Chapter Text
Louis is tired. Actually, not just tired, exhausted.
“How is he?” Anne asks as Louis comes downstairs.
“He is exhausted, but he is asleep. We did another treatment once he was settled,” Louis says.
Their plane landed at three that morning and there were cars to take everyone home. Anne went to their house while the other boys promised to check in later. Everyone was knackered so it was to be expected. They didn’t even get to Louis’s and Harry’s house until 5:30 and Louis had to half carry Harry upstairs after he slept for most of the flight. Louis was worried that he hasn’t had an appetite, but Anne told him that Harry didn’t have an appetite when he first had breathing treatments.
Anne is making breakfast for them and Louis smiles appreciatively. “I can stay until tomorrow, but I have to go back to work. Are you okay with him here or do you want me to bring him back with me?”
Louis hesitated before answering. The idea of not seeing Harry really scared him and they needed to work out what happened in the hospital. He felt this intrinsic need to protect him and Louis feels strongly, between him and the boys they have it covered.
“I can do it, plus the boys will be over to help. I know you missed so much work already and he is on the mend. Management arranged for a doctor to come over tomorrow and we will get him back to 100% in no time.”
“Thank you, Lou, really. You have been so strong through this, he is lucky to have such a good friend.”
Louis nods as he eats not sure that he wants to only be a good friend with Harry anymore.
They quickly finish and go up to bed. Louis checks in on Harry, but this time he walks in and sits on the edge of the bed. He puts his hand up to Harry’s face, he still feels warm, a product of the steroids he has learned. There is also the tell-tale wheeze that has taken up residence in Harry’s chest that Louis has become accustomed too.
“Lou, is that you?” Harry mumbles.
“Yes, luv. I’m just checking on you, do you need anything?”
“Can you stay with me? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Sure luv, let me get ready for bed and I will come join you, go back to sleep.”
Louis quickly gets ready for bed and sets his alarm for two, since the doc will be there at three and climbs into bed. He lays on his side facing Harry because it reassures him to see the rise and fall of his chest. Harry must not be completely asleep because he pushes himself back against Louis, pulling Louis’s arm over himself and then sighs contentedly. At that point, who is Louis to complain that they fit together so well.
Louis didn’t move until he heard his alarm go off that afternoon. When he finally opened his eyes, he was scared for a moment to see the bed empty. Then his ears registered the voices filtering upstairs and he figured Harry was with his mum. He stretches and groans, feeling like he could sleep some more but he needs to be alert when the doctor comes and Anne has to head back home. After a quick shower, he comes down stairs and immediately looks for Harry.
Seeing him at the kitchen table, his eyes run down him doing an assessment. The dark circles are still there, and his face is still swollen, along with his hands. After satisfied with what he sees, he catches Harry’s eyes and notices Harry is watching him. Louis smiles, raising his eyes in question.
Harry knows what that look means, “Better, but still exhausted,” he says to Louis.
Louis nods and goes to make some tea and greets Anne. “How long as he been up?”
“Only an hour, he wanted something to eat. I’m going to stay for the doctor and then head out. We probably need to have him lay down for a bit, but wait on a treatment until the doctor can examine him.”
Louis nods again, making some toast before sitting next to Harry at the table.
“The boys want to come over, want to wait until tomorrow to see them?” Louis asks.
Harry nods and then they sit in comfortable silence as they sip their tea and Anne bustles around the kitchen. After a little while, Louis looks up and notices Harry’s eyes are closed as he is leaning on his hand. The adorableness of him stirs something inside of Louis, but now is not the time to acknowledge it.
Louis catches Anne’s attention and they both smile. “Haz,” Louis says quietly, shaking the boy awake. “Let’s move you over to the couch until the doctor comes, ‘kay.”
Harry shakes his head and tries to get up, but he is dizzy again. Something that keeps happening that he should mention to the doctor. He grabs onto Louis and they shuffle off to the couch. Louis settles Harry down and pulls a blanket over him telling him, he will wake him up when the doctor arrives. Harry has no energy left, and mumbles something incoherent already on the way to dreamland.
Louis looks down at the boy, not hiding his look of concern. When he looks up at Anne, her face echoes what he feels. “Remember the doctor said he would be tired for awhile and the treatments also make him tired,” Anne says.
“I know, but it is hard to see him like this. He is so lively and jumping around all the time, now he is so still.”
“Let’s see what the doctor says and then I have to drive back home tonight.”
