Chapter 12

When Steve heard the car of the therapist enter his driveway, he took his crutches and walked to the door.
He was about to ask the therapist what the bag he was carrying was for when he heard the unmistakable sound of Danny's Camaro. His hear skipped a beat. He pushed past the therapist and "ran" outside towards his friend's car.
"Danny!" he called out. "You alright?!"
"Easy there, Usain. I am okay. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, don't you think?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Want to watch your therapy. Let's go inside."

"Commander McGarrett," the therapist said. "Last week you've asked me about taking your splint off when you are alone and I've told you I have to think about it. Well, I did and I have a decision now."
'Don't talk so much, just tell me,' Steve thought. He was impatient and it didn't matter what the therapist had decided, he just needed to know now.
"I have thought a lot about it ever since the minute I had left here and yet I still didn't know what to do until yesterday."
'God, I am dying here,' Steve thought.
"It looks like I wasn't the only one you have talked to about it. I got a call yesterday morning. The person on the other side was very serious and played a big part in making my decision."
'He is doing this on purpose.' Steve was on the edge and ready to yell at the man in front of him.
"Though I still have a few doubts, I will allow you to take the splint off, but…"
"Yes!" Steve couldn't stop himself from crying it out loud.
"Do not rejoice too soon," the therapist continued. I wasn't finished yet."
Steve's face fell.
"What…what is that supposed to mean?"
"But," the therapist continued where he had left like he hadn't been interrupted, "there are conditions.
1. You are on parole. If I find out that you violated any of the rules, you are back to taking it off only for our session. Effective immediately.
2. You only take the brace off two times a day – early morning and in the evening."
When Steve wanted to protest, the therapist raised a finger and said "this is not negotiable."
When Steve didn't say anything the therapist said "3. The set times are when detective Williams is here. He's gonna supervise and…"
"Why?! That is not necessary!"
"One more interruption and the deal is off."
"I don't care!" Steve yelled.
"Steve!" It was the first time Danny spoke up.
"Don't take his side, Danny. He is treating me like a child and like it was my fault what happened. I am a grown man, okay? I can take care of myself. You don't have to babysit me!"
"I am on your side," Danny tried to reassure.
"Doesn't look like it," Steve commented.
"Actually, he is," the therapist joined the conversation again. "He is the person who called me."
"What?! Why…then why, why are you forcing me into those rules? I…I don't understand."
Danny and the therapist looked at each other and the detective nodded at the man in front of him to do the explanation.
"You know I had reservations letting you do this and why. Detective Williams vouched for you. He told me about your conversation and he is convinced that you will stick to the rules because you know the consequences if not – and I am not talking about cancelling our deal here. He is sure that you are serious about your recovery and he said you have never broken a promise you made to him. He knows you much better than I do. And that is why I agree to it."
"Danny," Steve said feeling very touched. He stood up and said "That…that is…thank you."
He hugged his friend, crutches in hand and only on one leg but he held tight until he started to sway.
"Hey, come on, sit down again before you take a dive. Because I can't catch you without both of us falling to the ground. And it's no big deal, it was just a call."
"Yes, it is! I can finally work on my own. It means a lot. Thank you. Seriously…really…I…I…"
"It's fine Steve. I know what it means to you."
"And you are going to work with this," the therapist had pulled a big device out of his bag.
"What is that?" Steve wanted to know.
"This is a motorized rail. It allows you to do continuous passive motions. The range of motion is adjustable from -5° extension to 120° flexion.
I will show you how to work with it. Detective Williams is going to make sure your leg is in the right position. You increase the degree only when I allow it. When you have reached 10° you can work on your own – not more than 2 times a day though. When you have reached 20° you can increase on your own – slowly – and only when bending goes without problems and without pain."

Steve was playing by the rules but despite his effort of doing the extra training, the progress remained slow.
He hated it but he tried to stay positive still having Danny's last pep talk on his mind.

He reached the 10° two days before his next check-up. The following day he made 15° while working with his therapist.
It had motivated him to the hilt and had also raised his hopes of finally getting rid of the cast and being able to put weight on his foot.
He was excited and couldn't wait to get to the hospital.

