Chapter Text
Saying that Harry was nervous was an understatement. It was afterall his first concert of a sold out stadium tour after a two year long break from the spotlight. He knows takking a break was the right decision but right know it didnt feel like it. He feels as if he lost his game. Everyone told him it was like riding a bike. Once he went out there it would be as if he never left. He wasn't so sure about that rigth now.
The Album was a succes rigth from the start. His management made sure he was spotted leaving studios or talking with key people in the industry to get him back in the tabloids and media spotlight. And when it was time to announce the new album everyone and there grandmother was already buzzing to hear it. It was all very overwhelming after spending the better part of two years in the italian countryside just livig the best of a normal life as he could. He had hoped a little bit that he might find a partner to spend his life with in that time - he even learned italian. But it seemed like he was destined to stay single. He had quite a big circle of friends sure. He was a people person most of the time after all. But it never really clicked with anyone. And yeah maybe his standards were to high or his hopelessly romatic brain was a bit over the top but he really thought there was someone out there for him. And when he found them he would know and the rest would be history. But after some time his management knocked and told him it was time to come back. Harry wasn't sure if he was ready yet but there was nothing he could do. Now he had a sold out tour to play. Stadiums mostly. Often more then one night too. And tonight was the last rehearsal scheduled. Then some dinner with the team and an early bedtime to rest as much as he could. God knows he needs as much as he could get. Once tour really starts a goodnights sleep was a rare treat for him.
It was an unusually hot day for London. The sun was blasting down while Harry was running around from last costume checks to siningn some merch. His vocal couch bugged in telling him it was time for warm up and then he was already standing on the stage. Looking out into the empty stadium, seeing how massive it really was. His chest closed up even more. Nothing he could do. He knew that. He would never want to dissapoint his fans either. So Harry pushed on. Everyone told him that it was enough to do a few songs but he wanted to run through the full set at least once. When he got to the end he regreted that decicion massivly. Kiwi, a fan favourite after all from his firts album made it onto the setliste. He decided to close the show with it. He could feel it getting harder to breath over the last few songs. Thought it was just the anxiety. But now as he is trying to sing Kiwi he could feel it for what it eally was. His Asthma acting up. Closing his airways, his chest feeling to tight and starting to hurt. He pushed through getting the last few lines out before starting tu fully splutter. It didnt take long before he colapsed at the floor. His guitarist Mitch leanig over him looking more than concerned.
«Hey Man, Andrew is already on his way yeah? He has your inhaler»
It only took another minute before his tourdoctor Andrew kneeled down behind him, gentle sitting Harry up and holding him against his chest.
«Harry on three yeah. Deep inhale as deep as you can manage.» Andrew pushed the inhaler between his lips and counted to three before pressing it. He did his best to inhale but his airways didnt want to cooperate.
«Good Harry. Let's do another one yeah?»
The second and third puffs were already a bit easier but he still felt fuzzy and a headache started to form behind his eyes. He kept his eyes closed concentrating on breathing.
«Come on lets try getting you backstage and a bit more comfortable.» Andrew and Mitch helped him up carefully and held him up while shuffeling him to the big couch in his dressing room. Harry was gratefull when he felt the soft vushions under him wanting nothing more then just lay down but Andrew forced him in an upright position.
«Harry you know that sitting uprigth will help you with your breathing. Can you try? Mitch will help you yeah?. I want to put in an IV with some liquids. Also I called an ambulance to get you to the hospital. I want you checked out. With the first concert tomorrow we cant afford to overlook something.»
At that Harrys eyes snappes up? «Hospital?»
«Yeah just as a precation ok? Don't worry about it.»
But Harry was already worried. Going to the hospital the evening before his first concert back? He knew he wasn't ready. Told them all the damn time.
«Hey man you need to keep breathing yeah? Don't stress about this. Everything fine.» Mitch felt him tense up and tried to calm him down but Harry was already deeply lost in his thoughts.
His breathing getting to fast and shallow once again. Sweat starting to form. Mitch talked to him calmly, rubbing his hands up and down Harrys upper arms but it did not seem to help at all.
Harry was worried. He would disappoint so many fans and his crew and family. He could already see the bad reviews in front of his eyes. He was deeply lost in his spiral when Andrew came back through the door with two paramedica in tow.
«Shit, Mitch what happend? I was gone for two minutes.» «I think hes having a panick attack about going to the hospital. I'm not sure. He doesn't respond to me at all.»
One paramedic was squatting down in front of Harry looking him over. Checking his vitals first before starting to quietly speak to him.
«Hey, I'm Louis. I'm here to take you to the hospital. I know it's scary but I promise you Liam and I will take good care of you yeah?»
