claimed

CLAIMED
part six
by Saimone

    The warmth of sunlight, the smell of coffee, and the bright flash of a camera, woke Daniel and Darren from a sound sleep. Blearily, they both opened their eyes and attempted to focus. What they saw was each other, helplessly tangled together in that small hospital bed. Then they simultaneously glanced up and saw their fellow bandmates and Nurse Boyd standing in the doorway of the room. Ben, grinning cheekily, had a Polaroid camera in his hands.

     "Aren't you two a sight?" Anna Maria said with a chuckle.

     The nurse was laughing, too. "And to think that I went to all the trouble of getting you that cot..." she said.

     "Funny..." Daniel mumbled, slightly moving away from Darren to one side of the bed. "Let me guess, its already visiting time and we have to get up, right?"

     "You can get up Jonesy," muttered Darren who rolled into the middle of the bed and lay on his stomach. "But I'm not."

     "You're not, are you?" Daniel challenged. "We'll just see about that..." He sat up and looked over at Darren who was trying to burrow back under the covers. "Oh, no you don't. Wake up!"

     "No. Get out of my bed!"

     "Oh, and this from the person who begged me to crawl into bed with them last night," Daniel joked.

     Darren muttered obscenities into his pillow as Daniel got out of the bed. He still refused to get up.

     "How do you feel this morning, Mr Hayes?" Nurse Boyd asked as she watched Daniel go over and steal Ben's coffee.

     Darren stretched languidly before answering. "I feel as though I've been hit by a truck," he concluded finally.

     "Um, Daz. That's probably because you were hit by a truck," commented Lee.

     "No, I wasn't." Darren corrected. "I was in a taxi that got hit by a truck and took a swan dive off a bridge."

     The others laughed at his lame quip before Lee, Karl, and Ben moved out of the doorway to use the unoccupied cot as a couch. Anna Maria sat down in the plastic chair and Nurse Boyd suddenly excused herself from the room, leaving Daniel leaning by the wall and Darren slowly sitting up in bed.

     "You're funny Darren. Really..." remarked Karl.

     "How are you really feeling? Honestly," Anna Maria asked.

     "I'm fine."

     "Really?" Lee seemed doubtful.

     Darren became exasperated. "I'm not pissin' in your pocket, mate! Yeah, I'm FINE."

     "Still cold?" Daniel asked quietly.

     Darren's exasperation faded and his expression softened. "Nah. I've warmed up."

     Anna Maria's eyes glinted with mischief. "You'd better be warm!" she exclaimed. "Because I don't think that it is possible for someone to be cold with Danny sharing their bed!"

     Daniel and Darren's jaws dropped in shock and then they both turned crimson in embarrassment. Ben, Karl, and Lee burst out laughing. They found the entire situation hilarious and VERY teaseworthy.

     "Good one, Anna!" Ben cheered through his laughter.

     Darren lay down again and went back to muttering obscene things into his pillow. It took a few moments for the laughter to be brought under control, but once it was Karl had the decency to change the subject. "We've brought breakfast," he told Daniel, indicating a large white bag on the bedside table.

     "Yeah, you'll need it," remarked Ben to Daniel. "Since I noticed that you obviously didn't eat what I went through all the trouble to bring you yesterday."

     "Oops..." was all Daniel said in reply.

     "I've brought breakfast, too," came an unfamiliar voice from the doorway. In the door stood a young candy-striper carrying a tray. "Katie told me to bring this to Mr Hayes."

     Darren, once more, slowly sat up in the bed and offered the young girl a small smile. She grinned back in return and sat the breakfast tray on a rolling tray-table. Carefully, she wheeled the table over to the bed, offered another grin, and started for the door.

     "Thank you," Darren called after her.

     "You're welcome," she replied, blushing, as she left the room.

     Lee chuckled. "Looks like you've got an admirer, Daz!"

     Darren ignored him and stared down despondently at his breakfast. "I'm not very hungry," he stated.

     "Sure you are, Darren. You have to eat; you didn't have anything at all yesterday," Daniel told him.

     "Well, I wasn't exactly conscious to eat most of yesterday, now was I ?" he returned.

     Daniel cringed; he didn't want to think about yesterday's events. Darren saw the expression and felt guilty.

     "I'm sorry, Jonesy. I just don't think I can eat."

     "Especially not that," Ben remarked looking disdainfully at the breakfast tray.

