H50 Fic: A Time to Heal Part Fifteen
Title: A Time to Heal
Author: Twilight
Summary: What the hell just happened? One minute he was holding his gun on Davis and the next he was on the ground with Danny bleeding all over him.
Rated: Pg 13
Feedback: Always welcome
Part One
Part Fifteen
Danny bulked when he saw Steve bring in the wheelchair, an epic rant working its way up his throat, but one look at his friend’s hopeful face made him snap his mouth shut.
He knew he had been…sullen over the last few days, his mood swinging wildly.
And even though he didn’t want to be pushed in the chair, which made him feel like a needy invalid, he also didn’t want to take his frustrations out on Steve either.
Steve announced, “Your chariot awaits,” in a very terrible and very fake English accent, bowing slightly at the waist, sweeping his arm toward it in a grand gesture, like he was acting out one of his famous McGarrett bed time stories for Gracie.
“Chariot…really,” Danny’s tone was dry but he couldn’t help the smirk that lit his face.
Steve was such a sap sometimes.
Danny carefully pushed up, his hands braced on the sides of his chair, his legs still feeling a little shaky from lack of use.
Steve hovered close by, his hands held loosely at his sides, like he was unsure what to do with them.
Fully upright, tiny twinges of pain zinged up Danny’s tender stomach and across his achy back, but it felt great, more than great not to be tethered to any medical equipment or monitoring devices. It felt wonderful to be finally free of the machines, because it meant one more step closer to being able to go home.
And he was really looking forward to being in his own place, with his own stuff, sleeping on his own lumpy and thin mattress.
He was so very weary of being confined to his room, either lying in his bed or sitting in the plastic-lined recliner, with only the occasional stroll around the ward.
Bored with watching the same four television channels with the same day time TV programming, game shows and soap operas or so called reality TV at night.
And he was really tired of feeling like he was on display, .like he was an animal in an enclosure at the freaking zoo, people coming and going at all hours, disturbing his sleep to poke and prod at him.
He was tired of living on someone else’s schedule.
He slid his cold bare feet into his new slippers…the bedroom kind, not those ridiculous foot thongs that Steve insisted on wearing on weekends… and cautiously turned and bent to sit, those little zings feeling more pronounced, but still manageable.
When he was finally seated, he took a deep breath and huffed, “thanks,” already feeling worn down and exhausted.
This sucks. he decided, feeling close to tears and then suddenly angry because he couldn’t seem to control his surging emotions, but then Steve was pushing him from the room and through the hall, punching the down button when they got to the bank of elevators.
The doors parted almost immediately and soon they were alone in the descending car and one of Steve’s hands found its way to his hair, stroking downward to squeeze and kneed the tight muscles of his neck and shoulders.
He sighed, content and a little in awe at Steve’s willingness to show him what he felt for Danny through his gentle and careful caresses and tender whispered words.
And it was…something he hadn’t felt in a long, long time, but that didn’t matter, because Danny wanted what Steve was offering, wanted to love and be loved…care for and be cared for.
He reached back and took Steve’s fingers in his hand, riding the rest of the way down in silence.
Steve patted him when the doors parted and put both hands on the wheelchair handles, pushing him through a series of corridors, passing the cafeteria and then out and into one of the campuses garden courtyards.
The sun was high in the sky and birds perched in the near by trees, tweeting and singing their exotic songs and a salt-heavy breeze ruffled his hair.
He turned his face up and breathed in a deep cleansing breath, smelling the light fragrance of flowers and the sea, closing his eyes and enjoying the sunshine on his scruffy cheeks.
He had missed being outside…
Steve snickered and stopped pushing him forward, “Need a minute alone there, Danno?”
He didn’t even bother opening his eyes…knew that Steve had one of his goofy looks on his face and deadpanned, “yeah…if you don’t mind.”
He could hear Steve settling down, probably on one of the benches that lined the walk way and then Steve told him, “but I like to watch.”
And he sputtered, eyes flying open to stare at Steve.
Whatever goofy look might have been there was replaced with a smugness that Danny had only seen after Steve had gotten his confession from a roof dangling or shark caged suspect.
But the more Danny gaped at him, the more he seemed to deflate and squirm until Steve finally cleared his throat and said, “So…” and then he let the sentence drop, giving Danny a chance to change the topic, but Danny wasn’t so sure he wanted to.
“You know I…” he started, but he too stopped, unsure how to finish his thought.
Steve sat forward a little on the bench, reaching over to grasp both of Danny’s hands in his, looking a little unsure of himself. “Listen…I know this is all new and I don’t…”
When he didn’t go on, Danny sighed and said, “We are pathetic, ya know that, right?”
Steve laughed and patted his hands, “Yeah…it’s just…”
Now Danny laughed, shaking his head, “Yeah…I know.”
Steve nodded and looked around the courtyard before returning his gaze to Danny, “Listen…you’re mom went by your apartment to get you some of your things and she found a notice on your door from the rental company…”
Shit…my rent…and my bills…how could I’ve forgotten about paying my bills? “I ah…yeah…it was due at the beginning of the month, I can’t believe…well, my checkbook is in the top drawer of my dresser, if she’ll…”
Steve shot him a funny look and rubbed one of his palms over his cargoes and said, “Yeah, about that…I was thinking, you know…you’ll need some help once you’re discharged and since you’re folks are at my place, I thought you all might be more comfortable…you could get out of your lease…”
Something in Danny’s stomach slipped and sweat broke out on his forehead, under his arms…thank god for his earlier deodorant application…and he could feel it dribbling down the small of his back.
He wanted that…he wanted to spend as much time with Steve as he could, because he had almost lost…well, everything, so if any time would be the time…it would be now…but his folks were here and what would he tell Grace…it was …complicated. “I ah…yeah, that’s a nice offer, Steve…but I can’t…I mean, you’ve done so much so far and my parents…I don’t…”
Steve quickly nodded, but he looked disappointed, a little frown marring his otherwise kissable lips. “Yeah…of course…I just thought that…you know…”
And Danny thought, maybe he did…but what if he was wrong…what if Steve was just asking him to come stay until he recovered, until he was able to get around on his own and then he would be back to looking for the next livable apartment, a place good enough to bring his daughter but not drain is bank account, which was hard to find on this rock.
But what if he wasn’t wrong?
Steve was asking him something important here…maybe asking him to make a commitment; he could tell because he could hardly look him in the eye, so he said, “I’m not sure if I do…know, I mean…what are you trying to ask me here, Steve?”
The birds sang on and the sun still shined down and now Danny could feel how sweaty Steve’s palms were against his own and then Steve took a deep breath and said, “I want you to come and stay with me. You can stay in the other spare room…”
Danny slouched a little in his chair, looking down at his lap, but back up when Steve started talking again, giving his hands a gentle shake.
“…and then, when your better and your ma and pop go home, I want you to bring your stuff up to my room…our room and Gracie, when she comes and stays, she can take the spare room…we can paint the walls…I mean…if that’s what you want.”
He took a shuddering breath, because that was what he wanted…but it was still so complicated.
He and Steve were work partners and he wasn’t under any delusion that the people they worked with and for would all be so accepting.
And he was afraid to jeopardize what they had now…what if they were moving too fast and he screwed it up?
Steve shook his hands again, getting his attention. “I know it’s a lot and maybe it’s not fair of me to ask this right now…you have a lot going on…”
Danny laughed and rubbed at his nose, but his hands went right back to Steve’s.
“…I just think, you shouldn’t have to worry about anything right now…not your rent or bills or about us…you’re going to be laid up for a while...”
Danny opened his mouth to deny that he was going to be depending on someone else for awhile to help him, but Steve leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
“…you are, Danno…as much as you don’t like the idea, you’re going to need help.” Steve’s mouth still hovered by Danny’s brow, but he shifted his face down and kissed Danny square on the lips before sitting back and saying, “and I don’t want you to have to put money out for a place you’re not even going to be staying at…so move in with me…if you decide after you’ve recovered that you want to have your own place, that we’re moving too fast, I’ll help you…I’ll help you find a suitable place for you and Grace.”
