hermione granger 2.0 ;

douglas, "granger" grace. thirty-two. alive. ' "Because that's what Hermione does," Ron said, shrugging. " When in doubt, go to the library." ' ( disclaimer: this is a rp blog for returned-rpg. i am not or am i affiliated with alexis bledel. )

[gracedouglas-blog1]

athenaxphillips:

Athena had seated herself on the lawn of the Griffin Hawkings University campus and opened up her planner to check mark the things she had already done that day. Some people said she was a little too organized but it helped keep her focused. Moving her pen quickly down her rather long list of things that she had planned to get done for the day, she stopped and checked her phone. Aha, yes, almost time to meet up with someone to go out and have some drinks, maybe do something fun. It’d been something that she was looking forward to for the last three days since the plans had been made.

Putting her planner back into her bag, she looked up as a shadow covered the sun that had just been shining down at her. “Oh hey! You ready to go and have some fun?”

 It’s a mission. To find the perfect location for this commercial to not only praise the university, but to give it a more appealing outlook to it’s future students. The task was something on the side, really, as a friend was running the entire operation, and Grace insisted on helping out. Besides, it was, yet, another thing to keep her mind off of a few things, -- family things, really. 

She paused, as hands placed themselves onto Grace’s hips, taking a look towards the campus, but what the woman hadn’t noticed, -- there was someone relaxing. “Oh. Crap! I’m sorry,” she’s quick to apologize, backing away. “Wait, -- What did you say?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

cameronbutler:

Cameron had come into the Wolff’s Saloon early for his shift to prepare himself for the rowdy and busy crowd which always seemed to follow opening time. While he wasn’t paying attention, someone had entered the building and seemed to be coming near him. He lifted his head and looked up, calling out “Bit early to be wandering in here, don’t you think?”

Somehow, Grace ended up on the South side, and as someone of her social status, it wasn’t common. But, too be fair, there’s a shoot of a television promo happening around these parts, and despite the reputation, the director insisted on using the aesthetic for an episode. Sneaking her way into the bar, there’s a grin as one of the employee’s spoke out, “Yeah, I know. I wanted to slide by before the rush. Have a drink and leave before anybody noticed. Can I count on you to help me out, hm?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

kerrieridgeway:

Kerrie has had one of the most stressful and painful weeks of her life, not only did one of her employees try to make her believe her deceased husband was alive, but many aspects of the diner we’re breaking down, she didn’t know if she couldn’t handle it. She needed her husband now more than anything. She tried her hardest to push that idea out of her head as she continued to wipe down the counters as she was about to close the diner. She heard the from bell ring, and she sighed, “I’ll be with you in just a second!” she announced as she was in the back of the diner, wiping the kitchen down. She took another deep breath and wiped the small tear that had escaped her eye, before making her way to the front of the counter. 

It was late, Grace knew that. But, for some ungodly reason, the night led her to the Ridgeway Diner, home of the best milkshakes. Or, so, that’s what Grace thought. Mentally, she hoped the she wasn’t cutting it close to the time when the diner closed, but with, yet, another sleepless night, Grace found herself entering the diner, only to be greeted by Kerrie in the distance. “Please. Take your time!” Taking a seat against the diner’s bar, the chair propped higher than most of the booths, Grace allowed her chin to rest easily against both palms, patiently waiting.

[gracedouglas-blog1]

marcuswentworth:

“Probably for the best.” Marcus nodded slowly, his smile fading the slightest bit. “Ah, I get that.” A little too well. Marcus didn’t want to think about his only family drama, so it was reassuring to hear that he wasn’t the only one with it. Not that he wanted anyone else to family family issues, it just sucked less to know that he wasn’t alone. Following up her driveway slowly, Marc panted a bit and wiped his forehead. It was probably dumb to have left his water bottle behind but he’d only noticed when Grace had offered him water. “Marcus. Pleasure to meet you. Thanks, for the water.” In advance.

