Niall, answer the door please

Don't you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me

The boys had put the video clips on a loop so they played continuously in the background. They had been over joyed to see Niall's eyes opening more often. True, that flash of ocean blue only lasted for seconds but it was a welcome sight. With each passing day they felt things were moving forward. Niall had made good progress and was now off dialysis as his kidneys had started to function properly. He was still getting fluids , medication and nutrients via IV but every tiny step forward gave them renewed hope.

"Do you ever worry that he still might not make it?" Liam suddenly asked. "What if something goes wrong and it goes pear-shaped on us? It's been six weeks now and it doesn't seem like things have moved forward that much"

"No, I'm not looking back, Li, I've  got my eyes on the future and  having our Nialler back with us all healthy again" Of all the band, Louis was the one who was the most positive. After his major breakdown in the early days of Niall being hospitalised, Louis was determined not to give up on Niall again. Niall had already come through what should have taken his life yet he was still here. Niall was strong, Niall was a fighter and, as Niall himself always said, Niall was Irish like that just explained everything. And somehow it did.

"Good morning, gentlemen" Niall's physical therapist, Dave, strode into the room and after greeting Niall, proceeded to tell him what he was going to do as if Niall was totally aware of everything. Dave pulled back Niall's bedding and started his usual routine of bending and stretching Niall's limbs. He carried on doing this following a set pattern then he started to massage Niall's legs and that's when it happened. Niall started screaming and flinching away from Dave's hands. They boys were startled but Dave remained unfazed and continued  with the massage moving onto Niall's arms which then flailed about. The more Niall screamed , the happier Dave looked and he carried on unrelentingly for another ten minutes. A big smile crept across Dave's face as he finally stopped his task and carefully covered Niall up.

"What was that about?" Zayn wondered out loud. Was Niall being tortured?

"Niall is now moving into a semi conscious awareness. The comatose state is lightening." Dave explained. "He can feel pain and although he isn't really aware of why, he knows that he's being hurt. It may look like and sound terrible but it's actually a very good thing. Moving his body after being still for so long is causing him pain. The nearest I can describe it to is the pain you get when your blood supply is cut off but then the blood flows freely again, a bit like having pins and needles only , in this case, far more intense. This reaction, combined with his brief moments of wakefulness, are what we have been hoping for. I'll be back tomorrow"  Dave gave them a casual wave and left to work with his next patient.

"I don't know" Li commented "Is it really OK to hurt Ni like that?"

"If it gets him well again, I don't care how much it hurts him. Well, that's not true, I do care he's in pain but this has got to be a case of the ends justifying the means" Louis stated. He suddenly felt really light hearted and started to poke and prod at Harry, which ended up with Hazz  flat on the floor gurgling with laughter as Louis tickled his sides.

"Stop, Boobear, I'm going to wet myself!" Harry spluttered in laughter. Louis just tickled him more until  Zayn and Liam finally managed to haul him of a breathless and red faced Harry. "Tommo, you're a ...."  Whatever Harry had been about to say  was never uttered because his attention was suddenly pulled to bed where Niall lay. Niall's eyes were wide open and wild looking  as he appeared  to be trying to yank all  the tubes from his body.

Machines started to beep loudly and  nurses rushed into the room hastily pushing  the boys out of the door. Harry moved to  stand back in the doorway but it closed in his face. Why had they not kept their eyes on Niall was his one thought.