Slipping Into Darkness
Disclaimer: As much as I love the show and its characters, I do not own any part of it. Without A Trace belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer and CBS. Only the characters that I created are mine. So, please don't sue.
Previously on Slipping Into Darkness: "Sean, I'm really sorry. But after this breakdown, I'm not sure not that we'll ever be able to get Danny back. He's become too violent and irrational, too quickly. And he's a danger to me, himself and everyone around him. You're going to have to make the extremely difficult decision of having to institutionalize him. Either that or having private home care take care of him. I'm sorry, Sean." Dr. Gonzalez said truthfully as she sighed very heavily and frustrated and then momentarily left Danny's room.
Chapter 19
No one could believe what they were hearing, but the one who took Dr. Gonzalez's news the hardest was Martin as he fell into a chair next to Danny's bed. He took a very tight hold of Danny's hand in a brotherhood grip as tears stained every crevice of his face. Sean tried to gently squeeze his shoulder, causing Martin to move away from him in disgust as he growled furiously and more tears escaped his eyes.
"Don't touch me. Just leave me the hell alone. You're wrong just like that stupid doctor you brought in here. She doesn't know a damn thing about Danny to want to lock him away in that damn rat hole. He's not a fucking danger to anyone." Martin said quietly but furiously as more tears escaped his eyes.
"Martin, calm down, kiddo. I know that you're Danny's best friend. Look, I'm not going to have Danny put in some institution. If I had to, I'd take care of him at home but I would never put him away. And anyway, it's too early to think about that. Right now, what he needs is medication, extensive psychotherapy and time with his family and friends. And then we'll move on from there, okay. But in the meantime, why don't you guys go home and get some rest, hmm? With what I gave him, he won't be waking up all night." Sean said softly as his voice broke and tears stained his face.
"Like hell I'm leaving. I'm not going anywhere. All of you can leave but I'm staying right here." Martin quietly said furiously as fresh tears escaped his eyes.
"Martin, there's no use…" Sean tried but stopped when Martin gave him a look so inhuman that it could burn a hole right through him like spewing acid as more tears escaped Martin's eyes, causing Sean to sigh heavily and gently squeeze Martin's shoulder as he nodded. "Okay, Martin. You can stay. But I want you to get some rest and eat too. So, I'm going to order a bed and some food for you as well." Sean said caringly.
"I'm fine right here." Martin quietly said very bitterly as more tears escaped his eyes.
"I'm not asking you, Martin. If you want to stay here with Danny, you'll have to get some rest and eat. I'm going to go place the order for the bed and your food. I'll be right back." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly and then left the room, causing Viv to embrace him from behind when Martin quietly cried furiously and shook.
"Shhh. Don't give up on him now, Martin. This is Danny we're talking about. He's strong and he'll get through this just like he's always gotten through the rest of the hell he's been through in his life. But he needs us now so much, sweetie. He needs us to be here for him even if he tries to push us away. But he also needs us to be strong, Martin. Can you be strong for him?" Viv said as her voice shook a bit but she remained strong and she held Martin a bit tighter.
"Damn it. It's not fair, Viv. We're going to lose him because of everything that that sick son of a bitch did to him." Martin quietly cried furiously through gritted teeth as he held Danny's hand tighter.
"We're not going to lose him, Martin. We'll do whatever the hell we have to, but we won't let Danny push us away anymore. We're going to help him however long it takes, whether the stubborn little bastard wants our help or not." Jack said with conviction.
"And after he gets better, he'll get back on the team again. But we're not going to lose him. We're going to do whatever we have to, to get him out that damn darkness that he's trapped in. Ritchie's dead and we're not going to let that sick son of a bitch take Danny away from us. We're not going to let that happen." Jeff said with conviction as tears stained his face.
All of a sudden the door opened again. It was Nurse Vicky, Sean and an orderly with a bed.
"All right. Go ahead and set up the bed." Sean said kindly and then turned to Martin and began checking his vitals. "I know that you're very upset, Martin, but I need you to calm down. You won't be able to help my little brother if anything happens to you. Now, drink this water. And after that, I want you to change out of those filthy clothes and into these hospital pajamas. Afterwards, you're all going to eat something." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly.
"He's going to eat. We're fine." Jack said gruffly out of exhaustion, causing Sean to look at him harshly.
"Don't give me that bull, Jack. You're all eating and that's final. I'm not asking. If you want to help Danny, start by taking care of yourselves." Sean said sternly but with compassionate undertones and then turned to Martin after he finished drinking his water.
"Here. You can change in the bathroom. And get rid of your shoes and socks also. I've got some footies and toiletries for you in the dresser. There's a toothbrush, mouthwash, toothpaste and other things that you need to get cleaned up. Now, go change." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly as he handed Martin a hospital bag, causing Martin to sigh frustrated but then go change in the bathroom.
"There, are you happy?" Martin said crossly like a petulant child.
"Don't get smart with me and cool off. Get in bed. Dinner will be here for you guys in just a few minutes." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly but Martin shook his head and took a hold of Danny's hand as he sat in the chair once again next to Danny's bed. "Fine, you can sit here for a few minutes until the food arrives and then you have to get in bed." He said caringly as he gently squeezed Martin's shoulder.
