Disclaimer: Hawaii Five-0 and its characters do not belong to me.

...

As the final gunshot rang out in the warehouse and the final perpetrator fell unceremoniously onto the ground, the team let out a collective sigh. It had been a wild day. And days like this, they wished that they still had Steve and Danny to hold the reins. The team slowly filed out of the warehouse. Leaving the other members trailing behind him, Junior tore out of the building, heading towards his truck. He stripped out of his tactical vest and ripped the gloves off his hands. Hurriedly, he reached for his phone, a crease appearing on his forehead as he looked at the screen.

"Everything alright, Junes?" Tani caught up to him and asked. Placing a comforting hand on his back, she resisted the urge to peer into his phone to find out what was bugging her boyfriend.

He heaved a sigh. "Yea.. yeah.. I think so."

"You think?" Tani eyed him curiously, knowing her boyfriend too well to know he was hiding something that was worrying him. "Tell me what's going on." Her brows furrowed.

He shrugged. "Noth.. Just that.. Danny.."

Concern immediately wrinkled her features. "What's wrong with Danny?" Tani asked loudly.

Tani's raised voice had attracted the attention of Adam and Lou who jogged over to their position. "What's going on? Everyone alright?" Lou asked. "Anyone hurt?"

"We're fine.. It could be nothing, alright?" Junior said calmly although there was no way he could hide the worry tracing his forehead.

"What could be nothing?" Lou asked.

"Danny.. Has anyone heard from him? He was supposed to let me know when he reached his house. But.. umm it's been two hours since and.. He hasn't answered my texts or calls. Just wanted to make sure he made it home alright." Junior said as he yet again dialled Danny's number and put the phone to his ear.

They looked at him hopefully, praying that their second-in-command would answer the phone. Junior shook his head.

"Still no answer." Junior said. "It's probably nothing, right.. Maybe he fell asleep." Junior offered but he could hardly believe his own reasoning especially since he recalled how Danny had seemed off before he left earlier.

"I'l.." Lou started just as his phone rang. He fished out the phone from his pocket, sighing heavily at the name flashing on the screen. "It's Steve." He said before answering the call.

"Hey Steve..How's.."

"Lou, is Danny with you?" Steve interrupted, not bothered with any form of greeting.

Lou gulped. "No. No, he's not.. We just finished an op."

Steve heaved. "Danny's okay, right?" Steve asked.

"Uh.. yeah, yeah sure he is... What's going on, Steve?"

"I..I don't know. Just get this feeling something is not right." Steve breathed, his voice rushed with panic. "I got a call from him earlier. But I couldn't catch anything. There was nothing on the other end and then the call.. the call ended abruptly."

"Oh.." Lou stumbled, his face paled as he looked at his team.

"I've been trying to call him since but the call won't connect." Steve continued.

"Um.."

"Lou, is Danny really alright?" Steve asked again, his voice pleading.

Lou breathed. "Yeah.. Look Steve, I'll get him to give you a call as soon as I can alright? I.. I need to go right now.. I'll call you soon.." He wanted nothing but to cut the call short as he too had no idea what was going on with Danny.

"Thanks.. Lou.. Tell Danny.. umm, it's okay just.. just get him to call me back."

Lou nodded (little use that was), before he hung up the call. He looked up at his team. "I think something might be wrong... Can you guys handle things here?"

Tani nodded determinedly. "Go check on him. We'll wrap things up here. Let us know when you find him."

"Let's hope we're just overthinking.." Lou said as he turned towards his truck. But who was he kidding, really? He had barely made the turn out of the warehouse when he received the call he never wanted to receive from Duke. Tires screeching, he sped off, unable to contain the anxiety building in his chest as he hoped to god that he hadn't lied when he told Steve that Danny was alright.

...

The first thing he was aware of was the intense throbbing in his chest and then his head. Why did everything hurt so much?

"Sir?"

His senses were slowly coming back to him, light seeping beneath his eyelids, a pesky buzzing filled his ears. The agony that wrecked his body was almost unbearable, nudging him back towards the dark oblivion. He wished he could stay there for good.

"Sir, can you hear me?"

Leave me alone, he wanted to say. Let me sleep.

