A/N: Thanks again for your kind words. I really appreciate every single fav, follow, review or pm. :)

Chapter 5

Steve had lost consciousness again. Danny could see that he was breathing, but what would he do if Steve stopped? It was a horrible thought. The words Steve had said earlier were stuck in his head and wouldn't go away: If I don't make it...

Would Steve maybe feel that his body was getting weaker and weaker and that's why he made this stupid attempt to say goodbye? Danny feared the answer.

He tried to push the thought away, but it was in vail. What would he do without Steve? What would he tell his kids when he couldn't save the life of their favourite uncle? And what would he tell the rest of their team – Chin? Kono? Their Ohana?…No, that was simply not an option. Steve just had to make it.

By now it was getting dark outside and Danny realized that they would have to get through the night somehow before they had a chance to be rescued.

He tried to make it as comfortable as possible for Steve and hoped that he would sleep a few hours despite the pain. For him, however, it was a completely different story. He tried to find a position in the co-pilot's seat that wasn't too uncomfortable, but sleeping was still out of the question. While Steve fortunately slept for a while, he couldn't sleep a wink. Worry and fear wouldn't let him. Instead, he listened to make sure that he could still hear the sounds of Steve's breathing.

In the middle of the night, he watched Steve toss and turn again under the covers. His moans grew louder. Danny touched his arm softly. "Hey babe, I'm here... Listen, you can wake up if you need anything..." Danny saw Steve coming around…

"Hey buddy…how are you feeling?"

"D…Danny...I think… I need to pee."

Somehow Danny was glad it wasn't something worse.

"Sure, partner, but please do me a favour and don't even think about going outside, just use this instead," Danny said firmly and handed Steve an empty plastic bottle, leaving him no choice.

Steve knew he probably wouldn't win the argument, so he took the bottle and nodded silently. Then Danny helped Steve into an upright position while Steve tried to do too much on his own. He pressed an arm to support his midsection and moaned painfully. "Easy Steve, take it easy, don't push yourself."

Then Danny helped Steve as discreetly as possible so as not to embarrass him more than necessary.

When he was finished, Danny convinced Steve to take the last two pain meds and gave him some more water. "What about… the res… rescue team?" Steve asked clearing his throat.

"Steve, it's two in the middle of the night. I'm sorry but I think we still have a few more hours to go. But fortunately the weather has improved. I'm sure they'll come for us in the morning."

"I didn't know you could be such an optimist," Steve gave his otherwise pessimistic partner a little side-knock.

"Well, man, you said I had to change. See, it might have happened sooner than you thought." They both gave each other a slight grin.

Danny could see how much energy the last five minutes had taken out from Steve. "Go back to sleep Steve, it's the best you can do and you need to rest."

In fact, it was a real struggle for Danny to stay hopeful. But he knew he had to be strong for Steve. He remembered countless times when they were in critical situations together and Steve was the one with the positive attitude and used to encourage him. Now it was up to him to take on that role.

The hours passed and soon the sun would rise again. Just as he began to think positively again - after all, they had made it this far and soon there was a real chance of being rescued - he examined his partner and saw that Steve's condition had changed dramatically...

He touched his forehead. His skin was cold and drenched in sweat; his face was ghostly white and sunken. But what worried him most was that Steve's breathing was much too fast and shallow, and his pulse was racing faster than it had been since he'd last checked it. He hung his head for a moment, eyes closed, then pleaded: "Oh God, please!...Please…Steve, just hold on a little longer."

He knew the signs of shock. That was one thing he was afraid of. Steve had lost a lot of blood. He tried to remember what to do. Keep checking for a pulse and breathing. Keep his legs up. Keep his body warm. Call 911 - he gladly wanted to do that if it would be possible.

There wasn't much else he could do. Steve urgently needed professional medical attention now, or...he didn't dare to finish the thought.

