Chapter 6

Kono, meanwhile, started a query with the cell phone provider to see if White had a cell phone. After the answer was positive, she tried to locate it. But it seems to be switched off. It is not to be found. Just as she is about to try again, her cell phone rings.

"Kono?"

"Yeah, Duke?"

"There's a Lynn on the line, says she's friends with Steve. Do you want me to put her through?" "Yes, Duke, thank you." Kono picks up the call.

"Lynn? It's Kono."

"Kono, thank God. I can't reach Danny and I didn't know who else to call."

"What happened?"

"Steve, he, ... he borrowed my car and drove off in it. He said he had to hurry."

"He did WHAT?"

Breathing heavily, Steve has to stop again. His side hurts like crazy by now, blood is coming out of the stitches and seeping into his shirt. Don't give up, Steve, you have to help Danny.

Suddenly he hears engine noises. A car approaches him from the front. Steve quickly steps behind a tree. Not a moment too soon, because shortly afterwards the old Dodge he was chasing passes him. Steve looks behind him in panic.

He is too late. He mobilizes all his strength and runs as fast as he can further along the path. Soon he reaches the parking position of the Dodge and follows the tracks into the forest.

Shortly after, he stands in front of a freshly closed pit. Steve's heart grows heavy and tears come to his eyes.

"Danny?"

He drops to his knees and starts digging with his hands. Desperate, he hears himself call out 'Danny' over and over.

Danny tries to stay as calm as possible, maybe he can keep the cavity upright for a bit. He has crouched down and covered his legs with his head. He thinks of everyone he cares about. Rachel, his kids, Steve, and all the others. Steve? He's hallucinating now. No, there it was again. Someone is calling his name. Then he notices the earth around him start to move again. He doesn't dare call out, what if he is hallucinating after all and he is just clearing the way for the earth to enter his airways. Then he feels groping hands and the voice is very close.

"Danny?"

Steve doesn't know where he gets the strength, he just keeps digging. No matter what's wrong with Danny, he has to get him out of there. Finally he seems to be deep enough, he can see a shock of blond hair. Carefully, he pushes the earth further aside.

"Danny? Danny please." Then all of a sudden the mop of hair moves and Danny's head lifts out of the earth, gasping for air. Steve can hardly believe his luck.

"Danny!" Stunned, Danny looks at him.

"Steve. What? How?"

His gaze travels along his completely filthy friend and lingers on the bloody shirt. After a few more minutes, Danny is finally able to sit up. Exhausted and at his wits end, Steve remains seated. Danny climbs out of the pit and pulls his friend out as well. Pale, Steve leans against the nearest tree and slides down it.

"Steve, what are you doing?"

"Just a minute." Danny sits down next to him. Basically, Steve is right. White is long gone and they both need a break right now. Since Danny can't hug Steve like this, he puts his hand on his shoulder and looks at him from the side.

"I still can't believe you're here," and more quietly he continues, "thanks, Pal!"

Quietly comes from Steve a "You're welcome, Danny." A slight tremor accompanies his words. Concerned, Danny looks at Steve's side. Since they've been sitting here, the blood stain has gotten even bigger. A bad feeling creeps up on him. Steve needs to go back to the hospital.

"Come on Steve, we need to see about getting you back to the hospital."

Reluctantly, Steve stands up. Danny puts Steve's arm around his shoulders and supports him as he walks.

Finally they get closer to the road again. Steve suddenly fumbles in his pants pocket and holds out a car key to Danny.

"Maybe you'd better drive."

Puzzled, Danny looks around, then sees the Challenger parked behind some bushes.

"Is that Lynn's car?" Steve nods and leans against the passenger side. Then his legs give out and he slides down the side of the car and remains sitting, exhausted.

"STEVE!" In three steps, Danny is with Steve.

"It's all right, I think I overdid it a little." Relieved, Danny shakes his head. This guy.

He still can't believe that Steve ran away from the hospital to look for him, and to find him, too. He opens the passenger door and puts Steve in the seat. Then he drives straight back to the hospital. As they pull up, Greg approaches them with a gurney. Another orderly seems to have informed Dr. Carter, because he comes toward them shaking his head. Without another word, he accepts Steve and immediately takes him back to the operating room to treat the wound again.

Attentively, Greg eyed him.

"You okay, Detective?" Danny looks down at himself. He's covered in dirt and sand.

"Thanks to the Neanderthal in there, yeah. But I'd like to put on something clean."

"You do that Detective, I'm sure that'll take his hour in there, and hopefully this time he won't run away again." Danny nods. He gets in the Challenger and drives home. As soon as he parks the car, the door opens and Rachel comes running out with the kids. Firmly he takes them in his arms, they are all three ok. Briefly, he reports what has happened and uses Rachel's cell phone to inform Chin that he is fine and that White is still out there somewhere. Then he quickly jumps in the shower, changes and heads back to the hospital. He wants to be there when Steve gets out of surgery. Shortly after, Kono, Chin and Catherine join him again as well. Gerry White has disappeared off the face of the earth. He has probably long since left the island.

Soon, the door to the operating room opens and an orderly wheels out Steve, who is still asleep. Dr. Carter steps up to the friends, who look at him questioningly.

"The commander was once again more lucky than good, the wound had reopened relatively wide and had to be re-sutured. He will sleep for a moment now. But should be responsive again in an hour or two." He eyed the four attentively.

"Do I want to know why the commander would just leave the hospital in that condition? This could have turned out very differently..."

Quietly, Danny replies, "To save my life. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here right now." Dr. Carter raises an eyebrow and replies just as quietly.

"Blessed is he who has the commander for a friend." He pauses for a moment.

"You can go see him if you like. And it would be nice if he'd get well this time."

"Thanks, Doc."

When Steve wakes up from the anesthesia and looks around, everyone is there. Catherine, Danny, Chin and Kono. They are allowed to stay for a moment, then Greg chases them out the door. As Catherine goes to say goodbye, Steve holds her hand.

"Cath?"

"Yes, Sailor?"

"When will I see you again?" She looks lovingly at him and a mischievous grin curls her lips, "What do you think about tomorrow?"