▫️ Thirty-three

Grey's pov

There was movement on my right and I discreetly reached for my weapon in the right pocket of my pants only for my eyes to fly open when I found it missing.

I was in a room, much worse on a bed and I wondered how I had fallen asleep on work. My men were no where in my vicinity, confusing me even more.

I turned to my right, my vision blurry though I could tell a woman was resting beside me, her hand grasping mine. Then some flashbacks hit me.

Mission, an ambush then an explosion.

My tulip.

I sat up all of a sudden, my brain processing everything so quick and through the silence, fear rose on me when I heard a sniffle.

I twisted my body to the sound, not caring much about the pain in my chest. Familiar warmth seeped into my arms and my heart shattered.

My sweetheart.

With shaking hands, I hesitantly reached for her hair, slowly clearing her face to me. I felt like I'd broken a valuable piece of glass when I saw her face.

She was asleep, her head lay on the edge of the bed while her hands dropped from my arms. The sun's rays fell on her face, beautifying her features even more but that was not what caught my attention.

There were tears in her eyes, even though shut, the drops continued to streak down her cheeks. I stretched out yet again to feel her face and wipe the tears away but the pain in my chest limited me.

I huffed in frustration when I couldn't even move my own body. I painfully watched the tears fall to the sheets on the bed and when I placed my hands on the spot, it was soaked.

She had cried for a while.

I thought back of what could have upset her that much, what I could have done, what I might not have done for her. Then I suddenly remembered our parting words.

I didn't say it.

This time I stretched out with all my might to feel her face, to cup her cheeks into my hands, to wipe away the tears that slipped down her cheeks.

A loud noise accompanied the sudden movement that I had to fall back on bed in a groan though I didn't let go of her face.

"You're awake!" Someone exclaimed from the room and I lifted my eyes to see Reece and Enzo hovering over the left side of my bed.

I looked back at Ginelle's face then at their expressions that marred relief and I narrowed my eyes as I sat up. I let go of her face before turning to get ahold of Reece beside me.

"Why is she crying? Didn't you take care of her? I gave you clear instructions." I grabbed a fistful of his shirt, the urge to punch him intensifying by the second.

His lack of response made me look at Enzo beside him. I grabbed his wrists next, pinning him with a questioning look as irritation throbbed through me.

None of them spoke, the pain in my chest biting me so hard as it spread to my back that I had to lay low. I let the feeling pass before I grabbed Reece again demanding for answers.

"What did you do?" Her crying face made me feel so guilty and vulnerable. I roughly shook Reece's arms again to get an explanation from him.

"Calm down man," Enzo tried to settle me back on bed but I swatted his arm away. I glinted at Reece who adjusted his shirt behind him.

"She's so small right now," I turned to stroke her face so as to calm the rage that was seething through me. Her skin was even drier, her hands rougher.

"You've been unconscious for two weeks." Enzo's words made me sharply turn to him as I dropped my hands from her face. I tried to adjust my back, the pain so intense now.

Unconscious? Two weeks? What was he saying?

I furrowed my eyes at him, everything not making sense for a second. I then looked around the room, the machines around me clearly telling me that I was in an hospital.

My hands trembled, my body following suit when Reece continued to tell me what had happened in the last few weeks. I couldn't believe it.

None of it.

I was supposed to get back safe, I was looking forward to seeing her smile first thing when I got back, I had been counting the days and hours remaining.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. I had broken my promise and the guilt was tormenting me now. I swallowed thickly, feeling so down that I had failed her.

My body continued to shake, pain throbbing through every organ of my body. I winced while clutching my chest over the clothing and grunted hoarsely.

I closed my eyes for a second to hold in this pain, the beeping sound ringing around me. Biting my lips, I suppressed another groan as my head hit the pillows.

Then there was motion everywhere around me. I heard some people rush out, others coming in but my focus was on my right.

My eyes closed and opened involuntarily, my senses so frail but I could still make out the touch of the hands of my girl when she cupped my face.

I couldn't see her face clearly, her voice wasn't even clear to me but from her lips, she was calling my name. She softly pressed her hands on my face and I attempted to smile despite it being so painful.

I didn't want her to worry further.

I couldn't exactly tell what was happening around me but the constancy of her hand and the warmth she radiated made me believe that things were going to get better.

It was after some tests by the doctors that I fully regained consciousness and I could only figure out this since they were the only ones with me now.

I lifted my head to look around the room, wondering if I had only imagined her presence. One of the doctors gently pushed me down.

"Your wife must love you a lot, she has been with you this whole time." I inclined my ear to their words as they shared with me of how Ginelle had sacrificed herself.

It was painful to hear that she refused to eat, she stayed with me during all those nights, she never left once and I felt so terrible for putting her in that situation.

The doctors soon left and I was left to my own thoughts before the door suddenly opened again and hazel brown eyes stared back at me.

My heart raced, the words burning down my throat as I sat up. "Tulip," she rushed towards me in an instant after I had spoken.

Her hands rested on my face, her eyes inspecting every part before she smiled feebly and pecked my jaw. I took her hands in mine, leaning closer to her.

"G-Grey," she choked out my name and I quickly flung my arms around her as I pressed her into my chest, enveloping my hands over her back.

Her face rested on my shoulder, mine on her neck as I inhaled her lovely scent. She tugged the ends of my hair on my neck and I sighed, my body melting into her.

We embraced for the longest time, her hands affectionately rubbing my back. She was hesitant to get too close to me, perhaps being mindful of my injury but I pulled her tight against me.

The pain couldn't compare to the safety I felt in her arms.

