He woke in the middle of the night to the gentle squeezing of his hand. Opening his eyes he was greeted with a weak smile from his partner.
"Hey Steve, how do you feel?"
"'M sore...but I'm going to be fine..."
"Do you want more pain meds, I'll get the nurse?"
"No...want to talk Danno"
"Okay, do you want to talk about anything in particular?"
"Danny...I almost died"
"Believe me, I know that buddy. You've scared the hell out me these last couple of weeks"
"I saw her Danno...on the island and here too"
"What are you talking about? Who did you see?"

"My Mother...I saw her and I wanted to go with her Danno but she wouldn't let me. I couldn't even touch her, she kept raising her hands keeping me back. She kept saying it wasn't my time" Tears were rolling down Steve's cheeks, "She was so beautiful Danny, just like I remember her...oh God I miss her….."

Danny reached over and gently wiped away Steve's tears, "I know you miss her, but I'm grateful she sent you back to us. I don't know what I would do without you in my life. You're the best friend I've ever had and I love you"

"I love you too Danno...'M so tired..."
"Close your eyes and sleep, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere partner"
Danny held tightly to his friends' hand and sent out a silent prayer of thanks to Doris McGarrett for sending her son back to him.

Over the next two weeks, Steve battled the pain but his healing continued. An ophthalmologist was brought in to examine his eye and thankfully there was no permanent damage. He was weaned off the IV's and feeding tube, back onto solid foods. Due to the casting he would need to remain connected to a catheter and colonoscopy bag until that was removed. As embarrassing as that was, it was a small price to pay. Malia had agreed to change the bags daily for him once he was released from the hospital. Danny and Chin had made ramp at his home making it wheelchair accessible and they had a hospital bed delivered and set up in the living room for him. Danny would be staying on the couch and overseeing his recovery.

His last day at the hospital Steve was alone in the room with Danny when he pulled out a card and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"Just a small token of my appreciation for saving my life partner"
"A card? Well I tell you what buddy you're going to be paying me back for a long time!"
Danny opened the card and out fell two tickets, baseball tickets to see the Boston Red Sox play the New York Yankees at Yankee stadium.

"You have got to be kidding me babe! NOBODY can get tickets for a Sox, Yankees game and these are six rows up right behind the Yankee dugout! How did you score these?"
"I know people"
"Well I would sure say you know people! Damn Steve this is amazing. How did you do it from here?"
"Kono helped me out. You happy?"
"Uhhhh...yes, I would certainly say so...but we can't go..."
"What do you mean we can't go?"

"Because my friend, going to this wonderful event would mean that you, and me…us and we….would have to board a plane together..."
Danny looked at him shaking his head, "DON'T you even say it Steven"

Steve grinned widely, "Come on Danno, 'what could possibly go wrong?'…"

The End