***** THANKS FOR READING and all your comments are greatly appreciated. I have received some messages from readers a bit unhappy with how I am portraying Danny. Please remember that everything is happening in just a few days and emotions are high. I think (and certainly hope) that once the story is complete you will understand why I'm going this way with it – Again thank you for reading and reviewing ! *****

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Danny's mind was racing as he sped towards Steve's. He should never, NEVER have left Chin alone with McGarrett, not in his weakened state. DAMN IT STEVEN!

He pulled into the driveway and ran into the house. Chin was sitting on the couch with Cindy, holding an icepack to the back of his head. Danny sat on the coffee table in front of him, "You okay brother?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry Danny"
Danny put his hand on Chin's knee, "Stop, you have nothing to be sorry about. I should never have left you alone with him, I'M sorry babe" Danny turned to Cindy, "How is he….really?"
She smiled, "He's got a pretty good bump and a headache, but he'll be okay"
Danny let out a sigh of relief, "Thank God" He then looked around, "It's awfully quiet, where is he?"
"He's locked himself in his bedroom. Kono's trying to talk him down….Danny, this isn't his fault"
"What do you mean, what happened? What set him off?"

"Shortly after you left his pain increased. He laid down on the couch to sleep. About an hour later he bolted up off the couch. I was coming in from the kitchen and it all happened so fast. He grabbed me and threw me up against the cabinet and….he had his hands around my throat. He wasn't with us Danny….his eyes….his eyes were black and cold. He kept saying 'Tell me where Jack is…..you son-of-a-bitch, tell me where Jack is!' Danny, he was having a nightmare, it wasn't his fault. Kono was able to pull him back to reality and I'm okay. He let me go and he raced upstairs. We're worried about him. Does he have any weapons in his room?"

"No, no he doesn't. I cleared all the guns, ammo and knives out of here. I took everything to my place"
"You're sure you got everything?"
"As sure as I can be. You stay here, I'm going to go talk to him"
"It's not his fault brah"
"I know…you relax, I'll take care of him"
Danny stood and moved up the stairs. Kono was on her knees in front of the closed bedroom door at the end of the hallway. Her palms were pushed against the door and she was talking to him calmly. There was a hole in the door where the SEAL had obviously planted his fist. He knelt next to Kono and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

He said quietly, "Has he been responding to you?"
"I little bit"
Danny pointed to the hole, "When did he do that?"
"Right after he slammed the door shut"
"So, before he knew you were out here?"
"Yes, oh yes. Danny….does he hav….."
He interrupted her, "No Kono, he doesn't have any weapons. I cleared the house" He saw her sense of relief and watched as the tension left her body, "He'll be okay Kono"

He stood and knocked on the door, "Steve….babe I need you to open the door for me"
There was no answer.
He knocked again, "Steven, tell me you're alright man or I'm breaking down this door"
Again, no answer…
He turned to Kono, "Stand back" With no further thought he kicked in the door and the two detectives raced into the room.

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They raced into the room and the sight before them stopped them dead in their tracks. Steve was lying on the bed, naked and shivering uncontrollably. Danny heard Kono gasp next to him as she saw, for the first time the severe bruising that covered his body. Danny put his arm around her and turning her he guided her out the open door. "I've got him Kono. Go take care of Chin" She nodded and left Danny to tend to his distraught partner. Taking a deep breath he moved to the bed and sat next to Steve who was curled into a fetal position. He was sweating profusely and his breaths came in short, pained gasps. Danny ran a hand through his drenched and matted hair as he spoke to him gently, "Steve, I need you to talk to me…are you okay?"

The SEALS voice shook in pain as he spoke, "I can't ddo this Danny….God, I hhurt so bbad"
"You have to fight babe. Do you know what happened downstairs?"
"I had a nnightmmare….I was looking for Jack…..that's all I remmem….ber. Whhy, wwhat happened?"

Danny had to keep in calm. It was obvious that he didn't remember what he had done to Chin and all it would do would upset him more if he knew, "Nothing. Like you said, you had a nightmare and then you did put you fist through your door here. Let me take a look at it" Danny took the injured right hand in his. He gingerly moved the swollen knuckles one at a time before stating, "I don't think you broke anything but you're pretty swollen"

Steve pulled his hand back and cradled it against his chest. "Danny…I need to bbe alone please"
"Okay babe. Let me get you under the covers. Do you want to put some clothes on?"
"No…..I'm so hhot"
"Alright" Danny helped him slip under the covers as he moaned in pain.
"Danno, could yyou gget me some wwater please"
"You bet, I'll be right back"