"I don't need to be in bed. I'm not one who's sick, Sean, Danny is." Martin said softly but somewhat crossly as fresh tears escaped his eyes and he held Danny's hand tighter in a brotherhood grip.
"I know that you're upset, Martin. I understand that, okay? I really do. But you won't be able to help Danny if you let yourself get sick. Don't forget that you've still got to have that hand stitched up and bandaged for another week." Sean said compassionately as he gently squeezed Martin's shoulders again, causing him to turn around when there was a knock at the door and it opened.
"Dr. Novak, dinner is ready for them. Will they be eating here or shall I have it set up in the lounge for them?" Nurse Vicky said with a kind smile.
"Just set it up in here, Vicky. It's okay." Sean said kindly, causing Nurse Vicky and another nurse to set up several hospital bedside tables for Viv, Jack, Martin and Jeff as they sat around the room.
They sat around eating and talking over the next half hour until they finally finished, causing Sean to call someone from the hospital's food services department to pick up the empty dinner trays.
"What about Danny? What's he going to eat?" Martin said with a heavy sigh as he took a tight hold of Danny's hand again in a brotherhood grip.
"Like I told you before, Martin, okay? With the sedatives that I gave Danny this last time, he won't be waking up until tomorrow. When he wakes up, though, I'll have breakfast ready for him in here and I won't let it be taken away. But right now, you need to say goodbye to these guys because visiting hours are over. If they want, they'll be able to come back tomorrow and visit Danny, You and Sam." Sean said compassionately.
"What about these damn things? Are you going to take them off?" Martin said crossly and disgusted of the hard restraints that still bounded Danny's wrists and feet.
"I'm sorry, Martin. But the restraints have to stay on. Even if Danny wakes up calm, he'll try to leave and I can't let that happen. For the time being, they have to remain on. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to step out for a moment. I'll be back in a few minutes and then Jack, Jeff and Viv will have to leave, okay. I'll be right back." Sean said somewhat seriously but compassionately and then left the room, causing the others to continue talking to Martin for five more minutes and then leave after Sean returned to the room.
"All right, Martin. It's nine o' clock. You can sit with Danny a few more minutes but then you have to get in bed. You don't have to go to sleep yet if you don't want to. But you can't stay there all night sitting next to him. Now, if you need anything at all, use the call button and page anyone of the nurses. If you need to get in touch with me, here's my card. Everything you need is on there—my address, email, house and cell phone numbers and my pager number. Call me any time. It doesn't matter if it's ten at night or four in the morning. If you need me, call me right away. Now, is there anything else you need before I leave?" Sean said kindly but Martin just sniffled softly he looked at Danny's restraints and tears escaped his eyes.
"I know, kiddo. I know. I don't like seeing him tied up like that either. But we're not going to lose him. We'll do whatever we have to, to help him. I won't ever give up him. I promise." Sean said sympathetically as he sighed heavily, gently squeezed Martin's shoulder again and then left the room and went to the nurses' desk.
"Those two agents in there get whatever they need as well as anyone who comes to see them. And don't make them wait for anything. Is that understood?" Sean said seriously but kindly, causing Nurse Vicky to smile.
"Yes, Sir, Dr. Novak. Shall I page you if they need anything?" Nurse Vicky.
"If anything happens, page me immediately—I don't care the time. Good night." Sean said with a soft smile.
"Good night, Dr. Novak." Nurse Vicky said with a warm smile and then Sean left for the night.
Back in Danny's Room…
Martin ignored Sean's orders and continued sitting at Danny's bedside as he continued tightly holding Danny's limp and cold hand in a brotherhood grip.
"Agent Fitzgerald, what are you doing? You know that you should be in bed already." Nurse Vicky said caringly as she entered the room at eleven p.m. and began checking Danny's vitals.
"How is he?" Martin asked nervously of Danny.
"His vitals are a bit elevated but he's resting comfortably and he doesn't have a fever which is a good thing. Now, please get in bed and get some sleep." Nurse Vicky said caringly as she put Martin in bed and covered him with a warm blanket. "Is there anything else you need before I leave?" She said warmly with a kind smile but Martin just looked toward Danny and shook his head as tears escaped his eyes.
"No, I'm fine." Martin said softly but in a hurt tone.
"Okay. But I'm going to be back throughout the entire night to check on you both. I'm going to be here until tomorrow morning when Dr. Novak arrives. So, if you need anything at all, just press the call button and I'll come in right away. Good night and try to get some sleep." Nurse Vicky said sympathetically as she gently squeezed Martin's hand and then left the room, causing Martin's exhausted body to give in to some much needed sleep thirty minutes later.
It was two-thirty in the morning and Martin was sleeping peacefully, when Danny suddenly began stirring and crying fearfully as he slept and sweat and tears stained his face, causing Martin to immediately get out of bed and take a tight hold of Danny's hand, which was soaking in sweat, in a tight brotherhood grip.
"Danny? Danny, can you hear me?" Martin said concerned and somewhat fearfully but Danny wouldn't respond as he sat next to Danny, causing Danny to suddenly wake up screaming and crying but through gritted teeth and his eyes remained closed. "Danny! Danny! Damn it! Wake up and look at me, you're having a nightmare!" Martin said sternly and terrified as he took a tight hold of Danny's face in his hands, causing the monitors to beep wildly and causing Nurse Vicky to immediately run into the room.
