He drove until he was a few streets away when he pulled over and burst into tears, his heart still racing. This was his own fault. He kept fucking things up, kept pushing people away. Now he felt lost and unnervingly alone. Once he'd calmed down he started to drive again. His head was swimming, he was drunk, this was a bad idea, he should pull over and call a taxi but he just kept driving. He didn't even mean to end up at Phil's house, but before he knew it he was pulling up outside the gates to Phil's drive. The gates didn't open because Phil wasn't expecting him, and it was nearly 3am, and oh fuck he shouldn't be here. He pulled up outside the gates and got out, pressing the little buzzer.
He was about to give up and leave after a few minutes, but just as he turned away the gates started to open. He glanced at the buzzer, confused, before realising it had a little camera that Phil must have seen him through. He didn't bother to get back in his car, just walked up the drive towards the front door. It opened as he got close. Phil was stood there, in checked pyjama bottoms, a t-shirt and his glasses, looking confused and half asleep.
"I'm sorry." was all Dan could think to say when he got close enough that Phil could hear him. "What are you doing here?" Phil said. He sounded more worried than anything, staring at Dan in disbelief. "I... I don't know..." Dan admitted, stopping as he reached the front door. Phil let him in and they sat down in the living room. "I was just driving and I... I ended up here..." Dan murmured. Phil paused. "Have you been drinking?" he asked. "I... had a few, yeah." Dan admitted.
"You were drunk driving? In the car I bought you on the one condition that you didn't do that? Are you kidding me, Dan?" Phil's voice was angry now. "You're unbelievable."
"We're not together anymore. Why should you care?" Dan tried weakly, closing his eyes.
"It's still my name on the paperwork and I'm still the one paying its insurance." Phil said, standing up. "For Christ's sake. Are you just doing this to be a pain in my arse? I don't know why else you'd come over at three in the fucking morning. This is so typical you, Dan."
Dan burst into tears, shaking his head. "Don't... Don't say that. I'm sorry. I was scared, Phil. I don't mean to be a pain I promise. I'm so sorry." he whispered, clutching one of the fluffy pillows from Phil's sofa to his chest. Phil paused, looking down at him. "Why were you scared?" he asked.
Dan just shook his head. "You'll just tell me it was my own fault. I'll go." Dan said, making to stand up to leave. "No, tell me." Phil said, sitting down next to Dan and pulling Dan back down. He put a hand on Dan's leg in what he hoped was a comforting way, but he felt Dan tense under the touch. He moved his hand away.
"I met up with this guy tonight and he... he got really aggressive. Then it turned out he was married. When I brought it up he... just fucking lost it." Dan murmured. He started to cry again. "I ran out of there and... I meant to drive home but I just ended up here. I didn't want to go home, I hate being alone." he said, burying his face in Phil's chest. "I miss you so much."
Phil gently wrapped an arm around Dan's shoulders, holding him close and comforting him quietly. He rested his chin on the top of Dan's head, taking deep breaths and trying to calm himself. His first instinct was to hunt down whichever bastard had done this to Dan, but he knew that wouldn't be helpful to Dan right now. "What did he do to you? Are you hurting?" Phil whispered once he had calmed down a little.
"He... hit me here." Dan said, pointing to his jaw. It was aching, and he tried not to open his mouth too much when he spoke, but he didn't think it was anything serious. He didn't mention the burning pain in his lower back or that he couldn't walk straight. He didn't want to go into those details. Phil nodded, tilting Dan's chin up so he could see his jaw better and noticing bruises starting to blossom on Dan's throat. Anger rose in his chest, but it was suddenly dampened by a wave of guilt as he realised they were just like the bruises he'd left on Dan's neck countless times before. Just like the ones he'd given Dan the last time he'd seen him. He stood up quickly, muttering something about frozen peas and going into the kitchen.
He got out some frozen peas for Dan's jaw and wrapped them in a towel then paused, rubbing his hand over his face. He'd spent the last two weeks beating himself up over what he'd done to Dan, sick with guilt and worry. He would have given anything to see Dan on his doorstep. But when he found out Dan had been driving drunk... all the other stuff came flooding back. The way Dan caused him so much stress, how he was always drunk or stoned, how he acted when he was around his friends. How he made bad decisions and never took responsibility for the consequences. All the reasons Phil had tried to break up with Dan all that time ago. He didn't even know if he wanted Dan back in his life, but that just seemed like a moot point because it was blindingly obvious that Dan needed Phil back in his life. He was falling apart on his own. He was just a teenager, after all.
He went back into the lounge with the makeshift cold pack, pressing it gently against the left side of Dan's jaw. He looked at Dan, his expression one of pity. He softly brushed the tears from Dan's cheeks. "I'm sorry I came over so late. And I'm sorry I drove drunk. I was just so scared." Dan whispered, looking back up at Phil. Phil nodded, cupping the other side of Dan's jaw and running his thumb over his cheek. "I know. It's alright." he said quietly. He was still upset at Dan, but now wasn't the time to get into that. Dan was in no fit state to have that talk right now. "You can stay here tonight. I'll sleep down here, you can sleep in my bed."
Dan's eyes widened and his lip trembled. "Please don't make me sleep alone..." he whispered, more tears spilling down his cheeks. Phil quickly pulled Dan to his chest, hugging him comfortingly. "Shhh, it's okay, I... we can both sleep in my bed." he said softly. Dan nodded slowly. "Thank you." he mumbled. They went up to bed a little while later. Dan borrowed one of Phil's shirts and stripped down to his boxers, crawling under Phil's thick luxurious sheets. He felt Phil get in behind him, turning off the bedside lamp.
"Can we cuddle?" Dan's voice was small and timid as he spoke into the darkness. "Sure." Phil said, shuffling closer to Dan until he was pressed up against him, spooning him. He put one arm over Dan's waist carefully. "Is this okay?" he asked and he felt Dan nodding. Phil closed his eyes. Dan's hair was tickling his face a little and all he could smell was the sweet scent of Dan's shampoo. He very carefully pressed a kiss to Dan's shoulder before finally giving in to sleep. It didn't take long for Dan to fall asleep either, calmed by Phil's familiar warm, solid presence in the bed.