And Danny still had his doubts…was still really afraid…scared shitless, but he nodded his head anyway, because for once in his life…he was going to do something for himself…something that he wanted. “Yeah…okay…okay, Steve.”
Steve leaned back in and kissed his mouth, gently pulling Danny’s bottom lip with his teeth, nipping at the corner of his jaw before wrapping his arms around him and just hugging him, holding him tight.
“Don’t worry,” Steve whispered in his ear, “It'll be fine. You'll see. I promise, babe.”
He didn’t know how long they stayed like that, only that he was reluctant to pull away from Steve’s embrace. But they had heard muffled voices and footsteps approaching, so Steve asked, “Ready for you’re afternoon stroll?”
“Do I have a choice?” But he didn’t mean it, because he really did want to get up and stretch his legs.
“Nope…now get your ass in gear. Grace will be here soon and I know she’s anxious to see you…she really misses you, Danno.”
“I really miss her too,” and that was true…he missed her so much, but she had seen him when he was not at his best, seen him in pain and it had scared her and then she wasn’t allowed to visit for awhile and he worried…because Gracie had already been through so much…too much.
Steve fell in step beside him, wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulder, “she’s fine, babe…she's strong and stubborn just like her daddy.”
They walked down one of the rock covered paths and Danny’s slippers weren’t quite protection enough, but he moved along anyway, because the sky was blue and the sun was warm on his skin and the air was fresh and clean but more importantly, Danny didn’t want to go back to his room. He would be happy if Steve would just steer them toward his car, because of course Steve was driving his car, and take him home.
Steve’s arm tightened around him as they turned a corner and the path smoothed out, soft earth replacing the rocks and Danny felt an uncomfortable pressure building in his belly. When he pressed his arm against his stomach, he could feel that his bag was almost full and he got a little panicked, because he had been warned not to let that happen.
He had a sudden vision of the damn thing exploding and its contents running down his leg, so he stepped from Steve’s one armed embrace and backed up a little toward a few large potted plants that lined this part of the path. “I ah…I need to…” he shrugged one shoulder, not sure how to finish, but settled on, “I’ll be right back,” and then started back the way they had just come, ducking behind a tree, hearing Steve call after him.
But he ignored him and lifted his shirt, pulling at the soft elastic of his pants, immediately seeing the problem.
“Danny?”
“Don’t..." he pleaded. "…just stay there. Please, Steve…can…can you just stay there…or better yet, go back to where we just were and I’ll be right there, okay?”
“Sure, Danno." Steve's voice sounded a mix between concern and confusion, but he agreed, "I’ll meet you there.”
He waited until he heard Steve stride back up the walkway and then looked back down his pants, hoping that no one in the patient rooms above were gazing out their window and into the courtyard below.
His collection bag was fat…bloated with gas, which explained the pressure in his belly, but this was the first time Danny had seen his bag this full.
He took a quick look around before pulling the little flap that let the flatulence out and promptly gagged. “My god…that is rank…”
Everyday he was getting better at dealing with this, but the smell still sometimes surprised him.
When the bag was mostly flat, he resealed the flap and righted his clothes, stepping from behind the tree to go find his, what…boyfriend?
Significant other?
Life mate?
None of those seemed right, but regardless, he found Steve…his Steve…pacing up and down the dirt path, hands shoved deep into his pockets, muttering something, but it was too low for Danny to hear and as soon as Steve sensed his approach, he turned and hurried toward him.
“Are you okay? What happened?” and Steve’s hands ran up and down his arms, across his back, like he was trying to find and sooth Danny’s hurts
“I’m fine, really. I just needed…” and he knew his face was heating, his cheeks pinking, but Steve nodded and swung his arm up and over Danny’s shoulder again, pulling him in and planting a kiss on Danny’s temple.
“Okay…okay. Come on.”
And he allowed Steve to guide him along. Steve stopped from time to time to point out some indigenous plant or flower, but Danny didn’t care. He just wanted to spend time with this man, regardless of what they were doing.
Oh god…I’ve got it bad.
Another twenty minutes and Danny was dead on his feet. "I think I'm done."
Steve steered him back toward the hospital entrance and the waiting wheelchair.
He was grateful to finally sit down and Steve didn’t seem to mind pushing him back passed the cafeteria and through the maze of corridors until they reached the elevators.
“If you want to nap for awhile, you have some time before Grace gets here.”
“Yeah,” this time there were other people in the car with them and Danny found that he was a little disappointed not to feel Steve's hands somewhere on him. “I think I could use a good nap.”
Once back into his room, he slid from the wheelchair and shuffled toward his bed, kicking off his slippers and climbing in, pulling the blankets up to his shoulders and settling back against the cool pillows.
Steve busied himself with returning the chair and then picking up Danny’s book, settling into his usual seat, flipping through the pages to find his spot, “You want me to read aloud…I think we’re about to find out what happened to Stormy.”
Danny shifted to his side, curling his legs up and tucking his hand under his pillow. “Sure…”
So Steve started reading and Danny listened to the smooth cadence of his natural voice and decided that he liked it when Steve read to him.
At some point he must have drifted off, because he opened his eyes to his mother’s kiss and his father’s pat to his ankle and his sweet monkey calling him, “Danno!”
He held out his arms, but his pop held Gracie back, reminding her to be very careful around Danny’s belly. She solemnly nodded, her eyes losing a little of their brightness, but she carefully crawled onto his bed and hugged him, kissed his cheek.
“What happened to your cheek, Daddy?”
“Huh,” but then he remembered, “Oh…it’s nothing, Monkey…I just slipped, but it’s just a bruise. I’m fine.”
“Oh…okay.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn’t, instead she snuggled closer and laid her head on his shoulder.
He was about to ask about her day when his dad said, “Hey Gracie…Mom-mom and Poppy are going to get your daddy and everyone some dinner. What would you like?”
Her face scrunched up in thought and she looked to his parents and then to Steve, who had moved and perched on one of the window sills so his ma would have a place to sit, and then she said, “I’ll take whatever Danno is having.”
His pop laughed, but nodded. “You got it. Two soft noodles in broth, for my monkey boy and his little monkey, coming right up.”
“Ah Pop?”
“And some creamy peanut butter on white bread. Mel, Steve?”
Steve said, “I’ll go with you,” but his pop was quick to decline his offer.
“Me and Ma got it…now, what can I get for you?”
“A sandwich or a slice of pizza would be great, thanks Jim.”
His parent’s left them amidst another lively conversation about the latest dumb thing Tommy had said in school today. “But don’t worry, Danno…I told him that he was wrong.”
She chatted on about her upcoming school project and how she was having a hard time with her Pre-Algebra, but that Mr. Kealoha told her not to worry, that sometimes it takes awhile to understand new concepts. “Plus, you can help me, right Daddy?”
Danny wasn’t sure he could remember all that much about Algebra.
In school he loved History and English, especially Etymology, but he was never all that great at Math but he told her, “sure I can.” and Steve said he could help too and Danny would bet money that Steve was one of those weird people that actually loved numbers and equations.
It fit his personality, but that was good, because if Danny couldn’t help his daughter with her homework, than Steve could.
Steve would help Grace and that thought warmed his heart, so he shot Steve his own goofy grin and got one back in return.
Grace talked a little bit about her past few weeks, weeks that Danny had missed. She told him about Charlie’s new teeth and how he’s toddling around after her and how she and her mom had a mommy/daughter day at a spa. “But I really wished I could have been here with you, Danno…not that spending time with Mommy isn’t fun…I just missed you.”
“I missed you too, baby. But you got to spend time with Poppy and Mom-mom, right? I bet that’s been fun.”
