House

[london_spy]

It was a strange series of events that had led him here, and as he sat in the waiting room of the local A&E, Danny went back through it all hour by hour.

6PM: With class out Danny was back to hunting for the lunatic who'd been targeting fellow students, drugging them and then dumping them at home with no sign of sexual or physical assault. He'd stopped home, changed into club clothes, and set out.

7PM: he'd been walking from the tube to the club when a car started driving along side him- A familiar car. Rich's car.

The window came down, and Rich leaned out. "Get in," the man said, prompting Danny to flip him off. 

Rich laughed, then spoke again. "I know who you're after- If you want them, get in the damn car, Danny."

8PM: Rich had dumped him down the block, having given him a list of what he knew. Apparently he wasn't a fan of this guy either, and while Danny wouldn't consider him a trustworthy source, it wasn't like he had much more to go off.

9PM: He'd headed into the club, spoken to someone Rich had suggested might be in on it all, and had let himself have a drink or two so he didn't stand out like a sore thumb.

10PM: Okay, maybe a drink too many.

11PM: He'd called a car, apparently now was the prime time. He'd used the correct service and rejected drivers until he found one who seemed to fit the bill.

11:15PM: The man had complementary water. It was sealed, and so he took one.

11:30PM: Everything was slow. Fuzzy. 

<i>I warned you. STOP. FOLLOWING. ME.</i>

Was it midnight now? Danny squinted at the clock. He was still drugged, not bleeding, but he was certain his ribs were broken and his left eye was struggling to focus. But he had to wait. They said he had to wait.

His hand was shaking as he pulled out his phone. The screen was shattered but it was still working. Should he call someone? Text someone? No, best not. Best to just go it alone.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"All right," said House. "In that case..." He glanced at his watch. "We have to be at Picadilly Circus in an hour."

[london_spy]

"Yeah, no, that's good," Danny nodded. "I'll get changed and I can drive- Or maybe you should drive," he admitted, pushing his hair back and getting to his feet.

[drfeelbad]

"I can drive," House assured him, and picked up the coffee to take a drink.

[london_spy]

Danny vanished and returned a while later, dressed in a simple black t-shirt, clean trousers, and a pair of old work boots. He'd adjusted his bandages and cleaned up a bit, looking bruised but slightly less worse the wear.

"Should we go? Get there early?" he suggested.

[drfeelbad]

"Sit and finish your coffee first," House suggested. He'd already texted Wilson to tell him it would be even longer than he thought, because he had to run some errands after work.

[london_spy]

"I don't want coffee, I want to do this," Danny insisted.

[drfeelbad]

"Well all right," said House, and looked at his watch again. "Though we'll just be standing around for a bit." He pulled out his phone and text Bond again, to let him know he was bringing the friend with him.

[london_spy]

"That's fine. That's good, I want to be early," Danny insisted, pulling his coat on.

[drfeelbad]

"Sure," House said, getting to his feet and then putting the coffee cups in the sink.

"All right, lead the way." He wondered if Danny's friend had had a cool car.

[london_spy]

Scottie's car maybe wasn't cool, but it was nice. Expensive, certainly.

Danny led them out to the garage and opened the doors, revealing a black car. A Jaguar, actually. Not the sporty sort, more classic and chic.

"It's stick. I know they mostly drive automatic in the states. That alright?"

[drfeelbad]

"Hell yes," House said, pleased with the reveal of the car. It didn't necessarily look like the type of car that went insanely fast, but it was still pretty cool.

He climbed in and adjusted the seat.

[london_spy]

Danny just shrugged and climbed in as well. He only kept the car at all because it reminded him of little trips with Scottie. It was sentimental more than anything.

[drfeelbad]

House revved the engine and was glad to find it had a little pep to it, then drove out of the driveway and towards the city. Glancing over at Danny every once in a while to make sure he seemed okay.

[london_spy]

Danny was fine. Sore, sure, but eager to see this through.

"How is your friend?" he asked as they drove. "I should have asked earlier. ...Is he doing okay? Still seems well enough?"

[drfeelbad]

"He's... he's fine, mostly," House said, feeling a little strange talking about Wilson to Danny. "Tired sometimes."

[london_spy]

"And you? How are you holding up?" Danny asked next. And it was all genuine. Yes, he fancied Greg, and yes, his heart still ached, but he cared. He couldn't help but care.

Caring had, at some point, become his greatest weakness.

[drfeelbad]

House was quiet for a moment and then confessed, "I've been better," while looking straight out the car windshield.

[london_spy]

"Do you want to talk about it?" Danny offered quietly.

[drfeelbad]

House glanced at him briefly, before looking back at the road. "I don't think that's a good idea, do you?"

[london_spy]

"Fine," Danny sighed. "I'll talk then, because you're the one who wanted to be friends, and that's what friends do. ...My ex texted me yesterday, and even though I should have deleted it, I'm still thinking about texting him back," he said, looking out the window as he spoke.

"Scottie hated him," he laughed, looking over at Greg and smiling as he shook his head. "I mean, Scottie hated most of my boyfriends, but this one... He got rough a few times and Scottie couldn't forgive that, but that was a long time ago now. He's working at a bank now, he's grown up... I dunno. He wants to get a coffee, and I'm tempted, but I keep hearing Scottie in my head telling me not to be a fool."

[drfeelbad]

House looked at him again, this time a little sharply. "Scottie sounds like a smart guy, and let me channel him for you and tell you not to be an idiot," he said. Then looked back to the road. "And no, this isn't because I don't want you to see someone, it's because I don't want you to see someone who hurt you. Jesus."

[london_spy]

Danny rolled his eyes. "That was ages ago, and it was two times, maybe three, I don't remember. Besides, it's just coffee. He'll probably not ring me back after he finds out I'm positive anyway," he admitted, smile fading a bit.

"I'm allowed to not want to be lonely. Besides, maybe he's just looking to make friends. I keep trying to get on with people at school, but- It's hard. They're all so immature."

[drfeelbad]

"You are allowed to want not to be lonely," House confirmed, quietly. Then he sighed, and decided to offer something of his own. "Wilson wants me to keep dating, or something."

[london_spy]

"Well, if you want I can give you his number," Danny joked, mostly because he wasn't going to take that even remotely seriously. Greg had made his feelings very clear.

[drfeelbad]

House rolled his eyes at that, and decided not to elaborate more on the subject. "Well if you want I can hook you up with whoever else Hex and Fin just collectively dumped," he said with a snort.