Two Degrees of Separation

Chapter 23: He Isn't Here

Author's Note: Poor Harry. Poor Scott. Poor Scarry. If any of you have any ideas regarding where you want this to go, feel free to comment!

Chapter 23: He Isn't Here

Harry sauntered off stage at the end of his set, still buzzing from the energy of the crowd. He searched for the pair of arms that he needed, but he frowned when he realized that they were nowhere to be found. The crew didn't seem to want to look at him.

Sierra came into view, jogging towards him and taking him by the arm. She looked... puzzled.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked, not sure how else to ask approximately 23 questions at once.

"Sure," Sierra breathed out, leading Harry down the hallway to his dressing room.

"Where's Scott?" Harry asked, trying to make his voice sound light. He fooled nobody, as his voice emerged sounding shaky.

"He's um... he's in your dressing room," Sierra responded, softly. Harry shrugged. He knew that once he saw Scott, he would feel better regardless of how everyone else was acting. He just needed those arms.

Harry opened the door and scanned the room. "He isn't here, Sierra," he said, simply.

"Sit down."

Harry froze in place. His body was refusing to comply with the direction. A hand rested gently on his lower back and led him to a couch, and Sierra gently pushed him to be seated before sitting next to him, taking his hand into both of hers.

Harry realized only in that moment that she looked as though she might cry.

"Where's Scott, Sierra?" Harry asked again, his voice abnormally calm.

"Harry... Scott... Scott wanted to go into the audience earlier. Did you see him out there?" She attempted to smile at him, but it was watery and uneven. Harry shook his head.

"He... didn't come back right away. Apparently, he had some trouble getting backstage again." Harry felt himself take his first breath of the conversation.

It's okay. He couldn't get backstage, so he went back to the hotel and he is waiting for you there.

"He... went outside, to come in the side door," Sierra's eyes were suddenly unfocused, like she was trying not to think about what she was saying.

"Where is Scott?"

And with the third utterance of that question, Sierra allowed a single tear to escape her eye. She raised her hand to clasp over her mouth.

"He's in the hospital, Harry."

Harry could hear his heart pounding in his own head.

"Why?" It came out as barely a whisper.

"He got... jumped..." she whispered back.

Harry sprung to his feet immediately. "Text me the address." And with that, he left her there.

"Jumped" kept flooding Harry's brain. That could mean anything. Scott could have been beaten, mugged... stabbed, shot... raped...

Harry rubbed his hands together compulsively as he sat in the empty waiting room, alone.

"Mr. Styles." Harry's tear-filled eyes met those of an older looking doctor. He looked kind, and somehow that provided Harry with a bit of comfort. Harry stood, slowly, trying to read the other man's expression.

"Your friend is pretty impressive," the doctor mused, and Harry flinched at the word "friend". The doctor overlooked this, however, and continued. "The witness who called in reported that there were at least five men involved. It's a miracle that this didn't end fatally..."