Lyrics by The All American Rejects – I wanna
His hands were red with blood. Clenching his hands in fists, he looked down at the body beneath him. Had he done this? Memories swarmed in his mind as he fought the strange sensations down his spine. His muscles were sore as if he had just done something exhausting.
His mother walked in, and he turned to face her. The woman stopped, dropping a handful of grocery bags, screaming at the sight of her nine year old son standing above his father's dead body.
~I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Everyday but all I have is time
Our loves the perfect crime
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Every way and when they set me free
Just put your hands on me~
He woke up to the sound of scribbling. It was a nice change from the insistent beeping from the heart monitor beside him. Damn it, Danny cursed, knowing full well he had passed out again. His last memories with Sam swarmed his head. He may have dreamt it, but had she been crying?
With blurry eyes Danny blinked, not knowing what to expect. The room was just as blindingly white as he remembered, but what he found was Sam, undeniably beautiful without the harsh goth makeup. She sat beside him on a stool, slightly hunched over a notepad on her lap.
He didn't want to say anything. There was something honest about Sam's face that she didn't usually show. Her guard was down and walls had crumbled around her. He felt like he was seeing the real Sam Manson for the first time.
Sam looked up, freezing when she saw his eyes on her. Her cheeks turned a bright red. "You're awake."
"You're here."
"Yeah, well, I knew something had to have been wrong with you earlier. You were desperate enough to kiss me." Sam played it off with an easy laugh.
Danny reached out his hand, cupping her cheek. She froze at the sudden contact, not sure what to say. "What's so funny about that?"
Sam swallowed, looking at the bed sheets. "Your mom and step dad are still out. They're really worried about you."
Danny groaned. "You told my mom."
"Of course I did. She really cares about you."
"It's a little over bearing at times," Danny mumbled, grabbing the glass of water Sam had placed on the side table.
"You should be grateful."
"Hmm?"
"To have someone care about you," Sam glared at him. "Not everyone gets that, you know. Some of us have to survive on our own."
Danny put down the cup, curious now. "How long are your parents usually gone for?"
"Long enough."
"Sam..."
She shook her head. "It's better this way. If they have the decency to leave their child this much, I don't want to remember them."
Danny reached out his hand and caught Sam's chin. She stood frozen as he brushed his thumb against her lip. "So that's why you run away."
She yanked herself out of his grasp. "And what's your excuse?" She glared. "I hate bullies. Do you have any idea what its like to be the victim?" Danny was quiet as Sam continued. "Of course you don't. You've always been the superior. But that moment when someone in the family asks about your parents is. You feel helpless, and embarrassed that you even have to think of how to respond. The forced smiles, the fake happiness. To be hurt by the person you love the most." She could feel anger coming out in the form of tears. Sam bit her lip, looking down to try to hide her face. She made a promise not to cry in front of people a long time ago, and she wasn't going to start now.
"Person?" Danny questioned, pulling her away from her emotions. "Not people?"
Sam felt her body shaking with anger. "You want to get to know me? Because I can guarantee I'm too messed up for any kind of relationship. So just give up."
Danny smiled though, and he suddenly felt distant. "I think you have that backwards."
She backed away, confused, but decided to change the subject. "I've noticed that you tend to get all crazy just before you black out. Is that a side effect of your condition?"
Danny blinked. "…I don't know. I've never really paid attention before."
Sam looked down and said, "Maybe I can help you."
"What made you change your mind?"
She didn't turn to face him. Danny smiled. "I get it. The whole "lost puppy" thing really gets to you, huh?" When Sam didn't answer Danny's gaze fell to her lap. "What's that?"
Sam looked down and blushed. "It's just a sketchbook." She quickly closed the book, holding it close to her. "You're usually out for a while, so I just…"
Danny sighed. "It must be boring having to wait for me."
"No, it's actually peaceful." Danny looked up, startled by her response. Sam had a surprisingly soft smile on her face. "And I think I like the quiet Danny better."
"Danny!" Maddie's mother rushed into the room, hugging her son. "Thank you, Sam. Thank you."
"This entire town has gone mad!" Vlad spoke from the doorway, shrugging off a wet coat. His eyes zoomed in on Sam and he glared. "Who is this?"
"Vlad, you remember Sam. Danny's friend?"
"Yes, but what is she doing here?"
"Well, she needs a place to stay and I need someone to look after Danny." She looked at him with stern eyes. "It's fine."
The man's cold eyes swooped over to the boy. Sam could feel the familiarity of that stare and the silent "don't you dare" coming from the man's eyes. "I think I'd like a moment with Daniel."
Even with the silent threat Danny smiled, urging Sam out.
The door sealed behind both woman. Sam stared at the barrier between her and Danny. When he was unconscious, it had just been him and her, and even though he couldn't remember anything, Sam was able to relive past experiences. It had to be a horrible view of therapy, but she had never been able to share the pain of something lost in her childhood other than with Danny.
"Sam." Maddie gave the goth a gentle smile. "Why don't you help me fix up some dinner for Danny?
Downstairs, both women stood in the kitchen with a variety of food in front of them. Maddie smiled apologetically at Sam. "I hope you don't mind, but I usually prepare Danny's favorites whenever he wakes up."
"I don't mind at all. Actually, I'm relieved there's something I can do to help him."
Maddie pulled bread from the cabinet, glancing back at Sam. "What makes you think you're not a help to him now?"
Sam sighed, staring down at the counter-top. "I just sit there. Danny passes out and all I can do is watch." Sam was always helping the needy, and not being able to do anything made her feel anxious and frustrated. "The least I can do is make him a sandwich."