"What happened to him?" Nurse Vicky said urgently as she began treating Danny. "Danny, look at me." She said very concerned.
"Damn it. He can't hear you. I think he's trapped in a damn nightmare." Martin said very fearfully as tears stained his face, causing Dr. Gonzalez to suddenly come into the room.
"What are his vitals?" Dr. Gonzalez said seriously and urgently as Danny continued screaming and crying violently through gritted teeth as his eyes remained closed.
"His BP's 190/160 and his pulse is 180." Nurse Vicky said urgently as she raised Danny's oxygen to the highest level, causing Martin to become furious when Dr. Gonzalez immediately prepared a syringe-full of sedative.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Martin said furiously as he stood up between Danny and Dr. Gonzalez.
"I'm giving him a sedative or we're going to lose Danny. And unless you want the same thing and to be permanently taken out of this room, step back and let me do my job." Dr. Gonzalez said very harshly but Martin stood his ground and wouldn't let her near Danny with the sedative.
"You're not giving him any damn sedative! All you want to do is have him locked away and drugged all day and I'm sure as hell not going to let you give him that garbage now! What Danny needs is us, his family—not your fucking sedatives!" Martin said furiously and then began looking around for something that he could use to make Danny react.
"Danny! Danny, wake up! Look at me!" Martin said urgently and fearfully but Danny wouldn't react. "Damn it!" He said furiously.
"I'm giving him the sedative. Now, move out of my way." Dr. Gonzalez said harshly.
"You're not giving him any fucking sedative!" Martin said furiously as sweat and tears soaked his face, causing Martin to suddenly grab both his and Danny's water pitcher and dump ice-cold water on Danny head and face.
As soon as he did that, Danny gasped and coughed violently as he cried and finally opened his eyes, causing Martin to keep Dr. Gonzalez and also Nurse Vicky, away from Danny as he took a hold of Danny's face in his hands.
"Danny? Danny, can you hear me? Look at me, brother. Do you understand me?" Martin said fearfully, causing Danny to cry extremely emotionally and fearfully as he looked at Martin fearfully.
"Martin? Are you…are you dead?" Danny cried extremely emotionally, fearfully and confused but somewhat like a child, causing fresh tears to escape Martin's eyes as he shook his head.
"No, Danny. I'm not dead. You were just trapped in a horrible nightmare, so I had to throw water on you. But we're okay, we're safe. You're in the hospital and I stayed here with you to take care of you. But right now I need your help, partner. Can you do something for me?" Martin cried caringly as he continued holding on to Danny's face.
"What?" Danny cried very emotionally and badly shaken as he looked around the room. "Take these damn things off of me." Danny cried very emotionally and terribly upset as he shook violently.
"Shhh. I want you to calm down and breathe because I don't want anything to happen to you, okay. None of us do. Please, I know that you can do this. Just breathe with me, brother. Come on. Breathe nice and slow. Just breathe slowly through your nose, hold it for two seconds and then slowly let it out through your mouth. Come on. I know that you're scared but you have to calm down because your pressure and heart rate's through the roof. Now, you have two choices. You can either do what I tell you or I can call an already very irritable Jack at two-thirty in the morning and tell him to get here now because you're trying to give in to that stupid grim reaper. Then again, he'll probably kick your ass, kick me out of here and stay here taking care of you himself to see if you panic like this again. Now, choose very carefully, Danny. Are you going to do what I tell you or should I call Jack right now?" Martin suddenly laughed crying, causing Dr. Gonzalez and Nurse Vicky to look on in complete shock when Danny laughed crying and shook his head.
"No, no, no! Please don't call Jack! I'll do whatever you want!" Danny laughed crying as he shook somewhat violently and sweat, water and tears stained his face.
"Okay. Then, calm down and start breathing slowly through your nose, hold your breath until I hold up my two fingers and then slowly let it out through your mouth. But I want you to keep your eyes focused on me. Got it?" Martin said caringly as he continued holding Danny's face with one hand and they both began breathing slowly, causing Danny to calm down several minutes later but then he groaned fearfully when the room began spinning. "Take it easy, brother. Just focus on me, on my eyes, until the dizziness fades." He said a bit sternly but caringly as he continued holding Danny's face with one hand and carefully laid Danny in bed but in a reclining position.
"Better?" Martin asked a minute later, causing tears to escape Danny's eyes as he continued breathing slowly and nodded. "Shhh. Just calm down and keep breathing slowly. We'll deal with one thing at a time." Martin said caringly. "Do you want some water?" Martin said kindly but Danny only nodded as he looked at Martin but Martin shook his head. "I want you to talk to me, Danny. I want to talk to you, not your head. You're not a mute. So, talk to me like a person and answer my question. Would you like some water?" He said somewhat sternly and seriously but caringly, causing Danny to look at him contrite as more tears escaped his eyes.
"Yes, please. I would like some water." Danny said softly as his nose reddened, his lips quivered violently and more tears escaped his eyes, causing Martin to look through his duffel bag and get a bottle of water.
