The Rescue –

Chapter 4… Conclusion.

Before I begin this last chapter, let me first start by thanking all for the feedback for this story. It started out as a one part story to finish up where the episode ended. But, you guys pushed me for more – even though I wasn't sure where I was going with it. I received feedback from both pro Lori/Steve shippers and those adamantly against it. I kind of am against it, but there has been some kind of "thing" going on between them the last couple of episodes.

Anyway – here is the last part. I hope you like it.

5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0

Steve heard the click behind him – the sound of a gun safety being turned off. He turned slowly to see Jenna Kaye pointing a gun at him. He saw the look on her face – there was terror, fear, regret and desperation written all over her face. He stood slowly and turned to face her fully. He didn't understand at first, what she was doing. Then, she said, "I'm sorry," and he knew who was behind the whole thing. Wo Fat. How could he have let himself be fooled yet again. He'd trusted his old friend, Nick Tallridge, and was betrayed; he'd trusted the Governor and was betrayed; and now, Jenna.

"Commander, Commander," he heard from somewhere beyond his thoughts. He felt a hand on his shoulder, slightly shaking him.

He came fully awake with a start, his hand quickly reaching up to grab the one on his shoulder, thinking he was still back in the abandoned bunker being tortured by Wo Fat and his men. He tried to jump up, but the pain in his abdomen and chest prevented it at the same time he heard, "Whoa, Commander. Its me, Major Dixon. Commander, do you remember where you are?" said the doctor helping the nurse to keep Steve lying down.

"What? Oh, yeah," Steve said, feeling the sweat on his body. "Sorry, Sir," he said, the adrenaline abating as the pain was fully realized by his brain.

"You were quite restless there a moment ago," the Major said as he examined Steve's wounds.

"Um, yeah. Bad dream, I guess. Sorry," he said, apologizing for almost attacking the man.

"Not a problem. Dream about what you've been through?" he asked nonchalantly as the nurse went about checking is IV lines and oxygen.

"Something like that," Steve admitted.

"By the looks of these bruises and cuts, not to mention your internal injuries, you've been through quite an ordeal," Major Dixon continued as he re-wrapped the incision on his abdomen. "Would you like to speak with someone, Commander? All confidential, of course," he quickly added.

"No, Sir. Thank you, but I'm fine," Steve told him.

Major Dixon pulled the sheet back up to cover his torso, "Alright then. If you change your mind just let one of us know. It's not a big deal at all, Commander."

"Thank you, Sir," Steve said.

"Okay, well, I think we can start getting you up and around today. Some clear fluids. Any questions?" Major Dixon asked.

"When will I be able to travel home?" Steve asked.

"Uh," the doctor replied, thinking. "If no complications come up, you should be able to travel in a couple of days, but that's about all you'll be able to do for a bit. You have a doctor to follow-up with back in the States, Commander?" Major Dixon asked.

"Yes, Sir," he answered.

"Okay, then. Let's plan on three days tops. I'll check back in on you this afternoon," he said. "Oh, and no more unapproved trips to the head without nurse approval, hmmm?" he teased before leaving the room.

"Nikki, you ratted me out," he directed toward the nurse.

"Why Commander, I would never…" she replied, with a smirk. "I'll be back in about ten minutes and we'll get you something to drink and get you up for a bit. You can't shower yet, but you can get cleaned up if you're feeling up to it." She held up a syringe – it was empty, but Steve didn't know that. "Do I need to make sure you stay put, Commander?"

"No," Steve answered quickly with a smile. "I'll be right here where you left me."

With a satisfied nod, she walked out of the room.

5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0

His team seemed to arrive all at the same time as he was sitting in a reclining chair, near the window. The sun was streaming in the room and he was slightly reclined, with his eyes closed, just feeling the warm sun on his face. He'd had some very bland, clear soup of some kind, gotten up to get cleaned up, and had done a couple of laps up and down the hallway. He'd just had some pain pills, as the IV had been removed, and was waiting for them to kick in to relieve some of his discomfort.

"So, this is what you'll look like sitting in your room at the old folks home in about 20 years," Danny teased as the rest of them filed in behind him.

"Very funny," Steve said among the laughs. "Hey, guys."

"So, what's the word from the doctor, Boss?" Kono asked.

"Well, I'm unhooked from everything. I should be able to head home in about two days," he said as Nikki came in.

"And, that's about all he should be doing for a while, right Commander? He's supposed to head home and follow-up with his own doctor before he gets cleared for anything," she told them.

"Hey, whatever happened to patient confidentiality?" Steve teased her.

"Umm…., did you forget this is the military? You have no confidentiality here – only orders to follow," she said, coming around the crew to take his blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

"Yes, ma'am," he saluted.

"What'd I tell you about that ma'am thing," she said, unexpectedly tearing the bandage from where his IV had been removed and taking a bunch of arm hair with it. "Ow!" he yelped.

She took her supplies and, offering a sadistic grin over her shoulder, waltzed back out again as Steve was rubbing his arm.

