Higher Love

Chapter Fourteen

***

Oh, her eyes, her eyes
make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her Hair, her hair
falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know
when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to
think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me "Do I look okay?"
I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world
stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
*Bruno Mars - Just the way you are*

***

I'm leaning my forehead against his hand, which is still in mine. Tears still floating down my cheeks.
When I look up again, James is sitting in a chair right next to me. He pats my other hand and squeezes it slightly: "He is going to be ok."
"I hope so... it's just, this waiting... it drives me mad." I reply sobbing.
"Us too Dear!" Catherine agrees.
I look at Bradley's face. One eye is swollen and blue, his lip has a cut just like one of his cheeks. His left arm is casted, only his fingers are to be seen.
Gently I caress his other cheek laying my palm on it.
His eyes start to move faster under his closed eyelids. And the monitors, he is connected with, starts beeping. Fast I take my hand away, the beeping gets slower again. But his eyes are still moving as fast as before.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want..."
His mom interrupts me: "I guess he is reacting to your touch."
"Is that possible?"
"No idea, I'm only guessing, but why should he not? I loves you."
I feel myself blushing, I never heard that before: "I..."But I don't know how to respond to that.
Does he really?
I do love him, I told him when I was drunk, but he never responded to that,so I thought he would maybe not feel the same way I do.
"He never told you?" Catherine asks.
"Uhm, no..."
"Oh Bradley..." She sighs. "The last time we talked, right before our vacation trip, he told me about your reconnecting and everything else. You were still at this excavation."
This excavation seems to happen in a different life.
"Oh...okay..." I look at him again, sleeping peacefully. "I'm sorry, I'm not good at words, I..."
"It's alright, you don't need to say anything. I could already see it when we entered this hospital." Her smile is warm and she looks at her husband.
"You could see what?"
"The worry in your eyes and the fear. You only have this when you truly care about someone." She nods.
"I do, I really do..." I whisper back.
"That's good."
We fall silent again, just changing a few looks between us.
After a few minutes James says: "I will go and grab us some coffee, I think we can all use one."
"Thank you!"
"Yes thank you darling!"
He leaves the room
Again I lean my forehead on Bradley's hand and close my eyes for a few seconds. I'm still so tired but I won't allow myself to sleep now. While my eyes are closed, I can feel how Bradley presses my hand, lightly but he definitely pressed it.
My head gets up immediately to look at him. His eyes flattery open slowly and he wants to say something: "M..."
"I'm here Bradley, I'm here." Catherine jumps up and caresses his hair.
I'm getting up from my chair too to be closer to his head.
"Em..." he mumbles again.
My eyes widen. Is he really asking for me? Not for his mom? In shock I look at her, afraid she maybe would be mad at me.
But all I can see is a smile and relief on her face.
"Emy?" His eyes are open completely now and he looks at me first, then to the other side to his mom. "Mom?"
"Yes, we are here, your father too, he will be back in a second."
Then he faces me again, his hand reaching my cheek which he gently pets.
"You are here and you are safe..." He whispers.
"Yes, yes I'm here, I'm good!"
"I was so worried that Scott would be too late..."
I take his hand and kiss his palm: "I'm fine...how are you? Pain anywhere?" I stroke his hair.
"Here and there but nothing I can't handle and a headache, but when I was handcuffed there, I thought it would be worse."
I lay my face on his shoulder, his palm reaches my hair and caresses it.
"I'm so sorry..." I whisper.
"Don't be, everything is good, I'm still here."
"Well..." Catherine suddenly says. "You are ignoring me anyway, I guess I will go and get the doctor."
My head snaps high to look at her, but all she does is grinning. She winks at me and leaves the room.
"Sorry, I forgot for a second your parents are here too. I'm just so glad you are awake and fine under these circumstances."
"It's ok, my mom understands. Come here..." He lifts his blanket so I can crawl under it next to him. He turns himself on the side to face me. His palm on my cheek.
"Are you really ok?" I ask him.
"Yes!" He kisses me slightly, because of his cutted lip. I missed him so much and it wasn't even 24 hours. I don't know what would have happened if I had lost him.
He breaks the kiss, looking at me: "Emy, I need to tell you something...I..."

