Danny had led the couple from the room and standing in the doorway, Catherine looked back at him and said, "Please take care of him Danny"
Danny smiled, "Don't worry, I will"
He then made his way back into the room sitting across from Steve.
Steve was bent forward, sitting on the edge of the bed with his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. Danny sat quietly for more than twenty minutes as Steve sobbed softly.
Suddenly Steve stood abruptly from the bed and stumbled forward.
Danny jumped up and grabbed his forearms, "Hey where are you going?"
"I'm sick Danny..."
"Okay, hang on partner" Danny guided him quickly into the bathroom and he began to vomit as soon as he dropped to his knees. Steve's body shook as he cradled the toilet bowl and Danny stood behind him rubbing his back and neck as the vomiting went on and on.
Once he was done, Danny helped him to his feet and to the sink where Steve splashed water onto his face and rinsed out his mouth. As they moved slowly back to the bed, Steve crossed his arms tightly across his body, grimacing softly while getting back into bed.
"Are you okay?"
Steve placed his forearm across his face and he mumbled, "I'm ffine 'D...can I have ssome water?"
As Steve sipped on the water, Danny asked "I want you to take some percocet now buddy"
Steve pulled his arm down from his face and to Danny's surprise he replied shakily, "Okay"
Danny grabbed the pill bottle from the bedside table and after Steve took the drugs, Danny tucked the blankets up around his chilled body. He then sat back down on the bed across from his partner, watching him intently. Steve was sweating and he was horribly pale. He had been through so much physical trauma over the last few days and now all this shit...Catherine's words played over in his mind, 'Please take care of him Danny' Danny sighed deeply as he prayed not only for Steve but also for the God to give him the strength to help him. He watched as the drugs took Steve under and he said softly, "I'm here for you Steve. It's going to be alright"
Steve slept most of the day waking only to use the bathroom. Danny was unable to convince him to eat anything at all and at about five that evening Steve asked him for more percocet. Danny was concerned for his friend, Steve never, NEVER took drugs voluntarily. He asked, "Are you in pain babe?"
"A little..." His voice shook as he added, "I'm just exhausted Danno and I need to sleep okay"
"Okay, but you've got to at least drink for me first"
Steve grinned at him weakly, "You got some whiskey for me partner?"
Danny smiled, "Funny babe"
He handed Steve the drugs and water and a short time later he was again sleeping.
Danny moved out onto the balcony and phoned Chin.
"Hey Danny. How's he doing?"
"Not good brother. He had Catherine and Billy come to the Hotel this morning and he talked to them"
"How did that go?"
"Well...from what Cath told me he wished them happiness"
"Sounds like something Steve would do. He loves her"
"He loves both of them and he doesn't want them to feel guilty about this. He's crushed though Chin. It's going to take a long time for him to get over this"
Chin was silent for a moment before he replied, "He'll never get over this Danny. He'll just have to learn to live with it"
"Yeah... he's been really quiet since they left, he won't eat and he's asking for percocet"
"He's depressed"
"I guess he has reason to be doesn't he?"
"Yes he does. Give him space Danny...he'll come around"
"Yeah, I know. Hey, I need you to do me a favor Chin"
"Of course, what is it?"
"I need you to ask Denning to call the Commanding Officer of The Enterprise. I'd like them to allow Ian Gerhart to accompany us on the flight home tomorrow"
"Is he ready for this Danny? Is he strong enough?"
"I don't know Chin, but he's insistent. He needs to get out of here. He needs to get away from them in order to heal"
"I'll talk to him"
"Thanks buddy. I'll see you tomorrow"
"Okay, hang in there"
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Both men slept through the night and after washing up and changing clothes Danny ordered up room service. Steve was still very quiet and Danny wasn't going to push him, he would talk when he was ready.
Steve was sitting at the small table on the balcony staring out at the water as Danny set a plate of food and a glass of orange juice in front of him.
As Danny ate, he waited several minutes before saying "You've gotta eat Steve"
"I'm not hungry"
"That's not the point Steven. You didn't eat anything yesterday. You're weak and tired and if you want to recover from this, you HAVE to eat...please"
Steve shook his head, "Okay...Danny, thank you"
"No problem"
Steve ate just enough to humor his partner and then he laid down to rest while they waited for Ian Gerhart to arrive.
