Sorry for the delay in updating, life stuff... But back at it now. Enjoy this next chapter. Next ones should come a little quicker again.
The waiting room had a handful of other people already in it. They'd all been brought here by a multitude of different circumstances. But within that room they all had a singular focus, wait and worry.
Steve, Kono and Chin joined them, adding their own anxieties to the weight of the heavy blanket draped over the room.
Steve slumped into a nearby chair and Kono claimed the chair next to him.
Moving from the exam room to the waiting room, closer to where Danny was, had felt like progress. But now that they were here they were left again with only waiting. Waiting... just waiting.
Steve sat, seemingly poised, his incessantly tapping hand the only evidence to the turmoil raging inside.
The lack of action however was suddenly enough to cause him to spring up and pace. If only to exhaust some of his pent up energy.
He paced and waited and paced. Then Chin held out a cup of coffee in his path and placed a comforting arm around his shoulder directing him back to a nearby chair.
Steve slumped into the seat, clutching at his side when he unintentionally jarred his ribs.
Looking up, Steve saw Joe lingering hesitantly at the edge of the waiting room. He stood there like a moth circling a flame, drawn in by the need to get closer but wary of the burn that might follow.
"No, I can't right now," Steve muttered, his voice low and rough, addressing Chin without really looking at him. The air between Steve and Joe crackled with unspoken tension, like two storm fronts brushing against each other.
"It's too much, I can't." is all Steve could express. His eyes, though, told the story—pleading with Chin to handle Joe. Chin understood and he moved across the room to intercept Joe.
"Hey, no updates yet," Chin began, cutting straight to the point, anticipating Joe's question.
"How's... how's Steve?" Joe asked, his voice tight with concern.
"He's a wreck, but he's holding on." Chin paused, reading Joe's weary face. "Listen, we appreciate everything you've done, but—"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Joe interrupted with a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping under the weight of understanding. His eyes lingered on Steve, filled with sorrow and compassion, before he spoke again. "Do me a favor..."
"Sure thing, Joe. I'll keep you updated," Chin replied quickly, sensing where Joe was headed.
"And take care of Steve," Joe finished, his gaze never wavering from Steve's hunched form. Then, he turned abruptly and walked away.
Chin watched him go, before shifting his focus back to Steve.
Suddenly he felt a pang of guilt. In his own swirling worry for Danny, he had missed the signs—hadn't been as attentive to Steve's well-being as he should have been.
He saw now his boss's disheveled appearance. The crisp white shirt that Steve had been given contrasted sharply with the worn and battered features of Steve's face. The soft cotton fabric served to hide the bandages across his torso. But Steve's guarded posture and shallow breaths broadcast the pain he was trying so hard to suppress.
The realization struck Chin hard, like a punch to the gut. He berated himself for missing all the signs that Steve was not as well as he let on. Determined to correct his oversight, Chin moved toward Steve. But as he was crossing the room to address Steve, a man in blue scrubs entered.
"Family of Detective Daniel Williams?"
Steve jumped to his feet, Chin and Kono were quickly next to him at each shoulder... all looking anxiously at the doctor.
"Yes. Commander Steve McGarrett. We're Five-O, he's my partner," Steve stammered.
"I'm Dr. O'Neill, the trauma surgeon who worked on Detective Williams. Daniel is still in critical condition but we have managed to stabilize him for now.
He went into cardiac arrest in the trauma unit, but we were able to resuscitate him. He's in hypovolemic shock due to significant blood loss. We've placed a central venous line to help stabilize his blood pressure and support his overall vitals.
The bullets caused substantial internal damage—several ribs are fractured, his spleen was ruptured, and it seems that his heart may be compromised. We're still assessing the full extent of the damage, and the cardiovascular team will be assisting with that part of the surgery."
Dr. O'Neill paused, allowing them a moment to process the information. His voice was clinical, but he wasn't unkind. "In addition, he's sustained a concussion. While we haven't seen any signs of swelling in his brain at this point, we'll be closely monitoring for that as well. There are also various other injuries—non-life-threatening, but still significant."
