Thank you for following this story, though the topic was rather harsh. I would never wish that disease on anyone. I wanted Steve to vanquish the demon and he did, which was not the case for my cousin who lost his battle with it and God knows he was build like an icebox (former Lieutenant in the Army). This thing can break the toughest of them all. Keep healthy and get regular check-ups!
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It was weeks later, in early summer, that Steve was finally released from the hospital. His caretakers had been given strict instructions on home care for the convalescent. Although his blood count levels were satisfactory and side effects were virtually non existent, Steve's doctors had nevertheless insisted that he curtail all strenuous physical activities in the short-term period.
Basking in the loving care of his surrogate family did wonders for Steve's health. The doctors were optimistic on his chances of a full recovery, though his cancer's remission meant facing tough decisions regarding his military and law enforcement careers.
One early morning Danny awoke around eight and went straight for the guest bedroom that he found slightly ajar. He rapped ever so gently on the door before poking his head in. He frowned at the empty made bed. He headed to the kitchen where he found his mother cooking breakfast.
"Where's Steve?"
"He was feeling a bit nauseous so he went out on deck to breathe in some fresh air."
"But he's all right though?" Danny was a bit concerned at the word 'nauseous'.
"Oh yes. His color's good and he drank some orange juice."
"I'll go see if he needs anything." Danny stepped onto the veranda where Steve was resting in a lounge chair with a light blanket spread over him. He looked peaceful and it was nice to see that his hair had grown back. Upon nearing the chair he noticed that Steve's eyes were shut. As he turned to head back into the house a creaking floorboard made him cringe, and ultimately woke his partner.
"Sorry."
"S'okay. I was just resting my eyes."
"Mom said you were feeling a bit nauseous."
"I did but it's all gone now. I'm actually a bit hungry."
"That's good 'cause mom's fixing us a mighty good breakfast. Mind if I sit down?"
"Of course not. I'd love some company."
Danny rounded Steve's lounge chair to sit in the one next to his. There was a short pause before Steve spoke up.
"I want to stay here, Danny," he blurted out softly.
"What do you mean?" Danny was puzzled to say the least. "Here? As in New Jersey?"
Steve nodded. "Yeah."
"Steve you do realize that it gets cold here during winters."
"Friendship and family keep you warm."
"Whoa! Now where did that come from? Since when did you become Mr. Philosopher?"
"Since my brush with death."
"You've looked death in the face countless of time, babe. Why is this any different?"
"Out on the field I can see my enemy. I can look him in the whites of the eyes. He's real, flesh and bones, whereas with cancer you're fighting an invisible foe. You can't see or touch it. It turns your world upside down in a heartbeat. It eats away at you until you are too weak to fight it."
There was a short pause as Steve's emotions overwhelmed him.
"I was so close to the edge, Danno. I wanted to throw myself into that void. It was an uphill battle that I didn't think I could win. I reached a point where I wanted it all to end, the physical and mental suffering of the past years. It had just become too heavy to bear." He then turned to Danny who was deep in thoughts. "It was you and your family that pulled me away from that cliff," he confided with teary eyes. "You were my lifeline and I'll be eternity indebted to you."
"I was merely returning the favor for all those times that you saved my ass. Besides I couldn't afford to lose you. What would I do without my Neanderthal animal to irk me and give me a reason to rant?"
Steve laughed.
"You really are serious about staying here?"
"Yeah."
"What about Five-0?"
"I was told the interim leader was doing a good job. I'm sure he can take over."
"He's not you."
"I agreed to head Five-0 for the sole purpose to hunt down the bastard who killed my father with full immunity. Now that Hesse is dead and Wo Fat's in jail, there's no reason for me to continue."
"What about protecting citizens by ridding the islands of the filth? How's that for a reason?"
"They don't need Steve McGarrett. There are other cape crusaders out there who are willing to put their lives on the line. Besides my doctor said that I'll need to take it slow from now on. Choices will have to be made regarding my military career and Five-0," Steve added woefully. "And now that you and Rachel have reconciled, I expect you'll be moving back here with Grace? I couldn't bear living in Hawaii without my brother at my side."
Steve was now openly wearing his emotions on his sleeves, and that mushy stuff somewhat disturbed Danny.
"We're not sure yet where we're going to live. It'll depend on Grace. She's made a lot of friends in Honolulu and she may want to stay there."
"Wherever you go Danny, I'll follow. Unless you don't want me tackling along? I'm Danger Magnet, remember?"
"Yeah, but I'm sure you can tone it down a bit if you don't go all ninja on me. And we're brothers, aren't we?"
They both locked eyes and clasped hands.
"You bet."
A soothing silence fell between the two men as they contemplated the scenery before them.
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Another three weeks passed with Steve's condition improving. He was now in full remission and feeling rejuvenated with a whole new lease on life. He had become an integrated part of the Williams household, partaking in every familial activities and events.
Once school was out for the summer, Rachel and Grace flew out to New Jersey for the family vacation. Rachel's due date was fast approaching and she wouldn't be allowed to travel until the baby was born.
One afternoon while Steve was doing laps in the family pool, Danny and Rachel brought Grace aside to spring the news of their upcoming nuptials, to which the little girl cheered.
"Once mom and dad are married and your little brother or sister is born we'll need to choose where we're going to live," Danny explained, glancing up at Rachel to shore up support for his next question. She nodded for him to dive right in. "We know you had to leave lots of friends behind when mom and step Stan moved to Hawaii. And now you have friends over there."
"I like Hawaii. There are beaches and it's warm all year round."
"Yes indeed."
"But I know you don't like it over there," she pouted.
