"I need to sit down." Zayn said in a pained voice. I panicked and pulled out the kitchen chair and helped him sit down. He held his side with his good arm and groaned. I kneeled at his side and looked up at him. His face was scrunched and he looked like he was holding his breath. He hunched forward and placed his forehead to the kitchen table.

"Zayn, do you need anything? What can I do to help you?" I asked in a panic. Zayn just rolled his head back and forth on the table in a 'no' gesture. I looked up at the others, Ruth was also shocked at Zayn's state, while Harry and John were off talking to each other. "How hurt is he?" I asked. Zayn was obviously more hurt than what I could see.

John cleared his throat and looked over at me. "Two shots. One to the shoulder and one to his side. He's all stitched up, but refuses the pain medication. I say let him be stupid. He likes the pain or something."

"I don't." Zayn growled back at John. "I just don't like the way they make me feel." Zayn groaned once more and clutched his side. "Dammit." Zayn was physically shaking and it worried me. I didn't know why he would take the pain medication, but it was his choice and I wasn't going to ask.

"Let's at least get you to the bedroom so that you can lie down." I held Zayn's good shoulder in my hand. "Please, Zayn." I begged him. He looked up at me and smirked. I stood back and placed my hands on my hips. "What's that look for?" I asked.

"You're just so worried about me." He lightly chuckled and then started to cough. I bet coughing hurt his side. It hurt me just to look at him like that.

"Well, yeah I'm worried!" I shouted at him and then smacked my hand over my mouth. "Sorry." I apologized for my tone. There was still this thin line between Zayn and I that made me rethink my actions around him. We were close, but not like long time friends. "I didn't mean to yell."

"Please don't apologize." Zayn frowned. "Remember when I told you that you look so much better when you smile?" He reached forwards with his good hand and pinched my chin between his finger and thumb. I blushed, smiling up at him. "There we go. And lying down sounds perfect right now." Zayn pushed himself up from his seat and I bolted up to stand next to him and help him up. "John?" Zayn peered over his shoulder at John who stood there waiting for some instruction. "My bags?"

"I've got them." John walked over to the door where a few bags sat on the floor. He picked up them and then headed towards the stairs. "Do you need help with him, Niall?"

I was about to answer John when Zayn answered for me. "I don't think Niall will need any assistance. You've got me, right?" He looked down at me as I snuck under his good arm and lifted him up slightly with the strength in my shoulders.

"I've got you." And I meant that with all of my heart.

We made it up the stairs and I only broke out in a small sweat. Zayn wiped my forehead with his sleeve and leaned back against the pillows I had gathered behind him on the bed. John had left the bags and us to ourselves in the bedroom. I sat by Zayn's side and watched at he closed his eyes for a moment.

"I thought you ran away when I first realized you were missing." Zayn told me like he did before. His eyes were still closed and his forehead was wrinkled as if he was concentrated hard. "But when John told me that you had left with Naomi... I knew something was wrong."

"We don't need to talk about it. You need to rest." I told Zayn, but he wasn't having any of it.

"No, I should have known she was working for Liam. I just-" I hugged Zayn with my lips against him. "Niall?"

"It doesn't matter right now. You need to focus on getting better." I told him. He shook his head, but I kissed him again. "Yes." When I went to pull away, Zayn cupped the back of my neck and pulled me down again. I hovered above him while we kissed. I didn't want to have any of my body weight on his wounds. I pulled away again and Zayn's breath tickled my chin.

"Lie down with me." Zayn whispered up at me. I nodded and crawled over Zayn carefully, lying by his side. "Closer." Zayn chuckled, lifting his good arm so that I could cuddle into his side. I hummed happily as I lied next to him in his arms. "Now I can sleep." He spoke slowly until I could hear his breathing even out. When I looked up, his eyes were closed and his face rested peacefully. I soon closed my eyes and fell asleep beside him.

"Niall." I hugged tighter to the pillow I was holding onto. "Niall, wake up." My eyes fluttered open and I yawned. "Niall, you're hugging a little-" I let go instantly, hearing Zayn sigh with relief when I did so. "too tight." Zayn sighed again. I sleepily sat up and rubbed my eyes. Zayn was sitting up and rubbed his side. His forehead was scrunched and he looked uncomfortable.

