A/N = I think there's only one or two chapters after this one left. Sad times.

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Evi

Chapter 58

Dougie's POV

I opened my eyes and for a moment I was blinded by all the blue, red and white lights, then I heard Jared scream from right behind me.

'Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Or I'll kill him!' He screamed, and he poked the head of the pistol against the side of my head. Police officers all aimed their pistols at us, ready to shoot. I wanted to scream in fear, but my mouth was muffled again by Jared's big left hand, and all that left me was an inarticulate whimper. Jared practically kept my body upright, if he hadn't had such a strong grip on me, I'm absolutely sure I would have collapsed to the ground immediately. My ankle was absolutely killing me, but I didn't even really think about the physical pain. All I felt was pain in my heart, and a big lump in my throat, threatening to choke me. All I could see was the image of Jared shooting Rick, and Rick laying there in a big pool of his own blood, the life draining out of him. I wasn't even crying, I was completely and utterly in shock. I didn't even register what the policemen were screaming at Jared for a moment. I snapped out of my passive state though when I heard Jared's low voice screaming again, momentarily shattering my eardrums.

He was screaming threat after threat. Promising to shoot me if they'd take one step closer, screaming that he wanted a car, or a motorcycle, or whatever vehicle he could get to getaway safely, then screaming to get to his van. An officer was talking in a steady, authoritative voice, trying to reason with Jared, trying to make him release me, trying to make him drop the gun, and 'then they could talk.' But Jared would have none of it. He kept pushing me forwards, almost dragging me, because my body was rigid with fear, over the moss, in the direction of his black van. My stomach plummeted. What if he succeeded to get away? What if this wasn't the end? It would just start all over again, but this time without Rick being there to safe me.

I tried to plead, tried to form words in my mouth, to beg him to let me go, but all I could muster was an almost inaudible whimper. Suddenly, in a flash, I recognized a face in the distance that made me feel so many emotions, that I felt like my stomach would explode with pain.

Harry.

Harry stood there, his face screwed up in worry, fear and pain. For me.

And then I saw Tom and Danny, standing next to him, both crying, and Fletch, the man that felt like a mix between my father and friend.

I couldn't handle it anymore, and my knees gave in completely. This was just too much for me. My body shut down completely and I just gave up. I didn't lose consciousness completely, but I also couldn't get a grip on reality anymore, and I wanted to fall into the blackness again, so so bad, to wake up and realize this all was just a bad dream. Faintly I heard a loud sound, and so many things seemed to be happening. I felt lots of hands touch me, but I didn't understand any of it anymore. I was in a dream-like state, completely absorbed in pain.

Harry's POV

The moment Dougie collapsed everything happened so fast. The black-haired kidnapper, who had been supporting Dougie's limping, weak form, lost his balance when Dougie suddenly collapsed completely, but he stayed on his feet. This was thé chance for the snipers, the man now being vulnerable without a living shield to catch the bullets for him. Before he could do anything he was hit by a snipers' bullet, flying straight into his skull, killing him instantly. He collapsed, right by Dougie's side, and before he had even hit the ground, medical workers and policemen were already running over to him and Dougie, on the cold ground. I was running as well, pushed the other people aside and crashed to ground by my best friend's side, feeling Tom, Danny and Fletch doing the same.

Dougie was lying on the ground, his eyes opened, bloodshot and wide, panic and shock written all over his face. I noticed he was mumbling things, not seeming to understand anything that was happening to him, not even acknowledging my presence.

'Rick! Rick!' He kept repeating, starting as a whisper, but growing stronger, until he was almost screaming it, in a ragged, choking voice.

Worry almost ate me alive.

'Dougie? Dougie? It's okay. You're safe! It's alright.' I said, trying to touch his cheek, but he flinched incredibly and cried out, his eyes unfocused and wide. I went almost insane with panic. I heard protesting sounds from Danny, and loud sobs emitting from Tom, and I looked around to see them being pushed back by medical workers, then I felt a strong hand pull me away from Dougie as well, and I watched helplessly how they took my place and checked Dougie on injuries.

'He's in shock. Get him in the ambulance, away from this all, immediately!' A doctor said and immediately the others called for a stretcher and they started working on calming Dougie, while policemen were running in the house and more workers ran inside. The whole scene wasn't like anything you see on tv, where it all is planned and everything goes calmly. Medical workers were running in the house, with policemen. The black-haired man was being examined as well, while others were struggling to heave Dougie on a stretcher. He was starting to struggle in panic, whimpering and thrashing about.

Suddenly a lot of commotion came from inside the house. Back-up was 'assisted' immediately.

'He's still alive! Someone is still alive in here!' A few men left our side and ran inside to help the man who was still alive, and Dougie's face lit up. He stopped screaming, and trashing around, and suddenly he was crying, big shiny tears, wetting his red cheeks.

'What the hell is wrong with him?' Danny choked out from behind me, when Dougie was being strapped to the stretcher, suddenly not fighting anymore.

'He's in shock. He's been through a great deal of trauma. His body and mind just don't know how to cope with it all anymore, and so he just shut down and is in a complete state of shock.' One of the doctors in command answered, with pity in his voice, and we gasped simultaneously. While Dougie was lifted inside the ambulance, Danny and Tom didn't hesitate a moment and both agreed to letting me stay with Dougie in the ambulance, while they would follow a police car in Fletch' van. I climbed into the ambulance after them and saw Tom and Danny turning around to follow Fletch to his car, while they were clasping their arms around each other to support each other.

Then I turned around when the ambulance started moving, and stared into Dougie's empty eyes who were staring back at my watery ones.

'Dougie, it'll be okay. I promise you, everything is over now. You're safe.' I whispered to him, my voice threatening to break, but I swallowed the lump and willed myself to stay strong in front of Dougie.

'Harry.' Was all Dougie said, then his gaze became more distant and his eyes closed. I stroked his hair soothingly while he fell into unconsciousness.

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