She nodded, as a fingers pull strands of hair behind her ear before unlocking the front door of the house. Mentally, Grace hopped that it wasn’t a complete and total mess, because, at times, there wasn’t much say into when the woman could straighten up the house, -- with work that could go into late hours of the night, then expect a person who be there bright and early before dawn. “You, too,” Grace smiled, moving out of the way to let Marcus into the home, shutting the door behind them. “The kitchen is right through here,” with saying that, she led the man to the room. Grabbing a cold bottle of water from the fridge, Grace turned to hand the other the drink. “Here you go. Fresh from the refrigerator.”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

nathan-douglas:

Breathing harshly as he was getting more upset with the other. Her laughing made him think anything but what ever reason she might have been laughing for. That she may have been laughing at him. Nathan sucked in a shaky breath, obviously hurt by her reactions. He just wanted her to not think about it. To just ignore what the clues were telling her. He could never completely trust Grace either, after all. She had visited him in his prison and didn’t seem to be any help to him in getting out. At least from what he could see, she never seemed to believe in his paranoid accusations as he spent more and more time in the hospital. As she apologized to him he sniffled, then squint weakly at her.

Nathan continued to watch the others expressions as she stood there. He observed them, classified them away in whatever part of his mind he hoped was still working as it should, despite the injuries to his head and the medication probably making this near to completely impossible to do. Sucking in another painful breath, more pain washed over him before being washed away by numbness of medication. Please please, please… He thought to close his eyes. Pleading for to not think any more about the scar.

But with her laughing again he teared up, droplets pooling over in the corners of his eyes before dripping down the sides, mixing with the thin layer of sweat on his face. Why was she laughing? It was a weird laugh. Even through his hazy state of mind, he could tell.  Closing his eyes for a moment, a wave of tiredness overtaking him. Nathan remained completely still for a second before opening his eyes slowly to watch her as she continued looking over at him.

Once she had hold of his hand again he gripped her hand weakly. Please, Grace…don’t. Don’t ….please…just…. His breathing started to pick up then, his heart thudding in his chest slamming against his rib cage as he started to panic. What if she realized it was him and then wanted to send him back to Breccan?! He couldn’t deal with that! He couldn’t let her do that to him!

With his name, his eyes widened slightly before tears filled as he closed them once more till they were only tiny slits on his face “Noo… noo. I’m…I’m Austin…I am. …Grace. I’m…” Pausing to breathe through the rising panic attack his eyes rolled around in his head the machines reacting to the sudden stress he was coming under “I’m Austin!!…I am… please…Grace…don’t…” Arching his back his eyes rolled into his head, a machine beside his bed beginning to freak out, sounding off in alarm.

The pain started to spread from his chest out across the rest of his body. Nathan tossed his head lightly his hands balling into fists and clinging to his sides as his body tensed for a long moment before going limp. Staff began to show up around that time forcing Grace away and out of the room as they went to stabilize Nathan’s condition once again.

By the next time Grace was allowed back in Nathan was completely unconscious from the incident. One of the doctors explained to her Nathan’s condition and said that for the time being it was probably best if she just went home or waited out in the waiting room. Especially if she was going to stress their patient out. Which he explained was the most likely cause for Nathan’s state. They then went on to inform her that they would most likely be waking her brother up in a few hours.

The reaction of the other wasn’t one that Grace would’ve expected. The pleads and the anxiety. And in the moment, Grace pulled away from him, only to grab at the boy’s face, hoping to calm Nathan with soothing words, though hands shook and words stuttered, but it didn’t work. “Miss, -- you’re going to have to leave.” They asked, and it took multiple staff members to pull Grace away from the scene, to the lobby. “No! You can’t! -- That is my brother! You can’t.” The words repeated, as a nurse stayed with Grace. 

She dropped into a seat, as features fell into the palms of Grace’s hands. The nurse remained, but with any attempts of speech, Grace ignored. Her own tears welted at tear ducts, the sniffles seeping within the various sounds that a person would assume that lingered inside of a hospital.

