Welcome back to the 28th chapter of this story, and its going on for so long now I really cant believe it. Thing that shocks me the most is the display of kindness and interest people have shown in this amazing passion in writing that I know for a fact I wouldn't get anywhere else, no matter how hard I could try. Thank you for all the appreciation that you show - it goes such a long way and means an incredibly amount to me. I just cant comprehend that there are almost 6'000 people that have took the time out of their life to read this, there are so many people who have favourited and followed this and commented in such amazingly kind manners; and it just brightens my day so much.

Thank you, and enjoy!


And finally, we were home.

Dan and Phil stepped slowly over the threshold to the house that had gone so long without inhabitants, that it was eerily cold and dark. The memories were as over powering as the chilly air surrounding them. Phil looked up the familiar yet unrecognisable hall to his home and sighed heavily, stepping forward. In doing this, he brushed past Dan who looked up the hallway in a whole new context. This was his home, yet he couldn't remember the darkened walls, or where any of the doors led to, or what they even held, once he got inside. This gave him the unmistakable air of confusion – something Dan had gotten used since he had woken up in hospital, yet it was never the less frightening. Feeling overwhelmed and nervous, Dan gingerly followed Phil through the hall and up the stairs into their apartment. Here, Phil slung down his bag, leaning on the wall for support of his leg, and looked up, a forced smile on his face.

"Hungry?" he looked straight at Dan, and his face fell slightly, "Well, I might need to see what's here first, can't trust anything in the fridge, but I'll find something." Phil trailed of as he walked into what Dan guessed was the kitchen. He was right, as many doors and cupboards were evidently opened. But Dan didn't answer Phil, feeling hot and anxious. He wasn't sure how to say this to Phil, but Dan felt like a stranger. Like he had just walked into another person house without permission and couldn't gain the confidence to leave.

Dan walked away from the kitchen door silently, as if not to alarm Phil, as he was intrigued by what he was going to find further down the apartment. As he walked down, he got a door on his right and pushed, feeling the fading natural light from the sun glowing through the window spill on his face, and he squinted into the clear obvious living area. A large grey sofa was behind the door, met by a rather large fireplace and TV set in the corner. A dining table sat directly in front of the door, and the walls were covered in paintings. But the one thing that really intrigued Dan was what covered the fireplace and the large shelves in the alcove. Pictures, toys, gadgets, models, the lot. And every one of them struck deep in Dan's heart, as he realised that every one of them was a relic of his and Phil's relationship over what seemed like years of friendship that he couldn't hardly recall. Years of travel and experiences that Dan believed he would never experience again, and that really dug deep. Not because of the damage that it had on Dan, but the pain it quite clearly caused in Phil's face every time he looked at Dan, and Dan couldn't imagine that sort of pain being something he could deal with everything. Closing his eyes to hold back the emotions, Dan stepped back into the hall again. Looking at the rest of the doors, he moved on and reached out, but his hand stopped before it reached the hand.

No, this one doesn't feel right thought Dan. He couldn't quite place down why, but this room, it didn't need to be see, it wasn't right. He almost felt as if it wasn't his to open, so he moved on and glanced at the final door, while in contrast appeal to him, as if it called his name, beckoning him to enter and see what was inside, so Dan moved slowly forward, feeling the tension rise noisily in the silent apartment – only broken by Phil's shuffling in the kitchen. His hand reached out, and instead of stopping, it twisted the handle and the door swung open.

Inside was something Dan both expected and didn't expect.

In respect, the room was nice. Light flowed gently through the window, which held many little trinkets and toys, all organised into a row. There was a very large bed holding darkened sheets that Dan unconsciously approved of, followed by two bed side tables with lights and a clock. On the other side was dark coloured wardrobe, which was surrounded by a mirror and various objects that were scattered across the floor. Dan liked it, but he definitely didn't like what followed, as surrounding the bed were glass bottles, one of the shattered across the ground. The duvet was strewn half way off the bed and the cushions were at the wrong side. There was one single medicine bottle sat on the bed side table, with what should have been the contents of the bottle scattered around it and on the floor. Little white pills that gave Dan second hand anxiety – he had taken enough of these in the hospital for a life time, and would rather not have to take any more than he already has stuffed in his bag from the doctor.

Dan stepped into the room, and felt like he belonged, even though he didn't really recognise it. He felt like this room was built around him and made for him, even though he didn't really know why. The rush of emotion was enough for Dan to realise – this was his room.

"Are you okay?" asked a voice that made Dan spin around in fear – as if he was in another person's house – but it was just Phil.

"Yeah" Dan finally replied; the first thing he had said since they had started their journey away from the hospital. "Just… wa- is this my…umm- "

"Yes, it is" Phil replied, before Dan even got the chance to finish his question. The silence hung for a few moments as they both looked nervously at their feet.

Even though they had begun a new relationship whilst in the hospital, Dan and Phil felt like they were back at square one again. "I know it might be a little strange for you, but you don't have to stay in here if you don't want, I mean, I can set up a bed or something, so you can get used to-"

"No, I want to try at least get back into normality again, even if it takes some time" Dan said quickly. He didn't want to seem weak anymore, and looking back into the room, Dan new that who would be able to get through it, no matter how long it took.

Dan and Phil looked at each other and smiled as the tension began to drop and they settled in more, knowing they were both comfortable in each other's presence, because the memory Dan had of Phil, that one moment of recognition that few days ago, was something to hold on to.


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