He watched numbly as Danny's father read through the documentation before he signed the back page. Steve stood and without a word he walked from the room, the battle was over Danny's life support would be terminated the following evening giving Ohana time to say goodbye. Steve stood outside Danny's private room, he had no tears left only hate for Danny's stupid actions.
He walked into the room, standing at the side of the bed he watched Danny's chest rise, listened to the hissing noise of the machine. He wanted to stay but knew that Danny's parents would want the last night with their son, leaning down he placed a kiss on Danny's forehead. Walking out of the hospital was the hardest thing he could do, he knew what he had to do and by phone didn't seem right.
Climbing into his truck he pulled away heading towards Rachel's place, Charlie would be asleep and was too young to truly understand but Steve felt it only right to tell him as well. Stopping outside he had barely turned off the engine when Rachel opened the door, she knew. Steve sat down in the living room, he held his hands together the only way he could control them. Grace came down first, Steve was grateful that Rachel suggested that each of them were told separately because Grace was older and would understand more.
Grace sat in silence listening to Steve. She was angry and empty, she felt like Danno had tormented her by pretending to be getting better, for hiding the headaches. But she was empty it felt like her Danno had left 2 months ago and she wished that he hadn't made through the surgery at least it would have still hurt but at least her grandparents wouldn't have to go through to the pain of terminating her dad's life. She had never seen Steve cry before and that too hurt, sometimes she also wished that she wasn't so mature, Standing she stepped forward and wrapped herself around her uncle.
Rachel decided to tell Charlie in the morning, they wouldn't be going to school for a while. She wanted them to visit the hospital to spend what little time that Danny had together. She had asked for the sake of the children that at first they could have a little alone time and for people not to be upsetting but rejoice the time they had with him. Danny was a special person and Grace and Charlie deserved to know that.
Steve had crashed out on Rachels sofa everything had become too much, Grace had also cried herself to sleep, when the house was settled again Rachel went out and sat under the stairs lighting a cigarette, she had given up years ago when she fell pregnant with Grace but she didn't feel like behaving that night.
The next day was exactly as Steve had thought it would be, everyone respected Rachels wishes. After Danny's parents had arranged that everyone could have 10 minutes to say goodbye in private before they came together to celebrate his life. The room was crowded more than the allowed but none of the nurses said anything, Steve didn't want anything to do with what was happening it was too cramped and uncomfortable.
Grabbing a coffee he stood outside the hospital, the whole situation was wrong, Danny was meant to have grown old with him, driving him mad with his rants and irrational arguments whilst watching his children grow, get married and make lives of their own. It just seemed so unfair like the main attraction to a circus act.
The evening rolled in, people had started to leave understanding the needs of Danny's family. Steve didn't want time to move, he know what was coming and he didn't even know how he was going to cope, Grace was sat silently in the corner looking completely lost, Charlie didn't really understand but Rachel still held him stopping him from bouncing around the place.
The doctor had warned them that he may not go straight away, it might be a few minutes or a few hours. Steve was expecting it considering how stubborn Danny was, he watched heart broken as the doctor silenced the machine. Steve felt rather than saw Grace as she barged passed him screaming at the doctor to stop that she couldn't lose her Danno. Steve pulled her into an embrace rubbing his hand up and down her back feeling her hot tears soak into his t-shirt, tremors run through her body.
The doctor waited a moment before continuing, he disconnected the tube and taking it out of Danny's throat. Steve knew it was now a waiting game. The doctor turned to the family but said nothing he simply left the family to spend the little time that they had together. Grace pulled away from Steve and crawled onto the bed wrapping herself into her Danno and no one stopped her.
Steve crashed onto the sofa placing his arm around Rachel as Charlie slept on her lap. Danny's parents held each other on the other sofa while Kono and Chin had taken the visitor chairs. Steve couldn't sleep and didn't think he would again. There wasn't a sound in the room, no soft hum of the machines that he been his only company for the last 2 months. He felt Rachel relax nuzzling her head into his chest.
He must have drifted too but something pulled him out of his slumber, wiping his eyes he realised that Grace was being held by her grandmother, her sobs pulled Steve towards Danny. His chest no longer moved and his lips were tainted blue, it was then that Steve realised that all his hopes and prays were in vain, his friend had lost his battle. Danny's father stood by the bed stroking his sons head whispering something that Steve couldn't hear.