It’s minutes. And, it’s hours. With trying to get a hold of other family members, - those said family members not bothering to answer their phones, - and receiving a few phone calls from work; Grace rested outside the hospital, on a bench nearing the enterance, watching people exit and enter. 

The fresh air was more than welcomed, as the woman attempted to make sense of it all. Make sense of which twin resided within the building, and the only logical explanation was that it is Austin, because Nathan, -- he’s dead. 

But, the scars, the ones Grace recognized, those weren’t Austin’s. They couldn’t have been. So, the questioned lingered, and it didn’t make any sense. Not to Grace. And, that reaction? That was a response made of complete fear, as if the realization would only bring the worst. For the twin, that is. Her leg shakes, as a hand pushed loose strands of hair from paled features, allowing a huff of air release in a manner of aggravation. 

The thoughts are altered by the tap of a nurse, he saying, “Your brother’s awake. If you want to see him.” There’s a hesitation in Grace’s response, as hands tremble with anxiety. “Yeah, yeah. Okay,” she nodded, rising up from the bench to follow the staff member back to her younger brother's room.

Upon entering, Grace gave the door a light knock, signalling her presence. “Hey, you,” she says, a gentle smile, in hopes to lighten the mood, as there’s slow movements towards the bed. 

“Can I hold your hand?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

littlebethdouglas:

Don’t come into my house and accuse me. While it usually amused Beth when Grace sounded like their dad, it had the opposite effect right now. In a way, her reaction also reminded her of Austin’s, denying the twin’s existence until it simply wasn’t possible anymore. “No, I thought you would never do such a thing,” Beth corrected, “But you did. You and mom and dad kept Nathan a secret all these years. You watched me trying to figure out the scar on my forehead and you said nothing. Nothing!” A breath. “But you had to have known, you were old enough to remember everything.”

Despite the circumstances, there’s a bit of relaxation at Beth’s response, she exhaling with relief. Was that it? The scar? The fact that Nathan’s existence was unspoken of in the Douglas household? Still, Grace couldn’t help to wonder how Bethany found out. “It was to protect you, Beth,” and, that statement sounded too much one of their parents, but it was the truth. “Even if I was old enough to remember, - I didn’t understand,” she paused. “I grew up not understanding. Mom and dad, they, didn’t tell me anything. Disregard it if I asked, so when I got older, I took matters into my own hands.” Teeth nibble at her bottom lip, a habit, but mostly out of curiosity given the conversation, as arms drop to her sides and hands side into pant pockets.  “How did you find out? About Nathan?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

marcuswentworth:

Marcus was fine, other than the fact that his heart was beating out of his chest, caused by a combination of being startled and having been running. “It’s alright.” The man shook his head before wiping the perspiration from his forehead. “And probably in a controlled setting, not in public.” There was a breathy chuckle. “Your boss sounds like kind of a dick.” Marc pointed out. “Bringing him cold coffee could be a good comeback.” Everyone hates cold coffee. “Actually, that would be great. I think I left mine a few blocks ago.”

“You’re right. I’ll keep the tantrums to an inside activity. And only an inside activity,” she, too, let out a gentle laugh, pushing stands of hair away from paled features. The messy hair only ruffled from the previous actions, the slamming the car door and the yelling. “He is. Most days. And, I can usually deal with it. Plus, I’m dealing with family matters. That plus work, it’s never a fun time,” she ceased the statement by clearing her throat, before leading the man to the front door. “Oh, - uh, I’m Grace. Just to formally introduce myself, since you’ll be in my house for a period of time.”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

littlebethdouglas:

Beth exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around her book. The smile wasn’t returned. “Austin found out about Nathan, and so did I.” A hesitant step was taken towards the door, but then the brunette stopped, her head almost exploding with all the questions she’d been wanting to throw at Grace ever since she’d found out. “I don’t want cake. I want to know how you could keep something like this from us. I want to know how our family got so screwed up! “