"You don't owe Danny anything, Sam. Frankly speaking, Danny hates receiving sympathy from others. The best thing you can do for him is offer your friendship, which you've done beautifully."
Sam blinked, taking in Maddie's kind words. She pulled out two slices of bread. "I don't know anything about his diet," Sam confessed.
Maddie laughed. "Danny's quite typical when it comes to food. Burgers and fries are his favorite, but I usually make a steak or grill some chicken for him." She watched as Sam made a face. "Is something wrong?"
"No, its just I'm a vegetarian so I'm not used to preparing meat."
"I'll be happy to show you."
As the two worked, something else bothered Sam. "I'm curious about Danny's condition," she said, cutting up some tomatoes. "Are there any factors that lead to him passing out? Or side effects from the treatment?"
Maddie looked up from her arrangement of finger sandwiches. "I'm sure you've noticed by now that Danny doesn't have the best reputation. Aggression appears to be a major side effect in Danny's case." She stuck a toothpick through both slices of bread. "I've considered home schooling several times, but I already fear I'm depriving him of relationships. Danny needs to be able to control his behavior around others."
So that's why he beats people up, Sam realized, but it didn't explain why he looked so happy doing it.
"I don't think he's going to stop soon," Sam answered glumly.
Maddie sighed. "We've tried everything. A therapist, a stress ball. This is one of the reasons why I told you about Danny's condition. I was hoping you could help him be more gentle."
"Me? Gentle?" Sam could hardly put those words in the same sentence. When did she come across that way?
Maddie smiled. "You're much kinder than you let others believe, Samantha."
Sam blushed, embarrassed. "Is it really worth letting Danny beat up the student body though?"
Maddie sighed. "We all have to take risks in science. Danny's always managed to hold back his aggression to some degree. If he gets out of control, we've designed a chip that will instantly put him out for two hours." Maddie stared at Sam's suspicion. "I know this seems rather selfish, but please understand I don't mean anyone harm. If Danny were a major threat I would not allow for him to leave. I just want my son to have a life, something close to normal. And he must control his attitude now if he's going to live comfortably in the future."
"I understand," Sam said, although she was beginning to wonder how far Danny could go before he was classified as insane.
As she got ready for bed, her neck started hurting again. All her daily pills were still in the bathroom of her house-the one that ghost destroyed. Her head swam as she made her way across the room to the bed.
There was a knock on the door. "Sam?"
She was sitting on the bed when Danny walked in. "Didn't your mom ban you from my room?"
"She said she didn't want any late night meetings. It's morning."
Sam rolled her eyes. "I doubt midnight is an exception." But she was too tired to shoo him off. Sam crossed her legs Indian style, ignoring the swaying walls. "Danny, listen. Do you ever think you could do something else besides hurt people?"
He blinked, closing the door softly behind him. He leaned back against the doorway, perplexed. "What do you mean?"
"People have different ways to express themselves. If you can't say something you can draw or write it. Who knows. Maybe you'd be drafted for the Green Bay Packers."
"I get it." Danny smirked, taking a seat beside her on the bed. "You're trying to get me to use my fighting energy for something else."
Sam nodded, knowing she'd been caught. Danny casually picked at a piece of lint on the bed-sheet, raising it to his mouth so he could blow it away.
"Thanks for the suggestions, but I don't think it's possible."
"You don't know that!" Sam growled, glaring at the boy beside her. "For all you know, this could be the answer-"
Danny jumped so he was sitting right next to Sam; a hand clamped to her mouth. "My parents will hear you," he whispered in her ear.
Sam blushed, pulling away from him, but the bed stopped behind her, keeping him dangerously close. "Good. Maybe you'll actually get caught for harassing me."
"Sam."
She blinked, taking in Danny's serious expression. Sam swallowed, pulling her knees up to her chest like a barrier. "Yeah?"
"I like you," he admitted, without any hint of sarcasm. "And I know you know this. I also know you won't date someone like me."
Sam bit her lip. "It's not because of your condition, Danny. I'ts the fact that you seem to think hurting people is okay. I'm against senseless violence, no matter who or what it is."
Danny smiled, leaning forward. Sam opened her mouth to protest, but Danny stopped inches away from her face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know," he whispered to her red face. "I'm guessing this kindness has a story behind it, and I'm willing to bet your parents are a big part of it." Sam froze at the word parents. "So when you're willing to tell me about it, I'll be happy to listen."
"Don't psychoanalyze me," Sam grumbled. She swallowed, looking down at her bare feet. Danny was certainly strange. He hurt people, but it wasn't for power or pride. She got the feeling he was more scared of others around him, so he acted out before they could hurt him.
She stared at those blue eyes. Before she could think Sam leaned over, grabbing Danny's cheeks. He whispered her name softly as she pulled his head down slightly to kiss his forehead.
"You don't have to be afraid of people, Danny."
He blinked. "What are you-"
"I know there's something that scares you, no matter how much of a tough guy you try to be. So whatever it is, I'll be there."
Danny laughed. "Who's psychoanalyzing who now?" She smacked the back of his head lightly. Then Sam brushed her fingers through his dark hair. It was surprisingly soft.
"...Sam?"
She blushed, realizing what she was doing. Danny had a blush of his own, but a smirk accompanied it. "Having fun there?"
"Don't act so cocky." She shoved his shoulder, crossing her arms. "You better go now before your mom walks in and gets the wrong idea."
"We could get naked under the covers to really sell it." He winked.
"Out," Sam ordered, kicking Danny out of the bedroom. She locked the door behind her and lay under foreign bed covers, trying to wipe the irritating smile off her face.