"No ambulance. I'll only go if you drive me."

No ambulance. Those words still echoed in Steve's head. He could barely keep his eyes on the road. Finding Danny on the floor in the kitchen scared him, and worry wasn't something he liked to indulge in. It was unproductive to say the least.

"I'm enjoying this new driving technique." Danny breathed slowly through another wave of nausea. "You steer and I watch the road while you stare at me. Makes sense."

"Danny." His name a warning to stop.

"Don't Danny me. Watch the road you idiot. You're making my head hurt worse."

Steve brought his attention back to the road, both hands on the steering wheel, face frozen in a frown. It was all he could do to keep from yelling at his friend. Another argument wouldn't help.

"And please, nothing fancy. Every time I see both of your hands on that wheel-" Danny stopped and massaged his forehead. "Man I really don't want to puke in my car."

/././

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Danny refused to relax, despite the persistent urging of his partner. He was afraid. He had this nagging idea that if he lay back and let himself calm down even just a bit he might not leave there that day. He could feel it coming. A something he could not explain. Worry with a capital W. But he had things to do and they did not include spending any unnecessary time at this hospital, so he pushed those thoughts away.

In this moment, he felt fine. No more dizziness. Steve would probably tell him it was adrenaline keeping him upright, giving him the appearance of normal. Danny knew he was right.

Besides the dull ache from his entire body, his fucked up hand throbbed, especially his fingers. It was tough to not bump them or inadvertently use them. His chest still felt tight like he couldn't catch his breath. He felt like he was standing on the edge of panic, just about to dive in headfirst.

They had a case to solve, so he couldn't stop. Now with Eric involved, he felt even worse. So to calm his mind, he started counting in his head. First to a hundred. Then two and three more hundred. Until Steve interrupted him and put him right back in that room where he did not want to be.

"You okay, Danny?"

Danny wanted to tell him it was a silly question. Instead he didn't answer, just waved his legs back and forth over the edge of the table. He scrunched his toes, thankful they at least didn't hurt. Studying his knees for the first time, he realized they were bruised too. Clamping his eyes shut, he fought back a shiver. He remembered banging his knees on that damn metal box. Desperation, fear, pain, and sheer panic shot through him like he was back there, alone and terrified of dying.

"Danny?" This time Steve's voice was a little louder tinged with concern.

He decided he'd better say something before he got locked up for losing his mind. "Yea Steve, I'm here."

That seemed to be enough. Steve nodded and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. Danny envied his friend's calm demeanor. He'd give anything to be a rock right then.

/././

"I'd like to run some tests."

Those words from the doctor did more to make Danny nauseous than getting hit over the head. He knew what it meant. And right then, he wasn't sure he could take it.

Steve caught his eye and held him there. Danny knew he understood.

"Doc, do you think that's necessary?" Steve spoke up for his friend.

"Well you're back here presenting with some worrisome symptoms. I could let it go, relying on the original scans from Friday night. See if the headaches and nausea go away on their own, but I strongly advise we –"

"I'll wait." Danny cleared his throat. "We can wait and see, right?"

"Danny." There was his name again, yet not only his name. It encompassed all the worry he knew his best friend was letting eat away at him.

"You said it yourself, doc. I need to rest. And I haven't. Hell, I haven't eaten more than a sandwich and popcorn in 36 hours. We jumped the gun by coming back here. I just need to stay off my feet for a few hours. Am I right?" Danny looked at both men for an answer.

At first he got nothing. Then Steve spoke up. "If I find you passed out on the floor again, I will bring you here at gunpoint. And you won't leave until they run every test there is, partner."

Danny wanted to laugh, but he held it back. Holding out his hand, he grinned. "Okay, partner, I'll agree to that."

The doctor cleared his throat and spoke his peace. "Sometimes the after effects of a concussion last for a few days. Sometimes weeks, depending on the severity of the injury. In your case, I don't see why the headaches and dizziness shouldn't dissipate in a few days, if you rest. And that's a big if, knowing your history. And I'm serious, Detective Williams. You need to slow down and take it easy for more than a few hours. No stress. No exertion. And I also advice you eat something more than a sandwich and popcorn."

Danny had nodded his way through the doctor's words. Steve wasn't sure how much he was listening after the first sentence or two. Despite what his partner promised, there would be little rest for them until this situation was brought under control. But he would do his damnedest to get his friend to rest. Even if it meant holding him down. After the scare this morning, he was not in the mood for anything else.

"I'll make sure, doc."

"You said that before, Commander McGarrett, and here we are again."

"I know, I know. I let things get out of control. We're working a case and it's persona-"

The doctor cut him off. "I can imagine it's personal. Your friend here spent some time buried alive. There's no doubt you want to find out who is responsible. But it won't do either of you any good if he doesn't mind his health."

