"Would you like a drink or something to eat, dear?" Esme asked, touching the sick boy on his foot to get his attention. Harry was laying on the couch leaning against Seth quietly watching as he carved a piece of wood into a wolf.
Harry gave Esme a weak smile and shook his head no. He knew that they were all concerned over his lack of eating, but he just didn't have the energy or the oxygen to waste on eating. Since the coughing incident a weak ago, he had been getting progressively worse. He was on oxygen and IV around the clock and he had to sleep sitting up because he couldn't breath if he laid down. Everyone took turns letting him lean against them and right now it was Seth's turn.
Esme frowned down at Harry. He had hardly eaten a mouthful of food in the past week and she could clearly see that he was losing weight. Carlisle had said not to worry because he was getting liquids and nutrients through his IV and potions, but she still couldn't help herself. She wished that there was something more she could do for the poor boy, some way to help ease his suffering.
"Seth, can I get you something to eat?"
Seth grinned up at Esme. "Do you even need to ask? You know that I will never turn down your amazing cooking."
"Pig," Harry said breathlessly, giving Seth a cheeky grin.
"Hey, this perfectly hot body didn't get this way by eating lettuce and starving," Seth smirked as he flexed his muscles.
Harry's laughter turned into another round of uncontrollable coughing. Seconds later Carlisle was at his side, sitting him up and offering him a potion that helped control the coughing before it tore at his and caused it to bleed.
"Easy breaths, my love," Carlisle said softly.
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on his mate's soothing voice. Panicking always made it worse, but it was easy to panic when you couldn't get enough oxygen into your lungs. He didn't know how much longer he could keep going, his body just wanted to give in and he didn't have much strength left to keep fighting.
Carlisle frowned up at Severus who was standing behind the couch looking concerned. Harry was fading fast, and if they didn't figure out something soon then they were going to lose him.
"M'fine," Harry wheezed, cracking his eyes open and giving Carlisle a reassuring smile. "W...Wanna go for a w...walk?"
Chuckling, Carlisle gave Harry a peck on his lips. There was no more passionate kisses between them because Harry couldn't breath as it was. "I'll take you up on that after you're turned."
Harry closed his eyes again and rested back on Seth. Seth was incredibly warm and he tended to gravitate to him the most to lean against. Seth was an awesome best friend and he would have been lost without him. In the short time that he had known the large shifter, he had become a better friend than what Ron or Hermione ever was. He had never realized how conditional Ron and Hermione's friendship was. Seth very seldom left his side, but he also didn't hover and bug him. He was there for him however he needed him, even as a large, warm recliner.
Seth relaxed when Harry started breathing easier and snuggled back against him. Every coughing fit he had he feared that it would be his last. He was terrified to go home because he was afraid that Harry would die while he was gone. It was incredible how Harry had become one of the most important people in his life. He just couldn't imagine life without him. Harry was the brother that he never had, more so than even his pack brothers.
"He can't take much more," Seth whispered so softly that only the vampires could hear him.
Carlisle tilted his head in Seth's direction in acknowledgment. Seth was right, Harry had only days left...if they were even that lucky. He wasn't going to make it to his sixteenth birthday.
