Note: oh dear I'm in trouble for whumping Dr. Pearce. Early update as I'm off to work.

Chapter Ten

The force of Danny's body hitting the floor sent a shock wave of pain across his chest and abdomen, yet he refused to let go of the gun hand. Roberto was temporarily stunned by the sudden impact, his right hand above his head, gun tightly gripped and Danny's hand wrapped around his wrist.

His senses returning he quickly gained the upper hand on Danny who was shaking from the adrenaline burst. Danny knew he needed to eliminate the gun as soon as possible as his strength was quickly waning, so he focused on slamming Roberto's hand into the floor over and over again. On the fourth slam the gun skidded out of the enraged man's hand and slid under a cabinet out of reach.

Roberto decided he didn't need the gun, and quickly flipped over so he could pounce on top of Danny. His knee embedded in Danny's abdomen, the full force of his weight pinned the detective to the floor. His large hands wrapped around Danny's throat and began to squeeze. Danny attempted to struggle free, his hands trying to pry the vice like grip away from his throat. Blood ran down his arm from the IV sites, and a blinding pain tore through his abdomen. There was a fire in his lungs as he attempted to suck in breath after breath as his windpipe was constricted, and black dots started to dance around the edges of his vision.

All energy completely spent, his hands collapsed helplessly to the floor and his eyes rolled back into his head.

5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0

Steve's trip to see Pua had been very brief. Arriving at the young officer's room he found him sleeping, and he didn't want to disturb him. A quick conversation with the nurse informed him that Pua was set to be discharged in the morning. Feeling relieved that things were going well for the officer he returned to the Critical Care Unit feeling better after the short trip. As he was buzzed into the unit he flinched as he heard the crack of a gunshot. Nurses screamed at the sudden explosion of noise and ducked for cover as Steve raced towards the sound. He knew it had come from his partner's room. The door was closed, meaning Steve was about to enter the unknown, but his partner was in danger so he didn't care. Gun drawn he stormed the room, just in time to see Dr. Pearce bring down the wooden chair he had been sat on for the best part of the evening over a curly, dark haired man head, who was almost straddling his partner.

The man slumped over, unconscious, landing on top of Danny and crushing him. Steve was quick to holster his gun, race past the female doctor, and drag the man off his friend. Pulling out zip ties from one of his many pockets on his cargo pants, he restrained the unconscious man so he could pose no further danger. Seeing the man's face he recognised him as the supposed doctor he had passed in the hall. Looking the man full in the face the family resemblance to Carlos Abello was obvious, and Steve was hit with a wave of guilt for leaving his partner so vulnerable.

Dr. Pearce had dropped to Danny's side and was examining him, knowing Danny was in good hands he grabbed hold of the man and dragged him from the room as Security guards stormed into the unit. Steve ordered them to call HPD and the rest of his team.

Steve then returned to his friend's room just in time to see Dr, Pearce forcing a plastic tube down Danny's throat. Two nurses had joined her, once the scene was cleared, and they were desperately working to reinsert IV's to stabilise the fallen detective.

"Somebody page Dr. Yokes, 911. His abdomen is distended. He's going to need surgery, and I can't do it." Dr. Pearce called out.

Steve was confused. When it came to the team Dr. Pearce was usually very protective, and was the first to step in when they needed medical attention. He couldn't understand why she was requesting another doctor, until he tore his eyes away from Danny and his already purpling neck, and looked at the doctor who was busy saving his friend's life.

Red blood stained the left side of her lab coat around her shoulder, and was growing by the second. Steve wasn't the only one who seemed to just notice this, as one of the nurses suddenly let out a shocked gasp then grabbed a handful of gauze and started pressing it either side of the wound in an attempt to stem the bleeding.

Steve was amazed at her resilience. Despite being seriously shaken, and injured, she had ignored her own needs to tend to Danny. Finding him making practically no respiratory effort she had quickly intubated him. His already badly bruised lungs were clearly struggling, and the bruising around his throat worried her.

Steve wasn't able to do much other than watch as a gurney was rushed into the room and Danny was scooped up onto it and rushed out of the room. A Chinese doctor that Steve recognised as Dr. Yokes joined them in the hall, along with another male doctor who was much older with grey hair. This doctor made a beeline for Dr. Pearce who was attempting to follow after the gurney, and a short argument ensued. Dr. Pearce clearly lost the argument as a nurse came up behind her with a wheelchair and she was forced to sit before being whisked away.

Steve turned and looked for the security guards he had left Roberto Abello with. Spotting one of them he rushed towards him. "Where is he? Are my team on the way?"

"We moved him to an exam room. A doctor is looking him over now. Looks like Dr. Pearce gave him a great concussion. Good on her."

"Is he secure?" There was no way Steve was going to let this guy escape.

"Yes Commander. We have him in restraints, and two other guards are with him. HPD are on their way, and they have contacted your team."

"That's great. Thanks. Now I need you to stand guard over that room. It's a crime scene, now. HPD will take over once they get here." Steve pulled out his phone as it started vibrating.

"Steve, what the hell is going on? HPD just called and said Abello tried to kill Danny." Chin was obviously desperate for answers.

"Yeah, he did. I don't really know what happened. I left him to go check in on Pua." Steve attempted to explain.

"Is Danny ok?"

"No. They rushed him to surgery. There was a struggle, and his liver started bleeding. Abello tried to strangle him, he wasn't breathing for himself."

"Shit Steve." was all that Chin could manage. "Lou and I are on our way, we'll be there in ten minutes. What happened with Abello?"

"He's under guard, and nursing a concussion."

"Argh, he learned not to cross McGarrett." Lou said, and Steve realised he was on speaker phone, both men were obviously anxious to find out what happened.

"Not me. Dr. Pearce. She smashed a chair over his head."

"Good girl." Lou cheered.

"She was shot through the shoulder. I don't know how bad it is."

"Crap." Both men said simultaneously.

"Guys, I'm headed to the surgical waiting room, meet me there." Steve instructed.

"Shall we call Kono?" Chin wondered.

"No, not yet, it's late now. Grace will be asleep. Let's wait until we have news on Danny first."

"Ok we'll be with you soon." Chin said then hung up.

Steve put his phone away and headed to the waiting room. True to their word his friends arrived soon after and they all settled in for the wait, desperately hoping for good news.

TBC