Chapter Text
None's POV
The boys were rehearsing for that night’s concert and they were singing 'Ready to Run' when something in the electrical circuit failed and electricity shot through all the equipment.
"Argh!" Louis cried out as he, Harry, Liam and Zayn stepped back from their microphones.
"Argh," Harry groaned as he put a hand over his ear.
"Are you ok Harry?" Louis asked and Harry nodded.
"Yeah."
"Turn the electricity off now!" Paul shouted as he ran towards the stage and the boys followed his gaze. Niall was standing motionless with his hands tightly gripping his guitar as electricity surged through his body.
A moment later, the electricity shut off and Niall collapsed onto the stage.
"Niall!" All the boys shouted as they ran over to him and Paul jumped onto the stage.
"Niall," Liam said as he knelt beside him and Louis took the guitar off Niall. Louis winced as he did so and Harry noticed.
"Louis, are you ok?" He asked as Paul knelt beside Niall and took his pulse.
"Yeah, I'm... argh," Louis groaned and Harry went over to him.
"Paul?" Liam asked after a moment.
"He's got a pulse Liam," Paul reassured Liam before he looked at Zayn. "Get an ambulance," Paul told Zayn and he got his phone out. "Help me to get him onto his side," Paul continued and Liam helped him to roll Niall into the recovery position.
"Paul, it sounds like he can't breathe," Liam said as he listened to Niall's irregular and raspy gasps for air.
"I know, but we're getting him help ok," Paul said and Liam nodded as he started to cry.
"Louis, your hands," Harry said as looked down at them. They were red, raw and shaking.
"I'm ok, we need to get Niall to hospital."
"Zayn's calling for an ambulance. You’ve burnt your hands Louis," Harry said as he took both of Louis's hands in his own.
"Argh. Be careful Harry," Louis said as he winced and tears formed in his eyes.
"Sorry love," Harry said before he kissed Louis on the cheek.
"What's wrong?" Paul asked and both Harry and Louis turned to him.
"My hands," Louis said as tears began to fall down his face.
"Let me see," Paul said and Louis leant down, showing Paul his hands. "Harry, I want you to run Louis's hands under cold water. Now," Paul said and Harry put his hand onto Louis's back.
"Come on Lou," Harry said and Louis let himself be lead away by Harry.
"The ambulance is on its way, Niall's going to be ok," Paul reassured Liam, and he nodded. Zayn stayed on the phone with 999 as Paul monitored Niall's pulse and breathing.
When the ambulance arrived, Liam refused to leave Niall's side as the paramedics treated him, before he managed to convince Paul to let him go with Niall to the hospital. Paul then took Louis and Harry in his car to the hospital, in order to get Louis's hands seen to.
Liam's POV
I ran my hand through my hair as I sat on the chair beside Niall's hospital bed. He'd been unconscious for just over an hour and Paul had cancelled that evening's concert. Nurses had kept coming in to check the monitors that Niall was connected to. His heartbeat was steady and he looked like he was asleep.
Just then, someone moved the curtain and I looked over to see Harry come in.
"How's Niall doing?"
"No change. The erm..." I began before I sniffled and Harry came over to me. "The doctor said that he might have a brain injury. From all the elec... Electricity," I said and Harry took my hand as he crouched in-front of me.
"Niall's very strong Liam, he'll make it through this," Harry gently reassured me.
"Yeah."
"Yeah," Harry said with a smile. "Are you doing alright?" He asked and I nodded. "I would stay here with you but I have to go back to the hotel with Louis."
"Is he... is he doing ok?"
"Yeah. They've bandaged his hands up and given him some cream to help soothe the burns. He asked me to come and check on you both."
"Thank you."
"I'm looking after Louis and you're looking after Niall. Make sure you text me with any news, ok?"
"I will."
"He'll wake up soon Liam," Harry said before he hugged me.
