Note: let's see what's going on with Danny.

Chapter Fifteen

Kono and Steve were sat beside Danny's bed waiting for Dr. Pearce to return with results of the chest X-Ray that had just been taken. Danny was sleeping once again, oblivious to the worry he was now causing. Kono had alerted Dawn to Danny's rise in temperature, and after a quick check she confirmed it had risen to 101.5 and contacted Dr. Pearce, who had ordered the X-Ray and blood tests.

Two worried faces looked up from their seats as Dr. Pearce entered the room. "I've reviewed the tests and I'm afraid Danny has developed pneumonia."

"Is that going to set him back?" Steve was worried, his friend had only just made it off the vent and now there was a real chance he could end up back on it.

"Possibly, however I am going to start him on strong antibiotics and hopefully we can keep on top of it. He is doing well at the moment on the high flow oxygen, and his oxygen levels are stable. I've paged the on call physiotherapist to come and see him tonight. Danny was scheduled to see them tomorrow anyway for some breathing exercises to help strengthen his lung, and to start getting him up and moving."

"Does this mean he won't be moving out of ICU tomorrow?" Kono asked.

"Let's see how he goes overnight, try not to panic too much. We'll repeat the X-Ray in the morning and see how he's doing. Dr. Yokes is on call tonight so he is in good hands."

Steve looked over at his sleeping friend, his skin looked clammy from the temperature, but his chest was rising and falling without too much of a struggle. Steve also noted that the bruising around his throat was no longer the deep purple, now it was turning to sickly yellows and greens.

The end of visiting hours arrived and Kono reluctantly left Steve to spend the night with Danny. Dawn had been replaced on shift with a new nurse who introduced himself as Kevin. As promised the on call physiotherapist stopped by and went through some exercises to help clear Danny's lungs. Steve took careful note of the exercises so he could coach Danny through them in between his sessions with the physiotherapist. Kevin had carefully sponged Danny down and changed his gown after the physiotherapy session which left Danny exhausted and in pain.

Steve stepped closer to his friend, picked up the pain pump, and pressed the button dispensing the pain relief into his friends system.

"I didn't need that." Danny complained.

"Yes you did. You heard the physio. You have to make sure you take deep breaths, and to do that you need to keep on top of the pain."

Danny rolled his eyes, but he had to admit to himself that the pain relief made it easier for him to take a deeper breath. Unfortunately that caused a coughing jag which left him completely spent and drifting off into an exhausted sleep.

Steve sat watching Danny's chest rise and fall, he was tempted to ring Rachel to warn her that Grace may not be able to visit the next day, but he didn't want her to worry about Danny when it may not be necessary.

Kevin returned to the room pushing a cot. "Dr. Pearce said you are to use this tonight or I am to evict you from the room."

"Thanks, I think I will obey orders tonight. My neck is pretty stiff from spending last night in the chair."

Kevin moved over to Danny's bed and trying not to wake his sleeping patient he slipped the thermometer into his ear. A beep sounded and he looked at the screen. "100.2 it's holding steady. You should get some rest. I promise I'll keep a close eye on him."

Steve nodded and made his way over to the cot, kicking off his shoes he sank down onto the mattress. It wasn't the comfiest of beds but it was better than the hard chair. Danny's room was much quieter now without the clicking and whooshing of the vent. However there was still a steady hiss of the oxygen and wiring of pumps, providing Danny with a steady stream of fluids, pain relief and now antibiotics. Rolling onto his side so he could see the monitors he watched the green line skip across the screen signalling to everyone Danny's heartbeats. The effect was hypnotising and he finally let his eyes close as he slipped off to sleep.

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

Steve sat upright on the cot as the shrill of alarms sounded around Danny's bed. Blanket discarded on the floor he ran to Danny's side. Danny was clutching at his chest, his lips blue, and he made a horrible wheeze with every breath he took. Steve hit the emergency button and grabbed his friend's hand. Danny clung to him as he struggled to suck in precious oxygen. Still no one came to help.

"Somebody help! We need help in here."

Steve watched as Danny's eyes rolled into the back of his head and the wheezing stopped. Danny had stopped breathing, and another alarm joined the chorus to signal his heart had also stopped.

"Somebody, help, please." Steve begged as he started compressions on his friend's chest.

Finally the medical team ran into the room. Kevin took over from Steve doing compressions as Dr. Yokes forced a tube back down Danny's throat and connected it to a bag.

Steve was pushed back into a corner of the room and could only watch as the medical team fought to revive Danny, whose whole body was turning an alarming shade of blue. Orders were shouted, and Steve's heart hammered in his own chest as he watched drug after drug be pushed through Danny's central line in an attempt to re start his heart.

"Come on Danny, come on. Don't do this." Steve begged.

Dr. Yokes stopped squeezing the bag and stepped back from the bed shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I think we lost him."

"No." Steve shouted. "No, you have to keep trying, he was doing better. Keep going!"

Kevin ceased the chest compressions and the green light on the monitor that Steve had happily watched early, ran straight across the screen. Steve stared at it willing it to start its skipping again. Danny couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be.

TBC

Oh no. Did I just do that?