Danny's phone rang and he stepped out into the hall to take the call. Lori and Steve caught each other's eye and held for a moment. Lori saw something different there – different than yesterday. A coldness, she thought.

Danny stepped back into the room and all eyes turned to him as Steve noticed a not too happy look on his face. "What's up, Danny?" Steve asked.

"That was the Governor's Office. First, they are glad you're okay and doing well," Danny passed along. "The Governor, of course, would like a few words with you when you get back," he stated with a roll of his eyes.

Steve groaned. "And, second?" Steve asked.

"Second, is that they need us back home. There's some diplomat's kid that is in trouble – nothing major – but the Governor would appreciate our taking the case," Danny told them. "I get the feeling it wasn't a request as much as an order," he added.

"Oh. Okay, well go ahead. I'm fine here. I'll be home in a couple of days and get in touch with you then," Steve said.

"Well, someone should stay with you, Steve. I could stay behind to make the trip back home with you," Lori offered – a little too quickly they'd noticed. They'd all seen – and Kono heard about – Lori jumping out of the helo and hugging him when he'd been brought from the jungle.

Joe White noticed a funny look on Steve's face at her offer. He hid it quickly, but Joe didn't miss it. And from the look on Lori's face, neither did she.

"I have another couple of days of debriefing here anyway," Joe said, stepping up to Steve's side. "I'll make sure I'm all finished by the time Steve is discharged and I'll fly home with him," he finished, seeing the relief on Steve's face. He made a mental note to talk to him about what's going on when they were alone.

"Oh, okay," Lori answered, puzzled. She thought that they'd had some kind of connection yesterday. Now she thought maybe it was just the drugs that were in his system after the surgery. He was kind of out of it. She felt like a fool for saying what she'd said before she left him last night. Her only consolation was that he was asleep and probably – hopefully – hadn't heard her. A blush came to her face.

"Okay," Kono said, noticing some tenseness in the room. "I'll go see about arranging flights home for us."

"I'll help you, Kono," Lori offered, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but in that room right now.

"Chin, the Governor's Office is sending some information to your phone, background materials we can take a look at on the way back home," Danny told him.

"Ummm, okay. I'll get over to the base office and see if I can get them printed out. Steve, we'll be back before we take off," Chin said

"I'll head over to the Base Commander and see if I can speed up this debriefing stuff so we can get out of here as soon as you get the okay from the doctors," Joe said.

5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0 – 5-0

Finally, it was just Steve and Danny. Danny could see that Steve was getting tired. He assumed he'd had another dose of pain meds.

"So, what'd the Governor say about this new case?" Steve asked, stifling a yawn.

"Sounds to me like another rich kid trying to get protected by 'Daddy the Diplomat,'" Danny answered. "Something about joy riding in a car other than his own. The fact that the car was his girlfriend's father's, and the father told the kid he didn't want him around his daughter…." Danny said.

"Ah, so that'll be you in a few years with Gracie and her boyfriends," Steve teased.

"No, I'll be sending Grace away to a convent before that happens," Danny joked.

"So, what's going on between you and Lori," Danny asked after a lull in the conversation.

"What do you mean," Steve asked.

"The hug at the pick up zone, the look you two exchanged this morning when we got here. Looks like there's something going on. Not that I disapprove, just that I didn't know," he said.

"Danny, nothing's going on. I don't know what that hug was all about – maybe she was just glad I wasn't dead. I don't know. But, there's nothing going on. I don't even know her that well," Steve said dismissively.

"Well, she looked pretty hurt when you told her to go back to the States with us rather than stay here with you," Danny commented.

"You know, I don't even know who besides you, Chin, Kono and Joe I can trust anymore. My track record of late hasn't been the best, Danny," he said. "I mean, don't get me wrong – Lori hasn't done anything at all to make me suspect her of anything other than what she presents as, but…" he trailed off.

"But," Danny picked up where Steve left off, "you thought the Governor and Jenna were what they said they were too."

"Yeah," was all Steve could say.

"Look, when we get back Stateside, I'll check her out thoroughly," Danny offered.

"Thanks," Steve said. "Let me know when you find out when you head out," he said.

"We'lll definitely be back before we fly out, and I'll get word to you about what's going on back home," Danny responded. They were interrupted by Nikki coming through the door.

"Well, Commander, I think you've had enough exercise for one day. How about we get you back into bed for a bit," she said, standing alongside him with a hand on her hip.

"Uh, yeah," Steve answered, moving to sit forward. He'd gotten stiff from sitting in the chair and Danny helped Nikki get him up and standing.

"Ready, Commander?" Nikki asked before moving him toward the bed.

"Um, actually, I need to go that way first," he said, motioning toward the bathroom.

"Well, whatta you know, Nave Seals CAN learn," she teased, bringing a laugh from Steve followed by an "Ouch."

"Steve, I'm gonna go check in with Chin and Kono to see about travel plans. We'll stop back later to let you know what's going on before we go," Danny said.

"Thanks, Danny. For everything," Steve called to him.

As Danny left the room, he laughed as he heard Steve arguing with Nikki, "No, you will wait right here. If I need you, I'll tell you."

THE END.