danny's wrist tightly.
"STEVE, STEVE RELAX, IT'S ME PARTNER! STEVE, IT'S DANNO, RELAX!"
"Dddanno?"
Danny smiled down at him, "Yeah buddy. What are doing out here huh?"
"What arree you ddoing here?"
"That's a silly question don't you think babe?"
"Danny…go please"
"I don't think so partner, you're stuck with me"
"No Danno, iit's oovver"
"It's not over. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Now let me take a look at your head. What happened?"

"I hhit it on a rock"
"Your shoulder too?"
"Yeah"
Danny stripped off his wet shirt, "Okay, I'm going to help you sit up now"
"Uh hhuh…Danny 'm sso sorry"
Danny took Steve's face in his hands, "Steve listen to me. You have nothing to be sorry about, nothing"
"Danny…."
The blonde detective interrupted him, "Steven, we can talk later. Right now I need you to help me alright?"
Steve moaned loudly as he pushed himself up, Danny grabbed his upper arms, "Hey, hey slow down babe"
"Sssick Daanno" Danny moved quickly pulling Steve across his lap as he began to vomit.

Steve's head wound pressed against Danny thigh and he ran a hand through the SEAL's hair talking to him softly, "It's okay partner, get it all out…I got you" For several minutes Steve vomited, his body shaking in pain. Once he felt Steve's body relax in his arms he asked, "Are you done?"

"Yeah…..DDanno…"
"Sssh, no talking now you just relax"
"Yes ssir"
"That's right, I'm in charge here now so you just do what I say" Reaching over he pulled his bag close, "Okay Steve I'm going to roll you onto your back so I can check out your head"
"Good lluck wwithh that"
Danny chuckled softly, "Good to see you still have your sense of humor"
"My entire life hhas been a jjoke Daniel"
For a moment Danny Williams was speechless, something that happened so infrequently in his life that he couldn't even remember the last time it had occurred. Rolling Steve onto his back he cradled his head in his lap and ripping his shirt in half he folded it and pressed it against Steve's shoulder wound.

He grabbed Steve's left hand and pulled it up across his body placing it over the shirt. He noticed Steve's pained grimace, "Hey partner, I know you hurt but can you put pressure on this for me?"

"Yeah….sssure" Danny kept his hand on top of Steve's for a minute and then pulling back he went to work on the head wound. Steve's eyes remained closed and his face contorted in pain as Danny rinsed the gash with bottled water then stitched the bleeding wound and bandaged it.

"You're doing great buddy. Let me look at your shoulder now"
He pulled Steve's hand away and as he stitched him the SEAL became talkative, "Danny…it's over man. Everything….itt'ss…..….all ffor nothing. It's nothing Danno. I ccan't go on…..please understand, I can't ddo thiss anymore"

Tears pooled in Danny's eyes as he listened to his distraught partner. "Steve, you're wrong partner. We need to talk but for now I'm in charge remember? We need to get back across the water before it gets any darker"

"There's a path, we ddon't hhave to cross the water"
"Okay good. I'm going to help you sit up now"
"K" Steve moaned softly as Danny slid from underneath him and helped him sit. Steve watched as his friend put the weapons and ammo back into the bag and then handed him a bottle of water.
"Drink this Steve"
"No, I'll just puke"
"Why are you arguing with me my friend? You're dehydrated...drink…..please"
"Alright, since you asked so nicely"
Danny grinned, simply stating, "Good"
"DDanno I'm aaddicted…" His voice shook and Danny interrupted him, "Matty told me...….I'm here now and you're going be okay"
Once Steve had finished half the bottle, Danny threw the bags over his shoulder and then helped Steve to his feet.

Steve's body was shaking as Danny pulled his arm over his shoulders and they began to walk.

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They had been walking in silence for about twenty minutes when Steve screamed in pain and buckled over.
Danny held him tightly as they dropped to their knees. As Steve vomited, Danny kept one hand on his arm as he stroked his back with his other hand.
"Oh GGod it hurts DDanno…ffuck it hurts so bbad"
"I know buddy, relax"
Steve remained on his hands and knees for quite a while. Danny had worked with the narcotic squad for four years in Jersey and he had witnessed many addicts suffering through withdrawal. It was never easy to watch anyone suffer like this, but when it was someone you loved it was absolute torture to watch. Danny comforted him the best he could rubbing his back and squeezing his neck and shoulders until his body finally began to relax.

After taking a few sips of water Steve was ready to move on. Danny pulled the flashlight out of the bag and again supporting his friend they walked on.

Almost an hour later Danny's concerns escalated. Steve was breathing rapidly and leaning heavily against him.
"Hey babe, you okay"
"Dddanno I ccan't…stop please…"
"Okay partner, okay" Danny was easing them both to the ground as Chin and Kono came into view.

Kono was calling out as she ran towards them, "STEVE, STEVE…DANNY OH GOD" As they drew closer Kono's heart dropped. Steve's face was horribly bruised and swollen from the beating he had taken at the hands of the cartel. Both eyes blackened, with the deep gash above his eyebrow. The bandage covering the two wounds on the right side of his head. His nose, crooked, swollen and clearly broken. The nasty gash on his cheekbone and his split upper lip. Her eyes looked down his nearly naked body noting his bandaged shoulder. His entire chest and sternum, right side and abdomen were multiple shades of black, blue, purple and red. His bloodied knees. But what stopped her dead in her tracks were the eyes of the man she idolized. The man who never treated her like an employee or underling, but as an equal partner. He loved her like a sister and she loved him back. These three men were her family and Steve has the rock that solidified them. The eyes that looked back at her now were hollow and sunken…..full of pain and torment. Chin grabbed her hand as they neared their fallen friend.

Danny spoke as they approached, "Chin, open up that sleeping bag buddy, he's freezing"
Chin laid out the bag and Kono helped Danny ease the SEAL into it. His body was shivering uncontrollably as Chin zipped him into the bag. Kono placed a hand on his forehead, "Guys, he's burning up. We have to get him to the hospital"

Steve cried out, "NO….NNO HOSPITAL! Dannnoo, no hhosppital"
He struggled trying to free his arms from the restraints of the bag as the others all kept him still. Danny cupped his head in his hands and spoke calmly, "Steve, stop...…relax. I've got you"

"Danno….nno hospital…..can't go"
"Steven you need to see a Doctor"
"NO HOSSP…..PITAL DANNO…..they ccan't know"
"Hey I'm still in charge here and you need listen to me and trust me. The Governor knows"
"WWhhat? No…oh God nno"
"Steve, you're not thinking clearly. This isn't your fault partner. The Governor is fine. He's worried about you and he wants you to get better. We all do. Chin and Kono are here now"

"Chhin…Kono"
Kono reached up and stroked his cheek, "We're here boss"
Tears fell down Steve's cheeks as he choked out, "I'm sso sorry"
She bent down and whispered into his ear, "You have nothing to be sorry about….ssshhhhh…..we've got you"

As Kono comforted Steve, Danny and Chin moved a few feet away.
"Danny, how is he?"
"He's hurting bad brother, plus I'm sure he has a concussion. He can't walk anymore, we have to carry him"
"Then let's get to it and get him out of here"

Moments later as Kono led the way the two detectives were carrying their leader, in the sleeping bag and with blankets draped over him, out the forest.

******* MUCH MORE TO FOLLOW – HOPE YOU'RE STILL ENJOYING! ********