Niall, answer the door please

Waiting

Liam woke up slowly, feeling disorientated until he remembered where he was and why. Looking round he saw Harry wasn't in the room any more  but he could see Louis standing motionless by the side of Niall's bed.

"Louis? Mate?" Liam's voice sounded loud in the quiet room even though he was speaking quietly.

Louis continued to stand there, holding Niall's hand and staring fixedly at the blank wall in front of him. He didn't acknowledge Liam's touch on his shoulder nor respond to his voice. It was like his body had become a shell and the Louis that once  lived in it had gone. Liam tried shaking him gently, saying his name again, but still Louis continued to stare into space with no reaction.

"Li ,Louis...I have brought some tea" Harry's slow, deep voice sounded behind them. Liam turned and reached out taking two of drinks from Harry and, thanking him quietly,  held one out to Louis. It was like Liam didn't exist, Louis just remained completely blank and oblivious to everything..Liam  and Harry exchanged worried glances.

One of the machines hooked up to Niall suddenly emitted a serious of loud beeps and a nurse came rushing in to the room. She grabbed something off a near by trolley and seemed to be doing something  down Niall's throat. There was an odd sucking sound and then the beeping stopped. Harry looked down at the spilled tea at his feet then back up at the nurse' Wh-wh- what happened? Is he OK?"

"He was experiencing respiratory distress due to a small amount of mucus gathering in his throat. I've cleared it and everything is under control. The Doctor will be here shortly and we'll need you to step outside for a time. Why don't you go and get some food and rest? 

Harry and Liam nodded and tried to get Louis to come with them but he was as unresponsive as Niall.Harry frowned in thought then went to the door and whispered to someone outside. He came back, this time accompanied by Alberto who gently gathered Louis up in his arms and walked from the room. Louis didn't resist . Louis, the chirpy,sassy lad had become a lifeless shell. A nurse walked up to Alberto , spoke to him briefly, then led the way to a small room off the main hallway. Alberto gently lay Louis down on the bed and the nurse covered him with a light blanket. Alberto went and sat down quietly in the corner while the nurse checked Louis over. "I think it's just a case of emotional shock but I will get one of the doctors to come by and check. She smiled gently at the big bodyguard and left him alone with Louis who lay there just staring at the ceiling.

Harry and Liam sat in a corner of the hospital canteen , untouched mugs of tea before them. A small blond girl came up to them and timidly spoke" I don't want to bother you but we just want you to know that all the fans are praying for Niall and we hope he will be ok. " Harry, nodded, too afraid to speak un case he lost control and cried. Liam thanked her quietly. The girl nodded then walked away, looking back at them over her shoulder as she left, her own tears trickling down her cheeks.

Liam glanced up at the TV that was showing the news, his attention caught by hearing Niall's name..

"......Niall Horan. The fans continue to maintain their candle light  vigil outside St Vincent's hospital where the One Direction member  is being treated in the ICU. We have had no official confirmation of Niall's condition but it is believed to be extremely serious. The band's management have said they will deliver an official  statement  later today but ask that both the fans and media respect the privacy of Niall , his family and his band members at this time.

The labour party's new leader....."

Liam pulled his attention back from the television to look at Harry. "I......Louis......what...." his voice fell away as he was unable to form any coherent way of expressing his thoughts. Harry seemed to  understand  and nodded " Let's go back" he said, pushing back his chair and standing. His phone beeped as a text came in . Harry pulled out his phone and looked at the incoming message " At airport. On my way" He showed Liam , who nodded wearily. Sighing, he followed Harry out of the canteen and back to the ICU and Niall.

The door to Niall's room was closed when they arrived back , indicating that they were to wait outside while the medical staff attended to Niall. Eventually the door opened and the Doctor emerged . He saw their expectant faces looking at him so walked over to join them . "Niall has responded to the cooling treatment and his temperature has now reduced to a more  acceptable level. That is the more positive aspect. Unfortunately Niall has had both another seizure and a further incident of respiratory distress. I am concerned at the possibility of Niall developing pneumonia which isn't uncommon with patients on life support. This will be carefully monitored however. I'm just waiting for the results of his blood tests to see how his oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are currently. You can go in again now and I'll pop back shortly after I have seen your friend, Mr Tomlinson. He broke down completely about 20 minutes ago and I have had him sedated to allow him to rest. He should be fine after a decent sleep . He's  just down the hall if you want to sit with him" 

Harry decided he would go sit with Louis while Liam went to be with Niall. Bobby and Maura had arrived at the airport and Basil, Niall's bodyguard, had gone to meet them and bring them to the hospital. Looking at Niall, now free from the 'bear hugger' and covered with a light blanket, Liam was glad that they had been spared seeing that side of Niall's treatment. The  many machines surrounding Niall still looked formidable but Liam kept reminding himself that they were keeping Niall alive and that was all that mattered at the moment. 

A middle aged nurse came into the room who introduced herself as Claire and told him that she was Niall's nurse for the next shift. There was something very calming about the way she moved around Niall, adjusting wires and checking readings, all the time chatting to Niall in a conversational way.

"Now then, sweetheart, you would not believe how many pretty girls are waiting outside the hospital for you to wake up. And your parents will be here shortly. I'm just going to give you a quick wash so you'll be ready for them. Liam will come back and chat with you when I am done, OK?" She smiled at Liam as she ushered him out and Liam continued to hear her voice talking of this and that to Niall  as she went about her tasks. It made him feel, not exactly hopeful, but somehow more at peace. He sat back down  in a chair in the waiting area, and leaning back his head, fell into a light doze. Waiting, worrying and the not knowing was exhausting.