All he could do was stay by Steve's side, hope and pray…

505050505050505050

At Five-0 headquarters the day before:

When Chin and Kono heard about the attack on Danny and Steve's flight, they wanted to leave immediately for their rescue. But the control centre had stopped them. When they tried to convince a pilot, he said it would be suicide to take off at that time. So they had no choice but to wait.

Another question was who attacked the flight and why? Everyone was trying to get as much information as possible. But they all agreed that the first priority was to rescue their colleagues and friends.

In the evening Chin and Kono stood along with Jerry around the big table and speculated about the best place to start the search.

"Based on the information we have, their last position must have been somewhere around here," Jerry explained as he flipped a map up on the screen. "We know they ran out of fuel and didn't have much time," he added. "We also know that Steve is injured and that Danny made the SOS call," Chin said. "So we can assume that Steve was in no condition to do that, probably unresponsive," Kono mentioned with a serious expression.

"Yea, which is why Danny decided to land on the beach," Chin said.

"There aren't many options. The island has a lot of cliffs. If I had to land there, the only option that makes sense is here." Jerry drew a small circle on the screen.

"Right," Chin said, "let's start there. Good work Jerry"

"Did they say when we can take off?" Kono asked impatiently.

"Not yet, unfortunately, but the weather report says the storm will clear up later tonight," Chin said with a sigh.

"Did Danny mention anything about Dae Won, I mean, do you think he's still with them?" Kono suddenly had the thought.

"No, he didn't say anything, but since we have no other information, we have to assume that he is," Chin said.

"Chin, if he's still alive, he must have figured out by now that Danny and Steve are cops, and that would mean they have another problem to deal with."

"Kono, let's hope for the best. We'll be prepared when we get there," her cousin tried to reassure her.

"Okay guys, I think it's best if we get some sleep, it won't help them if we stand around here all night waiting," Chin suggested.

So the team decided to get up early in the morning and try their luck again. At 6:15 a.m., Kono and Chin were finally cleared for takeoff, while Jerry stayed at headquarters.

Every minute they were in the air felt like an hour. But when they finally flew over Kahoʻolawe and reached the area they had been talking about, Chin spotted a wreck on the beach with his binoculars.

"Kono! I think I got something here! Look it must be them!" Chin handed the binoculars to Kono.

505050505050505050

Woah, what was that? Danny heard a loud noise, it sounded like...he dared not to hope...it could have been only his imagination. But the noise was definitely getting louder; it sounded like… the blades of a helicopter! He immediately opened the door and looked up to the sky. His senses had not betrayed him and he wasn't dreaming. Still Danny couldn't believe what he saw: There was not just one helo, no, there were actually two. Kamekona's face was visible from a distance on one of them, and the other one was a rescue helicopter.

WOW…Finally! Thank God! He thought, making a folding hand gesture to the sky.

For the first time in hours, he actually had some good news to tell.

"Steve, I can see them; they're on the way. Help is almost here." Danny let out a cry of joy and gently shook Steve's arm.

Steve's eyes slid half open. "S...sounds good." Steve managed the words in a very weak voice, barely audible. Then he was out again. He didn't have the urge to hold out any longer and he didn't want to, nor could he.

"Steve? Hey buddy, come on, you can't give up now. They're here to get us." Danny couldn't help it, but he could feel the fear rising in him again as Steve closed his eyes and gave no response. He checked his breathing one more time, it was still there, but very weak. When he touched him, he felt that his skin wasn't cold anymore; in fact, his forehead was much warmer than before. "Oh my gosh, now he's got a fever on top of everything!.. It's really about time that they are coming..." Danny muttered and took in a deep breath... but at least he wouldn't have to deal with this situation alone from now on. Steve would get professional care, and that was all that mattered. His best friend was going to be saved! They were going to be saved!

Although it was impossible to miss the plane on the beach, Danny quickly got out, looked in the direction of the landing helicopters, and waved his arms vigorously. He just wanted to be sure. Chin and Kono wasted no time in sprinting toward Danny, followed by the rescue team from the other helicopter.

