Note: of course it was a dream. I'm not that mean to Danny.
Chapter Sixteen
"No." Steve sat bolt upright on the cot and swung his head towards the bed where he had last seen the medical team battling to save Danny's life. Danny jumped a little at the sound of Steve's voice, but kept on sleeping. Instead of the blue tinge to his skin, Danny's cheeks held a red glow, mainly hidden below the oxygen mask.
Kevin quickly entered the room, immediately looking towards the bed. Seeing nothing wrong with his patient he looked toward Steve.
"Sorry Kevin. Bad dream." Steve ran a shaky hand across his face doing his best to purge his mind of the horrific scenes of his dream.
"About Danny?" Kevin wisely asked.
"Yeah." Steve replied with a shaky breath. "How's he doing?"
"His temperature has come down to 100 now, and his vitals are holding steady. I did have to increase his oxygen a little though to keep his oxygen levels above 95%."
"Should I be worried about that?"
"Not really. We can still increase his oxygen a lot more before we have to start thinking about additional pressure support again. His temperature is coming down, which means the antibiotics are starting to work. I wouldn't worry too much." Kevin tried to reassure Steve. He could see how much the commander had been shaken by his dream. "Can I get you anything, Commander?"
Steve stood and stretched his legs. "No, thanks, I'm good now. It was just a stupid dream."
Kevin smiled and left the room as Steve walked back over to the chair and sat down. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep again. Looking at his watch he realised he had managed to get a solid four hours, so he elected to just sit and watch Danny sleep.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Steve startled, and was surprised to realise he had actually fallen back to sleep. The beep of Danny's pain pump had woken him, and he sleepily rubbed his eyes.
"You know you would have slept better on the cot I had them give you." Dr. Pearce chastised, and Steve realised she was stood at the bottom of Danny's bed checking his chart. He had slept so long he had missed the shift change.
"She's right you know. I don't know who looks worse, you or..." Danny was interrupted by a coughing fit. His left hand flew to support his chest, his right to his abdomen. Tears leaked from his eyes as he struggled to control his breathing.
Cough finally under control, Danny lay back concentrating on his breathing. Dr. Pearce attempted to place her stethoscope in her ears, struggling one handed. Danny gave a small giggle which caused him to cough some more.
"That's karma for laughing at me Daniel Williams, now let me listen to your chest." Dawn assisted Dr. Pearce with the stethoscope, and she listened to Danny's chest. Dawn and Steve had to assist Danny to sit forward so she could listen to his back, and they all frowned as Danny grunted at the pain the movement caused.
Exam finished Dr. Pearce flicked through the chart once more. "Ok. I think we should get another X-Ray. Your chest sounds a little worse than yesterday. We will increase your oxygen for now."
Dawn fiddled with the oxygen and Danny scowled.
"I'm not moving...out of ...here today...am I?"
Dr. Pearce looked sympathetically at the sick detective. "I'm sorry Danny. I want to keep you closely monitored. Your temperature is still elevated and I can hear congestion on your lungs."
"So, no, Grace?" Danny turned his head away not wanting to show how disappointed he was. As much as he wanted to see his daughter, he knew she would want to see him more. That she would be worried about him, and he wanted to reassure her that despite the fact he didn't feel great, he was ok."
"How about we strike a deal?" Dr. Pearce offered. "We get the X-Ray, and you see the physio this morning then rest. This afternoon I will allow her to visit for 30 minutes, and I mean only thirty minutes."
Danny broke out into a massive smile. "That's presuming you and her mother think she will be ok seeing you in here. You only have a few more lines since the last time she saw you, so it shouldn't be too scary. However I do have a proviso."
"I'm sure we can work with whatever, doc, Grace is desperate to see her dad." Steve agreed.
"I will be present during the visit, and if I think it is too much for either of you, or I'm worried about your breathing. Grace leaves instantly. She will need that explaining to her before she comes in."
"I'll explain it. I'm sure she will be happy to go with that and I'll explain about the extra monitors." Steve agreed, he would do anything to reunite the pair.
"Ok, but if Danny's condition changes, between now and this afternoon, the deal is off. I don't think it likely but I want that understood."
