Note: Thanks again for all the reviews. They have boosted my confidence so much I've started a second story. A massive thanks to wenwalke again for letting me bounce off ideas for this story and correcting all my mistakes.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned H50.
Chapter Five.
As the team returned to the waiting room they noticed the icy atmosphere. Stan and Rachel obviously had had more words and Amber was sat looking uncomfortable in their presence.
Grace was asleep on one of the couches with red puffy eyes giving away that she had once again been crying, while Charlie sat playing with his toy car.
"Did you catch him?" Rachel asked hopefully as soon as they entered.
"He had already taken off by the time we got there." Steve replied. "All the authorities have been notified. There is no way he can leave the island. We will find him."
Steve looked at his watch. Danny had been in surgery for six hours now. He was just trying to decide if he should go ask for an update when in walked a doctor.
"Family of Detective Williams I presume," said the man wearing green surgical scrubs.
"Yes. That's us, we're Danny's Ohana." Steve replied.
"I'm Dr. Hale. I did Danny's surgery." He said glancing down and noting Grace was asleep and Charlie too young to understand, he continued. "I was able to find the tear to Danny's liver and stop the bleeding. And then move the liver back down and repair the tear to the diaphragm. There was no other damage to any other organs so I see no reason why the Detective shouldn't be able to make a full recovery."
Everyone let out a sigh of relief only to suck it back in again as the doctor continued.
"However, I'm afraid that he lost a lot of blood before and during surgery and at one point Danny went into full cardiac arrest. We were able to get him back quickly but it has taken its toll on his body. At the moment Danny is being settled into the ICU and he remains on the ventilator as he is too weak to breathe for himself, due to the blood loss and damage to the diaphragm.
Amber put her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob.
"Detective Williams is extremely ill at the moment. But with support and time, and baring any complications I do expect him to come through this and make a full recovery." He reassured. "The nurses will come and get you when they have finished getting him settled. We have arranged for Danny to have a large room at the end of the ICU so that you can all come and go as you wish."
They all looked at the doctor surprised. They had expected access to Danny to be limited.
"Don't thank me." Dr. Hale stated. "Thank your boss. The governor has already been in contact to arrange this. He said it would be easier for the hospital staff than policing your backsides. I'm ok with this, BUT, if you get in the way of the staff and compromise Danny's care. I will kick you all out. Understood."
"Yes!" They all replied in unison.
"Good." Dr. Hale replied. He looked down at Grace. "His daughter I presume?"
"Yes." Rachel replied.
"How old is she?" He asked.
"Eleven." Rachel answered.
"Our normal ICU rules usually only let over twelve year olds in. However given that she was involved in the incident too and saw her father collapse, I am happy to allow her in, if you feel it is appropriate. I'll be around if needed, but the nurses are very good at answering any questions you might have."
With that he shook each of their hands and left.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Thirty minutes later a nurse came and introduced herself as Jane, and led them to Danny's room. Stan had remained behind with Charlie but Grace had been woken and her father's condition explained to her. She had been very adamant that she wanted to see her father even if he was so sick. So Rachel had decided to allow it as long as she was present.
Now they all stood outside Danny's room while Jane softly spoke to them. "Just to warn you, Danny has lots of tubes and wires connected to monitors so we can keep an eye on him. I know they look scary, but they are all there to help him, and if you want to know what anything is, just ask."
She moved over and slid the door open and they all stepped inside.
Steve thought his own heart had stopped for a few seconds on seeing his best friend looking so ill, lying in the bed. Jane hadn't been exaggerating when she said lots of tubes and wires. Danny's mouth was slightly open to allow the ET tube that was connected to the ventilator. A rhythmic sound filled the room in time with his partner's chest rising and falling.
The heart monitor beeped away at a staccato rhythm as a green line danced across the monitor above his bed. Steve grimaced as he saw the nasogastric tube taped to Danny's nose and attached to a bag with green bile in it.
A central line peeked out of the top of Danny's gown attached to several IVs and a bag of blood. Below the bed hung a catheter bag that Steve knew Danny would be complaining about as soon as he was well enough to.
He watched as Amber slowly walked over to the bed and took hold of Danny's hand, an arterial line sneaking out at the wrist to monitor his blood pressure and oxygen levels.
"Hey Jersey." She said softly. "Always have to be the hero eh? Although I'm glad you were. Grace is just perfect. She is safe and fine Danny because of you."
Grace stepped over to the bed, seeing Amber talk to her dad gave her the courage to touch him too, she lent over the rails and gently kissed Danny on the cheek.