Louis nods and Anne goes up to finish packing while Louis goes and cleans up the kitchen. He is so thankful for their personal assistant that stocked the pantry and frig for them so that is one less thing he has to worry about. He sets out Dr. Eli’s instructions and the meds that Harry was prescribed so the doctor can see them and then ventures back to the living room to sit down and watch Harry. He is not surprised when his phone goes off with a text from Liam. So, he doesn’t have to repeat himself, he creates a group chat without H. Louis updates all of them and tells them they are welcome to come over tomorrow, but in the afternoon. They ask that he updates them after the doctor comes, Louis responds with a thumbs up and when he hears the doorbell ring.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Lintz, your management hired to me to see to Harry.”
“Sure, come in. He is sleeping on the couch, let me wake him.”
“Hold on a moment, I suspect he is exhausted, let me look over his other doctor’s notes and speak with you first.”
“His mum is here too, let me get her as well.”
Anne joins them in the kitchen and they answer all the doctor’s questions and explain in their own words what happened. Dr. Lintz nods, listening carefully, asking questions when needed. When they are finished, he asks if they have any questions.
Louis tells him how Harry is still dizzy, very sleepy and seems a bit disoriented.
“Those are all side effects and will lessen over time. The meds are what is making him drowsy because it allows for the lungs to heal.”
“And the swelling?”
“That is from the treatments, once he is down to one a day, it should go away.”
“How long until he is back to normal?” Anne asks.
“That is really up to his lungs. His lung capacity has been compromised so singing and performing are going to be hard. He will have to work himself up to it, but he will be to 100%.”
“What are we looking at though?” Louis asks. He knows Harry needs to know this because he will set that goal and want to meet it. “A month, three months, a year?”
“Typically, with these types of infections, I would say six to nine months,” the doctor answers.
“When you tell Harry this, because he will ask, say nine months please,” Louis says and Anne nods.
The doctor agrees and they go and wake up Harry for his examination who is still sound asleep on the couch.
“Honey,” Anne says shaking Harry, “the doctor is here, it’s time to get up.”
Harry opens his eyes and sees three people staring down at him, two he recognizes and one is a stranger. It takes him a moment to realize it is the doctor and he makes an effort to sit up, not willing to admit that he is appreciative of his mum helping him. He hates how weak he has become.
“Hi, I’m Harry.” Harry smiles, ever one for manners.
“Good afternoon, I’m Dr. Lintz. I will be your doctor for the foreseeable future.”
Louis watches closely as the doctor examines Harry, specifically the doctor’s face when he listens to Harry’s lungs. He grimaces when Harry is felled by a coughing fit when he has to take deep breaths and it brings him to tears. Louis quickly fetches his inhaler and puts it to Harry’s mouth trying to get him to breathe in. When the fit is over, Anne has water for him and Harry nods appreciatively.
“Sorry about that Harry, but that is what we are fighting; you need to be able to take deep breaths without an attack, the easier it becomes means you are healing,” Dr. Lintz says.
Harry nods, but Louis gives him a glare for hurting Haz, but he understands.
“Okay, Harry, you are healing, but you need to practice clearing your lungs twice a day, try to take big cleansing breaths, but have your inhaler nearby. I will be coming once a week to check on you, but next time I will have a machine that will measure your breaths so we can start charting it. Also, as you feel up to it, start walking around the block and gradually increase your distance. Let’s do a breathing treatment once in the morning and before you go to sleep and use your inhaler as needed. Do you have any questions?”
Harry shakes his head and thanks the doctor while Louis sees him out. The doctor informs Louis that he will update management, which is a relief to Louis. Before he goes though, Louis asks for more inhalers explaining that he wants one for each of the band members, his bodyguard and then for different rooms in the house. Louis doesn’t want to take a chance that they will be without one. The doctor said he will bring them next week and they say goodbye.
When Louis walks back in, Anne is saying goodbye to Harry and his hearts breaks a bit when he sees that Harry has tears in his eyes. Louis gets it, he really does. When he is sick, he wants his mum to comfort him and what Harry has been through is really scary.
Anne gives one final hug and Louis walks her to the door holding her bag. There is a car waiting for her. Louis can tell she is hesitant to leave her baby. “Now, you call me about my boy and I can be here in three hours, if needed. Also, I’m going to need daily texts with updates. I know he won’t tell me the truth and will say everything is fine.”
“I will Anne, I promise.”
“I only feel good about leaving because I know you will take good care of him. He is so lucky to have you,” Anne says giving Louis a tight hug. “Take care of my boy, Lou.”
Louis nods and watches as Anne climbs into the car. With one last wave, he closes the door and leans back. He won’t let himself tap into it, but there is fear inside of him. He knows Harry is over the biggest obstacle, but he hates that this is happening to him, he wishes it were him. He quickly schools his face and walks back to the living room ready to face their new normal.