He glanced around at their faces before continuing. "I understand this is a lot to take in. Right now, the most important thing is that he's stable, and we're doing everything we can. He's still in surgery, and it will be several more hours before we're through." O'Neill waited for the information to sink in.
Chin cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "How long will the surgery take?"
"At least a few more hours," Dr. O'Neill replied. "After that, it will depend on how well he responds to treatment. It's going to be a long night. My suggestion is that you take the time to go home and get some rest if possible." He directed the last part at Steve, whose exhaustion was impossible to miss.
Steve, who had been paralyzed since the mention of Danny's heart, broke out of his trance.
"No, I can't. I'm gonna stay right here. I need to be here" and then he added "Can we see him?" Steve needed to know, needed to see for himself that his partner was still alive. The doctor shook his head.
"I'm afraid not at the moment, no. I'm sorry. But we will let you know if his status changes, and when the surgery is through. We'll do our best for him." With that, the doctor left.
Despite the doctors urging, no one was willing to go home. One of their own was fighting for his life... it was where they needed to be. Chin however was determined to heed the doctor's advice regarding rest. Renewing his previous determination to look after his friend he knew he needed to convince Steve to at least lay down.
After a lot of convincing and assurances, Steve finally reluctantly agreed that he would take a rest. Chin filled Steve's prescription for painkillers and hastily made arrangements for a room for Steve. He had sought out Steve's nurse from earlier, Nurse Emma and she eagerly had agreed to help.
So, begrudgingly, Steve downed a couple of painkillers and lay down on his back; hands folded above his chest clutching his phone. Part of the deal had been that Chin would alert him the moment there was any news.
For the hundredth time he ran through the events of the day, trying again to rewrite history and determine exactly where he went wrong.
Eventually, with all his energy and reserves spent, his mind fell into darkness.
It was just before four in the morning when his phone chimed. Steve abruptly sat up, his ribs instantly protesting the swift movement. He quickly pushed his pain aside and scrambled back to the waiting room.
The surgeon turned as Steve approached. Steve noted that he looked worn and tired but hopeful. Steve was quickly flanked by Chin and Kono, clearly they'd insisted the surgeon wait until Steve got there.
"Commander McGarrett? I'm Dr. Walsh, one of Daniel's surgeons." Steve shook his offered hand and nodded, indicating for the doctor to get right to it.
"I'm pleased to say that Detective Williams came through the surgery and is in recovery." All three Five-O team members exhaled in relief. Steve rubbed his face and nodded, muttering "Good, good... Thank you..."
"So, he'll be alright then," Chin said dragging his fingers roughly through his hair.
"He is still listed as critical for the time being , due to the severity of his injuries he will be very closely monitored in the ICU, I am cautiously optimistic" Walsh explained levelly, keeping his voice hopeful and serious at the same time.
"Detective Williams came in with multiple GSWs, one through his chest and another in his abdomen which did some damage to his spleen and intestinal wall. We repaired the damage, infection is a real concern but we've cleaned the area and put him on antibiotics to limit that possibility" He paused here only long enough to take a breath and then continued.
"The bullet to the chest however did much more damage. It shattered 3 ribs and narrowly missed his heart, it did however penetrate his pericardium which is the sac lining of the heart. This resulted in a cardiac tamponade which is when fluid builds up around the heart, severely diminishing its ability to pump enough blood. Detective Williams' heart had stopped before arrival to the hospital and just after. Resuscitations in the field and in the trauma room ensured his survival. We were able to drain the fluid and repair the damage. We have put a tube in place to continue to drain any excess fluid. In addition, there was a puncture wound to his lower abdomen, most likely due to a knife as the edge of the incision is quite clean. It caused a slight laceration to his liver that we were able to repair. We're also continuing to monitor for complications due to the concussion he sustained." He let the surgical report sink in before adding, "We've placed him under heavy sedation to allow his vitals to even out and body to heal. We'll keep him on the ventilator for now for the same reason"
It was a lot to take in, and Walsh's words whirled around Steve's head, making him slightly nauseous. He however, noticed a small frown on the doctor's brow and narrowed his eyes.