"Detective Williams.." This was a different voice, somewhat familiar.

His eyes peeked open, resisting the tempting relief of unconsciousness.

A rhythmic, frenzied beeping assaulted his ears, worsening the ache in his head. He raised his right arm to shut the sound out only to be met with a sharp pain that radiated from the back of his hand.

What the hell?

"Detective, you just need to calm down." The voice soothed. "You're alright."

He blinked hazily, looking at his hand and finding an IV drip connected to him. Slowly, realisation dawned upon him. The environment was way too familiar. The voice. The scent that wafted into his nose almost caused him to puke. Not because it was nasty. But because the memories associated with this place were ones he never wanted to visit ever again. The bitter scent of anti-septic with slight undertones of pine from whatever detergent cleaner was used there triggered his buried memories. The place where he had almost lost his friend once.

Tripler Army Medical Centre.

Breathing in, he forced himself up, ignoring the dizzying wave of nausea rolling in his stomach. His vision slowly cleared up.

"What..ha..penned?" He croaked, surprised to find his voice hoarse. He looked at the doctor, unsurprised to find Dr Cornett hovering over him.

"You were in a collision." Right.. the truck.. It was barrelling towards him.. How was he still alive?

He sighed, a laugh almost bubbled out of his chest. What irony his life was? For all the times that he had chastised Steve for driving recklessly, turned out he was the one who actually would end up crashing the car. And that too his mere week-old Camaro. How great!

Steve would definitely gloat over this. If he were here..

He swallowed the pang in his chest.

"Right.. Anyone else hurt?" He asked.

"The truck driver is fine."

"Good.." He sighed. And well, it was a good thing he was alone in the car. No one else was..

Wait.. Eddie! Where was..

The beeping next to him picked up pace. "Eddie.. Whe.. Where's Eddie? Is he.. Where's Ed.." He shouted, the prospect of losing his only companion terrified him. "Where's my dog? Where's Eddie?!" He asked, tears stinging his eyes.

"Detective, your dog's fine. Please, you need to calm down." Dr Cornett held him down as he attempted to get up.

"I wa... where is he? I need to make sure he's okay." Danny breathed. He's all I have left...

"Danny!"

"Duke.." He looked confused for a moment and then the tension left his body as he saw the dog next to Duke Lukela. "Eddie!" He ripped out the IV connected to him, ignoring the dissent from Doctor Cornett. "I'm fine." He said, roughly shaking away from Dr Cornett's hold as he stood up and approached his dog.

He knelt down, his bad knee be damned, as he hugged his buddy. Eddie leaned heavily on him, barking and wagging his tail anxiously. "I'm so sorry buddy.. so sorry.. You're okay.. you're alright." He soothed. "You're a good boy, huh. You're okay. We're okay."

He looked up at Duke. "He's okay, right?" Danny asked.

Duke nodded. "He's all checked out. Poor guy is rattled, though. You got lucky, Danny. The truck managed to slow down in time. Barely clipped the front side of your car."

Danny nodded. "Yeah.." He got lucky. He looked at Dr Cornett. "So am I cleared to leave?"

"Not so fast, Detective. You hit your head and lost consciousness for a while. We'll have to wait for your CT results. If it's all clear, I will have no qualms releasing you. After you finish this line of IV."

"But doc.." Danny began.

"No buts, Detective." Doctor Cornett said firmly. "One hour is all I ask for. That's not too much, is it?"

"No, doc." He resigned, settling back onto the bed as he knew he had no choice. As the nurse reinserted the IV into his hand, he slowly succumbed to the darkness awaiting him.

...

As promised, one hour later, he was cleared by the doctor. Well, almost. Doctor Cornett had mentioned something about not liking his chest sounds but he had assured the doctor that he was due for an appointment with his doctor the day after. And this time he wasn't lying. Reluctant as he was, Doctor Cornett had signed his discharge papers.

Danny grabbed hold of Eddie's leash, walking towards the door and ready to call a cab when he realised his phone had died. He sighed inwardly, maybe it had been a bad idea to get Duke to leave earlier.

Left without a choice, he slowly made his way to the taxi queue. As he was walking over to the long line, he heard his name being called. "Danny!"

