After Chap was taken through for scans, I was left in a small 'family room' alone, just waiting. Suddenly the door bursts open and Whippet envelops me in his arms. "I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry.."
"I'm okay Whip. You couldn't have done anything. We're just waiting.. He's bad..."
"I know.. I know but he's strong. The guys said what happened.. Jess feels horrific about it all too.." He mutters as he takes a seat next to me.
"It's not his fault. I just needed to scream at someone.. It's his head, Whip.. What if something's really bad? We all know the risks with head injuries.."
"We can cross that bridge if we come to it. Jake will come round later to see you, he'll probably make you feel better. I'm not really great at this.."
"You're doing fine. He's your friend too.. He's meant to be out of there by now.."
"I know... You want me to substitute his hugs again?" He smiles as I rest my head against him. "He's going to be okay, Brooke." He tells me, trying to convince himself as much as me. The door opens again and I look up to find a tall doctor, blocking the doorway.
"Family of Chris Chapman?"
"I'm his girlfriend.." I actually hate that phrase but if it makes them tell me more I have to try.
"Okay, well he's stabilised now. His wound is cleaned and stitched. We believe he has a concussion and contusions, relatively severe hence the seizures but are hopeful for a full recovery. There was a small bleed too but we have stabilised that. He's still asleep at the moment but you can both come through if you like." Whip helps me to my feet before we walk through to find my perfect lifeguard extraordinaire. He's lying in the bed, his eyes closed and bruises covering his body. A dressing is tied tightly around his chest. I sit by the bed, holding his hand and stroking it periodically. "Hey mate, you're okay. The guys have sorted everything. It's just Brooke and I here at the moment." Whip says, smiling.
"Hey Chap.. You're okay now. I love you.. Can you wake up for us? You just have to let me know you're still alive.." I trail off as the tears stream down my face. Whip steps closer and hugs me.
"He'll be okay. Look at the monitors, he's still alive." He smiles before turning back to him. "I'll look after her for you, Chap. Just rest now."
"He's going.." I mutter as his hand starts twitching.
"Seizure?" Whip asks and I nod. "They'll come to help soon." We both sit silently, waiting for it to pass. A nurse appears and watches as he continues fitting. Almost as quickly as it started, it finishes and the nurse administers medication through the IV before leaving once more.
"Hey Chap. You're okay. You're just coming out of a seizure now but you're fine. We're okay." The door closes and I realise that Whip has left. "It's just us now darling. I love you.. Wake up for me.." I wish I could hold him, keep him safe like he's done for me. I sit, watching him peacefully sleeping for a long time before I feel his hand squeeze mine. "Hey lovely, you're okay. You don't need to do anything now." He smiles but his eyes stay closed.
"Brooke." Tears stream down my face as he smiles.
"You're okay.."
"What happened?" He still hasn't opened his eyes and he stumbles over his words.
"Just an accident, we're fine."
"Beach?"
"Yeah.. We were at the beach.. You were working, the guys have sorted everything though. You just need to rest now."
"Seizures?"
"Chap, please just rest. You don't need to worry. They've got you on the right treatments and you're going to get better." He shakes his head as he forces his eyes open. They struggle to focus but he grins as he finds mine.
"Okay." He frowns slightly, "You're scared?"
"Stop it. I just need you to sleep and I'll be fine. Please Chap, just rest."
"Go home. Sleep." he whispers as his eyes close. I don't want to leave him, he needs someone who knows him and at the minute I'm the only person who can see the seizures coming on. I text Whip, asking if he's okay and where he is. In answer, the door bursts open and a group of lifeguards appear. Jake is first, immediately hugging me. "He woke.." I whisper, allowing the tears to fall as he leads me outside.
"Brooke, let's get you home. They can help him now." He smiles.
"Don't make me.. We can sit out here but don't make me leave him here alone."
"He's never alone Brooke but okay, let's just sit here. Do you want to talk about him?"
"He's had a few seizures.. Hop won't let him work if he has them will he?"
"It's more than likely that it's just because of the trauma and it won't happen again once his body recovers. How was he when he woke?" He avoids the real question so I guess I'm right.
"He couldn't talk much but he was smiling and he opened his eyes for a while. He recognised my voice too so that's positive.." He grins.
"I don't think you know how well he is, comparatively. He's almost as strong as you and that's saying something.. Those guys got a good few blows in and there's no way people would usually wake up this soon. Can you talk to the police? They're not counting Jesse's statement very favourably but they have Reidy's. You just need to tell them what you saw and heard. They have a recording which Chap managed to get so there's a good amount of evidence."
"Do I have to leave him?" He shakes his head.
"They're coming here soon. Just rest now."
"Wait. He recorded it? What did they say? Where is it?"
"Brooke you don't want to hear it. Seriously, just live with it how it is. He wouldn't want you to hear.."
"Was he scared..?" Jake nods slowly, "Could we have stopped it?"
"No. There was nothing you could have done. None of us knew it was what it was and Jess didn't see them. We were way too busy for how many lifeguards were on."
"What actually happened?"
"There were two groups, basically like rival gangs. It had very little to do with Jesse's Bra Boys really, they were trying to keep the peace. They're not bad people. Chap was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. One of them turned on him and then you saw the rest. The police have them all now so don't worry." I nod slowly as he pulls me closer. "Sleep, Brooke. I'm not going anywhere." I smile, despite the bad- and there's been more than enough- I've gained a family in Chap and Jake, even Whip and Deano. A family I never would have hoped for in the past but one who truly cares and wants the best for me.
