I stood outside of apartment 4D waiting for

Daniel to get to the door. It was taking longer than usual. I knocked again growing a little anxious.

Finally, I could hear the lock click and the door open to reveal a tired looking boy.

"Hey," he greeted glumly.

"You okay?" I asked with concern, walking in and closing the door behind me, taking in the bags underneath Daniel's eyes.

"Peachy," he replied wheeling himself back to the tv that was already playing some reality television show.

I followed him into the living room, "Are you having a hard time sleeping? Did your doctor tell you that you need to shift your limbs every couple hours to avoid clots?" I asked using the back of my hand to check the temperature of his forehead.

"I know," he replied with a twitch of annoyance.

I took the room in and noticed the boxes of takeout left all along the table. Empty candy wrappers littered the floor near where Daniel sat in front of the tv. How long had he been in the house?

"Did you eat dinner?" I questioned him an eyebrow raised at the fast food containers.

"Yeah," Daniel replied, immersed in the show he was watching.

I sighed before going around and picking up the garbage and disposing it in the trash. I may as well do something. I knew Daniel didn't need someone to tell him what to do and pushing something a little too soon was also tricky. I had to take things at his pace, which apparently was very slowly.

I washed the dishes and cleaned the counters before looking at Daniel, still stuck in the exact same spot in front of the tv.

I walked into the living room, "I think we should go out," I declared, hands on hips. How was I going to make any progress if he just watched tv all day? We needed to work our way to meeting goals and getting him to become more independent.

"I'm good," he glanced at me before focusing back on his show.

"It's either that or we start physical therapy today." He wanted to test me, I could see it in his eyes. I wanted to be his friend, but I also had a job to do and him wallowing in fast food and candy bars wasn't helping anyone.

I was about to let the topic drop because I couldn't actually drag him out of his house if he didn't want to go, though I was very tempted, when he piped up with, "Fine. Maybe I could go see a friend?"

"Sure!" I exclaimed. Of course he had friends. Of course he had a support group. "Do you have your medication just in case?" Daniel didn't need heavy doses of medicine, but he needed pain killers if the weather got too cold and his limbs froze up, or if he was having a particularly painful day. It was smart to keep them on hand.

He nodded, "Got it in here," he patted the pocket of his chair.

We left the apartment and we walked side by side and into the elevator. I was glad he was doing it on his own. It was healthy for him to try and be independent.

"Where does your friend live?" I asked pushing for the ground floor.

"He lives by East and Rosewood," he responded, glancing at his watch.

"How long have you known him?"

"What is this twenty questions?" He snapped as we got off the elevator. I held the door open for him as we left the condo complex.

"I just figured we're going to be spending a lot of time together, we may as well get to know each other a little better," I stated.

"I've known him for a bit. Solid guy," he spoke quietly as he wheeled himself to the bus stop. "So, what about you?"

I glanced at him, "What about me?"

"Since you're feeling all mushy, what's your story?" He inquired.

"Not much of a story. I have a dad who's a sheriff a couple towns over. I came here to go to school to become a nurse and live in a crappy apartment with crappy heating," I shrugged as the bus approached. The driver lowered the wheelchair accessible ramp and Daniel wheeled on.

"Why do you want to be a caregiver?" Daniel asked as he locked his wheelchair inside the bus before the bus continued on its route.

"I guess I just wanted to make a personal difference," I answered honestly. Working at a hospital was not for me. "Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked suspiciously.

"I'm always nice," he grinned at me a little too widely.

"You'd make an excellent serial killer. You give nothing away." My eyes narrowed at him.

He smiled genuinely, his eyes twinkling in the slightest, "Thank you."

The bus rolled to a stop and we exited through the back doors. I looked around. This place looked just as sketchy as my neighborhood, except I now had a minor in my care.

"You sure your brother's okay with you being here?" I asked as I gripped my pepper spray a little tighter.

"Oh yeah, he loves him." Daniel replied wheeling forward. "He told me there was a festival going on so there might be a crowd."

"Okay," I glanced around me, anxiety rife in the air. "What's your friend's name?"

"Luke," Daniel replied quickly.

We walked into a secluded area, where a crowd was indeed awaiting. They were cheering. I wondered briefly what festival this could be for.

Daniel began to wheel himself right into the gathering. "Wait!" I called as I rushed into the crowd to follow him, "Daniel!" I yelled grabbing onto one of the handles at the back of his chair, but we were consumed by the crowd at this point. Daniel kept moving forward until we passed through a narrow entrance and into a similar illegal fighting ring as the last time.

My blood ran cold. "Daniel! We need to leave!" I shouted, anger radiating off of me. I was pissed. If we didn't get killed, this kid was going to make me lose my job. Both options seemed equally horrid at the moment.

