One Direction One Shots

Through The Dark - { Niall Horan }

It all started out as a normal evening: Niall was sprawled out on the couch scrolling through Twitter. He tried to ignore the bad things about him and the boys, only focusing on good things about the fans. It was no different than any other night, nothing special going on. But that was all changed when the screen on his iphone changed to Jade’s contact picture. It vibrated in his hand with a ring tone. She was calling him. The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile. Talking to her always made his day, no matter how long the conversation was.

He slid his thumb across the screen and brought the device up to his ear. “Hey Jadie!” Niall exclaimed, wondering why she was calling this late.

At first, there was no voice on the other line but the noises of a busy street and rapid footsteps.

“Niall..” Jade breathed on the other end of the phone. Her voice wasn’t normal, and her breathing was irregular.

“Jade? Are you okay?” He sat up, suddenly concerned.

“Ni..I… need you.. to come get… me.” She managed. Something was definitely wrong.

Niall jumped up, rushing to get his coat “I’m coming. Where are you?”

“North 34th Street. Ni.. I need you… Help” Those were the last words she croaked before the line went dead. He rushed out the door, still putting on his shoes. On his way out the door he fumbled to dial Harry’s number.

When Harry picked up, Niall didn’t even wait for him to say hello.

“Harry I need you to come pick me up. Jade’s in trouble. Please.” He said frantically.

It took a moment for Harry to respond, as he had probably just woken up. “I’ll be there right away.” he replied in a raspy voice.

About five minutes later Harry’s car pulled up to Niall’s front door. He quickly got in and they sped away to the address Jade had given him.

As they pulled up to the curb, they saw no sign of her. They ran around the stores and on the sidewalk until they came to an alley where a dark figure lay on the ground. At first Niall thought it was a homeless person sleeping, but Harry quickly pointed out the familiar converse that Jade always wore.

Niall rushed to her side, kneeling next to her limp body. What he saw startled him, seeing her like this was too much to handle. She had bruises and large cuts covering her body, red marks on her arm and face, as though someone had struck her. You could just barely make out the shape of a hand on her cheek. Also, her left arm was bent at a funny angle. His fear and panic soon turned to anger. He had a pretty good idea of what could have happened to her.

He turned to his friend, anger and sadness consuming him “We need to take her to a hospital.” Niall said scooping her up gently. He trudged through the rain back to the car and settled into the back seat of Harry's car as they drove to the hospital, cradling her in his arms. He did not take his eyes off of her the entire ride, examining her once flawless face. There was a gash on her lip, and he wiped away the drop of blood that had started to run down her chin. He hated seeing her this way, knowing there was almost nothing he could do.

When they reached the hospital the doctors immediately whisked her away, speaking to each other frantically the way doctors do, and instructed Niall and Harry to stay in the waiting room.

It seemed like eternity before Dr. Caverly came to the waiting room, explaining that she suffered from hypothermia; the reason she passed out. He eventually said that Niall could now go and see her.

Niall walked into the room, seeing her propped up by pillows in the hospital bed. He rushed to her, hugging her so tightly that he never wanted to let go. She let out a small laugh, but then a quiet whimper. He realized with a start that he had probably just crushed her arm that was now in a cast.

“I'm sorry.” Niall said, releasing her. “Jade..” He looked up into her eyes, never feeling so relieved to have her next to him. “What happened to you?” He asked, stroking her cheek.

Her beautiful smile faded and her eyes got a sad, faraway look to them.

“It was.... Tanner”

Tanner. That sleazeball. Niall had never liked the man who Jade recently started dating, he knew there just wasn’t something right about him. Jade was his best friend, the one person he cared about most in the entire world, right up there with his family. She had convinced him that Tanner was a good guy, he just wasn’t around him enough to really get to know him. Niall believed her, and all he wanted was for her to be happy. Because that was all that mattered. As long as she was happy, he was too.

But now this happened, he had been so naive. He could have prevented this.

“Has he done this before?” Niall spoke, tears coming to his eyes

She nodded and looked down “I didn't want you to worry about me.. I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. I was so stupid...”

“Oh Jade..” Niall tilted her chin up to look at him, and they held each others teary-eyed gaze “I will always worry about you. You.. you deserve only the best. And this is not at all your fault, and you are certainly not stupid.”

She didn’t say anything for a while, she just closed her eyes while tears streamed down her face. “I was so scared... I just ran from his place after it happened. You were the first person I thought to call... Thank you.”

Niall noticed she was shivering, and he climbed into the bed also. He lay down next to her, facing her and propping his head on his hand. The other gently played with her dirty blonde locks. He softly began to sing, his eyes tracing every outline of her perfect face.

“Don't burn out, even if you scream and shout. It will come back to you. And I'll be here for you”

She opened her eyes and looked at him, listening intently.

“I will carry you over fire and water for your love, and I will hold you closer, hope your heart is strong enough. When the night is coming down on you, we will find a way through the dark.” He sang softly, stroking her cheek.

“Ni” She interrupted, more tears filling her eyes. “I want you to know that.. I love you, but.. I’m not ready for another relationship.” She said, her voice wavering a bit. “I hope you understand. I’m just not ready..”

Niall leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. “I understand completely. And I love you too Jade. I will always be there for you when you need me, and you can always count on me. I will wait as long as you need me to.”

He had never really realized it before, but Niall loved Jade as more than just his best friend. Lying there next to her, with her fragile body so close to him, he realized he never wanted anything more. She was the light of his life, and the thought that someone could do this to her was unbearable. Jade was his whole world, and he would do anything for her and to protect her.

“I will always be here for you, and I will carry you through the dark.”
_________________________________________

Much love,
Natalia♥