"That's good, Danny. That's a start. Here you go, brother." Martin said caringly as he gently sat Danny up in bed again and gently fed him some water, causing Dr. Gonzalez and Nurse Vicky to once again look at each other in complete shock.
"Excuse me, Agent Fitzgerald, but you have to step out. I have to change Danny's bed and get him out of those wet clothes." Nurse Vicky said kindly.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll help you get him out of the wet clothes but I'm not going to leave him alone." Martin said seriously and with conviction.
"Very well, Agent Fitzgerald. You can help me get Danny out of the wet clothes. But you have to calm down also because we're only trying to help him." Nurse Vicky said a bit sternly but caringly.
"If you want to help me, get these damn things off of me." Danny said softly but angrily as more tears escaped his eyes, causing Martin to gently force Danny to look at him.
"Listen to me, okay. We're going to have to take the restraints off to get you out of those wet clothes. But don't try to run away or they'll have to be put on again." Martin said a bit sternly but caringly.
"Why did you let them put those fucking things on me after what I told you that son of a bitch did to me, Fitzy? How could you let them do that?" Danny cried angrily but then very emotionally, causing Martin to embrace Danny protectively like a brother and lay his head on Danny's.
"Shhh. I'm sorry, okay? I really am. I tried to stop them before but you were in really bad shape and tried to attack us. But I promise you that if you can stay calm and do what you're told, I won't let anyone restrain or sedate you anymore whether they like it or not. Otherwise, they'll have to stay on. Is that understood? Are you going to stay calm and do what you're told? Are you going to stay calm and not try to attack any of us? Are you going to stay calm and not try to run away? Hmm? Answer me, Danny." Martin said a bit sternly but caringly as he continued holding Danny protectively tight and Danny nodded.
"I do. I promise, Fitzy. I'll do whatever you want. But please, take them off. Take them off." Danny cried very emotionally and somewhat fearfully but then began taking slow, deep breaths to regain his composure.
"All right, kiddo. But calm down and breathe, so that I can take them off." Martin said caringly as he momentarily released Danny.
"You can't do that. The restraints have to stay on for everyone's safety." Dr. Gonzalez said sternly but with compassionate undertones.
"Back off. I'm taking the restraints off right now." Martin said calmly but angrily through clenched teeth and then he and Nurse Vicky took the restraints off of Danny's wrists and feet, causing Danny to immediately hold on to Martin for dear life as he shook and cried very emotionally when they carefully got him out of bed.
"Shhh. Calm down and breathe, okay? It's over. Now, calm down and let's get you out those wet clothes." Martin said understandingly.
It took fifteen minutes, but Martin and Nurse Vicky helped Danny into a clean, dry hospital gown and then afterwards, Nurse Vicky changed the bed. Once the bed was cleaned, she and Martin gently laid Danny in bed once again but this time Danny didn't protest.
"Feeling better?" Martin softly chuckled amused, causing Danny to redden as he smiled embarrassed.
"Did you really have to dump that ice water on my head?" Danny said chuckling softly as coughed and sniffled a bit, causing Martin to laugh amused and nod.
"Yeah, I did. I kept yelling at you, but you didn't hear me." Martin said gently as he smiled softly and he and Nurse Vicky covered him with two warm blankets, causing Danny to take a tight hold of his hand in a brotherhood grip when Martin sat in the chair next to his bed.
"Thank you." Danny said with a soft sigh he pouted softly and his eyebrows furrowed as if wanted to say something to Martin but couldn't.
"Agent Fitzgerald, you may talk for a few minutes. But it's been a very long and trying day and I suggest that you both get some sleep. I'll be back in a little while to check on Agent Taylor and I do not want to see you on that chair. Is that understood? Good. I'll be right back. Excuse me." Dr. Gonzalez said a bit sternly and seriously as she and Nurse Vicky left the room.
"I'm glad they're gone. That way we can talk alone without them being nosy." Martin said with a sympathetic smile.
"I can't." Danny said softly as fresh tears escaped his eyes.
"You can't what? Talk? Brother, like I said before, you're not a mute. Now, I want you to be honest with me and tell me what's going on? What's that nightmare that's been eating away at you and making you feel like you're losing your mind? What have you been dreaming?" Martin asked as gently as possible but Danny fearfully tightened his hold on Martin's hand and shook his head as fresh tears escaped his eyes.
"I can't, Martin. I can't." Danny said softly but pain was clearly etched in his voice as tears fell freely from his face.
"Well, I don't care what you think, brother, because we're not going to lose you. Ritchie's gone and so are the rest of his accomplices. They can't hurt you anymore and they can't hurt us. Now, I want to know what you've been dreaming." Martin said somewhat sternly but caringly.
"Just leave me alone, Martin." Danny cried softly but with a pained voice but his actions spoke louder than his words as he fearfully gripped Martin's hand.
"I'm not going to leave you alone, Danny. None of us are. So, you can be a petulant hard ass and push everyone away but you'll just be wasting your time. Now, start talking and tell me what's going on." Martin said sternly, causing him to gently force Danny to look at him when Danny turned away. "Brother, this is your only choice. Do you prefer talking to me, your best friend or having to tell Dr. Gonzalez what's going on first? Hmm?" Martin said caringly and then tightened his grip when Danny quietly cried furiously.
