REMEMBER TO READ THE CHAPTER I REPLACED THE OTHER DAY BEFORE READING THIS THANKS :)

"I can't believe you're not going after him." Zayn shook his head in disbelief, as Niall held an ice pack to Harry's eye on the armchair, and a newly emerged Liam sat next to Zayn.

"Why should I?" Harry half-frowned, left-eye obscured by the ice pack.

"Urm, because it's Louis and he's drunk... he could be laying in a ditch somewhere and you're sitting here getting tended to because of some pathetic bruise?" Zayn raised his voice now, anger rising, as he used his arms to protest to Harry on the edge of the sofa. Niall gasped, and Liam even had to place an hand on Zayn's arm to stop him from losing control.

"Since when has he been your problem?"

"Since I've been signed with him on the same contract, since he's been living here, and how about since I'm the only one who seems to goddam fucking care about him right now?" Zayn stood up. Harry stood up too, Niall stumbling off the arm of the armchair.

"You know I care about him!" Harry demanded, but Zayn edged slightly closer to him.

"Looks like it, eh?" Zayn stared right in to Harry's eyes, and saw contempt. He was sure Harry was going to knock him in to next century if it wasn't for Niall stepping in between.

"Stop, this isn't going to get Louis back!" he seized Zayn's arm and tried to pull him away, but Zayn just twisted away from him.

"No, you're right. It seems I'm the only one who is actually bothered to look for him." Zayn turned on his boyfriend, before twisting on his heel and firing out the door.


"Zayn? What's up?" Sofia frowned with concern, as Zayn stealthily hopped down the steps.

"Why don't you ask your precious boyfriend and his friends, in there?" he snarled at her.

"Because I'm asking you!" Sofia grew stern, and grabbed Zayn's arm. He looked down at it for a moment, before slumping his shoulders and telling her about Louis. By the end of it, she looked thoroughly shocked, and dropped her supermarket bag full of snacks. "What are we waiting for?" And she was gone, running round frantically, looking round corners. Zayn smiled at her for a moment, before hopping off and joining her.

Zayn wasn't sure how long they were looking, but judging by the fact they had reached the other end of town and back already, he guessed about an hour and a half. He jogged back to the gay club, where he and Sofia had decided it as a meeting place. He bent over, hands on knees, and started panting. Sofia looked deep in thought.

"What?" he spat on the ground.

"Charming. I'm just trying to think where he'd be..."

"Sofia, he's pissed out of his-"

"-yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that. But... still, he wouldn't just go anywhere... maybe he went somewhere where he and Harry used to go a lot? Or where something happened?"

And then it clicked. Zayn shot up, eyes wide, and kissed Sofia's head.

"You genius." and then he shot off, off to the dark alleyway, off to where Louis had fallen unconscious over two hours ago...


"Louis?" Zayn called when he reached the opening on the alley. "Lou?" he bent his head round, trying to get a decent look in the dark. Sofia's arm lurched out, however, clutching Zayn's denim jacket, as if she needed stability. "What?"

And then, with a shaky hand and finger - and arm - Sofia pointed to a sprawled out figure, which blackened the cobbled surface even more than the night sky.

"Louis!" Zayn whispered sharply, collapsing beside him and immediately smelling neat vodka. "Louis!" he shook him, but Louis wouldn't respond... "Get your phone out! Now, Sofia! Call an ambulance!" and with a great clattering of buckles and zips, she clicked on her blackberry and dialed 911.

"H-h-hello?" she bit her free hand's fingernails nervously. "A-ambulah-lance?"

"Yes, hello?"

"W-we've found our friend unc- unconscious on the struh-street, w-we need help."

"Okay, what street?" the woman's voice grew more stern, but in a nice way.

"I-in an alleywuh-way just off Cruh-Crate street."

"Okay, hang on and stay on the line. Have you checked her pulse?"

"It's a boy, Louis, and-" Zayn then snatched the phone off her and called down the line:

"What do I have to do?"

"Hi, sir. Could you please check his pulse? The best way is to grab his wrist and press your fingers firmly, but gently, in the underside crook. Okay?"

"Okay." Zayn breathed shakily, as his vibrating hands made work. Despite being unconscious, and even though it was freezing outside, Louis' bare arms were extremely hot and sweaty, making it hard for Zayn to take a grip. He did eventually though, with Sofia holding up Louis' arm, as he waited for some kind of sign... "Weak. Very weak... there's only like... 1 every few seconds?"

"And check his breathing?"

Zayn immediately bent over around Louis' body, holding his head just below Louis' nose. And, sure enough, there was occasionally a sweet, gentle breath blowing on his cheek every now and again. Zayn looked down, and saw how peaceful Louis looked, as he kissed him on the cheek. "Hang in there, buddy."


A set of flashing lights, fluorescent-green uniforms and a scuffling of boots later, Zayn and Sofia were looking extremely grave, sitting either side of Louis, who was laying on the wheeler, in the back of the ambulance. They had quickly taken over, and were now unhooking his suspenders and removing his stripy tee.

"We need to tell Harry," Sofia whispered, and even though it was somewhat loud inside, Zayn's ears were as sharp as ever. He pulled his phone out, but then stared it it.

"Are you sure? I mean, it's all Harry's fault..."

"Are you mad? Harry didn't force that poison down Louis' throat."

"He didn't care about it either." Zayn shot Sofia a dark look.

"Fine. If you don't, I will." to prove the point, Sofia had unbuckled her brown bag.

"Okay, okay. Fine, I will." So with that, Zayn punched in Harry's numbers and dialed. "It's ringing." he began chewing his nails. "Fucking voicemail. Harry, Louis' in a right state, you'd better-"

"NO!" Zayn's phone was snatched away, as Sofia hung up. "You can't tell him over voicemail!"

