Author note:
Hello, everyone. English is not my first language, so be easy on me. Please review if you have time, all feedback are appreciated.
Have a nice day.
After hours working on the case, Lou Grover stepped out for a break. Chin and Kono will be interrogating Joyce, so Lou decided to came down to the hospital.
Lou sat as he watched Steve sleep. Although the ventilator was removed and replaced with face mask, Lou was still worried. Lou's mind kept on reminding him about doctor's words about possible brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.
He leaned over and rested his hands on Steve's bed. One of his hand touched Steve's forearm.
"Please be okay," He whispered softly.
A nurse came in a few minutes later and Lou quickly stepped out of the way to allow her to do her work.
"I won't take much time. You can sit back with him in a while." The nurse smiled a little.
"It's okay," Lou smiled back. "I will let him rest. There is some other place I need to be. I'm sure if Steve is awake, he will ask me to go to the same place."
Lou glanced over Steve's still form, mentally prayed for his friend one more time before he walked out, finding for Danny's room.
-H50-H50-H50-
Rachel practically jogged her way to the hospital cafeteria. She knew that she was late, but she had no choice, she didn't want to leave Danny alone but Lou came in, she had a reason to leave the room. Her eyes scanned through the cafeteria and spotted Dr. Adele sitting in the last table.
"Sorry, I'm late." Rachel apologized before she sat down.
"It's okay, Rachel." Dr. Adele said with her usual smile as she pushed the cup of coffee towards Rachel. "Luckily, the coffee is still hot."
"You said you have something to speak to me, Doc?" Rachel asked. "Something about Danny?"
"I'm afraid so, Rachel." Dr. Adele smiled sadly.
"What is it about? You can be open with me."
"I'm discharging him tomorrow, Rachel. Physically he is fine but emotionally …"
"He is not fine." Rachel sighed. "I know."
"I'm very much concerned about his mental stability. It is very important to get the help he needs, Rachel because I'm afraid if he doesn't deal it well, he might fall into serious depression and if we don't look into it, it might start to interfere his daily life."
"You're suggesting therapy?"
"Yes and Dr. Mark is very much willing to help." Dr. Adele passed Dr. Mark's card. "I want you to speak to Dr. Mark first. Don't force Danny into going for therapy, sometimes they might not be ready for it. Talk to Dr. Mark, he would be able to guide you better."
"Thank you, Dr. Adele. You have been very helpful."
-H50-H50-H50-
Lou stopped at the entrances of Danny's room. Danny sat on his bed with his head slumped into his hands. Lou walked in quietly, rested a gentle hand on Danny's shoulder.
Danny looked up. "Lou, what are you doing here?"
"I came in to see my friend." Lou smiled softly before he sat on the chair.
Danny sighed. "I don't think it's a good idea, Lou."
Lou could hear pain vibrating in Danny's voice. "I'm not here to say anything; I'm just here to sit with you. If you don't want to talk, then we are not going to talk, but please allow me to sit for some time with you."
And true to his words, Lou didn't speak. He just sat there. He wasn't even looking at Danny.
"Why are you doing this?" Danny asked after some time.
"Doing what, Danny?"
"Being here."
"Because that's what exactly what you would do for me."
And that words and Lou's sincerity touched Danny.
"I… I," Danny struggled with words but Lou waited patiently. "It's messed up, Lou. I'm messed up. I feel like I am drowning and there is no hope of being saved. The memories start to spread through my mind, clouding my thoughts and taking me back to places I never wanted to revisit. I press my palms to my ears trying to block out the sound, but it doesn't work. I kept hearing that gunshot. They only grow louder and louder. I just want them to go away. Is that so much to ask?"
Lou watched as Danny poured out his emotions.
"Each time I closed my eyes, I see his face. Steve's face, right before I shot him. Do you know how shocked he was, he couldn't believe that it was me who was pointing a gun at him. That moment, he could take out his gun, shoot me, defend himself, but he didn't do it. He was basically paralyzed, too static, too stunned to do anything, but look at what I did? I shot him.
