Mark's POV

It's been a few days since Dan and Aoife came home from hospital, so Glen and I decided to pop round to Dan's to check up on them, as the we hadn't heard from them since the other day.

We rounded a corner and turned onto Dan's street, walking to the end where his apartment was. We opened the door that led to the strairs to his apartment and I began legging it up them. I turned around to see that Glen was still at the bottom, checking his phone.

"C'mon let's go!" I said eager to go and see Dan. But Glen stayed frozen to the spot. "Glen, are you alright? Don't ye wanna see Dan?" He had turned pale looked nervous

"I'm fine.... it's just, he's in a hell of a state, I hate seeing him ill and hurting" he trailed off, avoiding eye contact. I was also scared of how Dan would be but I was determined that we were visiting him.

"I know mate... but C'mon this is Dan we're on about. He'll be alright, he's been through worse, in fact I bet Aoife will be glad to see us too" I said, a smile spreading to my face. Aoife had always been one of my close friends but she had always been closer to Dan. I really thought that they always had a connection to each other. I wouldn't be suprised if they even started going out with eachother.

"I guess so" he answered uncertainly. We both continued to climb the mountain of stairs to Dan's doo. We always just walked into eachother's apartments without any warning, but as Aoife was there with him, I decided to knock first. I gently knocked the door and turned the handle before opening it, stepping into the living room. Glen gasped at what we saw.

On the sofa, sat a very battered Dan who was no doubt fast asleep, leaning heavily against Aoife, resting his head on her shoulder. He looked awful. Dark purple bruises covered his face and his left eye was so swollen it almost didn't look like a human's. His prominent cheek bones were also painfully swollen. He was extremely pale and his dark hair tumbled down in damp strands over his forehead. He was almost unrecognizable. Aoife had also fallen into a deep slumber beside him. She had her arm wrapped protectively around his waist, holding him close to her, to keep him warm and to comfort him.They both looked exhausted.

"Oh dear God...." Muttered Glen under his breath. "She really wasn't kidding when she said he was in a hell of a state...."

I spied what looked like packets of painkillers, crisps, sweets and what looked like a 'sick bowl' on the coffee table. Shit Dan must feel really rough if Aoife was having to shove comfort food down him, as he's always been a healthy eater. I remembered that I hadn't answered Glen.

"I know... Dan's been in bad places over the years but I don't think that I've ever seen him look so ill..." I whispered.

"Should we wake them up?"

Feeling our presence and hearing voices, Aoife stirred from her slumber, sleepily opening her eyes, blinking, before settling her gaze on us. Her eyes lit up when she saw us.

"Hey guys, fancy seeing yis here" she said, a mischievous grin spreading to her face. She turned her head to look at Dan's unconscious body that slumped against her. Her expression immediately turned sympathetic. "I guess you're here to see the casualty" she whispered, a sad smile on a face.

"We're also here to see you Aoife" muttered Glen quietly, a kind smile on on his face. She blushed in response.

"So how has he been?" I asked, nodding towards Dan.

"Umm, not good really. He hasn't stopped throwing up. He can't keep anything down, not even water. He has hot and cold flushes, one minute he's boiling, the next he's shivering. It's like his body can't cope with anything. They said that the hospital drugs would have side effects, but he really is suffering. We haven't moved from this sofa for a few days. Dan couldn't settle lying down properly so we've just had to make do like this...." She trailed off a worried looked on her face. She was shattered, she had put Dan first and hadn't even thought of herself. I immediately felt guilty that we were hadn't visited earlier

"Aoifs, you know you should've phoned us if ye were struggl-" Glen started, but she cut him off

"But we were fine, gosh stop worrying! Yis know that I'll phone yez both if we need something. God, ye don't trust me or something?" She joked, a cheeky grin spreading to her face.

"We know, you're doing a great job with him. We're just worried about you Aoifs. You give us a shout, alright?" I pressed.

"I will, promise" she said.

Dan began to stir from his sleep, groaning loudly. Aoife stroked her free hand through his hair to sooth him. He painfully opened his right eye, but he shut it quickly, cursing quietly as he was blinded by the light. He brought a hand to clutch his stomach.

"Aoifs?....I'm gonna b-" He retched violently and Aoife reached for the bowl on the table, and holding it under Dan's mouth. He threw up continuously for the next five minutes, before slumping back against her, defeated. Aoife handed the vomit-filled bowl to Glen, who pulled a face and exited the room to flush it down the toilet. I decided to talk to Dan.

"Dan? Hey mate it's me, Mark"

"M-ma-ark?" He croaked, hearing my voice, he slowly opened his eye, gazing across at me tiredly. I sat down on the sofa that was closest to him. He stifly pulled himself into a stitting position, starting to wake up a little. At that moment, Glen re-entered the room, a look of relief on his face.

"Dan, oh my God mate...." He strided towards him, flopping down next to him the sofa, wrapping him tightly in his embrace. Danny painfully wrapped his arms around him, burying his head in his shoulder. His body shook and quiet sobs came from his mouth.

"Hey, hey it's ok" Glen soothed, rubbing his back lightly. A distraught look addressed his face. Danny finally pulled back, rubbing his raw eyes roughly. He noticed me sat awkwardly on the opposite sofa and dragged himself to his unsteady feet, before stumbling over to me. I stood up and folded him in my embrace. Worryingly, I could feel his rib and spinal bones clearly. F*ck, he was so thin....

"I don't get why she did it" he confessed, confusion clear on his pale features. I had to be honest with him and express what we were all thinking.

