No homework today, on a MONDAY! It's funny how I don't get HW on Monday's but I do during the week…

Chapter Twenty-Four

…

The night was peaceful, or so it was in Danny's dream. He liked what he was dreaming about, but he certainly didn't like how he woke up.

He was sure he was hearing his name in his dream, but he couldn't find out why a person in his dream kept repeating it.

"Danny…"

Danny seriously wanted this guy out of his dream; the name kept bugging him and he was getting irritated about it.

"Danny…?"

Couldn't he punch this guy in his dream? How was he supposed to do that if he didn't have complete control of his dream?

"Danny…"

Weren't dreams meant to be something that you weren't supposed to get irritated about? It seemed like it was a good dream or either a bad dream, no annoying dreams, it doesn't fit.

"Danny."

Okay, Danny thought angrily, I am getting sick of this guy.

"DANNY!"

The halfas' eyes snapped wide open and the first thing he saw were the two doctors hovering over him, just a foot away from his face. Danny yelped loudly as if he had never seen anything like this.

The doctors backed away and cracked a smile, "You know, you are sure a deep sleeper." Ryan pointed out.

Danny lazily sat up to a sitting position, "Yeah, that's probably because I rarely get any sleep at home." He said groggily.

The two doctors exchanged a look that Danny didn't catch, and then they looked back at the teen. "You're not getting enough sleep at home?" Ryan asked, "Why not?"

"Um, busy?" Danny said, even though it came out as a question.

"Have you been playing video games late at night?" Stewart asked, sounding like a mother.

The question seemed to bring confusion to Danny, "What?" He asked, "No, I don't, I love video games, but I just can't play them."

Stewart raised an eye brow, "Really? Then why are you busy at every night then? What are you doing that keeps you from sleeping?" The young doctor asked.

Danny got out of bed, stretching, and at the same time, giving out a loud, weird yawn. After he was doing that, he faced Stewart, "I just have some stuff that does. I'm not sure if I want to tell you yet. Actually, scratch that, I don't want you to know." The halfa said with a bit of annoyance in each word.

"Why not?" Ryan asked, stepping in for his buddy, "We could help you with your problems."

"No, let's just drop it," Danny said, almost too quickly. "Please?"

This only brought curious and annoyance to Ryan, "No way am I dropping it this time. You have dropped way too many subjects. And besides, we are supposed to help you."

Danny folded his arms, clearly not happy where this is going, "But I don't want your noses going through my stuff. I can keep stuff if I want to."

"Yes, you're right, Danny," Ryan said, getting a bit edgy, "I don't have the rights to sneak into your business, but I am curious, and I know you're having problems. And we might be able to help you! Why. Won't. You. Let. Us. Help. You?" The doctor was really on fire by this time; he hated when he would be so close to something, but it must travel farther away. He wouldn't tolerate with that kind of stuff.

Danny was stunned, the doctor, Ryan, just stood up and did all of that. Instead of being angry, he was proud. He was waiting for that, pretty much the whole time he was there. "Wow, Ryan, I'm actually proud you did that. About time you finally came out of that shell, hmm?" The halfa asked, a smile forming.

Ryan blinked, "What?" He asked, confused.

"That must've taken guts to do that," Danny said, "Especially to a patient."

The doctor blushed madly, he hadn't meant to do that, it wasn't his style and it was certainly not acceptable in the hospital. "I-I didn't mean to do that, Danny. It was an accident. I was so confused and curious, I wanted to know and learn more. I—"

"Relax, Ryan," The halfa said, plopping onto the bed. "I'm totally fine with it. I'm just surprise you actually did that."

"Wow, Ryan, but I do have to agree with Danny," Stewart said, finally finding his voice and giving his buddy a pat on the back, "I'm not sure if I would've had the guts to do that."

"Well, some morning that became," Danny said, changing the subject.

Happy about the change of subject, Ryan relaxed a bit. "Say, it's a nice day today; Danny do you want to walk around in town today and grab some breakfast?"

"I'll do anything to go outside again," Danny replied happily. The halfa jumped off the bed and started to push the doctors out of the room, "I need some privacy to get changed. Same with you two, go on get changed!" The doctors were finally out of the room and the door closed.

The two doctors smiled, they were happy they were sort of getting along with him. And they were happy that he was happy.

…

It didn't take long for the trio to get dressed; Danny got into those tan, baggy pants and blue t-shirt again. The doctors dressed up in some jeans and some sort of polo shirt.

The doctors made their way to Danny's room and knocked on the door. After they heard that it was okay to go in, they opened the door and saw Danny hopping on one foot trying to get his shoe on. Ryan snickered and Stewart tried his best not to smile. But it was nearly impossible.