Knock knock
I start laughing. This happens all the time!
The doctor enters the room and with him Bradley's parents.Fast is get up from Bradley's bed.
"Sorry!" I mumble while taking a step back to make space for the doctor.
"Well, I see I see... ok Mr. Davis how are you feeling?" The doc grins.
"I'm ok I guess, a little pain but I think I'm lucky, could have been worse."
"That is definitely right. From 1 to 10, how much pain?"
"4... maybe 5..."
"That's pretty good. It's already late, so I would like to have you here over night and when everything is alright tomorrow you can leave."
"Great, thanks doctor."
The doctor nods towards Bradley's parents and me, then he leaves the room.
"Oh son..." James can finally put his son in his arms. "You scared the shit out of us."
"I know Dad, I'm sorry!"
"Not your fault, I'm just happy you are ok."
"Me too honey... but we saw, even without us, you would have been in good hands." Catherine adds. She looks at me and stretches her hand out for me to take it. "We will leave you alone now, just call us when you wanna come home. I guess your apartment isn't safe anymore."
"Thanks mom, I call you tomorrow."
Catherine and James say their goodbyes and head home.
"It's late already, I should let you sleep. I will come tomorrow morning again." I try to get up from the bed, but he holds me tight.
"No please, stay... I slept the last hours, I don't want you to leave."
"But you need to rest!"
"I need you more!"
"Ok, I'm gonna stay till you fall asleep alright?" But at that moment the door opens and a nurse comes in, wheeling a bed with her.
"I'm sorry, but Mrs. Davis pleased me to get another bed for your fiancé, so she can stay here the night."She wheels the bed next to Bradley's.
I look at Bradley, but he just smiles widely and nods: "Thank you!"
"You are welcome and if you need anything, pain medicine or something, just ring the bell." She points to the nightstand.
"Thanks, I will if necessary."
She nods and leaves the room
"So..."
"So?" Bradley repeats, smirking. "Fiancé yeah?"
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, your mom told the doctor I'm your fiancé so I could join the conversation about your state earlier." My cheeks turn red but Bradley just smiles.
"Come here!"
He makes space for me on his bed again and I sit down on the edge.
But he pulls me back with him, so I'm laying next to him again, face to face.
"I like that," he says.
"What?"
"That sound "my fiancé "" he replies.
I hide my face with my hands: "Oh my god..."
He laughs: "What?"
"Nothing!" I peek under my fingers with my eyes
He just stares at me: "Emy..." He gently lifts my hands away from my face: "I need to tell you something... I wanted to do it earlier, but every damn time, someone knocked on the door and I really hope, here in the hospital, no one will knock now."
I take a deep breath. What does he want to tell me?
"I told you already that you never left my mind, neither my heart."
I nod
"But..." he goes on.
"But?"
"But what I really wanted to say is that..." Now he takes a deep breath before he goes on: "That I never stopped loving you."
"Oh my god!" escapes from my lips.
"I love you Emily!" His nose touches mine gently, while he says that and his eyes never leave mine.
"I..." My heart beats so fast, almost faster then in the car on our way to the hospital. Or more in a different way... now it's without fear. "I love you too!"
He smiles so wide and then hisses in pain and touches his cutted lip.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry" I excused myself.
But he just licks his lip and then kisses me gently. I kiss him back, carefully, not wanting to cause more pain to him.
"I wanted to tell you since the day after the cave crashed down and you stood up for us against the Klingers." he whispers.
"Really?" I ask him, surprised.
"Yeah, I know it was soon, but that's how I felt and still feel. I really don't want to waste anymore time. We already lost 3 years."
I just smile and give him a peck on his lips: "Okay."
"Ok?"
"Yeah ok, let's not waste anymore time. Whatever that means, I want it"
He grins: "Me either." He pecks my lips back.
"But you should rest now." I try to get up to get over to my bed, but he holds me tight.
"I don't want to sleep alone!"
"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask quietly.
"It?"
"Well, I mean, about what happened today?"
"Not now, it was terrible but when they captured me I thought it would be more bad then it was. Thank god Scott found me soon, they hadn't much time for more damage."
"More damage? You fainted when you got here..."
"I know, but it was just one or two hits on my head, not more. If it had been more, I guess I wouldn't be awake now."
I stroke his cheek and he goes on: "I'm just glad you are safe and here with me. I won't think about anything else at the moment!"
"Ok.! I can totally feel him, me neither wants to think about today anymore. "I'm glad you are ok and back... here with me."
He kisses my forehead and takes a deep breath.
"Try to sleep now." My fingertips strokes over his forehead back and forth to comfort him.
It didn't take him long and fell asleep.
I watch him a little longer, he looks peaceful.
Eventually I fell asleep too.

