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Both men froze when they saw James falling, his body limp. Iroh yell and Daren jumped down the flight of stairs, but he wasn't able to get there in time. James tumbled down half the flight of stairs, his body landing on the bottom hard. Daren didn't hesitate, he was running after the man. he knelt and felt for breath, holding his own until he saw James' chest rise and fall. "thank the gods. he's alive." he checked James for wounds, careful to not touch or move him, but besides a few bumps, there was nothing wrong. "Iroh, get the car. we need to get him to the hospital."

Iroh nodded, glad he had his keys on him, and hurried out. they would take the cruiser and use the lights. they needed to get him there as soon as possible.

Daren held the man close, feeling tears slowly slide down his cheeks now that Iroh wasn't sitting there watching. "i'm sorry. this is all my fault, i'm so sorry. i'll make it right, i promise." but right now they had to get him to the doctor and make sure he was ok. then they would have to focus on fixing what he'd done.

Daren thanked whatever god would listen that James had woken up and remembered who he really was. Iroh arrived and he carried the smaller man for Daren, knowing full well Daren could and would carry James, but his shirt was stain with blood now. they drove James to the hospital and was taken to emergency care where James was tested for internal damage. none was found and they were transferred to a room where James could be monitored.

Dr. Madison walked into the room and shook his head a little, "we really need to stop meeting like this, Mr. Daren." the man had refused care until he was sure James was alright. "come on, now, off with your shirt and on the other bed. there's nothing more we can do for James but wait for him to wake up. now it's your turn."

Iroh watched with a bemused smile on his face as Daren obeyed without question. Madison was cute, maybe Daren was interested but Daren didn't have relationships beyond sex buddies and Madison seemed the time to need a steady, living together, solid thing and not just someone to roll in the sheets with.

"Well, look who's awake!" Madison finished with Daren and turned to James with a soft smile. "here, sounds like you need a drink." he held a cup with a straw up to the man's mouth, letting him drink as much as he wanted before going through the standard checks. "how are you feeling? you're going to have some nasty bruises, but that's about it."

Iroh moved over to help Daren put his shirt back on since the fool's eyes were locked on James and not moving an inch. when Daren was dressed, he leaned back to wait, his arks crosses. he hated this part, the just sitting there and waiting.

Madison listened to his chest and heart for a moment before pulling away and hanging it over his neck. "actually, as soon as we get the results back from your scans and are sure there's nothing internally then you may go. it will probably be less and an hour." he patted James' "So until then you are stuck with me. is that ok? or do you want me to leave? you liked miss Mandy from before, right?" he'd read the report given by Iroh and Daren about what had happened, but he didn't think James in danger with Daren, which was another thing he was assessing in his time here.

Daren looked down, knowing what the doctor was doing and feeling shame fill him all over again. he'd caused James to run away like that which is why he fell from the stairs. how could he ever face James again?

Madison shook his head, "we took a sample of his blood to check and didn't find any trace of the drug. it's completely out of his system now, thank goodness. i have to apologize to you. i had no idea what she was-what she had done to you, James. i should have questioned her motives when she volunteered to care for you two. please, please forgive me. this whole mess is my fault."

Daren shook his head, "no, she would have come after us regardless. it wasn't your doing, Doc."

Madison smiled at James, the other's struggle to be able to comfort him not lost on the man. "Thank you, you both are very kind. to make up for past mistakes, i shall be solely in charge of your care from now on. that includes the house visits, if you two are ok with that?" he looked to Daren, who nodded his consent, and then turned to James, the person who's opinion meant the most.

Madison smiled, "thank you for trusting me, James. i'll leave you alone for now, but i'll be back to check you when i get those results back, ok? Molly's taken over the day shift, so if you need anything you can call for the nurse without worry. you remember, right? the little mouse like one?"

"Hey!" Molly poked her head in and frowned at Madison, who only laughed. "sorry about that, i was just checking to make sure you were ok. i'll see you boys later, ok?" she smiled and waved a little before heading back to her rounds.

"there you have it." Madison smiled and gave a little wave of his own as he head on his way.

"Well, then," Iroh started to say, but his phone went off and he swore. "i have to take this. you boys sit tight." he lifted the phone to his ear and stepped out, "hello?"

Daren watched Iroh leave, his eyes on the door of the room for a little while before he turned to look at James. "I owe you an apology. it's my fault that this happened and i just made things worse acting the way i did. i keep screwing up, even though i promised to protect you-" he sighed and rubbed the back of his head,"i really am sorry, though."

Daren shook his head, "no, i said something i shouldn't have. i accused you of lying when i know that you have issues with that. i started all of it knowing you were already having a hard time thanks to yesterday. if you want to, i would understand if you don't want to stay with me anymore. i'm not saying you have to go. i'd love for you to stay with me, but I don't want to keep hurting you."