"What aren't you telling us?" He demanded.
Walsh exhaled and hesitantly continued.
"I am cautiously optimistic" he repeated. "But you need to be prepared that there is still a chance his condition could worsen. There just simply has been a lot of stress put on his body." He took a breath and then elaborated. "Each time his heart stopped, it put a lot of strain on his organs and especially his heart. That paired with all the various other injuries Detective Williams sustained has put a significant amount of strain on his body and his system may not be able to cope."
"So you mean he could... he could still..." Kono stammered
"I'm afraid so"
"Can we see him?" Chin asked a little shakily.
Walsh hesitated, but seeing how close these people were to his patient, he answered, "I'll send a nurse for you in a few minutes. Just let me make sure he's settled."
Steve nodded his thanks, still not trusting his voice. He watched Walsh disappear down the corridor before turning to the others. It had been both good and worrying news. While they felt totally relieved that Danny was still alive and had survived the trauma of multiple gunshot wounds and emergency surgery with an optimistic prognosis, they were also scared that, even surviving all that, his weakened body wouldn't be able to cope with the recovery process.
That thought was clear on all their faces. After listening to the list of injuries, they all looked awestruck that their friend had survived so far.
Ten minutes later, they stood quietly by Danny's bed in the ICU.
Reaching out, Steve gripped the bed rail with a white knuckled fist, as his eyes drifted over the numerous machines, hissing and beeping, telling Steve that his partner was still alive. Danny looked so small under all the wires and tubes, lying pale and deathly still against the harsh white sheets. A huge dressing stretched across his chest hiding what Steve guessed would be a huge surgical scar alongside the bullet wounds, with a small gap for the chest drain at the side. Dark bruising reached up to Danny's throat, standing out harshly against his pale skin. Blood and fluids from five – and Steve counted – bags snaked into both arms. But worst of all was the tube protruding from Danny's mouth, vital in helping Danny's body receive the oxygen it so desperately needed now but it was just so unnatural and unnerving, Steve clenched harder to the railing
"Does anyone have any questions?" His inner turmoil were interrupted by Danny's critical care nurse
"Ah, can we..." Kono started reaching out hesitantly.
"Of course, please do, just be careful of the tubes, I actually find that in my experience, contact can be quite powerful in the healing process" the nurse – Lisa, it said on her nametag – smiled.
Kono curled her fingers around Danny's cool ones that were protruding from the cast on his left arm. At the same time she reached up with her other hand to gently stroke his brow.
"When will he wake up?" Steve murmured, his eyes still drawn to Danny's pale, bruised face, and the neat little row of stitches just above his eyebrow.
"Not for another several hours at least. The doctor is keeping him sedated. His vitals are still a little unsteady, so until then we're giving his body the chance to heal a little before we hand that job back to him," Lisa said. She finished doing her checks and then headed to the door pausing to say "you can have a moment but only one of you will be allowed to stay."
Steve watched as Kono wiped a sleeve over her damp eyes and stepped forward again, slipping her fingers under Danny's, whispering encouraging words to him. Danny didn't even twitch. She stayed like that for a moment then turned when Chin held a hand out for her.
Chin squeezed Steve's shoulder whispering for him to "take care". Then he escorted Kono and himself out of the room. They all knew who would be staying.
"You'll call if..." she stopped suddenly and asked Steve.
"Slightest twitch. I promise," he answered sincerely. She nodded and they walked away. Steve watched them leave before taking a deep breath and heading for the chair next to Danny's bed. He was alone now. Danny lying still and disturbingly fragile against the white sheets of his bed.
"You have to fight, Danno," he whispered slipping his hand under Danny's limp one and gripping gently. "You have to come back to us, to me... We're here and we need you. Grace needs you..." Leaning closer, Steve laid his other hand gently on Danny's chest. "Danno, you gotta fight for us, okay?"
To Be Continued