Danny made his way downstairs and Kono inquired, "Is he okay Danny"
"He's hurting. Hey Chin…...he doesn't remember grabbing you"
"It's okay brah, he doesn't need to know. I'm fine"
"I'm going to get him some water and…."He glanced at the clock on the wall, "It's time for his anti-biotic"
Kono asked, "How's his hand?"
"It's bruised and swollen but I'm pretty sure nothing's broken. I'll put an icepack on it. He wants some time alone"
"Danny, someone needs to be with him"
"Not right now Kono. He needs space…I'll be right here. You guys can head home and get some rest"
"Danny…."
"Kono, please…..remember, a day at a time"
Chin took her hand, "He'll call if he needs us Kono. If Steve needs space, we need to respect that"
She shook her head, "I know but I feel so helpless…."
Danny nodded in agreement, "We all do babe"
Danny walked them to the door and then after getting the needed items from the kitchen, he and Cindy made their way upstairs.

He picked the broken door up off the floor and leaned it up against the wall. Then sitting on the edge of the bed he dabbed at Steve's forehead with a cool, wet cloth.
Steve's eyes opened at the touch, "What'd you dddo to mmy ddoor partner?"
"Umm…..you didn't answer me. I was worried"
"You wworry too much"
"You've told me that before. It's time for your anti-biotic….."
Steve interrupted him, "No ddrugs Danny…nnightmares…..NO DRUGS"
Danny grabbed his shoulders, "HEY STOP SUPERMAN! This is just the anti-biotic for your infection, that's all…I promise"
Danny placed the pill in his mouth and helped him take a drink of water.

"That's good, I'll put the water on the table here in case you need it"
"Yeah, 'k…thanks….I'm tired"
"Cindy's going to check you out and then you can sleep"
"I'm fine"
"Don't argue with me"
"I'm ffine DDanno"
"There's no problem then babe. Cindy will be done in a minute and then I'll leave you alone"
"Promise?"
Danny turned to Cindy, "He's all yours"
After checking his vitals and examining him she wrapped the icepack on his injured hand and then left the room.
As Danny was leaving he added, "Holler out if you need me, I'll be down on the couch"
"Danno…..thank you"
"You're welcome, get some rest now"

Once Danny left, Steve turned onto his side and opening the nightstand drawer he took out a letter and read it as tears streaked down his cheeks.

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Steve had fallen asleep at about nine o'clock, waking to his cell phone ringing on the nightstand a little after midnight.
Moaning in pain he reached over to pick up the phone and seeing it was Gracie he answered, "Gracie? Sweetheart, it's so late. Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry Uncle Steve, I didn't mean to wake you up. Danno said I could call you anytime and I couldn't sleep"
"Danno's right, you CAN call me anytime. Why can't you sleep?"
"I'm worried…."
"About me?"
"Well no….but….."
He heard the little girls quiet sobs on the other end of the phone "Gracie, you can tell me anything, you know that. Just say it baby?"

"I don't want to move to New Jersey and leave you Uncle Steve, I love you"
The words cut through Steve like a knife. What was she talking about? "Gracie, why do you think you're moving back to New Jersey?"
"Danno is so mad at you and I heard him talking to Mommy. He said he had to leave 5-0 because you don't trust him. He said he wants to leave Hawaii. Please Uncle Steve, please...tell him you're sorry"

He was shocked at what he was hearing. Danny had said he forgave him and now this? "Gracie, baby I promise you I'll talk to Danno and I will apologize. I will do everything I can to get him to change his mind, but I need you to listen to me Gracie. Your Daddy loves you more than anything and any decision he makes, he makes because he thinks it's the best for you. Whatever Danno decides, it will be the right thing for you…..okay"

"Okay"
"Now I need you to try to go to sleep. And remember, I love you…always"
"I love you too….….good night"
"Good night honey, sleep tight"
Steve was shaking as he hung up the phone. This couldn't be happening…everybody left him…but not Danno.

As he put the phone on the nightstand he again picked up the letter. Turning on the lamp, he read it over and over again. Suddenly an overwhelming sense of dread struck him. He was shaking and dizzy. He needed fresh air, he had to clear his head. Laying the letter on the bed, he got up and threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

He quietly made his way downstairs. Danny was sleeping on the couch in front of the TV. He chuckled softly as he noted the infomercial playing. Danny had to have the TV on to sleep, even if it was this mindless drivel. Slipping his sneakers on, he moved into the kitchen. He needed a drink badly. He pulled an open bottle of whiskey from the cupboard. There was only a swallow left in the bottle, so he opened it and quickly downed it. He set the empty bottle on the counter and his eyes were drawn to the three pill bottles. Opening up the bottles of codeine and the meth tablets he dumped them down the drain.

Steve then moved to the patio door and stepped out into the dark Hawaiian night.

********* Lots of answers coming in the next chapter, hope you're enjoying! *********