It was eventually gone lunchtime before Dr Walker came and told Darren that if he still wanted to go home he was free to do so.

‘Oh yes,’ Darren said as Daniel signed the necessary release forms on his behalf. ‘Now just get me out of here.’

Daniel took hold of the handles of the wheelchair.

‘No offence Doc.’ Darren informed him.

‘None taken.’ His doctor replied. ‘I’ll see you next week at your regular check up but until then if you…’

‘I know, I know, until then if I need you I know where you are.’

Once they were outside Darren visibly perked up though he was still irked at having to use a wheelchair. To their great relief the night’s rest had restored Darren’s eyesight a little and although things were still blurry he could now make out people and objects.

As Daniel helped him out of the car and into the house he instinctively led him towards the stairs.

‘Only if you join me.’ Darren said softly, reaching out to touch Daniel’s face.

‘Sure, I’ll get you settled then go find my book.’

‘That’s not what I meant.’

With great care Daniel helped Darren to undress and get into bed. Then removing his own clothing he went and snuggled up next to him, wrapping his arms round his waist so that he was spooning him from behind

Their lips met in a tender kiss, Darren’s tongue finding Daniel’s and tasting him deeply.

‘Make love to me Danny…please?’

‘You need to ask?’

After ten minutes of Daniel stroking him Darren reached down and gently removed his hand.

‘It’s not going to happen Dan.’ He said sadly.

‘That’s ok.’ Daniel rested his head on Darren’s shoulder, ‘it’s not a problem.’ He moved his hand up to slowly rub Darren’s chest. To his surprise Darren swatted him away.

‘It is a problem. When I can’t get a fucking hard-on for my fucking boyfriend then it is a fucking problem.’

Daniel was shocked. ‘Hey, Doze. Please. I don’t mind honest.’

‘Yeah right no sex, sure you don’t mind.’

Daniel pulled Darren round to face him. ‘You really think that that is the total extent of our relationship? That, what? As soon as we can no longer sleep together that I am going to be off, just abandon you because you can’t get it on.’

Darren’s silence told Dan that he had hit the jackpot.

‘Right, turn over.’ Daniel used a firm hand to roll Darren over onto his stomach.

‘Oh what. I can’t get it up but you are still going to use me to get your rocks off.’

‘Darren, for once in your life just shut the fuck up.’

Reaching over Daniel picked up a bottle of baby oil from his nightstand. Uncapping it he squeezed a generous amount into the palms of his hands and began to rub it over Darren’s back and shoulders.

Instantly Daniel felt him relax under him. Darren turned his head to the side and Dan captured his lips in a sweet kiss.

‘I’m sorry.’ Darren whispered, closing his eyes as Daniel worked the oil in deeper.

‘You’re not about to get rid of me that easily.’ Dan told him, picking up the bottle from where it lay on the bed and uncapping it so that oil now drizzled onto Darren’s lower back, pooling in the hollow at the base of his spine.

‘Oooooooooohhhhhhhh, that feels so good.’ Darren told him.

‘It’ll feel even better in a moment.’

Swirling two of his fingers around in the oil, Daniel started to trace a path downwards, over Darren’s buttocks and the tops of his thighs.

Using his other hand he encouraged Darren to partly his legs slightly and as he did Daniel slipped his slick fingers down and gently massaged his opening.

‘Dannnnnnny.’ Darren pleaded, wriggled around trying to get Dan to impale him.

Moving his free hand up to caress Darren’s head, Daniel eased his fingers in, pausing and then beginning to move them around, cautiously probing, seeking out that spot he knew so well and which he knew brought Darren so much pleasure.

‘Feel that?’ he enquired.

‘Shit yes. Keep going.’

Slowly but surely Daniel worked his fingers in and out, his other hand roaming lovingly over Darren’s back.

‘Ooh Danny, Jonesy, that feels so good.’ Darren said drowsily and gradually his breathing grew steady.

Daniel smiled as he realised that Darren had actually fallen asleep whilst he was still massaging him.

Gently he withdrew his fingers and went into the bathroom to wash his hands.

Putting the towel back over the rail Daniel found that he was shaking. Sitting down on the closed toilet seat he found himself unable to stop. Then he began to cry. Painful sobs racked his whole body and burying his head in his hands he wept.

Wept for himself, wept for Darren, wept for all that they had had together, all that they had planned for their future together but most of he wept because he knew that soon he would be able to weep no more. Darren needed him to be strong, needed him to be there for him and that was just what Daniel intended to do. There would be time enough for tears when it was all over.