The Trouble with a Cough

Chapter four

Harry had let out about five sneezes since his dad had left and hadn't covered at all.  His nose was streaming now and he was still wiping it with his jumper as kids do.

"Harry, Buddy, the tissues are literally right beside you. . ." Zayn tutted, rushing to stop him from germing his jersey up even more. Harry sniffled innocently and shivered as his dad pushed a handful of tissue into his hands, "use those instead Love, they won't be as rough on your poor nose as your jumper is."

"I'm finished Daddy," Louis rasped, holding out his empty bowl.
"Good job, is your throat feeling better now?" Zayn took the bowl.
Louis shrugged, "little bit."

Zayn took Louis' empty bowl and Harry's full one into the kitchen to load into the dishwasher and then headed back for the cuddles he'd promised Harry. Harry coughed into the air and instantly curled into Zayn as he sat down.

Louis waited until his brother had stopped and then connected to his Dad's other side with a content sigh.

"Bridge to Terabithia Dad?" Louis peered up hopefully.
Zayn sighed and laughed, "you're not sick of it yet?"
Louis shook his head, offended, "no!"

"I suppose we can watch it for the eightieth time then. . ." Zayn smiled. Harry's grip tightened on his shirt and he rubbed his back, knowing that his son wasn't going to let him move. "Can you grab the remote for me Lou?"

"Okay Daddy," Louis said, nodding. He peeled back his blankets and slid backwards off the couch, rubbing his hands on his bare arms as he tottered over to the cabinet where the remote had been place. He shivered and handed it to Zayn, who ushered him back onto the couch and enveloped him in all the blankets.

"Thank you Baby," Zayn rubbed his shoulder before bringing up Netflix. Niall soon came down in his pajamas after his shower and luckily for Zayn  he saw what film was on and sat down and was glued to it.

Nothing else happened and after the movie had finished Zayn took everyone upstairs to put to bed. He left a couple of boxes of tissues in the twins room for them and left to go clean up the house some as small messes had been left everywhere throughout the day.

He watched another TV show and then just like the night before Harry appeared in the doorway, coughing and shaking like a leaf.

Zayn sighed as he picked the boy up and he snuggled into him.  He went and gave the boy some medicine before going up to bed and placing an unhappy Harry on the bed while he got changed.
"Daddy," Harry whined, breaking out into another series of chesty coughs. They'd started dry but they definitely weren't now. Colds generally got worse at night so Zayn didn't think much of it.

"I know sweetheart, hang on. . ."

Usually he slept in his underwear and a T-shirt but if Harry was in the bed with him he figured he should probably put on some pants. He caught Harry's dripping nose with a tissue before he could wipe it on his arm again. "Blow Haz," Zayn instructed. Harry did what he was told and started coughing again, pushing the tissue and his dad away.
"Okay, hop into bed," Zayn said.
"Need change," Harry croaked.

"Oh. That's alright, thank you for telling me Hazza."

With everything else going on it was getting difficult to remember that one of his kids was wearing a pull-up. Zayn got Harry's cleaning supplies and changed Harry before putting cream on and then a fresh pull-up. He rolled into bed and Harry laid next to him.
It was about half hour later when Louis quietly sneaked into the room and joined the pair. Niall remained fast asleep in his own bed.

Liam was at work trying to concentrate but he was worrying about his kids, and he was tired. So, so tired. This night shift business was not for him. The second night was most definitely not easier. He'd gotten the chance to stand still for three seconds and almost dozed off. Usually he'd let someone know and have someone come in to take over, he didn't want to screw up something and make someone sicker, but there was no one else who could come in and the hospital was busy so he had no choice but to carry on.