Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.

Shelter in the Storm

Previously in chapter two: No sooner was it decided, than Kyoya was on the phone to the Otori private police force to track down who did this. Ranka was left to sit with Haruhi since Kyoya had pulled a few strings to get special authorization.

Chapter Three

The clock ticked on as they all waited, taking turns sitting with Haruhi so that she would not be alone. Ranka sat with her during the day as the boys were in school, while they rotated four hour shifts each night staying so that Ranka could get some rest and then carry out his duties at work. Time dragged on slowly as seconds ticked off, turning into minutes. Then minutes turned into hours, and finally hours turned into days. It had been five days by the time Kyoya was starting his third rotation of sitting with Haruhi so that Ranka could rest and work. The boys had offered to sit with her the whole day of Sunday so that Ranka could actually get some real sleep in his own bed, since they didn't have school. They had been doing their homework while explaining it to the sleeping girl, reading to her, watching TV while holding her hand, or even just talking to her. Just about anything to keep the real world trying to make contact with her. They never got a response, but that didn't deter them from trying. Kyoya had completed his homework, found nothing worth watching on the TV, and had already finished the book he had been reading but forgot to grab a spare, so he sat there, holding her hand and talking to her about the events at school that she was missing. He told her about the on goings at the host club where she was truly missed by everyone.

"You know, if you don't hurry, wake up, and get out of here, then you're going to fall behind and lose your scholarship at Ouran. Then what will you do about paying back your debt to the Host Club? Besides, you know that your debt hasn't been paid yet only because the rest of the guys would have my head if I let your debt disappear and you left us. You're the glue that has been keeping us together for a while now. No one will admit it, but you've turned our group up on its ear. You do realize that, don't you? Tamaki may have started the club, and we may have appeared to be a cohesive group prior to your vase mishap, but honestly… You really don't know how you affect each and every one of us, do you?" Kyoya pulled her hand up to his lips for a gentle kiss and then up to his eyes and he turned their hands over so as to wipe his eyes with the back of his hands while still holding on to her hand. He'd deny it if anyone saw it, and he would have the hospital security tapes erased before he would let anyone see how she had caused his façade to slip. He would never let anyone see this side of him, but right now, he didn't care. He just wanted their friend back. Taking a deep breath, he started talking about anything to keep his mind from thinking about how much he was missing her despite sitting right next to her apparently unconscious body.

"You won't believe the cosplay that that damn fool Tamaki wanted this week in your honor. He wanted everyone dressed as doctors. Can you believe it? And, well even if you had woken up, you wouldn't have been well enough to come today, but he still had you a cute little nurses outfit as well. I swear that hentai host club president of ours really wants you to beat him up. I'll help, if you ever get the notion to do so. You have got to come back to us soon, Haruhi. I hadn't realized how much you meant to all of us, by acting as a buffer between some of us and that lunatic. You're the voice of reason when dealing this the bookend madmen… Hikaru and Kaoru have been out of control worse than normal with you not there. The other two, well it's kind of hard to say, but Huni-senpai has been saving us some money, because he doesn't eat as much. He seems to want to save some cake each day for you. And Mori-senpai… is simply Mori-senpai. He doesn't say much, as usual, but seems more withdrawn instead of just silent. I knew that you had affected each of us in different ways, but I never knew to what extent. Haruhi, please come back to us soon." He tightened his grip on her fingers. He was sure that he felt her fingers curl around his hand as well. "Please, please, Haruhi. We need you. And that doesn't even begin to reach the level that Ranka needs you back. Please come back to us soon." Tears began to fall again and he moved the back of his hand to wipe the tears, still holding onto Haruhi's hand. As he moved their hands, her thumb stuck out to caress his face.

"Ghh" came from the bed, as Kyoya popped up his head and opened his eyes. "uhh don't pull my arm so far."

"Haruhi?"

"shhh! Not so loud."

"You're awake?"

"I think so."

"You're AWAKE!! DOCTOR!!! Haruhi, your back!" Kyoya grabbed the nurse call button all the while screaming for the doctor. He no longer cared who saw him cry. Haruhi was awake and that was all that mattered.

The doctors gave her a very thorough examination as Kyoya called Ranka at the bar. He waited until Ranka showed up before he bothered to call the rest of the host club members. Silently, as he called the first member of the club, he said a little prayer of thanks that Haruhi had woken up. He didn't think that he could take even one more day with his friends without her there. She truly did offer a level of sanity to the group.

As the first of the friends showed up, so did the detectives and they had priority. They questioned Haruhi about what had happened, and as they started to leave, Kyoya got contact information for them so that he could have his private police contact them for information sharing. Kyoya was determined that the monster that did this to his only true female friend would pay for it, and pay dearly. And it was apparent that Kyoya was not the only one who wanted this, as each of the club members had approached him asking what they could do to assist with the investigation. They also voiced an interest in assisting with the application of vengeance… err correction, justice. Kyoya just sighed. He easily forgot how much she meant to everyone else. That one girl had turned the whole world upside down easily. She made the others in the group tolerable to be around, and in return they loved her dearly. One way or another, their little 'family' would protect one of their own. They would see to it. Haruhi meant the world to all of them. Each and every one.

They were giving Ranka time with Haruhi so they were talking about wanting to take care of the problem, as Kyoya noticed someone else walking up to them. Kasanoda Ritsu was seen walking towards the gathering in the hall. Several in the group gave an odd look, when the Hitachiin twins sheepishly explained that Ritsu had asked about Haruhi's absence since they were in the same grade, so they had explained and offered to call him when she was able to accept visitors. With his appearance, everyone in their group knew that between Kyoya's and Ritsu's organizations, Haruhi's attacker stood absolutely no chance of getting away with what he did.