"I hope that you're right. I really hope that you're right," I said and a few minutes later, Harry left. Paul was sorting out the logistics of cancelling the concert and Zayn had been called away for a family emergency, so that had left me alone with Niall at the hospital.
Not being able to see his beautiful blue eyes looking back into mine, broke my heart. The doctor had taken Niall for a scan and they had said that he might have sustained a brain injury.
My eyes were red from crying, and I was dehydrated. A nurse gave me some water to drink, but it only made me feel sick.
All I needed was for Niall to wake up. I didn't care what state he was in, or if he had a brain injury. I just needed to see his blue eyes. His gorgeous blue eyes.
Louis's POV
"Here you go love," Harry said as he came back into the room with some water. I was sitting on the floor, using the bed as a backrest before Harry knelt beside me. He lifted the water to my lips and he helped me to drink some. "Is that enough?" He asked and I nodded. My hands stung, and they felt as though they were burning. "I've got to put some cream on them ok?" Harry told me and I nodded.
"They hurt H," I whispered.
"I know Lou. I know," Harry said before he kissed me on the cheek. The pain flared up and tears filled my eyes. "It's alright love," Harry said before he kissed me again. "The cream's got some pain-relief in it ok?" He said and I nodded. He then carefully unwrapped my hands and I cried out as a shot of pain ran up my arm.
"Argh!"
"Sorry Louis. I'm so sorry," Harry told me as the tears began to run down my face. I knew that it would make the pain better, so I had to be strong. I held back the tears as Harry put the cream onto my hands as gently as he could. Slowly, the pain faded and I closed my eyes. "How's that?"
"Better," I whispered and Harry kissed me once more before he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "How's Niall?" I continued.
"He's still unconscious, but the doctors are hoping for the best."
"And Liam?" I asked as I began to feel sleepy.
"He's worried and he just needs Niall to wake up. Are you tired love?" Harry asked as I leaned against him and I nodded. I felt Harry move his other hand to my waist before he lowered me down. "Ok, just lie down Lou. Lie down," Harry told me gently and I let him carefully lay me onto the ground. After a moment, I felt him put a pillow under my head and a blanket over my body. I wrapped the blanket around myself before I curled into a ball and I felt Harry snuggle beside me. I let sleep take over.
Liam's POV
Niall's heartbeat changed and I quickly looked up to see what was wrong. Instead, I saw Niall moving as he began to come to. Immediately I stood up, went to his bedside and took his hand.
"Niall? Niall, it's Liam. You're in hospital love," I said as I gently brushed my hand through his hair. He moved more and murmured a little. "That's it Niall, you're ok. Just keep coming round for me, it's Liam."
"Liium?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm right here so just take your time ok?" I told Niall gently, and I watched as he slowly opened his eyes. Tears came to my eyes as I saw him looking up at me.
"Li?"
"Yeah. Hi Niall."
"What? What... happened?" Niall asked me in a whisper. Talking was clearly hard for him at the moment, but I was just happy that he was awake.
"You were electrocuted Ni. At the rehearsal, something happened and electricity shot through all of our equipment. It went through your guitar and through you. You collapsed right in-front of us."
"It hurt," Niall told me as tears filled his eyes.
"Oh Niall love," I said as I felt a little piece of my heart break in two, so I kissed him. "Did it hurt for long?"
"I don't... know," Niall said as he became more upset.
"Ok, it's ok Niall. Are you in any pain now?" I asked him. I could talk to Niall later about what he had experienced, but right now he just needed lots of love and rest.
"No," Niall whispered.
"That's good, that's really good baby. Do you need anything else? Any water or anything?"
"Just you."
"Just me?"
"Yeah," Niall whispered and I gently kissed him on the lips.
"Just you and me then love ok," I said and Niall closed his eyes. I played with his hair and he mumbled away quietly to himself, which he did when he felt safe.
A short time later, Paul came through the curtain and Niall opened his eyes to see what was going on.
