A/N - I appreciate everyone's time in reading this story. I would like to thank the guests who left me reviews that I am unable to reply to - Thanks!.
Chapter 12
With Wayne Roesler contained, Chin rushed to Steve's side at the edge of the dock. He managed to grab hold of Steve's good arm before the Navy man toppled over and into the water.
"They'll need help, Steve, and you're not in any condition to offer it." Chin pulled Steve several steps away from the edge. He didn't mean to sound cruel, but he really didn't need a third person to rescue out of the drink.
Steve looked down at the sling on his arm and knew Chin was right. "Go," was all the encouragement Chin needed. Chin quickly shed himself of his weapon and shoes, making a quick scan he judged Danny and Mrs. Salvator to be floating ten meters away. Chin made a smooth dive into the water, coming up near Mrs. Salvator's elbow.
Mrs. Salvator was doing her best to keep them both afloat, but Danny was practically a dead weight around her shoulders, his cuffed wrists the only thing preventing the loss of his hold around the older lady.
"Help me," Mrs. Salvator begged as soon as she saw Chin's head bob up from the water.
Chin grabbed hold of Danny's shirt collar and did his best to pull the senseless man up until he could swim behind and get a better hold. Once he had an arm around Danny's chest, he lifted the weight of his arms off of the struggling Mrs. Salvator. It took a moment for both he and Mrs. Salvator to find a rhythm with legs and available arms to tread water and keep afloat.
"Can you swim? Can you make it to the dock?" Chin hoped the older woman could manage, he really didn't have any more hands to offer in help.
Mrs. Salvator gave a brief nod, "I can manage."
She didn't have a strong stroke, but was able to pull herself towards the dock. Steve was at the edge, waiting with his hand out. Mrs. Salvator grabbed on and was almost yanked out of the water. With her legs still dangling over the side, she lay back on the wooden planks, taking deep breaths and struggling to regain some sort of control for herself. "I'll be alright," she whispered between gasps. "Go help your friends."
Steve needed no second urging and was back at the edge of the dock, hand out for Chin and his load.
"Is he breathing?" Steve asked. Chin could see the Navy man mentally preparing for any necessary triage.
Danny's head was on his shoulder with his face turned into Chin's cheek. Chin could feel the soft puff of air every now and again. "Yeah, but it's not regular."
The frown on Steve's face grew, but he only stretched further, almost desperate to grab onto the unconscious man as Chin swam closer to the dock. Chin fumbled with the man in his arms, twisting so Steve could latch onto the back of Danny's shirt. Steve's fingers skirting along the broad shoulders until they attached to the soggy collar.
"Got 'im!"
"I'll push, you pull." Chin huffed, knowing it wouldn't be easy to get Danny out of the water. The blond man wasn't exactly a lightweight. He might look small, but he was very compact with muscle and what Chin thought of as Jersey attitude.
"Just hold on a sec'." Chin needed a better position to help lift his friend out of the water. As soon as he said "Ready," Steve was hoisting up and Chin was pushing from below. It was by no means graceful, but Danny landed with a squish and a loud "Oomph!"
Steve was at his side, free hand cupping the lolling head, "Danny? You there?"
Chin pulled himself free from the water and after a quick check of Mrs. Salvator, who gave a small wave that she was okay, Chin quickly crawled to Danny's other side to help Steve. Steve's good hand was busy lifting Danny's eyelids in turn so Chin starting running his hands along Danny's body looking for injuries. Finding the hole in Danny's pants, Chin could now see the raw and bleeding skin beneath. Mrs. Salvator's towel had washed away.
'He's been shot. I don't think it hit bone. Possible exit wound." Chin's fingers ran along the underside of Danny's thigh and found more ripped clothing and damaged skin. He wasn't prepared to turn Danny for confirmation while Steve was still checking for head trauma. He brought out his handcuff key to free Danny's hands and check his wrists.
"Possible concussion," Steve acknowledged. "There are a few bumps on the back of his head and his eyes aren't quite right."
Mrs. Salvator spoke softly from over Chin's shoulder, "Wayne hit him a few times; kicked him in the chest, too."
Steve growled, but let Chin open the shirt buttons to check the blond man's chest. Steve was still rubbing at Danny's cheek, trying to get him to wake up.
"Bruised, but nothing feels broken," Chin sighed. "I'm going to get the first aid bag from the car. I'll call for an ambulance and for H.P.D. to come pick up our guy over there." Chin tilted his head, indicating Wayne Roesler who was cuffed and crying that 'It wasn't supposed to happen this way.'
Mrs. Salvator shuffled closer to Danny as Chin was off, running towards their vehicle. She was just as happy as Steve to ignore the whimpering young man and focus attention on the detective. She rubbed gentle circles on Danny's shoulder and watched his face for any signs of waking.