     "It is kinda gross," Darren admitted. "But I just don't feel like eating."

     "Try?" requested Anna Maria.

     Darren sighed and sat up a little straighter in the bed. It was then that he glanced down at his lap and noticed what he was wearing. //This certainly explains the chill...// He raised an eyebrow, "Aren't I a little underdressed for breakfast?"

     The others laughed.

     "You want some real clothes?" asked Ben.

     "Really?"

     "Yeah, Dan requested that I bring you both a fresh change."

     "Oooh, clothing!" laughed Darren. "Gimme!"

     Ben pulled two changes of clothing from a backpack and tossed them to Darren and Daniel. Darren looked the garments over, critically. "These aren't mine..." he remarked after a thorough examination.

     "I know," Ben grinned. "I couldn't find anything in your mess of packing, so I improvised. Those are Dan's!"

     "My clothes?" Daniel repeated.

     "Yup."

     Darren scoffed. "Benny, I appreciate the thought, but really..." he paused and turned his eyes to briefly roam over Daniel's lanky form leaning against the wall. Then he resumed, "the boy is taller than me and is as big around as a rail, to boot. I really don't think that I can wear his clothes!"

     "Daz, have you looked in a mirror lately?" asked Anna Maria. "You're not exactly much bigger around than a rail, yourself!"

     "But I'm still short!" he pointed out.

     "Deal with it," Karl laughed. "Besides, anything's got to be better than a backless hospital gown!"

     "True..." he admitted before he thought of another problem. "But how exactly am I supposed to get up and change with all of you here? The gown may be backless, but I certainly am not!"

     "I'm not complaining," Anna Maria remarked with a smirk.

     "Well I *am* complaining!" Darren retorted, carefully moving the tray table out of the way and standing up. Making sure that his arse wasn't facing anyone, he grabbed one of the blankets off of his bed and wrapped it around his waist. "HA!" he huffed, smugly.

     His fellow bandmates laughed and rolled their eyes at his excessive display of modesty--after all, this was the bold, daring man who had no shame on stage.

     "Going to a toga party, Daz? " Lee asked with a grin.

     Darren just rolled his eyes expressively, gathered his borrowed clothing, and retreated into the bathroom with the blankets still wrapped around him. Several minutes later he emerged again, blanket and hospital gown in hand. He ambled across the room and modeled his newly acquired attire. The jeans were a bit tight, achieving the not-quite-painted-on look. The really humorous part of the situation was the fact that Darren had had to roll the cuffs of the pants up at least twice so they wouldn't drag on the ground. Daniel's blue shirt fit okay, but Darren had left it untucked to try and take some of the emphasis away from the arse-hugging jeans. His plan failed, but it was a valiant attempt nonetheless. With a great flourish, he plopped back down on the bed, wincing slightly as he did so, and faced the rest of the laughing group.

     "You look good in my clothes!" Daniel quipped.

     Darren waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "I'd look better out of them!" he replied, smirking slyly.

     //Oh Christ. Darren don't do that to me!// Daniel's mind screamed.

     Darren's retort had the group--save for Daniel--giggling again. Daniel just chuckled weakly and prayed that he wasn't being too obvious. His tension was relieved a few seconds later when Ben stopped laughing and suddenly decided to pass out breakfast. Food, at least, gave Daniel something else to occupy his mind.

     "Whatcha got there?" Daniel asked Ben.

     Ben cackled happily in reply. "Bagels!" he said, producing one for Daniel's inspection. He passed the bagel-bag around and everyone took one, except for Darren who was sitting cross-legged on his bed starring dejectedly at his breakfast tray. He was still examining the supposed food critically--it was oatmeal he assumed--when he felt the mattress dip as someone sat down beside him. He turned his attention away from the tray and to Daniel who was watching him watch his breakfast.

     "Have you reached a verdict on it yet?" Daniel asked.

     Darren went back to his studies. "I think it's supposed to be oatmeal..." he stated finally. "But I don't believe that it is edible. Rather, I think it is a rare form of wall spackle masquerading around as breakfast food." He grinned at his own joke and was rewarded with soft laughter from Daniel.

     "Not edible, huh?" repeated Daniel. Darren nodded his head enthusiastically in agreement. Daniel smiled and held the bottom half of his bagel, already lightly spread with cream cheese and jam, out to him. "Would this be better?"

