Error. [H.S.]

19.

Niall Horan.

"I don't know if visitors are in the cards." A voice silenced our conversation from the doorway, pulling our focus towards a male in ciel blue scrubs. My eyes narrowed slightly, examining the medical professional, likely a nurse.

Eye contact didn't seem to be a common practice for him, his eyes fixated on the iPad in his hand, likely reading my medical chart. He wasn't the person who tried to kill me. His hairline sat closer to his eyebrows, and his posture looked like his spine has a permanent slouch from too many video game nights. The confidence wasn't there.

"Why not?" Liam countered, crossing his arms over his chest. His tattoos peered out from under the sleeves of his uniform -- this was his favorite intimidation tactic. Appear stronger and harder than those you encounter, it helps get a better read on the person you're dealing with. 

"We're not leaving." Louis informed bluntly, swirling around the contents of his disposable coffee cup.

"Nobody said you had to." The man coped an attitude, sneering toward Louis. His blonde brows furrowed slightly, creating a road map of tension between them.

"Need a sip, mate? The espresso might do your attitude some good." An eyebrow cocked up, egging the nurse on as Louis held out the coffee cup. Liam snickered from beside me, amusement building as the conversation boils.

"The Infectious Disease Unit is full today, so I can't be taking any risks." The nurse snapped back pridefully, clutching the iPad in his arm. He didn't seem like someone who found himself in the middle of an argument frequently, his entire presence was too timid. 

"Why can't I have visitors?" I put a hold on the budding argument, redirecting the conversation before Louis decided to initiate a smack down of egos.

Louis pressed his lips together in a tight seal, the discipline from his time in the court room kicking in.

"I'd be happy to discuss that with you while these two step out of the room." He gestured towards my teammates with his stylus pen. "HIPAA." The explanation makes sense, but it also left me with an eerie feeling creeping up my spine.

My safety was a low priority on the hospital's radar, and now that chaos ensued, they were scrambling to make amends before the media got wind of the reasoning behind the lockdown. I've had at least two medical professionals in the room for any of my needs since the lockdown was lifted.

Something was off.

"We're on duty." Liam starts to explain, but Louis wastes no time interrupting.

"Someone in your  facility, dressed in scrubs issued by your  hospital thought it would be fun to play a little game of life with a patient. Until we find out who it was, you'll be seeing a lot of us."

"That doesn't void HIPAA." Obvious agitation was creeping up the nurse's neck, redness spreading like poison ivy. He was flustered by Louis constant remarks. "Unless Mr. Horan would like to fill out a release form, you two will need to step out."

I squinted across the room to get a clearer view of the badge that was dangling from a reel on his chest. The plastic card was faced backwards and tucked in a fabric case, so only the hospital emblem and a bar code were showing.

He's hiding something.

Every nurse that's come in was identifiable by their badge, some going as far as having their names embroidered on their scrubs in addition.  

"I'll sign them." I comply, taking any excuse to get him out of my room long enough to talk to the guys. "They're like my family."

"Ah, brother's in blue." He nods, redirecting his eyes to the tablet. After a few exaggerated taps with the stylus, he looked at me. "I'll be back with those forms."