Regeneration

Close Call and Explanations

"Can't you go any faster?" Liam pleaded as he looked worriedly down at the small body clasped tightly in his arms. Zayn's response was to press harder  the accelerator  , making the car surge forward at  an even greater speed. Although it seemed like an eternity to the two men, Zayn was quickly pulling up in front of the AgePlay community hospital. Liam wasted no time as he flung open the car door and raced into the building clutching Niall's small body. He screamed for help and a doctor and nurse instantly appeared. Niall was grabbed from him by the doctor and hurried through the swing doors, Liam trying to follow, only to be held back by the nurse.

"Sir, we'll help your baby but you need to let us do our job" the nurse said quietly. "Look, sit down over here and tell me what happened?" She guided him to some plastic chairs and pushed him down into one of them, seating herself beside him. Liam stuttered out the events as best he could and she nodded as she listened attentively. Standing up, she patted his shoulder sympathetically "The Doctor be back as soon as he can to let you know what is happening." The nurse then hurried through the doors to update the doctor looking after Niall on what Liam had told her.

"Li, where is he? What's happening?" Zayn asked breathlessly as he raced into the room having parked the car.

"They took him back there" Liam whispered as he indicated the swing doors. "They wouldn't let me stay with him, Zee" Liam's voice was choked by tears. "I want my baby". Zayn said down beside his distraught husband and pulled him into a hug. "I want my baby" Liam repeated as even more tears flooded down his face.

"Me too, babe. Me too" Zayn whispered, his eyes fixed on the closed doors.

There were now two doctors and two nurses standing over Niall, the doctors  both pouring over his medical files. Suddenly Doctor Preston  yelled "Got it!"and raced to the phone. He keyed in a number and asked his question then listened to the response. He raced back and, turning, gave  one the nurse instructions to collect certain medications and bring them back to him immediately before instructing the other nurse to start setting up an iV to be ready for the return of the other nurse with the requested medicines. Doctor Preston turned to his colleague and explained. 'Baby was given routine antibiotics during his bladder and bowel procedure as a precaution against infection. Looks like the poor little thing is allergic to it. I think his parents got him here just in time." He turned as the nurse hurried in, carrying all he requested. " Let's get this little one better." He murmured  to himself as he finished setting up the iV. Everyone stood and watched as the new medication flowed into Niall's petit body. The  long minutes passed and slowly Niall began to show signs of reacting in a positive way. The medical staff sighed in relief. It had been a very close call.

"Mr and Mr Malik-Payne?" Doctor Preston said as he approached the two men huddled together. "I am pleased to tell you that your little son is out of danger and is improving steadily.I just need a quick chat and then I will take you to him." He indicated the two chairs the men had risen from as he had spoken to them." Please take a seat" he waited until they had both sat down again before pulling up another chair to sit facing them. "It appears that baby had a severe reaction to the routine antibiotic given to him during his procedure yesterday.He will be fine but I think we'd like to keep him in for a day or so to complete tests. We don't want a repeat of this so it is essential that we find any hidden allergies before his is discharged home. Now I know you have only just adopted baby so, in order not to disturb the necessary bonding process, I think one of you should stay with baby until he is released. But enough of this, let me take you to baby. Follow me, gentlemen" Liam and Zayn instantly stood and obeyed with alacrity.

Liam and Zayn stood looking over the bars of the crib that held their new son. Niall looked even smaller and paler than ever. The iV was still dripping fluids into his body and a variety of monitors were also attached to him. A sob caught in Liam's throat. They had had their new baby less than 24 hours and already he had almost been taken from them. Liam understood now just how quickly it was possible to fall in love and both he and Zayn loved this small boy with every fibre of their beings. Zayn put a comforting arm about Liam's shoulders before leading him to a chair set near the crib. "You stay here, babe. I'll go ring Nick and Harry..let them know Niall is going to be ok." He placed a chaste kiss on the top of Liam's head and quietly left the room, leaving Liam to sit and stare through the bars of the crib at his unconscious son.