Dangerous | l.s.

XXIV

Kathryn didn't spare many details on the phone other than that Louis and the boys should get home as soon as they could.

They were back in the states nine hours which was pretty remarkable considering that it was normally close to a ten hour flight.

When they arrived back to the Sonlinmot mansion, Louis couldn't believe it. When Kathryn told Louis there had been some sort of emergency he figured it was with the business or the mob, not his uncle. There laid his beloved Uncle William, close to death. Why didn't she tell him that on the phone?

And yes of course everyone knew this was coming but no one excepted it to be so soon, especially Louis. He broke down into tears the minute he stepped into the room and saw his bedridden uncle being attended to by their family doctor. Everyone quickly left to avoid an outburst from the emotional boy and to make preparations for Williams death. Everyone, except Harry.

Harry crouched down beside the crying boy and gently rubbed his back. Louis turned to him and started crying on his shoulder. Truth be told he felt so guilty for acting this week in front of Harry, but right now all he wanted was to cry and be held by him.

"What am I going to do without him?" Louis said in between tears as he looked over at his sleeping uncle.

"Shhh, Lou, calm down darling. You'll be okay, we'll figure this out."

"I don't know how to do this without him Harry," Louis said quietly as his tears started to slow.

"You're not alone, you have so many people here for you," Harry said and just hoped he could comfort the boy. "Just hold on, please Lou. We haven't known each other for long and I'd like to get to know you some more. And typically that's much easier to do when the person you're trying to get to know isn't a blubbering mess," Harry said lightly hoping it would help Louis calm down and maybe even smile. Luckily it worked because the older boy looked at Harry with a small smile and shimmering eyes. He gave no verbal response but that look was all Harry needed.

Suddenly across the room, some stirring was heard on the bed. William was waking up.

Louis quickly scrambled up off the floor and dropped next to the bed holding his uncle's hand as tightly as he could. He was living on borrowed time now, on the edge of slipping from this world.

"Well it's about time you got your lazy ass back down here. I thought I wasn't going to see my amazing but dramatic nephew," William joked, still himself even in such a heavy situation. "Ahh look you even have Harry with you!"

"Uncle Will!" Louis said excitedly yet a sadness still lingered in his voice.

"Come closer son, lemme talk to you," William said and Louis quickly complied and moved to sit on the edge of the bed next to him. "Once I'm gone, it will be your time to take over but don't you worry-you're practically made to lead Louis. You've come so far and I know you can do it, hell you'll probably do a better job then I did."

Louis beamed proudly at his uncle's words, he was so glad that he had made the man proud because frankly at times it was hard to tell. Yet Louis sensed a "but" in this conversation and he sensed correctly.

"But that's not what I'm worried about. Remember to take time to have fun Louis, don't get so consumed by any of this. And don't let Harry go."

"What? What do you mean?" Louis asked hoping the curly haired boy hadn't overheard what his uncle had said. It also made him wonder. Were his feelings for Harry so apparent?

"Just protect him and don't let him go. I feel that he is going to be good for you," William said quieter this time and Louis nodded his head. He wanted Harry around as long as he would stay, but being apart of the mob life presented difficult situations. "Bring him over here."

Louis beckoned over a shy Harry who sat gently between Louis legs. He hadn't spoken much to William in the time he was here, and now he wanted to speak to Harry? While he was on his deathbed?

"Make sure you keep this boy level headed, bit of a drama queen sometimes," Will joked with Harry, who cracked a smile. "I trust you'll do amazing with KT Harry, and please stick around here," he said in a softer voice. Harry nodded in understandingly. Louis needed him, and if Harry was being honest he thinks he has grown to need the older boy too.

Louis sat gently stroking his uncle's hand and retelling a story of them together but suddenly the soft atmosphere in the room exploded into chaos. William started coughing and his body quickly flew into a sitting position. Blood was dripping out of his mouth as he continued to cough harder.

Louis and Harry both flew up from the bed. Louis went wide eyed and stayed frozen with fear, no this couldn't be it. Harry quickly ran to the door to try to get help.

"KATHRYN! DOCTOR LOMASNEY! SOMEONE PLEASE!" Harry shouted and it was followed the rush of footsteps and a group of people bursting into the room.

"Get Louis away from William," Doctor Lomasney said. "He's convulsing!"

Harry gently pulled away a crying Louis as they together watched Doctor Lomasney do his best to save William. William violently convulsed and continued spewing blood until he suddenly fell slack and the room fell eerily silent.

"No, no," Kathryn whispered quietly as she now tightly gripped her husbands lifeless hand, tears silently falling down her face.

"I'm going to call it Kathryn, I'm deeply sorry. William Tomlinson-time of death 11:22 PM, cause of death:drowning in own blood. I'm so sorry Kathryn, William was loved so deeply, I wish I could have done more-"

"NO! NO!" Louis shouted as he broke free from Harry's hold and fell to his knees next to William's bed. "I don't believe it, you can't be gone, you can't be," Louis sobbed over and over again. "Please, come back to me."

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A bit of a heavy chapter for today and once again it's unedited so if you seen any mistakes please let me know! And remember to hold your love ones extra tightly every day!