Summary:

Chapter 13: Will there be a happy ending for our medical heroes?

Notes:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to inakindofdaydream (on ao3 and tumblr)! You are an absolute sweetheart and incredibly talented writer so if you haven't read Melina's fics, check them out now immediately! I really hope you enjoy this final chapter...

Hanging on the Words You Say

"Remus!"

He turned and Lily was flying into his arms, hugging him so tightly he could hardly breathe, which was apparently exactly what he needed.

"Remus, I'm so sorry, are you alright?" Lily said, still holding onto him. "How is he?"

Remus swallowed.

"Not good… I…"

As soon as he said it, he felt his voice breaking and stopped.

"I don't know if he's going to pull through, Lily," he managed to whisper. "He's so badly hurt."

Aside from the gunshot wound to the chest, Sirius had suffered other serious injuries in the blast – contusion to his liver and spleen, fractured ankle and clavicle and they were saying that he had developed a subdural haematoma*. The gunshot wound by itself was potentially lethal, let alone…

"He's got to!" Lily said, hugging him again and trying not to cry.

"And James?" Remus asked, seeing her still looking so agitated, adhesive bandages on her forehead and arm.

She shook her head.

"Still in theatre," she said, gripping Remus' hand tightly. "They're going to be a while, they wouldn't tell me anything, and I couldn't stand pacing outside, so I came to find you. I was hoping for some good news."

Remus sighed and rubbed her shoulder.

"He'll be fine, they both will be," he said, trying to smile.

Lily nodded her head firmly, unable to speak. She looked worn out and...

"Lily, what else are you not telling me?" he asked.

She was breathing heavily.

"I need to sit down."

Remus sat them both down on a bench and waited.

"I killed him. I killed Snape," she whispered, after a long silence, shaking uncontrollably. "I didn't mean to, but he wouldn't let go of the gun, and then the gun went off… I don't know whose fault it was… and I didn't care, I had to get away from him… I just wanted to stop Bellatrix from killing James... Fuck… Remus, I killed him!"

She retched suddenly and brought up bile, wiping her face with the back of her hand.

Shot in the chest. He could be dead now.

"Head down, Lily, head down," said Remus, rubbing circles into her lower back and biting his lip.

"Ugh, shit," said Lily, putting her head between her knees. "Fuck, I can't believe what just happened!"

"It's alright, Lily, you did good," said Remus, as she looked up, white as a ghost. "If it wasn't for you, James would be dead, you'd probably be dead too, and so would Sirius."

Dead. What if he was dead anyway?

He held her close as she continued shaking. It was agony not knowing.

"Excuse me, Dr. Lupin?" said a grey-haired man, accompanied by an armed Garda.

"Yes?" Remus looked up, startled. "Is it Sirius?"

"No, but you need to come with me," he said firmly.

"What's going on?" demanded Remus brusquely, stepping in the small office with the two men.

"I'm Aberforth Dumbledore, Prof. Dumbledore's brother," he older man smiled. "I work for the armed forces. Professor Mc Gonagall contacted me last night after your phone call, and hence the special unit you saw today."

"Oh," said Remus, unsure what to think.

"Dr. Lupin, there's a man on the line who wishes to speak to you, he's refused to speak to anyone else. We know who he is. It's in relation to Sirius Black. Will you take it?" said Aberforth.

Remus nodded and took the receiver from him.

"Lupin?"

The line was poor.

"Hello?" Remus said. "Remus Lupin here, yes. Who is this?"

…..

"It appears that Tom Riddle, notorious Drug Lord and gangland figure, whose nefarious activities emerged after the collapse of Slytherin Pharmaceuticals, has died. Riddle and several of his associates engaged in a gun battle with Irish police after taking a number of people hostage at a Hospital in Dublin today. It is reported that among those injured were James Potter, son of the late Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, for whom Riddle once worked, as well as Sirius Black, heir to the Black family fortune. Black's injuries are said to be life-threatening and the latest statement released by the hospital reveals that he is in a coma. It is believed he was shot at close range by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange, who was a member of Riddle's inner circle. His brother, Regulus Black, went missing around the time of the scandal which rocked the Black family, and is presumed dead. Orion and Walburga Black refused to comment when contacted for a statement, but it is understood they are not planning on travelling to Ireland to be near their last remaining son. The Irish police are working closely with their counterparts across Europe to track down the remainder of Riddle's gang."

Archival video clips flashed on screen – Sirius and Regulus wearing tuxedos and walking behind their parents at a celebrity gala dinner in London. The BBC World News anchor continued talking with the reporter standing outside St. Godric's Hospital.

He stared at the small TV screen, mesmerised. The rest of the clientele at the threadbare bar in downtown Jeremie ** ignored him, until one of the elderly women, who knew him, inhaled sharply.