It hadn't taken long for Danny's funeral to take place, there had been no need for an autopsy. It was as simple as signing the death certificate and realise papers. One person's whole life reduced to two pieces of paper and a box. It had been decided that Danny would be laid to rest at the punch bowl in Hawaii close to his children and friends. Steve never ever thought that he would be visiting two of his family in the same place.
Grace and Charlie held onto Steve their vice like grip tore through his soul but he had to be strong for them, he would greave in his own time. He couldn't take his eyes of the pearly white coffin as it glinted in the sunlight, The flag was removed and folded before being handed to Danny's parents, the sound of the gun salute sent birds fleeing in the sky as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
Steve pulled into his drive, it had been a long day. He had stayed for the wake but it had gotten to much, he needed some alone time. Opening the door he walked into the dark lonely house running his hands over his face he finally broke, he had no idea how he was going to cope, but he knew that he would for Grace and Charlie. Heading towards the study he helped himself to the new bottle of Jack Daniels he had been saving it for Danny's birthday something special. But that would never be not now.
Flipping on the television he flicked through the channels stopping at a game, pouring the liquid into a glass he downed it at once silently hearing Danny scolding him for not savouring the golden flavour. Steve let the empty bottle slip from his fingers, he scrambled to his feet stumbling he knocked into the desk sending a picture toppling to the floor landing face up. Steve fell over trying to retrieve it, tears fell down his cheeks as he looked at the picture of Danny and himself holding a beer celebrating something that Steve couldn't recall at that moment in time. "Fuck You Danny" Steve screamed into the darkness, he hated how Danny hadn't thought when he climbed that ladder in a storm. Crawling towards the spare room he managed to drag himself onto the bed falling into a drunken sleep still holding onto the picture.
Steve opened his eyes, blinking at the bright light that tried to burn his corneas. His head was pounding he knew that it was his fault but he had simply wanted to drown out the thoughts and memories. Raising his hand to his face he noticed the bandage that encased it, at that moment all of Steve's sensenses flooded through him. He could smell coffee, sitting up slowly he swung his feet off the bed, regretting the movement as the room swam. Shaking it off he used the wall to support himself, staggering through the house half expecting to find one of his team.
Pushing open the swing door he near on passed out, he couldn't believe what he was seeing, Christ he knew he downed an entire bottle of Jack's but he had never hallucinated before. Danny turned, a big steaming mug cradled in his hands "Good afternoon sleepy, hows the head" Steve started to back off, stumbling through the swing door ending up on his backside. "Jesus Steve, what the hell is the matter with you"
Steve crawled backwards as Danny approached him, "Your not real a side effect of the alcohol, that's what you are" Danny stopped dead, Steve looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. He had only been gone for the weekend and really couldn't understand what was happening.
"Steve what the hell, first your meant to pick me up from the airport and don't show. I catch a taxi here, to find the placed looking as though a hurricane had ripped through it, before finding you slumped half on half off the spare bed bleeding from a deep cut in your hand." Steve couldn't move any further and sat with his back to the sofa, trying to figure out if Danny was real or not. Looking down at his hand he examined the bandage.
He touched the bandage it felt real, his head was spinning he felt like he was going to be sick, Danny must have noticed too because the next thing Steve knew he had a waste bin planted in his hands, staring into the bin Steve vowed never to drink again. Danny crashed beside him holding a glass of water "Think you can manage a few sips" Steve dared to nod, taking the glass in both hands resting the bin on his raised knees.
Steve looked lost and upset, something was definitely wrong "Danny?" Steve turned towards him, his eyes glinted with unshed tears "Steve?" Steve took a drink of the water, willing it to stay. Laying his hand on Danny's knee gave him the grounding he needed, looking back towards Danny he couldn't hold back the tears any more. He never realised how much Danny had become such a large part of his life. It had all felt so real but he was damned if he was ever going to allow it to happen. "Steve are you ok buddy" Steve placed the glass and bin next to him, embracing Danny in an awkward hug, Danny could feel tears slipping down his neck but he didn't care he was more concerned for his friend.
Steve pulled away wiping his face giving Danny a lopsided smile "I will be now Danny" The two continued to sit in silence on the floor shoulder to shoulder, Steve wasn't even sure what had happened but he sure as hell wasn't going to allow any of it to become reality, no matter how much his mother hen mood would annoy Danny. He could live with that.