"Dougie?" Tom called up the stairs, covering the phone with his hand. "It's for you."

He heard the pitter- patter of feet, and Dougie appeared next to the banister. He took the phone.

"Hello?" He asked, curiously. Tom walked in to the living room, back to his writing pad. It had been a week since they had started living together, and so far it was great. Obviously they had met up before- if only for the reason that Dougie's mother wasn't prepared to let him move in with complete strangers at the age of 15.

Tom smiled absently at Harry, who was lying on the sofa, flicking through channels. Harry grinned back, then sniggered at Danny, who was walking across the room on his hands.

"Danny?" Tom said, smirking.

"Yes, mate?" Replied his friend in a tone that implied it was perfectly natural to be walking upside down.

"Any reason?"

"All my blood was in my toes mate, they went red."

Tom banged his head against the table, while Harry laughed loudly. "Of course, you never thought that they might be cold?" He sniggered.

Danny fell silent, shifting a little, then blew out a deep breath.

"Oh yeah."

Harry rolled off of the sofa. "I'm getting a coke. Anyone want anything?"

"No thanks."

"Nah, mate."

Harry walked past Tom, then stopped by the door to the living room.

"Dougie, you okay?"

There was a small silence. Tom looked up and saw Harry move out of sight, towards Dougie.

"Dougie?"

Tom got up again and followed Harry, Danny flipping back up and stumbling after. They crowded in the doorway and stared as one at Dougie, who was standing with the phone clutched by his stomach, pale and staring in to the distance.

"Dougie? What's wrong?" Tom asked. Dougie blinked.

"My- my dad-" He mumbled.

"What's wrong with him?" Danny asked quickly.

"No- he-" Dougie took a shuddering breath. "He left."

Silence.

"Left... what?"

Dougie stared at Harry, eyes wide.

"Us. He left... us... he's gone."

Tom took a step forward. "Oh, man... are you Ok? I mean, you're obviously not, but... you know...?" He looked back at Harry, who was watching, concerned.

"I think." Dougie mumbled, and his hand moved up to his mouth.

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

Before Tom could react, Dougie had turned and fled up the stairs, dropping the phone behind him. Danny raced after him, taking the stairs two at a time; Harry and Tom trailed behind.

As they neared the top, they heard the sound of Dougie retching from the bathroom and Danny murmuring soothingly. The Northerner poked his head around the door.

"He didn't quite make it." He said quietly, then disappeared again. Tom hurried down the hall, and wrinkled his nose. Dougie was kneeling on the tiles, surrounded by vomit. Retching.

Harry pushed past him and crouched down next to him, holding his shoulder.

"Finished?" He asked. Dougie nodded slowly, and Harry helped him up. Dougie stared around at the room.

" sorry." He mumbled. Harry smiled. "It's ok, it happens. Come on, get to bed." He lead Dougie down the hall and in to his room. Tom stood and watched Danny for a second, who was acting surprisingly mature; he already had the mop from the corner in use.

"Go and make sure he's Okay." Danny said. Tom nodded, and walked over to Dougie's room. He paused outside the door and looked in. Harry had Dougie on his lap, the smaller boy clinging to him and crying. He was sobbing out unintelligible words, and Harry was whispering responses back with a sad smile on his face. Tom decided to go back and help Danny; as he left, however, he heard one thing that Harry said that made him smile.

"Of course I'll always be here for you."