K I D N A P P E D - P H A N A U

Chapter Eleven

Phil noticed Dan's hand falter and begin to slip out of his. He quickly turned and grabbed him before he hit the pavement, however.

"Dan?" Phil said quickly, going into a panic. Luckily, Dan wasn't unconscious. He nodded, biting his lip. "I'm going to carry you. We're almost there, alright?" Dan once again nodded.

Phil picked up the smaller boy, holding onto his shoulders and under his knees. He started running down the sidewalk, pushing past people and trying to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.

After a good minute and a half of running, he stumbled into the hospital with Dan still in his arms. He ran past Marie, who had a concerned look on her face, and went straight to his office. He carefully put Dan, who was shaking uncontrollably, into the chair behind his desk and quickly grabbed himself one from a colleague's desk.

"Okay, Dan. Tell me what happened." Phil said once he sat down, slightly out of breath.

Dan stared at Phil with wide eyes. "Th-they're b-back," he managed to stutter out. The other people in the small office room had begun to stare at them.

"Who?" Phil asked, ignoring everyone but Dan.

"The k-kidnappers... I saw them across the s-street," Dan said, obviously on the verge of a breakdown. Phil's eyes widened and he stared at Dan.

"Is that why you fell?"

Dan nodded. Phil took a deep breath and ran a hand through his jet black hair.

"Okay. Stay here and don't disturb anyone else. Alright?" Phil said, standing. Dan looked up at him and nodded. Phil gave him a small, reassuring smile, and left the room.

He went straight to Marie's desk.

"What happened?" she asked immediately, standing up.

"Dan had a panic attack. We were holding hands and someone called us something- I don't remember what- but Dan started freaking out. So then I was walking him back here, and suddenly he started falling. So I picked him up, brought him here, and he said that his kidnappers were back and he saw them across the street," Phil said in one breath. He sighed and stared at Marie. "He has to come home with me, it's the safest place."

"Phil, are you sure it was them he saw?" Marie asked, looking to the side, clearly unsure.

"Yes! I know for a fact it was. If you spent the majority of your life with someone abusive, would you forget their faces?" Marie shook her head. "Exactly! Please, Marie, you have to let me bring him to my dad's house. He's a cop, and he can get people to watch over Dan way better than this hospital can."

"I'm not in charge of what happens to the patients. I just make sure they're all where they're supposed to be. You have to talk to the doctors about this," Marie said, biting her lip.

"There's no time! They're across the street now, they could come in at any minute!" Phil said, clearly in a panic.

"Phil, calm down. Please. Listen, I'll do my best to get the doctors to let Dan live with you. He seems to be in a much stabler condition. You just need to calm him down and make sure he's ready for the interview with the doctors. If he passes their tests, he can live with you," Marie said.

"And what happens if he doesn't pass the tests?" Phil asked, biting his lip due to nerves.

"He'll be in his room 24/7 again," Marie replied. Phil stared at her. "I'm sorry, Phil. I know it's not fair. It's all we can do, though." He just nodded. "I'll talk to them, you keep an eye on Dan and make sure he's okay."

Phil nodded again. "Thank you, Marie!" he said as he ran back to his office.

Dan was still sitting behind Phil's desk. He was still shaking, but now he was staring at his fingers and fumbling with his thumbs. He looked up as Phil sat across from him again.

"Okay, Dan, I have something to talk to you about," Phil started. Dan said nothing, just nodded. "I talked to Marie and she said that for you to come and live with me, you need to be tested by the doctors. And I can't be in there with you." Dan said nothing again, but he looked almost scared. "They aren't going to hurt you, they just have some questions. If you can answer them, you'll never have to come back here."

"What if I can't?" Dan asked quietly.

"I'm not sure," Phil lied. "But that won't happen, alright? What we need to do know is calm you down. That way, you'll be able to do your best when the doctors come to get you for the test." Dan nodded.

Phil took his hands in his and gently squeezed them. "Close your eyes." Dan obeyed, taking deep breaths. "Just listen to my voice. I'm here. And as long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you. I promise," Phil said, smiling as he noticed that Dan had stopped shaking by now and he seemed much calmer.

"Thank you," Dan suddenly murmured, looking up at Phil.

"For what?" Phil asked in confusion.

"For... everything. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Thank you," Dan said, smiling at Phil, who returned it, giggling.

"Well, it's my job. But I love you, and even if I didn't get paid to help you, I would do it in a heartbeat," Phil said, leaning across the desk and placing a small kiss on his cheek. A nearby co-worker awed.

"Why can't you come in with me?" Dan asked, frowning at Phil.

"I'm guessing the test is about your independence. But I'm sure you'll do fine," Phil said, smiling reassuringly.

Dan nodded, returning the smile slightly. "I love you," he murmured.

Phil giggled. "I love you too. Let's go see if the doctors are ready to see you," he said, standing and taking Dan's hand as he too stood.

The two boys walked through the offices, hand in hand. Together they stood in front of Marie's desk.

Marie smiled up at Dan. "The doctors will see you now. Just follow me," she said, standing.

And the two boys seperated for the last time.