Vlad brought Danny into the house and set him down gently on the couch in the living room. Danny sighed, feeling relieved as one does after fleeing a room crowded with his more or less mutual acquaintances whom he knows only vaguely but must work with closely. Danny leaned back on the coach tiredly and closed his eyes, relishing the softness of the cushions and pillows beneath him. Vlad glanced down at him and smiled slightly. He understood that Daniel was relieved to have been released from his grasp, and he wasn't bothered by it in the least. He knew it would take time before Daniel became comfortable with him enough that he wouldn't feel so awkward whenever he made physical contact with him. And he was willing to be patient—that was one thing he excelled at. He would not push Daniel to accept him, wouldn't shove the idea that he cared for him down his throat; he would simply ease him into a state of mind in which he would be able to accept that idea.
"Tired, Daniel?" Vlad asked gently, and smiled at him.
Danny nodded, and appropriately yawned. "Yeah," he mumbled sleepily, "I'm really tired."
"Well, we should get you to bed then, shouldn't we?" Vlad asked, and ruffled his hair gently and companionably.
"I guess," Danny responded, "but then again I don't think it would do much good. Last time I fell asleep I had a nightmare so bad I woke up."
"You're having nightmares, Danny?" Vlad asked, his forehead creased with concern.
"Yes," he said mundanely.
"Do you…want to talk about it?"
"What is there to talk about? It was a nightmare. I'll be fine. But I don't want to go to sleep, no matter how tired I am."
"Daniel, you'll need to sleep sometime. You can't stay awake forever. And I think it'd be easier for you to go to sleep if you talked about your nightmares."
"I never believed that shit. Talking about your problems won't make them disappear."
"It might make them better."
He shook his head solemnly. "No, it won't make them better either."
"I want to help you, Danny, but I cannot if you won't let me in."
"I…I can't. I honestly wish I could, but you'd never understand."
"I can try."
"No, you can't. No one could understand. I'm not even sure I completely understand."
"Try me."
"No, Vlad! You could never understand, and I won't give you the chance! I don't want to talk about it! Can't you just accept that?" Danny cried.
Vlad sighed, his eyes drooping in sadness and idle frustration. "I can, Danny. I'm sorry I pushed you. You know I only want to help you, don't you?"
Danny sighed softly and tiredly. "Yeah, I know, and I'm sorry I snapped. I guess I do need to sleep, but the nightmares are awful."
"How did you sleep on those pills, Daniel?"
"Huh?"
"Do you remember when I asked you to take those pills the social worker gave you?"
"Oh. Yeah, I do."
"How did you sleep after you took them?"
"I didn't have any nightmares or anything, if that's what you mean."
"Then you'll take one of those," Vlad said, "and you can get some rest."
"…It's the middle of the day."
"And? You need your sleep. But if it bothers you so much, I'll only give you half the pill."
"Okay. I just felt kinda sick when I woke up this morning, that's all."
"Perhaps you took one pill to many. It's alright. You'll only take one tonight." He turned and began to walk toward the entryway to the kitchen.
"I left the pills upstairs," Danny called to him. "Do you want me to go get them?"
"That's perfectly alright. I brought some extras of my own along just in case. You can have one of those."
"That's kind of weird."
"What's weird, Daniel?"
"That you're carrying around sleeping pills. Do you have insomnia or something?"
"Sometimes, yes, but I also like to be prepared for whatever comes my way."
"And you think that some emergency might result with someone needing sleeping pills?"
"You never know, little badger," Vlad said, smiled, and disappeared into the kitchen.
When he had gone, Danny mumbled beneath his breath, "He is such a goddam freak."
From inside the kitchen came Vlad's playful catcall, "I heard that Danny! Be careful what you say, I might have brought some poison along with me that might mysteriously make its way into your drink instead of the pills!"
Danny smiled slightly. "I bet it won't. "
"Oh?"
"You wouldn't kill me."
Vlad appeared in the entryway again, wearing a smile broader than Danny had ever seen. "I wouldn't dream of it, Danny." He slipped back into the kitchen.