They all sat around the table quietly until Steve began to settle down. Danny spoke to him calmly, "Babe let's get you back into bed"
"No…..no, I don't want to lie down. I'm going home, NOW" Reaching down he ripped the IV needle from his hand and he pushed himself up from the table.
"Steve, come on man the Doctor will be here in a couple of hours"
"Danny….I'm leaving now. If you won't take me, I'll call a cab. Now where are my clothes?"
"Um…they're on the path at Hanauma Bay"
"You left my clothes in the forest?"
"Excuse me, but if you recall my hands a little full. I was more worried you at the time"
Chin stated, "Your truck is here Steve. I'll go grab your go-bag"
Danny glared at Chin, his nostrils flaring "You're not helping here Chin"
Kono reached into her pocket and handed Steve's car keys to Chin. Steve looked at them, "Thank you"
Danny threw his arms in the air in defeat, "Fine, just fine! I'm going to go see if I can find the Doctor"
Danny and Chin left the room and Kono moved over to the room's window where Steve stood, staring out aimlessly.
She stood next to him, not speaking….she was just there….supporting him.
Several minutes passed before he spoke, his voice tinged with pain "I never meant to hurt you guys, I promise you that"
"We know that Steve, but please understand how painful this was for all of us. We mourned for you, we were in shock. The thought of losing you was devastating to all of us" She paused momentarily, "Danny was told first….we were at your place and I woke to his screams of grief…horrible, guttural screams of pain and despair. I will never forget those cries. I found him curled up in a fetal position, sobbing on your front lawn. Steve, I'm not telling you this to upset you. I'm telling you this so you'll understand what we've been through"
He turned to face her, "Can you ever forgive me?"
"I forgave you the moment I heard you were alive. Steve…. we all forgive you"
"Danny doesn't"
"We are all so thankful you're alive, and if he didn't forgive you, he wouldn't be here boss. That doesn't mean that he's not going to want answers though"
"Did you see Gracie?"
"Yes. As Danny said, she took the news very hard. She's nine years old and she adores you"
"I did this alone to keep Danny safe. I did this for Gracie….."
Tears slid down his cheeks and Kono pulled him into an embrace, whispering into his ear "Please be strong….I love you"
"I love you too, and Kono…..thank you…thank you for telling me these things"
Chin walked in with Steve's bag stating, "It looks like Danny's talking to Doctor Kam right now"
Steve kissed Kono's forehead and then taking the bag from Chin he walked gingerly to the bathroom.
Chin looked at his cousin, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah…he's feeling guilty Chin. He asked for forgiveness"
"What did you say to him?"
"I told him we forgive him but that we needed answers. I told him how hurt we were by thinking he was dead"
Chin ran a hand through his hair and sighed, "Kono, remember he's not in his right mind. We need to be very careful about what we say to him. He can become easily depressed" He noticed the blood drain from her face, "Kono….what is it?"
"I told him about our grieving. I told him about Danny's anguish and of finding him curled on the ground…sobbing. Oh Chin…"
Chin placed his hands on her shoulders, "It's okay honey. Even if he didn't have the junk in his system, he would feel guilty…that's just Steve and we can't lie to him, that would only make things worse. We just need to try to not talk about his actions now. Once his mind is clear and he can handle it, then we'll talk. If he brings it up again just be firm with him and tell him we'll deal with things when he's better. Right now Kono, he needs to be reassured constantly that we're here, that we love him and that nothing will ever change that"
They turned and smiled at Steve as he came from the bathroom.
"You doing okay?"
Steve nodded, "Yeah Chin….thanks for helping me with Danno. He worries too much"
"Don't think we're not worried too. In fact, I think you should be in a re-hab facility Steve. You shouldn't try to do this without professional help"
"Chin, I have to do this on my own. You guys don't have to stay…..I'll be fine"
"You know that's not going to happen. We're ohana brah and we're not going anywhere. Now please sit down and wait for Danny"
Steve smiled at his friends and moving to the table they all sat.
50505050505050505050505050
Danny and Doctor Kam walked in a short time later.
Danny shook his head, "Well, at least you're still here"
Doctor Kam grinned, "So Commander, I hear you've decided to leave our fine facility?"
"It's nothing personal Doc. Thank you though for all you've done for me"
The Doctor sat in a chair facing Steve, "Mr. McGarrett…"
Steve interrupted, "Doctor Kam, please call me Steve"
"Okay, Steve. I need to say this even th…."
"Respectfully Doc...don't bother. I'm not going into re-hab and I'm not staying here. I appreciate your concern but I can do this on my own"
"I know we talked yesterday about the stages you'll go through and the symptoms you'll suffer. Do you have any questions?"
"No Doc. I understand fully what I'm in for"
"You're fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends to support you. Unfortunately there's no quick or easy fix to this. Along with the antibiotics, I'm sending you home prescriptions for Codeine and Wellbutrin. The Wellbutrin can help with the cravings and if you need the Codeine for pain, please use it. Now before you leave I would like to check you over and re-dress your hand"
The three detectives left the room and a short time later Doctor Kam joined them in the hallway.
"He's getting dressed"
"How is he Doc?"
"Physically, he's terribly sore but I really can't insist he stay. All I can suggest to you is to keep him as calm and quiet as possible and do everything you can to get him to take the prescribed drugs. They will help him"
He shook their hands and agreed to stop by in the morning to check up on him. He also let them know that the first nurse would arrive at seven that evening. There would be four nurses rotating twelve hour shifts.
A short time later the men were on their way home and Kono was making stops to fill Steve's prescriptions and to pick up some groceries.
Steve laid across the back seat of Chin's truck with his back to his friends. He stared at the seat, grimacing in pain at every bump in the road. Every few minutes Danny would call back to him, "Hey you doing okay partner?"
Steve would motion with his hand that he was fine. He couldn't talk. Every inch of his body hurt and the nausea was horrible. God he just wanted to get home….
Twenty minutes later Chin pulled into the McGarrett driveway. Danny opened the door and leaning over Steve he placed a hand on his shoulder, "We're here babe, we're home. Are you alright?"
"Can yyou give mme a minute Dddanno?"
"There's no hurry….just relax" Steve's body was shaking in pain underneath his grip. Danny rubbed his shoulder and back for several minutes until he felt the tension in his body ease. "Are you ready partner?"
"Uh huh….yeah Danno"
"Just sit up first Steve" Danny helped him up. His eyes were closed tightly and he was drenched in sweat.
"God it hhurts D"
"I know buddy. You lean on me now and I'll have you inside and resting in just a few minutes"
"Danny…..thank you….for being here"
"There's nowhere else I should be. Let's get you inside now"
Chin had gone in ahead of them to clean up the drugs and the broken beer bottle from the living room floor. He then placed blankets and pillows on the couch, finishing up as Steve and Danny came through the door. The men eased Steve onto the couch and covered his shivering body with blankets. Moments later the injured man was sleeping and while Chin sat with Steve, Danny went upstairs to clean bloody mess in his bedroom and bathroom.
Exhaustion overtook Steve and he slept soundly for the next couple of hours waking in the early afternoon. He went upstairs to shower and change clothes, coming back downstairs to find that Kono had returned and they were all in the kitchen preparing sandwiches and salads for lunch. Danny was unable to convince him to take any medication other than the antibiotic but he ate most of a sandwich and Danny decided now was not the time to pick a battle.
At three o'clock Danny left the others all sitting on the deck visiting, and taking Steve's truck he left to go see Gracie.
********** MORE TO COME ***********