Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT FIVE - CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

So, I have been asked to publish a chapter and here we are. This might be a one-off, I don't know yet. Can't promise anything. Life is just busy. This is a heavy chapter tough, hope you still enjoy it. Cheers!

<><><>

"I did not expect you to come home tonight." Bradley said, from where he was sitting on the couch in the living room, moments after the front door fell into the lock and soft steps announced his wife's arrival, who stopped in the doorway, while Bradley reached for the remote control to turn off the television.

"I'm going to bed." She announced, the exhaustion written all over her porcelain like features, as she brushed her hand over her face almost clumsily, while Bradley got up from the couch and joined Grace, before she could go upstairs.

"How is he?" Bradley wondered, only for Grace to look up at him with those intelligent eyes, filled with unexpected guild.

"I imagine you must ask Mav, I wasn't at the hospital since I came back." She admitted, while absentmindedly reaching for her wedding ring, only to turn it on her finger, as she turned away from Bradley and towards the stairs.

"You haven't seen your father yet?" Bradley wondered even thought he knew she had to take care of other pressing things, he did expect her to at least drop by and see how things were.

"I have to function, B. Someone has to be reliable. Someone has to be in charge." Grace listed. "I'm not sure I can when I... I need to function. That's my job in all of this. So, I'm going to bed now." She repeated herself, moving over to the stairs, but Bradley reached for her hand, interlocking their fingers and gently pulling her back, so she had to face him.

"I know that you have your duties and that you feel the need to fulfil them, but maybe you should consider taking a step back. Grace, you might regret not spending this time at your father's bedside." Bradley said, his words gentle and careful, only for Grace to react harshly.

"Don't you think I know that?" She yelled at him, before blinking slowly, shocked that she had raised her voice. Lost the so carefully kept control over herself.

"Please forgive me." Grace muttered quieter. "I made a promise, and I tend to keep it. I'm not yielding to Cain. Not after all we had to sacrifice to get there."

"But is this fight worth even more sacrifices?" Bradley wondered out loud, which had Grace swallow thickly.

"Sometimes, you have given too much to let up, before you are through." The emphasise was clear. Grace thought that she had to press on to win this, that they have lost too much already to yield now, but Bradley feared that they were about to risk everything that was still left.

"So, let's risk everything we have left? What kind of knee jerked, half cooked plan is that?" Bradley wanted to know, while he took a step closer. Only to reach out and burry his hands into her hair, to have a hold of her head, a way to make her look at him.

"It's the only one I have." She replied almost desperate, as she turned her head into his palm, about to pull away, but Bradley stopped her from doing so. "This is the plan I was supposed to put into motion. Without my father... There is no backup plan. It has to work. I need this to work, or we really lose everything we ever bleed for."

"Look at me." He whispered. Liquid sun-coloured eyes meeting arctic blue ones.

"How am I supposed to protect you like that, huh?" The older aviator wanted to know, but Grace could only barely shake her head. For she had no answer. Did not know how to keep anyone safe.

"You can't." Grace replied, sombrely. "And that is your fault." The youngest Kazansky suddenly added, which caused Bradley to look at her surprised but also hurt.