Hi,

I know it's been a very long time since I have updated this story, and it's been something on my mind for a long time. I want to apologise, as I had promised some kind of update, yet I failed to deliver due to some issues I've been having in terms of my mental health.

I've got the support I need now, and will try to carry on with this - its a great way to relax after studying for exams or being generally stressed, and I can only look forward now.

Once again, I'm sorry I let this story and the people who read it down, and I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Please leave a comment, and follow/favourite if you want to be alerted when I upload a new chapter!

Chapter 26

"So we will be ready to discharge within the next few days depending on the latest test results and notes that we have." Finished Bella, who was stood at the foot of the bed, where both Dan and Phil were seated, previously trying to make the other laugh in some way.

It had been some days since Dan's memory had come back, and Phil was more of less disappointed with this outcome. He hoped that this was a turning point for Dan, who felt like he was frozen in the moment, unable to remember anything that was his or any others lives. The familiarity of Phil's face slowly deceased over the last week, and it left a more awkward setting for them both. Even Bella, who always seemed to bring high spirits where ever she went, looked over to Dan with a face tainted with sadness, as she too couldn't find the words to help Phil understand why such an improvement meant having to go backwards.

But at this new and definitely arguable decision, both looked up, with faces full of confusion and shock. Dan managed to bring himself back to earth and lift his jaw.

"You mean I can go? Home?" Dan wasn't too sure where home was, but as long as Phil was there then he would be happy.

"Well, not exactly," said Bella slowly, thinking carefully as if not to disrupt the sudden upward movement in mood. "It's more of an idea we have, but at the rate you're improving at currently, I don't see any problem in going ahead with it" Bella smiled caringly, but only Phil managed one back. Dan on the other hand, was still confused.

"But I thought… I haven't improved at all. I can't remember anything." Dan stated. Even though he knew that Bella couldn't lie to him, he felt as if he was being fooled in some way or another.

"Well of course you have! I know it doesn't feel like it, and you can't force yourself to remember things – sometimes it takes longer than patience will wait," Dan tried to interrupt, but Bella carried on "you have gotten better in so many ways. You're happier, even motivated to go out and be a person, which in many cases of brain damage is rare because of the stress. But you're ok. Your physical injuries – they're all okay!"

She paused for one moment, as if to compose her composure again. "Your will be okay. Like I said, it could be a few days away from now, so don't let it worry you." Dan relaxed.

He couldn't believe this to be true. After all the ups and downs of being ill, the pains of his injuries, not remembering his own reflection, everything, Dan knew for sure that really, he was getting better in some kind of invisible way.

Phil wasn't so sure, and Bella could see this.

"Dan, rest. You've been very excited very suddenly and I think it may take its toll very soon. In the meantime, Phil would you just come with me to have a little chat? It will only be a few minutes, I promise."

Dan and Phil looked at each other, and nodded as if to say goodbye, and Phil stood up and walked out the room following Bella, looking back only once to see Dan Smiling.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Said Phil very quickly, feeling short of breath and uneasy. They walked slowly along the corridor, as if to get out of Dan hearing them, when Bella took a very deep break and looked down for a second.

"I am confident that Dan is ready for this, and can get through the tough phase that he is going through with your support, but there are many complications that could happen that you need to be aware of, and the only reason I can't talk to Dan about it Is that I know he doesn't really believe in himself right now, because he can't see just how much he has improved over the last few weeks. I can't be putting that sort of negativity in his head right now. Do you understand so far?" Bella looked worried, but she strode confidently on, with Phil trailing slightly behind.

"Yes, but… what is it that's so complicated? You said yourself, he's getting better now." Bella didn't or couldn't answer, "Isn't he?" Phil's heart dropped, preparing for bad news he was going to have to swallow.

"Oh no no, he's getting better, I assure you, but…" she slowed to a stop, and spun to face Phil. "But there's a number of things you should both be aware of, but I think it's wise to talk to you first." She took a deep breath.

"The first problem think may affect Dan is his mental condition."

Phil almost stumbled over, but looked straight into Bella's eyes searching for some kind of answer.

"I know now he seems very happy and coping well with what's happening, but that doesn't mean he is definitely going to be okay. PTSD, depression – it all can happen at very random times, and with such a trauma that bad that its suppressing his memory, I feel his chances of developing some kind of condition may be very high."

With a wave of sadness, Phil's gaze dropped to his feet. He had certainly not expected this at all, and couldn't bear the thought of seeing his best friend have to begin again. Not go back to before, what he was… what he become. What got both Dan and Phil in this situation in the beginning.

"But this is where we need you, Phil. You see, you're very important to making sure Dan is okay because he trusts you now, and we trust you too. And I need to ask you that if, when Dan goes home, if you ever see any change in mood, how he's acting, anything worrying, that you will contact me, so that I could see him first before I make a decision on how to help him. It's very important you do that. Okay?"

Phil nodded. Of course he would. Phil knew he had to do anything and everything to help Dan in a way he couldn't before – that he blamed himself for. If he had just sought help for Dan then they wouldn't have been here, in this difficult position.

"Wasn't there another thing too?"

They both say down on seats just around the corner from a fire exit. Phil felt a warm hand cover his knee, but not in a way of showing affection, but a method of comfort that Phil needed. A small gesture that was so important that he couldn't bear to look up to see the expression held by Bella.

"You remember a few weeks ago, Dan had a few seizures. Not serious ones, but om glad he was here." She sighed heavily and continued "I have reason to believe that these wont be the last, and that stress may cause them to happen, and I need you to be aware of this."

This time, Phil's heart really did drop. Not only did he have to leave the room last time mid panic attack when Dan had a seizure (it was extremely frightening for that sort of pain to happen) but he had no idea how he would even help.

"But… I can't do this. I can't help him like that. I can't stand to see my best friend go through something like that. Not again, and again. I don't understand how you can trust me." Phil felt the tears brimming at his eyes, as he realised what was being asked of him.

They wanted Phil to be the one who would help Dan if he had a seizure at home. And Phil had no idea how.

"It's not very difficult, I promise! I know, I know it's very frightening. I've worked with people who have epilepsy for years, and even now I find myself panicking, even though I have had enough experience for a life time. I just need you to trust yourself. I will teach you what to do, but I completely trust you to be able to do this. I have faith in you, Phil"

Silence surrounded the corridor, as tears spilled very suddenly down Phil's face and Bella put her arm around him, giving the support that he really needed. No words, not a sound. Just that there was someone there for the one person who was there for everyone else.

"You will help me, tell me what to do?" asked Phil finally, sitting up and wiping his eyes dry.

"Just relax for now, everything will be okay. I shouldn't expect that to happen to him Phil, but it's a precaution I would rather take just in case" Bella smiled, rubbed his shoulder and left Phil alone in the corridor to his own thoughts.

And that's when it happened.

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