The Hitchhiker

Tyra’s POV

I’m nudged awake by Harry, holding up a bottle of juice.
“Why don’t you go stretch your legs, I can sit with him for a while,” He offers. I shake my head while rubbing my eyes.
“No- no, it’s fine, I want to stay right here,” I whisper, taking the bottle from his hand.
“The doctor said he’ll be out for a while,” Harry replies, his brows coming down slightly in worry.
It has been a few good hours, The paramedics were able to get Niall pulse back, and once we arrived at the hospital they pumped his stomach. They said he should be as good as new, once he wakes, and still, I will not leave his side, I want to be here when he opens his eyes, I don’t want him to wake up to an empty room or strangers.
“How are you keeping up?” Harry asks, sitting by my side. He takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together, rubbing my skin with his thumb.
“They say he’ll be ok, so once he is out of here, we can go home to mom, and then he can go into rehab and finally everything can go back to how it’s supposed to be, and hopefully it’s not too late for him to go to college, maybe he can even play again…” I sigh. Stopping with the frown on his face.
“I asked how you are… Not Niall… I know how he is,” Harry smirks slightly.
“I… I guess I’m alright,” I murmur.
“What do you mean you guess?”
“Well.. I’m not sure.. I can’t really remember the last time I was asked how I am doing- by someone who really wanted to hear the truth,” I squeeze his hand lightly.
“Take a moment to think,” Harry raises our links hands and places a kiss on mine.
I inhale deeply and exhale.
“I’m scared, and I’m relieved and I’m sad,” I whisper.
“Why do you feel scared?” Harry questions.
“I’m scared of what will happen once Ni wakes up.. and of what’s next to come and of what will happen once he learns what’s going on with my mom and I can’t help but think what if Mike was right? What if Niall never wanted to me come? What if he doesn’t want me here?”
“Don’t say that,” Harry touches my cheek.
“You saved his life by coming-“
“What if it was my fault he overdosed? What if hearing I’m here made him do it?”
“NO- don’t ever think like that Ty, if all those stories about your brother our true, he will be so happy to see you once he wakes, I’m sure everything will turn out just the way it’s supposed to.”
I nod and lean in to him, somehow Harry always knows to say the right thing to calm me down.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re sad?”
“I’m sad that it has come to this…”
I feel him kiss the top of my head, and I snuggle up closer to him.
“Actually, that is not entirely true.. If Niall had never phoned, I would never have been on that road that day.. I would have never met you,” I whisper.
Harry turns to look at me, a soft smile on his lips.
“That is correct,” He sighs, leaning down to kiss me. A noise from the bed makes me pull back and turn to Niall.
“Where am I?” He says groggily.
“Ni? You’re in the hospital..” I clench his hand leaning over him.
“Tyra?” HE looks so confused.
“Here, drink some water,” I hold the glass of water to his lips and help him sip from it.
“You came, he said he was lying,” Niall mumbles.
“I came- I looked for you for such a long time, but I finally found you.. Oh NI.. you scared me,” I whisper, stroking his hair.
“Mom?”
“Mom’s at home, the minute you’re feeling better and ready to leave we’ll go back home to her,” I smile at him. I am holding back tears. Relived he is ok.
“She didn’t come?”
“IT’s not that easy Ni.. She wished she could.. how about I call her? You can speak to her on the phone?” I try.
“NO…” Niall shakes his head. Tears spill out of his eyes.
“Oh Ni.. Mom wanted to come, but she can’t.. they won’t let her travel so far,” I try.
“She hates me,” HE cries, and that breaks my heart, not able to hold in my own tears.
“NO- no she doesn’t.. Niall.. Mom Is sick.. she’s been for a while, and it’s getting worse.. that is why she isn’t here with us,” I finally tell him.
“Sick? What do you mean?” HE wipes at his eyes.
“She has cancer,” I whisper, not wanting him to find out this way.
“It’s all my fault isn’t it? It’s my fault, I am a dick,” He starts crying again.
“NO- NI- it’s not- don’t ever blame yourself- please calm down,” I beg, watching him get more and more into a state.
“It’s all my fault,” He sobs.
“I’m going to get a nurse,” Harry get’s up. I forgot he was here with us, and I node gratefully at him.

