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What You Like	By : LindaG Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Savage Garden Views: 1806 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Savage Garden. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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What You Like - Part 3

Darren turned when he felt a shift in the ambiance of the room. “Hey, Daniel!” He smiled warmly. “You’re looking better still.”

”Just look at my hair, Darren.” Daniel ran his fingers through his wet hair. There were three small, nearly bald spots where the doctors had shaved his head to stitch smaller cuts.

Darren poured a cup of coffee, and carried it to where Daniel stood in the archway between the kitchen and dining room. He made a show of walking around Daniel, one eyebrow raised as he did.

“Bit punkish.” Darren said seriously. “I’ve seen stranger in America though, Dan. It’ll probably catch on!” He finished with an impish grin.

“Darren!”

“It’ll grow out again, Danny! You’ve enough left you can cover those little things. .” H.” He handed the cup to Daniel. “Milk and sugar’s already on the table, with your juice. Go ahead and sit. I’ll be along in a minute with the rest.”

Daniel looked a bit dumbstruck, his mouth hung open, but nothing approaching conversation made its way o
“
“Shoo.” Darren waggled his fingers in the direction of the dining table. “You still need rest. We can talk in a bit.”

Daniel managed a small nod, closed his mouth, and did as Darren told him.

Darren watched him a moment, as he added the seasonings to his coffee, then turned back to the stove. He divided the eggs, ham and toast between two plates, then went into the dining room. He set one plate in front of Daniel; then set his plate, and himself, down across from his friend. At least he hoped Daniel was still his friend. He needed Daniel to want him. Maybe, he thought, after last night.

‘But Danny doesn’t remember yesterday.’

Darren lit into the ham and eggs. He needed the energy boost.

“Darren? I thought you were a vegetarian.”

Darren looked up at the green eyes observing him. They were much brighter today.

“Well Danny, touring like a madman to promote my album exhausted me. I realized I needed something more… filling. I’ve added a little meat to my diet now. And I simply love ham and eggs for breakfast.” He grinned.

“What happened to me, Darren? And… why are you here? I thought… I th-thought…”

The brightness in Daniel’s eyes took on a shimmering quality. Darren stood up, and went to Daniel’s side. Then he knelt down, and put a hand on Daniel’s leg.

“Daniel, I am so sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. I-I *never* meant to hurt you.” His gaze locked with Daniel’s. “I wrote Heart Attack back when you first told me you weren’t happy. You remember what an ass I made of myself there for a bit?” Daniel nodded once. “And Adams. Well, he told me he was sorry. And *I’m* sorry, Danny, because I believed him.”

He could see Daniel weighing his words and tone. Staring into his blue eyes, perhaps searching his soul from the depths of his own
bright green orbs? Darren shrugged sadly, but his gaze never left Daniel’s.

“You know I’m always willing to give someone the benefit of doubt. A second chance… When I saw the article that bastard wrote I went straight to Leonie. She told me I couldn’t do anything, because at one time or another, I’d said every word that was in the article; even if he’d left out half of what I’d said, and twisteoundound the rest. She said it would cause more trouble than it would fix.” Did Daniel understand? “But, Danny… I … why would *you* believe him, Danny?” Darren’s firm voice had died to a plaintive whisper.

Daniel broke their gaze and looked away. Darren held his breath, so the deafening sound wouldn’t drown out Daniel’s soft words.

“I-I didn’t want to, but everyone kept hounding me. Kept asking why you hated me… how I could have hurt you so bad you had to write a hate song.”

Tears began slow trails down Daniel’s cheeks.

“I began to doubt what I remembered… what I thought we’d said…”

“Why didn’t you answer my emails? Return my calls?”

“Because, Darren… I was afraid… afraid they’d be right.”

“Oh, Danny,” Darren raised his hand to Daniel’s cheek, and gently wiped a tear with his thumb. “I don’t hate you. That’s why I’m here. I needed to tell you that to your face. I wanted you to see it in my eyes, and know that it’s true.” He smiled hopefully.

Daniel turned back toward Darren, and once again green eyes met blue. The sadness was still there, but maybe a little understanding as well. Daniel nodded his acceptance, and returned the smile with a small one of his own. When Daniel began to pick at his breakfast, Darren sat back down to finish his.

“What happened to me, Darren?”

Darren set his fork down, and clasped his hands together over his plate. “All I know is you’ve been drinking… a lot. Ben said you blacked out. That’s probably why you don’t remember anything. That, and the medicine. You were in the hospital two days before I got here.”

Daniel stared at his plate, seeming lost in thought.

“I’m here for you, Daniel. I’m sorry. I know I already said that, but I mean it. I love you and I’m going to help you through this.”

“Through what?” Daniel’s sudden irritation almost took Darren by surprise.

“Through this?” Daniel indicated his face.

“The doctor said the scarring won’t be bad. And there’s always plastic surgery –”

“I need a beer.” Daniel stood up and his fork bounced as he threw it to the table.

“You don’t need a beer, Danny. That’s what started all this.”

Daniel opened the fridge. Groceries and sodas. He slammed the door and looked in the pantry. Then he looked under the sink.

“Where’s my beer, Darren?”

“Gone.”

“What do you mean, ‘gone’?”

“Daniel, you’re a brilliant musician, a wonderful songwriter, I’m sure you can figure out what ‘gone’ means.”

“You had no right, Darren.”

Anger flashed in the emerald eyes that regarded Darren. He didn’t flinch as he looked back. “Your mum said I did.”

Daniel turned and stomped toward the door. His car keys were not on the peg where he usually left them. And the door was locked. From the inside. A shiny hasp held closed by a padlock.

