Chapter 6: Wake

"Grace is safe," he heard the next time he woke. "She's here." Was it a dream? It felt surreal. Impossible. He opened his eyes and saw Steve rushing through the doors in the hospital with Grace in his arms. Danny almost passed out again from relief. He ripped the tubes from his arm and staggered toward him.

"Grace," he moaned "baby…" He saw her face, perfect and undamaged but not awake. Steve touched her to his extended arms so it was like Danny held her but Steve supported all the weight. "Gracie wake up…Danno's got you." She didn't stir. Danny felt a thrill of fear. "Is she…"

"No" said Steve sharply, "She's just knocked out." Doctors came in and pulled her away. It hurt him to see he go but he let them take her. Steve restrained him even when he didn't try to fight. "Come on Danno," he said tugging him back to the bed. He moved like a sleepwalker. "When she's awake, I'll tell you." Danny focused on Steve's determined expression.

"What happened to the kidnappers?" he asked.

"They'll never bother you again," he said in a steely voice. Danny's mouth twitched in a partial smile and then he rested his head back. His brief trip out of bed made his head spin. It confirmed his suspicion that he had a concussion. He opened his eyes again and realized he must have passed out again. It felt like he was rising from the dead. He felt like he was floating. He looked round and saw Steve in a fresh shirt sitting in a chair next to his bed. His hands were interlocked and resting on his chin. He smiled when Danny met his gaze. "Welcome back detective." Danny blinked drowsily.

"Hey Steve," he replied.

"You're on a bunch of drugs right now, that's why you feel so doped out. Are you in pain?" he asked. He didn't feel any, it was a relief.

"No," he said. He processed Steve's expression through his drugged daze and he felt more alert. Steve was still tense. He knew that look.

"Grace?" he asked.

"She's alive Danny, she's safe." Danny sighed but the wording alarmed him.

"What's wrong?" he demanded. Steve looked uncomfortable.

"Well, she's…still out cold," he said. Danny gulped.

"For how long?" he asked. Steve paused.

"A day," he said finally. Danny felt his stomach twist. He cleared his throat.

"Please?" he said and Steve understood. He had a wheelchair waiting.

She was upstairs in a ward with other unconscious patients. Her room was small but bright. She looked like a doll, perfect and peacefull…but vacant. Steve walked in behind him. Danny wheeled as close as he could and with a shaking hand took hers. "Grace..?" he said in a desolate voice. "Danno's here," he said kissing he hand. He stood shakily. She had one tube in her arm, an IV. She was very still. Danny looked up and could barely see Steve standing on the opposite side of her hospital bed through the water in his eyes. It blurred his vision.

"Please.." he whispered to her. Carefully he pulled her over so she was resting in his arms. He cradled her head. "Please wake up honey…" he pled in a broken voice. He buried his face in her hair and kissed it. Steve put a hand on his shoulder, comforting him, steadying him. Grief crushed Danny more powerful than it had in the past few days. This wasn't something he could fight, or save her from. He was helpless. He felt like an enormous weight was choking him, pressing on his chest. Silent tears sliced down his face. He rested his forehead on hers. He couldn't breathe. What felt like from a long way away he registered that he was having a panic attack. There was a gasping noise.

"Danny," Steve said and he sounded far away. And then even more faintly he heard Steve say something turned away from him. It sounded like "he's hyperventilating…" A strong grip pulled him away from Grace who still lied perfectly still. Words couldn't reach him now. The emotion could not be described by them. Other people were suddenly there, putting him back in the wheelchair. There was a stab of pain to his shoulder and after a few minutes the hysteria died down. He quieted.

"It's a combination of shock and PTSD…." He heard someone say faintly to Steve. He couldn't concentrate on it. He was forced not to feel by whatever they gave him. He felt hallow, calm but not peaceful. Not relieved.

"We'll come back later," he heard Steve tell him as the wheelchair moved down the hall. After that all he knew was small indefinite periods of time between waking and drug induced sleep. He didn't know for how long or how many times. He sat next to Grace when he was awake, eyes trained on her face. It was the longest two days of his life. The 5-0 team took turns sitting with him but he barely focused on them. Only one thing mattered.

And then after what felt like a thousand prayers and years her eyes opened. Danny was slowly slipping into a light doze in his chair, but jerked upright when he saw.

"Steve!" Danny yelled as he stood up and bent over her.

"Danno?" she asked in a tired voice.

"Yes monkey, I'm here," he said cupping her face with his hand. "You scared daddy so much. I love you. I'm sorry," he said. He kissed her forehead and felt his pulse in his ears. Steve came in from the hall and rushed to her bedside.

"Thank god," he said, clapping Danny on the shoulder. "I'll call the others. So glad you're awake Gracie," he said and kissed her forehead too. Danny sat on her bed, holding her hand. He thought he could stare at her face forever, relief making him feel lightheaded.

"I love you Danno," she said in her high pitched voice.

"As I do you," he said losing composure a little. "Always."

"Daddy why are you crying?" she asked sitting up. She looked scared. He imagined the bandages on his face wouldn't help. Danny hugged her tightly.

"Daddy's just so happy Grace. These are happy tears," he said wiping his face.

"Don't worry," she said kissing his cheek.

"No monkey, I'm good. I'm good." After a long moment he let go and smiled down at her, a violent joy surging within him. She was alright. It was over.