And she was off again talking about all the places his folks had been able to take her and the fun things that had gotten up too. “And me and Mom-mom made lots and lots of food. We put it all in Uncle Steve’s freezer and even Uncle Steve helped.”
“He did, huh?”
And Gracie enthusiastically nodded her head. “Oh yeah, Danno. Mom-mom said he’s a natural and between the two of you, you might be able to have a proper dinner date with a good meal and dessert."
Danny shouldn’t have been surprised, his mom was liable to say whatever popped into her head, but for some reason he was. “Well, well,” he sputtered, “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
“How come,” she pushed up to her elbow and looked him in the eyes.
“Because, in a few days or so, Danno gets to go home and since I’m still…a little sore I might need some help and Poppy and Mom-mom are already at Uncle Steve’s, so I’m going to stay there for awhile again…if that’s okay with you, that is?”
Her whole face lit up and she snuggled back down and hugged him. “I love it at Uncle Steve’s house.”
Steve leaned forward, looking like he might have something to say, but Grace asked, “Danno?”
So he answered, “Yeah, Monkey.”
“Is your belly…I mean, I know you got hurt. Mommy told me, but there’s still something wrong with your belly, right? That’s why I have to be so careful.” She shifted her head to look up at him and for a second he didn’t know what to say, but he always believed in telling his daughter the truth, so he nodded his head.
“Yeah, baby. When Danno got hurt, the doctors had to take out and repair some things in my belly.”
He was trying to think of how to explain his ostomy when his daughter sat up, looking a little excited. “Do you have a bag thingy, Daddy? A bag that you go…um…number two in?”
Steve snorted, but Danny wasn’t sure if it was because of Grace’s description or the look of horror on his face.
“How did…”
“Marcy has one, Danno…she showed me when I first started school…she said she only showed it to special people…her real friends. So one day after school we were on the play ground and she told me she had a secret she wanted to share and I know what you say about secrets, daddy.” She looked a bit concerned for revealing that little piece of information, but when he didn’t say anything she went on, “So me and Marcy went around to the side of the school and she showed me what it looked like and told me why she had to have it…she was born with a belly problem.”
He still didn’t know what to say, but Steve stepped in and helped him out, “that’s right Gracie. Sometimes when people have belly problems they need to use those bags, but the good news is that once Danno’s stomach gets better, he can have it removed and his belly will work again.”
“Oh…okay,” and she sunk back down and rested her head on his shoulder.
Danny looked to Steve, who just shook his head and shrugged, raising his brow.
Finally he told her, “If you ever want to see it…”
She eyed him for a second then shook her head, “that’s okay Daddy…Uncle Steve’s seen it, right?”
“Ah…yeah, Monkey. Uncle Steve’s seen it.”
She nodded against his chest, saying, “Good.”
This time when he looked to Steve, he was nervously scratching at the back of his neck, but he had a huge smile on his face.
His parent’s returned a few minutes later.
His pop was carrying a large brown bag and his ma a pizza box and Danny’s belly rumbled, making everyone laugh, but they all knew it was a good sign.
Mel passed out some paper plates and handed him a container of soup and a fork and spoon. Gracie got up and sat near his knees, on the other side of the rolling table, sharing it with him.
She got a smaller container of soup and a slice of pizza topped with pineapple and ham, but Danny let it go, taking the lid off his own meal and sniffed the broth.
His dad passed a foil wrapped sandwich to Steve and passed him one too, but he knew without opening it, it would just be his old stand by. Not that he was complaining, because some days it seemed like all he could stomach was peanut butter on white bread. They used to call them choke sandwiches back when he was in school, but now he was just grateful that they went down and stayed down and didn’t upset his stomach.
His ma handed out cold cans of coke to the others and a cup of some kind of juice for him before taking a slice of pizza, putting the closed box over on the counter when he scrunched up his nose.
“Is the smell bothering you, baby?”
“No…it’s fine.” He busied himself with pushing his spoon through the dark beef broth, worried because he had only had chicken before, but he managed a couple of noodles while everyone else feigned eating their supper, waiting to see if he was going to be able to eat.
After his first few bites, Grace nibbled on her pizza and his mom folded hers in half, showing his daughter the proper way to enjoy a slice.
Steve devoured his turkey club on rye and his pop ate his BLT and then ventured a slice of the pizza.
They looked up when a knock came at the door to see Chin and Kono standing in the opening.
“Did we come at a bad time?” Kono’s voice was still a little loud, but not as loud as her last visit.
“No…get in here and eat the rest of that monstrosity before it corrupts my folks anymore than it already has.”
Kono leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before helping herself to a piece of pizza.
Chin’s right arm was high on his chest, in a sling and Danny could make out the padded bandage under his Henley, but he dropped a small bag he was carrying on the rolling table and reached for Danny with his good hand, “You’re looking good, brah…I bet they spring you soon.”
“I sure hope so…”
Danny’s mom handed Chin a paper plate with a slice of pizza and a can of coke and the two new visitors settled in wherever they could find a spot, Chin on the window sill next to Steve and Kono at the foot of his bed.
They ate and talked and laughed, his folks recanting some truly embarrassing stories from his younger days, but it was nice…having his whole family around him.
He sipped his broth, but gave up about half way through. He wasn’t hungry but when his ma glanced his way, giving him a disapproving look, he opened his sandwich and pulled the bread apart, nibbling on one half as Kono told his parents about her past surfing career.
“I’ve been even teaching Gracie and Danny…they’re getting pretty good…Gracie is much better, but…”
“Hey…be nice. It’s not easy standing on a piece of wood on top of a wave.”
“Polystyrene foam covered with layers of fiberglass,” Kono and Steve and Chin all corrected and then cracked up over speaking in stereo.
“Yeah, yeah…whatever.”
His mom bustled around the room, cleaning up the remains of their shared meal and Kono stood and gave him another kiss. “When you’re feeling up to it, we should show you’re folks just how good you are out there on the waves.”
He doubted that would be anytime soon, but nodded anyway. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.”
“Kono can take me and Poppy and Mom-mom, right Danno? If your belly is still hurt, you can watch from the beach like you used to before you learned how to surf.”
She looked so hopeful, but her mom-mom tweaked her nose and said, “Pineapple pizza is one thing, little miss…but I draw the line at getting in shark-infested waters on a stick.”
“Aw…but Mom-mom…it’s really safe if you know what you’re doing and…”
“How about this…when your Danno gets a little better, you and Kono can show me and poppy and everyone else your moves and I’ll take lots of pictures of my beautiful grandbaby and show them off to everyone I know …how’s that sound?”
“That sounds great!”
“It’s a plan, then.” Kono hugged Grace, his ma and pop and then Steve.
Chin made his rounds too, leaving Danny for last. “It’s good to see you looking so well.”
“You too,” Danny nodded toward the bandages and sling.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go home to my wife and eat her first attempt at meatloaf,” he patted his belly, “Glad I saved some room…oh, I almost forgot.” He reached for the bag he had left on Danny’s table, handing it to him. “I brought you some dessert.”
Danny unfolded the bag and saw what was inside, shooting his father the stink eye, “Pop?”
“What? You love jello…”
“Lemon, right?’ Chin asked, backing out of the room.
Kono snickered, “and orange…don’t forget the orange, brah.” And then they were through the door and gone.
“Pop!”
“What’s the big deal…Chin tells me we’re what you call ohana, family, right? We’re all family here.”
Danny sighed, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. His team would know his whole life story before his parents left the island at this rate.
He pulled the jello cups from the bag, handing one to Grace, holding one up for Steve who took it and asked, “What’s with the jello? What did I miss?”
“Daddy’s imaginary friends.”
“Grace!” Danny’s face was turning an interesting shade of pink, he just knew it was.
“What, Danno? It’s only fair that Uncle Steve knows if everyone else does, right Uncle Steve?”
‘Then you tell him…I’m gonna eat my jello.” And putting words to action, he ripped off the foil top and picked up his spoon, actually enjoying the tart taste and texture of one of his favorite childhood treats.
