Turned Table (phan)

Chapter Two

Despite being allowed to live alone, there was the small problem of Dan not actually having anywhere to live. Along with that, Dan couldn't imagine living anywhere away from Adrian. As everyone dreamed of Santa Clause and reindeer, Dan tossed and turned in his bed, wondering how such an amazing thing could cause so many problems.
Dan gave up on sleep once again, rolling out of bed and quietly changing into sweatpants and t-shirt. He pulled on his jacket and quietly opened the door, careful not to wake Adrian. He left the home and let out a breath. It was cold, but Dan couldn't care less. He began to wander along his usual path, thinking through everything he'd been told. He had a job at a small grocery store, so he could probably afford rent at a small apartment, but he knew he didn't have much saved up. He also still had a semester of school to go through. He couldn't work and do school.
Dan saw a blinding light, but was too caught up in his thoughts to move out of the way of the incoming car fast enough, and he felt an excruciating pain up his leg just before he passed out.
"Oh, my God!" a young man leaped out of the car and ran to Dan, taking in his splayed out form on the ground. "Oh, shit."
He pulled out his phone, dialing 999.
"Hello, you have called 999. What is your emergency?"
"I, uh, hit a guy with my car. He's bleeding a lot and he's not moving."
"Please calm down, sir. What's your name?"
"Phil. Oh, uh, Lester. Phil Lester."
"Okay, Phil. Is the man breathing?"
"I don't know, I can't see. Oh, God. Is he dead?"
"Where are you located?"
"Um, on Sidebell Drive, in Manchester."
"Okay, an ambulance will be there soon. Can you check for a pulse?"
"Uh," Phil shuffled slightly to get closer to Dan. Placing his fingers on Dan's neck, Phil was quiet. "Yeah," Phil sighed, relief washing over him, "he has a pulse."
"Okay, sir. I can stay on the phone with you until the police arrive."
"Thank you." Dan's breathing suddenly increased and Phil jumped up. "Something happened, he's breathing fast." Phil's panic returned.
"He might be coming back to consciousness, hold him still and-"
The operator's voice was cut off as Dan's hand grabbed Phil's arm, knocking his phone to the ground. Dan gave a moan and clutched onto Phil more tightly.
"Ah, fuck. My leg. Fuck."
Phil looked to Dan's leg, able to see blood covering the majority of it.
"Oh, god. Oh, god."
Phil scrambled to pick up his phone, speaking breathlessly to the operator.
"His- his leg is really bad. Oh, wow. Uh, it's- there's a lot if blood."
"Okay, Phil. Is he conscious?"
"Yeah," Phil said shakily.
"Try to calm him down. The ambulance will be there any moment. Put the phone down if you have to."
Phil put his phone on speaker on the ground and looked at Dan.
"Uh, I called an ambulance," he said and Dan nodded. "Sorry," Phil said meekly. Dan just bit his lip harder and dug his nails into Phil's arm. "Uh, here," Phil moved Dan's hand to hold his hand instead. "Just another minute."
At that, the ambulance sped around the corner down the street. Two paramedics came out and moved Dan onto the stretcher. "You can follow us in your car," one of them said.
"I- well. Yeah." Phil hopped into his car, thinking better of explaining that he doesn't know the man. He might as well stay until the man's parents or someone shows up.
No one questioned Phil as he followed the paramedics into the hospital. He sat in the waiting area and took out his phone, becoming mindlessly lost in his game.
"Er, anyone for Daniel Howell?"
Phil glanced up, looking around. No one got up, but it occurred to Phil that he actually didn't know the name of the poor guy he'd ran into. He stood and walked to the nurse's station.
"Um, sorry, but I was wondering the name of a patient who was just admitted? He was hit by a car."
"Oh, let me see," the nurse said, quite rudely in Phil's opinion.
"Thank you, sir." The nurse looked at Phil annoyed, assuming he was being sarcastically polite.
"Daniel Howell, admitted at 12:07 in the morning. Room 137."
"Thank you. Oh, merry Christmas."
"Right," the nurse scoffed, but Phil could swear there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
Phil walked to the room, appreciating that he was spending the early hours of Christmas in a hospital with a guy he didn't know. It wasn't as if he had anything better to do, as his parents were on a Christmas holiday and his brother was celebrating with his wife's family. Phil walked into the room, and Dan looked at him confused. Phil noticed a large cast on Dan's leg and an IV in his arm, but he looked alright.
"Hello," Phil said, smiling politely.
"Hi," Dan gave a weak smile. "Sorry, uh, are you a doctor?"
It occurred to Phil that Dan had never exactly met him. "Ah, uh, no. I'm the one who, well. You got hit by my car."
"Oh," Dan said, glancing sideways awkwardly.
"I'm Phil. I just wanted to make sure you were alright, and yeah." Phil hurried to fill the silence. "I was thinking I would stay with you until your family shows up, if you want," Phil stated, now taking in the fact that the man was more of a teenager, probably sixteen or maybe seventeen.
"Well, erm, yeah. Okay." Dan nodded and Phil sat in a plastic chair next to the bed.
"So, uh, have you called anyone yet?"
"Oh, uh, not really."
"You can use my phone, if you'd like?" Phil reached into his pocket, pausing when Dan shook his head.
"It's alright, I just need to get home. I'll grab a bus as soon as my cast sets," Dan rushed to interrupt Phil, motioning towards his broken leg.
"Oh," Phil said. Silence followed. "You know, I can drive you home if you want. I don't know if buses run this early, especially on Christmas."
"Shit," Dan said suddenly. His eyebrows crinkled together and Phil's concern showed on his face.
"Does your leg hurt?"
"No, sorry," Dan replied. "I just really need to be home soon."
A doctor came in, glancing at Dan and Phil before reviewing Dan's chart and nodding. "Well, Dan, it looks like you can go now. You'll be able to get that cast off pretty soon. You need to fill out these papers, and you're clothes are over in the corner there." The doctor motioned lazily, and added, "Give the forms to the nurse when you're done."
Dan nodded. "Uh, what are the forms for?"
"So we can send you the bill. Or you can pay right now."
"No, no. I'll do the forms. Thanks."
The doctor left in a hurry and Dan sat up in the bed. He was silent for a minute and then glanced at Phil, noting the concern on his face.
"Please let me drive you home," Phil said.
"Alright," Dan agreed.