"You're okay." Chap's voice breaks through the darkness and I feel him stroking my hand. I pull my eyes open and see his concerned face, watching me carefully. "Welcome back. Hawkeye is waiting for you." He grins. "Seriously though, are you okay?" I nod my head. "Can you talk?" I nod again and he laughs.
"Lifeguard Extraordinaire Superhero Chappo." I say, stumbling slightly over the words.
"Awesome. Can you sit up?" He helps me up again and hands me the packet of biscuits. "Whip has also apparently been sent round to see us so you might even get two hot lifeguards to watch your superhero movie with you." He plays the DVD and I mouth all the lines again. Suddenly I feel his chest falter.
"Chap?" I try to drag myself up but fail. I turn to face him and find his eyes open but unfocused. "Chap.." His pulse is still steady and I have no idea what's happening. Fury is on screen- 'I still believe in heroes'. I know what I need to do. Chappo has saved my life so many times and he is my hero, I have to believe in him. He must just be tired- he's still breathing and looks fine, other than his eyes. I hope he's just tired.
"Come back.." I manage to drag myself up so I can see him properly. "Chap?" There's a loud knock at the door before Whip appears.
"I bring supplies!" He stops as he sees us. "He okay?" I shrug. He checks his pulse before looking at his eyes. "Okay.. Chap? Can you hear me?"
"Rest." Whip nods.
"He needs to, yeah." He looks concerned as he turns to me. "You can't move?"
"No spoons."
"Okay.." I can see his confusion but Chappo is all that matters now.
"Chap.. Come back.." I take his hand, carefully squeezing it. In seconds, his eyes blink and his whole body shakes. "Okay?" He envelops me in his arms, his eyes wide.
"Mate? You okay?" Whip asks, still watching with concern. Chap starts talking, his words jumbling.
"Chap. Look." I force him to focus on me. "Safe." His breathing slows again and I lay back, sighing with exhaustion.
"What happened there?" Whip asks cautiously but he just shakes his head, not taking his eyes from me. "Right.. Well, I have food?" He still watches us with concern.
"Thanks." I smile at him as Chap stumbles to his feet.
"Mate, where are you going?" He doesn't answer so Whip just follows him out. He comes back soon, "He's just in the bathroom." I nod, "What's up? With either of you."
"Chap no idea. Me no spoons." He looks confused. I point to my bag and he grabs it. I hand him the spoon theory sheet before taking my meds from this morning. I look up at the clock, it's almost 12 and I'm only just taking morning meds.
"Wow.. Okay do you need anything?" I shake my head as Chap appears in the doorway. He smiles awkwardly.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" I shake my head. "Hawkeye is still waiting for you there." He smiles as he helps me back up to rest on him. "I'm okay. Better actually. Just a nightmare." I nod, unsure whether I believe him.
"Are you hungry?" Whip asks and I nod. He picks up the bag and tips it onto the floor. "What do you want?" He laughs. I point at a sandwich and he hands it to me. "Chap?" he shakes his head, "Have you actually eaten anything?" He seems to understand and sighs. "You know fine well that you need to eat." He hands him a pork pie.
"Yeah mate I really don't feel like it." I watch them carefully.
"What?" Chap looks at me as if he knows I want to speak.
"Chappo. Eat. I don't faint want you." I sigh as the words jumble. I know exactly what I want to say but I can't force the words to come out right.
"I know what you mean, it's okay. Are we going to let the Avengers get back to avenging?" I nod and he smiles. "You staying Whip?"
"I guess it would be best right Brooke?" I nod, "Then yeah, I'm staying."
"Avengers time?" Chap asks and I nod but I hope he'll eat too. Whip settles into the chair next to the bed.
"How excited are you for Age of Ultron, Brooke?" Whip grins, "It's the end. The end of the path he started us on." I reach out to hit him but he just laughs as I fall back into Chap. He envelops me in his arms. "Sorry but God we have to go to see that together!"
"Is this a new Avengers?"
"Yeah, it's meant to basically destroy the Avengers as we know it. And Ultron is just so evil but so cool." I laugh at Whip's fangirling.
"Evil cool?" He laughs.
"It works." We watch the rest of the film with Whip joining me in mouthing lines. Chap just shakes his head. Once it finishes, he turns to me. "Can you sleep now?" I shake my head.
"I'm fine."
"Well.. While you were asleep earlier the hospital called, they have a place for that treatment tomorrow.. So you kind of need to rest." I shake my head.
"Not going." He sighs.
"I'll drag you there. I know it's scary but you need this, it could make it all easier for you. You need to do it.. You heard what Quinn said, without it you're basically killing yourself. They're doing it under general too so you don't have to worry about that."
"Morning?"
"We'll talk in the morning but It's at about 11 I think." I nod as he pulls me back to him carefully, enveloping me in his arms.
"Just sleep Brooke. I'll keep an eye on him for you." Whip says.
"Thank you." I fall asleep quickly but not before I hear Chap's words. "I don't think I can do it.. She's so ill.." I don't want to upset him so much but, selfishly, I want to stay, I like having someone who cares. If he gets worse, I'll have to leave.