He was sleeping when Ian arrived with a wheelchair.
Danny filled him in on Steve's condition and he was very relieved to hear that his wish had been granted and that Ian would be accompanying them on the flight back to Oahu.
They then woke Steve.
"Hi Ian...thanks for coming"
"Of course. In fact, you're not going to get rid of me for a while. I'm flying with you to Oahu"
"You don't have to do that Ian. You've done so much for me already"
"It's almost a fifteen hour flight and the Governor of Hawaii requested this Steve, I can't really say no, can I?"
Steve looked at Danny, "You requested this didn't you?"
"Yes, I did and you're going to be a good patient aren't you?"
Steve grinned weakly, "Yes sir"
Ian then examined him and Danny asked, "How's he doing?"
Steve replied irritably, "I'm fine Danno"
Flashing a stern glance his partner's way Danny repeated, "DOC, how's he doing?"
Ian smiled, "He's fine"
Steve grinned mischievously, "I told you Danny"
Ian continued, "Let me expand on that diagnosis please. Steve, overall you're doing well considering what you've been through. Your blood pressure and heart rate are stable but you're running a low grade fever and you appear to be a bit dehydrated. Once we're on the plane I want to start you on IV antibiotics and saline again" Pushing lightly around Steve's abdomen and incisions he asked, "Can you rate your pain level for me?"
"About a four, five maybe. I'm so tired Ian"
"That's to be expected Steve. This is not going to be a fast recovery and if you push it you risk complications. You laugh about being a good patient, but this is very serious. Anytime an organ has to be removed the recovery is slow. You're going to heal externally long before you're healed internally"
Danny asked, "How long Ian?"
"He'll need to be out of work for eight to nine weeks"
Steve shook his head, "No way...that's not going to happen"
Ian replied, "It WILL happen Steve. Governor Denning is fully aware of this"
Steve rolled his eyes and tipped his head back, "Great...this is just great"
Ian added, "With the physicality of your job, you can't risk this. You've been poisoned, you've had two organs removed and you were severely beaten. You're lucky to be alive Steve"
The stubborn SEAL responded softly, "I know I am and thank you Ian, I owe you my life"
Danny then asked, "Is it safe for him to fly today?"
"DANNY, we're leaving today!"
Both men turned to Ian who nodded, "I believe it's safe, but it's not going to be comfortable"
Steve looked at the men sternly before stating simply, "Let's go men"
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Less than two hours later the three men along with two Navy Corpsmen Mark Schwartz and Todd Wells were on board the Military transport plane. The commute from the hotel to the airstrip had been painful for Steve and as soon as they had him settled on the medical bed Ian gave him an injection of morphine pulling him quickly under. Then Ian inserted the IV's into Steve's hand and the plane took off.
Danny and Ian sat in portable chairs at Steve's side monitoring him closely.
The two shared stories about Steve.
Ian had met him through Catherine and he was surprised when Danny revealed to him that Catherine had ended their relationship to be with Billy.
"So that's why he was so insistent on leaving so soon?"
"Yes, but he'll be okay Doc. He's tough"
"Yes, he certainly is Danny"
Five hours into the flight Steve's breathing suddenly became rapid and while still unconscious he began to move in pain. The two men jumped to his side and as Ian took his vitals, Danny leaned close and placing a hand on Steve's forehead he whispered to him softly, "Relax Steve, relax...I've got you"
He turned to Ian, "He's burning up Doc"
"I know Danny. Try to keep him calm"
Danny did as he was asked as Ian, Schwartz and Wells tended to him. Pulling back the blankets, Ian tore open Steve's shirt and listened to his heart. Danny watched on nervously, his eyes fixated on Steve's chest which was rapidly moving up and down. He continued to talk to him soothingly, "Slow down partner, breathe slow...relax, nice and slow Steve...relax"
As Ian spoke to his men, Danny listened intently.
His blood pressure was elevated...
His heart rate was fast...
His temperature had spiked...
Danny's fear rose as he Ian then said, "He's bleeding internally..."
***** More to follow...I hope you're still enjoying! *****