"Understood," Both men echoed.
Dr. Pearce left to go make arrangements for the X-Ray, and Steve nipped out to the waiting room to update the team, especially Kono, knowing how worried she was the night before. Lastly he rang Rachel and explained the deal to her, and started putting plans in place for Grace's visit.
When Steve returned to Danny's room he found the X-Ray had been completed, and Dawn had helped Danny freshen up. Without his hair products his blonde locks kept falling forward, and Steve made a mental note to ask one of the team to call by Danny's and fetch in some of his things.
Steve took the seat next to his friend and filled him in on the plan for Grace's visit, while they waited for the physiotherapist to come, Steve really hoped that Danny remained stable and the antibiotics continued to work, he really didn't want to disappoint Grace and have to cancel her visit.
5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0
Steve breathed a breath of relief as he walked down the hospital corridor hand in hand with his niece. Thankfully Danny had remained stable. The physiotherapist had visited, and between the two of them they had managed to get Danny sitting in the chair beside his bed for a little while. Danny managed to practice the breathing exercises he had been shown the night before. He had then napped for a while, and surprised everyone by managing to eat half a bowl of broth and some crackers. Everyone except Steve that was, he knew Danny was determined to show he was well enough for Grace to visit. Dr. Pearce had returned after lunch and reviewed Danny once again, pleased with his progress. The oxygen was dialled down again and the go ahead for the young girl to visit given. Dr. Pearce was confident that the antibiotics were working, and the pneumonia was being kept at bay. She was quietly confident that Danny would be ready to be moved out of the ICU the next day, and it wouldn't be long before he would be ready for a normal room, and then discharged home.
Steve had taken time explaining to Grace about the new lines in her dads arm, and neck, and that they were there to monitor her Dad and give the drugs he needed. She'd taken it all in her stride. Grace held a brown paper bag in her other hand that Steve knew contained presents for her dad.
Steve guided Grace into the room, making sure she didn't see into any of the other rooms, or their extremely ill occupants. Thankfully Danny was now the fittest patient on the unit.
"Hey monkey." Danny greeted his daughter.
"Danno," Grace ran to the bed and grabbed hold of his hand. "Are you feeling better?"
"Much better, baby, I just need to get this silly cough better and I'll be home in no time."
"Are you still really sore?"
"Yeah, but I think it will take a while for that to change. Remember when you broke your arm at cheerleading. It took a few weeks to heal and stop hurting right? Well it's going to take a little while for my ribs, and sternum, to heal."
Grace seemed to brighten at that, placed her bag on the bed, and started pulling things out. "I made you a get well card, and I brought you your favourite picture of us. That way I'll always be with you."
Danny smiled and looked at the card. "I also brought you some of your hair stuff because, well look." Grace giggled and pointed to her dad's messy hair. Steve couldn't help but join in. Danny just pretended to be hurt and attempted to smooth back his hair.
"I wanted to bring more things, but mom said you wouldn't be allowed them yet."
"Thanks monkey, I appreciate all these, and this card is a real work of art."
Grace smiled and reached into the bag a final time. She removed another card and a small teddy then stepped away from the bed and headed over to Dr. Pearce, who was sitting quietly at the back of the room doing paperwork. "I made you one too Dr. Pearce. Thanks for saving my dad."
"Oh, thank you." Dr. Pearce was a little taken aback by the lovely surprise. The teddy was wearing a Wonder Woman costume, but Grace had added a small stethoscope from one of her dolls. "You know your dad saved me too."
"I know, but he already knows how great I think he is?" Grace returned to her father and the two made the most of her short visit. By the end of the thirty minutes Danny was obviously worn out, but seeing how much good it was doing him Dr. Pearce let them have the full time she had allowed. Grace showed her maturity when it was time to leave, kissed her father goodbye without a fuss, and followed her Uncle out of the room.
Dr. Pearce checked Danny's vitals, making sure his pain levels were adequate. "She is such a cutie pie."
"Thanks, she is pretty awesome." Danny smiled.
When Steve returned to the room from taking Grace back to Rachel, Danny was fast asleep, and for the first time since the whole ordeal, he looked peaceful and carefree.
TBC