Last One Standing

*Zayn’s POV*

We passed by Hannah’s apartment and there was an ambulance waiting there.I silently knew that Marcus was on the other side of those doors.I wanted to stop.I wanted to break through every paramedic.I wanted to kill him.No matter how much I knew what I wanted, I still had to pass the complex and drive to the hospital.Haley held onto my arm, nervously drawing patterns on the bare skin.She jumped when my arm moved to change gears.

“It’s gonna be okay, Babe.”I pressed the pedal to make the yellow light.I turned into the hospital and pulled into a spot.Haley’s door was opened before the car was in park.I walked away, clicking the button for my car to lock until it had beeped a few times and I searched for Haley who was far ahead of me.

“Babe, hurry up!” she yelled back to me.I ran to her and put my arm around her hip, halting her practical jog up the front walk.She looked at me, anxiety in her eyes, but I didn’t react.I only pulled her hood over her head and did the same with my own.When her expression turned to confusion, I took her waist, moving us both forward slowly.I could tell she wanted to take off running, but it was in everyone’s best interest for her to stay close.

We walked up to the room we had been directed to and peered through the large glass window.I was surprised that Harry didn’t have the blinds drawn when I saw him.His back was to the window and his hood was pulled up.I could see where the rain hadn’t quite tried on his shirt and his body seemed to be shaking a bit.I walked Haley over to the waiting area and she sat down.She looked up at me, surprised that I wasn’t sitting down with her.Before I could turn and walk away, she was on her feet again.“Zayn, wait!”

“Babe, I need you to just stay here for a minute.”Her lips parted and her eyebrows furrowed, obviously enraged.Staying calm, I rested my hands on her upper arms.“I need to be there for Harry right now.”

“And I need to be there for Hannah.”Her voice was cold, but mine still stayed warm.

“You can be there for Hannah once she wakes up.I don’t think Harry wants anyone seeing him like this.”Her face softened; she knew I was right.Sitting in defeat, she looked up at me with eyes telling me she wouldn’t be pissed if I left her here.I stood there, looking through the window for a moment.After taking a deep breath, I opened the door.Harry’s head whipped around and his red, puffy eyes met mine for a long moment before they turned back to gaze on Hannah.He sniffled and attempted to quiet his cries.I could feel his shoulders quivering as I resting my hand there.“There’s no need to hide it mate; it’s just me.”Harry’s face fell into his hands and his frame shook.Even now I couldn’t describe the rest of the room to you.My eyes were only focused on Hannah and Harry.It took me a second to realize what I was looking at.I sat in the chair next to Harry’s and looked at Hannah.“So it didn’t hurt the baby?”I saw the bump in Hannah’s hospital sheets and trained my eyes on it to make sure it wouldn’t disappear.Another round of sobs raked through Harry and it startled me to be quite honest, but nothing mortified me more than hearing what he had to say next:

“What baby?”My eyes widened as I made damn certain that I had heard him correctly.He looked at me, tears streaming down his face and saw my confused reaction.Harry stormed out of his seat and walked across the room.Now I could tell you that the walls were white because his skin seemed so dirty and out of place against them.“There is no baby.”He leaned his palms against the wall and dangled his head towards the floor.“There is no baby!” he shouted as he slammed his fist again the wall.He took a shaky breath before turning around.“He beat the fucking life out of it!”A sharp pain hit my heart.

There was a steady beat in the background that was not so steady all of a sudden.Harry and I both turned to see the machine that was tracking Hannah’s heart rate and the pace was still increasing.Harry and I were both on our feet, wide eyed and clueless when a lot of nurses rushed into the room and ushered us out.Haley was already there to meet us before we got to the waiting area.Harry still seemed to be in shock when Haley wrapped her arms around his waist.His arms went around her and his face buried into her neck as he sobbed.We got him to the waiting room and found a couch.Haley and I sat on either side of him, neither of us really knowing what to say or do.My phone began to ring as Haley rubbed patterns on Harry’s back and I looked at her.Her expression told me she wouldn’t be pissed if I stepped away.

*Niall’s POV*

“Hey man, where are you?”

“I’m in my car.How’d you get in?”I looked through the side window of my car.None of the cameras had turned my way, but I wasn’t too excited about getting out.

“Uh, we went through the front entrance.”

“How?”

“Do you have an umbrella?”I told him to wait while I checked.My hand wandered aimlessly around the floor of the car.Something mesh hit my fingertips and I pulled out my full umbrella.