"She can go to hell. And if she thinks that she's putting me away in a fucking nuthouse, she's out of her damn mind. I heard every damn word she said." Danny quietly cried furiously.
"Sean's not going to let happen and neither are any of us. But, please, talk to me and tell me what's going on, Danny. Let that poison out of your system before it kills you. Or is that what you want? Hmm? Do you want to die? Do you hate us so much that you're willing to make us suffer with your death? Do you want us to feel guilty the rest of our lives for your death, for not protecting you from that sick son of a bitch, Ritchie? Is that what you want?" Martin said sternly as fresh tears streamed down his face but Danny didn't answer as he quietly cried furiously, causing Martin to sigh angrily and release Danny's hand as he stood up from the chair.
"Fine, Danny. You want us out of your life, then I'mleaving right now and I'm telling the others not to come back either. Give Ritchie what he fucking wants and let him keep destroying you, even from beyond the damn grave, until you can't stand living anymore and you kill yourself just because you can't get his voice out of your head. But I'm not going to sit around anymore watching you kill yourself like you're doing now." Martin said very harshly as he began packing his duffle and then picked up his clothes to change.
Of course Martin didn't mean what he said. But he had no choice. He felt that it was the only way to help Danny and finally get through to him. So, he went into the bathroom and changed out of the hospital clothes and into his regular clothes again.
"Goodbye, Danny. Forever." Martin said seriously and with a harsh look as he picked up his duffle bag and walked to the door, causing him to open the door.
"Stop!" Danny quietly cried very upset and fearfully as he reached out for him but Martin wouldn't look at him. "Please!" He quietly cried terribly upset but he sounded like a petrified child as he shook, causing Martin to turn around to find Danny shaking violently.
"What, Danny? Why shouldn't I walk out of this room and out of your life forever? It's what you want. You want to kill yourself, go ahead. But I'm not going to stand by and watch you kill yourself. I'm only giving you what you want. You told me to leave—that you didn't need anyone and that you were fine on your own. So, why should I stay now and watch you kill yourself? Hmm? Why?" Martin said sternly but caringly as tears stained his face and he continued holding his duffle bag, causing Danny to quietly cry more and shake his head vigorously.
"No, please don't leave, Martin! Please!" Danny quietly cried terrified and emotionally but like a child as he shook violently and tears stained every crevice of his face.
"What's the point, Danny? You won't talk to us, you keep pushing us—your family—away. For what, for a sociopath like Ritchie who tried to kill you and all of us?" Martin said softly but sternly as his voice shook and tears stained his face but Danny shook his head.
"I swear that I'll tell you everything now, but please don't leave! Please, Martin!" Danny quietly cried terribly upset as he shook violently and began struggling to breathe, causing Martin to drop his duffle and immediately run to Danny's side.
"Okay, all right. But you have to calm down and breathe right now, Danny. Come on. I won't ask you again." Martin said sternly but caringly as he took a strong hold of Danny and gently forced him to drink some water, causing Danny to calm down a bit five minutes later after he began taking slow breaths and drank the entire bottle of water that Martin gave him but he continued crying quietly like a child as he shook. "Calm down." He said sternly but caringly.
"No. You said that you're leaving." Danny quietly cried upset but like a child, causing Martin to worry and grab Danny's wrist tightly when he tried to suck his thumb.
"Don't do that. Calm down and tell me what's been happening and why you're pushing everyone away and I won't leave." Martin said caringly, but concern was clearly evident in his voice and Danny nodded. "All right. Start talking, Danny. I want to know about that nightmare that you keep having and that keeps you up screaming and crying so terrified out your mind. And I want to know why you keep pushing us away." Martin said caringly but concerned as he once again sat in the chair next to Danny's bed and took a tight hold of Danny's hand in a brotherhood grip.
"I already told you that I don't want you guys to get hurt anymore because of me. That's why I keep pushing you away but you don't get it through those thick skulls of yours. Instead, you stand by me even when I insult and hurt you, you stubborn bastard." Danny cried crossly, causing Martin to suddenly chuckle crying.
"Then I guess we're both stubborn, because you're been a hard ass trying to push us away and you can't get through this thick skull of yours that you're not getting rid of us, no matter what you do or say." Martin said with a sad smile as he soothed Danny's head like a child.
"Please don't leave me here alone with that asshole." Danny quietly cried emotionally as he referred to Dr. Gonzalez but Martin shook his head. "What do you want to know, Fitzy?" Danny quietly cried emotionally and upset as his hands shook.
"I told you, brother. I want to know everything about the nightmare." Martin said softly but caringly as tears escaped his eyes.
"There are two nightmares with you and the rest of the team." Danny quietly cried upset.
"In the first nightmare, I'm back at that warehouse being tortured by Ritchie. You know, when he beat me and shocked me with the cattle prod?" Danny quietly cried upset and Martin nodded. "Well, in the nightmare, he's not the only one tortures me—so do all of you." Danny quietly cried very emotionally upset as he shook, causing Martin to tighten his hold on Danny's hand and bug out a bit.