“Darren,” panic had crept into Daniel’s voice now. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Come sit down, Daniel.”

“NO! I want answers!”

“Please don’t shout at me, Daniel; at least not about this. Come sit down, please. Finish your coffee, or have a soda; but please come and sit down, and I’ll explain it all to you.”

Daniel’s shoulders drooped visibly. He turned again, but not toward the dining room. Instead, he went into the living room.

Darren sighed, and stood up with his coffee. Then he thought better of it and set the cup back down. When he entered the living room, he saw Daniel huddled on the couch. He watched Dans bos body shake, and his own shivered in sympathetic response. He closed his eyes for just a moment, and told God one more time how sorry he was for what he’d put Daniel throu
T
Then he went, and sat down on the couch next to Daniel. Daniel’s face was hidden by his hands, as his body continued to tremble.

“Danny…” Darren spoke just above a whisper. “Let me help you… I love you, Danny. Everything will be okay.”

He put his arm around Daniel’s shoulders then and Daniel buried his face in the curve of Darren’s neck, unable to remain silent any longer. Darren held him, rocking him gently, and massaged the back of his neck in an effort to calm him.

“So, Ben and my mum put you up to this?”

Darren nodded. He had held Daniel for hours while he cried, and his body shook. Darren didn’t know how much of it was pain and sadness over the song and article; or if some of it might be related to the final stages of withdrawal from the alcohol. He hadn’t had a drink in four days now, if what Ben told him was right.
And he’d only been overdoing it for a few months, not years like some… but— Darren shook his head mentally. He just didn’t know that much about alcoholism and withdrawal.

“Your mum was so worried when I spoke to her, Danny. She wanted it stopped before it became a bigger problem.”

“I don’t have a problem.”

“You do if you need a beer at nine in the morning.” Darren said gently. “Unless you’re in the habit of going through windows and not remembering.”

Darren and Daniel locked stares again. Again Daniel looked away first.

“Okay. Maybe I do… but…”

“But it’s my fault. I know that, Danny. And somehow I *will* make it up to you. I promise you that.”

Darren put his hand on Daniel’s knee and squeezed gently. Then he swallowed nervously.

“And Danny, there’s another reason I wish my mind would engage before my mouth. Us. I wish we could get back together.
Unofficially. Or, officially, when you… if you think you might want to, sometime. I… I’ve missed you more than I was willing to admit. I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to make it on my own, Danny. And when I thought back over all our performances I knew I couldn’t ask you to do that again… so I, I did what I usually do. Said what was at the top of my mind, before taking the time to phrase it so people would understand. I never wanted Savage Garden to be over, Danny. I never wanted *us* to be over. I just didn’t want you to have to tour again.”

Darren studied his fingers, afraid to face Daniel, as the silence grew.

Daniel stood up then, and Darren could tell from the sound of his feet he had walked to the far corner of the living room. Where his studio was.

‘He hates me. I can’t really blame him. *I* hate me, right now.’

Darren still hadn’t found the courage to look up. He felt adrift, but he had to stay calm. Stable. For Danny’s sake, if not his own.

He felt his cheeks grow damp. His vision blurred as he felt the wetness on his hands. ‘Not now. Not here.’

He heard the soft notes then. Daniel’s lovely acoustic guitar. Darren sighed. What magic he could weave with that. Darren listened closer. His breath caught in his throat as he realized what it was Daniel played.

He listened a moment more, then couldn’t help but sing…

“Ever since you’ve been gone

The lights go out the same

The only difference is

You call another name

To your love

To your lover now

To your love

The lover after me

And time goes by so slowly

The nights are cold and lonely

I shouldn’t be holding on

But I’m still holding on for you”

‘He doesn’t hate me!’

Darren ran into the small studio and threw his arms around Daniel from behind, interrupting the instrumental.

“Danny?” Darren put all his need into that one word.

When Daniel didn’t answer immediately, Darren eased around him. He realized then that Daniel was crying again.

“Oh, Danny. What?”

Daniel shrugged, and then carefully placed his guitar back in the stand.

“You’re voice is as beautiful as ever, Dazza. I - it just -”

Then Daniel was hugging him back, and before either of them realized it, their lips met. Sorrow, need, and passion fueled the tension as lips parted and tongues began a sensual dance.

Darren didn’t know how long they stayed that way, tongues twining, sucking, tasting; but suddenly his brain reminded him to breathe and they both broke away to inhale deeply.

“What just happened?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I’ve missed you so much. Wanted you so.”

“Did you mean what you said, Dazza?”

“Every word, Danny.”

“I never wanted Savage Garden to be over either, Dazza.”

‘Savage Garden, Danny? Just Savage Garden? But then, we never did more than a friendly kiss before. Does he miss me the way I want him to? The way I need him to?’

“I – I’m feeling a bit… sore… a bit… drained, Dazza. I – I think I’ll turn in, if you don’t mind?”

Darren glanced at the clock. It was only three. “Sure, Danny. Is there anything you need?”

“A beer.”

“But I understand why I can’t have one.” Daniel added before Darren could say anything. “Thanks for caring, mate. I think I’ll just take something for the pain and go to bed.”

“Whatever you need, Daniel.”

“You remember where the guest room is?”

“My bags are already there. I’ll just clean up, maybe unpack. I’ll be quiet.”

Daniel nodded. “Thanks, Darren.”

Darren delighted in the smile Daniel favored him with then. It was one of the big, cat-ate-the-canary, light up my world smiles; and Darren returned it with all his heart.

…tbc…
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