♡ Odette's POV ♡

If anyone ever asked me what I remember from that fateful night, I wouldn't be able to tell them much.

My awareness was very limited, lights and faces blurring together and voices sounding twice as loud.

I knew I had been carried out of the compound, but all of the voices began blending together.

"Bullet's still in her shoulder."

"Keep her feet elevated."

"Hurry, she's losing a lot of blood."

I remembered being out on some kind of cushion, and then a bumpy ride somewhere. A car?

The only thing I remembered clearly was of was someone rushing with me in their arms into a hospital what seemed like a short time later. I couldn't keep track of time, and it couldn't tell if I kept falling asleep or drifted in between consciousness and unconsciousness. The only thing I heard was a voice cracking as someone screamed for help, running through the hallways.

"HELP! Someone help us!"

I remember my blood was everywhere: on my hands, my dress, even the man's hands as he desperately pressed a makeshift gauze pad made from his jacket to my shoulder, the crimson liquid dripping between his fingers and onto the bleached floors. It was hard to focus on everything, so I only focused on one thing: Zayn.

He held me tightly, whispering words to me as he sprinted through the hallways.

"It's okay you'll be okay don't worry you'll be fine I'll keep you safe you'll be better soon..." All of his mumbled words blended together, and I didn't know if it was because of my blood loss or if he was really scared out of his wits.

I also didn't know if I felt warm from his embrace or the extent my blood was spreading across my shoulder and chest. All too soon I had been yanked from Zayn's arms, placed on a hard bed, and heard a cacophony of voices yelling and murmuring and felt hands on me, inspecting my shoulder wound, pressing needles in my hands, and placing masks over my face. The sleeve of my dress had been cut away, the wound still bleeding heavily. I couldn't open my eyes anymore, and that scared me.

"No exit wound."

"Get O-negative here fast."

"Complications from gunshots..."

"Could lose movement in her right arm."

I wanted to go home, to just lay with Zayn and have him tell me everything was alright. I didn't want to be here, in a cold hospital that smelled like disinfectant.

"Sir, I'm sorry but you can't be in here." I heard an older voice speak, instantly feeling warm calloused fingers on my own. I felt something wet fall onto my hand, warm lips pressing a kiss to the back of it before releasing it.

"She's gonna be okay, right? She'll be fine?" Zayn pleaded with the doctors, not getting any specific answer as the doctors worked on me.

"Your Majesty, you must leave if you want her to survive." The stern voice spoke to him again, and I felt the heavenly touch of lips at my ear, a soothing voice saying the words that replayed in my mind over and over for what felt like eternity as I drifted into unconsciousness.

"Please don't leave me." He spoke softly, his voice sounding broken and weak. "I love you."

***

I heard sounds and regained my sense of touch before I could open my eyes. I was laid on a new bed, I could tell that from the more plush feeling mattress I touched. Blankets were draped over me, and my head was propped up with a soft pillow. I thought hospitals were supposed to suck, but apparently I had gotten the special treatment.

An annoying beeping noise kept sounding throughout the room, along with the sound of what sounded like a television playing in the background. I thought this was particularly stupid of the nurses; how was I supposed to watch television if I couldn't even open my eyes?

The tips of my fingers felt cold as I felt the shivering chill of an air conditioning unit blowing right over me, and I mentally huffed in annoyance when I realized I couldn't move either. How was I supposed to fix the blankets when I couldn't even move?

I felt goosebumps raise on my arm as the chill continued, only for the blankets to mysteriously rise up and cover my body a little more. I heard the beeping sound get faster as warm fingertips brushed over my cheeks, a wet kiss being felt on my forehead not long after.

"Wake up, beautiful. I haven't seen your pretty eyes in so long and it's killing me." Zayn whispered, folding his hands over mine, the one with no needles in it. I had a feeling he didn't want to mess up any of the precious wires and needles keeping me alive.

I heard the beeping noise increase more, my heart racing with the excitement of seeing him again after what felt like so long. I tried desperately to open my eyes, getting a little upset when they felt as heavy as lead weights. I wanted to see him, no, I needed to see him. I felt Zayn kiss my eyelids, his hand tightening the grip on mine slightly. I had a feeling he knew I was trying, struggling so hard, and I was grateful for his patience.

