Chapter Twelve: Aftermath

Bradin let himself out of the yard and was slowly walking along the beach when he heard a door slam. Looking quickly behind him, Bradin made out the figure of who he was sure was Kaitlyn running full speed in the opposite direction.

Tears streamed down her face as Kaitlyn ran. She had no idea where she was or where she was headed, but she had to get away . Her breath ragged and her legs numb she collapsed to her knees.

"Kaitlyn!" Bradin called out, trying ot catch up with her. "Kait come back" he yelled. He watched as she fell to her knees and ran even harder to get to her.

Coming to a stop in front of her Bradin kneeled and gently reached out to touch her shoulder. Once she felt his touch however, she recoiled, shuffling away from him.

"Baby it's Bradin, what's wrong? It's me sweetheart, you can tell me" he soothed gently, moving closer to her again. When he tried to encircle his arms around her shaking form she struck out at him with a balled fist.

"Don't touch me! Leave me along, please" she said, still trying to swat him away.

"Sorry baby, not gonna happen" he said, finally getting a hold of her wrists so she couldn't hit him anymore. Still holding on to her wrists he sat down with a leg on either side of her and pulled her head to his chest.

"No! Don't hold me please! I don't disserve it, please..." her pleas dissolved into body wracking sobs that she could not control. She wrapped her arms around Bradin's neck and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder; the one place she felt safe and loved, and the one place she soon would never be again.

Sleep took over the girl curled up in her boyfriends lap. Bradin sat, holding her, stroking her hair for a little while. Finally he realized that he was expected home a long time ago. Gathering Kaitlyn in his arms, he lifted her and walked silently down he beach.

As he approached his back door it opened and Jay's figure loomed in the doorway looking furious. Upon seeing how Bradin arrived, he moved aside to let Bradin into the house. Bradin gave him a look that told him to stay quiet for a moment as he took Kaitlyn to his bedroom and lay her down on his bed.

Coming back to the living room Bradin sat down beside Jay with a sigh.

"Jay...I think things may have gotten out of hand. I...I think we need help" he said, his head falling back to rest on the backing of the couch, the exhaustion of hte night finally catching up to him.

"I can see that. What happened?"

"I don't know. I dropped her at her house and the next thing I know she's running down the beach away from me, freaking out. Something bad must have happened to get her that worked up, but she wasn't making any sense with the few words I could understand through the sobs. I just don't know"

"Don't worry bro, we'll sort everything out. Get some sleep for now, talk in the morning"

"Ok...and Jay?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank-you...for everything"

"No problem. G'night"

"Night"

A/N: Ooo...what happened? Guess you'll have to review and read more to find out! Thank-you so much for all the reviews. They mean a lot to me. I have to warn you all though, that this story will be ending in a chapter or two, so let me know if you want a sequel or not. If you do I have some ideas, so let me know! Thanks again for reviewing!

Love, Ally