"What are you talking about?" Martin said shaken by Danny's confession and Danny nodded.
"You heard me. All of you took turns torturing me. All of you did the same thing Ritchie did but worse. And all of you just laughed more when I soiled myself and cried as I begged you to stop. But you just kept repeating that I had to pay for all the bad stuff I've done, all my sins." Danny quietly cried terribly upset and badly shaken as he began shaking violently again, causing Martin to stand up and embrace him protectively tight as he shook a bit.
"Shhh. Calm down. Why didn't you tell me sooner, Danny? You know that we'd never hurt you, ever. We'd give up our lives for you if need be. But there's no way in hell that we'd do something so vile to you." Martin cried softly but soothingly as he shook a bit and held Danny carefully but tighter.
"I don't care. The dreams won't stop and I can't take it anymore." Danny quietly cried terribly upset.
"Shhh. Calm down and breathe, kiddo. You said that there's another dream. Tell me about that one." Martin softly said soothingly as he continued holding Danny protectively tight.
"Sebastian and Ritchie are both alive and they kill all of you in front of me by cutting out your hearts. But you, Jack, Sam, Jeff, Viv, all of you—you open your eyes and blame me for your deaths. That's when you all stand up and kill me while you tell me that I paid with my miserable life for killing you." Danny quietly cried uncontrollably emotionally and fearfully but like a child as he shook violently and struggled to breathe, causing Danny to suddenly begin coughing and gagging violently as his stomach convulsed.
"Calm down, brother." Martin said fearfully as he grabbed a deep bedpan and put it in front of Danny, causing Danny to tightly hold his stomach as he began vomiting violently and painfully four times. "That's it, it's over. Breathe, Danny, come on. Here, rinse your mouth and then drink this water." He said shaken as he helped Danny to rinse his mouth and then carefully fed him a bit of water.
Martin was going to leave to the bathroom but Danny misunderstood the situation, causing Danny to cry fearfully and hold him tightly as he dug his nails into Martin's arm.
"Calm down and let me go, Danny. I'm just going to bathroom to get rid of this mess." Martin said sternly but caringly as he put on gloves and grabbed the soiled bedpan and a washcloth, causing Danny to cry relieved and nod as he released Martin.
"Just lie back down and breathe. This is going to help you feel better." Martin said caringly as he gently soothed Danny's face, head and neck with the wet washcloth and then placed the washcloth on Danny's forehead.
"Thank you." Danny quietly cried shaken like a child as he continued shaking a bit and Martin once again took a hold of Danny's hand in a brotherhood grip as he sat down in the chair next to him.
"You don't have anything to thank me for, brother. I'm proud of you, Danny, just like I'm sure that your father's proud of you for finally telling me what was hurting you so much." Martin said caringly but with conviction, causing Danny to quietly cry very emotionally like a child as he tried to cover his face but Martin wouldn't let him. "Stop hiding from me and everyone else and let us help you." He said understandingly.
"I don't know how to do that after everything that's happened, Fitzy. I know that you guys keep saying that it wasn't my fault but none of you would've met Ritchie if it hadn't been because of me." Danny quietly cried upset but like a despondent child.
"You're wrong about that, Danny. I met Ritchie long before this entire thing started." Martin said gently but seriously and Danny looked at him fearfully.
"What the hell are you talking about, Fitzy?" Danny quietly cried fearfully.
"I was coming into work one day when he stopped in looking for you. He said he was your cousin. We started talking for several minutes and he asked about Jack and his girls, Viv, Sam and me. He said that he knew who we were because you were always talking about us and that you had a Christmas picture with all of us together. Anyway, he left and I didn't see him again until we saw him here, upstairs." Martin explained as gently as possible.
"I swear that I never said that to him, Fitzy. You have to believe me." Danny quietly cried upset but Martin shook his head.
"I know you didn't, brother. That was just Ritchie's way of getting close to us so that he could hurt us and you. But don't you understand now why we keep telling you that none of this was your fault. Stop letting Ritchie ruin your life, Danny. He was the sociopath, not you. So, let us help you." Martin said caringly as fresh tears escaped his eyes.
"I don't know how, Fitzy. I can't stop thinking about what that asshole Ritchie said to me. I can't stop feeling guilty about what happened. I can't sleep or eat. How can anyone help me now?" Danny quietly cried very emotionally when a knock suddenly came to the door—it was Sean smiling softly back at Danny as tears stained his face. "What are you doing here?" He quietly cried emotionally.
"I got here a few minutes ago. Vicky called me and told me what happened, so I got here as fast as I could. I also saw everything that just happened in here and how Martin helped you, kiddo. And I heard what you two just said. Now, if you really want us to help you, you're going to have to work with us." Sean said soothingly as he took a protective hold of Danny and repeatedly soothed and kissed his head.
"No. You and that stupid headshrinker only want to put me away in the nuthouse. I heard what she said. I hate her." Danny quietly cried angrily and very emotionally like a child, causing Sean to shake his head and hold him tighter.