"Oh my god. I'm sorry!" I sat straight up and wanted to help him, but there was nothing I could really do to help him out. After all, I was the one hugging him so tightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I sat back with my hands balled into fists in my lap. "I didn't mean to."

"Hey." Zayn spoke up. I looked up at him to see his hand coming towards me. My instincts kicked in and I cowered beneath his raised hand and he stopped. "Niall?"

"Please, I won't do that again. Please, just don't hit me." I whimpered. When Zayn didn't say anything I looked up at him again and he had this look of devastation on his face.

"You really thought-" He frowned. "Niall, I told you that I would never hurt you. No one will ever hurt you again." He leaned forwards and hugged me with one arm. I gently hugged back and nuzzled my face into his neck and collarbone.

"I'm sorry."

"Please stop apologizing." Zayn softly said to me. I nodded into his neck and let my body relax. "No one will ever hurt you. They'll be dead if they do." His words were a bit worrying to me. Zayn had a lot of untold mysteries about him. I didn't know what he actually did for a living, but I did know that it had nothing to do with "global communications" like he had told me. He was in something deeper and more dangerous than I thought. After all, he knew Liam and they seemed to have it out for each other.

Zayn didn't let me go and we just rested on the bed together. We leaned back against the pillows and just relaxed. It was nice, like, really nice. Zayn's hand played with my growing hair. It was almost all brown at that point with the ends bleached blonde. I needed a haircut

I hadn't had time to think about things like that. I probably needed a shave as well. I didn't grow much hair on my face, but it had been a while and when I touched my chin I felt the prickling hairs. I glanced over at Zayn and saw him watching me. He smiled and removed his arm from around my shoulder.

"I'll be fine if you want to go clean up."

"Oh, I'm fine. I want to be at your side." I snuggled close to Zayn and he gently nudged me away.

"I'm sure I can handle being without you for a few minutes." He smiled down at me and I sighed. I had been defeated by Zayn's ridiculously good attitude about all that was going on. "I heard that Ruth gives good haircuts." Zayn mentioned as I got up from the bed. I shook my hair and winked at him, causing a blush to come to his cheeks and a awkward movement of his body.

"You sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes, Niall. I'll be fine." Zayn shooed me off. I took one last look at him before I walked out of the room to head downstairs. I stopped at the top of the stairs and listened to the sound of people in a very heated conversation downstairs.

"You know he will find us. He's my brother for christ's sake. I know him better than anyone."

"Are you telling me that your a security risk?"

It was John and Ruth fighting back and forth and they were talking about Liam.

"Don't call my wife a security risk. We will keep Niall safe. That kid has been through so much and doesn't need another shit storm hitting him like it did just a few weeks ago."

Harry barked back, protecting his wife. They were talking about me and that was a bit frightening. I knew I wasn't completely safe from Liam, or else I wouldn't be in a safe house. "Liam is out there with his men looking everywhere. That kid is lucky to be alive right now. If Liam finds this place. We're all dead. My wife, me, you, you're boss up there. Dead."

"If your wife keeps her mouth shut about it then we won't have to worry. This place is hidden from everything and everyone. Who would go looking in a seemingly normal neighborhood? No one. And I have my guy coming in to keep an eye on things."

Another person? Who could also be involved in all of this? I crouched down and sat at the top of the stairs, watching through the spindles the group arguing in the kitchen. I was shocked to hear the doorbell ring and everyone froze, including myself.

It was late at night and no one should have been ringing the doorbell. Not even the neighbor who knows we don't have sugar. John told Harry and Ruth to step back and then he pulled his gun out of the back of his jeans. He walked slowly up to the door, gun at the ready. I watched closely as he opened the door with his gun drawn. My heart was beating fast and I knew I had to go hide. I was always told to hide, but I was stuck.

The door flew open and it was all a blur.

A/N: Oh hey, I'm back. I have been working like crazy this past week and a half and had no time to write at all. But here I am! And with another cliff hanger. Please vote and comment!

Much Love

Jachxx