Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

spending the afternoon. The middle-aged woman at the register didn't even blink, just rang up his purchases with the corporate-mandated platitudes.
    Daren was still asleep when Sebastian got back. Sebastian had experienced a few knocks on the head in his time and even been in a fight or two, and if his memory served, afterwards all he'd wanted to do was sleep for about a month. He tried not to think that far ahead. At some point, Daren would start thinking clearly and be awake for more than five minutes at a shot, and he would start wanting things and asking questions.
    Maybe then Sebastian could start getting some answers of his own.
    ****
    Sebastian bolted awake again. The remains of his frozen dinner were on the couch beside him. He strained to hear what could have woken him. There was another cry. He rushed to the bedroom and flipped on the light. Daren kicked in his sleep and fought with the blankets. Tears ran down his face, even in sleep.
    "Daren, wake up." He grabbed Daren's arms before he could do any more damage. "Wake up; you're having a nightmare."
    Daren's eyes flew open, and he went from fighting the blankets to fighting Sebastian, "Calm down. You're safe; you were having a bad dream." Daren swung his head around, taking in his surroundings. "That's right. You're still here, and you're perfectly safe." There was a blood-red stain coming through the left sleeve of Daren's T-shirt. "Shit. I think you ripped open that cut on your arm. He grabbed some pads and gauze from the kit still by the bed. He pushed back the sleeve to find the bandage soaked through with blood. One thing a training instructor had grilled into him was never to remove a bandage from a bleeding wound, just keep layering the bandages up. He slapped a large gauze pad on top and wrapped it up tight. "I know your shoulder is probably killing you, but can you raise your arm over the height of your heart?" Daren grimaced but slowly managed to lift the arm. "Now, can I please check the other cuts on you?" Daren nodded, the fear from earlier having already shifted into dejected acceptance. The cut on the thigh had bled through a little, but it wasn't too bad. Wrapping it up while Daren froze and began to tremble, however, was bad for Sebastian.
    "That's it. Let's try to avoid doing that again." He smoothed out the blankets and helped Daren ease himself into a comfortable position. He fed Daren a couple of Ibuprofen, having already exceeded the maximum recommended daily dose on Tylenol, then sat and watched him drift back into sleep.
    Somehow Sebastian just knew it was going to be a long night. The nightmares and a small fever-spike later, the sun peeked under the curtains. Daren seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and Sebastian felt like he had grit in his eyes. However, he was awake— annoyingly so. And his back was complaining about another night spent sleeping in the chair.
    Might as well get this started , Sebastian thought. He had some Cheerios and coffee, took a shower, shifted some laundry around, and then set out everything he would need for Daren's shower, including plenty of plastic wrap so he wouldn't have to worry about getting the bandaging wet.
    Daren was awake by the time Sebastian got back to the bedroom with some cranberry juice, water and pills. "Morning. How are you feeling?"
    "Hurts."
    "Hurt in any new ways?"
    "No."
    "That's good at this point."
    Sebastian held up the juice glass and fed Daren his pills. Sebastian already had a Groundhog Day buzz going on. Daren finished his juice and looked like he was about to fall back asleep.
    "Daren, we should probably get you into the shower." Daren looked away. "There's going to be some repeat of yesterday, and I think you know that, and I am sorry, but it needs to be done." Daren closed his eyes as if he were about to cry. Sebastian felt a twist of guilt in his stomach. "Come on. No point putting it off. You can go back to sleep once we're done.
    Daren nodded but still keep his face turned away from Sebastian's gaze.
    Sebastian pulled back the blankets and helped Daren onto his one good leg. They repeated the slow march to the bathroom. Daren started to shake as they went thought the door. "It's okay." Sebastian said, knowing damn well there was virtually nothing okay about the entire situation. He helped Daren sit and then stepped out, knowing that it was the only tiny shred of dignity he was able to offer him at this point.
    When he stepped back into the bathroom, Daren was curled