Memories

3. Questions.

Bailey McGarrett was finally out of surgery. The doctors had put her on a ventilator due to the complication that she had flat-lined during the emergency surgery. The ventilator was meant to take the stress off of Bailey's organ while she recovered. Her Ohana found it scary as hell to see and just prayed every day that Bailey would wake up and no longer need it.

Steve McGarrett was by his wife's side the minute her doctors allowed it after surgery. He refused to leave her side. Danny was taking some time off to support Steve while Lou, Tani, and Junior handled Five-0.

After hearing about what had happened to the McGarretts and Danny for the rest of Five-0 Kamekona brought food from his shrimp tuck to help keep Steve's strength up. He also claimed that it was the best thing possible to wake up Bailey, "Cause you know sista can't resist my shrimp". Kamekona had asserted to Steve and Danny. It was the only thing beyond Danny's snarky quips that got a smile out of Steve.

It was three weeks before Bailey woke up. Three weeks of hell and worry for Steve. Three weeks of trying to keep Steve's spirits up for Danny. The long worry-filled and paperwork-filled weeks for Five-0 without their assistant, friend, and family member.

Bailey woke up frightened and confused. Steve was holding her hand and had noticed the change right away.

"Hold on, Vi. Try to calm down and not thrash around I'm gonna get a nurse to remove the tube in your throat." Steve told her trying to sound calm.

Bailey tightened her grip on Steve's hand. She was scared and did not want him to leave her.

"I'm not going anywhere, honey. I'm just pushing the intercom button for the nurse." Steve soothed.

Steve didn't have to do so however as the nurses came rushing in, having seen the spike in blood pressure and heart rate on the monitor at the nurse's station.

"Try to relax your throat sweetie and we'll have that thing removed in just a second." a nurse told her kindly.

Bailey did her best to comply and the nurse had it out a few moments later. Bailey started coughing and felt like she was going to throw up.

"Her throat is irritated from the tube. I'll go get her some ice chips for you to feed her Mr. McGarrett." the other nurse told Steve.

"Ya, here that baby? It will be alright and we'll get your throat feeling better in no time." Steve told Bailey gently.

"What happened? Why am I at the hospital, Commander?" Bailey rasped confused.

Commander? Vi only called him that at work. She had quit doing so on personal time about a year after she had been working with the team as their assistant. Uh-oh, something was wrong. Steve felt it in his gut.

"We were in a car accident about three weeks ago Bails. You, me, and Danny. You don't remember?" Steve asked gently.

"No. Is that why everything hurts?" Bailey croaked.

The nurse returned with the ice chip and a spoon. She handed them to Steve and then turned her attention to her patient.

"How are we doing honey? Any pain?" the nurse asked.

"Everything hurts and it's too bright," Bailey said meekly.

"Well, we'll get you some pain medication and turn down the light for you. Make sure you have some of those ice chips they'll help your throat feel better. The doctor will be along soon to check up on you." the nurse informed her.

Bailey nodded and gave a grateful though weak smile. On her way out of the room, the nurse turned down the lights.

"Here, you better do what the nurse says a suck on some of these," Steve said holding out a spoonful of ice chips.

Bailey opened her mouth and allowed Steve to feed her the ice chips. She closed her mouth and sucked on them trying to figure out why Commander McGarrett was here. She knew he cared about the members of his team including her, the team's assistant but something felt off. Bailey felt like he was here as more than a boss, he was here as something more intimate.

The nurse popped in again and injected some pain meds into Bailey's IV. She checked the monitor over and smiled approvingly when she saw Bailey accept another spoonful of ice chips from Commander McGarrett. Then she was gone, back to her other patients and duties.

"Did you break your leg in the accident?" Bailey asked Steve softly testing out her voice.

"Yeah, had a concussion and a few scrapes too but I'm okay," Steve reassured her.

"What about the Detective? Is he alright?" Bailey asked next.

Detective? She was asking about Danny but she was still talking like she was in her first year with the team. Steve frowned.

"Did I say something wrong?" Bailey asked confused by the frown on McGarrett's face.

"Huh, oh no, no you didn't say anything wrong. It's just been a while since I've heard you call Danny that. Anyway, to answer your question, Danny ended up with a busted arm, a concussion, and a few cuts from climbing out of the wreck." Steve replied.

"Commander, what is going on? You are calling me Vi, you are upset by the way I am asking you questions and I've got this nagging feeling that there is something I should know but don't." Bailey said with a frown of her own.

"Let me ask you something, how long have you been working for Five-0?" Steve asked tentatively.

"Just over a year. You and Detective Williams...Danny accompanied me to New Orleans to deal with a problem King was having. I was guessing that the accident happened on our way back from the airport. But judging by your reactions and your questions that isn't right is it?" Bailey inquired.

"The accident did happen after the three of us left the airport just not from come back from New Orleans. The trip to New Orleans was four years ago, Vi." Steve told her with a gulp.

"Four years? I've been in a coma for four years. But that's impossible you just said that the accident didn't happen after we arrived back from New Orleans. How have I lost four years?!" Bailey demanded frantically.

"Is everything alright?" the nurse's voice came over the intercom.

Steve hit the button and replied, "We're all good nurse, but could you tell that doctor to hurry I think Mrs. McGarrett may have amnesia."

"Right away Commander." the nurse replied.

"Mrs. McGarrett? Amnesia? You and I got married and I don't remember it? What the hell happened to me, Mac?!" Bailey exclaimed.

"You were injured the worse in the car accident honey. You were in the backseat and not wearing your seatbelt. You had to have emergency surgery. Your heart stopped three different times. It looks like the accident may have scrambled your memory as well." Steve told her gently.

"I died three different times? No seatbelt explains why everything hurts. Is anything broken? Will I be able to walk? I'm scared, what's going to happen next, Mac?" Bailey begged and broke down in tears.

"Nothing is broken except your wrist. You got really lucky there. But you had internal injuries which means you will have to take it easy for a while. There is no reason you shouldn't be able to walk again. You're just gonna need a little physical therapy. As to what's going to happen next, I'm here and so is our family we are going to get through this." Steve reassured her sliding as best he could onto the bed and wrapping her in his arm.

The doctor came in and told her much the same thing Steve had, plus there was every reason to hope that her amnesia was temporary and her life before the accident would come back to her. He told her she was a lucky woman, she had a wonderful support system and a devoted husband. The doctor also told her if her physical recovery went well and she went to her scheduled physical therapy she could be going home with Mr. McGarrett in as little as two weeks, barring a setback.

Bailey thanked the doctor and watched him leave. She rested her head on Steve's shoulder. Two weeks, okay. She would do whatever it took to make that happen. In between physical therapy and being stuck in this hospital room she also planned on trying to recover her memory. She had to, the idea that she couldn't remember her life with the wonderful man next to her was incomprehensible.