augh I have NOTES in my NOTES APP and they're all GAY

dan is very unhappy

Author's note: most of the time when you see a sad Dan one assume it's projecting from me.

Dan leant against the wall of the patio, watching rain fall, and drizzle down the roof. The sleeves of his sweater were rolled up, starting to stick that way from the drying blood. He stared down silently, his entire body felt so hollow. The sound of rain the only thing keeping him aware of the world around him.

His mind felt static for a few moments, he frowned as he found something to focus on. His thoughts drifted back to the image of a dead body laying on the operation table in front of him. With every passing day, he felt himself envy those still bodies more and more. They seem so peaceful, no wonder they're so violent when they're brought back. Who would want to be pulled back to this.

He sucked in a shakey breath, as he head quickened footsteps approaching the open front door beside him. Herbert thrust his head out, Dan turned his head toward him, immediately noting his panic. Herbert flinched apon noticing his partner stood beside him. "There you are." He said with a sigh, looking back out at the rain. "What are you doing out here?" He stepped out. "Aren't you cold?" Dan only shook his head in response. West quickly noted his melancholy, he frowned. "I'm sorry, Dan."

He wasn't expecting an apology, he wasn't sure why, but it made him tear up. He opened his mouth to speak but his words were replaced with a loud sob.

He flinched a mite when West reached froward to touch him. He gently gripped his arm, watching as Dan wiped his eyes. He suddenly felt so small. Herbert stepped forward again, moving his hand from his arm to the back of Dan's head. Ruffling his already messy, slightly sweaty hair in an attempt to soothe him.

Dan sobbed again, and let Herbert guide his head to his chest. He snuggled closer continuing to cry. "Come now, we should go inside." Dan shook his head in protest and Herbert's brow furrowed slightly, as he began rubbing Dan's back. "Why not?" Dan sobbed louder, that's all the answer West got. "Alright, we can stay out here a bit longer, but we need to go back in at some point." Herbert huffed, trying to clear Dan's scent from his nostrils. "You need a shower." Dan nodded a bit. Herbert smiled weakly, "Good, good."

The two stood there for far longer than West had hoped. He hated the rain, but whatever Dan needed. He couldn't help but sigh a tad relieved when Dan agreed to go back in. His voice was weak and broken "You have to go in first." West gave a nod, "No problems there." He headed in hurriedly, squeezing Dan's hand softly. He felt Dan's grip tightened when they crossed the threshold into the home.

He couldn't quite grasp why Dan felt so unsafe. Nothing would hurt him as long as Herbert could help it.

"Go shower, get comfortable. I'll get you something to eat." West let go of his hand and walked toward the kitchen. "I'm not hungry." Dan protested. "That's an order, not an offer. Go." His tone was far more stern and Dan couldn't help but feel like a child being told off by a parent. Still, he followed the instructions. He didn't take much issue with West parenting him when he was like this. It was still quite comforting if he was honest.