He turned to see Lou jogging up to him with an almost angry expression.

"Hey." He managed pathetically, inwardly chastising Duke for not keeping his end of the deal to keep this to himself, although he was also thankful for the ride home.

Lou looked at him and then Eddie and back at him again. "Let's get you both home." He said stoically before leading the way to his truck. The whole ride home was silent, tension building in the truck. He could almost feel the heat radiating from his friend but he chose to ignore it. Besides, silence was good. He needed it. He closed his eyes, earning himself a small respite on the way home.

He heard the car door click open. Slowly, he opened his heavy eyelids, seeing Lou at the door next to him. "Danny.." Lou voiced. "We're here."

He nodded, pushing himself out of the seat. The throbbing in his head was disorienting. He could barely keep himself upright with the exhaustion that had blanketed his whole being. What a day it had been.. Still he kept on a poker face, knowing the man in front of him was analysing his every move.

"Umm.. thanks for the ride." He said, as Lou closed the car door behind him. "I'll see you then.." Walking to his door, he realised that Lou wasn't about to leave as the big guy trailed behind him.

"I.. I am fine, you don't have to.." He paused as Lou glared at him. "..stay." He finished quietly.

He took a deep breath which strangely, was unable to quell the ache in his chest. Pushing open the door, he was greeted with a bone-chilling emptiness. He switched the lights on and led himself to the couch, Lou followed.

They sat in complete silence for a few minutes. The silence was exploding his eardrums.

He breathed. "Umm.. Are you gonna say something or just.. i don't know continue staring at me like a creepy maniac?" He asked, lacing his words with his usual sarcasm in what he admitted was a flaky attempt at deflecting from the very real and very huge elephant in the room.

Lou let out a huge sigh, yet remained silent. He scratched his smooth, shiny head before getting off the seat with a soft grunt. He began his distraught pacing across Danny's small living room.

"Thirteen." Danny said. "That is thirteen times you've blown air out of your mouth since we entered the house."

"Forteen now.." He said without missing a beat when the big guy huffed again. "You trying to pollute the air in my house or what?"

Lou remained silent, refusing to respond to his quips.

"Lou, brother come on..."

"Don't." Lou said, looking at him sternly. "Don't call me that."

Danny swallowed as his eyes met Lou's. The stricken look on Lou's face quite easily shut up any retort from him.

"You think this is funny? This is funny to you, Danny?" Lou continued, his voice trembling beneath his strong exterior.

He shook his head. "Lo.."

"What the hell, Danny?" Lou asked, attempting to keep his voice as calm as possible. He reclaimed the seat opposite Danny. "Why did I have to hear from Duke that you were T-boned at an intersection today? That you were found passed out in your car in the middle of a junction.."

"It's nothi..."

"Don't say it's nothing." Lou shook his head firmly. "Just don't. You call me your brother but you couldn't even.. You couldn't trust to call me after what happened? Why didn't you call me when you were brought to the ER? Why wasn't anyone of us notified wh.."

The realisation hit him probably the same time it hit Lou. "Steve's still my emergency contact." He mumbled. "I should probably change it."

He cleared his throat as he could feel the tears brimming in his eyes.

"You could have called us after.. If Duke hadn't told me, you wouldn't even have told me.. or anyone.." Lou said.

"I didn't want to.. bother you guys. You were working."

"How can I make you understand that.. you are not bothering us." Lou sighed. "You would have dropped everything if it was either of us in your place. What makes you think we won't do the same for you?"

He breathed, the discomfort in his chest squeezing his heart in ways that tormented him. He winced.

"You okay?" He asked, a tinge of worry in his voice. "How're you feeling? Were you hurt?"

"I'm okay." He looked away. "The truck barely touched my car.. Eddie's doing worse. He's still rattled by it." Danny confessed, looking over at his current best friend which was curled up at his feet with guilt in his eyes.

"I should hit you just for that but I'll give you a free pass cos you look just as bad as my poor boy there. They checked you out thoroughly? Or rather I should ask if you allowed them to check you out?"

"Buddy, I'm fine alright?"

"Not the answer to my question. They checked you out? Should you have stayed in the hospital?"

"They checked me out, alright. And I'm fine."

