Author's Notes: This fan fiction ties into my first fic; "The Price of Guilt." This story picks up where the 'story within a story' in my other fic leaves off. It is however, a separate story dealing with a different theme. Since I already wrote about the incident leading into this fic I will not go into it again in great detail. This fic will have chapters, unlike its predecessor. Also note, it takes place in 1975, not too long after the Blair Roche incident. Thanks! Enjoy!

*As we all know, this is pure fandom, no characters are owned by me.*

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Who are you?"

The question lingered in Daniel Dreiberg's mind as he sunk into the antique leather chair in his spare bed room. He lifted his head, heavy with exhaustion, and stared at the man who lay unconscious in the guest bed before him. The man was his crime-fighting partner; Rorschach, real name unknown. A man who he had worked with for years but who's face he had never seen. Even now his mask was on. Dan dared only roll it up to the nose so that his fallen partner could breathe easier. You'll need to be here for a while. Dan thought to himself. Perhaps…just perhaps… I can figure out who you really are.

He glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was 5:30 am. Outside the city was just beginning to wake. "Finally…This horrific night is over." He groaned, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. It had, with out a doubt, been the worst night he had ever experienced in the whole of his vigilante career, and there had been some bad ones. It was a gang bust gone dreadfully wrong, one that left Dan very badly bruised, and Rorschach nearly dead. The imagery was still painfully fresh in his mind; blood everywhere, all over the owl ship, all over him, and Rorschach's nearly naked body on the floor before him, torn open and shot twice. It figures I'd see his guts before I saw his face… Dan smirked at the dark irony. He sank back into the chair, unable to think any further, as his body relented to sleep.

* * *

"...Daniel"

"…err….what…?" Dan groaned, not wanting to open his eyes, still craving more sleep.

"Dan…iel…." a weak attempt was followed by a ragged cough preceding an agonizing inhalation through clenched teeth.

"Rorschach!" Dan sat straight up as his awareness returned to him. His eyes darted to the clock. It was almost 4:00pm. "Ahhggghh…" Dan winced, the inevitable soreness from the night before was complicated by sleeping in a chair for nearly ten hours. "Hey there… am I ever glad to hear your voice." He said warmly as he approached his partner. "I know this is going to sound like a really stupid question, but… How are you feeling?" He sat down on the edge of the bed next to his wounded friend.

"….bad…"

Dan nodded sympathetically. "You're really lucky to be alive, you lost an insane amount to blood…"

"yeah…can tell…feel cold, weak." Rorschach's speech was slow and slightly slurred. The heavy sedatives Dr. Manhattan had used on him had apparently not worn off yet. Dan sensed that his partner was not in the mood or condition to argue, or snap back with his usual fierceness , so he took the opportunity to explain to him his 'situation' . "Rorschach…your injuries are pretty severe. You've been shot twice and you were knifed really badly… You also have a concussion, and several cracked and broken ribs. On top of it all you've lost a lot of blood, so you're anemic. Your wounds are sealed and the bullets are out, but you are not going to be well for a long time. Bones take time to mend, your brain needs to recover from that hit you took to the head, and even though the wounds are closed, they are not healed." Dan looked down at Rorschach's half-masked face, he was silent except for a shallow wheezing.

"You will not be able to return to 'work' for at the very least a month…more likely six weeks…" Dan continued cautiously. " and…I want you to stay here until I'm confident you won't…damage yourself any further."

"…hurm…" The familiar low grumble was actually a welcome response. Dan feared at the worst he would try to get up and leave immediately. "…can't argue now…don't think I can walk…maybe tomorrow…" Rorschach whispered hoarsely. Dan laughed softly and gently patted Rorschach's shoulder, feeling him tense slightly, his usual apprehension towards human contact still prevalent. Then he stood, smileing with relief that it was a new day and both he and Rorshach were alive to argue.