"Hi Liam. Niall, you're awake," Paul said with surprise before he came over to the bed.
"Yeah," Niall whispered.
"How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"
"No. Liam's been... Looking after, me," Niall said with effort.
"He's doing ok Paul. He knows what happened, but talking's a bit hard for him at the moment."
"Ok. Does your throat hurt Niall?" Paul said and Niall shook his head.
"No. I'm just... tired."
"Alright," Paul said and I watched his gaze soften before he took Niall's hand and he sat onto the bed. "The doctor will be through in a minute."
"Ok."
"Go to sleep for a few minutes Niall, you look pretty tired. Liam and I aren't going anywhere ok," Paul said before he ran his hand through Niall's hair and Niall closed his eyes. "Sit down Liam," Paul told me and I did so. "Are you doing ok?"
"Yeah. I'm just really glad that Niall's awake."
"So am I," Paul said as he put his hand onto my forearm and I smiled.
Ten minutes passed before the doctor came in and I explained that Niall had woken up and that he seemed to be ok, if a little tired. He checked Niall's vitals before he asked me to wake him up.
"Niall? Niall love? Wake up for me," I said as I gently shook him before I kissed him on the forehead and his gorgeous blue eyes fluttered open. "Hey. How was your nap?"
"Good," Niall replied with a smile.
"The doctor's here to check you over ok," I said and Niall nodded. I went to the side with Paul while the doctor checked Niall and asked him some questions. After a few moments, my phone pinged and I looked down.
Zayn: How are Niall and Louis doing?
Liam: They're ok. Louis's back at the hotel with Harry and the doctor's just checking Niall over now.
Zayn: Is Niall awake?
Liam: Yeah. He woke up about half an hour ago.
Zayn: That's great. Text me later with more news ok?
Liam: I will.
I then opened up Harry's contact and began typing.
Liam: Niall's woken up and the doctor's doing some checks on him now. He seems to be ok.
A few minutes went by but Harry didn't text back. He was probably busy with Louis so I put my phone away.
"Everything looks good and I'm happy for you to be discharged Niall," The doctor said and both Paul and I looked over at Niall.
"Do you need a hand getting dressed?" I asked Niall as I came over and he nodded. He still looked half asleep and I bet he didn't even know where his clothes were.
"Thanks. Liam," Niall said as I helped to get him sat up and the doctor and Paul went behind the curtain.
Paul's POV
The doctor took me outside of the curtain and we give Liam some privacy to get Niall dressed.
"As I said before, I'm happy for Niall to be discharged, but electric shocks can cause short-circuits in the brain and problems with electrical signals in the body. So if Niall has any seizures or abnormal heart rhythms, I would like you to bring him straight back to the hospital."
"Ok, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Thank you," The doctor said before he went to get the discharge papers.
"How are you boys getting on in there?" I called after a few minutes.
"Niall's nearly ready," Liam replied and I nodded. The doctor then reappeared and asked me to sign.
"There you go. And thank you for looking after him. It means a lot."
"It's my pleasure. I hate seeing young people getting electrocuted."
"They're singers and I knew that one day something like this would happen."
"Ok, we're ready Paul," Liam called and we went back through the curtain.
"Let's get you boys back to the hotel then," I said and both Liam and Niall nodded. I picked Niall up bridal style, and Liam followed closely behind me as we left the hospital and got into the car.
Harry's POV
The lock clicked in the door and woke me up. I turned to see Paul entering the room with Niall in his arms.
"Did I wake you Harry?" Paul whispered.
"Yeah," I replied before I looked at Louis.
"Put him on the bed Paul," I heard Liam whisper. "Watch his head," Liam continued as I brushed a hair out of Louis's face.
"He's doing fine Liam," Paul said before I stood up and went over to the bed. I looked down at Niall, who was fast asleep, and I brushed my hand across his face.
"Is he alright Liam?" I whispered.
"Yeah, he's just tired. How's Louis?"