When they reached his side, Danny was at a loss for words to express his relief; he simply collapsed into the arms of Kono and Chin.

"Hey Brah, good to see you're in one piece!" Chin pulled Danny into his embrace. "How are you? Is Steve okay?" Both asked as they saw Dae Won's body lying near the wreckage.

Through the open door they could see Steve lying motionless in the pilot's seat, head down and legs up, a pool of half-dried blood on the ground. A jumble of the contents of a medical kit, blood-soaked tissues, swabs and instruments lay still scattered around. It looked like something out of a horror movie where someone had been slaughtered. Kono covered her mouth in shock as she took in the gruesome images.

"He's still alive," Danny said quickly when he saw the shocked expression in their faces, "and I'm fine, but...Steve...he was shot and I couldn't stop the bleeding." Danny looked guilty somehow, his glossy eyes fixed on Chin and Kono…

"Chin, Kono,"…Danny's voice trembled…" I...I had to remove the bullet... Jeez, I hope I didn't make things worse... Now he's in pretty bad shape. Please help him, don't let him die!" Danny begged, looking at the entire rescue team, completely exhausted and on the verge of tears.

A man in his forties and a young woman were already rushing into the plane to meet their new patient. An unfolded stretcher was already prepared.

Both, Chin and Kono, were quite shaken when they heard Danny's plea, but they tried to stay strong for Danny. "It's okay, Danny. It's all over now. You did what you had to do," Chin said, trying to comfort him.

"Boss is our Super-SEAL, he is strong. He is going to survive this." Kono tried to sound convinced but didn't trust her own words.

When the paramedics started working on Steve, Danny saw that they had already given him something for the pain and started an IV. Finally he's getting the good stuff, he's suffered enough. Danny thought.

After a collar was placed around his neck, they all watched as they lifted Steve from the seat, carefully placed him on the stretcher and laid him on the beach in front of the wreckage for further examination.

"Come on Danny; give them some space to work. They will take good care of him and you need to get yourself checked out." Kono and Chin tried to convince Danny to leave Steve to the professionals. After all, Danny was on the plane, too, and he should get a first check-up, too.

"No, I'm fine. I won't leave him now." He had just finished this sentence when he heard the paramedic's man say: "He's not breathing...O2 is dropping - we need to intubate!"

Danny's heart began to speed up again… All three were alarmed and turned their attention back to Steve.

The man was already ventilating Steve with a breathing mask when the woman quickly handed over an intubation kit. Then they watched as the tube was inserted and pushed down into Steve's throat. In less than a minute, they had Steve intubated with a professional, steady hand.

Danny barely had time to catch his breath before the next piece of bad news hit him...

"Cardiac arrest!" the woman yelled.

"Starting CPR - get the paddles ready!" was the next thing heard.

No, this wasn't happening!

They were all shocked at the sudden turn of events. "No, no, no, Steve, p-please no!"

As the woman prepared the defibrillator, they saw the doctor perform chest compressions on Steve. Then she attached the electrodes ready to shock him.

"All clear?!" …"Go!"

Steve's body jerked at the shock….

"Nothing. No pulse."

"Come on, buddy, you can't do this to me! Please! Stay with me, Steve!" Danny felt the need to touch his best friend but the paramedics wouldn't let him.

"Again!... Clear?!... Go!"

Steve's body jerked again, but he remained stubbornly still.

"Again!... Clear?!... …Go!"

They waited a few seconds as they all stared at the small monitor that was supposed to show the difference between life and death.

But all what they could see was a flat line displayed on the instrument...

"Steve, come on, don't you dare give up on me! You hear me?" Danny shouted his voice breaking as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Chin placed a comforting hand on Danny's back to let him know he wasn't alone as they all watched in horror at the scene unfolding before their eyes.

This can't be the end. It can't be….

tbc

A/N: So the rescue team has finally arrived. But was it too late for Steve? (Not) so sorry for the little cliffie - I couldn't resist (that's how things work here, right? ;) Your thoughts are more than appreciated.