"Well what do you expect me to do?"

"We could send a police officer down." a nurse suddenly appeared next to Sofia. "To any relative or close friend Mr Tomlinsom may have. He's... he's gonna need it."

"Is it that bad?" Zayn stuttered.

"I'm afraid we can't make a diagnosis as of yet, but once he's settled in a hospital room we can know for sure."

"'kay. Send the police." Zayn gave the nurse Jo's and the flat's address, as she nodded.

"Okay. They're on their way already." She smiled, then continued helping the other with Louis.

"What if... what if he-"

"Shhh... that won't happen. The Louis I know will never give up."


"He's been gone ages! What's going on? What if they're hurt?" Niall paced round the small living room, while Harry faked a yawn.

"Don't care, really. I'm going to bed." Harry walked out, but once he was out of eye-shot he slumped his shoulders and gulped. What if something has happened to them?

"Do you know what," Niall started, turning Harry round by his shoulder. "Zayn's right. You really are insensitive." he gave Harry a look of contempt, before turning on his heel and making for the door.

"Where're you going?"

"TO FIND MY BOYFRIEND! AND YOURS!" Niall flung the door open.

"He's not-" Harry started, but then look dumbstruck, as there was two police officers standing in the doorway.

"Too late, sir. We've found them for you." The man and woman both surveyed their shocked looks for a moment, before carrying in. "We would invite ourselves in, but there's been a situation. Your friends - Zayn and Sophie?"

"Sofia?" Niall frowned.

"That's right. Zayn and Sofia," the woman took over in a more sympathetic voice. "They both found your other friend, Louis, unconscious in an alleyway. They tried calling, but..."

"My phone's dead..." Harry said subconsciously. It hadn't quite sunken in yet.

"Would you like a lift to the hospital? Louis' mother, Johannah, is in our car, too. We have room for two more."

"Okay. Thanks." Niall said weakly, before putting an arm round Harry's shoulders and ushering him out. "C'mon, mate. He'll be alright."

On the journey, Harry's pulse quickened and quickened. Before he knew it, his adam's apple had ballooned and he was unable to answer any of Niall's mutterings. The thought of Louis... unconscious... in a ditch... it all seemed surreal.

So as soon as the police officer opened his door, he dashed out, leaving behind Jo and Niall, and spread his arms out on the reception desk.

"I'm here to see Louis."

"The boy who just came in?"

"Yes."

"Are you a family member of his?"

"No,"

"Does he know you?" the constant nagging annoyed Harry.

"Yes!"

"How?"

"He's my fiance!" Harry blazed.

"Okay. Room 13." she smiled sarkily.

"Thanks." Harry returned the favour.

After a motion of of blurring doors, Harry's eyes focused on the number 13. Unlucky 13. But no, he wasn't superstitious.

"Louis!" Harry burst in to the room, but as soon as he did, Zayn was already pushing him out.

"No."

"What?" Harry said dumbly.

"I said no."

"What do you mean, 'no'? Are you brain dead? Are you thick? I need to see him."

"Stay away. You left him for dead. You should think about that. And if - if - Louis actually does survive, which will take a miracle right now, I doubt he'll ever want to see you again. You don't deserve someone like him, Harry. Now back. Off." Zayn jabbed him hard in the ribs, but Harry's temper boiled over the surface, Before he knew what he was doing, he had Zayn's denim jacket bunched up in his fists, as he pulled him out the room and shoved him against the window.

"Say it again. Go on." Harry spat, as Zayn looked him in the eye.

"You don't deserve him, Harry. You're not the Harry we know." Zayn shook his head ever so slightly, as Harry shot round. Both Jo and Niall were shaking there heads disapprovingly. "This isn't about you. For once."

"One more word, and I'll-"

"Just go, Harry." Jo looked away from him. The sadness and shame in her voice brought tears to Harry's eyes, as he left in one fell sweep of deodorant. "I know he loves Louis, you know."

"Yeah, well he ought to show a bit more commitment, you would think."


"He's improving." the doctor told Jo, four nights later. "Actually, he's dramatically improving. But anything can happen. He's had a near scrape; he's not off the chopping block just yet." Dr Carter jotted down notes on his clipboard, before smiling and leaving. "Oh, hi, Harry." he smiled as he left. Zayn's head shot round.

"Get out." He said.

"Zayn," Jo put a hand on his arm. "Harry loves Louis. As I've told you. It's not your choice whether he sees him or not. Now, I think we shall give him a minutes. C'mon." she took him away, Zayn purposely bumping in to Harry's shoulder. Harry stayed in his shifted position for a moment, thankful for the momentary blip so he won't have to look at Harry.

But he had to. He slowly turned round.

And there he was. Louis; pads attached to his arms and chest, head tilted on his pillow. Harry sat down so Louis would be looking at him if his eyes opened. He reached out a hand and interlocked fingers with Louis.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, adjusting Louis fringe. "I'm so, so sorry." He brought Louis' hand up to his lips and kissed it. So warm. So familiar... so Louis. "Don't even try to deny it's my fault... because is it. I ended things when we could've worked it out. And you're right. I do need you. I realise that more than ever. C'mon, Boobear, it's been four days, now, I thought you said you don't like long lay-ins?" Harry stretched over Louis and fluffed up his pillow, turning it over on to the fresh, clean unused side. He bent over and kissed him on the cheek, letting his tears fall on him. "I love you so much. And if you wake up, I promise we can be perfect... we can build our own family and get married, anything, love, because this is a wake up call for me, too... so just wake up. Please."

And just then, Louis' hand twitched.