“Yeah, I’ve got one.”

“Just hold it low.No one’s paying attention.Harry’s the only one who made a scene.”I did as he said and tried not to stress about the muddy water splattering the toes of my white sneakers.The receptionist seemed much to okay with my presence – especially because she seemed to be in her early twenties.

“Would you like me to find someone to escort you as well?”Her tone was frigid and her eyes stayed trained on her monitor.I remained silent and waited patiently for her to look up.“Sir?” she finally complied.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” I rested my elbows on the counter, “that would be great.”Her eyes searched rapidly while her posture remained incredibly still.

With a sigh, she finally gave up on searching for somebody and stood out of her seat.She was a cute height and I was surprised that she could be so intimidating from all the way down there.My heart hurt a little as this reminded me of Emma.She was supposed to be here by my side, but she was with a douche bag that I could sense was going to hurt her in the end.God, normally I’d have to be saying that about other guys, but no, it’s not other guys; it’s her father.What kind of messed up situation is that?

“Follow me.”She seemed less than thrilled to have to take me to Hannah’s room.We stepped into the silent elevator and stood dead center.

“I’m assuming the others were slight jerks?”She tried to ignore me but gave up based on my sincere nature.

“The first one was a bit harsh.The other two were just worried.”She let out a sigh and her posture relaxed a bit, making her seem even shorter.The ding of the elevator signaled and the doors opened.We stepped out, but something came to mind.

“Wait,” I grabbed her by the elbow and she spun around smoothly.“I’m sure that Harry didn’t mean anything by what he said.”I dropped my hand and entangled my fingers.I tried to dig a hole in the ground with my toe and swallowed the aching lump in my throat. “We’re all just scared as hell.”I tried so hard to hold back the tears.Then I felt her hand rub my arm softly before she turned to walk me to the others.

I didn’t lift my head until we had gotten to the waiting room.I was shocked to see that Harry wasn’t in the room with Hannah, but walked over to the others none the less.I knew that Harry was probably still a bit hesitant about even seeing me, but that didn’t stop me from walking straight to him and embracing him for a long moment.What I wasn’t expecting was that Harry hugged right back with just as much intensity.“I’m really glad that you’re here,” he muttered into my shoulder.

“Wouldn’t be anywhere else.”I felt selfish but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking of Emma.She obviously didn’t care as to whether Hannah was okay or not; Harry obviously wasn’t.Once Harry was ready to let go of me, I walked over and gave Haley and Zayn hugs, but I couldn’t help but notice what was going on behind their backs.Harry had collapsed into a chair and his head had fallen into his hands.Unexpectedly, the receptionist from the front desk came out of the hallway and into the room; I wasn’t aware she’d been watching us, but I was truly oblivious.How could I have not seen her standing there?Her light curls were long and healthy but strained in her ponytail.She strolled over to Harry and rested a friendly hand on his shoulder.His head snapped up and instantly he tried to swallow his tears.A few words were said before she looked up, nodded at me and retreated down the hall from which she came.

Once she was gone, I sat down in the chair next to Harry’s.He seemed extremely more tranquil, but his face was miserable.He stared blankly forwards for a minute until he noticed me, then his face went to the floor.“So mate, why are you out here?”

“I’m honestly not sure.Zayn asked… we were talking and I lost it,” he paused.“Then her heartbeat started racing and they kicked Zayn and I out of the room.”A tear strolled down his cheek before he tried to brush it away undetected.I looked at him with worry, not knowing exactly what to say.

“You don’t think she heard you, do you?”He buried his head in his hands before looking me dead in the eyes.

“I hope not.”

~

It was probably another twenty minutes of sitting there.I still don’t think I had completely processed what had happened to the baby.She and Harry were so ready for a baby and to just have it ripped away like that.About half an hour later I heard heels clicking down the hall; my ears perked at the sound.The steps came closer and closer until they reached our view.My heart sank as Louis gave Harry a prolonged hug.Eleanor shortly followed; her legs looking even longer because of her heels.It was more than obvious that they had come from dinner.Lou was dressed a bit nicer than normal, buy my eye wasn’t caught by either of them.

What interested me was the shorter blond behind them.Her face was much kinder this time around.Harry gave her a gracious nod with which she returned a soft smile.Eyes searching a bit, she crossed her arms before letting her shoulders relax upon seeing me.Her mouth pulled up at the right corner and the other followed to form a smile when she realized I was doing the same.With a gently nod, she turned and left the room.