Trying to be nice seemed out of the picture, Grace noticed. There’s a risen eyebrow at the other’s accusation, she, Grace, not quite understanding what Beth was talking about. Arms cross against Grace’s rib cage, scoffing as her younger sister continued to yell. “What do you mean that you found out about Nathan?” Even there’s a hint of what the information meant, Grace still wasn’t grasping completely on the reality. “I haven’t kept anything from you two. You know I would never do such a thing. So, don’t come into my house and accuse me of -- whatever you’re talking about, Beth!”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

littlebethdouglas:

“Okay, great.” Once the front door was unlocked, Beth headed straight for the dining room table, picking up her psychology book - it was one of her favorites. There’d been lots of times in which she’d confided in her older sister about her interest in psychology and the conflict it created with their parents, lots of times she’d sat on her sister’s couch reading some of the books that were unwelcome in the Douglas household. “Don’t even ask.”

“Don’t tell me your day was as bad as mine. Because, if so, I have cake in the kitchen. Just for days like this,” she ceased the statement with a gentle smile that beamed over to her sister, placing work related folders against the table. She looked over to her younger sister, staring at the book in the other's hands. “Seriously. What happened? Now, you’ve got me worried. And, you know, I don’t handle worrying well.”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

marcuswentworth:

Unable to force himself to keep jogging, Marcus had stopped at the end of a random driveway, taking a moment to rest and clear his head. He practically jumped out of his skin when he heard a woman exclaim so loudly and so closely. “Shit.” He muttered under his breath, staring at the woman that had just stepped out of her car and slammed the door. “Uh – hey, no problem. You just startled me.” Marcus reached up to idly scratch at his cheek. “Must have been pretty tough if you take it out on your car like that.” He responded lightly.

A hand placed itself against her chest, taking a second to shift expressions to something a bit more calm and collected. Before speaking, there’s a gentle exhale, “Gosh. I’m so, so sorry.” The words are spoken fast, as both hands wave in a sense of apologizing, as steps towards the other were hesitant, yet still kept a distance. “I know. I should take it out on a punching bag, or something. Not my poor car. Seriously. I didn’t mean to scare you, just, the boss has a way of getting under my skin. Today, -- today he did more than succeed at it,” she finished with a sigh. “I can, uh, get you a bottle of water. I have some inside, in the fridge,” Grace gestures to the house behind her.

[gracedouglas-blog1]

littlebethdouglas:

“Yeah,” was all Bethany said, which was uncharacteristically little considering she normally would’ve asked about her sister’s day or made a joke. “I’m just here to pick up the book I forgot at your place.” 

With folders and such in hand, Grace leads the way to the front door, keys jangling in the woman’s hand. “It’s on the dining room table.” The location of the book altered from where Beth left it, - that being on the coffee table, the most messiest furniture piece in the house. Unlocking the door, huffing, she entered the home, comforted by the air condition. “Sorry about, -- the tantrum. I’ve been working too hard, I think,” she paused. “How’s your day been, Beth?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

resurrectedeva:

Walking home from getting a few things, she raised a brow at the woman’s tantrum, not knowing whether to say something or pretend like she didn’t know her. “I can tell,” she smiled with a laugh, “everything alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.” It fumbled out quickly, the response. She opens up the driver’s rear door, grabbing onto a few folders and a over-the-shoulder satchel, -- more work related items. “The budget of this movie is thinning with every second, and for some ungodly reason, my boss thinks I can instantly fix it. And, surprisingly, I can’t.” Grace pushes loose strands of hair from her face, huffing as the door closed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

nathan-douglas:

Watching his sister, his eyes flutter, still tired, but resisting the urging to sleep. His body was tingling, trying to tremble weakly but didn’t have the power at the moment.  All he could manage was barely staying awake to watch the other. With her reply, he blinked in response one of his eyes had been completely covered by gauze from how severely beaten it was. Isabella’s dominant hand having more weight in on that side of his face only served to give it more damage than the other which was mostly just fresh bruises onto of old ones at the moment.

