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Daniel nodded, "We got a couple new people in. you'll meet them at your welcome back party later, but for now i'll make you a list and email them to you, ok? Thank you, Andy. forgot to say. right, other than that, is there anything else?" he was glad Tim seemed to be sliding back into work so easily. he knew Tim's type and they didn't do well sitting at home, he needed to work to feel productive and if that's what Daniel had to do to make Tim feel better, he'd heap it on.

Daniel pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of Tim, grinning, "Yes, you did, but that was a party for your friends. this will be an office party! i reserved the last hour of work for it, everyone's looking forward! it will be short so you can go back home and rest, of course, but some of us might go out drinking afterwards if you want to join us as well." he shrugged, "right, back to work. Tim, let me know if you need anything, Andy do you have those papers for me yet? i've been waiting for them all day!"

Daniel never did end up getting his papers, but Tim seemed happy so that was ok. The conversation on body hair that drifted into his office was an odd one, odd enough he listened to it more than he focused on his work and ended up making a lot of mistakes he normally wouldn't have. "balls." he muttered as he went to fix them, ignoring Tim and Andy for the rest of the day. Come party time, he got the decorations out and started putting them up, taking note when Tim went into the Filing room and didn't come back out. "hiding won't work, dearie." he said happily as he gathered everyone. he sent the girls in to get Tim, Miki happiest of all. She and Tim had been close before all of this. the pigtailed girl, who was actually in her late twenties despite looking like she was twelve, skipped into the filing room.

"Tim!" Miki said happily, giving her friend a hug, "come on out and stop hiding! we all get an hour paid off thanks to you, so let's enjoy it! i snuck in my secret recipe punch too!" she hooked his arm and waltzed him out, all the other girls from the office helping her, "look who we found!"

Daniel rolled his eyes and handed over the cash, Andy was always the same, wasn't he? the party went well, and after a few minutes, Tim relaxed and seemed to enjoy himself. Everyone had a good time and stayed later than planned, but that was what Daniel had hoped they would do. finally it was time to call it quits and Daniel clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "right! if you want to continue, you gotta do somewhere else. closing time!" there were complaints, but everyone cleaned up good naturedly. "Tim, go ahead and go home if you are tired, we've got this." he assured his friend.

Miki nodded, "Go home, Tim! you look ready to fall asleep on your feet! need me to drive you?" she worried about him getting him safely.

Daren walked into the dark flat and lay down on the couch with a sigh, not bothering to turn on any lights. it wasn't long before Apple was laying on his chest, looking at him through the darkness. she always seemed to be able to tell when he was having a rough time and was right there to help him out. It was late, he wondered if Tim was in bed already. he knew that there was going to be a welcome back party for him, maybe it had lasted longer than expected. he hoped so, Tim needed to reconnect with other people. Daren couldn't support him forever, how could he take care of someone else when he failed to care for himself? he felt depression pressing in and didn't even try to push it away, letting it take over and swirl around him, his inside as dark as the room around him. Apple purred and butt his head and he stroked her fur, riding out the depression as he always did.

I Dreamed A Dream played from his cellphone and Daren knew without looking that Tim was calling him. he customed all of his ringtones, it just made this easier, and he'd picked this one for Tim on a whim. he almost didn't answer, but he knew that would make the other worry. "This is Daren," he answered, holding the phone to his ear with the hand not petting Apple.

Daren tried to animated his voice, Tim n sounded worried, "naw, i'm ok. thanks though. how was work? and the doctor's appointment, everything go well?" focus on Tim, then maybe Tim will notice him less. "were they happy to have you back?" a stupid question, he knew for a fact they were ecstatic to have Tim back, but he was making conversation.

Daren shrugged even though he knew Tim couldn't see, "i'm sure he understands. he seems like a pretty nice guy from what i saw of him, just get them to him first thing in the morning and he'll forget about them being late." he adjusted how he was laying slightly, Apple giving him the 'don't move, human-bed' look and he managed to smile a little. "as for me, the usual day at the office. i'm stuck on paper work for a while, damned Iroh doesn't think i'm ready for fieldwork yet, so stuck behind the desk all day." the two of them had gotten into a pretty bad fight over it, that and his calling Tim to make sure Daren wasn't drinking. As if Daren ever would! Not after what had happened-he felt himself spiraling downward and he shook his head, "anyways, that was my uneventful day. how was the party? and your new coworkers, anyone sexy and available you could hook me up with?" he asked, as teasingly as he could manage, of course.