Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Written for the Marauders Era Competition, Week 1.
I'm Still Here
Lily stood to greet Sirius as he rounded the corner of the corridor at a run. A small part of her wondered just how much destruction he had left in his wake to arrive at the hospital so quickly.
"Where is she?" He demanded as he skidded to a stop in front of her.
"In surgery. She...its, Sirius, it's not looking good," she told him, reaching a hand out to him, which he took.
"She'll be alright eventually, though, right? I mean, she'll live?" He asked desperately, and Lily cringed internally at the pure pain she heard in his voice.
"I don't know," she admitted, before she slumped back into her seat.
Sirius took the seat beside her. "What happened, Lil?"
Lily shook her head. "I don't really know that either. We were in muggle London, and one minute we were looking in a shop window, and then, Marlene told me she'd be right back, and a few seconds later I heard the squeal of tires and a scream. Marlene, was, I mean," Lily stuttered.
Every word she uttered, every time she even thought about it, the scene replayed in her mind in excruciating detail.
"I thought she was dead," she finally gasped out, a flood of tears quickly following the admission.
Sirius gathered her in his arms, whispering soft words of comfort to her.
Neither of them knew how long they sat there. A while later, James arrived, patting Sirius on the shoulder, leaning down to kiss Lily on the cheek.
"Any news?" were the only words he spoke, and upon receiving two shakes of the head, he too joined the silent vigil outside the room where healers were working to save Marlene's life.
As Lily stifled a yawn, they all turned when the hears the door opening. The healer, emerging from the room with a small smile on his face, had them all sighing with relief.
"She'll be okay," he told them. "Sore for a few days, but we fixed the internal damages, and she'll live to fight another day."
"Can we see her?" Sirius asked.
"One at a time for now, please, she's very tired."
Sirius looked uncertainly at Lily, who ushered him in with a wave of her hand. With a smile of thanks, Sirius stepped into the room.
He winced at the sight of Marlene on the bed. She looked so small, even though the bed was a regular hospital single. He sat in the chair beside the bed and took her hand gently between both of his.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered. "I look awful."
Sirius stared at her with disbelief. "I could live a hundred years with you, Marlene, and you'll never look as beautiful as you do now. I almost lost you today."
"You didn't though, I'm still here. It'll take more than a bus to kill me off," she muttered. He chuckled, shaking his head at her. As her eyes started to drop, he kissed her head.
"I'll leave you to sleep. I'll be here in the morning, first thing, alright?"
"Yeah. Fetch me some magazines and chocolate, will you? The healer says I have to stay a few days."
"Will do. I love you."
Sirius stroked her hair for a moment until he was sure she was asleep before he slipped from the room. Just as he left, he heard her whisper, "love you more."