Every Version of You (Prologue)
The official statement released to the press was that Bradley has been swept down a river after an accident during a stunt. He was found three weeks later, alive and well, but suffering from slight memory loss due to what had happened to him.
What actually happened was that Bradley disappeared right before everyone’s eyes, and it took a LOT of work to get him back.
Colin could feel it working just like before; a slow thrumming deep in his gut, that sped up with their chanting. The urge to open his eyes was nearly irresistible, but he clenched them even tighter and continued chanting, his voice growing hoarse and his throat straining. They’d been at this for over two hours now, but no one wanted to give up, not when it finally felt like something was happening, not when they’d spent three sleepless weeks researching and trying spells, and Colin’s heart has been broken over and over each time Bradley has failed to reappear. Urged by the palpable energy that was passing from person to person, their chanting grew louder and louder, until there was an imperceptible hiss, followed by a deafening silence, even though Colin could feel his mouth working to continue the chant. His eyes flew open in surprise, and there, standing in the centre of the circle, looking completely bewildered, was Bradley. Before he realised what he was doing, Colin had broken away from Katie and Angel and was running, running until he had Bradley wrapped up in his arms and was murmuring his name over and over again. Bradley’s arms immediately wrapped around his waist, and he nosed against Colin’s neck, sighing softly, before he stiffened and pulled back.
“Colin?” He said in a confused voice. “I - what’s going on?”
“We got you back Bradley.” Colin explained, fighting the choked up feeling in his throat. “It was that spell - you’d been gone three weeks - but we got you back. You’re home.”
“Three weeks…” Bradley murmured, looking around a little lost, before realisation dawned on his face. “Oh - oh. I’m back.”
As he said this, he looked part relieved, part upset, but before Colin could question this, Angel was shrieking, “Bradley!” and suddenly her and Katie had joined their embrace, followed quickly by Eoin, Tony and Richard, and then the rest of the cast and crew all crowded around to welcome Bradley home. Colin removed himself from Bradley’s arms, but stayed close, not wanting to be far from the other man. He smiled fondly as Bradley beamed at Angel and Katie and dragged them both into a crushing hug, followed by a kiss on both cheeks. For the next hour, Bradley made his way through the crowd, receiving well wishes, hugs and slaps on the back, while Colin stayed close, observing him carefully. For the most part, Bradley looked cheerful and happy to see everyone, but Colin noticed the slight tightness of his smile, and the lost, upset look in his eyes every now and then.
Colin wondered what happened to Bradley, what kind of world he had been in, who he had been with and met, but mostly what was the cause of that look on his face. Julian was the last person to get to Bradley, and pulled him into a hug, apologies spilling from his lips.
“I’m so sorry Bradley,” he said. “We had no idea - I mean, it was just a few words and - God, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thanks Julian,” Bradley said warmly, clapping him on the back. “It was interesting and - well, you got me back in the end.”
“Yes, thank goodness for that eh?” Julian laughed in relief, and Colin beamed and reached out to give Bradley’s arm a squeeze, only stopping when he saw that far-off, lost look in his eyes once again.
“Yes, thank goodness indeed.” Bradley smiled, but his eyes screamed out the opposite.
Later on, Colin, Katie and Angel were camped out in Bradley’s room, filling him in on what had happened while he was gone.
“We spent pretty much every waking hour trying to find a way to get you home,” Angel said between sips of celebratory beer.
“Which in Colin’s case was pretty much every hour of every day,” Katie said archly, giving Colin a LOOK.
Colin shifted, took a gulp of his drink and said, “I…I just needed to do something.”
He glanced at Bradley, and something twisted in his stomach at the soft, almost adoring way Bradley was looking at him. The moment they made eye contact though, Bradley blinked and his expression momentarily darkened, before he beamed and tipped his drink in Colin’s direction.
“Cheers mate, I’d do the same for you.”
“Aww, I missed these moments between you boys.” Katie cooed, causing Colin to flush and Bradley to scowl.
“Wench,” Bradley growled, but he was more gentle and less playful than usual when he pulled her into a loose headlock.
Katie laughed and gave him a gentle poke in the side. They settled down, Katie with her head on Bradley’s shoulder, and Bradley with his arm around her waist.
“So who found the spell to get me back?” Bradley asked after a few moments of silence.
“Tony.” Angel grinned and Bradley laughed in delight.
“I’ll be sure to thank him, and remind him every day.” He chuckled, and Colin smiled, happy to see him looking more relaxed and carefree.
‘It must have been the shock of coming home,’ he thought as he reflected on Bradley’s strange moods. ‘He’ll be right as rain in a few days.’
“So, magic eh? Blimey, who’d have thought that spell would actually work?” Bradley said a while later, during a lull in conversation.
“I know, it was shocking,” Colin said. “One second you were there, the next, POOF! Gone. Poor Julian, he was in a right state.”
“And rightly so.” Katie sniffed. “It was his idea after all.”
*****
(Part 1)