After another hour, I had ventured to sprawling in the sole chair by the entrance.I was close to dozing off, but became alert with the clicking of heels.The sound came closer and closer.A pang of guilt was sent through me when I realized I couldn’t decide on who I wanted to walk through the door.I wanted them to belong to Emma.I wanted to hold her and for her to pull me close and tell me it would be alright.I wanted her here, but she wasn’t.She ditched me and not just me, but everyone else too.If it wasn’t bad enough already, let’s add on that she didn’t come because she wanted to hang out with her abusive father.I was there for her in her time of need; I saw the bruises and made things better for her.Now, in my time of need, she wasn’t here.I knew she wasn’t incredibly close to Hannah, but I was; if she were ever to care…

My thoughts were interrupted by the tall figure that was Liam clomping into the room with heavy steps.He turned to throw a clumsy thank you back down the hall and collapsed into a hug with Harry.Eyes drooping, I leaned my head against the wall before she came through the door.Again, she scanned the room and jumped slightly upon seeing that I had turned up so much closer to her this time. She stood frozen, cheeks turning red, and I realized that she hadn’t planned anything further than this moment.Her fingers fidgeted in front of her waist and the floor was suddenly one of the most interesting things in the world.Without another word, she turned on her heel to head the other direction, obviously embarrassed.Feeling a bit more awake, I looked towards everyone to see them patronizing Liam for drinking away his sorrow called Danielle before slipping out of the room.

I caught her wrist just as it was reaching to call for the elevator.“Hey,” was all she said.It was at this point when I realized that I hadn’t plotted out any dialogue either.My cheeks were burning when she decided to speak again.“Going down?”She pressed the button and looked at me shyly.

“Oh,” I looked back towards the others, “I wasn’t really planning on straying too far.”The elevator doors opened and she snuck a few glances my way before quickly stepping through the opening.

“If you wanna come down,” she began playing with her fingers again, “you know where to find me.”The doors began to close.I couldn’t just let her leave me standing here.My hand, as if detached from the rest of my body, flew to stop the metal from separating us.I stepped into the elevator and propped myself against the far wall.I couldn’t help but to stare.She couldn’t see me, but I’ll assume she could feel me because she was fidgeting under my gaze.She turned abruptly and I tried to avert my eyes but I wasn’t quick enough.Her silence was enough, but she took my embarrassment further.“You’re caught,” laughter came with her words.A smile formed on my lips, but my face was a red balloon.I stayed silent.

With the silence, my mind drifted to Emma.This was so wrong and she would be pissed if she knew.I cared for Emma and definitely loved her, but I couldn’t shake this feeling that… that… “You know what I just realized?”I said as the doors opened again.She looked at me and a few butterflies spun around.“I’m not sure we’ve been properly acquainted.”I held out my hand, “I’m Niall.”She laughed a bit sheepishly.

“I knew that already.”I smiled as she blushed; a fan, just like I’d assumed.She took my hand and pronounced a soft, “Jackie.”

*Harry’s POV*

I ignored Liam’s alcoholic scent and welcomed his hug anyways.Not really caring how drunk he was or why, I sat down and listened to the hushed chastising he was getting from the others.

I realized that Niall wasn’t there anymore about twenty minutes later.He was probably eating something downstairs in the cafeteria; I, on the other hand, didn’t have much of an appetite.

It was probably another twenty minutes when I felt someone slump down in the seat next to me.Deciding I shouldn’t be a total douche bag, I looked up to see a solemn looking Liam in the chair next to mine.“I’m sorry mate.It was insensitive of me to show up like that.I was just thinking of getting here quick, but that’s no excuse.I should be supporting you right now; not the other way around.”I was too depressed to be shocked at how quickly he had sobered up.Later, I would realize that a lot more time had actually passed than what I had thought.

I didn’t respond to Liam.I just nodded to let him know that I had heard him.

I stared at the same tainted place on the floor for what felt like ages.My eyes burned from dryness, but when they focused on the clock, only about ten minutes had gone by.

I stared at the clock for another five minutes just to watch the hands tick.Lou came over to check on me.I didn’t even look at him.Later I would feel bad about it, but not now.

I thought about Hannah.No one had come out to tell me how she was; that wasn’t a good sign.I had it on good authority that the doctors were still in her room, so at least I knew that she was alive.