The voice was soothing but Harry still struggled to break out of his paniked thoughts.
«Can you try to look at me?» Harry barly moved his head up. Just enough to look up and see the most beautful blue eyes he has ever seen. Like ocean waves.
«That great! Now try to match my breathing ok? I will put your hand on my chest so you can feel me bretahing in and out ok?» Harry nodded just a tiny bit but Louis saw the confirmation and gently grasped his hand to hold onto his chest.
«In and out. You are doing great. Feel it going down in your belly? Thats what you want. Doing so good.»
Slowly Harry came back down. Still wheezzing a bit from the Asthma but not panicked any more. And now that he was in possesion of a somewhat functioning brain again he saw the man in front of him with the ocean blue eyes and the soothing voice and was done for. He still felt the mans chest under his hand and his cheekes started to flush.He tried to hide his face etween his knees but Louis held his head up gently.
«No hiding here love. Need to see you so I know are doing ok.»
And come on. Love? That was it. Harry was ready to die know.
«Liam has the chair here. You feeling good enough for a transfer?»
Again an almost impercivable knod and everyone was starting to get busy arounf him. The second paramedic, Liam?, came into the romm with the chair and Louis helped him up and over. They were rolling him outside to the parked ambulance and loaded him up. Andrew put a hand on his shoulders to speak.
«I will meet you at the hospital ok? Make sure everything is ready to get you checked out. Making sure everything is fine for the tour ahead yeah?» Then he closed the ambualnce doors and went to his car.
But Harry was starting to overthink again. About everything that could be wrong, about having to cancel his tour, dissapointing his fans. His management dropping him because of it.
The Monitors he was attached to started to go wild. Louis took one look and knew.
«Hey love it's ok. Just a quick check up. I'm sure everything is totally fine. Looking at me again yeah? Same as before match my breathing.Great doing good.»
It took some time but Harry managed to calm down again. But his breathing was struggling even more now.
«I'd like to put the oxygen mask on you yeah? Your levels are a bit low.»
But he didn't want that mask. It was something he always refused because it meant defeat in his mind. Shaking his head wildy he looked to Louis trying to communicate with his eyes that he hated damn mask.
But Louis didn't let him off.
«love that's really not negotiable.» Cardfully but with a stern look he put the mask on harrys face and pulled the rubber band around.
«Good girl. Now breath for me love.»
And that was his ultimate death. Harrys face flushed bright red and his heart rate shot up for a moment. And because he was hooked to all kind of things Louis could see it all in real time.
«Good to know princess» Louis smirked at him with an amused glint in his eyes.
«Kill me now» Harry murmured under his breath with his face pointed down. The rest of the short ride to the hospital he tried to not look into Louis direction. Trying hard to keep his breathing steady and keping his face from resembling a ripe tomatoe. And in all that he didn't even really notice when he was handed over to a nurse, clipboard with his information already in hand thanks to Andrew calling ahead, and Louis leaving. It took the better half of the test battery he had to go through for Harry to realise that he forgot to thank the two paramedics. And thaf was completly unlike him and totally unacceptable. When he was finally free to leave he looked around to find a nurse station to maybe get some information about the man with the see blue eyes.
«Hi, ahm sorry? I was hoping you can help me?» he asked with a shy grin. The nurse behind the desk gave a calm and friendly smile back.
«Of course . What can I help you with?»
«I was hoping that ahm you... ahm do you maybe know who the two paramedics were that brought me in? I ah I have there names? Louis and Liam»
«Oh yeah total sweethearts both of them. Why?»
«Well I kind of forgot to ahm thank them? And I feel bad and yeah.»
«Honey that's so sweet but they just did there job.»
«Yeah yeah I know but I would still like you think I ahm could leave a message for them or something?»
«Oh sure. Here write ixpt down and I'll let them know next time they come through here »
«Thank you!»
Harry took the offered pen and paper. For Liam he quickly write a short sentence thanking him for taking care of him. Apologising for forgetting to do that in person and then letting him know that there will be two tickets under "Liam Paramedic" at the box office for tomorrow's show. Folding the paper he puffs Liam at the top and handed it over.
But then he thought about writing something for Louis. All he could think about were this beautiful eyes, his soothing voice and the petnames. He felled his face flush again just remembering it now. Not having any better idea he wrote the same as he did for Liam. And after some not so carefull consideration he put his private phone number down at the end with a little X Harry to sign it. It was a rash decision if he's honest and his security would probably kill him if they knew but it somehow felt right.
So he folded that too put Louis on top and handed the note over too.
«I'll make sure they get them before their shift ends.» The nurse gave him another gently smile before returning to her paperwork.
«Thank you so much.» And with that Harry felt a bit lighter and joined Andrew to get back to the Hotel.