A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short! I hope it won't disappoint you.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, of course.
Chapter 3
Two more days passed, and Danny was pretty bored. Every time he asked about Nicholas, he got standard answers like "He's getting better", but when he wanted to go and see him, he was stopped by the doctors. He didn't want to think about the criminal gang, because he couldn't understand why it was so difficult to arrest a bunch of evil-doers, since locating them wasn't that impossible, and it all just confused him even more.
Finally, one morning he woke up to see Tony Fisher and Met Sergeant What's-his-name, looking unusually serious and even a bit somber. Danny felt uncomfortable, he didn't like the atmosphere that was being set up.
"Sergeant Butterman," the Met officer began awkwardly, "the doctors say you will be released in a few days…"
Danny's face lightened up. In his joy he barely caught the mumbled "You need to know something…"
The Met Sergeant got completely confused and paused. Tony cleared his throat.
"Danny, Nicholas… is dead," he almost whispered.
Danny just stared at him for a few seconds. It was like the entire world had stopped existing, as his brain was seemingly shutting down. It can't be… It must be a joke…
"What?" he asked, as tears were forming in his eyes.
"When… when the rescuers found you…" Tony felt a lump in his throat himself.
"He was already dead by then," the Met Sergeant finished the sentence. "I'm sorry".
"We couldn't tell you earlier, we didn't want to upset you…"
They said something more, but Danny didn't hear them. Never before in his entire life had he felt so lonely. When his mother had died, his Dad had been there for him. When Dad had been arrested, Nicholas had become what was like a family to him. And now there was nobody. Danny didn't notice when the two other officers left. He didn't care, to be honest.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The first thing to be registered were voices. They were all mixed together in a dull noise of busyness. Then there was the smell – the smell of hospital. Open your eyes… ouch, too bright.
"Hello, Nicholas," the voice was familiar. Nicholas opened his eyes again.
"How do you feel?" the Chief Inspector asked, giving Nicholas a glass of water.
"How the fuck do you think I feel?" Angel mumbled, taking the glass. The Chief Inspector flinched slightly at the younger officer's irritation. Nicholas didn't care about his tone much. He wasn't in any way pleased to see the older man. It most probably meant more trouble. He tried to recall what had happened. There was an explosion… and pain, nothing but sheer pain… Danny!
"Where's Danny?"
"Sergeant Butterman is at hospital in Buford Abbey. He's doing fine, he'll be released soon," he replied.
Nicholas sighed with relief and rested his head on the pillow. But then his eyebrow cringed as he acknowledged the weirdness of that sentence. He looked around him.
"Where am I then?" he asked, feeling completely lost.
"London," was the answer. Nicholas felt dizzy.
"Why?" he asked dumbly. The other officer sighed.
"I'll explain later. And now have rest. You need to get well soon".
Angel closed his eyes exhaustedly. This certainly couldn't mean anything good…