I pulled back when I heard her sniffle, my eyes panicky as I held her face with one palm. Her eyes were red, she had repeatedly rubbed over them and it hurt to see more tears coming out.

"Sweetheart please don't cry, I'm so sorry for breaking my promise." She shook her head as I wiped her face from the tears that slipped.

"I did everything I could to stay safe, please please don't cry." I begged again, wanting more than nothing for the tears to stop coming out.

"W-What h-happened? H-How were you h-hurt?" She hiccuped in between the words, her voice shaking and her voice so small and weak.

"We were guarding the base during the night," I took her hands and began to rub over her fingers. "I was sorting out food for everyone when we were suddenly attacked."

"The men who attacked us were terrorists, they were armed, they even had explosives." Her eyes worried but I stroked her anxiety away, pecking both of her hands.

"Some of my other teammates had reported to another base for security tightening so they outnumbered us but we battled against them for a while."

"We had barely eliminated most of them when another group came and set the outskirts of the camp on fire." I grasped her hands to minimize the shaking.

"I panicked at first as I tried to get everyone to safety while still dealing with the threat. I don't remember much because the whole base blew up seconds later and crumbled."

Of course I did remember.

I remember myself choking on smoke as I dragged my comrades out of the raging flames, I remember groaning after stepping on hot metal while trying to escape.

I remember the feeling of something piercing through my back before I blacked out for a second but kept pushing myself out of the ruins.

There was so much that I remembered, the feeling so raw in my body but the beauty beside me didn't have to hear this.

She was already worried as it is and I couldn't tell her anything more depressing. I wanted her happy at all times and it hurt to know she was in this state because of me.

Her eyes watered after I was done and I tried to comfort her into my arms as I whispered sweet words of assurance.

"I'm still okay, shh." I rocked her into my arms as I patted her hair, gently lulling her. "It's alright now, my baby."

Her body rested for a moment before she suddenly pulled back. She briefly looked at me then at my chest and began to unbutton my shirt.

So stunned by the warmth of her hands on my bare skin, I didn't realize that the lack of clothing made her see the bandages on my chest until I heard a gasp from her.

"T-The doctor said a s-steel rod pierced into your ribs till your back." She stared at the newly dressed bandages in agony like she were in pain herself.

"Does it hurt much? Is talking putting you in any pain? This is so deep, do you feel dizzy? Oh my goodness Grey, let me help you lie back."

She attempted to untangle herself from me so that I would rest on the bed but I quickly protested, holding back her hand like a child.

I wanted her next to me, holding my hand, touching my hair, face, whatever part, I wanted to constantly feel her touch.

She looked at my chest again, her fingers slowly trailing over the long bandage and I tried not to look excited. It was getting so hard when she got to the skin near my navel.

I pursed my lips together as I watched her eyes inspect every outline of the bandage, unaware of the heat that jerked up my body just because of her touch.

She finished her analysis with much internal restrain from my end and happily buttoned up the shirt after she was content everything was okay.

I took her hands in mine the moment she was done, not wanting her so far away. Her eyes gazed at me so fondly as she smiled that I felt like I had fallen under a spell.

I couldn't seem to hear or see anything else other than her. I got lost into the depths of her eyes that were filled with so much radiance.

I leaned up to kiss her eyelids then watched how her lashes fluttered open, an action that made feel like I was seeing an angel.

She was so beautiful, so elegant that I even found her blinking attractive. I was a captive of her smile, not to mention the things a single touch from her would ignite.

"I missed you so much, my tulip." I captured her lips with mine, slowly savoring her taste till it rubbed off to me.

So lost into each other we didn't hear the door open until several people cleared their throats simultaneously. I looked up in a glare, so annoyed by the interruption.

I told you it was a bad time.

We should have waited longer.

Gris?

He's really awake.

Isn't that position painful for him?

He's already exercising?

The room was filled with all kinds of 'whispers' as our friends and family streaked in, bright smiles on their faces.

Nana was the first to walk towards me, her eyes glistening as she sat on my left. Reece and Enzo followed, their faces up even after I'd scolded them before.

Louis, Leila, and Jordan stood closer to my left, similar smiles on their faces. Lora and Clarissa walked in last, a large bouquet of flowers in their arms.

They all smiled down at me as they encouraged me to recover soon and I gave them all a nod of appreciation. I couldn't believe they were all here to see me.

I was used to just a few people but having all these people concerned about me, I felt like I had recovered already.

They all kept me company for almost an hour, Reece and Leila cracking jokes that made me chuckle very often. Ginelle was mindful to ensure I didn't hurt my ribs in the process.

This felt like a family to me, a family that I had known thanks to my adorable tulip. I watched everyone talk with ease, my heart warming at this.

I glanced at Ginelle across the room who was now helping Nana tie the sleeves of her blouse as Lora talked to them.

I cleared my throat to thank them all for visiting, truly appreciative of their kind gesture. It meant so much to me.

They offered their gifts one by one, I read their cards and smiled occasionally at some of the words written there.

"When do I get discharged?" I asked Enzo when I felt like I had rested enough. "I want to go home and take care of Ginelle,"

I mumbled the last part to myself but Jordan and Louis caught on and snickered beside me. They patted my shoulder in a manner that meant relax.

Everyone was adamant on my stay in the hospital, saying I needed to recover fully and get my strength back.

But I really wanted to go home, with the woman I fell in love with.

✪ ✪ ✪

What do you guys think of that description about what happened on the night of the attack?

Does it make sense? Please tell me what you think, any amendments and ideas will be appreciated.

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)