"Shhh. I'm not going to let that happen. I'd never put you in a psychiatric hospital. But there are going to be some changes that you aren't going to like but you don't have a choice. Starting tomorrow morning, you're going to start extensive psychotherapy with Dr. Gonzalez." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly, causing Danny to quietly cry angrily and shake his head. "Be quiet and listen to me. You're starting therapy with Dr. Gonzalez tomorrow morning. You're also going to start taking medication until we deem that you don't need it anymore. The medications are going to start tonight. Is that understood? And don't think that you're going to avoid anyone again. Do you understand me?" Sean said somewhat sternly but caringly.
"Damn it. That's not fair, Sean. I'm not insane." Danny quietly cried angrily and very emotionally.
"I'm not saying that you are crazy, kiddo. But the medications and the therapy will help you and you're going to feel better. I promise. We're love you and we're going to take care of you." Sean said soothingly as he soothed and kissed Danny's head like a child and tears stained his face, causing Martin to tighten his hold on Danny's hand. "Shhh. Calm down, munchkin. Everything is going to be okay." Sean said caringly as he released Danny and took a syringe out of his pocket.
"What the hell are you doing?" Danny quietly cried angrily.
"You need to get some sleep, kiddo. It's late and you're too anxious. So, you have only two choices. You can either take the medication tonight by mouth or I can inject it into your IV. It's your choice. What's it going to be?" Sean said a bit sternly but caringly as he held the cup of medication in one hand and the syringe in the other, causing Danny to quietly cry angrily like a petulant child as he grabbed the small cup with medication and the cup of water that Sean gave him.
"Fine, you asshole." Danny quietly cried angrily and swallowed the water and medication offered.
"Open your mouth and stick out your tongue, Danny." Sean said sternly but caringly as he opened Danny's mouth and shined a penlight to make sure he'd swallowed the medication. "That's good, kiddo. Now, you're going to start feeling dizzy in a few minutes, so let's get you settled." Sean said caringly as he grabbed the restraints, causing Martin to stop him.
"Don't. Don't put those restraints back on, Sean. Otherwise, you're going to cause him to panic again. Don't you remember that Ritchie tied him to the beams and tortured him? That's why he's so upset about the restraints. They remind him of what Ritchie did to him." Martin said seriously.
"Is that true, munchkin?" Sean said caringly to Danny, causing Danny to quietly cry emotionally and nod. "Okay, munchkin. Then, I won't put them on. But you have to stay calm or I'll have to put them back on. Is that understood?" He said caringly as he covered Danny with two warm blankets and then turned to Martin.
"As for you, Martin, get out of those ridiculous clothes you're wearing and put those hospital pajamas back on right now. You're not going anywhere except to bed. It's the middle of the night, genius. Now, go in the bathroom and change. Go." Sean said sternly but caringly as he gave Martin back his hospital pajamas and the hospital bag, causing Martin to softly chuckle amused as he walked into the bathroom.
"He's going to leave as soon as you leave." Danny cried softly but crossly like a child, causing Sean to smile softly and shake his head.
"No. He wasn't going to leave you here alone, munchkin. I've been watching you two and he threatened to leave so that you'd finally tell him about your nightmares." Sean said with a soft smile.
"You're lying. And he's going to leave." Danny quietly cried like a petulant child, causing Martin to suddenly chuckle softly but amused as he came out of the bathroom and gently squeezed his shoulder.
"Sean's right. There's no way in hell that I would leave you alone, especially not now. Like Sean said, I only made you believe that because it was the only way to get through to you. Now, get some sleep because you've had a hell of a day." Martin said caringly and then yawned.
"Good, you're tired. Then it shouldn't be hard for these to take effect. Drink." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly as he handed the Martin a small cup with medication and a cup of water.
"No way, I'm fine. I don't need any drugs to sleep." Martin said crossly, causing Sean to check his vitals.
"Think again, Martin. Your vitals a bit high right now. So, do what you're told and take your meds." Sean said sternly but caringly.
"Drink it or I won't talk to you anymore about what the hell's going on." Danny quietly cried crossly, causing Martin to growl at Danny but then drink the medication.
"Good, now get in bed. By the way, if you two think that you're going to try something stupid like getting out of bed again and talking all night, think again because I'm staying in here right on that couch over here. So, both of you go to sleep right now because you've got an early morning. Good night." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly as he helped Martin into bed and covered him with two warm blankets.
"What's wrong with you? Why've you tried to keep me drugged since we got here?" Martin said crossly, causing Danny to suddenly giggle amused.
"He's done that because I told him to. It was the only way to keep you safe, Fitzy." Danny giggled amused as he yawned.
"That's it. Both of you go to sleep right now." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly as he put the oxygen back on Danny's face. "This is staying on, at least until tomorrow. Now, get some sleep." Sean said caringly, causing Danny and Martin to giggle amused. "What did I tell you two? Go to sleep." He said in a mock angry tone but couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips as Danny smiled and laughed again.
"I'm not a kid, Sean. Besides, I'm…not…tired." Danny said yawning as he struggled to remain awake.
"Go to sleep, munchkin. Now." Sean said a bit sternly but caringly, causing Sean to smile softly but amused when Danny blew weak raspberries at him and then fell asleep.