Lou looked at him untrustingly but nodded anyway. "So tell me.. What happened? How?" Lou asked.

"Umm.." He grimaced, not due to the pounding in his head, but because he had seen this question coming yet he still hadn't found an answer (a lie) that would be convincing enough for Lou.

"Don't.. I know that face. You're making something up in that head of yours. So just don't. Tell me the truth. You're one of the safest drivers I know. According to Duke, the truck driver was in the right of way. You ran a signal. What happened?"

He swallowed, looking up at his friend. "I think you can guess.." Danny said.

"Pretty much. Can't be a coincidence that it happened there." Lou sighed.

"No.. no coincidence." Danny huffed. "I.. I don't know I.. it felt like I was back on that day.. I blacked out, didn't realise what was happening. I felt like they were all chasing me down the road.. I heard gunshots everywhere.." He chuckled drily, his hand unconsciously rubbing the spot on his chest that had received the bullet. "I know it's ridiculous.. but it felt real, you know.. and you know what's the funniest thing.. I called Steve.. the last person who would come to me.. I called him."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead as his headache intensified.

"Danny..." Lou frowned, gently squeezing his shoulder. "Tell me honestly. How are you feeling, really? Does this happen often?"

"Define often.." He deflected.

"Danny.." Lou looked at him sympathetically.

He breathed. "Don't. Come on, don't look at me like that... I'm fine, okay. I just.. I think about what happened that day pretty often. But never.. it's never this bad." He sighed.

"Danny, you should have talked to us about it. Let us know that.."

"I.. You know what happened. It's not something I can get over in a day or two. I'm a paranoid guy and.. that day.. I..I almost died, buddy." He chuckled as though it was a joke. "I really thought that was it for me." Before he realised what he was saying the words spilled out. "Sometimes I actually wonder why it wasn't.. Wh..why am I even still here?"

"Hey!" Lou looked at him with wide eyes. "Why would you say that? Danny, don't ever say that. You still have so much to live for."

He looked up at Lou, the concern spreading over the man's aged features made him feel guilty. He nodded his head, forcing a consolatory smile on his face.

But deep down, he really wasn't sure what it was that he had to live for.

His kids? Maybe. But increasingly, he was starting to believe they would be fine without him. Rachel's still a great mom even if she was a less than ideal partner for him. Stan was evidently a decent man who still treated Grace and Charlie like his own even when he had every reason to despise them. So, as much as he hated the thought, he knew that his kids would be just fine without him.

His parents? They'd be fine too. Stella and Bridget would take care of them and Eric was turning into a pretty good guy too though he would never say that to Eric's face. Ever.

His Ohana? Well, they'd be more than fine without him around. He's always needed them more than they needed him.

His..partner? Where was Steve anyway?

Everyone would be okay without him. So what was it Lou thought he still needed to live for? That should have been it. The final shot to the chest that he had to take. The one that should have stopped his heart for good.

But no, for some unknown reason, he survived, just to be beaten down again with another equally painful assault to his chest. One that has left a gaping hole in his heart. One that might just kill him this time.

Might as well.

"Nny..Danny!"

He looked up at his friend, almost dazed.

"You okay there?" Lou asked. "You zoned out for a bit."

He shook his head. "Yeah, I'm fine.. Just been a day, huh."

Lou huffed. "Could say that again.." He sighed. "Look Danny... We're friends right?"

He nodded.

"I don't want to overstep but.. Danny, this is bad.. It is not normal.." Lou said, the older man looking like he was about to pass out from an aneurysm.

"I know it's not normal." He said. "I.. Lou, I'm fine, okay? I.. I won't travel on that road again and I should be fine."

"That's not a solution.."

He knew it wasn't, but what else could he do. "Yes, it is.. The memory's still fresh, I wasn't ready for it. Maybe next time I need to take the road, you drive me."

"Danny.."

"Lou..please.. I'm tired. I'm really tired of things not being normal. I need my life back the way it was."

"You think sweeping it under the carpet is going to help."

"What do you want me to do?" He asked. "I'm at a loss, okay.. So maybe if..if you know what is it I need to do, you let me know." He said, a tinge of frustration clawing into his voice.