Niall got back a half an hour later.He brought the secretary from the front desk, but I didn’t care.He brought sandwiches too; I didn’t take one.

Everyone was getting tired and I should have told them to go home, I’d call them when there was news, but I didn’t.

My ears perked at the sound of a door opening.Just another door.“Mr. Styles?”My head shot up upon hearing my name.“She’s awake.”

*Hannah’s POV*

I took a shaky breath.Ow.Everything hurt.Everything was black.Everything was surreal.No way I could survive this much pain.Between my legs was fire.My stomach was busted open.Every time my lungs were filled with air, my chest was filled with white hot pain that no one could live through.

I couldn’t see anything, so I focused on something else; went through my senses.Everything that I could feel was internal.I tried to move my arms: nope.I tried to move my legs: those wouldn’t move either.I tried everything from wiggling my nose to fidgeting my fingertips: nothing.The smell was terrible.There was an obvious odor of bleach, but there had been an attempt to mask it: vanilla?Whatever it was, the attempt had failed and there was only one place that smelled like this: a hospital.

The only thing I could see continued to be black and my mouth felt dry.I desperately wanted some water.I tried to focus on something else, anything else.That’s when I started to hear.Yes, there was a voice.It was right by me.I couldn’t make out what it was saying, but it talked continuously.Each time it spoke it became a little clearer: Harry.He was speaking in a tone too hushed to be meant for my ears.I didn’t care if I could hear him or not; knowing that he was here beside me was enough.

There was another voice, probably a doctor.Soon, that one was gone and it was just Harry again.His voice faded and I strained desperately to bring it back but I couldn’t.I was rendered helpless in the darkness.

The next time I could hear anything, there was a beautiful tune filling the air and there was no doubt that it was Harry.It wasn’t one that I’d heard before, but it was sweet while meant to be melancholy; I could tell.All too soon, the music stopped and there was muffled, struggling sounds escaping him.I wanted to wake up and tell him not to worry because I was okay, but I guess comatose is a pretty good indication that I’m not all that alright.

I was alerted again by a familiar voice: Zayn.Where was Haley?I heard Harry cry and knew Zayn had probably kept her in the waiting room.Harry talked in a hushed tone at first, but then something happened.Harry started raising his voice.Zayn tried to calm him down but it wasn’t doing any good; Harry yelled so loud the walls shook.In fact, they did.They shook after a band so loud it could’ve been a gun.What happened?Who was there?Was Harry okay?Before I could digest what was going on, I went under again.

Now there were voices, but none of them were familiar; none of them were Harry.I could feel them poking and prodding me.A hand ran over my ribs and I took a sharp intake of breath.Then, my hand touched skin… and I could feel it!There was one voice particularly close to me.It was directing itself at me.They had to say the same thing a few times before I understood:

“Hannah?”

I stuck to responding with something small.I raised my eyebrows from my closed lids to let him know that I had recognized my name.My head still throbbed, but I worked to focus on the voice.

“Hannah,” he spoke slowly, “I want you to wait a minute to open your eyes.I’m going to turn the lights down first, alright?”

I gave the same response as the first time.A door opened and everything got quiet: everyone else had left.I heard a chair scraping across the floor as if being dragged closer to my bed.

“Alright Hannah, open your eyes if you can.”I did but even the dim light caused me to squint.“Can you hear me Hannah?”I turned my head slowly in the direction of the man.He was bald and wore glasses.He looked about as casual as a doctor could be.I nodded my head ‘yes’ before he continued.“Hannah, do you know where you are?”I nodded my head.“Do you know what happened to you?”Do you?I nodded my head, remembering blacking out in Harry’s arms.“Would you be more comfortable talking to Mr. Styles?”My eyebrows rose at the sound of his name and I nodded my head, wanting nothing more than to see him.I remember how mad I had been at him and that seems really stupid now.He had been protecting me and I copped an attitude.

My eyes stayed trained on the door until a mop of curls walked through it.I assumed everyone else was in the hall waiting for Harry’s ‘okay.’The first thing I noticed was the tears clouding his perfect orbs.Face tear stained, he sat in the chair the doctor had previously occupied.I felt my own tears begin to form as Harry took my hand and gently ran the pad of his thumb over the skin.He kissed my knuckles over and over without saying a word.The doctor had left, but we couldn’t have cared less.

