Thanks as always to everyone reading. :-)

Disclaimer: I don't own H50. Just having fun as usual...

Time gets fuzzy when you're running without sleep. It speeds up or slows down. You can't always predict which will happen to you. At any given moment, circumstances change. They evolve into totally unexpected things. Ideas become flesh and blood. Oh do they ever bleed.

Danny stared at the ceiling, not able to close his eyes for too long. Running on empty was too simple to explain how he felt. He wasn't empty. His mind danced with memories. Or was it too soon to call them memories? These things had happened only hours ago. They were still alive and breathing in his mind.

Holding up his hand, he shook his head at the brace protecting his wrist, guiding his body's healing. He wished there was something similar for thoughts. Those intrusive specters that bored holes in your head and made you feel like your chest had broken open.

When he closed his eyes, he saw the box. And just not any vision. The unforgiving walls were bathed in the light of his cell phone. Reminded him of a horror movie. His very own personal fucking horror movie. And he could not push pause.

"Danny?" The voice came softly from the open door. "You awake?"

He already knew he was, but Steve waited before walking into the room.

"Yea babe. I'm awake."

"Can't sleep?" Steve knew the answer, but the question came out of his mouth anyway. He was content to see his partner lying in bed, resting his body at least. He had a feeling Danny's mind was far from resting.

"You know the answer to that one."

Steve nodded and sat on the bottom of the bed.

"I can't close my eyes." Danny almost whispered.

"I know, Danny." And he did know. All too well.

An understanding passed between the two men. Danny could only guess what horrors lurked in Steve's tightly wrapped mind. Things lived there that he didn't really want to know. He messed with his partner sometimes about the details of classified ops but he really and truly didn't want to know.

Danny let his eyes drift shut. For a moment, there was peace. He knew where he was. Steve was sitting at his feet. He could feel his weight shifting on the mattress. These things anchored him to reality.

A few more minutes must have passed because when he opened his eyes again, Steve was still there but now he was stretched across the bottom of the bed. And by the steady and slow rise and fall of his chest, Danny guessed his friend might be dozing. It would do him some good too. He smiled and said nothing.

When he woke up again, it was morning. Steve was gone. He could hear him downstairs. Must be time for a swim. Danny checked the clock. It was too early and normally, he'd roll over and go back to sleep.

But he couldn't sleep. And he felt weird being in Steve's bed anyway. He didn't know why he'd agreed to it. Though he had to admit he did feel more like himself.

Until he sat up. Then his world swayed just a little. He pushed it out of his mind. It was a wobble, nothing serious. Pins and needles. Blood rushing to his head. Happened to everyone all the time.

He sat on the bed for a few minutes, both hands squeezing the mattress. Taking a deep breath, he pushed off and stood up. Surprised, nothing happened. He actually felt a little better.

Cautiously, he headed for the kitchen, intent on maybe making some coffee, something for breakfast. He wasn't really hungry but Steve was sure to scold him if he didn't eat. Danny'd do what he could to stay away from the doctor.

It turned out he didn't have much of a choice in the matter.

One minute he was considering grabbing a mug of coffee. Steve had been kind enough to start a pot before he went out for his swim. Danny really needed a kick start right about then and the caffeine might ease his lingering headache too.

The next thing he knew, the room tipped sideways. For a second he had a flashback to the last time he'd had one too much alcohol and he reached for the counter to steady himself. This wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

Then, Danny collapsed, his legs just went out from under him. Somehow he managed to miss hitting anything. He lay there, waiting, thankful he hadn't bumped his wounded hand on the way down – or his head for that matter. Count your blessing where ye may.

Steve had already been gone at least 30 minutes. He'd be back soon. Danny just needed to rest a minute. Didn't seem odd to him that he was on the kitchen floor crumpled by the table. And for a flash, that indifference scared him. But his body felt so fluid, like he was part of the floor or not even there at all. He had melted. This made him laugh, a weak sort of chuckle. Grace had been afraid of the Wizard of Oz. The witch melting.

Taking a breath, he decided he actually felt better. Maybe he could stand up. Make it like nothing had ever happened. Danny wouldn't need to worry his friend.

Pushing himself up, a wave of dizziness stopped him. Another deep breath. This time he was more steady. Another deep breath and a pause to make sure another round of wooziness didn't come. He could do this.

Yet another deep breath. Why couldn't he catch his breath?

And now he felt sick. He really didn't want to puke. Steve would be pissed if he puked on the floor.

Calming himself again – he could do this. Sitting up, he felt sure of himself. Looking around, for something sturdy, he was about to pull himself to his feet.

"Danny?" Steve was suddenly in the doorway. Then he was at his friend's side. "You okay?"

He figured he may as well not lie. "Dizzy. Must have fainted."

Steve stopped him from getting up. Water from Steve's still damp hair dripped on Danny. He flinched away from his friend. "Come on, Danny, lie down. Please."

"No wait, I'm okay now."

"Like hell you are." Steve guided his friend back to the floor, using his rolled up towel to prop Danny's feet, giving both pupils a cursory check as well. "Stay here for a few minutes. We never called the doc back."

"I'm fine, Steven, come on. No doctor."

"You're not fine. Stop lying to me." Steve took out his phone. "We should have stayed at the hospital, Danny."

Danny only glared the best he could. He wanted to put on a brave, angry face, but he was a little scared. Steve's stone cold face didn't help a bit. It was all about action, though clouded with concern, which worried him more than his dizzy spell.

"It's probably nothing, Danny." Steve tossed him a life line. "You've been through a lot. You just need to rest. You're pushing too hard. You haven't had much to eat. And then there's Eric thrown into all of this."

Steve spoke to the doctor for a few minutes, answering questions, asking Danny a few too. He checked Danny's pulse, counting the beats. The doctor wanted them to come to the ER. Run some tests.

Danny still said no, protesting that he was fine. But his weak voice said it all and embarrassed him a little. It was hard to admit that he wasn't as tough as he liked to think.

"Just for a quick check." Steve assured him.

"There's nothing quick about the ER, Steven."