"I promise, doc, to spend the rest of the day lying down, if that makes you happy."

"I'm not concerned with my well being." The doctor sighed. "I can give you something for the nausea if you like. But you need to let me know if those dizzy spells continue more than a few days. And if you lose consciousness again, don't wait. Call an ambulance."

Before Danny could even acknowledge the doctor's latest advice, he leaned forward, head in his hands. Steve moved closer worried his friend might fall off the exam table. The doctor was ready with one strong hand across Danny's chest.

"Detective?"

Danny mumbled something but both men clearly heard the word puke. A small basin was offered and Steve took it. "Hey, do you need this?"

"Maybe you should lie down, Detective Williams." The doctor kept his voice very low and steady all the while surveying his patient.

Danny waved his hand. "No lying down. No moving."

Steve held on to Danny now very concerned.

"I can't catch my breath." Danny's face flushed and tears ran down his face. "I can't-"

"Hey, take it easy, D." Steve guided Danny back on the bed. "Just relax a minute. Breathe."

He arranged the pillow so Danny could basically fall over sideways since that seemed to be what made him feel better.

Danny ran his hand through his hair, eyes closed. "I never thought this would happen. Not in a million years. I really thought I got through to him."

Steve immediately knew what this was about. Eric.

"None of us saw this coming, Danny. Things happen, okay? Eric's not a kid anymore. He made a bad decision."

"I'm his uncle. I should have known. I know what it's like growing up there."

"Danny, you can't be everywhere at once. People make poor decisions. There's nothing you can do." Steve squeezed his arm. "You're here for him now. That's what matters."

"I'm not there for him. I'm here in this damn ER. Again. I can't even take care of myself."

"That's what you have me for, brah."

Danny opened one eye and sighed. "Is that supposed to make me feel better or something?"

The doctor watched from the corner of the room. He motioned to Steve once it seemed that Danny had calmed down a bit. Steve nodded and turned back to his friend.

"Just rest a minute. Close your eyes and breathe. I'll be right back. The doc wants to talk to me."

"Yea probably planning my demise." Danny groaned and adjusted the pillow.

Steve grinned. "Not yet, buddy. Give it time."

/././

Steve followed the doctor into the hall. "Yea doc?"

"This looks more like anxiety to me. More so than head trauma. But I want to be sure. Will he agree to a test?"

"I don't know. It's tough for him."

"I can give him something to calm his nerves during the scan, if that would help. I'd really like to rule out anything serious."

"I'll talk to him."

"Sounds good. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Thanks, doc." Steve offered his hand to the doctor.

/././

"You can drug me right?" His partner's voice echoed in his head.

A few hours later, Steve stood over a snoozing Danny, waiting for his friend to come out of his light sedation. The doctor likened it to forced sleep with a laugh. Hopefully it kept the nightmares away too.

The scans came back clear and they could leave once Danny was awake and alert. It was recommended that he stay the night, but they all knew the answer to that request.

They'd been moved to a private recovery room in the outpatient wing. It was quiet and for the first time, Steve felt himself unwind just a bit. Danny was okay, for the most part. They just had to manage the emotional turmoil.

Steve turned to the window and watched the traffic on the surrounding streets. Life went on. It always did.

"Hey."

Danny. Steve smiled at his best friend.

"Hey yourself. How do you feel?"

"Like I've slept a week."

"You've only been out for about two hours."

Danny tried to clear his throat, but everything was so dry. His words were broken and stuck together at the same time. "So what's the verdict?"

"You're gonna live." Steve grinned and handed him a small cup of water. "Here, take a sip."

"Thanks." Danny downed the entire cup, letting water dribble down his chin.

"Better?"

"Better." He moved to sit up, but Steve stopped him and reclined the bed a little instead. Danny nodded, closing his eyes with a sigh. "So when can I get outta here?"

"Soon." Steve pulled the chair over to the bed. "I let Chin know we were here. He wants to bring Eric over to my place later. If that's ok with you."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Danny picked at the cup, squeezing it weakly. "You know, having the two of us at the same place?"

"Yea I told Chin to watch for tails."

"Have Eric keep his head down. Wear a hat or something." Danny stopped and closed his eyes for a few seconds. "Just keep him out of sight."

Steve smiled. "Okay, we'll do that, Danny. No problem."

"What have you been drinking?"

Steve shrugged. "What?"

"That look on your face. Tells me you're drinking somebody's Koolaid." Danny wasn't amused but that didn't stop his friend from ginning wider. "You're too perky."

"Nah, I'm not." He squeezed Danny's arm. "I'm just happy to see those baby blues."

"Baby blues?" Danny rolled his eyes, pretending to gag.

"Just following doctor's orders. He said I should keep you mellow."

"Now I know you aren't right." Danny pushed himself up a little straighter. "I'm ready to get out of here."

Thanks as always for reading!