Larry One Shots

Harry: Asthma Attack (2)

Louis POV

3 hours. It was 3 hours before we had any information on Harry's condition. The wait was agonizing. I had called Anne and it was a very emotional conversation to have. She was in tears when she came in and I felt so bad. She sat beside me and we tried our best to comfort each other, but it was difficult as nobody knew anything.

After those agonizing 3 hours, a doctor finally came out to the waiting room, calling Harry's name. We all stood up and crowded around him, but he put his hand up to stop us all from talking.

"Calm down folks. I'm going to talk to Anne, his mother, and Louis, his husband, as I'm only obligated to tell the family. You can follow me." He gestured to follow him and we did. I looked back at Niall and Liam and I gave them a small smile. My nerves picked up as we were led into his office, gesturing for us to sit down in the chairs across from him.

"Okay so Harry suffered a severe asthma attack. Combining that with the pressure from the plane, it was probably the worst one he's ever had." He cleared his throat before continuing. "Although his heart never stopped, he was without oxygen for about 2 minutes. This is called hypoxia and unfortunately it mostly affected his brain."

"What does that mean?" Anne asked, taking my hand for comfort.

"Right now we aren't currently sure. It could mean a number of things, depending on whether he suffered from brain damage or not. We won't know until he wakes up and that could be a while. He's not currently breathing on his own, so we put in a breathing tube and it will stay there until his body kicks back into gear and he starts breathing on his own again. It's up to him at this point and all we can do is make sure he is comfortable and watch for signs of brain damage." The doctor explained.

"But he was fine!" I shouted slightly. "He's had asthma attacks before and he was fine. How did-" I stuttered. "How did this happen so quickly?"

"Louis." Anne said and tried to calm me down, but I brushed her off and stood up.

"Look I know this may be hard to understand but, take the air pressure in an airplane, plus the altitude you were at, along with Harry's asthma. It's just a recipe for disaster. If the brain, or any organ for that matter, goes without oxygen for even a few minutes, damage can occur. The good thing is that damage usually occurs after 4 minutes and Harry was only without oxygen for 2, so it gives us hope that he should be fine, but again we just have to wait. I'm sorry I don't have better news." He finished, but I still wasn't having it.

"No, he was fine! Where is he?" I was full on shouting now and the tears were falling down my face rapidly.

"I'm sorry but you can't see him right now. He's in the neurology ICU and we aren't currently taking visitors. I'll escort you to an overnight waiting room and I will update you if there are any changes. Come on, let's go." Anne began to guide out the room, but I was so angry and upset. Not necessarily at the doctor, but just at life. Why did it have to happen to Harry? Niall and Liam noticed that I had been crying and came over.

"What happened? Is it bad?" I just scoffed and went outside to smoke as I needed air. Anne was able to explain to them Harry's condition and they were brought to the overnight waiting room. After about 45 minutes of me being outside and going through almost 5 cigarettes, Liam came outside and stood next to me. As I went to take the next one, he took the box and threw my almost finished one on the ground.

"What the hell Liam?" I said, quite angrily.

"You know smoking these cancer sticks is not helping you deal with the emotions of what happened to Harry today. So I suggest you stop before you go through an entire box." He said, stuffing the box in his pocket. I huffed at him, but knew he was right. "What's on your mind?"

"They said he could have brain damage Li. Like actual damage to your brain. The thing that allows you to do everything in everyday life. What if he's not the same? I would never forgive myself for that." I said and Liam took my hands roughly, as if to make me come to my senses.

"Okay first of all, this is not your fault Lou. How could you ever predict that Harry would have a severe asthma attack, when he's never had one on a plane before, and that his inhaler would run out, out of all times he would need it?" I shrugged my shoulders unsure of what to say. "Exactly! You don't. So this is no way your fault. Understand?" I nodded as he continued. "Good. Second of all, Harry is stronger than that and if you keep thinking like that, he'll never recover. Now I've known you guys long enough that an inconvenience like this will not tear you apart. We don't even know if he actually has brain damage. Let's wait until Harry wakes up before we make assumptions okay?"

"Yeah I guess. Thanks Li." I gave him a hug. We stayed like that before Anne walked outside to join us.

"Louis you can go see Harry now. I just went and I thought to ask you next." I nodded and left Liam who smiled.

"Is he alright?" I asked as we walked through the halls and towards Harry's room.

"He's still unconscious. The doctor said he's in a comatose state at the moment. They are giving him medications to counteract it, but it could be days until he comes out and probably longer until he wakes. We just don't know." I nodded as we continued down the hall. "I'll have to warn you though Lou, he looks really fragile. But the nurses told me he isn't suffering and isn't in any pain or anything. He's peaceful. I'll be right outside if you need me okay?"

"Thanks Anne." I gave her a quick hug before taking a deep breath and heading inside Harry's room. Anne was right, he looked so small and fragile.

The color in his face was drained and he looked almost as white as the sheets that were lining his bed. He had an IV in his hand providing him fluids and medication that coursed through his system. The steady beat of his heart played on the monitor next to him, while the machine that was breathing for him had a small hum that sounded similar to his breaths when he slept. The machine was connected to a tube that was in his throat and his mouth looked so dry.

I sat beside him and took his hand that didn't occupy his IV in mine so that he at least knew I was there. I didn't speak, just watched him live. How could I deal with days or weeks of this?, I thought as the first tear fell down my cheek. When the nurse came back into the room, I was silently sobbing as I hated seeing him like this.

"He's peaceful. And we think he may be starting to breathe on his own, which is a good sign. I think he'll be okay." I just nodded and ended up falling asleep a few minutes later.