Breathe Me // n.horan au *Completed*

[3]

[3]

22nd of October, 2014

I had two medium sized bags ready to go right after I had put Kerrigan to sleep last night. Right now, those bags were sitting near the front door. Greg woke me up at six so that we could have a brother-brother breakfast before he left for work.

"At least Aisling will let you visit even while you're working. You get to drop by and see Kerrigan everyday." Greg said, beginning to pour himself a second cup of coffee.

I nodded, "And you can work one job." He sighed at my statement. "Greg, come on. You don't need to work your ass off at two shitty places anymore. I've got this under control now. I get paid every single day, in cash. You're finally getting the break you deserve. Why don't you just take it?"

"Niall, I know you're looking out for me but I'm looking out for you."

"Why me? I don't need that money and that kind of rest anymore."

"Ni, kiddo, I want you to save the left over amount for school. You can't just not go to school."

I sighed, "Yeah, school would be fantastic but I don't think I want to go. I'll just find work. Maybe even work with the little old lady who made me sandwiches everyday. She loves me."

Greg smiled and shook his head, "If you want me to resign from one job, then fine."

"Yes! Kerrigan would love it. You could take the later shifts so you can spend the day with her. Louis and Eleanor already said they really want to baby sit her."

"But..." He trailed off.

"Uh-oh, 'buts' aren't good."

"You have to enroll yourself into uni for general studies if not certain classes for your teaching, okay?"

"Deal, but after her surgery."

"Fine." He huffed. "Sarcastically speaking, mum and dad would probably just love how I'm raising you right now."

"They would understand why I'm doing this." I shrugged.

"What time is the car coming for you?" He asked, putting on his coat.

"Ten-thirtyish. Lou's gonna be here to take care of Kerrigan until you get back."

Greg gave me hug and sighed, "Good luck, okay?"

"Thanks." I smiled at him before shutting the door. I heard coughing come from Kerrigan's bedroom so I went to check on her. She had adjusted herself so that she was sitting up. "Hey, cuteness. You alright? I heard you coughing."

"Yeah, Ni. I am okay. I had a bad dream but it felt very real."

"Oh, yeah? What was it about?" I asked, sitting next to her legs.

"You took me to the lake for a picnic and we went swimming but you started to drown. I was trying to save you but I started to drown, too. I, somehow, got out of the water but you were still drowning." She whispered, tears filling her eyes. My heart started to race and I pulled her into a warm hug. "You never came up. I thought I lost you like we lost mummy and daddy."

"Baby, it was just a nightmare. I'm here, with you. I'm okay. We're both safe and sound. I won't let anything happen to me or you or Greg, okay?"

She nodded against my chest, "I miss them."

"Me too, Kerrigan. But we'll be okay. We're the Horan's. We're always okay."

"You're going today. Leaving because of me and my stupid surgery." She grumbled. That tone was used whenever she was angry with herself. "Why can't I just get better without money? Or... Or everything would have been better and easier if I had just died. Then you and Greg didn't have to work all the time."