The Girl In The Dirty Shirt

Chapter 68

Liam spent the night with me; at least I think he did. I had no idea what time it was or what day. I was just in a room and doctors and nurses came and went; asking how much felt and checking machines, checking my IV and "battle wounds" as Liam liked to refer to them. I had been stabbed a grand total of four times and apparently it had caused a lot of internal damage, but by some miracle the baby was fine.
They took me off oxygen once I could lie in bed without getting winded. I ate the Jell-O that came with my breakfast and Liam ate everything else.
I think he had more anxiety about this whole thing than I did; he hadn't left my side since I'd woken up.

There was a knock on the door and we both looked up as Noel walked in. Hands stuffed in his jeans pockets and a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose.

He looked at Liam as he stood at the foot of the bed. "Can I 'ave a sec?"

To my surprise he nodded and kissed me on the forehead before he got up from the bed. "I'll be back"

I nodded and he walked towards the door. "Liam?"

He turned on his heel looking at me questioningly "Hmm?"

"I love you"

"I love you too, beau'iful" he smiled and I giggled a little inside. I wondered if he'd ever been able to pronounce the T in beautiful.

The door closed and Noel pulled off his sunglasses. I patted the empty spot on the bed and he smiled walking to the edge of the bed and sitting down.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better" I smiled "They've got good drugs"

He smiled and I looked at him in disbelief. "That's the first time you've smiled at me since we were in Vegas"

He didn't say anything; I don't even know if he heard me, he was too busy staring at my stomach under the blankets.

"Noel?" I asked quietly looking at his profile.

He just looked at me, his face so...thoughtful. Again he looked at my stomach and then back at me.

Y'know, I can handle just about anything; once you've been knocked virtually unconscious on the floor by your Dad and you know you're not gonna die, you're not afraid of anything; at least I didn't think so, but you"

He stopped and took a breath and then shook his head before looking at me again.

"You scared the fucking hell outta me; seein' you laying there with your head in his lap, y'weren't movin' and he was covered in blood, y-you both were"

"Noel"

I had to stop him before he pushed himself too far.

“His hands…an’ Guigsy’s han’s and the floor….”

"Noel,” I said again “I'm okay; I get to walk out of here tomorrow"

He shook his head. "Y'don't understand, I-I thought you were dead and there's just...stuff"

"I know"

"I didn't want that to be the last time I-" he stopped "I didn't want to remember you like that"

"Noel" I said again "Look at me"

He looked at me and he looked so torn. I'd never seen Noel look so dishevelled.

"I'm not dead, I'm right here,"

He nodded "I...I know...I just-"

"I love you, Noel, I always will"

He looked at me and nodded "I....I love you too; guess I just never realized how much til now"

I leaned forward and kissed him gently before I sat back.