     Darren looked at Daniel, his eyes silently asking if Daniel really meant he could have the offered item. In answer, Daniel leaned over and nudged the oatmeal bowl to one side of the tray and sat the bagel down on Darren's napkin. Darren grinned and quickly leaned over to envelop Daniel in a spirited hug, only to draw back halfway with a gasp, the muscles in his arms and back screaming in protest. The others looked at him concerned, having heard the small intake of breath and having see the fleeting look of pain that crossed Darren's features.

     "What's wrong?"

     Darren tried to grin and laugh it off. "Oh, nothing," he said. "My body just decided that now would be a good time to protest any sudden movement." His grin ended as more of a grimace as he tried to slowly stretch his stiff and pained muscles.

     Daniel nodded. "Your nurse told me this would happen. You're supposed to take it easy today..."

     Darren shrugged slightly. "Whatever," he replied. "I think that I want to try that hug thing again in slow motion." He slowly reached forward again and this time Daniel met him halfway so he wouldn't have to stretch as far. Darren grinned. "Thank you," he said, expressively.

    Daniel looked confused. "For what?" Surely a bagel didn't deserve such an emotional thanking...

     "Everything," Darren replied settling back at the head of the bed. He reached over and picked up his newfound breakfast. "For everything you've done for me in the past two days...and for the bagel!" he finished with a laugh, raising the food in a mock-toast before finally taking a bite. Once again, he had the entire room in laughter.

     It was about half an hour later, after the bagel-bag had been thrown away and the oatmeal was sitting, ignored, on the tray table, when Dr. Wallis walked into the room. Darren could tell immediately that something was wrong, but he didn't say anything. He just sat still and let the doctor check him over, answering his questions honestly, and waited for the bomb to drop. It wasn't long in coming.

     "Mr. Hayes, a police officer is here right now and he wishes to speak with you about yesterday."

     Darren instantly stiffened but tries not to let it show. Ever since his nightmare he hadn't wanted to think about yesterday, let alone talk to anyone about it. But he knew he had to. "Do you want me to talk to them now?" he asked.

     Dr. Wallis stared at him for a moment, appraising, then said, "If you feel up to it."

     Darren decided to play it nonchalant. "Bring 'em on."

     "Very well," the doctor nodded. "I'll send him in. It'll be a moment..." With that, he left the room.

     A short while later, a uniformed police officer strode into the room. "Mr. Hayes?" he questioned.

     Darren gave a small wave. "That would be me. I heard you wanted to ask me some questions, yeah?"

     "Yes. Would it be possible for me to speak with you alone?"

     "I suppose, if you want..." he looked around expectantly at is friends. "Guys?"

     "I can tell when I'm not wanted!" Ben joked, getting up to leave. The others followed suit, but Daniel lingered for a moment.

     "We'll be back in a bit," he assured Darren as he left.

     "Thanks Jonesy..." Darren returned. The door closed and Daniel was gone. Darren sighed and settled back to listen to the cop.

     "Okay, Mr Hayes, if you could please re-account for me the events which triggered the accident yesterday..."
* * * * * * *
     It wasn't until three hours later that the officer finished with Darren, took a formal statement, and left his room. Daniel knew this because he had spent the entire time in the hallway just beyond Darren's door, watching the clock tick. Slowly tick. As soon as the cop left, Daniel moved to stand in the open doorway and looked into the room. There he saw Darren sitting stiffly in his bed, his knees drawn up to his chest and his chin resting on them. He stared straight ahead, almost unblinking, his face expressionless.

     "Daz?" Daniel ventured walking into the room. "You okay?"

     Darren nodded slightly, but made no other move.

     "You want me to go?"

     Darren shook his head no.

     "You want to talk about it?"

     Another negative headshake, this movement even slighter than the others previously. Darren now looked lost and as if he was fighting tears. After struggling briefly, Darren seemed to win out over his emotions and was able to school his expression once again. Daniel went over to the bed and moved to sit down next to Darren. Slowly and quietly, Darren scooted over to make room.

     "Do you want a hug?"

     That question received a shaky smile and an affirmative nod in answer. Daniel always seemed to know what Darren needed. Carefully, he drew Darren into a quick hug and said softly," I know that you don't want to talk right now, but when you're ready, I'm here to listen."

     "I know. Thank you Jonesy... When can I get out of here?"

     "I think Lee and Karl are trying to spring you as we speak."

     "Really?"

     "Yes, really! We figured that you could rest better at the hotel where there is more privacy and your own clothing..." Daniel's eyes twinkled with amusement as he said this.

