Three Willows {Harry Styles - One Direction Fan Fic}

Chapter 4:

Chapter 4:

Kat pulled to a stop in front of the homestead. Zayn’s eyes swept the veranda ending on the seat Tommy would often sit in and have his morning coffee. He’d almost expected him to be there. Still finding it hard to believe all that had taken place.

Zayn still remembered the feeling of dread when the call had come over the radio asking for urgent assistance of anyone in the area.

He had been about an hour away from the property and responded immediately. All he knew was that a medical emergency had taken place and they needed a medivac to the nearest base hospital. The local Flying Doctor Service was on another call and unable to respond.

The entire time he had been en-route all he could imagine was that Kat was critically injured and he needed to get there before it was too late. As he’d come in to land, he’d studied as best as possible the faces just off from the helipad. She was noticeably absent, which had sent him into a wild panic causing the helicopter to slightly over balance. After quickly correcting the controls, he’d been able to sit her down safely enough to slightly power down in order for the patient to be placed in back.

Zayn looked on as Johnno, the medical officer on the Station crawled into the back guiding the stretcher being lifted in by Liam as he did. Zayn had closed his eyes a moment willing himself to be strong, before looking to see who it was. He’d expected to see the very worst. To see Kat laying there. Instead he was shocked even more so to see the almost lifeless body of Tommy. His face ashen with the exception of dark red earth mingled in with the blood from the gash above his temple.

Powering back up Zayn had ensured Johnno and Tommy were strapped in properly before lifting off and heading to Port Hedland Base hospital. He’d tried to get Johnno’s attention to find out where Kat was by yelling over the noise from the rotor, as Johnno hadn’t put the headphones in back on, as he had been too busy tending to Tommy. Finally he’d given up knowing it was futile and also knowing that if Kat was aware of her father’s condition she would be there in the seat beside him.

Throughout the trip to Port Hedland his mind had raced. His thoughts had been of the man he carried in back. Of how he had been a father to him, when his own never really had. Of how he had placed so much trust and responsibility into Zayn’s hands. Of how much his daughter meant to them both and how he had to make sure he got him there alive.

He’d vaguely remembered calling ahead on the radio advising them of their approach and requesting permission to land. The whir of activity once he had touched down was a blur. All he really remembered was wanting to get out and follow the stretcher into the hospital, but knowing he couldn’t as he’d been told to offload and move out immediately as the helipad was required for another emergency.

To Zayn it had seemed like an eternity before he had been able to stow the helicopter at the local airport and manage a lift to the hospital. Once he’d arrived he found Johnno, who had no news except that Tommy was in surgery and that Kat was on her way. He’d filled him in on how she had been out with Liam picking up supplies and how Louis had left as soon as they knew how serious Tommy’s condition was to intercept them and bring her to the hospital.

After pushing for details, all the doctors would tell Zayn was that Tommy had suffered swelling to the brain as a result of what doctors suspected was a kick to the head from a horse. He also had sustained some broken bones from what they also guessed was from a fall from a horse. They had asked of the next of kin and had suggested that whoever there was needed to get there as quickly as possible. Zayn had sat by Tommy’s bed in the ICU waiting for Kat to arrive all the while clutching Tommy’s cold pale hand.

Zayn had never prayed harder in his life. Prayed for Kat to arrive but mostly for Tommy to pull through.

Hours later when Kat had finally been led to the bedside. Zayn stepped aside to let her get closer. Her eyes had flicked to his and he saw the fear in them, even though she had only looked on him for the briefest of moments. She sat in the chair he had vacated ever so slowly before tentatively reaching out her hand. A small sob emitted from her before she placed her head on her father’s hand, whispering ‘Dad, I’m here.’ Zayn turned and walked out allowing her time with her father.

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Louis had hugged Zayn to him briefly before asking how Tommy was. Zayn filled him in on all he knew and of Kat’s reaction at seeing her father lying with tubes sticking out of him. Louis in turn filled in Zayn on how Kat had reacted when he’d finally met them on the road. They then took seats with Johhno and waited on further news.

It had been three days of the same for them. Kat only leaving Tommy’s bedside for a quick bathroom break or to eat. She’d hardly touched the food, but the Doctors had insisted she had to.

Liam had requested that Johhno go back to the Station after the first day, but insisted that Louis remain with Kat. Johnno had taken the jeep back with Zayn promising that he would fly them home when the time came.

On the fourth day Tommy had had a fatal aneurism. The only thing keeping him alive at that point, were the machines.

Kat had walked into the waiting room with tears streaming down her face, right past Zayn who had immediately stood when she entered, and into Louis’ arms. Her sobbing unchecked as he held her tightly. Once Louis had her calm enough to speak, she explained to both men what the doctors had told her. Tommy was brain dead. He had no cognitive functionality.

Moments later a doctor was by their side advising her that she should consider the donation of any viable organs. The sooner that she came to that decision the better it would be for possible donor recipients.

Zayn remembered standing by clenching and unclenching his fists, unable to fathom what was unfolding in front of him. Tommy Murphy couldn’t be gone. The man had always seemed unbreakable.

On Kat’s request both men had been with her by Tommy’s bedside as the machines were switched off. Kat seated by the bedside, clutching her father’s hand, Louis’ hand resting on her shoulder as he stood just behind her. Zayn was right next to Louis, his hand gripping his friends shoulder.

Unlike in movies, the noise from the monitors had been muted. There had been no long beep, no discernible signal that he was gone. The nurse had appeared a few moments after the machines were turned off and checked his vitals. She’d moved about her task with quick efficiency before looking across the bed nodding confirmation at Kat, as she’d told her she was sorry for her loss.

At that moment Kat turned her tear filled brown eyes, so much like her father’s up to Louis’ before reaching for him. He’d instinctively started reaching for her. Louis’ tanned muscular arms had wrapped her and held her head tightly to his stomach. The contrast between his skin and her face emphasised how all of the colour had left her. He traced his thumb back and forward across her cheek as Louis himself had closed his eyes as his tears started. Zayn had stood watching the woman he loved be comforted by another man fighting the tears he felt until he could longer hold them at bay.

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