"Bondye mwen, se sa l'!***"she said, pointing excitedly at the screen.

He looked from her to the TV and nodded.

"Oui, c'est mon frere… c'est ma famille," he said, staring at the screen again.

"Move ti gason fe mal!" said the woman, patting his arm.

"Oui!" he said. "Je dois y retourner, je dois le voir!"

"Se konsa, non ou se Black?" the woman's husband asked.

"Oui, Black, Regulus Black," he answered. "Regulus Black. And my brother needs me, I have to go back."

…

"I still can't believe you're here, Reg!" said James, shaking his head at Regulus in wonder. "We thought you were dead!"

"I wasn't," said Reg, smiling briefly.

"And your memory?" Lily asked.

"Seeing Sirius, everything is coming back to me," he said quietly.

They were all clustered beside Sirius' bedside, in the Intensive Care Unit. James still in his hospital gown, sitting in a wheelchair, Lily standing behind him, her hands on his shoulders, unable to keep away from him. Remus standing next to Sirius' bed, gently stroking his hair. And Regulus, sitting furthest away from them.

"I still don't know how you survived in Haiti all these years," said James.

"Kindness. They were kind to me, the Blaise**** family, when I washed up on that beach. I had no memory of who I was, no documents, all I knew was that I had to hide, that someone wanted me dead. I kept a very low profile. I asked them not to involve the police, I thought I was a criminal, on the run. I earned my keep doing English and French translations and cooking for them and I tried to learn Haitian Creole. I tried to stop my memory coming back. I didn't want to remember."

"Why?" asked Lily kindly.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Because I knew I didn't like who I was. I was right. I never stood up for Sirius, never stood up to my parents, to their hate-filled world view. I knew they supported fascism, racism and homophobia and I went along with it, too scared to fight them. I knew people were getting hurt, I just never realised the full extent of it. My parents would have despised the Blaises."

"You stood up to them, Reg, you did the right thing in the end, and nearly paid for it with your life!" said James heatedly.

"Riddle's gang sabotaged the plane," Reg nodded. "They thought I was dead like the others. I have no idea how they managed to follow me to Puerto Rico, and the small plane I hired to fly me to Haiti only had three others on board. Riddle's gang had eyes everywhere."

"I'm proud of you Reg, Sirius was too," said Remus. "He missed you so much, he blamed himself for not keeping you safe."

Remus looked down at Sirius. He was hooked up to monitors, lines and tubes attached to him. He couldn't bear to see him lying there. So still.

"Reg, please," Remus said. "Please come over and talk to him. It might help."

Reg looked over.

"I'm scared," he mumbled.

He hadn't once looked at his brother since entering the room.

"Don't be," Remus walked him over to the bedside. "Talk to him, please Reg."

Reg nodded but he couldn't speak, seeing his brother looking so thin and pale. So frail. Leaning over he whispered into Sirius' ear.

"Sirius, it's me, Reg, your annoying little brother," he said. "I'm back, and I'm going to stay here till you're better, and you know I hate hospitals."

He was trying not to cry.

"I don't do emotions, Sirius, I'm so bad at this," he whispered. "I can't even remember the last time we spoke properly, I think it must have been when we hid from them in the cellar and got locked in? You were fifteen. I'm remembering everything now. I remember I never told you I missed you. I remember that I never told you how I looked up to you. How proud I was of your choices, how ashamed I was of my own. I never told you I loved you."

"Shit, what's happening?" Regulus broke off nervously, looking up and seeing the ECG monitor beeping faster.

The closest ICU nurse came over immediately. She pressed the monitor and called over one of the doctors.

"He's trying to breath on his own," she said, sounding surprised.

"Sirius! It's Remus, can you hear me?" Remus said, squeezing Sirius' hand tightly.

Sirius' hand twitched weakly.

"He squeezed my hand," Remus looked at the others in shock. "He moved his hand!"

James gripped Lily's hand which was resting on his shoulder and caught Regulus' eye. He wheeled his chair abruptly over to Sirius' side.

"Pads, squeeze my hand if you're hopelessly in love with Remus Lupin!" he said loudly.

He felt Sirius' hand move.

"Yesss!" James punched the air and grinned broadly at Remus.

"Pads, if Lily and I get married, will you be my best man?" he asked.

Remus and Lily stared at each other and James stared into Lily's emerald eyes and held her gaze till she blushed. He grinned.

"Sirius says yes!"

"Pads, Lily is pregnant, squeeze my hand if you'd like to be the kid's Godfather?" James said, his voice softer now as he looked at Lily.

She smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Sirius, I want you to be Godfather to our child."

Sirius started to cough violently.

