Stumbling through the dark

'MY' !

As Doctor Peters promised, after just a few more days, Niall was finally able to leave the Isolation Unit and be treated in a regular room. Life was far less boring and now he was feeling so much better, he was enjoying having visitors.The downside of being out of danger and slowly getting better, was that  Louis had had to return to LA and his baby son, Freddie. He still made sure he phoned Niall daily and skyped with him regularly . Even so, Niall missed him terribly. Their bond had gone from strength to strength since they had resolved their differences and each and every call was greatly anticipated . They had just finished one of those calls when Niall heard a light tap on his door. "Come in" he called out then smiled with delight when he recognised his pretty visitor.  "Caoimhe! Come in, what's the craic?"

"Niall, it's great to see you. I hope you don't mind but Bobby told Doctor O'Brian you were a patient here. I'm over visiting my parents so I thought you'd not mind me popping in to see you.  I see you went ahead with the stem cell transplant. How'd it go?" Caoimhe  gave him a soft kiss on the cheek thenpulled a chair close to the bed and sat down looking at Niall appraisingly. "You're looking better than I was expecting" she said candidly.

"Well, chemo was h*ll, like you said. I guess not really knowing how bad it was going to get was a mercy. I hope I never experience it again. It was sh*t.  I don't know about the results of the SCT. I have to wait another week  or so before they can  do the scans. But it's great seeing you." Niall beamed at her. They spent the next few minutes discussing the treatment Niall had been undergoing, the problems he'd experienced and his hopes that it was going to ultimately turn out to have been successful. That would make all the problems he had endured, well worth it.

"I  really can't stay much longer, but I did want to see you" Caoimhe admitted before continuing to chat with Niall about  more random things, passing on messages from family and friends back in Mullingar .She  seemed to be getting increasingly  uneasy and was casting worried glances at the door.   Niall wondered if she was just being shy. He hoped that he would just be Niall to her, not Niall of OneDirection. Surely she didn't feel uncomfortable in his presence?  After another  fifteen minutes Caoimhe stood up and started to say good bye. "Look after yourself, Niall. And be good..no giving your nurses trouble!" she said with mock sternness which earned her a cheeky grin from Niall."I'd better go"

"Come back tomorrow. Please?" Niall asked her with a hopeful expression on his face.

"I'd love to but I can't" she was regretful but she was already beginning to panic. Her ex -Fiancé , a doctor, was working at this hospital and Caoimhe didn't want to risk bumping into him, or the nurse with whom he had cheated on her. No, that she wanted to avoid him at all costs. "Sorry, Niall, I can't" she sounded regretful and Niall felt so disappointed. He'd loved having her with him. Just hearing the familiar accent of home was relaxing. And add the fact she was an extremely attractive girl,just added to his pleasure.

"Then stay a little longer....please?" He copied Liam's puppy dog face and smiled  broadly when Caoimhe laughingly agreed and sat back down again. Soon they were chatting back and forth as if they'd know each other forever. Even the small silences felt comfortable.

"Good afternoon, Mr Horan"  a young doctor entered the room then stopped.."Caoimhe" he said smirking as Caoimhe colored up. Niall looked from face to face. Judging by Caoimhe's expression, she wasn't happy seeing this man. Niall wracked his brains trying to work out why the smile had been wiped so abruptly of Caoimhe's pretty face. Then the penny dropped. This had to be the cad who had cheated on Caoimhe. And the f.cking man had the nerve to smirk down at the poor girl. Niall glared at the man who returned his glare with a sickly smug expression. Niall felt his anger building up inside him. He reached out and took Caoimhe's hand in a comforting grip. It felt icy cold in his own warm hand. He squeezed it very gently then plastered a smile on his face.

"You know my girlfriend?" he asked , with a slight emphasis on  the 'my' as he spoke to the doctor, doing his best to keep his tone pleasant when what he really wanted to do was to knock that smug look of the doctor's face. He pulled her closer to him as he spoke and inwardly cheered as an uncertain look crossed the doctors face. 

"We've.ah..met" the young doctor answered, his smug look having been replaced by one of uncertainty. He had planned to taunt the young woman but was now wary. Niall Horan was one of Paul Taylor's patients and it wouldn't do to upset him in any way. He knew he was fortunate to be employed at this particular hospital and if he wanted to get on, he didn't want to jeopardise his position. If Mr Taylor heard anything adverse about it, it  certainly wouldn't do him any favors.  He cleared his throat " Mr Taylor asked me to keep an eye on you for him today. He's out of town. I just need to check you over. Caoimhe, if you'd like to leave whilst I examine Mr Horan" He couldn't keep the dismissive tone from his voice and Niall raised his eyebrows on hearing it.

"No" Niall said firmly "I'd like her to stay, if you don't mind". Niall tone made it clear that he, Niall, was going to get what he wanted. And he didn't want some arrogant tw*t pushing Caoimhe around. The doctor spared Caoimhe a quick glare but didn't go against his patients request.

"As you wish" was the brief reply as the doctor got out his stethoscope. While the doctor was looking down, Niall gave Caoimhe a smile and a wink which she returned with a half smile. It faded quickly but Niall kept hold of her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb as he smiled encouragingly at her. After a few minutes,the doctor straightened up, the examination over,  and scribbled some notes on his clipboard. "Mr Horan, Caoimhe" he said stiffly as he nodded his goodbye.

"Bl**dy Ba*ta*d" Niall growled as Caoimhe control broke and she started crying softy. "Come here, girl" He pulled her into his arms and hugged her gently. He didn't try to stem her tears, just kept her in a comforting embrace, his chin resting on her soft hair as he breathed in her flowery perfume. He hated seeing her crying but instinctively knew she needed to let the hurt out. And she felt so right being cuddled in his arms. 

Caoimhe's tears finally subsided and she moved away from Niall, blushing a fiery red with embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry" she murmured. "I didn't want to see him. I should never have come. I'm sorry, Niall, I'll go now". She stood up and headed for the door, keeping her face averted from Niall.She rushed from the room, ignoring Niall's pleas for her to stay.  He lay back, forehead creased in frustration. F.ck, he suddenly thought. He hoped Caoimhe wasn't annoyed that he had told the doctor she was his girlfriend. He was so mad at the way the man had been smirking at her that he just wanted to wipe the smile of his smug, arrogant face. And claiming she was now his girlfriend just sort of slipped out. He hadn't planned on it hurting Caoimhe.  F.ck!