"Get some sleep, Martin." He said a bit sternly but caringly but Martin ignored him as he swallowed hard, tears escaped his eyes and he looked at Danny, causing Sean to sigh softly but heavily and gently squeeze Martin's shoulder. "Don't you start too, Martin. Danny's going to be okay. We're going to help him. I know that it seems impossible right now, but we'll all get him through this together." Sean said caringly.
"We can't leave him alone and you know it." Martin whispered somewhat angrily out of fear as more tears escaped his eyes.
"He's not going to be alone. He's going to need to stay with me for a few days. But then I have to go out of town for a medical conference and I'm going to be gone for a week. So, I was going to ask you take care of Danny while I'm away. Do you think that you can do that, kiddo? Could you take care of him that week, make sure he takes his meds, goes to his therapy sessions and take care of anything else he needs?" Sean said caringly.
"Like you even have to ask me that. Of course, I will." Martin said softly but with conviction.
"I knew you wouldn't say no. That's great. But right now, I want you to get some sleep." Sean said caringly but Martin shook his head as he looked at Danny. "Martin, you need to rest also, kiddo. Today's been a very hard day for everyone involved. Look, I know that you care about my little brother and that Danny's your best friend. But how can you expect to help him, if you don't take care of yourself, kiddo?" Sean said a bit sternly but compassionately as he lowered Martin's bed, causing Martin to sigh heavily and nod as more tears escaped his eyes.
"Good. Now get some sleep. Everything is going to be okay. You'll see." Sean said caringly as he covered Martin once again with his two blankets, causing Martin to give in to some much needed sleep.
After making sure that both Danny and Martin were soundly sleeping, Sean lay down on the couch that was in the room and he fell asleep.
It was four-thirty in the morning and Danny lay in a restless sleep as he thrashed weakly and nightmares plagued his mind, causing Danny to suddenly awaken screaming and crying violently. Both Sean and Martin quickly woke up and took tight holds of Danny.
"Danny! Danny, calm down! Wake up!" Martin said fearfully.
"Shhh. Danny, calm down, munchkin. You're okay. You're alright." Sean said urgently and shaken as he gently rocked Danny back and forth and repeatedly soothed and kissed Danny's head, causing Danny to cry frantically and hold his head. "Damn it, Danny. Calm down or I'm going to have to put the restraints back on right now." Sean said sternly out of fear, causing Danny to continue crying and shake his head.
"Unless you want me to throw that ice water on you again and unless you want us to put the damn restraints back on, calm your ass down right now." Martin said harshly out of fear, causing Danny to cry angrily. "Calm your ass down now and start breathing, Danny. Do you understand me?" He said harshly as he took a hold of one of the restraints.
"No! Please don't put that back on me! Please!" Danny cried fearfully and uncontrollably as he shook violently.
"Then calm down and start breathing on your own or I'm going to use the restraints and then I'm going to give you enough sedative to help you sleep until tomorrow." Sean said sternly but caringly as he carefully held Danny tighter, causing Danny to cry very angrily and emotionally but then take slow, shaky breaths to calm down.
It took fifteen minutes, but Danny finally calmed down enough to talk as he sat up in bed sobbing emotionally but like a child as Sean and Martin continued holding on to him and Sean gently fed Danny some water.
"That's it, munchkin. Calm down and breathe nice and slow. You can do this, munchkin. Now, talk to me. Hmm? What happened? Did you have a bad dream?" Sean said soothingly as he held Danny protectively tight, causing Martin to hold Danny's hand tighter when Danny tried to cover his face as he cried more.
"You had the same nightmares, didn't you, brother?" Martin said compassionately but with a heavy sigh, causing Danny to nod crying. "You need to calm down, kiddo. I told you that it's not your fault. You have to remember that. And you also have to start talking about everything that's happened. Look, we all love and care for you, Danny. All we want to do is help you feel good again. We want the old, happy, devious Danny back. But we can't do that without your help, brother. Do you understand me? You have to want us to help you." Martin said softly but with conviction as he held Danny's hand in a brotherhood grip as Danny began struggling to remain after Sean injected a medication into his IV.
"Why did you do that to me?" Danny cried weakly but hurt like a child as complete darkness threatened to take over.
"Shhh. I did it to help you, munchkin. You've been through too much hell. But, munchkin, Martin's right. We can't help you unless you ask us too. And if you want our help, you have to want it for you alone and not for our sakes, okay? But whatever you decide, we love you—we always will—and we'll never leave you alone." Sean said soothingly as he soothed and kissed Danny's head like a child and gently lay him down in bed again as Danny very weakly cried emotionally.
"He…lp…me." Danny cried barely audible and complete darkness took over as his head lolled to the side, causing Sean and Martin to give each other a knowing and relieved look as tears stained their faces and they held Danny tighter.
Although it was very difficult for him, Danny had finally asked his friends—his family—for their help. And even though they knew that it wouldn't be an easy task, they would do whatever had to be done to help bring Danny back home—back to his lovable, caring and carefree self once again.
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A/N: Just a correction—In the previous chapter, the name of the cemetery was misspelled. Instead of 'Shadow Meadows Cemetery', it was supposed to be spelled 'Shady Meadows Cemetery'. I mention the correction because the setting may be used at the upcoming end of this fic. Hope everyone's enjoyed it and thanks for all the reviews.