And now for the chapter I've been dying to write. I really hope it turned out as well as I'd planned! And to show my appreciation for all of you wonderful reviewers, I made this chapter longer. Seriously, you guys rock! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own DP

It had been almost a week since the incident, and from the little bit of information that Valerie had been able to glean from his friends, Danny's condition had improved enough for him to be moved out of the ICU.

Those who knew the truth about what had really happened had been and were still furious. The look in Sam's eyes that day when she'd seen Valerie in the waiting room had been nothing short of murderous.

Of course, Valerie didn't blame her for being angry. She didn't blame any of them, for that matter.

Amazingly enough, they hadn't revealed anything to anyone (not that they could without giving up Danny's secret, anyway), nor had they made any moves against her. They had, however, told her in no uncertain terms to stay away.

So even though it killed her, Valerie listened. She'd stayed away.

Which is why it was so surprising when, as she was walking home, Valerie had been approached by none other than Jasmine Fenton.

"He's been asking for you," Jazz had said simply.

Which was how Valerie found herself standing at the door to Danny's hospital room, hand on the knob, stomach in knots.

She shouldn't be here; Valerie knew she had no right to be here. Not when she was the reason that Danny was so badly hurt in the first place.

She sighed, however, as Jasmine's words from before echoed in her mind.

Gathering up her courage, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

Danny...

Upon seeing him she immediately drew closer, her feet seemingly moving of their own volition.

She noted with some relief that Danny was still fast asleep. However, he was pale and weak and fragile-looking, and she feared that if she so much as looked at him the wrong way he might shatter into a million pieces.

Part of her wanted desperately to leave before he had the chance to wake up and see her there. Coward, she inwardly berated herself.

As much as she wanted to turn tail and run, she knew she couldn't do that to him. Not after everything else she'd already done.

Awkwardly, she settled down into the small plastic chair beside his bed and waited.

She didn't have to wait for very long, as after only a few minutes Danny stirred. Valerie looked over, and was met with a pair of impossibly bright, blue eyes staring back at her. It was at this moment that her mind decidedly went blank, and suddenly, she didn't know what to say.

So she simply stared back at him.

"Val," Danny said, his tired expression brightening considerably.

She swallowed hard.

"... Hi." Was all Valerie could manage.

This seemed to satisfy him, however, and he sat back comfortably... or, at least as comfortably as someone with serious injuries could sit.

Valerie couldn't help but feel another pang of guilt as she studied him closely, gazing at the many layers of bandages that were wrapped around his middle.

Feeling the intense scrutiny of her gaze, Danny tugged self-consciously at the hospital blankets.

"I'm alright," he said, attempting to wave his hand in a flippant gesture, but grimacing when his stomach flared up in pain at the sudden movement.

"You're not very convincing," Valerie remarked, forcing a smile.

It was then that a thick silence settled between them.

"I'm so sorry, Danny. For everything," she said suddenly, her expression solemn.

"I didn't... I mean, I never even gave you a chance to explain," she continued. "... a-and... if you don't want to forgive me, I get it, I do..." she trailed off, voice thick with emotion. "I just need you to know that I never meant for this. Any of this... and I am so, so sorry."

Valerie turned away, unable to meet his eyes. At this, Danny reached over and squeezed her hand. Valerie looked up in surprise and, blinking back tears, she clasped his hand gently. He gave her a weak smile.

She noticed, however, that he looked extremely tired.

"I... should go," Valerie said quickly, wiping her eyes. "You need your rest, Danny," she added, giving his shoulder a light squeeze.

She couldn't help but smile slightly when she realized that his eyes had already slipped shut. As she stood up to leave, however, she heard Danny mumble something. "What was that?" She asked, not quite having caught it.

"S'not your fault..." he said softly.

Valerie froze, her breath catching in her throat.

"S'not your fault... didn't... didn't know."

She stood completely still, unable to move.

She wanted to object, wanted to tell him that he should be angry with her, wanted to yell at him for being so damn selfless... but the words died in her throat.

Instead, she sat back down next to him, silently watching him as he drifted off, his chest rising and falling...

Valerie nearly choked, however, as she was suddenly struck with the memory of when it very nearly wasn't.

She remembered, clearly, the look of desperation in Phantom's- no, Danny's eyes- as she pulled the trigger. She remembered the sight of him, broken and bloody and lying so very, very still...

Valerie took a shuddering breath as she struggled to shake those memories away.

He was alive, she reminded herself. He was here and he was safe and he was very much alive.

And Valerie was so absolutely thankful for that.

Which is why there, sitting inside that hospital room, she finally broke.

And for the first time since her mother left all those years ago, Valerie cried.

So... was that good? Bad? Too mushy? Please review! (/^_^)/