"Well Dan, erm, it looks like she just used ye mate..." I trailed off, wary of his reaction. But he stayed quiet, looking down at his feet. I could see the tears brimming in his eyes, but he determinedly held them back.

"I thought that she loved me though. I loved her.." his voice cracked noticeably. However he composed himself and glanced back up at me "so how have yis been? What ya been up to?" He asked, eager to change the subject.

"Well, we've both been over to God's Country to see our families, they're all great. We didn't want to go to the studio, because it didn't feel right without ye" I confessed. Glen nodded in agreement. A small grin appeared on Danny's face.

"Aaah I bet ye missed me" he joked, grinning properly for the first time since we arrived. Aoife's light voice interrupted me from my thoughts.

"Do ye both want a cuppa?" She asked sweetly. Both Glen and I obliged and even Dan decided that he wanted some.

She left the room to make the tea, leaving us three in silence. I could see that Dan was fading, but he was determined to stay awake as we were here. I decided to ask him about his injuries.

"So what was the doc's verdict Dan?" He slowly lifted his gaze to look at me, relieved that the silence was now broken.

"Erm, he said that I've fractured 4 ribs, my nose, cheekbones and my eye socket...."

"Jesus Christ" Glen cursed under his breath

"That's not all. When he punched me the first time, I fell back and whacked my head was on the concrete, so I was severely concussed. I couldn't even defend myself.... I'm such a whi-"

"Dan you couldn't have. He's stronger than you and if you had, you would've only had angered him more if you would've fought back...." I reassured him.

"I guess you're right..." He admitted.

Aoife walked into the room, struggling with 4 wobbly cups of tea in her arms. I stood up and took mine and Glen's off her. She grinned at me gratefully. She then sat herself down next to me. We made small talk between ourselves and I noticed that Dan was literally nodding off while sipping his tea. I took the cup off him before he split it all over himself. I turned to Glen, suggesting that we should leave.

"You done yet Power?" I asked, giving him a teasing look. He was still sipping his tea. Jesus he took forever to drink! Dan was starting to snuggle up to Aoife again, his eyes getting heavier by the second. "I think it's time we gave these two some space"

Glen raised his eyebrows at me knowingly. He gulped the last of his tea and I proceeded to put his black leather jacket back on again. He took the mugs back to the kitchen before manhugging Dan.

"See you ye soon mate, when you're feeling a bit better yeah?" he stepped away From him and hugged Aoife as well.

"Ye guys catch up on some sleep now" I said, hugging them both. "Ye Both really need it" a smile creeping tomy face "look after each other...".

"We will " they answered identically. "Jynx!" They exclaimed, giggling at their childishness. They are so sweet.

"We know" we both said, grinning at them. With that, we left.

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Danny's POV

After the lads left, I snuggled back up to Aoife, closing my eyes. Tiredness was overwhelming me again. I was really starting to have enough of being ill. I felt like so guilty that Aoife had literally put her life on hold for me. But I was so grateful, because I was so scared that I'd be on my own when I first came home. But she had been so supportive. After a few minutes, I felt her shift away from me, her heat disappearing. I slumped down clumsily against the sofa. She thought I was asleep.

I heard the light pitter patter of her feet, going to the kitchen and the sound of running water. What was she doing? Curious, I heaved myself onto my shaky legs and made a my way to the kitchen. My body screamed in protest, but I I was determined to fight against the pain. Once I got to the kitchen, I saw Aoife's slim frame washing the dishes.

"Aoifs?" I grimaced at my croaky voice. She jumped and span around to face me, obviously shocked as she thought I was asleep.

"Hey Dan, I thought you were having a snooze?" She asked, wrapping her arms around me. I did the same to her. I Couldn't shake the feeling that we were becoming more than friend. I really like her, and we've known each other since we were toddlers. I would love us to be more than friends, but a girl like her wouldn't like me in that way. I suddenly started to feel very light- headed...

"Dan?.... Are you ok?" She asked, looking up to meet my eyes. They were filled with concern and worry

"I' m fine, I just feel a bit faint..." I slurred in almost a drunk-like way. What the hell was wrong with me? I suddenly felt my legs give away. "F*ck". Literally all of my weight fell on Aoife. She was the only thing keeping me on my feet, as she gripped her arms firmly around my body. I helplessly clung onto her, trembling.

"Hey, you're okay....." She soothed. "I won't let you fall". Her calming voice calmed me down almost instantly. I could now feel strength in my legs again. Slowly, I straightened myself up, giving her a smile. She looked at me uncertainly.

"Do you feel ok now?" She asked, looking me up and down. I had to to reassure her.

"Ye, ye I'm grand..." I wasn't going to worry her more, even though my head was pounding.

"Dan.... You've got to take it easy ok?" She took my shaking hands in hers, squeezing them . "It's not gonna easy, but you're gonna be ok, alright? We'll do this together, you'll be back to normal soon". She wrapped me in her embrace again, I buried my head in her neck.

"I know, I can't thank you enough..."

"For what?"

"For being the bestest friend in the whole wide world" I said, a grin spreading to my face. I pulled away to see those piercing green eyes looking at me. They were smiling and her perfect teeth were grinning. God, she was so pretty..... As much as I want to denie it, I think I'm falling in love.

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Ooo so Dan likes Aoife! But will romance blossom? Your guess is as good as the mine lol. Also have a new character- Mark lol. Thank you so much for all the reads, comments and votes I can't believe how good the this book's doing! Hope you enjoy this, remember comments are always welcome! Would love to know what you guys think! Hope to update soon! X