TAKE THE KEY TAKE AND LOCK HER UP

ALEXEI POV

CHAPTER ONE: RECOVERY

'Is that all you've got?' I teased, baiting Jamie to hit me harder. 'I'm gaining on you buddy,' says Jamie, as I circle around him.

'Yeah? Let's see you do it again,'

I guess you could say that I'm training him. No… it's more like guiding his recovery. But no matter what, there is no denying that Jamie is weak. I must be gentle with him. He is taking slow unbalanced steps towards me, and despite the freezing air, he starts to sweat and his whole body is shaking with effort and determination as he takes a slow swing at me. I'm not going to let him win that easily, so I duck and gently swing back. He tries to hit my shoulder with the bottom of his palm but I punch his hand away.

Fighting like this brings back memories of when we used to fight properly, before. Before he came back to Adria, before he was stabbed, before he came within an inch of having his whole life slip away. But it's too scary to think about. 'Again,' I say. If he's going to get his strength back, it will be by practising consistently. So, we resume our positions. We slowly move around, he punches, I block. I punch, he blocks.

Then Grace comes into view. She looks so cute with her bed-hair and oversized T-Shirt, standing behind the grimy window. 'Well I guess the princess has decided to join us,' I tease, but she doesn't laugh. She never does. I miss the way she would throw her head back slightly and purse her lips together really, really tightly to try and stop, which always ends in her eyes watering adorably. I miss the old Gracie. I am brought back to earth by her husky morning tone. 'Some of us need our beauty sleep,' she replies with a smirk. 'I'll say,' Jamie says smugly. So, I hit him. No-one, not even him, can insult her on my watch. Oops, maybe I hit him a little too hard. He stumbles back and catches himself quickly. Luckily, Grace didn't see, or I would be in trouble. 'Don't make me hurt you,' Jamie threatens, but all I can do is grin. 'My friend there is absolutely nothing I would welcome more.'

Jamie's next blow hits me square on the shoulder, a slow but steady punch. He's definitely improving. 'So, Alexei, any chance you still like little Gracie?' Jamie whispers with a small smile, just loud enough for me to hear. 'Maybe,' I reply through gritted teeth. Jamie and I tell each other everything, but the one thing that doesn't tend to come up that often are my developing feelings for his kid sister. 'Planning on making a move?' He whispers with a classic "Don't tell what you're actually thinking please" look. So, I don't. 'Nope,' I say quietly, as I push his hip backwards with a little too much force. He stumbles back again but luckily doesn't fall over. Oops, Grace saw that one.

'Jamie, why don't you rest for a little bit?' She asks, while death glaring me. He and I share a look and he resists the urge to roll his eyes. 'I just woke up,' he argues as he slaps my shoulders forcefully. 'Good. Again,' I say, impressed with his sudden burst of strength. 'Jamie, you don't want to push it,' She sounds exasperated and I almost feel bad for her. After all, she just wants what is best for him, and she's probably right. But Jamie turns around and starts walking steadily towards her. 'No, Gracie,' he tries to hide his frustration. 'That's exactly what I have to do.' Grace just sighs and gives me a look as if to say, don't push him too hard. She walks out the cabin door and says something about getting more kindling, gesturing off towards the forest. 'Don't go far, Gracie!' I yell after her, because the last thing I want is for her to get hurt.

Jamie and I call it quits after another couple of minutes, because I can tell that he's tiring. I sit down on the porch steps and let out a sigh, thinking about Grace. Then Jamie slowly plops down next to me. 'What's on your mind bro? You all good?' He asks, and its moments like this that I appreciate his friendship the most. 'Yeah I guess. I'm just worried about Grace,' I look up from my hands and straight at him as he chuckles softly. 'Look. I know she's a lot to handle at times with her crazy mood swings but she has been through a lot. She'll be fine,' he says, then adds under his breath. 'I hope,'

'Yeah but it's not just that,' I pursue the subject, 'She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, and when I get up to comfort her, she's always so distant with me.'. I say sadly, trying to muster some sympathy. But Jamie's head turns rapidly to the direction Grace just disappeared in, after a shrill scream fills the previously silent morning air. 'Do you think she's alright man?' I ask, concern filling my voice more and more quickly by the second. But then, we both look up and see the small white plane flying overhead, circling the coastline, and finally landing on the waves. 'Shit!' Jamie mutters, and Dominic comes running out of the cabin. He starts to tell me to go to Grace, but I'm already half-way there.