Steve was rolling by the time Grace was done embellishing the story, adding on a whole slew of flavors for friends and Danny enjoyed hearing both of them talk and laugh.
His ma finished tidying up his room and his pop pulled his laptop from its case, setting the computer on the table over his lap and powered it up, setting the connection so he could Skype his sister’s back home. In another half hour or so it would be early morning on the east coast and the girls were going to gather at his parent’s house so they could all talk.
Danny hadn’t seen any of them in person in years, even though they did manage to video chat when they could.
He knew that Ruthie’s girls were starting at a new private school this year, because her husband, Scott had gotten a promotion and Ruthie wouldn’t have to work, but she enjoyed nursing, so she was thinking about just going part time.
And he knew that Becca was starting her new teaching job this fall, moving from one school district to another because her husband, Josh had gotten his transfer to Andrew’s AFB near D.C., once he got back from his latest tour, which made his ma and pop very happy. Washington was a lot closer than Colorado, although she had often lamented that she didn’t know why he couldn’t be moved to Hickam. Danny told her she was nuts to want to willingly move here, but he would be ecstatic if she ever did. He would love to spend time with his sister…to have another New Jersey native on his side.
Little Bee was harder to keep up with. She was so busy during her last semester, but he knew she was excited to be accepted for her residency at New York Presbyterian.
“I think I got this thing figured out,” his dad told him, stepping back so Danny could see the Skype connection.
“Looks good to me,” he said, glancing at the clock on his monitor. “It’s should be almost ten in the morning there.”
“Okay, fire this baby up.” Jim leaned over him, looking to see what button to punch to make the connection, finding the call tab and tried to click on it, mumbling under his breath about his goofy thumbs. “Got it…Mel…come on, the calls going through.”
Steve stood and started toward the door, but Mel and Grace both asked him where he thought he was going.
“I guess I thought…”
“That always gets you in trouble,” Danny added, but smiled when Steve returned to his perch on the window sill.
Once the connection was made, it was hard to keep track of all the conversations going on at once.
His sister’s looked great though, all smiles and warm wishes and even Dinky wagged his tail at Danny’s voice.
His Ma told them, “Me and Pop will talk to you all after you have a chance to speak with your brother and Gracie.”
A chorus of, “Okay, ma,” came over the video feed and for the next few minutes he had to reassure them that he was actually doing better and was hoping to be able to go home soon, which reminded him of Steve, so he looked Steve’s way and inclined his head in invitation.
Grace spoke with her aunts while Steve moved closer.
They gushed over how beautiful she was and how tall she had grown since they had last seen her, but after a little while, Grace ran out of things to talk about, so she said her good byes with a promise to speak again soon and moved off the bed so Steve could lower the rail and sit by him.
“Whoa…and who is this?”
It was Steve’s turn to turn an interesting shade of pink.
“Ruth Ann!” his pop yelled from the other side of the room, clearly not caring that Danny now knew that he was listening in.
”What pop? I’m married, not blind!”
“Ruthie,” Danny thought he better speak up before a room full of Williams, here and on the east coast, started in on each other. “This is Steve, my partner.”
“Oh, so you’re Steve…we’ve heard lots about you. It’s great to finally, sorta meet ya. I’m Ruth and these,” she pointed toward the other two women sitting on the leather sofa by her, "are my sisters, Rebecca and Bethany.” The little scruffy dog on her lap growled at the screen and she patted his head, "and this little munchkin is Dinky.”
“It’s nice to sorta meet you,” Steve told them. “I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
Danny listened as they gave Steve the third degree, questioning him on everything from his partnering to his eating habits and anything that fell in between and before they were done talking, they had somehow conned Steve into inviting them all out when they could, offering them tours of the island and his spare bedrooms if they wanted to visit.
Danny was getting tired, so he said, “I think ma wants to talk to you all…she wants to make sure her little boy is doing okay too.”
“Don’t be jealous of the Dinks, Daniel. We all know who the real momma’s boy is.” Ruthie and his sisters laughed, but wished him a speedy recovery and blew him kisses as he handed the monitor to his pop.
“What just happened?” Steve wondered aloud and Danny patted his hand.
“Don't worry about it, babe. It’s the Williams Effect,” he explained. “We have a way with people.”
They sat side by side in comfortable silence while his parent’s finished up their conversation, checking in with each of his sisters and asking about the house and news from the neighborhood.
Danny tuned them out after awhile and closed his eyes, started to drift off with Steve’s warm weight beside him, but his eyes snapped opened when Steve shifted, moving from the bed.
He spotted Dr. Hoy standing near the doorway, speaking with his parents and then his ma and pop came to say their good nights.
His ma said, “We’re going to take Gracie back to Steve’s to watch a movie and then home. We’ll see you in the morning, baby.” And she planted a kiss on each eye lid and told him, “Sweet dreams.”
His dad kissed the top of his head and patted his arm before Gracie climbed up and kissed him on the cheek. “Good night, Danno.”
“Good night, Monkey. Be good for Mom-mom and Poppy.”
“Promise,” she said, sliding down and hugging Steve around his legs, “Good night, Uncle Steve.”
“Good night, Gracie…see you soon.”
“Yup, this weekend again, Mommy said I could.” She gave Steve one more squeeze before joining her grandparents in the hall to head home for the night.
The doctor had waited patiently for the good-byes and then moved to the bed, asking, “How are you feeling this evening, Danny?”
“Better…still sleeping more than I’m awake, but it’s getting better.”
“Good,” the man went to the computer on the shelf in the corner of the room and typed on the key board. “How about you’re pain? Are the oral pills giving you good control?”
“Yes, I mean, I’m due for my next dose soon and I’m still pretty comfortable.”
“Excellent…you mind if I take a look?”
“Sure.”
The exam didn’t take long.
The Doctor palpated his belly and incision area and looked at his stoma for few seconds before lowering Danny’s tee.
He pulled his stethoscope from his pocket and listened to Danny’s heart for a few minutes and then went back to the keyboard to input his findings. “I think you are making great progress…you’re surgical site looks good, your stoma looks good and you’re fever is still down.” He finished with the computer and signed it off, turning back to Danny. “If you keep this up, I’d say you can be home by the weekend.”
“Really?” The weekend was only three days away.
“Yes, really. We need to run some non-invasive tests, do some imaging over the next few days. Make sure the bacterial infection is completely gone. Take a look at how your spleen and diaphragm are healing and get the ostomy nurse to go over some at-home techniques for caring for your stoma and some food strategies, but after that, you will be able to go home.
I’ll probably prescribe Hawaii Home Care to come in a few times a week for a bit, but after that, you won’t need to see me for a few months…do you have any questions?”
“No, I mean…Luka was telling me that I can do most things with the stoma, but when will I be able to have it reversed.”
Dr. Hoy pocketed his stethoscope and crossed his arms over his chest and Danny was worried that that was a bad sign, but he went on to explain, “Usually it takes three to six months for your type of injuries to heal enough to allow a reversal. We’ll have to assess the type of surgery at a later date, but I think you’re a good candidate for laparoscopic. It might not be possible and if that’s the case, we’ll have to open you up again. It’s a small chance, but you need to be prepared if that is indeed the outcome and remember, just because your ostomy may be reversible, doesn’t mean you have to have it done.”
Danny wasn’t sure if he understood…were there people out there that could get rid of the bag and go back to a normal bowel function and choose not to?
“Some patient’s decide that they don’t want to be opened back up and have to go through a long recovery and because they get used to their new bowel habits and realize that they can do just about everything they did before, they choose not to have a reversal, but lets cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?”
“Yeah…okay.”
“Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Steve stepped out with the doctor, but Danny didn’t know who wanted to talk to whom, but he guessed that Steve would tell him if it was anything he needed to know.
He let his eyes shut again, feeling sleepy and warm…happy.
