Darren blinked in surprise as Stephen, sighing and shrugging his shoulders, walked over to the bed and sat down next to him. Even though they were still a few inches apart, his body began to get incredibly warm and a heat surged through his skin from the closeness of the young man next to him. He had to keep his eyes from running all over his son's body and forcing his mind to remember that, indeed, this was his son. Did the machine have something to do with these thoughts and images going through his head?

"Stephen...please, listen to me, I need to know..."

Stephen smiled and looked at him in the eyes. "Yes?"