Harry’s POV

“Excuse me please, I need someone to come check on Niall Horan- he has woken up , and he isn’t doing very well,” I tell the receptionist.
“I’ll send in a nurse right away,” She nods.
“thank you.”
I head back to the room but don’t go in, deciding to give them some privacy.
The way Tyra is handling her brother, in such a loving an affection, makes me think of my mum and sister back home. It also makes me think of Megan. I haven’t thought about her for a while now. Everything going on pushing her far away. I did spread the last of her ashes at the beach a day before the beach party, but I didn’t make it about her, like the other times.
I just went down there on my own, sat on the beach for a short time, and once I was done I head back. No one noticed I was gone, since they were all out shopping, and they just reckoned I stayed at the house the whole time.
The nurse heads into the room and I hear her talk to Tyra and Niall, telling them he looks well, and he will be seeing the doctor shortly.
She told him he should drink as much water as he could. She doesn’t speak of his condition, probably that not being her place for it.
Then she heads out offering me a smile as she passes me.
“Who was that?” I hear Niall ask.
“The nurse.. remember- you’re in the hospital,” Tyra answers, sounding amused.
“NO- I know that- who was the guy who called her- he sounded british,” Niall replies.
“Oh- that was Harry.. He.. He helped me look for you all these months.”
I wonder why she didn’t tell him I was her boyfriend, maybe she didn’t want to get into it right now.
“He must really love you if he was willing to leave everything and help you for such a long time,” Niall remarks.
“And I love him very much,” I hear the whisper and smile.
“Are you up to meeting him?” She suddenly asks.
“I guess..”
A moment later TY’s head peeks out.
“Had a feeling you won’t go far- come- I think it’s time for you to finally meet,” She smiles.
I get up and take her out stretched hand.
“Ni- “ She starts as we head towards him.
“This- is Harry, Harry- this is my brother Niall.”
“Hi mate, glad to see you’re feeling better,” I offer him my hand to shake.
“Same here bro, and thanks for helping my sis, it means loads,” Niall tries to sit up in bed a little.
“It was nothing really,” I wave him off.
“I see everyone is up and about,” The doctor walks in then. WE all turn to look at him.
“Hello Niall, I’m doctor Goldin,” The doctor introduces himself. I cannot help but noting he looks nothing like their mum’s doctor- what was his name? Dr. Malik.
“You probably don’t feel it now since you’re on pain killers, but you gave your sister and friends quite a scare. We had to pump your stomach, to get out all of the drugs you consumed, and we should be talking about a rehab program for you,” The doctor goes on and on, and I can tell Niall and Tyra are sort of lost in this long speech.
“I would like to ask you a question please- I understand Niall will need to attend rehab, however, he isn’t from around here, they aren’t from this state even, so will it be possible to transfer him to a program back home?” I ask stopping him.
“Well we don’t usually allow it, since he was brought in here, he must be treated here,” The doctor says.
“yes, I understand, but this case is a little different, you see, Tyra and Niall’s mum is treated right now at a hospital back home- she is very sick.. Cancer, and I think it would be easier on all of them, if he could be treated at the same hospital, that way he is closer to his mum- which he hasn’t seen for a long time, and it sure makes it easier on Tyra helping them both, I’m sure you’d like to help since they have a hard recovery ahead of them anyway..” I let it hang there.
“I’ll see what I can do,” The doctor nods, and walks out.
“Oh my gosh! Thank you Harry- for a moment there I thought I will faint, he was going on and on about everything, and all I could think about is when the hell will we be heading home,” Tyra hugs me.
“NO problem- I’m happy I can be of help,” I sat simply.
“Ty.” We turn to look at Niall.
“I think it’s time to call mom.”

Notes

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