The Next morning it knocks at the door and Agent Hamillton peeks his head in.
"Good morning." He whispers.
"Good morning, come in." I respond quietly and sit up, trying not to wake Bradley. "Everything ok?"
He shakes his head: "I haven't told you yesterday because you had other stuff to deal with. There were two men who captured Bradley. One of them died and the other escaped. And we weren't able to find him until now."
My face turns pale: "Oh Shit shit shit, what does that mean?" I guess I was a little to loud because Bradley wakes up slowly
"What's going on?" He mumbles his eyes not even open.
"Hey Bradley, how are you?" Agent Hamillton comes closer to the bed.
"Had been better, but not that worse. I had nice company, the best to be honest" And he smiles at me. I hide my face under my long hair looking down.
"That's a good thing, but I have some bad news."
"Yeah, I heard you!"
"You did?"
"Yeah, so one of these guys escaped?What does that mean?"
"That means, danger isn't over yet. You two can't head home, neither to your apartment or to your house, Dr. Adams."
"But where can we go then?" I ask shocked.
"We can stay at my parents house, they have plenty of space!" Bradley offers.
"No not to your parents house. I have some Agents there to observe the house, just in case. We need to get you to a safe house, a little bit more far away."
"What? No no no..." I protest but Bradley places a hand on my arm.
"He is right, it's too dangerous."
"But all my stuff and my laptop, I have work to do..."
"Is it more important than your life?" Hamillton asks with a harsh tone.
"What? No of course not, but..."
"No buts... Scott is the professional here and as long as this guy is still out there, we do what he tells us!"
This isn't a please, this is an order, I can hear it in Bradley's voice. I'm not used to taking orders, but he is drop dead serious.
" Oh...ok..." I sigh.
"Ok, you can write down what you definitely need from home and someone will bring it. When you leave the hospital, I will drive you to the airport and we will bring you out of the country." Hamillton goes on explaining.
"Out of the country???"
"Yes, but still in the UK. It's Scotland.This house is near Inverness, we have Agents nearby to observe the house and the surroundings."
"Are we allowed to leave the house?" I ask.
"No!"
My face falls with his answer.
"Not as long as we haven't heard anything from this guy that escaped and know where he is. I know it's not a nice view to be caged in a house like that, but it's at least a nice house. Try to see it as a holiday. Someone will bring you fresh food everyday, you just have to cook it. The rest is free, you can read, watch tv or whatever you wanna do."
Hearing that, Bradley looks at me and wiggles his eyebrows.
"Dude, think about all the microphones in the house."Hamillton says laughing.
"I don't care!" Bradley replies.
"But I do!" My cheeks are burning red.
"I can show you where they are, so you can switch them off, if necessary."
Bradley grins: "Oh it will be necessary!"
"Stop it! That's embarrassing!" I shout.
"It's not." Bradley is still grinning.
"For me it is!"
"Ok ok, we stop." But he winks as Agent Hamillton
"I saw that!" I clap his arm and he winces in pain. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Immediately afraid I hurt him but he just laughs and says: "I'm messing up with you, I'm good!"
"Jerk!" and for that he pokes my waist with his finger and I twitch under the tickling touch.
"You are impossible, you know that?"
He shrugs his shoulders: "Hey. I'm just glad I'm alive and you are fine, let me..."
"Ok, convinced." I say laughing and lay myself back beside him on the bed.
"Ok you two, back to serious. The doctor will release you this morning. As long as you are not allowed to call someone, we will inform your parents and Dr. Adams, if you want we can inform your friend." Hamillton says after we were done with our banter.
"Yes, please.!
He nods and continues: "So afterwards we will bring you to a plane and fly you to Scotland. Is there something you need from home?"
"Well, yeah clothes and girls-stuff." I say.
"Just clothes." Bradley says grinning.
"No problem, we will take care of everything. I will see you in an hour, I guess."
"Thank you, see you later."
Then Agent Hamillton leaves and instead a doctor enters the room.
"Good morning, how you feeling today Mr. Davis?" the doctor asks.
"Well, I'm ok." Bradley answers.
"Pain anywhere?"
"Just a little headache, but I can handle it."
"Good, I will give you something to take with you against the pain. But from my side, you can leave. There is nothing to see on your scans, everything is ok and your arm will heal. Just come by in 6 weeks to remove the cast."
"Thanks doctor, I will do that."
"Then goodbye and take care of you." He waves goodbye and leaves.

