Hi everyone! I present to you my first fan fiction on Hawaii Five-0. A fan from the very beginning and a user/reader on FFN, I decided to venture into writing. I'm French, so I won't hide that I'm using an AI translator to translate my words. I hope this doesn't bother you, and I hope it's translated correctly. Please feel free to let me know if it's not and let me know if you'd like me to continue publishing in French and let you use the app's translator.
Regarding my story titled "selflessness", it takes place in the aftermath of episode 25 of season 6. Indeed, I feel that this episode leaves us hanging at the end, and I can't really see how things would realistically unfold like that. This is true not just for this episode but for others as well (maybe more stories to come?? :p).
Please leave me comments so I can know your thoughts.
Enjoy!
The hospital was bathed in a strange, almost unsettling calm. The waiting room, though vast and bright, seemed to close in around the Ohana, trapped in a bubble of silence and anxiety. No one dared speak, as if each word could break the fragile balance. Everyone was lost in their thoughts, silently praying for Steve to pull through, hoping the next bit of news would finally bring a sign of hope.
Danny, despite the gnawing pain in his bruised ribs, maintained a facade of composure. His movements were restricted, each breath pulling a grimace of pain, but he gritted his teeth. The bandages applied by the doctors were little protection against the agony that shot through his chest. But nothing, absolutely nothing, hurt as much as the still-fresh memories of their desperate struggle in that plane.
He saw Steve again, weak, pale, lying against the seat, his breath short. He remembered the look in his friend's eyes, filled with an unusual, almost unbearable resignation. Those eyes, which in the worst situations had never shown anything but determination or anger, now seemed almost… at peace, as if he was accepting the possibility of letting go.
In the silence of the hospital, Steve's faint voice echoed in his memory, a whisper full of despair:
"Danny… I'm going to die… I can feel it…" he had whispered, his breathing ragged and painful.
Danny's throat had tightened with an almost unbearable anxiety. But in that moment, amidst the chaos of the crashing plane, he had forced himself not to show any weakness. He had grabbed Steve's hand, tightly, refusing to give in to the panic that threatened to overwhelm him. Danny, the pragmatic, the complainer, had looked Steve straight in the eyes, a flame of defiance lighting his own gaze.
"No, Steve, not now, and certainly not here. Do you hear me? We're not out of this yet, so pull yourself together. I'm landing this plane, and you're going to hang on. We're getting out of this, both of us. So you hang on, damn it! I won't let you go."
He had tried to inject all the strength he could muster into his words, hoping that Steve would feel that unwavering resolve and cling to it. But Steve's hand had weakened in his, and his eyelids had fluttered closed. In moments, he had lost consciousness, slipping into an oblivion that Danny didn't know if he could come back from. The deafening silence of the hospital brought Danny back to reality, and he let out a trembling breath.
He closed his eyes, pushing away the images that kept flashing before him, trying to control the emotions threatening to break him. Steve was in the hands of the doctors now, and all he could do was hope that the words exchanged in that plane had been enough, somewhere, to keep him from crossing to the other side.
/
Danny sat huddled, his hands resting on his painful ribs, his gaze fixed on the swinging doors of the emergency room, as if, by sheer force of will, he could make Steve reappear on the other side.
Around him, Chin, Kono, and Lou were frozen in tense anticipation, their faces etched with the same silent anxiety. Their phones vibrated incessantly, a stream of calls they no longer answered. The news of the accident had spread, and the media had seized the story. The entire archipelago now knew that Steve McGarrett, the commander of Five-0, was fighting for his life.
Chin, despite his exhaustion, had been answering the repeated calls from the governor, who desperately wanted updates on his commander. But neither he, nor Kono, Lou, nor Danny had any reassuring news to share. All they could do was wait.
With closed faces, avoiding each other's gazes, they sank into their thoughts until Danny's phone vibrated once again. This time, Danny glanced at the screen, and his heart tightened when he saw Grace's name flashing. He hesitated for a moment, but he knew he couldn't ignore this call.
He picked up gently, taking a deep breath to contain his emotions.
"Dad?" Grace's voice trembled slightly, betraying her worry. "Dad, how's Steve?"
Danny felt the weight of her question fall heavily on him. He gritted his teeth, trying to maintain a calm tone, even though anxiety was choking his own heart. "Gracie…" His voice softened, reassuring. "Steve is a fighter, sweetheart. He's in good hands here. The doctors are taking care of him and doing everything they can. We just need to wait a little longer."
He tried to smile, hoping she would feel his confidence, even though the pain and uncertainty were wearing him down inside.
"Dad… how are you?" Grace asked, her voice filled with concern, as if she could sense beyond the words.
He took a deep breath, touched by her tenderness. "I'm fine, monkey. Nothing serious for me, just a few busted ribs, but you know me, I've been through worse," he tried to joke to lighten the mood.
"Dad, I want to come wait with you. I want to be there with all of you," she insisted, and he could hear the sorrow in her words.
Danny closed his eyes for a moment, searching within himself for the strength to accept her request. "Okay, monkey. I'll call Kamekona to pick you up from school, and he'll bring you here. We'll wait together for Steve, is that okay?"
"Thanks, dad… I love you," Grace murmured, relieved.
"I love you too, monkey. See you soon."
He hung up, and for a brief moment, he felt a sense of comfort. His daughter would be here soon, and together they would share this agonizing wait.
Straightening his shoulders, Danny fixed his gaze on the emergency room doors once again, hoping to soon hear the reassuring footsteps of a doctor coming to give them news. Around him, the atmosphere remained heavy, filled with murmurs, suppressed sighs, but no one dared disturb the silence of the wait. The minutes stretched on in slow agony, each tick of the clock becoming an eternity for them all.
