Over the next three days Steve's temperature normalized and they removed him from all IV's and monitoring equipment. He was due to be released the next morning and spirits in the room were high. Kamekona had brought shrimp dinners in for them all and they visited until Danny needed to take Gracie home for the night. Chin stayed and as he sat with Steve at the table in the room, they skyped Kono and Adam.

Kono smiled broadly, "Hey boss, you're looking good! How do you feel?"
"I'm fine Kono, it's so nice to see you. Is everything going well?"
"Yes...no problems at all"
They visited for a few minutes and then Steve asked, "Kono...have you heard from Doris recently?"
"No. I haven't heard from her in over two months, why is everything okay?"
"No, it's not" He then filled Kono and Adam in on everything that had happened, first in Montana with Doris and Joe and then he told them what Wo Fat had said to him.

When he was done, Kono said softly "I'm so sorry Steve and I'm sorry I'm not there for you"
"Kono, you're where you need to be right now. We need to keep you safe, that's all that matters. But things have escalated and Wo-Fat is going to do everything he can do to find Doris. I don't expect her to contact you because I know she wouldn't want to endanger you, but if you hear from her..."

"If I do, I'll let you know right away"
"And if she calls...please try to find out where she is"
Kono replied softly "I will...I hope I can see you both soon. I love you, and I miss you terribly"
Steve spoke for the men, "We love you too. Take care of each other and be careful"

After they disconnected Chin asked, "You don't think Wo-Fat can get to them do you?"
"No. I think if he knew where they were he would have tried to get to Doris when she was with them and they were traveling and vulnerable. I just want them to be on the alert"

A couple of hours later Chin had left and as Steve slept quietly Danny watched him, deep in his thoughts. Although he'd had moments of joy over the last couple of days, Danny had definitely noticed a sadness in Steve that worried him greatly, 'I'm bringing him home tomorrow. God, please give me the strength to help him through this ordeal. He's recovering physically and now the emotional turmoil could really start to take it's toil. Doris...damn you Doris...why did you come back into his life? Hadn't you damaged him enough? And Joe...you say you love him...you call him your son and yet you betray him in this way. To top it off with everything he's gone through now he has to deal with the loss of Catherine and with her and Billy's betrayal. It's going to be tough on him, but I'll be there'

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The next day the three men arrived at Steve's place a little after noon.
Chin ran ahead and opened the door as Danny helped Steve towards the house.
"How ya' doing?"
"My stomach's turning a bit..."
They stopped moving as Danny asked, "Do you have to puke?"
"No...just give me a minute"
"We've got all the time in the world partner"
As Danny kept a hand on his back, Steve bent over placing his hands onto his knees. Chin looked concerned as he approached them and Danny said, "He's okay, he just needs a minute"

A short time later they were in the house and the two men eased him down onto the couch.
Chin asked, "Do you want to lay down?"
"No, I'm good. Thanks guys"
Danny went into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of water handing it to Steve.
As Steve took the water Danny held out his hand, "Here take this"
"I don't want any pills Danny. I haven't taken any in two days"
"I know that Steven but you've also been lying in a bed too. You need the meds, so please take them and don't argue with me. Rest for a while, your body needs it"

"Danny, I appreciate your concern I really do but I don't want to sleep and I sure in the hell don't want any more percocet"
The two men looked at each other without speaking for several moments before Danny shrugged his shoulders and said softly, "Okay...okay I hear you"
They spent the early afternoon visiting quietly and then Danny left for a couple of hours, going home to shower and grab some clothes as he was going to stay at Steve's place for a while.

When he returned, Chin was in the kitchen fixing them dinner and Steve was upstairs showering.
Danny asked, "How's he doing?"
"He's not talking much Danny"
"I don't know what I can do for him"
"All you can do is be here Danny. He's got to work through this and it's going to take time"
"When he's hurting physically we can help him...but how can we help him deal with all this emotional shit Chin?"

"Like I said brother, we can just be here. He'll confide in you, he always does... but not until he's ready"
"Yeah...I just hate seeing him like this"
"I know, me too"

Steve then entered the kitchen and Danny asked, "Do you feel better?"
"Yeah I do. It's good to be home. It smells great in here Chin, what are we having?"
"Chicken Fajitas, rice and beans"
Steve smiled, "Sounds great"

The meal was wonderful and Steve stretched out on the couch afterward while Danny and Chin cleaned up the kitchen.