I wasn’t sure how long we sat there staring at each other, but I was confident it had been a solid ten minutes.Our tears had dried and now we both sat more than content with each others’ company.Harry held my hand to his mouth and closed his eyes, only our breathing audible.I swallowed the dry lump in my throat and pondered how bad this would hurt.

“Harry?”My voice was broken and weak, but audible.He looked up, but said nothing.“How long have I been here?”Questions clearly weren’t on the top of his to-do list, but I wanted to know.

“Well, you really weren’t out for that long.”I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.“We got her at about 7:30 pm and it’s getting close to 3:00 am now.”My eyes got a little wide before I asked my next question.

“Who all is here?”

“Everyone except for Emma,” Harry scoffed, “and Niall’s pissed about it.”A small smile came over his face.It was nice to see his smile.He sat there in deep thought for a moment before he started giggling.

“What could possibly be funny?”He looked up through frazzled curls before responding.

“Liam showed up drunk.”I was a bit shocked, letting my mouth fall open.“He dropped forgetting Dani to be here.”I chuckled a bit too before we sat there for a bit.

“Harry?”He raised his eyebrows, the smile finally staying on his lips.“Why were you yelling at Zayn?”The smile was gone.He wouldn’t look me in the eye; his main focus was the floor.Why did I have to ruin all the good moments.

“Did they tell you anything when you woke up?”He checked my face for a response: I furrowed my eyebrows.“Anything about the baby?”My heart sunk.I didn’t save it.Marcus killed it.He killed Harry’s baby.He killed Harry’s baby and I tried to stop Harry from killing him.I looked down, confused as to why I still had a baby bump, and depressed by the reminder.“Hannah, they have to have your permission to remove it.”It.Our baby was an ‘it’: no gender, no name, just it.I nodded my head in understanding as I tried to swallow the lump that had crawled back up my throat.“I’m gonna go get everyone.Is that okay with you?”A distraction.I nodded my head and Harry disappeared for only a moment.

Everyone stood around; only Harry and Niall sat by my bed.Everyone seemed thankful but they all looked tired.Niall seemed a bit secluded, probably because Emma wasn’t here.We all sat around talking for what seemed like forever until Niall said a calm goodbye to everyone and left suddenly.

After that, the others slowly began to file out.When Harry and I were the only two left, we called the doctor in.

“We can take you into surgery later this afternoon is that’s what you’d like.”I lay there thinking for a minute, the doctor still rambling.I’m fairly certain that he wasn’t finished talking when I interrupted.

“Can you run a DNA test on a fetus?”The doctor looked shocked, but Harry just looked depressed.

“Oh, I apologize.I was under the assumption that it was,” he looked at Harry as subtly as possible.“Mr. Styles, may I speak to you in the hall for a moment?”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”He was surprised by Harry’s answer.

“Anything I can hear my girlfriend can hear too.”

“Alright, were you aware that your girlfriend was having sexual intercourse with another man beside you?”Harry gently nodded his head as I looked away from them.“And you…”

“And I know,” Harry interrupted, “that Hannah’s spent months recovering from a man raping her,” I wasn’t sure how much he was comfortable with the world finding out, “and I know that he either just murdered my baby or his own,” the doctor’s eyes were as big as saucers with Harry’s explanation, “so if Hannah wants to know, I support her in every decision.”His voice was an intense whisper at the end, making it very clear that we would be taking the DNA test.Once I had signed some paperwork and the doctor had left, Harry sat on the side of my bed.“Are you sure that you wanna know baby?”I stared at the white walls.

“Is Marcus dead?”I could see Harry shake his head ‘no.’ I looked him dead in the eyes.“Then yes.”

Notes

Hey everyone! No, I'm not dead lol and sorry it's been so long. So yes, we're going to find out who's baby it is! Will that be a good thing or a bad thing? I'll let you guys ponder and predict and then you'll find out :D
Okay, so I know that everyone might not be as excited for my little surprise as I am, but what can I say haha alright, this is kind of astonishing to say. As some people may know, I've been working on this story - that's really become more of a book - for about a year now. Keeping this in mind, I have mixed feelings in telling everyone that I'm only expecting Last One Standing to be 65 chapters long. That means that there are only four more after this, but they'll be very exciting, I promise :) There's more news on this story that I'll release in the notes of the next chapter! Thank you guys for reading and I can't wait to start writing Chapter Sixty Two!
Here's a hint