"It's true that it's not my ultimate favorite place in the world but it became home for me. I had you, your mom, Uncle Steve, Uncle Chin and Aunt Kono."
"But if we stay here with grandma and grandpa, I won't see them anymore."
"Not so. We can go for visits and they can come here. But you want to know something?" Grace shook her head and Danny motioned to Steve in the pool. "Your Uncle Steve said he's willing to live here with all of us if you decide we should stay in New Jersey."
"He did?" Grace exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
"Uh uh. So you see it's your choice and no matter what you decide, we'll all be together."
Grace nervously shifted from one leg to the other. She began to chew on her lips, deliberating for the longest time. "Humm - can I think about it?"
Danny laughed. "Sure. Take all the time you want."
"Okay."
Danny enlaced Rachel in his arms as they watched their bouncy daughter join Steve in the swimming pool.
"It's amazing the progress Steve's made since I saw him last," Rachel observed.
"Yeah, it's quite a miracle when you think he was so close to giving up. I tell you Rach, I had never been so scared in all my life aside from the time Peterson kidnapped Grace. May I never live another one of those, EVER!"
She held him tighter and buried her nose in his neck. "You saved Grace and now Steve. You're my hero, Daniel Williams."
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Weeks later, early in the morning, the Williams household was quiet. All were slumbering in their rooms when Rachel sprung up in bed, clutching her stomach. A powerful contraction had hit. She managed to breathe it away but not before realizing that her water broke. The sheets were all soaked.
"Danny." She nudged his shoulder. "Danny!" she spoke a bit louder with another tug on his shoulder.
A small groan followed by a mumbled 'what is it?' was her answer.
"Sweetheart, it's time."
It took a few seconds for Danny's muddled brain to register the meaning. Once he did, he flipped over on his side, eyes wide as saucers. "What?"
"The baby is coming."
Danny flung the covers aside and leapt out of bed, dashing straight for the wardrobe to yank a pair of pants and a shirt off the hangers.
"Daniel, your clothes are laid out at the foot of the bed."
He was already jumping into his trousers and zipping them. "S'okay. I need fresh ones anyway," His heart rate was now going a hundred mile per hour. He slipped on his shirt and hurried over to Rachel's side of the bed to assist her to her feet. "Are you okay? Maybe you'd better sit down while I get the car ready."
"No I'm fine. I'll get to the livingroom while you wake everyone."
"Damn that's right! I had plain forgotten about them."
"Daniel!" she chuckled. "You've done this before. You shouldn't be nervous."
"I know, I know." He inhaled a deep breath and held it for a spell and then expelled it.
"Better?"
"A little bit." He held her by the waist and together, they ambled to the livingroom where he eased her down in a hard chair. "Maybe you'll be more comfy in the armchair."
"I'm okay here. I won't soil the fabric. It's bad enough that I wet the sheets. And it'll be easier for me to get up. Go on! Get the others."
Danny didn't waste time sounding the alarm in his parents' bedroom and Steve's. The house was in a complete tizzy. Clara offered to stay with Grace while Eddie and Steve drove with Danny and Rachel to the hospital.
Danny rode in the backseat with Rachel coaching her through her breathing while Eddie was focusing on the road. Steve would often glance back to see if his friend needed any assistance. Eddie being a former fire chief knew how to manoeuvre in morning traffic. They made it to the hospital in record time, which was a blessing considering that Rachel was dangerously close to giving birth, this being her second child. Another fifteen minutes and they might have had to deliver the baby in the car.
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While Eddie was outside updating his wife on the current situation, Steve was sitting in the waiting room fidgeting with a magazine he had no idea was it was about until a young woman came up to him and slanted her head to read the cover.
"Ladies' Home Journal."
"What?"
She jutted her head toward the periodical he held in his hands. One glance at it and his face flushed. He quickly discarded it on the table. "I'm not reading it. It's just something to keep my hands busy."
"Is this your first?" she asked casually as she sat across from him.
"What first?"
"Your wife's having a baby, isn't she?"
"Ah no. It's my friend. It's his wife who's having a baby."
"He must be one close friend for you to be as fidgety as if it were your own child being born."
"He is. He's like a brother." The word echoed against the wall of his heart, nearly choking it. Never had he felt a love so grand, save perhaps with his own father and mother.
Steve's eyes traveled over her head and he gasped. His face broke into a wide beam at the sight of Danny in surgical gear holding his newborn child.
"Excuse me." Steve stood with a heart thumping out of his chest as he walked over to Danny.
"Where's my dad?" Danny asked, looking around to spot his father.
"He stepped outside to call your mom." Steve then sucked in a deep breath and risked a peek at the mummified sleeping bundle cradled in his partner's arms.
With a glowing grin plastered on his face, Danny proudly introduced his baby boy to his soul brother. "Steve, babe, meet Charles Steven Williams." He looked up and their eyes met in a mutual love and deep friendship. "You want to hold your Godson?"
Steve swallowed hard before holding out his arms for Danny to place the sleeping bundle in his arms. Tears began streaming down his cheeks at the thought of coming so close to not witnessing this glorious blessed event. He had been given a second lease on life and he embraced the change occurring within him.
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Later on when Grace was allowed to visit with her parents and baby brother, she made the decision to return to Hawaii where her Danno and Uncle Steve could go back to being partners at Five-0 with aunt Kono and Uncle Chin, though Steve would do mostly desk work until he was clear for the more heavy-duty labour.
She felt it was what Steve and Danny wanted. After all, Hawaii is where they met and forged a brotherly bond that transcended beyond time and space and the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of the other.
THE END