Nathan gulped, pain exploding faintly in the back of his head as he tilted it slightly into the pillow. His chest inflated sharply before he winced as the pain traveled down into the rest of the body before whatever medication he has on staved it off. 

Staring at Grace as she spoke he teared up for a moment the fingers on his left hand twitching slightly at her words. Her smile to him made the confusion and drugged feeling in his head seem less inconvenient that it would have been. Nathan was just so happy to see the other. It had felt like it had been too long, he had almost forgotten about her in all his planning and anger. His brows furrowed slightly as she asked what happened. Though even if he could answer her, at the moment he honestly couldn’t remember what happened. 

While Grace was staring at him he looked away, trying to piece together what he was doing at the moment. Why he was here. How he got in a body bag. Why his head even hurt as much as it did. Wincing a little bit he closed his eyes sucking in another deep breath before she said something about him being Nathan. Which was actually the last person he wanted to be if he were, to be honest. Lightly his head shook as she looked at his wrist more closely.

As she had jerked away from him his right hand tried to grab hers but she moved too fast. Tearing up he closed his head and arched his back, before starting to sob. Why did everyone hate him!? Nathan thrashed weakly tears streaming down his face. Not knowing how else to react to her rejection at that moment.

“There’s just, -- there’s no way.” Baffled by the mental accusation, a palm pressing against her forehead, even laughing at such a thought. There’s a look towards Austin, noticing the alternation of the other’s expression. Her heart drops. “I’m sorry. -- I didn’t mean to startle you.” It seemed like the only case as to why he began acting in such a way. 

She inches forward, almost hesitant, but Grace tried to seem calm and collected. He still didn’t seem to look, or act right. Not like Austin. He looked like Nathan. That scar, -- that was Nathan’s. It didn’t make sense. She knew. There’d been no way that Austin mimicked such a wound to cause the scar. She knew. Knowing both twins her entire life, Grace knew the difference between them. Each and every distinguishing mark. Now, looking more closely and being more aware, every time Grace glanced to the boy’s face, even if being battered and bruise, it felt more like Nathan’s features. Not Austin’s. 

Her heart races at each and every furthering thought. To be honest, it scared Grace. Just months ago, she had been secretly planning Nathan’s funeral, and there’s a chance he laid there, - right in front of her. No. It couldn’t be. There’s another laugh that breaks the silence, - one that shuttered a bit more with anxiety, worried. 

“It can’t be,” she mumbled, now back at her original setting, looking down at Austin, hand grabbing the boy’s, -- ignoring the sight of the wrist, as if she only fooled herself before. Grace doesn’t look at Austin’s, Nathan’s (?), face, not yet. She observes the boy’s frail, thin body, first. Skin and bone. Again, that wasn’t Austin.

Visions slowly trace back to the younger brother’s face, staring at those bruises, and into the eye that remained uncovered from cloth. She blinked. Twice, now. Taking it in. There’s a gentle squeeze given to the boy’s hand before, mumbling,

“--Nathan?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

Exiting the vehicle, there’s a huff as Grace slammed the door. “God dammit!” Tough day at the office, but as the tantrum continued in the driveway of the woman’s home, she hadn’t realized someone from the sidewalk was staring. “Oh, -- I’m sorry,” she mustered, a smile attempting to give to the other. “I, --uh, had a long day at work.”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

nathan-douglas:

The staff had managed to stop the bleeding and stitched up Nathan’s wounds both on the front of his face, the one that had reopened in his forehead, along with the new one. Stitches to cuts in his skin made with Isabella’s fists, or just from having to cut at the skin and reduce the swelling in his face. The back of his head had been shaved and stitched up, again to stop the bleeding.

Minutes later he was being zipped in a bag, the doctors not noticing he was still breathing, just extremely faintly, as well as his heart,  was beating, just not loud enough for them to make it out with their machines.