"Come on, Danno. Enough sleeping already." Steve's hand wandered down Danny's arm to find his wrist and check the pulse. The raw skin around the pulse point made Steve glare threateningly at Wayne Roesler.
"He's a very brave young man," Mrs Salvator spoke softly, distracting Steve from his vengeful thoughts. Her fond expression as she rubbed Danny's shoulder let Steve know that his partner had charmed another Islander.
"They raise them tough in Jersey," Steve smiled, his hand brushing back up the slack arm after gently resting Danny's hand on the dock. A low moan had Danny rocking his head from side to side, Steve moved his hand to Danny's chin, holding the blond head still.
"Come on, Danny. Time to wake up." Steve's fingers gently rubbed along Danny's jaw. He felt the dock bounce and knew that Chin was almost back with the first aid kit.
"'Nuff with the head smackin' already," Danny mumbled and tried to pull his face from the pressure of Steve's grasp.
"Hey," Steve had to use a firm grip with his one hand to keep Danny's head from moving. "You gotta keep still. Your whole head is one big, bruised bump."
"Your fault," Danny's eyes slit open, just enough that Steve could see a sliver of blue.
"Hey Danny," Chin's voice was quiet as he settled at Danny's left side. "It's nice to see you awake. I'm just going to take care of your leg, okay?" Chin had the first aid kit open and the necessary supplies in reach. He began cutting Danny's pant leg just above the bullet hole.
"Aw, Chin. Man, these were my favorite work pants."
"Don't worry, Brah. You can buy more." Chin gently moved the cloth from the weeping hole in Danny's thigh and began to clean the wound.
Danny grimaced but didn't complain about the ministrations. He chose to focus on something else. He rasped, "You mean Steve is gonna buy me a new pair. It's his fault."
"Of course it is." Chin agreed, not able to hide his smile.
Steve looked between his teammates and settled on the confused face of Mrs. Salvator. "How is this my fault?"
Mrs. Salvator shrugged, but she too smiled at the play between the men. She didn't get the joke, but she could see it working as a coping mechanism for the hurt man.
"Your fault," Danny tried to nod but his face was still firmly planted in Steve's palm.
"Hey," Steve was about to remind Danny to stay still, but the downed man just rattled on.
"Your fault, Steven. You should have seen the amount of computer work all because you shot up a tour boat office."
"Hey!" Steve was about to defend himself but instead found he needed to concentrate on keeping his partner's head still. It took a lot of effort with only the use of one hand against a man who used his whole body to get his point across. When Danny started coughing and with bruised ribs and sore…well everything, he had a hard time regaining a steady breath. Steve found it easier to just sit down on the wooden dock and lift Danny's head to rest in his lap. The slight elevation helped to finally ease the coughing jag.
"Your fault, Steven."
Rather than chance another cough Steve agreed with is partner. "Okay, it's my fault. I'll buy you another pair of pants."
Danny looked to Mrs. Salvator who was now holding his hand in concern. He offered a smug smile, "You heard that? It's his fault."
Mrs. Salvator patted the hand in her grasp. "I'm sure it'll be a great new pair of pants."
Everyone looked up as they heard the rattling of Emergency Services pushing a gurney down the wooden planks. They were closely followed by several police officers. It didn't take long for the paramedics to evaluate their patient and load him onto their stretcher. It was decided that Mrs. Salvator would ride with him as she needed to be checked out by a doctor after her ordeal. Steve and Chin handed off the whimpering Wayne Roesler with the promise they'd be down to H.Q. and file a report after they checked on their friend at the hospital.
Steve walked beside Danny as he was wheeled to the waiting ambulance. Once the bed was locked into place, Steve and the paramedic helped Mrs. Salvator step into the high vehicle and get settled in the jump seat up near the head of Danny's bed.
Danny had some pain medication flowing through an I.V. and he continued to mumble happily about everything being okay now that Steve knew it was his fault.
The paramedic told Steve that the medication wasn't too strong as they had to watch for signs of concussion so Steve knew his partner was still lucid enough to hear and understand him. "That's right, Danny. I owe you some new pants. I'm thinking we should get something to match those nice trunks Kono is getting for you. Great idea, don't 'cha think?"
"What? No!" Danny looked ready to sit up on the stretcher but the paramedic was at his side pushing him down. Both he and Danny glared at Steve as he closed the rear doors to the ambulance and pounded on them once to let the driver know he was good to go.
"I don't know what that's about, but it's seemed cruel, brah." Chin laughed as he patted Steve's shoulder on his way by, heading back to their parked car.
"I'm cruel? Did you hear Danny? At all?" Steve trailed after Chin, his good arm circling the air as he walked.
~TBC~