A/N Another chapter for you lovely people, hope you're enjoying it - I know it's a bit of a slow burn but I think I just wanted to explore how Nicholas and Danny interact. I'll get to the good stuff eventually though, don't worry! As always, please review, follow, or favourite if you're enjoying it :) Much love.

Chapter 4

Nicholas looked up as the bathroom door finally opened. Danny was easing himself through the doorway on his crutches, wincing with each step. Neither of them said a word. Danny manoeuvred himself over to the bed and, using his crutches to take his weight, he lowered himself down to a sitting position. Nicholas watched, aching to help him, but not wanting to touch him without being asked. Finally Danny met his eye.

"Can you help me get my legs in bed?" He mumbled.

"Of course."

Nicholas lifted his legs for him and swivelled him into a lying down position.

"Can you turn off the bathroom light? I forgot."

"Oh...Yes." Nicholas glanced over to the bathroom, strode over and flicked off the light. The bedroom was now only lit by the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

"Can you get me another glass of water, please?"

"Oh for fu..." Nicholas started, but something about Danny's expression stopped him. "Yes. Of course." He picked up Danny's empty glass. "Are we going to talk about this?"

"What? I'm thirsty."

"And I'll get you some water. But first, talk to me."

"That's torture, ya Fascist." Danny mumbled, avoiding Nicholas' penetrating gaze.

Nicholas exhaled, exasperated.

"Danny."

"Nicholas." There was a pause. It was a stand off. This was the bit in western films when tumbleweed blows by as the two protagonists eye each other up, fingers twitching beside their holstered guns. Predictably, Danny cracked first. "Are you going to leave again?"

"No."

Nicholas was gratified to detect the slight release of breath that signalled Danny's relief. The silence stretched on. Tension solidified the air between them, choking and suffocating. It was Nicholas' turn to break it.

"I don't know what to do, Danny. And that isn't a feeling I'm accustomed to. I want... Ok, I'm not sure what I want. But you know I..." Nicholas, ordinarily so deliciously eloquent, was scrambling for words. "I bought you that Japanese Peace Lily for a reason!" He blurted.

Danny gave a small, nervous smile. As a response to his using the L word with absolutely no regard for the consequences, it was a pretty good result.

"Thanks. Means a lot."

"Right, well. Let's just leave it there then shall we? I'll get the water."

"Nicholas, wait!" He turned back, his hand on the door handle. Danny grinned guiltily. "I'm not really thirsty, if I drink anything else, I'll need a pee again."

Nicholas had been looking forward to having a minute to himself whilst fetching the water. He needed to regroup, he needed to process what was going on here.

"I'll be on the sofa if you need anything, then." He said stiffly, once again overtaken by embarrassment. He opened the door and was out on the landing by the time Danny spoke.

"Nick!... Can you please stay... up here for a bit? I, err, I don't wanna go to sleep yet."

"You need to rest."

"I just have nightmares though." Danny whined. "Come on, we can talk about what should happen in Point Break 2."

Nicholas sighed and came back through the doorway. There was no chair in the room so he sat on the floor leaning against the wall to the left of the bed. Danny moved awkwardly to lie on his right hand side so he could look at him.

"Whaddya fink then?"

"Sorry?"

"Point Break 2." Danny clarified.

"Did we watch that? I don't remember it."

"They haven't made it yet! But what d'ya think should 'appen?"

Nicholas forced his brain to focus on recalling the film rather than analysing his feelings for Danny.

"But isn't Patrick Swayze dead?"

"Yeah. It won't be Keanu Reeves either apparently." Danny spoke through a yawn.

"Well what about the director? Surely it's the same director at least."

"Nope."

"So let me make sure I understand this completely. A film is being made which is being called a sequel to Point Break. However, it will have a different director and BOTH leading actors, who I'm sure you'll agree were instrumental to the success of the original film, are to be replaced. Well, I'm not sure that can really be called a sequel then, are you?"

Nicholas looked up at Danny and smiled tenderly. Danny was sound asleep, mouth slightly open, his facial features more relaxed than Nicholas had seen them since before the whole NWA conspiracy was uncovered. Nicholas stood silently and, reaching over Danny, he took the pillow from the other side of the bed. He settled back down with his back against the wall, jammed the pillow behind his head and closed his eyes.