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Daniel woke up to Sebastian shaking him awake awkwardly.
“Hey, um, sorry, but the tech came around a few minutes ago and you didn’t wake up so…” he muttered.
Daniel looked around him, sitting up. “Thanks,” he yawned, still half asleep.
He wondered why he didn’t wake up when the tech came around, but didn’t think much of it. He didn’t get to sleep until it was fairly late, anyways.
He went through his morning routine much slower than usual, hardly awake and still wondering why he was so tired. He could hardly keep his eyes open.
Despite being slow with his morning routine, he still had a few minutes before breakfast to fall back asleep. Sebastian did have to wake him back up, but he felt slightly more awake afterwards so he decided it was worth it.
After that, Daniel and all the other patients were led down to the cafeteria for breakfast. Pancakes were served, so everyone was in high spirits. Daniel got his and sat down at his regular table, Sebastian finding somewhere else to sit. He understood he made Daniel uncomfortable for whatever reason, so he didn’t talk to him much.
A few moments after Daniel sat down, CJ joined him, happy as ever.
“Hey, boyfriend,” Daniel said with a smile, loving the way the word rolled off his tongue.
“Hey, you,” CJ said back, stabbing into his food with a spork. Those were the sharpest things allowed in the hospital. “How’s your morning been so far?”
“I’m tired as shit,” he answered, shaking his head. A passing nurse scolded him for swearing.
“How much sleep did you get last night?” CJ asked, seeming concerned.
“Not much. I was a little freaked out, to be completely honest becau- never mind. Probably just four hours or so.”
CJ’s concerned expression didn’t falter for a moment. “Freaked out by what?”
Daniel internally cringed, because he hadn’t meant to say that. His speech filter was a bit fucked up when he was tired, which caused him to nearly tell CJ about his nightmare. It was really nothing CJ should have to worry about for him, boyfriend or not. Besides, nobody knew about them, despite their frequency. Not even Dr. Joseph or his parents. He felt no need to tell anyone whatsoever, CJ included. Besides, in his mind, a dream was a ridiculous thing to be so afraid of, and certainly nothing to lose sleep over.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it,” Daniel muttered.
“Daniel, are you sure? I just want to make sure you’re okay and-“
“I’m fine,” Daniel snapped.
CJ shut up then, not bothering his boyfriend anymore.
“I’m sorry, Ceej,” Daniel apologized quickly, reaching across the table to hold CJ’s hand.
“You’re fine. I’m the same way when I’m tired, don’t worry about it.”
Daniel felt like it really wasn’t fine, and be shouldn’t get off so easy snapping at his boyfriend, but he didn’t say anything on the subject out of fear of causing unnecessary conflict. He hated fighting more than anyone he knew, and put a good deal of effort into not causing a single problem where he could help it.
Rather than worrying further, Daniel changed the subject and put it out of his mind. It really wasn’t anything to worry about in the first place, but Daniel was the type of person to worry excessively about being rude to people on accident.
While talking to him, Daniel couldn’t help but stare at CJ. He couldn’t help but get lost in his eyes that were the most wonderful shade of brown that was quickly becoming Daniel’s favorite color. He couldn’t help but absolutely love his laugh, which was simply the most beautiful sound in the world. He couldn’t help thinking about the perfect smile that played on perfect lips that Daniel couldn’t quit thinking about kissing.
Daniel caught himself grinning widely, simply because he remembered that the work of art that was CJ Johnson was now his boyfriend.
“What’s so funny?” CJ asked, catching Daniel’s sudden grin as well.
“Nothing, just thinking of you. I really do love your smile.”
CJ’s face turned about as red as a Weasley’s hair as he looked down and involuntarily smiled. Daniel wondered to himself why CJ always seemed to get shy whenever he was complimented, but didn’t say anything of it. Actually, he’d never really noticed CJ’s reaction to compliments before, but thinking back on it, he’d always been like that as far as Daniel knew.
Not much else happened during lunch except for normal conversation between CJ and Daniel, which was hardly interesting to anyone except the two involved.
Not too long after, Daniel had his meeting with Dr. Joseph. He was doing perfectly fine, and Dr. Joseph was very glad to hear so. However, he still ran through the normal questions as per usual.
“Rate your mood on a scale of one to ten.”
“Eight.”
“Glad to know you’re in a good mood. How have you been eating?”
“Good.”
“What about sleeping?”
“Better, I wouldn’t say great.”
“Let me know more about that.”
“Like I said, nothing to worry about. It’s nothing keeping me up, I guess if anything I’m just a little excited to leave.”
“If you can’t sleep tonight let me know. I don’t want this to become a problem.”
“Alright, I will. I don’t think it is though.”
Dr. Joseph eyed Daniel carefully. He was a bit worried about his sudden change in sleeping patterns, but wasn’t sure if it really was just eagerness to get home or something else.
“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?” Dr. Joseph asked.
