A/N: Thank you for your support!

Panic

Lying awake in the dark, watching the moonlight shadows moving slightly on the wall at the rhythm of the gentle breeze coming from the open window, Danny was uneasy and nervous. His finally feverless mind was becoming more aware of his misery, his helplessness, his weakness. The doctors have been reducing progressively the doses of sedative and closely examining him to find an adequate balance that would be beneficial not only for his debilitated and hurtful body but also for his overwhelmed mind.

Being released, his mind has become his enemy. Every thought was negative and dark. Danny finally became aware of how terribly he missed his children. Grace and Charlie were his entire world, and subsequently, next to that fact, the cruel thought of not being able to take care of them and not being the strong presence he used to be for them gripped his heart painfully. He took a ragged breath, and exhaled with a whimper. He didn´t doubt his children´s unconditional support and love, the same that his friends had given to him so far, but he couldn't help the oppressive anguish that began to compress his chest.

Danny was afraid for his future. He was afraid for the process of getting there. His pride and confidence had been tied up three months and slowly had died inside of him. He was terrified of not being able to become what he had been, of not being the same he used to be anymore. He felt an intense wave of heat engulf his face, followed by a cold one. He began to sweat, tremble and feel an uncomfortable tingling and weakness in the legs.

Opening his mouth, Danny tried to take more air to fill his burning lungs. What had he done to deserve this? His anguish intensified, the feeling of loneliness taking him back to his kidnapping room. But he tried to shook that though away, because since rescued, he hadn´t been alone one second. He clinged to that fact as he weakly and clumsily tried to raise his head to look for who he knew had to be nearby. He needed help. He felt he was dying.

"St..v.." His friend was sleeping soundly on his bed. He had to try harder if he really wanted to wake him.

"Steve". Better, but not enough. After a few scared breaths to reunite strength, Danny forced his quivering voice one more time, knowing that if he failed he wouldn´t be able to do it again.

"Steve!" This time the figure on the bed stirred. Danny lowered his head on the pillow again, closing his eyes after the exhausting effort to be heard. Through his closed eyelids, he saw yellow lights dancing, and his neck felt the ugly sensation of itching of weakness and panic. He felt himself fading, vanishing, and loosing himself to the distress and fear, so much stronger than him. He felt himself falling on an endless abysm, until two strong arms caught him and he gasped in surprise. Danny was disoriented as his upper body was handled, until he found himself firmly pressed on a warm hug.

"Shhh shh sh. Hey, hey buddy, calm down, calm down.." Steve could feel the frantic hammering of his friend´s heart, pounding unmercifully and shaking his whole thin frame. Danny was freaking out, his palpitations competing in speed with the tremors and shivers. He needed security, support, anchoring. He strongly grabbed Danny´s nape with one hand, tucking his friend`s restless head under his chin and making the necessary pressure to keep it resting in his shoulder. With the other hand, he rubbed soothingly his partner´s back, up and down. He could feel every vertebra and every rib.

"..m gonna pass out". The scared whimpered words didn´t try to hide the panicked edge.

"No you´re not, no you´re not". Steve adjusted his grip, massaging his friend´s nape and back of the neck with strong fingers and started to rock slowly, cradling the miserable vestiges of that man he considers his brother. "Stay with me here, ok? You´re going to be fine, we´ll figure everything out".

Danny hated this; hated himself; hated being so weak; hated showing himself so vulnerable; hated being the receiving end of compassion and protectiveness; hated being shushed and cradled like a child. He was ashamed, but deep down he was aware that he was needed of contention and a lot of help to get through all this. All this feelings increased his anguish, making him try to take long breaths through his open mouth to achieve filling his tight lungs, but failing. The soothing caress of his back increased.

"..m scared". There. He hadn´t had any lower to go in dignity, so he said it. He needed to say it. After all, it was Steve, and he was sure Steve already knew.

Steve closed his eyes, his heart compressing at the admission. He knew how much it had to have taken from Danny to say that, and the truth was that he was scared too.

"Shh I know you are, but you know what? We are in this together, you´re not facing this alone, ok? Come on Danny, relax buddy". The soothing words spoken slowly and directly above Danny´s ear managed to break the panic barrier. He let himself being held and consoled, letting his exhausted and heavy head rest on his partner´s width shoulder, subconsciously accepting and sharing with him the burden he couldn´t bare by himself. He shivered, his sweat covered body not appreciating the cool night breeze that came through the window.

Without being released from his friends embrace, he was surprised as a blanket was placed over his shoulders, covering his bare and sweaty back. The kind face of the nurse appeared in front of his line of sight.

"Ok sweetie, I´m gonna give you something to help you relax, is that ok?".

Danny closed his eyes, sighing deeply, a tear rolling down his cheek.

"Yes, go ahead". He heard Steve giving permission to the nurse, feeling the vibration of his voice on his face. He couldn´t think anymore. He trusted his friend with the decision, knowing it would be the right one. He felt his anxiety leaving him, his heart normalizing its pace. He felt his face vibrate again, he tried to listen, pay attention to what his friend was saying, but sleep claimed him at the same time he felt the tears of his face being dried with a soft tissue and the hand on his back resume its soothing pattern.