The nurse fiddled with the tubes attached to his face.

"It's alright, Sirius, calm down," she said briskly. "Your silly friend is trying to give you a heart attack, getting you over-excited!"

"Pah! Sirius? He's always fucking extra!" snorted James.

"Fuck off, Prongs," Sirius opened his eyes and wheezed dramatically, his voice cracking from lack of use, among other things. "Where's Reg?"

And then Reg was hugging him carefully and trying not to cry.

"I'm glad you made it," Regulus said, understated as ever, smiling at his brother.

"I'm so glad you made it too," Sirius croaked, smiling back.

There was too much to say and neither of them knew where to start.

Sirius looked over at James and his smile intensified.

"A dad, huh?" he said.

"Yeah," James grinned back sheepishly.

"You'll be great, both of you," Sirius said, winking at Lily.

He thought about telling her he hadn't approved of her at first, but decided against it. He completely approved of her now.

Finally he turned to Remus, who he knew had been staring at him all the while.

"Remus," he said quietly.

Remus came closer and took his hand.

"I bet I look like shit," Sirius said, pouting.

Remus gave a watery laughed. He stroked Sirius' face and shook his head, unable to speak. He wanted to tell Sirius he was a complete idiot, that he loved him to pieces and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him.

"You idiot," he whispered instead.

Sirius sighed happily and lent back, as though exhausted by the short conversation.

"Love you too," he smiled back, closing his eyes.

….

"I'm sorry," James said, moving his wheelchair out of the way and stopping right in front of Lily. "It was stupid. I got carried away…"

They had been eventually kicked out by the nurses, and it was just James and Lily, in the corridor outside the ICU, overlooking the sea. Lily sank down onto her knees. He leaned forwards and kissing Lily's forehead.

"I shouldn't have said that," he said.

"Shush," Lily smiled, placing her finger on his lips and silencing him. "I had already guessed."

"Am I that obvious?" James said, bringing their foreheads together. "I had my mum's old engagement ring ready to propose to you."

"Well, you did refer to me as your wife when you were trying to tell Pomfrey what to do," said Lily, looking at him tenderly. "So, yeah."

"Shit! I remember now. I don't think you corrected me though?" James, searching her face hopefully.

"I didn't," Lily said, taking hold of his gown and pulling him towards her.

"I don't think you should marry me, for a number of reasons…" James said.

"Oh?" said Lily, looking annoyed.

"I was useless, Lily, with Riddle… I still can't believe I fucking checked their pulses instead of taking one of their guns. I mean you could have died, Lily! Sirius nearly did," James said.

She was tired of hearing him apologise, tired of seeing him looking so guilty and worried, like it was all his fault, about not saving Peter too. And she was tired of feeling so awful about Snape dying, and the nightmares about James and Sirius being dead. She had spoken to Mc Gonagall about them both needing to talk, and Minnie had agreed to help. They'd all be lost without her.

"Not this again! That's why I love you, James," Lily said, squeezing his hands tightly. "I love you so much. All you wanted to do was to save as many people as possible, your training as a doctor kicked in once you realised it was an emergency. If you had been holding a gun, Bellatrix would have shot you on the spot when she saw us trying to leave, probably both of us."

She kissed him slowly and softly, insistently, deeper and passionately. He kissed her back, trying to show her how much he loved her, moaning into her mouth.

"Lily," he said, pulling away for breath.

"Marry me, Dr. Potter," she said, her lips finding his once more.

He hesitated, torn between joy and guilt.

"There's some nerve damage to this leg, Lily, we don't know long-term what that will mean. You should wait, you mightn't want to marry me if-"

"Like you'd care if our places were reversed, James Fleamont Potter!" she said indignantly. "I don't give a toss! I was afraid I lost you forever, and I can't do it without you."

"And the money is all gone, Lily," he said, flushing slightly. "My parents' fortune, it got used up when-"

"I know that, James," Lily said. "Sirius told me months ago, he knew I wouldn't care. Did you really think that it would make any difference to me?"

She really wanted to stamp her foot in frustration!

"But Lily," James said, trying to reason with her. "I mean it, you-"

"If the worst comes to the worst, you'll have a bad limp, James," said Lily, shrugging her shoulders. "That's all."

"You could do a lot better," said James, looking at her stubbornly. "I don't want you to regret this."

"I only regret that it took so many years for us to finally get together," Lily sighed, holding his face in her hands. "But I don't want to force you into something you don't want. Do you want me?"

He couldn't lie to her, not when she was so fierce, and strong, and vulnerable.

"God Yes, Lily. Yes, yes, it's only you, till the very end," he murmured, all his worries melting away, as he captured her lips once more.

"I'm asking Hagrid to walk me down the aisle," Lily said, grinning at him when they broke apart for breath.