Daniel ignored me, as I realized was a typical thing for him to do, drawing nearer to the cage. The crowd shouting "Luke! Luke!" Over and over again, stomping feet and clapping hands. There was an even larger crowd than the last fight I went to. I gripped Daniel's wheelchair a little tighter. Manoeuvring out of this crowd was going to be even more difficult than getting in.

As we approached the cage, there stood Lucas, punching a tall, black haired man in the jaw. He ricocheted from the punch, catching his balance at the last moment.

Lucas was dripping with sweat, his hair bouncing up and down on his forehead from the quick movements he was making. He wore a pair of black shorts and nothing else, leaving his glorious tattoos on full display. His muscles tensed with his fists up, his movements so quick I didn't know how he could be so agile.

He made another punch and his fist collided with the other side of his opponent's jaw. He fumbled before quickly getting back on his feet and shaking his head. I'd imagine he had a concussion by now.

"Woo!" Daniel cheered, raising his arms in the air.

"Can you shut up?" I whispered harshly, "If we survive this, we have a lot of work to do on our communication issues."

"We'll be fine, Em!" Daniel smiled at me. It was a smile that warmed my heart for just a moment before I remembered the predicament we were in.

"I'm nurse Emily to you from now on," I glared at him as he chuckled before cheering again.

Lucas snapped his head up in the direction of the cheer and the look of pure, unadulterated anger that flashed across his face sent shivers down my spine. I was definitely losing my job.

In his moment of distraction, his opponent swung, hitting him square in the jaw. Lucas stumbled before catching his balance.

"Oof," Daniel winced, "that didn't look good."

"You think?" I snapped.

"Relax. Lucas always wins." Daniel said calmly.

His furious gaze met with mine this time and I saw his jaw clench. I gulped in terror. I was now not only afraid for my job, but also my life.

A fist connected with his ribs, making him fall over on his knees, clutching his stomach. I grimaced as his opponent continued punch after punch at Lucas, the crowd booing.

"Okay, now I'd be a little on edge," Daniel declared, worry laced in his voice.

Lucas jumped to his feet, his face returning to the stoic calm it was at before returning punch after punch to his opponent who dropped down on the cement floor.

Daniel laughed nervously, "Told you we had nothing to worry about."

Unlike Silva, Lucas did not continue to pound into an unconscious man. Rather, he extended a hand to his opponent, helping to lift him up and patting his shoulder. The crowd began to dissipate but Lucas's icy glare latched onto me as he sprung out of the cage and stormed towards us.

"Hang tight," Daniel warned.

"Thanks," I muttered dryly.

"Good fight, bro!" Daniel exclaimed.

Lucas ignored his brother, his frosty blue eyes still on me, "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"I'm really sorry-" I began.

"-You're sorry?" He asked in disbelief, "You call this caregiving?" He spat out.

"Lucas," Daniel began before he interrupted again.

"Don't get me started on you. You know better than to come to one of these fights. After what happened last time, Daniel?"

Daniel's gaze dropped in what looked like shame but I couldn't understand why.

"It won't happen again, Lucas. I swear," I said quietly.

"You're damn right it won't. Because you're no longer his caretaker." Lucas seethed.

"It wasn't her fault!" Daniel burst out passionately, surprising me. I thought he wanted me to get fired. Why else would be come to this fight?

"Enough, Daniel." He scolded. "Wait here."

He walked back into the cage and retrieved a towel, wiping his hair in frustration before running it along his muscled chest and abs. I could only stare in awe until I remembered that I lost my job that is.

"I think I'll head out," I let Daniel know.

"Em! You can't! I'm sorry, okay. He's angry right now, but it never sticks. I just wanted to watch his fights. I used to come here all the time before this," he gestured to his wheelchair.

I smiled slightly, "You can do so much more than you think you can, you know." I turned around and began to walk out with the crowd.

I dreaded seeing Ms. Smith again. She was going to be so giddy that she was right about me not being able to hold a job.

I looked around me noticing the sketchy characters surrounding the area. I clutched my pepper spray tightly between my fingers.

Suddenly, a hand tapped my shoulder and I screamed turning around abruptly and pressing my finger to the nozzle of the pepper spray. It squirted out a blueish liquid that I was pretty sure wasn't supposed to happen and it dribbled down the bottle anticlimatically. Maybe it had an expiry date that I was supposed to double check.

"What the fuck," Lucas trailed staring down at the leaking blue liquid pooling on the floor.

"Did you try shaking it?" Daniel suggested.

"I'll keep that in mind for next time." I retorted.

"I'll drive you home," Lucas stated, walking forward. He was wearing a black hoodie now that really displayed his chiseled figure.

"I'm fine," I called back as I trailed behind him. I was happy to have some protection from this shady area. I just needed to follow him to the bus stop.

"With your expired pepper spray?" He asked.

I crossed my arms and glared at him, "I take yoga once a week."

"Great. You can balance out people's auras while they mug you."

"That's not how yoga works," I muttered as I followed after my ex boss.