He was wheeled into the morgue and left alone as staff went back to work, making phone calls about ‘Austin’. The next few hours Nathan remained unconscious inside the body bag, The small opening at the top providing just enough air that he didn’t die while stuck inside of it. As time passed his breathing picked up, from the outside the back slow rose and fell with each breath he took, struggling to get more air into his lungs.  Slowly Nathan began to stir from his state, pulling out of the darkness of his mind. Twitching his left hand shot out, hitting the bag from the inside. Weakly he opened his eyes only to continue to be surrounded by darkness. Shifting around he tried to move but something kept him strapped to the bed.

Kicking his legs he continued to slowly delve into hysteria as he was unable to get out of the darkness. Tearing up he shifted wildly inside the back jerking his body around trying to get loose. After another few minutes, he started screaming at the top of his lungs. His back arching before he slammed it back into the metal table, several times while he was still freaking out and shouting. Willing to break every bone in his body just to break free of the table and get out of the darkness that was clinging to his body.

After another minute he was tired and slumped back down, not having the strength to fight against the bag or the bindings any longer. Gasping for air he tilted his head back, his eyes widening, tears flooding over around them and onto his forehead, he laughed lightly to himself, before suddenly the darkness opened up in front of him and there was Grace, staring down at him. Panting his tired horrified brown eyes lock onto her shocked blue ones. His body was shaking as he looked at her Grace… Nathan thought with a whimper, his voice cracking as more tears welled in his eyes.

He didn’t even care she was calling him Austin, she was there, and he was scared. So scared that her touch was all he had wanted in that moment. He trembled again as he closed his eyes before crying out and turning his head from one side to the other … Don’t go.  His body became less tense than it was and slumped against the table. Nathan didn’t even have the sense of mind to be able to form words, it was just too messy. He could only stare at Grace as she turned away from him toward the staff.

After Grace finished with them the staff quickly moved to make things right, moving Nathan to a proper room and started to look over all his injuries more properly, hooking him up to several machines and other things he needed for his badly beaten body. Nathan freaked out the entire time anytime Grace was made to leave his sight. But didn’t shout any protests for her not to go. It was mostly just tears and the a terrified look of ‘please don’t leave me’. Like a small child afraid of his mother leaving after dropping him off on his first day of school.

After some time Nathan and Grace were left alone. He hadn’t gone to sleep, no matter how much medication they had him on. Partly because fear, like if he were to close his eyes she wouldn’t be here when he opened his eyes. Like it was a dream “Don’t go…Grace, don’t leave…” Nathan whispered.

They apologized, the doctors, - “We’re so sorry, Ms. Douglas.” But, the life of Grace’s brother wasn’t a minor inconvenience, and the treatment he was put under, -- she would’ve been traumatized if the positions were flipped. “I don’t care that you’re sorry, -- I want the best care for my brother from this moment forward!” Words remain bitter, as the sentiment the staff gave were ignored. The anger that fell upon Grace dominated any other emotion, within reason, of course.

As they altered the locations, and Grace there in every second, not even thinking about reaching out towards other family members, as the moment only cared for Austin’s well-being. But even as they shifted the other into a more comfortable setting, there’s still a questionable tick that lurked in the back of Grace’s head. The looks of Austin, the marks, - the scars that she only got glimpses of, they didn’t make sense. But, easily, it could’ve been tricks. Since the loss of Nathan, there’s been times where she’d see Austin, and instantly think of Nathan. How couldn’t she? They were twins. The last time she’d spoken to Austin, -- there wasn’t a chance in hell that Nathan came to mind, as that last moment they encountered together brought upon embarrassment. 

