I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Notes: my continued thanks to everyone's patience with another derailed story (it only means readers get more chapters which I hope continue to deliver some interest).

This chapter was difficult to get 'right' and it took time/rehashing/ more rehashing (KQ's well-placed "what the hell is this drivel?" - well, not in so many words, but close) ... As always, my beta's are awesome! KQ, CinderH ... pinch-hitting honors to Jazzie and Fifilla, too, when doubt sets in and the bunny requires a solid thrashing (and re-thrashing)!

H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*

Silence make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying, but the never needing to say that counts."

― Margaret Lee Runbeck

Chapter Fifteen: No Kau a Kau ~ For Eternity

When Kono next woke, night had fallen and she was incredibly confused - and hungry. There was a split second of time when a sharp feeling of anxiety fluttered through her chest and she was afraid to open her eyes. A frantic moment when she doubted everything she might see until her eyes flew open anyway and she confirmed the existence of a darkened window. Nonetheless, her breathing only began to calm when she picked up on the soft sounds of voices from the hospital corridor. Only then did her fists unclench and she gave a hesitant stretch to test her general well-being.

"I'm glad you decided not to hit the closest thing because you'd probably of killed me," a male voice chuckled off to her left and she stopped moving. The tone was happy, pleased and definitely playful with a small hint of a weary ache. Everything which she wasn't quite sure she could dare yet copy in herself as her emotions fluctuated wildly.

"Even on a good day, Steve's head is decidedly harder than mine, too," the voice intoned with a decided gleeful smirk. "Though ... you probably found that out first-hand."

"Danny," Kono's throat was dry and she no more than croaked his name out.

"Are you really awake, now?" Danny teased. "I can't stay long, and you've already given new meaning to Sleeping Beauty. But then again, you were always a classic."

She had a lot to say about that final comment if she could just get her mouth to unhinge itself from her brain. An automatic reply was there - just within reach - yet, she couldn't gather enough moisture to actually verbalize what she was thinking. Which was probably a very good thing. If any of those select thoughts made it out, they would be acid-tongued and most definitely laced with resentment from a short-term, but already learned, defensive response mechanism.

With her eyes not quite focused and her mouth refusing to cooperate, Kono turned on her side to face her visitor. Her heart had leaped upwards too at the sound of his voice and she needed the few seconds to better center herself.

Hospital. Danny. He hadn't been killed like Topher had vowed.

As she focused on him at that very moment, all of the caustic comments fled her as quickly as they'd come to mind. She smiled at the tousled blonde head backlit by dim evening light and managed to snort in mock derision at his humorous compliment instead, because - this was Danny. He was sitting in a wheelchair next to the side of her bed and at a height which left them nearly face to face with each other. She, of course, had no clue as to how long he might have been sitting there, though he looked tired and so obviously remained a patient in the hospital. Regardless, she was incredibly happy to see him.

"That was so bad, brah," Kono grinned, a dry cough on the heels of her short sentence. "Really, really ... so bad. Should you even be here?"

"What can I say? It's not totally my fault that I'm a little off my game," Danny pouted dramatically, grinning as Kono squirmed to a better position where she could reach the water left for her more easily. He avoided her last question because he'd been AWOL a bit longer than he'd intended himself. His late evening sojourn away from his new room hadn't precisely been illicit until it had taken him to Kono's floor.

At that point, he'd gone off the radar of his diligent nurses and doctor in the step-down ward where he'd gained a bit more freedom. However, he'd been missed almost instantly and tracked down with a fair amount of ease as staff threaded together the very few possibilities of his likely travels. This time, it had been Doctor Fratelli who had gone toe-to-toe with his wayward patient. A final compromise had been the wheelchair and ten minutes of visiting time to satisfy Danny's vivid imagination. He'd certainly used up his favors, a benevolent time allowance was virtually gone, and Danny could literally feel the activity increasing in the hallway as an orderly was beckoned towards the room. He almost grinned to himself about what Doctor Ramirez might have to say about his opportunistic ways.

"So, I only have a few minutes," he repeated, glancing towards the doorway when a shape blocked the light from hallway. Fratelli had been adamant and there were no other negotiations available. His patient was doing remarkably well, but would be allowed zero risks. The move from intensive care unit to a more regular ward just after dinner was a distinct relief to everyone. It had even permitted Steve the luxury of relaxing his severity and he'd left the hospital to join Chin at Five-0 Headquarters in order to cater to mandatory reports and the crime scene unit's initial findings at Reid's large house.

He sighed loudly against what felt like a budding house-arrest amongst his physicians. Nonetheless, a genuine smile beamed quickly back in Kono's direction. "Just give me a day or two because I'm just warming up. Brain surgery and all ... tends to affect my witty one-liners."

"What!" Her eyes had followed his to identify the orderly who hovered now just inside her room. However, her first sip from the small cup corresponded to his blasé reply and she coughed again, this time for a new reason when she inhaled water on a laugh. The cup shook in her hand, spilling drops of water down her chin as her second hand covered her mouth. "Danny! I can't believe you just said that!" she gasped, eyes wide in surprise but clearing quickly to sober as she truly got a better look at him. Even in the poor light, she could easily see the bandage on his temple and the fact that his arm was strapped to his side. Yet, he was grinning foolishly and entirely pleased with himself for watching her wake - and then, daring to actually make her laugh.

"Stop. That's not funny, brah," Kono reprimanded him softly. The bandages were a painful reminder of Topher and she caught her lip between her teeth pensively. "Hey, Danny?" Her hand sought his as the orderly advanced almost apologetically. She of course wanted to say so much more, but Danny unexpectedly used her hand to pull himself to carefully stand.