/
Time seemed to stretch endlessly. After what felt like hours, a doctor finally entered the waiting room. His face, marked by exhaustion, betrayed the magnitude of the operation he had just participated in. Behind his professional demeanor, a heavy gravity seemed to weigh on his shoulders. The ohana straightened up, their gazes fixed on him, swinging between hope and apprehension.
"I'm Dr. Sheridan, the surgeon who operated on Commander McGarrett. Is Danny Williams here?" he asked, his voice soft but firm.
Danny raised a trembling hand, taking a deep breath. "That's me," he replied, his voice a little hoarse. "I'm his emergency contact. But… we're all his family here. Please, give us news about him."
Sheridan nodded slowly, then cast a compassionate look at each of them. At the same time, Grace and Kamekona quietly entered the waiting room. Grace rushed to her father, seeking comfort while Kamekona sat quietly, listening attentively.
The doctor took a deep breath and began his explanation, his measured tone reflecting the importance of every word. "Steve sustained particularly severe injuries. He was shot twice with large-caliber bullets: one in the chest and the other in the abdomen. These impacts caused significant internal damage, and we had to perform several delicate procedures. Let me explain the consequences of each injury in detail."
Tension mounted, each member of the ohana hanging on the doctor's every word.
"Let's start with the impact to the chest," he said in a grave voice. "The bullet entered through the shoulder and lodged in the sternum, causing a severe fracture of that bone. The sternum is a crucial structure that protects vital organs, but a bullet of this caliber causes significant damage. We had to surgically remove the projectile and stabilize the fracture."
He paused, scanning the anxious faces before him. "We secured metal plates to the sternum to keep the bone in place, allowing the tissues to begin their healing process. During the procedure, we also carefully examined the internal structures, including the heart and lungs, to ensure that the bullet hadn't caused any further damage to these vital organs. There was significant bleeding, but thanks to the prompt intervention of the surgical team, we were able to contain it."
A heavy silence filled the room, each of the doctor's words underscoring the gravity of the situation. Chin, his throat tight, struggled to comprehend the extent of such an injury.
Dr. Sheridan continued in an even graver tone, his words carefully measured as if preparing the ohana for what would come next. "The second bullet entered the abdomen and caused considerable damage to his liver. The liver is a vital organ, essential for filtering toxins from the blood and maintaining the body's chemical balance. Unfortunately, the impact destroyed part of this organ beyond repair."
Kono, horrified, slid a hand over her mouth, realizing the extent of the injuries. "What does this mean exactly? Were you able to… repair it?"
The doctor nodded slowly, his face impassive. "We had to remove the severely damaged part of the liver. But given the essential functions of the liver, we've placed him on a hepatic support machine to temporarily take over its functions. This machine is capable of performing critical tasks, such as filtering toxins and regulating certain substances in the blood, but it cannot replace a living liver."
The members of the ohana exchanged tense looks, trying to absorb the information. Danny, his mind racing, tried to understand what this meant for Steve's survival.
"So… this machine…" he murmured, his throat tight, "it will keep him alive until… a transplant?"
Dr. Sheridan nodded gravely. "Exactly. Steve has been urgently placed on the national transplant list. But as you probably know, that list is long, and the wait time is uncertain. The hepatic support is only a temporary solution, able to maintain Steve's vital functions for a few days, a week at most. After that, the risk of multi-organ failure increases, as his body will no longer be able to compensate for the lack of a liver."
Danny felt panic rising within him, every fiber of his being urging him to act, to find a solution. "I have the same blood type as him. That could help, right?"
The doctor looked at him with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, then nodded gently. "Blood type is an important factor, but there are other considerations, such as tissue compatibility and organ size. We'll conduct tests in the coming hours to determine if you're a compatible donor."
Lou furrowed his brow, his voice becoming more serious. "And if Danny's not compatible? How long could this take?"
Sheridan sighed lightly, his face hardening further. "It's hard to predict. Steve is given high priority due to his condition and his overall good health before the incident, but even so, it could take days. If a compatible liver becomes available in the next few days, we could proceed with the transplant in time. However… there's a risk we may not find one before the machine's time runs out."
Chin, overwhelmed with worry, whispered the question everyone feared to ask. "And if there's no transplant in time…?"
The doctor briefly lowered his gaze before meeting the ohana's eyes. "I won't lie to you. This is a critical situation. Without a transplant, Steve's chances of survival are very low. We're doing everything we can, but every hour counts."
A heavy silence settled over the room, each member of the ohana absorbing the weight of the doctor's words. Kono closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Lou clenched his fists, his jaw set.
Danny clenched his fists, short of breath, feeling a helpless rage rise within him. "And in the meantime? What can we do? I have to be compatible. We're going to help him, no matter what."
The doctor gave him a compassionate but realistic look. "For now, all we can do is wait. Hope that the test results are favorable. And pray that a compatible donor comes forward if necessary."
Lou placed a firm hand on Danny's shoulder, determination in his eyes. "We'll be here, no matter what. Steve's not alone."
Sheridan nodded with gratitude, then turned to Danny. "Detective Williams, if you're ready, I invite you to follow me for the tests."
Danny hugged Grace tightly, whispering reassuring words to her, before giving one last look to his friends. Then, with a determined step, he followed the doctor through the swinging doors, moving away from the ohana to get closer to Steve's only chance of survival.
Here's the end of the first chapter! I hope you liked it!! I'm looking forward to your feedback :)