birds // hs

7. Stitches, Morphine & Secrets

"Do you think they would mind if I borrowed some of these cool gloves?"

Harry shot me a hard look. "Yes, I really think they would. Now would you please just sit down so you don't destroy this entire room?"

I took two of the gloves anyway and slid them on, which made James laugh and clap his chubby little hands together.

"Rachel."

I widened my eyes innocently at Harry and stuck out out my lower lip. "Yes?"

"Sit down. Please."

I finally plopped down in one of the hard chairs and crossed my arms stubbornly, my eyes only on James in my lap and not on Harry as he sat on the bed.

It was after midnight by the time we got to the emergency room, so the hospital was incredibly understaffed and already dealing with a massive car crash. So they stuck our little clan in a small, cozy pediatric room in the back and hooked Harry up to some fluids and electrolytes to keep him hydrated and fighting the loss of blood he'd already suffered.

After awhile James began to reach for his dad so I got up and reluctantly set him on Harry, who had both eyes closed but was grinning anyway. What a cheeky little man child.

"Don't pout, baby," he mumbled sleepily. "I'm in a lot of pain right now and I'm just grumpy."

I looked down at my glove-covered hands. "What can I do to make it better?"

"Come nap with me and this little chunk."

"You have a lot of wires hooked up to you," I bit my lip uncertainly. "And I'm not quite sure I could fit on the bed with you two."

"Alright then, suit yourself."

The only sounds for a little while were the soft whirring of various machines around the room, and Harry's steady breathing from the bed. James had snuggled down quickly into his father's side and was now sleeping soundly alongside him.

"Harry?"

His head lolled towards me and one eye opened. "Yeah?"

"I just wanted to say...well, thank you. Thank you for- oh gosh." I had to stop to wipe away a few stray tears and Harry just grinned at me, his hand gesturing for me to come to him as I started crying- again.

"It's my job, alright? I want to protect you; I automatically think of you and James, not myself. So you don't have to thank me, love. If it means that you're safe and happy, I'll take a million measly shards of glass in my back."

I kneeled by the bed and rested my head in his huge hand, which was pretty much the only part of him I was sure wasn't injured.

"I love you," I spoke softly, so I wouldn't wake James. "I love you so much, Harry."

"I love you too, baby girl," he smiled. "And I don't know what I'm going to say when they give me pain meds so just don't believe any of it."

"Oh, well I'm sure-"

"Sorry about the wait," a very flustered looking man panted as he came in and shut the door. "We had a massive pileup in the ER and every woman in town seemed to go into labor tonight. But what's going on here? What are we in for this evening?"

I looked at Harry.

"Some kid threw a brick at the window of my mother-in-law's house and we happened to be sitting right by it. I just took a bit of impact."

"For the baby and mom, no doubt?" The doctor smiled knowingly. "Just turn over on your side and let me have a look then."

Harry handed James to me and rolled like he was instructed, so his back was now facing me. And once again, I cringed. The whole expanse was covered in tiny scrapes and scratches, with a few deeper ones among them. All in all, it looked very painful.