Never Forget *Narry*

5. Pull Us Through

Written by meeee :))

Harry POV

When Ed wheeled an unconscious Niall back into the room I had been waiting an hour in for his return, it would take a fool not to realise something was wrong, so who was to blame me as I rocketed out of my seat and was crouched in front of Niall's sleeping face in a matter of 10 seconds?

"What happened?" I ask the.. Doctor?.. Keeping my voice as controlled as possible.

"I asked him about you, just basic questions, but he wasn't giving me anything at all. And then he just burst into tears, asking for his brother - Lou? I think, I'm not quite sure - but he was frantic and before I knew it, he wasn't responding and was passed out in his chair" Ed must have seen the shock and complete and utter worry on my face because he quickly adds "-But I got a doctor to check him over and he's fine, his breathing is back to normal and his heartbeat is steady, we need to get him back into bed and I'll leave you be. There is one thing though."

I look up to Ed for him to continue and see his features are very reserved and wary, almost afraid of my reaction to what he says next.

"He was very insistent on seeing that brother of his and I'm know expert but I know the reason he hasn't been here isn't because he doesn't want to see Niall. I just hope you can put whatever is going on between the two of you, or whatever is going on generally, to one side and give Niall what he needs right now." I nod slowly and stand up.

Ed looks around a little nervously as he waits to help me get Niall back into his bed, but his beeper sounds throughout the quiet room and - although I was going to dismiss him anyway, going to tell him I had carried Niall plenty of times with no trouble - he shoots me an apologetic look before leaving the room and walks off, back in the direction he came.

"Those stupid panic attacks." I mumble to myself as I wheel Niall over to the side of his bed.

I carefully remove both his legs from the "foot holders" on the wheelchair and gently set his casted foot and sock-covered one on the floor, careful not to hurt him.

I step to the side of his chair and pick him up bridal style, as I have done so many times before - this being the seventh or eighth time since he was admitted to hospital, he sure tends to black out a lot, his panic attacks are actually getting slightly worrying - and walk around the chair to his bed, carefully laying him down and adjusting the pillows at his head so he is laying more comfortably.

I begin to go about my routine of settling Niall into bed, taking off his sock and stripping off his loose tracksuit bottoms. I only have the privilege of doing this when he is either sleeping or passed out, letting the nurses do it she he's awake so as not to startle him or freak him out. I sigh as I gently pull some loose gym shorts up over Niall's cast and unshaven legs. I carefully lift his body forward, removing his hoodie and tossing it over the chair next to his bed before I begin the task of tugging Niall's shirt gently over his head, replacing it with a loose tank top after I've sneakily admired his bare chest for a few extra moments.

The clothes Niall's wearing are ones he used to wear when he was "dossing" around the house, having a lazy day. It was when he was at his most comfortable and I wanted to try and bring that comfort into this awful place for him, he needed all the familiarity he could get at the moment, he just seems so... Lost... All the time and it's grating on me just as much as it is on him. It kills me to see him struggling every day, it kills me even more that every time he looks at me, he has to look away a few seconds later because I am just too much of an enigma for him.

Another sigh as I sit clasping Niall's hand from my spot beside his bed, softly stroking his porcelain skin and dancing my fingers over the faded indent his engagement ring had left on his fourth finger. I like to admire it whilst it's still there, I know it's only a matter of days before it disappears for good, the broken and faded line being my only promise and my only hope for my future, Niall's future.. Our future. Together.