Because in three more days he was going home.
Part Sixteen
Author: Twilight
Summary: What the hell just happened? One minute he was holding his gun on Davis and the next he was on the ground with Danny bleeding all over him.
Rated: Pg 13
Feedback: Always welcome
Part One
Part Fifteen
Danny bulked when he saw Steve bring in the wheelchair, an epic rant working its way up his throat, but one look at his friend’s hopeful face made him snap his mouth shut.
He knew he had been…sullen over the last few days, his mood swinging wildly.
And even though he didn’t want to be pushed in the chair, which made him feel like a needy invalid, he also didn’t want to take his frustrations out on Steve either.
Steve announced, “Your chariot awaits,” in a very terrible and very fake English accent, bowing slightly at the waist, sweeping his arm toward it in a grand gesture, like he was acting out one of his famous McGarrett bed time stories for Gracie.
“Chariot…really,” Danny’s tone was dry but he couldn’t help the smirk that lit his face.
Steve was such a sap sometimes.
Danny carefully pushed up, his hands braced on the sides of his chair, his legs still feeling a little shaky from lack of use.
Steve hovered close by, his hands held loosely at his sides, like he was unsure what to do with them.
Fully upright, tiny twinges of pain zinged up Danny’s tender stomach and across his achy back, but it felt great, more than great not to be tethered to any medical equipment or monitoring devices. It felt wonderful to be finally free of the machines, because it meant one more step closer to being able to go home.
And he was really looking forward to being in his own place, with his own stuff, sleeping on his own lumpy and thin mattress.
He was so very weary of being confined to his room, either lying in his bed or sitting in the plastic-lined recliner, with only the occasional stroll around the ward.
Bored with watching the same four television channels with the same day time TV programming, game shows and soap operas or so called reality TV at night.
And he was really tired of feeling like he was on display, .like he was an animal in an enclosure at the freaking zoo, people coming and going at all hours, disturbing his sleep to poke and prod at him.
He was tired of living on someone else’s schedule.
He slid his cold bare feet into his new slippers…the bedroom kind, not those ridiculous foot thongs that Steve insisted on wearing on weekends… and cautiously turned and bent to sit, those little zings feeling more pronounced, but still manageable.
When he was finally seated, he took a deep breath and huffed, “thanks,” already feeling worn down and exhausted.
This sucks. he decided, feeling close to tears and then suddenly angry because he couldn’t seem to control his surging emotions, but then Steve was pushing him from the room and through the hall, punching the down button when they got to the bank of elevators.
The doors parted almost immediately and soon they were alone in the descending car and one of Steve’s hands found its way to his hair, stroking downward to squeeze and kneed the tight muscles of his neck and shoulders.
He sighed, content and a little in awe at Steve’s willingness to show him what he felt for Danny through his gentle and careful caresses and tender whispered words.
And it was…something he hadn’t felt in a long, long time, but that didn’t matter, because Danny wanted what Steve was offering, wanted to love and be loved…care for and be cared for.
He reached back and took Steve’s fingers in his hand, riding the rest of the way down in silence.
Steve patted him when the doors parted and put both hands on the wheelchair handles, pushing him through a series of corridors, passing the cafeteria and then out and into one of the campuses garden courtyards.
The sun was high in the sky and birds perched in the near by trees, tweeting and singing their exotic songs and a salt-heavy breeze ruffled his hair.
He turned his face up and breathed in a deep cleansing breath, smelling the light fragrance of flowers and the sea, closing his eyes and enjoying the sunshine on his scruffy cheeks.
He had missed being outside…
Steve snickered and stopped pushing him forward, “Need a minute alone there, Danno?”
He didn’t even bother opening his eyes…knew that Steve had one of his goofy looks on his face and deadpanned, “yeah…if you don’t mind.”
He could hear Steve settling down, probably on one of the benches that lined the walk way and then Steve told him, “but I like to watch.”
And he sputtered, eyes flying open to stare at Steve.
Whatever goofy look might have been there was replaced with a smugness that Danny had only seen after Steve had gotten his confession from a roof dangling or shark caged suspect.
But the more Danny gaped at him, the more he seemed to deflate and squirm until Steve finally cleared his throat and said, “So…” and then he let the sentence drop, giving Danny a chance to change the topic, but Danny wasn’t so sure he wanted to.
“You know I…” he started, but he too stopped, unsure how to finish his thought.
Steve sat forward a little on the bench, reaching over to grasp both of Danny’s hands in his, looking a little unsure of himself. “Listen…I know this is all new and I don’t…”
When he didn’t go on, Danny sighed and said, “We are pathetic, ya know that, right?”
Steve laughed and patted his hands, “Yeah…it’s just…”
Now Danny laughed, shaking his head, “Yeah…I know.”
Steve nodded and looked around the courtyard before returning his gaze to Danny, “Listen…you’re mom went by your apartment to get you some of your things and she found a notice on your door from the rental company…”
Shit…my rent…and my bills…how could I’ve forgotten about paying my bills? “I ah…yeah…it was due at the beginning of the month, I can’t believe…well, my checkbook is in the top drawer of my dresser, if she’ll…”
Steve shot him a funny look and rubbed one of his palms over his cargoes and said, “Yeah, about that…I was thinking, you know…you’ll need some help once you’re discharged and since you’re folks are at my place, I thought you all might be more comfortable…you could get out of your lease…”
Something in Danny’s stomach slipped and sweat broke out on his forehead, under his arms…thank god for his earlier deodorant application…and he could feel it dribbling down the small of his back.
He wanted that…he wanted to spend as much time with Steve as he could, because he had almost lost…well, everything, so if any time would be the time…it would be now…but his folks were here and what would he tell Grace…it was …complicated. “I ah…yeah, that’s a nice offer, Steve…but I can’t…I mean, you’ve done so much so far and my parents…I don’t…”
Steve quickly nodded, but he looked disappointed, a little frown marring his otherwise kissable lips. “Yeah…of course…I just thought that…you know…”
And Danny thought, maybe he did…but what if he was wrong…what if Steve was just asking him to come stay until he recovered, until he was able to get around on his own and then he would be back to looking for the next livable apartment, a place good enough to bring his daughter but not drain is bank account, which was hard to find on this rock.
But what if he wasn’t wrong?
Steve was asking him something important here…maybe asking him to make a commitment; he could tell because he could hardly look him in the eye, so he said, “I’m not sure if I do…know, I mean…what are you trying to ask me here, Steve?”
The birds sang on and the sun still shined down and now Danny could feel how sweaty Steve’s palms were against his own and then Steve took a deep breath and said, “I want you to come and stay with me. You can stay in the other spare room…”
Danny slouched a little in his chair, looking down at his lap, but back up when Steve started talking again, giving his hands a gentle shake.
“…and then, when your better and your ma and pop go home, I want you to bring your stuff up to my room…our room and Gracie, when she comes and stays, she can take the spare room…we can paint the walls…I mean…if that’s what you want.”
He took a shuddering breath, because that was what he wanted…but it was still so complicated.
He and Steve were work partners and he wasn’t under any delusion that the people they worked with and for would all be so accepting.
And he was afraid to jeopardize what they had now…what if they were moving too fast and he screwed it up?
Steve shook his hands again, getting his attention. “I know it’s a lot and maybe it’s not fair of me to ask this right now…you have a lot going on…”
Danny laughed and rubbed at his nose, but his hands went right back to Steve’s.
“…I just think, you shouldn’t have to worry about anything right now…not your rent or bills or about us…you’re going to be laid up for a while...”
Danny opened his mouth to deny that he was going to be depending on someone else for awhile to help him, but Steve leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
“…you are, Danno…as much as you don’t like the idea, you’re going to need help.” Steve’s mouth still hovered by Danny’s brow, but he shifted his face down and kissed Danny square on the lips before sitting back and saying, “and I don’t want you to have to put money out for a place you’re not even going to be staying at…so move in with me…if you decide after you’ve recovered that you want to have your own place, that we’re moving too fast, I’ll help you…I’ll help you find a suitable place for you and Grace.”
