The boys have taken the two spare bedrooms while Louis sticks to the couch to sleep. It's night three of the boys all camping over when he wakes sweating from a nightmare, he's terribly sore and needs some more pain relief. He sits up slowly in the dark, thankful he didn't wake anyone. He feels completely anxious and scared and really wants Harry and Scott. He doesn't know if that's the right thing to do though.

Harry and Scott have been very overly protective of Louis, making sure he's eating something and taking his medication. Louis honestly thought they would get sick of it after a few days but they have been amazing and he couldn't have asked for more. He tries to get back to sleep but he can't, so he gives in, gets up and heads quietly to Harry and Scott's room.

He opens the door and finds them sleeping peacefully. Louis sighs, he doesn't want to disturb them. It's like they sense him though and they both stir and look towards the door

"Lou?" Scott says, his voice husky from sleep

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you" Louis says ashamed

"Don't be sorry baby, what's wrong?" Harry says as they both sit up and reach out for Louis

"I had a nightmare, I really can't sleep" Louis says and his voice really shows the boys how vulnerable Louis is feeling right now

"Come here darling" Scott says and Louis makes his way over

Scott sleeps closest to the door and when Louis reaches Scott's side, he gently brings Louis into the middle of the bed.

Harry gets up and goes to the bathroom cabinet, he comes back with some pain relief and water for Louis who takes it gratefully 

"Thank you" Louis says as he hands the water back.

Harry just smiles his dimpled smile, he gets so much satisfaction by being there and doing those things for Louis. He never realised how much he actually craved looking after Louis,

Scott helps Louis lie down and tucks him under the blanket

"We will look after you baby" Scott says

"Do you want to talk about your dream?" Harry asks

"Not really, just, I was in the hotel room and I was shot" Louis mumbles a little

"Louis, look, I know you want to take things slow but we need you to know how much we love you and that we will protect you, no matter what" Scott says pointedly

Louis sighs

"I.....I miss you both and I know I said I want to take things slow and I do but I want to be with you, I just.....I want to try again" Louis says vulnerably

Scott and Harry grin like there's no tomorrow, they can't believe what they are hearing

"Louis, this means the world to both Scott and I and we promise you darling, that we will treat you like you deserve, we love you so god dam much" Harry says and he leans in to kiss Louis, Louis returns the kiss and when Harry leans back, Scott has his turn.

The boys are so thankful Louis has given them another chance and Louis is so thankful Scott and Harry want to be with him, he feels so safe and they've all missed each other so much. They snuggle down together and Louis is engulfed in both Harry and Scott's strong arms. They hold him close all night and Louis doesn't have another nightmare.

The next morning Louis is late to rise, he's sore but he's better than he was. He wakes for the first time in weeks happy and content. He can hear the boys all talking outside in the lounge, he notices the clock reads 11am

"What do you mean he wants Louis back tomorrow?" Drew asks confused as a fuming Harry gets off the phone with Liam.

"He said Louis won't have a job if he's not back at work tomorrow, that Andy only gave him a week off on medical" Harry says angrily

"Shit" Dan says

"We can't let him go back" Scott says like it's the most obvious thing in the world

"We all know what Louis is like though, he'll go back and risk his life before he loses his job" Noah says

"What if we try to get Andy to sign off on another week? Louis isn't even off his pain meds, he shouldn't be going back for that reason alone" Edward says

Louis then enters the room and everyone looks towards him. Louis stops in his tracks

"What? Please don't tell me someone else was murdered because of me" Louis says concerned

"No kiddo, nothing like that" Dan reassures

"Then what's wrong? You look like you're about to go full S.W.A.T on someone" Louis says half smiling

The boys smile at Louis before Harry is sighing

"Liam called, he said he wants you back at work tomorrow" Harry says regretfully

"Oh? I thought Andy cleared me for two weeks" Louis says confused

"Is that what he told you?" Scott asks confused, hands on his hips. 

"Yeah, that's what Andy told me, unless I heard him wrong" Louis says

The boys all look towards Harry

"I'm calling Andy" Harry says as he pulls out his phone.

"Wait" Louis tries

The boys all look to Louis expectantly

"What if I don't go back?" Louis asks

Scott sighs

"You won't have a job baby, we're sorry" Scott says gently

"No, I mean, what if I don't want to go back? What if I don't want my job anymore" Louis asks  shyly, like if he says it out loud he's disappointing everyone

The boys are quiet, absolutely none of them expected that to come out of Louis mouth ever. They realise how much the last few weeks have taken their toll on Louis and they completely understand why he wouldn't want to go back

"Are you....sure Lou?" Harry asks carefully

"I....I know it's like my job, and I used to love it and be okay with putting my life on the line but.....I don't think I am anymore and I don't feel comfortable working with Jax, or Liam and after everything you've told me about the case and the raid I just....it's not worth it anymore" Louis confesses

Harry and Scott to say they are relived is an understatement, but they will be losing an extremely talented detective and knowing how much Louis loved his job it's a little heartbreaking.

"We think that's best Lou, we think you've made the right choice and I know if any of us were in the same position we would make the same decision" Scott says

Louis just nods

"So you'll have to formally resign and go and hand your badge in" Noah says

"I'm not sure if we should warn Liam, I think we should spring it on him tomorrow, Louis turns up, Liam thinks it's for work and then Louis hands his badge in" Edward says

"Good idea, then it doesn't give Liam the chance to pull anything" Drew says

"Yeah okay" Louis agrees with a nod

"We still have some work to do, we still need to find out who shot you so we can deal with them accordingly" Harry says

The boys nod and go back to work, Harry and Scott come over to Louis and cuddle him close

"Are you okay? Are you sure about this Louis?" Harry asks him, just to be sure

"Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while and I'm happy with my decision to leave" Louis says

"We love you Lou" Scott reassures

"I love you too, I haven't...disappointed you have I?" Louis asks shyly

"Louis, no, never, Harry and I don't care if you lounge around the apartment all day eating chips and watching Netflix for the rest of you life" Scott laughs out

"All we care about is you and your safety and happiness, we will support you in anything you want to do, although I wouldn't argue if you never wanted to work again" Harry says the last part protectively

Louis smiles, this is all he's ever wanted from the boys and he couldn't be more thankful

The boys kiss him on the head and they get their plan together for tomorrow.