"His hands are very painful, but I've put some cream on them that eased the pain."
"Good."
"Has Niall got any injuries?"
"We don't think so. He seems to be ok at the moment, he's finding it hard to talk and he's not quite with it, but that might just be because he's tired."
"Ok. So you're waiting to see how he is later?"
"Yeah."
"Louis looks happy," Paul said and I turned to him.
"Yeah. We've both been asleep for about..." I said before I looked at my phone. "An hour and a half."
"Good. You need some rest as well Liam."
"You do look really tired mate, and you deserve it for keeping an eye on Niall," I whispered to him and Liam nodded in agreement before he lay down on the bed.
Louis's POV
I groaned as I came to, and I felt Harry kneel beside me.
"Hi Lou, how are you feeling?"
"Much better."
"Is Louis awake?" Came Liam's, I'm half asleep, voice and I tried to look across at him.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "Do you want some food love?" He asked me.
"Yeah. I'm hungry," I said as I sat up and Harry gave me a hand.
"Good, because I've just ordered us pizza," Harry said as I sat up and I looked across to see Liam lying in the bed and Niall's blonde hair poking out from between the bed covers behind him.
"Is that Niall?" I asked in shock.
"Yeah, it is. He's doing ok Louis, he's just asleep at the moment."
"Ok."
"Shall we get you into the bed?" Harry asked and I nodded. He helped me up and I took Liam's space in the bed as he grudgingly stood up.
"Thanks Liam."
"No worries," Liam said as he yawned. "You ok?"
"Yeah," I said as Harry pulled the covers over me and Niall groaned.
"Niall?" Both Liam and I whispered.
"Niall, it's Liam. You're at the hotel, you're ok love."
"Nium?"
"Liam love. It's Liam."
"Lium," Niall said as his eyes fluttered open and I felt my heart melt. Niall really was adorable when he was out of it.
"Are you ok?" Liam asked and Niall nodded.
"Hey Ni," I said as I gently put my hand onto his arm and he turned to me.
"Louie."
"Yeah, are you alright?"
"Hmn," Niall replied with a small nod.
"Are you in any pain Niall?" Liam asked and Niall shook his head.
"I feel... ok."
"Hey Niall," Harry called quietly to get his attention.
"Haza," Niall muttered with a small smile.
"Yeah. Do you know that you were electrocuted."
"Yeah."
"Yeah," I said as Liam stroked his hand through Niall's hair. "Are you hungry?" I asked Niall and he frowned.
"A little."
"I've ordered us pizza," Harry said and Niall looked at him.
"Pizza?"
"Yeah, pizza," Harry said before Niall looked at my hands.
"Your hands. Lou."
"They got burnt Niall. From the electricity," I said and watched as Niall frowned once more.
"How am I? Going to eat... pizza like this?"
"You're not," Liam said as he put his hands underneath Niall's arms. I watched as he sat Niall up and Harry got a pillow that he could sit back against.
"Oh," Niall said as he adjusted to his new position, and we all smiled.
"Do you know what happened Niall?" Harry asked him.
"We were, on stage. Then..." Niall stuttered and Liam's hand came to rest on his neck. "Then... Everything went dark. And there was pain."
"How long were you in pain for?"
"Hmn not sure."
"But we're with you now, and that's the important bit," I said and Niall smiled.
"Does anything hurt Niall?"
"Just, sore."
"Where are you sore love?"
"Everywhere," Niall replied and Liam hugged him.
"Can you sit up Lou?" Harry asked me and I nodded. He gave me a hand to sit up and I didn't complain.
Soon, there was a knock on the door.
"That'll be the pizza," Harry said before he went over and opened it. He thanked the delivery man and brought the pizzas over.
"Let me hold it Niall," Liam said before he helped to feed Niall some pizza and Harry helped me to hold it, as my hands were not strong enough to hold anything yet. After the pizza, Liam kissed Niall as he fell asleep against him and I fell asleep not long after.