And Danny still had his doubts…was still really afraid…scared shitless, but he nodded his head anyway, because for once in his life…he was going to do something for himself…something that he wanted. “Yeah…okay…okay, Steve.”
Steve leaned back in and kissed his mouth, gently pulling Danny’s bottom lip with his teeth, nipping at the corner of his jaw before wrapping his arms around him and just hugging him, holding him tight.
“Don’t worry,” Steve whispered in his ear, “It'll be fine. You'll see. I promise, babe.”
He didn’t know how long they stayed like that, only that he was reluctant to pull away from Steve’s embrace. But they had heard muffled voices and footsteps approaching, so Steve asked, “Ready for you’re afternoon stroll?”
“Do I have a choice?” But he didn’t mean it, because he really did want to get up and stretch his legs.
“Nope…now get your ass in gear. Grace will be here soon and I know she’s anxious to see you…she really misses you, Danno.”
“I really miss her too,” and that was true…he missed her so much, but she had seen him when he was not at his best, seen him in pain and it had scared her and then she wasn’t allowed to visit for awhile and he worried…because Gracie had already been through so much…too much.
Steve fell in step beside him, wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulder, “she’s fine, babe…she's strong and stubborn just like her daddy.”
They walked down one of the rock covered paths and Danny’s slippers weren’t quite protection enough, but he moved along anyway, because the sky was blue and the sun was warm on his skin and the air was fresh and clean but more importantly, Danny didn’t want to go back to his room. He would be happy if Steve would just steer them toward his car, because of course Steve was driving his car, and take him home.
Steve’s arm tightened around him as they turned a corner and the path smoothed out, soft earth replacing the rocks and Danny felt an uncomfortable pressure building in his belly. When he pressed his arm against his stomach, he could feel that his bag was almost full and he got a little panicked, because he had been warned not to let that happen.
He had a sudden vision of the damn thing exploding and its contents running down his leg, so he stepped from Steve’s one armed embrace and backed up a little toward a few large potted plants that lined this part of the path. “I ah…I need to…” he shrugged one shoulder, not sure how to finish, but settled on, “I’ll be right back,” and then started back the way they had just come, ducking behind a tree, hearing Steve call after him.
But he ignored him and lifted his shirt, pulling at the soft elastic of his pants, immediately seeing the problem.
“Danny?”
“Don’t..." he pleaded. "…just stay there. Please, Steve…can…can you just stay there…or better yet, go back to where we just were and I’ll be right there, okay?”
“Sure, Danno." Steve's voice sounded a mix between concern and confusion, but he agreed, "I’ll meet you there.”
He waited until he heard Steve stride back up the walkway and then looked back down his pants, hoping that no one in the patient rooms above were gazing out their window and into the courtyard below.
His collection bag was fat…bloated with gas, which explained the pressure in his belly, but this was the first time Danny had seen his bag this full.
He took a quick look around before pulling the little flap that let the flatulence out and promptly gagged. “My god…that is rank…”
Everyday he was getting better at dealing with this, but the smell still sometimes surprised him.
When the bag was mostly flat, he resealed the flap and righted his clothes, stepping from behind the tree to go find his, what…boyfriend?
Significant other?
Life mate?
None of those seemed right, but regardless, he found Steve…his Steve…pacing up and down the dirt path, hands shoved deep into his pockets, muttering something, but it was too low for Danny to hear and as soon as Steve sensed his approach, he turned and hurried toward him.
“Are you okay? What happened?” and Steve’s hands ran up and down his arms, across his back, like he was trying to find and sooth Danny’s hurts
“I’m fine, really. I just needed…” and he knew his face was heating, his cheeks pinking, but Steve nodded and swung his arm up and over Danny’s shoulder again, pulling him in and planting a kiss on Danny’s temple.
“Okay…okay. Come on.”
And he allowed Steve to guide him along. Steve stopped from time to time to point out some indigenous plant or flower, but Danny didn’t care. He just wanted to spend time with this man, regardless of what they were doing.
Oh god…I’ve got it bad.
Another twenty minutes and Danny was dead on his feet. "I think I'm done."
Steve steered him back toward the hospital entrance and the waiting wheelchair.
He was grateful to finally sit down and Steve didn’t seem to mind pushing him back passed the cafeteria and through the maze of corridors until they reached the elevators.
“If you want to nap for awhile, you have some time before Grace gets here.”
“Yeah,” this time there were other people in the car with them and Danny found that he was a little disappointed not to feel Steve's hands somewhere on him. “I think I could use a good nap.”
Once back into his room, he slid from the wheelchair and shuffled toward his bed, kicking off his slippers and climbing in, pulling the blankets up to his shoulders and settling back against the cool pillows.
Steve busied himself with returning the chair and then picking up Danny’s book, settling into his usual seat, flipping through the pages to find his spot, “You want me to read aloud…I think we’re about to find out what happened to Stormy.”
Danny shifted to his side, curling his legs up and tucking his hand under his pillow. “Sure…”
So Steve started reading and Danny listened to the smooth cadence of his natural voice and decided that he liked it when Steve read to him.
At some point he must have drifted off, because he opened his eyes to his mother’s kiss and his father’s pat to his ankle and his sweet monkey calling him, “Danno!”
He held out his arms, but his pop held Gracie back, reminding her to be very careful around Danny’s belly. She solemnly nodded, her eyes losing a little of their brightness, but she carefully crawled onto his bed and hugged him, kissed his cheek.
“What happened to your cheek, Daddy?”
“Huh,” but then he remembered, “Oh…it’s nothing, Monkey…I just slipped, but it’s just a bruise. I’m fine.”
“Oh…okay.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn’t, instead she snuggled closer and laid her head on his shoulder.
He was about to ask about her day when his dad said, “Hey Gracie…Mom-mom and Poppy are going to get your daddy and everyone some dinner. What would you like?”
Her face scrunched up in thought and she looked to his parents and then to Steve, who had moved and perched on one of the window sills so his ma would have a place to sit, and then she said, “I’ll take whatever Danno is having.”
His pop laughed, but nodded. “You got it. Two soft noodles in broth, for my monkey boy and his little monkey, coming right up.”
“Ah Pop?”
“And some creamy peanut butter on white bread. Mel, Steve?”
Steve said, “I’ll go with you,” but his pop was quick to decline his offer.
“Me and Ma got it…now, what can I get for you?”
“A sandwich or a slice of pizza would be great, thanks Jim.”
His parent’s left them amidst another lively conversation about the latest dumb thing Tommy had said in school today. “But don’t worry, Danno…I told him that he was wrong.”
She chatted on about her upcoming school project and how she was having a hard time with her Pre-Algebra, but that Mr. Kealoha told her not to worry, that sometimes it takes awhile to understand new concepts. “Plus, you can help me, right Daddy?”
Danny wasn’t sure he could remember all that much about Algebra.
In school he loved History and English, especially Etymology, but he was never all that great at Math but he told her, “sure I can.” and Steve said he could help too and Danny would bet money that Steve was one of those weird people that actually loved numbers and equations.
It fit his personality, but that was good, because if Danny couldn’t help his daughter with her homework, than Steve could.
Steve would help Grace and that thought warmed his heart, so he shot Steve his own goofy grin and got one back in return.
Grace talked a little bit about her past few weeks, weeks that Danny had missed. She told him about Charlie’s new teeth and how he’s toddling around after her and how she and her mom had a mommy/daughter day at a spa. “But I really wished I could have been here with you, Danno…not that spending time with Mommy isn’t fun…I just missed you.”
“I missed you too, baby. But you got to spend time with Poppy and Mom-mom, right? I bet that’s been fun.”