“No,” Daniel answered, happier than normal. Dr. Joseph took note of his rather sudden mood change as well, scribbling it down in his book.
“So just the normal exercises?”
Daniel got confused for half a second, as he was still tired enough to think he meant physical exercise. It took a moment for it to actually click that he meant mental exercises.
“Oh, yeah,” he said after a short pause.
He felt a bit dumb after that, embarrassed despite the fact that he was the only one who knew he was tired enough to mix that up.
After his session with Dr. Joseph, he had some down time. He spent it all with CJ, obviously, smiling at all times and completely loving everything about the moments they shared. He hoped he’d never have to let go of this. For now, everything was perfect and nothing could change that. Not a damn thing.
While in the common room, Daniel looked around them, making sure nobody was looking at them (especially techs). After seeing the coast was clear, he leaned closer to CJ and quickly pressed his own lips to the other boy’s. He wanted to stay right there forever and melt into CJ’s kiss, but he couldn’t without getting yelled at by a tech. They were as strict as ever with the no contact rule. Daniel didn’t know for sure, but he figured dating was also prohibited between patients. Even though the kiss lasted half a second, everything was still perfect to him as both were left blushing and grinning like idiots.
Everything was perfect.
All throughout his group therapy sessions, Daniel’s mind bounced back and forth between CJ and upcoming visitation. It was just an hour away until he could tell Jack all about CJ.
No, wait, he was mad at Jack. He wondered to himself why Jack couldn’t be happy for him.
Perhaps he could tell his mother? He got excited about it before remembering he still wasn’t out to her. Would it be a good idea to come out to her today? Probably not, there would be a better time. Daniel laughed at the thought, actually.
“Hey mom, guess what, not only am I fucking mental, but I’m a fa-“
He stopped himself before using the term. He had a nasty habit of calling himself names the voices he heard called him. He’d gotten much better about it, but he still accidentally called himself names now and then.
He quit thinking about what he’d nearly called himself and went back to being excited but frustrated because he wanted to climb to the roof and scream to the whole world that CJ Johnson was his boyfriend, but he couldn’t. There wasn’t anyone to listen now that Rick and Phoenix left. As soon as he got out though, he’d tell everyone for sure. He’d tell Jack a million times more just because he could.
Maybe after a million times he’d be happy for him.
Daniel smiled at the thought.
Visitation came and went with his mother. Nothing too eventful happened. She noticed he was much happier than normal, and of course commented on it. As much as Daniel wanted to ramble on forever about why he was happy (CJ, obviously) he made up some other reason that seemed to please her. He smiled to himself, thinking of the day he would tell her.
Daniel spent more time with CJ after dinner and more therapy sessions. He wouldn’t have spent the time with anyone else, and CJ thought the same. They simply loved spending time with each other, really.
“Hey, boyfriend,” Daniel greeted him. He decided he really liked saying that. Boyfriend.
“Hey,” CJ said softly with an award winning smile.
“How was your day?” Daniel asked, sitting on the slightly uncomfortable couch next to him.
“Same as every other day,” CJ muttered with a roll of his eyes. “However, it was actually better, really. Know why?”
Daniel knew what CJ was going to say, but just to humor him, he asked “What?”
“It’s ’cause now I have you,” CJ answered flirtatiously.
Even though Daniel predicted that answer, it still made him involuntarily smile and blush.
“Are you blushing?” CJ questioned, laughing. Daniel loved his laugh so much.
“Shut up,” he mumbled in response, going even pinker in the face.
CJ pulled him over towards a corner, made sure nobody was looking at them, and leaned down to peck him on the lips. Daniel smiled as CJ pulled away, savoring the feeling of his lips on his own.
“You should do that again,” Daniel suggested.
“I’d love to, but we’re lucky nobody saw us the first time,” CJ answered.
Daniel stuck out his lower lip in a pout. “You’re no fun.”
“When we get out we can have all the fun we want,” CJ said suggestively.
Daniel went beet red again. “CJ!” he hissed.
CJ started laughing uncontrollably. It was a wonder everyone in the hospital wasn’t staring at him. Eventually, Daniel got the older boy to shut up, trying hard not to burst into a giggle fit himself.
After a while spent with CJ, where Daniel had truly enjoyed himself for the first time in a while, it was nearly time for lights-out. That meant nightly meds for several people, Daniel included.
He was the last in the line, smiling at Dr. Joseph when he handed him his daily pills.
“Hey, Daniel. You’ve been well?” he asked, smiling.
“Yeah. I was just talking to CJ,” Daniel answered. He was going to walk away, but refrained from doing so when he noticed the look on Dr. Joseph’s face.
“CJ Johnson?” he asked, a very puzzled expression on his face.
“Yes,” Daniel answered. “Who else?”
Dr. Joseph just stared at him for a full ten seconds. That ten seconds felt like eternity for Daniel.
“Daniel,” Dr. Joseph began carefully, “CJ left last week with your other friends.”
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