Danny said frantically, "Talk to me Ian"
"Danny, his abdomen is firm in the area where we removed his spleen"
"Oh God...how long until we land in Oahu?"
"At least nine hours. There were no signs of bleeding before we left. These symptoms are severe and they came on quickly. I have to go in now or he's going to bleed out"
"You can do that up here?"
"We don't have a choice Danny"
"Okay...just tell me what I can do to help"
"I'm going to give him an anesthetic now and then we'll prep him. You stay where you are and keep talking to him"
Danny nodded, glancing at Steve's abdomen. A few days had passed and the bruising on his chest and abdomen was a now a rainbow of blue, black, purple, yellow and green. Leaning his head against Steve's he spoke softly, "You're going to be fine Steve. You keep fighting buddy"
The medics worked with amazing speed and efficiency and in less than half an hour Ian was re-opening the incision just below Steve's ribcage. Danny was holding the oxygen mask to Steve's face and with his other hand he was wiping his head and face with a wet, cool cloth. Schwartz stood opposite Danny monitoring Steve's vitals while Todd Wells assisted Ian. Danny watched on as Wells handed Ian towel after towel. Every few moments Ian would toss a blood soaked towel to the ground, one, two, three, four...Danny felt ill as he watched his partner's life blood being tossed aside and a sense of dread overwhelmed him. He looked at Steve and couldn't help but notice how pale he had become as the blood being transfused through the vein in his hand couldn't keep up with large amount of blood oozing from his body.
Ian was talking constantly as he worked and for that, Danny was grateful.
"You hang on McGarrett, you hear me. You've made it this far buddy and this is just a bump in the road"
Danny whispered into Steve's ear, "You're doing great babe, I'm right here...I've got you"
After several minutes, Ian said "There we go, look at that. We've got it Danny. He's got a couple of bleeders here but Todd and I can handle this" A few seconds passed and Ian said, "Right here Todd, pinch off this vessel for me...yeah, that's it. Schwartzie, how are his vitals?"
"He's doing well Doc, his blood pressure is dropping slightly but he's doing well"
As he continued to work, Ian called out "Hear that Danny? McGarrett here is one tough son-of-a-bitch"
Danny whispered, "You hear that Steven, Ian's got everything under control so you just hang on"
The surgery took a little more than an hour and once the wound was closed and Steve was covered up Ian smiled, "Exemplary work men. Danny, come with me please"
Danny leaned in to his partner, "It's over Steve and you're going to be just fine. I'll be right back... I love you partner"
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The men moved a few feet away to a small sink where Ian washed Steve's blood from his hands and forearms.
Danny's voice was shaking as he asked, "So he's going to be okay Ian?"
"I hope so Danny. Steve is one of the toughest men I've ever known. Just the fact that he survived the ricin poisoning is a testament of his intense will to survive"
Tears filled Danny's eyes as he said softly, "The problem is Doc, that Catherine was a big reason for his will to survive, and she's gone now"
Ian grabbed Danny's forearm and said firmly, "Then you give him a reason to fight Danny because the next seven to eight hours is going to be a struggle"
Danny had to ask, "Ian, I don't want you to take this wrong because I will be forever grateful for all you have done for Steve..."
He hesitated and Ian asked, "It's okay Danny, just say it"
"Ian how could this bleeding have been missed?"
"That's a very fair question. Examining him in the Hotel versus on the Ship limited me to a physical exam only. I promise you Danny, if I had ANY inkling that he was bleeding I would have done everything necessary to stop him from boarding this plane"
"So do you think he's been bleeding for a while?"
"My guess would be yes, based on the amount of blood that was in his abdominal cavity. He was suffering a vascular bleed from two vessels. I believe he was slowly bleeding for hours and that all the movement and bouncing around intensified the bleed. I was able to repair the vessels and my biggest fear now is his infection...having to open him up in this environment was very risky Danny, but I honestly don't think we had a choice. Removing the spleen affects the bodies ability to fight infections and in his weakened state, his condition is extremely critical"
Danny held out his hand and Ian grasped it tightly, "Thank you Ian...you're an amazing Doctor"
The men then made their way back to the injured SEAL's side.