We spend an hour together in Bradley 's bed until Agent Hamillton comes back.
"Ok you two lovebirds, it's time to leave."
I help Bradley in his clothes, because of his broken arm. A while later we sit in a car, together with Agent Hamillton, who explains: "Ok, Bradley, I informed your parents about everything and I will make sure to keep them updated."
"Thanks mate."
"And Dr. Adams"..." Hamillton goes on.
"Emily please!"
"My pleasure, I'm Scott." He says smiling. "I will have a look at your friend Anna and her boyfriend."
"Oh that's so nice, thank you. I feel much better if she knows about everything and doesn't have to worry."
He nods.
After a short ride we arrive at the airport and head to a plane.
"It's empty." I say wondering.
"Yeah, in situations like that, we charter a plane without any other passengers."
We take a seat and the plane starts. Scott fills us up with everything we need to know.  The house is filled with microphones, just in case. It's a strange feeling to know that strangers can hear everything you say or do, but I guess I have to get clear to it.
In a House across the Street, are 24/7 Agents to observe the surroundings and keep searching for the escaped guy who kidnapped.
Bradley asks afterwards: "We are not allowed to leave the house, to make phone calls or surf in the web?"
"I managed you to have Netflix, but that's the only thing I could do with the internet. But that way you can do something else then read or whatever." He grins and Bradley grins back.
I slap his arm.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"You know for what!" I point back and forth from him and Scott.
"Sorry!" He says and gives me a kiss.
"You don't have to worry, just pretend it's something like a holiday under weird circumstances."
I sigh: "Weird? It's more than weird, it freaks me out."
Bradley lays his hand over mine: "We'll get through it, don't worry!"
"Don't worry? Are you fucking kidding me? These guys got you! They kidnapped you and when Scott and his Agents didn't have found you that soon, you would maybe be..." I stop and clap my hand to my mouth. Again tears fill my eyes and I got up from my seat. I went to the bathroom.
I let myself glide down, sobbing. I don't understand how he can stay so calm in this situation. I want to freak out and scream. But instead I just quietly cry, here on the floor of a plane's bathroom.
Seconds later someone knocks on the door.
"Emy? Please open the door." I hear Bradley talking.He speaks calmly and I slowly get up and open the door. Bradley just stands there and opens his arms for me. I gladly take the embrace and sling my arms around his waist, leaning my face to his chest. He strokes through my hair and mumbles into it: "I'm sorry I put you in this situation. I would do anything to get you out of it."
"I know!" I sob. "It's just...I was so afraid and I didn't know what to do, I felt so helpless."
He cups my cheek with his healthy hand, the other one leans on my shoulder.
"It's ok to feel helpless sometimes, you know that? Especially in situations like that."
I shake my head but Bradley goes on talking: "Yes, it is. And sometimes there are other people doing stuff for you, even if you don't like it."
"I..." but he wouldn't let me finish.
"Yes, you can!" I see him smiling down at me. He knows exactly what I wanted to say. "It's not your turn now and I guess you have to live with that."
I sigh, leaning my forehead on his chest again: "I guess I have to try...
"What? I couldn't hear you." But I can hear he is smiling through his words.
I look up at him: "I try."
He caresses my cheek with his thumb and leans down for a kiss, when the pilot let us know that we are about to land.
After landing we drive about half an hour to a suburb of Inverness.
We stop at a beautiful tiny house. We go inside, the Agents and Scott go first, to check if the house is still clean. Bradley and me waiting in the hallway. Our bags are already brought in.
I'm nervous and Bradley senses it and takes my hand in his. I lean my head on his shoulder.
"You good?" he asks me.
"Not really, but you are here with me, so I'm going to be."
He leans his cheek on my head. "Everything is going to be fine. I don't doubt that Scott is able to find them and we will be safe again."
I just nod. The last 48 hours were so exhausting I'm just tired.
Scott appears again: "Ok everything is checked and clear. Just keep the doors shut and don't forget the windows for the night to shut too!"
"We can manage that."
"Ok, Bradley, come with me a moment." Bradley let go of my hand and follows Scott upstairs.
The Agents pass me and leave the house. I'm still standing in the hallway but I guess I can explore the house. There are three doors downstairs.
When I come out of the kitchen Bradley and Scott come downstairs again.
"Ok, I leave you two alone now. We are across the street and can hear you, just in case. Every morning someone will leave a basket with fresh food."
"Ok, thank you Scott." I take him in an embrace.
"You are welcome!" He gives Bradley a bro hug and leaves the house. Bradley locks the door behind him and turns around .
"So, now we are alone!"