Dan heard a commotion down the hall and wanted to investigate but he had a tube of testing in his arm and couldn't move, so he called his night nurse: Debbie Smith.

"Anything wrong, Dan?" She inquired upon arrival.

"No, well, I just was wondering what was going on up the hall." Dan stated conversationally.

"Oh, there three new patients in tonight from a police showdown. One was shot by the police who also bashed in one bloc's head in pretty badly and the other who is in a state of shock. The police thought he was shot too but there aren't any bullet wounds on him, no scratches, no nothing. He just fainted when a gun went off in his direction. Gave everyone a right good scare, he did. But I reckon he'll be alright, after a good night's sleep, of course." She gossiped in detail to Dan while she milled about, checking Dan's vitals to look busy.

"Geez, sounds intense." Dan mumbled. "Did you get any names?"

"Well, one begins with a 'Z' and another is called PJ I believe, strange name. And the last, I can't remember, but he's about your height with much paler, ghostly skin. But you'll stay my number one patient, don't you- -"

"Does he look younger than his age on his graphs?" Dan was suddenly erect in his bed and had a wild look in his eyes.

"I don't know his age at all but he kind of looks like a rather large kid, now that you mention it. Hey!" Debbie snapped, shocked at the seer force Dan was using to swing his legs over the side of the bed.

"That's Phil! PJ's my flat mate and you said that the one fellow's name begins with a 'Z'? I only know one person's name that starts that way and I'm about to kill him!" Dan roared as he tried to reach the wheelchair with his good foot.

"Dan! Even if you got down there, visiting hours aren't until seven for patients. You've got to let them all get their rest. Kill that jerk tomorrow, say hello to PJ in the morning and send your love to Phil when things have calmed down, it won't do anyone any good if you go barging in there now, please just rest." Debbie talked as she got him back into bed and wheeled the chair across the room to deter Dan from getting any ideas and acting on them.

"Alright, I guess you're right, Debbie." Dan admitted, getting comfortable once more.

"I always am." Debbie agreed before leaving Dan to drift away to dreamland. But Dan was not sleepy anymore. Which was Phil, the shocked one? PJ had head damage and that devil Zachary was shot in the leg. Good, that meant he couldn't get away so easily when Dan would kill him. And Dan, accused of another man's death, would find no peace until he himself took the life from Zachary's green eyes as he had taken away Phil's.

Dan tried over and over again to fall asleep, but when sleep never came, he decided to take action instead. He managed to get out of his bed without making any alarming noise and army crawled to the wheelchair. When he finally pulled himself up into the seat, he was panting and redder than he had ever been in the face.

"Now comes the easy part." He whispered to himself as he rolled out into the hallway. There was only one nurse between him and Phil. Debbie was right, he'd take care of Zachary in the morning but he needed Phil now.

The nurse was male and black, standing like a tower with an 'I don't fuck around' attitude enclosing his unsmiling face. Dan was trying to think of a distraction that wouldn't get him caught in the process when the guy just left down a side hallway. Must have needed the toilet, Dan thought joyously as he wheeled quickly down the hall and checking every room as he rolled past. He finally found PJ and Phil's which was kitty corner to Zachary's. Dan went to wheel freely into Phil's room but ran into someone else instead. The police officer regained his balance quickly while Dan was having a heart attack.

"Who are you?" He whispered roughly, shining his torch down on Dan.

"I'm Dan, a friend of Phil's and PJ's." He muttered, holding his hand over his eyes.

"Wait, the Dan Phil called on the phone to tell me about his incident, Dan?" Rogan asked, putting the flashlight away.

"Yeah, you must be Officer Rogan." Dan smiled, holding out his hand which Rogan took and shook vigorously.

"What are you doing, roaming rooms at night?" Rogan asked, when they exited the room to be able to talk a little louder.

"I heard Phil was in here and I had to see if he was okay." Dan explained, nodding towards his sleeping friend.

"I know how you feel." Rogan smiled weakly and began wandering with Dan following until they reached the little area reserved for family and friends to visit the more mobile patients. "When I was just engaged to my wife, she was in an accident and they only were allowing family to see her. I was new to the police station and couldn't yet use my powers as an officer to see her. They wouldn't tell me anything. I was the first one there, of course, and her folks lived hours away. They wouldn't be back until the morning and, as a non-family member, I wasn't allowed to see her until they did. I felt so powerless and decided to take it into my own hands. So, I came back later that night and snuck into her room. She was banged up real bad but I knew she'd be okay. I was caught and charged with breaking and entering but the charges were dropped. If I had to go through that all again, without power and authority, I know I'd be charged again and lose my job. But I doubt I'd care. I bet you're wondering why I'm telling you all this." Rogan thought, turning to watch Dan.

"The thought had crossed my mind." Dan admitted.

"I'm telling you this because what you feel for that young man is the same way I feel with my wife and that only happens with one person. Trust me, I've been married a few times before this one but I knew from that night on, she was the one I'd treasure until the day I died. I won't tell anyone I saw you about and I'll let you see him but only for a few minutes, seems fair?" Dan nodded and couldn't believe his luck. A lookout, friend, cop and wise man all rolled into one!

Dan wheeled into the room and approached Phil who was closest to the window and whose bed the moonlight did light up. He rolled right up to him and looked him over. No real damage, only bruised on the wrists and that wasn't such a big deal. Dan's eyes fell on Phil's hands. They were so smooth and pale in the moonlight, Dan wasn't sure if they were skin or marble. He checked to make sure no one would look and he touched Phil's soft, cream colored hand. He held it with one hand before moving it to his face, comforting albeit motionless as he studied it. Perfection was all Dan thought as he held on with one hand then both then none finally, blushing slightly, managing Phil's fingers to spread wide enough for Dan to intertwine his fingers with Phil's. He stared at them, all ten of them, mingling as one until there was a tap on his shoulder.

"Time's up." Rogan informed him as he placed Phil's hand back down and permitted Rogan to roll him out of Phil's room and down the hall, back to his own room.

"Rogan?" Dan asked as they both helped Dan back into bed.

"Yes?"

"Can you love someone without dating someone first?" Dan blurted before he could chicken himself out.

"I believe there is one person for everyone on the planet. Always has been, always will be the way of things. But once you meet that person, everything becomes clear and if feels like you're living for the first time in your life. It doesn't matter if it's boy, girl, friend, foe, what you feel is what is right and what is wrong. Trust your heart with all your heart, Dan." Rogan advised before he left.

"Thank you, Rogan." Dan yawned as he began to drift away.

"You're welcome." Rogan nodded, this was the last thing Dan heard before he was thrusted into dreamland.