But his dreams were shattered the moment the doctor came in with the latest shots.
His ankle bones still hadn't grown together properly and would need further stabilization to prevent refracture.
"How is that possible?!" Steve asked upset. "I had broken bones before and it had never taken them this long to heal. In fact, I had been back to walking in half the time that is already over now. But you are telling me the bones are still not healed?! Will they even heal or are you just telling me that?!" Steve had gotten a bit louder with every sentence.
"Commander McGarrett, please calm down. I know it is not what you wanted but I am sure you had been told that this injury is going to take a lot longer than usual and…"
""A lot", yes." His words were dripping with sarcasm before his anger took over again "What is a lot - forever?! Never?!"
"Steve!" Danny called out. "Enough! Do not become unfair. I know how you feel but…"
"No, you don't!" came the answer. It was loud but it lacked the anger of before. It sounded sad and defeated. He couldn't hold Danny's gaze and looked on the floor.
"Hey, look at me!" Danny said. His tone soft now. "It's neither forever nor never, okay? It's just taking longer than you had expected. Remember when you've said that you are happy that there still is something to put a cast around? Now be happy that your ankle is still able to heal, that you can use it again. Hold on to that!"
"I know. I am sorry, Danny," Steve replied embarrassed. Then he looked at the doctor "I am sorry doc. I had just really hoped for something else. I…I didn't want to offend you."
"I know you did and I don't feel offended. I had heard much worse, believe me. We'll see us in two weeks."

Steve had sat down in the wheelchair without resistance and allowed himself to be driven to the exit.
He changed to his crutches and waited for Danny who was fetching the car, then he walked over and threw the crutches with more force than necessary into the passenger compartment.
Danny knew Steve needed some time to process but when his friend still hadn't said anything halfway through the drive he asked "You okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll get over it."
"I know you are disappointed but…"
"Danny, please, don't. I know it wasn't the doc's fault. I know you are right and I know it won't be the end of the world but I have to deal with that alone at the moment. I have to come to terms with myself."

When Danny parked the car in front of the house, Steve said "I don't know what I had been thinking. The doctor had told me the healing is behind schedule. It had just felt so great to finally make good progress. I think I was just too optimistic. So, it's my own damn fault."
"Just like that, huh?" Danny asked.
"No, not just like that," Steve disagreed. "It was based on analyzing the situation and coming to conclusions," he stated.
"Wow, for a moment you had me fooled there." Danny said.
"What do you mean?"
"For a moment, with all the emotions coming out and sharing feelings, I had really thought you are a human being after all and I had been wrong all these years."
"This isn't funny, Danny."
"No, it is not. In fact, I am glad that you had shown these emotions and talked to me. You don't have to hide them – not in front of me anyway. They are part of the healing and you did a great job since our last talk a few weeks back. One bad day isn't a disaster. In fact, it is good. Just let it out from time to time. I am here to listen.
Now, come one. Let's get you out of the car.
How about some rest and a nap and a little fitness center tour after? We've missed the one last week."
"Sounds good to me. Thanks Danny." Steve smiled at his friend.

The following weeks went way too slow for Steve but he could deal with it because he had made a great step forward with reaching 40°.

When the next appointment was due, Steve wasn't without hope but he wasn't as excited as last time either.
When the doctor returned with the scan results, Steve tried to read the doctor's face but he couldn't determine if it was good or bad news.
"Commander McGarrett," he started. "I finally have good news for you. Your bones have healed and we can remove the cast.
You'll get a brace for support. I am going to inform your therapist as soon as we are done here and tell him you can start PT now, which will include standing and learning to walk again. Your therapist will talk with you about every single step of it.
The only advice I'm gonna give you is to be careful. Overdoing is still counterproductive and although the bones are healed, taking the full weight too early can still lead to injuries.
So, listen to your therapist. I don't want to see you here again anytime soon.
At least not as a patient."