And she was off again talking about all the places his folks had been able to take her and the fun things that had gotten up too. “And me and Mom-mom made lots and lots of food. We put it all in Uncle Steve’s freezer and even Uncle Steve helped.”
“He did, huh?”
And Gracie enthusiastically nodded her head. “Oh yeah, Danno. Mom-mom said he’s a natural and between the two of you, you might be able to have a proper dinner date with a good meal and dessert."
Danny shouldn’t have been surprised, his mom was liable to say whatever popped into her head, but for some reason he was. “Well, well,” he sputtered, “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
“How come,” she pushed up to her elbow and looked him in the eyes.
“Because, in a few days or so, Danno gets to go home and since I’m still…a little sore I might need some help and Poppy and Mom-mom are already at Uncle Steve’s, so I’m going to stay there for awhile again…if that’s okay with you, that is?”
Her whole face lit up and she snuggled back down and hugged him. “I love it at Uncle Steve’s house.”
Steve leaned forward, looking like he might have something to say, but Grace asked, “Danno?”
So he answered, “Yeah, Monkey.”
“Is your belly…I mean, I know you got hurt. Mommy told me, but there’s still something wrong with your belly, right? That’s why I have to be so careful.” She shifted her head to look up at him and for a second he didn’t know what to say, but he always believed in telling his daughter the truth, so he nodded his head.
“Yeah, baby. When Danno got hurt, the doctors had to take out and repair some things in my belly.”
He was trying to think of how to explain his ostomy when his daughter sat up, looking a little excited. “Do you have a bag thingy, Daddy? A bag that you go…um…number two in?”
Steve snorted, but Danny wasn’t sure if it was because of Grace’s description or the look of horror on his face.
“How did…”
“Marcy has one, Danno…she showed me when I first started school…she said she only showed it to special people…her real friends. So one day after school we were on the play ground and she told me she had a secret she wanted to share and I know what you say about secrets, daddy.” She looked a bit concerned for revealing that little piece of information, but when he didn’t say anything she went on, “So me and Marcy went around to the side of the school and she showed me what it looked like and told me why she had to have it…she was born with a belly problem.”
He still didn’t know what to say, but Steve stepped in and helped him out, “that’s right Gracie. Sometimes when people have belly problems they need to use those bags, but the good news is that once Danno’s stomach gets better, he can have it removed and his belly will work again.”
“Oh…okay,” and she sunk back down and rested her head on his shoulder.
Danny looked to Steve, who just shook his head and shrugged, raising his brow.
Finally he told her, “If you ever want to see it…”
She eyed him for a second then shook her head, “that’s okay Daddy…Uncle Steve’s seen it, right?”
“Ah…yeah, Monkey. Uncle Steve’s seen it.”
She nodded against his chest, saying, “Good.”
This time when he looked to Steve, he was nervously scratching at the back of his neck, but he had a huge smile on his face.
His parent’s returned a few minutes later.
His pop was carrying a large brown bag and his ma a pizza box and Danny’s belly rumbled, making everyone laugh, but they all knew it was a good sign.
Mel passed out some paper plates and handed him a container of soup and a fork and spoon. Gracie got up and sat near his knees, on the other side of the rolling table, sharing it with him.
She got a smaller container of soup and a slice of pizza topped with pineapple and ham, but Danny let it go, taking the lid off his own meal and sniffed the broth.
His dad passed a foil wrapped sandwich to Steve and passed him one too, but he knew without opening it, it would just be his old stand by. Not that he was complaining, because some days it seemed like all he could stomach was peanut butter on white bread. They used to call them choke sandwiches back when he was in school, but now he was just grateful that they went down and stayed down and didn’t upset his stomach.
His ma handed out cold cans of coke to the others and a cup of some kind of juice for him before taking a slice of pizza, putting the closed box over on the counter when he scrunched up his nose.
“Is the smell bothering you, baby?”
“No…it’s fine.” He busied himself with pushing his spoon through the dark beef broth, worried because he had only had chicken before, but he managed a couple of noodles while everyone else feigned eating their supper, waiting to see if he was going to be able to eat.
After his first few bites, Grace nibbled on her pizza and his mom folded hers in half, showing his daughter the proper way to enjoy a slice.
Steve devoured his turkey club on rye and his pop ate his BLT and then ventured a slice of the pizza.
They looked up when a knock came at the door to see Chin and Kono standing in the opening.
“Did we come at a bad time?” Kono’s voice was still a little loud, but not as loud as her last visit.
“No…get in here and eat the rest of that monstrosity before it corrupts my folks anymore than it already has.”
Kono leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before helping herself to a piece of pizza.
Chin’s right arm was high on his chest, in a sling and Danny could make out the padded bandage under his Henley, but he dropped a small bag he was carrying on the rolling table and reached for Danny with his good hand, “You’re looking good, brah…I bet they spring you soon.”
“I sure hope so…”
Danny’s mom handed Chin a paper plate with a slice of pizza and a can of coke and the two new visitors settled in wherever they could find a spot, Chin on the window sill next to Steve and Kono at the foot of his bed.
They ate and talked and laughed, his folks recanting some truly embarrassing stories from his younger days, but it was nice…having his whole family around him.
He sipped his broth, but gave up about half way through. He wasn’t hungry but when his ma glanced his way, giving him a disapproving look, he opened his sandwich and pulled the bread apart, nibbling on one half as Kono told his parents about her past surfing career.
“I’ve been even teaching Gracie and Danny…they’re getting pretty good…Gracie is much better, but…”
“Hey…be nice. It’s not easy standing on a piece of wood on top of a wave.”
“Polystyrene foam covered with layers of fiberglass,” Kono and Steve and Chin all corrected and then cracked up over speaking in stereo.
“Yeah, yeah…whatever.”
His mom bustled around the room, cleaning up the remains of their shared meal and Kono stood and gave him another kiss. “When you’re feeling up to it, we should show you’re folks just how good you are out there on the waves.”
He doubted that would be anytime soon, but nodded anyway. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.”
“Kono can take me and Poppy and Mom-mom, right Danno? If your belly is still hurt, you can watch from the beach like you used to before you learned how to surf.”
She looked so hopeful, but her mom-mom tweaked her nose and said, “Pineapple pizza is one thing, little miss…but I draw the line at getting in shark-infested waters on a stick.”
“Aw…but Mom-mom…it’s really safe if you know what you’re doing and…”
“How about this…when your Danno gets a little better, you and Kono can show me and poppy and everyone else your moves and I’ll take lots of pictures of my beautiful grandbaby and show them off to everyone I know …how’s that sound?”
“That sounds great!”
“It’s a plan, then.” Kono hugged Grace, his ma and pop and then Steve.
Chin made his rounds too, leaving Danny for last. “It’s good to see you looking so well.”
“You too,” Danny nodded toward the bandages and sling.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go home to my wife and eat her first attempt at meatloaf,” he patted his belly, “Glad I saved some room…oh, I almost forgot.” He reached for the bag he had left on Danny’s table, handing it to him. “I brought you some dessert.”
Danny unfolded the bag and saw what was inside, shooting his father the stink eye, “Pop?”
“What? You love jello…”
“Lemon, right?’ Chin asked, backing out of the room.
Kono snickered, “and orange…don’t forget the orange, brah.” And then they were through the door and gone.
“Pop!”
“What’s the big deal…Chin tells me we’re what you call ohana, family, right? We’re all family here.”
Danny sighed, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. His team would know his whole life story before his parents left the island at this rate.
He pulled the jello cups from the bag, handing one to Grace, holding one up for Steve who took it and asked, “What’s with the jello? What did I miss?”
“Daddy’s imaginary friends.”
“Grace!” Danny’s face was turning an interesting shade of pink, he just knew it was.
“What, Danno? It’s only fair that Uncle Steve knows if everyone else does, right Uncle Steve?”
‘Then you tell him…I’m gonna eat my jello.” And putting words to action, he ripped off the foil top and picked up his spoon, actually enjoying the tart taste and texture of one of his favorite childhood treats.
