Only a Heartbeat Away

Chapter 10

After Harry swore, he gingerly got up from the love seat he was sleeping on and made his way to the driver's section. Jack, Josh, and Ryan sat shocked as Harry slowly made his way forwards, the others lost their heads for a couple of seconds and when they came to terms that this very sick lad was moving, Louis on the other hand was yelling through the phone trying to gain their attention. As a couple of more seconds past Ryan, Jack and Josh soon came to their senses and immediately snatched up the phone and quickly chased after Harry who by this stage had made it to the front of the bus and barged into the driver's area where Sally was sitting still barking orders and tapping away on her tablet.

"Ello." Sally looked up from said tablet while Peter sent Harry a quick wave without taking his eyes off the road.

"Should you be talking and walking Mr Tomlinson? I've heard you're quite ill." Peter (the driver) asked with a concern frown upon his face however, before Harry could reply Sally cut him off.

"Peter, may I remind you that Mr Tomlinson is not on this bus. This is Mr Styles and yes Mr Styles should be relaxing or was that entire display just for attention?" Harry growled lowly and thanks to his sore vocal cords the sound was gravelly adding another depth to his already naturally deep voice, which in-turn made the three lads and Peter cringe and Louis chuckle proudly from the other side of the phone. Josh being the one holding the phone close enough for Louis to hear the entire conversation chuckled when he heard Louis click his fingers.

"Yes Sally. You see, I am freezing but I also feel like I'm on fire, my throat hurts, my bones ache, my head feels light and airy, I'm dizzy, it hurts to breathe, my chest is tight, and I think in next couple of seconds I might just have an asthma attack. Oh, and while I'm at it I feel like I could vomit any second now. I'm not allowed to go back onto my ventilator until tomorrow as Louis MY HUSBAND has already given me that treatment today. I don't have an inhaler on me 'cause it's packed in my suitcase which is on the other bus. To be plain Sally if I choke, cough, continue to talk, or even swallow the wrong way there is a very real possibility that I could in fact die." Harry struggled to wheeze out, "this bus does not have anything on it.  No offence Peter." Peter just waved Harry off as he already had this exact argument. "I need to be transferred to the other bus ASAP in order to get the care that I need or..." Harry coughed and coughed hard Ryan being the last one, in the line three lads that has formed behind Harry, quickly made a beeline straight for the bucket that is kept in the sleeping area and raced it back to Jack who then passed it to Josh who threw the phone that was  still connected to Louis at Jack and thrusted the bucket underneath Harry's jaw just as he released his stomach contents. Once Harry had finished throwing up all the water Louis, Liam and Josh has made him drink he wobbled and began to faint. Ryan pushed pass Jack and Josh in order to catch him while Jack re-laid everything back to an anxious Louis who heard everything. Peter fearing for Harry's health pulled over and radioed the second bus. Louis upon hearing the radio hung up Liam's phone and asked Niall to prepare the small tub in the bathroom, Liam to play bodyguard and Zayn to grab Harry's medical box from Louis' bunk. The bus driver barely had the door open by the time Liam and Louis were off and bursting onto the other bus. Louis quickly took Harry's body from Ryan and picked him up bridal style while Liam, Jack and Josh stopped Sally from accessing the living area of the bus. Once Louis was off, Liam followed and as soon as they were back on their bus, the bus driver Scott Chippendale immediately set off, almost forgetting to close the door behind them. Liam immediately took Harry's temperature and decided it was too high for his liking, he told Louis this who then proceeded to carry Harry to the bathroom and gently drop him in the water clothes and all. About 20 minutes later Liam rechecked Harry's temperature and said that it was back within normal range and Louis could remove Harry from the tub, at this point Harry was beginning to wake. Zayn quickly place 2 Panadol, 1 antihistamine and a Vitamin C tablet into Harry's hand when he was conscious enough to understand what was happening while Niall handed over a room temp bottle of water. Harry downed the tablets in one go and Louis gave him a couple of puffs from his inhaler before helping Harry out of the tub, Liam came in with a single pair of clean boxes to put on knowing that Louis would be the space heater that Harry needed. When Harry was standing Louis kicked everyone out of the bathroom in order to strip the wet clothes off his husband's shaking body, pat him down with a fluffy towel and placed the boxers on. Only when Harry was decent, Louis went to open the door but was stopped before he could, Harry being the cause of the stoppage by intertwining their fingers and tugging slightly.

"Baby we..." and Harry kissed him. Soft, slow but all so passionately that it took both of the boys breaths away. Literally.

"Thank you." Harry whispered once they broke apart hands still gripping tightly.

"Of course love. C'mon let's get you tucked in."

"You're going to cuddle me, right?"

"Of course babycakes." Louis smiled as they made their exit. Liam soon came forward and handed over a mug of honey tea. Murmuring a thank you Harry drank it, as he made his way towards the bunks, Louis hugged Liam, Niall, and Zayn before joining Harry.

"Well, that was an adventure." Niall stated

"One that we should never had to be on." Zayn added as he packed up the medical kit and left it on the kitchen table, being too worried about the possibility of needing it later to put it away properly.

"I'm reporting her to Simon." Liam announced to Niall and Zayn who just stared.

"Good luck with that boyo." was all they said as they entered the tv area and sat down.

"What?" Liam asked as he made himself comfortable on the bean bag.

"Later Liam. Right now, I want to watch crap tv and fall asleep for the next hour and 10 minutes. 'lright." Zayn stated while looking through the Netflix selections and Niall nodded not wanting to think anymore. Liam understanding the message allowed the conversation to be dropped.