Author note:
Hello, everyone. English is not my first language, so be easy on me.
First of all, I would like to clarify something to a 'guest' who commented that too much focus has been on Danny the whole time and barely anything on Steve. First of all, this story is not Steve focused or Danny focused, it's more plot focused. Right now, the plot demands attention on Danny's character, which I think it's justified. He just had been tricked into shooting his best friend. His emotional and mental state requires attention. As for Steve, he will get the attention he deserves when the right time comes. If you are ONLY looking for Steve hurt story then I'm sorry, this fiction might not cater your need. I hope this clarifies your doubt. Thank you.
Have a nice day.
Danny bent over, hands on his knees, struggling to regulate his breathing.
In and out. In and out. He kept telling himself but it was not helping.
His weak legs gave away and he fell down, his back slightly hitting the wall again.
His chest heaved yet again when he saw Steve's still form. Tears welled up behind his eyelids and slipped down his cheeks without any resistance.
When did he become this vulnerable?
His hands clenched into shaking fists, in a desperate battle against the grief. He wept, tears streaming from his eyes, heaving sobs began to tear from his throat, but still, his gaze did not leave Steve. The pain, it really hurt, like it was still an open wound.
The world was slowly turning into a blur, and so did all the sounds. Everything was getting numb.
Out of nowhere, he could feel hands on his shoulder, faint taps on his cheeks but the painful emotion was causing so much pain that at one point he lost all the feeling around him. Everything darkened into nothingness as he passed into the oblivion of unconsciousness.
-H50-H50-H50-
With two of their most important team member down, the remaining members was working like a burning fire to locate Joyce.
Chin answered his buzzing phone. "Duke, tell me some good news."
"Chin, APB on Joyce just got hit."
"Where is she?" Chin quickly opened the loudspeaker so that others could hear.
"At Inouye International Airport. She just checked in to fly out to New York."
"Ah ah," Kono chimed in. "Birdy is in a rush to fly."
"Who called with the information, Duke?" Lou asked.
"The check-in officer from the other counter. She said she is positive that she saw the right person, although her hair is much shorter and blond."
"We expect this. She might change her appearance to blend in. What did you tell the officer to do, Duke?"
"Exactly what you briefed us, Chin. I asked her to treat her casually. They checked her in, right now; she's in the waiting lounge. All units have been redirected to the airport. I'm five minutes out but we have the airport security's eyes on her."
"Good, but keep it calm, Duke. She must not know that she's been watched. We are on our way.
-H50-H50-H50-
Steve was sure he was trapped in some sort of blankness because there was nothing to see. He couldn't see anything, hear anything. It just felt heavy and numb, really numb. He couldn't move his hand, his body or his head and there was something down his throat.
He scrunched his eyes but then he can't really remember how to open them. It felt weird, why can't he remember how to open them?
Fine. Can't open them. Should try something else.
Steve tried his best to strain to hear and makes sense of what he could hear around him. The noises were very faint, but it was beeping steadily. Other than that, it was quiet, too quiet.
Where am I and why?
But then it was getting hard to think as well, so Steve just laid still.
After some time, Steve could feel movement around him. He struggled to open his eyes. He tried harder, slowly it did, but it was barely open. Everything was bright and white. He could see a blurred figure bending over, hovering him.
The blur figure was saying something. Looks like asking something important but then Steve couldn't really make out what the blur figure was saying. Steve was not interested in what it was saying, he was more interested to know something else.
How long was I out? I really hope it wasn't long.
The blur figure, it kept saying something, demanding something.
Nothing was making any sense. It was a total chaos.
I did not know where I was. How did I get here? What to do? Where to go?
And there was again darkness. It was beginning to overpower his thinking, like a thick blanket waiting for cover his numb body. There was nothing on reality to hold onto, so, Steve gave in to the invading darkness. At least it was comforting.
-H50-H50-H50-
"Dr. Leila, I saw your message."
"Dr. Lenski, Commander is awake but he's not responding to me." The junior doctor informed as she stepped aside to allow Dr. Lenski to take over the situation.
"Commander McGarrett, can you hear me?" Dr. Lenski bent over and looked over the unresponsive eyes. "Keep calm, Commander. You have a tube in your throat to help you to breathe. Blink if you understand."
Dr. Lenski watched carefully for any kind of reaction but unfortunately, there was none. Steve's eyes fluttered closed.
"Well, no action, for now, I guess." Dr. Lenski voiced out before he turned to Leila, the junior doctor who only joined a month ago. "What you think, Dr. Leila? Should we remove the tube?"
Dr. Leila spoke as she handed the clipboard to Dr. Lenski. "Not yet. According to the latest report, his oxygen levels are still yet to be stable. If we perform extubation now, he might not be able to regulate his own breathing."
"Good." Dr. Lenski smiled. He always likes junior doctors who know what they are doing. "Keep a close eye on his oxygen level and vitals. Page me if he wakes up again."
-H50-H50-H50-
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight A330 with service from Honolulu to New York City. There has been unexpected minor accident earlier on take-off pathway. It has been cleared and we are currently sixth in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately twenty-five minutes time. We apologize for the inconvenience caused. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Hawaiian Airlines. Enjoy your flight."
A passenger grumbled. "Twenty-five minutes?"
Joyce leaned back further into her seat as she tapped her knees nervously. Twenty-five more minutes before she get the hell out of the island. Her work was done in the island although it was not up to her expectation.
It was not perfect but what she did create the mess needed.
-H50-H50-H50-
Chin together with Kono and Lou waited for the exit door on the back of the plane to be opened. The moment the door was open and when flight attendant stepped aside, they entered in.
"She is in the main cabin. Seat A35." The flight attendant informed.
"Thank you," Chin said before he quickly walked in. He didn't want to cause any unnecessary tension among the other passengers, so they kept the gun down.
He walked past the seats carefully. It was Chin's idea to announce the delay and keep the plane from taking off and thankfully, the flight captain and attendants have played their part really well.
Chin passed seat A40 and in the front, he could see another flight attendant standing, slowly gesturing his eyes to the seat in front of him.
Chin nodded. He stopped at seat A36, just one seat behind her.
"Going somewhere Joyce Antwi?"
Joyce gasped before she jumped to her feet. Chin quickly held his gun up, straight to her face. Chin could hear gasps from the other passengers but his eyes were trained on Joyce. Kono walked pass by Chin and stopped beside the seat in front of Joyce's. Lou stood behind Chin, his gun also up trained on Joyce.
"Didn't expect for a last-minute party from us?" Chin smiled sarcastically and then his smile died. "Book her, Kono."
Kono holstered her gun before she forcefully pulled Joyce from the seat and cuffed her. "You have right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law."
Sincere apologies for the mistakes if there are any. All feedback are appreciated.
A heartfelt thank you for your support for this fiction.