Steve's knee was getting better daily now but his foot was killing him. The joint was stiff and movement hurt.
They had started with light exercises to loosen muscles and stretch tendons and ligaments after the long period of immobilization.
They had started with 10 Kg load four days prior and the therapist had told his patient that he wouldn't increase the weight until Steve had enough security while walking.
Steve was okay with it.
Being able to bend his knee almost fully and getting rid of the cast and its weight had helped him to feel a lot better.
Stressing himself out with working himself up with the lack of progress with his knee had been a lesson to him.
In addition to his daily – and approved – PT sessions on his own, he was also doing relaxation exercises to keep himself levelled. Also, he and Danny went to the gym once a week where he could do much more now.
And Danny had also instated another confirmed habit – going to the end of the lanai and letting Steve sit in a chair where he could see his beloved ocean.
Also Grace was visiting twice a week and every other whole weekend.
Considering where he had come from and the fact that he was still pretty limited in what he could do in comparison to before the injury, he felt pretty good.
He didn't know that Danny was about to make it even better.

They had been out for breakfast. After that they had gone to the mall to buy some new clothes for Grace's soccer practice. They had had lunch and somehow Grace had always found new places she wanted to go to and Danny had always approved.
Although they had brought the wheelchair for Steve to sit down when they had to wait somewhere or going a longer distance, Steve had been exhausted.
He was much longer on the move on crutches than at home. He didn't say anything though, because he knew that Danny was enjoying his Grace-time even more than he did.
While they were eating some ice-cream, Danny got a text message. He just glanced at it and put the phone back in his pocket.
"You don't want to answer that?" Steve asked.
"No. Need to finish my ice-cream. I can write back later."
A few hours back, Steve would have asked who texted but he was just too tired to think about that now.
Danny had noticed that Steve was already beat earlier but he couldn't let him go just yet.
Now he said "Okay, lets head home. Enough for today."
Although he had enjoyed the day, Steve was relieved that it was over. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and take a nap.
His body had other plans though. A minute after Danny had started the engine of his car, Steve fell asleep and didn't stir on the way.

Danny even had to shake him a bit by the shoulder to wake him up when they had reached the house.
Steve had slept so soundly that he was confused at where he was at first.
Then he remembered.
"Sorry Danny. I wanted to wait until we are home. Didn't work out so good huh?" he asked.
"No need to apologize. I know it was a long and strenuous day for you. And I'll make up for that." Danny said softly.
"No need to either," Steve replied in a soft tone as well. "It was a great day. I am just not used to this much "action" anymore and needed a nap. Still do."
"I think this has to wait."
"Why?"
"Because I want to show you something," Danny answered.
"What? I mean…can't that wait? I am really tired Danny," Steve said and his voice as well as his face monitored that.
"I know you are. About the waiting though…what do you think?" Danny asked and pointed to the front door.
Grace was standing in the doorway with a big smile on her face and barely able to stand still.
"Guess not," Steve answered. He managed a smile and said "Let's go then."

"What? When?" Steve said stunned, standing at the end of the lanai.
Then it dawned on him.
"That's why we were "on tour" the whole day, right? The text…the text. That was the "all-clear", right?" Steve asked, suddenly wide awake and bursting with energy. "Can…can we go down there?" he asked excited.
"That's what it's for, babe," Danny answered.
Without any further encouragement Steve walked down the wooden path which the team and some other friends had built during the day.
At the end of it stood a comfortable looking chair with broad skids underneath its legs.
"Sit down, uncle Steve, sit down, come on," Grace cried out excitedly and actually bounced up and down.
After Steve had reached the chair he complied with her request.
"Take your shoes off. Oh…can you do it or should I help you? I wouldn't mind. I…"
"Grace," Danny interrupted standing behind the chair. "Calm down, give uncle Steve some time…and space."
"Sorry Danno…uncle Steve."

In the meantime, Steve had seen through what this was all about. He was almost as excited as Grace now. After he had put off his shoes and the brace, Danny had pushed the chair a bit forward.
Then Grace cried out with excitement. Steve first sighed, then smiled, then said "This is heaven."
The waves had engulfed his feet for the first time in almost six months.