Why he waited at the hospital for so long, Blake would never know. He tried to tell himself it was simply because he wanted answers, but that didn't cut it. After all, if that had been it, he could have simply beaten seven kindsa' crap out of the ex-FBI officer the first time, when he'd found him by the side of the road. He didn't like where this train of thought was going...

Fucking Norman Jayden. Still messing everything the fuck up, even unintentionally... Blake growled, realising he'd been pacing for the last twenty minutes. Agh, what the fuck is wrong with me?

He forced himself to sit down, and leafed through the dog-eared hospital magazines. Twenty minutes of "Cosmo" later (well there were no other magazines there!), a doctor called him.

"Sir? He's been asking after you. Now, he's full of pain-killers which seem to have affected him quite strongly, so don't take too much notice of what he says, he's been yelling 'SHARK!' every time a nurse goes in, and cowering under the bedclothes." Carter nodded.

"Well what's wrong with him?" He realised too late that that was a stupid question, doctors didn't answer that to anyone except family. Then the doctor answered, surprising him.

"He seems to be suffering from drug withdrawal, from what we're not sure, but something toxic. It would appear by the state of him he's been taking two or more drugs, and has completely given them up a few months ago roughly. He's also suffering from slight malnutrition, and is somewhat underweight, but they're not that important considering the rest of it."

"Okay..." said Carter. Damn, so he hadn't been lying when he said he wasn't on drugs... The doctor startled him when he realised he was talking again.

"...So don't be too hard on him, try and save any arguments for later." Carter looked slightly puzzled. Why would he argue with him now when he was ill? He shrugged.

"Yea, sure." The doctor smiled, and led him to Jayden's room, catching him before he went in.

"Can I just say... It's nice to see you two be so supportive to each other." he said, smiling. Even more confused now, Carter nodded, and went in, closing the door behind him. He approached the hospital bed where a pasty-faced Jayden sat up, looking out the window and batting his hands at invisible things in the air.

Ah great, he's hallucinating again... Carter coughed, trying to announce his presence, but Jayden didn't hear him. Walking closer, Carter sat on the bed, and tapped him on the shoulder. Jayden jumped and turned round, and his eyes lit up.

"Carter!" he squeaked happily. He laughed, and Carter figured he was maybe a little more pumped full of meds than the doctor had made out... "You came to see me! I've been telling the nurses all about you." Blake cocked his head to one side, and narrowed his eyes.

"Meaning?" Norman laughed hysterically.

"Meaning they think you're gay!" he rolled about on the bed laughing. "I mean, they know I am thanks to my medical forms, but..." he snorted and hiccuped at the same time, and nearly choked, then carried on laughing. "They think you are my boyfriend!" Carter turned bright red.

So that's why they let him in to see him... He had the urge to strangle Norman, but decided he was probably too ill... Unfortunately.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by another squeak from Norman, who was now staring at him with a look of terror in his eyes, which Carter by now knew all too well.

"Shark!" he squeaked. Carter looked behind him, just in case a giant fish with teeth was swimming in mid-air round the hospital. You never knew... But, of course, there wasn't.

"Don't be daft Jayden, I'm not a..."

"Talking shark!"

Carter sighed. "I'm not that either." he reassured Norman, but he had scooted up to the other side of the bed away from Carter, seemingly terrified. "Jayden!"

"Aaagh!"

Carter felt a surge of pity for the younger man, who had seemingly got a rough deal in life, but the kid tried to take it in his stride. He moved up the bed, closer to Norman, and put both hands on his shoulders, face close to him.

"Norman. I am not a shark." he said, feeling slightly foolish at the words that were coming out of his mouth. Norman made a small noise, but kept his eyes focused on Blake, which he took as a good sign. "I am not a shark. I am Carter. Your friend." Friend? Wait, when did that happen?

"My friend..." mumbled Jayden in a daze.

"That's right. It's me, Carter. Now, settle down, and have a rest, all this excitement can't be good for you." he said, patting Jayden on the back, who seemed to have calmed down, even if he was still doped up on a combination of painkillers and drug withdrawal. The younger man scrambled under the hospital bed covers, suddenly tired out, and Blake stood up to leave. He'd just got to the door, when Norman's voice stopped him.

"Thanks Carter. Love you." The older man swivelled round to look at Jayden, unsure if he was joking or not, but he was already half asleep.

"Uhhh... No problem kid. I like you too." he gruffly replied, and left the room.