Chap's movements jolt me awake as I massage my hands back into place. "Hey lovely.." I mutter as he turns to face me.
"What happened?" He looks scared as he reaches for me again.
"What do you mean?"
"Last thing I remember we were at home.. Now I'm in a hospital bed?"
"Yeah.. You need to rest Chap, we can explain when someone else gets here." He shakes his head slowly.
"Are you okay?" I nod, smiling at his concern. "Then I really want to know how I got here.. It's like time just got lost.."
"It's only been a day. Yesterday you were at work and I was in the Tower. You ended up in the middle of a fight and this happened." I refuse to elaborate as he nods slowly.
"Can I go back to work soon though? What are my 'injuries' or whatever?"
"I honestly don't know when you can work.. You have a pretty bad concussion and they've had to fix a bleed there.. Oh and the wound on your chest.." He nods again.
"But I can go home right?" I shake my head slowly, knowing he's nowhere near stable enough.
"They need to keep an eye on you. You're not even supposed to be able to wake up like this yet.."
"Something scares you?" he asks but I can already see him slipping away.
"Rest Chap. Please." He doesn't even have time to close his eyes before the seizure starts. I press the button by the bed, waiting for someone who can tell me why my beautiful lifesaver is having such terrible seizures. A loud person enters but I refuse to take my eyes from Chap's, even though I know he can't see. "Hello Miss Monroe. I think we may take him for another CT scan, just to be on the safe side." he says.
"Can you fix whatever this is?" The doctor smiles.
"We are confident that we have the best treatment here and we have much experience in seizures and trauma. Can you talk to him?" I nod slowly but stay silent until he stills slightly and his hands are only twitching periodically proving that he is coming out of the seizure.
"Hey Chap, you're fine. It's just a seizure. You're coming out now and we're all okay. The doctors just want to make sure everything is still perfect. I just need you to try to respond now." His eyes blink slowly. "There we are. Hey, you're okay. Don't worry."
"Brooke?"
"Yeah, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
"Why seizures?"
"You just hit your head lovely. You're going to be okay, we just need to give it time." The doctor steps forward, "They think it would be best to get you in for another CT now. Is that okay?"
"Fix me."
"You don't need fixing but yeah, they're trying to help you back to normal." He nods.
"Okay," the doctor says, "We have a space in the scanner now if that's okay. Just to check everything is still okay. We'll be back before you know it Miss Monroe." I nod slowly as they take my lifesaver away. I text Jake quickly telling him everything is okay but he calls immediately. "What's happened?"
"He's having another CT.. He had another seizure and I think something must be wrong.."
"Whip and I are coming Brooke. He's going to be okay."
"You don't have to come, they won't let you in. I'm just worried about him."
"Brooke.. You're crying. At least let me come, it's not fair for you to be on your own. Whip is working tomorrow anyway. Chap would want someone with you."
"Okay.."
"Just give me a few minutes. I'll be there soon." He hangs up as I sit silently, tears rolling down my face. A doctor brings Chap back as I swipe the tears away.
"Is he okay?" I ask cautiously, unsure if I even want the answer.
"We believe he will be, yes. Right now, his biggest problem is a contusion, basically like a bruise, on his brain. That is causing the seizures and the consciousness problems. I'm sorry but I don't think he will be able to have any real conversation with you for a while. A positive point though, most patients are on the road to recovery in a few weeks." He leaves as he realises I won't speak again. Weeks? There's no way he'll stay away from the beach that long. Or from the ocean. I can't stop him from enjoying himself but I love him too much to let him get hurt. And what is 'the road to recovery' does that mean he won't even be fully recovered then?
"Brooke?" Jake stands in the doorway, "Can I come in?" I nod slowly as he kneels next to me. "What do you need?"
"Fix him.. Please make him better... They're just making him worse here." He hugs me carefully.
"They're doing the best anyone could. Head injuries are notoriously unpredictable. How has he been? Have they said anything more?"
"He had an actual conversation with me earlier.. Almost how he used to be and then he had a seizure.. They took him for more scans and found more contusions.. Apparently he'll be 'on the road to recovery in a few weeks'.. What does that even mean? He needs to work and surf.."
"Everyone recovers differently Brooke.. We just need to take it as it comes. Are you okay?" As soon as I think about it, I can feel my body slipping. The anxiety and the pain and the exhaustion are overwhelming as Jake holds me tightly. "I've got you, it's okay. You're fine." The buzzing in my head increases and colours swim across my vision.
"Jake.." I breathe, begging for help as I fall into a vivid sleep.