     "Funny... Real funny; you're quite a riot," Darren stated. Then his face took on a worried frown. "Jonesy?"

     "Yeah, Daz?"

     "What are we going to do about our show?"

     "Leonie's still working on it for us. If we're lucky we may be able to see her tonight and she'll let us know what's up. Don't worry about it now."

     "Okay, I was just wondering."

     The rest of the group, minus Ben, decided to reappear at this time, accompanied by Nurse Boyd and a wheelchair.

     "Are you ready to go, Daz?" asked Lee.

     "Wheelchair?" Darren responded, incredulous.

     Nurse Boyd laughed and shrugged. "Its policy," she explained.

     "That's lovely, that is..." Darren grumbled as she wheeled the chair over to him and gestured for him to take a seat in it. He did so, and she began to wheel him out of the room. Briefly, they stopped in the hall and Nurse Boyd entered another room and came out carrying a plastic bag. She returned to Darren and handed the bag to him.

     "What's all this, then?" he asked.

     "The clothes you were wearing when you were brought in. They've been dried... Your wallet and your cellphone are in there, too, but I'm afraid that your cell is a bit waterlogged."

     "I figured as much," was Darren's rueful reply.

      The procession continued on their way down the hallway, the entire time Nurse Boyd gave Darren instructions. "Under the doctor's orders you're to rest for the next few days. No stress, no concerts, no overdoing things." She handed him a couple of pieces of paper. "These are some prescriptions for mild painkillers and muscle relaxers. Get them filled and take them only when needed."

     Darren pocketed the papers and nodded absently. The wheelchair slowed as they approached the double doors to leave the hospital. The halls were surprisingly empty. The group stepped out of the doors and into the early afternoon sunlight. There in the firelane, the van sat idling, Ben at the wheel.

     "It was great meeting you Mr Hayes, but--no offense--I hope that I never see you here again!" Nurse Boyd told him.

     "None taken, and I share you sentiments!" laughed Darren as he was helped out of the wheelchair and into the back of the van. The others piled in after him and Ben took off.

     "Whose bright idea was it to let Ben drive?" Darren quipped weakly, closing his eyes and leaning down in his seat. At first Daniel thought he was sleeping but every now and then he'd see Darren's baby blues open slightly only to quickly be closed again.

     "You okay?" whispered Daniel.

     Darren nodded but didn't open his eyes until they were back at the hotel. Once there, he was marched straight up to his room where he was forced into bed and told not to move until further notice. It was there that he spent a rather boring afternoon receiving phone calls from worried/terrified people; his parents, his ex-wife, miscellaneous family members, and various other friends from back home. Everyone, it seemed, had just now found out about the accident and felt the need to call and reassure themselves that he was, indeed, okay.
* * * * * * *
     Afternoon turned to early evening.

     The phone calls and overly-helpful bandmates who kept coming to check on him, offered Darren no time to think. That was all he really wanted at this point--to sit down and sort out his jumbled thoughts. And it seemed that thinking was the last thing that he'd be able to do. Darren knew that he was supposed to be sleeping, but he suddenly found the confines of the hotel room stifling. He was tired of being in bed, he was tired of keeping still, and he was tired of staying indoors. So, like any other frustrated, tired person, Darren decided to get out and go for a walk; though he knew his body wouldn't like the idea too much. Hastily, he scrawled a note to his band of mother-hens and then left the room.

     He walked out of the hotel entrance and drew his jacket closer around him to ward off the sudden chill. Taking a deep breath, he picked a random direction and then began walking; looking around at the now-overcast, darkening sky. His random direction led him into a small park area where vendors had little booths sitting in the middle of the sidewalks.

     So far, his walk hadn't done anything to help his thinking. The atmosphere was gloomy; dull grey sky was the backdrop for the grey leaf-less trees. Underfoot, the dry grass rustled and the brown carpeting of fallen leaves crackled when he walked. It wasn't until Darren paused in front of a flower vendor that a clear idea entered his head. Hesitantly, he stepped up to purchase a single red rose. He had the vendor tie a bow of black ribbon around its stem then he took the flower and started out of the park.

     Darren soon found himself on a deserted street corner watching the traffic go by. He might have appeared to be wandering aimlessly, but he did have a destination in mind. Now all he needed was a means of getting there... Briefly, he debated on hailing a cab, then shuddered and mentally declared that idea out of the question. The only other alternative seemed to be a bus, so he ambled a ways up the street until he found a bus stop.

