Opening up (Danny, open to Rachel, Cai and Zoe)

[daniel_marlow]

Since waking up, Danny hadn't allowed anyone other than his mother and Zoe in to see him. He did feel guilty keeping his girlfriend and his brother out, but there was a part of him which just didn't want to see the pity and pain on their faces when they finally laid eyes on him.

Zoe had been there to see what Greg had done to him firsthand, though there was more to it too. Danny saw Zoe as fiercely strong, whether she saw herself that way or not. He worried that he might have to pretend to be okay for Cai and Rachel, while he knew he didn't have to act for Zoe and he didn't have the energy to try anyway.

He had to face them sometime, however, especially since he was fairly sure Cai and Rachel had been waiting outside his room from time to time, as if keeping some kind of silent vigil for him. Danny was still struggling with whether he wanted to stay alive or not, as well. Could he really leave them without giving them a chance to see him? He didn't think he could.

Hesitantly, Danny told the nurse his friends were allowed in. He told his mother he wanted to see them on his own, however, though he had a feeling she was going to hover right outside his door. He was really okay with that. Then he steeled himself for their reactions to the state he was still in. He knew he looked terrible. He felt terrible. His hopes were that they felt better than he did.

Comments

[lightningseed.insanejournal.com]

Cai started to bolt toward Ross but Zoe stopped him, pressed the palms of her hands against his chest. She didn't push, but there was pressure there. There was pressure in the look in her eyes, too, her relentless dark eyes held his for a moment, and told him no clearly and strongly enough that he froze. Even after she moved away he could still feel her hands on his chest.

Zoe turned and took two deliberately placed steps toward Ross, who was bending over the bed with his back to her. Cai couldn't do this, Zoe knew, or even if he could, it was the worst idea in the world for Cai to show violence in front of Danny right now. But Zoe had no qualms about that. She planted one sharp, solid kick directly behind Ross's knee, forcing his leg to buckle. She grabbed the back of his shirt and hauled him backwards away from Danny.