Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Twenty-Six

The ride over to the hospital had been a silent one. Anger was coursing through my body, and my jaw was clenched from me trying to keep my rage in check. Harry  had a death grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white, and I was glad he seemed to share my anger. I knew I couldn't pin-point the exact culprit that put the baseball bat on Geordie's bed, but I knew all suspects shared the same motive. And blood for that matter. They wanted to hurt me, to weaken me, and I'll be damned before I let them do that. Drake wanted me away from Harry, Trace wanted me away from Sebastian, all for appearances sake. Dante was a ruthless monster and got sadistic pleasure out of my misery. And Sebastian...I had no clue what he had against me, but it didn't matter. He was now as evil as the rest. We pulled up outside the hospital and as soon as we were parked I was out of the vehicle, and racing in. By the time I had made it to the ward Geordie was on, Harry had caught up and was holding my hand reassuringly. I reached for the door handle, but my hand stilled before I could twist it open.
"Dev?" Harry questioned, his other hand landing on my shoulder as  I stared at the doorknob.
"What if it's the bat, Harry?" My voice was soft, and I inhaled sharply through my nose.
"I doubt it." Harry said gently. "It would be the missing evidence we need. They're not that careless."
"But what if it is?" I cried, my voice trembling slightly. "I still have nightmares, Harry. You know I do. You've been there holding me at night, me covered in sweat and sobbing. If it's the same bat used on Geordie, if it's the same bat that haunts my dreams..."
"I'll go in first." Harry offered. "I'll check for you." I spun around and wrapped my arms around his neck, and his arms instantly snaked around my waist.
"Thank you." I whispered just as he pressed his lips to the top of my head.
"You don't have to thank me."
"Not just for protecting me, Harry. For putting up with me. I cry all the time, my nightmares disturb your sleep, and I hate just about your entire family, and they hate me. I don't know how you haven't gone running yet." I blurted out my heart wrenching at the thought of him leaving me. Harry observed me intently with his hypnotic eyes and then his lips spread into a smile.
"Firstly, you cry for too little for a girl that hurts far too much." His words struck me, but I remained silent. "Secondly, your nightmares don't disturb my sleep. I wake up minutes before you start screaming in your sleep, like part of me knows you're hurting. I don't know how, but I know that whenever I wake up before you, I smile because I am grateful I am there waiting to comfort you. And thirdly, I hate most of my family too. How can I love those who hurt the most loved and treasured person in my life?" My lips parted in shock, and Harry halted me by crushing his lips to mine, his tongue thrusting into my mouth. His lips slid against mine, and my arms travelled up his taught arms and cupped his face. We both smiled into the kiss, and when we were breathless we pulled back.
"Wait here." Harry pecked my lips one last time, before opening the door and walking in. A few moments later he opened the door again.
"It's not the bat." Harry confirmed, and I exhaled loudly. I walked in and my eyes landed on Geordie still unconscious. I slowly walked up to him, and Harry wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"Do you want to be alone with him?" Harry offered.
"No." I said quickly. "Stay please?"
"Of course." Harry kissed right below my ear, and I grabbed onto his arms that were wrapped around me. I checked Geordie's  monitor to see his vitals were still fine, everything appeared normal aside from the bat, which Harry had dumped into the trashcan tucked away in the corner.
"He looks like you." Harry filled the silence.
"You think?" I asked, and I felt him smile as he nodded against the crook of my neck.
"You both have fair, flawless skin, dark brown hair,  and a small nose." He listed the similarities and I felt a smile spread across my lips.
"I bet he has your blue eyes too."
"He doesn't actually." I mused lightly. "He has these doe-brown eyes that sparkle whenever he laughs. Especially when he's done something cheeky. I used to call it the spark before the fire." Harry laughed against my skin, and I smiled fondly at the memory. 
"You have that dangerous spark too." Harry grinned, and I smirked at the comment.
"We were quite the pranksters." I indulged in the memories of the water fights we shared, or the time he switched the salt with the sugar.
"Who won most?" I pondered on his question, and laughed lightly.