Twenty-Two (H.S)

Chapter 33.

We sped down the pitch black road, Jax had just finished telling me that he was doing his final checks before bed when he had gotten a frantic radio call from Mikey who had said that they were taking H back to Icarus Falls because he had been injured.

He was shot.

Twice.

Jax didn't know how bad or any other details but getting shot is generally bad, it's not a good thing. 

So that's where we were going, Icarus Falls. My stomach had been twisting the whole drive, a million and one horrible thoughts rushing through my head, the nightmare I had was becoming reality, steal blade being replaced by bullets. 

"We're almost there" Jax reassured me. I kept my focus on the road ahead of us.

I couldn't lose him, I just couldn't. 

Jax turned down a side road and soon some farm buildings came into view. Speeding down the driveway we came to a stop outside a building, Jax rushed out of his seat but suddenly I was too scared to move, in this moment I was oblivious, I wasn't sure if I was ready to face whatever was behind that door. Jax opened my door and I knew he could tell how I was feeling, he looked shit scared himself but he was trying to put on a brave face for me, I knew it.

"Come on, let's go see him" He said taking hold of my hand. The door on the building flung open and Cruze rushed out and over to us. I immediately noticed the blood streaked on his clothing and I swallowed the lump in my throat. He had to be okay. 

He was okay. 

He was okay. 

He was okay. 

I kept repeating it to myself as Cruze showed us the way.

As we approached all I could see the backs of people, Ash, Mikey, Luke and Cal. I noticed Zed was there too but I paid no attention to him. When they seen Jax and I they parted to make room for us and my body started shaking as soon as I seen him. I felt Cruze stop me before I could fall to the ground.

"Get her a chair" He yelled out and someone dragged one over. Cruze placed me down and I took a proper look at H. 

A white bandage was wrapped around his chest and shoulder stained red with blood, I looked down his body and noticed another one, wrapped around his thigh. I winced at the thought of him getting shot. 

I could hear everyone else in the room talking but I wasn't paying attention to them, my mind fixated on H. I watched his chest rise and fall, he was alive. He was hooked up to machines that beeped, I had no idea how they even got these here but right now I was very thankful.

I felt someone rubbing my back but I didn't even check to see who it was. The only thing that bought me peace was that he still looked like himself, he was still H. His face was unharmed. His curls lay fanned out against the pillow, his perfect pink lips parted ever so slightly. 

I don't know how long I sat there for but the room had slowly emptied of people, leaving just Luke who was comforting Jax and Cruze who it turned out was the one rubbing my back. I scooted my chair closer to H's bed and grabbed his hand in mine giving it a little squeeze to let him know I was there. 

"He'll be okay" Cruze reassured me and I nodded my head in response. 

We sat there for hours, at one point Mikey came in with coffee and biscuits for us and Cal bought in more chairs and blankets which he wrapped me in and gave me a hug. After some time I really needed to use the bathroom, I didn't want to leave H but i had held on for as long as I could.

"Umm Luke where's the bathroom?" I asked turning to where him and Jax were seated at the foot of the bed.  

"Just down the hall, on the right, there's a sign so you can't miss it" He explained. I thanked him and shrugged the blanket off my shoulders, placing it on the chair I walked out. I found the bathroom easily enough but when I came out I could see Ash at the end of the hallway. He was sitting on a bench with his head in his hand slouched over, I wondered why he wasn't with the rest of us. I walked over and sat beside him, as soon as he felt someone next to him he looked up at me with bloodshot eyes but as soon as he seen it was me he shook his head.

'I'm so so sorry" He cried out. 

"Hey Ash, It's okay" I put my arm around him but he shrugged me off.

'Don't" He warned. Why was he acting like this. 

"What's wrong?" I asked. He was definitely acting weird. 

"It's all my fault" He cried out slamming his head into his hands again, his chest heaving as he sobbed. 

"What's your fault?" I questioned. He pulled his head up and glared at me.

"H, He's hurt because of me" He spat. I jumped back in shock.

"Wha.... what?" 

"He got shot in the leg but then someone shot at me and he jumped in front of the bullet" He explained through sobs "He's taller than me so if it was me I would definitely be dead" He cried out "He saved my life but look at him, It's my fault" 

"Ash that's not your fault at all" I told him "Hey, I'm glad you're not dead"

"Are you sure? it feels like my fault. It just happened so fast" He sobbed. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer, he rested his head in my lap and I rubbed his back. 

"It's not your fault Ash" I reassured him "Wanna come back and sit in there with me?"

"He won't hate me will he?" 

"No Ash, he won't hate you" I replied honestly and I believed it. If H had jumped in front of a bullet for Ash he had done it because he wanted to, he wouldn't hate Ash for that. I returned to the room, Ash in tow, we both sat down, I took ahold of H's hand again and we sat there quietly talking again for hours.