Fate

When I woke again, it was 9 in the morning. I rolled out of bed and nearly fell right back into it as a wave of nausea hit me. After a few moments, I straightened up and walked to the door. I opened it and stepped into a dining room, blinking in the bright light. Everything in the apartment was white and modern and the large windows let in a ton of light. I walked through the dining room and glanced into the living room adjoining it. I stepped into the kitchen where Niall was seated at a small table with a cup of coffee, watching a football game.

“Oh, you’re awake.” He looked up. “How do you feel?”

I sat down at the table, “I’ve definitely felt better.”

I started as a shadow passed across the floor towards me.

“It’s just Paul.” Niall said, “He’s Harry’s bodyguard.”

I nodded at the large man leaning against the counter surveying the game on tv.

“So what happened last night?”
Niall got up and got a plate of food off of the counter and handed it to me. “Eat and let me explain.” I took the plate and began eating without really paying attention to what was in front of me.

“So I obviously I found you last night. I was at a music release party at a club and I left through the alleyway to avoid the crowd. I obviously found you, and Paul was with me so he called the police. They cleared everything up and allowed Paul and I to take you back with us. They said they want to talk to you as soon as you can about pressing charges. Let me tell you, you get a few weird looks from taxi drivers when you’re carrying an unconscious woman away from a police scene.” He smiled before continuing. “I took you back here and obviously you’re here at Harry’s.”

“That’s all that happened? I expected a bit more to the story.” I frowned.

Paul laughed, “Well that’s not quite all. The man will be waking up this morning in a cell with a pretty damn bruised face.”

“Oh.” I looked down at Niall’s hands. The knuckles were a slight purple with bruises and the skin was cracked in some places. “Oh…um…thanks. I think.”

Niall laughed too, “Not a problem. It’s been a long time since I’ve punched somebody.”

“What’s this I hear about punching people?” A familiar voice asked.

I dropped the fork I’d been holding. It clattered against the plate before falling to the floor, where it lay still, forgotten.

I turned and saw Harry standing in the doorway, his face draining of blood. I’m sure his expression of shock mirrored my own.

“Why are you here?” We said at the exact same time with the same strained voices.

Harry recovered first, “You’re the one in my apartment.”

“You just got shot. You shouldn’t be here either.” I countered.

He shrugged, “Being famous in an overcrowded critical care unit has its perks. Why are you here?”

I looked down, unable to admit what happened.

Niall spoke for me, “Harry don’t be such an ass. I brought her here.”

“Fucking my ex are we? Doesn’t she have her own apartment? I’m assuming she’s lived here for a few years now."

I gasped, heat rushing to my face. None of the men in the room looked at me.

“She nearly got raped last night and I happened to be the one to find her nearly unconscious body in alleyway.” Niall said coolly.

“Lowered your standards have we?” Harry asked me.

I involuntarily flinched and looked down at my left ring finger. The things he doesn’t know. “I never knew being sexually assaulted was a choice.”

“You used to stand your ground when I knew you. You would never have let anyone take advantage from you. What happened?” Harry spoke as if we were the only two in the room.

I quickly changed the subject, fighting off the memories. “Why did the hospital let you go? You should be under constant surveillance now. Hell, you shouldn’t be out of bed yet.”

“I am under constant surveillance. You’re my doctor aren’t you?”

“I can’t stay here. I have patients at the hospital I have to take care of.”

Harry shrugged, “Not anymore. Besides you’re acting like either of us have a choice in this. I don’t want you here any more than you want to be here.”

Paul cut in, “When we called the police an ambulance was also sent. The EMT recognized you and told your supervisor. They’ve given a paid leave of absence if you will. The hospital assumed you’d press charges and since Harry couldn’t stay at the hospital, they figured everything would fit together.”

“Fine. But if I’m your doctor, you’d better listen or I’ll let you die.”

“Right. Wouldn’t that kind of ruin your career?” He scoffed. I noticed that his long fingers were wrapped tightly around the doorframe, the knuckles white and muscles taut. It was obvious that he was in pain, and I knew he shouldn't even be out of bed.

“Does it matter? Besides I know how much you want morphine right now. Recovering from a gunshot isn’t exactly painless.”

“Whatever.” He turned and started walking slowly through the living room and down a hall. After a moment of watching him, I followed. We walked into a large bedroom as modern looking as the rest of the apartment. I checked the morphine drip beside the nightstand as Harry got into the bed, his face drawn and pale. I took his arm as soon as he was settled and pushed the IV into the vein. Within moments his face began to look more relaxed.

“I still hate you.” He said, his voice low as his eyelids drooped.

“I bet you do. This isn’t exactly heaven for me either.”

“You’re right. It’s better.”

Notes

I'm so glad to be back! I
hope you guys like this, especially since I wrote this really quickly.
I'd love for you to tell me what you think!

Love,
HopelessDirectioner