     Fifteen minutes later, he was huddled in a bus seat, flower in hand, trying to look inconspicuous and non-famous. Several more minutes later found Darren getting off of the bus and walking the last part of the way to his destination. At one point he paused stiffly and stared silently into space for a moment before resuming his walking; the bridge slowly loomed into view.
* * * * * * *

     Daniel was frantic. Actually, he was quickly moving beyond frantic and groping for another adjective to describe his current state. Darren was missing.

     It was their PA, Leonie, who first discovered this fact. She had just finished the rescheduling of everything and, finding a free moment, had decided to quickly check up on Darren since she hadn't been able to be around much. When she opened the door to Darren's room and found no singer, needless to say she became rather worried. Then she discovered the note and became even more anxious, as did the other band members when she told them. Daniel took it worst of all.

//Guys,
     I've gone for a walk to clear my head & stretch my muscles. I wont be long...
                                                                              -Daz//

     "Where could he have gone?" Leonie muttered to herself for about the seventh time since they realized Darren's disappearance. The others shrugged and Daniel began to pace.

     //Think, Dan, think. You know Darren--have known him for years; where would he go?// Nothing came to mind. //Oh, I hate it when he gets like this! He draws away and creates a huge gap between us that is so difficult to be bridged... Bridged? BRIDGE!//

     The proverbial light bulb snapped on and Daniel grabbed the van keys off of a table and bolted out the door.

     "Where are you going?" Anna Maria called after him. Daniel neither heard her, nor slowed his rapid pace.

     "Great," Leonie said, throwing her hands in the air as a sign of exasperation. "Now we've lost BOTH of them." She shook her head then muttered to herself, "But if anyone could find Darren, it would be Daniel..."
* * * * * * *
     Leonie was right, only she didn't know it. Daniel drove quickly through the streets, hoping he was right in his assessment of Darren. He knew he would soon find out because the van was rapidly approaching the two-lane bridge which symbolized all of the trouble and pain of the last couple of days. On the bridge, Daniel spotted a lone figure standing next to the twisted and broken metal railing, looking down at the water. He didn't have to think twice about who that figure was. Hastily, Daniel pulled the van over to the side of the road, right before the bridge; he was thankful that the roads were practically deserted. He quickly killed the van's engine then jumped out of the vehicle and quickly jogged towards the bridge. When he was about ten feet away from Darren, he slowed his jog to a walk and closed the final distance.

     Silently, he let his gaze take in Darren's appearance. Darren was standing quietly by the railing clutching a long-stemmed rose in one hand. His face was pale and his blue eyes gleamed with unshed tears. He had heard Daniel's approach, but didn't turn or acknowledge his presence. Daniel didn't really want to break the heavy silence, but he felt he had to.

     "Darren, c'mon, mate. Its too cold for you to be out here; you're should be back at the hotel, resting. Leonie's going to throw a fit."

     Darren didn't seem phased. Instead he softly whispered, "The cab driver died..."

     Daniel cringed. "I know, Dazza," he replied. "I'd hoped that you wouldn't have heard about it so soon. Did the cop tell you when he took that statement?"

     Darren shook his head. "No, Danny. I knew already. I knew back in the taxi--no pulse tends to make one rather dead, does it not?" He laughed brokenly, bitterly; the sound catching in his throat and coming out a mournful half-sob. The choking bark of hollow laughter sent a stab of pain through Daniel's heart. Darren's laughter was supposed to be childlike--musical, happy, and beautiful. It was NOT supposed to sound like that.

     Daniel put a hand on Darren's shoulder. "C'mon, Darren," he tried again. "Let's go back."

     "In a minute," Darren replied. Then he raised the black-ribboned rose to his lips and whispered to it the words, "You'll not be forgotten..."

     Whether he was talking about the dead man, the accident, or both things at once, Daniel didn't know. He stared silently as Darren kissed the flower and then tossed it gently away from him. Together they watched the rose fall from the bridge to noiselessly land in the river below, where it bobbed in the current and floated silently in the water. Eerily, it drifted out and stopped near the location that the taxi cab had struck the water. There it remained until both men on the bridge tore their eyes away from the sight.

     "Now we can go back, Jonesy..." Darren whispered with a sad air of finality.

     A gust of cold wind blew, the road was silent, and the pair slowly walked away from the bridge.