"Danny, ...," she complained about his decision to vacate the wheelchair. Her hand holding his fingers more strongly as she too, sat up in bed to meet him half way. But any more words about how he felt or even what she dared to ask about Topher Reid failed when Danny tried to give her an awkward hug. She laughed softly into his good shoulder and managed to more hold him up than hug him in return.

"You're going to fall," Kono chastised while setting him back on his feet where he leaned wearily against the bed. He didn't say anything else though and that silence which lingered communicated something important and Kono frowned. Danny's smile was there, however it had evaporated from his eyes. He also remained stubbornly quiet even after she tried to prompt him to speak when a dire realization crept into her mind about Topher Reid.

"Danny?" She asked hesitantly. Wanting to know for sure but not trusting her voice, she shook her head. His fingers tightened warningly on her hand when Kono's face changed again.

Topher was indeed dead and nothing really needed to be said out loud. Though it was shared silently, Kono didn't know what to think about that information. Her frown deepened as she struggled to frame the knowledge in her brain.

Topher had been killed during her rescue ... and if Steve had been with her on the beach, that only left her cousin as the one responsible.

"Danny,...," Kono shook her head in bewilderment. There was a pained tone to her voice, her eyes dropping to their joined hands where he was now rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. His gesture was more of a warning than a gentle touch; he meant to communicate his disapproval of discussing anything - or anyone - else. Still, she didn't know what to think and wasn't sure she cared about Topher's death. Yet, for some reason, she did care and that bothered her too. But she was forgetting a very important thing about herself and so, Danny's not so subtle request tracing her knuckles reminded her.

"I need," she began to try to phrase her apology the right way. "No, I should ... tell you ..." Her eyes dropped sadly to the bed as she inhaled deeply, but she never had the chance to continue.

"Chin's on his way back here from the office," Danny interrupted, shrugging helplessly about his reluctance to verbalize more than the very basics. Using the distraction which the orderly provided when the man murmured his request to leave the room, Danny only allowed himself to be helped back into the wheelchair. Concerned but now also quiet, Kono caught his spark of annoyance about leaving communicated by his refusal to lessen the hold on her hand. By not letting go, the orderly was forced to wait a bit longer which gave Danny some time to expound on what he knew about Chin.

"He had a few things to do with Steve and HPD. But I think you can actually go home tonight," Danny shared. "Once the doctors are satisfied, Chin can take you home." He smiled when her mouth dropped open in surprise, pleased to provide her with better news. His thumb quickened its pace a bit more soothingly when she managed a happier grin. She chuffed a somewhat astonished noise under her breath though for inadvertently having earned his approval by accepting the brevity of conversation.

"It's okay," he promised softly. "You're doing great and can go home tonight. Have something decent to eat ... get some more rest."

"Really?" Kono asked as she permitted the diversion and his stubborn ability to stay on a certain subject of conversation. He'd inquired about her status though during his heart-to-heart with Fratelli over his own care. Based upon Kono's much-improved condition and levels of rehydration, she was essentially going to be fine; therefore, free to go home post any last medical clearances and assurances that any drugs were indeed out of her bloodstream. Anything else and other portions of their conversation could - and would - wait for a better time. A more private place.

"Yup," Danny repeated calmly. "You're doing great."

"And you?" Kono prompted, the worry about his injuries so obvious in the tone of her question. She had so much more to ask, too. Questions about Topher and what precisely Chin and Steve might be caring for with HPD despite Danny's ability to deflect. Her mind switched into high gear and she barely kept her mouth closed. In all reality, she actually didn't want to ask or know more about her abductor.

"Danny," she breathed out suddenly. Her face fell and her fingers wrapped more tightly around his hand. She persisted in her need to apologize despite his silent demands. Her resolve waffled and she shook her head to argue his advice. She'd been so wrong about ignoring his experience and natural shrewdness - his warnings.

"Another day or so," Danny interrupted her mental ramblings to answer her first question. "Maybe three."

"That's good," Kono said after a moment, finally abandoning some of her guilt. They would certainly talk later though and on her terms. She could accept that compromise and so, she smiled as her eyes met those of the even-tempered orderly.

"I guess I have to go," Danny growled under his breath when she winced comically at what must have been a plea from the man standing behind him. Still, he examined her expression with an astute appraisal, smirking when Kono had the gall to do the same to him.

"I'm fine," Kono blurted out suddenly. She blinked at her own statement and even visibly nodded as the truth bravely peeked out to float between them. While she had been stunned about the news of Topher's death, she really was okay. It was easy to rediscover her hatred for him; not only for herself, but for what he'd done to Danny. With that firm finality decided, Kono's head cocked to the left as she gave permission for the orderly to take her friend back to his own room.

"You should get some rest though," she stated in all sincerity. "But I really am, Danny. I'm fine,"

"Yes, you are," Danny noted appreciatively. His confidence in her made her smile again as the orderly backed the wheelchair away from the bed. But then Danny was forcibly stopping the man and making him turn back for one more thing. She stared at him in confusion, her smile growing when one finger on his left hand came up almost plaintively.

"What?" She asked, in amusement. "What's wrong?" His eyes were sparkling deviously, but what he said next had her mind scrambling for purchase.

"My surfboard's broken," Danny stated in disgust. "Busted. Right in half. So, what exactly am I supposed to do about that?" He pursed his lips in mock distress while waiting out the stunned look she gave him. He knew that his comment would completely take her down yet another path, proven by her inability to immediately reply. He watched her string something together and wasn't disappointed by her very basic response.

"Okay, Danny," Kono chuckled softly, unsure of what else to say at that revelation. "I'll look into it ... I'll think of ... something."

Their eyes met one final time and then he was gone, leaving her to mull over how she really was coping over so many things. But most importantly, the fact that Danny's 'surfboard was broken' and Kono laughed out loud.

~ to be continued ~