If I Was Your Man (BWS)

Twenty-Three

*Brad P.O.V*

I woke up to the sound of faint crying. It was pitch black in the room but I could make out the shape of Maddie sat down towards the end of the bed. My heart instantly sunk.

"Mads?" I whispered, and I saw her figure move to look in my direction.

"Did I wake you?" She whispered back. Her voice was quiet and frail sounding - she didn't sound like her normal self at all.

"No, you didn't, don't worry." I said, sitting up. "Mind if I put a lamp on?" I asked.

"Sure." She said.

I flicked my bedside lamp on and turned to face her. She had her head in her hands, leaning over the bed.

"Babe, what's wrong?" I moved down the bed and sat beside her, placing my hand on her back.

"I'm sorry, I..." She took a deep breath, and lifted her head up. She didn't look great - not because she was crying, but she looks almost... ill. She was extremely pale, her eyes were dark. She looked sick.

"Are you okay? You look ill." I said.

"I... I need to go to the bathroom." She said, and she jumped up and ran down the hall. I jumped up and ran after her, entering the toilet. She clearly wasn't well.

I went over to her and pulled her hair back, holding it with one hand and keeping my other hand on her back.

Then it happened, she threw up. This is what's wrong.

I rubbed her back, reassuring her that I was there. "It's okay Mads, you're okay. I'm here."

She sat back and started crying. Taking it upon myself, I started to clean her up. "Do you feel like you're going to be sick again?" I asked, and she nodded. "Okay, stay here, I'll be right back."

I ran to the bedroom, grabbing a hair band she had taken out before bed to tie her hair back, and my phone just in case I needed to ring Connor. I checked the time - 2am.

"Hey man, is everything okay?" I heard Tris say, and I turned around to see him in the doorway.

"Maddie's not well, she's been sick." I said. "I'm getting a hair band for her."

"Oh jeez, need me to do anything?" Tris offered.

"You could perhaps go and grab her some stuff like a drink and a hot water bottle? Here's one Maddie brought over the other day." I said, opening a draw and taking her hot water bottle out.

I handed it to Tris, and he headed downstairs. I opened the door to the bathroom and went to sit down next to her.

"I'm going to tie your hair back, okay?" I said, pulling it out of her face again. I tied it into a ponytail, simple, but I don't really know how to tie up long hair.

"Thank you." She said, sitting back again with her back against the wall. "I don't think I'm gonna be sick again." Her voice sounded slightly better now she'd got everything up.

"Did you feel ill earlier?" I asked, getting another tissue and wiping away her tears.

"No. I don't know what it is. I just woke up feeling really bad." Maddie said.

"That's odd." I said, and there was a knock on the bathroom door. "That's Tris. Is it okay for him to come in?" I asked, and Maddie nodded.

"Come in." I said.

"Hey, I've brought you a hot water bottle and a glass of water. I've put the water in Brad's room already for you, but here's the hot water bottle." Tris said, and I took it from him and gave it to Maddie.

"Thank you." She said, smiling weakly.

"It's no problem. Anything else I can do?" Maddie shook her head, so Tris nodded. "Okay, need me, I'll be in my room." He said, and he closed the door.

"This is so embarrassing." Maddie said, tears starting to fall again.

"Hey, shh. Everyone gets sick. It's okay." I said, holding her hand.

She smiled weakly, and I wiped her tears once more.

"Are you wanting to go back to the room or did you need to stay here longer?" I asked.

"We can go back to the room." Maddie said, and I stood up to help her get up as well. I held her hand and walked her back to the bedroom. I noticed she was shaking - she only had a long t-shirt on.

"Here, have this." I said, grabbing one of my hoodies and helping her to put it on. "Did you want me to call Connor or something?" I asked.

"No, it's okay. We could ring him in the morning or something. Come and go back to sleep. I'll be okay." Maddie said, and her voice sounded quiet and strained.

"Shh, I'm fine. I'm going to take care of you. Come and get in with me so I can warm you up." I said, and Maddie followed me round the other side of the bed. After getting in, I held my arm out and she shuffled in, cuddling into my side. I wrapped my arms around her gently, being careful as to not make her feel any worse. I put my hand up to her face, rubbing my thumb on her cheek. She smiled as best as she could and closed her eyes, with her head on my chest.

"What if I make you sick?" She said quietly.

"Go to sleep." I replied.

"Okay, goodnight." She said, yawning.

"Goodnight Mads." I said, and I flicked the light off.