Note: time to bring this story to an end. Thanks to everyone who has followed, read and reviewed. Every single review is greatly appreciated. My usual thanks to wenwalke who is just fantastic for going though all my stories.

Chapter Six

Dr. Pearce had been right. Removing the piece of coral was the turning point in Danny's recovery. While he remained extremely unwell for the rest of that day, by the next morning he was starting to feel better, and even managed a light breakfast. From there on he continued to improve.

Finally, after five days in hospital, where Danny felt he had been pumped full of every antibiotic known to man, he'd finally been released on a cocktail of oral antibiotics, and pain killers.

Steve picked him up after work, and now held Danny's front door open as Danny slowly limped past him, using the crutches the hospital had provided. The wound had been re-stitched the day before, and Dr. Pearce wanted him to keep his weight off the foot until it was healed.

"Thanks." Danny said sitting on the couch.

"No problem." Steve said putting Danny's bag down, and then unpacking all Danny's medication.

"I'm gonna rattle once I've finished taking all of them." Danny joked.

"You sure are." Steve smiled.

The front door opened again and Chin, and Kono, entered, arms full of groceries. "Welcome home, brah." Chin said.

"Thanks. You guys didn't have to go shopping for me."

"We kind of did, brah, everything in the fridge was spoiled. What would you eat?" Kono replied.

"Take out, of course."

"Well it's good to see your appetite is back." Chin smiled.

Setting the groceries down, Kono returned carrying a box. "I have a present for you from Kawika."

"Kawika?" Danny asked surprised.

"Yeah, he heard about what happened, and thought these might help." Kono explained.

Danny cautiously opened the box and removed a pair of Pro-tech rubber fins. "They're really good Danny, expensive too. You shouldn't get cut with them. I can fit them to your board for you."

"Don't bother." Danny replied placing the fins back in the box and putting them on the coffee table in front of him. "Thank him for me, but give them back. I think I'm done with surfing."

"What?" They all said together.

"Danny, you can't give up now, you were getting good." Kono said, feeling guilty that she hadn't been able to prevent him getting hurt.

"It took me over twenty years to get back in the ocean after my last near death experience. This kind of raked up some of those memories." Danny sadly explained.

"Come on man, you can't let it beat you. We'll start off on smaller waves again. Build your confidence back up. Kono's right, you were getting good." Steve said not wanting to lose his surfing buddy, and Danny to have to deal with a fear of water all over again.

"Wow. That means a lot coming from you." Danny said shocked that Steve had complimented him, rather than ridiculed his technique.

"Danny, Steve told us about what happened to your friend, and I get that this whole experience has shaken you. But you can't give up on something you had started to enjoy." Kono said. "I saw it in your face Danny, as you rode that last wave, you were loving it out there."

"Yeah, until it all went horribly wrong." Danny quietly replied.

"Danny, if you gave up on everything, out of fear of getting hurt again, you'd never get out of bed with having Steve as a partner. You get shot at most days, but still come back into work the next day." Chin reasoned.

"Hey." Steve said offended. "It's not always my fault we get shot at."

Danny gave a small smile and thought for a second. "You're right, I know. Ok. Once I'm all healed, I'll get back on a board. But you're all gonna have to be there. And I may need to be drunk." He joked.

"We'll be there, Danny." Steve promised.

"Can't lose my best student," Kono smiled.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Chin added.

5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0

Five weeks later the team all exploded into cheers, as Danny made it to his feet and rode the wave back into shore, all three friends keeping a close eye on him in case they were needed. Dropping into the water as the wave settled out, Danny popped back up and climbed up on his board, turning and grinning like a Cheshire cat at his friends. They all paddled over and offered their congratulations.

"Knew you could do it," Steve said slapping him on the back.

"And you killed that one." Kono cheered.

"How'd the fins feel?" Chin asked.

"Good." Danny answered. "They moved through the water well, and eased the fear of being sliced and diced."

"Well that has to be a bonus." Steve laughed. "Ready to go again?"

"Sure am." Danny replied easing down on to the board and paddling back out again.

The End