Steve was rolling by the time Grace was done embellishing the story, adding on a whole slew of flavors for friends and Danny enjoyed hearing both of them talk and laugh.
His ma finished tidying up his room and his pop pulled his laptop from its case, setting the computer on the table over his lap and powered it up, setting the connection so he could Skype his sister’s back home. In another half hour or so it would be early morning on the east coast and the girls were going to gather at his parent’s house so they could all talk.
Danny hadn’t seen any of them in person in years, even though they did manage to video chat when they could.
He knew that Ruthie’s girls were starting at a new private school this year, because her husband, Scott had gotten a promotion and Ruthie wouldn’t have to work, but she enjoyed nursing, so she was thinking about just going part time.
And he knew that Becca was starting her new teaching job this fall, moving from one school district to another because her husband, Josh had gotten his transfer to Andrew’s AFB near D.C., once he got back from his latest tour, which made his ma and pop very happy. Washington was a lot closer than Colorado, although she had often lamented that she didn’t know why he couldn’t be moved to Hickam. Danny told her she was nuts to want to willingly move here, but he would be ecstatic if she ever did. He would love to spend time with his sister…to have another New Jersey native on his side.
Little Bee was harder to keep up with. She was so busy during her last semester, but he knew she was excited to be accepted for her residency at New York Presbyterian.
“I think I got this thing figured out,” his dad told him, stepping back so Danny could see the Skype connection.
“Looks good to me,” he said, glancing at the clock on his monitor. “It’s should be almost ten in the morning there.”
“Okay, fire this baby up.” Jim leaned over him, looking to see what button to punch to make the connection, finding the call tab and tried to click on it, mumbling under his breath about his goofy thumbs. “Got it…Mel…come on, the calls going through.”
Steve stood and started toward the door, but Mel and Grace both asked him where he thought he was going.
“I guess I thought…”
“That always gets you in trouble,” Danny added, but smiled when Steve returned to his perch on the window sill.
Once the connection was made, it was hard to keep track of all the conversations going on at once.
His sister’s looked great though, all smiles and warm wishes and even Dinky wagged his tail at Danny’s voice.
His Ma told them, “Me and Pop will talk to you all after you have a chance to speak with your brother and Gracie.”
A chorus of, “Okay, ma,” came over the video feed and for the next few minutes he had to reassure them that he was actually doing better and was hoping to be able to go home soon, which reminded him of Steve, so he looked Steve’s way and inclined his head in invitation.
Grace spoke with her aunts while Steve moved closer.
They gushed over how beautiful she was and how tall she had grown since they had last seen her, but after a little while, Grace ran out of things to talk about, so she said her good byes with a promise to speak again soon and moved off the bed so Steve could lower the rail and sit by him.
“Whoa…and who is this?”
It was Steve’s turn to turn an interesting shade of pink.
“Ruth Ann!” his pop yelled from the other side of the room, clearly not caring that Danny now knew that he was listening in.
”What pop? I’m married, not blind!”
“Ruthie,” Danny thought he better speak up before a room full of Williams, here and on the east coast, started in on each other. “This is Steve, my partner.”
“Oh, so you’re Steve…we’ve heard lots about you. It’s great to finally, sorta meet ya. I’m Ruth and these,” she pointed toward the other two women sitting on the leather sofa by her, "are my sisters, Rebecca and Bethany.” The little scruffy dog on her lap growled at the screen and she patted his head, "and this little munchkin is Dinky.”
“It’s nice to sorta meet you,” Steve told them. “I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
Danny listened as they gave Steve the third degree, questioning him on everything from his partnering to his eating habits and anything that fell in between and before they were done talking, they had somehow conned Steve into inviting them all out when they could, offering them tours of the island and his spare bedrooms if they wanted to visit.
Danny was getting tired, so he said, “I think ma wants to talk to you all…she wants to make sure her little boy is doing okay too.”
“Don’t be jealous of the Dinks, Daniel. We all know who the real momma’s boy is.” Ruthie and his sisters laughed, but wished him a speedy recovery and blew him kisses as he handed the monitor to his pop.
“What just happened?” Steve wondered aloud and Danny patted his hand.
“Don't worry about it, babe. It’s the Williams Effect,” he explained. “We have a way with people.”
They sat side by side in comfortable silence while his parent’s finished up their conversation, checking in with each of his sisters and asking about the house and news from the neighborhood.
Danny tuned them out after awhile and closed his eyes, started to drift off with Steve’s warm weight beside him, but his eyes snapped opened when Steve shifted, moving from the bed.
He spotted Dr. Hoy standing near the doorway, speaking with his parents and then his ma and pop came to say their good nights.
His ma said, “We’re going to take Gracie back to Steve’s to watch a movie and then home. We’ll see you in the morning, baby.” And she planted a kiss on each eye lid and told him, “Sweet dreams.”
His dad kissed the top of his head and patted his arm before Gracie climbed up and kissed him on the cheek. “Good night, Danno.”
“Good night, Monkey. Be good for Mom-mom and Poppy.”
“Promise,” she said, sliding down and hugging Steve around his legs, “Good night, Uncle Steve.”
“Good night, Gracie…see you soon.”
“Yup, this weekend again, Mommy said I could.” She gave Steve one more squeeze before joining her grandparents in the hall to head home for the night.
The doctor had waited patiently for the good-byes and then moved to the bed, asking, “How are you feeling this evening, Danny?”
“Better…still sleeping more than I’m awake, but it’s getting better.”
“Good,” the man went to the computer on the shelf in the corner of the room and typed on the key board. “How about you’re pain? Are the oral pills giving you good control?”
“Yes, I mean, I’m due for my next dose soon and I’m still pretty comfortable.”
“Excellent…you mind if I take a look?”
“Sure.”
The exam didn’t take long.
The Doctor palpated his belly and incision area and looked at his stoma for few seconds before lowering Danny’s tee.
He pulled his stethoscope from his pocket and listened to Danny’s heart for a few minutes and then went back to the keyboard to input his findings. “I think you are making great progress…you’re surgical site looks good, your stoma looks good and you’re fever is still down.” He finished with the computer and signed it off, turning back to Danny. “If you keep this up, I’d say you can be home by the weekend.”
“Really?” The weekend was only three days away.
“Yes, really. We need to run some non-invasive tests, do some imaging over the next few days. Make sure the bacterial infection is completely gone. Take a look at how your spleen and diaphragm are healing and get the ostomy nurse to go over some at-home techniques for caring for your stoma and some food strategies, but after that, you will be able to go home.
I’ll probably prescribe Hawaii Home Care to come in a few times a week for a bit, but after that, you won’t need to see me for a few months…do you have any questions?”
“No, I mean…Luka was telling me that I can do most things with the stoma, but when will I be able to have it reversed.”
Dr. Hoy pocketed his stethoscope and crossed his arms over his chest and Danny was worried that that was a bad sign, but he went on to explain, “Usually it takes three to six months for your type of injuries to heal enough to allow a reversal. We’ll have to assess the type of surgery at a later date, but I think you’re a good candidate for laparoscopic. It might not be possible and if that’s the case, we’ll have to open you up again. It’s a small chance, but you need to be prepared if that is indeed the outcome and remember, just because your ostomy may be reversible, doesn’t mean you have to have it done.”
Danny wasn’t sure if he understood…were there people out there that could get rid of the bag and go back to a normal bowel function and choose not to?
“Some patient’s decide that they don’t want to be opened back up and have to go through a long recovery and because they get used to their new bowel habits and realize that they can do just about everything they did before, they choose not to have a reversal, but lets cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?”
“Yeah…okay.”
“Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Steve stepped out with the doctor, but Danny didn’t know who wanted to talk to whom, but he guessed that Steve would tell him if it was anything he needed to know.
He let his eyes shut again, feeling sleepy and warm…happy.
Because in three more days he was going home.
Part Sixteen