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5

"Previous breaks? But he's so young to have had so many injuries?" I queried, with the doctor.

" ... signs of trauma, physical and sexual assault, possible emotional but we won't know the extent until he wakes up properly."

"But ... But he's so young." With Doctor Cowell's words swimming around in my head, all I could think was how young he was, and how small he looked laying there in the hospital bed. He was even in a children's gown, in pediatrics, and with the knowledge he was probably homeless, at that age, it tugged at my heart.

"Now, I've called a social worker so you're free to go, but thank you for bringing him in." He told me dismissively, clearly ready to move to his next patient.

My head snapped up at that in shock, free to go?

"What? He needs someone here with him, I've already, I ... he needs me!"

"You may stay until the social worker speaks to the boy, then it's up to them." He informed me, "If he seems distressed there's a call button here, and I'll be on my way."

The nerve. I always thought doctors were supposed to have a good bedside manner, especially working in paediatrics!

It was a shame I hadn't been able to take him to the private hospital near me, but it had been an emergency. At least that way I knew Liam would have been able to keep an eye on him, one of my best friends for ... practically my whole life.

I sat down in the chair next to his bed, biting my lip to keep from crying as I realised it was probably the first bed he'd been in for a while.

How he could have gone unnoticed and alone for so long was beyond me - they'd had no records for him since he was nine years old, with the doctor telling me it was likely he'd been homeless since that age.

I gently picked up his hand, stroking the back of his hand with my thumb.

"I'll stay Louis, I'll keep you safe."

~

"Huh, what happened? Are you okay? Oh Louis you're awake darling!" I exclaimed upon seeing Louis' eyes finally open, before turning to what had woken me in the first place.

"I'm so sorry, I must have fallen asleep." I greeted the gentleman next to me, glancing over to Louis, seeing he was struggling keeping his eyes open ... He wasn't the only one!

I was just so glad to see him awake, I'd definitely thought the worst when he'd collapsed.

"I'm Harry, Harry Styles - Louis' ... friend" I told the man, reaching my hand out for a handshake.

"Not a problem Harry, from what I've heard Louis gave you a bit of a scare! I'm James Corden, the social worker assigned to Louis' case." He informed me.

Great, I'd already made a pretty bad impression to the one man who could help Louis.

"He definitely did!" I smiled politely, before sitting on the edge of Louis' bed, reaching over and brushing the hair out of his eyes.

"You okay love? Are you in any pain?"

He blinked slowly, looking over at me before shaking his head a fraction.

"You're still here" He whispered quietly to me.

"Of course I am." I smiled, holding his hand. "You're safe to go back to sleep, I'll stay."

He closed his eyes almost immediately, a small smile flitting across his face before he fell back to sleep.

"Well, he definitely likes you." James spoke up after a few moments, making me jump.

"Took me ten minutes to get a word from him, and he refused to go back to sleep, though he certainly needs it in his condition." James continued, perching on the end of the chair I had just vacated, as he began writing in a notepad.

"His condition, did they tell you how bad it was? They told me the basics, but said because I'm not family they can't disclose everything." I asked him, knowing that as the social worker he'd likely be told everything.

James eyed me curiously, closing his notepad.

"Mr Styles ... May I ask what your relationship to Louis is?"

"I'm not related to him no, but ... I've been there for him the last few months, and I think I've really developed a bond with him. If I can, I'd like to take him home when he's recovered, back with me."

James smiled patiently, as if he was waiting for me to continue, which I would quite happily.

I explained everything that had happened so far, and tried to tell him how Louis didn't seem like your typical kid, he didn't look to be on drugs, and he had an aura of innocence, and kindness within him, he just needed a little support.

"Mr Styles -"

"Harry, please" I interrupted.

"Harry, I can see how much you care about the boy, and it's admirable really, but I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation. Louis will be here for several weeks, to recover from injuries I'm not at liberty to describe to you and once he is on the mend, he will be taken to a group home, or a foster family."

"But you can't do that, you just can't!"

"If you are serious about fostering, it's a lengthy process, and Louis may have aged out by the time you qualify, plus you'd need trauma training, to really help put Louis in the best place to process his past."

"I already am qualified as a foster parent, I haven't done it in a few years but I'm still qualified, and I work at a nearby youth centre, that's got to count for something surely!"

James glanced over at me, clearly surprised, before regaining his composure and grinning. "Why didn't you say so sooner!"

"I'm going to make a few calls, and with a bit of luck, and some help from my supervisor, we might be able to have him placed with you by the times he's recovered. Give me a minute to make some calls and I'll set up a meeting, so you can see what you're really going to be signing yourself up for."

James walked out excitedly, and I let out a sigh of relief.

I'd fostered on and off a few years ago, with my partner Nick, but once we parted ways, I hadn't brought myself to do it, too worried I weren't be able to cope. Then my bakery business kicked off and I'd made more excuses.

I could help Louis though, I was sure of it.

Whoops, didn't realise I'd left it this long without updating 😂 x