"Danny…"
"I know, it wasn't me. Everyone kept telling me the same thing, and let me tell you something, it's not helping, not helping at all!"
"Danny," Lou called softly. "I know nothing could be said, or done to ease your pain. I just want to tell you, that I'm with you as long as it takes."
"I don't know what I'm going to do, Lou. What if he wakes up and I… He …"
"Hey, hey." Lou touched Danny's forearm. "Steve would understand. Just like how all of us, we understand what happened, Steve would understand too."
"What if he hates me, Lou?" Danny spoke like a child.
"Steve will never hate you."
"You don't know that!"
"Then how could be sure that he will hate you?" Lou argued back. "I know it feels like nothing to hold on to, it's dark everything and all you can see is hopelessness but don't stop fighting Danny. Look in, you know this is exactly what would Steve tell you in situations like this. He will tell you to keep fighting, to ignore the darkness trying to stop you. Don't let the darkness win, Danny. Don't let her win."
The last words hit Danny very hard. He looked straight to Lou. "You said her."
The sudden change in Danny's expression honestly worried Lou. He wondered if Danny was ready to listen to what really happened. Was it safe to tell him about Joyce? What would be his reaction if he finds out about Michele's connection?
"Danny…"
"So, it's a her? Who the hell is she? What did she do all these?"
"Danny, listen to me…"
"Is she in our custody?"
"Danny…"
"I asked you if she is in our custody!" His voice was louder.
"Yes."
"I want to see her."
"Danny, I don't think…"
"I said I want to see her!"
-H50-H50-H50-
"Joyce, I hope you're enjoying our Hawaiian hospitality," Chin said as he entered the interrogation room with Kono.
"I'm not speaking to you guys until you get me a lawyer."
Chin looked at Kono, with his eyebrow raised, playful smile in the corner of his lips. "Oh, Kono, Joyce is not in the mood to talk to us."
"Fine with me." Kono shrugged. "She just has to listen. I'm pretty sure she will be very much interested to hear what we have."
Joyce rolled her eyes and looked to the side, ignoring Chin and Kono.
Chin crossed his arms over his chest. "Self-confidence, I like it."
Kono's jaw tightened with Joyce's behavior. She forced himself to remain calm. "Joyce, we know you're on FBI's wanted list."
Joyce turned to Kono and she crossed her legs. "I know you will not hand me over to them."
"Don't be too overconfident, Joyce." Chin chimed in.
It was Joyce turn to smile as she looked at Chin. "You hand me over, you will never know what really happened."
Chin's expression hardened. He knew she was telling the truth.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Joyce asked as she leaned further into the chair she was cuffed to. She was playfully tugging her restraints.
"What?"
"Did you guys really think that you have successfully apprehended me? Why do you think I kept using the same alias? For a person on an FBI list that's pretty stupid, right?"
Chin and Kono were taken aback but they kept their expression poker faced.
"You think you guys surprised me? Correction officers, I was waiting for you guys. You walked into my trap."
Chin stuffed his hands in his pocket and Kono's eyes widen slightly.
"You guys like games?" The corner of Joyce's mouth quirked up. "I love games, want to play one?"
"What do you want?" Chin asked coldly.
"I want Detective Williams. Send him in."
"No," Both Chin and Kono said at the same time.
Joyce scoffed. "It's not like I'm going hypnotize him in front of you guys."
"That's not going to happen." Kono said firmly.
"Then you getting nothing from me, not even why Michele Shioma... you know all those interesting information. You give me what I want, I will give what you want."
"Why Detective Williams?" Chin asked.
"Because, Danny and I, we have some unfinished business." Joyce winked as she smiled.
Sincere apologies for the mistakes if there are any. All feedback are appreciated. Thank you for your continuous support.