"Buddy, I'm really sorry.."

"No.. no.." He shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry.. I shouldn't be unloading on you."

"Danny, it's okay. Anytime you need me, you know it, I'm always here. I want you to know no matter what you need help with, you have it. You don't have to go at it alone."

He looked at his friend, nodding. "I..I do need your help. Can you keep this to yourself. I.."

"Danny.."

"Please.. Lou. I don't want the others to know.. I don't want them to worry and I really don't want to burden the kids."

"That's why you left Steve's house."

"Not the only reason." Danny said. "But you know.. Junior..if he finds out about this, I have a feeling he's not going to let me out of his sight. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate it. I just.. I don't want to be treated like a porcelain doll. Like I'm about to break at the slightest touch."

"But Danny, you need someone around. I'm worried. You'll be alone here. If something like that happens again..."

"Nothing will happen, alright?" Danny breathed. "I told you.. I just wasn't as ready as I thought I was to get behind the wheel again. And of all the roads in Oahu.. I had to be there again.. I didn't even think about it. Not until I was there.. But now that I know it could happen, I'll be more careful.."

"You thought of seeing someone?"

"You think dating would help?"

"Danny." Lou voiced sternly, obviously not amused at his flimsy joke.

He sighed deeply. "I.. as a matter of fact, I am. I am seeing a therapist."

"It's not helping, is it?" Lou asked.

He shrugged. "It takes time, Lou. This was..It was just once off, alright.. Nothing to worry about."

"Danny. Once off? It could have.. If the truck hadn't stopped in time.. God, I don't even want to think about what would have happened."

He swallowed. If the truck hadn't stopped in time, they wouldn't be having this conversation. Best case scenario, Lou would be staring down at his frigid, lifeless body in some godforsaken mortuary. That actually didn't sound so bad. All his pain would have vanished in an instant.

"So don't think about it. It didn't happen. I'm fine, Eddie's okay too. It won't happen again." Danny said.

"How are you so sure?"

"Lou, please... And stop giving me that face. Steve's aneurysm face doesn't look good on you."

Lou remained silent, biting his lower lip. Looking up at Danny, he then asked, "Should I call Steve?"

"Are you seriously asking or are you messing with me right now?"

'I'm serious." Lou said.

"No no no.. You're not telling him about this." Danny raised his voice slightly.

"Don't you think he should know? You two were partners, brothers..." Lou said.

"You answered your own question, Lou. Were. We were." Danny said.

"Danny.."

"Alright, then you tell me. What good would it do to tell him? Is he gonna come back because I had one panic attack?" Danny asked. "I'm not even sure he'd come back if the truck had actually killed me." He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

"Danny!" Lou voiced in shock, the image that came to his mind obviously distasteful. He inhaled slowly, composing himself. "How could you say that? Steve called. He was worried when he couldn't reach you after your call got disconnected. He still cares about you."

Danny shook his head. "Yeah.. I know.. But look, Lou.. Steve has enough to worry about as it is. He's already throwing his own pity party over whatever happened. You tell him about this..he's just going to blame himself even more. Let him have some peace, alright?" Danny said. "This is something I have to deal with myself."

"You don't have to deal with anything on your own. The team, we're all here for you, buddy."

"I appreciate that Lou, I do." He said. But there are just some things you guys can't help me with. "Look.. I'm a little tired. You should head on home. I promise you, I'm alright."

"You know I find it hard to believe you nowadays." Lou said.

"Lo.."

"Okay, okay. I'll go." Lou said. "But if you need anything at all. Anytime of the day.."

Danny nodded. "I'll call."

"Take care of yourself and my boy here." Lou said, getting up. He bent down to pat Eddie, "And I won't tell Steve. But don't forget to give him a call.."

"I will." He said.

Once Lou was out the door, he allowed his facade to break down, collapsing on the couch as sheer exhaustion overwhelmed his whole body. Calling Steve would have to wait.

...

A/N: Hi guys! Thank you for reading and your patience for the chapters to be published. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry if it's a bit too long (i really need to work on producing more consistent chapter lengths heh). Is Danny really okay? Guess we will find out.. Let me know what you think of the story! Thanks again and take care everyone :)