Holding You

Holding you

*

"It hurts," Remus said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "It hurts a lot."

Sirius managed a little, reassuring smile and squeezed slightly the small hand that was laying on hte covers. It hurt him also; to see his precious Remus weak and wounded, laying on his bed in the Infirmary.

"Can you eat yet?" James asked with a fake-cheerful voice. "We brought loads of chocolate for you."

"Only a bit," the werewolf replied wearily. "I think I'll throw up if I eat too much." He reached out his hand to take one Chocolate Frog from the pile James was offering, but Sirius stopped him.

"You're sick," he said determinedly, catching the frog, snapping its head away and tugging the candy into Remus's mouth. "You will rest."

James and Peter exchanged amused glances. Remus seemed to be too exhausted to protest, so he allowed Sirius to feed himself.

"Are you back tomorrow like always?" James asked, trying to carry on the conversation.

"I don't know." Remus closed his eyes, a serious expression on his face. "I got a particularly deep gash on my side last night. Madam Pomfrey said she wants to observe it."

"Awww, poor Remie," Sirius sighed. He drew the small brunette into a careful hug, but backed away in an instant as Remus flinched in pain. "Oh! Remus, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

"I know," Remus mumbled. "And it hurts anyways." His eyes remained closed.

"I should say something witty right now," Peter said with a half-hearted smile, "but I think I'll let it pass."

"You'd better," Sirius snapped, eyeing him sharply.

They talked with Remus for a while. Eventually the wounded werewolf was too tired to continue the conversation anymore. Peter and James left, after jokingly reminding Sirius to be careful, thus earning another sharp glare from the addressed teen and an exhausted chuckle from Remus.

For a moment Sirius only sat on a chair beside his boyfriend's hospital bed. Then he reached out his hand and began petting the hunny hair gently. Remus gave him a small smile and closed his eyes slowly. The long eyelashes nearly reached his cheeks, and his lips parted slightly as he breathed in and out.

Sirius watched as Remus slipped into sleep. He didn't cease petting until he was sure that the werewolf was sound asleep. Then he slid down from his chair, kneeling beside the bed.

He reached out his arms to wrap them over the thin, sleeping form. He rested his head on the edge of the bed, but after a moment he moved his head to Remus's chest.

He heard the steady beat of the young werewolf's heart. It was oddly comforting. When he heard the heart-beat, he knew that despite all his self-inflicted wounds and sickly appearance Remus was alive, alive and healthy - at least until the next full moon.

He shivered at the though and pulled Remus even nearer to himself. He held on the small body, determined to protect his boyfriend from everything.

After some time he drifted into sleep, still laying between Remus and the cold, evil world.