"Excuse me miss you can't go in there. It's after visiting hours"

Serena bowed her head in defeat. She thought she could sneak in past the 'supposed' empty nurse's station. "I'm sorry. It's just....nurse Stevenson?" Serena turned and immediately remembered the lady.

The nurse looked on, puzzled. "Do I know you?"

"It's Serena. I'm with Dan. You remember? You fixed the cut on his head and his knee awhile ago? You made me stay and take him home?"

"Oh yes. Now I remember. I thought he looked familiar when they brought him up"

"Yeah" Serena whispered sadly.

Nurse Stevenson smiled fondly at the memory of their last encounter. "Have you come to push him out of bed? Cut his hospital gown all the way up the sides?"

Serena laughed, appreciating her attempts to lighten the mood. "No". She smiled at the thought of doing those things to him though. "I don't know why I'm here to be honest, actually I do but…..

"Save it. You both confuse me. Now if let's say…..I kept my down and continued filling in this chart and I never witnessed a soul sneaking into a room would you be quick?"

"Yes" Serena replied. "Thank you nurse"

"Go on then. I never saw anything……and call me Sophie". She gave Serena a warm smile and whistled as she made her way into another patient's room.

Serena opened the door to his private room and froze on the spot looking at his unconscious form. Her hand flew to her mouth as she sucked up a sharp breath of air. The reality hitting her like a double decker bus coming toward her at 100mph. "What have you done to yourself, Dan?" She hesitantly walked around to the side of his bed and pulled a chair up beside him. Her heart sank every time she looked at his sleeping form. She reached across and took hold of his hand, the first time in months she's been able to do so.

"I know I'm probably the last person you want here right now, and the thought of me caressing your hand like this would make you uncomfortable but there's nothing you can do about it. You have no choice but to lie there and let me". She spoke in the most soft and tender voice, fighting back the tears crowding her eyes. "You know, the old Dan, my Dan used to love it when we lay on the bed together, cuddled up right at the edge and I would run my fingers along his arm that wrapped me up, creating shapes all the way to his fingertips, and he used to let out a giggle when I reached the tip of his little finger because it tickled him. I've missed that so much. I've missed you laying there with your arms around me so tight I felt comfortable and safe. My heart beating so wildly having you so close to me. I know it's wrong of me to talk like this but I can't help it. Seeing you like this is breaking my heart……my heart that still loves you. I love you…there, I said it. I still love you. I wish I could just hate you; it would make my life so much easier. Hate you for the things you have said to me, hate you for making me care so much.

Serena rested her head on the bed, her face turned away from Dan but still holding his hand. "Do you know what memory I play over and over again in my mind? When you told me you would love me forever. That was one of my favourite ever days. I had the best time…

"Dan, stop" Serena squealed holding onto the swing chains for dear life, her heart pounding, her smile glowing.

"Don't be such a whimp, baby" Dan laughed and pushed her higher. He had brought her to the park for a romantic picnic. He sat on the swing next to her and waited for her to slow down, he knew she could have stopped herself just by putting her feet down but he knew she loved it. She had the resemblance a child sometimes he noted and put that down to her unusual childhood, one which he was sure she never fully got the experience of, her random excitement, her 4 year old laugh, and her childish pout when he told her 'no'.

The sun was beating down and showing the most beautiful reflections on the lake surface a few feet away. The park was packed but they only noticed each other.

"Have you had a nice day?" Dan asked, facing her and taking a hold of both of her soft hands

"I've had the best day, thank you". Serena leaned over a placed a delicate kiss on his perfect lips.

"Come on, I have one last thing planned before we go". Dan pulled her up and walked to his back pack, pulling out a kite. "The wind we have is perfect" he smiled. "When I was little me and Jenny used to have kite competitions when we used to go on holiday. My dad would be the judge but always used to let me win because my mom used to cheat and help out Jenny"

Serena laughed at his dorkiness. "How can one have kite competitions?, and your sister is younger than you so she has every right to have help" She stuck out her tongue playfully

"Hey, it's not my fault she was little" Dan pouted. "Anyway, I have always wanted to show and teach you how to fly a kite"

Serena looked at him adoringly, the little things really did please him. "Where do we start then"

"Well we start by me wrapping you in my arms and giving you…a kiss"

"Oh, really" Serena smirked but followed his instructions.

"Hold it like this". Dan placed her hands in the correct positions as he talked her through it, his hands covering hers in every direction. His chest pressed up against her back as he held not only the kite, but his girl.

The kite caught and blew aimlessly in the wind. Dan looked at Serena who had the most adorable goofy and amused look on her face. Completely took by her new found skill.

"Have you seen it? I'm awesome at this" Serena said in her familiar excitable childlike voice. Dan let go of her hands instead choosing to wrap them around her slim waist. Looking on proud as she tugged and pulled the chords like a pro..

"I love you". Dan whispered into her hair. Dan stole her attention. "I love you too"

"I'm gonna love you forever, I hope you're ok with that" Dan said sweetly

"I'm more than ok with that. I expect nothing less" Serena stole another kiss. "This is it for us. Me and you"

"I wouldn't have it any other way sweetheart" Dan said

"Can we feed the ducks now?" Serena turned in his arms

"Serena, I'm sorry but I can't cover for you any longer. My shift is ending and another nurse is coming on" Sophie interrupted

"OK, I'll be out in a minute" Serena wiped the tears that had fallen despite her best efforts not to let them

"I'll wait out here"

Serena waited until she had closed the door before standing up. "I'll be back. I hope that when you wake you won't hate me for coming. That somehow magically this experience will change you and we'll all get our Dan back" Serena kissed his forehead, letting a tear drop onto his cheek.

……………………………………………

The following morning in the Humphrey kitchen, Jenny and Rufus were making breakfast, neither spoke, just worry filling up the air.

"Hello" Rufus answered his phone. "Hey, Lily……You have? I need to discuss it with Jenny first but I'll stop by this afternoon after I go and see how Dan is. Thank you, for everything". Rufus shut his phone down and looked at Jenny who was staring at him confused. Just what did he have to talk to her about?

………………………………………………..

Blair wrapped her coat a little tighter around her body as the wind hit her. She was just turning the last corner which would lead her onto Serena's street. She offered to go and see Dan with her. Truth was she wanted to see for herself how he was.

"Where are you going Waldorf?" Chuck's limo pulled up alongside her, driving at the same pace she was going.

"None of your god damn business that's where" Blair could barely tolerate Chuck bass

"I guess you'll just have my company along your journey then" Chuck teased

"Ugh. I'm going to the hospital with Serena to see Dan. She wanted to go and see him before anybody got there" Blair said and picked up her speed

"Hospital? What's happened?"

"It's a long story, one I haven't got time for"

"Is he alright?" Chuck asked.

"Wow, you actually sound sincere"

"No, not really. I just want to know if the word is going to have one less Brooklynite poor boy polluting the air"

"You're a bastard you know that" Blair shook her head in disbelief.