Thanks to Rachel. r. steiner for reviewing.

"When I come home…" The day had now almost turned into evening, and after sleeping for most of the day Denny probably would for the night too. There was no reason for me to stay with him- it would only bother him. "…Well, Lizzie will still be there I bet. And Hope of course…"

"You can tell them about my Huntington's disease." Denny told me before I had asked that one question. "…I know something like this would scare them. So they're going to have to know rather sooner than later anyway… and if you tell them… well. I'm just not sure I can take… I don't know."

"It's okay. I understand."

That last was only half a lie while I stood and grabbed my coat.

"I called for a taxi to take me home. And you're staying here for the night… I'll come back in the morning… Now, when I come back I want to be told you've eaten something. Even if it's just another chocolate pudding… I'm serious."

Denny didn't answer, but he was old and mature enough to know what his own body needed to fight whatever this was.

For the thousandth time today I ran a hand over his forehead, the last thing I did before I left. He was still unusually warm but not burning hot like this morning, and if his temperature didn't rise again he'd be able to go home in the morning. I wasn't going to be able to leave him alone for another day or two though.

Perhaps more….

"Several of the doctors have my phone number. I'll keep my phone on all night." Denny sent me a meaning look. "I know. You don't need a baby sitter."

I could hear Denny's breaths becoming slower and deeper as he fell asleep already before I left the room. And I couldn't help but to feel my heart breaking for him.

How I had grown to love this young man! A few months I hadn't known he existed at all. And now, just like that I knew he suffered from a terminal disease, running through his body and about to take him from us again.

"Thank you." Once at home I thanked and paid the cab driver. Now that was the only thing I had said for the whole ride, I had donly stared right outside on the streets I knew so very well- but I just hadn't felt like talking!

Then, once outside I almost expected the door to fly open and Lizzie and Hope to come bursting outside, nagging me for news about Denny.

And as I walked up the stairs to the door I couldn't help but stop and look down. I couldn't get up these stairs as fast and as easy as I did thirty years ago, but what would they be like for Denny? Maybe they would be easy or him now to get up, but with the Huntington's… Could he take them in a year or two?

I was still wondering going into the house. Then jumped when Hope suddenly came rushing and up to me.

"How is he?"

I held up my hands to stop any more questions. Otherwise she'd never listen to a word I had to say and would just work herself up.

"He's going to be okay."

Well, I knew by now. As okay as he ever would be again. And just as I knew that, Lizzie too came from upstairs, with another worried expression.

"He had another seizure on the way to the hospital. But later on, his temperature has gone down and he's been sleeping for most of the day. Of course, that is the simplest way for the body to heal itself. He'll be staying overnight for observation but unless it rises again or he shows any other symptoms he'll be able to come out of the hospital tomorrow."

The girls both looked relieved, Hope came to hug me. I was about to go and get something to eat (except for chocolate pudding or sandwiches from the hospital cafeteria). But suddenly Lizzie had an expression I realized what it meant.

"Oh my God Lizzie. You know!"

Random fact

I wrote this all in about two sittings. Now, that just about never happens since I can barely ever concentrate for long enough to get more than a few words on paper.