The halfa caught the sight of the doctors and gave them a playful glare to them as he finally got his shoe on. "I'm ready, are you two set?"

Ryan nodded, "Yup, you're the one running late though." He smiled, "Well, shall we head to the park? Perhaps find the place where we sat before?"

Danny frowned and hesitated; soon he forced a smile and said, "Yeah, I'm ready. An-and I've been thinking… maybe I should tell you some stuff too…"

Ryan and Stewart knew they should be excited that they were getting answers, but Danny seemed like he wasn't ready, like he'd been holding on to this like forever and wasn't ready to let it go. Ryan sighed heavily, "Danny… you don't have to tell us if you don't want to… I mean, we totally understand your stress…"

The halfa let out a sad sigh, "Well that's the problem, I mean, and I think I can trust you… I need more help. And I think you can handle it. I can trust you."

"So why wouldn't you tell us before?" Stewart asked, "I mean, you didn't want us to know then."

"Yeah, because—" Danny stopped himself and changed the subject. "Listen, we'll talk at the park, okay?"

On the way to the park the doctors felt uneasy, and they knew Danny felt the same way. They knew he was probably trying to find a good way to tell them, a way where it won't get all awkward and keep the conversation going. Ryan was thinking how to respond, ready to ask him questions, a way where he won't answer and stop. And Stewart was doing the same.

It didn't take long for them to reach the park. It felt like they were just about to enter into a court and they have to answer or ask all of these questions.

Luckily, no one took their spot; they settled into a good position and no one spoke for a minute.

Finally the two doctors looked at Danny as he took a deep breath, "Okay so, you guys can start with questions. I'll try my best to answer."

Ryan hesitated, "Well, uh, why haven't you been getting any sleep lately?"

"Fighting…" Danny responded softly.

The was a shocking answer, and very shocking that Danny answered right away. "Gang related?"

Danny choked back a laugh, "A gang? No, no way."

"Then, why fighting?"

"Um, that part it touchy," The halfa replied, "Any other questions?"

This time Stewart took his turn, "Yeah, what were you going to tell us…?"

The teen tensed, and didn't dare make eye contact with the two doctors sitting by him. "Well," He drew a breath, "I-I have been thinking… but, it's such a tight subject, a huge secret. And I'm not so sure if I want to tell you quite yet…"

"Again, Danny, you don't have to tell us," Ryan reminded him.

"But my mind is begging me to tell you," Danny said, "And I just don't know how to tell you. Like the right way…"

"However you say it, Danny," Stewart said with a warm smile, "We'll understand. We're doctors; we know how to understand confusing situations."

The halfa hesitated and he stared at the grass, "Maybe it will be better if I show you instead." He whispered.

"Like right now?" Stewart asked stupidly.

Danny snapped his head at his direction, "Yeah, right now; place where everyone is going to see. Sure why not? Stewart, I'm not that stupid." He said sarcastically

Stewart blushed, "Sorry, so uh, where then?"

Danny thought for a second, "How about that pond that's down there?" He suggested, pointing at the direction behind the doctors. "No one ever goes there. Besides, the pond isn't open, I mean like there are trees hiding it."

The two doctors agreed that would do; they headed that direction and as they drew closer, the more Danny didn't feel so good. The walk didn't take long, maybe about three minutes; when they entered the "woods" they saw the pond almost right away.

And no one was there.

They found a place and Danny looked out in the dirty pond ahead of him. "So, um, promise not to freak out when I show you? Please?"

The two doctors said they wouldn't freak out.

Danny sighed, "Okay,"

The halfa was starting to regret this whole thing, but he knew he would feel better once they knew. He knew that it would be like the world was lifted off his shoulders. He just had to know his secret.

He allowed the white rings form around him, hearing some gasps from the doctors. After the transformation, Ryan stared at him with shock written all over his face. Stewart on the other hand, passed out from all the stuff that was trying to confirm in his brain.

About a minute went by of silence, and Danny turned back to his human form. Now, he wasn't so sure if he was supposed to tell them that. What were they going to say? More importantly, what were they going to choose to do with his secret?

…

I am totally sorry, I cannot do review replies.

For those who were wondering why I was smashing a car on Thursday. It was because it was "Drug Free" week and the car was "Mothers Against Drunk Driving". Everyone who paid to smash the car got to smash the car in front of the whole school. And everyone was like "Smash the car people!" "Hit the horn!" "Smash the roof!" "Get the trunk!"

So, yeah, it was pretty cool. :)