"You can do it, little swan. I know you can."

His words gave me the push I needed, the bright light meeting my eyes making them squeeze shut for a few moments before they adjusted to the harsh light. Zayn's smiling face was the first thing I saw, his hair messy and a bit of scruff on his chin as if he hadn't shaved in a while. He leaned over, kissing me sweetly before rubbing our noses together in an Eskimo kiss.

"Welcome back to the world, love. How are you feeling?"

To be honest, my shoulder was aching terribly, my head was still kind of fuzzy from the drugs the doctors used to knock me out, and I felt like I hadn't showered in days.

"Okay." I said simply, my voice cracking from lack of use. Zayn reached over to get me a drink of water, myself finding it humorous I had to use a bendy straw when my left arm was completely capable of holding a glass. I giggled a little at the observation, Zayn raising his eyebrows in question. I had only told him the words "bendy straw" and he rolled his eyes jokingly.

"The doctors said you would probably be a little loopy from all the drugs." He laughed, letting me get a sip of water before setting the glass down again and immediately taking my hands in his again.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, my eyes seeing some get-well-soon balloons and cards in the corner of the room. Zayn only smiled.

"You're not the only one who woke up today." He happily said, my sluggish mind taking a little longer to think of who else could have woken up until it hit me. I sat up a bit more in my bed, my mouth hanging open in shock.

"Sebastian woke up?" I asked, Zayn nodding.

"That's where Ivy is now. She sent you a card though." Zayn laughed as he pointed out Ivy's card among the many on the table. "Everyone else will be here soon now that you're awake. They've been here while you were sleeping."

I noticed his joking tone had disappeared, lips set into a hard line. It astonished me how much he seemed to have aged in the short time I had been unconscious. His eyes seemed tired, his posture was slouched in the small plastic chair he had pulled next to my bedside, and I saw a few empty energy drink cans piled up in a heap on a corner table.

My heart sunk. He hadn't been taking care of himself because he had been so worried over me. My fear had been confirmed when I looked up to see him barely keeping his eyes open. A yawn escaped him as he played with my fingertips, stopping to look up at me when I gently squeezed his hand.

"Yes, baby?"

"You haven't been taking care of yourself, have you?" I asked softly. Zayn didn't say anything.

"When's the last time you've slept properly?"

"Not since before you got hurt. Every time I close my eyes I dream about you dy-" he couldn't even finish his sentence, scrunching his eyes shut in emotional pain.

"Shh, come here baby." I urged him, pulling the covers back slightly to let him slip in next to me. I winced slightly as my shoulder strained against the action, Zayn taking notice.

"N-no, it's okay. You need rest, do you want me to call a nurse for more pain medication?"

"No. I don't want more pain meds, I want to be with you." I begged him, Zayn sighing before climbing into my small hospital bed with me. There was barely enough space on the mattress for both of us, so Zayn gently lifted me up and rested me on top of him, careful of my still healing shoulder.

I heard him sigh as I pulled the covers up, smiling before placing a kiss at the base of his neck. I didn't remember much from the night I got hurt, but I did remember one thing.

"I love you too." I confessed quietly, feeling Zayn carefully move so he hovered over me, an unreadable expression on his beautiful face.

"You what?" He seemed to be in disbelief, unable to register that I had just confessed my love for the boy I adored.

"King Zayn Javaad Malik, I love you." I whispered, Zayn's face breaking out in a contagious smile before he lowered his face to mine. Tickling kisses were peppered all over my face, a giggle escaping me as I tried reaching up to get him to stop his tickle attack. Since my shoulder was still healing, I couldn't push against him very hard, but Zayn still pulled away.

His expression transformed into one of complete adoration, his head lowering once more to kiss my neck several times. My heart sped up at his careful touch, Zayn hearing it crystal clear on my heart monitor. He snickered before kissing me on my lips and then pressing his forehead to mine.

"I love you too."