Patterns of Blues

Chapter 12

Liam paced around the waiting room anxiously, glancing over at Harry every few seconds. They were waiting for what felt like hours for Niall's tests to be done. The nurses didn't explain what exactly they were doing to him, but Liam had the good sense to know it must have had to do with what Mark did to him because he heard the words 'getting evidence,' and 'so sad, he's so young,' among other things that he chose to tune out. He didn't want to listen to the details again. What he wanted was to get his littlest brother back and leave. But he couldn't.

Claire had explained that there was a group home for boys with two spaces available and that he and Harry would be able to stay there. He was grateful that he'd still have his curly-haired brother around, in fact, he would have been much worse off if that weren't the case, but it was Niall who needed the most protection, and it was Niall who was being sent someplace further away. And all alone.

Liam breathed out loudly as he realized his fists were clenched. Shock and worry turned into anger and he wanted to find that stupid man and kill him for ever touching a hair on Niall's head.

He noticed Harry glance up from the noise and carefully get to his feet, approaching him,

"Liam, I-I'm not ready for this." Liam sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder,

"I'm not either."

"What if we never see him again?" Harry asked, voice cracking in the middle as tears welled up in his eyes, "What if someone hurts him?"

"I don't know, buddy," Liam admitted, forcing back his own tears, "I guess we just have to trust what that lady said."

Harry shook his head absently, and Liam knew saying that wasn't enough. He didn't trust what the lady had said, why should Harry have? He didn't think of anything better to say, and luckily the door opened and a nurse came out with the small boy they had been waiting for, and he didn't have to. He was dressed in adequate clothes, and Liam took that to mean he was going to be discharged. It was obvious that Niall had been crying again, eyelashes still wet with the leftover tears. Liam opened his arms for his littlest brother to fall into, and Niall silently sunk into his touch. The nurse was speaking to Claire, their faces grim with seriousness. He glanced to his left and saw Harry was fidgeting, gaze stuck on the back of Niall's head.

Liam rubbed circles on Niall's back for a few moments before pulling away to look him in the eye, "I love you." Niall nodded deeply, blue gaze searching his,

"Are you mad at me?" Liam stared in complete shock for a couple of seconds before comprehending the words he had just spoken,

"No! I'd never be mad at you, Ducky. What happened-that wasn't your fault." Niall stumbled a couple steps back, eyes clouding over with worry,

"But now everyone knows about Greg too and we're getting separated, and that is my fault." Harry took a step closer to him, but seemed hesitant, reaching a hand out to him and then dropping it,

"Ni, I told a school counselor this morning. People were going to find out anyways." Liam blinked back his surprise. Gosh, that had only been that morning? Felt like the span of a couple of weeks. Niall squinted at him for a moment before sighing,

"You're not mad at me either?"

"Of course not," Harry replied, shaking his head at the ludicrous idea, "I'm only mad at two people right now, and neither of them are you."

"You were mad this morning," Niall whispered, blue gaze drifting to the floor. Harry's face showed pure confusion, clearly having forgotten any conversation from earlier that morning, and even Liam had to pause and think about it. Harry seemed to have understood before Liam had, because he gasped loudly, this time not stopping himself from pulling Niall into a hug,

"I didn't mean it, Ni. I'd never be done with you." Liam sighed in relief when Niall didn't fight the contact, knowing Harry's heart would likely be obliterated if the littlest brother rejected his attempt at comfort. No, he didn't pull away, but he did wince a bit,

"Harry, my arm hurts." Harry let him go and frowned at the sling his brother was wearing,

"Sorry. I'll make it up to you when we get home, yeah? I'll make us dinner and maybe Greg'll let us use the telly and we can put on a show-"

"Harry, stop," Liam interrupted, "You know we aren't going home." He felt bad for sounding so negative, but he couldn't have Harry giving Niall false hope. The middle brother closed his mouth and looked at him, devastation apparent on his face,

"I know, I'm sorry."

"God, Haz, stop apologizing," Liam grumbled, "just shut up and listen to what Claire said. You and I are going to some children's home, and Niall's being sent off to live with a different couple. We can't stop it, so quit trying to."

"I know, I'm sorry," he repeated himself, this time a bit weaker.

"What'd I just say about apologizing?" Liam asked, exasperated. Harry shrugged and studied his feet,

"Sorry." Liam rolled his eyes before looking over at Claire and the nurse, who had conveniently stopped their conversation and were approaching the three brothers,

"One of my friends is on his way, alright, Niall? He's going to take you to the foster home." Niall shook his head immediately, eyes wide, grabbing for Harry's hand,

"Not yet," he whispered, voice trembling. Liam sighed and took his hand from Harry, angling his face so he could look him in the eye,

"Ni, it's not for very long, and Ms. Claire said we can still visit each other all the time, remember?" Niall nodded slowly, eyes glassing over again,

"I'm scared, Liam. Don't let them take me."

"I'm so sorry," Liam murmured, biting back a laugh at his irony for apologizing, "I can't stop it." Niall's gaze was still troubled, but he nodded anyway,

"I'll miss you."

"We'll miss you too, Ni," Harry replied before Liam could, voice raw again, as though fighting himself from crying. Niall ducked his head and leaned into Liam's touch, who responded by wrapping his arms around him gently,

"We're going to be okay, all of us."

He wasn't sure if that was the entire truth, but he felt like saying it would help calm everyone down.