"Thanks for saving me Danno. I love you. Wake up soon ok." She whispered.
Jane entered the room bringing several more chairs. "I have a fold out cot I can bring in later. While we have agreed to let you all stay, we really would prefer it if only one or two at the most stayed the night. You all need some rest too." She informed them.
"Thank you," Steve replied, "I'll do the night shift with him."
"I'm not going anywhere." Amber stated her eyes focused on Danny's face.
Chin and Kono gave each other a knowing look. As much as they wanted to be by Danny's side they understood Steve's need to be there for his brother. It was nice to see Danny have a woman in his life that obviously felt strongly about him despite the newness of their relationship.
"Stan and I will go home soon. The children need to go to bed soon anyway." Rachel explained.
"No mommy, I want to stay with Danno." Grace begged.
"Grace, you can come back tomorrow, but you need to get some sleep, and I think it's best if Steve and Amber stay with your father." Rachel cajoled.
"Ok." Grace conceded.
"Don't worry Grace, we will make sure Danno is well looked after, and the nurses here are really great." Steve reassured her then looked up at Rachel.
"Rachel, I don't want you going home. This guy probably knows where you live and could be waiting for you." Steve explained. "It's too late to arrange a safe house now so I think it's best if you all go to my house. Grace knows where everything is and even has some of her stuff there. HPD can bring you some stuff from yours for you, Stan and Charlie."
"Oh," Rachel replied flummoxed. "We wouldn't want to impose, we can go to a hotel."
"It's fine, I'd prefer you there, where there is better security." He said turning to Grace. "You know where the clean sheets are right?"
She nodded.
"Ok. Help yourself to anything you need." He said with a smile.
Rachel and Grace stayed for another hour. Grace holding on to her dads hand like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to this world. Grace reluctantly left after her mother informed her it was time to go.
"How about Kono and I go get us all some food," Chin suggested realising that nobody had eaten since breakfast, "and we'll check in with Duke and Fong. See if they have anything."
"Good idea, buddy." Steve replied moving round to the seat at the side of Danny's bed that Grace had just vacated and taking up Danny's hand, as if to continue the tether.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Chin and Kono returned to the room thirty minutes later with a variety of sandwiches and chips, as well as hot and cold drinks. As they ate they updated Steve on the calls they had made.
"Duke said they found the car dumped down by the beach. CSU are processing it now, but there was no sign of Clayton." Kono sadly informed.
"CSU didn't get much from the motel room. Looks like he came back grabbed his cloths and left. Nothing to suggest where he might head next. If he uses his credit card again though we will be notified." Chin continued.
"So we are pretty much at a dead end 'til this guy surfaces again." Steve replied. "Why don't you two head home and get some rest. I'm sure we wouldn't say no to some breakfast in the morning."
"You got it brah." Chin replied standing and placing his hand on Danny's leg. "Behave yourself Danny, and stay strong. See you in the morning."
Kono leaned past Steve and placed a gentle kiss on Danny's forehead careful of the ET and NG tubes. "Don't worry brah. We will catch this guy and keep Grace safe, you just rest up."
As they left Steve turned to Amber. "Why don't you take the cot, I can sleep in the chair."
"Are you sure?" Amber sweetly replied.
"Yeah I can sleep anywhere."
"I'm sure you can, that's why Danny calls you Super SEAL right?" She joked then lent forward and kissed Danny's forehead just as Kono had done. "Sleep well Jersey."
They settled down and were both asleep a little while later. They slept for several hours until they were awoken by the shrill sound of an alarm and the ventilators flashing lights.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
The Edwards arrived at the McGarrett residence under HPD escort. Grace showed her mother where the clean sheets were and helped her change the beds while Stan made some supper for them. Rachel was grateful for Steve's hospitality but a little concerned to find a knife tucked down the side of the bed. She opened the bedside draw to place it safely away only to find a gun, tucked away. "Guess Danny wasn't exaggerating about the grenades in the glove box." She thought to herself.
After eating, the kids went to bed. Charlie and Grace were out like a light tucked up together in Steve's guest room. It wasn't long until Stan and Rachel said good night to the HPD protective detail stood outside the door and headed to bed themselves.
While there was still some tension between the two, Rachel had realised there was no way Stan could have predicted this happening. However, she couldn't settle. Worried about the danger still facing them, and that Danny was so seriously hurt; she finally slipped into a light doze until she sensed a change in the room. Opening her eyes and expecting to see one of the children she was horrified to realise that there was a man standing at the end of the bed.
Runs and hides 'cos I know I'm gonna get told off for the double cliff hanger.