fic from the woods
Casey comforting Danny, for phoebesmum. laylee, haven't forgotten about your casey/jeremy friendship! I'm working on it, but jeremy's difficult for me, and I want to get it right.
By the time they left the hospital, Casey had come to the conclusion that painkillers really brought out the cute in Danny. Not that he was likely to confess to thinking in those terms, but - Danny collapsing in giggles one minute, and whispering heartfelt, slurred thank-yous to Casey the next? Cute. There was no other word for it.
Anything was better than the white-faced silence of Danny in pain. The day had barely started when he tripped over a wayward cable at the studio, and Casey had skipped the jokes, because when he hauled Danny back to his feet it was impossible to miss his wide eyes and the awkward angle of his arm.
Casey had said tightly, "That’s broken; let’s get you to the ER" and Danny had just nodded jerkily. Casey didn’t pause to tell anyone they were leaving; he just put his hand on Dan’s back and steered him to the exit.
They actually made it to the elevator without being stopped. Danny leaned in the corner, crooked arm cradled to his chest, and stared up at the ceiling. Casey didn’t ask if he was okay, but stood very close, just in case.
In the car, he’d said, "Let’s skip buckling you up for safety" and Danny had managed to whisper, "Yeah, let’s do that."
Once at the ER, he’d filled out Dan’s paperwork and answered all the questions in triage. They’d had a mercifully short wait before being sent to the back, perhaps aided by the fact that Dan looked like he was about to throw up all over the admit desk.
X-rays had confirmed a nasty break, but luckily a clean one that didn’t require surgery, and the doctor had set and cast Danny’s arm, dosing him with enough pain medicine to last until his prescriptions were filled.
Casey finally called Dana when they were waiting in the hospital pharmacy, his terse "Danny broke his arm" breaking through her monologue on rundown meetings and sports anchors who couldn’t tell time.
Casey heads for his own apartment, because Danny’s is farther away and unlikely to contain nutritious food of any kind. Besides, it will be much easier to check on him this way. On the way there, Danny thanks him three more times, asks if he will sign the cast, and sings a little bit.
Danny makes a face when he offers him something to eat - he always feels a bit sick on medicine - so Casey puts bottled water and a few snacks on the nightstand. He adds the remote, although he’s pretty sure Danny’s going down for the count soon, and the telephone.
Casey helps him settle into bed, noting with concern that he’s still shaky and pale. He hates the thought of leaving him alone, but it will be hard enough for Dana to find one substitute on such short notice. He gestures at the nightstand. "Remote, water, snacks, phone and painkillers. I think you’re all set."
Danny smiles a little, his voice a whisper. "You take good care of people, Casey. Thank you."
"Hey, enough with the thanks." Casey’s voice sounds a bit rough for some reason, and he clears his throat before continuing. "You’re good at it, too. You take great care of me."
"I like to take care of you, Casey. I like you the best." Danny’s still whispering, his eyes barely open. His face is a little flushed, so Casey strokes his cheek to check for fever, and his hair is a bit untidy, so Casey finger combs it to neatness.
And he wants to answer I like you the best, too but the absolute truth of those words is overwhelming. So he settles for, "You look tired. Why don’t you rest, and I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep?"
Danny nods, and Casey stays.
If he stays far longer than it takes Danny to fall asleep, it’s only to make sure he’s having pleasant dreams, not the nightmares he’s prone to.
If he drops a kiss on Danny’s forehead when he covers him, it’s only because he hates to leave him alone.
And if he finally whispers certain words before he finally does leave, it’s only because they are so true.