Yeah, I know this story is a little...freaky, but what else can you expect from a writer like me? Lol! Anyway thanks so much to all my reviewers. Love ya all.

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Chapter Four-Improvements
Danny awoke to a bright light. For a moment he thought he was dead.
"Am I dead?" he cried. "Did I do it?" But suddenly Tim's voice led him to the realization that he was still alive.
"What?" Tim asked flipping the curtain to Danny's area open. Danny's brown eyes blinked vividly. Tim signaled Rick to come in. Rick hurriedly rushed to Danny.
"Danny, you're alive?" Rick questioned in disbelief.
"I don't know. You tell me," Danny answered dumbfounded.
"Well you just rest, buddy. You'll be fine." And with that Rick walked away. Why does everyone worry about me, Danny wondered. He got the answer when he felt the back of his head. There were sleek, thin objects sewed into it
"Yeah, you hit your head in the fall. Had to get some stitches," Tim replied. "What on earth were you doing up there, Danny?" Danny shot Tim one of his trademark blank stares.
"I don't know," he convincingly lied, but Doctor Tim was not any by means convinced.
"I know you're not telling the truth, Danny. I'll leave you alone so you can think more about what you did." Danny knew what he did and why he did it. That wasn't the problem. He just didn't want to admit it. Danny lay on that stiff bed in that boring hospital for about two hours and then he was surprised to find Doctor Tim pop his head out from the curtain. "Danny, you have some visitors." Then Danny was amazed to find that his whole class and Miss Dalton had come to the hospital to see him.
"Hi Danny," Micky, Gray and Mary's daughter shyly greeted. That was a big feat for her since she barely got out three words a day. Danny smiled in return. Then Miss Dalton explained that everyone wished that he got well soon and blah, blah, blah. Danny was glad when Miss Dalton left. When she did each of his fellow classmates gave him a homemade card that they'd made at school. He was deeply touched by their kindness.
The doctor clearly made Danny aware that he wouldn't let him leave until he told him why he was at Mother's Hill. Danny, of course not being stupid, knew perfectly well that Tim already knew why he was there. He was just trying to get Danny to admit his illness. Danny was determined to be stubborn, but after about two seemingly never-ending days in the hospital he couldn't take the intense boredom so he finally gave in.
"I was trying to...kill myself," Danny sheepishly admitted. Doctor Tim nodded in agreement.
"That's what I thought," he replied. "Danny...you are suffering from a serious case of depression." The word hit Danny hard, depression. So that's what that terrible monster was called that had been infecting his brain. It was somewhat of a relief however. "Now Danny, your Uncle has agreed to let you go on medication, but it won't work unless you give it the effort. Understand?" Danny blandly nodded, and Tim continued by telling Danny how much medicine he had to take, when he had to take it, etc.
When Danny finally returned home he found that the Poultry Farm lay in shambles. Oh man, he thought, it's all my fault. But he wasn't about to let that get him down. He WOULD NOT let what happened at Mother's Hill happen again. He was quite determined to get better.

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It wasn't until mid winter that Danny returned to school. He'd been on medication for about two weeks, and there were drastic changes in his mood. He actually felt like living again, but unfortunately the medication caused his appetite to decline and also for Danny to get tired more frequently. Danny took to sleeping long hours of the day, and his already gaunt body frame became even skinnier.

"Come on, Danny!" Nikki shouted from outside.

"I'm coming, Nikki. Just hold your horses!" Danny replied slapping a cap on his head. Why did Nikki have to be so impatient? As he made his way out the door, he realized that Nikki had ceased to yell at him some more. It didn't take him long to find out. Aaron, the class troublemaker, had "accidentally" dropped his hat. It "accidentally" rolled all the way over to the Poultry Farm where Nikki "accidentally" retrieved it. While Danny had been hurriedly getting ready for school the two had been conversing. Danny saw that Nikki's whole face lighted up when Aaron spoke to her. Danny just rolled his eyes at the two lovebirds.

"Hey Cinderella!" Danny called to Nikki. "Your fairy godmother hath granted your wish, and she made you a carriage out of an ear of corn." Danny tried desperately to keep from erupting into laughter as he pointed to the beat up wheelbarrow by the cornfield. He continued, "Oh and it looks like your prince charming made it here early." Nikki's face transformed from a glowing pink flower to a burning red flame. Danny took off like roadrunner and Nikki followed in a fiery fury. Despite Danny's lack of meals, all that energy he got from napping finally paid off and Nikki was no match for Danny's energy charge. She met Danny at the church in the worst mood anyone had ever seen her in.

"You're really gonna get it, Danny!" she screamed still in her furious trance. It was now time for Miss Dalton's squabble resolving techniques to go into action.

"Now kids stop it! Class is in session!" Miss Dalton "resolved." (Some techniques!)

"I'll let you off this once Danny, but if you-" Miss Dalton interrupted her by waving an acknowledging finger in her face. Finally everyone calmed down enough so Miss Dalton could begin class. Class was unusually...normal. Aaron didn't even get sent to the corner! That was quite a feat. But Danny dreaded what Nikki would do to him on the way home after school. She might've said that she'd let him off, but that didn't necessarily mean that she would. She just said that to bluff Miss Dalton into thinking that. School eventually ended and when it did Nikki was as hotheaded as ever. Danny was the last one to leave the church and he did so very cautiously. Outside waiting for him was Nikki, who was tapping her foot as well as crossing her arms. She was just about to do Danny in when who should impose but Aaron. With a beet red face he sheepishly handed Nikki a moondrop flower he'd saved. Nikki graciously accepted it, but she still glanced at Danny in the corner of her eye. As you can imagine, Danny wasn't about to tease her again. If he even dared to open his mouth he knew he'd REALLY get it sooner or later. Instead he bolted out of sight.

As Danny walked home he took some time to reflect on the past events: his abandonment, May's wedding, the suicide attempt, and now. He had to admit that he'd come a log way. He was finally back on track. And at that moment, he was very glad that the fall hadn't taken his life. He was also very thankful to the doctor for giving him medication. Sure he wasn't hungry and he napped a lot, but to him it was worth having his life back. Yes, Danny had definitely seen some big improvements, but he was not at all aware of what was about to happen, something that would change his life forever as well as the ones he loved.

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Wow! That was a lot of work. Anyway I have a request to make. I'm anxiously waiting to get yet another story off the ground. As a result, I might not update quite as quick. I humbly ask that everyone be very patient. I'll still be working on this story, but I'm also going to be working on an AWL fic. Please be patient with me and I promise I'll do my best to update. Thanks!

-Ann Fan