Steve woke a few hours later to find the lights off and Danny sitting in the chair next to him watching a basketball game on TV.
Danny said, "Hey sleepyhead"
Steve rubbed his eyes, What time is it?"
"About midnight"
"Really? I slept good. Danny, you don't have to stay"

Danny hit the mute button on the television and then sitting forward in the chair he said, "Look Steve, I'm not even going to say that I know how you feel because I can't know...nobody can know. All I can say is that what's happened to you is horrible and I'm so so sorry. You're not alone though buddy, and you never will be. I told you when Rachel and I separated how Matt came over every night after work and night after night he sat with me and we talked, but more importantly he just listened. We drank and we talked and we cried...and I healed. I love my brother and I always knew that he loved me too but his actions showed me that I truly mattered, that even though Rachel no longer wanted me in her life, I still mattered to him and to Gracie and to my family. Steve, you're my brother too and I love you just as I love Matty and I don't ever want you to forget that you matter. I'm here for you and I'll be here for you every night for as long as you need me. You don't have to talk if you don't feel like it, sometimes it just helps to have someone here. I'm here for you and I promise you that I ALWAYS will be"

Steve's voice was choked with emotion as he said softly, "I don't know what to say Danno..."
"Like I said partner, you don't have to say anything just enjoy my company"
Steve chuckled, "I love you too Danny...thank you"

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Over the next four days Steve's physical strength improved but with every passing hour he seemed to be withdrawing more and more emotionally. Governor Denning was not assigning any new cases to 5-0 for the time being and the men were looking into cold case files and working out of the McGarrett home. The first day Steve sat with them as they began to look into the murder case of a cab driver killed seven years ago. The man had been killed in his cab, his throat cut from ear to ear. A few hours into their investigation Steve excused himself and grabbing a water from the fridge, he left the house and walked slowly down to the water's edge.

The scene continually repeated itself over the next three days with Steve spending more and more time alone.
On the fourth day, Danny and Chin had taken a break and as they stood on the deck sipping coffee they looked out at Steve. He sat staring out at the Ocean, deep in his thoughts.

Chin asked, "Has he said much?"
"No...I'm giving him his space brother but it's hard. He's hurting bad Chin"
"I know"

Later that day Steve re-entered the house to find his two men discussing the case.
Listening to their banter for a few moments he then asked, "You guys got something?"
Danny replied, "We might. Our victim was Louis Romono. All the evidence points to a simple robbery. He appeared to have been attacked from behind, but Steve, there were two strands of hair found on Romono's collar that belonged to Ricky Norman"

"Ricky Norman"
Danny nodded, "Yeah"
Ricky Norman was a low level thug that the team had arrested fourteen months ago. He was convicted of armed robbery and attempted murder and was serving a forty years term in Halawa Prison.

Chin then said, "I've made an appointment for tomorrow morning to interrogate him"
Steve nodded, "Good, Danny I want you to go with him as well"
Danny shook his head, "No, Chin can handle this alone"
Steve glanced from one man to the other, "I want you to go with Chin tomorrow Danny"
Danny sighed and then said, "Okay...fine. WE will interrogate Norman tomorrow"
Steve smiled softly, "Thank you...great work guys"

A short time later Danny's phone rang, "Hi Rachel, what's up?"
"Ummm I can't do that. I've got to interrogate a prisoner at Halawa in the morning"
Steve lifted his hands inquisitively, "What is it Danno?"
"Rachel hang on a minute" Taking the phone from his ear he said, "Stan's business trip got pushed up a day, and they need to leave tonight"

"So what's the problem, have her drop Gracie off tonight"
"You want me to go to Halawa"
"Yes...what? Don't you trust your daughter with me? I can watch Gracie"
Danny put the phone back to his ear, "Rachel, everything's good. She can babysit Superman here while I'm gone...Yes, I'll tell him...Okay, I'll be there in an hour, bye"

He looked at Steve, "Rachel sends her love. Are you sure you're up to this?"
"We're talking about Gracie here Danny. How hard is it to watch her...and anyway...I need another language lesson"

Chin laughed as Danny mumbled, "Oh that's just great..."

****** MORE TO FOLLOW - Are you still enjoying? I hope so... and as always, I'd love to hear from you! ******