Kiss Me Before the Sky Falls

-Chapter 26- A Deeper Ravine Than Before - Louis' P.O.V. -

"Here, Louis." Harry put Jamie softly into my lap. "Fed and everything."

"Thanks Harry." I mumbled. Jamie seemed as lifeless as I was today. Like the world had been crushed around us but we'd been numb to it. Jamie wouldn't even make a noise other than a little whimper, pouting, and leaning on my stomach. I stroked his hair, remembering Shelby's dark brown waves. He may have got the wispy texture from me but he had his mother's color and warm smile to match. I don't think I've seen him wear it in a while.

"She looks awful..." Shalice whined as she sat beside me, cowering into Zayn's chest. I bit my lip but didn't say anything. We were only allowed in one at a time every few hours for a handful of minutes, so Harry had brought in Jamie. I was legitimately surprised he recognized her and the horror she'd become, he wouldn't stop bawling after he saw her. I swear he was screaming 'mum'.

Shalice hadn't taken the sight much better. And there was only so much Zayn could tell her in reassurance. There was no sugar coating this one.

I wanted her to wake up, twitch, prove she, my Bel, was alive in there, somewhere. She hadn't so much as batted a lash since she passed out on the couch at home. How she sat so still for so long once seemed so improbable that I wouldn't even try to think of what you had to do to her to keep her so still.

I mean, holy fuck her heartbeat dwindles with every hour, shallower with every pump. She was losing the will to live, they said. They said it was her brain that was killing her, if her heart was in it she'd pull through. But why was her head taking over her heart? That's not my button, not the one I know and love...

"Hey Louis is Shelby supposed to be getting shots right now?"

"They usually tell me before, but I dunno."

"They were whispering about something, do you know what for?"

"Of course not Niall." I snapped. I didn't even care he'd been hurt. I didn't apologize, and I wouldn't will myself to feel shame. But he brought up a good point...what were they doing? "Niall did you see money involved?"

"Yeah, just a five, like lunch money or something."

"It was probably a cover..." I muttered. "Niall, keep an eye on Jamie?"

"What about me?!" Harry screeched.

"Partners is crime, lets go spy." Shelby had been so much better at this than I am. I crept behind supply cart in front of Bel's room, Harry beside me. We watched two nurses come up, syringe in hand, like Niall had said.

"Why won't it just DIE?"

"A lot of spirit. Just put it down." I recognized the nurse's cold voice but not his face. Harry eyed my expression. I bit down on my tongue so hard it bled so I wouldn't fling out of my crevice and kill them both. The one with the syringe slipped into her room and the other left. Harry nodded the all clear and we followed into the hellhole.

It was much darker in Bel's room, and more to hide behind. We didn't move a muscle as we watched him poke the syringe into a bag of liquid hooked up to Shelby. I didn't know what it was, but I didn't like it. We waited until he left and shut the door to stand up and check on my baby bunny.

"Louis." Harry caught my arm before I could walk over to her. He was holding his phone in his hand. "I got it all on video."

We purposely went in to see Bel as the nurses tried to slip in and stayed with her until they stopped trying. I usually went in with her, I couldn't remember the last time I slept, it felt like no matter what time it was I wanted to be with her. As the nurses stopped injecting her drips she started to recover drastically, her blood pressure increased ten fold and the color came back to her cheeks. They were able to slow and even take a machine out of her, she was doing so well. Still hadn't moved, but you've got to put hope in the little things.

I was with her now, watching the shallow rise and fall of her defeated body. Her hand was soft and cool in mine, limp, but I felt like she knew I was with her and took comfort in it. Her breathing improved, I watched it on the monitor, the closer I got to her. Once I snuck a kiss on her cheek and her chest swelled, then relaxed with a content sigh. I rubbed her hand with my thumb.

"You'll be back with me in no time, eh baby bunny? Are you excited to see me again? I know I can't wait to see you smile again. Will you try for me button? Crinkle your nose like you always do. Blush, wiggle your toes. C'mon, baby." She was still motionless. "S'okay. Take your time. I'll stay with you forever if I have to. I-"

"Sir we're going to have to ask you to leave."

"Why?" I got up, standing defensively between my Bel and the nurse and his poisons.

"You're becoming a nuisance to her...recovery."

"I don't wanna hear it. I've got you on video injecting that into her IV drip." I growled. "I know you're up to something, and I'll take the mickey out of you if she goes downhill again."

"Oh I don't think you'll have the heart." I veered around to face the other nurse had a bloodied tube in his hand. The monitor wailed by my head as I watched, wide-eyed, frozen to the spot, as she bled out, thick syringe pierced deep into her. Her eyes flew open, jaw fell, but didn't move any further.

The nurses fled and I couldn't chase them. I leaned over her, knowing all too well what I had to do. I tried to resuscitate her mouth to mouth, lips dry and chapped, but she seemed to sink deeper into the bed. The scream of the monitor as her heart began to slow. The noise scored jagged marks on my eardrums, and I started to count the seconds she could make it out of without oxygen. Her lips were turning blue.

"SOMEBODY! SHES NOT BREATHING!" I used my shaky hands and pressed my hands sharply where I'd rested my weary head so many times before, the beat of her heart lulling me to sleep. I took a deep breath and tried to mentally shake off the fear and chaos and focus of the beat of my own heart. I took a shuddering breath and matched the tempo, like it was just a recording in the studio. I pressed down with all the force I could muster and heard a sickening crack. I swallowed and kept telling myself it was nothing, she'll be fine, she's Bel...

I was shoved off of her by someone and in a daze I socked someone. Someone bigger than I was came behind me and dragged me back, holding my head, and shoved me against the wall between their legs.

"BEL! I'M GONNA SAVE YOU, BABY BUNNY! LET GO THAT'S MY WIFE IN THERE...-!"

"LOUIS!"

"Harry?"

"I don't think Zayn appreciated the blow to his face. Are you okay?! You were losing it in there!"

"They tried to hurt her, Harry! Don't let them get her!"

"CHILL YOUR PUSSY SHE'S BEING RESUSCITATED." He bent over to glare back into my eyes. I held his steely glaze, and vaguely in his green eyes I saw Bel. I swallowed and looked away, grumbling under my breath. "Take a nap or something."

"I'm using your leg then, Haz." I wrapped my arms playfully around his calf and snuggled up to it. He muttered something unintelligible and I realized how tired I really was, and drifted into dreams.