"If he's going to survive this, he'll have to do it on his own. We've done everything we can for the time being."
Kono refrained from going into Chin Ho's room as his parents moaned. Ping had meant well, but approaching her cousin would only bring more trouble. This was as close as she could get to him for now.
For the rest of his life.
"What happened?" her aunt said thickly. "He was well enough to get surgery a half hour ago."
"Your son suffered a sudden heart attack, and his heart stopped shortly after. While we were able to resuscitate him once more, his vitals are incredibly unstable. The heart attack could have caused damage to his lungs, or our shocks could have damaged his already injured kidneys. He almost appears to have suffered an allergic reaction to something, but…" The speaker stopped, and Malia coughed and spoke up.
"Makuahine, Makuakane, perhaps you should return to the waiting area. If he does go further downhill, I'll send for you immediately. The stress of having so many people in such a small room isn't good for him or anyone else, and I am not leaving my husband."
Kono's aunt snorted angrily, but apparently was too emotional to start another argument; Kono shrank against the wall and prayed that her aunt and uncle wouldn't notice her as they went back to the waiting room. Her prayers were answered as they walked past her with puffy eyes and hands full of tissues. When they were almost to the double doors, she ducked into Chin Ho's room and gasped.
Her cousin's normally bronze skin was a strange combination of white and red, both of which appeared in splotches across his body. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and he looked strangely swollen. Malia and another doctor were standing on either side of his bed, but Malia walked to take Kono's hand when she looked up. "I'm glad you came, Kono. He'd want you to see him, even if it's just for a minute."
"Ping said he was dying." Kono and Malia walked back to Chin's side, and Kono took his hand. It was feverish.
Malia sniffled. "We brought him back once, but if his body can't balance things out…"
"This fever and his oxygen levels are my main concerns at the moment," the other doctor said. "Unfortunately, even if his body temperature regulates, there could be damage. The danger of infection setting in grows with every minute those bullets stay inside him, but he's nowhere near stable enough for surgery."
Kono brushed the hair from her cousin's damp forehead and bent to kiss him. "Can I do anything?"
"Talk to him for a minute before you go. Some people, myself included, think it could help." Malia smiled down at her husband even as a tear fell from her cheek. "Chin, honey, Kono's here to see you."
"H-hey," she said awkwardly, suddenly unsure of herself. She felt like she was talking to a mannequin. "You need to get better soon, alright?"
There was no change, and she almost drew back. Malia, however, pushed her back towards the bed. "Don't leave without saying goodbye, Kono. It may be…"
It may be your last chance. Kono didn't need to hear the words to know what Malia meant, and the realization brought tears to her own eyes. "Chin, you can't die, okay? You can't. Danny and me, we're back on Five-0, but we can't crack this case without you. I'll say goodbye, but only if you promise you'll say aloha to me later."
Again, there was no response, but Malia seemed satisfied. "Thanks. And…are you really back on Five-0?"
"Yes."
"Then you're going to find whoever did this and bring them to full justice, right?" Malia's gaze turned hard for a split second, as if she were imagining what her full justice would be.
"It isn't so simple, Malia," she said quietly. "Our prime suspect isn't going to be easy to get."
"I have faith in you, cousin," Malia said with a sad smile. "We have faith in you."
Kono nodded and left the room. She hadn't yet made it down the hall when the alarms began again, and nurses rushed into Chin Ho's room with a cart full of equipment. Malia somehow got shoved into the hallway, her face hysterical, and Kono rushed to wrap her up in a hug. They fell to their knees right there in the hallway, both sobbing as the sounds of an attempted resuscitation flowed from the room.
If Chin died, Kono didn't know if she'd be able to function properly again. She didn't know if she'd ever be able to look at her badge or her uniform or even her own reflection without breaking down, or if she'd be able to shoot or surf without tears invading her eyes.
She only knew one thing.
If Chin Ho died, she was going to kill the man responsible.
Even if that man was Steven McGarrett.
A/N: Sorry for the late post! It's been a hectic week with all our Fourth of July celebrations 'round here.
We're getting down to the last chapters of this installment! You'll get a chapter this Tuesday and then on Thursday, and that'll be that. It's been a fun ride so far, and I'm excited to move on to the next project.
Mahalo, my friends!