Eleanor and Louis : together.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Louis had to stay still and make sure her hand had actually moved before he stretched up and practically slammed his hand into the red button near her bed.

In less than thirty seconds, a nurse rushed in, "Is everything okay?"

"She-- her hand moved. She squeezed my hand," Louis said, glancing at their still- intertwined hands. Seeing her slim, bare fingers, he remembered the ring in his pocket and decided against putting it on her finger again.

The nurse pushed a bunch of buttons on a myriad of different machines and increased the antibiotic dosage now that Eleanor seemed slightly conscious.

"Eleanor," she said slowly and loudly, "can you hear me?"

Eleanor stayed still.

"Eleanor, open your eyes or move your left hand if you can hear me,"

Nothing.

"Well, at least she's breathing on her own again." The nurse gave a small smile and reached for her clipboard, scribbling on it as she left the room.

Louis sighed, propping his head on his left hand.

He reluctantly wiggled his hand out of Eleanor's and wondered where Liam went.

He dug in his pocket, fingers lingering on the smooth diamond of the ring before finding his phone and tapping out a quick message to Liam.

Louis fiddled with his hands and phone in his lap until he decided to get up and walk around the hospital to find something to eat.

Making sure to tell the nurses he wouldn't be there, he quietly went down corridors and elevators until he came to the first floor and found a little cafe, spotting none other than Liam at one of the tables eating a cucumber sandwich.

"Liam? Liam, I texted you and you didn't answer!"

Liam looked up. "Oh, sorry-- I, I was eating-- um, is everything alright with Eleanor?"

"She squeezed my hand a little but that's it. I'm so scared, Liam. It's like I'm falling down a hole and breaking into a million tiny pieces. I can't sleep or eat or anything; I can just think of her and if she's going to make it or not."

Liam looked apologetic and looked down at his sandwich awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

"Call the boys," is what Liam heard himself say. "You know you need to talk to Harry; you have no choice."

"Okay. I-- I'll tell them all to come and see her." Louis paused. He looked over at Liam. Liam could've been anywhere else, with Danielle or with his family, but here he was with Louis in this depressing hospital.

"Liam?" Louis asked. Liam looked up. "Thank you.. So much. For being here."

Liam just smiled and went back to chewing. "No problem, mate."

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Zayn, Harry, and Niall had all rushed into the room, wild with curiosity and worry. Liam had calmly explained everything until the boys simmered down.

"Not to be insensitive," Harry said sheepishly, "but I'm kind of hungry."

"The cafe downstairs has really good cucumber sandwiches," Liam offered. He indicated with his eyes to Louis, "Maybe Louis could take you."

Louis got the hint.

Silently the two rode down the elevator to the first floor. Louis sat at a table twiddling his thumbs, worrying about how to go about initiating the conversation. Turns out, he didn't have to.

"What really happened?" Harry asked, concerned. "I'm not buying the crap you tried to sell us about her tripping. Fess up, Lou."

Louis fidgeted and cleared his throat.

"I told her what happened and she, uh, kinda flipped out. She stormed out and I called Liam over to help me find her , and I saw this piece of shit green land rover run her over. It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life, Harry."

Harry seemed to be considering something for a moment. "What happened to her ring?" Harry queried.

Louis sat back, surprised that Harry had even noticed at all.

"She threw it." Louis said quietly. "I still have it."

Louis stopped. He asked bluntly, "What happened that night, Harry? What was that? How can I come to terms with it to Eleanor when we haven't come to terms with it ourselves?"

Harry stared down at his food, picking a sesame seed from the crust of his bread.

"I meant everything I said," he finally responded, "I just didn't mean to come over so... headstrong, I guess. I was really drunk, I mean--"

"Wait," Louis's eyebrows pulled in. "Harry, since when are you gay?"

"I'm not-- I guess, I mean I think-- you. Louis, it's you. I don't know how or why, but whenever I'm with you everything's just... Different. In a great way."

Louis's looked haltingly at Harry. "I think I'm flattered, and I meant everything I said that night, too, but... I can't. I love Eleanor too much to lose her, Harry, and right now is a really inappropriate time to talk about this."

Harry finished chewing and stood up, knocking the crumbs off his jeans with a couple swats of his hand.

"Alright, Louis, but just remember that this is only awkward for you. I'm perfectly comfortable."

That made Louis even more disconcerted.

Again they silently rode the elevator until they came to room 412, which was Eleanor's room. The boys were all still there, and looked at Louis and Harry with a mixture of sympathy and knowing. Louis guessed that they hadn't believed his story for a second and Liam told them the truth- not surprising, considering Louis was a terrible liar and Liam could never bring himself to lie to the boys.

As soon as Louis had sat down, a nurse poked her head through the doorway.

"I'm sorry," she said , "but visiting hours are almost over. Everyone besides immediate family must go."

The boys bade Louis a hasty farewell.

"You can stay," the nurse said to Louis, "seeing as you two are almost married. I'm very sorry, by the way."

Louis only shrugged.

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Louis had decided to spend the night by Eleanor's side, a decision that proved uncomfortable and unrewarding.

The stiff couch was hell on Louis's back.

At around two in the morning, Louis was awakened by a rustling in the bed beside him.

"Excuse me," Eleanor asked him, "Who are you? And where am I?"