"Perfect! He's been so good to us since this happened. I can't believe he smuggled Fang into the ICU! I thought we were all going to get fired! He'll be chuffed!" laughed James.

"You're a patient James, the worst they can do is scold you!" giggled Lily. "And nobody would dare fire Hagrid, there'd be a national outcry!"

"Shall we ask Minnie to be Godmother?" she added, watching as James' face glowed with elation.

…

"I forced them to let you stay," Sirius said.

He hadn't stopped looking at Remus. Exhausted, pale, concerned, kind. Rock of his life. Beautiful as fuck Remus.

"Reg's gone for a snooze, he's exhausted," Remus said, stroking his thumb along Sirius' hand.

They continued staring at each other.

"I thought I lost you," Remus said eventually.

His throat felt tight.

Sirius rolled his eyes and smiled. As though it were no big deal.

"Fuck you, Sirius! I thought you were dead!" said Remus, his voice cracking.

Sirius tried to laugh, and it turned into a cough.

"I'll always come back to you, Remus," he croaked. "Nothing could stop me."

"Lazarus!" Remus said.

The fond look in his green eyes was making Sirius' heart beat erratically.

"Yeah, well," he muttered vaguely.

"You never said goodbye," Remus said, annoyed at himself when he found he was crying.

"I couldn't," whispered Sirius.

"Fucking brave bastard!" said Remus. "Don't you ever try that again!"

Sirius waved his wrist dismissively.

"It'll take me ages to get better," Sirius said, with his trademark sulky look. "And I'm a terrible patient. James has been charming them all and being damned positive. I'm going to be a miserable little shit."

"Oh I'm sure," Remus said, looking nonplussed. "I'm going to tell them to ignore you and whip you into shape. You need to be managed with a firm and stern grip."

Sirius' eyes lit up and a flash of something flirty.

"Don't dangle unattainable pleasure at me, Remus, I won't be well enough to shag you for bloody ages," he said, sighing dramatically. "It's unfair to bring it up!"

"Shagging?" smirked Remus. "You're misreading the situation."

"I sincerely hope I'm not," said Sirius, his grey eyes looking almost wicked.

"Put shagging as one of your goals and I bet your rehab will make speedy progress," said Remus casually.

"Ha! You think you're being funny, but that's exactly what I'm going to do," said Sirius haughtily.

Remus reckoned Sirius might be the only person capable of pulling off haughty superiority while lying on a hospital bed in a hospital gown, having just woken up from a coma.

"I'll be there for you all the way," smiled Remus. "I've reduced my hours already, Lily and I will be working part-time. You'll be sick of the sight of me."

Sirius shut his eyes and a single tear ran down his gaunt cheek.

"I'll never be sick of you," he whispered. "I'm ridiculously obsessed with you, in case you didn't know."

"Fucking brave, ridiculously obsessed bastard," said Remus, kissing Sirius' hand.

It felt almost reverent.

"My epitaph," said Sirius. "I want that inscribed on my gravestone!"

"No mention of death allowed," said Remus, squeezing Sirius' hand.

Sirius closed his eyes. He felt exhausted. He could feel sleep overtaking him. But he had to say something first.

"Remus," he said sleepily. "How'd you fancy a double wedding with Prongs and Evans?"

He opened his left eye and peeked out at Remus, who looked momentarily stunned.

"I wouldn't be opposed to it," Remus said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Quite the opposite, actually."

"Good," said Sirius, falling back onto the pillow. "That's another goal so. Could you kiss me, please?".

Remus, leaned forwards and kissed Sirius' lips carefully. He kissed his eyelids, and his forehead and his cheekbones and started kissing his neck. Sirius' heart monitor beeped excitedly.

"I'm going to have to sleep now, very inconveniently," murmured Sirius, holding Remus' hand. "But when I wake up, I think we should practice, work towards my first goal?"

"Keen, are we?" Remus smirked.

"Rather," said Sirius, sighing contentedly. "Everything is going to be fine, you know."

As Remus looked on, he fell fast asleep. His face looked less pinched, his cheeks a rosier hue.

"I know," said Remus.

And he meant it.

THE END

…

*Subdural haematoma: collection of blood outside the brain

** Jeremie: Haiti's westernmost and very isolated town

***Haitian Creole – language most widely spoken in Haiti (1 in 10 people also speak French) and French

My God, that's him!

Yes it's my brother, my family

The poor boy is hurt!

Yes, I have to go back, I have to see him.

So your name is Black?

**** Blaise: common Haitian surname

Notes:

Any thoughts or comments? I hope you liked that ending and I may do a follow up epilogue at some stage if anyone wants one... THANK YOU SO MUCH

Mia xx