Of course, that was completely pushed aside as Grace remained near her brother, - keeping both eyes on him and the movement of the staff, if they’ll make another wrong suggestion. Watching them hook up him to machines that remained close to the hospital bed. Cutting between a nurse and the bed, the woman takes a moment to adjust Austin’s pillow, in hopes that fluffing it would make the situation a bit more suitable. Upon doing so, there’s a gentle smile that’s given towards the boy, - again, a hand pressing itself alongside his cheek, grazing it ever-so lightly, thumb continuing to do so. Even if he didn’t want to speak, Grace needed Austin to know that she’s here, - not leaving.

To allow the nurses to continue their work, Grace takes a seat in a chair that neared the bed. Her elbows prop themselves against thighs, as features drop into Grace’s palms, exhaling a sigh. “God,” she mumbled, yet another puff of breath parts thin brims. 

As the nurses begin to exit, one by one, - they’re left alone. She, still, in the seat, watching Austin’s chest, - as if it’ll stop at any given second. But, the moment the other spoke, Grace rises up from the setting, and over to the bed.

“Hey, -- hey. I’m not leaving you. Not for a second,” she looks down at the twin, a smile curling against lips, as a hand moves to grab at the boy’s hand. She stares, studying the boy’s face. A brow risen, subtly. All stitched up. “How did this happen?” She asked, almost whispering. She didn’t expect an answer, it was mostly a hypothetical inquire. 

Again, now with more precision, and time, Grace stares at Austin. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were Nathan,” she tried to laugh, and only a gentle one escaped, before it became silent. Eyes traveled down to their hands, -- still grasping onto the boy’s right hand, there’s a double-take on Austin’s wrist. A scar. “What? -- Did you, -- no, you couldn’t have.” She pulled away from the grasp, confused.

[gracedouglas-blog1]

lopez-mari:

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was taking up so much room. Please, have a seat.” She gestured to the space next to her, a coy smile playing at her lips. 

“No, no. I didn’t mean to get your in way,” a hand is gestures outward, in a sense of apologizing. There’s a hesitant movement, sitting near the stranger, allowing a grin to beam in response. “It’s busy tonight, isn’t it?”

[gracedouglas-blog1]

Any slim chance of relaxation felt rare in the case of the town’s state, - plus, with the job that required anyone’s utmost attention. Not that Grace minded, but there's always a desire to take a breather every once and a while. The moment there’d been a drop to the couch, the phone rang, - it’d been answered with a gentle sigh, “Hello?” 

Within moments, the woman shot up from the cushions and jolted out the door, not even positive if the door locked behind her, and cranked up the vehicle. The doctors mentioned the passing of one of her siblings, - Austin. But, given the circumstances, it didn’t seem to be something Austin would get into, - who knew?

In mere minutes, Grace pulled into a parking spot and rushed out the car, and into the hospital. “Uh, - Grace Douglas. I got a call. About my brother. Austin Douglas.” Her speech is quick, and there’s a slim chance the nurse understood anything the woman said. The news felt more real, as a doctor came out to speak to Grace about the circumstances of her younger brother, - tears welted at the ducts, a hand wiping against cheeks. 

The sudden rush of nurses and doctors, - a distant yell catching Grace’s attention. One of the women in blue came up to the doctor, whispered in the man’s ear, and he bolted with the other’s. As a person of curiosity, Grace followed, and into the morgue they went.

“Oh my, God. Austin,” it’s a mumbled statement. Without another hesitation, the woman races over to her younger brother, the body bag unzipped and hospital staff crowded around the table. 

“Hey, hey. Austin,” the calmness in Grace’s voice attempted to soothe Austin down, as a hand cupped the boy’s cheek. “You’re okay. It’s okay. --You’re okay. It’s me. It’s Grace.” Although, given the appearance of Austin, -- he didn’t seem to remember of Austin. He looked like Nathan. But, it couldn’t be. It wasn’t.

With a shift turn to the staff, there’s a glare in Grace’s eyes, an anger that’s a rarity. “Clearly, he’s not dead. How, -- How the hell could you be so wrong?” The inquiry is harsh towards the others, appalled at their lack of capability to do their jobs.

@nathan-douglas