"Methyl what?" Danny switched ears with his phone. Max was downright giddy with his discovery.

"Bromomethane, more commonly known as methyl bromide. It is a broad spectrum pesticide. A fumigant formerly used on agricultural products to ward off fungus as well as insects and rodents. Its use has been discontinued for the most part due to its toxicity to humans." Max took a breath. "There is a specific protocol for acute exposure. I have instructed the physician in charge of McGarrett's case. It mainly involves more intensive supportive care as there is no specific antidote for methyl bromide poisoning. They will be able to manage fluid buildup in such a way that will reduce the stress on Steve's lungs as well as prevent strain on his heart and other organs. It is a rather simple, yet elegant dance, I must say. Steve should have a complete recovery as his exposure was not long term."

Danny didn't know if he could take much more. Really wanting to be polite he didn't interrupt. Thankful for Max's efforts, he simply let the man revel in his explanation.

"There have been cases of methyl bromide poisoning among farm workers where hemodialysis was performed in an attempt to rid the blood of toxins with less than satisfactory results. I doubt that course of action would be helpful in this situation. Steve should be kept in the hospital a few days to monitor for pulmonary edema which may have a delayed onset. He may also need to use an inhaler for a few weeks and respiratory therapy will also be advised. As Steve is in excellent physical condition, he may have no permanent problems. That is - if he rests and follows doctor's orders."

If he rests and follows doctor's order. Danny almost laughed at that one.

/././

After a not so quick check-in with Max, Danny was back at Steve's side with Chin and Kono. Their fearless leader was looking somewhat better already, yet he was still rather quiet. Danny wasn't sure if Steve was sleeping or just hiding. He knew this was not easy for his friend.

Shaking his head, Danny leaned back in the uncomfortable chair and sighed. At the insistence of Steve's nurse, Kono pushed an extra chair over so Danny could prop up his knee. Nobody seemed to know what to say once they got over the initial relief of IDing the toxin. It was all very strained. Everyone was uneasy, impatient.

There was a madman on the loose. And at that moment, they were at an utter loss. It was as if Joey Franklin had vanished. They were all itching to do something more.

After a few minutes, Chin excused himself in the name of checking in with HPD. And Kono followed not long after that. Danny was about to follow just to get his blood flowing again. His partner stopped him.

"Danny stay." Steve reached for him. "Please, don't leave me."

Danny froze a few feet away from the bed.

"I won't leave Steve. I'll be out in the hall." He walked closer, making sure he had eye contact with his still hazy partner. "Hey, hey. I'm right here." He grabbed Steve's hand. "Feel me? I won't leave. Okay, Steve?"

There was still so much fear in those eyes. And he recognized it. The fear of being abandoned. There was no way he could leave his friend now.

Chin leaned back into the room, looking for Danny. "We're heading back to the office to check up on a few leads."

They all knew how useless it really was. Joey was a ghost. But they had to do something.

And Danny was itching to get out of there too, but he knew he needed to stay. "Will you guys be alright without me?"

"Yea Danny. Stay with Steve." Chin looked back toward the hall. "We'll stop by later if we can. With Joey Franklin still on the loose we shouldn't leave Steve alone anyway."

Danny shivered at the name and then just as quickly, anger took over. "When we get him, I want first crack at the asshole."

/././

Leaning against the wall, Danny balanced on one leg. He was sick of sitting. His knee had been X-rayed and proclaimed badly bruised, but nothing broken or torn. Still hurt like hell. His stubborn ass would not take the offered pain killers. Not while Joey Franklin was still out there.

The more aggressive treatment protocol appeared to be working, but it didn't mean Steve had an easy road ahead of him. A few weeks of rest and therapy was prescribed just as Max suggested. There'd been some damage to Steve's lungs but the doctor hoped that because of his age and good health that it would turn out to be minor and reversible. At the moment, there was no way to tell.

The only thing to do was wait. And rest.

Danny'd had enough of both.

He'd checked to make sure his partner was still sleeping before slipping into the hallway. It was almost dawn and the hospital was actually rather peaceful. The staff was subdued and ready for shift change in another hour or so.

Using one crutch he found his way to the bathroom at the end of the hall. He felt weird using the one in Steve's room with its railings and urine collection bottles all stacked around. Plus he just needed to get out of there.

He splashed some cool water on his face. And was annoyed when he realized there weren't any paper towel dispensers. Only one of those jet powered blower things that he despised for their total lack of efficiency. There was no way he was holding his face under there. Even without the bruises and cuts.

Pulling up his shirt, he dabbed at his face, wincing. He caught site of himself in the mirror and froze. He did look like shit. And he was so fucking tired.

And then it hit him.

All of this was his fault. He shook his head, wanting to be angry. He felt guilty and helpless instead. This had all started because of him. And he didn't care so much about what had been done to him. He could move on, forget about it. Or at least, he'd push it so far down he could pretend being buried alive, shot at and then kidnapped didn't happen. He could do it.

But what he couldn't stand was how his actions had affected everyone else. Eric's life would never be the same. And Steve, well, Steve had almost died. Not to mention the stress and extra work all of this had caused Chin and Kono and the rest of HPD.

Danny was pissed off. At himself, Jimmy, Joey. He thought about punching the mirror, erasing the pitiful reflection he saw there. Anger spread out from his chest, making him shake all over. He didn't want to be there feeling useless, doing little to help.

The tears came completely as a surprise. His next breath caught in his throat and he just lost control. Gripping the sink, he gave in, sobbing until there was a knock on the door.

"Sir?" A familiar voice. When he didn't answer, the door opened, and Steve's nurse popped her head into the small bathroom. "Detective Williams, are you okay?"

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, he nodded. She smiled and handed him a towel. "I figured you might need this to wash up a little."

She'd been with them all night, knowing their needs before they even asked. An angel.

Danny smiled. "Thank you."

She was gone before he could even get both words out.

/././

The man stood at the elevator doors. He already knew exactly where he had to go. People were so gullible. He hadn't expected the girl at the ER registrant desk to be so easily fooled.

He blamed it on his good looks. And his suit and tie. If you looked official, people tended to believe you. Even if the badge you flashed in no way resembled anything close to the real thing.

It was way before visiting hours and he knew it. He'd given her a story about needing to speak with Detective Williams right away regarding Commander McGarrett's condition. Using all the right names always helped a con man too. Feign familiarity and people fall for your lies.

The girl knew it was unusual, but she was a sucker for a good story and a cute guy. Plus he had the credentials. And he seemed to know what was going on. She was only half aware of the situation upstairs with the Five-0 task force.

And it was the end of her shift. She was tired. The man even offered to buy her a coffee before heading up to chat with his colleagues.

Such a gentleman couldn't be wrong.

She called up to the nurse's station, waiting a few minutes for an answer, knowing they were shorthanded. When one of the staff picked up, she explained the situation and was then told all calls relating to Commander McGarrett had to go through Detective Williams first, and he was indisposed at the moment. Could it wait?

When the desk clerk looked up, the handsome man had disappeared.

/././

Danny dried his hands and left the bathroom looking for a laundry cart, towel in his hand. He spotted Steve's nurse just up the hall, walking toward him.

"Detective Williams. One of your men is downstairs asking about Commander McGarrett."

"One of my-" He stopped, wobbling on one crutch. Adrenaline so sharp it felt like a combination of pins and needles and nausea washed over him. "Wait. Is he still down there?"

"Let me check." She walked around the nurses' station to a phone.