Todd had begun a seconds blood transfusion and Ian constantly monitored Steve's vitals as he listened to Danny talk to Steve about their 5-0 team and about his daughter Gracie. Danny held tightly to his partner's hand as he dutifully wiped his sweat-drenched face, neck and chest.
Almost two hours after the surgery Steve began to moan and stir as the anesthesia began to wear off.
Todd and Mark held his legs and hips still as Danny and Ian eased the injured man back to consciousness.
"Steve, Steve it's Danny...can you open your eyes for me partner?"
It took several minutes but eventually Steve's eyes fluttered open and he instinctively tried to reach for his oxygen mask.
Ian grabbed Steve's hand as Danny spoke, "Hey buddy look at me" He could see the confusion in Steve's eyes, "You're okay babe, I need you to listen to me okay?"
Steve's voice was filled with pain as he mumbled "Uhh...hhhuuh"
"You had some bleeding but Ian patched you up and you're going to be fine. We'll be back home soon"
"So ttired Ddanno"
"I know partner. You need to keep fighting for me...you're so damn strong"
Danny glanced up and watched as Ian opened up an IV line releasing a dose of morphine into Steve's veins.
Danny squeezed his partner's hand tightly and stroking Steve's forehead he said softly, "Sleep buddy, I'm right here and I've got you...ssshhhhhhhhh...sleep Steve"
In only moments, the morphine took Steve under and the men continued their vigil.
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The morphine kept Steve under for the remainder of the flight. Every twenty minutes or so he would cry out but Danny was always able to calm him down fairly quickly.
As they landed at Hickum Airfield Chin was there to meet them with an ambulance.
As Steve was transferred onto a stretcher and wheeled to the ambulance, Danny filled Chin in on his condition. Then as Danny and Ian jumped into the back of the ambulance, the two Navy Corpsmen rode with Chin to the hospital.
They all waited together as Steve was examined in the emergency room of King's Hospital.
Ian had gone into the ER to advise and consult with the tending physicians and that gave Danny comfort.
As they sipped on coffee and eventually Danny said, "This is my fault Chin. I never should have agreed to bring him back so soon"
"Hey this isn't your fault and you know that. The Doc didn't detect the bleeding either so how could you know?"
"He wasn't strong enough, how could I be so stupid?"
"Danny you can't do this to yourself. He's a stubborn ass and we both know that once he decided he needed to leave Phuket there wasn't any way you could have stopped him, short of putting him into a coma. Doctor Gerhart stopped the bleeding and he's getting the treatment he needs now. We have to stay upbeat for him, we can't let him give up"
Blinking away tears that had welled in his eyes Danny said softly, "Thanks brother…..it is good to be home"
Chin looked over Danny's shoulder, "The Doctors are here"
As they stood, Ian and Doctor Marissa Gonzalez motioned for them to sit and they joined them.
Doctor Gonzalez spoke first, "Steve's condition is critical but Doctor Gerhart's emergency treatment in the air saved him. X-rays are showing no additional bleeding which is very good news. He lost a lot of blood though and we're continuing with transfusions. Our biggest concern at this time is the infection. His fever is high and it's rising. We're packing his body in cooling blankets in an effort to bring his temperature down but it's dangerously high"
Danny inquired, "How high is it?"
"It's up to 104.6 and unfortunately he's suffered a seizure"
Chin chimed in, "A seizure…is he okay?"
"His brain activity is good but his body is very weak and if we can't get the infection under control it could be fatal. I'm not being pessimistic, I'm sorry but this is the reality"
Danny's voice shook as he replied, "We understand Doc and thank you for being honest with us. When can we see him?"
"He's going to remain in ICU for at least the next forty eight hours but you can both stay with him. Once he's settled in, I'll send a Nurse for you. Do you have any questions for us?"
The men shook their heads and Danny stated, "No, not right now. Thank You both for all you've done for him"
After Doctor Gonzalez left the room, Ian, Schwartz and Wells said their goodbyes as they needed to fly back to Phuket immediately.
Danny embraced the men, "Thank you all. Ian you're an amazing Doctor and I can't thank you enough for all you've done"
"Please keep me posted on his condition and Danny remember what we talked about, give him a reason to continue fighting"
"I will Doc, I will"
About half an hour later, the two men were being led to the ICU.
****** More to follow - Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! Next up, Steve's physical and emotional recovery continues…. *******