Chapter 22 – Diamonds & Pearls
"Bro, you gave us all such a scare, and it's all my fault." Jax stood at the feet of Harry's hospital bed.
"What happened, Jax? I mean after those two numbnuts tried to kick our asses."
His best friend smirked at Harry, obviously reminded of the fight the two of them had with the assholes who hit on Tara. Yeah, so they got knocked around, but they came ahead, until they've decided to accept a spliff as a sign of truce. Jax and Harry shared it pretty equally, but for some reason, Harry reacted to it in a way they didn't expect. With rash, puking, and not breathing.
"You had an allergic reaction to opiates."
"Opiates? But how..?" Harry felt disjointed, literally. His body seemed to be made out of jello, his head full of rocks.
"Hard drugs. Like heroin. That joint they gave us was laced with the stuff. They had to pump you full of meds to bring you down, wash out the drugs out of your system. The doc said it would have killed you if you weren't such a big s.o.b." Jax looked sombre and ashamed. "I'm sorry, brother, I was being an idiot and you got hurt."
"Yeah, you're an idiot," Harry said, then smiled at him, "but I forgive you."
Jax smiled at him, "Everyone was so worried about you, Nelly the worst. I think she really likes you."
Harry perked up when he heard that. Somehow, it made him feel much better. "Is she here?"
"Yeah, in the waiting room with Tara and my mom." Jax gave a big sigh, and then gave him the worst news. "We had to call your dad. He's on his way and beyond pissed. He said he'll make you sweep the garage for the rest of your life to pay the medical bills."
"That sounds good, cause it means I'm staying in Charming." Harry wasn't too worried. His dad was tough, but fair. He was sure they'd work something out. His mind was elsewhere, "Do you think she wants to see me?"
"I don't know, she's pretty upset." Jax shook his head with a smirk, "She keeps swinging from being furious, at you and me and those asswipes, to crying. Then back again."
Harry felt awful about ditching Nel and putting her through this, accidentally or not. Still, it was good to know she cared enough to be here and worry.
He smiled at his best friend, "I seriously thought I was gonna die without ever kissing her."
Jax burst out laughing. "You barely lived, and this was your biggest worry? You're a jerk, Harry."
"Asshole." Responded Harry fondly.
The boys exchanged a fist bump and Jax said. "I'll go get your Juliet."
The first thing he noticed about Nelly when she walked in were her eyes, still red and wet with tears. She was obviously crying, and it made Harry's heart ache.
"How are you?" She asked quietly, as she stopped a few steps away from the gurney.
"It seems I'll live." replied Harry lightly, not wanting to worry her more.
"I thought you were going to die..." Her tears burst forward again and Harry felt awful, literally felt the hurt of causing her pain. He tried to sit up, but was too weak.
"I'm so sorry, Nelly. I didn't mean for this to happen." He finally understood that he could have gotten hurt, or worse. His apology was sincere, and Nelly must have sensed that, because she walked up to him and took his hand in hers, interlacing their fingers.
There was one more thing he needed to clear up, "I'm sorry for leaving you stranded."
"Trust me, that was the least of my worries." Nelly's face relaxed, although fresh tears were still in her eyes. "You are in enough trouble already. I hear your dad is on his way."
"Awesome." Harry sighed, but he was glad to be back in her good graces.
"He's here because he cares, Harry." Nelly scolded him with a smile that touched her eyes.
"Yeah, I know..." He smiled back.
"Just please, don't disappear again." Her eyes earnest and concerned on his.
For a moment Harry had a feeling that she was talking about him leaving Charming. Either way, he had no intentions of leaving her again.
"I won't, I promise." He said seriously, and squeezed her hand. Looking at her, he felt frozen in a happy moment and wishing it would never end.
Her hand reached up and touched the side of his face, smoothed back hair from his temple. Then Harry watched in shock and awe as her lovely face neared his. He was sure that in a moment Nel's lips would touch his, and he closed his eyes in anticipation. He could already smell her, feel her warmth. At that precise moment, Piney burst into the room. Nelly jumped back, startled, and moved out of the way as the big man came barrelling down towards him. Harry reeled back, certain Piney was going to hit him, but was surprised when his dad embraced him fiercely instead.
"Thank god you're OK, son." Was all Piney said as he hugged Harry to his chest. Then he pulled away and looked at his son with hard eyes, "Now, don't let this happen again."
"Yes, sir." Responded Harry and smiled gratefully. He knew it would be all right. Except by now, Nelly had disappeared from the room.
+0+
To Harry's surprise, Nelly came back a few hours later with a batch of chicken noodle soup she made for him. He couldn't be more grateful. "I was getting so sick of hospital food."
Nelly smiled at him, as she sat down on the gurney and opened a thermos. "I made sure you're allowed, so I won't get you in trouble. Or sick again."
Harry blushed, embarrassed by her kindness. "Thanks, Nelly."
She watched him eat in silence for a few moments, while he struggled to keep his hands from trembling.
"How are you feeling?" she asked when he was done.
"Like I've been hit by a ton of bricks." Harry replied honestly. "Still too weak to get up."
"It'll probably be a little while before all the drugs get out of your system. You'll feel better in a few days."
"I can't wait to get out of here."
"The nurse said they are keeping you for observation until tomorrow, but the doctor is sure there's no organ damage." He could see a shiver run down her back. "You were so lucky, Harry."
His eyes met hers, tired and distressed, and he said seriously, "I am lucky, Nel." And he meant all of it: her, being alive, his Charming family and friends.
Nelly must have understood, because a blush crept over her cheeks. She reached out , touched his hand, and he took hold of hers.
"So what now?" she asked.
For a moment a thousand different replies whirled through Harry's head. Kiss me. Stay with me a while. Or forever. I love you. It took real effort to come back from his daydream and stick to real life, "My mother is sending me back to dad. She said I need a firm hand."
"You're coming back to Charming?" Nelly's smile lit up the room.
"Yeah, as soon as I'm out of here."
"Finally some good news," She beamed at him, "You know, you still owe me for ditching us at the concert."
"Anything you want." Harry said gladly and totally meant it. The possibilities were endless, but he didn't expect what she asked for.
"How about taking me back to that rock on the lake?"
He was reminded of the full moon the two of them watched together while they talked about their futures. "My thinking rock?"
"That's the one."
"As soon as I'll get out of here."
"How about as soon as you're well enough?" She smiled at him and he nodded in agreement.
"Fine, you've got yourself a deal."
They fell silent, and Harry could feel the current running between them.
"I'm just so glad you're ok." Nelly whispered relieved, overwhelmed by tears again.
Harry sat up slowly and pulled her into a hug.
"Yeah, I'm ok." He whispered, soothing. "I'm back and I'm not going anywhere."
Sheltering this girl in his arms, feeling Nel's closeness and the tickle of her breath on his skin, made for a volatile combination. Before Harry realized what he was doing, his lips were on Nelly's, and he lost himself in a soft, sweet kiss that seemed to last forever. She still smelled of Christmas and tasted of cinnamon.
A crackling p.a. system came to life and interrupted them, their lips disconnecting. The visitor hours were over.
He wasn't letting go and she wasn't pulling away.
"I better get going, before the nurses will throw me out." She whispered against his shoulder, and he released her reluctantly.
His hands lingered on her waist. "I wish you could stay."
"Me too." She smiled at him shyly. "Sleep well, Harry. I'll come by your dad's house tomorrow when you get home."
She left in a flash, like some kind of a magical creature disappearing at twilight. And the only proof he had that she had been there at all, was the taste of her lip-gloss.