There was a gunshot. Gavroche fell to the ground, motionless. His song was cut short.
The boy's eyes were closed and there was a red stain on his side, where the bullet had hit him.
Courfeyrac ran to the body, tears in his eyes. He put his hand on Gavroche's chest. Gavroche could not be dead. He was far too young.
He felt a soft heartbeat. Courfeyrac gathered the child in his arms and ran back to the barricade.
"Joly!" he cried "He's alive! Joly please, save him!"
Joly appeared and took Gavroche from Courfeyrac's arms.
"I'll do my best, but there's a low chance he'll survive," Joly said sadly. All eyes were on him and Gavroche as they disappeared into the café. Combeferre followed him after a minute.
Courfeyrac fell to his knee's, sobbing. He didn't know what came over him, but he suddenly felt as if everything was over. Not only was Gavroche practically dead, but things in Paris were worse than the Friends of the ABC thought it ever could be. How could the National Guard,people who were supposed to be respected, shoot a child?
Jehan put his arms around Courfeyrac, trying to comfort him to no avail. Although he wasn't nearly as upset as Courfeyrac, Jehan was also in tears
When night began to fall Joly came out of the café. His eyes were red. Everyone stared at him, waiting for his announcement. They all knew it was going to be bad.
"Gavroche is holding on, but barely" he stated, and Courfeyrac breathed a sigh of relief, for he had feared the worst. "Combeferre and I are trying are best, but there is not much we can do. It's unlikely he'll survive,"
Joly walked up to Courfeyrac. "You should say good-bye to him now,"
Courfeyrac swallowed hard, and stopped himself from crying. Gavroche would want him to be strong.
He followed Joly into the café. Marius stopped him before he walked in, and hugged him tightly, sharing his strength.
Enjolras and Combeferre were both in the café, talking quietly. They stopped once they saw Courfeyrac.
He felt like a child, walking in on his parents, when they were talking about something that the child could not hear.
Gavroche was laid out on a table. His shirt was removed and there was a bandage wrapped tightly around his wound. His ribs were all visible, and he looked even smaller now that he was injured. His face was pale, and his breathing was shallow. His eyes were closed, and Courfeyrac knew that he would not hear him if he said goodbye.
Which was why Courfeyrac didn't say a word. He brushed Gavroche's hair from his face and lightly kissed the top of his head.
He then left the café. He heard someone say something, but did not know who was speaking or what they said. It was too quiet.
He did not want to turn around. He did not want to see Gavroche's limp body any longer.
"Courfeyrac?" he heard Joly say.
He turned around. Gavroche was propped up on his elbows, eyes wide open. He was alive.